Chapter 103: Concerns

The look of leisure that had been on his father’s face until just a moment ago vanished like a lie, and soon a deep sigh escaped him.

“I guess I can’t hide anything from your eyes.”

His father put down his Bap bowl and looked Sang-woong in the eye.

His eyes contained a mental frustration and worry much deeper than mere physical fatigue.

“The Village hasn’t been itself lately. Ever since the Former Village Head was arrested…”

Sang-woong watched his father quietly.

The Village Head, who was the original owner of this Field, had sold the Field to Sang-woong at a low price.

However, the Field, which was originally landlocked, saw its price skyrocket when a road was suddenly built.

Harboring a grudge over that matter, the Village Head had harassed not only Sang-woong but his parents as well.

But his schemes failed every time, and later, he was caught red-handed by Sang-woong while trying to commit arson on this Field.

As a result of that incident, the Village Head was arrested, and Park Mancheol was appointed as the new Village Head.

“After you caught that Mutant Water Deer and the Village Head was arrested… the Village people pushed for me to be the new Village Head. Honestly, it’s all thanks to you. After that incident happened… the people trusted me and gave me the job because they were worried something like that might happen again.”

His father spoke with a mix of embarrassment and complicated emotions.

To him, the position of Village Head was a source of pride and a heavy burden at the same time.

“As for me… I wasn’t born in this Village, and I’m not from here. I lived in the City and it hasn’t been that long since I moved for Farming. I never imagined I would become the Village Head. It’s probably a first in the history of this Village.”

“It must be because the Village people trust and support you, Father. You treat them so well, after all.”

“Rather than trust… the situation just moved very quickly.”

His father chose his words for a moment.

His expression was a mixture of awkwardness and exhaustion from the Village’s complex political landscape.

“It seems the biggest reason was that you caught that Mutant Water Deer and protected the Village people’s crops. You became something of a hero in their minds, so it seems they thought they could feel at ease if they made me, your father, the Village Head to prepare for whenever a Mutant Monster might appear again. And since I’ve been resolving difficult tasks that they couldn’t even dream of doing with farm tools by using the Excavator you bought me, it seems the Village people gave me a lot of votes for that.”

His father explained the background of his election as Village Head.

He knew well that it was not due to his own competence or long-term contribution to the Village, but rather the result of his son Sang-woong’s extraordinary abilities and practical support.

Along with the sheepishness about that fact, the frustration regarding other problems that arose because of that background bled into his voice.

He let out a sigh and waved his hand.

“Thanks to that, I became the Village Head, but the Village has been split in two. It’s not exactly split in half, but… between the people who followed the Former Village Head and those who didn’t. The Village people all know the Former Village Head did many bad things… but still, the people who followed him don’t look at me kindly. The benefits they used to get from the Former Village Head are gone now. Maybe that’s why they pick fights over every little thing, try not to cooperate with Village operations, and find fault with even the smallest matters. The Atmosphere of the Village meetings is always cold. People are the same everywhere.”

It was an explanation of the internal political conflict and animosity within the Village.

Sang-woong didn’t want his father to get caught up in such a headache, but his father was already standing at the new center of the Village, whether he wanted to or not, absorbing it all with his entire body.

“But… the biggest problem is something else.”

His father sighed deeply again.

The deepest worry and frustration appeared on his face.

It seemed to be a much more serious and practical problem than simple animosity.

“The Former Village Head… he had an incredible knack for business. His knack for Agricultural Distribution was quite remarkable.”

“A knack for business? What kind of knack are you talking about? Did that person have such a side to him?”

Sang-woong was surprised.

In Sang-woong’s eyes, the Former Village Head was just a greedy and reckless old man.

He never thought the term ‘business knack’ would suit him.

“You know the crops the Village people grow? The Former Village Head took responsibility and sold them all.”

His father explained.

A complex evaluation of the Former Village Head was mixed in his voice.

“He was connected to all the wholesalers in Seoul and other big cities… though the prices were similar to or slightly cheaper than the market price, the Village people only had to focus on Farming without worrying about sales themselves. Because of that convenience, everyone turned a blind eye even though they knew about his tyranny and bad deeds. Even if they had complaints, their immediate livelihood was being taken care of…”

This was the core of the problem.

The Former Village Head had not ruled the Village people through his title alone, but had played the role of an economic link that controlled their livelihoods.

Because of the ‘convenience’ and ‘livelihood solution’ he provided rather than his corruption and tyranny, there were forces that missed and defended him, and now that the convenience was gone, complaints were erupting from the entire Village.

“But when he was arrested… the Village’s Agricultural Distribution routes were completely blocked. All the networks he held were cut off. Now everyone has to sell what they farmed on their own, so they’re all in an uproar. They don’t know proper buyers, they don’t know distribution methods… the harvest season is approaching, and they’re at a loss as to where to sell. So, words like ‘It was easier when the Former Village Head was here’ and ‘Things were better then’ are already coming out. Ever since I became the Village Head, it feels like they’re saying those things for me to hear… there have been many times when my pride was wounded.”

