Chapter 55 :

Chapter 55. This Is How False Rumors Spread (5)

The children began to take interest.

“A secret song?”

“What is that?”

“Tell me too!”

“I shouldn’t…… but since you told me I look like the Self-Dancing Doll, I’ll tell you.”

This was exactly the method I had in mind.

To change the perception of the Self-Dancing Doll through song.

Of course, part of the goal was to catch the rats of the Sacheon Branch, but I had also secretly come to Sacheon for this very reason.

People instinctively feel repulsed by things that seem contrived. That is why I planned to borrow the strength of children.

Because children are among the most natural beings in the world.

And so, it would be through their natural presence that this perception would change.

To carry out this plan, capable and trustworthy people had been dispatched to each province.

After teaching the children the song, I rose to my feet.

“Now, let’s go eat lunch.”

“Honestly, since we’ve come to Sacheon, shouldn’t we be eating Sacheon cuisine?”

Though a day had passed since our arrival, we had eaten nothing but ordinary noodles and dumplings, not the representative dishes of Sacheon.

It seemed Palgap had grown tired of them.

At his words, I looked at him briefly and asked.

“Have you ever eaten Sacheon food?”

“No, I have not.”

“Are you confident you can handle spicy flavors?”

“I am from Sungyang District myself.”

Since Sungyang District bordered Hunan, its cuisine was also similar to Hunan’s.

And Hunan cuisine is spicy.

But the spiciness of Sacheon cuisine is different.

Hunan’s spiciness carries a tinge of sweetness, but Sacheon’s spiciness is hemp, a numbing spice.

The tongue tingles, as if paralyzed, and just one bite of Sacheon spice is enough to bring sweat pouring down your body.

It is said that Sacheon people never shy away from spiciness.

The first time I ever tried Sacheon cuisine was five years later from now.

While managing the Eunhae Merchant Group’s fabric store, I had to deal with Chokgum in person, which brought me to Sacheon.

And with great confidence, I ordered mala xiang guo.

Though Uncle tried hard to dissuade me, I boasted that I would be fine.

In the end, I suffered stomach pain all through the night.

Ah……

Just recalling that time now fills me with overwhelming shame.

I let out a sigh.

“Just don’t eat it. If you want to, wait until we’re back at the Merchant Group.”

Seeing me like that, Warrior Lee Pil spoke.

“Sometimes one must learn by direct experience. And, I too, would like to taste the food of my homeland again.”

Homeland’s food?

“Are you originally from Sacheon?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then we needn’t worry about food going to waste.”

We headed for a nearby restaurant.

And I ordered ordinary dumplings. After all, not all Sacheon dishes are spicy.

Warrior Yeo Eung-am also ordered dumplings.

“I do not care to study by means of suffering. Hahaha.”

“You are wise.”

Meanwhile, Palgap and Warrior Lee Pil ordered mala xiang guo.

Soon, the food was served.

A small pot brimming with vegetables and meat, stir-fried with fiery spices.

“Wow! This looks truly delicious.”

“Yes, enjoy it.”

Looks delicious, doesn’t it?

I counted silently to three.

One,

two,

three.

And Palgap…… did not disappoint my expectations, or rather, shattered them.

“Oh? This is delicious. The numbing spice has quite a unique charm.”

“……”

Warrior Lee Pil laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! So Palgap Soh-yi knows this flavor! Hoo! It’s been so long since I’ve had food worth the name.”

They devoured the mala xiang guo with refreshed expressions.

“……”

I watched Palgap’s expression, but there was no sign that he was forcing himself through pain.

He simply ate happily.

It was as though I were watching a bear gnawing honeycomb, unfazed whether buzzing bees stung its snout or not.

Palgap…… was his tongue also that of a bear?

After finishing the meal, I once again set out to teach the song to other children.

Several days passed like that.

***

A marketplace in Sacheon.

Children walked along humming the song.

“The Self-Dancing Doll with a soul inside, the Self-Dancing Doll that makes you money……”

Hearing this song, adults drinking rice wine in front of a tavern spoke.

