Chapter 123

“Even if I wanted to return your money, there’s no soul left to receive it.”

Kang Doochi’s words puzzled Choi Hocheol, who looked at him with surprise and confusion.

“No one? Why is that?”

“The three of you are currently undergoing reincarnation procedures.”

“Reincarnation?”

“Souls involved in accidents or incidents unrelated to their karma bypass judgment and immediately reincarnate.”

Kang Jin questioned Kang Doochi based on his explanation.

“So even bad people don’t face judgment if they die from such accidents or incidents?”

“As long as they aren’t truly evil and perish before reaching thirty years old due to unrelated circumstances, they do not undergo judgment but instead reincarnate directly.”

“Thirty? What significance does that age hold?”

“At thirty, one should be mature enough to take responsibility for their life, wouldn’t you agree?”

“That makes sense.”

“Then even if someone is wicked, they will be reborn without judgment if they die before turning thirty?”

Kang Doochi pondered Kang Jin’s question for a moment before responding.

“To be precise, only those who haven’t committed any of the seven deadly sins of the afterlife get reincarnated regardless of their cause of death. If a person has transgressed against these sins and dies due to unrelated circumstances, they are immediately subjected to trial and punished accordingly.”

“What are the seven deadly sins?”

“It’s quite lengthy to explain, but…you can think of it as actions that would typically elicit responses like ‘Wow, there are actually people vile enough to do such things?’”

Kang Doochi then glanced at the dining table with longing.

“That looks delicious.”

“Would you like to join us for breakfast?”

“I used up my day off yesterday, so I have a backlog of tasks today.”

Kang Doochi then looked at Choi Hocheol.

“What would you like to do?”

“Then…can’t you distribute it among these people instead of just me?”

“But Mr. Choi Hocheol is listed as the recipient. If I give it to someone else, it will be considered a delivery mishap, and I could face disciplinary action.”

With that, Kang Doochi placed a pen on top of the document and pushed it forward, indicating for Choi Hocheol to sign promptly. Choi Hocheol picked up the pen and wrote his name.

As soon as he signed, Kang Doochi took the document, put it in his bag, and produced another sheet of paper.

“They also expressed their gratitude towards President Choi with this gesture.”

“For me too?”

“Yes.”

While speaking, Kang Doochi slid the document across, and Kang Jin glanced at its contents. It was straightforward: Three female ghosts who had been reincarnated were sending money to Kang Jin. The amount wasn’t particularly large either.

<800,000 won>

Compared to the amounts he had received for sending other ghosts to reincarnation, it wasn’t much. However, the amount wasn’t important. What mattered was that these pitiful souls had thought of him until their final moments.

Born with a silver spoon… No, may you be born into a loving family.

Wishing them a good rebirth, Kang Jin signed the document.

Kang Doochi placed the signed papers in his bag and said, “Then I’ll see you next time.”

As he turned to leave, one of the female ghosts hastily asked, “Are those kids doing well?”

Kang Doochi nodded reassuringly at her question. “They’re thriving.”

“That’s comforting.”

With this exchange, Kang Doochi slightly bowed to Kang Jin before departing the store.

After Kang Doochi left the store, Kang Jin stood up while observing the female ghosts.

“Please enjoy your meal.”

Having heard about their reincarnation and ascent to heaven, he assumed they might have some matters to discuss among themselves. Thus, he decided to give them space.

“Won’t you join us?”

“I need to serve you food.” Smiling, Kang Jin poured each ghost a shot of soju before heading into the kitchen.

Around lunchtime, Lim Ho-jin and Choi Donghae were discussing something with Kang Jin.

“You two aren’t busy, right?”

“We don’t have anything urgent at the moment.”

Since they were nearing the end of their internship, most of their work consisted of wrapping up tasks they had already started learning. With so little time left, there wasn’t enough to take on new projects or contribute significantly to ongoing ones.

“In that case, let’s head out for some fieldwork.”

“Understood.”

That was all it took, as it was standard procedure for department heads like them.

As Lim Ho-jin grabbed his jacket, he informed Lee Sangsub:

“I’ll be heading straight home after this fieldwork with these two.”

“Are you going for makgeolli?”

“It’s about time.”

“They make really good makgeolli there…”

“I’ll grab a few bottles on my way back—oh!” Lim Ho-jin stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Kang Jin.

Kang Jin replied, “Can we have our team dinner there after work?”

“Of course.”

