Escaping the Place!

Yoon Shik was translating the scripts sitting on the wooden stool and has many books on the table and three lanterns over it. Jang Shiwo was checking a patient who was laid down on a bedstead there.

"You have to take these herbs and these pills for a week. Then you will be fine," said Shiwo to the patient. The patient thanked him and took out money to pay but Shiwo refused saying that he treats patients for free. The man again expressed his gratitude and left the place.

After Shiwo was done checking the patient he came towards Yoon Shik. "Hani isn't home till now," murmured Shiwo with a worried look. Yoon Shik closed the book when she entered there.

"Appa (father), sorry I got late. I was with my friend," said Hani and sat on the bedstead there. Shiwo and Yoon Shik smiled seeing this. She drank the water from the pot there placed beside the bedstead.

"You should not roam all alone. Come at home from tomorrow else I will not let you go out," stated Jang Shiwo and sat beside her. He has slight anger and worriedness in his tone.

"Abeoji, is saying right. Come home early from tomorrow," murmured Yoon and continued writing.

"Okay. I will not stay out for long. Let me prepare dinner for us," said Hani and ran inside the kitchen. Yoon Shik smiled hearing this while Jang Shiwo turned to Yoon. "Your exam is next week. Hope you are fully prepared," said Shiwo.

"Yes. I am well prepared," stated Yoon, still writing on the notebook. Shiwo got up from the bedstead and went near Yoon. He started preparing for the ink for Yoon Shik when Yoon said, "Abeoji, I will do it myself. You should take rest."

"Let me do it, son. When you will pass this exam then you will go to the academy for a year or maybe more. I will not be able to do this then," said Shiwo and prepared the ink in a while.

"Abeoji, I heard that they give leave too. I will come to meet you two then," stated Yoon with a smile. Jang Shiwo smiled looking at Yoon. "Your mother will be happy when you will qualify this exam. Nine years passed like nothing. You have put your entire childhood in these books." Yoon Shik raised his head to look at his father who had tears in his eyes.

Putting the brush down Yoon Shik looked at his father. "You will be happy too. You also want me to be a Scholar, isn't it?" asked Yoon. Shiwo nodded and then patted on Yoon's shoulder.

The talks between father and son were interrupted when Hani shouted from the kitchen. "You two are enjoying the talks without me. This is not fair." Jang Shiwo shook his head and then walked towards the kitchen while Yoon Shik took the books inside the house to his room.

Yoon Shik was transcribing the third book when Hani knocked at the door. "Oppa, dinner is prepared. Come quickly because I am very hungry," said Hani with a tiny smile on her lips. Yoon Shik closed the books and then walked out of his room to eat the dinner.

As they started eating, Hani looked at Yoon. "Orabani, after you will qualify the exam then I will work for oldie." Jang Shiwo hit Hani's head lightly. "He is much older than you. Call him Ahjussi," said Jang Shiwo.

"Be respectful to Ahjussi Baek. Well, you will not work there. Academy gives you payment every month if you qualify the civil services exam," asserted Yoon.

"Orabani, but I get bored here. I love to narrate stories to women who cannot read," said Hani. Yoon Shik looked at her. "Fine, you can do that as you have grown up now," stated Yoon. Hani got happy hearing this and put more food in Yoon Shik's bowl. "Hani," mumbled Yoon and then laughed.

"Orabani should eat more. Hehe," murmured Hani and smiled. Yoon Shik smiled seeing her smiling. After he did his dinner he returned back to his room and studied till late for the upcoming exam.

The next day, Yoon Shik was working in the restaurant when Baek Chun called for him. Yoon stopped working and went towards Baek's place. Baek was talking with a customer so Yoon waited for him. After he was done talking Baek Chun turned to Yoon.

"Since you are giving the civil services exam this year so I am granting you leave till your exam. I hope you will crack that exam despite the chances are low. But because it is nine years of hard work, so I think you will make it," asserted Baek Chun and smiled.

Yoon Shik hearing this got delighted and hugged Baek Chun tightly. "I will definitely crack this exam, Ahjussi," said Yoon Shik. Baek Chun smiled hearing this and thought when this 10 years old kid became a 19 year old man.

