Eun’s diary

Spring is coming to an end. I’m gonna miss it. Glad my wife and I had a nice picnic up in the mountains yesterday with our son, we got a chance to enjoy the last of the cherry blossoms right before they disappear for the rest of the year. We had so much fun, I’m happy I was able to give my wife a bit of rest – she fell asleep right after lunch so I brought Ho with me and walked around a bit to give her some peace. Ho’s been behaving well lately and has shown interest in literally everything, but especially trees – he’s always fascinated by trees, the way its branches sways in the wind, the way the flower petals fall like snowflakes, the way the leaves grow and shines under the beautiful sunlight. I guess it’s a good thing we’re living in the forest and our son will be able to grow up in an environment surrounded by nature. My birthday’s around the corner, my wife did ask what I wanted to get this year and frankly I can’t think of anything. I indeed have changed a lot in the past year, if I were my old self I would’ve asked for something…well…materialistic.

Anyway, our ship from Goryeo is due to dock later this afternoon and I hope I’ll be able to get some good news about Old Gu’s son from a friend of mine. I know Old Gu didn’t talk about the matter ever since he asked me the favour but still, I know he misses his son badly and any form of news will bring him much ease in the heart.

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‘You asked to see me, Captain?’

(Eun pokes his head into Captain’s office after a polite knock)

‘Ah yes! Our ship “THE HAWK” has docked just now.’

‘I am quite aware, Captain, I have vacant a storeroom for its goods and my men are on their way to unload the ship now.’

‘I need you to do something for me, will you, Hyun-ah?’

‘Anything, Captain.’

‘You see, I didn’t know he’d be coming but the men of THE HAWK just notified me that in 3 days’ time, THE Head Merchant of the Eastern Silk Trading company will be stopping by our island for a night’s stay.’

‘The Head Merchant of the Eastern Silk, so it would be Mr. Chong you’re talking about?’

‘I see you’ve heard about him before.’

‘Quite so. His merchant line is 3 times longer than ours and he travels to the great west on a yearly basis. I heard he’s got a great business mind and has been to many places himself.’

(In truth, Eun heard all this from his old friend Yixing who’s also in the trading industry.)

‘Exactly. Anyway, it’ll be an opportunity too good to miss. I’ve already sought approval from the board members and they all agreed to have some sort of partnership established between Mr. Chong’s and our merchant line.’

‘I’ve heard he’s a rather difficult man though, Captain, what can WE offer to him that will make him accept our deal? In fact, what deal are we talking about?’

‘Smart lad! That’s your task! I’m no good with thinking and I really don’t know how to impress that gentleman, but if there’s anyone who can give it a shot it’ll be you.’

‘But-’

‘You never know if you’ll miss the deer until you shoot that arrow, lad, and I see you’ve got some great little brain cells! Give it a shot, it won’t hurt. Even leaving a good impression will do.’

‘Well…’

‘It’s set then! In 3 days’ time, he’ll be staying over at the Seaside Inn and I’ll arrange a meeting for you with him there. And of course, you can enjoy staying overnight there as well – I’ll get it all covered. I’m gonna get you the second best room there is in the entire inn, the first reserved for Mr. Chong of course.’

‘Well…I will try my best I suppose, Captain, since you’ve put such great faith in me…but I really cannot guarantee anything. I’m no good with words…’

(The captain gives Eun a huge pat on the back)

‘Humility doesn’t suit you, Hyun-ah. Anyway, I’ve got to go to another meeting now, come find me if you need to know more about Mr. Chong and his business, I’d be more than happy to let you know.’

(Captain leaves the room, Eun sighs in silence)

‘Well I suppose it’s not so bad…if only it didn’t fall on my birthday…I wanna be with Soondeok on my special day…oh well, if I can get this deal signed, I guess I’ll get a raise too! Then Soondeok’ll be so happy!~’

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‘Yoosung-ah!’

‘Hyun-ah! It’s been a while!’

(The two men hugged – in a manly manner)

‘I see you’re still quite busy at the moment, Yoosung-ah.’

‘No, not at all, I’m just finishing things off. Say, why don’t we grab a drink now?’

‘I wish I could but I’ve got to rush back home after work…I’ve got a son to take care of.’

‘Ah yes! So I’ve heard! Well, since I’ll be staying for quite a few days, we can grab a drink some other time. I should buy your son a nice gift too~’

‘Please, that wouldn’t be necessary bro.’

‘Of course I have to! You were my best buddy during our hard training days, remember? The only one here on the ship with the same age as myself. Oh, by the way, I did what you asked me to do.’

‘You did? Did you find them then?’

(The friend’s face dimmed instantly)

‘Yes…it’s not a piece of news you’ll like to hear though. Goryeo has changed a lot over the past few months, the new king has gone insane…I’m afraid the person you’ve asked me to find has already been…er…executed.’

‘E…executed? You sure?!’

‘Carpenter Gu got executed for disagreeing with the Head Architect who was in charge of building the new palace for the king. His entire family got arrested, so I heard, they probably survived but most likely will be sold as slaves.’

