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Jungkook lost his appetite the second his father began to reproach him for the umpteenth time for his lack of skills.
The Jeon household couldn't go a day without the merchant yelling at breakfast. By sheer luck the saucers in front of the man didn't fly into the air, but Jungkook was afraid to see his mother's favorite teapot smashed into pieces.
"You are not fit enough to work, you have not learned anything from the buying and selling process, when I started…"
"You started from scratch, I know, that's why-"
"How dare you interrupt your father!" His mother hit his arm.
Jungkook felt the heat building in his arm and the frustration flowing in his veins, but he kept quiet, the words starting to build up in his throat like a swarm of bees—painful and annoying. His father didn't know anything, none of them knew, and this is what Jungkook clung to so as not to lose his composure and do something foolish.
"I did all this for my family, I broke my back day after day so that my good-for-nothing son inherits the position and gives orders to others, it's easy."
Jungkook didn't think so, but even clenching his jaw and fists, he didn't take his eyes off the cup of tea in front of him as the man kept talking.
His father sighed heavily, as if he were exhaling a thick cloud, filled with all his anger. But his next words were soft.
"If you can't run the family business, you'll have to go to the military academy." Jungkook looked up to find drooping eyes and deep wrinkles on his father's forehead. He had given up on him, each letter loaded with that tone he always used when he was tired of trying to change his mind.
Jungkook didn't answer, he didn't dare. If his plan worked well, he could prove to his family that he was capable of doing everything his father did and more. He wouldn't let him down.
"Honey, but…" Jungkook hadn't paid attention to his mother, who was holding her cutlery with trembling hands.
“No 'buts', woman. Officials at the royal court have said that His Majesty expects every respectable and noble young man in Joseon to take the exam. Your son will have a harder time because we live in the province, but if Jungkook passes the exam we can return to the capital with your family."
"Well, what about his marriage?" His mother insists, and Jungkook suspected that, instead of wanting to help him as he initially thought, his mother was trying to finish him off in every possible way. "The matchmaker is going to have trouble finding more girls if he keeps offending every single one of them as soon as he meets them…"
His father's inquisitive look calls for answers that Jungkook keeps to himself, knowing fully well the reaction they both would have if he confessed his not-so-traditional preferences.
Instead, he got up and gave his thanks for the food before leaving the hall for his room. Outside, Mr. Chulmu and Mrs. Haeun were waiting for him with worried looks.
His wet nurse and guard were what he always wanted his real parents to be. If he hadn't had Mrs. Haeun, Jungkook would probably have been raised as one of those noble bastards who didn't treat all their people with respect, as he suspected his father wanted him to be.
Jungkook could only force a smile to try and calm them down, but Mrs. Haeun knew him as well as the delicious recipes she cooked for him.
"Don't worry young master Jungkook, I'm sure your parents are just looking for a way for you to have a secure future."
They had already reached his room when Mrs. Haeun tried to comfort him, Jungkook just nodded and waited for Mr. Chulmu to close the wooden doors before he could speak.
"We have until sunset to return, remember the story?" They both nodded, "Well then there is no time to waste."
Jungkook began to change his blue silk suit for clothes made of blackened fabric worn by use. Mr. Chulmu shifted hesitantly from his post, taking care that no one came near to interrupt.
"I still think this is a terrible idea."
Jungkook smiles sincerely this time and pats him on the shoulder. "In the past month they haven't managed to discover me."
Jungkook, already changed, turned to hug Mrs. Haeun, who checked that his clothes were perfectly messed up.
"We know that you’re a very capable young master Jungkook, but…"
"Don't worry," Jungkook pointed to himself, "I'll take care of it if they discover us."
Neither of them looked convinced, but they said no more. Jungkook opened the door to his garden, and before leaving he turned to see the couple who would have to stay to take care of the place.
"Wish me luck."
Before wasting any more time, he took one last look on both sides of the house before leaping over the wall with agility worthy of a grasshopper.
— — —
"Hey Jung! Your payment."
Jungkook looked up from the fishing nets he was untangling. His boss, Mr. Gu, offered him a clinking sack the size of a fist.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Gu!" Jungkook couldn't help but smile thinking about the accounts he would do when he got home.
"I heard you were collecting money for a boat." The man sighed with satisfaction when he saw the work that the minor had achieved in such a short time. "Should I worry about my territory?"
Jungkook energetically shook his head, even though he knew Mr. Gu was making fun of him. It seemed a bit ironic, but he had applied for a job on the same fishing crew that his father hired. Jungkook knew that he never went to the pier with the fishermen, he always went directly to the office that he himself had ordered to be made in the house to receive clients.
"Don't worry Mr. Gu, I'll make sure to be fishing buddies."
Gu grunted in agreement before patting his back heavily. "Sunset is a good time to rest boy, don't forget to take food for the road."
This sent a thunderbolt of energy up his spine. Jungkook awkwardly said goodbye and collected his things before running to the nearby store for his food ration.
By "food," Mr. Gu meant taking a well-stocked sack of fish they couldn't sell that day.
This makes it a bit more difficult to return, but Jungkook manages to reach the wall that separates him from his room just as the sun goes down on the horizon.
He jumped down stealthily and, having hidden the sack of fish for Mr. Chulmu to find later, he squatted down to the edge of his room.
Everything seemed to be quiet, and if he didn't hurry to clean himself up, the smell of fish wouldn't leave him and would arouse suspicion. Jungkook was about to get up and enter the room when Mrs. Haeun's alarmed voice was heard too close.
"No, tell the master that young master Jungkook has asked that no one bother him."
"Come on Haeun, you know how the master will react if we don't bring young master Jungkook."
Mrs. Haeun didn't speak for a few seconds in which Jungkook thought the worst would come, but the woman started whispering so low that Jungkook could barely understand what she's saying.
"We will do this Bong, the young master Jungkook is still asleep, we cannot present him like this in front of the master. Better say that the young master is cleaning himself and will go as soon as he is done. I'll take care of the rest."
This seems to convince Mr. Bong enough because he murmured an echo of the woman's words before walking off. When Jungkook couldn't hear the footsteps anymore, he took courage and cleared his throat before standing next to Mrs. Haeun.
"One of these days I will have a heart attack, young master Jungkook." The woman didn't move a muscle when she saw the boy next to her. He just sighed and pulled Jungkook's arm to bring him inside. "Hurry up or we'll be in trouble, the tub is ready."
The memory of Mrs. Haeun with fewer gray hairs and wrinkles, running after a miniature version of him in that very courtyard invaded his mind. This made him smile despite the woman's soft scolding.
Soon, he thought, it all will be worth it.