Chapter 101
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: False Rumors and Ostracism
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Park Deok-su was feeling pretty good about what he'd done.
In fact, since he'd sabotaged things so cleverly with the tiller, he'd even prepared an excuse: he'd only stopped it there briefly because of a sudden need to relieve himself.
"I really wanted to see that guy's face...
How pissed off must he have been? Heh heh."
Deok-su chuckled to himself as he pondered what new way to mess with him next time.
He'd even considered going straight to the house and boldly demanding a contribution to the village development fund.
But when he'd actually gone to Jin-seong's front gate a few days ago, Deok-su had lost his nerve.
The massive iron gate standing guard in front of the house and the security officer posted beside it had instinctively cowed him.
'What the hell? Who puts a security guard at their house?
Why would anyone need that in a place like this?'
Deok-su couldn't suppress his irritation.
He'd always taken pride in being a big shot in the village, with real influence and a strong voice.
But this young outsider had suddenly shown up, radiating even more presence than him and intimidating the villagers. Deok-su just couldn't accept it.
'Do you have any idea how important I am around here?
Acting all high and mighty just because you've got money...'
Seeing the young man's wealth felt like a deep wound to Deok-su's pride.
He'd lived basking in the villagers' attention and respect, so it grated on him that it was now pouring toward this rich outsider.
'Fine, if you've got security that tight...
I'll make your life hell until you come crawling to me yourself.'
He was already scheming in his mind about more annoyances to unleash.
He'd harass the guy in ways that were hard to punish, slyly enough to drive him to beg for mercy in the end.
A twisted smile spread across Park Deok-su's face.
Park Deok-su sat on the benches in front of the village hall, chatting with the locals.
The villagers were soaking up the warm midday sun, swapping idle gossip.
Deok-su glanced around deliberately, putting on a grave expression before speaking up.
"Folks, I just can't wrap my head around it...
Do you know what kind of guy that homeowner is?"
The elders on the benches perked up at his words.
"Huh? Something wrong with that young fella?"
"I heard from a buddy of mine—he's made a ton of money, apparently.
But the source of it all seems a bit shady..."
Deok-su lowered his voice, leaning in conspiratorially.
"What're you talking about? Shady money?"
"Nah, no way. He built such a fine house..."
As the elders voiced their doubts, Deok-su waved them off and leaned in even closer with a more serious look.
"That's just it! How does a young guy like that make that much money legitimately?
He's got a guard posted right at the village entrance, blocking everyone from getting close... Doesn't seem on the up-and-up to me."
"Wait, you saying he's a thief? A con man or something?"
When one villager reacted with shock, Deok-su nodded as if he'd been waiting for it.
"Could be a scammer, or who knows what else?
I saw on the news lately—crooks hiding out in the countryside these days...
What if one of 'em's snuck into our village?"
The villagers' faces hardened at Deok-su's words.
They'd always been curious about the young man, but couldn't shake the uneasy, suspicious vibe.
"Lordy, our quiet little town's making me nervous all of a sudden."
"Yeah, builds this huge house and doesn't even come say hello to the village...
I thought it was fishy from the start!"
Deok-su raised his voice, pleased with their reactions.
"Folks, we've gotta be careful from now on.
Someone in the village might get tempted by money and hang around that shady character—could spell big trouble.
Everyone, keep your wits about you."
The elders nodded one by one, their suspicions about Jin-seong growing.
The small seeds of doubt and wariness Deok-su had planted spread through the village like wildfire, impossible to contain.
Deok-su watched it all unfold with a satisfied smile.
Jin-seong couldn't hide his uneasy feeling.
"What the...?"
He tilted his head in confusion.
He'd barely run into any villagers since moving in, so he couldn't understand why their stares felt so uncomfortable.
Over the next few days, even when Jin-seong cheerfully raised a hand to greet them, the villagers would avert their eyes in panic and hurry away.
It was bizarre.
Jin-seong hadn't caused any trouble with anyone here.
