It was only 2 p.m., with the sun still high in the sky, but Major Kim Cheol-soo decided to leave work early.
Today wasn’t his day to see patients, and the general surgery department wasn’t typically busy.
Though, when it was busy, it was due to serious cases.
He casually tossed off his white coat, changed into his military uniform, and left the hospital with his medical bag in hand.
As he passed the orthopedic department on the first floor, he saw soldiers in uniform waiting anxiously for their appointments.
It was a stark contrast to the relatively quiet general surgery department.
Maybe I should’ve specialized in orthopedics?
The fleeting thought crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
Saving general surgery patients whose lives hung in the balance was, to him, a vital mission as a doctor.
Still, he couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the soldiers who came to the hospital for treatment, just as much as for those admitted.
At least the inpatients could rest and receive care comfortably, but these soldiers, like he once was, would likely be dragged back to their units to endure all sorts of grueling tasks.
Especially for privates and privates first class—their treatment was nothing short of hellish.
‘Useless recruit.’
The moment Kim Cheol-soo recalled that phrase, a wave of dizziness hit him.
The words that had haunted him 18 years ago shook his mind.
The soldiers here for treatment were probably enduring mockery with that same phrase, suppressing the urge to give up entirely.
-THUD!!!!
“Uh? S-Sorry, sir! I wasn’t looking where I was going and made a mistake. Please, don’t report this to my unit!”
The first floor, crowded with the reception desk and popular departments, was always bustling, and Kim Cheol-soo had collided with someone.
Despite his relatively tall stature, a short soldier had rammed his head into Kim Cheol-soo’s chest.
Honestly, it hurt a bit—like being punched hard.
This might leave a bruise.
The impact was significant since the soldier had practically been running, but Kim Cheol-soo smiled at the unexpected incident and said kindly,
“Your name’s Private Joo Kyung-sik? Here for an orthopedic appointment?”
“Y-Yes! I’m so sorry. For someone like me to block your way, Major… Please don’t tell my unit.”
…Is the military discipline still this harsh compared to my time?
The thought crossed his mind.
Even if they were patients, soldiers seemed overly terrified of officers.
Kim Cheol-soo patted the soldier’s shoulder reassuringly.
“It wasn’t intentional, so I’m not going to make an issue out of it. So, what brought you here today? What’s hurting? I’m a military doctor, so tell me.”
“Well… A while back, Josu Kyung-sik’s voice trembled with hope.
Kim Cheol-soo nodded readily and examined the ankle.
When the soldier removed his boot and sock, an unpleasant smell hit Kim Cheol-soo’s nose, but he didn’t show it and touched the foot with his bare hands.
“Uh… Y-Your hands… It’s dirty!”
“What’s dirty about a doctor examining a patient? Don’t worry about it. It’s a ganglion cyst. There’s a small fluid-filled lump on your ankle. It could be malignant, so we should run a test.”
“M-Malignant?! Do you mean cancer?!”
Ruffling the startled Private Joo Kyung-sik’s hair playfully, Kim Cheol-soo said with a grin,
“Why’s a young guy so scared? The chance of it being cancer is very low, so don’t worry. But you’ll need surgery to walk properly. And that mistake you made today? Pay me back at the commissary later, got it?”
“Huh? Oh… Understood! Thank you, Major! Salute!”
“Salute. See you later. I don’t know who the orthopedic doctor is, but tell them Major Kim Cheol-soo from general surgery has already diagnosed you and recommended admission. That should speed things up, alright?”
“Thank you so much, Major! Now my mom back home can stop worrying. She was afraid her eldest son might end up crippled… Really, thank you…”
To escape the overly emotional, teary-eyed Private Joo Kyung-sik, Kim Cheol-soo quickened his pace.
Even as an officer, he knew many doctors disliked interference from other departments.
But he didn’t care.
If he could save one more soldier, he wasn’t afraid of clashing with some petty doctors.
Helping someone feels good… Shall I walk home slowly?
Passing the guard post and stepping out of the hospital, he smiled with satisfaction.
The thought of getting a patient admitted on his first day filled him with pride.
No captain would dare defy a major’s orders, so Joo Kyung-sik would likely be admitted and undergo surgery.
He’d recover and be healthy again.
Kim Cheol-soo’s steps felt lighter as he walked.
**
He could’ve stayed in the officer’s quarters provided by the military, but Kim Cheol-soo had rented a house in a nearby village.
It was an abandoned house rumored to be haunted, but he planned to fix it up enough to live in.
The house was located on the deepest hill in the village, so he naturally passed by the villagers’ homes and fields on his way.
Late June… It wasn’t quite hot yet, but the midday sun was starting to beat down intensely.
As he walked past an elderly man working in a pumpkin field, the man suddenly let out a scream and collapsed.
“Argh!!”
-THUD!!
“Hey…! Sir, are you okay?!”
The old man, collapsed in the field, looked pale and unwell.
Kim Cheol-soo quickly checked for signs of heatstroke or sunstroke, pulling a stethoscope from his medical bag to check the man’s pulse.
In such situations, elderly people could die suddenly if not treated promptly, so he moved even faster than he would in an operating room.
With fluid, almost artistic movements, he carried the man to the shade of a tree, removed his clothes, and placed a hand on his skin.
The man’s skin was cold and clammy from excessive sweating.
It was indeed sunstroke.
Unlike heatstroke, sunstroke caused sweating.
Growing more urgent, Kim Cheol-soo administered emergency treatment.
