“What happened?”
Grandma Kim Kkotnim asked with her eyes wide open. was ready to do anything. The others looked curious as to what was going on.
“I think you should make a New Year’s gift.”
“gift?”
“Does your grandmother give and receive gifts on holidays too?”
“right.”
“Are you gifting dried persimmons?”
“I like dried persimmons.”
A smile spread across the grandmother’s face at the word dried persimmon. Kahi and Minseok seemed to be expecting the words that came out of my mouth.
“This year, there is a person growing dried persimmons in this area. If you make dried persimmons with the farmer, good things will surely happen on New Year’s Day.”
“Who is that farmer?”
When the grandmothers gathered at the hall heard that they were dried persimmons and farmers, they burst into laughter. Everyone knew the farmer except for Kim Kkot-nim’s grandmother.
“It’s me.”
I answered with a smile.
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New Year’s Literature Marketing
Grandma Kim Kkot-nim’s eyes looking at me have changed.
He seemed to believe that I had mystical powers. She was excited just by saying that good things would happen on the day of the announcement of the winner of the New Year’s Literary Arts Awards.
I called the grandmothers who had gathered in the hall.
“Do you remember the dried persimmon part-time job that the grandmothers told you back then?”
“Of course I remember.”
“Just call me anytime.”
Everyone responded with a happy face.
“Like you said, we want to start working right away. Before proceeding, I will address sensitive issues.”
A sensitive issue was the part-time job. Labor costs were a very sensitive issue in the countryside. In some cases, the relationship was disrupted because of a mere ten thousand won.
“Well, we should get what our grandchildren give us.”
Soon-ye Lim, who treated me like a real grandson, spoke first. Everyone was nodding their heads, but they couldn’t understand their heart.
It wasn’t a trivial issue. Especially when there were a lot of people, it was necessary to reach an agreement.
“It takes three days to cut persimmons. You have to cut about 3,000 pieces a day.”
“What snacks do you give me?”
“It’s a taryeong that you eat even before the start of your grandmother.”
“Then can I go early if I cut 3,000 pieces?”
He also said something he hadn’t thought of. The grandmothers usually earned at least 50,000 to 60,000 won per day. It was a small amount compared to the construction workers at the time.
“How much do grandmothers want?”
Usually, like me, I didn’t ask my grandmothers for labor costs. This is because unilateral notification has become hard as a custom. I didn’t want to.
I needed to build a good relationship with them. They were people who would be helpful for other things besides working with dried persimmons.
It’s not true that I came here, but they were a walking encyclopedia. I didn’t know anything about farming.
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Not only Kim Kkot-nim’s grandmother, but everyone else was the talented person they needed.
“No matter what you do, you should get 60,000 won.”
6 million was the minimum unit. The price soared like an auction house. The highest was 9 million. Considering the time and labor intensity, it was a price that was called a lot.
They were acknowledging that they had lost some value in the labor market. They are probably the most experienced people who deserve the most money.
“How about 100,000 won a day?”
“So much?”
Another 10,000 won was added to the best song of 9 million won. They looked satisfied.
“I will give you the daily rate at the end of each day.”
“We are good. So, when do you start working?”
“From tomorrow. Is there anyone who doesn’t have time?”
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No one was there. Everyone seemed to think they had enough pocket money to spend the winter.
About 19 grandmothers decided to participate in the dried persimmon work. Including the villagers, there were a total of 29 people. If you add me, Min-seok, and Ka-hee, there are 32 people.
The number of people planned has been met.
I said goodbye to the grandmothers and left the women’s hall. Kahi and Minseok followed me.
“How did you know this place?”
As soon as Minseok got into the car, he asked me.
“I did some research.”
“When did you start playing tarot cards?”
Kahi showed interest in tarot cards.
“I did it as a hobby, but I didn’t know it would be used like this.”
“See you later, too.”
“Anytime after the dried persimmon work is over.”
She frowned at the word dried persimmon work.
“By the way, can I give you that much part-timer?”
“There is a saying that if you save money on the little things, things get worse.”
“Are you saying that?”
to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing
Minseok opened his eyes wide and asked.
“Do you know Gahee? How important is persimmon peeling?”
“Then you know. I still have that feeling in my hands.”
She looked at her hands and recalled the past. When Hwang Yu-shin was making dried persimmons, the most important part was peeling the persimmons.
