Once, the little peddler who used to walk the streets with me transformed into a renowned and mighty general. He rode a tall horse and took me to Jasron, claiming he wanted to live a good life. But my wish was simply to open a shop in town, run a small business, and grow old slowly with Dad and Mom. Life in Jasron was tough; his colleagues mocked me, and the noble ladies looked down on me. The princess even said she wanted the emperor to give her the little general as a husband, telling me to go back from where I came. I never expected that being a general would be harder than being a little peddler. So, I left behind a divorce paper with a message: "You can be your great general, and I'll continue being my peddler. We have no connections, so let's not waste each other's time." What's so great about being a general? I want to be the freest peddler in the world.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
The peddler who once roamed the streets with me had transformed into a renowned and mighty general. He rode a tall horse and took me to the capital, promising a good life. But my only wish was to open a small shop in town, do some business, and grow old with Mom and Dad.
The capital was tough. His colleagues mocked me, and the noble ladies looked down on me. The Princess even said she wanted the Emperor to grant her the young general as her husband, telling me to get lost.
Being a General's wife turned out to be harder than being a peddler. So, I left him the divorce papers and a note: "You go be your great general, and I'll stick to being a peddler. Let's have no connections and not delay each other anymore."
What was so great about being a General's wife? I wanted to be the most carefree peddler in the world.
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I untied the ribbon holding my long hair and reached for the drumstick on the plate. Usually, Mom would knock my hand away with chopsticks, but today she was unusually gentle.
"Pattie, your father and I have found you another match."
"Gavin has been in the army for five years without any news. Forget about him," she said.
I was happily munching on the drumstick. "No way."
Mom couldn't hold back and tapped my head with her chopsticks. "You're twenty already. If you keep delaying, how will you ever get married? Do you want to be a peddler for life?"
I kicked back in the chair, feeling completely at ease. "What's wrong with being a peddler? I want to be a peddler for life and stay by your side."
After giving birth to me, Mom's health declined, and I was their only child. I had long decided to stay with them and take care of them in their old age.
Mom turned her anger towards Dad, who was watching as an onlooker. "It's all your fault. I told you a girl shouldn't be a peddler, but you insisted on letting her. Now look."
Dad shrank back and placed another drumstick in Mom's bowl. "She's not that old yet. Besides, our daughter is as beautiful as you. She won't have trouble finding a husband."
Mom scolded, "You and your glib tongue..."
Knowing they were about to start flirting, I quickly finished my porridge and escaped to my room.
I poured out the money I earned today and gathered it into a small iron box. Counting it, I was surprised to find I had saved quite a bit. In another year or so, I would have enough to rent a small shop in town.
Then, I could open a grocery store in town, and we wouldn't have to wander the countryside with a carrying pole every day. Dad wouldn't need to work in the fields, and Mom wouldn't have to cut grass on the mountain. We could all live a good life.
But... I glanced at the silver bracelet at the bottom of the box, buried under the coins. It was a gift from Gavin when we got engaged. Five years ago, he left with his backpack, holding my hand reluctantly, promising to return from the army in two years and open a shop together after we got married.
But five years had passed, and he hadn't sent a single letter. Gavin, that big liar.
The next morning, I washed my face, tied my long hair like a man's, and set out with my carrying pole. Mom chased after me from the house, handing me some pizza. "Be safe and come back early."
To save money for the shop as quickly as possible, I stocked up on more goods and went to farther villages. Fortunately, I was good with words, and my goods were of good quality and reasonably priced. I sold almost everything by midday.
On my way home, a few men blocked my path. "Hold it right there! Who gave you permission to sell in Springwater?"
I trembled at the sight of the burly men. The leader's muscles looked like they could punch me into the ground. I apologized repeatedly, "Sorry, I didn't know this was your territory."
The man extended his hand. "50 dollars."
Before I could react, a skinny guy behind him rudely grabbed my money bag, leaving me nothing.
After they left, I picked up the money bag from the ground. "Sigh, another day of losses," I sighed. This wasn't the first time I'd been harassed. Because my business was good and I was a woman, I naturally attracted a lot of jealousy.
Even though I was cautious, I couldn't avoid trouble every now and then. I patted the dust off the money bag, which Mom had sewn for me by lamplight. She spent two days and nights on it, and Dad had teased her about whether she was sewing a coin or a biscuit. But I cherished it and took it with me every time I went out.
I clasped my hands together and muttered, "Money well spent."
If Gavin were still here, he would have taught those bullies a lesson. I wouldn't have been bullied. Thinking about the troubles caused by these thugs over the years, I felt powerless and could only swallow my grievances.
Feeling more and more upset, I cried all the way home. But when I reached the door, I saw a tall horse tied up, and the entire village was peeking over my courtyard wall.
I quickly wiped my tears and snot and entered the yard, only to see a familiar figure sitting there, drinking coffee with Dad. My hands shook, and I dropped the carrying pole and basket. The unsold maltose candies scattered all over the ground.
The village kids climbed over the wall, scrambling to pick up the candies. "Pattie, you're going to be a General's wife!"