Chapter 203

<Part 7>

Judging by the fact that Yoo-jin wrote down two whole strengths, it seems she really liked Tae-yang.

Jin-hyuk didn’t bother pointing out his younger sibling’s mistake. If this were work, he would’ve demanded a correction or fixed it himself, but he thought his sibling needed the experience of realizing and learning on their own.

「Grandpa: Cheon Gil-ryong, he’s good at greetings.

Uncle: Jjolong-i, he knows a lot of dogs.

Sister: Choi Mi-kyung, she plays with me well.

Sister: Hong Soo-jung, she’s as pretty as a fairy.

Sister: Hwang Ga-yun, she graduated from college.

Sister: Hwang Ga-young, she got into college.」

Wow, that’s a lot.

Next to each name, without exception, there was a characteristic written, and the content was so funny it made you laugh.

It’s also impressive that she didn’t forget to include Hong Soo-jung. They haven’t even seen each other recently. The influence of the happy times they spent together in their childhood must be that strong.

「Friend: Achigom, he doesn’t talk.」

Even dogs made it into the family tree, so why not Achigom? But she wrote that he doesn’t talk. A deep sense of regret seeped through the short sentence.

“Yoo-jin, do you wish you could talk to Achigom? Are you lacking someone to talk to?”

“Nooo? I’m not lacking, but Achigom only listens, so I feel bad for him.”

Yeah, Yoo-jin would sometimes talk to Achigom about this and that, then pause as if waiting for a reaction. A child who gives affection and personality even to inanimate objects. How could you not love her?

I looked at Achigom sitting quietly next to Yoo-jin.

His once pure white body was now stained here and there from Jeong Won-i’s mischief, and he had scratches patched up with cloth, but Achigom looked happy. Probably because of his smiling face.

“Yoo-jin, why do you have so many family members?”

“Mhm, you know~. Cheon Gil-ryong Habiji says that anyone who walks through time with you is family~. Life companions.”

That grandpa considers the whole world as family, so that explanation makes sense.

Jin-hyuk, who was influenced by Cheon Gil-ryong during his emotional turmoil, could relate to that statement. Dad Son Kwang-yeon’s attitude toward others was also like that.

“So, I looked it up on my computer, and ‘companion’ in English is ‘partner.’”

Ah, so that’s why she wrote “Partner” instead of “Family.”

A deep realization washed over me.

When Jin-hyuk checked the next family member, he was speechless.

「Friend: Dugu Elil, he laughs a lot.」

Dugu Elil?

The name didn’t roll off the tongue, and Jin-hyuk tilted his head in confusion.

‘Is that another doll’s name?’

Or maybe it’s a cartoon character.

Even though she drags around Achigom, who’s bigger than her, Yoo-jin’s room is filled with dolls gifted by Hong Ki-jun’s family and SSS Agents. It’s probably the name of one of those.

“Yoo-jin, who’s this? A doll?”

“Yeah, um~. Is it a doll? I don’t know.”

“You don’t know, but you wrote it down?”

“I don’t remember~.”

How did you write the name if you don’t even know or remember it? And how do you know he laughs a lot? Even though Yoo-jin started school, she still says things that don’t make sense.

Talking to a smart but still young sibling requires a lot of patience. It’s not just an age thing. Even Jo Seol-chan, who’s the same age, often steers the conversation in weird directions. It’s probably a matter of personality or focus.

‘Well, I don’t know either, so I can’t ask more.’

The name sounded familiar, but Jin-hyuk couldn’t remember it either.

Yoo-jin tapped her brother, who was maintaining a serious expression.

“Is my homework okay~? Did I do well?”

“Yeah. You did great.”

Patting her back, ruffling her hair.

Can’t forget the forehead rub that Yoo-jin loves the most.

“Hehe.”

Yoo-jin is a generous kid, just like her dad.

It’s clear from how she included neighbors, dogs, and even dolls she can’t remember as family.

Is it really a good idea to point out mistakes to a kid like this?

‘No. It’s better to leave it.’

She’ll grow up just fine on her own without any interference.

Like a vast nature.

‘Yoo-jin is definitely better than me.’

Jin-hyuk handed the homework back to Yoo-jin, making sure it wasn’t crumpled.

As Yoo-jin put the notebook in her bag, she asked:

“Oppa, can I use the computer~?”

