Dohwang-ri, My Hometown (1)
If one consistently ignores interest in the world, people will soon lose interest and wander off to find something more stimulating. But as the world changes, this traditional method no longer works. My silence is spreading the absurd idea that it's just because I'm shy.
Every time I see the bizarre fantasy that the cold hunter who used to pluck pigeon necks was actually a woman embarrassed by the world's interest, I wanted to shout right then and there.
"I am the woman raising three beastfolk daughters, you brats!"
But if I did that, they'd probably cling to me even more, thinking it's good. Raising three kids alone while fighting monsters for the world as a warrior woman? It was a story that could easily be consumed.
Now, people were starting to saunter into Dohwang-ri to see me once. If I kept hiding, it seemed like I'd be imposing on the village elders or the kids. So, rather than that, it would be better if I went out to the world first.
That said, I had no intention of cooperating with internet broadcasts chasing stimulation or hunter specialist channels. Rather, it would be better to show my face on the public broadcasting channel, which is so boring that even the elders change channels.
But, could I even go on the public broadcasting channel? For a single rural huntsman like me, there was no way the PD or cameraman would send to this village corner to film me.
Still, out of curiosity, I entered the homepage of the most boring public broadcasting company and sent a inquiry email. Along with a brief introduction about me, some photos floating on the internet and a few of my activity photos, and something like 'Although sudden interest is troublesome, if it's a public broadcasting company with some credibility, I am willing to respond to interviews or filming' — well, something like that.
It was a win-win. If ignored, fine; if they bite, even better.
After about four days like that, I was spending time idly at home, turning down hunting requests and deliveries for the elders. On cloudy days, I would walk the neighborhood with Eunseo in my arms, quite a homely life.
And finally, a reply arrived from the broadcasting company.
I had thought it would be at best a polite rejection email or a short video interview request. But the content of the email completely exceeded my expectations.
In a program I had never heard of, they were sending a filming team here. I opened my laptop and searched for the program name, and it turned out to be an old rural program I had done when I was young. Why didn't I know about it?
From the broadcasting company's perspective, it was like luck falling at their feet, and they were even urging me to reply as soon as possible.
Still... first, I had to get permission from the kids.
When I was eating a simple snack instead of lunch in the afternoon, I told the kids about the filming. Since the world is so troublesome, wouldn't a simple interview with the most boring and strictly censored public broadcasting company be okay?
Then, the kids burst into laughter simultaneously and teased me.
"Unnie! No matter how boring the place is, it's public broadcasting! They can smell special features like ghosts!"
"I know that program too. They came to interview in our neighborhood before and left."
While Poppi and Eunseo giggled and teased me, Nureongi just perked her ears silently without saying a word.
"You don't like it?"
"Eh? No! It's just... when the broadcasting people come, I don't know what to say!"
Nureongi seemed more concerned about what to do when it actually happened rather than the filming itself.
"If you want, I can make sure they can't enter the house at all."
"Yeah, good! The broadcasting uncles shouldn't just barge into a house full of girls!"
"Yes! Absolutely!"
"Uh... I don't think I can either."
Poppi and Eunseo, who have a girly sensibility, and Nureongi nodding along because others oppose.
Good, then I have to set the condition that filming inside the house is absolutely impossible.
The kids were generally in favor, so I replied to the broadcasting company. Absolutely no filming inside the house, and not disturbing the daily life of the Dohwang-ri elders. As long as these two conditions are met, I will cooperate with almost any filming, along with sending our house address.
And indeed, the next day, the broadcasting people came to our house.
That morning, I had to welcome the broadcasting staff in my pajamas without even changing into makeup or work clothes. Fortunately, there was only one camera and a few staff members, and one broadcasting van, without any noisy filming equipment or strange sets. They seemed to be people who had filmed rural scenes before.
A man who looked like the PD approached me with a smooth smile.
"Hello. This time, the filming... um, my name is Jang..."
"Just call me Jang Yeopsa."
When I cut him off, a small laugh escaped from the broadcasting staff around me.
"Not Jang Sajeong... there's no need to send my name nationwide, right?"
With a sly smile, I said, and the PD nodded with a big smile.
"So... what are you planning to do? Why did you come without any plans? Since I haven't received any hunting requests, I can't show you scenes like plucking pigeon necks."
"Haha! We are not a team that chases only stimulating things! We are a team that captures the beautiful countryside and nature of the whole country."
Seeing him speak with quite some confidence, he seemed to have affection for his own broadcast. His face was half like a parasite uncle, but his hair was parted in a way that the elders like, meek.
