The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 8

Mom wasn’t one to toil in the fields, thanks to Dad, who always shooed her away whenever she tried to help with farm work. But that didn’t mean she idled at home. She was constantly wiping down the rooms and porch, cleaning the kitchen, and scrubbing the sink area with water.

Jinhyuk, who had just finished sweeping the outer yard, saw Mom preparing a large amount of glutinous rice paste and red pepper powder.

“Mom, are you making gochujang [Korean chili paste]?”

“Yes. I need to make some. So I can make stir-fried meat for our Jinhyuk, and tteokbokki [spicy rice cakes] too.”

Jinhyuk nodded and looked at the sink area.

He saw the earthenware pots that hadn’t been washed yet.

‘I should help Mom.’

Jinhyuk immediately went to the former cowshed. He took a few strands of straw from the neatly stacked bundles, shook off the dust, blew on them, and washed them with water. Then, he rolled them into a ball, and a traditional scrub was quickly made.

He scrubbed the outside of the pot, and then made a new straw scrub to clean the inside.

‘Ugh, my arms can’t reach.’

It was the curse of having limbs a little longer than a dog’s.

The earthenware pot used for gochujang was too big, and even on tiptoes, his hands couldn’t reach the bottom. As he struggled, the straw ball fell into the pot, adding insult to injury.

‘Ah, crap…’

He swallowed a curse word that didn’t fit his age or the times, feeling frustrated.

Even though he had been eating well lately, his growth was still slow. He felt like he was growing every day, with his knees itching and his waist feeling a bit sore from running every day. But he was still just a nine-year-old kid.

“Hup!”

It was just within reach if he stretched his hand a little more.

So, he put strength into his toes.

At that moment, *thud*—he fell headfirst.

Into the pot.

In his panic, the all-purpose cry came out.

“Mooooom!”

“Oh my!”

Han Yu-young, startled by the pitiful echo from inside the pot, rushed over. Her face was pale with shock. She couldn’t see her son’s face, only his short legs flailing about.

They say women are weak, but mothers are strong. She was momentarily taken aback by the shock, but quickly grabbed her son’s ankle and pulled him out without hesitation. At that moment, Han Yu-young was like the goddess Thetis.

As Jinhyuk was pulled out of the pot by his ankle, he thought seriously.

‘Is that why I’m so strong like Achilles?’

Getting grabbed by the ankle by Mom makes you strong…

The cause and effect seemed reversed, but it was true that he was strong.

In fact, Mom wasn’t particularly strong. Nine-year-old Jinhyuk weighed only 22kg, and the picky eater and short rascal was light even for his slender mother.

‘I need to eat well and grow well.’

It was a humiliating day when he fell into the pot because his limbs were too short.

He would never forget this day.

Jinhyuk looked at the pot, burning with determination.

***

Jinhyuk went fishing with his dad whenever he had the chance, and strolled around the neighborhood holding his mom’s hand. He also never skipped his morning and evening exercises.

There were no exceptions, even during vacation. The neighbors looked at him like he was strange, but his parents actually cheered him on.

“Huff, huff, huff…”

How hard had he run in his previous life?

He first felt the thrill of running on the day he escaped the attic and went to the terminal after the university acceptance announcement. He had run through the fierce wind and rain, his heart pounding. And he ran whenever he had the chance. Even when he was briefly in college, and after he joined the Special Forces.

‘When I was in the military, I was flying.’

Mountain runs were the most enjoyable.

Even after being discharged and starting his social life, he never stopped exercising. If he exercised until he was exhausted, he could fall asleep more easily and calm his empty heart.

He ran until his heart felt like it would burst, then did pull-ups, push-ups, and sit-ups. It was similar to the Special Forces circuit. He endured loneliness and pain by sweating and running until his breath tasted sweet.

‘Now, I’m just running because it’s fun.’

His limbs were still too short to run fast, but it didn’t matter since he wasn’t competing with anyone. Janggun was by his side, encouraging his competitive spirit.

Hehe-heck.

Sometimes growling, but now quite friendly, the mixed-breed dog, Janggun, made a tired sound. He was signaling his owner because he was falling behind while following Jinhyuk. Even though they couldn’t speak, they could communicate. Janggun was indeed a smart dog.

