The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 213

***

It was June, a month after the rice planting had finished. The rice plants, now firmly rooted, were growing rapidly, nourished by the compost and fertilizer.

Cheon Gillyong and Yoo Myungseon, wearing matching bamboo hats, enjoyed their leisurely pace, admiring the neatly growing rice paddies.

Seeing a crucian carp flapping in the paddy, Yoo Myungseon remarked knowingly,

‘It seems this is also Jinhyuk’s paddy?’

‘In this neighborhood, it’d be harder to find something that isn’t owned by President Son, wouldn’t it?’

A warm breeze swept across the paddies, creating a vast green wave.

‘Haa-. This hat is truly remarkable. It feels so cool in this scorching sun just by wearing it.’

‘That’s because it’s not just a simple bamboo hat.’

It was a bamboo hat that Cheon Gillyong had made himself, using bamboo imbued with cool spiritual energy. In a way, it was an object imbued with the yin energy of a ghost, but it wasn’t actually haunted.

Since no one would believe such a thing, it had long been a secret known only to Cheon Gillyong.

‘The air is good, and it’s even better because it’s so green-. Hehe-.’

Since moving to the countryside, Yoo Myungseon’s face had never been without a smile.

He had thought he would spend his days confined within the high walls of his mansion, whiling away the time tending to the garden before finally passing away. Leaning on his gold-plated cane, limping, staring blankly at an unmatched Go board with listless eyes, and getting needlessly excited by the distant sound of car engines.

He had undergone surgery five times at the general hospital under the Sehin Medical Foundation, and they had given up on treatment, saying that his old age would prevent him from regaining full function.

But after coming to the countryside, the knee arthritis and shin pain that had plagued him his entire life had miraculously disappeared.

‘I never thought the day would come when I could walk without a cane.’

‘That young man, Yujin, has been visiting the chairman’s residence every day. Isn’t it thanks to him?’

Cheon Gillyong hesitated, his lips twitching as if he had more to say.

‘Hehehe-. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but it did feel refreshing every time he massaged me.’

After school, Son Yujin would walk that long distance to visit the training center.

With dogs trailing behind him like tails. Sometimes one dog, sometimes two, and sometimes five.

Whenever he came, he would always look into Yoo Myungseon’s eyes with a sparkling gaze, staring intently at his forehead and chest. It was a sharp gaze, like a doctor examining an X-ray.

Not only his legs but also his eyes had become clearer.

Yoo Myungseon no longer needed to use reading glasses when reading books.

‘Maybe it’s because the air is so good here, but my eyes can see so clearly-.’

‘That’s a good thing.’

Again, Cheon Gillyong kept his words to a minimum.

As people get older, their thoughts and mouths tend to become lighter, but a Taoist like Cheon Gillyong has clearer thoughts and knows what to say and what not to say.

Truth is beneficial to the world the more it is spread, but it is best to keep extremely personal secrets unrelated to worldly affairs to oneself.

Flap-.

At the sudden sound of water, Yoo Myungseon, who had been walking slowly, widened his eyes.

He scanned the area where the sound came from and saw a blackish-gray bird stirring the paddy with its beak.

‘Is that a moorhen?’

‘It seems they also call the watercock that.’

‘Ah-, so that’s a watercock.’

‘Haven’t you seen them in your younger days?’

‘Hehe-, this is my first time.’

Although he had worked hard in business since his youth, Yoo Myungseon, who had grown up comfortably in the city, was seeing a watercock for the first time.

‘Around this time, they come to build nests and find mates. That black one is a male, and he’s catching fish in the paddy to impress his mate. A courtship gift, you might say.’

Oh my-. Like a kindergartener touring an ecological park with a guide, Yoo Myungseon’s eyes sparkled as he perked up his ears.

Smack-. Cheon Gillyong smacked his lips.

‘They taste very good.’

‘Oh-, have you tried them?’

‘Not just eaten them, I’ve even stolen their eggs, hatched them, and raised them.’

‘Hoo-, can they be raised as livestock?’

At Yoo Myungseon’s question, Cheon Gillyong, using his cane to lift the brim of his bamboo hat, looked towards the distant sea. His gaze was somewhat wistful.

‘Livestock, you say? After raising them all, they flew away. Turns out they were migratory birds-. No wonder they only appeared during the warm and hot seasons. I shouldn’t have given them my heart; back then, I was around my prime, young and naive…’

‘Hahahahaha!’

Yoo Myungseon clutched his stomach.

Seeing Cheon Gillyong scratching his cheek with an uncharacteristic awkward expression, he unexpectedly burst into laughter.

Every scene Yoo Myungseon encountered in the countryside was new, welcome, and yet also a little sad.

Even at the age of seventy, there was so much to see, hear, and learn, and it was so enjoyable.

Compared to that, how short life was.

He cautiously opened his mouth.

‘Um-, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you. If it’s not too rude-.’

‘It is rude.’

‘Ah-.’

