Episode 238: School starts. (5)
“Hiccup!”
When the container of takju that the eunuch had brought was emptied and the new takju that had been brought was about 1/3 empty, Mr. Chu finally could not overcome the alcohol and began to hiccup.
Hyang smiled at the sight, and the eunuch who was watching the scene from the side broke into a cold sweat.
‘I feel it sometimes, but I am truly a scary person!’
While working with Mr. Chu, the scent was truly clever. It seemed like they emptied their glasses the same way, but the amount they drank was only 2/3 of Mr. Chu’s.
However, even if it was 2/3, the amount was considerable, and no intoxicating scent could be found in the face of the fragrance.
‘After all, you can’t deceive bloodlines?’
Taejo Lee Seong-gye was a strong drinker.
Alcohol was always consumed at royal events, and the alcohol used at such events was strong soju.
Therefore, being strong at drinking was one of the qualities a king should have.
And in that regard, the scent showed definite qualities.
Anyway, after seeing that Mr. Chu’s guard was down due to the alcohol, Hyang slowly proceeded with the work.
“So what is your name?”
“Ji name you? Just call me Mr. Chu. “What are you going to do with the name of a lowly farmer?”
“I just wanted to know.”
Mr. Chu, who had opened his eyes and looked at Hyang in response to Hyang’s words, answered.
“One hiccup! “Say it’s Hansu.”
“Hansoo is a good name. “Let’s have another drink.”
After feeding Hansoo another bowl of takju, Hyang asked what he was really curious about.
“But Hansu, why didn’t you send your children to school?”
“Hiccup! ah! “I’m sending it to you!”
“What you’re sending from now on is sending it. Why haven’t you sent it until now?”
In response to Hyang’s question, Hansoo lifted the glass in front of him and emptied it in one go. Hyang saw that and quickly filled her glass.
After emptying three glasses in succession, Hansu exhaled harshly and opened his mouth.
“Pooh~. Crown Prince Nari. “What do the children of those who eat rice fields and pancakes the size of your palms do by learning to read?”
“Do you know anything? “I’m good at writing, so I wonder if I can do government work?”
“Fuhahaha!”
Hansoo laughed out loud at Hyang’s words and waved his hand.
“As expected, hiccup! Crown Prince Nari doesn’t know anything about the world… Hiccup! Pooh~. “You don’t know.”
“You don’t know how the world works?”
“Pooh~. Confucius said, Mencius said, “Hiccup!” “Do you know how expensive a book is?”
“Ah…”
In response to Hansoo’s question, Hyang let out a short moan.
* * *
Although there were metal movable types, books were expensive items in Joseon as well as Goryeo. This was because the type used to fill the contents of the book were Chinese characters.
Chinese characters, which are ideograms, had to be typed one by one.
Although the county created a rotary printing method in which text was engraved page by page on a cylinder made of steel and printed, the only books printed this way were those used in social democratic schools.
In the end, books were still expensive items.
It was so expensive that books like University and The Mean cost two or three thousand pounds of rice.
In other words, to buy one book, you had to spend the produce of 2 to 3 rice fields. (Note 1)
* * *
Hansu, who saw Hyang’s expression, continued speaking with a sad expression on his face.
“Hiccup! Pooh! You are the one. Even if it looks like this, hiccup! I mean. When I was young, I was a prodigy! I heard a sound. Do you know how much I loved it with my dad and my tusker? pooh! But what happens when the child of a family who makes a living by farming hears that he is a prodigy? Hiccup!”
“well?”
When Hyang pretended not to notice, Hansu raised his voice.
“The landowner’s family killed my uncle! “The landowner scolded me for not being as good as me!”
“Oh my! “Tsk, tsk….”
When the scent hit his tongue, Hansoo beat his chest and burst out in rage.
“Those guys who don’t even have blood on their heads! Hiccup! I’m upset that they got scolded! You ruined my dad! “What crime did my father commit?”
Hyang, who was heartbroken by Hansoo’s cries, emptied his glass in one go.
Still, the stuffy scent made me empty three glasses in a row.
“Lowering. “You’re eating too quickly.”
Upon hearing the words of the eunuch who came next to her, Hyang glared at the eunuch.
“Would you be exhausted if you didn’t drink it?”
