Chapter 102
Chapter 102
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: The Right Person (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Long ago, he'd heard it from his friends.
Something about how someone in an awkward position at home, like an unmarried uncle or aunt, ends up taking care of the kids?
'No matter where I go, my role is babysitter.'
Jin-hyuk became acutely aware of his own awkward position. The age gap with his parents wasn't that large, so in a way, it was only natural. Still, having a sense of belonging filled him with pride. A smile refused to leave his lips as he watched the frolicking kids.
Well, the kids were playing well among themselves, so this wasn't so bad. Jin-hyuk disliked crowded places like department stores, marts, or movie theaters anyway.
It was a pleasant peace.
'Days like this, where I do nothing and just rest, are rare enough to count on one hand.'
Whether exercise or studying, he always spent his time doing something.
To forget the pain by focusing on one thing.
But after returning, he'd been busy living to protect something.
'You can't have peace just by sitting still.'
It wouldn't be bad if time stopped like this, but he knew better.
Time wouldn't wait, and while Jin-hyuk rested, someone else might be scheming in the shadows.
From now on, there would be even more things to watch out for, and life would get busier.
Still, to enjoy satisfying rests like this occasionally, he needed people under him.
He'd unexpectedly gotten advice from Hong Su-jeong, who used to be the managing director.
True to form, she'd been hesitant and cautious, glancing at him nervously before speaking.
- "Um... We didn't hire you as team leader to handle everything yourself. You have to know how to use people. That's what a leader does—I think. Finding each person's strengths and placing them where they're needed most is a leader's first step. That's what Dad—the Chairman—always says."
Those words had made Jin-hyuk, who was aggressively diving into documents and data, look up and see people. Recalling the pint-sized managing director groveling to her subordinate while saying what a general should, he couldn't help but chuckle.
'Yeah, Su-jeong. You're right.'
Jin-hyuk looked up to watch Hong Su-jeong playing with Pommy.
They called that disc a Frisbee. When Hong Su-jeong threw it, Pommy would dash over and catch it in her mouth—sometimes snatching it mid-air before it even hit the ground, she was so skilled.
'Whoa, impressive.'
Just watching made him clap involuntarily.
To think he'd witness something he'd only seen on TV in real life. It felt as novel as spotting a celebrity on the street.
"Kahaha—."
Yu-jin hopped around beside Hong Su-jeong, clapping her hands.
Other kids might have begged to try it themselves, but Yu-jin didn't seem the greedy type.
Heheheh—.
General chased after it eagerly too, but his short legs meant he couldn't keep up with Pommy.
Pitying him, Hong Su-jeong tossed the Frisbee his way.
"Catch it, General!"
Keong—!
General startled at the sudden flying disc smacking his nose. He rolled once on the grass before bolting straight into Pommy's doghouse to hide.
'Sigh, that scaredy-cat.'
Even the mighty Two Nae-ri guard dog, General, hid from unfamiliar objects. Still, watching him run around so hard made Jin-hyuk think he should make a Frisbee to play with him. Dogs loved playtime like that, not just daily runs. He could bend plywood or cardboard into a circle. Paint can lids were round and perfect, but they might hurt if they hit General.
"Yu-jin wants to try—."
"Yes—, ehehehe—."
Yu-jin politely received the Frisbee with both hands.
After playing energetically for a while, Hong Su-jeong panted toward Jin-hyuk, tongue lolling like a dog.
"Huff huff—, Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"You're gonna marry me, right?"
Twang—. A pot lid clanging against his eardrums.
Was this the straight-ball marriage proposal he'd only heard about?
It wasn't his first time hearing it from the kid, so he wasn't flustered. But figuring out how to respond each time was still tricky for Jin-hyuk.
Screw it, just get through this with a yes? Too insincere. Firmly say no since who knows the future? But that might hurt the kid's feelings.
A genius who couldn't muster a single word to a kid's question...
"You saw me working so hard. So you have to marry me."
"Important?"
"Uhuhung, something like that. Even if you don't know."
What logic was that—important but okay not to know?
Hong Su-jeong smirked at him with narrowed eyes before spinning away.
Well, she said her piece and ran back to Yu-jin, so apparently no answer needed. Lucky escape from an awkward spot, he supposed.
'Kids are impossible to figure out.'
