As I stepped out of the trauma surgery ward, I ran into Private Joo Kyung-sik from orthopedics.
He was speaking with an unusually bright expression.
“Major, are you leaving work now?”
His white patient gown was patterned repeatedly with the small lettering “Hampyeong Armed Forces Hospital.”
Seeing how much weight he’d gained and how much better he looked put me in good spirits, but I worried he might revert to the suffering state he’d been in before once he returned to the unit.
There was still a long way to go in military life, and once back at the unit, he was still just a Private First Class.
Many tough days awaited him.
“I heard the surgery went well. How’s your body feeling?”
“There’s no problem walking at all, it feels great. The bulging cyst used to hurt a lot when I wore my combat boots, but now it’s completely fine! Haha!!”
Seeing him smile like that, it was clear the surgery had been a success.
But once surgery and treatment were complete, he couldn’t stay here any longer.
“It’s time to get discharged and go back to the unit, right?”
I said with a tinge of regret.
He answered readily.
“Yes! I caused a lot of trouble for the senior soldiers at the unit while I was here, but I have to work even harder once I get back. I’ll be the first to volunteer for the tough tasks and night guard duty.”
“It’s going to be much hotter at the unit. It’s bearable here inside the hospital, but do you have fans in the barracks?”
“Of course! Each barracks has one fan, but that’s not really important anymore. The unit gave me a lot of accommodations while I was here, so I want to do even better once I return. I’ll go out during the hottest hours to weed the overgrown grass and rebuild the old storage shed. I just got a call from a senior soldier who said they’re severely understaffed for the shed repairs, and not many volunteers either. Hehe! I told them I’ll take care of everything once I’m back.”
It’s common for soldiers to struggle adapting after staying in the comfortable military hospital for a while.
At the unit, they have to get up at 6 a.m., run drills, participate in tough training, and stand guard through the night.
If they’re not mentally prepared, it can be really hard. But Private Joo Kyung-sik was clearly steeled and ready.
For some reason, my chest swelled with pride.
When a soldier who hadn’t been able to perform properly before admission is treated and sent back, it adds one healthy, energetic soldier to the ranks.
“… That’s a good way to look at it. When’s your discharge date?”
“It’s set for a week from now. Honestly, I think I could be discharged in about three days, but Captain Son Woo-hyun arranged some accommodations for me. It seems because I’m friendly with you, Major, he showed consideration. Thank you, Major!”
“I owe Captain Son Woo-hyun a drink sometime. Anyway, take care of yourself until then. When you get back, the real hot summer will be waiting. Don’t get overenthusiastic and end up back here again.”
“Yes, sir! I will never forget the help you’ve given me. To avoid any accusations of favoritism, I’ll work even harder during military life. Thank you!!”
“All right. Let’s try to meet one more time before you get discharged.”
Watching Joo Kyung-sik’s lively figure fade into the distance, I felt as if I were letting go of a newborn bird I’d been holding.
Both Hong Jin-oh and Joo Kyung-sik were walking their own paths, but each was doing their best.
Though the long fight against illness ended differently for everyone… I was deeply moved by seeing patients stand on their own and grow.
Back at the unit before admission, they were often ignored and mistreated, but with just a little help, they could stand up again.
Feeling a warm emotion in my chest, I hurried home.
A little further down the road, the guard post came into view.
“Major, are you leaving work now? Have you eaten lunch?”
“Of course. What time do you think it is now? When do you eat supper, Corporal Kwon Nam-ho?”
“Haha! I ate well too. But, Major…”
Kwon Nam-ho looked around carefully, then came closer to whisper in my ear.
“How did that secret breast cancer surgery for Hong Jin-oh go? I was curious and wanted to ask.”
“Ah! It went well. I was grateful to be able to send Hong Jin-oh safely to his mother’s house that day. It’s usually not easy to leave the guard post in the early morning hours, but you helped a lot.”
“It’s nothing. I was worried too, as a soldier. I thought, ‘What if my mom had to go home but couldn’t? That’d be really hard,’ so I opened the guard post for her.”
“Didn’t the unit commander catch you?”
“Fortunately, only I and one junior soldier were on watch that dawn. Don’t worry about the junior soldier—I bought a big batch of frozen food at the PX, so he’ll keep his mouth shut. That guy’s face was practically splitting with joy while eating frozen chicken.”
“That’s the time to enjoy that stuff, before you become a corporal. Anyway, Corporal Kwon Nam-ho, thanks to you everything went well. Hong Jin-oh’s surgery was a success, and he’s discharged today. His mother’s working in the mess hall without any problems. You deserve a lot of credit for how smoothly everything ended. Thank you.”
“Wow—he’s being discharged? That’s a little enviable. Still, it must have been tough getting sick in the military. I’m glad it’s all over. It’s something to celebrate. I wanted to congratulate him in person, but please pass it on for me.”
“Right. Standing around for so long must make you hungry. Here, have some of this.”
“Oh! Is this civilian food? What’s this?!”
I had stored some potato rice cakes the patient gave me in the hospital freezer.
I’d planned to give them to the village elders on my way home, but seeing a soldier working without dinner, I wanted to give him something.
“When your shift changes, you’ll have supper anyway… but thank you. Hmm! This is so soft and sweet. The white bean paste inside is delicious. Where did you get this? I want to buy some later.”
“A patient from Daejeon brought it, so that might be difficult. There are about ten in the bag, so share them with your juniors. Well, I’m off. Take care!”
“Yes! Thank you again for bringing food. Major. Have a delicious meal after work!”
“Yeah, thanks.”
I left the guard post and turned onto the rural road leading to the village.
The crimson petals of the crepe myrtle trees in full bloom gave off a subtle fragrance.
