Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 411

412. Abdomen? Uterus? Ovary? Where?

Nurse Im Jeong-suk was right.

Gu Dong-gon and Lee Ye-rim, who had just been warned by Tae-kyung, were not a couple.

Belatedly emphasizing their true love, the two were absurdly acting like a married couple at the hospital, engaging in public displays of affection that were witnessed by patients, leading to rumors spreading throughout the ward.

Some patients, unable to bear it, filed complaints. The ward nurse told Im Jeong-suk about this, even mentioning that the two were not actually married.

When admitting patients, the hospital checks their health insurance, which doesn’t show detailed family relationships, but it does show the relationship between the insured and the patient.

Reception staff or the *dangdang* nurse [nurse in charge] can know this, but the doctors who provide treatment don’t check the information欄 [information section] one by one, so they often don’t know separately.

That’s why Tae-kyung and Nurse Im Jeong-suk didn’t know this fact and only found out a little while ago.

“Um, Director. Should we reassign Gu Dong-gon and Lee Ye-rim to different hospital rooms?”

“When I asked them earlier, they denied it and even shed tears, claiming it was unfair. It might be a lie, but it could also be a misunderstanding, so let’s keep an eye on them. I’ve warned them once, so they probably won’t do it again.”

Unfortunately, all they could do was warn the two who caused the problem.

The hospital is a place to heal and treat people, so they couldn’t openly criticize and lecture them about their inappropriate relationship.

“They’re not patients who will be hospitalized for a long time, and the Director spoke to them directly, so they must have understood.”

The usually peaceful ward seemed like it would be noisy because of the two unusual patients.

* * *

A restaurant in Seoul-

“How many people?”

“Two. You’ll have to wait at least 30 minutes, is that okay?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“If you go out, there’s a waiting area next door where you can wait.”

“Thank you.”

The restaurant run by a middle-aged couple was quite large, befitting its reputation as a *matjib* [well-known, delicious restaurant], but it was packed with people.

A pork specialty restaurant, the fresh meat was a given, and the side dishes that came with it were also a key to its popularity.

Despite being a *gogitjip* [Korean BBQ restaurant], various side dishes were served, and the restaurant owner’s homemade *banchan* [Korean side dishes] were truly amazing.

“Kimchi stew for table 3, *doenjang jjigae* [fermented soybean paste stew] for table 17, *gyeran jjim* [steamed egg dish] going out to table 20.”

“Okay, coming right up.”

Kim Mal-ja, the *anjuin* [female owner/hostess] who had been making side dishes and food away from the kitchen for a while, came out to help in the *jeongshineomneun* [ 정신없는, chaotic] hall.

“Here, add two servings of *ogyeopsal* [pork belly with five layers of skin].”

“Three servings of *beoljip samgyeopsal* [honeycomb-patterned pork belly].”

“Yes. I’ll bring it right away.”

Quickly accommodating the customers’ requests and moving nimbly, she approached the part-time worker who was working diligently.

“Here, give me two bottles of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor].”

“Yes, right away…….”

“Kim-gun [Mr. Kim], give them two bottles of soju.”

“Yes, customer. Coming right up.”

Kim Mal-ja, interrupting the part-time worker who was serving the customer, suddenly grabbed the part-time worker’s hand and took him inside.

“Here! Hurry up and take that off and take this.”

Then, she pushed the part-time worker’s *miri chaenggyeodun* [ 미리 챙겨둔, prepared in advance] clothes and bag at him, urging him to take off his *apchima* [ 앞치마, apron].

“*Sajangnim* [사장님, restaurant owner], I still have time left.”

“I know. That’s enough for today, go home. You have your certification exam tomorrow morning.”

“How did you know that?”

“You don’t need to know that. Hurry up and go home and prepare for your certification tomorrow.”

Although there was still work time left, Kim Mal-ja was trying to let the part-time worker, who had an exam tomorrow, leave a few hours early.

Restaurant work, especially at a *gogitjip* [Korean BBQ restaurant] that is known as a *matjib* [well-known, delicious restaurant], has more work than you think, and it is hard work.

