Chapter 14

#14 <The Great Magician (4)>

***

Yoo Se-ra confidently won the arm-wrestling match against Han Yu-young. It wasn’t an easy fight for Yoo Se-ra either, as her back was drenched in sweat. Just as she was cooling off under the breeze from the wall-mounted fan, something unexpected happened.

“Kwang-yeon oppa?”

Yoo Se-ra, who had been smiling ear to ear while holding baby Son Yoo-jin, froze the moment she saw Son Kwang-yeon. Her pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck. She looked like she’d seen a ghost.

Han Yu-young’s reaction wasn’t much different. Without realizing it, she gripped her fan like an axe, ready to strike if Yoo Se-ra dared to call her husband a “country bumpkin.”

“Long time no see, Se-ra. Should I call you Soo-jung’s mom now?”

The tension that had been stretched tight like a rubber band loosened with Son Kwang-yeon’s greeting.

Jin Hyuk couldn’t forget the scene of his father and Hong Ki-jun reuniting.

Hong Ki-jun, not caring that his shoes and pants were getting soaked, splashed through the muddy field and jumped into the rice paddy.

– “Hey! Son Kwang-yeon! I knew you were still alive! Oh my god, sniff!”

– “Hong Ki-jun, you bastard! Oh, you bastard! Ah!”

It was the first time Jin Hyuk had seen his father calling someone a “dog bastard” or “cow bastard,” and it was equally strange to see Hong Ki-jun hugging someone and crying.

‘I’m more curious about my dad’s identity than the fact that I’ve returned to the past.’

If his parents had passed away as they did in his previous life, this curiosity would’ve never been satisfied.

During holidays, his friends would wear new clothes and visit their grandparents or relatives, but Jin Hyuk had no family except for the aunt who abused him in his past life.

In this life, aside from politicians, some association chairman, a fertilizer company sales director, and neighbors, no one visited Jin Hyuk’s house during the holidays.

‘So this is what it feels like to change the future.’

The feeling of knowing a hidden truth wasn’t much different.

Good heavens, who would’ve thought that Chairman Hong Ki-jun and his dad were inseparable friends?

Unrealistic thoughts dominated Jin Hyuk’s mind.

‘What chaos.’

The dads went to town and came back with a cart full of makgeolli and snacks. Sundae, fried food, dried squid, and even candy for the kids. An unplanned drinking session started in broad daylight. It was even more surprising because his dad, who never drank, joined in.

“It’s humble, but stay the night.”

“Of course! Humble my foot! We can even sleep in the yard.”

They lit a bonfire in the front yard and laid out mats. It wasn’t too hot for summer, and there weren’t many mosquitoes. Tropical nights were a city thing, and global warming felt like someone else’s problem.

The drinking session continued until dusk. Yoo Se-ra, with tears in her eyes, held Han Yu-young’s hand and shared stories. It was as if fate had played a trick, reuniting the two sisters who had been separated. They were so affectionate it was almost overwhelming.

“Kwang-yeon oppa introduced me to Soo-jung’s dad. We were like siblings when we were young.”

“Ah, I heard he had friends he cherished more than his own siblings, but I never expected to meet them so suddenly.”

The only sibling Han Yu-young remembered her husband mentioning was a sister who came before their wedding and spewed venom. That woman was scary and rude. Just thinking about it made Han Yu-young’s neck ache.

Hahaha!

To Jin Hyuk, it all sounded like nonsense, but the dads burst out laughing. Jin Hyuk just nodded and watched. I guess young men laugh easily.

Then, a more mature conversation started, and Jin Hyuk perked up his ears.

“I came to check out the land for the training center while prices are low. The company’s grown a lot, and we have more employees now. Not many companies invest in employee training.”

Listening to Hong Ki-jun, Jin Hyuk nodded inwardly.

This was around the time when corporate culture began to focus on systematically training and developing employees under the name of “talent development centers.”

“Whoever thought of the training center did well. Young talent will lead the world in the future. The era where group owners or the eldest sons make all the decisions needs to end. Companies can only stay healthy if they reject such outdated practices.”

“Se-ra strongly advocated for the training center to her father-in-law. After studying abroad, her perspective on the world changed completely. I respect her, even though she’s my wife. It’s also surprising that Kwang-yeon, living in the countryside, could think like this.”

“I’m someone who still gets annoyed by the old-fashioned practices of succession and factionalism. Why create factions and hoard wealth when you won’t live forever? Money is the strongest power in this world, but a word from someone in power can turn a sandcastle built with capital into dust.”

