Episode 114
"What, right away?"
My grandmother lifted her glasses higher on her nose and said, “Go on. You have to do it to learn it.”
She slid the pot toward me.
Wow. She was serious. Really serious.
Am I overestimating the learning capacity of a preschooler here?
But I was an actor. At the very least, I was used to copying what other people did.
I repeated exactly what Grandma had done.
First, I poured the water from the kettle into the warming bowl.
My hand didn’t have much strength, so the kettle trembled slightly. I carefully tipped the water out.
I could hear the water streaming.
Then I transferred it into the teapot that looked like a kettle.
Grandma said, “It’s simple, but really, you’re lowering the temperature. Boiling water is too hot.”
So that’s how it was.
When I poured the water from the teapot into the teacups, a little splashed out. It wasn’t bubbling at a rolling boil anymore, but it was still a bit hot.
Still, this much is fine.
My arm strength, though, was terrible.
Even for a kid, this is a little too weak...
I had to admit it now.
This body is weak.
Healthy, but weak. Honestly, the irony of it all was absurd.
For the future too, I need to build some muscle.
Starting today, I’d make sure to get enough protein.
Even though Mr. Deoksu already takes care of that for me.
I carefully followed the process again.
I poured the preheated water into the warming bowl and dumped it into the waste pitcher. Grandma kept watching me the whole time.
Hm. I thought she’d start nagging, but...
She’s unusually quiet.
I poured the water from the kettle into the warming bowl again. Then, just as Grandma had done, I tested the temperature with my palm.
Well, I still don’t know what the right temperature feels like.
It probably wasn’t perfect.
After that, it was the same all the way through. I brewed the tea, set it in the warming bowl, waited for the sediment to settle, and then poured it into the cups.
I could hear the clear sound of water.
I handed her the tea on the saucer. Grandma looked at my work and clicked her tongue.
S-she doesn’t look very pleased.
Did I mess something up?
Tilting my head, I watched as Grandma took a sip.
“Remarkable.”
Ah. Was she about to curse at me? I braced myself.
She seems really unhappy about something.
Then Grandma looked at me and said, “You’re the first child I’ve ever seen who could copy it in one go, apart from a genius.”
Huh. A compliment? So the process was right after all?
“You’re smart.”
Wow, and here I thought she was going to insult me.
I grinned. It was a tremendous honor.
“Well, I suppose that’s why Soo-jung brought you here.”
Mom didn’t have me IQ-tested before she adopted me.
“I wondered why she was raising you, but you really are quite sharp.”
The ratio of insult to praise was exactly fifty-fifty.
But knowing Grandma, that probably counts as praise.
Either way, she was a difficult woman.
In moments like this, you have to be honest.
I shook my head. “Gongza’s head not good.”
“What?”
“What Gongza did well was because Gongza is an actor.”
I’m a professional, Grandma.
“Acting starts with imitation. Gongza good at copying.”
I lifted the teacup and tried drinking the way Grandma did. Then I carefully set the teaware back down.
Clink—
Grandma watched me with sharp eyes.
“Gongza is just acting.”
“I only memorized it through acting.”
“Mm. But Grandma’s dignity is hard to imitate.”
I guess that’s why tea ceremony is considered an art.
Though it seems like there’s an element of self-cultivation too.
Hmm. I didn’t think this was something I’d ever take up as a hobby.
Yeah, my real taste is an iced Americano.
Ah, I want to grow up fast and drink caffeine.
Grandma didn’t say anything. I just smiled brightly.
“Thank you. For teaching Gongza. Gongza will work hard on the play with this.”
“The play. Yes, you said you were doing that.”
“Could you come see it?”
I blinked and spoke earnestly.
“I’ll show you a stage you won’t be embarrassed by.”
“You have quite the confidence.”
“Acting is dangerous if you don’t have confidence.”
“I’m not going to that sort of place.”
Ah, how cold.