Lim Ho-jin then addressed his team: “I’ll pick up some makgeolli on my way back. Those who want to join us for drinks at Kang Jin’s restaurant tonight, let me know. Oh! It’s not mandatory, so feel free to leave if you prefer; just wait for those staying behind.”

This consideration showed Lim Ho-jin’s thoughtfulness, acknowledging that while handcrafted makgeolli might be delicious, it may not suit everyone’s taste.

“Those leaving right after work can go ahead, and I’ll take the rest with me,” said Kang Sungsoo.

Lim Ho-jin nodded in agreement. “Great, please keep me updated if anything comes up.”

“Will do.”

As they headed towards the parking lot, Lim Ho-jin turned to them:

“Who wants to drive?”

“I only have a learner’s permit,” admitted Choi Donghae.

Lim Ho-jin looked expectantly at Kang Jin.

“No problem.”

“That’s great. I’ll drive there, and you can handle the return trip, Kang Jin.”

With that, they climbed into their respective vehicles and set off.

Vroooom!

As Choi Donghae started driving, he cautiously asked, “By the way…are we really going to a makgeolli brewery?”

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“I’ve never seen this item before while working as an export agent.”

“And?”

Lim Ho-jin glanced at Choi Donghae through the rearview mirror, prompting him to think carefully before responding.

“I don’t know much about makgeolli, but I believe it has a very short shelf life.”

“And?”

“Well, I’m not sure if foreigners would appreciate makgeolli…”

“And?”

Despite Lim Ho-jin’s repeated questioning, Choi Donghae pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

“I’m not entirely certain.”

“That’s good enough.” Choi Donghae’s face lit up at Lim Ho-jin’s praise.

Occasionally, Lim Ho-jin would quiz him. Of course, it wasn’t because he didn’t know the answer but rather to test Choi Donghae’s ability to analyze situations and encourage critical thinking. Instead of providing answers outright, his goal was to make Choi Donghae think deeply until he arrived at the solution himself.

Kang Jin subtly nodded her approval.

He truly is a great person.

From what she could tell, Lim Ho-jin was genuinely kind-hearted, regardless of company politics. In the competitive world often referred to as “the battlefield,” finding someone willing to teach and guide others was rare. Yet here, Lim Ho-jin took the time to mentor Choi Donghae, even though he would soon leave the company.

“Thank you very much,” Choi Donghae expressed gratefully, receiving a warm smile and nod from Lim Ho-jin.

“As Donghae mentioned earlier, makgeolli has a very short shelf life. Fresh makgeolli, for example, expires within two days, making it challenging to distribute far away. Additionally, its sour taste doesn’t particularly appeal to foreigners.”

“Then why are you going ahead with this deal?”

Lim Ho-jin smiled at Kang Jin’s question.

“It was about ten years ago when I was still an assistant manager; someone approached me wanting to sell makgeolli in Japan.”

“In Japan?”

“At that time, during the peak of Hallyu wave, South Korean makgeolli became popular in Japan. This person saw the trend and wanted to export their family’s makgeolli there.”

“If we capitalize on the Hallyu wave…it might not be such a bad idea, right? Plus, Japan isn’t too far, so quick sales could mitigate the shelf-life issue.”

“That’s right. And the makgeolli he brought for us to taste was quite good. Plus, it has a great backstory.”

“A backstory?”

“You know how Japanese people love historical items passed down through generations.”

“I see.”

“The brewery making this makgeolli has been around for five generations.”

“Five generations… That’s impressive.”

“Well, during Japan’s occupation of Korea, they suppressed traditional Korean alcoholic beverages like makgeolli.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes, as part of their attempt to erase the Korean spirit, they persecuted unique Korean drinks.”

“Ah…” Kang Jin sighed.

Lim Ho-jin smiled, sensing Kang Jin’s interest, and continued:

“At that time, the brewery secretly continued making makgeolli, preserving the tradition despite the oppression.”

“How remarkable!”

“It’s quite remarkable. Oh! And their makgeolli is out of this world. I had a hunch it would sell well in Japan after tasting it.”

“Did you end up selling it there?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

Lim Ho-jin pursed his lips at Kang Jin’s question.

“He makes everything by himself, so he lacks the resources to export to Japan. Besides, he told me he has no intention of doing business with them anyway.”

Kang Jin looked puzzled at Lim Ho-jin’s explanation.

“But wouldn’t he consider if someone approached him wanting to buy?”

