Chapter 79
On a lazy afternoon.
Two men met under a large zelkova tree.
Jin So-baek, the leader of Hao Sect, came to see Yeo Un-hwi again after two days, as he had said.
He was holding a thick bundle of papers in one hand.
"You've come at exactly the right time."
"Haha! People like us make a living by keeping appointments. Of course."
When it came to information, timing was crucial.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a race against time.
Sometimes, information that was invaluable could become worthless after time had passed.
This was true without exception.
Therefore, one of the most important things for an information organization was to provide the information requested by the client within the given time frame without delay.
This was the most basic principle.
But as with all things, the basics were often the hardest.
Of course, if you couldn't maintain these basics, you wouldn't survive.
And Hao Sect was an organization that had successfully achieved and maintained a top position in this difficult world.
Flip. Flip.
Yeo Un-hwi slowly flipped through the bundle of papers Jin So-baek had handed over.
A smile spread across Yeo Un-hwi's face.
As expected, indeed.
As Jin So-baek had promised, the material was excellent. He had every right to boast confidently.
"From the first page, I've arranged the academies in order of their public reputation. Among them, the ones marked in red are those we especially recommend."
Blue Dragon Academy, Infinite Academy, Myungseong Academy, and so on.
With the sound of flipping pages, Yeo Un-hwi began to scan through the information on the famous academies listed on the first page, as well as those specially recommended by Jin So-baek.
As Yeo Un-hwi looked through the materials, Jin So-baek added explanations here and there.
"The specially recommended academies are places with considerable academic depth, renowned not just in Hebei but throughout the Central Plains. They're suitable for strictly teaching children discipline and order."
"I see."
For some reason, Yeo Un-hwi's response was lukewarm.
Jin So-baek found it strange.
He had thought this would be the area parents would be most interested in.
Then,
Hmm?
As Yeo Un-hwi was flipping through the papers, the name of a certain academy caught his eye.
"Sowol Academy?"
For some reason, he liked the name.
"Ah, that academy has a completely different atmosphere from the ones I recommended. It's not particularly famous either. However."
"However?"
"It has quite a good reputation in the area. I found out that they accept pretty much everyone regardless of family background or anything else. And they charge less than a quarter of what other academies do."
Moreover, they even provide meals for poor children and don't charge them at all, apparently.
Of course, that part is kept secret.
"And surprisingly, for an academy that accepts such a diverse range of children, the atmosphere is said to be very good. It feels more focused on raising children healthily rather than just academics."
It's certainly a good place. Almost ideally so.
But it might be too free-spirited for a child from a prestigious family like the Hebei Peng Family.
In the first place, it's questionable why they're not using a private tutor, but that's a matter of personal preference, not something for him to comment on.
Anyway, Jin So-baek thought that for in-depth academic learning and education befitting a child of a prestigious family, the specially recommended academies he had mentioned earlier would be more suitable.
But then,
"Hmm. Is that so."
"Hm? Surely not?"
Yeo Un-hwi's reaction was unexpectedly different.
It was a different response from his previous lukewarm reactions.
"Yes. This one looks good."
Yeo Un-hwi smiled.
Jin So-baek's prediction had been completely wrong.
Hahaha!
Yul-i was having a joyful time with her grandfather and grandmother.
The Family Head's room was unusually filled with Peng Mugang's laughter.
"Grandfather, Grandfather!"
"Yes?"
"You know! Just before I came here, I saw Uncle passing by in the hallway?"
"Oh, did you?"
"Yes! So! I quickly hid and then jumped out saying 'Boo!' And you know what? Uncle just stared at me blankly and then went 'Oh my!' He was so surprised. Hehe. I think Uncle was really startled."
"What?"
For a moment, Peng Mugang and Dan Hee-young looked at each other upon hearing Yul-i's story and burst into laughter again.
Pff, puhahaha!
They had good reason to.
The reason for their laughter was none other than the vivid image of Peng Seo-jin struggling to pretend to be surprised for Yul-i's sake.
Well, it couldn't be helped.
These days, even Peng Mugang would try his hardest to give the same reaction when Yul-i suddenly appeared like that while he was walking.
When this tiny thing came up with such adorable pranks because she wanted to play with adults, knowing her intentions made it impossible not to play along.
But honestly speaking, it was no easy task.
From a hundred paces away, you could see her clumsy attempts to hide, and from that moment, you had to start thinking about how Yul-i would approach and how you should react.
That's why Peng Mugang found it hard to stop laughing once he started, understanding what it meant when they said Peng Seo-jin had looked blank for a moment.
Just then, Peng Seo-yeon entered the Family Head's room with Yeo Un-hwi.
And then,
Ahem.
Peng Mugang quickly stopped laughing and cleared his throat, pretending nothing had happened.
Of course, his booming laughter had already been heard well outside the Family Head's Hall, but still.
For some reason, Peng Mugang felt embarrassed to show such a disarmed appearance in front of his daughter, even though Peng Seo-yeon had caught him like this in front of Yul-i several times already.
