05. Not willing

In front of her house stood a crowd and looked inside her courtyard. As she came closer woman stood there and screamed and cried like she was completely insane. ''Give me my husband back! I want my husband back!''

Mina came closer and saw Elder Kang rushing towards her and shaking her head. ''Don't go inside. A woman came with the accusation that you stole her husband.''

''What? I don't even have family members, came just a day before when should I get myself even husband?'' Mina misunderstood the whole situation and blinked at the door innocently.

Actually more than half the village was there and heard her words and had to admit. She just came, when did she have time to bother other people's husband?.

Mina had it all s she saw woman ripping her dress that she brought from home. ''Now is enough!'' Her voice became full and filled with resonance and authority. After all, she was indeed a young lady of the Nam family. But this kind of situation is indeed quite ridiculous. ''If you destroy that dress I will make you pay full price for it! It's my late mother dress and it made of first ice grade silk. You destroy it, no problem. I hope you and your family can pay for it. It has two-way shu embroidery on seems as well on edges. Last time someone wanted to buy it off it cost two hundred gold pieces, If you don't believe me, we can ask embroidery house in the city.''

Her confident look and calm voice made the woman freeze and trow the dress on a nearby chair. ''Dirty stuff...'' She was so shocked that she missed the chair and threw it straight into mud puddle.

The problem with ice silk is it should never be touched with water as it losses its ability and becomes wrinkled. It takes ages again to look silky and in this case was completely wasted as the beautiful silk was stained with yellow mud that was famously hard to get out clothes.

Mina came closer and pulled out the dress and slowly put aside. Then she picked up the nearby basket and put the dress inside. Afterwards, she looked at everyone on the door. ''You all are my witnesses. Elder Kang, I need you as a witness as well. I want to go to the city right now and report her for the destruction of private property and malicious offence. Now old woman...''

With a finger pointed at paling woman, she became loud. ''I just came to this village LAST NIGHT. From the other side of the country... I have witnesses for that. I have NO IDEA who your husband is and I do not care. If you just got noise I would just explain it to you calmly and you will have left your way and I could have lived calmly for a long time. But...!'' Mina inhaled deeply as she rose her head and looked at her with fiery eyes. ''After what happened now, let's hope your family has enough money.''

The woman shook and then started laughing. ''Even if that is ice silk, you... you might have stolen it from someone. Who knows your background.''

Mina shrugged. ''It is easy to find my background. I just chose to live far away from my family as we are in dispute. But they let me go without any problems. I chose to come here and live a calm life, but I still can prove the background of the dress. This is indeed a first-grade ice silk dress. Elder Kang, can you help me...''

She needed help and somehow she knew that Elder Kang would back her up. And she was right. ''Miss Baek, I have no idea who told you that this poor child is your husband's mistress, but she is telling truth. She really just came from another side of the country.''

Miss Baek could see everyone in the village nodding and turned her head towards pale-looking woman. Mina had simple clothes indeed, but even in its simplicity, it looked good on her. Her pale complexion, big brown eyes and long black hair with her white hands and long soft fingers showed that she truly said the truth. Even if she gained some colour on her face she still had beautiful complexion. Her heart thumped.

''You... you are not my husband's mistress?'' She carefully asked the young woman that calmly stood there. Why did she get that information?

Mina shook her head. ''I would never let myself become anyone mistress or concubine. That is the reason I left my family. They wanted to exchange me... no, they wanted to SELL me to an old man as his concubine. He had over fifty concubines already and he was over seventy. The moment I enter his household I would have been less than a servant. I was not willing and broke up with family, or better say they broke with me. So miss Baek tell me, why would I travel all the way here to get into worse trouble with someone like your husband. Am I willing? Never! If anyone tries to make me become a person like that I would kill myself without even blinking.''

Her eyes shone proudly and her face showed her true feelings. ''I have chosen to live my life alone. I do not wish anyone to get close to me. I would prefer to live comfortably alone that uncomfortably with someone who will turn me into a person like you. Sigh. Here. Take it with you as a reminder of your life. I will not sue you but don't ever come close to me. I hate people touching my stuff. Go...''

Miss Baek was completely flabbergasted as Mina stuffed the basket with the dress into her arms and pushed her forcefully our her garden. The woman turned around and saw Mina's tiered face.

''I am sorry about this. Please be my witnesses. I wish to be alone. Seriously. I promised my late mother never to get married after my father cheated on her and took all her wealth. He then brought a few dozen women to our house and made my mother die in anger. To live and die like her, I am not willing. Miss Baek, I respect you as you still have so much spirit. But next time you hear such a thing about your husband fist find out the real truth. I would like to ask all the villagers and Elders for forgiveness, but I think its time I clean the mess... again.'' With a sigh, she pointed at broken pots and bowls all over the courtyard and with deep bow slowly closed the door.

As villagers went back their home only Elder Kang and miss Baek stood in front of gate and stared at it with a serious expression. ''You did this child wrong. Go now. Tell your Baek family what you did.''

Miss Baek left and only Elder Kang was standing outside and knocked on the door. The door slowly opened and teary smeared face appeared in front of her. ''Child. Why did you give up? You could have gotten lots of money...'' That amount would be enough for her to live in such a place for the rest of her life comfortably.