Cho on Nostr: Orchard Six Kkomaengideul (Kids) #orchard #children stories #korean #family #love ...
Orchard Six Kkomaengideul (Kids)
#orchard #children stories #korean #family #love #nonfiction
Gongjunim
After decades of tragedy spanning two generations, the Orchard House finally welcomed the grace and hope of a new generation—a firstborn daughter named Gongjunim. Her arrival sent waves of excitement through the community, and none were more thrilled than her father, Gyu Cheol, the orchard owner. He was overjoyed by the new addition to his family, but it was his youngest sister, Jin Hee, who was the most ecstatic. As the doting aunt to all the orchard kids, Jin Hee eagerly took charge of little Gongjunim, lovingly bathing her and dressing her in the finest clothes. To Jin Hee, Gongjunim was the epitome of beauty and charm, and every moment spent with her precious niece was pure delight.
Carrying Gongjunim on her back, Jin Hee proudly showed her off to everyone, beaming with pride as she asked, "Is she not the most beautiful?" But when someone had the audacity to disagree, Jin Hee was deeply hurt, falling into a wounded silence and refusing to speak to them for a long time. This moment revealed the profound emotional bond and protective love Jin Hee felt for Gongjunim, who quickly became more than just a newborn in the orchard—she was the treasured centre of the family's joy and pride.
Gongjunim, meaning "princess" in Korean, was pampered and indulged from the very beginning. With her dark, thick hair often hiding her face and a slight chubbiness that mirrored her mother’s, she was the smallest among the orchard kids, just like her father. She often wished she were a couple of inches taller, joking with her younger sisters, "If you all hadn’t taken my food, I’d be taller." But when they glanced at her chubby figure, Gongjunim would fall silent. She also wished for a bit less hair—traits she had inherited from her father. However, she had her mother's thick lips and light brown eyes, giving her an appearance that leaned more toward cute than conventionally pretty.
Gongjunim, affectionately nicknamed "Yes girl," was known for her unwavering compliance with her parents' requests, always saying yes rather than no. Rules were of paramount importance to her, and she adhered to them strictly. A meticulous and tidy person, she needed everything in her life to be in order and spotlessly clean. Gongjunim managed her affairs with sharp precision, always knowing exactly how much money she had, down to the last penny. Punctuality was another of her strong suits, as she was always on time or even early. This combination of traits made her an exceptionally efficient worker, and she was recognized as the most pragmatic and realistic member of the orchard house family.
Whenever Gongjunim was with her mother, people would invariably comment on her mother’s stunning beauty. Yet, Gongjunim rarely heard such praise for herself. Her mother, with her radiant skin, exquisite features, and vibrant personality, was the epitome of beauty, leaving Gongjunim feeling overshadowed. Despite this, Gongjunim took pride in her mother’s beauty, which helped her maintain a stable sense of identity. As the firstborn of a wealthy family, she was accustomed to privilege and was generally able to manage her insecurities.
However, Gongjunim’s life took a dramatic turn when her father faced severe financial difficulties. This sudden change forced Gongjunim to confront a stark contrast in how people perceived and treated her. Once accustomed to the comforts of a “금수저 (geumsujeo: golden spoon)” lifestyle—where wealth and ease were the norm—she found herself thrust into a “흙수저 (heulgsujeo: dirt spoon)” existence by the age of 16, where hard work and struggle became essential just to get by.
Adjusting to this new reality proved challenging for Gongjunim. Accustomed to a life of privilege, the sudden change demanded resilience and hard work—qualities she was only beginning to understand. The contrast between her past and present highlighted the complexities she faced as she navigated the challenges of transitioning from a life of affluence to one marked by the need for perseverance.
As Gongjunim's family faced hardships, her mother, Myeong Su, lost many workers, prompting all the orchard kids to share in the workload. As the first child, Gongjunim found herself obligated to assist her mother in preparing meals for everyone. Despite her mother’s repeated morning calls that woke up the entire village, much like a rooster’s crow, Gongjunim occasionally resisted the responsibility, choosing instead to stay wrapped up in her blanket.
Frustrated by Gongjunim’s reluctance, her mother eventually turned her attention to Neuljeongi, orchard house second child, calling her ten times to no avail. Third child, Erika’s name was intentionally skipped, and the next in line, Ttogsuni, fourth child, promptly responded, eagerly offering her assistance. Meanwhile, Dae Hyun, fifth child, only son, heir of family and Hongi, youngest, remained unresponsive and were not called upon during this particular occasion.
