A Nation Where All the People Learn (6)

Kim Jang-ik's shoulders felt exceedingly heavy now that he had become a professor at Sungkyunkwan.

This was because the expectations of far too many people rested upon them.

Retired King Yi Bang-won, King Sejong, the State Councilors and ministers, as well as the officials and people of Yanggu County.

With so many people placing such high hopes in him, he even felt as though the weight on his shoulders might crush them and dislocate them.

In the midst of all this, Heo Jo, Minister of Education and head of the office in charge of Sungkyunkwan, came to see Kim Jang-ik in person, despite his being no more than a mere sixth-rank nobody.

"Congratulations on your first day in office."

"Thank you, my lord."

"His Majesty has very high hopes for you. And the Sungkyunkwan students are delighted that they can learn directly from the father of our Deputy Academician Kim Daebung."

"I am not such a remarkable person, so I do not know whether I can live up to their expectations."

"A tiger may have a son worse than a dog, but the father who produced Daebung must surely be a Daebung himself. Do not feel too burdened. I am not saying they expect you to feel burdened."...