Chapter 1 – Young Master (Part 4)

Unlike when they came, her dad didn’t hum on the way back in the car. He didn’t say things like ‘Woo Junhee, the pride of Nonsan. Woo Junhee, daughter of Woo Donggu.’ In place of her dad’s melodious tune, her grandmother’s worried sighs piled up.

What if something happens at the factory because of this?

If rumors spread among the factory workers that we’ve fallen out of favor with the madam.

My contract as a factory cook expires next month, what if it doesn’t get extended…

“Ah, would someone who’s a daughter-in-law of a big company chairman be that petty? Kids can fight sometimes. Isn’t that how they grow up? Didn’t we fight when we were young?”

“Is he just an ordinary kid?”

“Then what’s different? They’re all equally precious kids.”

“I heard that the two older brothers are children the father brought from outside, and he’s the only legitimate son… Originally there was one more biological son before him, but he died and this one’s the only remaining biological son.”

“Stop it, mom. You’re saying things you shouldn’t in front of the child. Ah, this might wake Junhee up. She must be upset too, so let’s not say anything more in front of her.”

“No, why did she do something she’s never done in her life, and why there of all places…”

“Oh, come on. That’s enough, please.”

Junhee closed her eyes and pretended not to hear. She turned her body as if tossing in her sleep. She buried one ear in the backrest. Even with her senses blocked like that, Dowook’s face and voice kept swirling in her head.

She found out later. That from this year, the criteria for sponsored children had changed to include family background in the screening requirements. Only then did she understand the hidden meaning behind the praises adults had showered on her that day.

The looks of wonder, looking down on her for having come this far from such an unfortunate environment. The glances and sneers gauging how far she could rise from such an environment. Little Junhee’s heart twisted sorrowfully.

***

Her grandmother was unusually excited.

“It’s really true. I’m telling you the truth. The madam came all the way down to Cheongju, inspected the factory, ate at the factory cafeteria, and specifically called for me.”

She wanted to ask why her grandmother was using such honorifics when that madam wasn’t even here.

“She’s even more elegant than before. Her complexion is so fair, like a heavenly maiden. That beautiful madam held my hand tightly and said… The employees who used to look down on your dad, their attitude changed from then on, people are so shameless. They shouldn’t do that. They should have treated him well from the beginning. Ah, I’m telling you, even the factory manager called your dad in and asked if there was anything he was uncomfortable with these days.”

Grandmother giggled like a child.

“So what do you think, Junhee? I think it could be a very good opportunity.”

“Ah, can’t you see our princess turning away without saying anything? She’s saying she doesn’t like it. How many times are you going to keep pushing an unwilling child? Mom, was your dream to be a parrot?”

Her dad barged in unexpectedly after finishing his factory shift. A whiff of soju and the savory smell of fried food wafted from him.

“Our princess must have worked hard studying today too, right? I knew you would, so daddy bought something delicious from town. Our daughter’s favorite, Jin’s Chicken Shop.”

Her dad dangled a heavy-looking bag. It was a chicken shop in the town market. A place where you could get two chickens for 5,000 won. They fried the chicken whole after removing the skin, and if you tore off a piece and dipped it in salt, the taste was incredible.

It seemed only one box was left, so the other chicken must have been consumed as a snack with Mr. Bae from next door. Her dad wrinkled his nose as if to say, take this and quickly leave here. Junhee promptly took it and left the room.

The sound insulation in old countryside houses is terrible. No matter how much noise Junhee made on the tin tray while sitting in the kitchen, the whispered voices from beyond the thin sliding door came through clearly.

We live like this because we’re uneducated, but should our Junhee live like this too? Of course, I wouldn’t make my child do something bad.

In just a few months, she’ll enter middle school, and they say middle school studies are completely different from elementary school. When she enters high school, it gets even harder, and city kids start catching up. But I can’t even send my child to a decent academy…

If the child wasn’t smart, it would be different, but she’s so intelligent, what can we do? What if we ruin her life because we can’t help her properly at the right time…”

Ah, one month of summer vacation, one month of winter vacation, that’s two months, right? How great would it be if she could go to a rich house in Seoul for those two months and get expensive tutoring from a skilled teacher? They say there are some incredibly famous teachers in Gangnam, Seoul. But how could we afford that?”

Am I wrong? Junhee would receive precious education there, and we’d earn money in return for her helping that family’s child study.

That, that, what was it… Ah, right. You have a good memory. That! Pacemaker. They say not just anyone can do that. It’s because our Junhee is capable that she can be a pacemaker for a chaebol’s young master. I looked it up, and pacemaker has a good meaning.

Ah, why? Didn’t you hear what people at the sponsorship meeting said? Everyone says our Junhee is amazing. She’s pretty, has a calm personality, is well-mannered, and the madam really liked her. Have you ever seen our Junhee being disliked anywhere? Even I think our granddaughter is so adorable.

If rumors spread that our Junhee has caught the eye of Taesan’s madam and receives precious education in Seoul every vacation, who at the factory would dare treat you carelessly, huh?

What harm? After seeing that madam, you still say such things? As you said, she’s the wife of a big company chairman. Not just the madam, but all the adults in that house are there too.

I’ll call every day. You should call with me too. We’ll visit Seoul on weekends to see Junhee. Would I let anyone harm our child? If that happened, I wouldn’t let it slide, rich young master or not. Besides, last time I saw, our Junhee did more harm to that house’s son.

I’ve raised my one grandchild exceptionally well. Right?

Anyway, how can we keep our grandchild, born so wonderfully despite her incompetent grandmother, stuck in this countryside? Shouldn’t she go to the city, receive special treatment, and live preciously? Junhee’s father…

Junhee looked up at the ceiling while chewing on the meat. Below the stained yellow ceiling, an electric wire dangled. She tugged at the dangling wire for no reason. Blink, it went dark. Another blink, it lit up brightly.

She thought. 

What’s wrong with living like this?

She also thought. 

If not like this, how else could I live?

Then she recalled Dowook saying, ‘beggar’. She thought that she never wanted to hear such words again.

If grandmother’s wish was for me to escape from here, what was my wish? 

After pondering, she thought she wanted to help her grandmother and father escape from here. She knew that the only way she could do that was through studying.

Junhee tore off another piece of chicken meat while staring at the dangling electric wire.

***

It was the winter when she turned fourteen. That boy leaned on the second-floor railing, looking down at Junhee. Unlike before, he was dressed in casual clothes. Even so, he still looked precious and handsome like a prince.

“You’re here again.”

‘Beggar.’ Junhee heard the low trailing words.

Yeah, the beggar’s here again. To leech off you.

She didn’t bother saying those words. Instead, Junhee smiled brightly.

“Hello.”

She raised her hand and greeted him cheerfully. Choi Dowook looked as if he had seen something peculiar.

Junhee is her daddy’s precious princess and her grandmother’s only pride in her lifetime. So she won’t be hurt by the words of a young master who grew up spoiled and doesn’t know manners.

Dowook wrinkled his brow as if displeased. 

Is he looking down on me as a beggar again in his mind? It doesn’t matter.

You’re still the weakling. 

Junhee suddenly remembered how he had flared up at those words. Recalling it made her feel good. Remembering that contorted face, Junhee brightly lifted the corners of her mouth.