However, from the part-time workers to the employees, everyone at this restaurant was working with a smiling face without anyone showing a *jjajeungnan* [ 짜증난, irritated] expression, and the reason was *baro anjuin* [바로 안 주인, none other than the female owner] Kim Mal-ja.

She had a great personality as much as her excellent cooking skills, and she was such a good person that even the surrounding *sangindeul injeonghal jeongdoro* [상인들 인정할 정도로, merchants acknowledged her].

The *somunnan* [소문난, well-known] restaurant had a lot of *sueik* [수익, profit], and she donated that money to *eoryeoun got* [어려운 곳, those in need], and *jugijeogeuro daejeophago eumsigeul* [주기적으로 대접하고 음식을, regularly treated and provided food] to the *chwiakgyecheung* [취약계층, vulnerable population] and *noseukja* [노숙자, homeless] in the neighborhood.

In addition, she gave the employees more *ildang* [일당, daily wage] than the *sigeup* [시급, hourly wage], and she took care of personal matters first, like today.

Because of Kim Mal-ja’s *neokneokan maeum* [넉넉한 마음, generous heart], the restaurant employees worked for quite a long time once they started.

The reason why she helps people like this is because she was *jidokhage gananhaetgo jugeul mankeum himdeureo bwatgi ttaemunaeotda* [지독하게 가난했고 죽을 만큼 힘들어 봤기 때문이었다, desperately poor and had a hard time to the point of death] when she was young.

So, the better she did, the more she knew how to *bepulgo nanul* [베풀고 나눌, give and share].

“I’m okay, *sajangnim* [사장님, restaurant owner]. *Keun sajangnim* [큰 사장님, the big boss – referring to her husband] is also not here because he went to the *nongjang* [농장, farm], and if I leave, it will be hard because *sonnim mollyeoyo* [손님 몰려요, customers will flock in] in the evening.”

“Have I been a *sajang* [사장, owner] for a day or two? I’ll take care of it. When a person has a big event ahead of them, they need to sleep well so that their brain activity works well. Go quickly!”

“Yes, thank you, *sajangnim* [사장님, restaurant owner].”

“There’s a lot to be thankful for. Go carefully.”

The part-time worker, unable to overcome Kim Mal-ja’s *seonghwang* [성황, enthusiastic urging], eventually stopped working and headed home.

“Mom, I’m home.”

“Mother, I’m here too.”

Shortly after, Gu Ji-yeon, the youngest daughter of the *anjuin* [안주인, female owner/hostess], visited the restaurant with her boyfriend to help with work.

“You guys came without *yeollakdo* [연락도, even contacting me]. Why did you come all the way here?”

“Why did we come? It’s busy at this time, so we came to help with work. Did Dad say he’s coming tomorrow?”

“He said he got *sogaebadaseo* [소개받아서, introduced to] a good *nongjang* [농장, farm] and it looks like it will take a few more days to look around.”

“Dad is having a hard time too.”

“It seems like it will be a little difficult for him to go down alone this time.”

The husband, who runs the restaurant together, is currently on a business trip due to restaurant *georaecheo* [거래처, business partner] work.

“But why did you bring Hyun-joon again? Even if Ji-yeon is on vacation, Hyun-joon has to go to work, right?”

“Hyun-joon is also on *ansiknyeon hyuga* [안식년 휴가, sabbatical leave]. I told Mom that at that time. Don’t you remember?”

“When you get to my age, your memory isn’t as good as it used to be. Anyway, don’t keep bringing other people’s precious children to the restaurant.”

“I didn’t bring him. He followed me. He won’t leave even if I tell him to go.”

“That’s right, Mother. And I’ll be Gu *ssi jiban sawi* [구 씨 집안 사위, Gu family’s son-in-law] soon, so I’m not someone else’s child.”

“Anyway. You speak so beautifully. Just don’t overdo it, both of you.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Yes, Mother.”

The youngest daughter’s couple, who had a friendly conversation with Kim Mal-ja, moved *ilsabullanhage* [일사불란하게, in an orderly manner] and *yeolsimhi* [열심히, diligently] helped with the restaurant work until closing time.