“….”
The eunuch kept his mouth shut in response to Hyang’s question.
* * *
Hyang, who relieved herself of her tight stomach with takju, asked Hansu.
“No matter how common it is, it is illegal to recklessly use violence against an innocent person. Did you tell the coffin?”
“Phew!”
Hansoo burst out laughing, emptied his glass and looked at the scent.
“lily. Pooh! Jigayu. Daughter! It may seem like a boast, but I say, ‘I live without the law.’ The words… Hiccup! I heard. But… pooh! “In my life, I have seen that there are two types of people who live without the law.”
“Two types?”
“yes. One is a guy who gets away with ignoring the law. One is a guy who ignores the law. Hiccup! In your opinion, which side do you think you are?”
“….”
Hyang couldn’t answer and emptied his glass. Hansoo grinned at that sight, emptied his glass together, and continued talking.
“Guys like you guys ignore the law.”
“Shouldn’t we learn hard to avoid being in that situation?”
“Nigimi…” As
Hansu swore, the eunuch next to him screamed.
“Yes you bastard!”
“stop.”
When Hyang raised his hand to block Nae Gwan, Nae Gwan said to Hyang.
“Lowering! That lowly bastard….”
“He’s drunk. I was just drunk and angry. “Just stay still.”
“Yes…”
The eunuch’s face was full of dissatisfaction, but he had to step back.
Hyang filled Hansu’s glass with takju and spoke again.
“Of course, I know nothing, but wouldn’t it be better to have them study?”
Hansu shook his head sharply at Hyang’s words.
“lily! What did you say earlier? Books are expensive every month, so you’re telling me to study? Pooh! As I said before, I know because I heard you are a map prodigy. Learning academics is like drinking salt water. If you drink salt water, you will feel thirsty and look for water, right? The same goes for learning. I’m so excited to learn more! Then, will the roots of the pillar be uprooted?”
“But if you have learning, isn’t it possible to appeal to the law when something unfair happens?”
Hansu pounded his heart at Hyang’s words.
“Mom! It’s stuffy! Even if there is a law code, who makes the decisions! People are stupid! “Then whose side do you think you’ll take?”
“….”
Hyang closed his mouth once again. Hansoo continued speaking while beating his chest.
“You guys like me! There is no need for laws or anything! You just have to lie flat on your face to survive! The only way to survive is if you take out everything, including the liver and gallbladder, and lie face down in leaden porridge without even the disgusting stomach! I guess you just have to give up everything you have to give up and live! Hiccup! But what! If young people only know a few lines of Confucius, it won’t work! You can either waste your time by showing off your success in the civil service examination, or after completing the military service, go to the north and become a target for the arrows of the Yeojin bastards! Hiccup! I’ll be glad if that happens! “If you argue for no reason, your hair will fly off!”
“….”
In the end, Hyang, who was left speechless by Hansoo’s words, had no choice but to empty his glass again.
“is it? Right. “Would you like a drink?”
After that, Hyang and Hansu diligently emptied their glasses.
Hansu, who was completely drunk, continued to beat his chest and vent his anger, and Hyang shook his head and accepted what he said.
In the meantime, the naekwan had to buy another container of takju.
After some time, Hansoo, unable to overcome his drunkenness, collapsed while holding his drink.
“Pooh~. Pooh~.”
Hyang, who had emptied his glass for the last time, stood up while looking at Hansoo who had fallen asleep while gulping down the alcohol.
As soon as the scent came down from the table, Hansu’s wife, who had been restless, rushed over and fell face down on the ground.
“I spoke nonsense because of alcohol, so please forgive Jiabi.”
Hyang smiled and responded to his wife’s plea.
“I didn’t hear anything bad. I only heard lamentations about my situation. Your friend seems very drunk, so please bring him inside. “Wouldn’t it be a big deal if I got caught?”
“yes? yes! “It’s a lock!”
At Hyang’s words, Hansu’s wife called her eldest son. Jangsoi, who bowed deeply to Hyang, lifted Hansu up, knocked him over, and carried him to his room.
Hyang, who was watching this with a smile, looked back at the inner coffin.
“Give me your wallet.”
“yes.”
When the eunuch politely held out his wallet, Hyang took out a 1-nyang silver bill and handed it to his wife.
