Chapter 61: Geoncehondong [2]
Sunshin’s house was very humble, and reminded Ganghyuk of Changgweon’s house. In fact, it was the same for Yeoju, causing her to break into tears, only managing to move after some while.
However, Ganghyuk did not notice it because he was far in the front, looking around with gladness.
‘This is the house of Chungmugong.’
He had arrived at the home of the famous person whose statue was erected in Gwanghwamun Plaza. Moreover, he was standing beside him as well.
Due to all this, he did not pay attention to Yeoju at all.
“It seems that you have started your training.” Ganghyuk pointed at the scarecrows lying on the floor here and there. Some of them were cut into two with a sharp blade.
“Yes, I have. I must train myself hard. You gave me a new lease of life after all, so I have to make the best use of it.”
“Where did you get these straws?”
“I have a friend I asked to supply it.”
“But, it seems that the amount is not enough.”
“I owe him too much, so I cannot expect any more than this.”
“Heo…”
Ganghyuk felt sorry for him. He would be the admiral who would save the country. But, he was poor right now, and had difficulties to get even straws sufficiently.
“I will get straws from tomorrow using my servants.”
“No, no… It is alright.”
“Don’t worry. They work very well.”
Ganghyuk looked back and saw the bandits in the group, who looked shabby. They got water and firewood for the group everyday, and waited on the group on the way to Hanyang.
Of course, there was another reason to that.
“Hey! Master asked a question, and you did not answer? Would you like to have a battle again?” Yeoni and Makbong goaded them on.
“Yes, yes! We can do anything.”
As they were beaten too much, they could be manipulated to Ganghyuk’s liking. Hence, they answered that they would prefer doing manual labor. That could not be true, but it satisfied Ganghyuk nevertheless.
“Did you hear?”
“Haha… Thank you.”
“I am honored to help you.”
“Please come in.”
“Yes, brother.”
With that, Ganghyuk proceeded to enter the place. But before that, he turned around and said to the group, “Stay here. They will give you some food too.”
As a result, everyone except Ganghyuk stayed in the hall. Anyway, Dolseok liked it better there. As far as he knew, Sunshin was a very difficult person.
Although they were both noblemen, he was very different from Ganghyuk, who was much easier to deal with compared to Sunshin.
‘The room is very narrow.’
Sunshin’s room was quite a small one indeed, with red earth visible in patches. But, it was very clean and without any dust, which reflected Sunshin’s character.
‘It was good for me to lease a house in advance.’
The governor was very rich. When Ganghyuk asked him if he had a house in Seoul, he asked back about where the latter wanted one. He had one in Geoncheondong, and the size of the house could not be compared with this one at all.
“I am sorry as it is shabby.”
“No, no! It is good.” Ganghyuk was embarrassed as if Sunshin had read his mind.
“Sit down, here. I prepared it specially for you. I don’t know if you will like it.”
If Lee Sunshin had prepared for him specially, what would he not like? Ganghyuk was willing to even eat earth if he gave it to him.
“Here it comes…” Sunshin pointed at the maid who brought in the table. Ganghyuk noticed that even the maid was very orderly. She was totally different from Dolseok, who thought and behaved freely.
He did not know if it was because of the tradition of the family or if Sunshin trained maids well.
‘It is said that Lee Sunshin was from a good family.’ He did not know it before he came to Joseon. He might not have known it if Seungmun had not told him about the other’s family.
‘Although his family is poor now, they used to be a great family if we go back to their ancestors.’
His great-great-grandfather, Lee Byeon, was a Daejehak in Hongmungwan, a Grade 2 official; and his great-grandfather, Lee Geo, was the Vice Minister of Defense, a Grade 3 official. His grandfather, Lee Baikrok, was involved with Gimyosahwa, which was why their family fell.
While he was thinking all this and clicking his tongue because of pity, the maid laid down the table.
“What do you think of this? I hunted it as I heard that you liked meat.”
“Wow! What is this?”
That was a pheasant grilled on fire. It looked very tasty indeed.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes, it is the best, brother!”
Gangyuk would have been grateful even if given mud to eat, but he was given meat here. He was so moved that he wanted to give him a deep bow by touching his forehead, palms, knees, and toes the ground.
He felt already full because of thankfulness.
“Well, don’t stare it like that. You can’t eat the meat with your eyes. Haha… I think this drink will be good, too.”
“Oh, oh!”
“Let’s have a drink!”
“Yes, brother!”
Ganghyuk drank the liquor that Sunshin poured while laughing. He thought of drinking slowly, but it disappeared in his mouth in a moment.
‘What is this?’ It was the best thing he had ever in Joseon. It was very simple and with a depth, but not too heavy. It was a very luxurious drink that did not match the host’s poverty.
“Brother, this one is really good!”
“Is that so? I am glad to hear that.”
“Where did you get it?”
“I didn’t get it. My mother made it.”
“Wow…! Wonderful!”
“Mother wanted to see you very much, but she went to Asan by chance.”
“Ah!”
He was ignorant of history, but he knew quite many things about Sunshin. Most of that information came from dramas in his previous world, and some was told by Seungmun in this world.
