Chapter 4: The Scent of Grandfather

“Wow.”

“Hey.”

“Is this the ? Are you sure we’re in the right place?”

As soon as the Hyeon Nammae stepped in, they looked around, muttering in awe and disbelief.

Except for Noran, these were my first guests.

“Aren’t you two a little too impatient? How many hours did it take you to get here after I called?”

“Hey, it’s been a long day.”

“We were curious.”

Yesterday, when I told the Hyeon Nammae that I lived here now, they were so shocked they grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

They’d been desperate to hear the details, but unfortunately, they didn’t have time.

Since it’s the busiest season for their watermelon farming, I’d told them to just come by the tea house later—but I didn’t expect them to show up before the day was even over.

The Hyeon Nammae ran their hands over the tables and windowsills, then spoke in surprise.

“I didn’t know this place could get this clean.”

“Looks like it was just built yesterday.”

“How is this possible? I wouldn’t have been surprised if it had collapsed any minute.”

“Even just three days ago, it was a wreck. Are you telling me you did all this in a day or two?”

I was just as surprised as they were.

Since I couldn’t really explain, I just smiled awkwardly.

The Hyeon Nammae scoured every nook and cranny, but in the end, the mystery remained unsolved.

If even I couldn’t figure it out, how could they?

“Sit down. I’ll get you something to drink.”

While waiting for the water to boil, I flipped through the Recipe Book. I was sure there was something in here related to the Hyeon Nammae…

Scanning the Recipe Book slowly, Hyeon Ung spoke up.

“You look just like Grandfather right now.”

“Oh, right. I was wondering where I’d seen that look—you’re just like him.”

I don’t remember them coming by this often when we were in high school.

Maybe this was after I’d moved to Seoul.

“Did you guys come here a lot?”

“Once in a while.”

“I came a lot. Whenever I drank Grandfather’s tea, the day just felt easier.”

“Oh, yeah! Around this time of year, I drank his tea all the time.”

“After Grandfather passed away, I really missed that.”

“Is that so.”

Maybe it was just their imagination, but somehow, I think it’s possible.

After all, it was tea brewed by Grandfather, not just any old tea.

It’s not like it was Deus Ex Machina.

But anything made by Grandfather somehow became extraordinary.

Just then, I found a certain tea in the Recipe Book.

A blend just for the Hyeon Nammae. Red Peppermint Tea.

“Red Peppermint Tea?”

“Yeah, that’s the one Grandfather always brewed for us.”

“Is it written in there? Does that mean we can have that tea again?”

“I’ll make it, but don’t expect it to be exactly the same.”

I didn’t know if the power was in the tea or if Grandfather was actually using magic.

After telling them not to expect too much, I gathered the necessary ingredients from the storage room.

As I prepared the tea bags according to the Recipe Book, the Hyeon Nammae started talking again.

“Changseong, didn’t you say you were working in Seoul? Why’d you come back?”

“Hmm…”

Where should I start? How could I possibly explain I suddenly regressed?

“I don’t know, just… Life there felt like too much of a struggle. I started wondering what it was all for. It felt like I was forgetting the things that mattered.”

“Hey.”

“What?”

“You’re not Changseong, are you?”

When I turned around, I saw the Hyeon Nammae giving me the side-eye.

They didn’t believe a word I said.

“Come on, trust me.”

“If you were me, would you believe it?”

“Back in high school, you used to say you’d make it big and get out of this backwater town.”

“Yeah, and then you got into college through the rural student quota, lived in a basement there…”

“You guys sure know a lot, huh?”

It’s been ages since I came back here.

It’s like they watched my whole life from right next to me.

“Grandfather told us.”

“And Kihyun dropped by from time to time, too. You cold-hearted jerk.”

I didn’t have much to say to that.

The old me probably deserved it.

“I’m not like that anymore.”

“What, did you eat something weird? What’s with you?”

“Something happened. Something big.”

“You’re not going to tell us, are you?”

