Chapter 124

Inside the brewery, Lim Ho-jin and an elderly man sat on low cushions around a table drinking makgeolli while chatting.

“An intern?”

“Yes.”

The old man poured more makgeolli from a silver jug as they answered him.

“You must have had a terrible boss to drag you all the way out here.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Not that ba—”

Lim Ho-jin suddenly glanced at Kang Jin upon hearing the elder’s response.

“Oh! Bring over the side dishes.”

“Yes sir.”

Kang Jin retrieved shopping bags from the car trunk as per Lim Ho-jin’s request.

“What’s this?”

“I brought some appetizers since I figured you wouldn’t drink without something to eat.”

“But kimchi is enough for makgeolli, why bring anything else?”

“That might be true for younger folks, but someone of your age deserves better.”

Lim Ho-jin then unfolded his cloth bundle to reveal several side dishes.

“My friend made these; they’re quite tasty.” Lim Ho-jin gestured toward Kang Jin.

“You cooked this?”

“I run a small restaurant.”

“But aren’t you also interning somewhere?”

“Yes, I intern while running my restaurant. Please try them.”

With that, the old man took a sip of makgeolli and inspected the dishes. There were seasoned vegetables, kimchi, stir-fried tofu, soybean paste stew, and marinated pork slices, which had been pre-cooked due to their high price. Since he couldn’t serve raw meat as a side dish, Kang Jin brought along precooked marinated pork slices.

The elderly man picked up some kimchi with his chopsticks.

After taking a few bites, he looked at Kang Jin.

“You made this kimchi yourself?”

“Yes.”

“My late wife used to make delicious kimchi…but yours is even better.” The old man’s words caught Kang Jin’s attention. Standing nearby, the ghost grandmother slightly squinted her eyes.

His deceased wife can hear him.

Kang Jin’s gaze made the ghost grandmother curious once more. She subtly pointed at herself with raised eyebrows, and Kang Jin gave a small nod. This surprised expression widened her mouth in astonishment.

I guess she’s never seen someone who can communicate with ghosts before. So, she hasn’t visited the Underworld Restaurant either?

With this thought, Kang Jin smiled and spoke to the elderly man.

“Your wife’s kimchi must taste even better.”

“Wife’s kimchi is indeed delicious…but regardless, it always tastes great.” As he spoke, the old man glanced at the other side dishes on the table: fried tofu, soybean paste stew, and various boiled greens.

He stared at them for a moment before turning back to Lim Ho-jin.

“It’s been about ten years since you started working here, right?”

“I believe so, sir.”

“You should stop coming by now.”

The old man then looked around his brewery.

“We’ll be closing soon.”

Lim Ho-jin was taken aback by these words.

“But why close the brewery?”

“It seems my second son got himself into some trouble.”

“What kind of accident?”

“At my age, what else could it be but money troubles?” The old man chuckled bitterly. “Plus, I lost my house, so now I don’t have anywhere to live.”

“What will you do then?”

“I need to tidy up here and find him a place to stay.”

“And you, sir?”

“I’ll move into the second home.” With that, he glanced at the brewery with a wry smile. “I was getting tired anyway, and living alone has been lonely.”

Lim Ho-jin pursed his lips at the old man’s words.

“But this is a family business handed down for generations…”

“There’s no one left to pass it on to anyway. Closing shop was inevitable sooner or later.”

The old man smiled at Lim Ho-jin. “I was planning to reach out to you anyway, so this is perfect timing.”

“To me?”

“I don’t need anything in return except for some makgeolli from time to time.”

“That sounds great, but…it’s unfortunate.”

“Tradition or not, these foods were meant to be consumed by people… If no one eats them, they’ll eventually disappear.” The elderly man poured himself a bowl of makgeolli and gulped it down before turning his attention to Kang Jin.

“What’re you staring at? Have a drink!”

Kang Jin chuckled and shook his head. “I can’t because I have to drive later.”

“Oh right! Drinking and driving is bad.”

Kang Jin nodded and turned to look where the old man gestured. The ghost grandmother was shaking her head vigorously while making some sort of hand gestures. Though Kang Jin wasn’t sure what she wanted to convey, it was clear that she strongly disagreed with something.

It seems like she’s against living

with her second son.

Why won’t she just say so?

Kang Jin stood up as he continued observing the ghost grandmother.

