Chapter 379
I think I fell asleep around 1:00 after having an unexpected web novel discussion with Owen.
I set my alarm for 7:00 before going to bed, and I woke up right away when my phone started vibrating.
For a moment, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling and wondered where I was, but I came back to my senses when I heard Owen moving around next to me.
'My arms are a little sore.'
Is it because I tried fishing for the first time in my life yesterday?
I didn't catch any fish and only got a little muscle pain.
While Owen was still waking up, I went out to the yard first and moved my body here and there while receiving natural light.
The morning air in Yokjido smelled so clean and clear that it couldn't be compared to Seoul.
How many days will there be when I can stretch peacefully while looking at the blue sky and the wide ocean?
"Did you sleep well, hyung-nim?"
"I think I passed out right away because I was tired. Did you sleep well?"
"Haha, I thought I wouldn't be able to sleep easily either, but I guess my body was tired. I slept right away."
Owen laughed while trying to hold down his messy hair.
"My hair is disheveled. Is it okay for me to come out like this?"
"It doesn't matter. You'll always be fine no matter what your hair is, so don't worry."
"You seem very used to this kind of morning shoot."
When I heard Owen's words, memories of old shoots flashed through my mind again.
Of course, of course I'm used to it.
Owen probably doesn't know how much happiness it is for me to be able to take a peaceful walk in the yard without a wake-up mission.
They even capture everything right before I fall asleep on camera.
They make me jump rope with breakfast hanging from my head while I'm still half asleep.
Today, I was grateful for the hardcore entertainment training of the Sigma Entertainment planning team...not really.
I just thought it was fortunate that I had accumulated various experiences in advance.
After finishing stretching and waking up completely, we sat on the floor for a while and blankly soaked up the sunlight.
The harmony of the slightly chilly morning air and the warm sunlight seemed to make our bodies feel drowsy.
I quietly looked out at the yard and suddenly realized that we wouldn't be able to proceed if we stayed like this, so I asked the production staff in a low voice.
"Can we eat breakfast now?"
The production staff nodded brightly as if it was obvious.
I had expected it since it was a program where we would solve three meals a day ourselves, but when I suddenly tried to cook, my head didn't work.
'What should I do?'
First of all, we barely have any ingredients.
Except for the mackerel left over from last night's dinner, I can't think of anything I brought down from Seoul that could be used as an ingredient.
When I turned my gaze to Owen, it felt almost like I was looking into a mirror.
In short, neither of us had any thoughts at the moment.
In the end, the decision we both made was..........
"Still, I'm glad that the mackerel in Yokjido is delicious. I don't get tired of it even if I eat it continuously."
"Let's try braising instead of grilling for dinner, Owen."
"Good idea, hyung-nim. I'll try to get the braising recipe from the residents later."
That's right.
Just like yesterday, I crouched in the yard and grilled the leftover mackerel until crispy.
I took a bite of the mackerel that still boasted a delicious flavor and showed my sincere respect to all the chefs in the world.
How on earth do you manage to cook such difficult dishes every day?
All we can think of is frying in a frying pan.
Thinking about cooking, I can't help but think of Kang ssi's face giggling somewhere in Seleste's dorm.
I can't help it.
If even tonight's dinner starts to go wrong in a strange way, I'll have to send another SOS call to Kang Si-yoon.
'At least I got three mackerels yesterday. If it had been one or two...........'
I shivered slightly.
Honestly, I think we should go fishing properly at least once before filming for "The Curse of the Sea" is over.
However, if we didn't have enough mackerel, we should have tried fishing right after waking up today, which would have been horrible.
After eating breakfast and washing the dishes, we took a shower and came back to the yard clean.
Owen, who was putting on his shoes, said to me with a determined expression.
"Hyung-nim, if we keep going like this, all our meals will be mackerel. I think we should go out today to find some food that we are lacking. If not, we should catch some other kind of fish ourselves."
"I agree."
Today's goal is simple.
Find new ingredients other than mackerel.
I asked the PD while recalling one thing I had heard before coming to Yokjido.
"I heard that Yokjido is famous for its sweet potatoes in addition to its various seafood. Is it possible to dig up Yokjido sweet potatoes myself?"
"I was wondering when you would ask!"
"Ah."
Was this all prepared?
"Just come down this way. Be careful, the road is a bit bumpy."
After passing the alley leading to the port, we entered a road that stretched down the foot of the mountain.
As we headed toward the mountain, we could see fields of fishing boats under the blue sky.
A variety of vegetables were growing under the bright sun, and we could see a few residents working in the fields in the distance.
"This is the first time I've seen such a rural landscape in my life."
"Me too."
Owen and I continued walking along the path filled with a refreshing scent.
Soon, we arrived at a field where several residents were waiting.
The PD gestured toward the field and introduced it as a field where sweet potatoes, one of the special products of Yokjido, grow.
"Can we help with the field work today?"
"I'll show you a completely different side of me today, hyung-nim."
