Ever since Eunwoo beat up our young men and refused to leave, we saw that he hasn’t caused any trouble. In fact, a few of us who went to town yesterday said that he was teasing his wife, Minjun!

What’s more insane is that the day before yesterday, we saw Minjun in the field and assumed that Eunwoo is back to his old ways, and pitied him. It was embarrassing when Eunwoo came down the mountain and just flirted with Minjun! We all took our pity back of course. 

That was more insane, however, today is the most insane since he adopted Hana and Dok. It was something we all never expected. We never saw Minjun or Eunwoo interacting with those kids. Of course, we pitied Hana and Dok but we have our own children to feed, so we thought that sooner or later their relatives would sell them or marry them off.

Although it is shameful for someone to sell their children, it is not uncommon. What else can they do? We’re all poor, we all have thought about it. And it’s not like it’s easy raising children. Some may be gentle like our wives or crazy like our mothers-in-law. Only heaven knows what kind of children we get or what kind of household we fell into.

All is fate.

More details about this morning, everything started when we saw Eunwoo early in the morning and went into the village chief’s house. It’s unusual to see him wake up early, but at the village chief house? Most of us don’t even bother that old man unless it’s urgent. 

After half an hour, the two walked out of the house and toward the east of the village. We were all curious because it was an unusual scene. However, we dared not approach too close because Eunwoo is a crazy bastard. 

“Hello! Is anyone home?” The village chief called at Hana and Dok’s parents’ house. 

Their parents are either always home or never home. However, some of us heard and told everyone that their father was attacked while in the mountain and is in critical condition. Their mother is pregnant, and will probably give birth any day now.

“We’re home? What does the village chief want with us?” Their mother came to the fence with a bulging and round belly. 

“Eunwoo,” the village chief glanced at the large man behind him, “and I are here to discuss some matters with you and your husband. Can we come inside?”

Their mother welcomed the two men into their home. For it not to be so awkward, she invited a few of their male relatives, saying that her husband was not well and guidance was needed.

The husband had always been scrawny but today when we saw him lying on the gung bed, his face was yellow and his eyes are sunken in colors of blue and green. If his wife didn’t tell us he was alive, we would’ve thought he was a corpse. Very frightening to be near.

“So, village chief, why did you bring Eunwoo over?”

“I will get to the point,” the village chief sighs. “Eunwoo wants to adopt your daughter and son, the ones who ran away from home and currently live at the foot of the mountains.”

We gasped! 

“How much is he willing to pay?” The wife asked while clenching the hem of her skirt and looking back at her sick husband.

So it seemed that Eunwoo came at the perfect time. But we don’t particularly think it was a great idea. Eunwoo is a young man whose wife is currently pregnant, why does he want two little children?

We discussed among ourselves that this didn’t make any sense. It wasn’t like Minjun can’t have children, why would Eunwoo want two more children? Unless…

“One silver coin for each child. Two silver coins in total.”

We gasped again! 

Sure the bride price of a farmer’s daughter can go up to ten or maybe twenty silver coins, but even that is reaching. That kind of bride price is for educated daughters who are fair and beautiful. Usually the bride price of daughters in their village and the surrounding villages is five silver coins. The sale of children is usually one silver coin, which the average family can survive on for an entire year!

Forget that, when can Eunwoo afford two silver coins? Wasn’t it just the other day that our young men dragged him back from the town’s brothel? 

“As you can see, my husband is ill. We also have a little one on the way. Since Hana is already so old, I am going to ask for two silver coins.”

The village chief looked perplexed, and Eunwoo answered, “She’s already so old. I’ll need to prepare her dowry. I can only offer one silver coin which is already a lot. If you’re not willing then, I’ll just take her for free since she has left your home for over a year now. Not eating your rice or drinking your water. I only offered money for courtesy’s sake.”

Instantly her face soured.

“What’s your intention with a half-grown girl? As her relatives by blood, we ought to know what to say to appease our ancestors if we are to give her to you.”

