Chapter 8

8

Famous Fortune Teller in Gangnam (1)

Ku Geonho found his current life as a factory worker so difficult and painful that he really wanted to visit the philosophy hall his aunt had mentioned.

“I don’t really believe in fortune-telling, but my current life is so miserable, I might as well go there.”

Ku Geonho drank alone in his studio apartment. Without alcohol, he felt he couldn't bear the reality of his life.

The factory had a 15-minute break at 10:00 AM after starting work at 8:00 AM. Ku Geonho called the Gangnam Philosophy Hall his aunt had mentioned. This time, a young woman answered the phone, not the hall's director.

“The teacher is currently in a consultation. What can I do for you?”

“Um... What time are consultations held today?”

“Today’s schedule is fully booked.”

“What about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow is also fully booked.”

“Is it possible on Saturday or Sunday?”

“Sunday is not possible as the teacher will be at a mountain ritual, but Saturday is available.”

“Then I’ll come on Saturday.”

“Please come at 11:00 AM on Saturday.”

“Thank you.”

After hanging up, Ku Geonho thought the fortune teller in Gangnam must be very famous. The fact that appointments were booked for several days made him wonder how skilled this person must be. However, he also had some doubts.

“Is this just a show, even though there are no customers?”

Ku Geonho worked a five-day week at the factory. Although there were occasional Saturday shifts, there happened to be none on the day he planned to visit the fortune teller. He took the subway and went on a rare trip to Seoul. While sitting on the subway, an elderly man got on and pretended to look at his smartphone when a call came in.

“Geonho? This is Woncheol from high school.”

“Oh, Jo Woncheol, it’s been a while.”

Jo Woncheol, the son of a pharmacy owner who worked at a large company, unexpectedly called.

“Can you talk on the phone?”

“Sure, no problem. But how did you get my number?”

“Well, I ran into Park Jongseok at a restaurant in Yeouido and got it from him. What company are you working at now?”

“Oh, just a small company. And you, I heard you work at H Group. Have you been promoted?”

“Yeah, I’m just a manager now.”

“Since you work at a large company, your salary must be good. How much do you earn as a manager?”

“It’s not much. Our group is a bit tight. I earn around 70 million won.”

Ku Geonho almost gasped. Compared to his own salary, which barely exceeded 20 million won, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.

“That’s a lot. We’re a small company, so it’s not much.”

“Even in small companies, some people earn quite a bit. You’ve been there for a few years, so you must earn a decent amount, right?”

“We’re small.”

“How much? 60 million won?”

Ku Geonho couldn’t help but think, “Talking about 60 million won. Damn.”

“Thinking about it makes me sad. By the way, does your mom still run a pharmacy in Bucheon?”

“No, she moved to Mok-dong in Seoul. My sister’s hospital is in Mok-dong, and she runs the pharmacy in the same building.”

“Oh, really? Running a pharmacy next to a hospital must be profitable. How much does she earn?”

“I don’t know much. Maybe around 20 million won a month.”

Ku Geonho almost gasped again. A monthly income of 20 million won was equivalent to his annual salary.

“Actually, I called you today because of my wedding. I’m getting married next month on the 5th. I wanted to send you an invitation, but I didn’t have your address, so I called.”

“Oh, congratulations. Just send the invitation as a photo via KakaoTalk.”

“Is that okay?”

“What does your fiancée do?”

“She’s a pharmacist. My mom is a pharmacist, and she didn’t want to be one, but it turned out that way.”

Ku Geonho imagined Jo Woncheol’s fair-skinned, aristocratic-looking face and his beautiful fiancée.

“I see. I’ll definitely come to the wedding. Where are you going now?”

“Somewhere nice?”

“No, I’m going to a philosophy hall. Someone introduced me to a famous one in Gangnam.”

“Haha, you’re going to check your compatibility. Which philosophy hall is it?”

“It’s called Jinje Philosophy Hall, near Gangnam Station. They say it’s very good.”

“Jinje Philosophy Hall? My mom goes there often. The director, Mr. Park, is well-known among the middle-aged women in Gangnam. Anyway, have a good visit.”

“Thanks. See you at the wedding. Bye.”

After hanging up, his mother called.

“Why are you calling? Isn’t it the nursing home?”

“It’s home. I finished my work at the nursing home early. Taking care of the elderly’s waste is getting tiring.”

“Why did you call!”

“Oh, right. I forgot. It’s about your father.”

“What about him?”

“Your father, who has recovered from his back pain, is looking for a security guard position.”

“So what? What does that have to do with me?”

“Didn’t you see the new security guard training certificate your father left in your desk drawer? He needs it.”

“I don’t know! Why are you asking me?”

“Why are you shouting? If you don’t know, just say so. I’m hanging up.”

“Damn.”

After receiving calls from his high school friend Jo Woncheol and his mother on the subway, the train had already arrived at Gangnam Station.

Gangnam Station was indeed crowded with people. It was hard to even walk. Compared to the rural area of Yangju, Gwangjeok-myeon where he lived, it was like a different world.

“Indeed, it’s a different country. The Republic of Gangnam and the Republic of the Provinces are separate. And there are so many beautiful women.”

The women pouring out of nearby coffee shops and stores were all sophisticated and beautiful. Someone like Ku Geonho, living a factory worker’s life in the provinces, seemed to have no chance of even getting close to them. Ku Geonho mistakenly entered the Samsung headquarters building.

“Wow, what a nice building.”

Young people with employee badges around their necks walked past Ku Geonho with a confident stride.

“If I were to be reborn, would I become like them?”

Ku Geonho envied them. He looked at the note he had brought.

“Jinje Philosophy Hall is supposed to be in an office building nearby, on the 8th floor... The name of the office building is... what? City of Light? It’s supposed to be up from the Bangbang intersection. Where is the Bangbang intersection?”

After walking for a while, Ku Geonho found the office building. He took the elevator to the 8th floor. The 8th floor of Jinje Philosophy Hall had only a small sign on the door, which was hard to notice if you didn’t look closely.

“I seem to have found the right place.”

Ku Geonho knocked and entered. The office building was much larger than a typical small room, about 40 pyeong. A few middle-aged women in high-end clothing were seated, and a receptionist’s desk was visible. The receptionist appeared to be in her early 30s and wore glasses.