Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Joker Captain (4)
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Jin-hyuk-ahhhh—. Sul-chan-ahhhh—. General-ahhhh—.
A voice calling from far away in the yard reached his ears.
Every time Jin-hyuk heard that voice, it felt like he was dreaming.
Whenever he saw his parents calling for him, he always felt the same way. It was like gazing at a pastoral sketch colored with heavenly sounds—a subtle warmth rising in his heart.
“Let's go.”
“Y-yeah. They're waitin'.”
The two friends, covered in red mosquito bites here and there, picked up a catfish and headed home. General, with his short legs soaked in belly mud, followed behind, carrying the red sunset on his back.
“Mom, what should we do with this?”
“Give it here.”
Han Yu-young took the catfish and skillfully threaded a string through its gills and mouth. The bound catfish would spend the night in the pond.
“I'll make spicy stew with sunjebi dumplings tomorrow morning.”
It was a death sentence for the catfish, but the three human males drooled at the thought.
“Amazing.”
Jo Sul-chan muttered.
The very experience of catching something with his own hands and turning it into food was novel to him.
Jin-hyuk felt proud at Sul-chan's reaction. Even if he'd taken the roundabout way, as long as he reached Seoul, it was fine. The result was roughly what he'd planned.
Son Jin-hyuk wasn't just playing around during vacation.
While Sul-chan played block-stacking with Yu-jin, Jin-hyuk discussed pesticide-alternative enzymes with his dad.
“Did you check the manufacturing conditions at other houses?”
“I did. The ingredients are all pretty much the same.”
“What about fermentation conditions? Like the growth environment—shouldn't identical environments yield similar enzyme performance?”
Son Gwang-yeon subtly shrank his neck.
He felt like he was getting scolded by his son for no reason.
“No, I just...”
His mumbling trailed off and eventually self-muted.
Jin-hyuk drew a table on the back of the wall calendar with a marker and started filling it in with a ballpoint pen.
Son Gwang-yeon followed along with his eyes and read the words being filled in.
“Temperature, humidity, time, additives...?”
Jin-hyuk wondered how this dad of his had even developed the enzyme in the first place.
He'd seen a movie called Red Sorghum where a drunk guy peed in the liquor vat and created amazing sorghum wine. Had Dad stumbled onto it by accident too?
'He didn't really pee in it, did he?'
But it was too consistent to chalk up to coincidence. Dad had used it for years with reliable effects—not just preventing pests but improving crop growth too. Their corn grew much taller than the neighbors', to the point where the cattle farmers pre-ordered the stalks for feed.
For Jin-hyuk, there was reason to unravel the mystery his genius dad couldn't explain.
A provision for the distant future, so to speak.
'To commercialize it, we need to solidify the recipe.'
They lived without want as a landlord and his son, but it felt wasteful to let Dad's talent rot. With his vow to do anything for happiness, discovering this gem felt like a bonus.
Everyone around him thriving and happy—that was Jin-hyuk's idea of success, not just making it solo.
'If Dad starts a business and makes money, I won't have to secretly sell land.'
To do that, they needed to secure universal trust in the alternative pesticide first. That meant gaining farmers' support on manufacturing and efficacy. Hence, spreading the technique to neighbors and encouraging their own tests. Nothing promoted like proven results on large-scale fields.
Jin-hyuk drew a long arrow representing a timeline at the top of the calendar and explained.
“...Like this. Standardizing the manufacturing environment comes first. Check the conditions you use every time, Dad. Set a daily schedule and log it. I'll help during break.”
“Mm. Okay. But Jin-hyuk.”
Son Gwang-yeon scratched his cheek and looked at his son.
“Where'd you learn all this?”
“Middle school has agriculture, tech subjects. Science too.”
Schools these days really teach practical stuff, Son Gwang-yeon thought, nodding. Sure, Jin-hyuk's ag textbook had helped with the yard fruit trees. That's why the white lie rang true.
Truth was, Dad knew the neighbors' issues too.
