The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 178

The village population is quite large.

Contrary to the trend of rural exodus, Jinhyuk’s neighborhood has seen an increase in both households and population compared to seven years ago. With the village community and General Farm supporting mechanized farming and cash crop cultivation, it has become the best option for those wishing to farm. The residents’ friendly attitude towards newcomers also contributed to the population influx.

“Wow-. There are so many people. Kim Hojin is over there too.”

Despite the bustling crowd, Yujin didn’t seem intimidated at all; rather, she looked excited.

Perhaps it’s natural for a born social butterfly to react so calmly and naturally.

‘Yujin is amazing, as always. I feel like I’m about to lose my mind.’

You might say, ‘You’ve been in even more crowded places, what are you talking about?’ but the stadium in Seoul where the track and field events took place was different. I didn’t have to navigate through the crowd directly. To put it in a metaphor, during the competition, I was like an arowana leisurely swimming alone, but at the party, I felt like a guppy in a fish tank full of guppies.

Jo Ilheon and Kwak Hyangrim had emptied not only their yard and rooms but also the garage where they kept their tractors and combines to accommodate guests. Even the vegetable garden behind the house had to be paved before all the well-wishers could fit in.

It’s not quite a wedding yet, but it’s like a housewarming party on a village scale.

“It looks like everyone in the village has gathered.”

“Lee Dongho isn’t here though-?”

Lee Dongho is from another village.

Instead of pointing out his sister’s mistake, Jinhyuk held her hand tightly. It would be a problem if he lost her in the crowd of large adults.

“The uncles are over there too-.”

Yujin pointed somewhere.

Thanks to Jo Ilheon’s invitation, saying they had to feed the Seoul statues too, the SSS agents were also confidently taking up space.

There were also outsiders hired by the youth association to help with the work and prevent the residents from getting overwhelmed. It seems that the saying ‘generosity comes from a full barn’ holds true, as it was a testament to the residents’ increased generosity.

Jo Ilheon, who was greeting other well-wishers, welcomed Jinhyuk and Yujin.

“Aigoo-, our Jinaek and Yujin are here too-. Aigoo, Jeongwon is lucky to have such a big family-”

He didn’t forget to greet Jeongwon, who was in Jinhyuk’s arms. He plucked the baby, who was struggling to stay close to his brother, and held him.

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

“Uncle Jjorong, congratulations-.”

Yujin bowed deeply as she always did.

Jo Ilheon never forced Yujin to call him ‘oppa’ [older brother].

Apparently, he tried to test the waters once and got a scolding from Yujin.

Jinhyuk looked around the crowded and packed venue.

His father was drinking makgeolli [Korean rice wine] at the same table as Cheon Gilyong and Choi Janghwan, and his mother, wearing a hanbok [traditional Korean dress] with an apron, was mingling with the other women, eating food and chatting with smiles.

‘I’m even happier to see Mom enjoying herself.’

Whenever he left home, he always worried about his mother.

When his father, Jinhyuk, and Yujin were away, she would take care of Jeongwon and tend to the garden. Her only conversation partners were Janggun, Yu Taehwa, Jang Jinnam, and Min Yongrak…

Ah, Mom won’t have time to feel lonely now. Her daily life has changed so much, so I don’t have to worry about her being lonely.

Despite the noisy venue, there were many people working, so no one seemed particularly busy, and the atmosphere was such that people could get their own food. It felt completely different from the stuffy company dinners I used to have during my office days, with a sense of openness and freedom.

“Our Jeongwon, when he learns to talk, he has to call Ilheon ‘Seong’ [uncle]. Got it? Say ‘Seong’. Seooong-”

“Uuuu-!”

Chop chop-.

Without exception, Son Jeongwon’s sharp palm would fly at the mouth that was talking nonsense.

Jinhyuk took the baby from Jo Ilheon, who was awkwardly holding Jeongwon and trying to brainwash him. If he left him any longer, Jo Ilheon’s lips might turn into a duck’s beak from being hit by Jeongwon.

“It looks like the party will go on for a while.”

It was already dark, but no one seemed to be drinking in a hurry. In the past, they would have already gotten drunk, started a game of hwatu [Korean playing cards], and tried to get people to play yutnori [Korean board game] for money, but the residents’ faces were full of leisure. It was a stark contrast to the scene from a few years ago.