Yoon Shik happily returned home and greeted Jang Shiwo who was treating some patients and walked towards his room.

~~~~~~~~

Hani was roaming in the market with Bon Hwa while talking with each other. "Now my brother is good with me. But he was saying that you were lucky that Yeong Orabani is of peaceful nature. If there would be some other man then you were over because even if he would not be able to help you in that situation," said Bon Hwa.

Hani put her hands behind her back.

"My brother has taught me how to fight with bad people. Don't worry about that. Moreover, it was not a big deal," murmured Hani. She started walking backwards. "Bon, it is not like he would have died by eating those spices. Well, now I think I should have given those chilies to that guy who was saying that he will punish me," stated Hani.

"Hani, walk straight. You'll get injured." Bon Hwa instructed her but she did not listen. "Ahh, it's the oldie's restaurant. Let's go inside and eat there," murmured Hani happily and ran inside. Bon Hwa followed her.

Baek Chun ignored Hani when she stepped in front of him. He immediately looked at his ledger book. "So, you are ignoring me," said Hani. Bon Hwa stood beside her.

Baek Chun coughed, raised his eyes to look at them and said, "I was not ignoring you. I was busy calculating the amount."

"Where is Orabani?" asked Hani looking around and saw the restaurant was packed with customers. "Ahh, I told him not to come till his exam." Baek Chun answered.

"Well, you have to give me 200 cents more. One more thing I heard about you," muttered Baek Chun. Hani started laughing and said, "oldie...sorry, I mean Ahjussi you are nagging so much. I already gave you 300 cents. Wait for a few days more and give us a free meal today. You never gave us free meals."

"Hehehe. I got to know that you put the chilies in a Yangban classman tea. You should be lucky that your family did not get involved, else you all have lost your lives," said Baek Chun in a quite serious tone. Bon Hwa got scared hearing this, so was Hani.

"Such thing happen?" Hani questioned.

"Yes. Because he is an upperclassmen," murmured Bon Hwa. Baek Chun agreed with her. "Do not ever do such pranks. With us, it is fine but not everyone is good." Baek Chun cautioned her. "Sit over there, I am sending meals for you both," muttered Baek Chun and walked away from there.

Hani looked at Bon Hwa with a smile and they took their seats on the last table. "Well, my brother has agreed on my work. I can again start that profession of telling stories." Hani told Bon Hwa.

"Your brother is so nice," said Bon Hwa. The meals were served to them and they started eating. Hani was smiling when her eyes fell on Do Yeong, Sunwo and Sung Tae. She immediately put her palm on her face, trying to hide herself from their sight.

"Bon, your brother is here. Go away," whispered Hani. Bon looked back and immediately turned her head. "Okay, I am going," whispered Bon Hwa and cautiously sneaked out from there without coming into Sunwo's glances. Hani through the small opening of her fingers saw them.

"Oh no," murmured Hani and turned her head back so that they could not notice her. Sunwo was fanning himself when he looked at Hani's back. He observed her clothes. "Sangmins can also enter here?" Sunwo asked from his friends, turning his face to them.

Yeong looked at Hani but saw her back only. "I think she is quite rich Sangmin, that's why she is eating here." Yeong gave his reason.

"The only Sangmin I am recalling right now is that arrogant man. My blood boils whenever I see him. I thought by tearing his books nine years ago, I have taught him a good lesson but I met him a few days ago. He has the same attitude as he had nine years ago," muttered Sung Tae and gritted his teeth. Yeong looked at Sung Tae but did not say anything.

"I think they will not leave. I have to leave from here before anyone among them notices me. Oh no, my free meal." Hani felt bad and got up quietly from her seat when one of the workers of the restaurant came to her.

"Ahjussi has told us to get 200 cents from you today." Lee Wan told her.

"Tell him that I will give him in the evening," whispered Hani and stepped ahead.

"You have already made him wait for a year," stated Lee Wan. Hani looked back and whispered, "Lee, I do not have money with me right now. I have to go urgently somewhere." Hani tried escaping from there but it was in vain as Lee did not let her go. The people there turned their eyes to her.

"No, you have to give today else he will fire me," stated Lee. Hani got nervous as she did not want Yeong, Sunwo and Sung Tae to catch her again. She joined her hands in front of him but did not listen to her.

"Here, take this pouch. It has 200 cents in it. Take it and tell Baek Chun to clear her amount," said a voice. Hani turned back to see the familiar voice and was startled to see the man.