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The peaceful morning,
The quiet neighborhood,
The countryside.
This is what Jeonghan traded for the city life thinking that if he goes to the city everything will be better and what he earns is just enough for him to live a simple life and to send something for his family back in their small town.
To be able to live in the city is what he had dreamed of ever since, “What’s it like in the city?” “Are there a lot of high-rise buildings?” or “Will it make our life much better?”. After graduating in college Jeonghan applied to different companies and gladly got accepted as a librarian on a small library, from there he started to work endlessly and it did not tire him.
Not until his mother called him during their summer break to harvest rice on the field, at that moment he is not doing well both physically and emotionally and he just wants to quit. The trip to the countryside will heal him for sure.
Strawberry Town is extraordinary because it is the only town that uses an old bus as a way of transportation. After you get off the cab you will be greeted by a 4-hour bus ride to the post office and then from there you’ll ride a bicycle, it doesn’t have to be yours as long as you return it the next day or if you are lucky you can take a ride from a big farming tractor.
There are only 150 residents in Strawberry Town though originally they used to be 500 but since their kids graduated some moved and bought houses outside the town. It is composed of an Agricultural Cooperative wherein they can lend you animals so you can produce things to sell such as milk, cheese and butter but mostly the cooperative caters financial plans such as trading rice grains for 100,000.
The town only revolves with different residents but in the same family and the most notable ones are the Yoons and the Chois, both lived up to their name as the farming kings. Diego Choi is one of the names that are always the talk of the town, he is the patriarch of the Choi Family and also the head of the cooperative in Strawberry Town.
Their family is composed of 1 grandfather 2 sons, 1 daughter-in-law, 2 grandsons who are also taking their way into Agriculture while the Yoons are most known with their farming skills and their “Hundred Acre Woods” inspired big farm and they are composed of 1 grandfather named George Yoon, 2 sons, 1 daughter-in-law and and three grandchildren.
“Drop-off to Strawberry Town here” the city train officer said.
Jeonghan had noticed that some of the things he used to remember seeing are gone and somehow the main town looks a little like the city without the high-rise buildings but with a bustling street full of vendors.
He got off the train and decided that he will take the traditional bus that only comes exactly at 10:04 in the morning, he is right! Because he can hear the familiar noise that only comes to the old rusty bus but this time there is a passenger inside.
“Oh! Jeonghan! Are you coming home to harvest rice?” The bus driver immediately noticed him. As expected, he always attracts attention.
“Yes! Mr. Pops! I was summoned by my family, how are they?” he asked, making his way behind the driver.
“Grandpa George is still the same, grumpy but doing the best for the farm. I heard that your mother’s butter is going to be sold at the local store in the main town” Mr. Pops said.
“I see, no one told me about that but that's good news!” Jeonghan replied.
“But you see Jeonghan, life here is not as good as the last time and we think that if we keep on breeding animals at the barn we wouldn’t make anything unless we buy and ask help from the cooperative” this is news to him because he doesn’t know that the cooperative finally started, all he knows is it belongs to the Chois.
“Oh, but--”
“Asking for help from the cooperative is not hard, you just have to be positive about it, it is not like they are stealing from you” a man at the back said wearing overalls and a worn straw hat.
“You can only say that because you are Seungcheol Choi,” the driver said.
“Are you going home to the Yoons?” Seungcheol moved seats closer to Jeonghan.
“Yes, why?” Jeonghan is now confused why a stranger is talking to him.
“Ah! I am instructed to bring food there, to give to your grandfather you know to bribe him about the cooperative” Seungcheol said.
Jeonghan let out a deep sigh, everyone does think his grandfather is a monster but actually a sweetheart.
“So you came from the city? Is it good there? I am always curious but of course my family won’t let me go there” Seungcheol said.
“It’s fine, buildings are nice and shopping malls too” he replied, although he kinda hates the guy, he is answering his questions quite diligently.
“Jeonghan, Seungcheol you can ride the bike from here” Mr. Pops said.
Ah, the bikes again! Who am I to ask for a cab when I am also struggling?
“Jeonghan right? The tractor is here, we have the same route too” Seungcheol offered.
Jeonghan nodded and climbed through the tractor, it was quite big and a little hard to climb on to but who cares? He needed to go home since there are no bikes and walking will take an hour or two.
They finally reached the place and of course there is this big sign that says “Yoon’s Farm” at the side. They crossed it and were led to the main house.
“Maman! Maman! Jeonghan is here!” the youngest daughter Yeri shouted, followed by the other one.
“Maman! He is with Seungcheollie!” Dino added.
“I just want to give something to Grandpa George?” Seungcheol replied.
“ He is in the woods, would you like to come with me Cheollie?” Dino asked.
“Sure!”
It is still the same, the picturesque view and the amount of trees that surround their place is calming. He can’t believe that he traded living in the city for the sake of getting “rich”.
“Maman, why did you call me?” he asked.
“The farm is doing well but your grandfather is not, he has been having problems with the cooperative lately and threatens that if they don’t stop getting his permission he will sue them” Jeonghan’s Maman said.
Honestly, it will be a little hard since his grandfather despised him when he told them he wants to work in the city.
Seungcheol found Jeonghan sitting outside and gave him a piece of a nutritional bar.
“That’s food, oh! Does the city eat things like this?” he asked and sat beside him.
“Silly! Of course we eat normal food it is not like we are Gods that don't eat normal food” Jeonghan replied and is finally back to his usual self.
“You are just adjusting since it is the first time you came home, don’t worry if you need help! Meet me at the little garden, the one that we passed by earlier. I always do my morning work there” Seungcheol said and left.
A week has passed and it is almost time for the harvest yet Jeonghan is still not ready. To be honest all he is thinking now is Seungcheol who did not show up at the meeting place, Jeonghan felt a little distracted but that is not the point because his grandfather despised the whole cooperative so Seungcheol cannot even explain whatever is happening.
