Taesu found himself reconsidering leadership as he listened to his words.
Old Man Wang drank his tea without rushing him.
It was then, as such silence flowed.
A knocking sound was heard.
Knock, knock.
"Uncle, it's Nosik."
At Village Chief Jeon Nosik's voice, Old Man Wang immediately replied.
"Come in."
Creak.
The door opened, and Village Chief Jeon Nosik, upon entering, discovered Taesu.
"Ah, Teacher Choe was here."
"Yes, Chief. I was having a cup of tea."
Taesu lightly raised the teacup he had merely been holding.
Village Chief Jeon Nosik nodded and looked back at Old Man Wang, speaking politely.
"Uncle, I've prepared your bathwater."
"What, all this fuss about taking a bath in the middle of winter?"
"You should do it at least once before the year changes."
"It might be nice while bathing, but I'll freeze to death when it's over."
Old Man Wang shook his head as if blowing cold winds.
But Village Chief Jeon Nosik, who had already approached close by, smiled broadly and said,
"The water has cooled."
"Oh, you rascal."
"Shall I bring it inside the house altogether?"
"This fellow is even threatening me now."
"Let's go. Hurry."
Village Chief Jeon Nosik grabbed his arm and urged him on.
Unable to overcome his insistence, Old Man Wang eventually stood up.
"Alright. Let's go, let's go."
"I'll support you."
"Do you think I don't even have the strength to walk?"
"I know you do. Of course I know. Now, let's go."
Village Chief Jeon Nosik said he knew, yet supported Old Man Wang as they went outside.
They truly seemed like an uncle and nephew.
Having known each other for over fifty years, that bickering came naturally.
Taesu followed behind them, unable to finish organizing his thoughts.
In the front yard, a large jar in which he had personally bathed yesterday was placed.
A fire was burning, and Gang Yeonghun and several villagers were standing around waiting.
When they saw Old Man Wang, they bowed their heads deeply in greeting.
"Elder, you've come out."
"Everything is ready."
Despite the polite greetings, Old Man Wang's expression remained full of displeasure.
"You didn't wash the children first."
"The elder goes first."
"Everyone has work to do, what is all this......."
"The bath is more important."
Village Chief Jeon Nosik cut off Old Man Wang's complaints with a direct block.
Meanwhile, Old Man Wang approached the front of the jar.
Gang Yeonghun and the waiting villagers rushed over and said,
"Give me your cane here."
"You can put your arm around my shoulder."
"Now, now, slowly....... slowly."
Step. Step.
Everyone combined their strength to guide Old Man Wang to the bath jar.
A footstool was even prepared, showing they had taken great care for Old Man Wang's convenience.
Old Man Wang's gaze, while bathing, turned to the side.
It was the place where Gang Yeonghun and the villagers were waiting.
Perhaps seeing their injured appearances here and there, Old Man Wang spoke in a regretful voice.
"All of you, be careful."
"Yes. We will certainly be careful."
"So, does it hurt a lot?"
Old Man Wang asked in a subtly passing tone.
They replied awkwardly.
"Just a little."
"Aigoo. Yeonghun, you definitely got hurt messing around. Right?"
"Ahem. Well."
Gang Yeonghun flinched and averted his gaze.
Old Man Wang immediately glanced at Bak Gyeongsu, who had gotten an earful from Taesu two days ago.
"Gyeongsu. You must have gotten hurt from being clumsy, isn't that right?"
"I really tried to avoid it, I did."
"Excuses, ptooey."
"I was wrong. I was clumsy."
Bak Gyeongsu couldn't utter a single word of protest and apologized again.
Old Man Wang was merely scolding them.
Depending on the atmosphere he led with, a cold wave would surge, or a warm breeze would blow softly.
Taesu's expression turned serious as he watched.
What was it?
A different kind of charisma from Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon could be felt.
It felt that fresh to Taesu.
Unlike the obvious age gap, no wall could be felt.
Needless to say, everyone respected Old Man Wang.
On the other hand, Old Man Wang also treated everyone without pretense, like his own children, or like nephews.
Taesu took in such an Old Man Wang deeply with both eyes.
Was there something to learn?
He had to learn.
It was after Old Man Wang's bath.
Only Old Man Wang and Taesu were seated in the warmed house.
Old Man Wang repeatedly wiped the sweat breaking out from the heat with a wide cotton cloth.
Swish, swish.
"Phew. That's enough."
As expected for his age, bathing didn't seem easy.
And yet, earlier, he hadn't said anything to Village Chief Jeon Nosik and the villagers.
Taesu watched and spoke in a low voice.
"I'm beginning to understand little by little the advice you gave me earlier."
"Can you say such things even while watching me struggle?"
"A conversation must be concluded. Thank you for the advice."
Bow.
When Taesu bowed his head, Old Man Wang was pleased.
"I thought you were just stubborn because you're young, but it seems your ears are quite open."
"I have heard that I'm rather precocious."
"Looking at your face, you indeed seem so."
Perhaps feeling better from the bath, Old Man Wang cracked a joke.
At those words, Taesu immediately changed.
Snap.
Taesu, pulling out a stethoscope, smiled deeply.
"You seem to be perking up, so I should examine you now."
"Oh, my weary body."
"It's too late for that already."
"Oh dear. I'm collapsing. Call the kids over, let me leave my will."
