Chapter 16:
A few weeks had passed, and North Korea suffered another catastrophic winter. There were no official statistics taken but the most conservative estimates numbered the death toll in the tens of thousands, especially in the deep provinces.
The civilians simply did not have the necessary tools and clothes to combat the never-ending cold, and the first ones to succumb to the environment were the elderly and the very young.
In the province of Guanzu, where a certain boy resides, the peasants were able to ride out the winter in relative calmness since they were slightly more prepared than their counterparts in other provinces.
Now that the snow has melted, a large portion of the dirt roads that make up 90 percent of the roads in the provinces of the People's Republic have turned to muck, causing vehicles to stall.
Like a clogged artery, most goods, from mechanical spare parts to baby formulas, were delayed or stopped entirely in some places. With no parts or raw materials arriving, commercial establishments and factories either slowed or came to a halt. No work means no jobs. No jobs means less money to buy fewer goods.
Within weeks, the North Korean economy tanked, and again, the NK Won, which is already a joke in the world’s financial market, dropped in value even more because of uncontrolled inflation.
Koreans' savings, which are mostly kept in drawers and secret chests hidden under the bed rather than in banks, have suddenly become far less valuable than they were yesterday. Many people suffered. But, like the tenacious weed that they are, the Koreans people simply smiled and endured.
And they work even harder.
Kim Jung Hee was seven years and ten months old when the full force of winter engulfed the hermit kingdom of North Korea.
Jung Hee felt some of the economic turmoil because his family did. But he was not discouraged. For, despite his age, he has grown accustomed to adversity while maintaining an astonishingly positive outlook on life. Jung’s small feet trudge in the deep snow.
In the small town of Guanzu where Jung Hee lived, the harsh winter brought with it a daily struggle for survival. The streets were blanketed in a thick layer of snow, making it difficult for residents to even leave their homes. Many of the town's inhabitants were paid on a day-to-day basis, and their meager salaries were barely enough to cover the cost of food for the day, let alone the expense of heating their homes. Jung waved at the tired people going about their business.
Despite the harsh conditions, the people of the town were determined to make a living and provide for their families. They would wake up early in the morning, bundled in layers of clothing to protect them from the freezing temperatures. They trudged through the snow-covered streets, heads down against the bitter wind, on their way to work.
Their jobs were often manual labor, working in factories or construction sites where the cold seeped through their gloves and boots, numbing their fingers and toes. But they worked on, driven by the need to earn a wage and put food on the table for their families.
Even though the winter was exceptionally harsh, the residents of the town did not give up. They assisted each other by sharing what little they had and supporting one another through difficult times. They were a tight-knit group, united in their troubles, and resolved to survive the winter together.
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Despite the hardships, the townspeople persevered and made a life for themselves, even under the conditions of a particularly hard winter. Their resilience and resourcefulness were remarkable, but even so, hardship is a hardship.
Only the lucky few have emergency funds stashed away. Most people have no choice but to work despite the grueling weather. And they suffered.
Jung's family is one of the lucky few. They still have some of the sack of rice they received from the cooperative, and they have their lucky small garden that, even in winter, is remarkably producing much-needed green vegetables.
So Jung's parents are understandably against Jung's idea to work in winter. They wanted him to stay at home and study his lesson or something. Sure, soon Jung will have no choice but to actually work even in winter like the rest of them, for that is how their lives work…
But for someone who is barely eight years old?
But Jung Hee was adamant that he wanted to have extra money, and winter seemed to be an opportunity he could not miss.
His plan was simple: Even before winter, Jung had planned ahead and already cut several trees in the forest and seasoned them just outside their home. When winter comes, Jung has a veritable ready-made stack of dried wood to cut and distribute to the town for a much-needed extra heat source.
Despite his proven diligence, his parents couldn't help but worry since their small child, now bundled in several layers of thick clothes, looked much chubbier and therefore so much more adorable as he waddled in the snow, especially when the stack of wood behind his back dwarfed him.
His mother made the hard decision to let him do his work.
“What? Why? He is only eight,” Hyusil, her husband, demanded.
His mother simply looks at her husband. “It will help him prepare for his future. And besides, we need the money.”
That stops Hyusil, and guiltily, he silently goes back inside their hut, where it is warmer and his bones are slightly less painful.
They didn’t see the satisfied smile on Jung’s face as bubble after bubble of the body stats came floating up in the air gaining him more overall XP because of his simple effort to carry logs to town.
The one who needed his stack of wood the most was the soup/noodle restaurant in the middle of the town since they were still open and offered smoked grilled pork among others. Jung brought them several stacks of wood every day and to the delight of the cook and waitress who couldn’t help but adore Jung as their little helper. His price was even reasonable and he gets an extra meal or two for his trouble.
He did frown when the system gave him a new skill called "Making an Entrance."
Congratulations!
You have unlocked the specialist skill “Grand Entrance.”
Once a day, you have the option of influencing the way people look at you when you enter a specific room. Every person in the room who has a positive or neutral stance with you will receive a 10% boost in liking you. Every person in the room who has negative feelings against you will have a 10% boost in getting intimidated by you.
The influence lasts for 24 hours, but if you charm or intimidate the same person for 7 consecutive days, the influence will become permanent. Influence can still stack by continuous activation of the skill.
Requirements: Body 1, Mind 1 (already met)
Current level: 0
Needed skill points to upgrade to the next level: 1
Remaining Skill Points: 0
Why would the system… Oh well.
He blinked to himself. Actually, this skill might be useful to him, Jung thought, his smile starting to edge wider as he imagined the possibility.
Too bad Jung did not have any skill points left to activate the specialized skill. I knew I should not have activated that skill “finger Snapping” days ago, Jung thought grumpily as he involuntarily stomped his foot. Seemingly outward, he is simply stomping the ice off his little worn shoes, but the cooks and kitchen helpers behind him had to bite their lips as the oblivious cute little boy became even more adorable.
Jung frowned again as he placed his little arms across his chest. He needed to learn how to manage his limited points more effectively. It would be nice to learn a skill he could use to properly identify the necessary skill and put aside the skill he didn't need. Jung hee sighed and shook his head. Even so, there is no point in lamenting the proverbial spilled milk.
Again, he was oblivious when his adorable meter rose by at least 2 more points with his grumpy expression.
For one, he is already late to go and feed the stupid bird. The little shit is probably twitting a storm by now. The thought of it put a smile on his face even as he hurried his way into the back forest.
“kyaaaah! Look at him being grumpy! He looks so cute!”
“Shuush! He is going to hear us!” whispered an older maid.
Jung turned to the head maid and politely bowed to her. “I will be going now!” Jung said brightly. “Thank you for the meal!” he waved, and at least 4 other maids waved back at him and then he trudged back home, only to grab more dry wood to deliver to the next establishment.