Taesu was looking around when—
Clack.
The people who had gotten out of the cars gathered around him one by one.
Some wore excited expressions, while others were tense.
A few looked around here and there out of curiosity.
With nearly twenty people in total, it was only natural that things felt somewhat hectic.
Among them, Jeong Min-su and Kim Hyeok-gwon approached.
“We’re going to lose the sun soon.”
“Let’s get this over with quickly.”
Their hurried voices, along with their gazes, pressured Taesu.
They surely wanted to relax and enjoy the joy of reunion in the Korean village they had come to after such a long time.
Taesu felt the same way.
So he spoke to President Gu Seung-heon and everyone else.
“Take a short break. Bread, turn on the radio.”
“It’s already on. If possible, give us some good news.”
“Do you think I can decide that myself? Anyway, we’ll be heading out.”
After saying that, Taesu turned and walked alongside Jeong Min-su and Kim Hyeok-gwon.
Step, step.
The farther they moved from their companions, the closer they drew to the village.
Among them, Jeong Min-su spoke in a calm voice.
“I didn’t know this road was so long.”
“What are you talking about? At first, the road was blocked, and we went through all that trouble because of it.”
The two of them bickered quietly.
Taesu brought up something unrelated to their conversation.
“It feels good, like we’re returning to our hometown. I’m glad we decided to walk.”
“That’s true.”
“I agree.”
Jeong Min-su and Kim Hyeok-gwon answered in turn.
Their bickering soon faded away.
All that remained was curiosity and excitement over what changes awaited them in the village.
Before long, the three arrived at the village.
They had been finding one change after another from a distance.
Up close, the differences were even more obvious.
“Did that livestock barn double in size?”
“The sheep, cows, and pigs have been divided into separate sections.”
“The rapeseed and sunflowers are the same… and the date palm grove is still there, too.”
They each made one observation, but the changes did not end there.
“Looks like every household is raising chickens and ducks.”
“There are dogs wandering around, too.”
“That large structure beside the blacksmith’s shop looks like a charcoal kiln.”
The more they spoke, the more astonished they became.
They had heard about it from Park Hui-nam, but seeing it with their own eyes was entirely different.
There was still more to look around, but for now, they headed toward the platform in the center of the village.
Meanwhile, Kang Yeong-hun and Lee Man-seok came out of the livestock barn and walked toward the village.
As they did, Lee Man-seok’s already fierce face twisted further, and his eyes widened.
“Brother, over there… Who is that?”
“What do you mean, who? Huh?”
“I’m right, aren’t I? There’s nothing wrong with my eyes, is there?”
“Y-yes, yes. You’re right… No. You are.”
The moment Kang Yeong-hun confirmed it, Lee Man-seok quickly cupped both hands around his mouth and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“They’re back! Our doctors are back!”
—They’re back…
His voice was so loud that it echoed.
At the same time—
Bang, bang!
The front doors and windows of every house flew open.
“What was that sound…? Oh! It’s true. They’re really back!”
“Let’s get out there. Hurry!”
Tap-tap-tap!
People came running out from everywhere—the houses, the blacksmith’s shop, and elsewhere.
Those who had set out from every direction raced toward one place, shouting as they came.
“Doctor Choi! Doctor Jeong!”
“Doctor Kim!”
“Doctors!”
Whoosh, whoosh.
They shouted and waved their hands.
The faces welcoming the medical staff were filled with bright smiles.
At the same time—
Taesu, Jeong Min-su, and Kim Hyeok-gwon were more than a little flustered.
“What is this? Did a war break out somewhere?”
“What are you talking about…? Good grief, they’re charging over here like they’re going to kill us.”
“We’re not going to run away, so take it easy!”
Only their voices sounded as though they were scolding the villagers.
The three of them waved just as enthusiastically, their faces wreathed in bright smiles.
In an instant, the villagers gathered around them.
Murmur, murmur.
“Why did you take so long to come back?”
“Doctor Jeong, were you sick?”
“Doctor Kim, you look even healthier than before!”
A barrage of questions continued without end.
As if volume alone would settle the matter, the commotion grew louder and louder.
Taesu, Jeong Min-su, and Kim Hyeok-gwon were too overwhelmed to pay attention to it.
“Yeong-hun, Man-seok… and Jeong-min, too. Haha!”
“My hand’s right here. It’s been a long time, sir. Oh? Brother Hyeong-uk!”
“Why are you welcoming us like someone important came? Let’s keep it simple.”
They had to meet everyone’s eyes, exchange greetings and handshakes, and ask after their well-being.
There were children among them, too.
“Doctor!”
“Who’s this? Song-hui, have you grown this much?”
“Hold me.”
“All right, all right. Up you go! …Yes, yes. We’ve been well. You’ve all been safe, haven’t you?”
Taesu continued greeting people while holding the much-grown Kang Song-hui in one arm.
Jeong Min-su had lowered himself completely to the children’s level.
In front of him stood Park Seong-gu and Park Seol-ji, each holding a puppy.
“This one’s Pung.”
“Oh, that’s a handsome little fellow.”
“This one’s San.”
“That one looks terribly stubborn.”
He greeted the puppies the children proudly introduced.
Kim Hyeok-gwon was even more popular with the children than those two.
“Mister!”
“I’m not a mister. I’m a doctor!”
“Wow, the doctor’s here!”
The children even grabbed Kim Hyeok-gwon’s hands and hopped up and down.
Kim Hyeok-gwon answered their enthusiastic welcome in his usual gruff manner.
“You’re making a racket. Stop jumping.”
“No! He’s a doctor. The doctor’s here!”
“All right, I’m here. Ji-yun, Un-hyeok, can’t you stop spinning around me?”