However, for some reason, Peng Seo-yeon and Yeo Un-hwi exchanged glances, and soon Yeo Un-hwi took Yul-i out.
Then Peng Seo-yeon looked at Peng Mugang and Dan Hee-young and said,
"I have something to tell you both."
"Hm? What is it?"
Dan Hee-young asked, puzzled by her daughter's unusually serious face.
Then Peng Seo-yeon's next words were completely unexpected.
"We're planning to send Yul-i to an academy."
"An academy?"
"Yes."
"What academy all of a sudden?"
Dan Hee-young looked confused.
Peng Mugang felt the same way.
"If it's for studying, couldn't we just hire a private tutor as we've been doing? Why go to such lengths?"
"If it were just for studying, that would be much better. But I think Yul-i... needs friends."
"Friends?"
"Yes. Actually..."
Peng Seo-yeon told her parents about what had happened at the market.
And she honestly shared how she felt seeing Yul-i like that.
"Yul-i wasn't born and raised in the Peng Family from the start like Seo-jin and me, she was born and raised in Sodam Village."
There, Yul-i grew up freely and loved, without any constraints. Playing to her heart's content with friends her age.
But here, there were no friends to play with.
No matter how much the adults doted on her and played with her, how could that be the same as playing with friends?
So, she thought it would be wrong for young Yul-i to continue staying only within the Peng Family.
Peng Seo-yeon continued to speak carefully.
"And above all, I want Yul-i to meet and make friends more naturally, rather than just with friends chosen by adults."
She was born into the prestigious Hebei Peng Family and grew up wanting for nothing.
And she met and formed relationships with children from other prestigious families accordingly.
But if asked how many true friends she had among those relationships, honestly, there weren't many she could confidently name.
Usually, children from prestigious families saw each other as competitors rather than supportive friends.
Most of these relationships were jagged, where they were more likely to snicker and mock behind your back when you fell rather than rush to help you up.
So Peng Seo-yeon wanted Yul-i to make true friends rather than just competitive acquaintances.
Friends who could be there for her in times of hardship and sadness.
Peng Mugang and Dan Hee-young fell silent at Peng Seo-yeon's honest words.
How could they not understand what their daughter was saying?
They were both from prestigious families who had gone through the same experiences.
Especially since it was about their adorable granddaughter who was the apple of their eye, they understood even more.
Dan Hee-young, now understanding her daughter's intentions for sending Yul-i to an academy, nodded and asked,
"I see. Alright. So where will she go?"
"He seems to know about these things well, he's already looked into it all. We chose from among those."
"I suppose he would. Yeo would surely know how to handle it well. You've made a good decision."
Peng Mugang didn't say anything either, which seemed to indicate his approval.
"When is she starting?"
"We're planning to tell Yul-i today. If she agrees, we'll take her there in three days."
"Alright. Alright. You've done well. Well done."
Dan Hee-young warmly held Peng Seo-yeon's hands and nodded.
A mother's heart understands another mother's heart, and she could understand how upset Peng Seo-yeon must have felt seeing Yul-i like that.
And she must have agonized a lot to come to this decision.
At times like this, it was right to just quietly support and praise her.
"Thank you."
Peng Seo-yeon smiled gently.
After finishing the conversation, Peng Seo-yeon soon left the room.
After Peng Seo-yeon left, Dan Hee-young let out a deep sigh and said,
"Oh my. How lonely Yul-i must have been. For that young child to have been staring so intently at other children playing, it breaks my heart. Don't you think so, dear?"
Peng Mugang gave no response to Dan Hee-young's words.
But for some reason, Peng Mugang started trembling.
"Dear?"
Sensing something odd, Dan Hee-young tilted her head and looked at Peng Mugang.
Then,
"...W-Will it be alright?"
"What will?"
"To send that young thing out into the world? Hm? Isn't she too small and precious to send out into this harsh world!"
...What is this man saying?
Dan Hee-young could only stare at her husband with an incredulous expression.
"An academy?"
As night deepened and Yul-i, who had just finished preparing for bed, tilted her head at her mother's sudden story.
Peng Seo-yeon smiled gently and explained.
"Yes, Yul-ah. If you go there, you can study and make new friends."
"Friends?"
Yul-i started showing interest at the mention of friends.
"Really? Are there lots of friends there?"
"Of course! There should be lots!"
"Then I want to go! I'll go!"
"Really? You mean it?"
"Yes, yes!"
Yul-i nodded repeatedly with sparkling eyes.
"Well, since our Yul-i wants to go, it's decided then."
"Hehe! Then? Then when do I go? When?"
Yul-i asked, jumping up and down excitedly.
"Hmm. If you sleep just three more nights, Mommy and Daddy will take you there."
"Wow!"
Yul-i's face lit up with excitement at Peng Seo-yeon's words.
Thump thump.
Yul-i hoped that day would come quickly.
And she fell asleep each night, counting the days with her tiny fingers.
Three days passed faster than expected.