Episode 858 Because the volcano will become stronger. (3)
Time is fair.
For the elderly who bitterly regret each passing day, for the mature people who endure the boredom of a long day with a yawn, and for the children who run around town in a short day, time simply flows equally.
And the same was true for merchants traveling across the Yangtze River.
“Oh…”
Ma Cheol looked at the scene in front of him with startled eyes.
“Oh my god…what is this…”
“Why are you doing that?”
“Why is there a city here?”
“yes? “What do you mean by that?”
Ma Cheol was dumbfounded and looked back. The members of the upper tier following him were staring at him with puzzled faces.
“As you all know, aren’t I from Guanggu?”
“That’s right. Aren’t you excited to be visiting your hometown for the first time in a while? “Before you put it on our top, you worked in the oral cavity.”
“yes. “It’s only been five years since I left Gugang… until then, it was just an empty plain.”
“yes? No way….”
“This person! Would I eat expensive food and say nonsense? “It’s true!”
“In that case…”
Dan Sang-won glances at Ma-cheol’s eyes and looks ahead.
That was my answer, but inside I was thinking something completely different.
‘I have to say something that makes sense.’
What you see over there is clearly a big city. But is it possible that such a city was created in just five years?
No, from what he heard, it had been less than three years since merchants started coming and going here in abundance. If that’s the case, then a city of that size was created in just three years. Even a three-year-old child wouldn’t believe that.
“Let’s go first.”
“Yes, Haengsu.”
But what can you do? Even if your boss tells you to make meju with red beans, you have to trust Sangwon.
“haha. “Wow.”
Macheol shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it no matter how much he looked and led the upward journey towards the city in front of him.
“….”
Macheol, who had reached the outskirts of the city, opened his mouth wide this time.
When I entered the city, it was completely different from what I saw from afar. There were large buildings lined up on both sides of the large street, which caught my eye.
‘Don’t you think this is more prosperous than the oral cavity?’
Of course, the buildings were all shiny and new. Because not long ago, this place was an empty plain.
What surprised him was the fact that all the buildings were large and that the number of people rushing between them seemed to be greater than the number of people walking on the streets of Gugang.
Besides…
“Give me a drink here quickly!” “I’ve come a long way and I’m thirsty!”
“yes yes! “I’m leaving now!”
“Has Somen gone far?”
“oh my! Coming soon! a little bit! Please wait a moment!”
The hall was also packed with people. It was surprising where so many people came from.
And this complex and vibrant city did not even give Ma Cheol the time to enjoy it leisurely.
Before he could even open his eyes, two people came out of nowhere and grabbed his left and right sides.
“Oh my gosh, merchants! Thank you for coming! Come this way! Come this way! “I will guide you to the best guesthouse on Maehwa Island!”
“Uh-huh! This guy is cheating again! How does Shinpung Gaekjan claim to be the best guest cup in Maehwa Island? “We have Yonghwa Guest Cup!”
“What are you doing? Are you saying you’re going to catch Sooksu, who ran away last week because he was having a hard time? Merchants, don’t listen to that nonsense! If you go there, you will end up eating tasteless food! When it comes to food, our Shinpung Gaekjan restaurant is the best!”
“This guy is talking nonsense again! Haven’t you heard the rumor that our guest hired a guest from Hwapyeongnu, the best main building in Wuhan? Compared to the food served by Susu from Hwapyeongru, the food at Shinpunggaekjan is no better than dog food! Merchants, come this way! “There is only one room left in our guest house right now!”
“How can they all sleep in one room, you idiot!”
“Oh my! “You said one by mistake when I said there were two!”
In fact, Ma-cheol, who was caught in the middle, was on the verge of losing his soul.
I thought about yelling at them, asking what kind of rudeness this was, but when I glanced at them, I saw that the merchant in front of me was experiencing something similar. The same goes for the merchants who followed in their footsteps.
‘Is this everyday life here?’
What kind of guy comes out to the main street and solicits customers?
“But this guy?”
“Are you really going to join us today?”
When the Jeomsoys who came out to solicit customers rolled up their forearms as if they were about to grab him, Macheol shouted in embarrassment.
