Yom Sang-seop - Three Generations

It was almost noon when the manservant returned empty-handed. Scratching his head, he reported, “People at that house say they don’t know either.”

“A Jo family servant went to your house, didn’t he?” Gyeong-ae asked as soon as she met Byeong-hwa.

“A servant? No. ”

“He came to ask for directions to your house.”

“He didn’t come. Looks like both the master and the servant are vying for my royal robe.”

“Ha, ha. I don’t think so. Anyway, why haven’t you reclaimed the overcoat? This one’s horrible. How much do you need?”

“Can you help me get it back?”

“I can contribute a little.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Overwhelmed by the kindness she showered on him — empty words though they may be — Byeong-hwa couldn’t even joke about it. Suspicions, however, continued to gnaw at Byeong-hwa. He could understand Deok-gi’s kindness since they were close friends, but it was hard to comprehend why Gyeong-ae was so nice to him, even if he was close to Deok-gi and his father. Is it because I’m lucky, and people like helping me?

Gyeong-ae pulled out a wallet from under her belt and took out a five-won note. “I guess this should be enough. If not, can you make up the rest from what you have left over?” Byeong-hwa flatly refused and told her to put it back. He just couldn’t accept her money. Besides, he had pawned the coat for seven won, and after spending some of the money yesterday, he had given the rest, except for some change, to his landlord this morning.

“Don’t be stubborn. Why don’t you give me the pawn ticket?” She leapt to her feet and came closer.

Why is this woman so persistent? She was making him apprehensive.

“We can’t talk here, so let’s go somewhere else. I’d be ashamed if you came along in that coat,” she explained frankly.

“Where are you planning to go? You don’t think I could go anywhere at all? Not even a party?” He stood his ground, but Gyeong-ae grabbed him, put her hand in his coat pocket, and rummaged through it for the ticket.

“What ’s this?” Before Byeong-hwa had a chance to get away from her, she pulled out a letter and tried to see what was written on the envelope. When he attempted to grab it, she hid the letter behind her back and said, “Then give me your ticket. Let’s exchange.”

Byeong-hwa had no choice but to hold out the pawn ticket and swap it for the letter.

He had no intention of hiding the letter from her and had, in fact, been planning to show it to her, but only after teasing her and making her ache to see it.

“Why were you so startled? What is it? A love letter?” No name was written on the envelope.

“Yes, it’s a love letter.”

“Then let’s have a look,” said Gyeong-ae with a fierce look in her eyes.

“I’m not showing it to you precisely because it is a love letter. Why would anyone want to read someone else’s love letter?”

“Then I’ll reclaim the overcoat for you. Why don’t you make yourself spiffy and go see your girlfriend? You won’t get such a great deal anywhere else.” Gyeong-ae seemed to laugh at herself as she went inside with the pawn ticket in hand.

In less than thirty minutes, one of the kitchen servants returned with the recovered overcoat.

“I’m so very obliged. Shall I show you something interesting?” Byeong-hwa asked lightly, as he changed into the new coat.

“Forget it, I’m not the sort of person who reads someone else’s love letter. But I wouldn’t mind seeing the woman who has fallen for you! There’s no need, actually; it’s so obvious.” She turned to the young servant warming himself by the stove and, pointing to the old coat Byeong-hwa had tossed aside, told him, “Why don’t you wear that?”

“Is it for me?” No sooner had she spoken than the youngster picked it up and put his arm through the sleeve.

Byeong-hwa was taken aback. “Whoa! That doesn’t belong to you.” But then he laughed and said, “Forget it! When it gets warm, I’ll take off this one and give it to that manservant.”

“Give me a minute,” Gyeong-ae said. She ran inside and soon returned wearing a Western outfit.

“Where are we headed?”

“Siberia!” Gyeong-ae said as she strode out with Byeong-hwa in her wake.

The proprietor came out at that moment and pleaded with Gyeong-ae to return early.

Gyeong-ae said to Byeong-hwa, “Walk a little with me, will you?”

“Whatever you want.”

It was almost four o’clock in the afternoon, but as it was warmer than the day before, their hands and feet didn’t go numb. Gyeong-ae took the road to Namsan. Byeong-hwa followed her quietly.

“What are you doing these days?” she asked.

“I take naps and pick fights in bars.” Byeong-hwa chuckled. “You have no idea what I do, but you’ll hang around with me anyway, huh?”

Because they’d become friends overnight, he thought it was natural for her not to know what he was up to, but once she knew more about him, she’d be as shocked as a child who had discovered she was playing with dynamite. Then again, she might not mind. After all, she was no ordinary woman.

“How about getting a job somewhere? You wouldn’t be able to find a position with the Government-General of Korea, but what about something along the lines of a clerk or some other position in a county?” Gyeong-ae asked, feigning ignorance.

“Did you drag me out in the cold just to tell me that?”

“Yes. I was thinking of introducing you to an official at the Government-General. That’s why I had that coat recovered.”

“That would be terrific! Is he willing to hire me?”

“Yes.”

“Then what will you expect from me once I get a job? An evangelist woman in our neighborhood received a commission after arranging the delivery of Salvation Army rice for people living in hovels — you know how the Salvation Army distributes rice right before the New Year’s celebration. Are you doing this thinking you’ll get a commission if I get a job?”

“What are you talking about? An evangelist woman. living in hovels. the Salvation Army. rice — what a lot of rubbish! Wouldn’t you like to get a job, get married, and sit in your warm house with your stomach full of hot food?”

“As the saying goes, everything’s ready except one thing — the southeast wind. Anyway, I can’t go along with the idea because I don’t have a bride.” Byeong-hwa laughed it off.

“It’s not so difficult. If you can’t find one, I’ll play at being your bride,” Gyeong-ae kidded him. “Listen” — she addressed him in a low voice and in a masculine manner suitable for bringing up something serious — “Please don’t act as you did yesterday in front of Mr. Jo Sang-hun. It’s natural for rich people to be high-handed. If you find fault with them every time, we’ll get nowhere. I know he says annoying things, but try to brush them off.”

“When will I see him again? If he’s pleasant, I won’t need to say a word. The other day I put up with him only because of Deok-gi,” said Byeong-hwa, though he thought Gyeong-ae was right.

“That ’s not true. You can’t get anywhere with such a confrontational attitude. Just do as I tell you.”

Byeong-hwa perked up. “What do you intend to do?”

“Nothing right away. But having ended up like this because I was blinded by money, I’ll have to get some cash and settle things one way or another. From now on we shouldn’t give him the impression that you and I are on friendly terms. Please be careful.”

“What did I do?” Byeong-hwa whined. “And just where are you taking me now? It’s cold out here. Do we really have to climb against the brutal wind of the Namsan valley just to discuss such things?”