Chapter 22

#22 <The Wind Blows (7)>

***

Jin-hyeok once lived at Choi Mi-kyung’s house.

It was when he was left alone.

His grandmother didn’t scold or deliberately comfort Jin-hyeok, who was crouched in the corner.

She just watched him from a distance with a pitiful gaze. It seemed like her own way of comforting him.

‘That’s why I don’t remember much.’

Over the past few years, his grandmother had been spending less time at Mi-kyung’s house, busy looking after her daughters who lived scattered around. To be precise, she was shuttling between Seoul and Daejeon to take care of her grandchildren. Mi-kyung whined about missing her grandmother while telling Jin-hyeok this story.

– “My aunts and uncles are all grown up, they’ve gone to college and even gotten married!”

Mi-kyung probably knew what she was doing.

She was trying to convey her mother’s regret for not being able to take care of all her children equally, focusing only on her youngest son. Her mother, who had finally started looking after her daughter late in life, was trying to fill the void left by her eldest daughter who had passed away early.

“Ugh, what should I do?”

Walking carefully along the mountain path he usually ran on, Jin-hyeok fell into his own thoughts.

It was a strange and miraculous encounter, but keeping it bottled up might make him sick. There’s no bamboo forest nearby to shout, “The king’s ears are donkey ears!”

‘I should endure it since she told me not to. Mi-kyung’s family must be having the hardest time.’

Even though she was well over eighty, she had always been so healthy. But after coming back from visiting her youngest son, saying she missed him, she immediately fell ill.

Jo Il-hun had said something like that.

– “An old lady who’s spent her whole life touching dirt and smelling manure, living in the city wearing a watch? That’ll make her sick.”

It must have been the day Jo Il-hun’s close friend Park Dae-soon ran away with his family. He had come to Jin-hyeok’s house to complain about Park Dae-soon’s disappearance, and those words had slipped out.

Thinking about it now, it made sense.

Maybe his grandmother had developed something like homesickness while moving around the city.

Before she left, she had recited her life story.

‘She must have been lonely.’

Moving around the city, taking care of her children and grandchildren, she must have developed a sickness of the heart, fighting loneliness without anyone to talk to, which drained her energy.

Looking back, it seemed like the right thing to do.

To silently listen to his grandmother’s life story. Perhaps she left after shedding all the regrets she couldn’t resolve. She had always been so playful and bright.

‘Inventory!’

It was a miraculous encounter, but she left without giving me anything.

No special abilities, but hey, I did a good deed.

Jin-hyeok praised himself.

His steps down the mountain felt light.

Like chanting a mantra in the rain, he kept muttering.

“······May my underwear dry, may my underwear dry, may I think of lottery numbers and stock tips······.”

Mutter, mutter-.

Embarrassed, he scratched the back of his head.

It felt like someone was laughing at him from behind, so he decided to stop.

***

“Our General, should I carry you?”

Hehehek-?

General, the dog, looked up, tilting his head as if wondering what he was talking about.

The way he pretended not to understand made Jin-hyeok think he might be more of a fox than a dog or a lion.

Well, he can’t talk anyway. Jin-hyeok decided to do as he pleased.

“Ugh, this guy’s heavy.”

He was solid but not heavy at all. It was an ironic sensation—feeling the weight but not finding it burdensome. Strength really is something.

When Jin-hyeok came down from the mountain, General was climbing the steep path with his short legs. His expression reminded Jin-hyeok of Manager Min Yong-rak, who had been running to the bathroom due to an upset stomach.

General ran up to Jin-hyeok, panting and licking his face, and Jin-hyeok roughly understood what he meant.

Sometimes, words aren’t needed to communicate.

Jin-hyeok carried General and walked slowly.

He pondered his grandmother’s advice.

‘Live joyfully, live fun?’

Is there anything more fun than living day by day with family?

In summer and autumn, picking and eating all kinds of fruits, in winter, roasting sweet potatoes, chestnuts, and potatoes.

Growing up day by day, eating is the most enjoyable thing.

Maybe other fun things will come along as I live.

“General, when are you the happiest?”

Squeak-squeak-.

General squirmed. It seemed like he wanted to be put down.

Before Jin-hyeok could fully lower him, he jumped down.

“Want to run?”

Woof-!

Wagging his tail like a propeller, General looked back at Jin-hyeok, as if suggesting a race.

He really understands human speech.

