Chapter 6
On the day the results of the lower civil service exam were announced, the area in front of the exam hall was filled with two kinds of cries.
“I passed, sniff… I passed! Waaaaah!”
A very small number shed tears of joy.
“This year I failed again… huuuhhhhhh…”
The majority shed tears of sorrow.
Amidst the chaos, two people remained calm: Daeyong and Jeonghae.
“Brother’s name… ranks first in the Jinsa exam and middle in the Saengwon exam.”
It was said as if passing was a matter of course. Jeonghae spoke calmly, and Daeyong, who had been about to hug her, awkwardly lowered his hands.
He felt sorry that he hadn’t ranked first in the Saengwon exam. Understandably so, since the credit for passing the lower exam truly belonged to Jeonghae.
‘In the Jinsa exam, the questions were exactly what Jeonghae had prepared, and the Saengwon exam had similar questions.’
It was as if he had gone in already knowing the answers—passing was inevitable. Feeling embarrassed to be congratulated, Daeyong scratched the back of his neck.
At that moment, someone approached and spoke.
“Isn’t this Na Daeyong? I saw your exam hall and thought, could it really be you who passed!”
A tall, lanky man roughly patted Daeyong on the shoulder.
Jeonghae’s brows naturally furrowed.
“You might have skillful hands, but your mind isn’t all that… seems like luck favored you!”
The man belittled Daeyong’s achievement. Jeonghae turned her head, frowning. Judging by how openly he showed contempt, one could guess his character.
“You didn’t bribe the examiners or cheat in any way… so I suppose you must have worked hard.”
“Thank you for acknowledging my effort.”
Daeyong replied with a laugh, and Jeonghae raised her eyes.
‘Idiot? That’s an insult.’
Jeonghae sighed internally.
“This is strange. A dull mind shouldn’t improve so easily. Did you happen to learn from that person everyone talks about?”
“That person?”
Daeyong’s eyes widened, and Maljin smirked.
It was impossible for the rumor-ignorant Daeyong to have any connection to the one who predicted the exam’s topics correctly. Asking felt foolish.
“Clearly, you have no idea. Forget it.”
“What rumor are you talking about?”
Maljin tried to end the topic, but Jeonghae intervened. Seeing her, Maljin’s expression suddenly brightened.
“And who might you be, young lady?”
“She is my sister.”
Daeyong’s playful smile changed. He became serious and blocked her path.
“Sister? Please allow me to introduce—”
“My father is waiting. We’ll see each other next time.”
Daeyong cut off Maljin’s words abruptly.
“Brother, wait. I want to hear the rumor…”
Jeonghae tried to engage Maljin in conversation, but Daeyong firmly grabbed her wrist and moved quickly.
“We’ll meet at Sungkyunkwan. I’ll make sure your master teaches you well.”
Maljin called after Daeyong, who didn’t look back. Jeonghae, curious about the “rumor,” kept glancing back but soon gave up. Daeyong’s side profile was far too serious.
So, she didn’t ask why he left so hastily, why he acted so foolishly, or who that person was.
The dark shadow over Daeyong’s normally cheerful face unexpectedly left a strong impression on Jeonghae.
The shadow didn’t last long, but it stayed in her memory.
Passing the lower exam was a huge achievement.
Passing the lower civil service exam—the equivalent of today’s college entrance exam—meant that becoming a Saengwon or Jinsa scholar would allow one to live comfortably in the provinces.
Moreover, only those who passed the lower exam could take the higher civil service exam.
In addition, those who passed the lower exam could study at Sungkyunkwan.
Admission to Sungkyunkwan was desirable because excelling there provided a chance to skip to the final stage of the higher exam.
Thus, passing the lower exam was like boarding a direct train to a government position. Of course, reaching the destination depended on the individual.
‘No… it depends on whether I can learn from them.’
Jeonghae snickered.
That evening, Anbin, Daeyong, and Jeonghae celebrated the exam success together.
In a corner of the room lay a certificate of achievement from the king, called a Baekpae, and some fruit.
It was the result of Jeonghae and Daeyong’s efforts.
“You worked hard.”
Jeonghae, lost in thought, snapped out of it. Anbin’s simple words carried a lot of meaning. And the dinner table held even more significance.