Owen twisted his wrists here and there, more enthusiastic than yesterday.
"Actually, we went fishing on our own, right? If there were teachers like today to teach us how to do farm work, it would be a different story. We'll absorb all of mothers' know-how."
Before we could start working in the field, the mothers said that we had to get dressed properly.
"We've prepared some clothes for you, so go over there and put them on quickly."
The clothes consisted of work pants, also known as mompe pants, arm sleeves, and sun caps.
The pants with their impressive colorful flower patterns had quickly become a must-wear item when visiting the countryside.
It seemed that the mothers had intentionally given us more flashy and eye-catching pants.
"I thought there was a separate building because they told us to go there."
"This is truly the wild."
There was no proper place to change clothes, so we had to go into the reed-covered grass and enjoy the natural changing room.
Of course, the cameras didn't follow us, and the reeds were so thick that we had some privacy..........
I couldn't help but feel unfamiliar.
So Owen changed into bright yellow pants that were almost fluorescent.
I changed into flashy pink pants that reminded me of the hanbok I wore during the Lunar New Year special.
Before we went back to the field through the reeds, Owen laughed pleasantly as if he had a funny idea.
"Shall we walk confidently like we did when we went to the port yesterday, hyung-nim? It's like a fashion show."
"You've gotten used to it now, Owen."
Yes, it is right to throw away your usual image in entertainment.
I walked with my sun cap pulled down tightly and my feet stretched out so that the flashy patterns on my work pants could be seen clearly.
The mothers who saw the two of us walking with more confidence than anyone else in the world laughed and even applauded.
The cameraman who was vividly capturing our appearance with his camera barely held back laughter and twitched the corners of his mouth.
Look, world.
This is the shamelessness that is appropriate for entertainment.
After finishing one walking show, I learned how to dig sweet potatoes in earnest.
"Aha, it is important not to remove all the top stems but to leave some."
"If you cut off all the stems, you won't be able to see where the sweet potatoes are. If you dig them like that, you will most likely bruise them."
"I will keep that in mind."
There were two important tips.
First, don't remove the sweet potato stems too cleanly.
You should leave some so that you can see where the sweet potatoes are growing and dig them accurately without damaging them.
Second, you should dig in the opposite direction of where the sweet potatoes were planted so that they grow well.
If you dig in the same direction as where you planted them, you will collide with the sweet potatoes and damage them, and it will be difficult to dig them up.
"Oh, this is easier."
Owen watched the mothers' demonstration with his eagle eyes.
Watching from the side, it felt like sparks were flying from his eyes.
They were full of motivation.
Owen was moving with only one will to make up for all the mistakes he made yesterday.
After the mothers' demonstration, it was time for us to experience it for ourselves.
'You said it's better to leave some stems.'
I removed the sweet potato shoots with a sickle, deliberately controlling the force.
Here, if you cut too hard, it can be disastrous, so more delicate control is needed.
With the primary work done, all that remains is to dig the ground and harvest the sweet potatoes.
Just like before, you should not dig the soil with too much force.
If you fail to control the distance and scrape the sweet potato, it will become an unsellable product.
"Mother, is this how it should be done?"
"Oh my, good job. You did a really good job."
"Hyung-nim! Look at this!"
Owen, who had heard praise from the mother, ran toward me like an excited puppy.
In the palm of his hand he held a large sweet potato with a beautiful purple appearance.
"It's grown so well!"
"It has grown to be a very pretty shape. It is great."
"Didn't I swear today? I will do so well that yesterday's failure will be overshadowed."
When I praised him, Owen's shoulders tightened even more.
I thought he was so excited that he was quickly losing energy, but he maintained that tension for over 20 minutes.
It was really amazing.
Working in the field while bending over was no easy task.
However, I felt proud as I watched the sweet potatoes in the basket increase one by one as much as the effort.
It was even more rewarding when I thought of the many farmers all over the country who worked hard to fill our table.
"You worked hard~. You can stop now."
"Isn't there still a lot left?"
"It's okay because it's easy if you use a machine anyway."
"Ah."
I felt a little embarrassed when the mother said that we could plow the wide field with a sweet potato harvester.
But that doesn't change the fact that everyone is working hard under the sun.
"Hyung-nim. I've decided on today's lunch menu!"
Owen was delighted to find out a new menu using sweet potatoes.
"You wouldn't say something as simple as steaming sweet potatoes, right?"
"No way. They say that if you slice sweet potatoes thinly, coat them with batter and egg water, and make pancakes, they're so delicious."
"Oh..."
"Today's lunch is sweet potato pancakes that I'm making myself!"
When I heard about the sweet potato pancakes, I instinctively exclaimed in admiration.
They were guaranteed to be delicious.
I almost said that it would be really delicious if I added kimchi to the boiled sweet potatoes, but I barely held myself back.
If I were to say this much, I'd be a typical Korean.
[*Happy Saturday!!]
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