130

Chapter 130 - The Dang Family's Rising Wind Volume 2 - 3

Official Residence Confrontation.

Among the multitude of women, who will emerge as the heroine connected to the protagonist? Numerous fans wish for their favored heroine to end up with the protagonist, predicting and discussing which story path will lead to that outcome.

The Official Residence Confrontation also serves to enhance the enjoyment and immersion in the narrative.

'I too burnt the midnight oil participating in the Official Residence Confrontation.'

There is nothing more futile than arguing with people online. However, I cannot tolerate it when someone dares to negate the Official Residence I support.

It's a fight worth fighting.

'Nevertheless, one should never fight at a workplace.'

The Official Residence Confrontation should take place in designated communities. It's important not to harm others.

Hwarin and I separated the quarreling members of the Readers Association into two groups and listened to their arguments.

"How could a mere courtesan become the Official Residence of the great Dang family of Sichuan, the Kirin Child (麒麟兒) of Dangjeong!"

A member of the Readers Association indignantly rebuked someone from the opposite side, as if they themselves were part of the Dang family of Sichuan.

"Why not! She even gave up her first time to the foremost courtesan of Hubei. It makes no sense for a woman who can only resort to substance abuse out of addiction to be the Official Residence. Throughout Volume 2, while being an ally, Doo Eun-Hyang has also built a rapport of affection. She's the one fitting for Dangjeong's Official Residence."

One of the Readers Association members supporting Doo Eun-Hyang confidently articulated their logic.

Unlike Volume 1, where the protagonist's narrative had to be established, Volume 2 introduced the heroine from the start, allowing Doo Eun-Hyang's charm to be properly showcased. Though, who knew that would prompt people to switch their support so readily.

As a writer, I'm pleased, but as a store manager, it's troublesome.

"How can a gisaeng possibly be a maiden? It's clear Doo Eun-Hyang has lied."

The man who had blustered earlier stuttered, rattled by the counterargument.

"All gisaeng were once maidens."

"How could the most renowned courtesan in Hubei have ever been a maiden!", he countered.

"Pfft! The author Hopil has explicitly declared in the novel that it was her first time. How dare you now cast doubt upon the author in the midst of this Official Residence debate?"

"Where is that written?"

"In Dang Family's Rising Wind, Volume 2. Flip to the 20th sheet from the back. There, on the 18th line, the author Hopil asserts through his narrative that Doo Eun-Hyang was indeed a virgin."

The man advocating for Doo Eun-Hyang as the Official Residence recounted the exact location of the explanation without a second of hesitation.

"It's true! It's actually written here."

"Oh my, how many times has this friend read Volume 2?", muttered some Reading Association members in dismay as they checked the mentioned passage, their faces filled with shock. I did write that, but to remember the exact line is slightly terrifying to me.

"Urgh..."

Realizing the truth was against him, the first man's face contorted with trouble.

"Tsk, tsk. This is why I said that people who haven't read Dang Family's Rising Wind more than ten times shouldn't be accepted into the Readers Association. To not recognize the Official Residence and to doubt the author Hopil, what shame to have such mediocrity in our community."

The man taunted with a triumphant smile, looking down upon his opponent.

"I was wrong to doubt the author Hopil, hundreds and thousands of times over. But Doo Eun-Hyang is at the end of the day a courtesan. In Sichuan, we have the lady from a high-status family, and the most beautiful woman in Sichuan, Gu Suk-Jeong! How dare someone of lesser beauty and lineage be the Official Residence?", he argued back, maintaining that the region's top beauty being the Official Residence was indisputable logic.

"Your reasoning is flawed from the beginning. Do you truly believe that the paramount beauty of Sichuan is prettier than the foremost courtesan of Hubei?"

"What kind of talk is that? It's a given that Sichuan's greatest beauty is prettier than any courtesan from Hubei."

"To claim that an ordinary beauty from Sichuan is prettier than the top courtesan of Hubei! How is that a reasonable assertion? I thought you were from Hubei, but you turn out to be from Sichuan!"

Such relentlessness! Even resorting to regional bias to trump the logic that Sichuan's number one beauty was prettier.

"What, he's from Sichuan?"

"Were we in the Hubei Readers Association tricked by a Sichuanese plot?"

A few of the Readers Association members murmured in surprise, casting incredulous looks at the accused member.

"No, no! Both my father and grandfather are from Hubei. This is slander!"

"Boo! A so-called honorable man from Sichuan. It's obvious that a top courtesan from Hubei is naturally prettier than Sichuan's number one beauty!"

Despite his protest, the chance was not missed by those who advocate for Hubei's top courtesan.

