Yom Sang-seop - Three Generations

Deok-gi had heard from his wife that the Suwon woman was gone for almost an hour on the day of the rites while his grandfather was out, though he hadn’t found it odd. But the way his mother told it, it did sound rather suspicious.

If Gannani, the nanny who minded Deok-gi’s baby, had indeed seen something out of the ordinary and had reported it, it might very well be true that Choe and the Suwon woman had met at the gate. Although it was true that it was Choe who had introduced the Suwon woman to his grandfather, it might have been only a coincidence that they’d run into each other at the gate. The fact that they hired the maidservant on Choe’s recommendation could also be a coincidence. It didn’t necessarily mean that the three were conspiring in some way against Deok-gi’s grandfather. As for the Suwon woman’s mysterious outing on the day of the rites, some relative of hers might have caught the flu or something and sent a messenger asking her to visit. The maid could have relayed the message in whispers to the Suwon woman, who immediately ran out.

“Who did she say this relative of hers was?” Deok-gi asked.

“Her brother. But if that were true, why didn’t he come directly to our outer quarters and take to bed there? Why would he just collapse at an inn? Even if it were her brother, why did she leave so frantically?” His mother remained unconvinced.

“What do we really know about other people’s business? Can you be sure that your view of things is right? I bet she told Grandfather beforehand that she’d have to go out.” Deok-gi wanted to discourage his mother from thinking the way she did. He didn’t intend to defend the Suwon woman; he just wanted everyone to get along. His mother was displeased, though, thinking that Deok-gi was again siding with the Suwon woman.

When the conversation between mother and son came to a pause, Deok-gi stood up to go. “Grandfather said he wants you to come over today or tomorrow.”

“I was planning to see how he’s doing anyway, but now it sounds like he has something to tell me.” She felt a twinge of guilt.

“I don’t know. Maybe the Suwon woman said something to him.”

“I’m sure she did, no doubt. ” She recalled how she had spat out the remarks that ended up putting her on the defensive. Now she was worried.

In the outer quarters, Deok-gi found his father sitting in front of a meal tray.

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to leave today,” his father said.

“That’s right.”

Deok-gi would have preferred to leave right away unless his father and grandfather were actually at war with each other, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“You’re graduating this spring, right? What next?”

It was the first time the father had asked about his son’s studies. One could assume he was an advocate of absolute permissiveness. When Deok-gi had settled on a course of study and informed his grandfather of his decision, the old man agreed to pay his tuition, most likely because he didn’t know much about these new studies. When Deok-gi asked his father for permission, he merely nodded in agreement. Despite having such a family, Deok-gi had come this far, partly because he wasn’t stupid and partly because he had learned about the ways of the world early on.

“Actually, I was planning to enter Kyoto Imperial University.”

“Is that really necessary? If you applied to Keijo Imperial University here in Seoul, the admission process wouldn’t be as competitive, and in light of what’s been going on in the family recently, it would be more convenient.”

“Well, Keijo is a good school, too.” Deok-gi wanted to stay as far away from Seoul as possible, but if he could get into Keijo, he wouldn’t mind having to stay.

“Then why don’t you apply? It really would be best for the family. ” Sang-hun stopped himself from adding and it would be best for me, too.

The way Sang-hun figured it, if things kept going the way they were, his father would try to cut him off by using whatever legal means it might take and pass most of his assets on to Deok-gi. And given how conniving the Suwon woman was, he couldn’t be sure what else might happen at a later point. With his own reputation at stake, Sang-hun couldn’t afford to get involved in an ugly court fight with his father, as some did these days. Furthermore, being a religious leader, he was in no position to openly claim his father’s assets. He knew that the only way things would work out in his favor was if he maintained a firm grip on Deok-gi and, manipulating him as he wished, made him fend off the interference and trickery of the Suwon woman, the other relatives, and the extended family. In order to accomplish this, he sweetened his attitude toward his son so the boy wouldn’t feel alienated from him and might be inclined to listen to his father in the future.

“So, what are you thinking of majoring in?”

“I think I’ll apply to the Law Department.” Deok-gi hoped to concentrate on criminal law. Even if he didn’t end up practicing as a specialist in this area, in light of Korea’s current political situation, the field would help him find a good career.

When Deok-gi had mentioned his plans to Byeong-hwa, Byeong-hwa had mocked him. “You’ll be so far from the ideological front line that we’ll find you hiding behind the Red Cross flag!” He added, “It’ll be like you’re supervising the surgeons who are operating on the soldiers.”

“Say what you will,” Deok-gi replied in the same vein, “but if you become a prisoner of war on your so-called battlefront, you just may need a medic like me.”

“Well, they do need guards for prisoners of war,” Byeong-hwa continued in jeering tones; “It sounds like you want to become a prison guard. The job actually might suit you well.”

All joking aside, Deok-gi did feel the need to be somehow connected to the movement for the disadvantaged. He wasn’t exactly the type to fight for their rights on the front lines, but he thought he might do his part by looking after them as a lawyer — come to think of it, not unlike medics do on battlefields. He had no grand illusion about becoming a success, but at the same time he didn’t want to end up an isolated academic. He wanted to pull his own weight by doing something helpful that suited him as well.

“How about the Economics Department or the Business Administration Department instead of the Law Department?” Deok-gi’s father seemed eager to push his son into the business world. He could make the best use of him there.

“I wouldn’t mind the Economics Department, but I don’t really like the idea of going to the Business Department.” Here, too, Deok-gi had some vague thoughts of his own.

“Do as you please,” the father responded casually so as not to irritate his son. Changing the subject, he lowered his voice and asked, “Have you been to any cafés recently?”

Deok-gi was surprised. Why was his father asking him, out of the blue, about going to a café?

Did someone tell him I was there? “Yes, I have,” he answered. “Kim Byeong-hwa dragged me to one.” Turning bright red, he glanced at his father to see how he took it.

“Who did you meet there?” asked the father.

Deok-gi didn’t know how to respond, his father had caught him off guard.

“I suspect I know who, and I don’t really care, but. ” The father tried his best to make his son talk.

“I met. Hong Gyeong-ae.” Deok-gi felt awkward saying the name aloud.

“Which café was it?”

“It wasn’t a café. It was a bar called Bacchus. a fish-cake soup place.” Deok-gi’s gaze was fixed on his father, who posed the questions without a trace of embarrassment, as if it had nothing to do with him.