“If I win, two sausages!”

Hehehek-! Clatter-clatter-.

Without any starting signal, General ran off the path and disappeared into the woods.

A false start and course deviation.

He was like a dog using some kind of levitation technique, disappearing in an instant.

“Nuhuhuhu-.”

A carefree, cheerful laugh burst out.

Jin-hyeok’s feet pounded the paved road.

Running is the most exciting thing. He thought to himself.

***

Jo Il-hun drove a tractor around the village. The cargo bed was filled with food.

Transparent, thin plastic lunch boxes contained boiled eggs, rice cakes, pancakes, and fruits, all tied with rubber bands.

He said it was a thank-you gift for the neighbors. A gesture of gratitude for their condolences, telling them not to skip meals even if they couldn’t attend the funeral. It showed Choi Jang-hwan’s character. It was a heartwarming scene, even in the midst of sorrow.

The younger kids in the village excitedly chased the tractor, grabbing armfuls of snacks. Some had wooden tops and sticks, as if they had been playing with tops, while others carried kites under their arms.

No one scolded the kids.

‘It’s a good time.’

Kids who know nothing and have no worries are the true masters of this world.

The adults in the village set up several tents in Mi-kyung’s yard. The same tents used during school sports days, with the village name printed on them.

Jin-hyeok’s family had been staying at Mi-kyung’s house during the funeral.

Han Yu-young helped cook, clean, and comforted Mi-kyung’s mother, Kim Soon-bok, while carrying her young daughter, Son Yoo-jin, on her back. She was still quiet.

Son Kwang-yeon kept talking to the chief mourner, Choi Jang-hwan, who stood at the gate, worried he might be tired.

Choi Jang-hwan, the chief mourner, wore a coarse hemp funeral robe and held a long bamboo stick with both hands, leaning on the ground.

“Brother, if you’re tired, I can take over-.”

“No, this is how it’s supposed to be. It’s not because I’m tired.”

“Ah······.”

Despite being in mourning, Choi Jang-hwan laughed heartily at Son Kwang-yeon’s concern. He was a younger brother who still had much to learn, even though he was doing well.

The two men stood at the gate, chatting.

When mourners arrived, Choi Jang-hwan would let out a small, solemn wail. Some kids found it amusing and giggled.

At first, Son Kwang-yeon just blinked, but he eventually joined in the wailing, and Choi Jang-hwan didn’t scold him.

‘This is my first time seeing a funeral like this.’

For Jin-hyeok, who was used to city funerals, this was a fresh shock.

Kids playing, dogs sniffing around for greasy food, women tirelessly cooking and washing dishes.

Some uncles were playing yut or Go-Stop.

‘I don’t like crowds, but this is nice.’

Even though it wasn’t a situation to enjoy, his heart felt strangely warm.

Maybe that’s what it means when people say it’s good to have many people at a funeral.

It felt heartwarming.

Just then, an aunt helping out forced a black plastic bag into Kim Eun-jung’s father’s hands.

“Hey, Eun-jung’s dad! Take this. Feed Eun-jung and Hoo-nam too.”

“Oh, what’s this? You didn’t have to-.”

“You’ll have another drink at home, right?”

“Did you pack some ant kimchi too?”

“Of course, what kind of question is that?”

Precious beef tartare, flounder sashimi salad, rice cakes, and pancakes. Wrapped in translucent white plastic and then in a black bag. Country folks often said that a house without beef tartare and flounder salad was one that hadn’t learned proper manners. If something else was added, it was called the “three great dishes of a feast,” but it was too noisy to hear properly.

“We’ll bring more cow feed later, so don’t go anywhere.”

Eun-jung’s father opened the bag, checked the fish pancakes and various other pancakes for the kids, and left with a big smile. He was determined to win money at the Go-Stop table tonight.

Jin-hyeok and Choi Tae-yang set up tables, cleared them, and tirelessly carried food.

‘My hometown is really a good place.’

Jin-hyeok didn’t know how to comfort others.

But understanding the feelings of someone who needed comfort wasn’t hard.

He just kept an eye on his friend Mi-kyung, wondering if she was having a hard time, if she was sad. Even while carrying food, he kept glancing her way.

Mi-kyung wore a white hanbok skirt and jacket, her hair tied up with a black ribbon. She looked elegant with a black hairpin. She didn’t put her hair up, so she didn’t use a binyeo. To Jin-hyeok, living in the 21st century, it looked exotic, like glimpsing a different world’s culture.