"How can there be infighting among those who support Sichuan's top beauty? Let's quickly come to their aid."

"How dare you refute the chosen Official Residence!"

As it seemed the supporter of Sichuan's top beauty was about to lose, the other Readers Association members joined in.

"The woman Dangjeong harbored feelings for wasn't Doo Eun-Hyang but Gu Suk-Jeong. Not just in Volume 1, but throughout Volume 2 his heart was set on her. How could she be cast aside for Doo Eun-Hyang to become the Official Residence."

"Silence, you so-called honorable man from Sichuan!"

The opposite side also rallied as a group once they sensed coordinated action from their adversaries.

"What, what?"

"Love is meant to move! Throughout an entire volume, Doo Eun-Hyang nurtured her love and claimed Dangjeong; she is the one befitting to be the Official Residence!"

"Beauty alone triumphs?"

"A woman needs only beauty! Just beauty provides enough to live off for a lifetime!"

"Oh, brother. How touching are these words. Shouldn't a man be able to recognize who the Official Residence is?"

"That jerk doesn't have a sister, that's why he says that."

"Shut it!"

"Enough!"

"Please calm down immediately! If you continue this commotion, we will have to ask you to leave. If you persist, you will not be allowed entry into the Dasa Hall."

Hwarin and I raised our voices to quell them. Readers Association members, please remember there are people around when you are indulging in your passions.

"Ugh. We can't afford to lose our base for Dang Family's Rising Wind."

The members of the Readers Association promptly split into two factions, each retreating to their corners.

"From today on, I refuse to share tea with those people!"

"If you cannot recognize who the Official Residence is, you have eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear. There is no value in discussion with you."

The Readers Association was split into two factions, refusing even to sit together.

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"Are you just going to let them continue like this?"

Hwarin, after observing the situation for a few days, asked me.

"What can I do about it? Here's the coffee you ordered."

While handing over a coffee to another customer, I replied to Hwarin.

"Aren't you the author? Shouldn't you tell them to stop fighting over the Official Residence?"

"How can I say anything when everyone has a favorite person of their own heart?"

Even as an author, mentioning which character I voted for in a heroine popularity poll could invite criticism. Preferences are personal, not something for an author to dictate.

"But since you're the author..."

Hwarin trailed off, looking with pity at the two factions of the Readers Association glaring at each other.

"Hwarin."

"Yes?"

"If you had someone you liked, and then someone who seemed more suited for that person came along, would you immediately give up on that man?"

Hwarin. It seems you're not fully understanding the situation, so let me give you an analogy that will surely clarify things.

"Huh? Uh..."

Taken aback by my question, Hwarin's eyes widened in shock.

See? You understand now, right? But contradicting my expectations, Hwarin didn't immediately respond. She slightly bowed her head and hesitated, glancing at me, as if contemplating whether to answer.

"Hwarin?"

Is it that problematic that you have to contemplate so seriously, even worrying about my reaction?

"If there's someone more suitable than me, perhaps I should give up?"

"What?"

"That's... because someone like me isn't in a position to make concessions. No. There's no reason for someone to choose someone like me..."

Hwarin murmured with a voice filled with dejection, bowing her head even lower.

Ah, I've made a mistake. I've been thinking of Hwarin as so ordinary that I forgot about her complex.

"Hwarin."

I reached out and gently took Hwarin's wrist, drawing her towards me. With one hand, I lifted her chin and met her gaze.

"Hm?"

"Don't be disheartened over something like this. You are quite charming, you know. And about your skin... it will surely heal."

The standing of her character alone should have relieved her pain, and with the success of Dang Family's Rising Wind, her popularity points are undoubtedly rising.

She will certainly be healed in the near future.

"Me?"

I wonder if she's asking if she's truly charming, or if she's really going to get healed. I don't need to ask which she means. I just need to confirm both.

"Yes, certainly. So, if such a situation arises, don't give up. Be confident. I'll be here to support you."

Hwarin's self-esteem won't be restored overnight, and there will be times when she'll want to give up and crumble. If that happens, it's simply enough to affirm her infinitely.

Having someone who positively reassures us by our side is enough to give us strength.

I looked at her with eyes full of conviction.

"Hmm. You really said that? Right?"

Hwarin's demeanor shifted in an instant as she adopted a peculiar nasal tone, her lips curling into a slight smile.

"Uh? Yeah."

"Good. Then I won't give up."

Hwarin replied with a determined expression, as if she had resolved something. Her mood changes so quickly. Maybe she wasn't really that disheartened after all.

It's a bit odd, but since she seems to have regained her spirit, that's good enough for me.

"I'll be right back. I am going over there for a bit."

I took a large tray with two different menus on it and headed out from behind the counter.