He just couldn't fathom why they couldn't replicate his results. Frustrating.
Back in college, Hong Gi-jun often called Son Gwang-yeon a genius.
The cold, curt young man would snort every time.
- “I'm not the genius.”
It's just that you guys are nothing special.
Recalling old times, Son Gwang-yeon shrank further.
'Ugh... I need a rat hole.'
Having a family and living contentedly had taught him happiness. How cocky and unlikeable he'd been back then. Shame hit anew. Watching his son pull thoughts from his head into charts, humility came to mind.
He stared at his son's face as he wrote and explained on the calendar.
'Looks just like his mom. To birth a kid like this—maybe she's the real genius?'
Then identical Yu-jin must be one too.
Wasn't tired lately, sleep was fine—maybe have one more?
“...Got it?”
“Huh?”
Oh no, he'd zoned out and missed his son's words.
Snapping back, his son eyed him thinly. Hated repeating himself twice. This kid was his, but had a scary edge somewhere.
“Dad, got it?”
“Hahaha! Of course. Dad knows it all.”
Thankfully not mad—mimicking his little sis. Not a great fit for the bearish boy, but gotta smile big anyway.
Thus, Son Gwang-yeon upheld his paternal authority today.
Eh, just keep doing as usual. If stuck, ask Il-heon hyung for help.
'Huh. Didn't know I hated catfish.'
Jin-hyuk confirmed his taste over breakfast.
He hadn't tried it before, so he'd been clueless.
Reminded him of eating eel with Hong Su-jeong near Gwanghwamun when she was planning team lead.
'Different fish, but why the same vibe.'
It tasted like dirt.
Even then, one bite and no more chopsticks for Jin-hyuk. Others ate fine—maybe his brain was weird, taste buds glitching? Hong Su-jeong had called him the type women love, a good guy sharing pricey eel.
'Eating dirt? That witch!'
Was it really just his palate?
Dad and Sul-chan shoveled rice and stew without breathing. Mom watched them fondly, then eyed Jin-hyuk worriedly.
“Why? Not tasty?”
“No. It's really good.”
The broth was fine.
Still unappetizing, so just one bowl of rice.
'Dirt dirt. Total dirt taste.'
Eating dirt daily? Yu-jin, unfazed by spice, mixed rice with catfish flesh and broth, munching cutely.
Han Yu-young topped Yu-jin's spoon with rinsed kimchi.
“Is it yummy, Yu-jin?”
“Yeah! Heehee. Tasty?”
Seeing that, Jin-hyuk vowed to catch catfish for his sister now and then.
The loaches collected from the traps the day before weighed about 10kg.
Time for the sales phase of their economic activity.
“Sul-chan, let's sell the loaches.”
“How much?”
“To the market.”
Health stores or loach soup joints worked, but they had steady suppliers, so prices weren't great.
The friends biked to town.
Sweaty again after fun? But vacation biking with a friend thrilled Sul-chan.
“Heh hek—go slower—.”
Daily commute for Jin-hyuk, but 10km taxed Sul-chan. They stopped at a corner store, downing cool colas. Bottled was best.
Short break, then Choco Bars in mouth, back on bikes.
“Gr—.”
“Gro—.”
At market, loaches fetched 3,000 won per kg.
Summer loaches were one-third winter price.
“You take it all, Sul-chan.”
“Wh-why give me all?”
“Consolation.”
You peed. Jin-hyuk kept that inside.
Getting it, Sul-chan blushed, giggled, pocketed three 10,000-won bills preciously.
“Sul-chan, gimbap before we go?”
One rice bowl left Jin-hyuk hungry.
“Sure, my treat. There's a tasty pork cutlet spot by the library—.”
“No!”
Uncharacteristically firm from Jin-hyuk.
He'd sworn off pork cutlet outside home for now.
“Okay...”
Sul-chan saw it as frugal friendship.
Two 1,000-won gimbap rolls with cold soybean sprout soup hit the spot.
