The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 57

Jinhyuk-ah, ah, ah-. Seulchan-ah, ah, ah-. Janggun-ah, ah, ah-.

A voice calling from the yard of the house echoed in the distance.

Every time Jinhyuk heard that voice, it felt like a dream.

Each time his parents called his name, a similar warmth filled him. It was like looking at a pastoral scene, a landscape painting brushed with heavenly sounds, making his heart gently glow.

‘Let’s go.’

‘Yeah, okay. They must be waiting.’

The two friends, their skin dotted with red mosquito bites, headed home, carrying a catfish. Janggun, his short legs making his belly fur wet, followed behind, the red sunset painting his back.

‘Mom, what should we do with this?’

‘Give it here.’

Han Yu-young took the catfish and skillfully threaded a string through its gills and mouth. The bound catfish was destined to spend the night in the pond.

‘Mom will make a spicy fish stew with dumplings for you tomorrow morning.’

It was a death sentence for the catfish, but the three human males were already drooling.

‘It’s amazing.’

Jo Seulchan murmured.

The experience of catching something with his own hands and turning it into food was a novel one.

Jinhyuk felt a surge of pride at Jo Seulchan’s reaction. It was as if, ‘All roads lead to Rome,’ he had achieved a result that was roughly in line with his plan.

***

It wasn’t as if Son Jinhyuk was simply lazing around because it was vacation.

While Jo Seulchan was building blocks with Yujin, Jinhyuk was discussing alternative pesticide enzymes with his dad.

‘Did you check the manufacturing conditions of other places?’

‘I did. The ingredients are all the same.’

‘What about the fermentation conditions? Like the growth environment, shouldn’t the enzyme performance be similar if the environment is the same?’

Son Gwang-yeon subtly recoiled.

He felt like he was being scolded by his son for no reason.

‘No, I just…’

Umm, umm – Son Gwang-yeon’s voice, which had been gradually fading, eventually trailed off.

Jinhyuk started drawing a table on the back of the wall calendar with a marker and filling it in with a pen.

Son Gwang-yeon followed with his eyes, reading the words being added to the table.

‘Temperature, humidity, time, additives…?’

Jinhyuk wondered how his dad had developed the enzyme in the first place.

He had seen a movie called where a drunken man peed in a liquor jar and a fantastic Kaoliang liquor was born. He wondered if his dad had developed it by accident too.

‘Did he really pee in it?’

However, the enzyme his dad had been using for several years had a consistent effect, too consistent to be a coincidence. It not only prevented pests but also improved crop growth. The corn, for example, was much taller than in other fields, so much so that the uncles who raised cows would reserve the corn stalks for feed.

For Jinhyuk, there was a reason to unlock the secret that this genius dad couldn’t explain.

It was a kind of preparation for the future.

‘It would be good to organize the recipe clearly if we want to commercialize it.’

He was living comfortably as a landlord’s son, but he felt it was a waste to let his dad’s talent go unused. It was like he had found a valuable item at a time when he had resolved to do anything for happiness.

Everyone around him doing well and living happily. The success that Jinhyuk envisioned wasn’t a life where only he thrived.

‘If Dad makes money from the business, he won’t have to secretly dig for land.’

To do that, he had to first ensure the reliability of the alternative pesticide. That meant gaining the support of farmers for its manufacturing and effectiveness. So, he would share the technology with his neighbors and encourage them to test it directly. There would be no better promotion than proving its effect on a large-scale cultivation area.

Jinhyuk drew a long arrow at the top of the calendar, representing a timeline, and explained.

‘Like this. It’s a priority to match the manufacturing environment. First, you need to check what environment Dad is manufacturing in. You have to set a time every day and check it. I’ll help during the vacation.’

‘Uh-huh. Okay. But Jinhyuk.’

Son Gwang-yeon scratched his cheek and looked at his son.

‘Where did you learn this kind of thing?’

‘There are agriculture and technology subjects in middle school. And science too.’

‘These days, schools really teach practical studies.’ Son Gwang-yeon nodded. Indeed, Jinhyuk’s agriculture textbook had helped with the management of the fruit trees planted in the yard. That was why Jinhyuk’s lie sounded like the truth.

In fact, Son Gwang-yeon couldn’t be unaware of the problems of his neighbors.

He was just frustrated because he couldn’t understand why others couldn’t follow his methods.

In college, Hong Gi-jun often called Son Gwang-yeon a genius.

The cold and taciturn young man, Son Gwang-yeon, would snort at that every time.

– ‘I’m not a genius.’

It’s just that you guys are nothing special.

Thinking about the old days, Son Gwang-yeon’s neck shrank even more.

‘Ugh… I need a mouse hole [a place to hide].’

Now that he had realized the happiness of having a family and living a life of fussing, how worthless and obnoxious was Son Gwang-yeon back then? He was newly ashamed. Looking at his son, who was pulling ideas from his head and expressing them in a chart, he thought of the word ‘humility’.

He stared at his son’s face as he wrote something on the calendar and explained.

‘He looks just like his mom. To have given birth to such a child, isn’t my wife a genius?’