"Why? They should come and get it themselves."

"If Miss Hwarin requests a solution for the Readers Association, it seems only right that I am prepared to present one."

I exaggerated a dramatic tone of an old-fashioned drama in response to her question.

"What sort of fuss are you planning now? Hehe. Alright, go ahead."

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"Your tea and snacks are ready."

I placed different sets of menu items, a tea set and a coffee set, in front of the two factions, now known as the Suk-Jung Group and the Hyang-A Group, respectively.

"Manager, we didn't order any of this?"

"I thought I'd introduce a new menu to our Readers Association members," I explained as I presented the items.

"New menu? Isn't that just coffee and snacks?"

"It looks like coffee over there. We have tea, though."

Before speaking, I took a moment to look at both the Suk-Jung Group and the Hyang-A Group.

Author Hopil cannot put a stop to the Official Residence Confrontation.

As an author, it's not my place to dictate who the official residence is in a harem story, nor to control people's personal preferences.

But as a manager, it's a different story.

Manager Kang Yoonho of the Dasa Hall can make use of this situation.

"This isn't just any ordinary tea and coffee. These are named the Suk-Jung Tea Set and the Hyang-A Coffee Set."

"Suk-Jung Tea?"

"Hyang-A Coffee?"

The members of the Readers Association all directed their attention to the menu items placed before them.

"I mentioned our Readers Association's dispute to author Hopil, and he was curious to see just how popular Gu Suk-Jung and Doo Eun-Hyang really are. After some thought, Dasa Hall decided to introduce these Suk-Jung Tea Sets and Hyang-A Coffee Sets."

"What does popularity have to do with this menu?"

"Look at the price."

"Wow! The prices for the Suk-Jung Tea and the Hyang-A Coffee are twice as high as the regular menu."

"Yes, that's right. Only those who genuinely like Gu Suk-Jung and Doo Eun-Hyang would pay these prices to order these menus. I intend to record each stroke of the character 正 for every order that comes in and report that to author Hopil."

An Official Residence Confrontation?

Well, let there be a popularity poll, a golden election of sorts.

The endless emotional battles between the two factions over the Official Residence are just that—endless. But what if I provide a solution?

If ordering another set can translate to an advantage rather than adding to the dispute, the cycle of endless emotional strife might just soften a little.

"Why particularly record strokes of the character 정 (正)?"

"To see how many readers truly regard someone as the rightful Main Wife (正室夫人), that's why these sets are sold."

Dear readers. The more you purchase these special sets, the more advantageous it becomes in the fight for the Official Residence.

"So you'll report the sales numbers to author Hopil?"

"That way it'll be clear which young lady is more popular."

"Yes, indeed. It's not the loud minority that author Hopil will hear from, but rather the true extent of popularity each lady has through these menu sales. And though I've only heard it in passing, I've been told that this might even influence how the story ends."

I have no intention of altering the ending. The ending etched in my heart shouldn't be swayed by money, as that wouldn't befit the stature of an author. However, I do plan to at least ensure the heroines are given a fair share in the storyline.

"So, you're saying the Official Residence might not end up being Sichuan's top beauty, Gu Suk-Jeong?"

"We can make the Official Residence with our own hands?"

"To think that we could actually make Doo Eun-Hyang the Official Residence."

"But Manager, isn't this a rather wicked sales ploy?"

"You misunderstand. Do you really think I would use author Hopil like that? It's simply a way to learn about their popularity, and all proceeds will go into author Hopil's pocket, not the hall's."

Though in reality, it's no different than the money being in my left pocket or my right.

"Alright then. Hubei's top courtesan cannot be outdone. Give us three sets of the Suk-Jeong Tea!"

"We can't lose! Give us five sets of the Hyang-A Coffee!"

"Two Suk-Jeong Tea sets over here!"

"We're falling behind. I will buy two Hyang-A Coffee sets for each person here!"

Following the launch of the special menu upstairs in Dasa Hall, the commotion on the second floor had somewhat abated.

And of course, Dasa Hall's second-floor revenue hit an all-time high since opening.

**********

In Shaanxi Province.

A man visited a grand mansion, where a middle-aged woman greeted him with a flustered expression.

"Da, da, Dang Great Hero. What brings you to this place?"

The visitor's name was Dang Geo-Ho.

Dang Geo-Ho exuded barely containable fury, the anger seeping from him like smoke. Yet none of the guard warriors or servants who were beside Hwarin's mother dared to step forward.

"I've heard you fled Yichang because of debts."

"Ohoho. That is..."

"It concerns me not. My journey here from Yichang wasn't to reproach you for that."

"Then what brings you here?"

"Hwarin. Where is she?"