Free Web NovelI slowed my pace to match Grandma’s steps.
Watching her grow older day by day made my chest tighten.
“It’s nice, being together like this.”
“Is that so? Grandma thinks so too.”
Grandma squeezed the arm she had linked with mine. I returned the grip, holding her warm hand.
It was too close to bother taking a car, yet quite a long walk on foot. By the time we reached the entrance to the market, we’d walked a fair distance.
“Oh my! Isn’t that Muhyuk?”
The fruit shop lady recognized me right at the market entrance and greeted me while wiping her hands.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s been a while.”
“That it has. You should come by more often. I’m going to forget your face. Came down for the New Year, did you?”
“Yes. Looks like you’ve been doing well.”
“We’re always the same. What’s there to change? Came shopping with your grandma, I see. Wait just a moment—I’ll pack you some fruit.”
The fruit shop lady grabbed a black plastic bag.
She filled it with several kinds of fruit, a few of each, then held it out.
“Take it and eat it.”
“It’s alright. We can just buy some.”
“Hey, what are you saying? Seeing you after so long brings back old memories. I’m giving it to you. Take it already—my hands hurt.”
Grandma urged me to accept it too. Reluctantly, I took the bag.
“I’ll enjoy it. Thank you.”
It was fruit I could easily buy—nothing expensive.
But the thought behind it felt far more valuable than any pricey fruit.
The weight of the bag felt like the weight of that kindness, and I was grateful for it.
I handed the bag to Manager Ma beside me and asked,
“No inconveniences lately, right? Like thugs running around like before.”
“Oh, nothing like that. I’ve never had it this easy doing business. Thank you, Muhyuk.”
Her jovial tone made me smile without realizing it.
“That’s a relief. If anything ever comes up, please contact me. The people of the market are always welcome.”
As we moved deeper into the market past the fruit shop, more and more people greeted me.
As time passed, the number of plastic bags in Manager Ma’s hands only kept increasing.
“Hyung!”
From deeper inside the market, Jeong Minwoo came running over, waving his hand.
“I’m about to pass out.”
“Grandma, it’s been a while.”
Jeong Minwoo bowed deeply to Grandma in greeting.
“Good. You said you were keeping your head straight and working at the rice cake shop—still doing well?”
“Yes. I’m doing well.”
After greeting Grandma, Jeong Minwoo moved up beside me.
“Hyung, you’ve been well too, right?”
I nodded and patted his shoulder.
“Same as always. You’re not running around with thugs anymore, are you?”
Jeong Minwoo nodded with an awkward smile.
“These days, I just work at the rice cake shop.”
“Good. You need to be filial to your aunt for the rest of your life, got it?”
“Yeah. Of course. Back then, I must’ve been possessed or something. I was crazy......”
As we talked while walking, we arrived at Jeong Minwoo's rice cake shop.
“Oh my, Muhyuk!”
Mrs. Song spotted me and hurried out, her face full of smiles.
“Ma’am, have you been well?”
“Of course. Thanks to you, I’ve been doing incredibly well. Thank you.”
After chatting briefly, Mrs. Song took Grandma by the hand and led her into the shop.
“Grandma, come in for a moment.”
While Grandma went inside, I asked Jeong Minwoo quietly,
“No troublemakers stirring things up around the market these days, right?”
“Nope. None. Ever since you flipped things over back then, this area’s been clean—spotless. Sometimes a few punks show up, but every time that happens, the Dongsu faction takes care of it themselves.”
“Is that so? That’s good.”
“There’s actually a Dongsu faction office around here. They don’t mess with the market people...... mostly loan shark stuff. Want to take a look?”
I shook my head. Seeing that the warning I’d given back then was still effective, there was no need.
“No need. Getting more involved won’t do any good. Just call me right away if anything happens.”
“Got it. By the way, hyung—did Myungsoo-hyung not come down?”
“Myungsoo? He’ll probably come down tomorrow.”
“I’d like to see him too. Every time I see him on TV, I’m shocked. The Myungsoo-hyung I know is not the kind of person who should be running the country......”
“When we’re young, everyone messes around. As long as you don’t cause trouble like before, it’s fine.”
When I pointed it out directly, Jeong Minwoo scratched his cheek sheepishly.
Just then, Grandma came back out.
She had plastic bags in both hands. I naturally took them from her, and Mrs. Song smiled as she spoke.
“I put in some siru-tteok Grandma likes, and a few other things. Take them and eat them.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. If it weren’t for you, this shop would’ve closed. Minwoo, stop loafing around and get back inside. We’re busy.”
Jeong Minwoo replied with a sulky face.
“Got it. Hyung, if you’ve got time, let’s have a drink with Myungsoo-hyung sometime. Alright?”
“We’ll see. Not sure if I’ll have the time.”
“I know you’re busy. If you do get time, give me a call.”
Mrs. Song and Jeong Minwoo went back into the shop.
“Let’s stop by the butcher and buy some meat, then head home. I’m getting tired.”
“Yeah, let’s do that. We’ll take a car back.”
At her saying she was tired, I got a little scared and answered quickly.
Grandma nodded, and I led her toward the butcher shop.
* * *
I spent a few days in Busan.
I got together with Myungsoo’s family and Hyunseong’s family, all of us sharing meals together for the first time in a while.
After finishing my rest and returning to Seoul, I immediately started making the rounds to offer New Year’s greetings.
“Chief Justice, Happy New Year.”
Even after bowing, Oh Jeongseok replied with a scowl.
“What do you need this time?”
“Nothing. I came to offer New Year’s greetings. I’ve been busy lately, so I couldn’t visit, but I’ve been keeping up with news.”
