When Kim Cheolsu emerged after his cancer surgery, he encountered the restaurant owner nervously waiting outside the operating room.
She hadn’t been able to leave work, worried sick about her child.
With a concerned expression, she asked,
“How did the surgery go, Doctor?”
“It went very well. The entire tumor was removed, so there shouldn’t be any problems now.”
“Ah…! Thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much…! I don’t know how to ever repay you…”
She had been bracing for the worst, so tears of joy streamed down her face.
She also expressed her gratitude to Nurse Officer Shin Seyoung, who stood beside Kim Cheolsu.
“Nurse Officer, you worked so hard too. Truly, thank you. We will never forget that both of you saved our Jin-o’s life.”
Shin Seyoung smiled brightly and said,
“Our Major had to work much harder than I did. It was a very difficult surgery, so I was worried, but I’m glad it went well. I’ll take Hong Jin-o back to the ward on the stretcher now.”
Because the surgery had been done secretly, making too much noise was a problem.
Honestly, it was also an issue that the restaurant owner hadn’t left work even at this late hour.
But since Kim Cheolsu had already asked the Guard Post Soldiers, who he was close with, to keep watch, it would be fine.
He smiled and said,
“It’s very late now, so you should go home, Mother. We all have a lot to say, but it’s better to make time later. Please go now.”
“Thank you so much, Doctor. I was so worried Jin-o might leave this world at only twenty-one years old. Especially today, my dreams felt ominous. But they say dreams mean the opposite, and someone like you saved Jin-o. Truly, thank you. I’ve prepared a meal in the cafeteria, so please eat with the staff. It’s just been made and still warm.”
“… Thank you for thinking of us so much. We’ll eat, then. Mother, please leave before you’re noticed. We’ll take good care of Jin-o in the ward.”
“Yes, thank you, Doctor! I’ll come back tomorrow to properly thank you.”
“You really don’t have to…”
Kim Cheolsu waved his hands dismissively, but the restaurant owner bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle, expressing her sincere gratitude before walking away.
He sighed with relief that the surgery had ended well and addressed the staff behind him.
“Everyone, good work. Let’s clean up the operating room and head to the cafeteria to eat. I’m sure everyone’s hungry.”
“Yes! Understood!”
As several people moved around, there was a bit of noise.
He worried about being caught, but luckily no one passed by.
Feeling that heaven had helped them, they moved to the cafeteria.
*****
The dining area was set neatly with a table and a notepad.
Kim Cheolsu, who had entered with the surgical staff, read the note.
It seemed to have been written before the surgery ended.
-Doctor, thank you so much for operating on our Jin-o today.
I heard the General Surgery Chief opposed the surgery. It was certainly risky, but thank you for proceeding.
The results should come out soon… If anything happens to Jin-o, neither my son nor I will blame you.
When both the military and hospital gave up on us, you extended a helping hand… we will never forget that and live our lives with gratitude.
P.S. Suddenly feeling like cooking, but since the fridge was almost empty, I made an ordinary pork kimchi stew.
I hope you enjoy it. I tried it myself, and since it’s Jeju black pork, it’s quite good.
“Wow! What is this? The kimchi smell is amazing.”
“It looks delicious! Major, thank you. I’ll eat it gratefully!”
One by one, the surgical staff sat down and began to eat.
“Wow!! This is delicious! The kimchi is very well fermented. Kimchi stew tastes best with well-fermented kimchi. The sourness is just right.”
“The seasoning soaked into the tofu so well. It’s so good! I was a bit tired from the surgery, but this really refreshes me. Makes me want a drink—”
Hearing the staff’s praise, Kim Cheolsu felt a bit proud.
It pleased him that others enjoyed the food made by the restaurant owner, whose cooking skills he respected.
Remembering the kimchi stew he had eaten long ago in the military, he scooped some with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.
“Mm…!!”
The salty, slightly sour tang of the kimchi clung to his tongue with umami.
On top of that, the soft fat from the pork belly rolled around in his mouth, adding to the pleasure.
Jeju black pork, as expected—it was delicious!
Though kimchi stew is a fairly ordinary Korean dish, to Kim Cheolsu, it felt very special.
They say people’s taste changes depending on their situation.
At this moment, the fact that Hong Jin-o was resting healthily in the ward made Kim Cheolsu’s heart swell.
“Hmm… This pork belly kimchi stew is really tasty.
They skimmed off the oil floating on top, so the broth is very clean and refreshing.
The red broth is so good I want to keep drinking it.”
Kim Cheolsu finished the bowl of kimchi stew with a satisfied smile and accepted a drink from the anesthesiology doctor sitting next to him.
“Major Kim Cheolsu, I’m Captain Oh Hajin from anesthesiology. The surgery went well today.
Both today’s operation and the previous trauma surgery were truly amazing.
Ah! Let me pour you a drink first.”
