The Grandmother's Prayer
No, the busy nuns hadn't been able to iron white shirts for the children. But it couldn't have been that distorted. The image was too vivid. The young boy's voice still rang clearly in her ears.
Watching Yeong-a struggle, Hwigyeom clicked his tongue.
“See? You were wrong. The top and bottom ones are different, remember?”
“There’s no way that’s possible.”
Suho had said for years that the man who lured him into the mountains was the one who rescued him. Even on the day he saved Yeong-a, he had told the grandmother the same thing.
Could a child lie in such a situation?
“Yeong-a. Everyone has a precious inheritance passed down from ancestors. It’s their wisdom. And among them, folk tales are the essence. Right now you need to remember the story of the mermaid princess.”
Yeong-a’s eyes flew wide open.
“Then Suho oppa lied? And the mermaid princess is not a folk tale—it’s a made-up story by Andersen.”
That was a devastating blow to the roots of his old love. No wonder he was furious.
“Most people who claim they rescued me are fakes. Think about it. Are there any other boys in the photo?”
Hwigyeom had stirred up her stomach plenty and now carried the big tray lightly out the door. Yeong-a trailed right behind him.
The uncle on the porch watched Hwigyeom move the tray into the kitchen and sighed in admiration.
“His shoulders are so broad… yet he lifted that huge tray as if it were paper. And his face is so refined it could make a movie star cry.”
“…”
“But his demeanor is far from ordinary. A boy from a normal house wouldn’t be like that. Did Halmeoni ever see him before?”
“…”
Byun Yeong-mi only let out an annoyed grunt. The uncle kept talking.
“Our Yeong-a is pretty too. A young man and woman together like this… it should be fine.”
They said a country boy could recite poetry after three years in school. After thirty years in a temple, he had clearly learned some manners. This was a man who had spent his whole life being cheated.
Tired of listening, Byun Yeong-mi finally spoke.
“Such a careful child. You’ll do well on your own.”
Yeong-a, who had lived in bitter winter, instinctively chased warmth.
“But you still look too perfect. Isn’t that right, Halmeoni?”
Instead of answering, Byun Yeong-mi swallowed a sigh.
If a snail was like a light bulb, then this man was the sun. Fake heat that went out would soon turn cold, but the sun’s heat stole colors and drained life.
In the meantime, Hwigyeom and Yeong-a emerged from the kitchen. The voice had been correct, but Yeong-a was glaring at the much bigger man than her, muttering angrily.
Byun Yeong-mi pushed herself up with her creaking knees.
“You handle the reception. I’ll go in and check.”
Please, Buddha, watch over that kind child who finally seemed to be thawing. Fill her with just the right warmth at a proper distance.
All Byun Yeong-mi could do for Yeong-a was pray.
“The fellow is cold. It’s been a while since I met a granddaughter.”
The uncle’s grumbling faded behind her thin back.
After several rest stops and late afternoon, Yeong-a and Hwigyeom finally reached Andong.
The historic hanok, built over three hundred years ago, was in the middle of renovation.
“It’s said to be the head house of a powerful family. The house was built with great care and well maintained. We just need to make some minor internal changes.”
The site manager explained to the two of them.
The grand hanok with its courtyard and wing was truly elegant. The low white clouds hanging over the tiled roof looked like a painting, and the tall trees surrounding it told of the passing time.
Hwigyeom stayed alert as always and inspected every building carefully.
After several hours the inspection finally ended.
“Let’s head out for dinner soon. Everyone must be waiting.”
The manager said while they toured the site together.
The evening venue was a place Yeong-mi had chosen when she bought the hanok—a different head house not far away. There they served jeongol food and were famous for traditional liquor that fermented for over three months.
“He’s been to Europe’s royal family’s son. They’re still getting proposals from other hotels. I spent a lot to get the contact. Hwigyeom, even if you don’t care about anywhere else, you have to be especially meticulous here.”
Her words came through the speakerphone in the car.
The dinner they arrived at was grand enough to look like a banquet. Under a wide tent, straw mats had been laid, and long tables groaned under the weight of food.
An elderly man in a dark robe approached them.
“Andong Jang clan head, Jang Man-chun.”
“Nice to meet you. Sa Hwigyeom.”
After the greetings, guided by the head, Yeong-a sat next to Hwigyeom at the center of the table.
The room had grown dark, but the strings of bulbs hanging from the tent brightly illuminated the delicious food. Mackerel, Andong jjimdak, dorab, various pancakes, kimchi, and soy sauce—everything they had promised from the resort.
The sparsely occupied seats quickly filled with elders wearing similar dark robes. The area was clearly a gathering place.
“They say guests came from Seoul. The head of the family must have spent a fortune.”
The feast began with formal respect for the head.
Naturally, the old men’s eyes turned to the young city visitors. And since they were the one doing business with the head, subtle private checks were added.
“They’re a newlywed couple?”
One line turned into dozens.
“They’re saving up for the first meal with their wife.”
Looking at Hwigyeom serving food to the struggling Yeong-a who couldn’t pick up chopsticks easily because of all the people, they said that.
“No, not at all. We’re just Manager and subordinate.”
“Oh? Then you should get married soon. The faces match perfectly. Don’t you think?”
Amid the blunt talk and loud laughter, Yeong-a somehow managed to say both “We’re not a couple, I’m the manager” and “I have someone I like,” but no one was listening.
“Oh dear, the brother-in-law. Thank you, thank you. The young lady has someone else.”
“They match so well. Why don’t you like the manager? Do you want to see his true worth?”
“Wow. The head says men’s character is all they need. Thank you, it’s exactly right. I thought there were other guys.”
Yeong-a’s face darkened in real time. The open talk of adults made her uneasy, and she was worried too.
Even though it was countryside, with so many people, might they hear some strict rumor?
Just then the head cut them off with a stern look.
“Thank you for traveling far. How is the meal?”
“Yes. It’s all incredibly…”
Before Yeong-a finished her answer, the head took a liquor bottle and glasses and slid between Hwigyeom and Yeong-a.
“Now you have to taste this. It’s my liquor that’s over two hundred years old. Made with chrysanthemum and pine needles soaked in rice. It’s a medicine or treasure.”
The head handed Hwigyeom a glass without hesitation.
“I’ll take it. Manager doesn’t usually drink anyway.”
Yeong-a tried to take the glass instead, but Hwigyeom blocked her.
“No. One glass, please.”
The moment Hwigyeom’s glass was filled, the elder on the opposite side raised his own glass high.
“We drink the moon in the liquor.”
As he said, a round moon was delicately floating in the clear alcohol.
But unlike its gentle appearance, the liquor was strong. One glass became two, then several bottles.
The elderly people finished early, but Yeong-a, who had to drive, ended up drinking the liquor too. The two ended up spending the night in the guest love house instead of the hotel.
Fortunately the love house had two rooms. The head made futons in each one.
There was only one bathroom, so Hwigyeom showered first, then Yeong-a. After her shower, the door was open and Hwigyeom was already asleep.
“You look different.”
She thought. His face suited gulping down strong whiskey better than anyone else. The moment Yeong-a turned off the light and was about to close the door…
“Light on.”