It was neither too thick nor too thin. Dried persimmons made from properly cut persimmons could be the best product.
Honesty had to come in. It was not possible to make the best quality dried persimmons.
“Thanks to you all, I have enough extra money.”
“Well, that’s good.”
I had more than 10 million won in reserve, including the fee for selling the damaged fruit and the money I had. It was a sufficient amount to cover the labor costs.
“Did you have a good rest?”
“What are you resting on?”
Kahi said in a grumbling manner. It was a tone that said he was trying hard to recruit people. I smiled and passed.
“From tomorrow onwards, we will start working on dried persimmons in earnest. Be prepared.”
“Are you turning into a vicious business owner again?”
At Min-seok’s words, Ka-hee responded.
‘It will be finished within three days.’
Already, December was coming to an end.
* * *
After dinner, I had a final check with my teammates. It took me, Min-seok, and Ka-hee to transport the grandmothers.
There were also three vans secured.
“I asked my mom for Bob, but I think you should help too, Gahee.”
Peeling the persimmon wasn’t the only problem. I had to cook for 30 people in three days. Food was so important that there is a saying that farm work is done with rice.
It was never easy to prepare four meals a day, including breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner.
to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing
Min-seok had to buy and carry food in his spare time.
“Then we will start moving like this from tomorrow.”
After the division of work was finished, everyone went back to their respective seats.
It was time to go to bed. A shadow flickered in front of the door.
“Deokmyung-ah. Are you sleeping?”
was the father
“Not yet.”
I came out. My father was wearing an outdoor uniform. He looked like he had something to say.
“Can we talk for a second?”
It was a brief interview between the rich and the poor. Today, my father seemed to have no energy.
“Is your work going well?”
“yes. I will start peeling the persimmons from tomorrow.”
“That’s good.”
The voice that said that it was good was lost in strength.
“Dad, what’s wrong?”
“As you said, I have disposed of all the cattle.”
It was the day my father finally made a decision. He must have felt miserable as he watched the price drop day by day.
“It was a tough decision. You suffered.”
“What kind of suffering is suffering. Anyway, I’ll be busy starting tomorrow.”
“Please help me, too.”
“Of course you should help.”
It wasn’t my father’s voice. it was mom
“Since when have you been there?”
“Why did you say something I shouldn’t even hear?”
“no. I was surprised that he suddenly appeared.”
I smiled and looked at my mother. It was as if he was preparing a meal tomorrow in advance because he was even wrapped in an apron and a head towel.
“Are you sure you want to help too?”
“I knew.”
At the mother’s words, the father laughed happily.
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Now everything is ready.
That night, I fell into a deep sleep after a long time.
* * *
The day was bright and the work began in earnest. It has been bustling since morning.
A generation of vans moved at the same time. The three knights sounded their horns.
“Everyone, be careful driving.”
“You too be careful.”
I started the day with a smile at Kahi’s words. I had to pick up the grandmothers one by one. We moved like town bus drivers. Inconvenient country roads were no problem.
“My grandson drives well.”
Grandma said as she handed the rice cakes. I finished the pickup while eating the snacks my grandmother gave me. Workers began to gather one by one at the dried persimmon Deokjang.
to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing
My father was taking out all the persimmons he had stored in the warehouse. Some of the villagers who were willing to help with the work had already arrived.
“I prepared a hat, gloves, a mask, and an apron. Please wear them all.”
I handed out supplies to the arriving workers. Soon breakfast started.
It was hard work that started early in the morning. I could work properly only when warm rice got into my stomach.
to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing
My mother and Kahi carried the rice. Before the table was set, Min-seok and I helped my father take out the persimmons.
“The rice tastes very sweet.”
Grandma Kim Kkotnim said while eating white rice. People gathered at the dried persimmon workshop ate the rice while blowing white steam out of their mouths.
The side dishes were plentiful, from kimchi stew with black pork from Jirisan to spinach.
After eating, work began.
The persimmon-pigmentation cycled non-stop. The worker’s hand moved quickly.
At first, it was expected that the relatively young townspeople would work faster than the grandmothers.
Expectations were terribly wrong. Grandma’s hands were as fast as machines. It wasn’t an exaggeration, it was true. Machines also had to use their hands. It is semi-automatic.
Some of the grandmothers were actually faster than machines.
“Flower is very invisible.”
