CHAPTER 2

"Oppa see this....such a beautiful bracelet. I want this oppa but...", mumbled Hani.

"I'll gift you this on your birthday", said Yoon Shik.

They are strolling in the city when a horse carriage come running in their direction. Yoon grabbed Hani's hand and pulled her towards him. The people started bowing down when a tall person came out of the horse carriage. Yoon Shik and Hani never has seen such a person when they were in the village. Suddenly an old man whispered in Yoon Shik's ear, "Kid now down quickly. He's the minister...."

Hearing this Yoon bent down on his knees a long with her sister. 

"You all may rise", said the minister. The people stood up but not looked into his eyes while Yoon directly looked into minister's eyes. He glanced at the boy but ignored him and walked towards the internal affairs head department followed by some soldiers. After he has gone the people dispersed from there.

"Ahjhushi(uncle) who was that person? Why we've to bow before him?", asked Yoon Shik from the old man.

"He's the minister of internal affairs, Park Saeju. He's the top bureaucrat of this kingdom. So we've to bow down Every time we see him....above all he's a Yangban", said the old man.

"Can I be the one like him?", asked Yoon.

"What? Hahahaha.....It's impossible for us especially when we're born lowly", said the old man and walked away laughing.

"Oppa why are you asking that?", asked Hani holding his hand.

"Nothing...let's go", said Yoon and walked away with her sister. Suddenly Hani stopped before a huge garden and said, "Oppa let's play there" and ran inside the garden.

"Hani that's not for us", shouted Yoon and ran behind her.

"I also want to play", said Hani to the children there.

"Who are you kid?", asked a boy in the silk robes.

Hani didn't say anything and tried to grab the kite from him. But before she could she was pushed by the boy and she fell on the ground.

"Hani...", shouted Yoon and sped up. He helped her and asked, "are you okay?"

Yoon become angry. He went to the boy and grabbed his collar to throw a punch on him when a guard came there and held him tightly...."Leave me", screamed Yoon.

"Judging by your clothes it seems that you're a low class(Sangmin). Did you not know that you can't touch a upper class man son", said the boy.

"Sung Tae leave them. They're just kids", said the other kid.

"Do Yeong you're a close friend so I'll listen to you", said Sung Tae and looked at the guard...."Leave him". The guard leave him.Hani held tightly the hand of his brother.

"Hey don't ever come to this place. This is not for the low class", said Sung Tae looking at Hani. She hid behind her brother. Yoon glared at him and walked away from there holding Hani's hand.

"Oppa are we low born?", asked Hani while following her brother's steps.

"We ain't lowly", said Yoon and walked towards the home.

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"Granny.....Granny.....", shouted Yoon as soon as entered his small house.

"oh you both returned early....", said the granny and came out of the kitchen.

"Where's mother?", asked Yoon and sat on the wooden bed there.

"She has gone to the fields", said the granny and held Hani's hand.

"Granny I wany to study", said Yoon.

"That's great. There's  a small school where you can go for study", said the granny and put Hani on her lap and sat beside Yoon. Hearing this Yoon become happy.

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"Ahjushi I can work from today", said Yoon.

"Okay....but you've to do some other chores for me", said the restaurant owner Baek Ji.

"I will...", said Yoon with a smile on his lips.

"Okay then take these drinks over there", said Baek and put the tray with drinks in his hand. Yoon took the tray there and start putting the drinks before them.

"Hey exam was tough this year. Do you think we can qualify this?", asked a person.

"Hmm....but I studied hard for Classical Chinese and the literature. I think I'll make it", said the man. 

Yoon Shik for curious listening this so he asked, "Sir what exam are you talking about?" The elite men diverted their gaze to him.

"You look new here.May I know your name?", asked one of the man.

"Yea I joined today. My name is Kim Yoon Shik".

"Well boy we're talking about the civil services exam, Gwageo. Only three classes can give that exam except Cheonmin class", said the man.

"Can I give that exam too?", asked Yoon.

"Well yes if you belong to those three classes", said the man.

"What are these classes?", asked Yoon.

"You'll learn about that when you'll go tI the school", said the man and sipped the drink.

"Yoon Shikkkk", shouted Baek.."What are you doing there? There are many servings.....come quickly here".

"Thank you sir....please enjoy your drinks", said Yoon and ran towards the counter.

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"Waah this much money....I can buy the bracelet with this", said Yoon and put the coins inside his pocket and wwalked towards the market. After reaching the market he went to the shop where Hani saw the bracelet before.

"Ahjushi how much of this?", asked Yoon holding the bracelet.

"15 cents", said the seller looking at the bracelet.

"Ahjushi give it for 12 cents...", said Yoon showing him the coins. 

"Okay okay.....here give me coins and take it", said the seller. Yoon gave him the coins and walked happily from there. After buying some sweets he rushed to home.

"Granny, mother, Hani....where are you?", shouted Yoon happily and walked inside.The smile disappeared from his face when he saw the bodies of her mother and granny lying in pool of blood. He dropped the sweets in midway and ran to them.

"Mother, Granny....What happened", said Yoon with tears in his eyes.

"Yoon they took your sister with them", said a man.

"Who?", asked Yoon.

"The landlord", said the other man. Yoon is in tears holding her mother's hand and said in a low voice..."help me".

Everyone turned their heads when a man come there and said, "Go find your sister.....I'll see them". The man told him the address of Landlord's house

Yoon rushed out of the house.

"Please let me in. My sister is inside", said Yoon to the guard with pleading eyes.

"What's the commotion outside?", shouted the landlord from inside.

"Pardon master. A boy is saying that his sister is here", said the guard.

"Bring him inside", said the landlord.

The guard held boy's hand when he jerked his hand and said, "You killed my family and where's my sister?"

"I didn't kill them. That old woman heads taken money from me and now she is unable to pay the debt so I've taken your sister....as signed by those woman on the paper", said the landlord.

"What? I'll pay your debt please release my sister", said Yoon.

"hahaha.....Kid go home. She has been thrown to Kisaeng house so that when she will get mature she can work here", said the landlord and ordered the guard to throw him out. The guard grabbed the Boy and threw him out of the house. Yoon couldn't believe what just the landlord said so he ran from there and asked from the people about Kiaseng house. After reaching there he saw many women and men in the house. He tried to get in when a man stopped him and said, "Kid where are you going? This place isn't for you.....go away".

"My sister is inside....please let me in", said Yoon.

"Kid I can't.....Go home if you don't want to get punished", said the man.

"What are you doing here Yoon Shik?", asked the man who met him in the restaurant. He saw the blood stains on his cloth and get concerned.

"Sir...m..My sister ...is Inside....please save her....please bring her here", said Yoon  with tears in his eyes.

"Yoon Shik calm down. Tell me what happened?", asked the man. His friends also listened to Yoon. Yoon told them evetything.

"Don't worry", said the man and looked at his friends. Within 15 minutes they found his sister and bring her outside from the Kisaeng House.

"Oppa", said Hani with teary eyes and ran to Yoon....Yoon grabbed her hand tightly and said, "Are you okay?"

"Oppa", muttered Hani while crying.

Yoon turned to the man and said, "I'm in rush....Thank you sir....I'll never forget this".

"It's fine.....let's go.....I'll accompany you along with my friends", said the man. They walked away from there.