Jin-hyuk didn't dwell on it anyway, but it nagged a bit. Chasing after the kid to demand an explanation would just look ridiculous, so he scratched the back of his head.
While peeing in the field, Dad had once said:
- "It's easier for a guy to get tied down. Women are smarter."
Right or wrong aside, getting tied down didn't sound bad.
Over two lifetimes, the one showing attachment—betraying that felt wrong.
Jin-hyuk nodded and shot to his feet, clapping.
"Hooray—! Good job, my little sis!"
"Ehehehe—."
Yu-jin launched herself more than the Frisbee. Like it pulled her, she'd tumble onto the grass every throw.
'No lawn at our country house.'
She seemed to enjoy rolling on the soft grass more than throwing.
Kids love lawns, huh. Should lay one down near the house. Dad would handle the paperwork. As Jin-hyuk pondered, an amusing sight caught his eye.
Pommy, who had been watching curiously with her head tilted, started rolling with Yu-jin.
"Kahahaha—. Fun, right Pommy?"
His adorable little sister was cute no matter what she did.
Jin-hyuk passed the time clapping as he watched Yu-jin's teddy-bear antics.
About an hour later, Hong Su-jeong and Yu-jin finally ran out of battery, sprawling on the grass.
General and Pommy were busy licking each other's muzzles. Did they have honey on them or what?
Jin-hyuk recalled his upcoming schedule, and his lower belly started to ache faintly.
'Midterms start next next Tuesday?'
Taking tests was fun, but preparing was stressful.
Partings are always tough.
"Unnie, can't I live here?"
"Ohoho— Sure, live here with me."
Han Yu-young pried away the reluctant feet.
Watching his unfamiliar mom's reaction, Jin-hyuk thought women preferred the city after all. Or maybe just department stores.
'Without Yu-jin, she might really stay.'
The most reluctant to part was General.
Reluctant to leave Pommy, he kept licking her butt and wouldn't let go.
"General lives here. We're going."
At Son Gwang-yeon's words, General dragged his heavy paws into the car.
Wooral—!
Gazing out at Pommy with a farewell, his tail didn't wag for once. General looked sad.
Han Yu-young, now in the car, pouted her lips.
She clutched a shopping bag emblazoned with a big department store logo.
"We need a driver."
"Soon. Just hold on a bit."
Son Gwang-yeon, who had already picked a bodyguard dedicated to Han Yu-young, flashed a rare Seoul-man grin.
The car carrying the five family members—including General—finally headed home, with two sedans waiting in the distance following behind.
No sooner had they hit the main road than one sedan skillfully cut in front of Son Gwang-yeon's car.
They finished their short 1-night, 2-day Seoul trip and arrived home.
Though brief in time, it felt like a week to Jin-hyuk. That's how much mental energy it'd drained.
Say what you will, home was best. Even living alone, stepping into his officetel had eased his mind. Apparently not just a human feeling. Even that clueless thunderbolt-headed General rubbed his whole body against the oak tree to show affection.
"Dad, you worked hard."
"Yeah. You too, Jin-hyuk."
Dad looked exhausted from the long drive.
A bit over 100km. They'd taken the Gyeongbu Expressway down, exited in Gyeonggi, and switched to national roads heading west. Over three hours by car, and he'd heard many truckers commuted that daily.
Mom voiced the same thought obliquely to Dad.
"5-ton drivers must have it really rough."
"Yeah. They run at dawn to avoid traffic, but it's no joke."
Son Gwang-yeon's farm wasn't just rice paddies and fields. From flowers to scallions, green onions, water parsley—over ten crops supplied daily to Garak-dong and Yangjae-dong via year-round greenhouse farming.
Land-rich, but land alone didn't generate cash flow, so he'd developed cash crops, expanding the business. That's why big money rolled in, earning him true rich-man status.
Anyway, over twenty 5-ton truckers hauled those crops daily via Sapgyo Stream and Asan Bay Reclamation Dike to Seoul.
"They're all owner-operators, but we need to think of ways to help."
Son Gwang-yeon was a good man. No greed for money or status. His only desire was for Han Yu-young.
His capacity and vessel made success possible. He loved sharing prosperity with neighbors—saving good seeds instead of selling all, skipping rent in bad harvest years.