I sat on the porch in the yard, listening to the PD's explanation of the filming plan. The filming period was to be kept as short as possible so as not to disturb my daily life. A simple interview about me, shooting with the gun, and finally my usual everyday appearance would be enough.
"Everyday filming? But I don't want the kids at my house to appear on TV."
"Ah! You have kids?"
The PD looked surprised, thinking I was a married woman.
"Not my kids, but the kids I am temporarily protecting."
"Then... I see. Instead, do you have any places you frequently visit?"
"Places... I often go to the village hall."
"For what main reasons do you visit the village hall?"
"Well~ In this neighborhood, the only entertainment is chatting with the elders or sharing food..."
"Ah ha! So you moved back to the countryside?"
"Um... well, if it's moving back, then it's moving back."
The PD smiled brightly, thinking something was good, and scribbled something in his notebook absentmindedly.
"Then, shall we start with the shooting?"
"Ah, by any chance, is the gun...?"
"Of course, it's sleeping at the substation. What kind of hunter am I, would I keep a gun at home."
"Ah! That's right...! As expected of Jang Yeopsa."
Whenever I saw the PD laughing leisurely "heh heh", I wanted to pinch his cheeks, but for now, I held it in and moved on.
I got into the truck driver's seat to go to the substation. Two guys sat in the passenger seat next to me, so the already narrow driver's seat was packed. The cameraman squeezed into the back seat and held the camera up, which was burdensome, but I endured.
"From here, filming will begin."
When the PD's words fell, the red light on the camera's recording button lit up.
"Then, let's start."
I skillfully started the ignition and exited the narrow yard, and the PD showed a rather surprised expression.
"The truck... handles very well?"
"When living in the countryside... you learn everything."
"Did you drive a truck often in the past?"
"No. I also prefer taking taxis originally."
The PD laughed heartily at my answer.
The PD looked around the car, then discovered the colorful stickers on the dashboard that Nureongi and Poppi had stuck on. He gave a signal to the cameraman. Of course, you wouldn't miss these.
"There are cute stickers?"
"Ah, our kids put them on. We take this truck to the city often."
"By the way, how old are the kids?"
"Um... now three and one?"
"What? Three years old??"
The PD's eyes widened.
"Ah, the age when we came to our house. Legally, it's around sixteen."
"Ah...! So these are immigrant kids?"
"Yes."
One is a minor, and the others are humans who became animals, but I didn't want to say that far.
After that, I received the PD's trivial questions as politely as possible, trying to extract as much footage as possible. Still, I hadn't done pigeon neck plucking sounds or private questions that are bothersome.
Upon arriving at the substation, since a filming cooperation request had already come in, another filming team was already there.
"Another filming team?"
"Yes! Ours is the close-up interview team, and the other side is the general interview team."
"General interview team?"
"A team that asks Jang Yeopsa about briefly or films the scenery around Dohwang-ri."
I just smiled and answered, then got out of the truck and entered the substation.
Then, the police inside spotted me and started giggling and laughing.
"Can I take out the firearm?"
"Yes, Jang Yeopsa. What is the purpose of use?"
"I am going to the shooting range."
"Then, please sign here. And the required amount of ammunition."
The police, conscious of the filming, sent the young Officer Lee with the half face in front of the camera.
This time, perhaps because I didn't tease Officer Lee and spoke gently, his expression was a bit strange, but he, considering me, brought the gun case out of the armory without a word.
'Eh... they even disassembled it. I'm grateful, but.'
"Thank you, Officer Lee."
"... Thank you for your hard work."
It was a completely soul-less greeting, but the broadcasting staff found even that interesting and filmed it with curious eyes.
To not bother the substation people anymore, I quickly opened the gun case, checked the contents, and took the ammo box with me and exited the substation.
"Now, where are you going?"
"The shooting range. Guns lose their feel quickly if not held in hand, so it's good to always practice."
Perhaps because I handled the broadcast line skillfully, the PD's face brightened.
After dealing with arbitrary rural elders, meeting a young, cooperative person in filming was good.
"Ah, and..."
With a sly smile, I lightly lifted the heavy gun case and loaded it into the truck, the PD's face slightly paled.
"The shooting range is in a deep mountain, so everyone be careful."
"Not riding? It won't be late."
"Ah...! Yes! I'll get on right away!"
Seeing the filming team dazed for a moment and then hurriedly getting into the truck, it was somewhat amusing that they were so out of it.
Although this place is said to be one of the safest in Korea, they weren't that dazed.
I just watched them in the rearview mirror, trying to find a seat, and smiled quietly.