Old Man Wang played his trump card, but Taesu didn't bat an eye.
"You seem to have plenty of time to leave a will, so now just accept the examination obediently."
"I'm saying I'll be gone soon."
"Even if you're going, get examined before you go."
At Taesu's words, Old Man Wang glared with all his might.
"What did you say? Such an ill-mannered fellow."
"You're very spirited."
"Oh dear me."
"It's not going to work. I'm doing this by force."
Taesu put the stethoscope in his ears and immediately began auscultation.
He placed the chest piece on his chest with vigor, but soon Taesu's expression sank heavily.
Thump, thu—... thump.
The heartbeat was far too weak.
It was to the extent that he could be classified as a critical patient immediately.
"Hmm."
"If that's the case, why are you making such a fuss? Hmph."
Old Man Wang turned his head to the side with a bitter expression.
"…….."
Taesu moved the chest piece and quietly continued the basic examination.
About ten or so minutes passed.
Taesu, who had organized his medical tools, looked at Old Man Wang.
His expression was far too somber.
The examination results were just that bad.
Regarding that, Old Man Wang spoke in a low reproach first.
"If it's like that, why are you straining yourself to examine me?"
"I need to know. I have to know so I can prepare, don't I?"
"So, how is it?"
Old Man Wang asked with a rather serious expression.
As it was a matter related to his own death, he could not be negligent.
Taesu was the same.
He carefully spoke the results of his analysis, adding the knowledge of Caprene based on the basic examination.
"To be honest, we're looking at next year at the latest."
"Does that mean I'll get past this year?"
"Probably."
Confidence fell from Taesu's voice.
Old Man Wang immediately pointed that out.
"Why is your voice shrinking?"
"Ahem. More importantly, what will you do? Will you tell them?"
When Taesu asked, Old Man Wang lightly shook his head.
"Let's leave it for now. When the time comes that I can no longer hide it, it won't be too late to speak then."
"If not others, you should at least tell your younger brothers."
"We've known each other for over half a century, that's enough. Why should I let them see such an unsightly end?"
"They will be hurt."
Taesu cautiously stated his opinion.
But Old Man Wang firmly refused.
"Don't even think of telling them. Those good-for-nothing fellows might cause a fuss trying to chase after me all the way there."
"I'll stay quiet until you give me permission."
"You should."
"Is there anything I can help with in terms of settling your affairs?"
When Taesu cautiously asked, Old Man Wang shook his head.
"Settling affairs? There's nothing like that."
"Understood."
"Phew. I seem to be drained from bathing. I should lie down for a bit."
Rustle.
Old Man Wang slowly leaned his body and lay down on the bedding.
"Phew, phew."
Slightly rough breathing continued.
Taesu found it heartbreaking.
Truthfully, in his current physical condition, bathing wasn't that good for him.
Old Man Wang must have known instinctively, yet followed along obediently.
The heart that wished to cleanse the body and wait reverently.
And the heart that wished to create even one more memory for the villagers.
There must have been various other emotions added as well.
After exhaling a few more times, Old Man Wang fell asleep just like that.
"Sigh."
Only after confirming the sound of breathing himself did Taesu feel relieved.
There was clearly still time until his functions completely stopped.
Because he knew that, he didn't want to disturb his sleep.
"……."
Taesu, who had been watching quietly, slowly headed outside.
Having left Old Man Wang's house, Taesu headed to the hospital.
Thud, thud.
His gait couldn't be cheerful.
Taesu's mind was a mess.
Death was approaching.
But Old Man Wang had said it was a moment he had been waiting for.
Taesu couldn't even dare imagine what that felt like.
And this was the first time death was approaching gradually with forewarning.
'Hmm.'
What was certain was that it was a situation where no medicine was effective.
It was merely a reality where he had to watch helplessly like this.
Taesu opened the hospital door with a complicated heart.
Creak.
Among the two people looking at the thoroughly sunken Taesu, Gim Hyeokgwon asked first.
"Did you fail again today?"
"No. I did the examination."
"Then something is wrong."
"…….."
Nod.
Taesu answered with a nod of his head instead.
Jeong Minsu, who had been watching that action quietly, asked in a calm voice.
"Has his liver reached an irrecoverable state?"
"Something like that."
"Don't make us curious, we need to know too."
Jeong Minsu pressed on softly.
Gim Hyeokgwon also waited with eyes filled with worry.
After thinking for a moment, Taesu told the two about Old Man Wang's condition.
"Actually......."
The reason for telling them was simple.
Medical staff needed to share information among themselves to be able to respond flexibly.
About a minute later.
Jeong Minsu and Gim Hyeokgwon's mouths were tightly shut.
"……."
"…….."
Taesu quietly sought their opinions.
"What should we do?"
"Since he told us not to tell them for now, let's act like we don't know."
After Gim Hyeokgwon spoke after some thought, Jeong Minsu also agreed with a serious face.
"Right. There must be a reason."
"Then let's do that regarding that matter, and going forward, condition checks and management......."
"Regarding that part…….."
"I agree as well. Then…….."
Taesu and the two immediately put their heads together.
For quite a while, they discussed various possibilities and cases seriously.
Time flowed by day by day.
As much, Old Man Wang's health deteriorated by the day.
In the meantime, the medical staff took turns looking after him.
That time left no room for boredom.