Read Online From Wonso Pond by Kang Kyong-ae - Free Book Online Page B

you name it. The rest of us are stuck lonely and broke until the day we die.”
    Little Buddha took some dried motherwort out of his pocket. He placed it into a piece of newsprint, rolled it up, and after sealing it with spit began to smoke it. He watched as Okchom and the man in the suit gradually approached them.
    The two of them glanced at the farmers as they passed by. Okchom’s face was now turned toward the man. Whatever it was they were talking about, they both seemed to be enjoying themselves.
    â€œBoy, she’s something else, isn’t she?” said Little Buddha, tossing away his cigarette butt once the two had walked off into the distance. He grabbed his hoe and started weeding again.
    Shortly afterwards Earthworm gave Little Buddha a playful whack.
    â€œSounds like you’re hankering to find a bride.”
    â€œYou bet I am. Got anyone in mind for me?”
    Earthworm, remembering something, called, “Hey, Yu Sobang. Sonbi’s living over at Tokho’s, right?”

    â€œYeah. Why?”
    â€œThey thinking about getting her married?”
    â€œWell, I guess they are!”
    Sourstem winked at Little Buddha. “Yu Sobang has no idea. How’s he supposed to know anything?” he said, while Yu Sobang pretended not to listen.
    Ch’otchae, for his part, flashed his eyes wide open when he heard what they were talking about, but heaved a deep sigh. Little Buddha, more interested than ever, looked back at Earthworm.
    â€œHey, set something up for me, how about it?”
    â€œDon’t look at me. You’re going to have to ask Tokho about that.”
    â€œThat’s what I mean, stupid. I want you to talk to Tokho on my behalf.”
    â€œAnd you think he’ll listen to me?”
    â€œSonbi’s pretty, you know, but she’s got a good heart too . . . I’m telling you, she’s the best.”
    Yu Sobang pictured Sonbi in his mind as he thought about what Sourstem had just said. Ch’otchae too, if it hadn’t been for the others, would have drilled Yu Sobang with questions about Sonbi.
    The men kept weeding in the fields as they continued their small talk, and when the sun finally set over the horizon, they all returned to the village proper.
    Ch’otchae ate dinner at home, but went right outside again. For some reason it was too frustrating to sit inside—he simply couldn’t bear it. He strolled around the village aimlessly. He pulled out a motherwort cigarette he had bummed off Little Buddha and lit it up. He took a deep drag on it, but choked on the smoke, which had none of the fragrant flavor of real tabacco. He flung the thing far away from him.
    â€œHow can anyone call that a cigarette!” he grumbled, and looked up to find himself behind the fence surrounding Tokho’s house. He’d made a habit recently of taking a walk around the house every night. If he was lucky, he might someday see Sonbi, he thought. But so far he’d never once seen her near this house. Even so, he always walked here after dinner, hoping that tonight might be the night.
    The stars hung here and there in the jet-black sky. The wind picked up and carried the faint scent of mugwort mosquito incense toward him. He let his thoughts drift, gazing at nothing in particular, and resting his hands firmly on his hips.

    From Tokho’s house came the faint sound of people talking, though he couldn’t make out the words or the voices. Still, he could hear the sound of a man and woman laughing as clearly as he saw the stars right there above him.
    After standing like this for a while, lost in thought, he remembered the motherwort cigarette he’d thrown to the ground. He searched his pockets, but found nothing. Smacking his lips a few times, he plopped himself down in the grassy field. The ground felt cold, helping to cool off the burning inside him. Just then he heard the sound of footsteps coming his way, and his eyes opened like a