“When I was born, my grandmother spanked my butt so hard it’s still blue. Look here-. I’ll show you specially-.”

“Ah, I believe you without looking.”

Mi-kyung tried to lift her skirt, and Jin-hyeok panicked. He firmly held her skirt down to keep it from rising.

Mi-kyung had cried a lot on the first day, but now she seemed fine.

Her eyes, once bloodshot, now shone brightly, as if asking when she had cried.

“You didn’t see it, so how can you believe it?”

“······It’s a thing.”

Mi-kyung nodded.

She trusts me, Jin-hyeok muttered.

‘Maybe I can tell Mi-kyung.’

That her grandmother went to a good place.

If he shared the mystical experience he had, maybe it would ease her sorrow.

“Mi-kyung, your grandmother must have gone to a good place.”

“Yeah. She became a fairy.”

Jin-hyeok’s eyes widened.

She told me to keep it a secret, but did she spread it all over the village? Was the long story she left me not special after all?

I didn’t think she’d do that.

“Grandmother appeared in my dream last night. She was wearing a fairy’s winged robe and looked like a beautiful lady, but I could tell it was her. She didn’t say anything special, but it seemed like she came to say hello. She appeared in my mom, dad, and brother’s dreams too-.”

Mi-kyung excitedly told her dream, spreading her arms wide to emphasize how amazing it was.

Jin-hyeok silently nodded as Mi-kyung spoke.

So she really did appear in their dreams. I almost misunderstood.

Seeing her dressed beautifully, appearing as a young fairy through the Fairy Rock, it must mean she was a precious person.

“-My mom said we’ll hold the memorial at Fairy Rock.”

“I’ll go too. When you hold the memorial.”

“Sure-.”

Jin-hyeok had gained a grandmother.

In an era where only the learned and wealthy were treated with respect, he had once viewed the world through similar standards.

Now, there was no need for that.

‘I guess I just have to live kindly. Righteously. Protecting my family.’

His head nodded on its own.

A clear goal had formed for this life: to live for his family.

Jin-hyeok, who had been crouching under the eaves, stood up and dusted off his butt.

Mi-kyung grabbed his arm and pulled him.

“It’s still early, not many people are here. Let’s play more.”

“Ah, I’m just······.”

The spicy beef soup is too delicious.

There was also a mild beef soup for those who couldn’t handle spicy food, but for Jin-hyeok, the spicy beef soup was definitely the best.

He had already eaten six bowls, but if he ate more, wouldn’t it look weird?

Even after eating so much, his stomach didn’t bulge, and he didn’t feel the need to use the bathroom. He must be growing a lot. He decided to restrain himself for General’s sake. The dog always ate pancakes and boiled pork slices with him. If he ate more, his stomach might burst.

Jin-hyeok licked his lips and crouched down again.

‘Well, that’s what friends are for.’

I wish lunchtime would come soon. Jin-hyeok muttered to himself as he looked at the ornately decorated flower bier.

“Ugh-.”

He yawned, probably from eating too much spicy beef soup, rice, meat, and pancakes. Not exercising made his body feel sluggish. His house was close, so maybe he could take a nap and come back. Having a house is really nice. He missed lying on the warm floor, covered in a thick blanket, sweating.

“If you’re sleepy, you can go up to my room on the second floor and take a nap?”

“No, I have my own room.”

Mi-kyung sighed deeply. Son Jin-hyeok’s room was better anyway.

“Spring break was nice without homework. I’m already in 6th grade. Time flies.”

“······.”

I wonder how this kid would react if he knew time would only go faster.

He probably wouldn’t believe it. Time really feels slow when you’re a kid.

‘But breaks are nice.’

Because you can spend the whole day with family.

School starts in three days.

Hehehe-.

General, who had been lying next to Jin-hyeok, sweeping the floor with his tail, rested his chin on his front paws. His big eyes rolled upward, sending a look of regret. He had eaten so much that his belly looked full, almost like he was pregnant.

The wind blew.

A breeze carrying the scent of soil brought the warmth of spring.

The two friends took a deep breath.

Sharing the same time and growing up together didn’t feel bad.

It was a sense of camaraderie he had never felt before.

“I smell our grandmother.”

Mi-kyung’s eyes glistened as she grinned, revealing her neat white teeth.