“Now that you mention it, I’ve been hearing that song a lot lately.”

“Ah, the one about the Self-Dancing Doll making you money?”

“I heard rumors that it’s true.”

“What?”

“We all heard that the Self-Dancing Doll holds a soul, right?”

“Because of that talk, even Lord Jeon over there felt uneasy and locked his doll away in storage.”

“But they say that very soul makes you money. And apparently, many have actually made fortunes.”

And soon, that talk spread across Sacheon, no, throughout all Zhongyuan.

.

.

.

The Merchant Lord of the Dan Merchant Group was receiving a report from his subordinate.

“So, all the Self-Dancing Dolls have sold out?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“In less than a month? Didn’t you say there would be leftover stock?”

“That’s what I thought, but…… it seems to be because of the rumor.”

“The rumor?”

“Yes. The rumor that the Self-Dancing Doll’s soul brings wealth.”

He had also heard the rumor.

But he knew well it wasn’t true. After all, it wasn’t true that the Self-Dancing Doll even had a soul.

He knew better than anyone else, for he himself had concocted and spread that rumor.

“And the source of the rumor?”

“We are investigating, but nothing is clear. The rumor is spreading through children’s songs, but we haven’t found who began it.”

“……”

The Merchant Lord of the Dan Merchant Group clicked his tongue, frowning.

“Whoever devised this scheme, they used their head well.”

“Sir?”

“This is surely the work of the Eunhae Merchant Group. In other words, they turned the very rumor we spread back against us.”

“Then why don’t we also make use of the rumor? Not just the Self-Dancing Dolls, but also our own dolls, we can claim, will bring money.”

At his subordinate’s cautious suggestion, the Merchant Lord considered briefly, then nodded.

“That is a good idea. Do it.”

“Understood.”

“But, why is there still no word from that man?”

“Sir?”

“The one from the Eunhae Merchant Group branch. With matters such as this, he ought to have informed us first.”

He stroked his chin as he spoke further.

“It seems the payment has been insufficient, so we must provide him with a greater gift.”

“Will it be alright to invest so much?”

“It’s fine. We’ll bleed much more out of him in return.”

***

Through the inn’s window, I gazed at the moon.

Already seven days and nights had passed since I came here.

I turned to Palgap and asked.

“Really no stomach pain or anything?”

“None at all.”

“……”

Lately, Palgap seemed to have developed a taste for Sacheon food, eating it constantly.

And yet, not once had he suffered indigestion.

Palgap…… could it be his very intestines were those of a bear as well?

“But about that rumor going around these days.”

“Ah, the one saying even the Dan dolls make money?”

“Yes, that one.”

“Finally, they’ve taken the bait.”

“Sir?”

I smirked at Palgap, who tilted his head in puzzlement.

“They’ve swallowed the first bait I planted in this scheme.”

I had been aiming at two things.

The first was revenge against the Dan Merchant Group, who had devised this very plot.

I wasn’t simply trying to use the song I spread to change people’s perception of the Self-Dancing Doll.

The ones who owned the Self-Dancing Doll were usually wealthy.

From the outside, it would be hard to tell whether they had become rich because of the doll, or if they simply were already rich.

Just nudging the rumor in that direction was enough for it to begin rolling on its own.

Of course, it would soon be revealed as false.

But once sales of the Self-Dancing Doll began rising because of that rumor, the originators of the slander would naturally attempt to use it as well.

Just as they were doing now.

People are not fools.

If one or two similar rumors build up, they might brush it off, but once a third emerges, suspicion sets in.

And then what happens?

The reputation of the Dan dolls, which had jumped on the rumor late, plummets.

Naturally, the Dan Merchant Group would be forced to clean up the mess, declaring the rumor false.

And once that happened, the rumor about the Self-Dancing Doll holding a soul that brought wealth would also be branded false.

Three doll-related rumors appearing within a single month—how could people not find that suspicious?

They would.