Just rice topped with fillings, rolled in seaweed, sesame oil and seeds—why so good?
Watching Sul-chan chew heartily, Jin-hyuk spoke carefully.
“Sul-chan.”
“Yeah?”
“If something hard or tough happens, tell me anytime. No pride between friends. Not burdening you—just means a lot if you do.”
Worried about hurting feelings. Straight-shooter Jin-hyuk's best gentle effort.
Sul-chan pondered briefly? The chatterbox just grinned silently.
Not offended—good.
'You must want stuff too.'
Not cheap pity. Nor empty words. Kid or not, Jin-hyuk could help plenty. Gratitude to the friend treating him equal, crowning him Joker Captain.
'Seeing you's more admirable than old me.'
But what did Joker Captain mean?
Sarcastic nickname for his no-humor self?
Munching radish, Jin-hyuk tilted his head.
Sul-chan adored Yu-jin fiercely.
Jin-hyuk figured no siblings, but Sul-chan said others' sisters weren't this cute.
“Wow—how's a kid this doll-like? Miss Korea material—.”
Love for Yu-jin held, but post-Choi Mi-kyeong sighting, odd behavior. After she dropped fermented radish kimchi, Sul-chan switched to Seoul dialect.
“Jin-hyuk-ah—, Mom said give this to aunty.”
“Hellooo—. I'm Jo Sul-chan, Jin-hyuk's bestest friend—.”
“Hi.”
Mi-kyeong's eyes crescented in a grin.
Sul-chan turned to mush like a Mongol rider gutted by crescent blade.
Moon kept him sleepless.
Too tossy? Jin-hyuk, straight as board eyes shut, murmured advice.
“Can't sleep? Crash at General's.”
“Kukuku—.”
Morning, post-Jin-hyuk's Gu-bong Mountain summit, Sul-chan still out. Sleepless till dawn.
Then new target: Ice cream at Lee Hae-won's with Yu-jin, Sul-chan went weird again.
“Yu-jin, get whatever! Big bro Sul-chan buys all.”
“Yesss—.”
Why shout with no audience? Jin-hyuk couldn't fathom. Sul-chan's antics weren't new, so ignored.
“Man, why're all the girls here so pretty?”
Heading home holding Yu-jin's hand, Sul-chan marveled.
Jin-hyuk had no reply.
Just kids to him.
Jo Sul-chan's 2-night-3-day stay ended.
“Grandma's alone...”
Swallowing regret, he left.
Han Yu-young pocketed him allowance, urging frequent visits.
Sul-chan peeked at her, mumbling shyly.
Then Mom hugged tight with beaming smile; tears finally fell.
“Aigoo, come anytime you miss Mom, okay?”
“Th-thank you—.”
Declining profusely, but Dad started the car.
Jin-hyuk loaded a bike in the trunk—the one Sul-chan rode selling loaches.
“For short legs. Too low for me—knees hurt. Use for school.”
“Yeah, I'll take it.”
Jin-hyuk wordy? Meant minding feelings. Sul-chan, wise from stay, brushed it off casually.
In the moving car, peering out window, Sul-chan kept murmuring.
“Happiest ever...”
Not for ears.
How to word that long afterglow?
Fleeting happiness, yet Sul-chan's smile was vivid, not wistful.
“Thanks to Joker Captain—.”
Heading home, Jin-hyuk felt inexplicable satisfaction.
Parents' love to his friend rebounding to him.
'If I'd had people like this.'
In past life, if someone treated him so.
Would he have voiced happiness like Sul-chan?
Even briefly.
“Happy.”
He infused comfort into new days.
Praying it reached his past self on this day.
“Dad, how many kilos now?”
“Huh? 70.”
“Can you push 10 more?”
Vrooom—.
Son wants it, why not. Son Gwang-yeon sped up. Arm out window grabbing air—experimenting? But left hand groping chest? Deadly serious face, not joking.
'Kid, what're you thinking.'
Sometimes a mysterious son.