“Major, aren’t you going to have dinner? I heard there’s something delicious served tonight…”
Shin Se-young smiled as she spoke, watching Kim Chul-soo come out of the general surgery changing room, taking off his doctor’s coat.
She seemed pleased with the successful orthopedic consultation, her mood bright.
As a nurse devoted to treating many patients, it was clear she was born for the medical profession.
Kim Chul-soo thought she was a genuinely kind person but spoke with a hint of regret.
“I have a prior engagement. The Village Head Go promised to boil some pumpkin for me.”
“Has it already been harvested? Fresh pumpkin… I really want to try some.”
“I’ll go check, and if there’s enough, I’ll sneak a few for you too, Lieutenant Shin.”
“Really? Thank you! Then I’ll go eat dinner.”
She smiled and headed down to the cafeteria.
It was around 6:30 p.m., the sun not fully set but casting a beautiful sunset.
Groups of patient soldiers and officers gathered, heading to the first floor cafeteria for their meal.
After a day filled with treatment and hard work, this time of dinner brought the greatest sense of happiness and fulfillment.
Once dinner was finished, only personal maintenance and cleaning remained before shower time.
Then the soldier’s exhausting day would come to an end.
Having served as a soldier once, Kim Chul-soo understood this feeling very well.
Lying on a narrow blanket at 10 p.m., preparing to sleep, one even felt a sense of pride.
“Good job today.”
Every day was so busy that this thought came naturally.
Falling into a sweet sleep allowed him to forget the dust and dirt from training and the harsh discipline of senior soldiers.
He was even happier on nights when he didn’t have to get up for guard duty.
Glancing briefly at the patient soldiers wearing hospital gowns, Kim Chul-soo reminisced about his past.
Those were tough days but filled with many lessons and gains.
“Chapter…”
He let out a short sigh, his face dark, and left the hospital lobby on the first floor.
Walking down toward the guard post, he unexpectedly met Private Joo Kyung-sik.
Kyung-sik was having fun at the store next to the guard post with other patient soldiers but ran up immediately upon seeing Kim Chul-soo.
“Reporting! Major, thank you for your hard work today!”
“Yeah, Private Joo. How’s life at the hospital? Have you had surgery yet?”
“I’m scheduled soon. By the way, Major, you’ve become quite famous in our department!”
“Famous? What do you mean? Do the patients in that department recognize me?”
“I didn’t know at first, but you handled the afternoon orthopedic consultations, right? Unlike other military doctors, you’re very kind and explain things clearly. That’s why you’ve become well-known among the soldiers. Of course, I joined in saying, ‘Did you know Major is a really good person?’”
“……”
Kim Chul-soo was stunned. The military was known for fast rumors, but he had just finished all consultations moments ago.
And already the orthopedic patients were spreading the word? It was bewildering.
“Hehe, I’m glad the patients noticed your good qualities I’d kept to myself. By the way, how did you end up here? If I’d known you were coming to orthopedics today, I would’ve gone down to greet you. It’s a shame…”
Kim Chul-soo put a hand on Kyung-sik’s shoulder and said,
“I came down in a hurry and didn’t have time to tell anyone. The head of orthopedics called me…”
“Of course, our Chief Jang Ki-hoon recognized your exceptional skills! He’s a bit strict, but a good man. His reputation among patients isn’t bad at all.”
“Hmm, yeah. I just found out a little while ago. He really is a good person. Hard to find a doctor like him in the military.”
Kim Chul-soo thought about the conversation earlier where the chief had cleared the Third Consultation Room for him.
Kyung-sik, excited, said,
“Anyway, I’m glad we’ll be seeing you more in orthopedics. Come with me. As promised, the convenience store is on me!”
“Haha… alright.”
Although much tastier food awaited him elsewhere, Kim Chul-soo followed Kyung-sik somewhat reluctantly.
He dipped his chopsticks into the hot water he poured himself to make ‘bokkuri,’ the instant ramen from a pouch.
-Slurrrp-
“Mmm… delicious. Korean ramen is the best. Spicy but smooth going down the throat.”
“Please try the chocolate bread and banana milk too! They’re really good!!”
“Those are good too. I don’t usually eat snacks, but these are quite tasty. Thanks, Private Joo.”
After sharing the historic and electric taste of snacks and ramen, they parted ways.
Honestly, though dragged along, it wasn’t all bad.
Memories of being a private eighteen years ago came flooding back, and he appreciated Kyung-sik’s sincerity.
The little soldier probably spent all his meager pay on phone calls, yet he had made a generous effort to buy tasty treats.
Kyung-sik cared especially because Kim Chul-soo was the first patient he admitted after coming to this hospital.
He decided to visit the ward tomorrow to check Kyung-sik’s surgery schedule and current condition more closely.
It was already past 7 p.m., and the sun had nearly disappeared beyond the mountain ridge.
Knowing Village Head Go was waiting to eat together made him feel uneasy.
-Tap, tap, tap-
The dark was slowly settling, and the surroundings had grown quite dim.
