Chapter 51

51. Fishing God

“I may not be a great cook, but I can make a fried egg.”

Jungeun spoke to himself awkwardly toward the camera installed in the kitchen and poured oil into the frying pan.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Jungeun cracked three eggs and placed them in the frying pan.

Shiu, who was in the arms of Donghoon, a man with enormous muscles that could only be seen in comic books, couldn’t help but speak up after watching Jungeun’s confident movements.

“Brother Jungeun~”

Jungeun turned to look at Shiu.

“Why, Shiu. Right. Do you like the yolk, Shiu? Should I cook it more since you’re still young?”

No, that’s not the point...

“Brother~ The stove isn’t on~ You need to turn it on~”

Jungeun looked up at the kitchen light on the ceiling.

Seeing this, Donghoon said,

“...Jungeun, why are you looking at the light in broad daylight? The gas stove... isn’t on... The eggs are soaking up all the oil.”

“Oh! I see! Hahaha!”

Embarrassed, Jungeun laughed loudly, and Donghoon and Shiu laughed along to make him feel less awkward.

While Donghoon playfully bounced Shiu up and down, he told Jungeun where the salt was.

“That white container on the right is the salt. Just a little... Oh, put it down, Jungeun. That’s sugar. Yes, that’s the salt.”

After many twists and turns, Jungeun’s fried eggs were finally ready.

Donghoon, Jungeun, and Shiu took five fried eggs to the yard.

“I usually make them better, but I got nervous because it’s been so long since I’ve been on a variety show...”

“It’s okay. The last two turned out well. We’ll eat the first three, and give the last two to the kids.”

“Yes, senior.”

Donghoon comforted the dejected Jungeun.

On the yard’s wooden platform, a delicious lunch spread was laid out, including seafood pancake, grilled fish, and stuffed zucchini soup.

Hyeonsu, a middle-aged man, greeted Shiu while chatting with Seunghyun, who had already sat down.

“Oh~ You’re here? Come up, little one. Do you want to sit on Uncle’s lap and eat?”

With Donghoon’s help, Shiu climbed up to the platform and answered cutely.

“Yes~”

Hyeonsu hugged Shiu tightly and sat him on his lap.

“Uncle and Seunghyun were sitting here earlier, preparing the fish for you. Shiu, do you like fish side dishes?”

“Yes~ I love them~ So much~”

“Really? Eat a lot then.”

Donghoon asked Hyeonsu,

“Did you take out all the bones carefully? We need to be careful; it could get stuck in the child’s throat.”

“Hey, don’t you know my personality? I’m so meticulous...”

“Because you’re so meticulous, you’re still unmarried. I know, I know. Hahaha!”

“...Do you want to get hit with a fishing rod? If someone hears you, they’ll think you’re married. We’re both getting old and lonely...”

“Senior Hyeonsu, just eat your meal. After eating, take the kids out to catch more fish. Shiu likes fish side dishes.”

“Got it. I was planning to do that anyway.”

After lunch, Shiu, holding the hands of Uncle Hyeonsu and Brother Seunghyun, headed to the beach.

“Have you ever gone fishing, Seunghyun?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Really? Uncle will teach you today. How about you, Shiu? Have you ever gone fishing?”

Shiu answered,

“Yes~ I’m good at fishing~”

“Oh, you’re good at fishing? Did you go with your dad?”

“Toy fishing~”

“Oh~ Ahaha! With a toy? That’s fishing too. Today, Shiu, try holding a real fishing rod. Let’s at least have some fun since you’re here. Seunghyun, this is where we catch flatfish and rockfish. It’s rare to catch wild flatfish so close to Seoul...”

Seunghyun, watching Uncle Hyeonsu speak enthusiastically, didn’t fully understand but reacted enthusiastically.

The three of them walked down to the beach, stepping on pebbles.

They usually fished from the top of the breakwater, but today, with the kids, they planned to fish safely from the bottom.

A few anglers were already seated on blue chairs, waiting for the fish to bite.

Hyeonsu unfolded three chairs brought by the staff and handed the bait container to Seunghyun.

“Go and sprinkle it. I’ll carry Shiu.”

