Chapter 64

# 64 <Happy Mission (3)>

***

It’s already been 5 years since Hong Ki-jun changed the way he spends his vacations.

In the past, he used to spend his vacations at hotels in famous beaches or condos in well-known mountains. When his young daughter said she wanted to try camping, he even bought a tent and went camping on weekends. However, after his daughter, who has a bad sleeping habit, rolled around and accidentally slept on a tree root, causing a bump on the back of her head, he stopped doing that.

Son Kwang-yeon, who was scanning the tidal flat with his eyes half-open, asked, “Isn’t it tiring to drive here every time?”

“Don’t say that. All I have to do is drive. I don’t have to set up a tent, and it’s much better than a stuffy hotel with walls everywhere. What about the food?”

They ate food that’s hard to find anywhere else and drank comfortably with friends. If they had spent their vacation in an unfamiliar place, they would never have been able to do this because they would have been busy making plans and taking care of their family.

But that doesn’t mean they just laze around.

Huff, huff-. Hong Ki-jun stuck out his tongue like Jang Gun-i and kept making rough breathing sounds.

Son Kwang-yeon gave his friend a pitiful look.

“If you’re tired, take a break in the shade.”

“No, it’s good exercise. Huff, huff-.”

It wasn’t easy to step on the tidal flat wearing yellow rubber boots that came up to his thighs. The sun and wind on the drained tidal flat were scorching. The tidal flat, full of moisture, reflected the sunlight, making his face burn even with a hat on, and the hot wind added to the heat all over his body.

“It’s fun and good if we catch them together, but you might get sick if you keep this up.”

“I’ll just put on a patch. Eating octopus gives me energy I didn’t even know I had.”

Son Kwang-yeon nodded at his friend’s joke. He was still scanning the tidal flat with sharp eyes.

Maybe that’s why people say feeding octopus to a weak cow gives it strength. Without knowledge about nutrition, it might seem like nonsense at first. But after seeing a cow jump up after eating octopus, he changed his mind.

“I also feel energized when I eat octopus in the summer when I’m too tired.”

That’s why Son Kwang-yeon couldn’t give up octopus fishing in the summer. He could help his overworked friend recover, and the kids loved it too. Especially his young daughter Son Yoo-jin, who would cheer for octopus.

Seeing his friend, who was as strong as a cow, Hong Ki-jun nodded in agreement. Maybe this friend also gets energy from eating octopus because he’s like a cow.

“Even if it’s just folk remedies, it seems there’s some truth to it. Ah, here it is.”

Son Kwang-yeon pointed to a barely visible hole that had just appeared. He learned from Choi Jang-hwan that it’s a hole where an octopus hiding in the tidal flat breathes.

Son Kwang-yeon started digging with skillful movements.

Digging too wide would cause the mud to collapse or water to fill in quickly, so speed was crucial. It felt more like stirring deeply rather than digging a hole. Unlike winter loaches, octopuses dig deep holes.

Watching Son Kwang-yeon dig, Hong Ki-jun stuck out his tongue.

“This is fun, so fun.”

The movement, starting from the ankles, going through the waist, shoulders, and finally to the wrists, looked like a well-oiled machine. It wasn’t just about moving quickly.

Puff, puff-. He even controlled his breathing like an athlete. Even so, the digging continued without pause. The mechanics of an octopus fisherman were something a novice couldn’t replicate.

Hong Ki-jun also picked up a shovel but gave up after trying to follow his friend a few times. His back felt like it was breaking, and he was gasping for air. The blue sky quickly turned yellow, and the water flowing through the tidal flat looked like the River Styx. Beyond it, he thought he saw his grandfather, who passed away when he was in middle school, waving at him.

If Son Kwang-yeon hadn’t caught him, Hong Ki-jun would have stumbled and fallen embarrassingly. He realized that army-style digging doesn’t work on tidal flats.

“Got it!”

Son Kwang-yeon, who had dug up to his knees, reached into the hole. His hand came out holding an octopus head bigger than a child’s fist. The octopus legs, some dangling and some struggling to find a way out, gave off a sense of vitality that refreshed Hong Ki-jun’s mind.

“Think we’ve caught enough?”

Son Kwang-yeon smiled, revealing his neat teeth. Hong Ki-jun opened the icebox.

About thirty octopuses, quite thick, were imprisoned in the white styrofoam box. Along with frozen water bottles and acorn leaves, the icebox contained everything needed for a precious summer asset.