“Umm… Excuse me, but could you tell me where the restroom is…?”

“If it’s a quick one, feel free to go anywhere over there, or if not, use the facilities inside.”

The old man pointed toward the brewery, and Kang Jin discreetly signaled at the grandmother before heading off to the restroom.

As soon as their eyes met, the ghost followed him quietly.

The grandmother observed Kang Jin before following him. Once they reached the restroom, Kang Jin turned to face her.

“What’s wrong?”

In response, the grandmother began gesturing wildly with her hands, looking quite agitated. Kang Jin squinted at her movements.

Is she unable to speak?

He tried again, “Perhaps you can’t…”

The grandmother nodded vigorously, leaving Kang Jin puzzled.

‘Do ghosts also have speech impediments?’

While it was plausible for someone alive to struggle with speaking due to physical limitations, he found it hard to understand why a ghost without a physical body would face similar challenges. However, since the one standing before him clearly couldn’t speak…

Kang Jin asked, “Did you dislike living with your second son and his family, Grandma?”

Nod! Nod!

“But isn’t it better to live with them compared to being alone?”

The grandmother quickly shook her head at Kang Jin’s question. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but all that came out was…

“Aaaaaah…”

It sounded like air escaping from somewhere. Frustrated, the grandmother repeatedly pounded on her chest. Kang Jin observed this for a moment before continuing.

“If Grandpa doesn’t live here, they won’t be able to sell this place, right?”

Nod! Nod!

Seeing the grandmother’s repeated nods, Kang Jin asked:

“Would you prefer not to sell this house, Grandma?”

Nod nod!

“Why is that?”

The grandmother clenched her fists and pounded them together at Kang Jin’s words.

“Are you ready to fight?”

Yes! Yes!

She then tapped on the barrel of makgeolli nearby and pointed outside, followed by placing her hand over her heart. Kang Jin wasn’t entirely sure what it meant, but…

Is she saying that makgeolli is precious to Grandpa?

Kang Jin watched her for a moment before pursing his lips.

“But even if Grandma disapproves, everything has already been—”

Before he could finish, the grandmother grabbed his hand.

Sssk!

As Kang Jin looked down at their clasped hands, she began making gasping noises with desperation in her eyes, as if trying to convey something.

Kang Jin sighed softly as he took in her frail appearance.

Hwoosh…

He then glanced at the outdoor seating area with traditional low tables and chairs.

It’s really…

His gaze shifted from the seating to the hand holding his own—the wrinkled, elderly hands with dark spots unique to aging…

Grandma…

Seeing those hands reminded him of his grandmother. When Kang Jin was younger, he had both parents, grandparents, and other family members around him. During summer breaks, his grandma would cut up melons for him and take him to play by the river.

Grandma… I miss you.

If his grandparents were still alive, even after losing his parents, he wouldn’t have ended up in foster care.

In many ways, his grandmother had raised him since both his parents worked full-time when he was young.

On Mom’s days off, I used to cry and cling to Grandma whenever she tried taking me home…

As Kang Jin reminisced about those times, he gently placed his hand over his grandmother’s.

“I understand now.”

“Ohhh.”

Kang Jin smiled at her words before leaving the brewery.

At the traditional floor seating area, Lim Ho-jin and the elderly woman were enjoying some makgeolli while Choi Donghae munched on side dishes as he watched them drink.

Noticing this, Kang Jin eyed the cup in front of Choi Donghae.

“Can I have just a taste, hyung?”

“You have to drive.”

“That’s why I’m just tasting it.”

Kang Jin raised his chopsticks, and Choi Donghae nodded understandingly.

“Go ahead.”

Following Choi Donghae’s words, Kang Jin dipped his chopsticks into the makgeolli and put some on his tongue. He gently swirled it around to savor the taste.

It definitely has a nutty flavor.

After a moment of contemplation, Kang Jin asked:

“This tastes distinctly nutty compared to other makgeollis…”

“It’s because we add pine nuts.”

“Pine nuts?”

“Our family used to make makgeolli in Hongcheon, incorporating pine nuts into the brewing process. We had to flee here due to complications with that recipe.”

Kang Jin pondered over the old man’s words.

Makgeolli with pine nuts, hence the nutty flavor.

He looked at the old man thoughtfully for a moment.

“Where’s your kitchen?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’d like to make some food for everyone.”

