Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: The 5-Year-Old and the Sea (2)
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Thump thump thump—
"Yoon-seule?"
Thump thump thump—
"You've got something on your mind, huh?"
"Nooo."
Thump thump thump—
"Oppa knows exactly what's up with our Yoon-seule. Why don't you tell me why you're feeling all down?"
"Fishies."
"Why the fish? Wasn't it tasty?"
"Uuung... Yunseul-i wanted to catch fishies myself. But that's not possible, so it's frustrating."
Yoon-seule, sitting on my lap.
She keeps bumping the back of her head against my chest like a woodpecker.
Whenever she's like this, she usually has a complaint, but she's too considerate to say it outright.
The local eatery recommended by the taxi driver was genuinely fantastic. The fish was perfectly cooked and fresh, with a stUnnieng ocean view and a boss who was gruff yet kind.
It was the real deal—a hidden gem not well-known even among locals.
They'd grilled hairtail, the seasonal catch for August, and the price was reasonable to boot.
Yu-min-i and Teacher Mi-jeong had both enjoyed their meals thoroughly.
But Yoon-seule, even after finishing her rice, wore this wistful expression and stayed like that.
"So Yoon-seule thought we were going to catch fish ourselves today?"
"Yeah, Yunseul-i must've misunderstood."
"Aigoo... poor thing."
She'd been buzzing with excitement like that ever since we set off for Gangneung.
I'd caught her a few times imagining grabbing fish right out of the sea, all hyped up.
Who knew she'd be this disappointed.
This morning, when I said we were going out for fish, she must've thought it meant catching them ourselves.
With her lips pursed tight, she rubs the "ponytail" sprouting from the back of her head against me gently. She seems torn between throwing a tantrum out of disappointment and holding back. But our sweet little sister never whines at me.
— Hmm... You wanna catch fish yourself? Sounds fun, but it wouldn't be easy. We don't even have rods, and we'd need to rent a boat somewhere. No idea where to get one on short notice.
"That's true."
Teacher Mi-jeong explains patiently and softly.
Hearing that, Yoon-seule's face falls even more.
The higher the expectations, the greater the letdown.
Seeing my little sister so glum tugs at my heartstrings.
But some things are just impossible, and that's that. Though we could find an alternative.
"How about this, Yoon-seule? Wanna go somewhere else to see some fish instead?"
"Hm? Somewhere else?"
"You don't have to fish in the sea to see them."
"Ooh...! How then?"
"There's a fish market in Gangneung. It's full of fish."
"Fishies! Not the cooked ones?"
"Yep, not cooked. Live ones, swimming around all healthy."
"Yunseul-i wants to go!!"
She springs up from my lap, shoving her face right up to mine.
Her eyes are sparkling like she's about to burst.
"What do you think? Sound good?"
— Fish market? Sure, why not. We're in Gangneung—might as well see as much as we can.
— I... wanna go to the fish market too.
The group was on board.
Our original plan was Ojukheon.
We'd meant to stroll there, soaking in the old vibes calmly.
But hitting the fish market would be another fun Gangneung experience.
And just like that, the itinerary shifted effortlessly.
**
We arrived at Jumunjin.
It took about an hour by car, but it didn't feel long. Driving along the coastal road was pure romance.
You lose track of time just taking it all in.
The weather was cool yet sunny.
The sea shimmered hazily beyond, and the pine groves dotted here and there caught the eye.
Cruising the coastal road, you'd often see countless pines rubbing against each other in the wind.
They're planted deliberately to block sand— their dense foliage forms a wall against the flying grains.
Gawking at all that scenery with the kids flew us right to the Jumunjin fish market.
— Whoa... still pretty crowded, huh?
"It's peak vacation season."
— Yeah, summer means hitting spots like this for seafood.
The market buzzed with busy vendors.
It had a different vibe from Seongrae Market near Onui Restaurant.
The salty tang tickled my nose, and a faint mist clung to my skin through the air.
"Sniff sniff... fishy smell."
Yoon-seule, who was a 105cm shark just yesterday, strides forward boldly.
The vendors start calling out right away.
— Aigoo~ what a cutie.
— Come here, kiddo. Got some flower crabs over here?
"I'm not a baby, I'm Yunseul-i."
She insists on her name while busy peering at the fish.
She peeks around.
This way, that way.
"Oppa! So many fishies. How do they catch all these? With hands?"
"Right? Tons of fish. Local fishermen head out early morning and bring 'em in. Pretty amazing, huh?"
"Super amazing!!"
Innocent Yoon-seule.
She grabs Yu-min-i's hand, totally absorbed in fish-watching.
Might need to take her to an aquarium next time.
— Wanna grab a plate of sashimi with the kids?
"You sure? What if their stomachs hurt?"
— Pick up some deworming meds later if needed. And if you're too picky about their health, they say it can lead to weak immunity down the line.
"Makes sense."
Sound logic.
