บท 567: Chapter 567: Yeah, This Is the Flavor
The drinking session ended only when dawn broke.
Everyone stumbled out of the makgeolli house, tipsy and merry.
"Manager, please tell the employees to bring the kids out to the main road," someone said.
Nodding, Manager Ma called over the staff members who had been waiting a distance away and gave them instructions.
With flushed faces from drinking, they all wobbled toward the university district.
Maybe it was because it was the last night of the year, but there were a lot of drunken people around the university.
Well, we might look like drunkards to others as well.
Before long, everyone gathered on the main road to bid farewell.
"Hyeon-woo, let the elder know I'll be visiting to wish him a happy New Year. Take care, and see you again, Min-kyung."
Hyeon-woo and Han Min-kyung were the first to get a ride home.
"Jae-ha, congratulations on your wedding! Let me know when you set a date. I'll pass on my New Year wishes to your dad."
Then, a car picked up Yoon Jae-ha next.
"Hyeon-seong, pull yourself together."
I was about to send Hyeon-seong off last, but he was completely hammered.
It's rare for him to get this drunk.
In the end, Myeong-su and I had to wrestle with Hyeon-seong to shove him into the backseat.
"Ah, he's heavy! Looks like Hyeon-seong hasn't had a drink in a while."
"I can see why. I heard he's tightly wrapped around his sister-in-law's finger."
I closed the car door after hearing Myeong-su's reply. Soon, the car carrying Hyeon-seong also slowly pulled away.
"Myeong-su, let's walk a bit to sober up."
I gave Myeong-su a playful nudge on the shoulder and started walking ahead.
A cold winter breeze brushed against my cheeks.
"Whew, it's chilly! Aren't you cold, Mu-hyeok?"
Myeong-su quickly caught up beside me, adjusting his clothes.
"Not really. Are you heading down to Busan for New Year's?"
"Planning to go down early tomorrow morning. I have a dinner meeting tonight. What's with everyone wanting to drink on the last day of the year? It's ridiculous!"
Myeong-su grumbled with a mouthful of complaints.
I chuckled softly and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
As I walked slowly, Myeong-su soon matched my pace.
"It's not a job for a National Assembly member, right?"
"I don't know. At first, I found it hard to adjust. But now, I'm a politician facing re-election. I've learned how to deal with the old-timers by now."
"Yeah, you're the only politician I trust. That's why I urged you to get into politics…"
"I know. Why bring that up again? Are you drunk?"
"Maybe I am. I just keep thinking about the past after having a drink."
I cast a sidelong glance at Myeong-su's legs. He was walking steadily on both feet.
Seeing that reminded me of the old Myeong-su before the regression.
The Myeong-su who had to hobble away from school after getting his leg broken by Hong Jin-pyo.
But that never happened in this life.
"You're getting old, I see. Speaking of which, I heard you met Hong Jin-pyo last time. How's he doing? Didn't you assign him a project?"
"Hong Jin-pyo? He's handling the work just fine. He wrapped up the project neatly. Now he's working with Jungwoo Construction."
The Hong Jin-pyo I had ruined was desperately surviving, going around the redevelopment area and grabbing any benefits he could.
So, I gave him a chance. He didn't waste that opportunity.
"Really? That's good to hear. Seeing him struggle a bit makes me feel a little better."
"What about you? You say you've forgotten, but if I hadn't shown up back then, you would have been in real trouble."
"What? Come on, what can you not do as a kid? You weren't exactly innocent back then either. Sure, I might have suddenly changed and ended up here, but… Anyway, if you hadn't changed, I wouldn't have either. I'd probably be running some shop in Busan, or even in the entertainment district."
No. You studied hard with a disabled leg to seek revenge as a prosecutor.
But that past was now non-existent. I swallowed back those words and instead let out a vague reply.
"I don't know…"
"Well, I broke the record for the youngest assembly member and got elected to the National Assembly. I've updated the record that stood for half a century. Because of that, I'll get my name in history. I'm also the secretary-general of the ruling party. If you hadn't been around, maybe Hong Jin-pyo would have chosen the path I took."
Myeong-su broke the record for the youngest member at 26 years and 1 month old, surpassing the previous record of 26 years and 5 months.
