Smash! Now it’s time to rebuild!
“Brother An, please find me a few Joseon folks who know how to work with wood.”
I looked at the wreckage of the inn’s first floor and spoke to An Tae-won.
“Now that Kang has become the innkeeper and club leader, don’t call me brother; just call me Innkeeper An. And if it’s about tables or furniture, I have a reliable contact. They won’t cheat you just because you’re a Joseon person.”
The market is a world where both sides compete fiercely. Living without connections among black-haired folks, you always expect to be ripped off, so it’s exhausting.
It would be nice if he could point me to a good contact.
“I need to do some major renovations.”
“Major renovations? The Black Knife folks are gone, so can’t you just run the business as is?”
Innkeeper An looked at me with a puzzled expression. It’s true that the troublemakers had disappeared, so surviving with the current operation wouldn’t be too hard.
“I’m planning to start a new venture. I need woodworkers and laborers. Please tell them I’ll pay generously.”
But I gotta run a business here!
“Didn’t you just say you weren’t going to work at the inn anymore?”
I heard Im Ha-yeon’s voice from behind me.
“Well, it’s similar but different! Huh?!”
“Gasp!”
In unison, Innkeeper An and I turned toward the source of the voice and couldn’t help but take a short breath.
“What, what’s wrong?”
“Why did you bring that outfit?”
Im Ha-yeon was wearing a black cheongsam. It had no fabric covering the chest area, reflecting my taste, and the skirt was extremely short.
When did she take it from my Yichang room?
“Don’t you think people will gather if I wear a cheongsam while serving food?”
She had a point. But did she really not feel how embarrassing that was? It looked more like a bedroom outfit than something for a business.
Worried about her underwear showing, Im Ha-yeon awkwardly pulled the hem of her skirt down as she spoke.
“Hahaha!”
“Ugh… I just wore it because I thought it would help!”
Im Ha-yeon frowned, looking innocent. I appreciated her trying to help me, but there was no need for that outfit.
“Im Ha-yeon, you have something else to help with. It’s very important.”
You have a different job to do!
“Me?”
Yep. I really need you.
—————–
The recruitment and construction began swiftly.
“You’re planning to expand the kitchen? It’s important to serve many guests, after all.”
“Turning the third floor into something like this? It’s not impossible, but…”
“You want me to gather the eager young folks from the Shimon Clan? I got it.”
“I can work well with wood, but this is my first time making something like this. Ah! I don’t mean to say it’s impossible! I aim to create something that hasn’t been seen before for the club leader!”
“Twelve nimble Joseon folks? Do you need them for a ‘dance’ or something? Wouldn’t one or two do?”
“Club leader! I offer my respects!”
“Promotion? What’s that about? Are you asking me to hold a sign and hand out flyers?”
There’s no shortage of tasks to handle. Even with all my plans in my head, executing them is no easy feat.
“Aren’t you looking too leisurely down on things?”
On the day preparations were nearly complete, Im Ha-yeon came up to the third floor with a pout.
Just moments ago, she was on the first floor, and now she’s stealthily on the third? That’s some unreal light body movement skill.
“Just taking a short break. I wouldn’t slouch off after leaving work with Ha-yeon.”
Let me catch my breath too.
It’s nice that physical labor has decreased, but managing people and directing everything according to plan feels more exhausting.
“Hmph. Who said anything? Rest.”
Im Ha-yeon snickered quietly and offered me a glass on a plate.
“What is this?”
“It’s iced Americano. I thought it might be tough, so I made one for you.”
So that’s why she came up here in the middle of work.
“Thanks, I’ll enjoy it.”
I smiled at Im Ha-yeon and picked up the cold glass. Even though she pretenses to be grumpy, I can feel her attitude changing these days.
Previously, when I’d put down a bowl of rice, she’d act all suspicious like a thieving cat, only eating and fleeing. Nowadays, she comes over confidently when I extend my hand, acting friendly.
I savored her changed attitude as I brought the glass to my lips. Refreshing! It was brewed strong; it feels like my drained energy is being restored with the caffeine kick.
Truly, a working person’s potion.
As I enjoyed the remaining chill on the glass with my palm, Im Ha-yeon spoke up.
“I’ve done everything you said. The third floor will be ready by today.”
“Then we should start in earnest tomorrow.”
I had to hurriedly handle everything at once, but it finished faster than I expected.
I looked at the first floor of the inn where traces of the gambling ring had vanished.
“…….”
“Why the grim face?”
I asked Im Ha-yeon, who was watching me with concern while I silently grasped my plate.
