Friday morning, July 9th
I opened my eyes early in the morning.
The dazzling sunlight pouring through the window woke me up naturally. When I pulled back the curtains, the Caribbean Sea stretched out below the balcony like a giant emerald jewel.
The morning sea was even more transparent and blue.
When I came out to the living room, James Morgan was already up and sitting on the balcony drinking coffee.
He looked much better than yesterday.
“Did you sleep well, James Morgan?”
“Haha, it’s been a long time since I’ve had such a sound sleep. That sound of the waves felt just like a lullaby.”
“Will you be alright going to the Sugar Farm today?”
“Of course. I want to see with my own eyes that kingdom you built with your bare hands.”
James Morgan said as he folded the English newspaper published in Havana. The sugar market price was listed on the front page.
“They say the sugar price has completely stabilized at 8 cents per pound.”
“Yes, it seems to have found a reasonable level after the last storm passed.”
“In the middle of that storm, you sold off your entire volume exactly at the peak of 24 cents… even thinking about it now, it was an unbelievable judgment.”
Then Catherine came out too.
Wearing a light blue blouse and a long skirt, she was dressed perfectly for visiting a Sugar Farm under the hot sun of Cuba.
The breakfast ordered through Room service was truly a tropical feast. Sweet mangoes and papayas, and refreshing pineapples were served on a full plate, and the freshly squeezed orange juice made my mind clear just with its scent.
“The fruit is as sweet as honey.”
Catherine marveled like a child while tasting the mango.
“It’s on a different level from what I used to buy at high-end grocery stores in New York.”
“That’s because these were picked at the Sugar Farm just yesterday morning, the freshest ones available.”
At exactly 9 o’clock, Jose arrived.
Coming with Carlos, he brought one large Truck along with the same Cadillac as yesterday.
“Why did you bring a Truck?”
“The Sugar Farm workers prepared a small gift for the two of you. I brought it to load it when we return.”
“A gift?”
Jose just gave a gentle smile.
“You’ll see when you get there.”
Once we left downtown Havana, the scenery instantly changed into that of primitive nature. The bustle of the city disappeared, and green palm trees and endless fields of sugarcane appeared.
“Is all of that sugarcane?”
Catherine asked, unable to take her eyes off the scenery outside the car window.
“Yes, it’s the sweet green gold that feeds the economy of Cuba.”
“My goodness… I really can’t see the end of it.”
It was like a sea of green.
After driving for about an hour, an old sign that said ‘Hacienda Santa Rosa’ appeared.
The large gate at the entrance was wide open.
As we entered the Sugar Farm, palm trees lined up on both sides of the well-maintained road welcomed us. The buildings visible in the distance seemed to be much more numerous than before.
“There are many more buildings now?”
“As you suggested, we built new quarters for the workers. The hospital was also completed recently.”
Jose said proudly.
The car stopped in front of the Sugar Farm office.
And at that moment, Lee Jun-hyuk was momentarily lost for words at the sight before his eyes.
Hundreds of people were gathered there.
Sugar Farm workers, their wives, and even children. Everyone had brought out and worn their cleanest and best clothes, waiting for them with excited faces as if it were a day of festival.
As Lee Jun-hyuk got out of the car, a thunderous cheer erupted as if they had promised.
“Viva, Mr. Lee! (Viva, Mr. Lee!)”
“Our benefactor! Welcome back!”
People clapped and cheered.
Some elderly people were shedding tears of emotion, and the children were looking at their Oriental Owner, whom they were seeing for the first time in their lives, with curiosity.
“Mr. Lee!”
Miguel came forward through the crowd.
A baby wrapped in a swaddle was held in his arms.
“It is my son. As I told you, he is ‘Jun-hyuk’.”
It was a healthy child who looked about 3 months old, with black hair and eyes as black as stars.
Lee Jun-hyuk carefully took the baby’s hand.
The baby’s small, soft fingers instinctively gripped his finger tightly. A touching emotion welled up from deep within his heart.
“It is thanks to you. In the hospital you built, my wife was able to give birth to the child safely without any worries.”