Just as they were about to go sprinkle the bait, PD Lee Hyoeun called out to Hyeonsu.

“Hyeonsu, wait a moment. Adjust the angle so Shiu’s face is visible...”

“Got it. Take a good shot of my face too.”

“Haha, I always do. Shiu is small, so I pay extra attention.”

“I’ll stand a bit diagonally, so take a good shot of the baby. Okay?”

“Sure~ Thank you.”

Hyeonsu, holding Shiu, stood in front of the sea, checking the camera’s position.

“Seunghyun, throw it with all your might. Like skipping stones in a drama. Got it?”

“Yes, senior.”

“And our little one, let’s throw it here with Uncle. This isn’t gross. It’s shrimp, shrimp.”

“Shrimp? Can I eat it?”

“Ah... This... It’s not really for humans. Let’s leave it for the fish.”

The three of them laughed and happily threw the bait into the sea.

Now it was time for the real fishing.

“Seunghyun and Shiu, sit here and fish together with this rod. Seunghyun, let Shiu hold it and move it around. If you feel a bite, tell Uncle immediately.”

Shiu, holding the fishing rod set up in front of him, asked with bright eyes.

“Can I catch fish with this?”

“Yes, you can. You’re smart~”

“Who can catch more? Let’s have a contest~”

“...Huh?”

Hyeonsu burst out laughing at Shiu’s cute question.

Hyeonsu patted Shiu’s head and said,

“Sure, let’s have a contest. Shiu and Seunghyun on one team, and Uncle on the other. Who can catch more?”

“Yes~ I like it!”

A 46-year-old veteran angler, Hyeonsu, and two beginners, a 16-year-old and a 4-year-old, totaling 20 years of experience, started their fishing battle.

Shiu, holding the fishing rod with his small hands, stared intently at the sea with a serious expression.

Seunghyun, sitting beside him, placed his hand on Shiu’s shoulder and waited for a bite.

Finally, the fishing rod started to move.

“Brother~”

Shiu, who had successfully lured the fish, quickly handed the rod to Seunghyun.

A commotion broke out among the gathered anglers.

“What, what? Again?”

“Isn’t it that a kid just touches the rod and catches fish?”

“He’s a fishing god, a fishing god!”

PD Lee Hyoeun, after glancing at Hyeonsu’s pale face, told a nearby staff member,

“Add a subtitle. Shiu, the fishing god. The one who dominates the fish.”

“How about Aqua Baby? Like Aquaman...”

“Does he look like a baby?”

“...He looks like a fishing god.”

Hyeonsu’s help wasn’t needed.

After Seunghyun set the hook and reeled in, Shiu coached him in a small voice.

“Brother~ Don’t lift it too high~ Lower it~”

“Ah, got it.”

A moment later.

“It’s a rockfish! No, we only catch mackerel pike, but this kid catches flatfish, rockfish, rockfish, and rockfish... It’s like a blessing!”

“Wow, I’ve never seen anything like this. How many did Mr. Hyeonsu catch?”

“None? Hahaha. Maybe ask the kids to share some with me~”

Hyeonsu laughed awkwardly to the anglers.

“Haha, a... I... I caught two.”

“What did you catch?”

“Mackerel pike... Actually, three, but one was too small, so I let it go...”

“Why don’t you ask the kids to teach you some fishing? Hahaha!”

Just then.

Shiu, who was holding the fishing rod and activating his fishing skills from a past life, called out to Seunghyun again.

Tap tap.

A bite was coming.

“Brother~”

At the sound of that cute “Brother,” the anglers, including Hyeonsu, turned their heads in surprise, as if a sea god had appeared.

Seunghyun was reeling in again.

Despite his clumsy reeling, thanks to Shiu’s invisible help, he reeled in without a single failure.

“Wow! Two rockfish in a row! This one is even bigger than the last one! Haha!”

Hearing an angler’s shout, Hyeonsu was so surprised that he started coughing.

“Cough! Cough! Cough!”

Hyeonsu waved his hands at the staff members who approached with worried expressions.

“It’s okay, I’m fine. I was just surprised. Cough! Cough! Wow, today... Haha... P, party... Let’s have a party~ Haha... Cough!”

