For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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“Ma’am, what’s this smell so early in the morning?”
A savory aroma tickled my nose at daybreak. Had aunt come? Or maybe the older uncle and his wife. They’d all been visiting Ichon-dong frequently to curry favor with grandfather. As I pondered this, the housekeeper showed a subtle smile.
“The master is cooking himself.”
Grandfather?
Though I’d lived in the Ichon-dong mansion for a month, I’d never seen grandfather cook. Of course not – with the skilled housekeeper preparing every meal, it was hard to imagine grandfather cooking himself.
‘It’s true?’
Peeking into the kitchen with a towel around my neck, I really saw grandfather’s back. Usually, the housekeeper would have stopped grandfather, but for some reason, she just watched. Why did grandfather’s back view make my heart swell?
“Young master Kang-hyun, breakfast is ready.”
The breakfast table was as usual. Clear soup with vegetable side dishes. The food that had given off that savory smell earlier wasn’t visible. I wondered what it was, but the question soon subsided. As the side dishes and rice bowl emptied.
“Hyun-ah, we have somewhere to go this morning, keep that in mind.”
Though I looked at him questioningly, grandfather didn’t elaborate.
“Yes, grandfather.”
Perhaps we were going to Chairman Wang’s? But grandfather’s manner suggested otherwise. Indescribable emotions flickered across his wrinkled eyes.
We drove for a long time in Driver Kim’s car. Grandfather wore a clean suit, though its mended patches showed the passage of time. I too dressed neatly like grandfather. Except for the bowtie, I was as well-dressed as when attending the gathering.
Though grandfather hadn’t stated our destination, Driver Kim drove skillfully. I suddenly felt nervous. Could we be meeting another extraordinary person like Chairman Wang? However, that doubt faded as time passed.
‘A mountain?’
We were in a thickly wooded mountain area. The car stopped where the road ended.
“Oh my, sir.”
An elderly man in his late fifties rushed out from the mountain at the sound of the car engine. His sun-tanned skin and attire clearly suggested he lived in the mountains.
“It’s been a while.”
Grandfather and the elderly man exchanged warm greetings. It seemed he was familiar with Driver Kim too. Just where was this place?
*
“Dear, I’ve come.”
It was a grave. The tomb, situated in a sunny spot, was well-maintained without a single weed in sight. Only occasional violet grandmother flowers and sun flowers opened their dew-laden petals. Grandfather took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the tombstone. His usually tiger-like eyes were full of deep longing.
“Hyun-ah, let this old man tell you a story from long ago. When I was about your age, I first met your grandmother. She was a friend working as a housemaid in my home. When I grew older and suddenly said I would marry her, my family strongly opposed. Just like how I opposed your father.”
This was the first time I’d heard this story. Even in my past life, mother hadn’t told me. Understandably so, as grandmother had passed away giving birth to mother. Grandfather was born the only son of a wealthy family. Considering the times, I couldn’t imagine how strong the opposition must have been.
“I ran away from home and came to Seoul. She asked me then if I wouldn’t regret it. Do you know how I answered?”
A smile spread across grandfather’s lips.
“I said I already had the whole world, what was there to regret?”
Grandfather gently caressed the grave. Each movement was filled with piercing longing.
“Dongju was created by combining the middle character of my name and the last character of your grandmother’s name.”
To think I’d learn the inside story of Dongju like this.
“That’s how important Dongju was to this old man. But in life, I found some things don’t go as planned.”
Must mean raising children. No wonder they say raising children becomes most important in old age. At that moment, grandfather turned to me with piercing eyes.
“Hyun-ah, you may take any path you wish. Nothing is better than living the life you want, just as this old man did before. But I have one request. If Dongju ever needs you in the future, please lend your hand. This old man will think differently from now on.”
Something unimaginable in my past life. With the uncles’ recent frequent mistakes, I hadn’t expected grandfather to tell such things to a mere 14-year-old me. Then I met grandfather’s eyes. A gaze that seemed to read my thoughts.
“Grandfather, Dongju will be fine.”
At those words,
A deep smile spread across grandfather’s face.
“Hyun-ah, fifty years ago today, this old man married your grandmother.”
Wedding anniversary? Grandfather pulled out food from a plastic bag, and I finally understood his actions in the kitchen this morning. For a moment, grandfather seemed like a romantic.
“Dear, here’s the zucchini pancakes you liked.”
That day, grandfather and I gained a secret.
* * *
Park Sun-young felt anxious.
