Healing in the Country Side with a Baby Dragon - CHAPTER 13 (Happiness Growing Farm)

Kim Sang-do shoveled the acorn jelly salad into his mouth, one bite after another.

The taste of his wife’s homemade acorn jelly was already excellent, but pairing it with Jin-sol freshly harvested garden cucumbers and carrots elevated it to an entirely different level. The fragrance of the cucumbers was remarkably crisp, but it was the crunchy texture and subtle sweetness of the carrots that truly stole the show. Usually, people just throw carrots into a salad to balance out the color palette, but these carrots tasted special.

They were sweet—as sweet as a ripe pumpkin.

When you paired that sweetness with the salty, savory, and moderately bitter notes of the acorn jelly, it created a flawless, exquisite balance of flavors. To top it all off, we washed it down with a cool sip of cream-colored makgeolli.

"Ugh—!"

A deep, thoroughly satisfied exclamation burst right out of Sang-do’s throat. With the emerald mountains and distant sea painting our background and a gentle breeze brushing past the terrace, the food tasted twice as good. If someone were to open a food stall selling this exact combination at the base of a popular hiking trail, they would make an absolute fortune.

Following her father's lead, little So-yoon was also completely lost in a trance, happily munching away on the stir-fried sausages and vegetables.

Sang-do leaned over and whispered to me that they usually banned processed meats like sausages entirely at their house. It made sense; they had originally packed up and moved down to the countryside because So-yoon’s atopic dermatitis was so severe. Even on the incredibly rare occasions they did let her have them, the sausages were thoroughly boiled in water first, which stripped away all their rich fats, flavor, and aroma. This was effectively the little girl's very first time experiencing a sausage bursting with its actual, savory juices.

But it wasn't just the meat that blew So-yoon away.

"Uncle, this is really, really delicious!" she cheered, her mouth full.

She was currently pointing at the onions. Grilled onions are generally tasty, but because she had been forced to eat them constantly since she was a toddler as a health food, she had grown completely sick of them. The onions from my garden, however, were entirely different. They were incredibly crisp and carried a deep, natural sweetness. Plus, the gochujang-infused glaze created a spicy, sweet, and tangy profile that tied the whole dish together beautifully.

And then, of course, there were the golden bell tomatoes. The rich, bursting juices from the halved tomatoes enhanced the overall depth of the sauce, transforming the simple stir-fry into the ultimate accompaniment to a hot bowl of rice.

The father and daughter, who had been eating completely absentmindedly, finally caught themselves and let out a pair of awkward, self-conscious giggles.

"How on earth did you make this sauce, Jin-sol? I’ll have to ask my wife to try replicating it at home." Sang-do praised. 

Then he turned to his daughter with a teasing grin. 

"Though, I still prefer your mother's cooking overall. Right, So-yoon?"

"No! Don't say it like that!" 

So-yoon pouted, seeing right through him.

Even while playfully teasing his daughter, Sang-do’s chopsticks never once stopped moving, relentlessly targeting the acorn jelly salad. If So-yoon’s mother were here to witness her husband prioritizing my side dishes over her homemade jelly, she would definitely have a thing or two to say.

"So-yoon, try a piece of this acorn jelly with the vegetables." 

Sang-do suggested, carefully balancing a slice of jelly, cucumber, and carrot onto his daughter's spoon.

So-yoon hesitated for a fraction of a second. Deep down, the bitter, gelatinous texture of traditional acorn jelly isn't exactly a favorite among young children. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she bravely swallowed the whole spoonful in one bite. She chewed slowly, her eyebrows knitting together before her eyes suddenly snapped wide open.

"It's delicious!"

"Right? It's good, isn't it?"

"Yes!"

Emboldened by the taste, she immediately bypassed the sausages and began picking out the vegetables to eat on their own.

"Hey, hey, you have to eat the jelly too, not just the greens." Sang-do chuckled.

"But the greens are yummy!"

"Oh, alright. Eat plenty of your vegetables then." Satisfied, Sang-do took a massive bite of the stir-fried sausage, nodding in profound approval.

"Wow, eating this takes me right back to the good old days." Sang-do remarked, leaning back comfortably.