‘Is the dog going to give out first?’

Janggun, known as a fast runner in the neighborhood, was now struggling with the long-distance race against nine-year-old Son Jinhyuk. Jinhyuk’s endurance was superior to Janggun’s.

Jinhyuk paused to catch his breath and rotated his shoulders. He also massaged his knees, thighs, hips, and ankles to stimulate his growth plates and prevent ligament injuries.

Jinhyuk smiled at Janggun.

“Hey, Janggun. Let’s race home. If you get there first, I’ll give you a mudskipper.”

Hehe-heck.

Janggun, who had been resting, perked up at the mention of a mudskipper and drooled, then jumped up.

“Go!”

*Thud-thud-thud!* Jinhyuk’s feet powerfully kicked off the unpaved road.

Hehe-eek.

That’s strange. Janggun was faster in short distances, but the dog’s barking was getting farther away.

‘Am I finally faster!’

No.

Jinhyuk turned around and cursed inwardly.

‘That little bastard!’

Janggun was running straight home, cutting across an empty field.

It was a clear foul.

He ran every morning and evening, and with his parents around, he ate plenty without worrying about going hungry. He also washed and brushed his teeth whenever he had the chance, not wanting to catch a cold.

‘In the past, I often went hungry and fell asleep without washing.’

And then winter came.

Children grow in the winter.

***

In December, homes with children were in an uproar decorating Christmas trees. Even homes that went to temples did, so children were the true champions of religious integration.

Jinhyuk’s house was no exception. Or rather, it seemed like Dad was more excited.

“Jinhyuk, should we go cut down a tree with Dad?”

“A tree?”

“Let’s make a Christmas tree.”

What’s with a tree when he doesn’t even go to church…

He probably just wanted to get into the mood. For his young son and wife.

It was a time when most homes cut down trees for a one-time use to make Christmas trees. Jinhyuk thought it wasn’t a good idea to cut down trees for a moment’s pleasure.

“Dad, can’t we just dig one up and plant it? If we cut it, the tree will die.”

Dad looked blank for a moment.

‘As expected of my son, his mindset is extraordinary.’

“But can we dig up a tree?”

The ground was frozen, and it would be heavy. More than anything, Son Gwang-yeon had no experience digging up trees. He now hired people for the farming he had done himself for ten years. The only time he used a shovel was when he caught earthworms or mudskippers with his son, or when he caught octopus with the men in the village. He also did it when digging up kudzu roots in the mountains.

Jinhyuk spoke to his dad, who was frowning and covering his philtrum with his upper lip.

“Dad, can’t we just buy a fir tree from Mikyung’s yard?”

“That could be a good idea. I’ll go ask them.”

“Let’s go together.”

Jinhyuk took a bunch of dried mudskippers he had stored in the shed.

Dad patted his head, as if he was proud. He could see his son’s good intentions.

‘We owe Mikyung’s family a lot.’

Until the end of the summer vacation when he was ten, Choi Mikyung’s parents took care of Jinhyuk. He had lived with them for almost nine months with Janggun until his legal guardians, who claimed to be his adoptive parents, showed up.

Even after becoming an adult and living in Seoul, Jinhyuk often visited Choi Mikyung’s family to say hello. He often met up with Choi Mikyung for meals even after she got married to a banker while working in Seoul.

Choi Mikyung’s family were people Jinhyuk considered family.

*

The Son family father and son headed to Choi Mikyung’s house along the field path.

Choi Mikyung’s family was the second richest after Jinhyuk’s, and they had already built a two-story Western-style house.

It was the only two-story house in the neighborhood.

“Oh my, I’ve never dug up a tree either. If Jinhyuk’s family wants one, we should give it to them.”

Choi Jang-hwan, Mikyung’s father, was that kind of person.

Nine years ago, he was the first to reach out and help Son Gwang-yeon, a stranger who had drifted into the village, settle down, and he took the lead in helping build his house.

He even said something while looking at the mudskippers Jinhyuk had given him.

“Why do you bring these things between us? We have plenty at our house too.”

“Haha, Jinhyuk insisted on bringing them. Please accept them since we’re not asking for the tree for free. Please have them as a snack, hyung-nim [term of respect for an older male].”

