I Will Live As An Actor - Chapter 13

I Will Live as an Actor Episode 13

A creaky wooden stool, a yellow calendar, and an old wall clock where you can’t tell when the second hand stopped. However, the waves of the South Port visible from the window are always the same. Just like merchants who have been through hardships and hardships in the market for decades. The merchant president, wearing a red marine cap, spoke loudly, as if showing off his unshaven beard.

“This month’s regular agenda will conclude with this! But before everyone goes, let me say something!”

Namhang Market’s public holiday market merchants all gather at the merchant association building. As it was a building built right after the Korean War, it was old and worn, but it had a lot of depth. Yeongdo, which was a haven for refugees, was the place that maintained order in Namhang Market, a place that maintained food for those with sorrow and complex emotions after the disaster.

“Everyone knows about England! It’s the sleazy guy who sells strange food next to his mother who runs a fish stall!”

“If the British don’t know in South Port, they’re not spies!”

“Hamo Youngguk’s voice was so loud that he almost fell into a nap when he was startled by the sound of the solicitor.”

“It’s more of a fight, so from now on, let’s do this to England!”

“Chairman, how can you tell me that England is talking about a scholarship? It was decided last time, kid! You said you were going to give it to me. I heard you’re so good at studying, but I’ve never seen a guy like that before. Are you right, Mr. Yang?”

“Hey, I sat next to England’s mother and saw her talking about weird things once or twice. She even brought her report card when she folded her report card, and she ranked top in the whole school, right?”

As the story about England became a hot topic, market merchants became noisy. Their faces were all filled with happy smiles. Anyway, England has now become a celebrity that no one knows about in the Namhang Market.

He is the kind of guy who rolls up his sleeves and helps not only my mother but also other market merchants when their hands are short. How can you not like a guy like this? It was then. The merchant chairman waved his hat to attract attention.

“I know everyone likes England, so listen to me from now on! England, who was born and raised in Namhang, is said to be filming a drama or something this time. Who are we? We always say this, but we’re not South Koreans who have to give and live even if they don’t have anything! Scholarship “Of course, when you push me, I’ll take care of you, and you’ll push me coolly. Is that our South Port recognition?”

The merchants gathered together nodded as if it was natural.

“I heard that there is a filming near Nam Port today. I’m just digging this. I’m going to have a glass of makgeolli on everyone’s day off today, so why not treat them to a meal on the way to the filming location. That way, our UK won’t be saved!”

“That’s right! The Chairman said it well! I also helped Young-Kuk sort out the fruit more than once or twice, so I can’t just sit back and accept it! I completely agree!”

“Oh, Mr. Choi of the Fruit Store. Isn’t it true that an actress called Park Soo-young came to the filming set? I can see that she’s upset! Even if I say that, I agree with it! Shouldn’t England save her life once in a while?”

“That’s right! Chairman, you said it well. Before, England’s mother came to my house and asked how much Meruchi was. They were going to eat it for the two of them, so what was the point? I got a surprise from the PD before the match. But Meru. “The prices have gone up these days, and I feel bad seeing how things are just going around!”

The atmosphere was so heated that not a single person opposed it. But cold water was always poured.

“But first, do you think England should ask his mother? What if we just went there blindly and they were filming?”

“I have an idea. Everyone I’m filming wants to eat and eat, so I’m sure we’ll have dinner. We can arrange this in advance and go. I wonder if Mr. Yang is close to Yeongguk’s mother or not. Ask him!”

It was Lady Yang who had suddenly been entrusted with an important mission. But she nodded her head confidently. Haven’t fish been sold in the Namhang fish stall alley for the longest time? In the meantime, numerous sisters repeatedly folded and unfolded the fish stall. In the case of young people, it was common for them to quit after half a year.

At first, England thought his mother would be like this. However, even among the tough Busan sisters, the one who did not give up and worked diligently was my mother, England. It wasn’t long before I found out why she worked so effortlessly and without any tricks. Therefore, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of kinship as a woman and mother.

* * *

Jeoksan House, built on Yeongdo Island during the Japanese colonial period, was often used as an inn after liberation. This is because the site is large and has a large number of rooms, making it perfect for a lodging business. It was a haven for sailors and a place that fully accepted the emotions of sorrowful refugees. Filming was taking place right there.

“Jin, won’t it fit your mouth just a little bit more?”

“This is made so you can eat it! I give you murakko every day that Doyaji won’t eat, but if you have an appetite, is that even a person? Doyaji bastard!”

It’s a small room that would be full if one person lays down, and it’s the cheapest room in the inn. There, young Kim Ha-jin (Jang Young-guk) and her mother (Park Soo-young) are having a tearful dinner. However, perhaps because it is made of wood, the cantankerous sailor who occupies the room next door knocks, fearing that the wooden wall will soon collapse.

