Episode 24: The Torreya Tree (2)
"So, what you're saying is that you really want to buy that torreya tree over there."
Jeong Mintae said that he wanted to take the torreya tree and display it at an arboretum on Jeju Island.
"Yes, that's correct. We will offer you ten million won for the tree."
Ten million won.
The torreya tree at our house was quite large, but for a single tree to be this expensive—it was fascinating to someone like me who didn't know much about such things.
"Is that tree really worth that much?"
"To be honest with you, it's not quite worth ten million won. However, this torreya tree is quite distinctive, and it seems to hold personal memories for you, so we wanted to offer you a bit more."
"I see."
Jeong Mintae had emphasized the price to me. If I had been just an ordinary return-to-farmer, I might have been swayed.
But I was a return-to-farmer who had won the lottery.
To me, there wasn't much difference between five million won and ten million won.
Rather, I felt that the memories of my parents tied to this tree were far more valuable.
"I'm sorry. My father refused, so it doesn't feel right for me to sell it without care."
I expressed my refusal once again.
Jeong Mintae had been looking at me with eyes full of expectation, but upon hearing my answer, he seemed disappointed.
"If the price isn't to your liking, I can speak to the director and offer you a bit more."
"No, it's not that. It's a tree with precious family memories, so it's difficult to sell. I think it would be faster for you to find another tree."
At my words, Jeong Mintae's expression hardened, but my mind remained unchanged.
****
"If you change your mind, please contact me at any time."
Jeong Mintae didn't give up until the moment he left; it seemed he had taken quite a liking to our torreya tree.
"I'm sorry. I hope you find a better tree."
At my somewhat cold answer, he got in his car and left.
After he left, I looked carefully at the torreya tree.
'It really is unusual.'
I used to think it was just big, but looking at it now, its shape was rather peculiar.
When I looked it up on the internet, unlike other trees, our torreya tree's trunks were deeply intertwined as they grew. It seemed Jeong Mintae had wanted to buy it because of this shape as well.
'Still, I can't sell it.'
I approached the tree.
The shade created by the leaves began blocking the warm sunlight. I used to play a lot beneath this shade in the past.
'Was it here?'
I stopped at one of the large branches extending beside the tree, remembering that my parents had hung a swing here when I was young.
In a countryside village with no playground, Father had made a small plaything for me, and Mother would often spread out a mat in the shade of the tree and watch me on the swing.
'Minu, let's eat watermelon.'
When I had been playing on the swing for a while, Mother would cut a watermelon she had grown in the field and give it to me. There was no better snack in the summer.
As I looked at the tree, forgotten memories began to surface one by one.
'Should I plant watermelons?'
I hadn't originally planned to grow watermelons, but perhaps because those fond memories surfaced, I felt like growing and eating them like before.
Since my friends were scheduled to visit in the summer, picking watermelons and sharing them together would make for good memories.
"Yeah, let's plant some watermelons in the vegetable patch too."
****
As they say, strike while the iron is hot. The next day, I immediately went to the agricultural supply store and bought watermelon seedlings.
There was one variable: when I mentioned I was planting watermelons, the shopkeeper recommended melons as well.
He said now was the perfect time to plant them, and with watermelons and melons, I wouldn't have to worry about fruit this summer, so I bought melon seedlings too.
I had planted vegetables earlier, and a small space remained at the upper end of the vegetable patch. I began making furrows and ridges using a plow and a shovel.
Perhaps because it had been a while since I had done such shoveling, or because the weather had grown hotter than before, sweat began to drip from my forehead.
"Phew."
I straightened my back for a moment to catch my breath, and I remembered how at the sweet potato farm, I had easily made ridges using a tractor.
I had received word recently that my tractor, which I had been waiting on for almost a month, was nearly ready.
They said I could receive it before May 15th, and once the tractor arrived, I would immediately till the field and begin sweet potato farming.
But until then, I had no choice but to do this manual labor.
After making the ridges, I began covering them with vinyl sheets this time. I hadn't used vinyl sheets when planting lettuce before, but weeds had sprouted far more than expected.
I had pulled weeds whenever I had time, but I had read that if too many weeds grow around watermelons and melons, they absorb nutrients and the sugar content drops.
Since I had no intention of eating bland watermelons or melons, I decided to use vinyl sheets this time.
"Huh?"
I had tried to lay the vinyl alone, but there was a small problem.
The vinyl kept blowing away in the wind. The wind wasn't that strong, but every time I tried to cover the ridges with vinyl, the wind would blow, making it difficult.
Then I remembered a method my father used to use.
I scooped soil with a shovel and pressed it down on the vinyl; the weight of the soil kept the vinyl from moving and fixed it in place.
'I should have done it like this from the start; I was acting like a fool.'
They say humans are animals that grow through physical hardship, but I felt embarrassed because I seemed to have been working without a thought.
I began moving forward, pressing down both sides of the black vinyl with soil, and I was able to cover the ridges more neatly than expected.
"Nice."
Having finished the vinyl-covered ridges, I made holes with a hoe and began planting watermelon seedlings there.