“Just a little longer.”
“What am I, some kind of treasure? You’re circling me like I’m in the middle. Hey, stop it, I said! Why are you two joining in now?”
Grumble, grumble.
Every word Kim Hyeok-gwon uttered was prickly.
Even so, the children did not leave his side.
Children saw things very differently from adults.
The joy of reunion showed no sign of settling down.
Taesu was laughing and chatting with everyone when a thought suddenly struck him.
He wanted to share in their happiness a little longer, but there were people waiting impatiently for him.
So he asked for their understanding.
“All right, we’re not leaving today, so take your time talking. But where’s the village chief?”
The answer came from somewhere behind the crowd.
“Are you only remembering me now?”
“Chief, where are you? I can only hear your voice.”
“You’re supposed to find me. Do I have to stick my face in front of you, too?”
Village Chief Jeon No-sik’s voice was still as clear as ever, and so was his gift for words.
With a smile, Taesu set Kang Song-hui down and lightly patted her head.
“Let’s play again later.”
“Do you have to talk about grown-up things?”
Kang Song-hui asked with an innocent expression.
As expected, the child still had an unexpected punch ready.
Only after the initial joy had passed did Taesu remember what kind of child Kang Song-hui was.
The shoulders that had been held so confidently moments before shrank slightly.
“Huh? Ah… No, it’s not that. You’ll find out soon.”
“Hmm. Grown-ups really do seem complicated. Still, I’ll try to understand you.”
“Thanks. Then…”
Taesu was just about to apologize and move on when—
Smack.
Kang Song-hui suddenly took his hand.
Taesu paused, then looked back at her.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“Not everyone is pretty.”
“What?”
“They all have to be pretty. I’m worried.”
Kang Song-hui even put on a truly sorrowful expression.
It meant that her promise to make the villagers healthy was still in effect.
Her powers of speech had improved along with her growth.
‘Should I take her to Korea and have her try acting?’
He was certain she would become a huge success.
It was only a thought.
Taesu smiled gently, patted Kang Song-hui’s head, and said,
“A friend has to solve a friend’s worries.”
“Right? That’s what I thought, too.”
“Y-yes. I’m glad to hear that.”
“If you have worries, Doctor, you can tell me, too.”
Kang Song-hui’s expression had already brightened again.
Taesu nodded with an awkward smile.
“All right. We’ll talk later.”
“Yes. See you later.”
Sway, sway.
Kang Song-hui sent Taesu off quite coolly.
As he turned away, Taesu had to admit that he had once again been completely outmatched.
‘Why do I become so small whenever I stand before you…’
An old song came to mind for no particular reason.
As far as Taesu remembered, it was not a song meant to evoke feelings like these.
But the lyrics expressed his current state of mind all too perfectly.
Taesu struggled his way out through the crowd.
Village Chief Jeon No-sik was sitting leisurely on the platform, waiting for him.
That must have been why Taesu had not seen him.
Taesu first approached him and bowed deeply.
“Have you been well?”
“From what Doctor Choi can see, do I look well?”
“It seems you’ve been through a turbulent time.”
Taesu answered with a broad smile.
In contrast, the village chief’s expression grew increasingly twisted.
“I’m still in the middle of it. It just won’t end.”
“It looks like things have more or less settled down.”
“That’s only how it looks from the outside. Once you dig deeper, it’s different. Look at how much hair I’ve lost.”
Swoosh.
Village Chief Jeon No-sik showed him the top of his head.
There was enough bare space for a bird to perch and take a warm rest.
He had also developed considerably more gray hair.
Taesu’s expression turned awkward.
“Oh dear.”
“All of a sudden, there’s contract livestock farming and all that, and Rajikumar keeps hounding us to meet the blacksmith’s production quota. Then we have to secure food for ourselves, feed for the livestock… Good grief, my head.”
“You’re thinking about so many things that your hair is running away.”
“What I just mentioned isn’t even half of it. There’s a lot more left.”
Village Chief Jeon No-sik let out a cry of happiness.
Taesu could tell because, despite his groaning, the corners of his mouth were lifted in a broad smile.
Plop.
Taesu sat beside him and asked him directly,
“You seem happy.”
“It’s a hundred times better than worrying about how we’ll survive tomorrow.”
“Then that’s a relief.”
“Still, it’s true that I have a lot to worry about. I think I’ll have to start handing things over to the younger fellows one by one.”
Village Chief Jeon No-sik suddenly moved on to a serious topic.
Apparently, there were not many people to whom he could confide such worries.
It had nothing to do with trust.
It was simply the kind of grumbling he could not voice openly for fear of burdening the villagers.
Taesu occupied a neutral position, so the village chief could speak freely with him.
Taesu immediately realized that.
However, he could not simply humor him for the moment.
“There are too many ears listening. Let’s talk about that later.”
“Let’s do that. But how did you get here? You couldn’t have walked that mountain path.”
“Raku carried us as far as the village shrine.”
At that, Village Chief Jeon No-sik tilted his head even further.
“If you came all the way to the front, why did you get off there?”
“He stopped.”
Taesu’s answer must have sounded unusual, because the village chief asked with a strange look in his eyes,
“Why aren’t you giving me a straight answer?”
“Ahem.”
“Why are you clearing your throat? Is it something difficult? Just say it comfortably.”
The village chief urged him in his easygoing manner.
Only after hearing that could Taesu bring himself to say the first words.
“Actually, the people from Korea… want to enter the village.”
At that, the gentle smile on Village Chief Jeon No-sik’s face stiffened slightly.
“Who?”
“The people from Korea.”
“Really?”
The village chief asked again and again.
It seemed strange to him that Taesu was acting this way, since he surely knew the circumstances well.