Read Online A Wonderful Life by Victoria Rexroth - Free Book Online
Authors: Victoria Rexroth
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would be the fuel needed to further what was inconsistent attempts by both sides to cement anger but might be circumvented by introducing opposites with common ground. So this is what brought Young-Sam and Byung-Jin together after thirty very long years.
“ Anyoung haseyo ?” said Byung-Jin, standing for a moment before taking his seat. The baby fat was long gone from his cheeks but replaced with a sense of duty and a concern for an uncertain future in a time where relied-upon allies could no longer be counted on.
Young-Sam stared back for a moment and then stood up to face his brother. “ Anyoung haseyo , brother,” he said as he stretched out his hand.
The two men were definitely brothers of each other. Both had the distinctive chins and receding hairlines that come from stress-related jobs, jobs both of them had embraced in their respective governments. Both were impeccably dressed, and each one stared at his counterpart for clues of both the past and the future.
For a moment, Byung-Jin just stared, glancing at the hand, then to his friends and then back at his brother again. Without offering with his own hand in return, he spoke: “I understand that we have much to discuss.”
Young-Sam nodded slowly and sat back down. He was beginning to regret the decision to send two brothers, one from the North and one from the South, both representatives of their governments, to speak on behalf of their countries. There was so much Young-Sam wanted to ask his brother, but he knew that protocols and customs would not allow him to do it. “The rice yield for the Nampo District has been low once again. We are here to offer assistance.”
Byung-Jin just stared at him. “I have been instructed to inform you that our government is fine without the help of the South.”
Memories came to Young-Sam from long ago when things were much different. Byung-Jin was the younger brother, yet he was never willing to compromise on an issue. There was the argument over who would take care of Father, who would fight for what army, and….
Yes, that was very much a part of it. Their father, whom they both loved very much, made a decision over thirty years ago. Realizing that the country was going to be split in half, he found a young wife in the north for one brother, and he married his other son to a young woman in the south. This decision guaranteed him a chance to have a victor from whichever side won the war, as his only important task in life was to make sure that the family line continued. As with most decisions, he couldn’t have anticipated that it would ever lead to this.
Young-Sam shook his head. “Brother, why must we play this game? You know that you are in need of help, and we know that you are. Accept it, and let’s just move on without the foolishness.”
Byung-Jin glanced at his partners and then back at his brother. “How is Father?”
“You don’t know? Father died several years after the war.”
His brother just nodded. “You remained in the South because of Father. How sad?”
“How is Kyong-Suk?” he replied.
Byung-Jin bowed his head. “She did not survive much longer than the first winter. The war was not kind to her.”
“Then I am sorry,” said Young-Sam. “She was your reason for going north.”
“Yes,” he said. “But she is not my reason for coming here.”
“Nor is Father mine.”
Byung-Jin nodded slowly. “You mentioned that you might be able to supply rice for the crops that have failed.”
He nodded in return. “The South and the US have authorized me to offer a yield to replace that which has been lost.”
Byung-Jin stared back, his face determined. “And why would they do that?”
“Because we are brothers,” said Young-Sam. “The line in the sand doesn’t mean it can’t be crossed.”
“And how do I know that my agreement with this deal won’t backfire on me?”
“I don’t follow you,
“ Anyoung haseyo ?” said Byung-Jin, standing for a moment before taking his seat. The baby fat was long gone from his cheeks but replaced with a sense of duty and a concern for an uncertain future in a time where relied-upon allies could no longer be counted on.
Young-Sam stared back for a moment and then stood up to face his brother. “ Anyoung haseyo , brother,” he said as he stretched out his hand.
The two men were definitely brothers of each other. Both had the distinctive chins and receding hairlines that come from stress-related jobs, jobs both of them had embraced in their respective governments. Both were impeccably dressed, and each one stared at his counterpart for clues of both the past and the future.
For a moment, Byung-Jin just stared, glancing at the hand, then to his friends and then back at his brother again. Without offering with his own hand in return, he spoke: “I understand that we have much to discuss.”
Young-Sam nodded slowly and sat back down. He was beginning to regret the decision to send two brothers, one from the North and one from the South, both representatives of their governments, to speak on behalf of their countries. There was so much Young-Sam wanted to ask his brother, but he knew that protocols and customs would not allow him to do it. “The rice yield for the Nampo District has been low once again. We are here to offer assistance.”
Byung-Jin just stared at him. “I have been instructed to inform you that our government is fine without the help of the South.”
Memories came to Young-Sam from long ago when things were much different. Byung-Jin was the younger brother, yet he was never willing to compromise on an issue. There was the argument over who would take care of Father, who would fight for what army, and….
Yes, that was very much a part of it. Their father, whom they both loved very much, made a decision over thirty years ago. Realizing that the country was going to be split in half, he found a young wife in the north for one brother, and he married his other son to a young woman in the south. This decision guaranteed him a chance to have a victor from whichever side won the war, as his only important task in life was to make sure that the family line continued. As with most decisions, he couldn’t have anticipated that it would ever lead to this.
Young-Sam shook his head. “Brother, why must we play this game? You know that you are in need of help, and we know that you are. Accept it, and let’s just move on without the foolishness.”
Byung-Jin glanced at his partners and then back at his brother. “How is Father?”
“You don’t know? Father died several years after the war.”
His brother just nodded. “You remained in the South because of Father. How sad?”
“How is Kyong-Suk?” he replied.
Byung-Jin bowed his head. “She did not survive much longer than the first winter. The war was not kind to her.”
“Then I am sorry,” said Young-Sam. “She was your reason for going north.”
“Yes,” he said. “But she is not my reason for coming here.”
“Nor is Father mine.”
Byung-Jin nodded slowly. “You mentioned that you might be able to supply rice for the crops that have failed.”
He nodded in return. “The South and the US have authorized me to offer a yield to replace that which has been lost.”
Byung-Jin stared back, his face determined. “And why would they do that?”
“Because we are brothers,” said Young-Sam. “The line in the sand doesn’t mean it can’t be crossed.”
“And how do I know that my agreement with this deal won’t backfire on me?”
“I don’t follow you,
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