Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Ice Factory.

Even though summer was passing by, the motor of the ice factory was running non-stop. Ice was as precious as fish in Namhang, something that couldnt be lacking. Tens of tons of ice were consumed daily in Namhang Market. Nowadays, the workers at the ice factory cant rest even if they want to. It was no exaggeration to say that they were producing ice continuously due to the surging crowd.

Yeongguk! Are you planning to carry that heavy thing by yourself?

Its okay! Just give me a few more!

Ah, dont do it! Say it now if you cant handle it so you dont hurt your back!

Numerous pieces of ice were stacked on the handcart. Small trucks would deliver the ice in places with wide and well-maintained roads, but in maze-like areas, people had to carry it themselves. Like the old man who used to collect feces while ringing his bell in every alley, the ice cart would pass through the market stalls.

Okay, lets go!

With the command, the wheels slowly rolled with a creaking sound. Surprisingly, it didnt require much strength to move the handcart. If you tried to rely only on strength, you would quickly become exhausted, and your fingertips would soon hurt. If you had a natural skill like water flowing, it wasnt extremely difficult.

The most basic task in selling fish was filling the ice. The more ice you filled, the better the fish quality was maintained. In his previous life, he had carried and filled hundreds of thousands of kilograms of ice while selling fish, so this much was nothing to him. The skills he learned then remained engraved in his body even though it had grown weaker. Ignoring the amazed looks from others, he hurriedly moved before the ice melted.

Ice delivery!

Yeongguk, youre delivering ice again today!Cheêck out latest novels on novel/bin(.)com

Whats the point of sitting at home on weekends! I need to earn some pocket money!

Take a break once in a while. Your mom will be worried!

Alright, take a break! Have a drink before you go! If my child were half like you, I would have no wishes left!

Weekends were as busy as a beehive. The market was so crowded that there was no need to solicit customers. His mother repeatedly told him to rest on weekends. However, during such times, the market needed more hands. Moreover, he owed the Namhang Market merchants, so it was only right to repay them. Besides, earning pocket money was quite enjoyable.

At first, the merchants tried to dissuade him, but they eventually gave up when they saw him handling the work more efficiently than most adult men. They compromised by telling him to take it easy.

Wow! Its sweet and refreshing!

Thats right! Its because of the barley tea I brought this morning! Take this bottle. Its perfect for quenching your thirst! Youre working hard today, Yeongguk! Are you not exhausted?

Im fine! Pushing the handcart may look difficult, but its a piece of cake once you get the hang of it! The merchants are having a harder time than me! Dont worry, just sell a lot of fish! We all have to become rich!

Oh, my! Our Yeongguk is the pride of Namhang! Such a sweet-talking child!

Pride is such an exaggerated word. The people of Namhang loved him unconditionally.

On days when there was not even a single thing to eat, they would secretly put it in his pocket, and the fishermen would sometimes give him an octopus caught in their nets. He wanted to repay their love and attention. Unlike his previous life, it was a relationship he wanted to maintain for a long time.

Im done!

Before he knew it, the ice piled up on the handcart was gone. There was no place in the market that his hands hadnt touched. Was it because he was diligently working? He felt that the hem of his pants, which he wore often, had become shorter. It felt like he was growing every day. He wondered if he was this tall around this time in his previous life.

Huh?

A man was wandering between the market stalls, seemingly looking for someone. The face looked familiar. He cautiously approached and made his presence known.

CEO?

She couldnt find any words to say when he smiled and asked.

The boy, who received so much love from Namhang, was so proud, but his mother felt bitter. How did he grow up so fast? Was it because he had a bad mother and had to struggle? As if reading her thoughts, the boy quickly added an explanation.

Mom, do you remember? When we first set up a stall in Namhang. Back then, Mrs. Yang gave us lots of side dishes. She said we couldnt eat enough at the inn. It was when we lived in Nakwonjang[3].

Why bring that up now

It wasnt so bad back then either. We slept hugging each other tightly every day. There were tough times, but I dont dislike it when those memories come to mind. Because I also have good memories with you, Mom.

The place was filled with rough sailors. The mother, who had to protect her son alone, must have had a hard time. She even got scolded by the inn owner for cooking rice late at night to feed her son.

Our current room is also like that. On days when it rains heavily, rainwater drips from the ceiling, and in winter, the pipes freeze, and we cant even get cold water, let alone hot water. So, lets make new memories in a better place now.

She would hardly sleep a wink on rainy days, emptying the water-filled pots. In winter, she would warm the water over a briquette fire for her son, even if she had to wash her hair with cold water.

How about we move to an apartment?

An apartment?

The CEO said he contracted a small apartment in Yeongdo for us to rest comfortably.

CEO Kim Seonghwan had offered to rent them an apartment without any conditions. Even after excluding the deposit, he insisted it was something he wanted to do for them, repeatedly persuading the boy who refused.

How can we just accept something like that? No matter how nice it is, it would be uncomfortable.

CEO said he would come to Yeongdo later and talk to you in person. And if we dont move to an apartment, he said I shouldnt think about acting.

Kim Seonghwan, the CEO, was truly a grateful person. He was someone who made great efforts to consider the boys situation from his perspective. After all, he even joked that his mother wouldnt be able to refuse after signing the apartment contract.

What? How did the conversation turn out like this?

He said that if youre comfortable, I can be comfortable when Im away. Whats the use of living well alone? The thought of you lying in a cramped room will keep popping into my head.

I dont know how to repay such kindness.

Ill work hard to repay it. Lets do that. Us.

The boy hugged his mothers shoulders with both arms.

From now on, lets live happily.

Fishing boats that had gone out for fishing operations shone their lights on the beach, twinkling. The play of light reflected in the waves seemed to shine like a panorama of their past lives. How much weight had been carried on those slender shoulders? The boy promised. From now on, as your son, I will protect you.

[1] A district in Seoul known as the hub of the South Korean film industry.

[2] A traditional Korean multigrain powder. It is usually mixed with water or milk and served as a beverage.

[3] A small, cheap inn or lodging house.



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