“What do you mean money for a mere tree! Don’t say such things, man!”

Choi Jang-hwan feigned anger, but smiled contentedly.

He had been worried at first when he saw the pale Son Gwang-yeon and the pregnant Han Yu-young. He wondered if they could live well, looking poor, and if they could farm, having never worked hard before.

He was pleased to see them farming well, as if scolding his worries, and even having a handsome son. His personality was so good that the villagers were the first to help Son Gwang-yeon with his farming. And now, he had become the richest farmer in the neighborhood.

“Seeing you live like this makes me very happy, like it’s my own doing. Hup!”

“It’s all thanks to you, hyung-nim, haha. Hup!”

They exchanged warm words and then fiercely plunged their pickaxes into the frozen ground.

The hard-frozen ground was easily broken by the two farmers’ skillful pickaxing. Choi Jang-hwan straightened his back after digging quite deep and wiped his forehead.

“That Mikyung girl only talks about Jinhyuk all the time. It’s like we have another son in our house, you know? Whew, I’m out of breath. Let’s take a break.”

“Yes, shall we? It’s hot. Haha.”

Just then, young Choi Mikyung brought out some savory nurungji [scorched rice] soup. Her pigtails, which swayed like car wipers as she walked, were adorable.

Choi Mikyung handed the nurungji soup to the fathers and then approached Jinhyuk.

She seemed to have something important to say. She shuffled her feet on the ground with her purple grandma shoes and twisted her body.

“Jinhyuk, what are you going to do during vacation?”

What is there to do?

What else do kids in the countryside do during winter vacation besides making snowmen and sledding? Even though he was older, Jinhyuk’s heart was already pounding at the thought of sledding on the rice paddies. He had heard that the winter had to be cold for the farming to be good. He hoped it would be very cold this winter so the ice would freeze thick. Then Jinhyuk could have fun, and Dad would make a lot of money from next year’s farming.

Choi Mikyung continued to chatter, as if Jinhyuk’s interests or plans didn’t matter.

“I’m going to Jeju Island with Mom and Dad? Isn’t that great?”

That’s great.

Jeju Island was a place where young people in the city would go on their honeymoons.

Jinhyuk had traveled overseas a lot, but he had no connection to Jeju Island.

‘I think I went there twice for work.’

I want to go to Jeju Island with Mom and Dad too.

It was a rather childish envy, but he didn’t say it out loud. As he tried to swallow it, young Choi Mikyung got to the point.

“You’re going to help me with my vacation homework again this time, right?”

Did he help her before?

Why can’t I remember?

“You speak so clearly when you read books, but you’re so quiet.”

Come to think of it, he barely talked to the kids because their levels didn’t match. He had just watched them play. That must be why the teacher said he was mature.

“Ah, sorry. What homework?”

“A diary.”

This kid?

It was involuntary. Yang energy gathered at the Laogong point on Jinhyuk’s palm. He quickly pressed the Chek-taek point on the inside of his right arm with his left thumb. That was why his arm had trembled uncontrollably.

‘I almost used my power…’

This kid is like family! He suppressed his surging emotions with extreme patience. If he hadn’t, Choi Mikyung would have burst into tears, and the peace between neighbors would have been broken.

*Whew*, he closed his eyes and took a long breath.

Choi Mikyung’s family were benefactors and good neighbors. Choi Jang-hwan helped his clumsy dad in many ways, and Choi Mikyung’s mother treated Han Yu-young, who had no one to talk to in the village, like a kind older sister.

It was the same for Janggun. When Janggun went missing and he went to look for him, nine times out of ten, he would find him curled up and sleeping in Mikyung’s dog’s bowl.

‘Okay, I’ve decided.’

They weren’t the only three families living there, and for the future, having good neighbors would be a great help.

Jinhyuk, who had been agonizing with his eyes closed for a long time, opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“…I will.”

He was upset that he had compromised with injustice, but he didn’t cry. Because he was a tough guy.

But he was very determined. His expression contrasted with the cheerful voice of the child, because he was not comfortable with the idea of promising to cheat.

Still, Choi Mikyung’s bright smile relieved his guilt a little.

‘Peace like a river…’ It’s overflowing.