I reckon this record might hang on until Korea collapses?
Although I suggested it and Yoon Chang-ho provided the nomination, it was purely Myeong-su's ability that won him the seat from the district, not through proportional representation.
"It's cold. Let's head back. I'll be heading down to Busan too, so I'll see you there."
"Sure. I'll go home and get some rest too."
I raised my hand, and Manager Ma approached from a distance.
"Manager, please call a car for Myeong-su."
"Yes."
Manager Ma slowly waved down the car that was trailing behind.
Two cars came to a stop beside us.
"You head in first. I'll contact you later, Myeong-su."
After sending Myeong-su off, I got into the car myself.
"Where to?"
"Directly to Busan. I need to spend New Year's with Grandma."
"Understood."
"Looks like the alcohol is hitting me. I'll sleep, so wake me when we arrive, Manager."
The scenery outside changed rapidly as we drove. I took a brief look before leaning back and closing my eyes.
"We have arrived, Boss."
How long did I sleep? I woke up to Manager Ma's voice calling me.
The outside was already bright as if the sun had risen. When I checked the time, it was just past ten in the morning.
I cleared my throat as it felt like I was choking, and Manager Ma handed me a bottle of mineral water.
Drinking it down quickly snapped me back to reality.
"Thank you, Manager. Ah, I feel a bit more alive now."
Even after drinking water, I could still taste soju lingering in my mouth.
I washed my face quickly, then opened the car door and stepped outside.
"Tell everyone to relax. Manager Ma, you come in with me."
I opened the gate and walked in, passing the familiar yard before opening the front door.
Grandma, who was sitting in the living room, saw me and shot up from her seat.
"Grandma! I'm back!"
"Oh! My baby! What brings you here without any notice?"
"I came to celebrate New Year's with you."
I hugged Grandma tightly as she felt around my face with both hands. Her warm scent filled my nostrils.
"Oh! You smell of alcohol. Have you been drinking a lot, Mu-hyeok?"
For a moment, the warm atmosphere faded as Grandma scolded while patting my back.
"I drank with Hyeon-seong, Myeong-su, and some friends at a year-end party. Myeong-su said he'd come down tomorrow, and Hyeon-seong said he'd head down this evening…"
"Drink in moderation. What good is it to drink so much?"
Though she scolded me, Grandma led me to the sofa in the living room.
"Have you not eaten?"
"No."
"Then rest. I'll make you some food quickly."
After settling me on the sofa, Grandma gestured to Manager Ma, who was standing at the front door.
"Manager, please come in too."
Manager Ma complied with her request and stepped into the living room.
"Has Mu-hyeok been giving you trouble?"
"Not at all."
"Oh, come on. I know how that boy is."
Manager Ma forced a somewhat awkward smile instead of answering.
Grandma held Manager Ma's hand and said,
"Please take good care of my Mu-hyeok. I've always been grateful and sorry. Mu-hyeok relies on you a lot, doesn't he?"
"Yes. I will continue to do my best to support him."
After letting go of Manager Ma's hand, Grandma headed into the kitchen.
"Manager, did you tell the staff to relax?"
"Yes. I instructed the bodyguards to rest at the house next door."
"Then, Manager, make yourself comfortable too. There's no need to be so stiff here. I'll wash up and be right back."
I stood up from the sofa and patted Manager Ma on the shoulder.
Manager Ma nodded but still maintained his stiff posture.
He's definitely a rigid person.
"Grandma, I'll go wash up."
"Oh, hurry and wash up."
In Grandma's hand was a package of bean sprouts.
She had scolded me for coming in drunk, but now she seemed determined to make me hangover soup.
I felt my heart warming up a bit. I headed to the bathroom, washed up, and went back to my room.
I changed into comfortable clothes and returned to the living room.
The smell of bean sprout soup wafted from the kitchen.
On the dining table were my favorite side dishes and a plate of scrambled eggs.
"I had no idea you were coming, so I have nothing prepared. Hurry up and sit down."
Grandma's words naturally brought a smile to my face.
As I approached the table to grab chopsticks, Manager Ma stepped closer.
"Boss, let me do that."
"No, just relax here. I told you to feel at home."