“I heard the brewery owner’s second son brought it over without any compensation.”

“Oh…”

“Well, from what I could tell, it seemed like a valuable item, so I tried persuading him several times…but failed each time.”

“So have you been trying to convince him for ten years now?”

“Nah, it’s just makgeolli, not some extraordinary treasure. Who’d hold onto it for a decade?”

“Who knows?”

“I’ve stopped by there several times to say hello and have grown quite fond of them…and their makgeolli is amazing.”

“So…you just go for the makgeolli?”

“Well, that’s one reason, but…”

Lim Ho-jin glanced at Choi Donghae through his rearview mirror. Sensing this, Choi Donghae fell silent, realizing Lim Ho-jin had something more to share.

It can’t be only about having some drinks with them… What could it be?

Lim Ho-jin chuckled as if reading Choi Donghae’s thoughts. “Don’t overthink it; take it easy.”

“Yes, sir.”

With a nod, Lim Ho-jin suddenly turned toward Kang Jin.

“Oh! Do they sell side dishes at your store?”

“It’s a restaurant, so yes.”

“Can we buy some from you?”

“Side dishes?”

“We don’t want to show up empty-handed, so I’d like to purchase some.”

“I’m fine with whatever…”

“Then I’ll leave it to you. The side dishes from this store taste better than those at fancy restaurants anyway.”

“We should probably turn around…”

“No problem.” Lim Ho-jin made a U-turn and parked right in front of Kang Jin’s shop.

“Just wait here.”

“Could you please get me five bottles?”

“That many?”

“Please.” When Lim Ho-jin handed over 50,000 won, Kang Jin readily accepted without hesitation.

Lim Ho-jin drove deep into a quiet countryside area within Gyeonggi Province. He parked his car slightly off the beaten path and got out.

“We’re here.”

Following Lim Ho-jin’s words, Kang Jin looked ahead to see what appeared to be a shabby storage unit.

“The president has quite a fiery temper, so watch your words carefully.”

Lim Ho-jin warned Kang Jin, who nodded in understanding.

“Got it.”

With that response, Lim Ho-jin approached the brewery.

“Hello! Is anyone there?”

Shortly after his call, a door opened on one side of the building, and an elderly man emerged. His face was slightly flushed, and his eyes looked bleary—clear signs he had been drinking.

He’s already started early in the day.

“Huh? What? Why’re you here again?” The old man squinted but still seemed pleased to see them.

“We came by to greet you before the New Year.”

“The New Year… It’s only December. Don’t you have anything better to do?” Grumbling quietly, the elder dipped a ladle into a large barrel nearby.

“Here, wet your whistle.”

“Thank you.” With a smile, Lim Ho-jin accepted the ladle, took a sip, then offered it to Kang Jin.

“I can only drink one cup since I’m driving later,” explained Lim Ho-jin.

Following Lim Ho-jin’s advice, Kang Jin accepted the dipper containing makgeolli with a slightly milky hue. He brought it to his lips and took a sip.

Gulp!

Kang Jin smacked his lips appreciatively before passing the dipper to Choi Donghae.

Tastes good.

Perhaps because they were drinking straight from the brewery, this makgeolli had a stronger aroma and flavor than what was sold commercially. Additionally, its distinct richness set it apart from other varieties.

As Kang Jin savored the taste, Lim Ho-jin commented, “What I like about this makgeolli is that the taste never changes.”

“Why would it change when using the same ingredients and process?”

“You ask questions you already know the answer to.” Lim Ho-jin smiled as he surveyed the brewery. Despite appearing humble and slightly disorganized, it was clean.

“Are you still doing everything by yourself?”

“Who even does this these days?”

“These traditional methods should be preserved for generations to come.”

“Well…I suppose there’s nothing we can do about it.” The old man then brought over a jar of kimchi from another room. “Let’s have some makgeolli before you leave.”

“Sounds good.”

As Choi Donghae watched Lim Ho-jin and the old man exit the brewery, he turned towards Kang Jin, who was bowing his head at one corner of the room.

“Dude?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, let’s go.”

When Choi Donghae started walking away, Kang Jin glanced back at that same spot. There stood a friendly-looking ghost grandmother wearing a pair of wide-legged pants.

Is she the wife of the grandfather?

Kang Jin bowed again with this thought, but confusion crossed her face. She scanned the area briefly, smiled softly, nodded once more toward the grandmother, and left the brewery.