Chapter 08
His mother, who had been silently watching Lee Seo, had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position in one corner of the room. Lee Seo took out a blanket and covered her, then suddenly remembered the red beans he had left on the fire and hurried out.
Fortunately, the heat hadn’t been too strong—the beans were cooked just right. Softer and better than when he usually stood by the pot, anxiously stirring to keep them from burning.
What’s the point of that!
Everything felt futile. No matter how hard he tried, it felt as though fate existed only to drag him down into ruin. Meanwhile, time passed indifferently, and the eastern sky was beginning to grow faintly bright.
Normally, this would be the hour he woke early to prepare dough for sweets and steam rice flour for rice cakes. But now, he sat blankly in front of the pot full of red beans.
“Ah—huh? Young master, why are you like this?”
Eonnyeon, who had arrived early, greeted him. Meeting the child’s clear, innocent eyes, Lee Seo slowly rose to his feet.
If he gave up here, what would happen to Samdeuk and Eonnyeon? They were diligent and hardworking—they would survive anywhere—but they would not escape hardship. Not that he could honestly say he had given them an easy life even now.
Gently patting Eonnyeon’s head, he asked,
“Have you eaten breakfast?”
“I had some scorched rice soup before coming. Hehe. What kind of sweets are you making today?”
Though she had just eaten, Eonnyeon swallowed at the sight of the well-cooked beans.
“Shall I make you some delicious cloud rice cakes?”
“Huh?”
Her eyes widened. The young master’s rice cakes were always delicious, but something sounded strange. Not ‘shall I try making them?’ but ‘shall I make them for you?’
“There’s plenty of red beans, so maybe some musiru tteok… and shall we make some songpyeon too?”
“Wow! That sounds so good!”
The child’s face lit up. It weighed on him that he had only ever sent her on errands and never let her eat sweets freely. Once he sold the shop to repay his older brother’s debt, he might not even be able to give her a broken piece of yakgwa.
Since it had come to this, perhaps it would be good to make one last batch of delicious rice cakes and sweets to share with those he was grateful to.
A faint smile appeared on Lee Seo’s face.
Soon, the savory scent of steaming rice cakes spread through the market street. Passersby glanced toward Lee Seo’s shop as they walked by. The shop that usually opened first remained closed longer than usual today.
And yet such a mouthwatering smell!
Even the merchants resolved that once the doors opened, they would rush in to buy at least a piece. But though the fragrance filled the street, the doors remained shut.
By the time Ho-yeon appeared, people who could no longer endure the smell had begun lining up in front of the shop.
A line in front of a tightly closed door! People of all kinds stood waiting—from noblemen in gat hats to servants sent on errands. Though one might expect someone to pull rank, everyone quietly kept their place, staring at the door. Ho-yeon let out a small, incredulous laugh.
Watching the line grow longer, he eventually joined it himself. Still, the door did not open.
“That’s strange. It should have opened by now.”
“Exactly. At this hour, most things would already be sold out!”
“Is the young master unwell?”
“Don’t say such unlucky things! Can’t you smell it? The whole street smells of rice cakes—there’s no way he’s sick!”
As the murmurs grew louder, the wooden door finally swung open with a loud clatter.
People who had expected the usual cheerful “Welcome!” froze at Lee Seo’s different demeanor.
“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. Instead, today I will not take payment and will give these sweets freely to all who came. Thank you for visiting Iseodang until now.”
Seeing his swollen eyes—clearly from crying—the crowd began to murmur.
“Shopkeeper, has something happened?”
At the question, Lee Seo gave a faint smile. His eyes looked as though tears might fall at any moment, making the forced smile all the more pitiful.
“I have circumstances that require me to sell the shop. Today, I wanted to express my gratitude to those who have visited. Please take plenty—but keep your place in line.”
With that, he began handing out pre-packaged sweets and rice cakes.
At the news, Ho-yeon’s brow furrowed, his fists clenching and unclenching.
He wanted to rush forward and ask what was wrong, but there were too many people. More than half the rumors surrounding him had been spread by himself to trouble his father, but now those very rumors prevented him from approaching Lee Seo. If he did, Lee Seo might be dragged into something unpleasant.
For example—being rumored to be the new lover of Kwon Ho-yeon, the so-called deviant.
Ho-yeon was neither that nor anything else—but when it came to Lee Seo, he felt strangely unsettled.
That smooth, pale forehead. That straight nose. Those clear eyes. He still couldn’t explain what he had felt in that moment.
And the thought that he might never see him again unsettled him even more.
They could hardly be called acquaintances—so how had things come to this? He felt anger at the thought of not seeing Lee Seo again, mixed with confusion.
Before he knew it, the line had shortened, and it was his turn.
Recognizing him, Lee Seo offered a troubled smile and handed him a bundle of sweets—and quietly slipped him a small pouch.
“I will return the money you gave me yesterday. I did not expect things to turn out this way. I’m sorry.”
Ho-yeon’s expression hardened as he accepted it. If he took this, he might never see Lee Seo again.
The sweets had been the best he had ever tasted. As for the money—it meant little to him.
“Is it money?”
Lee Seo’s hands paused. As expected, it was a financial matter.
“How much do you need?”
Only after speaking did Ho-yeon realize how strange it sounded.
A customer and a shopkeeper who had met only once—and the customer was the notorious Kwon Ho-yeon. Nothing he said could sound pure.
Flustered, he added quickly,
“No—I mean, this money means nothing to me. If you need it, I could lend it—”
“Thank you for your offer, but I’m fine.”
His voice was calm but firm.
Ho-yeon studied his face—there was no sign of avoidance, no discomfort. Just sadness.
He didn’t know whether to feel relieved or troubled.
If Lee Seo had rejected him outright, he could have simply stayed away. But instead, the young shopkeeper remained upright and proper, guided by principle.
This is troublesome.
If Lee Seo had simply accepted the money, their connection would have ended neatly. But now, Ho-yeon found himself unwilling to step back.
“Very well.”
With a gentle smile, he stepped aside. He couldn’t keep the others waiting.
Besides, he didn’t want Lee Seo entangled in his reputation.
Turning away without hesitation, Ho-yeon disappeared into the alley—
after carefully noting the location of the shop.
At the entrance of the market street stood a broker’s shop, so inconspicuous it could easily be missed. Its worn wooden door and scuffed threshold spoke of an owner too lazy to maintain it.
Catching his foot on the oddly high threshold, Ho-yeon frowned at the dim, messy interior.
Is he trying to run a business or not?
“What brings you here?”
A dark figure stirred in the corner. The disheveled owner rose, rubbing his messy hair.
“I have something to ask.”
“Oh! Welcome!”
After sizing him up, the man recognized him and bowed repeatedly.
“What are you looking for? Not long ago, the Minister of Justice purchased fertile land beyond the hill—”
Ho-yeon’s expression hardened at the mention of his father. The man hoarded wealth obsessively—buying land, extorting money, chasing women.
Seeing his expression, the broker became even more obsequious.
“My apologies! Please, sit. Let me bring tea—”
“No need. Tell me—has a shop called Iseodang in the market been listed?”
The man’s eyes flickered.
“Are you interested in that shop?”
“Yes. No matter the price—I’ll buy it.”
