Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: The Wind Blows (5)
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Stubborn as she was, Mom finally relented, and they headed to a big hospital in the city.
Yu Se-ra pitched in to help.
She argued that suddenly getting better was even more suspicious.
"I'll watch Yu-jin, so go while the weather's nice."
"Yes, sister-in-law..."
Han Yu-young was usually quiet and impossible to budge, but around Yu Se-ra, she turned into a meek lamb.
With Yu Se-ra's backup, Jin-hyuk grabbed Mom's arm and pulled her along. He thought to himself that Seoul folks were the best at talking their way through things with that smooth, persistent chatter.
Out of nowhere, they drew blood and took a urine sample.
They did X-rays and ultrasounds too.
The doctors said it might be overkill and unnecessary, but Jin-hyuk insisted.
"Do it. Still do it. Do it no matter what. Dad's paying."
Son Gwang-yeon just nodded vigorously, his eyes saying, I have plenty of money.
The doctor couldn't ignore the piercing stares from Jin-hyuk and Son Gwang-yeon and started asking questions.
"Any dizziness—?"
"No."
"Nausea or—?"
"No."
Han Yu-young shook her head firmly. She really wasn't sick anywhere. She'd already visited several hospitals just for a cough over the past few days. Between her husband and son's fussing, she'd gotten six shots, and her butt was numb. One more, and she might snap.
After the questionnaire and a full checkup, the doctor hesitantly spoke up.
"Um... sorry, but exactly what's wrong?"
"I'm really fine. These guys dragged me here. Doctor, help me out."
Han Yu-young wailed as if she'd been waiting for this. She clutched the doctor's sleeve, pointing at her husband and son with an aggrieved expression. It was an Oscar-worthy performance, dripping with desperate pathos.
From her perspective—peeling a tangerine and watching TV before being hauled off—it was a perfectly reasonable reaction.
Especially after having blood drawn.
To an outsider, it might look like human trafficking. And with all the news about women and children being abducted, they'd have no defense. Last night's evening news had led with a high school girl kidnapping case.
The doctor sighed, looking at the strikingly similar family.
"Look, other hospitals said it's just a cold. You can trust that."
It was a plea for them to listen.
People from this area were notorious for hospital-hopping—visiting every clinic around before finally going to a big city hospital, even for a cold or old age ailments. And to the doctor, this patient looked healthier than him.
"Yes..."
"Sorry..."
Son Gwang-yeon and Jin-hyuk bowed their heads.
All they got was a lesson not to underestimate rural clinics. They'd come just in case, only to get side-eyed for bringing a perfectly healthy young person.
Overprotective? So what! What's wrong with me being overprotective of my mom!
They said coughs and colds spread a lot in the warm, dry winter air. This year was especially bad. Some blamed parents cranking up indoor heat too high for their babies.
But even the doctor couldn't explain why the cough suddenly vanished and her voice returned to normal.
"I don't really know... Must've been some mix-up—."
The doctor shut his mouth. The skeptical glares made him feel like a quack.
Promising to return for the blood and urine test results, the family turned to leave.
Jin-hyuk felt relieved after hearing the doctor's opinion firsthand, pinches and all. The results would surely be fine. Maybe he'd dragged Mom here just to reassure himself.
Though Dad insisting on a shot in the butt now that they were at a big hospital was still weird.
"Urgh—! Hiss—."
Dad might be a masochist. Watching him grimace and rub his butt, Jin-hyuk narrowed his eyes.
"Oppa—!"
Waaah—.
Hong Su-jeong slammed her hands on the car window and sobbed.
Yu Se-ra seemed used to it now, arms crossed casually in the passenger seat.
She's eight already—how long is she gonna cry like that? If she's gonna bawl, she shouldn't have come. Jin-hyuk let out a long sigh, pretending it didn't bother him.
Watching Hong Gi-jun's family drive off meant school would start soon.
The long but most fun fifth grade was coming to an end.
"Jin-hyuk, did you finish your homework?"
"Yes."
He hadn't done the essay yet, but he brushed it off.
He didn't want to repeat last summer break's agony.
Dad's "genre" throws were too much for Jin-hyuk to handle.
The cozy winter weather turned brutally cold right as spring break hit.
It was harsher than the chill Mom had been giving off after her perfect test results.
The only one free from that frost was Yu Se-ra, who'd returned to Seoul.
Even if flower frost came early during spring break, this year as a sixth-grader, it felt extreme. Jin-hyuk, who used to climb Gu-bong Mountain even in rain or snow, holed up at home, only hanging out with his sister.
Three warm days, four cold—they said. Still winter, huh?
On the third day of seclusion, he stepped out to exercise but shook his head. Still freezing. Around -10°C, but the wind chill was brutal. The drop from mild to subzero made it feel even worse.
Good health and growth spurts aside, climbing in this sudden cold was risky.
So, Jin-hyuk decided to pick up dog poop instead.
Damn.
He scooped up General's pristine turd—frozen solid like a brick mere minutes after hitting the ground. At this cold, sparrows invading the warm vinyl greenhouse was a real risk.
Dad's gonna drool again.
Lock it down tight!
He checked the greenhouse. All clear on duty.
Jin-hyuk had a recent worry.
General used to have a designated furrow for his business. Lately, though, he went right by his doghouse. Couldn't blame just the cold—it started way before. Like he was showing off around his house.
