Chapter 102

#102 <The Right Person (2)>

Back in the day, I heard from friends.

They said that someone in an awkward position at home, like an unmarried uncle or aunt, would take responsibility for the kids.

“Wherever I go, my role seems to be that of a babysitter.”

Jin Hyuk realized he was in an awkward position. Since there wasn’t a big age gap between him and his parents, it made sense. Still, having a role made him feel proud. Watching the little ones running around, a smile never left Jin Hyuk’s face.

Well, the kids were playing well among themselves, so it wasn’t so bad. Jin Hyuk also disliked crowded places like department stores, marts, and movie theaters.

It was a peaceful time.

“Days like this, where I do nothing and just relax, are rare.”

Whether it was exercise or studying, he always spent his time doing something.

To forget the pain by focusing on one thing.

But since returning, he’s been living busily to protect something.

“You can’t have peace by just sitting still.”

It wouldn’t be so bad if time stopped like this, but he knew better.

Time doesn’t wait, and someone might be scheming even while Jin Hyuk rests.

It was obvious that there would be more things to worry about and more busy days ahead.

But to have satisfying breaks like this occasionally, he needed someone to rely on.

Unexpectedly, he got advice from Hong Soo-jung, who used to be a manager.

She, who seemed intimidated by Jin Hyuk, cautiously opened her mouth.

– “Um… You weren’t made team leader to do everything yourself. You need to know how to delegate. That’s what a leader is, I think. Finding everyone’s strengths and placing them in the right positions is the first step of leadership, as my dad, the chairman, said. Yes.”

Those words made Jin Hyuk, who had been aggressively digging through documents and data, look up at people. Remembering the little manager who bowed and scraped to him, Jin Hyuk let out a chuckle.

“Yeah, Soo-jung. You’re right.”

Jin Hyuk looked up and watched Hong Soo-jung playing with Pomi.

They called that disc a Frisbee. When Hong Soo-jung threw the disc, Pomi would run and catch it. Pomi was so skilled that sometimes she caught it before it even touched the ground.

“Wow, amazing.”

Watching it, he couldn’t help but clap.

Seeing something you’d only see on TV in real life was as exciting as spotting a celebrity on the street.

“Hahaha-.”

Yoo Jin clapped while jumping around next to Hong Soo-jung.

Other kids might have begged for the disc to try it themselves, but Yoo Jin didn’t seem interested.

Hehehe-.

Jang Gun-i chased after them diligently, but with his short legs, he couldn’t keep up with Pomi.

Feeling sorry for him, Hong Soo-jung threw the disc to Jang Gun-i.

“Jang Gun-i!”

Thud-!

Jang Gun-i, hit by the suddenly flying disc, jumped in surprise. After rolling once on the grass, Jang Gun-i ran straight into Pomi’s doghouse and hid.

“Ugh, that coward.”

Even Jang Gun-i, the strongest dog in Dunaeri, was scared by unfamiliar things. Watching Jang Gun-i run around, Jin Hyuk thought he should make a disc to play with him. He only ran every day, but dogs also enjoy playing like this. Cutting plywood or cardboard into a circle would do. The paint can lid was round and good, but it might hurt Jang Gun-i if it hit him.

“Yoo Jin, you try it.”

“Okay, hehe-.”

Yoo Jin received the Frisbee respectfully with both hands.

After playing excitedly for a while, Hong Soo-jung stuck out her tongue like a dog and approached Jin Hyuk.

“Pant pant-, Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“You’ll compete with me, right?”

Ding-. Jin Hyuk’s eardrums rang as if a pot lid had hit them.

Was this the famous straight-forward confession he’d only heard about?

It wasn’t the first time the little one had said something like this, so there was no need to be flustered. But Jin Hyuk always found it hard to respond in these situations.

Whatever, let’s just get through this. Saying yes would be too insincere. Since the future is uncertain, firmly saying no might hurt the little one’s feelings.

Struggling to answer a kid’s question, what kind of genius am I…?

“I saw you doing something important. Oppa has to compete with me.”

“Something important?”

“Uh-huh, there’s something like that. Even if you don’t know, it’s fine.”

What kind of logic is that, saying it’s important but it’s fine if you don’t know?

Hong Soo-jung looked at Jin Hyuk with narrowed eyes, snorted, and then left.

Well, seeing her run back to Yoo Jin after saying her piece, it seemed like no answer was needed. It was a relief to avoid a tiring situation.

“Kids are so hard to understand.”

Jin Hyuk, who usually didn’t dwell on things, felt a bit bothered this time. But interrogating the kid about what she meant seemed ridiculous, so he just scratched the back of his head.

While peeing on the ridge, his dad once said:

– “It’s easier for a man to be tied down. Women are smarter.”

Regardless of right or wrong, being tied down didn’t seem so bad.

Having shown attachment to him over two lifetimes, it felt like betrayal to harbor other feelings.

Nodding, Jin Hyuk suddenly stood up and clapped.

