Yoon Shik looked around the big spacious room which was situated in the alley across the market. There was an exquisite flooring mat with a huge table on the floor and a cushioned mattress for the table. Apart from that there was a shelf in which many books were placed. The table had 4-5 books over it and some brushes beside that. There was a bed too to take the rest. Do Yeong looked at him and said, "let's go in first and then you can check the entire room." Yoon Shik nodded and they went inside the room.
Do Yeong told Yoon to sit so Yoon took the seat slightly far from the study table. Yeong smiled seeing this. "Yoon Shik, come sit on the mattress," said Yeong. Yoon looked at him and asked, "then where will you sit?"
"The mattress is quite large. Come come," said Yeong again and sat on the mattress. Yoon nodded and walked there to sit. Yoon smiled and touched at the mattress. "It's really comfortable to study like this," stated Do Yeong and picked up a brush from the table. Yoon told him that he would prepare some ink. Yeong nodded when Yoon Shik prepared the black ink.
Yeong opened a notebook and then put the brush over the ink while Yoon was observing him. Yeong then started writing the Chinese words on the paper. Yoon was impressed seeing this because Yeong was writing very smoothly. "Your writing is incredible," murmured Yoon.
"My mother taught me this. Her writing was also beautiful," muttered Yeong. Yoon looked at him. "Look at the way I'm writing. You'll find it difficult but with time and practice you'll learn this," said Yeong. Yoon was observing him and after a few minutes, he took a blank paper and then picked up the brush. He started copying Yeong and the both kids studied till the early evening.
"Ahhhh, that is difficult to learn," murmured Yoon and looked at his writing and then looked at Yeong's. "I have to practice a lot-a lot," stated Yoon and put the paper on the table. Yeong chuckled to hear this. "It is not evening. Why do you not practice more?" suggested Yeong.
Yoon looked at him. "I want to but I want to go out with my family to the festival," murmured Yoon and picked up his cloth bag.
"Festival?" murmured Yeong.
"Hmm, in the market. This is My first time attending such a festival. My sister will be angry if I will be late," muttered Yoon and got up from the mattress. "Thank you so much for teaching me," said Yoon, slightly bowing his head. Yeong smiled and said, "you do not need to thank me," said Yeong and also stood up with him.
"So, we will meet tomorrow at the same time?" asked Yeong. "Ahh, I do not think that is possible. I get free in the evening mostly," said Yoon.
"No problem, we can study for an hour in the evening then," said Yeong.
"Will you not be late for your house?" asked Yoon curiously.
Yeong shook hi head in refusal. "No, I usually return late," answered Yeong. Yoon nodded and again thanked him. He walked towards the door and was going to open the door when he turned to look at Yeong who was smiling. "Do you want to come to the festival?" asked Yoon with a tiny smile.
"Uh…me?" Yeong asked pointing towards himself.
"There's no one except you in this room so it is obvious I'm asking you," said Yoon. Yeong smiled and said a yes. "Let's go then," muttered Yoon. Yeong ran to the door and came out of the room. "Young master, are you leaving?" asked his attendant, Kang Wok.
"Yes, I'm going to the festival with Yoon Shik. I'll see you later outside the market," stated Yeong. Kang Wok nodded and walked away from there. Both Yoon and Yeong left that place.
After walking for 30 minutes they reached the village entrance.
Yoon turned to Yeong and told him to stay there as he will come with his family.
"I can come along. It has nothing to do with my class. I mean do not think that I'm thinking of this village as small," said Yeong. They were talking when Hani and his father, Shiwo came there. Seeing Yoon, Hani ran to him and held his hand. Yoon turned to look and told Hani about his friend Yeong but she hid behind his brother.
"Ahh, I think she is afraid of you. Hani this is my friend, Do Yeong," muttered Yoon Shik. But Hani didn't come to the front. Jang Shiwo came there and greeted Do Yeong. Yeong too greeted him and from there they left for the market where the festival was going to take place.
Jang Shiwo put Hani over his shoulder and took her from there. Yoon Shik smiled seeing that. He told Yeong to come quickly. The entire market was decorated with beautiful lanterns. Plays were being played, some were showing magic tricks; puppet shows, some were selling the food at lesser price.
Shiwo put Hani on the ground and asked Yoon and Hani what they wanted to buy. Hani bought a new pair of clothes for her but Yoon didn't buy anything despite Shiwo kept on insisting to buy something for Yoon. "Yoon, why are you not buying?" Yeong inquired.
"Ahh, I've many pairs of clothes," lied Yoon and stepped ahead. Yeong too followed him.
"Orabani, do you want this?" asked Hani looking at a doll. Yoon Shik smiled. "No, I don't play with toys," answered Yoon. Shiwo then carried Hani in his arms and told Yoon that they're going home.
"Abeoji, I will come in a while," said Yoon. Shiwo nodded and left from there with Hani.
"Let's go, let's watch that magic show again," said Yoon to Yeong. After watching that show Yoon bought a set of brushes for Do Yeong. Yeong thanked him for the gift. They also ate the street food there and after enjoying it for an hour they left from there. Yeong's personal assistant was waiting for him outside the market and seeing him he told him that they've to hurry. Yeong told Yoon that they will meet at the same place tomorrow. Yoon again thanked him and then left for his house.
~~~~~~~~~
Days passed like this. The friendship of Yoon and Yeong became strong. Yeong also taught Yoon Shik many other subjects that will be useful for him in the exam. Apart from that they sometimes used to practice sword fighting in Yeong's house which was slightly far from his father's house so no one knew about them. Yoon Shik also taught same things to her sister at home.
Months passed like this and Yoon Shik memorized all words of Chinese language. He also got aware with the poetry, art and literature. On one day Yoon Shik's work got over earlier so he left for Yeong's private house which was located in the market alley. As he entered there a guard stopped him.
"You cannot go in. This place is closed for sometime," said the guard. Yoon Shik got confused so asked for the reason.
"Young master Yeong has been sent for studies for a few years so he will not return to this place unless his studies will be completed. He has left something for you and told me to give you those things," explained the guard.
Yoon nodded and asked for the things. The guard went to the other room and took out a cloth bag from there. "This is for you," stated the guard. Yoon Shik thanked him, taking the things away, he left for his home.
As he reached home, he opened the bag and found so many books. There was a paper too inside one of the books. Yoon Shik opened the paper and found Yeong's message for him there.
"Dear Yoon
I know you will be surprised hearing the news that I will not be here for a few years. I got to know about this last night. I am sorry not able to meet you before leaving. I don't know when I will be back maybe after 4-5 years or more. I have put these books for you in the bag. You can ask for more from Jangmi, he will surely help you.
Oh, one more thing, I want to see you in Sungkyunkwan. The exam opens every 3 years. So, you've 9 years to prepare for that. You are a good friend Yoon Shik. I'm happy that I got to know you.
Your friend
Do Yeong."
Yoon closed the letter and put that inside the book. "Indeed, Yeong is a good friend of mine. I will meet you Yeong in that place this." Murmuring this Yoon put the books on his study table and walked out of the room.