“Tomorrow, I’ll cook some hangover soup and feed it to you.”
“Such a large amount of money! “I really don’t know what to do with myself!”
“Raise your children well.”
After giving his wife a good word, Hyang turned around.
“Today, I will have to take on the role of a guest house in this county.”
“I’ve already connected.”
“Good job. And…”
Hyang lowered his voice.
“Be careful not to spread unnecessary words.”
At the warning of the scent, the eunuch immediately lowered his head.
“yes.”
The next morning, Hyang woke up early in the home of Hyang Joo-hyeon and headed to Han-su’s house with his companions.
“Did you sleep well? “Are you okay inside?”
In response to Hyang’s question, Hansoo fell flat on the floor and answered in a trembling voice.
“You committed a deadly sin yesterday!”
“crime? “What crime?”
Hyang smiled mischievously and looked back at the eunuch standing next to him.
“Do you know?”
“I don’t know.”
“I heard that’s true? ah! I made a promise! Starting today, I will send your children to school. “Did you prepare it?”
“yes? yes!”
After hearing Hansoo’s answer, Hyang looked away.
Next to Hansu and his wife, the three brothers were also lying on the ground, just watching.
“You guys have to study hard! For your parents, for yourselves, and finally for this Joseon. got it?”
“Yes mama!”
When Jangsoi, the eldest, answered loudly, Hyang, who was looking at him with a happy face, spoke to Hansoo.
“Trust me Abama. “I’m sorry that this is all I can say right now.”
“Oh no!”
“Then, good luck.”
After saying goodbye to Hansoo, Hyang stopped by Joo Joo-hyeon Social Democratic School to encourage the teachers.
Finally, Hyang visited Joohyeon Jo’s spirit and praised him, then looked back at his companions.
“Return to the palace!”
“yes!”
* * *
“Soja is back.”
When it was announced that the scent had returned, King Sejong greeted it with a happy face.
“Good work. So, how was it?”
The appeal did not come only from Bishop Johyeon.
Complaints with similar content came from all over Joseon, and King Sejong had to suffer from stress.
“Why on earth?”
In the end, Hyang, who couldn’t see this, made the move himself.
The reason why Joohyeon was chosen was because it was the first place that came up.
‘If I stopped him from going to school for an unbecoming reason, I would throw Chidogon out!’
It was the scent that went down with this decision.
Hyang smiled and answered Sejong’s question.
“I met a good teacher.”
“huh? “A good teacher?”
When Sejong became curious, Hyang reported the story with Hansu.
“Huh!”
When Hyang’s long story ended, King Sejong let out an exclamation.
“It is said that Saminhaengpilyuasaeon (三人行必有我師焉)! You met a good teacher! I got a good teacher! “What do you think?”
Lee Jik stepped forward and answered Sejong’s question.
“He said he was just a farmer, but his words are full of wisdom.”
Following the transfer, the sentencing judge continued.
“That’s right. When making a ruling, ‘even if there is a law code, the ruling is made by people.’ We must take these words to heart and ensure that no one is wronged.”
“It is indeed so. And…”
Sejong paused for a moment and continued with a look of sincere admiration.
“’Learning is like someone who drank salt water looking for water. The more I learn, the more I want to learn.’ Isn’t this the correct attitude of someone who practices learning? “I think it is our job to quench this thirst of the people.”
“It is so!”
“Then let’s think of a plan.”
“I follow your orders!”
The ministers answered with one voice.
Even the ministers had no reason to object.
One of the ideals of Neo-Confucianism was to educate the people. There was also something for the people to learn through such edification.
Therefore, the ministers participated enthusiastically.
Two things came out at the end of that meeting.
One was to make it mandatory to send children to social democratic schools.
The world’s first compulsory education and the world’s first free education were implemented, making it something that must be done rather than just recommended.
Second, a scholarship system was created for students studying at middle school from difficult families.
As this system was created, many historians later had to hold their hair and suffer from hair loss. And the number of people looking for the mastermind on the Korean Internet has increased.
* * *
Note 1) History of books and knowledge during the Joseon Dynasty. Written by Kang Myeong-gwan. A Thousand Years of Imagination.
http://books.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/01/04/2014010400558.html
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