‘So…so you’re saying that…Carpenter Gu and his entire family…got…wiped out? That’s impossible! How can that be?!’

‘Men had their entire family slaughtered for reasons much less – if reasons were provided at all, right now in Goryeo the only way to stay alive is to act like the dead.’

‘Oh dear…are you sure? You can’t…can’t have mistaken him with another person, right? No, you must have. There’s no way Old Gu’s son will have to endure all this, he’s a talented craftsman! He even worked for the King of Tamra!’

‘It’s for that exact reason I was certain it was the same guy. Hyun-ah…you remember how I wished I’ll be deployed to work in Goryeo after our training ended? Well now, I reckoned I have made a grave mistake. Goryeo is a country I do not wish to return to, at least not with this king still waving his sword about. Our company has planned to stop all trading activities there after summer.’

(A long silence)

‘Thank you, nevertheless, for bringing me this news…’

‘Aigoo, don’t feel too bad lad. We should count our blessings since we’re not born into the royal family of Goryeo. Can you imagine?! Getting your entire family killed off just because your half-brother became king? Or having to be exiled just because one of your relatives said something bad about the king? What has our world become?! These days it’s better off being hungry and poor I suppose…no wait, that wouldn’t make any difference now that I think of it. As long as you’re a man, there’s a chance that you’ll one day be dragged by the royal guards into forced labour to help that crazy king build his lovely palace.’

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‘Darling, you alright?’

(Seeing how Eun’s been sitting outside for such a long time – way past midnight – Soondeok finally walks out of the cabin to have a chat with him)

‘Darling! You crying?! There there, let me wipe those tears off of your handsome face…what’s the matter, Oppa? Something bad happened at work today?’

‘D…Deok ah…’

‘I’m listening.’

‘I’m so glad we died in Goryeo, I’m so glad we got out of that hell before it’s too late.’

‘What do you mean, Oppa?’

(Eun takes a deep breath, trying to suppress his emotions)

‘My friend…the friend I told you about…my buddy during my training…’

‘Yes, I remember him, you told me he’s working in Goryeo’s branch now. What about him?’

‘I met him today. I asked him to look for Old Gu’s son since Old Gu’s been worried about him…and today he brought the news…’

‘Oh dear. The news must’ve been…bad…’

‘How should I tell them, Deok ah? I can’t possibly let them know. It’ll break their hearts.’

‘So…his son really…’

‘The king got rid of him, his wife and children enslaved, his body showcased in the marketplace under broad daylight. Just because…just because of that stupid new palace of the king.’

‘That…that’s terrible…Oh Oppa, how shocked you must’ve been, having to hear that news.’

(Eun takes hold of Soondeok’s hands and looks into her eyes)

‘We will not tell them, Deok ah, swear to me you will not let the Gu’s know!’

‘Of course we won’t tell them, we can’t afford to break their hearts…but…would that really be the right thing for us to do, Oppa?’

‘It has to be the right thing for us to do! It’s better for them to not know where their son is and keep hoping one day he’ll return than to just tell them all hope’s lost! Poor Mrs. Gu, I can’t imagine how hard it’ll hit her if she is to find out…and Old Gu, he may try to act strong for his wife but that old man’s heart is more fragile than a straw of hay!’

‘We’ll have to be extra good to them now…but not too much, or they’ll suspect we know something they don’t.’

‘We’ll do what we always do, Deok ah, be with them and make them laugh all day, let them play with Ho and have meals together more often…Let them be so happy that they won’t have time to think about their son…’

‘What about their other children? Aren’t they in Goryeo as well?’

‘If they keep their heads low…if they leave that country before it’s too late…perhaps they’ll return one day.’

(Eun fists his chest)

‘I can hardly breathe, Deok ah, I hate how I share half the blood as that monster on the throne now…I hate how I was the lucky one who got out while others suffered. I hate how I stayed alive while mother and aunt…while the rest of my family…faced a horrible end.’

‘Oh Oppa…don’t feel sorry for staying alive! Don’t you ever think that! Think about me! Think about our son!’

‘When will this nightmare end, Deok ah? When will I no longer be haunted by regrets and shame? When will I no longer…blame myself for staying alive?’

(Soondeok lets Eun cry on her shoulder)

‘There there…cry all you want, Oppa, let it all out. I didn’t know…I didn’t know you felt this way… Don’t blame yourself…it was never for us to decide anyway – our fate, and others’.’

‘What if Goryeo attacks Tamra? What if they come and find us? Deok ah, what if they take Ho and-’

‘I will never let that happen, Oppa, just as I got us out of that mess back then, I’ll protect us again if it ever happens. Our son must stay alive, no matter what. But let’s not make our hearts be filled with uncertainties. You need a good night’s sleep, that’s what you need right now.’

‘I doubt I’ll be able to tonight…’

 

‘Then I’ll stay up with you the entire night. Here, give me your hand, let’s head back inside, love.’