“Everyone came with the intention of staying up all night-”

Jo Ilheon agreed, saying it was something he couldn’t have even dreamed of in the past.

Even though the fall harvest season had already arrived, no one seemed worried about tomorrow.

It was all thanks to the systematic mechanized farming and the dramatic increase in farm income.

“It’s all thanks to your father.”

Jinhyuk nodded, with a slightly disappointed expression.

‘There should be some credit to me too.’

All crops, except for those for household food self-sufficiency and rice under contract with the agricultural cooperative, were being cultivated under contract with General. Since General purchased all of the contracted amount each year, there was no need to worry about price drops, and the burden of pesticide and fertilizer costs was greatly reduced thanks to the enzyme fertilizer.

“In the old days, it was always about pesticide costs and fertilizer costs, and it was hard to even borrow machinery, so ruining the farm was a common occurrence. What was the point of working your butt off to grow crops? It all went to paying off debts. The unlucky ones would lose it all in gambling dens during the winter.”

Using machinery that could be borrowed at a low price was a dream for ordinary farmers. Without connections to the union leader or local power brokers, it was impossible to even make a reservation.

People like Jo Ilheon, who had assessed the situation early on, bought expensive tractors and combines and sold their labor.

“It’s good for me too, working under contract with your father. There’s a lot of work, and they even do maintenance. General is much better than the agricultural cooperative.”

Now, it was a completely different world from five years ago.

In the spring, tractors and rice planters with the General Farm logo would roam the area, and in the fall, combines would do the same. General Farm provided machinery to contracted farms free of charge. They also made contracts with existing tractor drivers to avoid taking away their jobs.

‘That’s all my idea.’

There wasn’t a single area of Son Gwangyeon’s business that didn’t reflect Jinhyuk’s planning.

From production to processing and sales.

“Now, even in the winter, no one is thinking of doing something else because they have some money in their pockets. There’s work everywhere. Anyway, they do facility farming and side jobs in the winter, and since they get tired of always looking at the sky and the ground, they gather like this to play and take it easy.”

Even in the winter, residents were participating in secondary production activities such as processing crops in greenhouses or village markets, earning income. This included tasks such as trimming and packaging vegetables like green onions and water parsley, as well as medicinal plants and flowers.

During winter breaks, Jinhyuk would also join Choi Mikyung and her friends to help with the work. It wasn’t because he was short on money. It was because that was the only way he could see the friends he had spent his childhood and elementary school years with.

“Now, farmers should live comfortably, wearing warm clothes and patting their bellies, right-?”

Looking at Jo Ilheon, who was grinning slyly and seeking agreement, Jinhyuk eventually smiled too.

Who would dislike it when their family’s efforts had improved their quality of life?

‘What does it matter if they don’t recognize my contribution? Dad will know.’

Euhahahahaha!

Loud laughter erupted irregularly from here and there.

It was a heartwarming scene.

There was no other way for people to become comfortable.

‘If we all live well together, we all become comfortable.’

Some people insist on growing the crops they want, and some are greedy, trying to get rich alone. There are some people who are like jagged rocks, and there are some eccentric old folks.

People who like to talk gossip about them and show their dislike. But is that a problem unique to this neighborhood? It’s something that exists and happens wherever people live.

‘I used to hate seeing that kind of thing, so I didn’t even make friends in society.’

He only knew how to work, but he was good at talking.

“Here, have a drink with me-! We’re friends now-”

Kim Chunsik and Yuk Younggu were competitively offering drinks to Son Gwangyeon, who had been rarely seen at village events lately.

Watching that scene, Jinhyuk smiled awkwardly and then lifted Yujin up with his empty hands. It was impossible for Yujin to walk through the crowd.

“Oop-! Our Yujin must be hungry. Let’s go eat with oppa.”

“It’s not ‘mam-ma’ [baby talk for food]-. It’s rice, soup, and meat-”

Yujin had reached the point where she would argue as if she was going to fight if something didn’t match her thoughts.

This little brat-, no, that’s not it. She’s really grown up a lot.

“Okay! Let’s go eat rice and meat!”

