episode_0048

In the Village (Part 2)

“Master, please take a look at this! Is this hairpin nice? Hehe.”

Heesun slightly unfolds her jacket to show only me the hairpin, asking if it suits her outfit.

“Uh… uh… It’s pretty.”

Actually, I didn’t even look at the hairpin.

Heesun’s face peeking out from the jacket was so beautiful that I just stared at that.

“Tsk… you always say everything is pretty! Forget it!”

Heesun says with a slightly annoyed tone and puts down the hairpin.

Only then did I snap back to reality.

“Oh, no, it’s really pretty. Ma’am! How much is this hairpin?”

The hairpin seller, who had been making an awkward face while roasting sesame seeds, silently extends four fingers to indicate the price.

“What? You’re kidding, right? How do you know the market price? When I bought it for Kim’s daughter as a gift before, it was about three coins.”

The sternly closed mouth of the lady selling hairpins finally opens in response to my bargaining words.

“Oh my… when was that! If I sell them at three coins all the time, how will I make a living? Looking at her, she seems like a fairy from the rumors… Right? Even if you just glance at her, she’s so elegant and refined.”

“No… I tried to keep it a secret and not spread rumors, how did the news already spread throughout the village?”

“Why wouldn’t it? Those gossipmongers spread it like wildfire when they get cheap deals. When I said I would give it to my daughter, she hated it so much, but oh well…”

Oh no, ma’am!

“Your daughter was twelve at that time! Oh, forget it! Three coins and fifty pence! I can’t offer more than that!”

“If they get engaged early, they can have the wedding later! Save money and live happily with your elegant wife! Three coins and fifty pence.”

Seemingly conceding to my negotiation, the lady lowers the price with a rough joke and a wave of her hand.

“In the end, we understand each other like this! Haha, thank you, ma’am. Oh, while I’m at it, I’ll buy this comb too. So, if I pay now, it should be settled.”

“Oh, this guy…”

We should both benefit from a good deal, not just me.

As I take out money from my pocket, a smile finally appears on the lady’s face.

Suddenly, the lady turns to Heesun and whispers something while covering her mouth with her hand.

“The new bride is truly blessed! Where did she find such a diligent husband! Good character, thrifty… affectionate, so her wife won’t suffer no matter what she does. I wanted to match her with my daughter, but… sigh… it seems I made the right choice without even seeing it… Oh dear… What a waste… Well, new bride, does he perform well at night? Sometimes these types have hidden talents.”

“Hehe… Master doesn’t have hidden talents… um… I can’t sleep well at night…”

Heesun responds shyly, bowing her head slightly.

Following this, the lady’s lament is heard.

“Oh my! If only I had given birth to our daughter a little earlier!”

Would she have refused anyway? Ma’am?

Despite her age, she probably didn’t have the peace of mind back then.

“Haha, ma’am, I’m married now, so there’s nothing I can do! Your daughter will find a good person. Don’t worry too much.”

“These local folks are so nosy, why do they poke their noses into everything? Now go, you! Ah, this poor guy…!”

As the lady clicks her tongue disapprovingly, we leave as if being chased away.

By the way, even though we bought the hairpin, has Heesun’s mood lightened a bit?

“Heesun, let’s go try on the hairpin… Heesun? Honey?”

Even after calling Heesun, she didn’t respond.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Should we rest a bit…? There’s a bench over there…”

“Who is Kim’s daughter?”

“Eugh!”

Suddenly, his words falter.

Although he hadn’t done anything wrong…

Just because my mother’s medicine cost happened to be exactly the same, I borrowed some money from a friend in a hurry, and I just passed it on with a note while repaying the money…

“Well, if you don’t want me to say it, that’s okay….”

Even though she said that, Heesun seemed a little uneasy.

I don’t like it when Heesun suffers silently.

“No, no, we’re a couple, what is there to hide? She’s a friend who lent me money when my mother’s medicine cost was short.”

“…?!?!”

At those words, Heesun suddenly gasped! Then tears began to mix into her voice.

“I-I’m sorry, husband… I… I just thought of you as my first love…”

What’s there to be sorry about? Why suddenly cry?

I didn’t understand for a moment.

Oh.. Ah! The medicine cost! So that’s why… I lacked consideration.. I quickly try to clear up the misunderstanding…

I comfort Heesun quickly.

“It’s okay, Heesun. I’m fine, you didn’t know either when you asked. More importantly.. Are you jealous by any chance? Huh? Is the fairy jealous too? Did you think I gave it to you as a gift because you’re my first love?”

Nodding

Heesun slightly nods her head at my words and lowers her head deeply.

Fool.