“Don’t fight. We’ll stop by the pier first…”
“Huh? “If we go today, it won’t be until four days before we can get to the merchant ship, right?”
“Does it take that long?”
“Oh my gosh, Mr. Is this your first time at Maehwa Island?”
“That’s right.”
Jeomsoy nodded as if he understood.
“Then you can do that. On Maehwa Island, waiting for three or four days is common. “Otherwise, what would all those merchants do to stay and rest?”
“Ah…”
“If you’re lucky, it lasts four days. If you’re unlucky, it lasts ten days.”
“W: Ten days? Does it take that long? Do you mean when there is heavy rain or a storm?”
“No. No. Maehwado’s ships never stop sailing, whether it’s raining, snowing, or windy. Even if you load it like that, you have to wait ten days when there are a lot of people. So, it’s better to find accommodation first.”
“…I will first check this with my own eyes.”
“You’re saying it’s meaningless.”
“He seems like such a cheap guy. Oh my, merchant. Of course, you should check it. Instead, if you come back, you won’t be scammed somewhere else…. No, you can come straight to our Yonghwa Gaekjan without losing money.”
Ma Cheol nodded with a distraught face.
“But… can I ask you something?”
“yes? “Please feel free to ask.”
“Isn’t this the riverside?”
“Is that so?”
“There is such a prosperous place on the riverside… but the… won’t the water robbers come to plunder?”
“yes? “A ditch?”
The Jeomsoys looked at each other as if they had never growled before and burst into laughter at the same time.
“Ahahahaha! “A ditch?”
“Haha! “Wow, it’s been a long time since I heard something like this.”
Ma Cheol had no idea what was going on and only blinked his eyes.
“Did I say something… strange?”
“It’s not strange. It’s been so long since I heard that. No need to worry. “Since Maehwa Island was created, enemy enemies have never come near it.”
“Sometimes they pass by the river, but they have never attacked. They also have a sense of humor, so what kind of guts would they have to attack this place protected by the world’s greatest warriors!”
“This is the safest place on the Yangtze River. So, aren’t these many merchants visiting Maehwa Island every day?”
Ma Cheol shook his head.
He heard it that way and came this far, but there was a huge difference between what he vaguely imagined while listening and what he saw with his own eyes.
“I understand this for now. “Let’s stop by the pier.”
“yeah. Please take a look.”
“This is Yonghwa Gaekjan! Yonghwa Gaekjan!”
Even after barely getting bitten by the two Jeomsoys, I had to suffer more from several newly attached Jeomsoys, and only after biting them all was I able to hurry on my way.
“haha. “What a place like this…”
As I began to walk comfortably without being harassed, I began to see the surroundings more clearly.
There is nothing.
Juru Guest House, Tea Shop Restaurant….
“Is that a gambling place?”
“…There’s really nothing that isn’t there.”
It looks closer to Hangzhou or Suzhou than to Gugang. The only difference is that it is a practical place compared to a place just for entertainment.
As I passed through the guest houses and got closer to the dock, there were large warehouses lined up on both sides. As I passed the warehouse, I saw people and carts crowded together.
“I think it’s over there.
“Let’s go first.”
Ma Cheol approached the dock and spoke to a merchant standing nearby.
“I…”
“What?”
“He just arrived. Where do I line up to make a reservation?”
The merchant who was first in line glanced at Macheol and pointed behind him with his chin.
“You can stand here.”
“Oh, thank you. “Guys, put it on this side of the cart.”
“yes!”
Ma-cheol stood in line and looked around again. The dock was full of people and five large ships anchored at the dock. And even the workers who were moving and loading the goods onto the ship.
It is at times like this that I say I am full of vitality.
“That’s amazing.”
“…There are five boats. “That big boat.”
“Even though there are five ships like that, we have to wait for more than four days. “How much cargo is coming to this dock?”
“All the goods on the Yangtze River are unloaded here, so there’s no other way, right? It’s a hundred times better than being robbed in a ditch. Still, we are fortunate. “There are so many people who decide to just cross the river, crying because the distance is too far.”
“That’s right, Haengsu.”
Ma Cheol was still dazed and laughed.
‘The term ‘change from situation to situation’ is used in times like this.’
