Chapter 41. First Trial (3)

Yang Jinpo was receiving all the attention from the crowd. Although various people had gathered, it was natural for him to stand out, being the only one-armed person.

"Does that guy only have one arm?"

"How can a cripple do the job of a porter?"

"Anyway, he won’t make it. He shouldn’t have come. Tsk... He’s just wasting our time."

Yang Jinpo's face turned red at the mocking words, but that was all. He didn’t cause any trouble.

If he had been his usual self, a fight would have already broken out, but fortunately, such an unpleasant incident didn’t happen thanks to my thorough warning beforehand.

‘Thank goodness.’

If there had been any trouble, I would have had to cut my losses quickly, but fortunately, that didn’t happen.

"From number 1, come forward!"

Before the test, a simple physical examination began. Those with an abnormal gait or calluses on their feet were disqualified.

Each person demonstrated their walking posture and then took off their shoes to show their feet.

Since most of them had experience as laborers, almost no one was disqualified.

When it was Yang Jinpo's turn, the inspector, standing in front of him, looked perplexed and glanced at Gang Pyodu.

Gang Pyodu briefly looked at me with a complicated expression. I lightly clenched my fist and tapped my chest a few times, a gesture to show that I trusted him.

Gang Pyodu, as if giving up, nodded at the inspector. The inspector, understanding, passed Yang Jinpo. Soon, murmurs spread around.

"What, a cripple passed?"

"I don’t understand the criteria."

"Damn, if a cripple can pass, how could I fail...?"

Grumbling voices were heard from all directions. The inspector looked complicated, and Yang Jinpo also blushed, looking embarrassed.

After the physical examination, a few people were sent back, and the main test began. The first task was to lift a rice sack, load it onto a pole, and walk with it.

Although it might seem trivial, a rice sack in this era weighs 80 kg, not the 20 kg of modern times. It’s a weight that can make the sky turn blue after a few lifts.

Carrying such a load on a pole is no ordinary task.

The purpose of this test was, first, to see if the candidates had sufficient strength and endurance, and second, to see if they knew the technique for lifting heavy loads.

Lifting heavy loads requires a certain technique. Bending at the waist to lift is a sure way to hurt your back. The key is to bend your knees and maintain your center of gravity.

Of course, anyone who has moved heavy loads before knows this technique.

However, even knowing the technique, a rice sack is quite heavy. It’s like carrying a medium-sized refrigerator on your back.

But in this era, most strong men are familiar with such rice sacks and can lift one without much trouble.

"Really? Why can’t I lift it?"

"Disqualified!"

"Please, just one more chance..."

"Next, number 7! Come forward."

When number 6 couldn’t lift the rice sack and groaned, he was immediately disqualified. Two guards dragged him away as he struggled, begging for another chance.

Disqualifications continued one after another. Everyone looked disbelieving that they couldn’t even lift a single rice sack.

In fact, there was a secret to the rice sacks. Each sack contained an iron weight, making the actual weight over 100 kg.

‘It’s only natural they couldn’t lift it.’

If they thought it was the usual weight and tried to lift it, of course, they would struggle. Then they would be disqualified.

So, this test was designed to be difficult for anyone who wasn’t exceptionally strong.

It was a secret move by the Baegun Escort Agency to filter out too many applicants.

However, the Jechulmon disciples, having been tipped off by me, used all their strength from the start and lifted the rice sacks without any problem. They also carried the poles with ease.

Considering the average training intensity of warriors, it wasn’t that difficult.

‘Now it’s Yang Jinpo’s turn.’

The biggest problem was Yang Jinpo, who had only one arm. I had no way to help him with this test, so he had to pass on his own.

Yang Jinpo stood in front of the rice sack for a moment, then skillfully used his remaining half-arm to lift it.

I had told him it would be heavier than a regular rice sack, but I didn’t expect him to lift it so skillfully. After being expelled, he had survived by doing manual labor, so he seemed quite accustomed to working with one arm.

After loading the rice sack onto the pole, Yang Jinpo used his left arm and mouth to tie the rope and secure it. He then carried the pole skillfully. I saw Gang Pyodu nod slightly.

‘He passed the first test.’

I was a bit worried, but it turned out well. Yang Jinpo put down the pole without much difficulty and glanced at me. I nodded slightly.

The first test ended. Out of the 20 people to be selected, about 50 passed the first test.

After a brief pause, the second test began. The second test was loading and unloading.

It involved systematically loading and unloading cargo from a cart, with the task of loading and unloading 10 boxes. The candidates were divided into roles for receiving and loading the cargo on the cart.

‘This is the most worrying part.’

Loading and unloading is a task that even experienced porters find exhausting, making their legs tremble and their breath short. The candidates walked out one by one with determined expressions, knowing how difficult the task was.

"Huff, huff, huff"

"Disqualified! Fell off the cart."

Sure enough, disqualifications continued. It was understandable. The boxes were not light, and without the right technique, it was a very difficult task.

