People started to gather around the shop. Including uncle He. i tried to explain to the seller and asking why the price is different with the one i know from Uncle He.
"Sir. i just want to ask why is the price different from the one i know from someone? i didn't even touch a grain of the goods yet. but why are you getting mad when i cancelled the plan to buy from your shop?". i ask politely.
"so you saying that i tried to raise the price!? how dare you to slander me!". the shop owner getting heated.
"What happened!? why is it so noisy!". Uncle He stepping in between me and the shop owner.
"This Young man, tried to slander me by saying that i lied to him about the price! i told him a sack of Rice is 85 copper".
"No! you was saying that the price is one silver coin. there's a witness from another shop owner. i didn't slander you, and i didn't even touch a grain of the rice yet".
"If i want to slander you, i will touch the rice and then shout loudly to let everyone's knows. but i didn't".
"It's you sir, who doesn't want to get caught by lying when i was about to leave and cancelled to buy the rice from your shop by speaking so loudly". i explained it with a soft and calm tone.
as not to make the problem getting any bigger and to avoid a further misunderstanding.
"Is that true, Madam Yi? your shop is beside Sir Ma. you must heard their conversation, right?". Uncle He asking madam Yi, a vegetable shop owner beside Sir Ma shop.
"Yes. i heard it well. the Young man was politely asking about the price. and Mister Ma saying it was one silver. and then the young man cancel his plan to buy the rice. he didn't even touched a single grain, and keep speaking with a calm and respectful tone".
"It was Mister Ma who was lying and scared to get caught lying by raising the price to some new face. i saw it by my own eyes". Madam Yi explained to Uncle He.
Uncle He, Madam Yi and Mister Ma keep fighting. the more they fight, the crowded this place is.
"Alright. i want to make it simple. it my fault by cancelling to buy from Mister Ma shop. i will buy the rice for one silver price and stop this fight".
i told Uncle He and Madam Yi to stop fighting and say thank you to them for stand up for me, a completely stranger to them.
"Thank you, Uncle He, Madam Yi. for standing up to defend me earlier. let me buy you a lunch as a thank you". i folded my right hand, and then put in on the palm of my left hand in front of my chest. giving them a respect sign from Murim.
"It's ok, Young-un. you didn't do anything wrong. next time, if you want to buy a rice, you can go to the store on the right side of Madam Yi shop. that's where i usually shop". Uncle He pat my shoulder.
"Yes, Young man. you are a polite young man who show some respect for the elderly. so i don't mind to stand up for you". Says Madam Yi.
"Alright. the next time i came to shop, let's eat some dinner together. you choose the restaurant, Madam Yi, Uncle He". i gave them a big smile.