There was no way to explain my regression to them, so I didn’t answer.

The Hyeon Nammae just pouted but didn’t press any further.

Once the water hit the right temperature, I poured it over the tea bags and set the cups in front of them.

The tea in the cups started off green, then gradually turned a deep red.

They’d never seen tea like this before, but it seemed the Hyeon Nammae had. They watched in fascination.

“It’s been ages since I saw this.”

“It was so cool the first time. I thought I’d never see it again.”

“Just wait a bit. Once the colors blend…”

“Just take out the tea bag then, right?”

“We know how it works, you idiot.”

As they waited, the two colors mixed together, merging into a soft yellow.

When the tea was done, I took out the tea bags. While I was at it, I set out some freshly baked Almond Cookies in front of them.

“Oh, cookies!”

“You baked these yourself?”

“Wow. Grandfather never did this, you’re better.”

“Hmm, but the tea doesn’t quite match Grandfather’s taste.”

“That’s just because it’s the first time. Give it time.”

As I watched them sip their tea and nibble the cookies, I decided to ask them quietly.

“Are you both still farming?”

“What else would we be doing if not that?”

“It’s watermelon season, so we’re busy. Busy, but… it’s tough.”

They both sighed deeply at the same time.

“What is it, a bad harvest?”

“It’s hard to say.”

“This year’s watermelons don’t taste as good as last year’s. They’re less sweet.”

“We’ve got fewer premium-grade watermelons, and now we’re even getting regular-grade ones.”

“It wasn’t this bad before… The quality’s been dropping year after year.”

“Once you factor in labor costs, there’s nothing left.”

I’m not familiar with the whole premium and regular stuff, but judging by their tone, it sounded like a bad harvest.

Seeing their pinched faces, I wanted to do something for them.

“Does the tea have any effect?”

“Huh? Oh, it doesn’t taste as good, but I think it helps?”

“I feel a little less tired.”

“Then stop by tomorrow morning before you go out to pick watermelons. I’ll make you some tea.”

“Huh?”

It takes real effort to mend relationships that have grown distant.

Since I want to become closer with these friends while I’m living here, I have to be the one to take the first step.

“Hey, we head out at dawn. 4:30.”

“Then I’ll be here at 4. It doesn’t take long to brew tea. Should I bake some cookies for a snack? I’m planning to bake some rusk tomorrow, too.”

“Really?”

“Hyeonseo, why are you getting all choked up?”

“Damn. I never thought I’d get to eat stuff like that in my life.”

Hyeonseo teared up with emotion.

She loves farming, which is why she became a farmer, but she’s still a woman in her twenties.

She’d always envied her friends who could hang out at cafes, drink coffee, and enjoy desserts.

She knew such things were a luxury for a farmer, so even this small taste of it moved her deeply.

“And from now on, stop by often. I’ll keep the tea house open late.”

“Changseong, I love you. Marry me.”

“Yeah, no.”

Marriage—I’ve been there. Never doing that again.

Hyeon Ung, who’d been watching, started laughing uproariously.

“Who’d marry a guy like you? You look like you eat way too much rice.”

“I’ll shave your head bald if you don’t shut up.”

”Uglemr chutze bruze nudzze rutch.”

“You little punk.”

In an instant, the sibling brawl broke out.

Well, more like a one-sided beatdown, but this time, I didn’t stop them.

Hyeon Ung totally had it coming.

“Changseong, are you going to make coffee, too?”

“I’ll be getting an Espresso Machine soon. I’ll make other teas too, but I like coffee.”

“Changseong, I might not have money, but I do have 200 pyeong of farmland. Marry me.”

“I said no.”

“Two hundred pyeong, second proposal. Confirm.”

“Rejected!”

“Hey, did you know? Back in the day, she actually liked y—”

“Shut up, idiot!”

Chatting and bickering with the Hyeon Nammae made it feel like I was back in my school days.

Even though I’m almost in my sixties now, my mind felt rejuvenated.