-Glug glug…
The soju glass clinked with a pleasant sound.
Wanting to drink, Kim Cheolsu immediately downed the soju.
The sharp taste of soju hit his throat.
His slightly foggy head suddenly felt clearer.
After three drinks in a row, he felt quite intoxicated.
“Hmm… I usually don’t get drunk this quickly, but the buzz is coming on.”
“When you’re tired, you get drunk faster. I’ll pour you another one. Please give me one too.”
Captain Oh Hajin accepted the drink with both hands respectfully.
The surgery they witnessed today was truly shocking.
Cancer surgery is known to be the most difficult among all surgeries.
But he had never seen a doctor remove gallbladder cancer that had invaded the liver so easily.
Honestly, he thought Kim Cheolsu possessed godlike surgical skills.
That made him even more nervous in front of him.
He really wanted to make a good impression.
Passing drinks back and forth, the glasses kept moving.
Having finally succeeded in a delayed surgery, Kim Cheolsu felt a great sense of relief.
Then Oh Hajin glanced around and said,
“Major, I look forward to your guidance in the future!”
Surprised by the unexpected remark, Kim Cheolsu’s eyes went wide.
They had done surgery together twice, but he asked with a curious look,
“You did the anesthesia well both times… Is there really anything I can teach you? I don’t know much about anesthesia.”
“I wasn’t talking about anesthesia.
I was truly impressed by today’s surgery.
So if you call, I’m ready to come anytime.
I’ve learned a lot. Thank you!”
“……”
Kim Cheolsu honestly thought that if he got too close, higher-ups would dislike him and his military life would become difficult.
So he tried not to get too friendly, but he couldn’t refuse someone who spoke like that.
He smiled and clasped his hand.
“Alright. Let’s work well together from now on.
If we focus only on saving patients, everything will go smoothly.
Good job today! Without your anesthesia, we couldn’t have saved the patient.”
“Oh, even if not me, any anesthesiologist could do it easily. You flatter me.”
“But the other anesthesiologists refused anesthesia for today’s surgery, right?
Thank you. Because you were here, we could save a life today.”
“….. I’ll continue to do my best.
By the way, Major, have you heard the rumor?
There’s a General admitted to Capital Military Hospital’s neurosurgery ward who hasn’t been treated yet.”
“A General admitted to neurosurgery? For what?”
“I’m not sure.
There’s a rumor there’s something in his brain, but it’s a top-secret Level 1 matter, so no one knows.
What could it be?
It’s a disease that even Capital Military Hospital, with the country’s best equipment and specialists, can’t treat.”
“Something in his brain… what could it be?”
As a clinician, Kim Cheolsu felt a spark of pure curiosity.
A General means an officer with stars, and it was strange that the top hospital in the country couldn’t treat him.
“Maybe a brain tumor?
If it wasn’t that serious, he wouldn’t still be hospitalized at Capital Military Hospital.
What kind of place is Capital Military Hospital?
It’s one of the best hospitals in the country, on par with S University and Y University.
When they were giving out General ranks, they recruited famous doctors from civilian hospitals.”
“Has Capital Military Hospital grown that much? I don’t know much about it…”
“Yes! These days, even the sitting President and the Prime Minister get admitted and have surgery there.
It’s practically impossible for soldiers without money or connections to be admitted!”
Listening to Oh Hajin’s passionate speech, Kim Cheolsu nodded.
“I know… There’s probably no one who knows better than me.
Because I’ve experienced it firsthand.”
He was quite drunk now, and his eyes grew cold as he spoke with chilling clarity.
He was speaking not as a doctor, but from a patient’s perspective.
“Some doctors sometimes think like this.
This patient brings money, that one doesn’t.
This person has high status and might help me, so I favor them.
That one has nothing, so let them live or die as they will.
It’s absurd to see people who call themselves doctors act like that.”
The alcohol had loosened his tongue, and he spoke with some passion.
Suddenly shaking his head, he said,
“Let’s not ruin the mood with stories like that. Let’s talk about the sick soldiers.”
Oh Hajin agreed wholeheartedly.
Now he understood why Kim Cheolsu was nicknamed ‘S University’s Mad Dog.’
In a conservative military run mostly for VIPs and a few officers, it would be interesting to see how he acted freely going forward.
Oh Hajin laughed heartily and clinked his glass.
“You speak the truth.
I think so too.
As you said, let’s just drink! I’ll pour you another soju!!
Ha ha! For some reason, the alcohol tastes great today.”
Though their private conversation was a first, a new bond had formed over the passing drinks.
They pledged to operate together again next time.
They drank until the morning sun rose, unable to go home and just heading straight to work.
But Kim Cheolsu was puzzled by one thing.
-Ahh, ahhh.
He washed his face at the bathroom sink, still showing the full effects of his hangover, then with his eyes clearing a little, he said,
“A General with a brain tumor? Could it be true…?”