I never thought the world would change so much in just five years. No, not even five years. It’s only been three years now…
that was then.
“What are you guys? “Why are you interfering?”
“yes?”
A group of men suddenly gathered around, glaring at Ma Cheol and scolding him.
“You’re interfering? “We’re just standing in line?”
“I was just leaving my luggage and going to run some errands, but now that I’ve taken up my seat, what’s going on? Stop talking nonsense and get out of the way right now! “If you don’t want to get scolded!”
“No, how absurd is that!”
“what? Far-fetched? “These guys?”
The merchant rushed over and grabbed Ma Cheol by the collar.
“If you stand in line wrong and your turn is cut off in front of me, you’ll have to miss another day, but who knows how much you’ll lose! “Where are you going to eat this raw?”
“Then wouldn’t it be okay if you kept your position? “Anyway, I can’t get out of the way!”
A merchant should never lose a fight.
When Ma-cheol, who knew the truth, raised his voice, the merchant who grabbed him by the collar had a twinkle in his eye.
“OK. It comes out like this. “Why don’t you take a look today?”
As their argument grew, those watching from the side clicked their tongues.
“there! hey! there!”
“…yes?”
“Do you keep yelling where am I?”
“Where am I?…”
The merchant holding Ma Cheol by the collar tilted his head. He seemed like he didn’t understand what this meant.
Then the goatbeard merchant who intervened looked at the two groups in turn with a knowing look.
“You two don’t know Maehwa Island very well. “Is this your first trip?”
“….”
“….”
As both groups blinked, the Goatbeard Merchant clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Then, if you get caught, you’ll be kicked out immediately and you won’t be able to carry luggage for a month. You haven’t forgotten that this is Maehwa Island, right? If you don’t want to risk your life to cross the river just to get kicked out, be quiet. If the two of you fight and harm comes to us, I won’t let it go. Do you understand?”
Ma Cheol was dumbfounded and asked back.
“You mean if I make a fuss, I can’t load my luggage?”
“That’s right.”
“Oh no. Does that make sense? “So, isn’t this a place where you can move luggage for money?”
“…what?”
“Huh, that.”
“This is why kids.”
As the merchants around him widened their eyes and clicked their tongues, Ma Cheol was momentarily embarrassed and blushed.
“Is this your first time?”
“…yes. “We are a small merchant, but the previous head of the merchant suddenly became ill and suddenly quit, so I left the merchant in a hurry.”
“Tsk tsk tsk. So, you are doing this without knowing anything. Look. There are also plum blossoms here. If you apply common sense from other places here, you’ll be in big trouble. The law of Maehwado is very simple. Don’t get into an accident. Don’t make a fuss. And make sure you do the math.”
“….”
“The most important thing is not to get into an accident! Do you know of one or two merchants who broke that rule and were kicked out and ruined?”
“….”
“Don’t do anything stupid and just be quiet… Damn it! “You’re late!”
“yes?”
It was then.
Murmur.
The front suddenly became noisy, and the merchants retreated left and right. When the road opened between the merchants, a group of men walked towards them, their eyes wide in fear.
Huge height, as long as seven feet tall.
A spiky, thorn-like beard.
Swollen eyes.
The upper body, neatly exposed because the top had been thrown away, had bulging muscles that looked like they were about to explode. Heavy sweat was flowing down the curves of his muscles, as if he had been carrying the luggage all this time.
“Uh…”
Just as Ma-cheol was shaking his head in fear at that overwhelming appearance, the people who walked out looked in this direction with all the annoyance in the world on their faces.
At that moment, Ma Cheol’s heart sank.
“this…!”
The man’s eyes were bloodshot as he looked up and down Ma Cheol’s group.
At the same time, Ma Cheol’s face turned pale.
‘Now we are dead.’
Oh my, why did he come here….
The man’s large body was shaking as if he couldn’t contain his anger. And then a tiger opened its mouth like a roar.
“What’s going on, customer?”
“….”
“Do you have any discomfort?”
“…yes?”
The kindest voice in the world flowed from a face that looked like it could eat someone at any moment.
“That…”
No.
What on earth are you doing here?
how….
