Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 15
Soalldaylongthousandsofcoolies,water-jarsyokedtotheirshoulders,trampouttherivergateandback.Ibecameoneofthese,untilChongMong-jusoughtmeout,andIwasbeatenandplankedandsetuponthehighway.
Everitwasthesame.InfarWijuIbecameadog-butcher,killingthebrutespubliclybeforemyopenstall,cuttingandhangingthecaressesforsale,tanningthehidesunderthefilthofthefeetofthepassers-bybyspreadingthehides,raw-sideup,inthemuckofthestreet.ButChongMong-jufoundmeout.Iwasadyer’shelperinPyonhan,agold-minerintheplacersofKang-wun,arope-makerandtwine-twisterinChiksan.IplaitedstrawhatsinPadok,gatheredgrassinWhang-hai,andinMasenposoldmyselftoaricefarmertotoilbentdoubleinthefloodedpaddiesforlessthanacoolie’spay.ButtherewasneveratimeorplacethatthelongarmofChongMong-judidnotreachoutandpunishandthrustmeuponthebeggar’sway.
TheLadyOmandIsearchedtwoseasonsandfoundasinglerootofthewildmountainginseng,whichisesteemedsorareandpreciousathingbythedoctorsthattheLadyOmandIcouldhavelivedayearincomfortfromthesaleofouroneroot.ButinthesellingofitIwasapprehended,therootconfiscated,andIwasbetterbeatenandlongerplankedthanordinarily.
