TLHL 02

I Can’t Just Sit Back and Do Nothing…

After staying in bed for several more days, So Cheong-yeong finally managed to regain her strength.

One morning, after the rest of the family had gone out to work in the fields, Cheong-yeong sat perched on the threshold, lost in thought.

I can’t just sit back and do nothing.

Her grandmother had sold her off and pocketed a full fifty silver nyang. It was an enormous sum—enough for a farming household like theirs to live comfortably for several years, and more than sufficient to marry off her youngest uncle several times over.

Yet not a single coin of that money ever made its way to the main family—the household of the eldest son, to which Cheong-yeong belonged. Her parents were simply too kind and gentle to protest properly, and so they continued living hand-to-mouth, struggling even to secure regular meals.

They had to head to the fields before sunrise with empty stomachs and could only return home after dusk. During the days Cheong-yeong lay unconscious, she was lucky if she saw her parents’ faces even once a day.

Her grandfather, Old Man So, had always been a quiet and easygoing person. But ever since his second wife—Madam Wang—had begun whispering into his ear day and night, he had never once properly looked after his eldest son, who was born of his first wife.

That day, her parents had sent Cheong-yeong away with So Daho, telling her to stay elsewhere for a while and return once things had settled down. But the step-grandmother caught on, even mobilizing her natal family’s nephews to bring them back. In the end, both of them were captured and dragged home.

So Daho was beaten more than ten times that day, but fortunately he was able to return to the fields after a few days. Cheong-yeong, however, had been struck on the head and knocked unconscious, forced to lie in bed for days without waking. Even now, when she touched the back of her head, a dull throbbing pain still lingered.

Leaning her back against the doorframe, Cheong-yeong sat on the threshold and organized her thoughts.

Doing nothing and letting things drift like this wasn’t like her at all.

Just as she firmed her resolve and was about to stand up, she felt an intense gaze on her. Turning her head, she saw the twin siblings staring at her silently. Startled, Cheong-yeong nearly toppled over.

“You two… how long have you been there?”

Cheong-yang and Cheong-haeng hurried over, looking flustered that they had startled her, and carefully supported her from either side.

Cheong-haeng puffed out her cheeks and lifted her head.

“We’ve been here for a while. But you were pretending not to see us….”

Cheong-yeong chuckled softly and patted her head.

“I guess I was thinking too much. I didn’t even notice you were here.”

Up close, Cheong-haeng’s hair was just like hers—dry, brittle, and faded to a yellowish color. It looked like malnutrition. Seeing this, Cheong-yeong let out a quiet sigh.

Watching her worriedly, Cheong-yang spoke up cautiously.

“Sister, don’t worry too much. We still have Father and Mother! If you’re too sad, your head will start hurting again.”

Cheong-yeong smiled and gently ruffled his hair.

“I’m fine. My head doesn’t hurt at all anymore.”

Cheong-haeng’s eyes lit up.

“Sister, brother and I will support you—let’s go back inside and rest some more.”

Cheong-yeong laughed and lightly stopped the twins as they tried to escort her back into the room.

“No. I don’t want to lie down. I’m going to Pungjeong Town for a bit.”

A jin was smaller than a county seat but larger than a rural village—a settlement surrounded by low walls. Pungjeong Town was the nearest one.

“No, no! You can’t!”
“Father and Mother said you’re not allowed to go out yet!”

Cheong-yang grabbed her hand tightly as if something terrible were about to happen.

Cheong-haeng nodded vigorously.

“That’s right! Sister, let’s just go rest!”

But Cheong-yeong didn’t move toward the room.

“It’s fine. I walked outside a few days ago too. See? I’m really okay now.”

Even so, Cheong-yang seemed to steel himself and refused to budge. He squatted down and clung tightly to one of her legs.

“That’s different! You only walked around the village then! The town is really far! And at this hour, the village headman’s ox cart will already be gone!”

“It’s okay. I’m planning to walk.”

“That makes it even worse! The town is too far! You’re not fully healed yet!”

Before the words had fully left his mouth, Cheong-haeng suddenly wrapped both arms around her sister’s waist.

Cheong-yeong found their reactions amusing, but her heart also felt warm. She gently stroked Cheong-haeng’s head.

“I’m really fine. I’ll walk slowly, and if I get tired, I’ll sit by the roadside and rest. You don’t need to worry so much.”

“But still, no! Father and Mother said absolutely not!”

The anxious twins clung to her so tightly their faces turned red, unwilling to let go. Still, they couldn’t change Cheong-yeong’s decision.

Before long, Cheong-yeong had stepped onto the road leading out of the village.

Cheong-yang, panicking, turned and sprinted toward the fields without even looking back. Cheong-haeng watched her brother’s retreating figure for a moment, then looked at her sister, who stubbornly insisted on going to town. Finally, she pumped her short legs and hurried to catch up.

Cheong-haeng grabbed tightly onto Cheong-yeong’s clothes, determined to follow her no matter what. No matter how much Cheong-yeong coaxed her to stay home, she only stared back with tear-filled eyes and clamped her lips shut.

