Chapter 178

<The Thieves (3)>

***

The village population is quite large.

Despite the rural exodus phenomenon, Jin Hyuk’s neighborhood has seen an increase in both households and population compared to seven years ago. With the support of the village community and General Farm for mechanized farming and cash crop cultivation, it has become the best choice for anyone hoping to farm. The friendly residents also contributed to the population influx by warmly welcoming anyone who came to scout the area.

“Wow, there are so many people. Look, Kim Ho-jin is over there.”

Despite the bustling crowd, Yoo Jin didn’t seem scared at all—she looked excited.

Maybe it’s natural for her to react so calmly and naturally, given her innate sociability.

‘Yoo Jin is amazing. I feel like I’m about to faint.’

You might say, “What are you talking about? You’ve been to places with even more people,” but at the stadium in Seoul during the track and field events, you didn’t have to push through the crowd yourself. To put it in perspective, during the competition, it was like being a relaxed Arloana, but at this feast, it feels like being a guppy in a crowded fish tank.

Jo Il-hun and Gwak Hyang-rim cleared out not only their yard and rooms but also the garage where they store their tractor and combine to accommodate guests. They even paved the backyard garden to make space for all the celebrants.

Though the wedding hasn’t happened yet, it feels like a village-wide housewarming party.

“Looks like the whole village is here.”

“Where’s Lee Dong-ho?”

Lee Dong-ho is from a different village.

Instead of pointing out his brother’s mistake, Jin Hyuk held his hand tightly. It would be bad to lose him in the crowd of large adults.

“Uncles are over there too.”

Yoo Jin pointed somewhere.

Thanks to Jo Il-hun’s invitation, SSS Agents were also proudly occupying seats.

There were also outsiders hired by the youth association to help out and ensure the residents didn’t get overwhelmed. As the saying goes, “Generosity flows from the barn,” and this seemed to be evidence of the villagers’ growing generosity.

Jo Il-hun, who was greeting other guests, welcomed Jin Hyuk and Yoo Jin.

“Oh my, our Jin Hyuk and Yoo Jin are here too. Wow, Jeong Won has grown so much!”

He didn’t forget to greet Jeong Won, who was squirming in Jin Hyuk’s arms, trying not to let go of his brother.

“Of course, we had to come. Congratulations.”

“Mr. Jjolong, congratulations!”

Yoo Jin bowed as she always did.

Jo Il-hun didn’t force Yoo Jin to call him “oppa.”

He had tried to hint at it before but ended up getting scolded by Yoo Jin.

Jin Hyuk looked around the noisy, crowded venue.

His dad, Cheon Gil-ryong, and Choi Jang-hwan were drinking makgeolli at the same table, while his mom, dressed in a hanbok and apron, was chatting and laughing with the aunties, eating and enjoying herself.

‘It’s even better because Mom looks happy.’

Whenever he left the house, he always worried about his mom.

When Dad, Jin Hyuk, and Yoo Jin were away, she took care of Jeong Won and tended to the garden. Her only companions were Jang Gun-i, Yoo Tae-hwa, Jang Jin-nam, and Min Yong-rak…

Ah, Mom probably doesn’t have time to feel lonely now. Her daily life has changed so much that she doesn’t need to worry about being lonely.

Despite the noisy venue, there weren’t many people who seemed particularly busy, and everyone helped themselves to the food. It felt completely different from the cramped company dinners he used to attend during his office days—there was a sense of openness and freedom.

“Our Jeong Won should learn to say ‘Hyung’ like Il-hun. Got it? Say ‘Hyung.’ Hyuung-!”

“Oooh-!”

*Slap slap-.*

A sharp slap from Son Jeong-won landed on anyone talking nonsense.

Jin Hyuk took Jeong Won from Jo Il-hun, who was trying to brainwash the baby while holding him awkwardly. If he left him any longer, Jo Il-hun’s lips might turn into a duck’s beak from Jeong Won’s slaps.

“The party seems like it’s going to last a while.”

It was already getting dark, but no one seemed to be in a hurry to leave. In the past, people would have been drunk by now, starting card games or betting on yut games, but the villagers looked relaxed. The scene was strikingly different from a few years ago.