If anything, he'd improved the roads while moving in and thought he'd contributed to the village in a small way. This only confused him more.
Unsettled, Jin-seong decided to get to the bottom of it himself.
He was out for a walk near the house after lunch to aid digestion.
That's when it happened.
An elderly man ahead of him suddenly buckled at the knees and toppled to the ground.
"H-Hey...? Sir, are you okay?"
Jin-seong rushed over and helped the elder to his feet.
The startled Jin-seong asked urgently,
"Sir, are you hurt anywhere?"
"Oh, thank you kindly. These old legs just gave out on me."
The elder struggled to his feet, expressing gratitude. But then he looked at Jin-seong's face, and his expression darkened.
"Oh dear, you're that young man, aren't you?"
The elder cleared his throat a few times, avoided eye contact, and abruptly turned away.
Jin-seong grew even more baffled.
The villagers were definitely avoiding him.
He couldn't let it go and called out, following after.
"Sir, wait a second. I'm Kim Jin-seong—I just moved in recently. Sorry for the late introduction.
But why the sudden change when you see me?"
The elder stopped, turned back, eyed Jin-seong slowly, sighed deeply, and spoke.
"Young man, you gotta earn your money honestly."
Jin-seong's mind reeled at the abrupt words.
"Pardon? Sir, what do you mean?
Earn honestly? What did I—"
The elder cut him off with a click of his tongue.
"I don't know how you made your money, but word around the village is you did it illegally.
I didn't want to stick my nose in, was gonna pretend I didn't know. But you helped me, so here it is.
I don't know what brought you to our little village, but keep it quiet and don't cause trouble for the residents."
The elder turned and walked off leisurely, signaling no more talk.
Jin-seong stood dumbfounded, staring at his retreating back. Who the hell was spreading this nonsense, and why?
He did feel a brief pang—he'd made illegal money in the past—but now he ran legitimate businesses.
Outraged, Jin-seong vowed to track down the source of these rumors.
Jin-seong felt a bitterness he'd never known since moving in.
He couldn't even comprehend what he'd done wrong.
The villagers' cold stares made his chest tighten every time they crossed paths.
One day, at the village entrance, a few middle-aged women were gathered chatting.
Jin-seong approached and offered a light greeting.
"Hello. I'm Kim Jin-seong, moved in recently. Sorry I haven't properly introduced myself."
But the women only glanced at him without responding. After an awkward silence, one cleared her throat uncomfortably and said,
"Young man, it's fine to live here, but you gotta greet folks properly.
Word is you've been ignoring everyone."
Jin-seong flustered, tried to explain hastily.
"No, that's not true. I've been busy with construction and the move...
I really meant to greet everyone. No ill intent."
But the woman crossed her arms and replied,
"Oh, young man. No matter how much money you've got, manners matter in a community.
Folks like us who farm for a living don't take kindly to people who disregard that."
"No, it's really a misunderstanding. I didn't mean to—"
Despite Jin-seong's frantic clarification, the women left as if they didn't want to hear more.
Jin-seong stood there in a daze, lost.
After that, he approached villagers even more proactively, greeting everyone he passed.
But most ignored him, pretended not to hear, or turned away.
Some even hurried off with excuses about being busy if he got too close.
One day, Jin-seong went straight to the village hall to talk with the elders.
"Hello, everyone. My greetings are very late.
I've been tied up with construction and overlooked it."
But one resident waved him off dismissively.
"We don't need your greetings.
You come into our rural village thinking we're pushovers, ignore us, and now what—playing nice?"
Jin-seong pleaded desperately,
"No! I was just swamped, no intention of ignoring anyone."
But the villagers had already shut him out.
Thanks to the rumors Deok-su had spread beforehand, their hearts were sealed against Jin-seong.
They wouldn't listen, whispering among themselves and pressing him even harder.
In the end, Jin-seong left the hall with a hollow expression and headed home.
No matter his efforts, the villagers wouldn't budge.
The deep-rooted misunderstanding and shunning showed no sign of letting up anytime soon.