‘Meat!’
Though only a few pieces floated in the clear soup, it was definitely meat.
When Anbin brought a package containing meat, Jeonghae felt like dancing.
And now, receiving the meat soup, she felt happier than when she had seen Daeyong’s exam hall.
“Eat up.”
As Anbin lifted his spoon, Daeyong glanced subtly at her, then dropped a piece of meat into Jeonghae’s bowl.
Startled, she looked at him, and Daeyong smiled, eyes narrowed.
‘It’s all thanks to you.’
The words were so simple yet moving that Jeonghae hurriedly took a spoonful.
“…!”
She widened her eyes, then lowered her head, looking at the clear soup.
Though it only contained a few pieces of meat and floating radish, the flavor was deeply moving.
‘There’s no MSG in Joseon… so what is this umami?’
“Not tasty?”
Jeonghae hesitated after one bite, and Daeyong looked at her worriedly. She quickly shook her head.
“No, it’s too delicious.”
“Your Nakbun has skill.”
Even Anbin, usually sparing with praise, had to admit it.
“Of course,” Daeyong agreed and again gave his portion of meat to Jeonghae.
Watching the meat drop into her bowl, Jeonghae’s eyes brightened. A brilliant idea sparked in her mind, followed by more ideas.
She imagined a well-run school and students lined up in front of a large dining hall.
‘The best way to attract students is through food. So, Nakbun…’
She turned toward where Nakbun might be standing.
‘You’ll be mine.’
Though already her maid, Jeonghae wanted Nakbun to play an even bigger role.
With Daeyong’s exam success and Nakbun’s talent, her confidence in business success grew stronger.
“Hurry and eat. The soup’s getting cold.”
Seeing Jeonghae fidget, Anbin subtly nudged her bowl.
“Yes, Father.”
As she lifted her spoon, Jeonghae noticed that Anbin’s bowl had no meat.
From the start, he had given Nakbun’s share of meat to Jeonghae and Daeyong.
Compared to her own family, who would bite and fight over a chicken leg, this touched her heart.
Unable to give each other food, yet still generous, Jeonghae quietly shed tears.
‘Father and brother would want to eat too… so I’ll make sure I eat my fill for them.’
Hiding her tears, she finished the dinner, savoring every dish without a thought for her runny nose or eyes.
“Really… sniff… it’s delicious!”
The first teacher’s salary she received after coming to Joseon was highly satisfying.
That night, with the moon high in the sky, the lamp in Jeonghae’s room burned late into the night.
Then Anbin called Daeyong. Seeing him reading books diligently, Daeyong straightened his posture.
Why call him at this hour?
Though he loved his children, Anbin rarely spoke warmly, so Daeyong was tense.
“I hear Jeonghae was a great help in your exam success.”
“Yes. Our Jeonghae is very smart, Father.”
Hearing Jeonghae’s name, Daeyong immediately relaxed, smiling as he recalled their study sessions.
Though preparing for the exam had been tough, learning new things with Jeonghae had been enjoyable. After their mother passed, their relationship had become distant, but preparing for the exams brought them back together.
Daeyong’s bright face as he praised Jeonghae contrasted with Anbin’s gloomy expression.
He realized it was painful to see Jeonghae and Daeyong working tirelessly without proper teachers due to his own shortcomings.
Moreover, seeing Jeonghae shed tears over a few pieces of meat made him realize that children are not indifferent to poverty as he had been.
Gradually, he noticed the hardships Jeonghae and Daeyong had endured: Jeonghae’s worn clothing, meager meals, tattered books.
Even scholars are human; basic needs come first before pursuing principles. Anbin realized this far too late.
“You and Jeonghae have both done well.”
Hearing this unfamiliar praise, Daeyong raised his eyebrows.
“Daeyong, I will stay in Yeoju for a while.”
“Yeoju?”
“Yes. Your uncle has been ill for a long time. He requested help a while ago, but you and Jeonghae were too young to go. But now, I see you have both grown.”
Daeyong thought of his uncle, Na Anji.
Though it was awkward to say, Na Anji had been an unscrupulous man, hardly like Na Anbin, enjoying wealth and ignoring Anbin during hardships.
And now, because of illness, he expected them to come care for him?
Daeyong’s expression darkened.