“Whoa-! Well done, my little sister!”

“Hehe-.”

Yoo Jin often threw her body more than the disc. It seemed like the Frisbee had a pulling effect, as every time she threw it, her body tumbled onto the grass.

“There’s no lawn at the countryside house.”

It seemed like she enjoyed rolling on the soft grass more than playing with the disc.

Kids love lawns, so I should lay one near the house. Dad will handle the necessary administrative steps. As Jin Hyuk pondered this, a strange scene caught his eye.

Pomi, who had been curiously watching, started rolling around with Yoo Jin.

“Hahaha-. Pomi’s having fun too, right?”

No matter when or what she does, my little sister is always cute.

Jin Hyuk spent his time clapping while watching Yoo Jin’s adorable antics.

About an hour later, Hong Soo-jung and Yoo Jin finally ran out of energy and sprawled on the grass.

Jang Gun-i and Pomi were busy licking each other’s snouts. Did they have honey on their mouths?

Jin Hyuk felt a slight ache in his lower abdomen as he thought about his upcoming schedule.

“Midterms start the Tuesday after next, right?”

Taking exams is fun, but preparing for them is stressful.

***

Goodbyes are always hard.

“Unnie, can’t I live here?”

“Ohoho-, sure, live here with me.”

Han Yu-young moved her reluctant feet.

Jin Hyuk, watching the unfamiliar mother’s reaction, thought that women must prefer the city. Or maybe they just love department stores.

“If it weren’t for Yoo Jin, she might really settle down here.”

Jang Gun-i was the most reluctant to part.

Jang Gun-i didn’t want to leave Pomi, licking her snout and refusing to let go.

“Jang Gun-i, you’re staying here. We’re leaving.”

As Son Kwang-yeon’s words fell, Jang Gun-i reluctantly lifted his heavy paws and got into the car.

Woooor-!

Looking out, Jang Gun-i waved goodbye to Pomi, but for some reason, he didn’t wag his tail. Jang Gun-i looked sad.

Han Yu-young, sitting in the car, pouted her lips.

She was holding a shopping bag with the name of a department store prominently displayed.

“We need a driver.”

“Just wait a bit, we’ll get one soon.”

Son Kwang-yeon, who had already picked a suitable bodyguard for Han Yu-young, smiled like a true Seoulite.

As the car carrying the five family members, including Jang Gun-i, finally headed home, two sedans waiting in the distance followed closely.

As soon as they entered the main road, one car skillfully cut in front of Son Kwang-yeon’s car.

***

After a short two-day trip to Seoul, they returned home.

Though physically a short time, Jin Hyuk felt like he was coming home after a week. That’s how mentally draining it was.

No matter what, home is the best. Even when living alone, entering his own officetel made him feel at ease. It seems that feeling isn’t unique to humans. Even Jang Gun-i, who seemed clueless, rubbed his whole body against the acorn tree to show affection.

“Dad, you worked hard.”

“Yeah. Jin Hyuk, you worked hard too.”

Dad, who had driven a long distance, looked exhausted.

It was a distance of just over 100 km. They took the Gyeongbu Expressway, exited in Gyeonggi-do, and moved west on national roads. It took over three hours by car, and he heard that many truck drivers commute this distance daily.

Mom, thinking the same, subtly mentioned to Dad.

“Five-ton truck drivers must really have it tough.”

“Yeah. They operate during less congested early morning hours, but it’s no joke.”

Son Kwang-yeon’s farmland wasn’t just rice paddies and fields. From various flowers to chives, green onions, and parsley, they supplied over ten types of crops daily to Garak-dong and Yangjae-dong through year-round facility cultivation.

Though called a landowner, money doesn’t circulate just by holding land. Developing commercial crops expanded the business. Thanks to that, big money always came in, and they lived as true rich people.

Anyway, over twenty five-ton truck drivers transported these crops daily, passing through Sapgyo Stream and Asan Bay Embankment to Seoul.

“Even though they’re independent contractors, we should think of ways to help them.”

Son Kwang-yeon was a good person. He had no greed for wealth or ambition. His only desire was his love for Han Yu-young.

He succeeded because his capabilities matched his large heart. And he enjoyed sharing his success with neighbors. He didn’t sell all his crops, saving good seeds to share, and if the harvest was poor, he often waived the rent.

Even now, he was thinking of self-employed truck drivers, who were technically strangers and business partners.

“Is there no good way?”

Son Kwang-yeon muttered to himself, looking at Jin Hyuk. It was a clear expression of wanting to hear his smart son’s opinion.

“Are all the truck drivers independent?”

“Yeah. They all own their trucks. Even those affiliated with trucking companies bought their trucks with their own money.”

“Does Dad’s land produce a lot of work?”

“Looking at the monthly invoices and books, it’s enough for twenty people to work twenty days a month. That’s why we give work to self-employed drivers too.”