I planted them in a line, when something suddenly caught my eye.
"The flowers bloomed?"
Flowers were blooming right where I had planted the tomatoes. Yellow flowers that hadn't been visible just a few days ago were visible everywhere, and I felt fascinated.
Since tomatoes are red, I had thought the flowers would be red too.
'When these flowers fall, tomatoes will bear fruit, right?'
I had seen in a video before that after these flowers fall, fruits begin to grow in their place. And when those fruits grow large, they become tomatoes.
The thought that I would be able to eat tomatoes soon was exciting, but I returned to my spot and resumed planting the watermelons.
****
"Done."
Having planted all the watermelons and melons, I stood up patting my lower back; since I had been squatting continuously, it felt stiff.
"I should water them."
I filled a watering can and began sprinkling water over the vegetable patch.
The leaves covered in dust began to be washed clean by the water I was pouring, and I felt refreshed deep inside.
I was so focused on watering when suddenly a truck entered the house grounds.
I stopped watering and looked to see who it was—it was the Village Headman.
I hadn't seen him since the other day, when I witnessed him raising his voice with Uncle Go Jeongnam over water.
"Village Headman, hello."
"Yes, nothing troublesome, I hope?"
"No, I'm doing well. But what brings you here?"
"Uh...I heard the arboretum people came by yesterday?"
The village headman had brought up the arboretum out of the blue. Somehow it seemed he had met Jeong Mintae.
"Yes, they came."
"I heard roughly what happened; have you given it some thought?"
"Thought?"
"Yes, what are you going to do with the torreya tree?"
There was nothing to think or talk about. I had already refused.
"I've decided not to sell the torreya tree. I told the arboretum people that yesterday."
"Why?"
I found it odd that he was asking why when I had already decided not to sell our tree, but since he was an elder of the village, I answered.
"My father had said he wouldn't sell it long ago, and it's a tree with memories attached, so I wasn't keen on selling it for money. That's why I refused."
"Ahem..."
I had explained my reasons, but Hwang Changsik revealed an uncomfortable expression.
And he said to me,
"In my opinion, selling the tree to the arboretum doesn't seem like a bad idea."
Seeing him come suddenly and say such things, there was clearly some reason behind it, so I decided to hear him out for now.
"Why do you think so?"
"Memories with your parents are good. But Donghui is already dead, and the living must carry on, mustn't they? Minu, you still have a long life ahead of you. You should forget the past now and live a constructive life."
He spoke as if he were worried about me.
"Moreover, you've only just started farming. There are quite a few places you'll need to sink money into, aren't there? It's good to secure a lump sum when you have the chance. This is my experience from living in the countryside for a long time. Experience."
"Is that so?"
"Of course. And from what I heard, the arboretum said they would list Donghui as the tree donor. Wouldn't it be much better if many people could see such a magnificent tree? Donghui's name would become known as well."
It seemed that seeing I was unlikely to sell the tree, Jeong Mintae was trying to persuade me through the village headman.
Well, the village headman's influence was strong in the countryside to begin with, so I wanted to praise it as not a bad choice on his part.
But what was unexpected was that the village headman had gotten involved.
This was a man who had fought with neighborhood residents because he didn't want to share stream water with them.
He didn't seem like the type to move unless it benefited him, so I asked cautiously,
"Did the arboretum perhaps make a separate request of you?"
Hearing my words, the village headman hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"To be honest, the arboretum said they would help the village a bit if I convinced you..."
"Help?"
"They didn't say exactly what yet, but they said they would support things the village needs."
Indeed, from what I had heard and observed, he wasn't someone who would step forward just like that.
The arboretum had said they would help the village, but I felt that might not be the entire story.
'Did they promise to take care of him separately?'
I suspected as much, but I couldn't ask him that directly.
Perhaps because I looked like I was worrying while thinking for a moment, he quickly added,
"Actually, I just understood and let it go, but there has been some talk in the village because you didn't pay the village development fund."
"Really?"
"Not everyone, but some people were dissatisfied. If you help the village through this matter, I think everyone would view you favorably. How about thinking about it positively?"
I had thought that matter was cleanly resolved and behind me. All the villagers I had met hadn't said anything about it.
I felt the village headman might be at the center of those dissatisfied people, but I didn't let it show.
"Yes, I understand what you mean. I'll think about it."
"Really? I'm sure Donghui would be happy if he knew it was for the village's development."
When I said I would think about it, the village headman seemed to think his words had gotten through to some degree. Pleased, he climbed into his truck.
And as I watched Hwang Changsik, I felt a little sorry.
Because my decision not to sell the tree remained unchanged.
My saying I would think about it concerned my relationship with the village headman.
Having spent several months in Bonghwang Village, I had learned one thing: the village was divided into two factions.
I had originally tried to live while maintaining neutrality between them, but now it seemed the moment had come to choose one side.
And it seemed the answer was already decided.
If I didn't sell the tree, he would clearly dislike me, just like the other villagers who had issues with him.
I watched the village headman's truck heading down toward the village and bid him farewell.
"Goodbye, Village Headman."