“Why are you leaving out the soup-?”

I’m going to hit you, you little brat.

Still, because she was his pretty little sister, instead of scolding her, he kissed her on the cheek with a ‘pop’ sound.

Holding his siblings in his arms, Jinhyuk carefully navigated through the crowd.

Towards the sarangbang [a traditional Korean guest room] where Choi Mikyung and his same-age friends were waving their hands.

Bbudadadada-.

Outside the house, the frivolous single-cylinder engine cut through the bustling crowd and cheerful noise.

***

Woof-.

Nureongi [a yellow dog] came.

She brought her puppies, and they were so round and soft, they were incredibly cute.

It reminded me of Hongsi, the daughter who used to play with Son Aeng-aeng that winter.

Heheheh-.

They were creatures that stimulated maternal instincts.

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

Woof!

Eek!

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

Even though Nureongi is the one who offers dog food to Janggun, Janggun doesn’t dare to approach the parents who are protecting their puppies. If he makes a mistake, he could get covered in soybean paste in an instant. A dog with something to protect becomes strong.

Janggun is a smart dog, so he knows that too.

Woof-.

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

Janggun can’t miss a party, but Son Wang-wang told him to guard the house. What a dog-.

He also told him to protect the dog friends they brought from other houses.

Uwooul-.

Ugh, I’m frustrated and annoyed.

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

Loyalty or devotion, or whatever, that’s not it. Give that to the dogs.

Grrr-. Bark- Woof-!

Cheonma, or was it Geomma or Kka-meongi, was sniffing the puppies’ butts and got into a fight with Nureongi.

Woof!

Be quiet, you dogs!

Woof woof!

I’m already in a bad mood, so don’t act like dogs!

Jo Kkaeng-kkaeng’s house is a long way away, even if Janggun runs at full speed with his strong legs. Even though it’s so far away, it’s so loud that the sky is ringing, as if all the humans in the neighborhood have gathered.

Heheheh-.

A wonderful smell also wafted in with the wind.

From greasy and savory smells to pungent and fragrant smells.

It was a smell that no country dog could ever resist.

Heheheh-.

I could also smell makgeolli, which Janggun likes.

Saliva dripped from his lolling tongue.

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

I don’t actually mean to bite him.

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

It’s definitely not loyalty or absolute obedience.

Son Wang-wang, who hadn’t been seen for a few days, even bought delicious snacks for Janggun.

He’s a loyal human who ran like the wind and retrieved what Son Aeng-aeng’s human friend had taken.

If I bite such a human, I’m a truly ungrateful dog.

Woof-.

Nureongi, who was holding her puppies, was barking.

She said that her owner’s wife had made her delicious dog food, but she couldn’t eat it and was dragged here.

She said she didn’t like the kibble, which is why country bumpkins are no good.

Grrr-.

Tsk, the true dog’s attitude is to eat whatever is given.

How can a dog of high status be picky about what he eats?

Uwooul-.

Nureongi asked.

She said she didn’t know why she was dragged here.

That’s why those rootless mutts are no good.

It must have been when I went for a walk with Son Wang-wang. Janggun heard Son Wang-wang talking to Jjampeu’s Kim Meong-meong uncle. He said that humans in black clothes were stealing dogs indiscriminately.

That’s why Nureongi came to Janggun’s house.

Janggun is protecting her so she doesn’t get caught by the humans in black clothes. Ahem-.

According to what Merry from the inner village analyzed from the dog sounds she sent to the sky a while ago, there was an unseen human coming and going in the neighborhood, and it seems that it was that human. According to Merry, that human had a strong smell of all kinds of dogs.

Woof-.

Janggun also smelled that faint smell. It was a scary smell.

The smell of blood and fire, which humans can’t smell, was mixed with the smell of machines and carried by the wind.

Anyway, when will the party end?

I skipped my evening meal to eat greasy food for the first time in a while, but the noise from the party doesn’t seem to be dying down.

That’s when it happened.

Janggun’s folded ears perked up.

It was because the sound of insects had subsided, and a strangely irritating sound could be heard.

{Hee-, kkiiii-, kkeuee-.}

Hmmph.

Janggun, who had been lying down and sniffing, suddenly stood up.

Only Janggun can hear this sound.