If so, then Yujin, who looks just like her, must be a genius too.

He wasn’t even tired these days, and he was having trouble sleeping at night. Should he have another one?

‘Did you understand?’

‘Huh?’

Oh, no, he was thinking too deeply and missed what his son was saying.

When he came to his senses, his son was looking at him with narrowed eyes. He was a son who hated explaining something twice. This son was his son, but there was something scary about him.

‘Dad, did you understand?’

‘Hahaha! Of course. Dad knows everything too.’

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like his son was angry, and he was imitating his younger sibling. It wasn’t very good aegyo [acting cute], but he had to smile generously, even if it was forced, because his bear-like son was showing off his talent.

In this way, Son Gwang-yeon established his authority as the head of the family today.

Well, wouldn’t it be okay if he just did it as usual?

If he got stuck, he would have to get some help from Ilheon hyung [older brother figure].

***

‘Hmm. I didn’t know, but I don’t like catfish.’

While eating breakfast, Jinhyuk confirmed his taste.

It was a fact he didn’t know because he hadn’t eaten it before.

He remembered when Hong Su-jeong was the planning team leader, and they had eaten eel together somewhere near Gwanghwamun [a major area in Seoul].

‘They’re clearly different substances, but why does it feel similar?’

It tasted like dirt.

Even then, after tasting it, Jinhyuk didn’t reach for the eel anymore. Everyone else was eating it well, and he wondered if there was something wrong with his head and his sense of taste was malfunctioning. Hong Su-jeong said that Jinhyuk was the kind of man that women would like. He was a good person who gave away the precious eel?

‘Eating dirt, you witch!’

Was it really just Jinhyuk’s taste that was weird?

His dad and Jo Seulchan were putting rice and spicy fish stew into their mouths without even breathing. His mom, who was watching them with a pleased look, looked at Jinhyuk with a worried face.

‘Why? Is it not tasty?’

‘No. It’s really delicious.’

The soup was edible.

Still, he didn’t feel like it, so he decided to eat only one bowl of rice.

‘Dirt, dirt. It tastes completely like dirt.’

Maybe it was because she ate dirt every day, but Yujin was mixing rice with catfish meat and soup and eating it so prettily, even though it must have been spicy.

Han Yu-young put some washed kimchi on Yujin’s spoon.

‘Our Yujin, is it delicious?’

‘Yes, ehehe. It’s yummy?’

Looking at that, Jinhyuk thought that he should catch catfish often for his younger sister.

*

The loaches collected from the fish trap the day before weighed about 10kg.

Now it was time to start selling them as an economic activity.

‘Seulchan-ah, let’s go sell loaches.’

‘Where to?’

‘We have to go to the market.’

They could sell them to health food stores or loach stew restaurants, but those businesses already had a main supplier, so they wouldn’t pay a good price because they didn’t need the supply.

The two friends headed to the town on their bicycles.

They had come all the way to play, but they couldn’t be happy to go out again, sweating profusely. However, Jo Seulchan was happy to ride his bike with his friend because it was vacation.

‘Hehe-heck, go a little slower-.’

It was a daily commute for Jinhyuk, but the 10km ride seemed to be too much for Jo Seulchan. The two friends stopped by a corner store and each emptied a bottle of cold cola. As expected, bottled cola was the best.

After a short break, they each sucked on a popsicle and got back on their bikes.

‘Gzz-.’

‘Grr-.’

When they arrived at the market and handed over the loaches, they were paid 3,000 won per kg.

Summer loaches were only 1/3 the price compared to winter loaches.

‘This is for you, Seulchan.’

‘Why, why, why are you giving me all of this?’

‘A consolation prize.’

You peed, didn’t you? Jinhyuk muttered to himself.

Jo Seulchan, who realized what the consolation prize meant, blushed and giggled, then carefully put away the three 10,000 won bills.

‘Seulchan-ah, let’s get a roll of kimbap [seaweed rice roll] and go.’

Jinhyuk, who had only eaten one bowl of breakfast, felt hungry.

‘Okay, I’ll buy it. If we go to the bus stop, there’s a place that has delicious pork cutlet-.’

‘No!’

Jinhyuk cut him off firmly, unlike his usual self.

Jinhyuk had decided to only eat pork cutlet at home for the time being.

‘Okay…’

In Jo Seulchan’s eyes, it looked like friendship, wanting to save his friend’s money.

They had a quick meal with two rolls of kimbap, which cost 1,000 won each, and a bowl of cold bean sprout soup.

Why was it so delicious, just putting ingredients on rice, rolling it in seaweed, applying sesame oil, and sprinkling sesame seeds?

Jinhyuk, who was staring at Jo Seulchan, who was chewing vigorously, carefully opened his mouth.

‘Seulchan-ah.’

‘Huh?’

‘If you have any difficult or hard things, tell me anytime. Don’t think about pride between friends. I’m not saying this to burden you, it’s just that I think I’d be grateful if you did.’

He was worried that Jo Seulchan’s feelings would be hurt. It was a carefully spoken word, the best he could do as a straightforward Jinhyuk.