Considering that Ganghyuk forgot what Seungmun had told him almost right away, he still knew quite many things about Sunshin.
‘His mother’s family name was Byon, I think.’
She was a great mother who made Sunshin what he was. She could be remembered as ‘Wise Mother’.
“I am very glad to see you!”
“Likewise, brother!”
While chatting happily, they drank more. As the wine was good, and the side dish and accompaniments were even better, they drank a lot. After a while, Sunshin opened his mouth with a little drunken face.
“I have a thing to tell you, but I could not write it in the letter.”
“What is it?” Ganghyuk bent his body forward, filled with curiosity. ‘What does Sunshin want to tell me? What is it?’
“It is not a big thing, though.”
Saying that, he shut his mouth. He had a skill to make a person die from curiosity indeed.
“What is it?”
“Nothing special.”
If he were a friend, Ganghyuk would have hit his head. But, he was the National Hero Lee Sunshin. In that world, people called him Sacred Hero. He could not even think of hitting his head.
Ganghyuk apologized in his mind for thinking of such rude action and asked again.
“This is making me even more curious. What is it?”
If he did not answer this time, he would not ask it again. He came here to see him, not to investigate his status. Fortunately, Sunshin was not a terrible person who would give him the fidgets.
He opened his mouth with some hesitation.
“I will go to the north soon.”
“North?”
“Yes, I will go to Hamgyeongdo.”
Hamgyeongdo was not a good place at that time. The life was hard, and there were Jurchen near the place. It was very strange that he was proud of going to that place.
‘It is strange.’ Ganghyuk wondered as he looked at the leg that he had treated. ‘It has not been a year, and he has already gotten an office?’
As far as he knew, Lee Sunshin started to have a public office when he was thirty two years old. Therefore, four years had to have passed.
‘Did I remember it wrong? Am I confused?” He was not good at history so he might truly have mixed up stuff. Sunshin showed some curiosity on seeing Ganghyuk being so surprised.
“Why are you so much surprised?”
“No, no, brother. You deserve the office.”
“Haha… I owe it to you. If my leg were broken like that, how could I go there?”
“Was there another national test?”
As far as he knew, the last military service examination was in the spring of eclipse year. Therefore, it was not the time yet.
Sunshin laughed and answered. “There was a special exam.”
“Special Exam?”
“Yes. It is said that Heo Jun came to Naeuiwon recently and cured Prince Imhae’s malaria.”
“Ah, Heo Jun cured malaria…!”
“Yes, he saved the life of the prince who had nearly passed onto the next world. That was why they performed a special exam. I was fortunate.”
“Aha, malaria!”
Do. Heo was somewhat different from others indeed. He managed to achieve great things right after going to Naeuiwon.
‘I had let him know about sweet wormwood.’
However, even though he let him know about it, he did not know that the latter could use it to cure a patient actually.
‘Then, did Lee Sunshin get an office earlier than the original history because of the butterfly effect?’
It was good to know that. It was an evidence that the times were not twisted. If that had happened because of him…
Then, Imjinwaeran could have taken place earlier than he knew it did…
He did not want to imagine that scenario, as it could be the worst thing to happen here.
“What makes you so serious?”
“No. no. I am worrying about you because you are going to Hamgyeongdo.”
Although he was confused, he tried to find a good answer. Thankfully, he could find a good excuse within a short time.
“Haha. What worry? It is natural for a military officer to be on the battlefield.”
That was true indeed.
Being a person with such a thinking, it was no wonder he could have such a great achievements in Imjinwaeran.
As a matter of fact, nobody could be a match for him even in the whole world’s history.
“On second thoughts, you are right, brother!”
“Well, I heard it from governor Kim Yungil.”
“What did you hear?”
“He wanted to recommend you to Naeuiwon, but you rejected.”
Kim Yungil… He surely had a big mouth! He told it to everyone he knew. He would serve as a minister, so why did he have such a big mouth? Moreover, he sent a letter to Sunshin regarding that.
‘If there was Kakao Talk here, he would put this in his profile for sure.’ Fortunately, there was no such thing in this world.
Ganghyuk nodded his head while smiling bitterly. “Ah! Yes, I rejected.”
“You are a real doctor. But, I think there will be other things you can serve with as well if you have an office.”
“If you say so, I will think it over.”
“Ok, ok… Do not hurry.” Sunshin did not want to urge him to be in Naeuiwon. He could surely reject the offer if he did not want to. Anyway, he operated a clinic and cured patients, which was a service in itself.
“Yes.”
“By the way, I heard that you cured smallpox too.”
“Yes, it was a coincidence.”
“Haha… There is a rumor that the cow with smallpox will be a restorative medicine.”
“It can be a medicine for smallpox, indeed.”
The problem was that there would not always be a cow with smallpox. If he could mass produce the inactive vaccine, he could distribute it widely.
But, it was impossible at that moment. He could vaccinate only when there was a cow with smallpox around.
Squeak!
While they were talking, somebody came in after opening the gate. At the same time, Sunshin stood up hastily.
“It seems his lordship has arrived.”
“Lordship?”
“Yes, please stand up and greet him.”
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