In the end, Cheong-yeong’s heart softened, and she had no choice but to take her younger sister along.

Just as they were about to leave the village, her father, So Daehae (蘇大海), came running over with Cheong-yang, both of them panting.

“Cheong-yeong…!”

Cheong-yeong turned around as So Daehae strode toward her, gasping for breath. She stopped and greeted him calmly.

“Father.”

Cheong-haeng, who had been clinging tightly to her, finally let out a deep sigh of relief. Seeing this, Cheong-yeong smiled faintly and patted her head again.

So Daehae stood before his two daughters, looking Cheong-yeong up and down with concern.

“You’re not even fully healed yet—what are you going to do in town? There won’t be any ox carts at this hour, and it’ll take a long time to walk.”

His face was filled with worry.

Cheong-yeong smiled.

“It’s fine, Father. I’ll walk slowly and come back. I’ll return before sunset.”

So Daehae was only a little over forty, but years of hardship had carved deep wrinkles into his face. Lately, worry over his daughter had made him look even more gaunt.

He tried to persuade her when he saw the determination on her face, but knowing his own clumsy way with words, he grew anxious.

Just then, her mother’s voice rang out from afar.

“Cheong-yeong—!”

Turning toward the sound, they saw Madam Jang (張氏) running toward them, out of breath.

“Mother.”

As soon as she arrived, Madam Jang looked her daughter up and down, unable to hide her worry. She reached out and carefully examined Cheong-yeong’s head.

Cheong-yeong stood quietly, letting her do as she wished.

“Your wound hasn’t even healed completely, and you want to go that far? What are you thinking!”

Madam Jang looked at her with deep concern. Cheong-yeong gently held her mother’s hand.

“It’s okay, Mother. I’m almost completely better now. If I go slowly, nothing will happen.”

When Cheong-yeong stubbornly insisted, Madam Jang frowned.

“Do you really have to go today? The big market is in two days. I already got one nyang from your grandfather for your dowry preparations. Let’s go together that day.”

She tried her best to dissuade her.

Cheong-yeong thought for a moment, then shook her head.

“Mother, I’m just going to take a look around.”

Madam Jang sighed.

“Then let this mother go with you.”

Cheong-yeong quickly grabbed her hand.

“No, Mother. If Grandmother finds out, she’ll start scolding again. I know the road well—I can go by myself.”

Though still worried, Madam Jang was stopped when So Daehae quietly took her arm.

“She’s been lying down for days. She probably wants some fresh air.”

Then he looked down at the twins clinging to Cheong-yeong and warned them firmly,

“You two stay close to Cheong-yeong. If anything happens, come straight home and tell us. Understood?”

The twins’ eyes sparkled as they nodded eagerly.

“Yes, Father! We’ll stay right with her!”
“Don’t worry!”

Even so, they looked up at Cheong-yeong anxiously, afraid she might decide not to take them along. Amused by their expressions, Cheong-yeong finally agreed to bring them.

Madam Jang sighed and pulled out a worn money pouch from her clothes, pressing it into Cheong-yeong’s hand.

“Buy whatever you need. If there’s something you can’t find, your father and I will go buy it on market day. And make sure you stop by the clinic—have the physician check whether the blood stasis from your injury has fully cleared.”

Her eyes were filled with tender concern.

Cheong-yeong tucked the pouch deep into her clothes. After exchanging a few more words, she set off with the twins.

* * *

By ox cart, the trip from the village to Pungjeong Town took just over an hour. The village headman’s cart made two or three trips a day, carrying people and goods from early morning.

But Cheong-yeong had missed it and had to walk with the twins instead. Worse, her body had not fully recovered—walking even a little too fast made her head throb. The twins, still so young, tired easily as well.

So the three of them walked at an unhurried pace—walking, resting, catching their breath, then setting off again.

Because of this, it was well past noon before they finally arrived at the town.

Along the way, they shared the two eggs her father had given Cheong-yang that morning, but since lunchtime had long passed, all three were still hungry. As soon as they reached town, they looked for a place to eat.

Cheong-yeong led the visibly exhausted twins into a shabby noodle shop by the roadside and ordered three bowls of plain wheat noodles.

Only after drinking every last drop of broth did the three finally regain some energy.

Cheong-yeong looked at the twins. Their bowls gleamed as if they’d been washed clean, yet there was still a trace of longing on their faces. Her heart ached at the sight.

To think that a single bowl of plain noodles could taste like a heavenly delicacy to them…

At that moment, Cheong-yeong made a quiet decision.

Tonight, I’ll definitely check that “system.”

“Sister, the noodles were really good!”

Cheong-haeng said, licking the broth from her lips.

Cheong-yeong smiled and gently wiped her mouth. When she looked at Cheong-yang, he too seemed to be silently savoring the taste.

Once again, she made a firm vow in her heart.

When I get home tonight, I’m going to seriously figure out that damn “system.”