Chapter 75 – Welcome Party (2)

“What kind of damn book have you been scribbling on for decades? Just give it up!”

“Hehehe, it hasn’t been decades! There will be good news someday. By the way, is that person the new doctor?”

She pointed toward Kim Ji-hyuk with a gesture of her eyes.

“Yes. I am Kim Ji-hyuk.”

At that, Kim Ji-hyuk bowed his head lightly.

‘It is a familiar face… Where did I see her? That is strange. I definitely seem to have seen her somewhere. Do they call this kind of thing a déjà vu phenomenon?’

Kim Ji-hyuk felt as if he was acquainted with this woman in front of him.

“Glad to meet you! I am Lee Geum!”

She scratched her forehead as if embarrassed by her self-introduction.

“Ah, yes.”

“I call myself a writer in name, but since I have no decent novel, it is a bit awkward to call myself a writer! At any rate, I sincerely welcome your appointment to our neighborhood!”

“Thank you.”

“We were in a lot of trouble because there was no doctor for a long time. As you can see, this is a sloped place, so to go to a hospital once, we have to walk for a long time. So we kept requesting the mining company, and only now has that wish been fulfilled.”

She blushed slightly, looking embarrassed.

“Ah, yes.”

It was right at that moment.

“Kyung-ri! Mr. Kim from the real estate agency, for whom I arranged a matchmaking session last time, is in a complete tizzy. I heard he even bought a house in town because he likes you? There is no rich man like him in this neighborhood. Stop being stubborn and marry Mr. Kim.”

A woman rushed into the town hall and cut into the conversation between the two.

‘Kyung-ri? Lee Kyung-ri? Plus a writer who writes novels? N-no way…’

As if something crossed his mind, Kim Ji-hyuk crinkled the tip of his nose and observed Lee Geum intently.

“Oh dear, Sister! Stop it. It is disgusting! His son is fully grown and even completed military service, you know? Never say such things!”

Lee Geum showed her palm, turning serious.

“Are you in a position to be picky right now? What does it matter if it is a second marriage position, and what does it matter if he is a bachelor? Just shut your eyes tight, take over the main room of that house, and you will live in luxury for the rest of your life.”

“Oh, I told you I hate that kind of luxury! And, I have absolutely no interest in men!”

“No interest, my foot! Do you know how painful it is for a woman to live alone? Once you settle down with a man, they are all the same! Stop scribbling that useless novel of yours!”

The woman scolded Lee Geum.

“Yes, yes. I will keep that in mind!”

“Do not listen lightly, think it over well. In this harsh world, how are you going to live if you just scribble writings like a dandy without a single penny? There won’t be another chance, got it?”

The woman kept scolding her and glared.

“Elder! It has been a long time! Now that you are aged, please stop going into the coal mine!”

As if she did not want to hear the woman’s words, Lee Geum changed the topic.

“Oh? Sister Kyung-ri has come?”

In the meantime, Nurse Park In-seon, who had gone to the kitchen briefly to help prepare food, came inside.

‘What? They call her Kyung-ri again?’

“Yeah, In-seon.”

“Is the novel going well?”

“Well. So-so. It is not as easy as I thought.”

Lee Geum nodded her head with a dispirited face.

“Oh come on, that is why you should write romance novels; why are you writing historical pieces or epic sagas? Who reads such things nowadays? A heart-fluttering romance novel is the best! Mmh, a fantastic novel where a prince on a white horse suddenly appears is the trend!”

‘Epic saga? The situation is flowing stranger and stranger. Perhaps my guess might be correct?’

Kim Ji-hyuk listened closely to the conversation between the two.

“No. I am hopeless at romance. That is also for people who are used to writing it. I cannot write such embarrassing romance novels.”

Lee Geum repeatedly waved her hands in refusal.

“Oh, looking at it, there is romance too, right? Woong-i and Young-seon liking each other, isn’t that an affair?”

‘Woong-i and Young-seon? Aren’t they characters in the epic novel Gukto? If so… That person is indeed the novelist Lee Kyung-ri?’

“What affair? Anyway, it is just in the data-gathering stage right now, so do not jump to conclusions.”

“Ah, I got it. Anyway, once you finish writing, you must show it to me, okay? Make sure to kill off Kim Joong-gu! But why haven’t you decided on the female lead’s name yet?”

“Well… I just do not get a feeling for it.”

“Excuse me. If you do not mind, could I ask you just one thing?”

At that, Kim Ji-hyuk asked Lee Geum.

“Yes. Ask anything!”

She smiled warmly at him.

“Some people call you Lee Geum, and some call you Kyung-ri?”

“Hohoho, my real name is originally Geum. Kyung-ri is… just a childhood name? Or, a pen name I would use if I become a famous novelist later? Something like that.”

‘Wow, this woman really is the writer Lee Kyung-ri! The novel she was talking about with Nurse Park In-seon is indeed the epic novel Gukto!’

It was the moment everything became certain.

“Writer! About the novel you were discussing with In-seon earlier.”

“Oh, as if I write novels! That is just at a practice piece level, and I haven’t even decided whether to write it or not. Readers do not read this kind of historical piece much nowadays. They only like… how should I put it, stimulating and decadent (?) novels.”

Lee Geum had a sullen expression.

“Fufu, is that so? Rather than stimulating and passionate love, I think it would be nice to paint a bold love that transcends social status, a calm love that contains the Korean sentiment of han.”

“Wow! That is great! I think the same way! I wanted to draw a female protagonist who possesses both masculinity and femininity simultaneously! Running through the Japanese colonial era and the war that ended not long ago… A woman trying to protect her family… Should I call it a resistance psychology against the patriarchal family system running through this society now? I wanted to create a protagonist who embodies the will of tolerance and inclusion. It is too grandiose, isn’t it? For someone who hasn’t even written a single proper novel yet…”

Lee Geum blushed as if shy.

