The sun shone brightly at its peak as the soldiers escorting Jin-Ri and Yeng dropped them off at the village gates. The two young women stepped onto the dusty road, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of Mt. Yangge village.
"Thank you so much for escorting us," Jin-Ri said, bowing deeply to the four soldiers, her voice warm with gratitude.
The soldiers returned her bow, their faces serious. "The prince sends his apologies that he could not escort you himself," one of them informed Jin-Ri before they began their long trek back to the capital.
As the soldiers disappeared into the distance, Yeng looked around at the village, her expression one of mild disdain. "Why didn't you invite them to rest first?" she asked, her tone laced with annoyance.
Jin-Ri raised an eyebrow. "Are you for real? Their level of exhaustion would have skyrocketed simply by being in the village," she retorted. The poverty of Mt. Yangge was evident in the crumbling houses and the weary faces of its residents. Most of the able-bodied villagers had left to seek work in Chiongsun, leaving behind the very old and the young to fend for themselves. The village's survival hinged entirely on the financial aid it received.
Yeng continued to scan the streets, her gaze lingering on the dilapidated structures. "I can't believe I grew up here. This village is so dirt poor that it's amazing I turned out so beautiful," she remarked, a hint of pride in her voice.
Jin-Ri shot her a fiery glare. "What's amazing is you not helping me carry some of these," she complained, struggling under the weight of their things. "I mean, why do I need to carry your clothes bundle?"
Yeng examined her perfectly manicured fingernails, unfazed. "I'm too delicate for trivial things. On the other hand, you were built for this," she explained with a dismissive wave.
"I don't know why we are friends," Jin-Ri quipped, shaking her head as they continued their trek. After a while, they arrived at Jin-Ri's childhood home.
As they stepped inside, Jin-Ri's heart sank at the sight of her parents hard at work. Her mother, Dam, was busy hanging clothes, while her father, Seuk, hammered away at a piece of metal atop an anvil. "Mother, Father? What on earth are you doing?" Jin-Ri exclaimed, rushing forward. "You know you are both sick! You should be resting!"
"Oh my Jinnie, we missed you" Dam Jin-Ri's mother expressed hugging her daughter
With a determined look, she took the laundry from her mother's hands and forced her to sit down. "Now, I am here to make sure you are both well. Just look at you two, huffing and puffing! If I wasn't here, you might have keeled over," she scolded gently, her love for her parents shining through her concern.
"Oh hush it, Jinnie. I'm old, not useless." He attempted to rise, but the weariness he desperately tried to conceal betrayed him. He clutched his chest and sank back down onto the rough-hewn chair. "A rest may not be a bad idea," he murmured, glancing at Jin-Ri with a hint of vulnerability.
"See what I mean? Come on, both of you, let's go inside. I brought you ginkgo and ginseng," Jin-Ri said, her voice laced with concern and affection. She gently helped her parents to their feet, guiding them through the door of their humble abode. The brick hut, with its straw roof and a single room, felt like a fortress of love despite its simplicity.
"Hey…Jin-Ri, you forgot about me!" Yeng called out, her voice shrill and playful, echoing off the mud walls. "Hello? These are heavy! I need help bringing them in! Hello? Jin-Ri?"
Inside, the familiar scent of firewood and herbal remedies enveloped Jin-Ri as she settled onto the gravel floor next to the small stove. Carefully, she prepared tea from the ginkgo seeds she had brought, her hands deftly working as she focused on her task. "Drink this," she instructed her parents, pouring the steaming liquid into chipped cups. "The prince said it will increase the flow of energy in your bodies," she added, hope shining in her eyes.
"Thank you, my child," Dam said, her voice soft and grateful, her hands trembling slightly as she accepted the warming cup.
After sipping the tea, Seuk's brow furrowed as he examined the precious items. "Jinnie, how were you able to buy all of these? They are very expensive and hard to come by," he inquired, his voice edged with concern.
Before Jin-Ri could respond, Yeng piped up, her exuberance bubbling over. "She did not buy them! The prince gave them to her…isn't that, right?" She turned to Jin-Ri, who winced, annoyance flickering across her face as she nodded reluctantly.
"Jinnie, why would the prince give you all of these?" Dam asked, eyes wide with curiosity, her maternal instincts kicking in.
Again, Yeng answered before Jin-Ri could speak. "She is the personal court maiden of Prince Young-Sik! Not only did he give these medicines to her, but since she saved his life, the prince also gave her gold coins—equivalent to—HMPH!"
In a flurry of embarrassment, Jin-Ri quickly covered Yeng's mouth with her hands. "Would you please shush? I don't want anybody to hear about that!" she hissed, desperation creeping into her voice.
But it was too late. Outside the brick hut, one of the chief's men had been lurking, eavesdropping on their conversation. He had witnessed Jin-Ri's arrival, deducing that the court maiden held something of great value. With a sense of urgency, he crept away, intent on reporting his findings to the village chief.
Back inside, Seuk and Dam continued to press Jin-Ri, their voices filled with pride and concern. "Is it true, Jinnie? You saved the prince's life?" they asked, their eyes locked onto her, unaware of the looming danger outside their door.
"I wouldn't say save…more of I informed the guards he was in danger" She explained coupled with some dramatic hand gestures.