His father poured out his frustration and hurt feelings.

It was a matter of the Village people’s livelihoods, and his ability to solve this problem was directly linked to his evaluation as the new Village Head.

His father was being weighed down by the double hardship of the Village’s political division and economic difficulty.

“For me… honestly, I didn’t want to be the Village Head. I wanted to come down to the Countryside and just farm quietly. But since I’ve taken the job… I want to somehow make sure our Village people don’t struggle. I feel a sense of responsibility as the Village Head.”

A heavy sense of responsibility was carried in his voice.

“But… there’s no way someone like me, who lived in the City and moved for Farming late in life, could handle complex Agricultural Distribution or sales. I know a little about the ways of Seoul, but I hear Agricultural Distribution is another specialized Territory… I don’t know anyone, and I don’t know the method. Ha~ I want to solve this once and for all and humble those people who grumble at me, but this isn’t easy.”

His father spoke about the weight of the burden he had taken on and his own limitations.

The political division of the Village, the economic void left by the absence of the former Village Head, and the pressure that he had to fill that void.

Particularly, the hopelessness regarding Agricultural Distribution—a specialized area different from farming itself—and the loneliness and incompetence he felt as someone not originally from the Village were evident on his face.

The complaining stares of the Village people seemed to make it even harder for him.

It appeared his sense of despair was especially strong because no solution was visible even after deep contemplation.

In his heart, Sang-woong wanted to tell his father to just quit being the Village Head, but those were not words that could be easily spoken.

While there were complaining villagers, there were also many who trusted and supported Park Mancheol.

His father would not be able to betray the expectations of those people.

Sang-woong grasped how intricately the various issues were tangled: his father’s difficulty, the Village’s complex situation, the economic influence hidden behind the Former Village Head’s misdeeds, and the practical problem of ‘Agricultural Distribution’ at the heart of it all.

It was a problem that required a delicate approach directly linked to people’s livelihoods, on a different level from simply stopping the Former Village Head’s tyranny.

He saw clearly with his own eyes how much his father was suffering because of this, and how much he was agonizing between his responsibility as the Village Head and his lack of ability.

Nevertheless, Sang-woong did not give any answer to his father’s final words.

Though his gaze remained on the food on the table, his mind was already searching for a way to resolve the Village’s complex situation, his father’s anxiety, and this problem.

***

The lingering shadows of the drowsy afternoon were completely cleared away, and as darkness began to settle, a warm heat circulated under the soft Lighting of the Gentle Breeze Restaurant.

The night sky visible beyond the window was filled with stars.

Along with the sound of insects chirping at regular intervals, the low sound of Music amplified the comfortable Atmosphere.

“Oh, Hyeongnim! Yu-jun! Welcome. Please, sit over here.”

From behind the bar Table, Sang-woong waved with a bright smile.

His voice was full of sincere hospitality. The people who opened the Restaurant door and entered were Lee Do-hyeon and Gu Yu-jun.

Thanks to the YouTube Channel started by Lee Do-hyeon’s daughter Lee Ji-an and Gu Yu-jun’s younger brother Gu Eun-woo, the two families had become as close as blood relatives.

Now, tilting a glass together like this had become a natural ritual for them and the only outlet to share each other’s hardships.

The two men took their seats at the bar Table as if they were used to it.

“Today’s snack is chicken. What kind of drink can I get you?”

The snacks that changed every day were another Charm of the Gentle Breeze Restaurant.

The expectation of what kind of Snack would come out today was exciting.

“If it’s chicken, let’s start with beer.”

At Lee Do-hyeon’s words, Sang-woong quickly took cold bottled beer from the refrigerator and placed it on the bar Table with glasses.

Gu Yu-jun quickly opened the bottle and held it out to Lee Do-hyeon.

Glug, glug, glug!

The golden beer slowly filled the transparent glass.

Refreshing foam rose up to the top of the glass.

“You have a glass too, Yu-jun.”

“Yes, Hyeongnim.”

Gu Yu-jun also quickly lifted his glass to receive the beer.

“Please enjoy this while the chicken is being prepared.”

Sang-woong first brought out a salad made with fresh vegetables.

“Thanks.”

The two men, perhaps thirsty, emptied a glass in one go and put the salad in their mouths.

“Fresh salad is good with cold beer.”

Lee Do-hyeon had a satisfied expression.

Though traces of time could be seen on his face, his characteristic gentleness stood out.

After a moment, Sang-woong brought out freshly Fried Food—chicken and french fries.

The chicken, wearing a glossy golden coat, looked mouth-watering at a glance.

“Please try it. See if it’s edible.”

At Sang-woong’s words, Lee Do-hyeon and Gu Yu-jun picked up a piece of the well-fried chicken.

Crunch!

As they took a bite, the sound of the crispy batter breaking tickled their ears.

“Mmm…”

Behind the crispy batter, the tender meat greeted their tongues and melted into their mouths.

Having taken a bite of the chicken, Lee Do-hyeon’s eyes widened involuntarily, and he quickly placed his hand on the table.