After thinking about what it meant for a moment, the talkative Jo Seulchan smiled silently.

He was glad that he wasn’t upset.

‘You must want to do and have a lot of things too.’

It wasn’t cheap pity. It wasn’t an empty word either. Even though Jinhyuk was still young, he had enough ability to help. It was a sign of gratitude to Jo Seulchan, who treated him as a friend and recognized him as the Joker Leader.

‘When I see you, you’re much more admirable than I was in the past.’

But what does Joker Leader mean?

Was it a nickname given to him ironically because he had no sense of humor?

Jinhyuk tilted his head, chewing on a pickled radish.

***

Jo Seulchan adored Yujin.

Jinhyuk thought it was because Jo Seulchan didn’t have any siblings, but Jo Seulchan said that other friends’ siblings weren’t that pretty.

‘Wow, how can a child be so doll-like? She’s Miss Korea material-.’

Jo Seulchan’s affection for Yujin was still the same, but he showed strange behavior after seeing Choi Mi-kyung, a teenager. When Choi Mi-kyung came to deliver kimchi, saying she had made young radish kimchi, Jo Seulchan suddenly spoke in a Seoul accent.

‘Jinhyuk-ah, Mom said to give this to the auntie.’

‘Hellooo-. I’m Jo Seulchan, Jinhyuk’s best friend-.’

‘Yes, hello.’

Choi Mi-kyung smiled, her eyes curving like a crescent moon.

Jo Seulchan was stuttering like a Mongolian cavalryman who had been cut in the chest by a glaive [a pole weapon].

He couldn’t sleep, looking at the bright moon.

Perhaps because he was tossing and turning too much, Jinhyuk, who was lying straight with his eyes closed, advised quietly.

‘If you can’t sleep, Seulchan, go sleep at Janggun’s place.’

‘Kkkkk-.’

Even after Jinhyuk had gone to the top of Gubong Mountain in the morning, Jo Seulchan was still fast asleep. It was because he had been up until dawn. Then, Jo Seulchan’s passion met another target.

He went to Lee Hae-won’s store to buy ice cream with Yujin, and Jo Seulchan showed strange behavior again when he saw Lee Hae-won.

‘Buy everything you want, Yujin! This Seulchan oppa [older brother] will buy it all for you.’

‘Yes-.’

Jinhyuk couldn’t understand why he was shouting so loudly when no one was listening. It wasn’t like Jo Seulchan was doing this for the first time, so he didn’t bother to pay attention.

‘No, why are all the girls in this neighborhood so pretty?’

On the way back home, Jo Seulchan clicked his tongue, holding Yujin’s hand.

Jinhyuk couldn’t find anything to say.

Because they were just kids in Jinhyuk’s eyes.

*

The day came when Jo Seulchan, who had stayed for two nights and three days, was leaving.

‘My grandma is alone…’

Jo Seulchan swallowed his disappointment and left the house.

Han Yu-young gave Jo Seulchan some pocket money, telling him to come and play often.

Jo Seulchan looked at Han Yu-young and mumbled something hesitantly.

Only then did his mom smile brightly and hug him tightly, and Jo Seulchan finally shed tears.

‘Oh my, our Seulchan, come and play often if you miss your mom. Okay?’

‘Stay healthy-.’

Even though he was refusing, saying it was okay, his dad started the car.

Jinhyuk loaded a bicycle into the trunk. It was the bicycle that Jo Seulchan had ridden on the day they went to sell loaches.

‘This is for people with short legs. It’s too low, and my knees hurt when I ride it. Ride it when you go to school.’

‘Okay. I’ll ride it then.’

When Jinhyuk became unusually talkative, it was when he was being careful not to offend the other person. Jo Seulchan, who had come to realize this while living together, pretended not to care and moved on.

Looking out the window of the moving car, Jo Seulchan kept muttering.

‘I was the happiest I’ve ever been in my life…’

It wasn’t something he was saying for anyone to hear.

How could he express that long lingering feeling in words?

Even though it was a happiness that he could never have forever, the smile on Jo Seulchan’s face was a clearer emotion than a faint one.

‘It’s all thanks to the Joker Leader-.’

On the way back home, Jinhyuk felt an unknown sense of satisfaction.

It was like the love that his parents had given to his friend had returned to him.

‘If I had had people like this in my previous life.’

If there had been someone who treated him like that in his previous life.

Would he have been able to say that he was happy like Jo Seulchan?

Even for a very short time.

‘I’m happy.’

He put comfort into each new day.

Praying that it would reach himself living in the past today.

‘Dad, how many kilometers are we going now?’

‘Huh? 70 kilometers.’

‘Can you go 10 kilometers faster?’

Booooooom-.

‘If that’s what my son wants, why not?’ Son Gwang-yeon increased the speed. He thought that his son, who was reaching his arm out the window and holding the air, was doing some kind of experiment. But why was he touching his chest with his left hand? Looking at his serious expression, it didn’t seem like he was joking.

‘That kid, what is he thinking?’

He was a strange son sometimes.