“Be quiet! Everyone has to go out on a boat at dawn, so you can make a fuss! I’ve rented out an inn!”

The mother lowers her head at the nervous voice of the minor character. The son, who couldn’t see what was happening, runs out to the front of the room where the sound had just come from, kicks down the door, and immediately leaves the inn. The famous ‘Cut!’

with the mother’s lonely back captured from a rear angle.

I shouted.

“Thank you all for your hard work!”

The smile did not leave Yu Myeong’s face as he was very satisfied with the result. This is the result of the props team finding the Jeoksan House, which was scheduled for demolition, and decorating it to resemble an inn from the time. There was nothing left to throw away, including the background and the characters appearing in the painting. After completing all the filming scheduled for today, I feel like the fatigue that was weighing on my shoulders is going away. But.

“Director, may I ask you something?”

Park Soo-young still didn’t let go of the script and looked uncomfortable.

“Yes, Actor Park.”

“In the script, it says that Kim Ha-jin and her mother ate porridge made from ground beans for several days without even adding glutinous rice. Isn’t that too much of an exaggeration? It was 20 years ago at most, but even so, they wouldn’t have been able to eat a meal.”

“Hmm, I don’t have anything to say about that part because it was set up by author Choi. The author personally interviewed people who lived at the time and wrote it through historical research.”

Park Soo-young liked the filming, but thought the food in the script was too poor. It wasn’t because I didn’t like the director and was trying to get in trouble, but because I had doubts and curiosity as an actor. If there’s something you don’t understand, you’re the type of person who has to throw in the towel and resolve it on the spot. It was that moment.

“That’s not an exaggeration.”

“What?

“If it had been in the 1980s, it would have been better.”

“Can’t you see the director and I talking right now? “What do you know, so young?”

“Do you know how wealthy the people who live in inns are? Add a few dried anchovy heads to the ramen broth, make it like a beef bone, and eat it for several days. I don’t even have that, so I can’t eat it. Even if you are a business owner, you must suck your fingers every day. Even if I want to eat the fish I sell, I can’t. I have to save every penny.”

In my last life, I lived in an inn with my mother. At that time, I hated my mother who always served sour-smelling rice in ramen soup. There were many times when my lips stuck out and I insisted on not eating. There was. Every time, the mother tried to comfort her son, fearing that he might be kicked out by the innkeeper.

“Then why are you living at the inn? There is no motel fee here either. With the monthly inn fees, it would be better to find a small room to rent.”

“Who buys the briquettes?”

“What do you mean briquettes?”

“Who would be most inconvenienced when living in an inn? It’s not a kid, it’s a mother. Would it have been easy to lose your husband when you were young and live in an inn full of sailors? Still, I chose it because I could save money on briquettes and have a warmer bed. “I ‘m going to save at least one ten-won coin to buy my son a school uniform later when he enters middle school!”

Park Soo-young kept quiet without realizing it. Although she lived in a theater company, it was a world she had never known, having grown up wealthy from a young age. The famous person who was by her side at the time looked surprised. I asked,

“Yeong-Kuk, how do you know such things?”

Until a few years ago.

“Because that’s how my mother and I lived.”

I could feel the surroundings becoming solemn. Park Soo-Young’s face was red and he couldn’t even make eye contact. “Nothing.” Wasn’t there a time in a daepot restaurant that made fun of a child actor’s acting, saying that it was actually like that in real life? She felt like she wanted to hide in a rat hole right now. Yoo Myung noticed her and clapped her hands to brighten up the surroundings.

“Sleep! “Everyone, please withdraw your equipment and eat dinner here today!”

“Director Yoo, you’re saying we’re eating because we’re on set? Where is Hamba’s house delivering at this hour?”

“England’s mother treats us well!”

“Your mother? Director, what do you mean?”

Looking at the boy expressing doubt, Director Yoo slyly closed one eye and opened it.

“So, let’s all give a round of applause for Young-kuk!”

Even as he received applause, Young-kuk couldn’t erase his bewildered expression. What does it mean to say that your mother is serving dinner? Look at the scene. Not only the actors but also the filming crew had dozens of people. * * *

Ta

-da!

Glasses clinking against the Jeoksan house that was scheduled for demolition. It was full of noise and boisterous laughter. Merchants from the Namhang market, everyone from the filming team, and actors all gathered together to set up the place. They brought so much food that they only used porters to carry cold food. All of it was grown in the sea. It was no exaggeration to say that everything was there.

“Now, PD. Drink up a glass of this! It’s very good for your body. Although I’m a sea person, I sometimes climb the mountains. I’ll give you the deodeok that I bought a year ago, especially the real one!”