Even now, thinking of those self-employed trucker bosses who were technically strangers and clients.
"Any good ideas?"
Son Gwang-yeon muttered like to himself, eyeing Jin-hyuk—an overt request for his smart son's input.
"All the truckers owner-operators?"
"Yep. All their own trucks. Company drivers buy theirs too."
"Lots of work from your land?"
"Invoices and ledgers show twenty guys work twenty days a month. That's why we use independents besides trucking firms."
Pleased by Jin-hyuk's interest—forgetting driving fatigue?—Son Gwang-yeon sat on the porch bench.
Petting General mud-bathing under the oak, Jin-hyuk asked.
"Hiring them directly impossible?"
"Yeah. Bad for them—loses freelance gigs."
Affiliation meant steady income but no extras. Details involved unreported cash fares, tedious stuff.
How to explain to his dear son? Jin-hyuk dispelled Dad's worry instantly.
"Freelancers pick profitable jobs, lots of unreported income too."
"Uh, yeah—exactly."
Felt like skipped steps, but nailed the core, so Son Gwang-yeon nodded.
"Join a company, less work, taxed income, main perk health insurance."
"Uh, yeah. Right."
Health insurance wasn't much. Trucker associations offered zilch real benefits.
Ultimately, company truckers sought steady loads and fares—choice for those low on experience, networks, clients.
"Can't solve till employer buys trucks and hires drivers."
"Yep. Once experienced and saved, they'll go independent."
No conclusion yet.
But solutions depend on approach.
"There are ways. Just find them. Let experienced ones go independent. Make the job attractive, applicants come."
"Pay well?"
Jin-hyuk nodded.
"Company handles taxes, accounting during employment—tempts them to stay, fewer leave."
Freelance hassles indescribable.
Everything from bids to paperwork solo. That's why many stuck with firms despite steady gigs being main draw.
World changes, cash deals dwindle.
Companies need tax invoices, so fewer pure-cash independents; more firm usage. Then hiring drivers as employees works.
Jin-hyuk's passion for transport staff clear.
"Logistics network basic for big ventures."
Tired but eyes sparkling at his son, Son Gwang-yeon felt roles reversed.
'Last year, I was saying stuff like that.'
Middle schools teach a ton now. No cram school, no tutoring, yet top of school—makes sense.
Son Gwang-yeon recalled top college entrance exam interviewees.
'Stuck to school classes and textbooks.'
Used to think BS. He'd tried, got top in Korea Univ business—not nationwide. Now he believed. Proof grooming fleas right there.
Pop—. Huh, scratched a tick with fingernail.
Eeek—, gross scene twisted Son Gwang-yeon's face.
Jin-hyuk jotted and sketched his meetings with Dad on the calendar back whenever free.
Never realized before—nothing bigger, sturdier than wall calendars.
The two men's heated discussions continued days.
Even over dinner.
Son Gwang-yeon felt like chatting with Hong Gi-jun. Smart or not, middle school knowledge? Real insight for a kid? Doubts arose.
"Corporate-ize."
Jin-hyuk nodded, murmuring.
Tenants, outsourcing labor—not bad, profitable. But corporatizing systematized farming, wealth distribution. Back to original plan.
A good corporation, of course.
"Su-jeong's dad offered help—can prepare thoroughly."
"System matters, but items key too."
Add logistics, welfare for truckers, redistribute wealth? Sparked by Dad's tired long-drive look, now diversifying unborn business.
Son Gwang-yeon thumped chest like choking. Gulped water, eyed son on third rice bowl.
'Might not need Gi-jun's help?'
Items...
Need extra warehouse, factory site applications.
Cold storage elsewhere means squeezing Gi-jun hard...
"Anyway, Jin-hyuk, how about school by car now?"
"I'm fine."
Meant pick bodyguard, but unnecessary for Jin-hyuk.
Bodyguard for country middle-schooler? Awkward obvious.
He had someone in mind anyway.
"Still—."
Drrring—.
As Son Gwang-yeon tried speaking, phone rang.
"I'll get it."
Jin-hyuk hurried mouth full to phone.
Worried waking soundly sleeping Yu-jin on Mom's lap, inexplicable gut he should answer.
"Hello?"
Taking the call, Jin-hyuk fully turned back to parents, adjusting posture.
It was a call from Mun Seok-il.