“This is the last of the hall dishes. Mom, should I come into the *jubang* [주방, kitchen] and help you?”

“No. There’s no work. It’s okay here, just help in the hall.”

“Okay.”

“*Hyeongnim* [형님, older sister/brother – term of respect], how did you raise three children so well?”

“They grew up on their own.”

When the *jubang jikwon* [주방 직원, kitchen staff] praised Kim Mal-ja for her *yamujige* [야무지게, efficiently] working youngest daughter, Kim Mal-ja replied as if she was embarrassed.

“It seems like you were born with *jasik bok* [자식 복, good fortune with children]. Oh! I heard Ji-yeon is getting married?”

“Yes. We decided to do it next fall, but we haven’t set a date yet.”

“They’ve been dating for a long time, so that’s good. Once the youngest one gets married, *hyeongnim* [형님, older sister/brother – term of respect] won’t have any worries.”

“Who in this world doesn’t have worries? And worries don’t arise as I please.”

“Well, that’s true. Still, I think if I lived like *hyeongnim* [형님, older sister/brother – term of respect], I wouldn’t have any worries and I would be happy.”

“Stop talking *sseuldeeomneun sori* [쓸데없는 소리, nonsense] and take this.”

Kim Mal-ja took out *pirohoebokje* [피로회복제, fatigue recovery drink] from a drawer on one side of the *jubang* [주방, kitchen] and handed it to the employee.

“You bought this expensive thing again? You should have just bought a bottle of *Bacchus* [popular Korean energy drink], why do you keep spending money on this?”

“The restaurant runs well when the employees are healthy. Why aren’t you going to eat it?”

“I’m not going to eat it? I can’t eat it because I don’t have it.”

“Everyone, eat one of these.”

Kim Mal-ja handed *pirohoebokje* [피로회복제, fatigue recovery drink] to the *jubang jikwon* [주방 직원, kitchen staff] and went outside to hand *hoebokje* [회복제, recovery drink] to the hall employees as well.

“Everyone worked hard today because it was busy. Eat one of these and hurry up and clean up and go in.”

“Thank you, *sajangnim* [사장님, restaurant owner].”

“Thank you.”

“*Eollae*, I can’t see her?”

She was giving *pirohoebokje* [피로회복제, fatigue recovery drink] to the employees, and she turned her head this way and that way, looking for someone.

“Where did she go while she was working?”

“*Sajangnim* [사장님, restaurant owner], are you looking for Ji-yeon *eonni* [언니, older sister]?”

“Yes. Did she go to the *hwajangsil* [화장실, restroom]?”

“No. She said she was going to *jeongni* [정리, tidy up] the *daegisil* [대기실, waiting room] with her boyfriend.”

“Really? I see.”

Kim Mal-ja, who came out of the hall, walked to the *daegisil* [대기실, waiting room] in the same building next to the restaurant.

“They should be *deiteu* [데이트, dating], but they’re *gwaenhi waseo gosaeng* [괜히 와서 고생, needlessly suffering]. Well, I have *saekki bok* [새끼 복, good fortune with offspring]. *Giteukhan geotdeul* [기특한 것들, admirable things].”

She was saying *honjatmal* [혼잣말, to herself], and suddenly, her *gyeongkwaehan balgeoreum* [경쾌한 발걸음, light footsteps] came to a halt as she was about to enter the *anjjok door* [안쪽 door, inner door] that the employees use, not the door that the *sonnimdeul deunadeuneun* [손님들 드나드는, customers use].

“……!”

The conversation of the youngest daughter’s couple, which was heard through the slightly opened *munteum* [문틈, door gap], made Kim Mal-ja *meomchit* [멈칫, pause].

“Hyun-joon? Will the *geomsa* [검사, test] I received be okay……?”

‘*Geomsa* [검사, test]?’

The hand holding the *mungori* [문고리, doorknob] began to *tteolgi sajeong eopsi* [떨리기 사정없이, tremble uncontrollably] like a *namunnip heundeullineun* [나뭇잎 흔들리는, leaf shaking] in the *baram* [바람, wind].