Ah, I see. Yoo Myungseon quickly closed his mouth.

He hadn’t even stated his business, and yet he was cut off so abruptly.

But he didn’t feel resentful.

‘It’s better not to know.’

What good would it do to know the day you’ll die?

He had only felt a small hope as he realized his body had become healthier.

Cheon Gillyong walked ahead, leaning on his cane. As if he knew what Yoo Myungseon was curious about, he spoke.

‘You’ll live a long life. You did well to come down here-. Didn’t I tell you before? It’s all thanks to that young man, Yujin.’

That’s right. Yoo Myungseon followed behind, his lips moving slightly.

Coming to a place with good water and air had cleared up the inflammation in his joints and respiratory system. The excuse about Yujin was probably just a way of showing affection for the child who visited to keep an old man from being lonely. After all, there’s a saying that you can regain your youth by spending time with young children.

Secretly realizing he had jumped to the wrong conclusion, Yoo Myungseon felt the strength rising in his legs and followed in the footsteps of his senior.

‘If you don’t have any special plans for the summer, would you like to visit Seoul?’

‘Seoul… I haven’t been there since the Japanese colonial era [1910-1945]. Thanks to the chairman, should I take this opportunity to go?’

‘I’ll escort you. Let’s go together.’

‘You’re just saying that to get me out for some fresh air, but why Seoul all of a sudden?’

‘My son-in-law is urgently requesting it. He’s a capable fellow, but he sometimes asks for my advice. I suppose it’s just an excuse to get this old body moving…’

‘Hmm-. I see. Something’s blocking him.’

Yoo Myungseon could only make a round shape with his mouth, unable to make a sound.

Cheon Gillyong never seemed like just an old man from the countryside.

It was as if he could grasp the principles of the world with just the smallest clue.

‘As Gwangyeon said, he really is a Taoist immortal.’

If so, could he perhaps seek advice from Cheon Gillyong?

Even about the ups and downs of business.

‘These days, in Southeast Asia-.’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Yes…’

Squeak-.

Yoo Myungseon quietly lowered his head.

‘Look at that green scum on the surface of the reservoir. The waterway in front of Jinaek’s house always has flowing water and is clear, but the reservoir is not. When it stagnates, it’s bound to rot. Fish may think they’re swimming in a flowing pond, but it’s still a pond. Size isn’t the issue; even the sea would have rotted over tens of thousands of years if there were no tides. If that’s the case with living things that have minds, how much more so with money that has neither eyes nor a mind?’

Ah-.

Yoo Myungseon could only express his admiration with his mouth wide open, asking no further questions.

‘If there were no moon, the sea would rot, and we would have all died from the rotten water long ago.’

It was an exaggeration.

Yoo Myungseon knew that it was Cheon Gillyong’s unique way of expressing his thoughts indirectly.

‘I’m just saying, and you have so many great advisors, so there must be another reason why they’re calling for their father-in-law, right?’

‘Yes, it seems so. Hehe-.’

Listening to him, there was nothing wrong with what Cheon Gillyong said.

But he was an interesting senior.

When he said it was rude and that he didn’t know, he made you shut your mouth, but then he would tell you everything.

In all his life, he had never met someone so easy to understand. Yet, he wasn’t shallow.

Tap-tap-.

A brisk yet light footstep was heard.

Cheon Gillyong, already knowing who was coming, didn’t turn his head, and Yoo Myungseon, who realized it belatedly, slowly turned around.

‘Hey, old-timers! They said there’s bibim guksu [spicy mixed noodles] for you. Mom’s calling you.’

It was Son Yujin, the errand boy sent by Han Yooyoung, who had found the two old men strolling.

Behind him were three dogs. Janggun, Hongsi, and the other one was called Geomma, or something like that.

Yoo Myungseon, who had been nodding with a pleased expression, widened his eyes and furrowed his brow.

‘Yujin, what’s that on your shoulder?’

‘Luck.’

At first, he thought it was a doll, but it was so small that its movements weren’t noticeable. It was a bird smaller than a child’s palm, shaped like a ball. A light brown bird with tail feathers longer than its body was sitting on Son Yujin’s shoulder, preening its feathers with its beak.

‘It doesn’t fly away?’

‘It flies away and then comes back.’

Haengun, the baby bird that had grown so much, would hang out with its flock, but when Son Yujin came home, it would somehow find him. Just like the chicks that had followed Son Yujin like their mother.

At night, it would peck at the window with its beak, burrow into Son Yujin’s armpit to make a nest, and then fly away again in the morning to find food. At first, Son Yujin had been sad, thinking it had left, but he quickly adapted to Haengun’s habits. He didn’t force it to stay, nor did he force its actions. He had learned that nature should be left to its own devices.

‘Can I touch it once-.’

Yoo Myungseon cautiously reached out his arm towards Haengun.

Tweet-!

At Haengun’s insignificant warning, Yoo Myungseon recoiled.

‘Aigoo-, that startled me-.’

***

The solo training program had reached a plateau.