There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to health advice. A single dose of dewormer from the pharmacy afterward should be fine for parasite prevention.
As Teacher Mi-jeong suggested, we decided on sashimi since we were already at the fish market.
The fish was minnow, another August seasonal pick like the hairtail.
— Minnow's great for kids. Good for skin, helps 'em grow tall.
"Thanks! Dig in."
We headed to a spot inside the market with seating and ordered minnow sashimi.
The boss explains it in slightly halting standard Korean. He could've just used dialect, but he was being considerate since he knew we were from Seoul.
"Oppa, what's this?"
"Fish, duh. The ones we just saw out front."
"Eek! No head. No tail either."
"Boss cleaned it up nice. Can't eat the head or tail."
"Ooh...!"
Yoon-seule pokes at the sashimi with her finger like it's her first time seeing it.
The flesh twitches faintly—proof it was alive moments ago. Nice bounce too.
"It's wiggling?!"
"Yeah, 'cause it was alive till just now. Super fresh. Wanna try?"
No forks or kid chopsticks, sadly.
So I fed it to her myself.
Dipped lightly in chogochujang, and...
"Nom nom... it's chewy and fresh-tasting..."
Chewy and fresh.
She wiggles her eyebrows, savoring it seriously.
Swallows with a gulp, nods.
"Kinda like jelly!"
Spot-on and intuitive review.
Classic 5-year-old.
— For real? Like jelly?
Yu-min-i had the same take.
Maybe thinking of the fruit jelly in last night's hwachae.
Though the price was worlds apart.
Borrowing the kids' words, we packed away the jelly-textured minnow sashimi.
We'd eaten lunch before heading to Jumunjin, but it went down easy. That's the magic of travel, right?
Just shoving whatever into your mouth without a care.
Food at a travel spot is stuff you can't get anywhere else.
— Huh? What's that—Grandpa An's grandkid?
"Hm?"
We'd polished off the sashimi plate and were lounging, bellies full, when an unfamiliar grandpa approaches and chats up Yoon-seule like he knows her.
— That's her, right? The An girl.
"Not An, I'm Yunseul-i."
— Haha! Right, Yoon-seule! That was the name. You've grown so much!
The jolly grandpa chuckles heartily and strokes her cheek with his palm.
"Uu... scratchy."
The unfamiliar texture spooks her, so she darts behind me quick.
Then peeks out, glaring at him.
Not intimidating at all.
"You know our grandma?"
— Yep. Pretty tight with the An family. Known 'em since I drove taxis. Been a regular at her diner from the start.
"Ah..."
Grandma ran a drivers' eatery.
If it's from back then, that's a long friendship.
— You her grandson too? Thought the eldest was in Seoul.
"Yes, that's me."
— Gotcha. So with lil sis... girlfriend? Wife? On a trip, eh.
He nods at Teacher Mi-jeong, who's got Yu-min-i on her lap, sniffing his head.
"She's our teacher."
— Huh, whatever. Yoon-seule, come check this out real quick?
The grandpa, thrilled to see her, pulls something from behind to grab her attention.
And surprisingly, it's right up a 5-year-old's alley.
"Ooh...! That's!"
Her guarded cheeks from behind soften. She toddles over—pat pat pat—and eyes the item the grandpa holds out.
High-end fishing rod at a glance.
Looks personal.
"Here for fishing?"
— I run a fishing experience spot nearby.
"Fishing experiences? Like that exists?"
— Sure does! Real anglers don't fish these spots much. But with the fish market and crowds, it's prime for this kinda business.
"Makes sense."
Yoon-seule finishes eyeing the rod and comes back to me. Then again.
Thump thump thump—
Thump thump thump—
This time, forehead-knocking on my chest.
I can guess what she wants.
"Wanna catch fish for real, huh?"
"Hee hee..."
No words, just looks up at me grinning ear to ear.
Then she starts mimicking a fisherman.
Arms back, casts imaginary line forward, reels in wildly.
Yu-min-i watches and perks up too.
— Mommy, fishing? Fun?
— Mommy's never tried.
"Yunseul-i wants to try!"
"Shall we?"
Today's schedule was loose.
Plans flipping on a dime like this.
Thanks to everyone's laid-back vibes.
Mostly the teacher and me.
At least when it comes to fun.
We followed the grandpa right away, grabbing gear. The teacher and I were total newbies, clueless, but luckily he'd join us.
We snagged two rods, bait, and headed to Jumunjin's breakwater.
The 5-year-old stands tall atop the breakwater.
105cm height, yet somehow casting a shadow.
Her ponytail whipping in the sea breeze? Lethal.
She gazes silently at the ocean, then slowly turns her head.
Points her tiny thumb—smaller than my index—at me.
Thumbs up.
Followed by one line.
"Oppa, Yunseul-i's gonna rule the fishies. Just watch."
Where does our 5-year-old pick up lines like that?
One more gem for the quote book.