From Wonso Pond Read Online Free PDF Page B

Tokho. His hand was visibly shaking. Tokho pulled the bills toward him and counted them.
    â€œThis is only two won . . .”
    Tokho looked over at him with a questioning eye. Minsu slowly lifted his head. The look in his eyes seemed to be begging for forgiveness—like the innocent plea of a young child.

    â€œThe man’s kids were . . . they were starving, so I just . . . I gave them the rest.”
    Minsu’s eyes were brimming with tears.
    â€œYou what?”
    Instantly Tokho screwed up his eyes, and flung the abacus at Minsu. It hit him right between the eyes and fell to the ground with a rattle.
    â€œAre you crazy! Your goddamn generosity has no place in my house. Now get the hell out! I make the decisions around here, so you give away your own damn money, not mine!
    â€œDon’t be so hard on him,” said the other men, sitting around in their own circle.
    â€œWell, it’d be one thing if he was hungry and had to buy something for himself to eat, or if he needed the money to get his job done. But the idiot didn’t even collect a dime for his travel, and now this is the crap that I have to deal with. Don’t I have a right to get angry? Now you, get out!”
    Tokho jumped to his feet and kicked Minsu with all his might. If not for the others, he would have beaten him to his heart’s content, but he was too worried about his reputation, so he held back his anger and sat down again.
    â€œIt’s not a question of just a single won. What right does this idiot have to give away even a penny of my money, especially to a man trying to rob me of his entire debt!
    His teeth were now grinding with a vengeance, and he suddenly sprang on top of Minsu with the look of murder in his eyes. Then he quickly left the room. The others sitting in the circle scattered out in different directions. Shortly afterwards, Minsu regained consciousness and found the room completely empty. His vision was somewhat cloudy now, and when he put his hand to his brow, he felt something different about it.
    Though Minsu had been beaten and insulted by the master of the house, for some reason he was neither resentful nor offended. On the contrary, he felt quite calm and composed, as though a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
    He got right up and made his way home.
    When he opened the brush gate, Sonbi and her mother ran out of the house to greet him. Sonbi threw her arms around him, and as Minsu held her tightly in his arms, his eyes filled unexpectedly with tears, blurring
the path before him. The picture of those four little children again flashed into his mind. I wonder if they got anything to eat today? he thought, stepping into his own house.
    Sonbi’s mother was staring at the sight of father and daughter.
    â€œWhat happened to your forehead?”
    â€œWhy? What’s the matter with it?”
    Minsu put his hand to his brow and rubbed it again. Then he lay down on the floor. Sonbi’s mother took out a blanket and draped it over him. Did he have some kind of run-in with troublemakers? Or was he just tired from his trip? she wondered.
    â€œCan I fix you some supper?”
    â€œWell . . . maybe some rice porridge . . . Make me some, would you? Sonbi’s mother now knew for sure that her husband was not well, for he had asked for porridge. She was about to ask him if he was in any pain when Minsu closed his eyes tightly and rolled onto his side.

11
    The next day Minsu was terribly sick and unable to get out of bed. Sonbi’s mother did everything she could to care for him, but nothing seemed to help.
    Several days later, Sonbi’s mother came in from the yard to speak to Minsu. The rims of her eyes were red and swollen.
    â€œIs it true that the master of the big house hit you with his abacus?”
    â€œWho told you that?”
    â€œJust about everyone who saw it happen, that’s who.”
    â€œI don’t want to hear it! Don’t pay attention to