“If I just give it to Choi Gaya PD, the coaches who follow me won’t be offended!” ”

Oh, look at my mind! Those who followed, please accept it! Older people like us have the energy to iron a glass of this and straighten it out with our hands! Don’t hesitate, everyone, take it. It’s a day like today, and I’ll give it to you!”

England couldn’t express in words how grateful he was to the market ladies. His mother was also smiling, trying hard to hold back the tears in her eyes. They were doing their job. Despite this, they are people who took care of me like family.

They are warm people who even went through hardships to cook food for a mother and child who had nothing. Even though they were crying in gratitude, they said,

‘Isn’t it obvious!’

The adults were just stroking my head. It felt like an emotion I had never felt in my past life was beating mercilessly in my chest.

“Is Youngguk, a producer, really good at acting?”

“Don’t even talk. I’m so good that I feel like I’m flying in the sky these days. The same goes for other directors!”

“I guess it’s the first time I’ve ever been a cinematographer, but this is the first time I’ve ever known someone like that!”

“Everyone is like this, so I’m grateful. You don’t know how kind our British people are. When the market merchants have work to do, they go out of their way to help. It’s hard to tell how sturdy those little hands are. All the female merchants were so jealous of how much Zig’s mother took care of. This is why our kind England must do well!”

“Choi is right! But England is going to do well! Even if my son looked half as good as England, I would make a wish. Eulmana is dignified and smart, but what about her talents? I’ve been in Namhang for 40 years already, and this is a popular specialty I’ve seen for the first time. Since she started selling fish at Namhang, the number of visitors to Namhang has increased a lot. All the customers are coming to see where they heard the rumor. England is a treasure born from South Port! I don’t know how England’s mother raised a son like that. I’m so jealous!”

All of Namhang’s sons point to me and call me that. My mother was constantly smiling as if she was proud of her son. But why am I crying like this? Am I really the kind of person who deserves to be loved like this?

“Sooyoung’s signature . “Can I ask for one?”

“Oh, of course!” I’ll give you an autograph and take a picture with you!”

“How did you know that I brought a film camera! “I couldn’t say anything for fear of getting in trouble!”

“Of course I have to take a picture of it, otherwise I’d be so upset!” Is he

an actor? Park Soo-young was quite different from her appearance on the set. She approached market merchants without any pretense and greeted them, even providing fan service. I don’t forget. These are market merchants who have never seen an insignificant actor. In their eyes, Park Soo-young, whose face was often reflected on the TV, must have seemed like a great person. Park Soo-young was so embarrassed that she couldn’t make eye contact with me while taking pictures.

“This is the PD . Please try it too. “It’s salted meat!”

“Jeot-yuk?”

“It’s salted shrimp, and if you make it in May, it’s salted shrimp. If you make it in June, it’s salted fish. If you make it in June, it’s called salted meat. Kajiye.” Try it with this Jeongguji stew. The quality of salted fish and shrimp is the best. It’s better than beef!”

“Thank you so much for this precious

gift.” “Everyone, eat as much as you can! There’s more if you go back there! The Kim family, who sells alcohol in our South Port, brought it to us in a box, so don’t hesitate!”

“The merchant president, please say a toast!”

“On a day like this, I can do it! Let’s do it!”

All of a sudden, attention was drawn. The eyes of dozens of actors from the filming team were focused, but the warm gaze of the market merchants especially made my heart flutter. Even if I said thank you hundreds of times, it wasn’t enough. But wasn’t it a toast? He raised a glass full of carbonated beverages and shouted,

“For the South Port!”

Laughter erupted again along with the sound of glasses clinking together. The scene was like a banquet hall. Emotions that I had never felt in my past life were like the tide. It came flooding back. As I sat down, trying to control my emotions, my mother held my hand tightly.

Park Soo-young was sitting next to my mother, and she was drinking a glass of soju and eating the yellow porridge deliciously. She was eating it so happily that I knew it. It was to the point where I wondered if it was Park Soo-young.

“Does Su-young’s porridge fit your taste buds?”

“Yes, you don’t know how delicious it is! What on earth was it made of?”

“Ajiya from Chojaejib told me she was going to the filming set, so I gave her a treat. I was worried that it wouldn’t be suitable for young people, but I’m glad.”

“A herb shop?”

“Ah, it’s an apothecary. This is a place that sells medicinal herbs that are good for your body. If you eat meat once, you won’t sweat in the summer and will feel full of energy. It’s made from frog frogs, and it’s said to be a better medicine than wild ginseng for people who have been through a lot of hard work!”

“It’s frog frogs, right?”

Park Soo-young’s eyes turned to me as if he was puzzled. It seems he didn’t understand the dialect. I said briefly,

“Frog frogs?” “Yo.”

At that moment, Park Soo-young’s shaking eyes turned to the bowl of porridge. However, he had already finished eating it so much that there was no need to wash the dishes. He was grateful, but at the same time, he was annoyed.