From the other side, Jeong Minsu, who had no sense for reading the room, pricked up his ears and asked.
“So did they catch that thief?”
“……I said it was a fundraiser.”
“He stole through a fundraiser? And even handed out gifts on his own? Is it some kind of righteous thief concept?”
Jeong Minsu’s expression was utterly serious.
The fact that he was genuinely curious was the truly enormous problem.
Just in case, Taesu asked.
“You’re not doing this on purpose, are you?”
“Doing what?”
“Never mind. I suppose I should be grateful you have good instincts when it comes to medicine.”
Taesu, no longer wanting to understand him, put the conversation aside.
Then Jeong Minsu asked Kim Hyeokgwon.
“Was Taesu talking about me just now?”
“Why are you provoking someone who was staying quiet?”
“I wasn’t.”
“Doctor Jeong, if you hear something, just assume you heard it and leave it at that. That’s what helps the rest of us.”
Even Kim Hyeokgwon offered that advice in all sincerity.
The mystery of Jeong Minsu’s tact was enough to make even Kim Hyeokgwon throw up both hands.
Perhaps because the whispering had gone on too long?
Jo Jeongmin and Park Huinam’s gazes shifted toward them.
Taesu noticed first and gradually raised his voice as he said,
“Ah, I saw Nurse Lee Chorong during the day.”
“We all met at Doctor Schmidt’s medical tent.”
“That was good.”
Taesu had brought it up for no reason and had not even broken even.
Using that as an excuse, he sidled over to Jo Jeongmin.
Watching him gather up the sales proceeds, Taesu asked casually,
“What are you going to buy with that now?”
“This time, I’m just going to take it back to the village. Everyone’s seeing this much money for the first time.”
“A lot of money…… It is.”
“Of course. Isn’t it really incredible? We pulled iron out of stone, and the farming tools made from it turned into money like this.”
Jo Jeongmin answered brightly.
Taesu did not feel entirely good about it, but since he had already prepared for it, he was able to smile.
Then he asked softly,
“You’re heading back tomorrow?”
“Yes. That’s what I’ve been told.”
“I feel like we haven’t really done much for you.”
Taesu showed his regret, but Jo Jeongmin shook his head firmly.
“Not at all. You let us stay in a place like another world. What more could we ask for?”
“The village will develop far more than this place.”
“Of course. It’ll become much better.”
Jo Jeongmin’s voice was full of strength.
It was clear he felt the responsibility of being at the forefront of the village’s development.
His spirit of challenge was stronger than his fear.
Those qualities showed why the village elders placed their hopes in him.
After that, everyone gathered around.
And, since they would part the next day, they shared their farewells deep into the night.
“Stay healthy, all of you……”
“Uncle, don’t forget your checkup……”
“When will we see you again next……”
“Mr. Jo, don’t look only at the bright side. The parts you need to be wary of……”
Half of the words exchanged were filled with worry.
Sitting together in a close circle like that, they looked like relatives gathered for a holiday.
The next morning.
The colorful trucks parked in the rest area’s front yard were busy preparing to move out.
The merchants were carrying large cardboard boxes from the PX and loading them into the cargo beds.
Perhaps because their sales had been good, their faces were full of smiles.
There was as much warmth in the air as the spring weather itself.
Among them were Jeong Minsu, Kim Hyeokgwon, and Jo Jeongmin.
The three of them were focused on filling the cargo bed of Raku’s truck.
In the passenger seat of Raku’s truck, Park Huinam watched with an apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry to make everyone work so hard.”
“It’s better for all of us if we finish quickly…… But why hasn’t Taesu been seen for a while?”
Jeong Minsu, who had answered brightly while passing by, let a hint of complaint slip out.
Jo Jeongmin, walking beside him, instead had worry written all over his face.
“Could there be something wrong with his body?”
“He said he’s all better. But Mr. Hyeokgwon is awfully quiet.”