“A play only happens once. It’d be nice if you came.”
“I don’t have the time.”
Nope, not happening.
I smiled brightly. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I don’t have time to waste on a half-breed in the first place. It seems you’ve learned enough, so I’ll be going now.”
Oh, Grandma.
Then what was all the time you spent teaching tea ceremony for?
You already used up your time.
She was exactly the kind of person who’d only make you feel scolded after doing something for you.
I watched her back as she left with her cane in hand, still smiling, and let out a sigh.
Phew. That was exhausting.
Still, thanks to that, I thought I’d be able to adapt the script quite well.
I looked down at the teacup. The pale green liquid was lovely.
I don’t really know, but these tea utensils are probably expensive.
I practiced again, pretending to pour water. I’d memorized the steps, but learning them properly was a different matter.
That was when it happened. The door opened, and someone came running in.
A familiar voice rang out.
“Are you okay?”
It was Ma Jeok. I nodded.
“Yeah. She taught me well.”
“When I heard Grandma took you away, I freaked out. You’re really still alive, right?”
Hmm, she wasn’t that scary, though.
“And tea ceremony, of all things. I had to stand with my hands up for three whole days after learning that.”
Yikes.
“You learned it too?”
“Of course I did.”
Yeah, you definitely got yelled at.
“It seems hard.”
“Just being alone with Grandma is enough to make you break out in a cold sweat. Running laps around the field would be better.”
I agreed with that completely.
“But that’s weird. She doesn’t teach anyone except her biological grandchildren.”
I grinned.
However you look at it, addiction is a frightening thing.
The road still looked long, though.
Still, it feels like she’s using tea ceremony as an excuse to test me.
I kept copying everything Grandma had done.
“Aren’t you upset? She must’ve scolded you.”
“I’m fine. Or... am I not?”
I looked up at Ma Jeok. He was genuinely worried about me.
Once you bring him in, treat him, and feed him, the kid really changes.
So this is why care matters.
I’ll make sure to take responsibility and look after him properly until the end.
And I’ll make his dream come true too.
So then.
Can I ask him for a favor just once?
I grabbed Ma Jeok’s clothes with trembling fingers.
“Jeok.”
“What?”
“Um, call the teacher.”
“Ah. Sure. Hey, but no can do. You need a chip to get in here.”
Huh? What was that?
Ma Jeok showed me his wrist.
“There’s a chip in here. You use this to open the front door.”
Oh.
“Then what about the staff?”
“They’ve got cards.”
They live so complicatedly, honestly.
Come to think of it, I came into the main house by following Grandma too.
I let out a deep sigh.
What should I do?
I looked at Ma Jeok again. “Jeok. You’re strong, right?”
“Not exactly weak. Why? Are you hurt?”
“I’ll be fine soon, but...”
I looked up at the ceiling and confessed shyly.
“My legs are asleep.”
It was true. It was serious.
“Ah, you’ve been kneeling.”
“They’re incredibly numb. I think someone’s going to have to carry me.”
Ma Jeok said, looking put out, “Why don’t you just straighten your legs and wait?”
Oh, there’s a method like that!
I guess I’ve been carried around so much that I forgot.
Ma Jeok immediately lowered my upper body. I carefully stretched my legs out. A sharp jolt of pain shot up through them.
“Ahhh...”
“Ah, I know how to work out cramps. The coach taught me.”
Ma Jeok grabbed my legs and started moving them around.
Whoa.
“Aaagh!”
The scream came out on its own, and I broke out in a cold sweat.
“It hurts, but hold still. It works well.”
“It feels like I just went to hell.”
“You’re such a baby.”
No, it really hurts!
Ma Jeok mercilessly stretched me out. Groaning, I gripped the floor hard.
Tea ceremony really is profound.
Just kneeling from the start already feels like ascetic training, doesn’t it?
Ah, so that’s why it’s called “tea ceremony.”