‘Wow! She really is the great writer Lee Kyung-ri!’

“No! Please never give up, and write it to the end. I will support you! Then, about the female lead’s name… how about Se-hee?”

“Hohoho, since you are supporting me, Doctor, I feel energized! Yes, yes! I will study materials diligently and write it! Ah, and the female lead’s name is so striking. I will make the female lead’s name Se-hee!”

‘Hehehe, if it turns out like this, am I also contributing to the birth of a masterpiece!’

“Thank you.”

“What do you mean? I am the one who should be thankful! By the way, do you drink? Since I even got the novel’s protagonist’s name, I would like to offer you a drink as a token of my gratitude.”

“Sure! Give me a glass.”

Pour, pour, pour—

In that way, Lee Geum filled Kim Ji-hyuk’s bowl to the brim with makgeolli.

“Sincere congratulations on your appointment to our village! Nice to meet you!”

“Yes. Likewise.”

‘Wow, to think I am receiving a drink from the writer Lee Kyung-ri herself!’

Kim Ji-hyuk still felt a sense of unreality.

In that manner, the villagers shared food and drinks, celebrating Kim Ji-hyuk’s arrival.

* * *

A few days later, the clinic.

Kim Ji-hyuk, who had finished the grand (?) celebration party at the town hall. As medicines and some medical instruments were brought in from Seoul, full-scale examinations began.

Early morning.

Clack—

The door of the clinic opened wide.

“Doctor! Hurry! Please look at this child!”

A man walked inside the clinic carrying a young child on his back.

“Uncle. What is the matter from early morning? Oh my, isn’t this Sang-cheol? What happened?”

It was Nurse Park In-seon, who recognized the child on the man’s back at a single glance.

“Exactly. I went up the mountain to dig wild herbs, only to find Sang-cheol rolling over and over down under that hillside. It seems his leg is broken.”

“My goodness, why did this child crawl up the mountain since morning?”

“This is all because of that guy, Mr. Cheon! That wicked human, to a young child…”

Tsk, tsk, tsk, the man clicked his tongue while carrying the child.

“Uncle Cheon? The uncle who goes around harvesting natural honey?”

“Yeah. Detailed explanation later, please just look at the child first. Is the doctor inside?”

“Of course. I will fetch him quickly. First, please lay the child down here!”

“Got it. Bring him quickly.”

‘That bastard who deserves to be struck by lightning! No matter what, what kind of wicked deed is this to a child!’

“Sang-cheol, bear with it a little. The doctor will come soon.”

“Yes, I got it, Uncle.”

In that way, the man grumbled and laid the child down on the bed.

A moment later, receiving Nurse Park In-seon’s contact, Kim Ji-hyuk came down to the examination room and checked the child’s condition.

“Does it hurt if I press here?”

“Aaaaaah!”

When Kim Ji-hyuk pressed the child’s right calf, the child let out a screaming cry.

“You said a popping sound came from here?”

Kim Ji-hyuk asked, examining the child’s leg more closely.

“Yes. A pop came from there.”

The child said in a tearful voice.

“Mmh, by any chance, did you run suddenly?”

As if grasping something, Kim Ji-hyuk asked again.

“Yes…”

The child lowered his head weakly.

“Mmh, let us take an X-ray first.”

The economic value of this coal mine was grand enough to support an X-ray machine, which was difficult to install even in hospitals in Seoul.

A moment later,

Kim Ji-hyuk finished the examination.

Wearing a thin smile on his lips, he examined the child’s calf.

“Is the child alright?”

The man who came carrying the child asked.

“Yes. Do not worry too much. It is not a fracture.”

“Really?”

“Yes. There is a muscle called the gastrocnemius or soleus muscle, and if you do intense exercise or run suddenly without warm-up, strong force goes into the gastrocnemius and the muscle snaps as it cannot withstand the tension. Just like the child said, a ‘pop’ is heard and severe pain arises to the extent of being unable to walk.”

“Ah!”

“This is called a soleus muscle rupture, and looking at the film, it is not completely ruptured, but it seems a part of it has torn. On the contrary, if it completely snaps, the muscle doesn’t need to work, so there is no pain.”

“Is that so? Then we do not need surgery, right?”

“Yes. If we apply some cold packs and do a splint, he should have no trouble walking after about two weeks.”

“That is a relief.”

“Yes. It is fine. Since the child has severe pain, I will administer a painkiller. By the way, you said this happened while coming down the mountain?”

“Yes. That is correct.”

The man nodded his head.

“Were you running down the mountain?”

Kim Ji-hyuk asked the child.

“Yes.”

“You must not run suddenly on a mountain. Because a mountain is sloped, more force goes into the legs than on flat ground. It is also difficult to maintain balance. You must always hold onto supports and descend slowly when coming down a mountain. Anyway, what happened that made you run on the mountain?”

“……….”

The child lowered his head with a sullen face without saying anything to the question.

“Why? What is the matter?”

Kim Ji-hyuk asked, sounding curious.

“Th-that. Grandfather Eoheung…”

The child could not continue his words to the end. He looked completely terrified.

“Grandfather Eoheung?”

“Yes.”

The child, unable to speak further, lowered his head again.

“Doctor. Speak with me for a moment.”

As if there was some reason, the man scanned the surroundings and tugged at Kim Ji-hyuk’s sleeve.

“Pardon? Ah, alright.”

Noticing the obvious, Kim Ji-hyuk nodded and changed spots along with the man.