He gave the man a cold sports drink he’d bought at the commissary, pouring it into his mouth.
Then, he covered the man with his military jacket, soaked with cold water from a nearby well.
Though he managed to get the man to drink, the thermometer showed a slightly elevated temperature.
Taking him to the hospital under the scorching sun was risky.
With no car and calling 119 likely missing the critical window, carrying him would expose him to direct sunlight, potentially worsening the situation.
For now, Kim Cheol-soo fanned the man with what seemed to be the old man’s fan, monitoring his condition in the shade.
Thankfully, the thermometer showed his temperature gradually dropping.
Since the man was conscious enough to drink water instinctively, Kim Cheol-soo felt hopeful.
“Uh… Who… are you?”
Thanks to ten minutes of vigorous fanning, the old man stirred.
Kim Cheol-soo cheered with joy and said,
“You’re awake! How could you work in the fields until you got sunstroke? I’m Kim Cheol-soo, I just moved to this village today.”
“Ugh… I heard a military doctor was moving in. That you?”
“Yes!”
Kim Cheol-soo smiled, expecting gratitude, but the old man’s response was different.
“I’m Mr. Ko, the village chief. Come with me. You saved my life, so I owe you a meal.”
“Understood.”
Kim Cheol-soo followed the old man down an unfamiliar path.
Unlike his house, which was in the northern part of the village, the old man’s house was on sunny, flat land to the east.
On the way, he caught sight of rice paddies.
The shimmering water in the fields stirred his heart.
The vibrant fields, reflecting the red glow of the sunset, seemed alive. Is this what true nature feels like?
Kim Cheol-soo stopped in his tracks, unable to hide his awe.
“Wow…! This is incredible. Are all these fields yours, sir?”
“No way. We farm them together with the villagers.”
The old man’s lips curled slightly, pleased by the praise for his fields.
There was a quiet charm to the proud old man trying not to show his satisfaction.
Kim Cheol-soo replied enthusiastically,
“There can’t be many views more stunning than this. It’s amazing. It must feel like raising children. You’re probably preparing for the harvest soon, right?”
“The harvest is still a ways off. But you’re right—it’s like raising kids,” the old man replied as they entered a clean, spacious Western-style house.
As expected of the village chief, it was a fine home.
A large platform sat in the moderately sized front yard, surrounded by a beautifully arranged garden of various flowers.
It’s a nice house that blends well with nature, Kim Cheol-soo thought as someone greeted the old man.
“Dear, you’re back?”
“Yeah. Set up a table with drinks.”
“Got it.”
Before he knew it, a spread of bossam, aged kimchi, and a bowl of makgeolli appeared on the platform.
Kim Cheol-soo was surprised by how quickly the village chief’s wife prepared the table, but when he looked, she had already gone back inside.
“Young guy like you won’t pass out before me, right? Eat up.”
“Thank you, I’ll enjoy it.”
They clinked glasses, and the makgeolli was no ordinary drink.
The smooth rice flavor slid down his throat effortlessly.
It was so expertly made, there was barely any sourness.
And the boiled pork?
Even though it wasn’t freshly cooked, the chewy fat and melt-in-your-mouth lean meat were a heavenly combination.
It was absolutely delicious!
Kim Cheol-soo was stunned by a taste he’d never experienced before.
“This is incredible.”
“Heh, my wife’s got skills.”
The village chief beamed with pride in his wife’s cooking.
Already tipsy, he continued,
“Haha! I like you! You drink well. Come on, drink! Let’s go all the way tonight! From now on, call me big brother!”
“But the age gap… That wouldn’t be proper—”
“You defying me now? Call me big brother!”
“Big brother?”
“That’s it! Haha! I’ve got a new little brother today. Love it!”
Kim Cheol-soo had a feeling the chief might forget this camaraderie once sober, but he didn’t argue with the heavily intoxicated man.
Despite the chief’s gruff words, the warm hospitality of rural folks lifted Kim Cheol-soo’s spirits.
-Chirp… Chirp…
In his mildly drunk state, the soft sounds of crickets and the earthy smell lingering at his nose soothed his mind and body.
Maybe it’s because the fields are nearby? The rich smell of earth is so comforting.
Feeling the peaceful, pleasant atmosphere, he downed his makgeolli in one gulp.
“Haha! You drink well! Take another!”
“Yes, big brother!”
They went back and forth, drinking merrily for hours, and only after night deepened did Kim Cheol-soo return home, giggling drunkenly.
“Hehe… That was a fun drinking session. Is this my house?”
The suspicious, abandoned house the villagers called haunted.
He’d fixed it up enough to keep out the cold drafts, but Kim Cheol-soo felt a slight unease as he stepped inside.
The traditional hanok-style house exuded an old, historic charm, likely over a century old.
A massive jujube tree, probably hundreds of years old, stood in the yard, which he loved.
Without the ghost rumors, the house would’ve been pricey, but he got it cheap because of them.
Still, the tree did give the place a slightly eerie vibe.
-WHOOSH!
A sudden cold breeze from the north sent chills down his arms.
“Brr, it’s cold. Better get inside quick.”
Feeling an inexplicable fear in the deep night, he hurriedly passed the tree.
“What’s that? A light under the tree…?”
About to enter the house, Kim Cheol-soo spotted a golden glow shining under the massive jujube tree.
Wary but curious, he slowly approached it.
-Step
-Step
-Step…
It wasn’t a lantern or gold…
A mysteriously glowing pocket watch… What could it be?