“What are you thinking?” Dino asked, looking at his brother.
“Do you know why Grandfather is like that?” Jeonghan asked.
“Papan got a job at the cooperative but kept it for Grandpa, that has been the reason why Grandpa hates the cooperative,” Dino replied.
“Why?” Jeonghan is asking endless questions because what Dino said makes him curious.
“Because Papan wants Grandpa to accept his defeat and make the cooperative rule the whole Strawberry Town” Dino replied.
“That’s it?” Jeonghan is confused.
“Oh and also Grandpa doesn’t like Seungcheol for you” Dino smiled.
“Papan said that the Chois are planning to marry you and Seungcheol so they get Grandpa’s trust - oh you don’t know probably Maman doesn’t want to tell you and so is Seungcheol, why don’t you ask him… if it is the harvest you are thinking they made you come home because you are going to get married soon” Dino said and left Jeonghan.
Now everything makes sense from the way Seungcheol is acting and his Maman is acting, he feels a little used but feels happy knowing that it is Seungcheol.
From what he remember both of them are childhood friends but maybe the other already had forgotten the pact they had made back in those days.
“My brother told me that we are arranged with each other, am i right?” Jeonghan started, the days he spent thinking whether he will ask Seungcheol came to an end when they met at the Strawberry Town Fair.
“Yes, it’s like that… but I also do know that you will not accept it since you are a city boy and you don’t want to stay here” Seungcheol replied.
Indeed. He was right but at the same time it makes him think what if Strawberry Town is where he truly belongs, not in the bustling city and the university filled with books, why not just open a bookstore here and live. Farming can make them money too, also if he inherited the Yoon Farm it will be easier for them to make money.
For someone who has been blinded by the city lights, fancy cars, fancy foods and many other things that he did not see in their little town it is easier to say those are just a temporary thing and once you get used to seeing them everyday it means nothing to you anymore. But there is something with the countryside that makes everything inviting.
The world is a simple place and so is Jeonghan.
He remembers how his Papan always told him that living outside the countryside is a blessing because you will not feel alone like everyone in the town knows you and gives you a lot of things to work with.
“What do you like about the city?” Jeonghan asked.
“I have never seen the city but the skyscrapers, the buildings that look straight out of a fancy movie, food, shopping malls” Seungcheol started to enumerate everything.
“Those won't last long” Jeonghan smiled.
The day of the harvest came and they decided to pull a “before sunrise” attempt so they will be finished and the next day Jeonghan needs to come back to the city and report.
All the days that came by so fast he realized one thing.
One by one the grains are being pulled. Laughters heard all around the large hectare of land, happy villagers and other farmers that benefited on the Yoon Farm.
Jeonghan suddenly found himself walking towards his Grandfather who has been silent to him for a week now.
“Grandpa, may I have a little talk with you?” Jeonghan asked.
“If this is about the marriage thing, I cannot let you marry Seungcheol,” he replied.
“No, I just want to ask what was your feeling when I left home? When I said I will not come back anymore to this place?’ Jeonghan smiled and sat beside his grandfather.
“Of course I was mad but I know you will be happy there…” he stopped and looked at Jeonghan.
“Are you?”
“Accept the cooperative, grandpa...Yoon Farm will be okay and there are a lot of people you can help because of those,” Jeonghan said.
“Are you happy?” his grandfather asked.
“Grandpa, I think I want to stay here…” Jeonghan whispered.
Jeonghan found the reason to stay.
He had been looking for an answer for years now but what Seungcheol said made him realize something.
They finished harvesting all the rice grains and hung them and gathered them in one place. Seungcheol was there and the other villagers too and started eating.
“Jeonghan! Do you have a moment…?” Seungcheol asked.
Jeonghan nodded.
He followed Seungcheol as they were walking at an old train track.
“Hey….”
“Yes…?”
“Are you leaving tomorrow?”
“I might… why?”
“I know this is absurd and might sound weird but riding the bus together...planting seeds… that is all the things I want to do with you...when you asked me what I like about the city it made me feel like I am just doing that because I want to live like what you did and also to see you there...Jeonghan, won’t you stay with us?” Seungcheol asked.
Jeonghan smiled.
A week ago, he thought coming back to this place was the weirdest idea he had ever had.
But it looks like there is something he can look forward too everyday, the bus ride even if it creeks, the seeds that are tiny but once bloomed will make him happy and the people that wait for him everytime he comes home.
“Are you saying you want to spend your life with me?” Jeonghan asked.
“More than that… forever… by your side, Jeonghan,” the older one replied.
That is more than enough, the questions are now answered.
Next day came, he hadn’t packed bags , he called his senior and resigned and of course there is a need to come there for the papers and other stuff but for now his future is secured here at Strawberry Town.
A week ago coming here is the weirdest idea, packing bags for a countryside with a small community but one would realize as we grow up and as we grow older we want a more serene and calming environment where we can truly laugh, be happy and at the same time spend things with family members.
George Yoon and Diego Choi had come up to an agreement about the cooperative, his Papan no longer feels pressured coming to work, his Maman feels happy because there are a lot of villagers that will rise out of poverty because of what George did.
“Why are you smiling?” Seungcheol asked while looking at Jeonghan who was peeking at the bus window.
“I found happiness...thanks to you” he replied.
“Stop! You are making me blush, Jeonghan!”Seungcheol replied.
“Thank goodness, you crossed my path...or else I am back at that lonely place” Jeonghan rested his head on Seungcheol’s shoulder while looking at the tall trees, mountains and the green grass that surrounded them.
Contentment, that is what Jeonghan found.
He also found love.
Hey stranger, did you find contentment already?