Chapter 196 — On the Road to Oryang Mountain 1
With Sohee seeing him off, Yeongu rode out.
Dorogan followed close behind.
He rode better than Yeongu had expected.
All the way there, Yeongu asked Dorogan about the state of the household.
"Is it better to lease the land to tenant farmers, or to have slaves cultivate it?"
"There are strengths and weaknesses."
"If slaves cultivate it?"
"The yield is lower."
"And if we lease it out?"
"You can only collect the amount agreed upon in advance."
"Hmm. Why is that?"
"Slaves live one lifetime either way, whether they do this or that, so they do not work hard."
"That makes sense. And tenant farming?"
"Once they pay the rent, everything else is theirs, so they work hard. But the strength of the soil declines. They focus on taking as much as they can, so the land cannot endure it. The next year, the yield drops sharply."
It was a matter of people and contracts.
Such things happened everywhere, but Yeongu had no standard for judging them.
"How are we doing it now?"
"It is mixed."
"Phew. I have only been in the army, so how would I know?"
"Leave it to me. I am reporting the important matters as they arise."
"To Mother?"
"The eldest young lady pays close attention to them."
"Hmm. I see."
Yeongu changed the subject.
"What is the mood of the household now?"
"It changed completely when you returned, young master."
"And before?"
"Since many things were coming in, many people hovered around."
"Relatives?"
"Yes."
"What are they doing?"
"Some act as if things are already theirs… some cling to the lady of the house, and some quietly carry things away. These are things that happen because there is abundance. People like that are swarming around."
Yeongu frowned.
"What should we do?"
"In the Central Plains, they distinguish between inner and outer spaces."
Yeongu showed interest.
"How?"
"The area where outsiders may enter is called the outer hall, and the place where the family lives is separated as the inner courtyard. Of course, the slaves are divided accordingly as well."
"Ah, a clear division. Good. That sounds right."
"We need to build walls. But the lady of the house opposes that."
"Then plant trifoliate orange trees or bush clover in layers."
"May we do that?"
"You said that would be good."
"When meeting people, the family must come out to meet them."
"That is how it should be. Only in special cases should outsiders be brought into the inner courtyard."
"Good. Proceed with it. These are people who did not even look in on us when we were struggling. I know their hearts. They kept away because we had nothing. They were probably afraid we might ask for help. We should get along with them, but we must keep distance. We cannot let them take things as they please. Even when giving something, there should be a reason. The same goes for helping them."
"That is so."
Yeongu changed the subject again.
"Was eldest sister completely driven out?"
When he had visited before, he had seen her staying at her family home.
People had spoken carefully.
They had held back because they feared that if Yeongu knew, he might go to that house and raise a storm.
"Yes. But lately, it seems her husband's family has begun hovering around."
"When our house was as it was, they did not look back. Why now?"
"Your reputation is great, young master."
"I did cause some commotion."
"I am looking into it."
"In what direction?"
"Is it not one of the great matters of human relations? It would be best for them to reunite."
Yeongu did not agree.
If anything, he believed it would be better for them to separate cleanly.
She was his sister.
"What does that bastard do?"
That bastard was the brother-in-law who had driven his sister out.
"They say he is involved in trade at Byeongnando, but I am not certain. It is true that he is there, but it seems he has little profit."
"And my sister?"
"She says nothing."
"Tch."