Everyone could only watch that scene in solemn silence.
Among them, Jo Jeongmin quickly approached and comforted Elder Jo.
“Grandpa, please calm down. Crying like that is bad for your health.”
“Oh, Jeongmin…… Oh, oh.”
“Oh my.”
Jo Jeongmin didn’t know what to do with Elder Jo, who was crying in his arms.
Elder Jeon and Elder An didn’t try to stop him either, merely watching.
No, tears were also streaming down their eyes.
“Sigh. So it connects…… like this again.”
“I’m glad I stayed alive. I’m glad.”
Trembling voices passed between them with difficulty.
The elders just cried like that.
The villagers were bewildered, not knowing what to do.
“What should we do?”
“This isn’t an atmosphere where we can intervene.”
“Goodness.”
It was while they were muttering like that.
Village Chief Jeon Nosik, seeming to know roughly what was going on, looked at everyone with profound eyes and spoke.
“They heard news of a friend they parted with sixty years ago.”
“Gasp!”
“The one called Namgung Jihyeok, father of the Namgung Hwan mentioned just now, was the greatest doctor of Korean medicine in all the Eight Provinces of Joseon.”
“Really?”
It was when everyone opened their eyes wide.
Village Chief Jeon Nosik told them astonishing news.
“That Namgung Jihyeok is also the one who saved the Great Elder’s life. And I heard that Namgung Hwan was a childhood friend of the youngest elder.”
“What?”
“Anyway, just know that they are all deeply connected to the elders.”
“Ah…… Yes.”
Everyone nodded.
The villagers seemed to have separately heard stories from the elders of their households.
Thus they watched the elders’ crying with heavy hearts.
The atmosphere around Tae-su, Jeong Minsu, and Kim Hyeokgwon was also subdued.
Tae-su opened his mouth first.
“So they parted at least sixty years ago.”
“And it must have been unavoidable.”
“Otherwise, they would have kept in touch.”
Jeong Minsu and Kim Hyeokgwon each chimed in.
Then Tae-su spoke quietly with a bitter expression.
“I still don’t know whether we came bringing gifts, or whether we stirred up pain.”
“But will the elders be okay?”
“Hyeoncheol is keeping a good watch. Same for us.”
“Yeah. You can feel the deep sorrow in their crying, so we can’t go stop them.”
“Let’s keep watching a bit more.”
When Tae-su reached a conclusion, Jeong Minsu and Kim Hyeokgwon nodded.
Meanwhile, Village Chief Jeon Nosik quietly approached CEO Gu Seungheon.
“CEO Gu.”
“Please speak comfortably.”
“……All right. No, let’s do that.”
Gu Seungheon was rather surprised by his blunt tone.
“Ah, yes.”
“If we’re going to live together, we should start by being comfortable with titles.”
“Pardon?”
“Isn’t it because CEO Gu accepted that child that we came all the way here? That’s enough. That’ll do. Let’s try living well together.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
CEO Gu Seungheon greeted him but blinked his eyes.
He had never imagined, even in his dreams, that the situation would flow this way.
Not just him, but everyone was the same.
Especially Tae-su and two others had their eyes open as if they would pop out.
“What. Hyeoncheol was the master key?”
“If we’d known earlier, we wouldn’t have suffered so much.”
“It would be stranger to know that. Anyway, it’s a good thing.”
Nod, nod.
Everyone nodded, expressing the same sentiment.
An hour later.
Tae-su and the medical team sat around a table inside the clinic.
The crude appearance made of solid wood was exactly as it had been back then.
Swish.
Tae-su lightly swept his hand over it and looked around.
“Nothing has changed.”
“There’s not even any dust.”
“Changgyu comes up here and cleans and wipes, you know.”
“That kid. I never dreamed he’d follow Gwanghyeon up the mountain.”
Tae-su and Jeong Minsu exchanged conversation calmly.
They were feeling rewarded at the news that Lee Changgyu had become healthy enough to go up and down the mountain.
Beside them, Kim Hyeokgwon and Brad Kim were in conversation.
“It’s nice that things have quieted down a bit now.”
“I never dreamed I would be welcomed like this.”
“I heard you were greatly slighted back then.”
When Kim Hyeokkwon reminded him, Brad Kim smiled bitterly.
“Was it just that? They looked at me like I was some sort of infectious disease patient.”
“Put those hard feelings away. You received many apologies.”
“I don’t feel hard done by at all now. But I’m worried about the elders.”
“I think someone over there has more to say about that.”
Swish.
Kim Hyeokkwon turned around and spoke.
At that action, Tae-su, Jeong Minsu, and Brad Kim turned their heads together.
Jo Jeongmin was sitting blankly in a medical chair.
“…….”
Seeing him motionless, they felt he was full of sullenness.
Tae-su loudly called out to him, who was sulking alone.
“Jeongmin, are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t look okay at all, though?”
As if stimulated by Tae-su’s question, strength filled Jo Jeongmin’s eyes.
“How could Grandpa do this to me?”
“Ah, yes.”
“I know. I think I’m happy too, and I understand.”
Tae-su realized his mistake at Jo Jeongmin’s exploding lament.
He’d apparently touched a bomb.
“I-I suppose so.”
“But still, telling me to sleep outside today. Where is it right to kick out your grandson because you want to sleep with Hyeoncheol?”
Even after pouring it all out, Jo Jeongmin huffed.
Tae-su blamed himself for needlessly provoking him.
“I think I made a mistake…….”
An embarrassed expression formed on its own.
Then Kim Hyeokkwon stepped in instead and soothed Jo Jeongmin.
“Stop throwing a tantrum.”
“A tantrum?”