Loading and unloading requires a good sense of rhythm and the ability to rotate the waist. With practice, the technique is quickly mastered, but at first, it feels like the sky is turning blue.

"Passed!"

"Yes!!"

"Disqualified!"

"Oh..."

Voices of success and failure were heard from all directions. People were either selected or disqualified in turn. Upon checking, all of Yang Jinpo’s fellow disciples passed.

Now it was Yang Jinpo’s turn.

In fact, this part was the most disadvantageous for Yang Jinpo, who had only one arm. He needed to quickly load and unload the cargo, which is almost impossible without both arms.

So, I gave him a secret plan.

‘I don’t know if it will work, but...’

As Yang Jinpo approached the cart, he suddenly changed direction and went to Gang Pyodu.

Gang Pyodu looked at him with a puzzled expression, wondering what he was doing.

Yang Jinpo looked at me with a determined expression.

We communicated through eye contact.

‘No matter how I think about it, this is crazy.’

‘Just do it, kid.’

‘You’re a smart one.’

Yang Jinpo took a deep breath and, with a determined look, showed his amputated right arm to Gang Pyodu.

"As you can see, I only have one arm, so I can’t load and unload the cargo on the cart."

"Hmm? Are you giving up the test?"

"No, I’m not."

Yang Jinpo shook his head and made a bombshell announcement.

"I want to just carry the pole."

At first, Gang Pyodu looked confused, then he soon wore an expression of disbelief.

It was as if he had never seen such a crazy person in his life. Gang Pyodu raised his voice, not hiding his annoyance.

"If you want to do the job as you please, you should start your own escort agency. Do you think this makes sense? Is this a game?"

"I have a reasonable proposal."

"What is it?"

After a brief pause, Yang Jinpo spoke as if spitting it out.

"I will work for free from now on."

"What, what...!"

The declaration of working for free! Passionate pay!

This was my secret plan.

"I only need to be fed. I won’t take a single penny. I want to work with a learning attitude."

Yang Jinpo finished speaking and bowed. The crowd, after a moment of silence, erupted in intense reactions.

"Free, free?"

"Is this cripple crazy?"

"Are you saying he won’t take money for work?"

Everyone looked as if they had seen a madman. Of course, Gang Pyodu also looked at this unprecedented madman with a puzzled expression, stuttering.

"Free, so you mean for free? Doing free work?"

"Yes, that’s right. I want to learn from the Baegun Escort Agency. How can I take money for learning?"

The crowd collectively rolled their eyes.

"You, you, madman!!"

"Madman, madman...! A madman has appeared!"

"Quick, get the madman out!"

"Great Ancestor of the Primordial Heaven..."

Despite the intense reactions, Yang Jinpo continued without hesitation.

"I am, as you can see, physically disabled. If I continue like this, I will starve to death. But if the Baegun Escort Agency teaches me, I can learn to make a living. How can I take money for such a favor?"

"Passed!!! Passed!!"

As soon as Yang Jinpo finished speaking, Gang Pyodu loudly declared his passing. Tears of emotion streamed down his face.

"I’ve never seen a true worker like you!"

"I will work hard."

"Yes, yes... Come, sign the contract. You will work for free. Sob, a true talent. A true... talent..."

Gang Pyodu, holding Yang Jinpo’s remaining hand as if it were a treasure, led him to the office.

Despite the intense cries of protest and anger from the crowd, no one could revoke Yang Jinpo’s passing.

‘It went according to plan.’

I nodded from a distance and smiled faintly.

By my estimation, the chances of Yang Jinpo, a one-armed person, passing were less than 1%. It was an almost impossible mission.

Gang Pyodu was a man who strictly separated personal and professional matters. Although I had offered him investment money and asked for a favor, he only allowed Yang Jinpo to take the test. He wouldn’t accept someone who failed the test.

To get Yang Jinpo to pass, I needed a drastic measure. That was the declaration of working for free.

‘It’s not really free, though.’

The day before, I gathered all of Yang Jinpo’s fellow disciples and asked them to step out for a moment. I then asked them:

"You can pass, but Yang Jinpo has no chance."

"Then we won’t work either. How can we think only of ourselves? We must live and die together!"

"Don’t be hasty. I have a way to get Yang Jinpo to pass. He will declare that he will work for free."

"Such...!"

"Yes. If he does that, he will pass. In return, you will have to contribute to Yang Jinpo’s salary. He can’t live without a salary, after all."

"..."

"Only if all of you agree."

Since Yang Jinpo would take 20% from each of them, it was essentially a proposal to work with a 20% salary cut.

It was a proposal based on the bond of brotherhood.

They didn’t hesitate and shouted in unison:

"We will do it!"

This was the whole story.

‘It went as planned.’

I looked at the test site. The atmosphere was still chaotic, and some people looked ready to protest. But no one else declared they would work for free.

I watched them for a moment, smiled, and left the test site.

I felt quite good.