Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Country Comforts
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“Hey there~.”
Go Pan-seok’s first words into his phone brought a smile to Lee Jun’s lips.
*No matter how many times I hear it, that greeting’s just so endearing.*
Go Pan-seok went on from there, mentioning he’d come to Geumsan and bought some Ansim beef before getting to the point.
“I called to say let’s eat in the yard tonight. The cow boss gave us a ton of good stuff.”
-…….
Go Gi-jin glanced at his dad on the phone and grinned.
“Mom seems to like it too?”
No sooner had Go Gi-jin spoken than Go Pan-seok replied.
“You bet? Then that’s the plan. Anyway, what’re you all up to?”
A moment later, Go Pan-seok chuckled.
“Your mom’s eating in the yard.”
“But why’re you grinning like that, Dad?”
Go Pan-seok kept staring at his phone even after hanging up, beaming ear to ear just like Go Gi-jin had said.
“Why’re you guys so darn cute?”
Go Pan-seok held his phone out to the two men, filling the screen with a single tree.
There, Gray and Shadow were hanging from it like sloths.
“Man, they’re lounging in total comfort. But what’s Sapsari up to?”
“Patrolling the yard, he said…….”
Just then, a message popped up.
“Whoa, he sent another one.”
This time it was a video.
Six eyes locked onto the screen.
“Man, these little rascals aren’t moving a muscle. If Sapsari wasn’t bouncing around like a ball, I’d swear it was a photo.”
“You’re right…… Hey? Are they talking in their sleep?”
“Talking in their sleep?”
“Yeah. They’re meowing in their dreams! Man, they’re just too cute.”
Go Pan-seok’s laughter made Lee Jun smile too.
He could hear the three of them in the video, saying how much they loved Strong Brother’s house.
*The kids griped about not going to the ranch, but they’re settling in fine.*
The trio had been thrilled at dawn about heading to the ranch, but Lee Jun put his foot down, and their mouths flew open in protest.
Still, hoping the overexerted bunch would rest, Lee Jun promised to take them the next day.
And sure enough, the reluctant crew was now resting easy.
*Glad to see it.*
Lee Jun wasn’t the only one who thought the three looked comfy in the video.
Go Pan-seok, replaying it, said,
“I was worried since cats get stressed in new places, but they look fine.”
“Worried? They were in and out of our place all night. Couldn’t get a wink because of you, Dad.”
“You saying you didn’t sleep? The guy who snores like a freight train?”
“I did?”
“You bet! Your snoring carried across the yard~.”
“Aww, I was just tired. Tired.”
“Quiet! From tonight, you sleep in your room. Everyone lost sleep over you.”
“No way.”
“What?”
“Your snoring’s too loud, Dad.”
“Yours is louder, you brat! Teacher Lee needs his rest, your juniors too, everyone does! Come sleep inside anyway. New place got ’em uneasy enough.”
Go Pan-seok added,
“If they get stressed and sick, who’s gonna cry?”
“They say they like it here.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Clean air, tasty food, lots of friends.”
“Heh heh heh, those rascals!”
“I told you, Dad. They’re no ordinary bunch. They did great in Gangneung too, heh heh.”
Father and son grinned with identical faces.
“You did good. But why didn’t you send me those pics?”
“Pics?”
“Yeah. The ones from Gangneung with you, the cats, and the seals. Your mom bragged about ’em nonstop.”
“She did? I only sent them to Mom.”
“Exactly!”
Go Pan-seok shot Go Gi-jin a look.
“Aww, what’s that about? Why not ask Mom for them?”
“Ask for what?”
“The pics.”
Go Gi-jin’s words soured Go Pan-seok’s face.
“Nope.”
“Aww, Dad got into the soju late again, huh.”
“……A guy can come home late sometimes!”
Go Pan-seok bellowed.
“Haha, got it. I’ll send you videos, Dad.”
“Send ’em now!”
Go Gi-jin fired off a video right away. Go Pan-seok, receiving it with a beaming smile, climbed into his car.
***
When the car pulled up, Sapsari came bounding over.