Even Mother Nature likes computers.

“Only until Mom calls us for dinner.”

“Ehehe~. Yesss~.”

*

Even though she wasn’t playing games, Yoo-jin loved sitting in front of the computer, looking at this and that.

She’d ask her brother, input DOS commands, and marvel at the results.

“Oppa, what’s the command to clear the screen in DOS~?”

“CLS.”

“It says ‘친’ though?”

“You have to press the Han/Eng key.”

“Ah-ha~!”

Tap-tap-tap.

Her pecking at the keyboard with just her index finger was unbearably cute.

“Oppa, what’s the command to hide files~?”

“Attrib space A-H~. Yoo-jin, what are you trying to hide?”

“I wanna see what you hid~.”

No way, you little rascal!

Why are you trying to find files I deliberately hid in DOS?

Yoo-jin probably already knew but was testing her brother by asking. Look at her squinting her eyes like that.

In situations like this, you just have to play dumb.

“Oppa doesn’t hide anything.”

“Really~? My classmate Noh Hee-young has two computers at home, and her brothers hide weird stuff and watch it.”

“O-oppa doesn’t watch weird stuff.”

Oppa watches normal stuff.

“You should look for it yourself.”

“Minesweeper.”

“Mine-sweepeeer~.”

She also played Minesweeper on the operating system developed by SEIN, which had a Windows-like interface. Clicking the mouse endlessly.

“Hmm~. If I step on this, it’ll explode······. There are two next to it~? Then this spot is safe~.”

Once, curious about what she was doing, I peeked and saw her reading an email.

“Hel-lo dear? Dear? It’s in English~······.”

She must’ve found it interesting that her brother used email, so she wanted to do it too. I made her an account, but I didn’t think she’d actually use it. The only people exchanging emails were Hong Soo-jung and Jin-hyuk, but where else would you find an eight-year-old using email with two people to exchange messages with?

“Oppa, why do they say ‘Email me’ instead of ‘Email to me’ when they want you to send an email~?”

It must’ve been the day she saw spam emails sent to random people.

Jin-hyuk’s brain froze mid-airplane ride with Jeong Won-i on the bed.

Not because the question was hard, but because his sister was reading English and even translating it. And now she’s asking about grammar.

But you have to answer questions.

“Uh······, when ‘email’ is used as a transitive verb, it means ‘to send an email to someone,’ so you don’t need the preposition ‘to.’”

“Ahhh~.”

Did she actually understand that explanation?

Judging by how she furrowed her brows, she’s probably memorizing it to mull over later.

Either way, it’s an impressive talent. She’ll chew on it until it becomes her own knowledge.

I’ve seen Min Yong-rak teaching her Hangul, the alphabet, and numbers, but Yoo-jin’s learning pace seems too fast.

“Yoo-jin, you’re not replying to those, are you?”

“Ah-, ah, nooo~. I just know how to read~.”

Why are you stuttering?

Are you copying your brother now?

Something felt off, but Jin-hyuk didn’t press further.

He thought it was best to let Yoo-jin experience things on her own, as long as she knew what to be careful about.

‘As long as she doesn’t make any payments.’

Yoo-jin learning to read early wasn’t because of Min Yong-rak’s meddling. Neither Mom nor Jin-hyuk tried to teach her, but Yoo-jin kept begging, so the helpless Min Yong-rak had no choice but to teach her.

“Nyah~. Biiing~ biiing~. Abu! Abu! Abuuuu~!”

“Agh! Ugh! Ugh!”

Jeong Won-i, sitting on his brother’s stomach, flailed his limbs and bounced around.

He’s demanding attention and a plane ride.

Having two younger siblings makes it hard to focus on just one.

Following the lesson learned from Yoo-jin, I decided to focus on walking through time together.

Because we’re family and siblings.

“Uh, uh. Okay. Here we go~!”

“Kyaaa~. Nyah~ biiyooong~.”

When will Jeong Won-i’s pronunciation become clear?

I taught him it’s “airplane,” not “biiing,” but this is how it is.

Even though I know it’s not intentional, the more I hear it, the weirder it feels.

As the brother focused back on Jeong Won-i, Yoo-jin, sitting in front of the monitor, moved her hands. If not for the lack of magnifying glasses, her squinting eyes and hunched posture would make her look like a sage.