Hampyeong… eighteen years ago, before I was first evacuated here, I had never even heard of this place.
It was such an isolated, safe, and warm space from the world.
I suddenly stopped walking and looked up at the sky.
Beneath the blue summer sky, the crimson petals in full bloom lifted my spirits.
I reached out and touched one.
Soft to the touch.
Bringing my nose close to the low-hanging petal, I sensed a deep fragrance—not like roses but more floral.
“Hey—Kim Cheol-su, you’re here?”
“Yes, Village Chief. Still working?”
“These cursed cucumbers just keep coming no matter how many I pick. Go on into the house. Grandma’s prepared the meal. Eat first. I’ll be a while longer.”
“I could help you.”
“Bah! Just go rest today. You help enough as it is.”
“All right, then. I’ll see you later.”
Woof!! Woof!!!
With Baek-gu, the white dog, approaching, I quickened my otherwise leisurely pace.
The savory smell of rice cooking in the hearth grew stronger as I neared the village chief’s house.
My mouth watered involuntarily as I hurriedly opened the gate.
“Uncle Doctor, you’re here?”
A cute little boy ran up and jumped into my arms.
He was the village chief’s grandson, whom I’d grown quite close to.
I smiled broadly and lifted the boy.
“Yeah, Uncle’s here. Have you eaten?”
“No, not yet. Grandma told me to wait for you…”
“Oh my, is that so? I feel bad now. Looks like Uncle’s gotta make it up to you. But you’re hungry now, so wash your hands and let’s eat. Cheongsan, why are you so skinny? You look sick. Your belly’s all flat. Eat quickly so we can fatten you up.”
“Yes.”
I led the two kids to the water faucet and helped them wash their hands.
Then I fed the drooling dog and sat down at the large table on the wide veranda.
Today’s menu was rustic soybean paste stew and grilled Spam.
Though Grandma urged me to start eating quickly, I shook my head and waited.
After giving a shy smile, Grandma took the first bite herself and then said,
“Thank you for the meal today, too, Grandma!”
I scooped a generous helping of rice and submerged it in the individual pot of soybean paste stew.
Mixing it well and putting it into my mouth was pure heaven.
Nutty, savory, slightly salty yet somehow stimulating the appetite.
I thought rural doenjang was different from anything else.
Store-bought doenjang often lacks depth of flavor.
People debate MSG’s merits, but that’s not the real issue.
The fundamental difference lies in the traditional way of making doenjang itself.
Grandma’s hands washed the soybeans clean and soaked them overnight, then boiled them thoroughly in a cauldron for hours.
Next, the soft soybeans were mashed in a mortar and formed into blocks resembling meju (fermented soybean bricks).
These were sun-dried and hung on a hemp rope under the eaves of the roof.
I remembered seeing that scene during family gatherings at my maternal grandfather’s house when I was young.
Even at that young age, I loved the nutty aroma coming from the meju and would run underneath the hanging rope.
Here at the village chief’s house, meju with its pleasant scent hung abundantly under the eaves.
A warm feeling filled my chest as I ate the doenjang heartily.
My appetite was good, and my mood peaceful.
“Grandma, give me more Spam!”
“Meg, just eat what’s here. I already set the table, what are you talking about?”
Watching Grandma and her granddaughter bicker, I smiled.
I wasn’t married and had no children yet, but I thought it’d be nice to have a family like this someday.
“Grandma, please stay seated. I’ll go grill some more Spam.”
“Why would a doctor come into the kitchen? Hey, let me—”
Startled, Grandma tried to get up, but I gently made her sit back down.
“You always treat me, so I want to cook for you someday. Not a full meal today, but I can at least grill some Spam.”
“That’s fine, then.”
“I want to do it.”
I went into the kitchen, peeled open a can of Spam with the tip of my knife, and grilled generous slices in a large frying pan.
-Sizzle sizzle…
Using the delicious oil from the Spam, I made about three rolled omelets and plated them.
Setting the Spam dish before the kids and Grandma, I smiled.
“It’s nothing special, but enjoy. Next time I’ll really show off my skills.”
I’m pretty good with a knife, so the rolled omelets were sliced neatly with zero error, giving off a great aroma.
Anything cooked in Spam oil tastes delicious.
I pulled out a trick I’d used while living alone in Seoul.
The salty, Spam-scented omelets couldn’t fail to be tasty.
The kids’ eyes widened, and they cheered joyfully, looking at me with newfound admiration.
They glanced at each other then scrambled to grab the omelets.
“Wow!!! Uncle’s a great cook! I want to eat first.”
“No, I want to eat first! Me!”
“Waaah—Cheongsan’s eating all the omelets alone! Grandma!!”
“There’s plenty, just share. Cheongsan, don’t be greedy.”
The village chief’s house was lively and warm as always.
I smiled happily, leaning back in my seat on the veranda.
The sunset’s golden glow filled the room.
The view from the village chief’s house was as beautiful as the view from my own home.
The sun’s light reflected like gold on the nearby rice fields, and the farmers still working were endearing.
Having finished my meal, I thought I should hurry to help the village chief.
“Meg, where are you going in the middle of dinner?”
“Grandma, I finished eating. Since the village chief isn’t back yet, I think he still has work to do. I’m going to help him!”
“Why bother? That man can suffer a little.”
“But I feel bad about it. I’ll be quick!”
Even though my food hadn’t fully digested, my steps naturally quickened.
I cherished the new bonds I’d made in Hampyeong.
I wanted to help and bring joy to the elders who treated me like family.
Running swiftly to the field where the village chief worked, I called out with a bright smile.
“Village Chief! I’m here. Should I pick cucumbers? I’ll help you!”