“There’s plenty of food here already. Why bother making more?”

Kang Jin smiled and nudged Choi Donghae gently at the old man’s remark.

“He has a big appetite,” Kang Jin explained.

Choi Donghae looked puzzled at Kang Jin’s comment. Although it was true he had a good appetite, lately, he had been eating less to lose weight. Even now, he was cutting his side dishes into small pieces to slow down his eating. Seeing this, Kang Jin winked subtly at him before turning back to the old man.

The old man chuckled as he glanced between them.

“You’ll find ingredients in the brewery, but there isn’t much in the refrigerator.”

“I can work with whatever is available.”

“Then go ahead and use what you find.”

With the old man’s permission, Kang Jin stood up.

As they headed towards the brewery, Donghae followed them closely and gestured at the old man with his hand.

“He doesn’t know me well enough yet. If I try to sell him my house or ask him to move in with his son…he won’t listen to me.”

Kang Jin’s words made Grandma momentarily look outside before nodding her head. Kang Jin continued:

“I’ll make some food for your husband and gently talk to him.”

With that, she quickly moved towards the brewery, gesturing for him to follow. Once Kang Jin caught up, she pointed to a large bowl near a small door at the back of the brewery.

“This one?”

She nodded!

As Kang Jin grabbed the large basin, she pointed elsewhere. There were ladles over there. After he placed a ladle inside the basin, Grandma gestured for him to follow her outside.

Swish!

Kang Jin trailed behind as she exited through the door.

She led him to a massive tree and pointed at the ground beneath it. He spotted a straw mat lying there, frayed and worn out from prolonged exposure to the elements.

When the grandmother mimed lifting the mat, Kang Jin obliged. Underneath lay more straw. As she signaled for him to remove that as well, Kang Jin complied, revealing several earthenware jars.

“Huh?”

Puzzled by the sight of these jars, Kang Jin glanced up just as the grandmother smiled and pointed at them.

“You want me to open them, right?” Kang Jin asked as she opened one of the jars. Her mouth instantly watered at the strong aroma of well-aged kimchi that wafted out.

Wow…

The enticing smell made her lick her lips unconsciously. Seeing how much it tempted him, the grandmother pointed towards a large bowl. Kang Jin carefully placed a piece of kimchi inside. Pleased, the grandmother gestured towards other jars.

Kang Jin opened each jar, revealing fermented vegetables, soy sauce, and doenjang (soybean paste).

They’ve fermented nicely.

When the grandmother indicated the chili paste and spicy pickles, Kang Jin scooped some chili paste with a spoon into the bowl and added the spicy pickles by hand.

Seeing this, the grandmother smiled and pointed at the straw mats. Kang Jin neatly placed them back and covered everything with a straw mat.

Following his grandmother, Kang Jin entered the kitchen and looked around. The sink was piled high with dirty dishes.

“The brewery was so clean yet…”

Kang Jin’s murmur made the grandmother wave her hands as if she were washing dishes. However, ghosts couldn’t do such tasks. Consequently, Kang Jin rolled up his sleeves, grabbed a dish to start cleaning, but the grandmother shook her head and gestured towards the rice cooker.

‘Does she want me to cook rice first?’

He opened the rice cooker lid, revealing something inside that had not only changed color but also taken on an odd shape…

“Oh!” Seeing her grandmother sigh, Kang Jin quietly removed and cleaned the pot. Following his grandmother’s instructions, he found some rice, washed it, and measured out the water.

At that moment, the grandmother shook her head and gestured to add more water.

“If you put too much water here, the rice will become mushy.”

Nodding in agreement with his concern, she continued signaling for him to add more water.

“But if I add any more, it’ll turn into porridge.”

The grandmother nodded again and pointed outside.

“Does Grandpa like his leftover rice as porridge?”

Nod nod!

Kang Jin followed her instructions without further questioning and added more water to the rice cooker. After setting it aside, he washed dishes before turning back to his grandmother.

“Now what should we make for dinner?”

The grandmother beamed and pointed toward the pantry. Kang Jin opened the indicated cabinet and started taking out various seasonings.

He had initially planned several dishes, but upon reflection, he realized that the most delicious food for his grandfather would undoubtedly be prepared by his grandmother. Therefore, he decided to follow her recipes. Soon, Kang Jin began cooking according to Grandma’s guidance.