The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 64

It had already been five years since Hong Gijun changed his vacation habits.

In the past, he used to spend his vacations at hotels in famous beach resorts or condos in the mountains. When his young daughter wanted to try camping, he bought a tent and went camping on weekends. However, after his daughter, who had terrible sleeping habits, rolled around and accidentally hit a tree root, getting a bump on the back of her head, they stopped doing even that.

Son Gwangyeon, scanning the mudflat with narrowed eyes, asked,

“Isn’t it hard for you to drive all the way here every time?”

“Don’t say that. I’m just driving. I don’t have to set up a tent, and it’s much better than a stuffy hotel with open spaces all around. And what about the food?”

He could eat as much as he wanted, food that was hard to find anywhere else, and drink comfortably with his friend. If he had gone on vacation somewhere unfamiliar, he would never have been able to dream of such a thing, as he would have been busy planning and taking care of his family.

But it’s not like they just play around and eat.

Huff, huff-. Hong Gijun, like a dog, stuck out his tongue and panted heavily.

Son Gwangyeon looked at his friend with pity.

“I told you to rest in the shade if you’re tired.”

“No, it’s good exercise at times like this. Huff, huff-”

It wasn’t easy to take each step on the mudflat wearing yellow water boots that came up to his thighs. The drained mudflat was hot with both the sun and the wind. The mudflat, full of moisture, reflected the sunlight, making his face burn even with a hat on, and the hot wind fueled the heat all over his body.

“It’s fun and good for me if we catch them together, but you’ll get sick if you keep this up.”

“I’ll just put on a patch. Eating webfoot octopus gives me strength.”

Son Gwangyeon nodded at his friend’s jest. He was still scanning the mudflat floor with sharp eyes.

Perhaps that’s why they say that giving live octopus to a weak cow gives it strength. Since he didn’t have any knowledge about nutrition, he just thought that was the case, but at first, he thought it was nonsense. However, after actually seeing a cow get up after eating an octopus, he changed his mind.

“I also feel energized when I eat a live octopus in the summer when I’m too tired.”

That was why Son Gwangyeon couldn’t give up catching octopus in the summer. He could give his friend, who was always tired from work, a boost, and the kids liked it too. Especially his young daughter, Son Yujin, would cheer when she saw an octopus.

Hong Gijun nodded in agreement, watching his friend, who was as strong as a cow. Maybe this friend was also like a cow, and that’s why he got stronger when he ate an octopus.

“Even if it’s folk medicine or whatever, it seems like it’s not entirely without basis. Ah, here it is.”

Son Gwangyeon pointed to a hole that was barely visible. He had learned from Choi Janghwan that it was a hole where an octopus that had hidden in the mudflat was breathing.

Son Gwangyeon began to dig with a shovel in a skillful manner.

If he dug too wide, the mud would quickly collapse or water would fill it, so the speed of digging was crucial. Rather than digging a hole, it was more like piercing the ground deeply. Unlike loaches in winter rice paddies, octopuses dig deep holes.

Hong Gijun clicked his tongue as he watched Son Gwangyeon dig.

“How exciting, how exciting.”

The movement, which seemed to be in rhythm without any effort, starting from his ankles, going through his waist and shoulders, and finally reaching his wrists, looked like a machine with a mechanism.

He didn’t just move quickly.

Whew, whew-. He also controlled his breathing like an athlete. Even so, the digging continued without a break. The mechanics that a novice could never follow were ingrained in the body of an octopus hunter.

Hong Gijun also took out a shovel, but after trying to follow his friend a few times, he soon gave up. His back felt like it was about to break, and he was gasping for breath. The blue sky quickly turned yellow, and the stream flowing like a river on the mudflat looked like the Sanzu River [the river that souls cross to reach the afterlife in Buddhist tradition]. Beyond that, his grandfather, who had passed away when Hong Gijun was in middle school, was also waving his hand.

Hong Gijun was so unsteady that he almost fell over in an unsightly manner if Son Gwangyeon hadn’t caught him. He only realized that digging in the military didn’t work on the mudflat.

“Got it!”

Son Gwangyeon, who had dug down to the depth of an adult’s knee, put his arm into the hole. Soon, his hand came out with the head of an octopus that was bigger than a child’s fist. The octopus legs, some dangling and some struggling to find a way to live, gave Hong Gijun a refreshing feeling in his head.

“I think we’ve caught enough?”

Son Gwangyeon smiled, revealing his neat teeth. He was looking at the icebox that Hong Gijun was carrying.

