Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign

Chapter 64: The Slacker Seeks Talent (3)

"No, why?!"

"Say something that makes sense! Are you trying to scam me or something?!"

"If you think about it, it’s actually a great opportunity."

"Sure. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can take part in this wonderful opportunity, so why don’t you go find some sucker who will?"

Ha Daebung was firm.

"Urgh."

Wi Yeonho trembled with frustration. As expected of someone who had once lived in the upper circles—he wasn’t easy to deal with.

"Hmm, then..."

Just as Wi Yeonho was about to come up with some kind of countermeasure, his energy began to fizzle out.

"So bothersome."

For Wi Yeonho, even this much effort was already the most he could muster. The fact that he had walked here of his own will—twice, even—was already a miracle.

He felt like he had done enough exercise for an entire year.

Meanwhile, Jin Soa was left speechless.

Of course, it had been Jin Soa who brought Wi Yeonho along.

Some might argue that this whole mess was ultimately Jin Soa’s doing, but from Jin Soa’s perspective, that was an extremely unfair assessment. The person who had promised to make an introduction had been glued to the room for a week now, repeating, “Let’s go tomorrow.”

Who wouldn’t be at their wits’ end?

Had Wi Yeonho just said there was no one to introduce, Jin Soa might have simply been frustrated. But to boast with such confidence, only to never follow through—just watching it all unfold was mentally exhausting.

In the end, Jin Soa had raised a fuss and practically dragged Wi Yeonho out. When they finally arrived at the pawnshop, he was left utterly dumbfounded.

And what Wi Yeonho said to Jin Soa, who was now looking at him with suspicious eyes, only added to the confusion.

"A hidden eccentric?"

What kind of eccentric would be hiding in a pawnshop?

And of all people, Ha Daebung?

To call Ha Daebung—the leech of Hubei—a hidden eccentric?

Even beggars ran away when they saw Ha Daebung, and now the guy who was obsessed with money was being introduced as an eccentric. And the one introducing him and the one standing here watching it all unfold—

‘I must be out of my mind.’

Of all people to trust.

As the saying goes, if you see one, you know ten. He should’ve called it quits long ago—what lingering attachment was keeping him here?

"Please, don’t be like this..."

"Sir, please, give it some thought."

"I have nothing more to think about."

"Just hear me out—"

"Sir, I’m telling you, think carefully."

"I'm not interested."

"No, just listen—"

"Sir, are you going to keep doing this?"

"Look, I—!"

Jin Soa finally exploded.

"Uaaaah! Can I please get a word in?!"

As Jin Soa shouted, Wi Yeonho looked at him with wide eyes and said,

"Oho? He’s got a temper."

"...A young one should know when elders are speaking!"

As if the earlier quarrel never happened, the two adults suddenly united in their attack, and Jin Soa had to swallow back tears.

"I honestly don’t have any desire to work with that person."

"What?"

Wi Yeonho gaped.

"Hey, you need to get your head on straight."

"Excuse me?"

"You’re not the one making the decision here. It’s up to us whether we’ll take you. What have you even done to be acting like you get to choose?"

"...What did I do that was so wrong?"

"Not having money is your sin."

There was no arguing with that.

Jin Soa hesitated with his lips sealed, but then cautiously opened his mouth, as if deciding he couldn’t let this go without saying something.

"Well… even so, our clan has a reputation. Working with a loan shark is just..."

When Ha Daebung glared at him with bulging eyes, Jin Soa flinched and shrank his shoulders.

"Loan shark? What’s wrong with moneylending! You people act all high and mighty when you can’t even manage the money you have! At least I know how to make it grow!"

Again, there was no real argument against that.

Jin Soa bit his lip tightly.

"But we take pride in using medicine to help people. Money? Of course, it’s important. But I don’t want to torment people just to earn it!"

"Who said anything about tormenting people?"

"...What?"

Wi Yeonho responded indifferently.

"You just do the healing. This guy here makes the money."

Jin Soa stared blankly at Wi Yeonho.

"In the end, work is work no matter where you go. The difference is whether you do the same work and get filthy rich, or do the same work and go bankrupt. That’s your choice."

"But the honor of our clan..."

Wi Yeonho scoffed as if it were ridiculous.

"Hey, Mister Jin."

Wi Yeonho’s tone was laced with irritation and disdain.

"What, did that oh-so-great clan of yours build its reputation by digging dirt? Where do you think that grand reputation came from? If your family had gone around handing everything out like you’re trying to do now, do you think that place called the Sacred Hand Grounds would’ve lasted even ten years? You think they made money elsewhere just to spend it on patients?"

"…That’s not true."

"Then your so-called honorable ancestors must’ve also treated patients and taken money in return to build that clan, right? That majestic hall that supposedly always existed—doesn’t it look extravagant? And wasn’t all of that built using money from those patients you’re so fond of?"

Jin Soa felt a wave of confusion.

Come to think of it, those words made sense. Unless his ancestors had gone around digging up wild ginseng to sell, the only explanation was that they had increased their wealth while treating patients.

"I-Is that really how it is?"

Wi Yeonho spoke as if it were obvious.

"Isn’t your pride in your family rooted in the fact that they became famous across the world as top physicians?"

"Y-yes, that’s true…"

"Then you need to make money. Rebuild that hall of yours and live in style—that’s when people will say, ‘Ah, that family really made it.’ Who’s going to recognize your name just because you live a hundred years like this?"

"……"

"As far as I know, all those so-called great medical clans in the world—aren’t they all filthy rich?"