Would Jin Hyuk in his past life, around his mid-thirties, have thought like this?

Jin Hyuk pricked up his ears and tuned into his dad’s conversation. Mid-thirties. In his past life, it was an ambiguous age. Most of his peers were section chiefs or deputy managers. Jin Hyuk, with the halo of being the chairman’s daughter, was just starting to spread his wings.

‘Chairman Hong Ki-jun is impressive, but so is my dad.’

The talk of succession and outdated practices made his dad seem distant. To Jin Hyuk, he was just a kind farmer dad. There was no one with the last name Son who would later dominate the business world, so his dad probably wasn’t a chaebol heir. He must’ve graduated from a prestigious university’s business school and felt skeptical about Korea’s owner-centric culture.

If only there were some dried fish left. The whole family loved it, so hundreds of fish didn’t make it through the winter.

‘This is pretty tasty too.’

Jin Hyuk picked up a piece of braised pork or dried squid and ate it, then cut small pieces for Hong Soo-jung. The clingy kid, who had just met Jin Hyuk today, made it hard for him to stretch his legs.

‘Is this kid really her?’

Before he knew it, Jin Hyuk was smiling at Hong Soo-jung.

Hong Soo-jung ate what Jin Hyuk gave her like a baby bird, rubbed her bulging belly, and fell asleep on Jin Hyuk’s lap. Jin Hyuk had no choice but to pat her back while holding her. Thanks to Jin Hyuk, Yoo Se-ra could chat comfortably with Han Yu-young.

Chirp-chirp.

Even as the night sky filled with stars and crickets began their rural symphony, the adults’ conversation showed no signs of stopping. It was vacation anyway, and the house was filled with voices and laughter, so Jin Hyuk stayed, still listening intently.

“Anyway, I’m not selling the land. Even if I do, now’s not the time.”

“I know your stubbornness, so I won’t push. Hahaha!”

It was strange that someone who came all this way to see the land would give up so easily, especially since the roads weren’t even paved. But that thought was fleeting. Remembering how Hong Ki-jun jumped into the rice paddy to reunite with his long-lost friend, his original purpose didn’t seem to matter.

‘Anyway, don’t sell it, Dad.’

In a few years, the West Coast tourism boom would cause land prices to skyrocket over 100 times. Land by the sea would become even more valuable, and the sandy land his dad bought for a laughable price would exceed 500,000 won per pyeong.

‘This area, being close to the sea, will see prices jump 200 times once roads are built.’

Compared to expensive land in Seoul, it might seem laughable, but when you’re talking about tens of thousands of pyeong, it means his dad would soon become a real estate tycoon. Even selling at current prices would yield several times the profit. Land prices were already stirring.

Even Jin Hyuk, who had no interest in real estate, could predict this. Working in the future strategy division of Sain Group, analyzing past economic trends and planning future strategies, he had a rough idea of how things would unfold.

‘That wealth, the land that should’ve been mine, was all squandered by my uncle.’

He knew why his uncle had tormented and beaten him so mercilessly. He must’ve gotten his hands on the money early, spending it on alcohol and gambling. The image was clear in Jin Hyuk’s mind.

In his past life, Sain Group’s talent development center was located by the sea in another town. Seeing Hong Ki-jun visit around this time, Jin Hyuk wondered if in his past life, no one was home, so he just left. It was right after Jin Hyuk was taken to town. Jin Hyuk compared the two lives and pieced it together.

‘Just wait.’

If they crossed paths again, he’d crush them even more brutally than in his past life.

Jin Hyuk sharpened his blade against his adoptive parents.

*

Hong Ki-jun drank so much makgeolli but remained unfazed. Being young, it was natural. His dad was the same. Well, Jin Hyuk probably took after his dad, able to down whiskey without a problem.

As Jin Hyuk gritted his teeth thinking about his adoptive parents, Hong Ki-jun gently grabbed his shoulder.

“Jin Hyuk, what’s your dream?”

Why didn’t you ask sooner? Jin Hyuk let out a sigh, holding back the words that almost slipped out.

It was the classic future-planning attack that predated the holiday repertoire of job and marriage questions. Jin Hyuk thought Hong Ki-jun’s eyes were unusually bright, but anyone’s eyes would shine after a few drinks.

‘Is a dream something you can just sum up easily?’

As Jin Hyuk hesitated, patting the sleeping Hong Soo-jung’s butt, his dad stepped in.