Miguel’s wife thanked him with tears in her eyes.
Other workers also approached one by one and expressed their gratitude in their own ways.
Lee Jun-hyuk led Catherine in front of them.
“This is my fiancée, Catherine Morgan.”
When he introduced her in Spanish, the women flocked around Catherine, shouting Senorita. Her sun-like blonde hair and blue sea-like eyes seemed to be a wonder to them.
“You are as beautiful as an angel.”
“Mr. Lee’s fiancée, they look so good together!”
Catherine was flustered by the hot welcome she was experiencing for the first time, but she soon accepted their greetings with a sincere smile.
When Jose gave a signal, the workers began unloading gifts from the Truck.
Baskets full of well-ripened fruit, top-quality handmade Cigars rolled with care, bottles of Rum made by hand, and even quaint handicrafts.
“Jose, this is too much.”
“Compared to what you have given us, this is nothing.”
Then, an old woman with a bent back came forward.
“My young grandson almost died of a fever last month. But thanks to the Doctor at the hospital you built, the child lived like a miracle.”
She took Lee Jun-hyuk’s hand and kissed the back of it.
“May the blessing of the Seal of Trust be with you and your beautiful fiancée forever.”
Delgado appeared. He was leading the workers and preparing the welcome ceremony.
They followed Delgado’s guidance and headed to a place that used to be a warehouse.
That place was now decorated like a grand banquet hall.
Colored paper decorations hung from the ceiling, and the flags of Cuba and the United States hung side by side.
As Lee Jun-hyuk, Catherine, and James Morgan sat at the center table, cheerful Cuban music began.
Soon, traditional Cuban dishes were set across the table.
Whole pig barbecue roasted slowly for 12 hours, rice made with black beans, boiled yuca, and sweet fried plantains.
“It’s really delicious. I’ve never had such tender pork in my life.”
Catherine marveled.
James Morgan also seemed to forget his usual picky palate and enjoyed the food.
During the meal, people began to dance.
It was a passionate Salsa.
A young worker shyly asked Catherine for a dance.
When Catherine looked at Lee Jun-hyuk in embarrassment, he smiled and nodded.
“Give it a try. It will be very fun.”
Catherine was awkward at first, but she soon began to entrust her body to the cheerful rhythm.
Miguel’s wife took Lee Jun-hyuk’s hand and led him.
“I’m really not good at dancing.”
“It’s okay. In Cuba, you dance with your heart!”
Lee Jun-hyuk also reluctantly stepped onto the floor.
Salsa was harder than he thought.
But intoxicated by the heat of the people and the music, he laughed while stepping with clumsy moves.
When the music changed to a slow and romantic melody, Catherine approached him.
“Would you dance with me?”
The two people softly embraced each other and danced. Catherine leaned her head on his shoulder.
“I’m happy.”
Catherine whispered.
“Seeing it with my own eyes, I can tell how much these people respect and love you.”
“I haven’t done much. It’s more love than I deserve.”
“No. You changed the lives and the entire future of these people.”
When the music ended, Delgado held up a glass of Rum.
“Everyone, for our eternal Owner, Mr. Lee!”
Everyone raised their glasses and shouted, “For Mr. Lee!”
“Six months ago, I was Escobar’s dog. Violence and exploitation were everything. But Mr. Lee trusted someone like me and gave me a chance at a new life.”
Delgado’s eyes became moist.
“Now this Sugar Farm is not just a workplace. It is our home and the future of our children. Toast!”
Lee Jun-hyuk also stood up with his glass.
“I am the one who is grateful to all of you. Without your land and effort, the success of Hacienda Santa Rosa would have been impossible. Let’s continue to move forward together for a better future!”
Thunderous applause broke out.
As the welcome ceremony was coming to an end, Judge Mendoza arrived at the Sugar Farm.
“Mr. Lee, it’s been a long time.”
“Judge, thank you for coming all the way here.”
When Judge Mendoza discovered James Morgan, a bright smile suddenly spread across his solemn face.
“My, James Morgan! How long has it been!”
“Carlos!”