Jeong Minsu’s gaze turned to Kim Hyeokgwon, who was following behind them.
“……”
Thud, thud.
He was truly walking in silence.
Even though the cardboard box must have been quite heavy, he did not utter a single complaint about Taesu.
Slide.
He only glanced secretly once toward the integrated dining hall.
At the same time.
Taesu and Raku were standing face-to-face behind the integrated dining hall.
It was a place Taesu had recently been using often as his secret hideout.
Most of the things that had happened here had not been fit for public disclosure. On top of that, shadows hung over the place, giving it a gloomy atmosphere.
Perhaps because of the place and its mood, the two of them somehow looked dark as well.
Raku was examining the contents written on a piece of paper.
Soon, once he seemed to have gone over everything, he looked at Taesu and spoke with a grave expression.
“You’re telling me to purchase all of this and send it to the Korean village?”
“That’s right. It’s possible, isn’t it?”
“This much will require a considerable sum.”
“Don’t worry about that. Please answer first whether the purchases are possible.”
Taesu asked seriously.
Raku thought with a calm gaze, then gave his answer.
“If it’s Jammu, it’s possible.”
“Isn’t that the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir?”
“There are many items here that would require a city that large. Especially if we want to secure a sufficient amount of livestock feed, that’s the only place.”
“If you say so, Raku, then that must be the case.”
Taesu trusted Raku, who knew the local circumstances better than anyone.
However, Raku’s own expression was not particularly bright.
“I’ll say this again, but if the amount is only middling, it would be best for you to set priorities.”
“No. Please purchase everything you can.”
“Doctor Choi, prices in Jammu are the highest in Kashmir.”
Just as Raku expressed his concern once more,
Taesu finally took a paper envelope from inside his clothes and handed it over.
“Please look inside.”
“Inside…… Hm, Doctor Choi.”
“You won’t say that isn’t enough, will you?”
“There was a reason you showed such confidence. However……”
Raku seemed about to bring something up.
Taesu had expected it and reacted first.
“Shh. If people know, several of them will get hurt.”
“It’s no problem for me to keep my mouth shut, but how will you explain it to the Korean village?”
“……Could we say that the oil price crash caused deflation and shook the local economy?”
Taesu dragged in both real and made-up phrases and stitched them together.
That meant he had not thought that part through.
No, he had not found a suitable answer.
There was such a thing as calling it a gift, but he absolutely did not let that word leave his mouth. Since it could touch their pride, he was being extremely careful.
Wisely, Raku was already no longer listening to Taesu’s words.
After pondering alone, he came up with an idea.
“What about entrusted livestock raising?”
“Huh—ah! Right.”
“The livestock and livestock feed will be substantial, so it can serve as a pretext. As for the other goods, I can say I wrung them out of you.”
As Raku added that explanation,
Clasp.
Taesu grabbed both his hands tightly, his eyes sparkling.
“A friend of my father’s is in the livestock business, so I know it well. Raku, thank you very much.”
“I’m a merchant, so I’m sensitive to the sound and feel of money rolling.”
“You keep helping me, so to be honest, I feel a little embarrassed.”
At Taesu’s pained words, Raku smiled so brightly that his thick beard shifted aside.
“What are you saying? Compared to the privileges I receive by coming in here, this is nothing.”
“Still, if there’s anything I can help you with…… Hm.”
Taesu forcefully stopped the words that had come out without him realizing it.
It was because he had resolved not to make troublesome promises swayed by emotion.
Perhaps Raku had heard about it before, because he did not mind much.
“You don’t have to take it so to heart.”
“No. I think it’s all right to make this promise to you, Raku. No, I should make it to you.”
“Hoho, it’s the promise that I should seek you out if I need anything, isn’t it?”
“That’s exactly it. That promise has made the back of my head prickle a few times, but Raku, you’re all right.”
Taesu declared with a solemn expression.
Calculating all the help he had received in material terms somehow did not feel satisfying.