“Let’s go now.”

“Already? I’m fine though?”

Despite his words, Hong Ki-jun was sweating like rain, so Son Kwang-yeon couldn’t help but chuckle.

This friend has always been full of bravado since he was young. Even now, half of his red face is covered in mud, and he’s panting. It’s not like he dug the mud with his face like a mudskipper, but he’s the only one looking like a mess.

“We’ve caught enough to eat, not to sell, so let’s go. If you collapse here, even an ambulance can’t come. The paramedics would collapse trying to get here. Only those who know the tidal flat can navigate it.”

After learning the joys of the sea through tidal flat fishing and fishing with his son, Son Kwang-yeon took lessons from Jo Il-hun and Choi Jang-hwan on octopus fishing. With natural strength, stamina, and intelligence to back up his learning ability, he became an excellent octopus fisherman.

Hong Ki-jun obediently followed his friend.

Escaping this sweltering tidal flat in midsummer, he felt a sense of liberation.

“Do you usually come alone?”

“Not really. If Yoo-jin wants octopus, I just buy it for her. Sometimes I catch a dozen or so with Jin Hyuk and then call it a day.”

Listening to Son Kwang-yeon, Hong Ki-jun felt a surge of energy.

He could guess why his friend was going through all this trouble.

He could also understand the mindset of catching just enough.

Even though the octopus population isn’t declining, it’s about leaving some for the neighbors.

But it’s not like Son Kwang-yeon only thinks about people.

“Who else will protect the tidal flat? Protecting marine resources is the responsibility of those who benefit from the tidal flat.”

Son Kwang-yeon released small octopuses several times. Even after digging holes under the scorching sun. He knew how to enjoy moderately and take care of things in moderation.

‘If people treated octopuses like dirt, the octopus population would have dried up.’

Thinking that, Hong Ki-jun’s lips curled up even in the midst of exhaustion.

From various parts of the tidal flat, village youths greeted Son Kwang-yeon.

Even from a distance where shouting wouldn’t reach, they waved their shovels and took off their hats to bow.

Hong Ki-jun looked at the scene with satisfaction.

‘I was worried he might be lonely.’

Even though it’s called rural hospitality, there are people who act territorial wherever you go. Yet, the way his friend lives seems warm, as if territoriality is someone else’s problem.

As a farmer, he takes care of his family, and as a village member, he is respected.

He heard that even as a large landowner, he doesn’t exploit tenants with high rents and even waives rents in bad years.

– “It’s about responsibility as a member. If I make a small concession, those people can take care of their share properly. What’s the fun in living well alone?”

Hong Ki-jun wiped his face with the towel around his neck. Sweat was flowing endlessly like tears.

He took out the ice water from the icebox, drank it, and poured some on his head.

“Whew- I’m alive.”

The scorching sun on the tidal flat, with no shade, makes you want to say, “I’m dying.” A cup of ice water poured on your head is enough to move from hell to heaven.

He urged his leg muscles and silently followed his friend. Looking around at the embankment blocking the tidal flat and the sandy beach.

Then he remembered something and looked at his friend.

He raised his voice as if shouting at Son Kwang-yeon’s back.

“Want to skip the plane ride during Chuseok?”

***

Splash-thud!

Hong Soo-jung, excited, splashed around and fell into the stream.

The one who was supposed to herd the fish ended up scaring them all away.

“Oppa-!”

Hong Soo-jung’s flailing didn’t last long. She shouted desperately, but she was already safe.

Jin Hyuk, who came striding over, quickly picked up the little one. It happened even before she could call for her brother. Even though the stream wasn’t deep, panicking and swallowing water could be dangerous. It was the right thing to do. Hong Soo-jung’s safety was now Jin Hyuk’s responsibility.

“Geez, you little rascal. You have to be careful.”

Heh heh-. Her cute appearance made him laugh.

Jin Hyuk moved Hong Soo-jung to the streamside and quickly rescued her floating boots.

The soaked city kid from head to toe looked at him with a satisfied expression. Thinking he was reliable as always.

Feeling good, the city kid sat by the stream and chattered.

“Oppa, you know Yakttok, right?”

“Yeah······.”

He couldn’t pretend not to know just because she was a kid, so he answered honestly.

Maybe it’s because only a year has passed, or maybe it’s because she’s young and has a good memory.