Tap-tap-tap.

‘Ah, Yoo-jin. You said you weren’t replying.’

You just don’t listen, do you!

Still, curious about what she was writing, I sneakily peeked.

「Hello. I’m Son Yoo-jin, Class 1, Grade 1, Number 18 at Eodong Elementary School. I don’t know English yet. I don’t live in London. You must’ve sent this to the wrong person······.」

So polite, our Yoo-jin.

Though I’m not sure if the recipient can read Hangul.

“Eek~.”

Tap-tap-tap-tap~.

The way she panics when she types wrong and frantically hits backspace is just like her brother.

***

Why does the same sun feel different with each season, each month?

It only takes a few winds to turn warmth into heat.

Whether you’re a city dweller or a farmer, you feel the seasons through the wind and sunlight. And Jang Jin-nam, the manly man who came down from the city, was no different.

The yellow dust that flew in with the wind has settled, and after a brief period of fantastically warm spring weather, pine pollen started to scatter.

“Hmm-hmm-hmm~. Ah-choo!”

Despite sneezing so hard his nose turned red from pollen allergies, Jang Jin-nam was busy harvesting fresh pine shoots. Today, the hillside next to the bus route was his workplace.

He planned to soak the pine shoots and needles in cooled sugar water to make enzymes.

He learned from Jo Il-hun that pine shoots are good for rheumatism, numbness in the hands and feet, and muscle relaxation. Pine needles soothe the internal organs and even promote hair growth. Information that would make balding men come running with bundles of cash.

‘Ferment it well for six months, and you won’t need perms anymore!’

He had gotten a perm to hide his thinning hair, but the neighborhood kids teased him, calling him “He-Man Auntie.” He was so grateful to Lee Dong-ho, who called him “Uncle Janggo.”

Even without Dr. Chukchuck’s advice, as a manly man who enjoys cooking, it’s only natural to try various things in a place full of ingredients.

The effects of last fall’s jellyfish dish were also remarkable. Not only was the taste outstanding, but it also seemed to heal the mind······.

‘When is our third child’s due date again?’

······ Anyway, Jang Jin-nam became the most loved husband since his marriage.

With the escort of five dogs, including Geon-ma, his partner Son Yoo-jin stayed by his side.

Lick-lick~. Son Yoo-jin licked the pine pollen.

“Chomp-chomp~. It’s sweet~.”

“Eww~, but don’t eat pine pollen~. It’s sticky~.”

“The powder is more effective than leaves or pinecones, y’know~. Uncle Jjolong-i said so~.”

“I think I’ve heard that too~.”

Jo Il-hun told so many stories that it’s hard to remember them all, but Son Yoo-jin seems to have memorized every single one. Probably thanks to her strong focus at a young age.

“Try giving some to Jang Gun-i and Hong-shi too~.”

Huff-huff!

Kind Son Yoo-jin offered pine shoots, but Jang Gun-i and Hong-shi quickly bolted into the forest.

In times like these, only the gentle Doberman Gwang-ma remains.

“Huh? Where’d Gwang-ma go?”

All five dogs disappeared in an instant. The efficacy of pine pollen must be truly remarkable.

“Isn’t it about time for our oppa to come~?”

“Isn’t today the last day of Jin-hyuk’s competition~?”

“Yeah! He said he’d come after the 200-meter finals~.”

Time-wise, he should’ve already finished the finals and be on his way.

“Jin-hyuk is amazing~. He’s faster than third-years, even adults.”

“He’s also taller than third-years, even adults~.”

“That’s true~. He’s even taller than me~.”

Was it 10.38 seconds?

I heard he set a new high school record in the 100m yesterday. A record close to the adult division.

Thanks to that, President Son Kwang-yeon, who left work early, threw another barbecue party. Even though the main guest wasn’t there, everyone had fun, and Son Yoo-jin, hiding behind Jang Jin-nam and drinking cola, looked happy too.

When her brother made a surprise appearance on the sports news after the 9 o’clock news, she even screamed, according to Han Yu-young.

“Hmm~ but~ our oppa said he’s bored~.”

“Even though Yong-rak went with him~?”

“He said he has no friends~. No teachers either~.”

Is she feeling sorry for her brother? Son Yoo-jin’s eyes turned sad.