It was ambiguous to call it a slump. Jinhyuk still enjoyed running.

It just felt like he was stagnating because there was no progress.

‘One, two, three, four- two, two, three, four-.’

He finished twenty-five laps around the track with the big guys and even completed stretches to soothe his muscles and joints.

‘You’ve all worked hard today.’

‘Thank you for your hard work, Vice Manager!’

When the ssireum [Korean wrestling] team members raised their voices towards the vice manager, Jinhyuk’s shoulders rose about 1mm.

This must be what it feels like to be treated well.

More than setting a new record and being surrounded by reporters answering formal questions, a single greeting from the people he ran and sweated with felt much more rewarding.

Now it was time for his personal training……

‘Those guys are spacing out again today?’

Middle schoolers were now wearing their uniforms.

But three middle schoolers in shorts and athletic wear were sitting on a bench, watching Jinhyuk as if they were spying on him. It had been like that since the beginning of June, so it had already been over two weeks.

There was something that teacher Lee Byungse had asked of him before he left for his leadership training.

He said that once the school adjustment period was over, he would have to start training the middle school track team in June, but since he would be away, he asked Jinhyuk to take care of the kids if they wanted guidance.

But these guys weren’t exercising; they were just sitting around and goofing off every day.

The supervising teacher was always a non-entity, and even Yeom Byeongtaek and Jo Seulchan had trained on their own.

‘Shouldn’t they do something so I can at least check their form?’

That’s why Jinhyuk was frustrated.

If they didn’t have the will to do something themselves, no amount of nagging from the side would be effective.

Running around the track alone, faster and more lightly than when he ran with the ssireum team members, Jinhyuk stopped on purpose far away from the guys, glancing at them.

‘Should I test them?’

He put one hand on his hip and raised the other hand high, wiggling it.

And then he shouted.

‘Run!’

Oh, they have some sense.

Like puppies stung by bees, the guys started sprinting.

Faster than a newly transferred private, different from the ssireum players, and unique from the female students.

‘Hoo-, they’re not bad?’

Jinhyuk’s eyes widened slightly as he watched his juniors running, kicking up dust.

Even though he hadn’t measured their times separately, they were fast enough to be called sprinters.

They were also tall, with physiques that could be successful in other sports besides track.

Thud-thud-thud-!

The middle schoolers, having sprinted about 150m, stood stiffly at attention in front of Jinhyuk.

The person in front of them was the most famous and scariest senior in the school.

Even while their chests were heaving, the middle schoolers tried their best not to make a sound.

Hmm-. Jinhyuk, unable to know what they were thinking, held his chin.

‘These guys are too frozen?’

What should he say in this situation?

Do you have anything in your pocket? 10 won for a hit?

Ah, that’s not it.

He had recently received the results of his intelligence test.

It was a test administered to all first-year high school students.

Jinhyuk’s IQ was 149.

Jinhyuk didn’t know how happy he was inside.

– ‘I’ve become normal!’

His IQ in his past life was 158. He hadn’t paid any attention to it, but his homeroom teacher had revealed it, and his classmates had started looking at Jinhyuk in a strange way. They had whispered about him being a genius or a psychopath, so it was a number that Jinhyuk didn’t welcome.

Anyway, even though he hadn’t deliberately taken the test carelessly, it had dropped by a whopping 9 points this time.

Maybe it was because of the influence of that number, but lately, he had been saying the wrong things quite often. He had even cursed in front of the ssireum team seniors not too long ago.

Jinhyuk was thinking that this was also part of the process of adapting to his new life.

He finally gathered his question and opened his eyes.

‘Why aren’t you exercising?’

The shortest of the three quietly raised his right hand.

‘Teacher Lee Byungse said that we should do whatever you tell us to do…’

Haa-.

Jinhyuk’s brow twitched as he closed his eyes.

This guy and that guy, they’re all passing the buck in a comprehensive way.

‘Then why didn’t you say anything?’

‘We were too intimidated because you kept doing something.’

‘Why are you intimidated? There’s no one here giving you the stink eye.’

As if he was dumbfounded, Jinhyuk put his hands on his hips.

The middle schoolers lowered their heads like they had committed a crime and couldn’t continue speaking.

They had clearly witnessed the ssireum team’s big guys standing at attention like soldiers in front of Jinhyuk. The fear that they might get their jaws broken if they said the wrong thing here dominated their minds.

Rumors obscured the truth, and rumors, dressed in human imagination, were bound to become fear.

Jinhyuk, unaware of what the kids were thinking, asked casually.

‘Did you warm up?’

‘Yes!’

‘Relax a little. You’re not soldiers, why are you so frozen?’

‘Yes!’

He shouldn’t have said anything.

‘They say they’ve warmed up, so what should I start with…’

After a moment of thought, Jinhyuk opened his mouth.

‘Let’s start with first aid training.’

The hot summer was approaching.

Even the healthiest athletes could collapse in an instant, and life could be extinguished in a flash.