Woof woof woof!
Sapsari did a big loop around the yard before approaching Lee Jun and wagging his tail furiously.
“Been good?”
Woof woof woof!
Sapsari beamed at Lee Jun, saying yes.
His muzzle fur glistened.
Figured he’d been drinking water, but Shadow and Gray’s muzzles were wet too as they strolled up casually.
Cats wouldn’t have wet muzzles just from water.
“What’d you all eat?”
Sapsari’s tail wagged even faster at Lee Jun’s question.
Something super tasty.
Woof…… woof woof.
Meow meow.
Meow meow.
The three spoke to Lee Jun at once.
“Cool and sweet? Tasty?”
Lee Jun tilted his head curiously when Go Gi-jin’s mom approached.
“Watermelons came in today. Gave ’em some, and they went nuts for it.”
“Watermelons?”
Not even summer—October watermelons? Lee Jun’s head cocked sideways.
“Fall watermelons. Super sweet.”
“Come on in. Have some watermelon first, then rice.”
That day, Lee Jun tried fall watermelon for the first time.
“Well? Good, right?”
“Yeah, delicious.”
Lee Jun got why the three had gone wide-eyed and raved.
“Nothing beats fresh-picked. Dear, you said these were cut this morning?”
Go Gi-jin’s mom nodded.
“Nothing beats fresh-picked right away!”
“You’re right.”
Lee Jun took another bite, and the cats meowed beside him, begging.
He asked Go Gi-jin’s mom,
“Did they eat a lot today?”
“A fair bit? The cats a tad more.”
About two pickled radish chunks for the cats, three times that for Sapsari.
“That’s fine.”
“That much is okay. But the seeds…….”
When Lee Jun asked cautiously, she smiled.
“Of course, I took all the seeds out.”
“Thanks.”
A junior watching Lee Jun relax asked,
“Senior, we get plum or peach pits are dangerous, but watermelon seeds too?”
The other three junior vets eyed Lee Jun eagerly.
“You all know cats are carnivores.”
Nods all around.
The vets nodded. Go Pan-seok focused too.
“So their small intestines are short. Usually 1.3 or 1.4 meters.”
“Man, that’s short.”
Go Pan-seok’s wife asked at his comment.
“How long are humans’?”
“Well…….”
Go Pan-seok turned, and Lee Jun picked up,
“Humans? Three to four times our height. Around seven meters? Cats about twice theirs, dogs a bit more. Point is, seeds can cause blockages.”
“Seeds this small don’t just pass in stool?”
Go Gi-jin pointed at the watermelon.
“That’s what you’d think. But they stick around in the stomach longer than expected. Like this, but last year? Did an endoscopy on a cat that ate a plum.”
“A cat ate a plum?”
“Yeah, guardian brought it in panicked—saw it swallow one right there. Said just one, but I pulled out two that day.”
“Aww, that sneaky cat ate more on the sly.”
Everyone chimed in about being careful with fruit henceforth.
“But it wasn’t that. One was from the year before.”
“What?”
“Good grief!”
“The guardian was shocked but relieved too. Cat had been vomiting occasionally—thought hairballs, but learned it was the plum pit.”
Go Pan-seok told his junior vets at Lee Jun’s words,
“Listen up good. Even if you handle large animals, this stuff’s gold!”
“Yes, sir.”
To the replying juniors, Lee Jun said,
“Ask anytime if you don’t know something.”
“Yes, Senior! Looking forward to working with you.”
The juniors’ eyes burned with enthusiasm.
“But these guys sure ain’t scared of fire!”
Gray, Shadow, and Sapsari sat primly before the yard’s fire pit.
Not a high BBQ grill, but low like a hearth or fireplace.
The three huddled by it looked like animals selling campfire vibes.
“They love BBQ.”
“Kahaha, what fine fellas. Yep.”
“Tell me about it. So well-mannered too!”
But that lasted only till the things on the fire started cooking. Then the three began prancing.
Meooow!
Yaowoo!
Woof, woof woof.
As evening fell, the three yowled and barked eagerly, but quietly.
