"May I have the seaweed that my mother likes?" Sunja feigned interest in the oblong piles of dried seaweed, folded like fabric, separated in rows of varying quality and price.
Remebering herself, the ajumma blinked, then wrapped a large portion of sesweed fro Sunja. The girl counted out the coins, then accepted the parcel with two hands.
"Your mother is taking care of how many lodgers now?"
"Six." From the corner her eye, Sunja could see that the man was now talking to another broker, but still looking in her direction. "She's very busy."
"Of course she is! Sunja-ja, a woman's life is endless work and suffering. There is suffering and then more suffering. It's better to expect it, you know. You're becoming a woman now, so you should be told this. For a woman, the man you marry will determine the quality of your life completely. A good man is a decent life, and a bad man is a cursed life-but no mater what, always expect suffering, and just keep working hard. No one will take care of a poor woman-just ourselves."
Mrs. Jun patted her perpetually bloated customer and turned to the new custormer, allowing Sunja to return home.
At dinner, the Chung brothers mentioned Koh Hansu, who had just bought their entire catch.
"For a broker, he's okay," Gombo said, "I prefer a smart one like him who doesn't suffer fools, Koh doesn't haggle. It's one price, and he's fair enough. I don't think he's trying to screw you like the others, but you can't refuse him." Fatso then added that the ice broker had told him that the fish broker from Jeju was supposed to be unimaginably rich. He came into Busan only three nights a week and lived in Osaka and Seoul. Everyone called his Boss.
Koh Hansu seemed to be everywhere. Whenever she was in the market, he would turn up, not concealing his interest. Althouhg she tried to overlook his stares and go about her errands, her face felt hot in his presence.
A week later, he spoke to her. Sunja had just finished her shopping and was walking alone on the road toward the ferry.
"Young mis, what are you cooking for dinner at the boardinghouse tonight?"