“You just look like a brat throwing a fit because you can’t sleep next to your grandfather.”
“I had my sleeping spot stolen. Isn’t that different?”
Jo Jeongmin protested, but Kim Hyeokkwon shot back even harder.
“Different, my foot. Your grandfather heard news of his friend after sixty years.”
“I know that too.”
“Have you lived sixty years? You’ve only lived half that. You’d have to live your whole life over again to equal that time.”
Kim Hyeokkwon coldly pointed out the facts.
Jo Jeongmin, having nothing to say, simply opened and closed his mouth.
“I know.”
“If you know, shut your mouth and smile. If it’s something that makes your grandfather happy, you should be happy too.”
“I have a lot of questions too. Hah!”
Jo Jeongmin, who had been shouting sharply, covered his mouth with a startled face.
That seemed to be his true feelings.
Everyone who noticed stared at him in disbelief.
“You teach kids, but you’ve become a child yourself.”
“Hyeoncheol is going to stay with him for the time being, so what’s the rush?”
“Goodness, sulking alone over something so trivial.”
Tae-su and the medical team openly scolded him.
“…….”
Jo Jeongmin, his inner thoughts exposed, flushed red and couldn’t say a word.
It was when silence had settled like that.
“Anyone there?”
A hearty voice was heard from outside.
Everyone opened their eyes wide at that sound.
“Isn’t that the Great Elder’s voice?”
“I think so.”
“I-I’ve got to go see.”
Clatter!
Everyone rose hurriedly and quickly headed for the door.
When they opened it right away, Elder Jeon was really there.
He seemed to be aware of the aftermath his visit would bring.
He said a word to everyone who had rushed with a calm voice.
“Is it something to be this surprised about?”
“Not at all. Is something wrong?”
“Nothing like that. I was out for a walk and thought I’d have a cup of tea.”
He revealed his intention to come in.
At those words, Tae-su and everyone quickly stepped aside to the left and right.
Creak.
“Please come in.”
“I’m just going to have a cup of tea and leave, so no need to be tense.”
“Tense? We’re in the middle of a formal reception……. All personnel, attention! Great Elder entering!”
Tae-su brazenly cracked a joke.
The sight of the medical staff standing in twos on either side did give off such an atmosphere.
“You people are so dull.”
Elder Jeon smiled serenely and went inside.
A short while later.
Tae-su approached the table and set down cups starting with Elder Jeon.
At the subtly wafting fragrance, Elder Jeon glanced down at the teacup.
“What kind of tea is this?”
“It’s Toritina.”
“Didn’t all the tea fields disappear?”
Elder Jeon looked with an expression of not understanding the situation.
But the medical team was smiling broadly.
It was Tae-su’s turn to answer.
“Raku had set some aside to gift to precious people.”
“I see. So this is the tea those fellows thought so terribly precious.”
“Please have a taste.”
When Tae-su politely offered it, Elder Jeon also lightly brought the teacup to his mouth.
Slurp.
Surprise was contained on his face as he carefully took a sip and set it down.
“Hoh. What a curious thing.”
“Right?”
“They say this tea will be cultivated in our village later……. These old lips shall enjoy a luxury.”
“Come on. Don’t say that.”
Tae-su waved his hand in the air as if dispelling the awkward remark.
That assessment didn’t seem to be unfounded.
Jo Jeongmin, seated together, also had his eyes round.
“I haven’t drunk a wide variety of teas, but this is really good.”
“That’s why it was popular, and why they brought it out even though it was dangerous.”
When Kim Hyeokkwon answered, Jo Jeongmin nodded vigorously.
“Yes. I think I’d do the same. But are we the only ones drinking this?”
“Of course not.”
“Right. Teacher Jeong?”
“Of course. The village chief, Yeonghun, and the others who are with the CEO right now must be marveling at it too.”
Brad Kim added a word to Jeong Minsu’s reply.
“I didn’t know they’d start making plans for the future as soon as the decision came out.”
“Seeing that they even had Raku sit with them, it felt like a great upheaval would happen again.”
“Starting from the CEO, everyone has outstanding field experience. In Korea……. Ahem.”
Brad Kim quickly glossed over his slip of the tongue.
Sure enough.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward Elder Jeon.
They didn’t forget to give Brad Kim a warning glance before that.
That was how much he disliked the word Korea.
But Elder Jeon was taking another sip of Toritina.
“Hmm. This is truly a remarkable thing.”
“It’s different from the first taste, isn’t it?”
“No need to speak while watching my reaction like that. What’s so wrong with calling Koreans Koreans?”
Everyone blinked their eyes at that reaction.
It was an expression of doubting their own ears.
Even Jeong Minsu and Kim Hyeokkwon looked at each other.
They hadn’t expected Elder Jeon to mention it himself.
“…….”
No one could easily speak.
The atmosphere felt strangely subdued.
Then Elder Jeon opened his mouth again.
“There is much to be surprised about. Why are you watching for my reaction again?”
“Indeed. Haha.”
Tae-su responded with an awkward laugh.
Meanwhile, Elder Jeon set down his teacup.
Clack.
Then he slowly looked around at everyone.
That gaze held both calmness and weight.
It seemed he was getting to the main point now.
The atmosphere calmed down as much as Elder Jeon’s gaze.
Sensing that atmosphere, Elder Jeon uttered his first words.
“So, how much have you figured out?”
“About what?”
“About us.”
His added words carried a sense of nonchalance.
But to those listening, it was anything but.
Thud!
They were so shocked it felt like they had to keep their hearts and livers from leaping out.
*Gasp.*
*Hahk.*
*Gack!*
It really felt as though they had been struck on the back of the head.