Maybe it’s not for nothing that people ask if you understand the Way.
I wiped at the corners of my eyes with my sleeve while thinking all sorts of things. The stretching hurt so much it made me cry.
* * *
Ma Soo-jung looked over the script Gongza had polished. The script her tiny son had actually revised himself was, to be honest, astonishing.
“Oh my. Our son is amazing. The teacher helped you?”
Mr. Deoksu nodded.
“Yes. I wrote down exactly what he dictated.”
“And you typed it all up too.”
“I wanted to organize it neatly. Gongza was very happy.”
Ma Soo-jung laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! Well, of course he was. But our Gongza really is something. He turned boiling tea into tea ceremony.”
“Yes. I was surprised as well.”
“He has great sense. He’s my son, but he’s honestly too good.”
Ma Soo-jung skimmed the script and said, “Honestly, I was wondering what sort of place we should set him up in. I thought maybe a regular hotel would be fine...”
She shrugged.
“But after reading this, I get it. We need to book Daehangno Small Theater.”
“I don’t know much about it, but can we get it reserved quickly?”
“I looked into it, and yes, we can. The theater scene is struggling, so even the venues are running at a loss.”
Mr. Deoksu nodded.
“I see.”
“Without government support, it looks like theater companies can barely keep themselves afloat. Oh, but was it all right that your madam took Gongza away?”
“Yes. No.”
What kind of answer was that? As Ma Soo-jung narrowed her eyes, Mr. Deoksu hurried to explain.
“She taught him tea ceremony. He said she was strict but taught him well. Some hot water splashed on his hand, but it looks fine. He already had it cooled with an ice pack.”
Ma Soo-jung folded her arms and fell into thought. That was simply impossible to believe.
“No way...”
“Is something wrong?”
“Madam really does grind people down.”
Mr. Deoksu blinked. Ma Soo-jung let out a sigh and said, “She says it’s a test of his abilities, but that’s just her wearing him down. Ah, I had a hard time too, so our Gongza must’ve suffered a lot today. Honestly, why go out of her way to do that?”
“If I may be rude, I think Madam might be quite fond of Gongza.”
Ma Soo-jung crossed her arms and shook her head emphatically.
“No way.”
“But she does visit sometimes. It seems close to goodwill.”
Ma Soo-jung sighed.
“Honestly, that’s strange. She should hate seeing his face at all.”
“Hm, perhaps...”
Mr. Deoksu carefully offered his opinion.
“Could it be because Gongza is cute?”
“Our Gongza is kind of cute.”
“He’s kind, diligent, and clever.”
“My son is like that, yes.”
“And he’s famous, too. Gongza is extremely popular.”
“That’s true.”
Ma Soo-jung nodded readily. Mr. Deoksu spoke with earnest conviction.
“Gongza is the kind of child it’s hard to dislike, no matter who you are.”
“There are people who dislike him, but most are favorable toward him.”
“So perhaps Madam does too?”
Ma Soo-jung shook her head firmly.
“Madam isn’t a normal person.”
“Pardon?”
“Even eternal snow would be warmer than Madam. Anyone who isn’t inside her circle gets treated like an object.”
“I-I see.”
“He’s my child, so I know her better than anyone. Well, I should get going. If Madam comes looking for Gongza again, please let me know.”
Ma Soo-jung turned and walked away. After she left, Mr. Deoksu thought seriously to himself.
Only people inside her circle get treated well?
He recalled the look in Madam’s eyes when she had come by. She seemed cold, but she’d been subtly warm toward Gongza.
Mr. Deoksu voiced the words he had not dared say to Ma Soo-jung.
“Didn’t she already let him into her circle?”
Honestly, wasn’t that obvious?
“He’s Gongza, after all.”
The question, with no one there to answer it, hit the wall and vanished. Mr. Deoksu scratched his head. If the other person refused to believe it, there was nothing he could do.