*Tuk*-

Kim Mal-ja didn’t even know that she had *tteoreotteurin* [떨어뜨린, dropped] the *pirohoebokje bongji* [피로회복제 봉지, fatigue recovery drink packet] she was holding on the *ttang* [땅, ground], and she *deouk gwireul giuryeotda* [더욱 귀를 기울였다, listened more closely] to the youngest daughter’s couple’s story, holding her breath.

“*Geomsa* [검사, test]? Of course. Wait a minute! You searched again on your *haendeupon* [핸드폰, cell phone], didn’t you? Give me your *haendeupon* [핸드폰, cell phone].”

When the *namjachingu* [남자친구, boyfriend] tried to check the *haendeupon* [핸드폰, cell phone], Gu Ji-yeon pushed away the *dagaoneun* [다가오는, approaching] hand and held out the *haendeupon hwamyeon* [핸드폰 화면, cell phone screen].

“No, look at this here. This person also received an *choumpa* [초음파, ultrasound]…….”

She *teochihan* [터치한, touched] someone’s *choumpa* [초음파, ultrasound] picture through an internet search and said to her boyfriend as if she was *hasoyeon* [하소연, complaining].

“Doesn’t it look similar to my *choumpa* [초음파, ultrasound] picture? No. Looking at it again, it looks the same. How did this person get a *am panjeong* [암 판정, cancer diagnosis] and have surgery? Hyun-joon, me too……!”

Seeing Gu Ji-yeon, who couldn’t take her eyes off the *hyudaephon* [휴대폰, cell phone], the *namjachingu* [남자친구, boyfriend], unable to watch any longer, *hwak ppaeseo beoryeotda* [확 뺏어 버렸다, snatched away] the *hyudaephon* [휴대폰, cell phone].

“Why?”

“Why? You’ve been searching all kinds of things on your *haendeupon* [핸드폰, cell phone] and *noteubuk* [노트북, laptop] for days after getting the *geomsa* [검사, test], and you were only thinking *an joheun saenggak* [안 좋은 생각, bad thoughts], but you’re doing it again. I told you not to look for things like this until the results come out, right?”

Gu Ji-yeon showed her *dapdaphan soknae* [답답한 속내, frustrated feelings] with a *soksanghan* [속상한, upset] expression.

“I know it’s *dapdaphan* [답답한, frustrating] for you to see. I know……. But how can I not think *byeolbyeol saenggagi da deulgo geokjeongdoeneun* [별별 생각이 다 들고 걱정되는, all sorts of thoughts and worries] when I’m still? I keep thinking *gwaenchanhgetji, gwaenchanhgetji* [괜찮겠지, 괜찮겠지, it’ll be okay, it’ll be okay], but I keep getting *an joheun saenggagi* [안 좋은 생각이, bad thoughts].”

The *namjachingu gamsa aneumyeo todagyeotda* [남자친구 감싸 안으며 토닥였다, boyfriend hugged and patted] the *yeojachingu eokkae* [여자 친구’s 어깨, girlfriend’s shoulder], who was *pul i jugeun* [풀이 죽은, dispirited].

“*Baboya* [바보야, you fool]. It’s not *dapdaphaeseo* [답답해서, frustrating], but I hate that you’re *geokjeonghago soksanghae haneun* [걱정하고 속상해하는, worrying and upset]. You know that people originally think more in that direction when they look for things like that. Ji-yeon…….”

“I guarantee you that nothing will happen to you. Huh! Don’t you believe me? I’m Gu Ji-yeon’s *haenguneui yeosin* [행운의 여신, goddess of luck], no. I’m *haenguneui namsin* [행운의 남신, god of luck].”

“Jun-hyun?”

“Yeah. What should I do for you? Just say it. I’m the man who will *tta jul* [따 줄, pluck] the stars in the sky if Gu Ji-yeon says so.”

“You’re *kkabunda* [까분다, acting up] again. *Kkabureo* [까불어, acting up]. What if…….”

“I’m really going to *honnanda* [혼난다, get scolded] if you say something strange.”

“What if I have *am* [암, cancer]……*eup*!”