Ttogsuni found joy in helping their mother, and though Gongjunim felt a sense of guilt, she eventually joined in the work, even though she disliked it. In her younger years, after the births of Neuljeongi and Erika, Gongjunim enjoyed their company but often pleaded with her mother not to have any more babies.
The responsibility of caring for her siblings, especially Neuljeongi, who always relied on her, weighed heavily on her. When Gongjunim wanted to play with her best friends, Neuljeongi would not let her go. When she attempted to distance herself, Neuljeongi would cry in one spot in the orchard house yard until Gongjunim returned. The increasing demands of caring for her growing family painted a poignant picture of a young girl overwhelmed by familial duties.
Despite her sometimes independent and seemingly selfish demeanour, family observed that Gongjunim was not as she appeared. During a family picnic, Gongjunim positioned herself in the middle, patiently waiting until everyone had disembarked from the bus. She meticulously checked the entire bus to ensure nothing was left behind.
On another occasion, at a public toilet, Gongjunim delayed coming out. Concerned, orchard kids went in to find her cleaning the messy toilet for someone else. Even during a mountain walk, when a signboard had fallen, presumably due to a storm, she didn’t hesitate to pick up a large stone and carefully place the signboard back on the ground. As the first child, Gongjunim didn’t want to be burdened with responsibilities, she was inevitably drawn to them. Yet, Gongjunim had developed a strong sense of responsibility, volunteering, and a knack for looking after everything.
Gongjunim often shared her dream of becoming a priest with the family and even studied theology, but she ended up married with ordinary man, she was working at a school, cooking for kids.
Even after getting married, Gongjunim and her husband regularly visited her parents’ farm, actively assisting whenever they needed help. She was her father’s daughter through and through, fully understanding and admiring him in every way. She often spoke of her father with pride, describing him as brave, warm, sharp, intelligent, and playful—a music artist more attractive and handsome than any celebrity. She would tell anyone who would listen, “My father’s motto was simple: work hard, eat well, rest, enjoy life, and always come back home to stay the night.”
Though the orchard kids had all left the hometown house, the farm became a playground for Gongjunim’s little two boys.
#orchard #children stories #korean #family #love #nonfiction
Gongjunim
After decades of tragedy spanning two generations, the Orchard House finally welcomed the grace and hope of a new generation—a firstborn daughter named Gongjunim. Her arrival sent waves of excitement through the community, and none were more thrilled than her father, Gyu Cheol, the orchard owner. He was overjoyed by the new addition to his family, but it was his youngest sister, Jin Hee, who was the most ecstatic. As the doting aunt to all the orchard kids, Jin Hee eagerly took charge of little Gongjunim, lovingly bathing her and dressing her in the finest clothes. To Jin Hee, Gongjunim was the epitome of beauty and charm, and every moment spent with her precious niece was pure delight.
Carrying Gongjunim on her back, Jin Hee proudly showed her off to everyone, beaming with pride as she asked, "Is she not the most beautiful?" But when someone had the audacity to disagree, Jin Hee was deeply hurt, falling into a wounded silence and refusing to speak to them for a long time. This moment revealed the profound emotional bond and protective love Jin Hee felt for Gongjunim, who quickly became more than just a newborn in the orchard—she was the treasured centre of the family's joy and pride.
Gongjunim, meaning "princess" in Korean, was pampered and indulged from the very beginning. With her dark, thick hair often hiding her face and a slight chubbiness that mirrored her mother’s, she was the smallest among the orchard kids, just like her father. She often wished she were a couple of inches taller, joking with her younger sisters, "If you all hadn’t taken my food, I’d be taller." But when they glanced at her chubby figure, Gongjunim would fall silent. She also wished for a bit less hair—traits she had inherited from her father. However, she had her mother's thick lips and light brown eyes, giving her an appearance that leaned more toward cute than conventionally pretty.
Gongjunim, affectionately nicknamed "Yes girl," was known for her unwavering compliance with her parents' requests, always saying yes rather than no. Rules were of paramount importance to her, and she adhered to them strictly. A meticulous and tidy person, she needed everything in her life to be in order and spotlessly clean. Gongjunim managed her affairs with sharp precision, always knowing exactly how much money she had, down to the last penny. Punctuality was another of her strong suits, as she was always on time or even early. This combination of traits made her an exceptionally efficient worker, and she was recognized as the most pragmatic and realistic member of the orchard house family.