And the Dan Merchant Group’s reputation would sink even further.

At my explanation, Palgap nodded.

“Ah, so that’s how it was? As expected of Young Master! Terribly clever, you are.”

“Well, I am rather clever.”

“But still, sir, thanks to the rumor about the Self-Dancing Doll’s soul bringing money, sales were strong. Isn’t it a pity to give up such profit?”

“No. That rumor must disappear quickly.”

“Why is that, sir?”

“If it lingers, the heavy-seated officials will eventually stir. Should the authorities brand the dolls as tools that bewitch people, we’ll be in trouble.”

I continued.

“That’s why even the Dan Merchant Group, knowing their reputation will fall further, must hurry to squash the rumor.”

“Ah……”

“What I want is for people to love the Self-Dancing Doll itself, without any rumor attached. The Self-Dancing Doll must shine on its own.”

***

A few days later.

The Merchant Lord of the Dan Merchant Group was in his office, receiving a report.

Bang—!

“Damn it!”

He slammed his fist onto the desk in front of him.

“Our dolls’ sales have dropped even further! What’s the reason?”

“Well……”

His subordinate continued.

“People’s opinions of our dolls are falling. They seem to feel aversion.”

“Aversion? Why? These are dolls that bring money!”

“Well…… for families wealthy enough to display dolls as ornaments……”

“And?”

“Compared to the Self-Dancing Doll, ours appear inferior……”

“What?”

“They say, since our dolls seem lower in status, we must have just jumped on the rumor……”

“What! Inferior? Dolls crafted with Chokgum, one of Zhongyuan’s four great silks, and adorned with Chok embroidery, one of Zhongyuan’s four great embroideries—inferior?”

“……”

He forced himself to calm his anger.

“What should we do?”

The Merchant Lord of the Dan Merchant Group knew well the sort of clients he served.

Men of pride.

If they had begun to distance themselves, claiming the dolls were beneath their dignity, this was a warning sign.

At this rate, even the remaining customers would soon leave.

“And the official gave us a warning. Higher authorities may act soon.”

This had to be stopped here.

“Send word out immediately. Correct the rumor, declare that our dolls bringing wealth was false.”

“Yes, sir.”

Issuing the order, the Merchant Lord could already foresee the result.

It was reaping what he had sown.

The scheme he himself had devised and set in motion, he was now forced to undo with his own hand.

‘But even so, I fear it will be difficult to restore our reputation.’

The thought struck him suddenly.

‘Could it be, the one who countered my plan anticipated even this?’

No, impossible.

He hurriedly dismissed the thought.

If the one behind this scheme had truly set their sights on destroying the Dan Merchant Group, the Dan Merchant Group would not survive.

***

I was eating dumplings in a restaurant.

At my side, Palgap and Warrior Lee Pil were eagerly devouring Sacheon dishes.

I too was tired of eating only dumplings.

But I had no choice. The memory of my past suffering still lingered.

Perhaps I should begin training myself to adapt to all the cuisines of Zhongyuan in preparation for the future?

Tsk……

Just then, I overheard the people at the table beside me speaking softly.

“They say the rumor about the Dan dolls bringing money was false.”

“Ah, I heard that too.”

“Then what about the one saying the Self-Dancing Doll brings money? Is that false too?”

“Of course it is.”

“Really, how could a doll possibly make money?”

“Come to think of it, isn’t it strange?”

“What is?”

“Don’t you think there’ve been too many rumors about dolls lately?”

“You’re right.”

“Then what if they’re all false? Think about it. A soul inside the Self-Dancing Doll, that soul brings money, then the Dan dolls bring money too?”

“And now the Dan dolls’ rumor has been denied as false?”

“So doesn’t that mean all of it was false?”

“Then who spread the rumors?”

“Who else? The ones who spread the first and the third.”

“Wow! I didn’t think the Dan Merchant Group was like that.”

“Shameful.”

I chuckled.

As I’ve said, people are not fools.

Well then, shall I go and catch some rats?