“We’ve almost spent all the money listed on the invoice. If this fails, you could lose everything.”
I could feel both anxiety and guilt in Im Ha-yeon’s voice. Was she wondering if this was too much trouble because of her?
“Usually, folks like us don’t get a second chance after a failure. It’s not an existence meant to get a do-over.”
For scumbags like Jeon Gil-san, one failure is merely experience, but for someone like me, one failure is an inescapable downfall.
One Coin Clear. For someone, it’s just losing a single coin, but for me, it’s a matter of putting my all on the line every time.
“Knowing that…!”
“But sometimes, to save someone, you have to stake everything.”
I gazed at her, wearing the expression of one weighed down by a great responsibility.
“……!”
Did that touch her? Im Ha-yeon’s eyes trembled.
The truth is, I’m merely betting to spread my wings, but it’s important for you too. I desperately need your help with this.
You’re not just a spectator watching my One Coin Clear. Take responsibility and do your part. Rather than saying a hundred words, showing that I’m working hard might relieve some mental pressure.
“Don’t worry too much. Didn’t Ha-yeon cheer for this good idea just the other day?”
To ease Im Ha-yeon’s worries, I referenced how I had explained my plan to her days ago.
“Can we really do this?”
“We will succeed. Man Geum Battlefield and Shimon will be satisfied with the results. So trust me.”
I moved closer to Im Ha-yeon and smiled at her.
“I… I’ll try to trust you.”
Im Ha-yeon nodded, oddly unable to meet my gaze.
Alright then. Let’s start this business tomorrow.
*
“Now, you’re finally here!”
“Aren’t you late?”
“Sorry, I got here as fast as I could!”
In Wuhan’s residential area, a man working as a postman arrived late to find his friends waiting for him.
“You’re the last to arrive, so the mahjong tiles won’t shuffle themselves. Do you think it’s easy to gather four people?”
“I said I was sorry! But hey, let’s be careful with the mahjong.”
He whispered, covering his mouth with one hand, worried if someone outside might overhear.
“What’s the matter?”
“There seem to be suspicious folks roaming the area. They might be constables, so we need to be careful.”
Today’s Mahjong was a gambling game with money on the line. Although it’s just for fun with friends, large stakes are regulated by the state.
Getting involved with constables wouldn’t end well.
“Conical hat? Oh, you mean the Joseon folks.”
“Joseon folks?”
“They say they wear conical hats as they walk around to avoid getting into any trouble, showing their hair color.”
“Oh, is that it?”
So, the concealed constables weren’t just ordinary warriors; they were actually barbarians. The postman’s face flushed with embarrassment over his baseless suspicions.
“Now that you’re here, come on in and let’s shuffle the tiles.”
“Coming late and talking about all this is awkward…”
Feeling embarrassed, the postman decided to double down and pull a fast one.
“What now?”
“Isn’t everyone feeling hungry? Let’s have lunch first and then play. Lunch is on me for being late!”
He hadn’t eaten breakfast due to oversleeping and clutched his empty stomach.
“Are you really buying lunch?”
His friends exchanged glances, as if to say, ‘What’s his angle?’
“Of course! I just got my paycheck as a postman, so I’ll treat you all to something delicious.”
Are these guys thinking of ordering expensive food and drinks? I better steer them toward a cheap eatery or inn. The postman thought nervously.
“Sounds good. Then take your seats.”
However, what came out from his friend’s mouth was entirely unexpected.
“Huh? If we’re going to eat, you should get up first; I can’t sit if you’re still here.”
“This guy just returned from Wuhan and doesn’t know about the latest hot topic in town!”
“Tsk tsk. It’s a shame not to know about such a good thing.”
“What are you all talking about?”
The postman looked puzzled, glancing at his friends.
“Bring him!”
One friend retrieved something from a corner to clarify the postman’s confusion.
“Huh? Is this box the ‘talk of the town’?”
A wooden box? Is there food in there?
The postman thought about what he’d suffer if it turned out to be that dreaded preserved food from before and nearly felt inclined to smack his friends.
But the box didn’t contain any preserved food.
As the box opened, the postman sensed something moving inside.
It was something given by the Joseon folks.
The central piece of Kang Yoon-ho’s grand plan.
The help from Im Ha-yeon was needed.
Its name was…
“Right. This is the Nine Black Qi Hands!”
Inside the box was Im Ha-yeon’s carrier pigeon—the Exceptional Pigeon Awakened to Qi (氣悟秀鳩).
Kang Yoon-ho’s secret weapon that would turn Wuhan’s food industry upside down.
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