“Everyone’s here to enjoy the night.”

Jo Il-hun agreed, saying this would have been unimaginable in the past.

Even though the busy farming season had already started, no one seemed worried about tomorrow.

Thanks to organized mechanized farming and a dramatic increase in farm income.

“This is all thanks to your dad.”

Jin Hyuk nodded, though he looked a bit disappointed.

‘Some of it is thanks to me too.’

Except for crops grown for household consumption and rice contracted with the agricultural cooperative, all other crops were grown under contract with General Farm. Every year, General Farm bought the entire harvest at the contracted price, so there was no worry about price drops, and thanks to enzyme fertilizers, the cost of pesticides and fertilizers was significantly reduced.

“In the past, it was all about pesticide and fertilizer costs, and even renting machinery was hard. Farming was such a struggle. You’d work so hard, but after selling, all the money went to paying off debts.”

Cheap machinery rentals were a dream for ordinary farmers. Without connections to the cooperative head or local influential figures, even making a reservation was impossible.

People like Jo Il-hun, who saw the situation early, bought expensive tractors and combines and rented them out.

“Thanks to your dad’s advice, I’m doing well too. There’s plenty of work, and they even handle maintenance. General Farm is much better than the agricultural cooperative.”

The world had changed completely from five years ago.

In spring, tractors and rice transplanters with the General Farm logo roamed the fields, and in autumn, combines did the same. General Farm provided machinery free of charge to contracted farms. To avoid taking work away from existing tractor drivers, they also contracted with them.

‘That was all my idea.’

There wasn’t a single aspect of Son Kwang-yeon’s business that didn’t reflect Jin Hyuk’s planning.

From production to processing and sales.

“Even in winter, people have money to spare now, so they don’t think about other things. There’s so much work. Anyway, they do greenhouse farming and side jobs in winter, but just looking at the sky and the ground all day gets tiring, so they gather like this to have fun and relax.”

Even in winter, villagers gathered in vinyl houses or the village market to participate in secondary production activities like crop processing, earning extra income. They worked on vegetables like chives and water dropwort, as well as medicinal plants and flowers.

During winter breaks, Jin Hyuk also worked with Choi Mi-kyung and other youths. It wasn’t because he needed the money. It was the only way he could see the friends he grew up with during his childhood and elementary school days.

“Now that farmers can eat and dress warmly, they should live comfortably, right?”

Jo Il-hun grinned, seeking agreement, and Jin Hyuk finally smiled.

Who wouldn’t be happy that their family’s quality of life had improved?

‘Even if they don’t recognize my contribution, Dad will.’

Hahahaha!

Laughter erupted sporadically from all around.

It was a heartwarming scene.

There was no other way to make people comfortable.

‘If we live well together, we’ll all be comfortable.’

Some people insist on growing the crops they want, while others are greedy, wanting to get rich alone. There are some stubborn people and eccentric old folks.

Those who like to talk might gossip about them or show their dislike. But is that unique to this village? It’s just how people are, no matter where you go.

‘In the past, I avoided making friends because I didn’t want to see that.’

They say they only know how to work, but they sure talk a lot.

“Here, have a drink! Now we’re friends!”

Kim Chun-sik and Yuk Young-gu competitively offered drinks to Son Kwang-yeon, who had been hard to spot at recent village events.

Seeing this, Jin Hyuk awkwardly smiled and picked up Yoo Jin with his free hand. There was no way Yoo Jin could walk through this crowd.

“Yah, our Yoo Jin must be hungry. Let’s go eat with Oppa.”

“It’s not just ‘food’—it’s rice, soup, and meat!”

Yoo Jin had reached the stage where she would argue if things didn’t go her way.

This brat—no, I mean, she’s really grown up.

“Alright! Let’s go eat rice and meat!”

“What about the soup?”

I’ll smack you, you little rascal.

Instead of scolding her, he kissed her cheek, making a *chu* sound.

With both siblings in his arms, Jin Hyuk carefully made his way through the crowd.

Toward the room where Choi Mi-kyung and her friends were waving.

