#22

I’m not sure how the conversation went, but the Chief believes that the Chief of Staff was involved in that matter. So, he thinks that not only did he manipulate the accounts, but he also participated in the fraud. He even mentioned today whether the police have an obligation to protect criminals.

A hollow laugh escaped. The series of arduous and painful processes that led to Lee Seon-jae’s death and Kim Tae-heun’s rebirth were orchestrated and led by the prosecution and the police. One of the final approvers was the Chief of the Seoul Police. Of course, he didn’t directly sign any documents. It was not an approval but a tacit consent. He supported this project with the understanding that if any issues arose, he would distance himself.

They had coerced Lee Seon-jae with a determination akin to bone-crushing, to expose all the illegal activities such as tax evasion and bribery that involved high-ranking officials—who could be their superiors, friends, or even fathers.

And now, to say whether they have an obligation to protect criminals? It was absurd, especially considering it was just because of the Chief of the Gyeonggi Province Police’s in-law. That in-law certainly didn’t jump into the Pangyo fraud without knowing anything. He must have eagerly sought out the opportunity to make easy money, and I could bet he knew it was illegal when he got involved. Looking at the results, he was one of the victims, but in reality, he was no different from the perpetrators.

“Detective Oh. I can still walk away from this. Do you know why I’m here? It’s because of you. I’m not afraid of dying at all. Money? I have no interest in that. If I did, I wouldn’t have teamed up with you in the first place.”

Sir, why do you have to speak like that?

“You like to call me a victim, huh? Am I supposed to endure this because of that fraudster who’s the in-law of the Chief of the Gyeonggi Province Police?”

Oh dear, please calm down. I must have upset you with my lack of eloquence. I apologize.

Detective Oh was flustered. It was always like this. Just when he thought he was free, he was choked again within a day.

“I know it’s not your fault, Detective Oh. But please convey this accurately to them. Aren’t you recording this call? Pass this on as it is. Don’t try to shake me down like this anymore. Do I look like I’m completely incapacitated? I didn’t crawl in here without any backup. It’s not you holding my life; it’s me holding yours. Damn it.”

Tae-heun wiped the smile off his face.

He chewed on the cigarette in his mouth as he returned to the restaurant. While taking out his wallet to pay for the meal, he borrowed a coin. He went to a payphone and dialed.

After hanging up the receiver, he looked at the man. The man was sitting hunched over, busily moving his hands. The bowl of cold noodles, which was supposed to hold bones, was piled high with discarded bones. Tae-heun was about to wait outside until the man finished eating when he suddenly looked up. Perhaps thinking Tae-heun had just entered the shop, he gestured.

“Come on over and eat. It’s all cold now.”

It was hard to hear because of the noise, but that was what his lips were saying.

“I’m fine. I’m full.”

Tae-heun shouted back.

“Here’s your change.”

The restaurant owner belatedly handed over the change.

Only after seeing the wallet in Tae-heun’s hand did the man hurriedly get up from his seat. It seemed he was about to rush out to pay. But after taking a few steps, he stood still, frowning. It looked like he had a cramp. Tae-heun saw the man wetting his index finger with saliva and rubbing it on the tip of his nose.

“I was going to pay…”

The man mumbled while sitting on the low floor, not even reaching his shins, wearing red rubber boots.

“I asked you to eat, so I should pay.”

“Still… I didn’t even get you breakfast…”

“That’s because I overslept.”

“Are you all set? Can you help me?”

Tae-heun reached out his hand toward the man sitting on the floor.

The man hesitated, and only after his ears turned bright red did he take Tae-heun’s hand. Once he grabbed it, he should have leaned on him, but the man struggled not to put his weight on Tae-heun, almost falling backward. Startled, Tae-heun stretched out his arms and embraced the man’s waist. With that posture, he helped the man stand up, who was about to topple over.

“You’re surprisingly clumsy.”

Tae-heun teased. Like someone who had been burned, the man pulled away from Tae-heun. His expression was clearly flustered. The redness on his face was undeniable. It wasn’t just simple embarrassment; there was a sense of certainty.

The man who left the restaurant hurriedly climbed onto a truck, saying he had to go to work. He had heard that people generally didn’t work during the day, and the calendar even noted that he had another job starting at 4 PM, yet he drove off alone.

“No, how am I supposed to get home? Damn it. I’m going to lose it.”

Left alone in front of the duck soup restaurant, Tae-heun grumbled as he watched the truck disappear into the distance.

He must be embarrassed. Thinking that he would soon come to his senses and return to pick him up, he waited for about ten minutes, but the man did not come back.

