Eun Mei’s beautiful face turned white when she finally found her cherished piggy bank.

The hollow porcelain figurine is in pieces, and its remains are in the cracked clay pot her family uses as a trash bin. The money she saved for almost 2 years now is nowhere to be seen.

She already has an inkling of what happened, but she is still hoping beyond hope that what she believes happened is not her reality. Trembling, she marched toward their tiny living room and confronted her mother.

“What did you do with my money?! "She screamed at her.

Her mother is sitting in their old couch, reading a newspaper. Unperturbed, her mother merely raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me? ”

“The money in my piggy bank is in my room! It is now in the trash. Where is my money? ”

Her mother sighed patiently as she touched the bridge of her nose. "Please, stop shouting, dear," her mother murmured quietly, patting her hair. Her flawlessly coiffed hairstyle remained undamaged by her daughter's rage. "It is far too early in the morning for your drama."

Eun Mei physically took a deep breath in her desperate need to remain controlled. With an effort, she kept her voice level as she asked, "Mother, I have saved that money for two years. I barely ate lunch in school last year just so I could save that money. Where is my money? ”

Eun Mei’s mother stared back at him with her cold brown eyes. “Our savings are properly invested for our future. Think of this as a learning experience in proper handling of money.”

“What do you mean by our savings? I bought that piggy bank, and I solely saved in it with my money. You never add anything to it.”

“I did,” she insisted. “I just didn’t feel the need to show it to you. Not that you would know since all you care about are boys and gossiping in that useless school of yours.”

“It is in my room, hidden inside my cabinet! What are you talking about?! ”

“Do not raise your voice at me, young woman,” her mother said sternly. “I do place money in it. But that is not the point. This is a good time for you to learn the value of money. Saving coins is all well and good, but they are useless if you do not know when to invest your resources when needed. An opportunity happened, and we have to apply our savings to that goal. Do not worry, our investment will fan out.”

When Eun Mei simply stared at her, she had to sigh and explain everything. “Your uncle has a great opportunity,” she explained. “A new position is available in the canning factory just outside the town for one of the team leader positions. And to get that job, it is logical to show how sophisticated he is to impress the managers and party officials that run the factory. To show that sophistication, he needed to dress like one. Don’t you see? ”

For a full twenty seconds, the room was quiet as Eun Mei stared at her mother incredulously. “You spent my money to give your boyfriend new pants?! ” Eun Mei shouted.

Her mother rolled her eyes. “If you put it that way, it only shows how you are still not aware of how money investment actually works. Just wait and see; my plan will work and your uncle will get the job, and then our investment will be returned to us tenfold.”

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“It is not your money to invest! It is my money! You have no right to use my money! ”

Her mother sighed once more. “Just go to your room, young lady, and prepare yourself to go to school. I cannot deal with you when you are this hysterical,” she said. “I mean, honestly, it’s like all the knowledge I imparted on you about how to act like a lady goes down the drain every time you have one of these episodes of yours.”

Eun Mei stormed back to her room. The bitter tears in her eyes just wouldn’t stop. Two years of hardship. Two years of sacrifices ... down the drain.

As usual.

She needed that money. It is a resource she needed to get away from this stupid town. And now it is gone. Even if her mother’s so-called investment actually works, which is highly doubtful since her boyfriend is an idiot, her mother will never give her a part of that and will insist that it be used “for the overall good of the family.”

No, that money is gone. So be practical, Eun Mei, she told herself as she grabbed her bag and left the house without saying another word to her mother. You were given another setback, as usual, so what is the next step?

Find another way to get money.

Since saving up doesn’t work and will not work for you if your mother knows about it, then it's time to take more risks.

Eun Mei wiped the tears off her cheeks, and then she coldly started planning again.

******

Before that year’s winter, Jung had decided to plant additional potatoes around the new house structure he created near the forest in preparation for the coming cold months as a simple additional source of calories for his family.

During winter, however, the soil sort of froze around the forest, and Jung forgot about the potatoes. Well, Jung knew they were there, but the energy needed to dig them up seems not to be practical at the time since they do have other sources of food, such as the chicken and the garden, which are easier for Jung to tend to.

After winter, however, Jung returned to it, and to his surprise, the potatoes grew abundantly in the small plot of land he created for it. Potatoes the size of his head are protruding out of the soil, and when he digs them up, there are still tubers available, even when he reaches like 6 feet under. So he dug them up and stored like 4 sacks of potatoes in his house, and still there are more.

For weeks, Jung experimented with several dishes made from the tuber, and he increased his cooking skills by one level during that time. He also gave half a sack to the school principal, Principal Noh, a chubby, cheerful old man who mentioned before that his favorite dish is potatoes. The principal was touched by Jung’s gesture since he mentioned that like 4-5 years ago, and the young man remembered.

He also made smaller bags and gave them to Kwang, Sang-ki, and his other friends. Of course, he set aside an entire sack to give to Eun Mei. Unfortunately, the girl seems to be in different places when he is around, and they rarely meet these days.

The rest he sold in town. When he arrives, either to the junkyard, the clinic, or the gym, Jung will bring an entire sack, and when his business is finished or he is on break, he will go around town and the various businesses around it so he can start selling the potatoes. The diners loved it and offered him a good price for his potatoes.

Jung was whistling and carrying a sack of potatoes to be delivered to the diner when he passed an old man near an open stall. He is sitting in a chair and reading a newspaper while piping old tobacco. They recognized each other as fellow locals, so Jung bowed to him, and the man nodded with a grunt.

Jung passed him by and went on with his business. The old man continued to read his newspaper and forgot about Hyusil’s brat. Coincidentally, it was actually the same edition copy of the paper Eun Mei's mom was reading. On page six of the paper, there was a curious help wanted ad that might have gotten Jung’s interest if he had seen it.

The full ad reads like this:

Attention Woodworking Maestro – Are You JHK?

Are you the prodigious artisan behind the initials "JHK" renowned for crafting exquisite wooden furniture that combines artistry with revolutionary techniques? An association of woodworkers seeks your expertise!

About Us:

We are a prestigious collective of woodworking enthusiasts dedicated to celebrating craftsmanship and innovation. Your distinctive work has piqued our interest, and we aim to collaborate with visionary artisans like you.

Opportunity Awaits:

If you are the talent behind the initials "JHK," we invite you to join forces with us. Your exceptional skill set and pioneering designs align perfectly with our mission to redefine woodworking norms and captivate connoisseurs worldwide.

What We Offer:

An exclusive platform to showcase your creations to a discerning audience.

Collaborative opportunities with seasoned artisans passionate about pushing the boundaries of woodworking.

Recognition and exposure for your groundbreaking techniques and designs.

Get in Touch:

If you are "JHK" and are eager to expand your horizons by partnering with a community that appreciates and celebrates your craftsmanship, kindly reach out to us at 555-XXX-XXXX.

Let's revolutionize the world of woodworking together!