*Vroom vroom vroom-.*

Outside, a noisy single-cylinder engine sped past the bustling crowd and joyful noise.

***

*Woof-.*

Nureongi is here.

She brought her puppy, a round, soft little thing that’s incredibly cute.

It reminds me of Hongshi, the daughter I used to play with that winter.

*Hehehek-.*

It’s a little one that stirs maternal instincts.

*Hah-, that one. Evil- I want to steal it and raise it as a fierce dog.*

*Woof!*

*Eek!*

I tried to lick it because it was so cute, but Nureongi went crazy, so I backed off.

Even though Nureongi pays tribute to Jang Gun-i with dog food, Jang Gun-i knows better than to mess with a parent protecting their pup. If you’re not careful, you could end up with a face full of soy sauce in no time. A dog with something to protect becomes strong.

Jang Gun-i is a smart dog, so he knows that.

*Woooorl-.*

They said there’s a village feast at Jo Kkaeng-kkaeng’s house.

When there’s a feast, Jang Gun-i can’t miss it, but Son Wang-wang told him to guard the house. This dog-.

He also said to protect the dog friends brought from other houses.

*Oooul-.*

Ugh, it’s so unfair and annoying.

But Jang Gun-i is a generous dog, so he can’t refuse Son Wang-wang’s request.

It’s not about loyalty or devotion or any of that nonsense. That’s for dogs to give.

*Grrr-. Keong- Keoong-!*

Cheon-ma, or maybe Geon-ma, sniffed the puppy’s butt, and Nureongi got into a fight.

*Woof!*

Quiet down, you puppies!

*Woof woof!*

Don’t act like dogs when I’m already in a bad mood!

Jo Kkaeng-kkaeng’s house is so far that even with Jang Gun-i’s strong legs, it takes a while to get there. But it seems like the whole village has gathered there, making the sky echo with noise.

*Huhuhuk-.*

A delicious smell wafted in with the wind.

From greasy, savory scents to sweet, fragrant ones.

It’s a smell no country dog could resist.

*Hehehek-.*

There’s even the smell of makgeolli, Jang Gun-i’s favorite.

Drool dripped from his hanging tongue.

Son Wang-wang, if you don’t come back with your hands full, I’ll bite your heels!

Not that I really would.

I can bite other humans, but not Son Wang-wang.

It’s not about loyalty or absolute obedience or anything like that.

Son Wang-wang, who hadn’t been seen for days, brought delicious snacks for Jang Gun-i.

He’s the loyal human who ran like the wind to retrieve what Son Ang-ang’s human friend took.

Biting such a human would make me a truly ungrateful dog.

*Woooorl-.*

Nureongi, holding her pup, complained.

She said the owner’s wife made delicious dog food, but she couldn’t eat it because she was dragged here.

She says the feed doesn’t suit her taste—this is why country folks are no good.

*Grrr-.*

Tsk, a true dog eats whatever is given.

How can a noble dog be picky about food?

*Ooul-.*

Nureongi asked why she was dragged here.

This is why mixed breeds with no roots are no good.

It must have been during a walk with Son Wang-wang. Jang Gun-i overheard Son Wang-wang talking with Jjampp-ne Kim Meong-meong. A human in black clothes was stealing dogs left and right.

That’s why Nureongi came to Jang Gun-i’s house.

To protect her from the human in black clothes. *Ahem-.*

Not long ago, analyzing the dog barks Mary sent into the sky at dawn, it seemed an unseen human had been lurking around the village. According to Mary, that human reeked of all kinds of dog smells.

*Woooorl-.*

Jang Gun-i also caught a faint whiff of that smell. It was a terrifying smell.

A mix of blood, fire, and machinery carried by the wind—a smell humans couldn’t detect.

By the way, when will this feast end?

I skipped dinner to save room for the greasy feast, but the noise from the party shows no sign of stopping.

Then it happened.

Jang Gun-i’s folded ears perked up.

The sound of insects had faded, and a strange, grating noise reached his ears.

*Hiii-, kiiii-, kuuuii-.*

*Gasp.*

Jang Gun-i, who had been lying down sniffing, suddenly stood up.

Only Jang Gun-i could hear this sound.