"That's right, just relax here."
Grandma chimed in and piled my bowl with rice like a mountain.
"That's too much, Grandma."
"You can't work properly if you're too thin, right? Eat a lot, Mu-hyeok."
"If you serve it, I must eat. Ah, Manager Ma, you sit down too."
"Yes."
After we sat, Grandma looked at us with a warm smile. Then she brought over some bean sprout soup.
As Grandma opened the side dish container, I took a spoonful of the soup.
The hot, spicy broth warmed my throat.
"Ah, yeah, this is the flavor."
It felt like my insides were finally coming back to life.
"Is it good?"
"Yeah. Even those who cook for me at home make good food, but Grandma's cooking is my favorite."
"What are you saying? Stop with the flattery."
Though Grandma waved her hands dismissively, her smile was wide.
"Manager, you eat up too."
Prompted by Grandma, Manager Ma also picked up his chopsticks, and I watched them both with warmth as we began our meal.
The bowl filled to the brim emptied quickly, and I even had two servings of bean sprout soup.
"Ah, this is nice. Grandma's cooking is truly the best."
Grandma was looking at me with a pleased expression. The smile that appeared on her wrinkled face was a sight to behold.
"Are you full? What are you planning to do next?"
"I'm going to rest a bit. After I wake up, how about we go shopping together for old times' sake?"
"Really? Should we?"
It seemed like Grandma was genuinely happy about my suggestion to go to the market together.
"Yeah. Let's go out together after a long time."
"Alright then, hurry up and rest."
"I'll clean up."
"Thanks, but just head back and rest. I'll wake you up before dinner."
As I reached for the dishes, Grandma waved her hands and quickly took them away. She really is unyielding.
Smiling, I stood up and spoke to Manager Ma.
"Manager, you should take a break too. I think it's time for me to catch some sleep."
"Yes. I think I'll also take a short break."
Manager Ma stood, taking his empty rice and soup bowls with him.
"Manager, just head back and rest assured."
"Still, I…"
"That's enough. You should take it easy, and I appreciate you helping me out."
Grandma even snatched the bowls from Manager Ma's hands.
His yielding behavior made me laugh out loud.
"Of course, just go back and relax. My Grandma's stubbornness can't be beaten by anyone. You know that, right?"
Manager Ma smiled awkwardly and bowed his head to Grandma.
"Thank you for the meal."
I returned to my room and lay on the bed.
Grandma must have cleaned it frequently because it was spotless without a speck of dust.
Thoughts about work flickered in my mind, but I quickly shook my head to clear them away.
After tossing and turning for a while, I finally fell asleep.
"Mu-hyeok!"
I woke up to Grandma calling me.
"Get ready now. We are going to the market."
I opened the door and got up upon seeing Grandma standing outside, calling me.
The setting sun painted the room in hues of orange and red. I stretched and said.
"Alright, I'll get ready and step out."
"Yeah. Hurry up and come out."
After eating Grandma's hangover soup, my hangover had completely vanished.
I changed into workout clothes and stepped outside.
Grandma waited for me on the living room sofa.
Manager Ma maintained an awkward smile and was engaging with Grandma.
His expression was so funny that I couldn't help but chuckle quietly.
"Have you finished preparing? It's cold outside. Dress warmly. Don't you have a jacket in your closet? There should be one."
"It's just a quick trip outside."
"It's cold outside. Go back in and put on a jacket."
Despite being over thirty, Grandma still treated me like a child.
In the end, I surrendered and went back to pick out a coat hanging in the closet.
"I'm ready. Let's hurry up; I'm starving."
As I stepped outside with Grandma, I quietly mentioned to Manager Ma.
"Manager, you go ahead, and have the others stay back. Don't let them crowd into the market."
"Understood."
"Then I'll head out first. Give the orders, and follow me soon."
"Mu-hyeok, what are you doing? Aren't you coming?"
Grandma gestured for me at the gate. I quickly went to her side and linked arms.
"What are you going to cook for dinner?"
"What do you want to eat?"
"Hmm… Anything you make will be fine?"
Stepping out of the house, I started chatting with Grandma as we walked toward the market.
The sun dipped below the horizon, signaling the arrival of dusk.
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