"I've troubled you enough. I can go home by myself." Sunja couldn't raise her head.
"Listen, you have to be careful not to travel alone or ever be out at night. If you go to the market by yourself, you must stay on the main paths. Always in public view. They are looking for girls now."
She didn't understand.
The colonial government. To take to China for the soldiers. Don't follow anyone. It will likely be some Korean person, a woman or man, who'll tell you there's a good job in China or Japan. It may be someone you know. Be careful, and I don't mean just those stupid boys. They're just bad kids. But evern those body could hurt you if you are not cautious. Do you understand?"
Sunja wasn't looking for a job, and she didn't understand why he was telling her any of this. No one had ever apporached her about working away from home. She would never leaver her mother, anyway, but he was right. It was always possible for a woman to be disgraced. Noblewomen supposedly hid silver knives in their blouses to protect themselves or to commit suicide if they were dishonored.
Hansu gave her a handkeerchief, and she wiped her face.
"You should go home. Your mother will worry."
Hansu walked her to the ferry. Sunja rested her baskets on the floor of the ferryboat and sat down. There were only two other passengers.
Sunja bowed. Koh Hansu was watching her again. but this times his face was different from before; he looked concerned. As the boat moved away from the dock, she realized that she had not thanked him.