Zing.
The violin melody didn’t satisfy her.
There’s what people commonly call the level of a master. Those who are praised as maestros and dominate their era. Their unity with their instrument gives you goosebumps, and their heart-pounding music steals your soul. Their music possesses an indescribable magic. Having played violin her whole life, Park Sun-young had respected and admired such masters.
“Sigh.”
A deep sigh echoed in the soundproof room.
Her right hand unconsciously tensed on the bow.
Détaché, vibrato, harmonics, legato, trill─!
Techniques practiced hundreds of times daily since childhood. But even now as an adult, she remained unsatisfied. Of course, others would protest such thoughts as nonsense. After all, Park Sun-young was undeniably talented. But someone once said that violin technique transcends skill to reach emotion. That difference separates masters from ordinary players.
She wondered if she truly had what it takes.
Had she ever seen unattainable talent? Of course she had. Park Sun-young was lately very enthusiastic about giving violin lessons. Because for the first time in her life, she’d encountered a wall of talent. But she was rather grateful to be able to teach that child. Was this how Paganini’s teacher felt?
“Yu-ha will be disappointed again today.”
Yu-ha’s face had been full of discontent as Kang-hyun hadn’t come for music lessons these past few days. Park Sun-young fully understood Yu-ha’s feelings. Even she had unknowingly become Kang-hyun’s fan rather than his teacher.
He had clearly said he’d never properly learned violin. Yet in his melodies, Park Sun-young sensed the essence of a master.
‘At this rate, Hyun will study abroad first.’
Not an unreasonable thought. Even Mozart traveled the world from a young age.
Crack.
She couldn’t give up like this.
Park Sun-young raised her clenched bow again.
*
“Chairman.”
The older uncle carefully entered the chairman’s office. Perhaps due to the recent incident with the younger uncle, his every action was like a new employee’s. Entering the office, he glanced disapprovingly at me sitting on the sofa. A look that seemed to ask why I was still here. What could I do? Did he think I wanted to be here?
It had only been yesterday that I’d reassured grandfather, but with Wan-yong still strutting around, I had no choice. I was coming to the company with grandfather almost daily, even missing my recently interesting music lessons.
“Yu Jeon-mu.”
At grandfather’s quiet call, the older uncle immediately shifted his gaze from me and tensed up.
“Are you still handling work so clumsily? Do I need to worry about waste water treatment too!”
This was the 1990s, rife with industrial corruption. They said nobody in business hadn’t taken bribes. For example, if construction companies skimped on reinforcing bars below safety levels, the chemical industry was plagued with waste water treatment corruption. Since general manufacturing plants lacked waste water treatment facilities, they typically outsourced to chemical companies – that’s where the bribes occurred.
How do I know so well?
‘It’s still prevalent in different ways in the 21st century’
Times changed and methods became smarter, but corruption wasn’t eliminated. However, being illegal, everyone became more careful. I had managed the resulting legal issues. But this was the 90s.
Well, such corruption was rampant in any industry, but it was considered virtuous to turn a blind eye in this era. With social structures flowing toward corruption, problems were inevitable.
“I-I’ll take corrective measures immediately, Chairman.”
The older uncle was sweating profusely. He probably wasn’t unaware of the waste water bribes but ignored them due to the small amount. If he truly didn’t know, he was really incompetent.
Not long after the older uncle left.
“You’ve come, Director Jeon.”
The bastard visited the chairman’s office.
Perhaps because he was in charge of new material development, Director Jeon frequently visited the chairman’s office. Though his gaze toward me was peculiar since I had called him Jeon Wan-yong, nothing special had happened. He probably thought he had misheard.
‘How to catch this bastard.’
There wasn’t a clear way to track him. Since new material development wasn’t even complete, I couldn’t just shout that this bastard would later sell A-grade technology to foreign countries! I remained deep in thought until he politely bowed to grandfather and left the office.
Just as no mysterious solution came to mind.
“The smell of mold is terrible.”
Huh?
Grandfather was looking at me. With a peculiar smile.
“Hyun, didn’t you say before? That mold doesn’t just grow on the surface.”
Could it be.
I had thought too simply. Wasn’t grandfather someone who had spent his entire life on the management frontline? In a way, I had been too cocky, relying only on my past life experience. Like showing off before a master. Grandfather was far more skilled than I could compare to. He must have noticed.
“It will be disinfected soon, very thoroughly.”
The fact that he was the biggest mold.
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