Whenever Gongjunim was with her mother, people would invariably comment on her mother’s stunning beauty. Yet, Gongjunim rarely heard such praise for herself. Her mother, with her radiant skin, exquisite features, and vibrant personality, was the epitome of beauty, leaving Gongjunim feeling overshadowed. Despite this, Gongjunim took pride in her mother’s beauty, which helped her maintain a stable sense of identity. As the firstborn of a wealthy family, she was accustomed to privilege and was generally able to manage her insecurities.
However, Gongjunim’s life took a dramatic turn when her father faced severe financial difficulties. This sudden change forced Gongjunim to confront a stark contrast in how people perceived and treated her. Once accustomed to the comforts of a “금수저 (geumsujeo: golden spoon)” lifestyle—where wealth and ease were the norm—she found herself thrust into a “흙수저 (heulgsujeo: dirt spoon)” existence by the age of 16, where hard work and struggle became essential just to get by.
Adjusting to this new reality proved challenging for Gongjunim. Accustomed to a life of privilege, the sudden change demanded resilience and hard work—qualities she was only beginning to understand. The contrast between her past and present highlighted the complexities she faced as she navigated the challenges of transitioning from a life of affluence to one marked by the need for perseverance.
As Gongjunim's family faced hardships, her mother, Myeong Su, lost many workers, prompting all the orchard kids to share in the workload. As the first child, Gongjunim found herself obligated to assist her mother in preparing meals for everyone. Despite her mother’s repeated morning calls that woke up the entire village, much like a rooster’s crow, Gongjunim occasionally resisted the responsibility, choosing instead to stay wrapped up in her blanket.
Frustrated by Gongjunim’s reluctance, her mother eventually turned her attention to Neuljeongi, orchard house second child, calling her ten times to no avail. Third child, Erika’s name was intentionally skipped, and the next in line, Ttogsuni, fourth child, promptly responded, eagerly offering her assistance. Meanwhile, Dae Hyun, fifth child, only son, heir of family and Hongi, youngest, remained unresponsive and were not called upon during this particular occasion.
Ttogsuni found joy in helping their mother, and though Gongjunim felt a sense of guilt, she eventually joined in the work, even though she disliked it. In her younger years, after the births of Neuljeongi and Erika, Gongjunim enjoyed their company but often pleaded with her mother not to have any more babies.
The responsibility of caring for her siblings, especially Neuljeongi, who always relied on her, weighed heavily on her. When Gongjunim wanted to play with her best friends, Neuljeongi would not let her go. When she attempted to distance herself, Neuljeongi would cry in one spot in the orchard house yard until Gongjunim returned. The increasing demands of caring for her growing family painted a poignant picture of a young girl overwhelmed by familial duties.
Despite her sometimes independent and seemingly selfish demeanour, family observed that Gongjunim was not as she appeared. During a family picnic, Gongjunim positioned herself in the middle, patiently waiting until everyone had disembarked from the bus. She meticulously checked the entire bus to ensure nothing was left behind.
On another occasion, at a public toilet, Gongjunim delayed coming out. Concerned, orchard kids went in to find her cleaning the messy toilet for someone else. Even during a mountain walk, when a signboard had fallen, presumably due to a storm, she didn’t hesitate to pick up a large stone and carefully place the signboard back on the ground. As the first child, Gongjunim didn’t want to be burdened with responsibilities, she was inevitably drawn to them. Yet, Gongjunim had developed a strong sense of responsibility, volunteering, and a knack for looking after everything.
Gongjunim often shared her dream of becoming a priest with the family and even studied theology, but she ended up married with ordinary man, she was working at a school, cooking for kids.
Even after getting married, Gongjunim and her husband regularly visited her parents’ farm, actively assisting whenever they needed help. She was her father’s daughter through and through, fully understanding and admiring him in every way. She often spoke of her father with pride, describing him as brave, warm, sharp, intelligent, and playful—a music artist more attractive and handsome than any celebrity. She would tell anyone who would listen, “My father’s motto was simple: work hard, eat well, rest, enjoy life, and always come back home to stay the night.”
Though the orchard kids had all left the hometown house, the farm became a playground for Gongjunim’s little two boys.