Disgusting! Was this what Eunwoo wanted? A new little wife?

“Don’t group me with that disgusting shit.” Eunwoo’s eyes were so wide and bloody, it scared many of us. “The only reason I am here today is that my wife pitied that sibling pair. I have no intention of doing something so shameful!”

That could be true. He has been very loving toward Minjun for the past week. Even kowtowing and asking for help to save him. And of course, if it was not for Minjun, Eunwoo would never have the heart to pity anyone.

As for Hana and Dok’s father… We all knew there were a few cracks along his skull. He had thirteen children in the last eighteen years that he was married, and already sold eleven of them. Each time if the child was a daughter or second-class son, they would stay longer before getting sold. We all kind of knew why. It is not for doing laundry, washing the dishes, or cooking for the parents.

Perhaps, with him half dead like this, hopefully, the fetus in his wife’s body is a son. So that they can carry on the family’s name. 

“Village chief, have them acknowledge the adoption and give them the silver. I’ll be leaving.”

“No! You can’t take my daughter, you fiend! I won’t acknowledge it!”

Eunwoo glared back at her with his body towering over everyone, “Where were your conscience when your daughters and sons were raped by your husband? Where was your conscience when he sold your children? Did you do anything about it? Still, to this moment, you’re trying to save his life? Do you know how he got those serious wounds?”

We lowered our heads. No one had dared to say that taboo word, even when we were gossiping. And in some sense, Eunwoo was also lecturing us. 

“Who are you to lecture her? She’s just a woman. Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t do anything. Don’t take her daughter away from her!”

Eunwoo went over to the old relative who pointed a finger at him, and the old relative’s head fitted in one of Eunwoo’s hands. He frowned as he said, “And who are you? If you knew all along, as a relative of those poor children, why didn’t you discipline him? Have you no shame?”

“Of course we have shame!”

“Then why haven’t you done anything? Or are you ashamed that you don’t have his lust? Do you watch him rape the children and think to yourself, I wish I could rape my own daughters and sons? Or perhaps, I could blackmail him later and get to rape his daughters and sons as well? Or—”

“Enough, Eunwoo!” The village chief yelled, looking pretty dramatic himself. “As for the rest of you, acknowledge the adoption. Hana and Dok are no longer your relatives.”

The wife and the relatives who were there signed a few documents before Eunwoo left with a copy. In the wife’s hand were two silver coins, but none of us were jealous of them.

We were too ashamed of ourselves. We’ve watched and known about this since the beginning. But for one reason or another, we’ve done nothing about it. Perhaps we can say that it wasn’t our business to get involved, but this had brought shame to our village. If other people know about it and spread the word, we surely can not survive. Where will we put our faces?

No. It’s not us! Who does Eunwoo think he is? Lecturing us as if he’s a good person! He beat his wife! He gambles! He’s an alcoholic! He commits infertility! In that aspect, we are significantly better than him!

So we told the village chief that we want an apology from Eunwoo! But the village chief waved his hand at us, “If you all want his apology, go ask for it yourself.”

“Village chief, he didn’t just accuse us of having no shame, but you also. You should get an apology!”

“I really did have no shame,” the village chief shakes his head. “If I had shame, I would’ve stopped it when I learned of it. I waited this long to do nothing, so being lectured is just right.”

“Now, get out of my house and reflect. You all should be ashamed instead of asking for an apology from the man who stepped up to be those two children’s father.”

We were reluctant to leave or relinquish an apology from Eunwoo. We really don’t like him. What did he do to make the village chief so partial to him? 

Then just as we were about to eat dinner, rain began to fall. Although we are angry, we don’t lose our appetite that easily. Only rich people have the luxury of not eating when they’re emotional.

Before night falls, some of us witnessed Eunwoo carrying Hana out of the village in a hurry. It is raining cats and dogs so they aren’t sure if the people they saw were Eunwoo and Hana.