บท 16: The Peak Of Mount Subong (2)
However, Ryu Ji-ho rarely practiced sparring; he mainly focused on mastering the forms. When he entered middle school, he decided to stop practicing taekwondo, ending his brief journey in the martial art.
Ryu Ji-ho sat cross-legged, trying to calm his mind by taking slow, deep breaths. The fresh morning air filled his lungs, but his concentration soon wavered. In the eastern sky, the sun was rising with breathtaking beauty. Ji-ho was so deeply engrossed in his meditation that he didn't realize how much time had passed. When the sun's rays finally touched his face, he came back to his senses. Standing up, he dusted off his pants with a light sweep of his hand.
"I need to visit Head Coach," he thought suddenly.
Coach Hong's face appeared in his mind, bringing a small smile to his lips. Although Mount Subong wasn't very tall, the path he followed was steep and rocky. Upon reaching the mountain spring, Ji-ho paused for a moment to take a sip of the crystal-clear water before continuing his descent, heading in the opposite direction of his home.
"Is there a newspaper distribution office around here?" Ji-ho asked himself, trying to recall its exact location. No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn't picture the place clearly. Deciding that he would just have to find it, Ji-ho set off. When he finally arrived, he greeted the head of the office and began to ask the many questions that had been nagging at him about the job of delivering newspapers. Fortunately, the head wasn't too strict and kindly answered all of his queries.
"Riding a bike around District 1 will take about an hour, and I can earn forty thousand won," Ji-ho thought to himself, mentally calculating. "With extra classes in the evening, I can only deliver newspapers in the morning," he reasoned, taking everything into account.
He recalled the prices he usually encountered: a call from a public phone cost 20 won, a bowl of Jjajangmyeon noodles was priced between 500 to 700 won, while instant noodles were around 90 to 200 won. A bus ride was 120 won, which meant that for a high school student, forty thousand won was a substantial amount. The minimum wage per hour hadn't even reached 500 won at that time. Working eight hours a day would earn someone just about four thousand won. Even if a person worked nonstop for a whole month, their earnings wouldn't reach one hundred twenty thousand won. That's why Ji-ho's father, Ryu Min-sang, had to work overtime, even though it was exhausting and tough.
After finishing up at the newspaper office, Ji-ho decided to stop by the milk distribution center, which wasn't far away. Unlike the bustling newspaper office, the milk distribution center had a quieter atmosphere, perhaps because there were fewer workers around.
Ryu Ji-ho decided to stop by the milk distribution center not too far from his house. The place was much quieter than the bustling newspaper distribution spot, probably because there were fewer workers there.
"Earning money isn't easy," he muttered to himself.
"As a high school student, I can't take on heavy jobs. Even though I work hard delivering newspapers and milk every day, all I get is just small change."
Ji-ho knew that if he woke up every day at four in the morning, delivered newspapers and milk across three different areas, then rushed to school, and continued with evening newspaper deliveries, he might be able to earn more. This job could be more than just a part-time gig; it could become a permanent commitment, something he put his heart into.
"Think carefully," he whispered to himself.
"If this can be good physical exercise and at the same time add to my pocket money for my younger siblings, I might be able to lighten my parents' load a bit."
With a lighter heart, Ji-ho brushed aside all his worries and started to walk back home.
Thud!
Sim Youngsook, who had been going back and forth from room to room waking up her children, was startled when she saw the front door open and Ryu Ji-ho stepping inside.
"Ji-ho! When did you go out?" his mother asked, surprised, her eyes widening.
"I went to Mount Subong for a workout, Mom," Ji-ho replied calmly, as if this was something he did every morning.
Sim Youngsook stared at her son with a bewildered expression. "Ji-ho, is that you?"
"Of course, it's me, Mom," Ji-ho smiled.
"You, who usually prefer sleeping over exercising, suddenly so diligent?" His mother still found it hard to believe what she had just heard.
"If I work out regularly, my body will grow taller and healthier, right?" Ji-ho answered enthusiastically as if he had just discovered the secret to life.
"Wow, that's amazing," murmured Sim Youngsook, more to herself than to Ji-ho.
"Being diligent is a good thing, right, Mom?" Ji-ho added, his eyes shining with conviction.
Sim Youngsook looked at her son, feeling a mix of pride and tenderness.
"It seems our eldest child has started to mature since he entered high school," she thought, unable to hide the smile spreading across her face.
With a gesture full of affection, she gave Ji-ho a gentle pat on his behind.
"Ouch, Mom! That hurts!" Ji-ho cried out, pretending to be in pain while a mischievous smile played on his lips.
"Hurry up, take a shower. After that, have breakfast and get ready for school," his mother said, slipping back into her daily role as the caring mother.
"What about Dad?" Ji-ho asked.
"Your father left for work early this morning," his mother replied, her voice softening a little.
It's true, Ji-ho thought. On a weekday like this, it's almost impossible to see Dad, who always leaves early. The fathers in this country, so busy earning a living, often don't have much time to spend with their families.
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