The Youngest Son of Sunyang

Chapter 8

He would not have a way of running Sunyang according to the 20-year-old grandsons thought. However, his actual reason for asking was to see how swiftly and firmly Young-jun would say his own thought, not what he would say. Young-jun was showing signs of nervousness, and got compared with the clever 10-year-old cousin.

All right then, you can leave, the grandfather said.

As Young-jun left the study, lowering his head, he sensed he didnt score.

The grandfather regarded the rediscovery of his 10-year-old grandson as his birthday gift, and had a mixed feeling of joy and disappointment.

Of all the grandsons, the youngest?

I could not have been happier if he were the eldest, he thought to himself.

After much thought, he made up his mind.

That he would train his youngest grandson.

Yun-ki was summoned.

He stepped into the study nervously, with a sour look on his face.

The grandfather grew sullen as soon as his eyes met Yun-kis, a wrinkle forming across his forehead.

How have you been? he asked.

He was given a lukewarm answer, and was unhappy with it.

You can do better than that! his voice rose, suddenly angry.

Yun-ki wondered what his father was really saying, giving him a baffled look.

For which the grandfather felt a surge of anger, but then thinking of the youngest grandson, suppressed it.

Tell me what you want to do, he said.

You always dont want me to do what I want to do, father,

To take off womens clothes?

Im not making a porn movie,

The grandfather let out a long sigh, then said, Knock it off. Im not talking about you, anyway, he went on, How are their studies going? Are Sang-jun and Do-jun doing well at school?

Im not sure. I never checked their grades. But would always check if they were growing healthy,

Yun-ki didnt seem to have noticed his youngest sons smartness yet, which made him more enraged. Deplorable.

I will send two tutors to teach them tomorrow. English and the other subject,

I dont think they need tutors yet

Do as you are told, the grandfather said, then took a step back.

All right then, if Sang-jun and Do-jun do not like them, then I will not say another word,

He only had Do-jun in his head.

If Im right, then Do-jun will like the tutors as he said he would do well for a year, he thought to himself,

He seemed to pay attention to Yun-kis sons, which was unfamiliar to Yun-ki, who then reluctantly said yes.

Oh and tell me if there is anything else I can do for them, the grandfather said.

Even though Yun-ki opened his mouth to ask what intentions he would do this with, he couldnt say anything as he didnt want to talk to his father any longer.

He closed the door of the study behind him.

Yun-ki, my father kept quiet the whole entire trip back home.

My mother wanted to ask if something was wrong, but instead wound up being quiet as well.

As soon as we got home, the father had my brother and me seated on the sofa in the living room, then said.

Do-jun,

Yes, father,

I dont intend to say anymore about what you did to Kang-jun at the grandfathers,

Im sorry, father

His face registered discomfort with me being courteous.

Grandfather said, he would send tutors to teach you two. What would you two say?

Even as he uttered tutors, the brother frowned, thinking of sticking to the desk all day with them.

Its all right, if you dont want them, just say it, father said.

The brothers face then shone with joy.

Then the father looked at me as if to wait for me to say that makes two of us.

I may not need tutors as I probably know more than them, and yet I want to do what the grandfather say.

I want the tutors. Because I promised, I said.

Promised?

I promised I would get straight As for a year,

He looked taken aback by promised.

I do not want you to do what you do not want to do to keep the promise,

Its all right father, I need to be on his good side,

What?

Oh, shit!

I promised him to be a good grandson, to study hard and not to quarrel with cousins

He glanced suspiciously at me, but didnt ask more.

With an apathetic look on his face,

All right then, he said.

Then said we could go upstairs into our rooms. I advanced toward the staircase and the brother followed in the rear.

As I was ascending the stairs, the brother said,

You were cool,

What?

Kicking Kang-juns ass, said, then shoot ahead.

He must have had deep resentment.

I chuckled.

Could we keep it simple and organized? I asked. I could not waste time.

The two tutors were baffled.

Dont have to keep watching me while Im studying. Just assign me homeworks and check them the next day?

But you might have questions to ask? one tutor said in a gentle voice.

Half an hour a day is enough, I said.

Too much money for half an hour, besides if my grades dont improve, they will end up in trouble.

If it doesnt work we can find some other way, I said.

My diligence and my accomplishments should impress them so that their praise of me can reach the grandfathers ears.

First of all, I should do my homeworks.

The two tutors were speechless, exchanging glances.

Something wrong? I asked.

No, you did very well in your homeworks, one tutor said, Have you ever learned English before? You have such neat penmanship, one tutor said.

I practiced it all day long yesterday,

Okay, well done,

Could you assign homeworks for tomorrow?

I wanted to let them out.

For the past three months, Ive been recall the past and written it down in my notebooks, which will hereafter be my secret weapon.

I look forward to tomorrow as it will bring enormous changes in the country as well as in me.

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