"Really? I personally love the kick from the gochujang." I replied, a wave of relief washing over me.

Whenever you cook for guests, there’s always a lingering anxiety about whether the food will actually suit their palates. You might worry that they're just offering polite, empty compliments to be nice, but looking at how their chopsticks were practically flying across the plates, I knew they genuinely loved it. Even as the cook, I was incredibly satisfied with how the meal turned out. The deep, vibrant flavors and aromas filling my mouth were deeply rewarding. To cap it all off, cleansing my palate with a crisp, cool sip of makgeolli was pure heaven.

‘Maybe I should try brewing my own batch of artisan makgeolli later down the line.'

I mused internally. Just a small, premium batch for personal consumption could be a fun project.

"Byebye—!"

Beside me, Seol-ah shivered with absolute delight, her tiny body wiggling in pure bliss as she finished her portion of the stir-fried sausages. Watching the two little girls sitting side by side, their cheeks completely puffed out like a pair of hoarding hamsters as they chewed, was the cutest thing imaginable.

As I watched them, I noticed that So-yoon’s skin looked remarkably clear compared to last week. During our previous meeting, there were still several raw, irritated patches scattered across her arms, but now, only faint, faded grey marks remained. Those were just standard healing scars that would naturally vanish with a little bit of time. From here on out, her skin was only going to get better.

"Her skin has gotten incredibly clear, hasn't it?"

Sang-do caught me looking, a bright, deeply emotional smile spreading across his face as he broke the silence. Normally, I would be hesitant to bring up a child's medical condition for fear of accidentally overstepping or causing discomfort, but his relaxed expression made it clear that the dark days were officially behind them.

So-yoon beamed happily as her father affectionately ruffled her hair.

"It used to hurt and sting all the time, but it doesn't hurt even a little bit anymore! Are you happy, So-yoon?"

"Yes! I'm so, so happy, Daddy! I don't have to wear those stuffy, heavy long sleeves in the heat anymore. And it doesn't itch at all!"

I nodded quietly. No child should ever have to suffer through that kind of suffocating discomfort.

Before we knew it, both girls had completely cleared their bowls and bounded up from the table, bursting with energy.

"Uncle Jin-sol! Can I please go play with Seol-ah in the yard a little longer?" So-yoon asked, her eyes wide and hopeful.

"Hmm? What do you think, Seol-ah?" I asked.

"Bam!"

"Alright, go ahead, girls. Just make sure you stay within the fence and don't wander off too far."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

So-yoon tightly grasped Seol-ah’s chubby hand, eagerly leading the baby dragon out toward the sunny grass.

"Let's play house!" So-yoon suggested, pulling out her toys.

"Bam!"

The two of them settled into the yard, instantly lost in their own little world of imagination. Beneath the vast blue sky and the brilliant afternoon sun, the children’s clear, ringing laughter echoed beautifully across the property. Sang-do and I sat quietly on the terrace, slowly sipping our remaining makgeolli as we took in the peaceful sight.

"Thank you, Jin-sol. Seriously." Sang-do murmured, his eyes turning slightly glassy, though whether it was from the alcohol or raw emotion, I couldn't tell.

"Please, don't mention it. Did I really do anything? It was all thanks to the tomatoes." I replied modestly. And honestly, it was the truth. I hadn't performed any medical miracles. It was entirely the supernatural properties of the golden bell tomatoes. No, wait—since the original tomato seed had been gifted to me by Lee Na-yeon, technically, she was the real savior here.

"Ever since she started eating them, So-yoon and her mother have become so incredibly bright. There’s a constant warmth and laughter in our house again." he whispered.

"I'm truly glad to hear that." I said, offering a warm smile.

"Yeah... So-yoon’s skin has been a source of constant pain for as long as I can remember. Every single day, my wife and I racked our brains trying to find a cure. We traveled across the country, visited every top-tier hospital and specialist we could find, but nothing ever worked. We cried so many tears in secret."

The child’s physical skin had fully healed, but the deep, invisible wounds left in the parents' hearts from years of watching their child suffer hadn't completely vanished just yet. How agonizing must it have been for them? If Seol-ah were ever to go through something like that, I would have been completely broken.

