I 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 ti we reached the entrance to the market, we’d walked a fair distance.
“Oh my! Isn’t that Muhyuk?”
The fruit shop lady recognized right at the market entrance and greeted while wiping her hands.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s been a while.”
“That it has. You should co by more often. I’m going to forget your face. Ca down for the New Year, did you?”
“Yes. Looks like you’ve been doing well.”
“We’re always the sa. What’s there to change? Ca shopping with your grandma, I see. Wait just a mont—I’ll pack you so 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 so.”
“Hey, what are you saying? Seeing you after so long brings back old mories. I’m giving it to you. Take it already—my hands hurt.”
Grandma urged 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 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 smile without realizing it.
“That’s a relief. If anything ever cos up, please contact . The people of the market are always welco.”
As we moved deeper into the market past the fruit shop, more and more people greeted .
As ti passed, the number of plastic bags in Manager Ma’s hands only kept increasing.
“Hyung!”
From deeper inside the market, Jeong Minwoo ca 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 .
“Hyung, you’ve been well too, right?”
I nodded and patted his shoulder.
“Sa 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 sothing. I was crazy......”
As we talked while walking, we arrived at Jeong Minwoo's rice cake shop.
“Oh my, Muhyuk!”
Mrs. Song spotted 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, co in for a mont.”
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. Sotis a few punks show up, but every ti 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 ss 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 right away if anything happens.”
“Got it. By the way, hyung—did Myungsoo-hyung not co down?”
“Myungsoo? He’ll probably co down tomorrow.”
“I’d like to see him too. Every ti 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 sses 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 ca 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 so siru-tteok Grandma likes, and a few other things. Take them and eat them.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank . 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 ti, let’s have a drink with Myungsoo-hyung soti. Alright?”
“We’ll see. Not sure if I’ll have the ti.”
“I know you’re busy. If you do get ti, give a call.”
Mrs. Song and Jeong Minwoo went back into the shop.
“Let’s stop by the butcher and buy so at, then head ho. 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 als together for the first ti in a while.
After finishing my rest and returning to Seoul, I imdiately 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 ti?”
“Nothing. I ca 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.”
“Soone brought it as a gift. Take so 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 in serious trouble.”
“You don’t deny it either.”
His tone was sharp. Anyone could tell he was irritated.
“Sir, are you upset about sothing?”
“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 ca by with New Year’s greetings over the past few days. So 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 montum 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 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 everything either.”
Oh Jeongseok toyed with the teacup he’d set down. After thinking for a long mont, 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 so rest...... If the two of you end up pointing guns at each other, wouldn’t the fallout reach as well?”
Oh Jeongseok t my gaze.
Aside from the political funds he’d received from , 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 ca entirely from .
If soone were to attack Yoon Changho, my na would inevitably co 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 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 ? Which side helps more?
Only after emptying the cup did I finish weighing it.
“I ca 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 sa 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 frad it as helping , but that was his true objective.
“Understood. When I go to the Blue House this ti, I’ll convey your position. But the Chief Justice will have to make so concessions as well.”
“Thank you. Thank you.”
Only then did Oh Jeongseok’s face finally brighten.
The outco wasn’t even decided yet, but he firmly believed that if I stepped in, things could be stopped.
“Let’s stop with the troubleso 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 t a woman who ets 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 eting.”
I’d already failed at marriage once in my previous life. This ti, 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 ntion it. He says now’s not the ti to have children. I got furious—told him that’s not sothing he should be saying! But that brat’s grown a bit and won’t even listen to 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 et Yoon Changho.
“Mr. President, Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year to you as well.”
After exchanging the customary greetings, we went straight to the point.
“I t with Chief Justice Oh Jeongseok a few days ago. He seed quite worried—about the reforms you’re planning.”
I t Yoon Changho’s eyes directly as I spoke.
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