Gu Ji-yeon, who was talking with a *jinjihan nunbit* [진지한 눈빛, serious look], couldn’t say any more because her *ip* [입, mouth] was *makhyeo* [막혀, blocked] by her *namjachingu sonbadak* [남자친구’s 손바닥, boyfriend’s palm].

“*Baboya* [바보야, you fool]. Why are you *makgo* [막고, blocking] my *ip* [입, mouth] when I’m talking?”

“I’m *makgo* [막고, blocking] your *ip* [입, mouth] because you’re saying *sseuldeeomneun sori* [쓸데없는 소리, nonsense]. I’m really going to *hwa nanda* [화낸다, get angry] if you say that one more time. Understood?”

“I got it! I won’t do it.”

“Why? Are you *hwanasseo* [화났어, angry]?”

The *namjachingu* [남자친구, boyfriend] looked at Gu Ji-yeon’s face, who suddenly *beoljjeok ireonaneun* [벌떡 일어나는, suddenly getting up], and asked.

“I’m not *hwanagin* [화나긴, angry]. How can I *hwa reul naenya* [화를 내냐, get angry] at a *chakhan namchin* [착한 남친, kind boyfriend] like you?”

“Then why are you *ireona* [일어나, getting up]?”

“I’m going to the *hwajangsil* [화장실, restroom]. Why? Are you going to *ttaraoge* [따라오게, follow me] to the *hwajangsil* [화장실, restroom]?”

“*Chamna* [참나, geez]! *Dwaetgo*, let’s *jeongni* [정리, tidy up] together when I come back from the *hwajangsil* [화장실, restroom]. *Swigo isseo* [쉬고 있어, rest].”

“It’s almost done, I’ll be doing it. *Gatta wa* [갔다 와, go and come back].”

“Yeah. I’ll be a while.”

“Let’s finish *jeongni* [정리, tidying up].”

*Deureureuk*-

When Gu Ji-yeon went out through the door that the *sonnimdeul deunadeuneun* [손님들 드나드는, customers use], Kim Mal-ja, who had been waiting at the *anjjok door* [안쪽 door, inner door], entered the *daegisil* [대기실, waiting room] a little later.

“Mother? The *jeongni* [정리, tidying up] is all done here.”

“Hyun-joon…….”

“Yes. Just tell me if there’s anything I can *dowa deuril* [도와 드릴, help with].”

“That’s not it, what did you say just now?”

“Yes?”

“What did you and Ji-yeon say just now?”

“I didn’t say anything……. Ah! We decided to go to the exhibition tomorrow.”

The *namjachingu* [남자친구, boyfriend] made an *pinggye* [핑계, excuse] that there was no exhibition and pretended not to know about Kim Mal-ja’s question.

“Ji-yeon has an exhibition she wants to see, so we talked about going to see it and going to eat.”

“Aren’t you going to tell me *ttokbaro* [똑바로, straight]? I’ve been *deutgo* [듣고, listening] all along. Ji-yeon received a *geomsa* [검사, test], right! What kind of *geomsa* [검사, test] did she receive?”

“Ah! That’s nothing, Mother. She just received a *geonganggeomjin* [건강검진, health checkup].”

“Tell me the truth quickly.”

“Ji-yeon received an *choumpa geomsa* [초음파 검사, ultrasound test].”

“What kind of *choumpa* [초음파, ultrasound], where? Is it her *bae* [배, abdomen]? Is it her *bokbu* [복부, abdomen]?”

“No.”

“Then, where? Uterus? Ovary? Is it *sanbuingwa* [산부인과, gynecology]? Where is it?”

Kim Mal-ja’s words were getting faster and faster, and it felt like her *sok* [속, insides] was *jeomjeom ta deureo ganeun* [점점 타들어 가는, gradually burning].

“No.”

“Hyun-joon, tell me quickly.”

“Ji-yeon received a *yubang choumpa* [유방 초음파, breast ultrasound].”

Kim Mal-ja’s expression became *eoduwojyeotda sunsigan-e* [어두워졌다 순식간에, darkened instantly] like a *bangcheoreom keoteuni chyeojin* [방처럼 커튼이 쳐진, curtain drawn in a room] at the word ‘유방’ [yubang, breast].