Chapter 6

6

Job Hunting (2)

After receiving a call from a capital company employee, Go Geon-ho's good mood was instantly ruined. The call for overdue interest was as persistent as ever.

“With a salary of 1.8 million won, I won’t have anything left after paying the interest. I might as well work night shifts like foreigners do. Night shift pay is 1.5 times the hourly rate, so I have no choice but to do that... What a messed-up life.”

He thought of the civil servants working in large buildings like city halls, and the face of his classmate Won-cheol, who worked at a large corporation, wearing a white shirt and tie.

“Won-cheol’s annual salary is 50 million won, right?”

Go Geon-ho's face twisted strangely.

“I’m walking the same path as my poor father. Damn it!”

While driving a small, rickety car to Gwangjeok-myeon, he suddenly remembered the name of the philosophy center his aunt had mentioned.

“That’s right! It’s called Jin-ye Philosophy Center!”

Feeling better for remembering the name, he thought to himself:

“I don’t believe in fortune-telling, but maybe I should go once. Why is my life like this? Why did I end up as a factory worker? If the head of the philosophy center is a good fortune-teller, maybe he can give me some advice.”

Shaking his head, he thought:

“Bah, what do they know? If they knew their own lives well, why would they sit in a philosophy center?”

Go Geon-ho really didn’t believe in fortune-telling. This was because once, when he was 21 and about to enlist, he visited a fortune-telling cafe in Insadong, Jongno, and the reading was completely off. He lost money and saw the people there as frauds.

“Still, since my aunt talked about it so much, I’m curious.”

Go Geon-ho arrived near the Gwangjeok-myeon office. The area had more shops and restaurants than he expected. Despite being in the countryside, there were hospitals, pharmacies, banks, and large supermarkets. There were many newly built apartment buildings, and many signs for one-room rentals were posted. Some places were like dormitories with no deposit required.

“It’s only 4:30, so let me look for a place to live first!”

He first visited a no-deposit one-room apartment, but it had no amenities. The place that required a month’s rent as a deposit had amenities and was clean because it was newly built.

“Wow, compared to Noryangjin, this is a palace. A palace!”

The monthly rent for a dormitory in Noryangjin was higher, and the rooms were small and poorly equipped without windows.

“I don’t have much to move, so I’ll move tomorrow.”

Go Geon-ho drove back to his current residence in Soho-eup, Pocheon, with rap music playing on his smartphone. He received a call from Park Jong-seok.

“Bro, what are you doing? Not job hunting?”

“I’m on my way back from an interview.”

“Oh, really? That’s great! Where?”

“It’s an injection molding factory. It’s what I’ve been doing. I start on Monday.”

“Where?”

“Gyeongsin-ri, Yangju.”

“Gyeongsin-ri? Where is that?”

“It’s in Yangju.”

“Yangju? Not Namyangju?”

“No, it’s Yangju, above Uijeongbu.”

“Want to go to the reservoir tomorrow? You can go fishing since you start on Monday.”

“I’m moving tomorrow.”

“Ha, what do you have to move? Just some clothes and a laptop. Move the stuff tomorrow and go fishing. I saw online that someone caught a 30-centimeter bass and a 50-centimeter catfish there.”

“You’re completely obsessed with fishing.”

“Who was the one who suggested fishing first?”

“Alright, let’s go. Let’s go.”

“There won’t be many anglers since it’s not Sunday.”

“Come to where I am by 10 AM with your car.”

“Got it.”

Since he got the job, Go Geon-ho thought it would be nice to go fishing with his junior, Park Jong-seok. The thought of having soju and fried chicken at the fishing spot made his mouth water in advance.

The next day, Go Geon-ho and Park Jong-seok found the reservoir in Pocheon.

“I like this reservoir the most. It’s not well-known, so it’s not crowded.”

“Right. No one comes here, and there’s no one to collect money.”

“Bro, let’s meet here sometimes when you’re off from the factory in Yangju.”

“It’s too far. I need to save on gas.”

“Then find a good fishing spot in Yangju.”

“Huh? I thought no one was here, but there’s a Genesis limousine today.”

“Damn, our spot is taken again.”

“Look, it’s those people from before. A 40-year-old and a 60-year-old.”

The 40-year-old and 60-year-old, who were fishing, looked up at the sound of their voices.

“They’re probably wondering why young guys are fishing on a weekday.”

“Don’t worry about it. They probably have financial troubles or are on the run from fraud.”

“The car is nice. It’s new.”

“Fraudsters often drive nice cars.”

“What year is your Avante?”

“It’s a 10-year-old car. Why?”

“Does it not break down? How many kilometers has it run?”

“It’s run 200,000 kilometers. It’s still sturdy. It could cross the Americas and still have some left.”

“Shouldn’t you fix the dented rear bumper?”

“I don’t have time.”

“You don’t have the money.”

“Watch it, punk!”

“Haha, just kidding, just kidding.”

The 40-year-old, who was fishing, frowned at the commotion.

“That guy has a bad look.”

“Shh, he can hear us! Speak softly.”

Go Geon-ho went to where the 40-year-old and 60-year-old were fishing.

“Are you catching a lot?”

The 60-year-old smiled and shook his head.

“Is he mute?”

Go Geon-ho thought and moved to another spot, setting up his fishing rod and bag under a walnut tree on the opposite side.

“Huh! Today, it’s not fried chicken but rice rolls!”

“Didn’t you say you’d buy the fried chicken?”

“I thought you would buy it again.”

“We need to save money. I need to tighten my belt until next month’s salary.”

“Eek! Look, a fish as big as an arm is jumping. We might catch something today.”

“There’s no fish that will let you catch it. I might catch something, though.”

“Ha, funny.”

Go Geon-ho really caught a bass that day. He was in a good mood because he had secured a job and caught a fish after a long time. Park Jong-seok ran over to see the fish.

“Wow, it’s big. It’s smaller than the one I just missed, but it’s big.”

“Missed fish always seem big.”

“No, it was really big.”

“Jong-seok, let’s eat the rice rolls. If you don’t want the bass I caught, should I give it to those people?”

“Those people? They’re gone. Now.”

Go Geon-ho looked and saw that the 40-year-old and 60-year-old who were fishing were already gone.