"General, you've changed."
Heh heh het—.
Even when Jin-hyuk grumbled hurtfully, General just grinned and wagged his tail. Poop and plum blossoms—they said. Maybe the saying existed for General.
No pain, vet said. Why's he doing this?
Watching a once-smart dog soil indiscriminately wasn't pleasant. Suspecting illness, he'd called the vet two days ago. Luckily, the vet was there for Kim Eun-jeong's cow insemination, so he asked him to check General.
—"Whoa, handsome boy. Hold still—?"
The vet examined General's eyes, nose, teeth, and even anus meticulously. When he jabbed a thin plastic stick in and sniffed, the whole family cringed.
But the vet was a pro. Eyes closed, head slowly tilting side to side as he savored the scent—he was more perfumer than vet. Even without the name Park Bu-ro, his expertise shone.
Finally, Park Bu-ro checked General's muscular legs. Ooh— he marveled. Short dog legs, but forged from steel fibers—pure muscle.
Park Bu-ro delivered his verdict.
—"Huh, healthiest mutt in 25 years. Could swear it's a lion—."
Separate from the "mutt" remark that made General growl, Jin-hyuk relaxed. No communication issues either.
Anyway, this family-like friend couldn't get sick.
So why change bathrooms?
If only he could read minds. General understood Jin-hyuk; Jin-hyuk didn't get dog-speak.
"Go over there, man."
Heh hek—.
He scolded, pointing to the old furrow, but General just lolled his tongue and wagged.
The next day, the weather cleared like magic.
Three warm, four cold—spot on.
Icicles dripped, pitting the eaves below.
After cleanup, Jin-hyuk headed to Gu-bong Mountain.
General seemed to understand—he was sprawled in that furrow.
Did he get it?
Nope.
Just lying in the pointed furrow, still pooping by his house. He'd said go there to poop, not nap. Poor communication frustrated Jin-hyuk.
Back at Sein Group, if someone didn't get it after one explanation, he'd mentally downgrade them. Never showed it. Now, he realized he'd treated them like dogs or monkeys for not getting it. Even knowing they played dumb to slack off, regret sprouted.
Petty, inhuman.
Embarrassing.
Hormones again? It led to more self-reflection.
Dog poop causing this?
What was so special about dog poop to spark philosophy? Dog Poop Philosophy—that why?
Jin-hyuk softened, calling out.
"General, buddy, wanna hike?"
Emotional rift between dog and man? General ignored him.
Blatant dog-snub.
Even as Jin-hyuk ran uphill, General stayed put.
Jin-hyuk felt hurt.
Daily hiking partner ghosting him—natural. Hormones again, probably.
"No more scolding."
He muttered, sprinting to Gu-bong Mountain.
Running, he rolled shoulders, threw punches—venting hurt and apology into the air. Fists whistled—whoosh whoosh.
Gu-bong had more rocks than dirt. Uneven course. Even woodcutters avoided it long ago. In a year of climbing, Jin-hyuk met maybe ten people. Sparse hikers anyway.
Drank at the spring, summited, took in views.
City northeast, sea west.
Southwest—his village.
No one's around?
Glanced like armed infiltrator.
No one to judge, but yelling felt embarrassing.
Still not used to asserting presence.
Ahem! Ahh—.
"Yoo-hoo—!"
Yoo-hooo—.
Mountains echoed his child voice perfectly, undistorted.
"Hee hee—."
Quick scan—no watchers.
Thrilling, like stealing. Used to hold back to not scare wildlife. Soon, news again. Torment 'em before it becomes common sense.
No critics yet—rebellion thrilled him.
Lonely.
No General's long wolf howls beside him. All hormones' fault.
Yelled, now home time. Tail-wag apology to General.
Cozy weather? Fog rolled in thick.
Not yet noon, but blue sky darkened like dusk.
Weird weather.
Common on coast. Still, hurry back for safety.
Passing steep slope to mid-level plateau—familiar face.
Unexpected.
"...Grandma."
Choi Mi-kyeong's grandmother.
No cane, effortless, serene as she climbed.
Not work pants—elegant poise. Evoked fairy-tale woodcutter's winged robe.
Dusted off her spot?
Dad mentioned recently: hadn't left bed over a month.
Straight back unlike usual, wrinkled skin now elastic. Sun-baked farm skin pale and smooth like makeup. Should be unrecognizable, yet Jin-hyuk knew instantly. Beyond resemblance—instinct.
"It's our Jin-hyuk."
Mi-kyeong's grandma smiled warmly.
Sudden chill wind blew.
Jin-hyuk felt her voice rumble deep.
Sudden weather shift, alien grandma, hazy mind like drugged. Suspecting, his head cooled rationally.
Might be a fateful encounter.
Calm, fearless.
Experienced death, returned from past—no greater mystery.
Bold Jin-hyuk chose curiosity over flight.
"You okay? Where to?"
"Got somewhere to be, so I dolled up."
Grandma sat on wide rock, patting beside.
Jin-hyuk sat cautiously; she launched into story like unwrapping a bundle.
"I was born beyond this mountain, in the cornfield village—. Fled the Japs at fifteen, married in... Friends got dragged off by 'em..."
Jin-hyuk's face went blank as the tales poured out.
He looked just like a city bumpkin.