Anyway, she’s a persistent little one. The image of her constantly asking to eat ramen overlapped.

‘Well, even if she remembers it past twenty, so what.’

Jin Hyuk, who had taken off his straw hat, scratched his short hair.

It was a simple calculation that it was better than living with a complete stranger.

Thinking that, he looked at Hong Soo-jung.

‘Wow. When will this kid grow up?’

To a stranger, they might look like father and daughter due to the size difference. Actually, Jin Hyuk is bigger than Hong Ki-jun, so if you cover their faces, they might really look like a father-daughter pair.

It’s not the Joseon era, but if they pretended to be a couple, it would be a perfect setup for handcuffs.

Jin Hyuk gathered his courage.

“Soo-jung, Oppa likes tall and healthy girls.”

“Healthy, what?”

“Healthy, like eating well, sleeping well, and exercising.”

It should be okay to talk about preferences, right?

Surely this isn’t a crime? Jin Hyuk looked around for no reason.

For some reason, except for Jang Gun-i, who was hiding in the grass and watching them, there was no one else.

‘Why is that guy hiding? Is he playing hide and seek alone?’

Was it a misunderstanding? It felt more like peeking than surveillance or guard duty. The bulldog-like guy was staring at them, making him feel uncomfortable. It felt like a delinquent teenager picking a fight.

Hong Soo-jung, who had been thinking deeply, looked up at Jin Hyuk.

“Will I be as big as Woody’s mom?”

“Well, that would be-.”

It meant not to be picky and end up small like in a past life, not that he had any other intentions. He only said to eat well and exercise. Feeling strangely guilty, Jin Hyuk looked around again.

But since he brought it up, he decided to make it clear.

“And Soo-jung, earthworms taste like dirt.”

“Dirt? That’s disgusting.”

“Yeah. So don’t eat that.”

“Okay!”

The city kid nodded vigorously.

Whew-, Jin Hyuk sighed in relief.

This is how you successfully escape from earthworms.

‘This is what it feels like to take charge of the future!’

Still, thinking that this kid might grow up to be a beauty, he felt it wasn’t a bad investment.

Hong Soo-jung stared at Jin Hyuk with innocent, sparkling eyes. It seemed like she wanted something more.

“Oppa, more, more?”

“More?”

“Yeah.”

What more should I say······. Today, Jin Hyuk kept scratching his head. He had even washed his hair. In private conversations, he was more of a listener than a talker.

Let’s see-, it’s good to have a win-win situation. After crossing his arms and pondering, Jin Hyuk finally spoke.

“Before exercising, always do warm-ups, and after exercising, do recovery training.”

“Okay!”

“Before bed, massage your knees and legs.”

“Okay!”

“Drink lots of milk and anchovies, and don’t eat ramen too often.”

“But I like ramen······.”

Even after that, every time he said something, Jin Hyuk looked around.

It’s not like he’s teaching bad things, so why does it feel weird? Jang Gun-i’s gaze was also bothering him.

“Brush your teeth morning and night, if your knees hurt too much, go to the hospital, and if you break a bone, never push yourself······.”

Even though it’s vacation, Hong Soo-jung’s eyelids felt heavy as if she were in a classroom. She thought it was good that this Oppa was talking more, but he’s just sounding like a church priest.

Jang Gun-i, who had been sneakily watching the two with expectant eyes, also rested his chin on the grass.

Jang Gun-i closed his eyes slowly and thought.

‘Woof’

– It’s my fault.

When the village’s scrawny and shabby males tried to sniff around, Jang Gun-i would bark, bite, and growl, causing a ruckus.

It’s what you’d call dog madness.

The kid must have learned only that.

That’s why they only growl.

I should have shown them how to lick their privates, but I didn’t. It’s my fault for not teaching the kid properly.

My eyes are closing, maybe because I got bitten by that long, slippery guy.

Was it when that guy from the next village, Kkachisalmongmong, bit my nose?

I heard the landlord, Mr. Iwalwal, tied his nose with a string so the poison wouldn’t spread, and he almost suffocated to death. Luckily, Jang Gun-i avoided that fate.

It just stings. It’s similar to being stung by a bee. Actually, it’s twice as painful. Bees have one stinger, but snakes have two. Jang Gun-i is a smart dog, so he knows this.

But why is it getting darker?

Am I dying?

‘Woof’

– It was a happy life······.

The emotional storms and bravado aren’t exclusive to humans.

Rumble-.