The top was definitely Kim Kkot-nim’s grandmother. While the workers were peeling persimmons at the deokjang, Kahi and her mother prepared lunch.
to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing
Min-seok went to the mart to buy necessary food.
Everyone was moving according to their duties.
to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing
My father and I prepared a dried persimmon hanger. When the workers cut the persimmons, they had to hang them on the dried persimmon hangers. It was as delicate as soaking and hanging the fermented broth.
I already told my father about the fermentation broth work. I wanted it to be at a level that my father could do alone without me.
When Mr. Hwang Yu-shin visited our house, my father also asked me about how to make dried persimmons.
Perhaps because of his long history as a farmer, he now works like an expert.
Peeled persimmons hung in the air. Every time I hung the persimmons line by line, a small emotion flooded my heart.
‘Everyone works as one organism.’
The idea of making money by making dried persimmons was not the only thing that moved me. Because of the people gathered here. It was beautiful to see everyone working hard.
“You worked hard today. Take it daily.”
It was said that he was truly suffering. It wasn’t worth the money. All day long, without shouting, I shaving and shaving the persimmons again and again. He did more than one day’s work.
to let u know that i been through a lot then i been going non stop with this practice for nothing
My mother and Ka-hee, who was in charge of the meal, and Min-seok, who bought ingredients and carried them around, all worked hard.
That night, as soon as I lay down, I stretched out. everyone would have
The first day went smoothly.
* * *
A day passed and two days passed. Finally, the last day has come.
It was also the first day of the new year.
“Today is the last day. Are there any special events?”
Lim Soon-ye’s grandmother looked at me and asked.
“Of course it is. Tonight we have a pork belly party on the school yard.”
“Are you all going to attend?”
“ah. then. Of course I should go.”
Kim Kkot-nim’s face looked different today. It looked like she was wearing makeup. He seemed to know why. Today was the release day of the New Year’s Literature.
It was the first day of the new year, but everyone was busy with their work just like on the first day. Because of the speed, it was faster than usual.
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Now the end was in sight. In an hour, everyone will be happy to eat pork belly.
Then an unexpected guest came.
“Is there Kim Kkot-nim’s grandmother here?”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Bae Seon-ah from the Korean newspaper. Here’s an interview with the winner of the New Year’s Literary Arts Awards. You said you could meet me after work. We came in person a little early.”
The reporter gave me a business card and said, Not everyone is interviewed as the winner of the New Year’s Literary Arts Awards. You will come all the way here because of Kim Kkot-nim’s unique history. It was a topic of conversation enough to learn to write for the first time and to be elected to the New Year’s Literary Arts Awards.
“Wait. I will bring you.”
A photojournalist was also with her. I called my grandmother quietly. When I told him why, he had a shy smile on his face.
Everyone was curious, but I hid the facts for a while. I was thinking of leaving it as a celebration at the upcoming pork belly party.
“You come all of a sudden like this. I definitely said it was time when work was done.”
“it’s okay. Bye. Talk enough. I have tea ready.”
“thank you.”
I expected to talk about dried persimmons during the interview with the reporter.
Big or small, I thought it would have a promotional effect. It will also be a small gift for me.
Interestingly, the reporter came all the way here.
When reporter Bae Seon-ah said that she had come early, her eyes seemed to have a plan.
“Everyone worked hard.”
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Now all the work is done. There were hardly any defects. It is the day when 250,000 dried persimmons were completed. Now, there is only one day left until it becomes a complete dried persimmon after the aging process.
Kim Kkot-nim’s grandmother came to see me after the interview.
“Sorry. It’s late. I was going to finish it soon.”
“no. it’s okay. I know very well what you have been working on.”
“But the reporter wants to see you.”
“Me?”
Reporter Bae Seon-ah was approaching me saying that even a tiger would come when I said it.
“Are you sure you are Kim Deok-myeong, a farmer of dried persimmons?”
she asked with a smile.
“Yes, I am Kim Deok-myung.”
“Do you have time?”
“What is the dragon?”
“I want to do an interview. Is it possible?”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I was curious about the young farmer Kim Deok-myeong.”
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On the first day of the new year, unexpected luck came.
A young farmer’s dream
“Would you like to have dinner together?”
I asked reporter Bae Seon-ah. She readily agreed. The photojournalist who was with me also sent an autograph saying it was good.
“Can I take a picture before that?”