We exchanged old stories and caught up on each other’s lives until it was night.

Honestly, I’d have loved to chat all night, but the Hyeon Nammae had another day of work ahead.

“We should get going. We have to wake up at 4 tomorrow.”

“You two are working hard. Stop by before you go.”

“Are you really going to get up? Don’t worry, you don’t have to.”

“Think of it as customer service. Gotta get you as regulars before the grand re-opening.”

“If you put it that way… we can’t say no.”

They looked apologetic, but it’s not a big deal.

Back when I was working at a company, I used to come home at midnight and start work again at four.

I was obsessed with my job.

The two of them patted my shoulder, feeling both sorry and grateful.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“You two take care. See you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

The Hyeon Nammae waved and drove off in their Porter.

I watched them go, then went back in to clean up.

I packed up the leftover cookies I’d made as samples, then closed up the tea house.

On the way home, the sky was raining stars.

Seeing this scenery made me realize—

These were the moments I’d always wanted.

***

Still a long while before sunrise.

Even in summer, the early morning was cold. Shivering, I opened the door to .

I filled a thermos with iced Red Peppermint Tea for the Hyeon Nammae, then took out the cookies I’d set aside yesterday.

It’s hard to take a proper snack break while working, but they could at least nibble before heading out.

Jingle.

“Ugh, it’s cold. I’m sleepy.”

“Changseong, we’re here.”

“Welcome. You must be tired?”

The Hyeon Nammae staggered in half-asleep and took their spots at the bar table.

I set out the tea I’d brewed in advance. Eyes barely open, they sipped and slowly started to warm up.

“Ah, that’s the stuff.”

“This tea really brings me back to life.”

“This is our elixir.”

“To us, Changseong, the bringer of life—is he a god?”

“Don’t be dramatic. Here, this is Red Peppermint Tea, cooled with ice. Take it with you and drink it later.”

Taking the thermos, the Hyeon Nammae grinned in gratitude.

After a cup of tea, the fatigue seemed to lift from their faces.

Seeing them like that made it worth getting up at dawn.

“Hey, thanks so much.”

“If you’re grateful, give me some watermelon. I’ll make some drinks out of it.”

There are all sorts of drinks you can make with watermelon.

Watermelon Smoothie, Taengmo Ban, or just Watermelon Juice.

Whatever it is, with one watermelon, making summer drinks is a piece of cake.

At my words, Hyeonseo’s eyes lit up.

“Hey, come by later. We’ll set aside some special watermelons for you.”

“If they’re special, aren’t you supposed to sell those? Just give me whatever’s leftover.”

“Come on. What kind of friends give leftovers?”

“That’s right. Country folks’ hospitality is like this—we’ll pick out the biggest and best ones for you.”

“If you put it that way…”

If they’re giving, might as well take as much as I can.

The two of them hurriedly finished their tea and got up from their seats.

With farm work, every minute counts.

If they want to make a good haul today, they have to get going.

“We’re off. Make sure you stop by at lunch.”

“Will do. Good luck out there.”

“Okay!”

I waved them off as their Porter disappeared into the distance, then went back inside.

After cleaning up, it was now 4:30.

Still a long time before sunrise.

In the meantime, I could bake some cookies and make rusk.

If there’s time left after that, I’ll read some books. I’ll take my time with the books I never finished in my previous life.

“Ah, I should also make some plans to tweak the interior a bit.”

“I’ll get some bookshelves to my taste and fill them up with all kinds of books.”

Just thinking about it made me hum a little tune.

Jingle.

The little bell on the door rang weakly.

At this hour, there shouldn’t be any visitors. If there were, it’d only be the Hyeon Nammae.

“Did you forget something?”

I turned to look at the door.

Standing there was a familiar face with an unfamiliar expression.

“Noran? What are you doing here at this hour…”

“Mister.”

Noran stood in the doorway, eyes dark and lifeless.

One step, then another.

Staggering forward, Noran—

Thud.

“Noran!”

Right in front of me, collapsed.