"But still if you hadn't done what you did, the prince would have been in such trouble…right?" Dam concluded
Jin-Ri thought about the reality, even asleep the prince could defend himself "Well? I wouldn't say it was such a big trouble"
"Now Jinnie tell me the truth, why would the prince give you all this? Are the two of you…you know" Her mother asked her with a naughty grin on her face.
"What? Mom no…we are not like that…he is just kind" Jin-Ri replied the irritation to her mother's question very much visible. "Besides…I'm just a court maiden, why would he even glance my way, when the daughters of noble families fawn over him"
"Oh hush it, child, status is not everything, if that prince is half as smart as they say he is, he would recognize that you are the best fit for him…I mean you even saved his life. Those noble girls will run at the very thought of danger" Seuk said, expressing his admiration for his daughter
"No more questions, I want the two of you resting, go to your room" She then turned her attention to Yeng "And you...aren't you going home or something?"
"I'm an orphan remember? This is practically my home" Yeng replied "Your Mother practically adopted me, since my folks died"
"Whatever…can you please take my folks to their room and make sure they stay there and sleep" She requested, Yeng led the two elderly couple to the room and stayed there with them. Jin-Ri went straight to work, finishing the laundry, cleaning the house, and preparing their meal.
For the next few days, Jin-Ri worked herself to the bone taking care of her family. Not once did she forget to give their medicines, nor did she let them do any heavy work. Slowly but surely her parents started to regain their strength.
Almost one month has passed and Jin-Ri is happy to see her parents regain their strength. The family was outside their house doing some light work, Jin-Ri was sweeping, Her mother was "I'm happy to see the two of you up and about. I hope when I go back to the palace, you won't forget to take your medicines, both of you" She told her folks.
"Don't worry I will remind them" A male voice chimed in, they all looked for the owner of the voice and they saw Chief Bong and two of his men entering the premises of their home. "I'm a little sad Jin-Ri that you brought something and you are hoarding it," he said, hinting on the fact of the number of coins and valuable medicines that she brought for her parents.
"We don't know what you are talking about, If I would be so rude, my parents need to rest now" Jin-Ri and Yeng helped the couple back to the small hut. A man however blocked the door preventing them from entering.
"What do you want?" Jin-Ri asked the Chief
"What I want is my money" Chief Bong shamelessly told Jin-Ri "Where is my money, little girl?"
"You will have your money, but I'm prioritizing my parents when they are well and I have them moved to a different place…I will pay you," Jin-Ri declared, her voice steady but her heart racing. She held her ground, though fear danced in her eyes. "Now tell your friend to please move out of the way."
A sly smile crept across Chief Bong's face, his voice dripping with greed. "Jin-Ri, my girl, I don't think you remember how this works. You pay me the money you owe me, which now stands at a hundred gold coins."
Jin-Ri's eyes widened in disbelief, the number striking her like a blow. "A hundred? How did you get to that number?"
"It's a penalty amount because you did not pay me, and you did not tell me that you have some money with you," Chief Bong replied, his tone smug.
"I don't have anything with me; you are mistaken," Jin-Ri shot back, glaring defiantly at him. Her mind raced, searching for a way out of this trap.
In a sudden, violent motion, Chief Bong yanked Jin-Ri by her hair, forcing her to meet his predatory gaze. "Look here, child, I know for a fact that you have gold coins amounting to several months of your pay. If you don't give them to me now, I will take your father and mother's medicines and sell them."
"Let her go, you rude old man! You are hurting her!" Yeng, Jin-Ri's loyal friend, rushed forward, attempting to pry the chief's hands from her friend's hair. But Chief Bong's men swiftly wrestled her away, leaving her helpless.
"Wait your turn, Yeng. I also need to have a word with you," he said dismissively, his eyes gleaming with malevolence.
Desperate, Jin-Ri's parents stepped forward. "Chief Bong, please forgive our daughter; we will give you the money," Seuk pleaded, his voice trembling with fear and desperation.
"No!" Jin-Ri protested vehemently, her voice rising. "Those are for you; the prince gave them for you!"
As the chaos unfolded, Dam, Jin-Ri's mother, dashed into their small home and emerged holding a wooden box. With trembling hands, she presented it to one of Chief Bong's men. The man opened the box, and after a brief count, he reported, "Sixteen gold coins, boss."
Il-Sung's eyes sparkled with greed as he shoved Jin-Ri to the ground, his gaze fixated on the box. He swiftly closed it, tucking it beneath his arm. "Since you deceived me, the cost has risen to one hundred and sixteen coins. Consider this your initial payment; you still owe me a hundred coins."
He knelt beside Jin-Ri, a sly grin spreading across his face like a predator closing in on its prey. "I've heard you work directly for the prince. Here's a once-in-a-lifetime offer: I'll look after your parents for, let's say, two months." He glanced at the box, his eyes glinting with avarice. "That should cover it. If you can steal the prince's treasures for me, I can ensure your parents are taken care of indefinitely. I expect the first payment in sixty days. If I don't receive anything, don't be surprised if your parents' health takes a turn for the worse." He rose, chuckling as he and his men departed.
The air thickened with dread as Jin-Ri realized the depths of Chief Bong's greed, the weight of her circumstances pressing down like a storm cloud ready to burst. In that moment, the face of evil was unmistakably clear.