“Tch. If you couldn’t talk, you’d be less annoying. Sit.”
Oh Jeongseok picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip.
I sat down and followed suit.
“The aroma is excellent.”
“Someone brought it as a gift. Take some with you when you leave.”
After taking a sip of tea, Oh Jeongseok spoke.
“So, President Kim. How’s business?”
“Too well, that it’s a problem.”
“Well, who could stop you? You’re even pulling the President’s strings.”
I set down my teacup and replied,
“Sir, don’t say things like that outside. You’ll get me in serious trouble.”
“You don’t deny it either.”
His tone was sharp. Anyone could tell he was irritated.
“Sir, are you upset about something?”
“No.”
He answered while lifting his teacup, but I already knew why.
“Is it because of the prosecution reform?”
“Hmm......”
Oh Jeongseok set the cup down and asked with a stiff expression,
“A lot of people came by with New Year’s greetings over the past few days. Some of them are already retired. They all said this prosecution reform is just the beginning.”
I thought so too.
Reforming the prosecution first—his own base—and then using that momentum to push judicial reform. That was likely Yoon Changho’s plan.
But I hadn’t heard anything directly.
“Is that so?”
“Don’t play dumb. You really expect me to believe you don’t know? Yoon Changho wouldn’t try to reform the prosecution without your help. No—he wouldn’t make such a reckless move without consulting you.”
“The President’s influence over the prosecution is far greater than mine. I truly know nothing about this matter. Just as I don’t tell the President everything, he doesn’t tell me everything either.”
Oh Jeongseok toyed with the teacup he’d set down. After thinking for a long moment, he spoke again.
“President Kim. As you know, the Republic of Korea is a country where the judiciary, legislature, and executive branch check each other. Administrative reform of the judiciary is bound to provoke strong backlash. Prosecution reform? I agree with that. But if that blade turns toward the judiciary, I’ll have no choice but to fight Yoon Changho. If that happens, what will you do?”
Yoon Changho and Oh Jeongseok clashing.
They knew each other too well.
Even I couldn’t predict how far the shockwaves would reach.
I looked down at my teacup, then raised my head.
“Sir, I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’ve been dealing with quite a headache of my own lately. I was just about to wrap things up and get some rest...... If the two of you end up pointing guns at each other, wouldn’t the fallout reach me as well?”
Oh Jeongseok met my gaze.
Aside from the political funds he’d received from me, Yoon Changho had no real weaknesses.
Everything that could’ve been problematic had been cleaned up before he entered politics, and afterward, his political funding came entirely from me.
If someone were to attack Yoon Changho, my name would inevitably come up.
Even if it didn’t, it was obvious that Eva or Han Kyungyoung would end up dragged into controversy.
“He’s a President whose term has barely begun. His approval ratings are still high, even if they’ve dipped a bit lately. Grabbing at flimsy weaknesses and trying to shake him would be a difficult fight even for you, Chief Justice.”
Yoon Changho was at the peak of his power right now. Oh Jeongseok knew better than anyone what a President backed by public approval was capable of.
“Sir, what is it that you truly want?”
Oh Jeongseok ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) lifted the kettle and poured tea into my cup as he answered,
“Stop this.”
Stop it......
“I can accept prosecution reform. But shaking the judiciary must not happen.”
Understanding why he was asking me of all people made my mouth feel bitter.
I stared at the teacup filled to the brim, then carefully lifted it.
Inhaling the aroma brushing my nose, I sank into thought.
What choice benefits me? Which side helps me more?
Only after emptying the cup did I finish weighing it.
“I came just to give New Year’s greetings, and I’ve ended up taking on a headache.”
“Shouldn’t I pass on the influence I hold to Hyunwoo? That would help you as well. The same goes for my granddaughter-in-law. Yoon Changho has five years, but those kids will be with you for decades, won’t they?”
So this was for Oh Hyunwoo and Han Minkyung.
He framed it as helping me, but that was his true objective.
“Understood. When I go to the Blue House this time, I’ll convey your position. But the Chief Justice will have to make some concessions as well.”
“Thank you. Thank you.”
Only then did Oh Jeongseok’s face finally brighten.
The outcome wasn’t even decided yet, but he firmly believed that if I stepped in, things could be stopped.
“Let’s stop with the troublesome talk.”
Oh Jeongseok nodded quickly and changed the subject.
“I hear you’re still single?”
I’d been hearing that nonstop in Busan too. Now again.
Letting out a small sigh, I replied with the line I’d prepared.
“I still haven’t met a woman who meets my standards.”
“Nonsense! With standards like yours, no one would ever be good enough. Don’t people keep trying to set you up?”
“I don’t want an arranged meeting.”
I’d already failed at marriage once in my previous life. This time, I wanted a marriage of my own choosing.
Thinking he might try to play matchmaker if left alone, I deliberately brought up a topic that would rile him up.
“By the way, I want to be a doting uncle too. Does Hyunwoo still have no plans?”
“Don’t even mention it. He says now’s not the time to have children. I got furious—told him that’s not something he should be saying! But that brat’s grown a bit and won’t even listen to me anymore!”
Oh Jeongseok went on at length, ranting about Oh Hyunwoo—mixing in bragging here and there.
A few days later, I entered the Blue House to meet Yoon Changho.
“Mr. President, Happy New Year.” freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
“Happy New Year to you as well.”
After exchanging the customary greetings, we went straight to the point.
“I met with Chief Justice Oh Jeongseok a few days ago. He seemed quite worried—about the reforms you’re planning.”
I met Yoon Changho’s eyes directly as I spoke.