As he passed by the potato field at a quick pace, a sudden rustling came from nearby.
A roe deer…? Could it be?
In the deep mountain foothills, anything could appear.
Not only frightening carnivores, but rumors said a huge Legendary Bear also showed up, threatening people.
Raising his fists in a defensive stance, Kim Chul-soo prepared for something massive to attack—
“Who might you be? You’re a stranger.”
He faced a burly old man—a giant he never expected to see in such a rural area.
The man stood nearly 190 cm tall, forcing Kim Chul-soo to look up.
Since this was his first proper meeting aside from Village Head Go, Kim Chul-soo greeted him tensely.
“Hello. I’m Kim Chul-soo, a military doctor at Hampyeong Hospital. I moved into this village a few days ago.”
“Moved? I haven’t heard about that… There aren’t any empty houses.”
“I moved into the Spirit House up there. Maybe you haven’t heard of it.”
“Oh! That house? Haha! That’s one brave fellow! Most outsiders can’t even enter that house without wetting themselves, yet you live there? Hahaha! I like your spirit! A man needs guts like that! With your courage, maybe we can go hunting together someday! There are bears around here occasionally. Let’s go catch one together!”
“… Bears?”
What bears were coming out in 2001? Kim Chul-soo couldn’t believe it.
But seeing the arrows hanging on the giant old man’s back made him understand.
In the remote village of Hampyeong, his preconceived notions were shattered.
Though he really wasn’t confident in bear hunting, he couldn’t disappoint the man he’d just met.
With an awkward expression, he answered,
“If you call me, I’ll go anytime.”
-Boom!
-Boom!-
“Hahaha! A young man coming to the village brings life to the place. Very good!”
The man slapped Kim Chul-soo’s back with a palm the size of a dinner plate.
It hurt, but Kim Chul-soo couldn’t say so.
With a bitter smile, he asked,
“By the way, what were you doing in the potato field?”
“I came to harvest before the monsoon season. But we’re short on hands. I wish someone would help.”
“Then I’ll help! I’m actually interested in farming.”
“Oh, really? Then I’m grateful. Let’s get to work. The sun’s nearly set. If we work just 30 more minutes, we’ll finish for today.”
Kim Chul-soo took a hoe and sweatily dug potatoes buried in the dirt.
He hadn’t realized how hard farming was when he just bought from the market.
Working in an uncomfortable bent position was tough, and in this vast field, he worried about when all the potatoes could be harvested.
Still, the hard work brought much satisfaction.
He gained a grateful heart for the crops from the earth, and the plump potatoes whetted his appetite.
“That’s enough! Put down the hoe. We’ve harvested enough for today. We’ll continue tomorrow. Thanks to you, the work went much faster. Hahaha!”
“No, I didn’t do much.”
It was no empty compliment; while Kim Chul-soo harvested about half a sack, the old man dug up two.
Disappointed by the huge difference, Kim Chul-soo’s chest sank.
But the old man suddenly handed him a sack of potatoes.
“Uh… why is this?”
“Go home and boil it or bake it! It’s your pay for today’s work. A rare talent has come to our village. Next time, we’ll go bear hunting together!”
“… Yes. I understand.”
The old man’s name, as Kim Chul-soo heard when they parted, was Jeonseol In.
A name that perfectly suited the strong and robust elder.
Though covered in dirt from farming, there was no time to stop at home.
He didn’t know if they were still waiting, but carrying the heavy sack, he slowly walked through Village Head Go’s gate.
Seeing Village Head Go, his grandmother, and even their adorable grandchildren waiting without having started dinner yet, tears welled in his eyes.
It was already 9 p.m. on the pocket watch—a very late dinner time in the countryside.
Kim Chul-soo choked up, unable to find words.
Then Village Head Go called out,
“Why are you so late?! We were starving because of you! Sit down quickly! I’ll grill some pork belly.”
“Why… didn’t you eat first? You didn’t say anything, and I was late on my own…”
Unable to say much, Kim Chul-soo spoke stiffly, but Village Head Go replied with a blank expression.
“If we’re eating together, then we should eat together! I thought you’d definitely come. You don’t seem like the type to break a promise.”
“……”
Overcome by sudden emotions, Kim Chul-soo stopped at the door.
Village Head Go clicked his tongue, came running, and gently pushed him inside.
“You must be tired today too. Come on in—let’s eat together.”
“… Yes.”
At that moment, Kim Chul-soo thought of the word family.
Generally meaning family, it literally means “people who eat together,” combining the characters for “eat” and “mouth.”
Here, in this remote village of Hampyeong, it felt like he had gained new family.
Family who waited for him even when he got off work late like today…
“Grandpa, I’ll eat well—!”
When a cute grandchild raised a small chopstick, a smile naturally formed on Kim Chul-soo’s lips.
It felt like returning to the time when, as a child, the whole family gathered harmoniously at the grandfather’s rural house to eat together.
Recalling those days, Kim Chul-soo lifted his chopsticks with slightly moist eyes.
“I’ll eat well too—!!”