While preparing dinner, Hyeonsu couldn’t stop talking.

“This kid! He must be the grandson of the sea god! I even let him hold my fishing rod later...”

“Fishing rod?”

“Fishing rod. And he catches fish, right? We’ve been here for 4 or 5 days, and I caught a rockfish!”

“Congratulations, senior. But you’re getting in the way of cooking, so move aside.”

Donghoon, a burly man in an apron, pushed Hyeonsu out of the kitchen.

“Hey, you just don’t see it. When he holds the fishing rod, fish...”

“I know, I know. Let me focus on making sashimi. Go check on Seunghyun making dumplings.”

The sun was setting.

In the beautiful sunset, Shiu and Jungeun picked vegetables from the garden and delivered them to Uncle Donghoon in the kitchen.

“Uncle~ Cook this for us!”

“Sure, Shiu is so cute, I might have a heart attack. Haha. It’s almost ready, so go sit down.”

Donghoon was cooking, Jungeun was assisting, and Seunghyun was making dumplings.

Meanwhile, Shiu was playing in the yard with Hyeonsu.

“Shiu, how about going to a fishing magazine cover shoot with Uncle later? What do you think? After this show, they’ll definitely offer it. Or... how about appearing on a popular fishing tour variety show? Then Shiu will be the youngest participant. Hahaha!”

Shiu spent time listening to Hyeonsu’s jokes.

Before long, dinner was ready.

Sashimi, dumplings, grilled fish, and sweet and sour rockfish, along with side dishes made by Jungeun while the fishing team was out.

The dinner table was more abundant than lunch.

Donghoon said,

“Wow, to finally get to eat the famous Seunghyun’s dumplings. From the dough to the fermentation, it’s all done properly. The anchovy broth is just right... Wow, it must be delicious.”

Hyeonsu nodded.

“Yes. We’re in a healing variety show, right? What else is healing? Gathering good people and enjoying a delicious meal together is healing. Shiu, do you want to eat with Uncle again?”

Dori dori.

“With Brother Seunghyun~ Let’s eat~”

Shiu’s words made Seunghyun’s face light up.

“Sure~ Let’s eat together. Sit next to me.”

Shiu waddled over to sit next to Seunghyun.

“Let’s eat well~!”

The five of them said in unison and started eating.

Now it was time for the food show.

“Brother~ What do you want to eat!”

Shiu pointed to the dumplings Seunghyun had made.

Shiu knew Seunghyun was expecting his reaction.

“Do you want to? Okay. I’ll cool it for you.”

Seunghyun cut the dumplings he made into smaller pieces, blew on them, and gave them to Shiu.

“Wow~”

Shiu opened his mouth wide, just like when eating chicken soup, and stuffed the dumplings into his mouth.

“...!”

It was delicious.

Seunghyun, with a fluttering heart, asked Shiu cautiously.

“So, how is it? Is it not good?”

Shiu smiled widely and answered.

“No way~ It’s so good~! So good~! Give me more!”

“Really? For real? Got it! Eat a lot!”

Seunghyun’s face also lit up.

Seunghyun, ignoring his own meal, kept feeding Shiu rice and side dishes.

Just as Hyeonsu was about to tell Seunghyun to eat some himself, Shiu reached out first.

Shiu picked up Seunghyun’s spoon, scooped some rice from Seunghyun’s bowl, and offered it to him.

“Brother, say ‘A~’!”

“Got it. A~”

Shiu and Seunghyun happily fed each other, enjoying their food show.

Jungeun, watching the two kids’ chemistry with envy, muttered,

“Ah, I wish someone would feed me like that.”

The camera captured the five participants eating together harmoniously in the peaceful and beautiful fishing village.

After the participants finished their meal, PD Lee Hyoeun called out Seunghyun and Shiu separately.

“We’re going to do an interview. First, our Shiu. You played with the uncles and brothers today, right? How was it?”

Shiu, sitting in the chair in front of the camera, thought for a moment and then spoke.

“Hmm... It was fun~ And~ The uncles and brothers gave me lots of love~! Thank you~! See you next time~! Bye~!”

Oh~