About thirty octopuses, quite thick ones, were confined in a white Styrofoam box. The icebox, filled with water-filled frozen plastic bottles, oak leaves, and octopuses, was a precious summer asset.

“Let’s go now.”

“Already? I’m fine.”

Unlike his words, Hong Gijun was sweating like rain, so Son Gwangyeon chuckled helplessly.

He was a scholar, but he was a friend who had always been known for his bluff since he was young. Even now, half of his face, which was red, was covered in mud as he was panting. He hadn’t even dug the mud with his face like a mudskipper, but he was the only one who looked so ridiculous.

“It’s not like we’re going to sell them, so we should go since we’ve caught enough to eat. If you collapse here, you won’t even be able to get an ambulance. The paramedics will probably collapse trying to get into the mudflat. The mudflat is only for people who know how to handle it.”

Son Gwangyeon, who had received tutoring on catching webfoot octopus from Jo Ilheon and Choi Janghwan after discovering the joy of visiting the sea for clamming and fishing with his son. With his innate strength and stamina, combined with the intelligence to support his learning ability, he became an excellent octopus hunter.

Hong Gijun obediently followed his friend.

He felt a sense of liberation at the thought of escaping this hellish summer mudflat.

“Do you usually go alone?”

“I don’t. If Yujin says she wants to eat octopus, I just buy it. Sometimes I catch about a dozen with Jinhyuk and then leave.”

Hong Gijun felt a surge of respect at Son Gwangyeon’s words.

He seemed to know why his friend was going through all this trouble.

He could also guess why he was catching just enough.

Even though the octopus population doesn’t dry up, he was leaving some for his neighbors to catch.

However, it wasn’t like Son Gwangyeon only thought about people.

“No one else will protect the mudflat for us. Protecting marine resources is also the responsibility of those who get something from the mudflat.”

Son Gwangyeon released small octopuses several times. Even after digging holes in the scorching sun. He knew how to enjoy things moderately and how to take care of things moderately.

‘If he had looked at octopuses like dirt, the octopus population would have dried up.’

Thinking that, Hong Gijun’s lips curled up even in the midst of his hardship.

From afar, young men from the village greeted Son Gwangyeon here and there on the mudflat.

It was a distance where their voices wouldn’t reach even if they called out on purpose. Yet, everyone, without exception, raised their shovels and shook them, and took off their hats and bowed.

Hong Gijun watched the scene with satisfaction.

‘I was worried that he might be lonely.’

Even though it’s called rural hospitality, there are people who are territorial everywhere. Yet, the way his friend lived was so friendly, as if territoriality was someone else’s problem.

As a farmer, he took responsibility for his wife and children, and as a member of the village, he was respected.

He didn’t act like a tyrant with his tenant farmers, and he had heard that he even waived their rent in years when the harvest was bad.

– “It’s a responsibility as a member. If I give up a little, they can get their fair share. What’s the fun in living well all by yourself?”

Hong Gijun wiped his face with the towel around his neck. It was because sweat was flowing like tears.

He took out the ice water from the icebox and drank it, and also poured it on his head.

“Phew- I feel alive.”

The scorching sun, which he was receiving directly on the mudflat without any shade, made him say, ‘I’m going to die.’ A cup of ice water poured on the top of his head was enough to pay for the trip from hell to heaven.

He urged his leg muscles and silently followed his friend. He looked around at the embankment that blocked the mudflat and the beach.

Then, he remembered something and looked at his friend.

He raised his voice as if shouting at Son Gwangyeon’s back, who was walking ahead.

“Do you want to take a plane during Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving]?”

***

Splash-!

Hong Sujeong splashed around excitedly and fell into the stream.

The one who was supposed to be herding the fish had chased them all away.

“Oppa-!”

Hong Sujeong’s floundering didn’t last long. She cried out with an anxious and desperate heart, but she was already safe.

Jinhyuk, who had strode over, picked up the little one in a flash. It happened even before she could call out for her brother. Even if the stream wasn’t deep, she could be in danger if she panicked and drank water. It was the right thing to do. Now, Hong Sujeong’s safety was Jinhyuk’s responsibility.

“Oh, you little rascal. You have to be careful.”

He couldn’t help but laugh at her cute appearance.

Jinhyuk moved Hong Sujeong to the stream bank and hurriedly rescued her floating boots.

The Seoul kid, completely soaked from head to toe, watched the scene with a pleased look. She thought he was reliable as always.

Feeling good, the Seoul kid sat by the stream and chattered.

“Oppa, you know about the promise, right?”

“I know……”

He couldn’t pretend not to know because she was a kid, so he answered honestly.

Was it because it had only been a year, or was it because she was young and had a good memory?