“I’m going crazy, really.”

It was hot, and he felt heavy inside. At times like this, an iced Americano would be perfect, but there wasn’t even a café or convenience store in the village. The duck soup restaurant only had a vending machine for hot mix coffee.

Wondering if there might be something at the supermarket where he had drunk makgeolli with the village chief yesterday, he dragged his beach sandals and walked slowly. Sweat poured down like rain. His already reddened face was getting sunburned. Even standing still, it stung. If he had known it would be like this, he should have brought sunglasses. Did he think the man would just leave like that?

“Damn it.”

He gritted his teeth, but a laugh escaped. He was, after all, an amusing man. The frustration from the call with Detective Oh was offset by the man.

The tiny supermarket had nothing but ice cream and cheap canned coffee that had been brought in who knows when. The grandmother was nowhere to be found, and a relatively young woman who introduced herself as the daughter-in-law was dozing off. Tae-heun sat on the supermarket bench with a candy bar in his mouth. His backside felt warm.

“You’re back again.”

Out of nowhere, the supermarket grandmother greeted him. A warm breeze blew from the fan in her hand.

“Are you a fashion model? I didn’t recognize you yesterday. Haven’t you been on TV?”

“TV? I quit halfway through.”

He lied without hesitation.

“Oh, why? You should have stuck it out a bit longer. You’re much better than the young people on TV these days.”

“I was going to, but it turns out that just being good-looking doesn’t guarantee success in the entertainment industry.”

“Really? That’s strange.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

Tae-heun laughed, agreeing with the grandmother. She looked at him with a pleased expression.

“Is Ji-hye’s father doing well?”

“Of course. Speaking of which, I have a question: what kind of person is Ji-hye’s father?”

He asked casually.

“What kind of person? He’s surprisingly down-to-earth for a young man these days.”

The grandmother praised the man as if she were talking about her own grandson. She gushed about how he was a good-looking young man who worked really well, doing hard tasks without complaint, and even helping elderly people without money, sometimes for free. She insisted that he never worked carelessly, even when he did things for free.

“If he works for free like that, how does Ji-hye’s father make a living?”

“Oh dear, that’s only for the elderly without money. He’s incredibly quick with calculations. I can’t even describe it. He makes sure to collect what he’s owed.”

“Well, that’s a relief, but it doesn’t seem like their living situation is very prosperous.”

He pretended to worry unnecessarily. He bit into the ice cream. The grandmother lowered her voice, saying, “That’s true, but…”

“Actually, the pay Ji-hye’s father gets for his work is a bit low. It’s like spitting in my own face, but you know, those who are considered the local elite. They always talk about being broke and having bad harvests, but they only think about cutting wages. People have no conscience. If Ji-hye’s father quits and goes to town, everyone here will be in trouble.”

The old woman spoke in a somewhat harsh tone.

“But doesn’t he have a girlfriend? He’s tall and good-looking. Is it because of the child?”

While putting the last piece of ice cream in his mouth, he asked.

“Oh dear, that’s nothing to worry about. If you think about it, all the old men in this village are limping!”

“Right? But why doesn’t he have a girlfriend?”

“That’s what I’m saying. It’s such a waste. I wonder why he’s so cautious about dating or remarrying just because he has a child.”

“Is Ki-beom not thinking straight?”

“That’s what makes it even more frustrating. What’s the big deal about having a child? Why is he being so reserved?”

The grandmother clicked her tongue.

“Is it because there aren’t any young women in the village?”

“It’s not that.”

The grandmother turned her body to sit more comfortably and began to explain the reasons in earnest.

“The villagers have tried so hard to set him up with someone. They’ve gone as far as introducing him to distant relatives if there’s a woman available. Oh, don’t even get me started. I saw Ji-hye’s father get angry for the first time then. It wasn’t just anger; he remembered the houses that set him up and wouldn’t go work for them again. There’s no worker like Ji-hye’s father, and suddenly saying he won’t work anymore is maddening. What can we do? Everyone just keeps quiet and pretends it never happened. But that was already five years ago.”

“Really? Isn’t there a hidden girlfriend?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Where would he go to meet someone? He barely goes to the town’s agricultural cooperative or the market; Ji-hye’s father is even less active than I am.”

The grandmother sighed. Then, as if she just thought of something, she suggested to Tae-heun in a subtle tone. Before he knew it, the fan was in Tae-heun’s hand.

“Would you like an introduction? My cousin’s granddaughter just graduated from high school and got a job as an accountant at an architectural office in town. She’s a nice girl. She may not be as good-looking as you, though.”