He was certain that Jeong Minsu and Kim Hyeokgwon would understand this promise too.
Raku nodded and answered.
“Yes. I will remember those words.”
“I recommend you use it appropriately, but I would appreciate it if you avoid any overly extreme situations if possible.”
“Thank you for the advice. However, even I do not know what matter I might seek you out for.”
“That’s what I mean. Every time I make this promise, the aftermath scares me.”
Taesu let out his complaint as fully as he could.
Even so, he never once said he would take the promise back.
Just as their conversation came to an end,
“Raku! Taesu!”
A voice called from far away.
It seemed the loading had all been completed.
Raku quickly tucked the document envelope securely inside his clothes first and said,
“I’ll depart for Jammu right away. I’ll deliver everything to the Korean village without any trouble afterward as well.”
“I’m counting on you.”
“I’ll leave messages with updates along the way.”
“Then I can only be even more grateful.”
Step, step.
Taesu and Raku finished their conversation quickly as they walked toward the truck.
The two of them emerged from the gloomy shade and were walking beneath the bright sunlight.
A short while later.
Vroooom!
The trucks started their engines and began moving one after another.
Taesu, Jeong Minsu, and Kim Hyeokgwon waved both hands broadly to see them off.
“Drive safely!”
“Take care!”
At those farewells, Jo Jeongmin leaned out of the passenger-side window and shouted,
“Thank you every time!”
“Stop saying strange things and hurry up and go!”
“Yes. I’ll come again, and I’ll bring gifts then.”
“It’s dangerous, so get back inside!”
They shouted loudly.
They raised their voices to soften, even a little, the sadness of parting.
Even so, the deep affection they had formed could not simply fall away.
They waved broadly until they could no longer see each other.
After seeing them off, the three of them entered the hospital room.
In the meantime, Taesu told the other two what he had asked Raku to do.
At least among the three of them, even such secrets were shared.
“……So that’s how we decided to proceed.”
Taesu finished his long explanation.
Unexpectedly, Jeong Minsu was the first to respond, his face serious.
“The idea of entrusted livestock raising was truly the best possible move.”
“Huh?”
“The advantage of that is, when the livestock have three young, one of them goes to the caretaker.”
Jeong Minsu’s expression and words were surprisingly knowledgeable.
On top of that, he suddenly seemed to have developed the tact he had lacked.
Taesu nodded with a bewildered expression.
“T-that’s what I heard.”
“It’ll take some time, but their share will gradually increase little by little, and in the end, everything will belong to the Korean village.”
“Probably.”
“Raku really does have a good head for that kind of thing. And to think the righteous thief was you, Taesu. Considering our friendship all this time, I won’t report you.”
Jeong Minsu’s words, which had been going so well, twisted strangely at the end.
Taesu’s expression, full of surprise, was once again dyed with disappointment.
“Why are you back to square one? Why, exactly?”
“From what I’ve observed, I’m certain his tact only activates in specific fields.”
When Kim Hyeokgwon spoke seriously, Taesu found even that displeasing.
“Why are you analyzing that?”
“We still need to distinguish between what we can and can’t say, don’t we?”
“Aren’t you two busy?”
Taesu, not wanting his head to hurt any more, tried to push them out of the hospital room.
Just then, Jeong Minsu’s cell phone rang.
Trill.
“It’s Doctor Jonathan. Hello?”
“It’s obviously an emergency.”
“Bingo—no, Mr. Hyeokgwon, run first!”
Dadadak!
Jeong Minsu shouted urgently and at the same time ran out of the hospital room.
At that moment, Kim Hyeokgwon glared sharply at Taesu and said,
“What incredible timing for an emergency call.”
“I am absolutely unrelated to this emergency call. I can swear to it.”
“We’ll discuss that again later. I’m going.”
Dadadak!
Unable to delay any longer, Kim Hyeokgwon quickly sprinted away.