Anyway, she was a persistent one. He could see her overlapping with the image of her constantly asking to eat ramen.

‘I’ll do it even if she remembers it when she’s over twenty.’

Jinhyuk, who had taken off his straw hat, scratched his buzz cut.

It was a simple calculation that it would be better than living with a complete stranger.

Thinking that, he looked at Hong Sujeong.

‘Huh-. When is she going to grow up?’

If a stranger saw them, they would believe they were father and daughter because of the difference in their physiques. In fact, Jinhyuk was bigger than Hong Gijun, so if you covered their faces, you might really think they were father and daughter.

It wasn’t the Joseon era [historical Korean dynasty], and if they pretended to be a couple, it would be a perfect picture to get arrested.

Jinhyuk mustered up his courage.

“Sujeong, I like a tall and uh- a woman.”

“Uh, what?”

“Uh- I like someone who eats well, sleeps well, and exercises.”

He thought it would be okay to talk about his preferences.

Could this even be a crime? Jinhyuk looked around for no reason.

For some reason, there was no one except Janggun, who was sitting in the bushes as if hiding and looking this way.

‘Why is that guy hiding? Is he playing hide-and-seek by himself?’

Was it a delusion? It felt more like he was peeking than watching or guarding. It was unpleasant for a dog that looked like a bulldog to be staring at him. It was like a delinquent was picking a fight.

Hong Sujeong, who had been thinking about something, looked up at Jinhyuk.

“If I grow as big as Mommy, will it be okay?”

“Well, that’s about-.”

He meant not to be a picky eater like in his past life, not that he had any other intentions. He had only said to eat well and exercise. Jinhyuk felt strangely guilty, so he looked around again.

Still, he decided to make it clear since he had brought it up.

“And Sujeong, the hagfish tastes like dirt.”

“Dirt? That’s gonna taste weird.”

“Yeah. So, let’s not eat things like that.”

“Okay!”

The Seoul badger nodded vigorously.

Phew-, Jinhyuk sighed in relief.

He had successfully escaped from the hagfish.

‘This is what it feels like to proactively shape the future!’

Still, the thought that this little one would become that beauty made him think that it wasn’t a bad investment.

Hong Sujeong stared at Jinhyuk with her clear eyes like a good child. She seemed to want something more.

“Oppa, again, again?”

“Again?”

“Yeah.”

What else should he talk about……? Jinhyuk kept scratching his head today. He had even washed his hair. He was good at listening in private conversations, but he wasn’t good at speaking.

Let’s see-, it would be good if they both benefited. Jinhyuk, who had been pondering with his arms crossed for a while, finally opened his mouth.

“Before exercising, you have to do warm-up exercises, and after exercising, you have to do recovery training-.”

“Okay!”

“It’s good to massage your knees and legs before going to bed.”

“Okay!”

“Eat a lot of milk and anchovies, and you shouldn’t eat ramen often.”

“I like ramen though……”

After that, every time he said something, Jinhyuk looked around.

He wasn’t teaching her bad things, so why did he feel so strange? He was also bothered by Janggun’s gaze.

“Brush your teeth every morning and evening, and if your knees hurt too much, be sure to go to the hospital, and if you break a bone, you should never overdo it……”

It was clearly summer vacation, but Hong Sujeong’s eyelids became heavy as if she was sitting in a classroom. She thought it was good that this brother was talking more, but he was only saying things like a church priest.

Janggun, who had been peeking at the two humans with expectant eyes, also rested his chin on the grass.

Janggun closed his eyes slowly and thought.

‘Woof’

– It’s my fault.

When the shabby and weak males of the village tried to sniff their butts, Janggun would bark, bite, and growl, making a fuss.

It was a so-called dog tantrum.

It seemed like the child had only learned that.

That’s why they’re just growling at each other.

I should have shown them how to lick their mouths, but it’s my fault that I didn’t.

I taught the child wrong.

Maybe it’s because I was bitten by that long and slippery thing, but my eyes are closing.

Was it when Dokku from the next village got his nose bitten by a magpie-killing dog?

I heard that the owner, Mr. Lee Walwal, tied a string around his nose to prevent the poison from spreading, and he almost suffocated to death. Fortunately, Janggun was spared that fate.

It’s just stinging. It’s similar to when I was stung by a bee. To be exact, it’s twice as stinging. A bee has one stinger, but a snake has two. Janggun is a smart dog, so he knows this too.

But why is it getting darker and darker?

Am I dying?

‘Woof.’

– It was a happy life……

The emotional storm and the raging bravado were not exclusive to humans.

Grrr-.