“Our son will do well in anything. He always aces his tests. He’s never missed first place.”

“Oh, so the son of a genius is also a genius?”

Hong Ki-jun’s eyes sparkled.

Even though it was his dad, being the subject of such conversations in front of others wasn’t pleasant. It wasn’t about pride. It was just uncomfortable being the center of attention.

‘I’m not a kid anymore.’

Luckily, Hong Ki-jun shifted the topic to Son Kwang-yeon.

For a moment, Jin Hyuk wondered if Hong Ki-jun had also returned from the past and was testing him. But that was a ridiculous assumption. If Jin Hyuk were Hong Ki-jun, he would’ve hugged him in excitement.

‘A bit disappointing. I wanted to ask what he was going to say back then. Soo-jung, what was your dad trying to say?’

Jin Hyuk turned his gaze to the sleeping Hong Soo-jung.

The moms’ conversation and the dads’ chatter began to fade into the distance.

Snooze.

“Ah, this is good! But why did the land price go up so much?”

Hong Ki-jun, after downing another bowl of makgeolli, asked.

“Because it was cheap.”

Son Kwang-yeon’s answer was short and to the point.

Hong Ki-jun nodded seriously without further questions. Jin Hyuk, fighting off sleep, felt he understood his dad’s nature.

‘Dad’s a born businessman. The complete opposite of me.’

He admired his dad’s boldness.

Some people lose everything investing in stocks or coins just because they’re cheap, but his dad went all-in on land. Just because it was cheap.

“People only complain about unfairness and hardship. It’s the same no matter what they do. They blame the law, the country, and politics. But you have to know how to use the system. You can rent or borrow expensive farming equipment, but they still try to get government subsidies to buy their own.”

With enough alcohol, his dad’s thoughts flowed freely.

“It’s all greed. They want to work on their own time. That’s how they become debt-ridden and curse the country. They spend a year’s earnings just paying off debts.”

“So my friend bought land dirt cheap instead of borrowing to buy farming equipment?”

“Exactly. Farming has its seasons, but being a day or two late won’t ruin the crops. In business farming, the crop is more important than timing.”

Crops that others don’t grow.

That’s why Son Kwang-yeon stubbornly grew the crops he predicted, despite his neighbors’ ridicule. His chosen crops changed every year and always sold for high prices.

Farmers grew the same crops year after year. As if they were under a spell. Last year it was cabbage, this year radishes, next year corn.

Of course, there were exceptions, but it felt like the whole village, no, the whole country’s farmers had made a pact. The result was plowing the fields in autumn and burning the crops.

Even though growing crops in short supply was the key to making money in farming, farmers refused to think for themselves and grew the same crops. Like they’d decided to die together.

“A genius is a genius no matter where they go or what they do.”

That was Hong Ki-jun’s comment.

Jin Hyuk was amazed.

‘Understanding market demand is more important than the skill of making and selling products.’ Not exact, but it was something Chairman Hong Ki-jun said during a marketing strategy lecture. Friends share even their business mindset.

‘Right, you can succeed even without future knowledge.’

That’s what Jin Hyuk thought, looking at his dad. Jin Hyuk had no intention of using his vague future knowledge to accumulate wealth dishonestly. Maybe that temperament was inherited from his dad.

“Huh? Honey, look at Soo-jung.”

“Wow, that’s something. That picky kid.”

It was surprising to see the picky daughter sleeping in the arms of a boy she’d just met, but Hong Ki-jun, thoroughly drunk, looked at the two kids with a contented smile.

Hong Soo-jung, cradled in Jin Hyuk’s arms, had her legs wrapped around his waist as she slept.

“Jin Hyuk, is she heavy?”

“Jin Hyuk?”

It was late at night, and Jin Hyuk, with the warm body of the little girl clinging to him, felt his mind drifting. The sound of crickets, the dads’ conversation, and the moms’ laughter echoed intermittently.

Jin Hyuk, still sitting, rested his chin on the little girl’s shoulder and fell asleep.

It had been a long day for a ten-year-old body.

Should I ask? Did you also return from the past? If so, what were you going to say back then? Maybe I can pester you a little since I’m a kid now.

Tell me.

What were you going to say to me?

Why were you so nice to me?

Was it because you felt sorry for me?

Did you know I was your son?

Words he couldn’t even mutter in his sleep flew up into the night sky with the bonfire’s smoke.

Was he dreaming of the past, or was he comforted by the little girl’s warmth?

Jin Hyuk, who had been sniffling, trembled slightly.