People watched in wonder. Go Pan-seok praised them lavishly.
“Heh heh, impressive. Good job!”
But the three had no time for praise.
*[Smells so good meow!]*
*[Wanna eat!]*
Sapsari drooled wordlessly.
Lee Jun’s stomach growled at the sweet aroma too.
Gurgle.
Then Go Gi-jin plunged foil-wrapped sweet potatoes and said,
“All done.”
“Wanna try one?”
“Yeah. But Strong Brother, can they have sweet potato?”
Meowoo!
Meow meow meow.
The two cats flailed paws, begging.
“A little’s fine.”
“Yep. Hold your horses. I’ll cool it and give ya.”
The cats sat obediently.
People marveled again.
“Like people. People.”
“You bet. They understand everything.”
Go Gi-jin, beaming like he’d been praised, plated a sweet potato for Lee Jun.
“Strong Brother, try it. These are the best.”
It’s just sweet potato, Lee Jun thought, peeling the skin.
Lick lick.
The three stuck out tongues beside him but didn’t beg.
They trusted his word.
Lee Jun bit in.
“Phew phew, hot.”
First, too hot. Then his eyes widened.
“Sweet…… so sweet!”
Stunned, Lee Jun stared at the potato.
Sugar-coated? Honey? No, pure sweet potato.
“My first…… like this.”
Munching away, Lee Jun ate three in a row without pause.
Go Pan-seok and his wife watched fondly.
After gulping beer, Lee Jun spoke.
“Phew, so good. First time…… for sweet potato this tasty…….”
He trailed off, head tilted.
*Feels like I’ve had sweet potato this good before…….*
Couldn’t recall when, but definitely.
“Really delicious.”
“Right? Local ones are sweet and tasty.”
“All cooled now, guys.”
Go Gi-jin portioned small chunks onto plates for the three.
“Gotta give ’em small like this.”
He told the juniors.
“Some can’t handle big pieces. Gotta scope ’em out.”
“For real?”
“Yep. This summer, there was this pup that…….”
As Go Gi-jin recounted a dog rushed in from big fruit chunks, the cats’ eyes bulged.
Nyaaooow!
Meow!
They glanced skyward once, then dove noses into plates, scarfing wildly.
Sapsari shoved his head in, snorting hard.
Soon.
Slurp slurp slurp!
Lick lick lick.
Plates clean, they turned to Lee Jun in unison.
Identical pitiful gazes, like they’d planned it.
“Why they doin’ that?”
“Aww, Strong Brother said just a bit earlier. That’s why.”
“Yeah? Neat.”
“Not neat anymore.”
“Haenguni! Seeing wonders daily.”
“Jealous?”
“Yep. So…….”
“No, no. If Dad goes to Seoul, the bosses here’ll riot.”
Go Gi-jin jumped.
“What’re you saying! So send pics every day from now on. Got it?”
“Phew, close call.”
Go Gi-jin sighed relief, pulling more done sweet potatoes. The cats dashed off.
“Where’d they go?”
“Drink water, probably.”
Lee Jun figured the same. But the returning cats had pouches in their mouths.
Lee Jun laughed.
“That good, huh?”
Surely saving for later.
“Eat in small bits.”
Lee Jun warned no foil or skin, then tucked two into each pouch.
“Aww, they could eat tomorrow.”
“First time this good, he says. For sweet dreams tonight.”
“Yep! They lovin’ this countryside, right? Right!”
Everyone laughed at Go Pan-seok.
*Must’ve been that good.*
Lee Jun wondered if they’d haul it to Seoul.
Plenty capable, for park cat sharing.
Next dawn, before light broke, cats and Sapsari waited at the door.
Beside them: pouches. Sapsari’s a pocket, but
Go Gi-jin’s mom, seeing him eye the cats’ sweet potato pouches jealously yesterday, had packed his too.
“That your lunch?”
Lee Jun asked, smiling.
*[No meow!]*
*[No!]*
*[Nope!]*
Gray, Shadow, and Sapsari replied, thrilled.