She seems to have forgotten that her face isn’t clearly visible because she has her jacket turned inside out.

I gently open Heesun’s jacket and tuck her face inside.

Heesun raises her head in surprise.

Our eyes meet inside the jacket.

It was a bustling market, but for that moment, it felt like only Heesun and I existed in the world.

“I feel the same way, Heesun. So.. it’s all right.”

Is it because Heesun’s jacket is pink? Like a glowing red lantern, Heesun’s face shines brightly through the sunlight filtering through the gap in her clothes.

“I’m always jealous too… Even if someone just looks at you, I get jealous, or if someone mentions you casually, I get jealous. That’s why it’s okay.”

“Sob!”

“And… to clarify a little misunderstanding…”

Tap.

Our lips lightly touch in a kiss.

“You are my first love.”

Heesun opens her eyes wide at that light contact and just stares blankly at me.

I lift her shirt slightly and tie a note to her skirt string,

The note sways beautifully outside the jacket.

“It suits you well, Heesun.”

Even with my praise, Heesun just stares straight through me without any reaction.

Perhaps her feelings are not so different from mine.

Lost in happiness, I carefully slip out of Heesun’s jacket to prevent her face from being revealed and wait for Heesun to calm down.

Flutter!

With a sound, Heesun’s jacket suddenly flies off.

*

*

*

The rumor that the hunter brought his legendary wife to this year’s market had spread throughout the whole village.

And so? Everyone pretends not to notice, secretly watching the elegant couple passing by.

The women just stare blankly at the hunter’s face, but when he passes, they look back at the woman in the pink jacket following him with jealousy-filled eyes,

The men wonder how beautiful the legendary wife must be to cause such a stir, secretly hoping for a mistake to reveal even a glimpse of her beauty through the pink jacket.

Eventually, the beautiful couple buys a note and starts talking in a corner of the alley.

The woman twists slightly as if something is bothering her, and suddenly the man slips into the woman’s jacket, their faces meeting each other….

The women exclaim in admiration at their boldness, and the men turn their heads here and there, pretending to be indifferent, trying to catch a glimpse of the woman’s face through the slightly open jacket.

After a while, as they fidget inside the jacket, the man emerges, looking radiant like the sun, while the woman remains hidden inside the jacket.

“Hey, kid, can’t you see properly?”

“What?”

Two maidens, resembling watchful servants, began to whisper to each other.

“That woman over there.”

“Why, why? That man isn’t doing anything at all?”

“Such a shame! Some lucky girl was supposed to marry that man, but that ugly woman snatched him away! Look at her flaunting herself! I heard she’s not even from this village?”

“So what… What’s the big deal?”

“At least she should marry someone from this village! Why would some random woman pop up and…”

As she spoke, getting angrier, she huffed and puffed, clearly displeased with the lady in fancy clothes.

“Hey, you.”

“Why… Why are you like this again… I’m scared to death every time you call me like that!”

“I need to check out that woman’s face. How beautiful could she be compared to me? Hmph… If she’s not as good-looking as me, I’ll definitely snatch her husband away!”

Before the girl called “Hey, you” could intervene, the maid, resembling a servant, dashed off, waving her ponytail in the air.

If the girl called “Hey, you” didn’t put up with her persistent tantrums for the past nineteen years, she would be tormented all day by the annoying maid, so when her lover got close to another woman, she had no choice but to call her name.

“Joy!”

Whoosh! Flutter!

The pink fabric fluttered.

…!

And everyone there… couldn’t help but widen their eyes in astonishment, mouths agape.

For a while, the village buzzed with gossip about the unexpected spectacle and the talk of jealousy.

…

“Hmm…”

I feel extremely uncomfortable.

“Are you still angry, sir? Oh, please calm down now… When you glared, that grown woman wet herself on the street. She must have been thoroughly embarrassed.”

Embarrassed? That’s not enough to calm my anger. How dare…!

“Ugh! Are you going to keep being mad all the way back to your uncle’s house? It’s a nice day today.”

Pressing gently on my arm, Heesun earnestly tried to soothe me with her pretty face, and only then could I finally let out a sigh and release my anger.

“We shouldn’t be wandering around the village for a while. Let’s just stay home once we finish our tasks tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure, I understand. I’m fine as long as I’m with you, sir. But still, it’s fortunate, isn’t it?”

“What is?”

“I almost got knocked over right there by you. Hehe.”

“Cough, cough…”

I felt like I might burst into flames if I said anything, so there was nothing more to add.

That’s when it happened.

“Hey! Young man! Sang-ah!”

“Uncle Gilyong!”

“Sir!”

Gilyong met them on his way back home.