James Morgan jumped up and approached him. The two old men shared a warm embrace.
“I can’t believe you came to Cuba yourself. When was the last time we saw each other… was it 5 years ago in New York?”
“It’s been 6 years, my friend. It was when you invited me to your inauguration as a Supreme Court Judge.”
Mendoza looked James Morgan up and down.
“Are you still living with that tedious heart medicine? The Nitroglycerin.”
“Haha, it’s still the same. How about you? That rheumatism?”
“It still throbs on cloudy days. But thanks to this young friend…”
Mendoza pointed to Lee Jun-hyuk.
“Lately, I’ve come to know the fun of changing the world even outside the Court. You sent a truly great young man.”
“It seems our Jun-hyuk has caused you a lot of trouble too.”
“Trouble! Thanks to him, this old man feels young again. Seeing him fight against villains like Escobar reminded me of when we were young 40 years ago.”
Catherine asked with a surprised expression.
“Were the two of you friends for that long?”
“Of course, young lady. This stubborn old man and I…”
Mendoza smiled and patted James Morgan’s shoulder.
“Once upon a time, we were people who dreamed of pioneering the Caribbean Sea trade routes together. Of course, I became a judicial officer and this friend became a businessman, so we walked different paths.”
“Still, we kept exchanging letters steadily. When I read the story about Mr. Lee in the letter you wrote, I was truly surprised.”
James Morgan said while looking at Lee Jun-hyuk.
“Ah, so that’s why the Judge helped me so much from the beginning.”
Mendoza shook his head.
“At first it was because of James Morgan, but it changed after seeing Mr. Lee in person. Mr. Lee was truly a person worth helping.”
James Morgan cut in.
“I see.”
“Don’t interrupt me, James Morgan. Anyway…”
The Judge looked at Lee Jun-hyuk.
“As a result, the Sugar Farm has completely turned into a paradise. I saw it on my way here, and the workers’ faces are full of Hope. It’s a scene you couldn’t see on any other Sugar Farm in Cuba. I’ve worked in the Cuban Court for 40 years, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a change.”
In the afternoon, they toured the Sugar Farm.
The Sugar Farm, reaching 2,000 acres, was truly vast.
The newly built hospital was small but clean, and Doctors and nurses were in residence.
“We are looking after an average of more than 100 patients a month. Thanks to you, the infant mortality rate in this region has been cut in half.”
The Doctor said.
They also saw the school construction site, which was scheduled to open in September.
“There will be about 50 children. We have already brought in the best teacher who graduated from the University of Havana.”
Jose said.
“My goodness… if you need textbooks or school supplies, I’ll send as many as you want from New York.”
Catherine said, truly moved.
As the sun began to set, they returned to the office and had a final meeting.
“The third-quarter harvest is expected to increase by more than 20% compared to last year.”
“There’s no worry about sales. Since the quality of our ‘Hacienda Santa Rosa’ sugar has been proven to be the best throughout the United States, buyers are lining up and waiting.”
James Morgan got into the car first, feeling tired. Today, he must have seen clearly what kind of man his granddaughter had fallen in love with.
“It’s really amazing. To think you achieved all of this in just 6 months…”
Catherine marveled sincerely.
“I didn’t do it alone. It was possible because I was with good people.”
When it was time to leave, the workers gathered again to say goodbye.
Miguel came back holding his son ‘Jun-hyuk’.
The baby saw Lee Jun-hyuk, babbled, and smiled brightly.
As the car pulled out of the Sugar Farm, the workers waved their hands for a long time.
The setting sun was coloring their happy faces red.
“Today… it was a truly special day.”
In the returning car, Catherine held Lee Jun-hyuk’s hand tightly.
“For the sake of these people, I hope your business continues to go well.”
“It will definitely be so.”
It was completely dark by the time we arrived in Havana. Everyone was exhausted, but it was a happy day.
Lee Jun-hyuk thought while taking a shower.
The management of the Sugar Farm has completely entered a stable path.
Now, he would be able to focus more on his business in New York and Chicago.
Listening to the sound of Salsa music flowing from outside the window, he soon fell asleep.
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