When Jin Soa hesitated, Ha Daebung helpfully added,

"They’re insanely rich. There’s no job better than being a physician when it comes to making money. You think people will scrimp when their lives are on the line?"

"See?"

"Ah…"

Jin Soa felt like the world he knew was collapsing.

‘Isn’t medicine supposed to be about compassion?’

But now it seemed the very doctors he had admired and wanted to become had all made their fortunes through their patients, and their ancestors had done the same. That realization shook the core of his identity.

"Hey, people work jobs to make money in the first place. Why are you thinking so hard about it?"

"Then what have I been doing all this time?"

"What do you mean, what?"

Wi Yeonho picked his nose and answered nonchalantly.

"You’ve been wasting your time."

Jin Soa finally dropped to the ground with a thud.

---

"Where did that kid run off to?"

Jin Yeran wasn’t in the best mood. It was time for Jin Soa to be immersed in his medical texts, yet he was nowhere to be found.

Fortunately, it wasn’t time for rounds, so patient care wasn’t affected. Still, studying the medical texts was no less important for a physician.

Especially considering Jin Soa’s age—he was at the peak of his growth and learning.

If what he learned now would determine the course of his life, she couldn’t let it slide.

"He’s not the type to do this…"

Who was Jin Soa, after all?

Back when the family was still prosperous, he had been called a prodigy, a name known throughout Hubei.

Their father and mother had delighted in him, declaring he was the talent who would restore the family’s former glory. Even after their decline, he had remained a dependable younger brother, never once complaining, fully devoted to his patients and to the art of medicine.

And now he was skipping his studies?

This had never happened before. That made it all the more troubling. Jin Yeran raised a hand and gently touched the Baek Silver Jade necklace around her neck.

‘Mother…’

With their parents gone, it was entirely up to her to ensure Jin Soa grew up right. That’s why she had done everything in her power to raise him into a fine physician.

It even crossed her mind that this might be the moment when he began to go astray, and she bit her lip hard.

"I need to stay sharp."

If Jin Soa returned home, she would find out why he had skipped his studies and give him a firm scolding. Letting little things like this slide was how a child started to lose their way in an instant.

Just then, a commotion started by the front gate.

"Hey, I said they’d feed us, it’s just one night—what’s the problem?!"

"I told you I had things I needed to do!"

"Then why don’t you go alone? Why drag me along too?!"

"We went together, so we come back together! Didn’t you say you’d back me up?"

"Ugh, this is such a pain!"

Jin Yeran flung open the door.

"What is all this noise?!"

Looking toward the gate, she saw Jin Soa dragging Wi Yeonho halfway into the house.

"Is that how you treat a guest?!"

"Sister, it’s not what it looks like…"

"Let go of his hand, this instant!"

"Yes, ma’am."

Jin Soa let go with a sulky face, and Wi Yeonho gave him a smug, leisurely look, as if savoring the moment.

"To treat your father’s guest like that—have you lost your senses?!"

"I’m sorry."

When Jin Soa hung his head low, Jin Yeran stepped down into the courtyard and bowed her head toward Wi Yeonho.

"My younger brother has behaved rudely. He’s not normally like this, so I ask for your forgiveness."

"I'm the older one here, so I should be the one to show some understanding."

Twitch.

The muscles in Jin Soa’s face began to convulse.

Hyung?

Technically, yes, that was true.

It was true… in words.

But if someone was going to claim to be older, shouldn’t they at least act their age?

If he said that out loud, he was sure to get scolded, so he could only swallow the resentment.

He knew that if he said anything, he’d be the one getting scolded.

Should he just let it out and take the beating?

That way, at least he wouldn’t bottle it up and get sick inside. The thought had Jin Soa seriously contemplating his options.

"I’d like to speak with the boy in private. If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask you to give us a moment?"

"Then I’ll head inside."

"Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"I’ll have something prepared."

"Alright. Thank you."

As Wi Yeonho nodded and went inside, Jin Yeran shot a sharp glare at Jin Soa. Under the weight of that piercing gaze, Jin Soa instinctively dropped his head.

"What happened that you neglected your studies?"

"…I’m sorry."

"I won’t scold you for what you do outside as long as it doesn’t interfere with your medical training. But wasn’t this our agreed study time? Was there something more important to you than your studies?"

"No."

"Then why did you skip them?"

‘Because of that man.’

There were so many things he wanted to say, but he couldn’t offer excuses. His older sister detested excuses—he had learned that from bitter experience.

"I’m sorry."

So that was all he could say.

"The moment you make a mistake during treatment, a patient’s life is on the line. If you made such a mistake, would ‘I’m sorry’ be enough?"

Jin Soa felt like he couldn’t breathe. Whenever his sister spoke like this, she left no room for excuses.

"No. It wouldn’t be."

"Good. So you do understand. Then you must be punished, correct?"

"Yes."

"Go to your room and copy The Inner Canon of Medicine ten times. You are not to come out until it’s finished."

"…Understood."

As Jin Soa slumped his shoulders and walked back to his room, Wi Yeonho clicked his tongue.

"She’s gonna kill the poor kid."

He understood that a physician’s work involved life and death, and so required strict discipline, but this still felt a bit over the top.

"Well, it’s not my business."

Wi Yeonho shut the door and lay down. Jin Soa might’ve seemed pitiful, but it wasn’t something for him to meddle in.

Or so he thought—until he would later come to realize how wrong he was.

Connections weren’t things you were born into; they were things you made.

A truth that Wi Yeonho came to realize far too late.