Jin Hyuk’s curiosity seemed to please him, as Son Kwang-yeon forgot his fatigue from driving and sat on the bench.

Petting Jang Gun-i, who was taking a dirt bath under the acorn tree, Jin Hyuk asked.

“Would directly hiring them be too much?”

“Yeah. It wouldn’t be good for them. They’d lose the chance to work freelance.”

Being affiliated with a company brings stable income but sacrifices additional earnings. Delving deeper would require boring and headache-inducing explanations about cash freight accounting omissions.

How to explain these difficult concepts to his beloved son? Jin Hyuk quickly relieved his dad’s worries.

“Freelance drivers can choose profitable jobs and have unreported income, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. That’s right.”

Though the explanation was heavily abbreviated, it hit the mark, so Son Kwang-yeon nodded.

“Being affiliated with a company reduces jobs, fixes income, and requires paying taxes. The only benefit is health insurance.”

“Yeah, yeah. Right.”

Health insurance wasn’t much of a benefit. Truckers’ associations and such offered little to no real benefits to drivers.

Ultimately, company-affiliated truckers sought stable jobs and freight rates. It was a method chosen by drivers with little experience and few connections.

“Unless the employer buys the truck and hires drivers, this problem can’t be solved.”

“That’s right. Once they gain experience and save money, they’ll want to go independent.”

For now, there was no solution.

But there’s always a way.

“There must be a way. If they want to go independent after gaining experience, let them. Make the job attractive, and job seekers will come.”

“So, you mean to increase their pay?”

Jin Hyuk nodded.

“While working as employees, tax benefits and accounting handled by the company might make them less eager to go independent.”

Freelancers face countless hardships.

From securing orders to handling paperwork, they do everything alone. Reducing such hassles is why many drivers still rely on trucking companies. Of course, stable orders are the main reason.

As the world changes, cash transactions will inevitably decrease.

For businesses, tax invoices are crucial, so they’ll reduce dealings with cash-only self-employed drivers and rely more on trucking companies. Then, hiring truck drivers as employees makes sense.

Jin Hyuk’s passion for transportation employees was clear.

“To do big things, a logistics network is essential.”

Though tired, Son Kwang-yeon’s eyes sparkled as he looked at his son.

It felt like their roles had reversed.

“Just last year, I was the one giving such talks.”

Middle schools these days teach a lot. No wonder our son is top of his class without academies or tutors.

Son Kwang-yeon recalled interviews of top students in national exams.

“I was diligent with school lessons and textbooks.”

He used to think that was nonsense. He did the same but only ranked first in Korea University’s business school, not overall. But now he believed them. The living proof was right in front of him, brushing his dog’s fur.

Even a flea gets caught.

Thud-. Oh, he even popped a tick with his nail.

Ew-, the gross scene made Son Kwang-yeon grimace.

***

Jin Hyuk jotted down and sketched his discussions with Dad on the back of the calendar whenever he had time.

He never realized before, but wall calendars had sturdy, large paper.

For days, the two men’s heated discussions continued.

Even during dinner, the conversation went on.

Son Kwang-yeon felt like he was talking to Hong Ki-jun. How could a middle schooler have such knowledge? Was this really the insight of a middle schooler? He couldn’t help but wonder.

“Corporateization.”

Jin Hyuk nodded and muttered.

Having tenant farmers and hiring people as labor isn’t bad. There’s no problem making money. But for more systematic farming and wealth distribution, corporateization could be an alternative. It circled back to the original plan.

Of course, it had to be a good corporation.

“Soo-jung’s dad said he’d help, so we can prepare thoroughly.”

“Systematic approach is important, but so is the item.”

Adding logistics could allow for welfare and wealth distribution for truck drivers. Starting from Dad’s exhaustion from long-distance driving, the topic branched out, reaching the point of exploring diversification for a business that hadn’t even started yet.

Like someone choking on food, Son Kwang-yeon thumped his chest. Gulping water, he watched his son scooping his third bowl of rice.

“Maybe we don’t need Ki-jun’s help after all?”

Items…

It seemed like they’d need to submit additional applications for warehouse and factory site allocations.

To get cold storage in other areas, they’d need to squeeze a lot out of Ki-jun…

“By the way, Jin Hyuk, how about you start taking a car to school?”

“I’m fine.”

It probably meant to choose a bodyguard, but it was unnecessary for Jin Hyuk.

A bodyguard for a countryside middle schooler? It would only be inconvenient.

And Jin Hyuk already had someone in mind.

“But still-.”

Ring ring ring-.

Just as Son Kwang-yeon was about to say something, the phone rang.

“I’ll get it.”

Jin Hyuk, chewing his food, hurried to the phone.

He didn’t want to wake Yoo Jin, who was sleeping on Mom’s lap, and he also felt an inexplicable urge to answer it himself.

“Hello?”

Jin Hyuk, who answered the phone, completely turned his back to his parents and adjusted his posture.

It was Moon Seok-il’s call.