"Well, from now on, your family is going to have nothing but reasons to smile." I assured him.

"Thank you. And honestly, I’m just so glad to see how bright and happy Seol-ah looks under your care, too."

"Thank you. I'm just doing my best to make sure she grows up well."

"Parenting is a brutal, exhausting journey." Sang-do chuckled, clinking his glass against mine. "But the absolute second you see your child flash you a bright smile, all that exhaustion just completely evaporates into thin air. That's where we get our strength."

"Exactly. Just seeing her smile gives me all the energy I need."

The two fathers looked at each other and shared a loud, hearty laugh. Raising a child is a monumental challenge, but standing tall, staying strong, and protecting their happiness—that is the true duty of a father. Of course, my situation was a little unique since I had technically just happened to adopt a literal SSS-class primordial dragon, but after spending these precious days with Seol-ah, I was finally beginning to understand the weight of that bond. I made a silent vow to myself right then to always protect her innocent, radiant smile.

"Oh, by the way, the online store interface is practically finished." Sang-do announced, breaking the emotional atmosphere as he pulled out his smartphone with a proud, accomplished grin. 

"Do you want to take a look?"

"Oh, wow, really? Yes, please, let me see."

Sang-do handed over his phone to show off the digital storefront he had custom-built for me on the Smart Store platform.

"Wow, Uncle, this looks incredibly professional. You did an amazing job."

"Haha, I definitely burned the midnight oil to make sure it looked sharp." he beamed. 

As he said, the layout was remarkably sophisticated, utilizing clean aesthetics that immediately caught the eye. 

"And right here, I’ve also set up a corresponding promotional blog."

"A blog?"

"Yes. In this day and age, running a blog for organic search optimization is the absolute baseline for a direct-to-consumer farm. Honestly, launching a YouTube channel is also a great avenue, but video filming and editing get way too complicated for a solo farmer."

The digital framework was entirely flawless.

"Now, the only thing left to decide is the official name of the farm. What would you like to call it?"

"The name..."

As I pondered, a familiar blue system window materialized silently in my field of vision.

The Healing Life of a Beginner Dad]

[Quest: Naming the Lair]

[Bestow an official name upon the rare, sacred sanctuary you share with Seol-ah. A space that is explicitly named and deeply cherished becomes imbued with a mysterious, protective primordial power. Once the lair is named, Seol-ah's growth metrics will increase significantly!]

I stared at the quest prompt, suddenly feeling a heavy weight of responsibility. I couldn't just throw any random, generic title onto our home. This was an SSS-class dragon's sanctuary, after all. It couldn't sound silly or overly basic. It needed a title that carried deep, poetic resonance.

"How about... 'Beyond the Horizon: A Sanctuary of Infinite Wisdom and Primordial Life'?" I suggested thoughtfully.

"Pardon?" Kim Sang-do blinked, staring at me as if he had suddenly suffered temporary hearing loss.

"Byaaaa—!"

Even Seol-ah, who had been peacefully playing house out in the grass, let out a shocked squeak and stared at me with her mouth wide open. Her entire posture radiated pure, unadulterated disapproval. It was an expression that explicitly screamed, 'Daddy, that is the worst name I have ever heard.'

I didn't realize she would despise my poetic naming sense 'that' intensely. My pride as a gamer and a dad took a tiny, painful hit.

"I think it sounds completely awesome, Uncle Jin-sol!" So-yoon chimed in from the yard, her eyes sparkling.

It seemed my naming sense only appealed to elementary school metrics. Sang-do’s expression became comical as he looked at his daughter, his face clouding with deep, parental concern over her unexpected, chuunibyou-leaning tastes.

"Well... I suppose it's... unique..." Sang-do offered, delivering a textbook example of a supportive but deeply concerned father.

Seeing Seol-ah's intense rejection, I realized I needed to abandon the grandiose fantasy tropes and find something that actually suited our simple life.

"Then, how about... 'The Infinite Garden of Timeless Vitality'?" I tried again.

"Aaaah—!"

Seol-ah immediately crossed her chubby arms into a giant 'X' shape, puffed her cheeks out to maximum capacity, and shook her head furiously. She abandoned her toys, sprinted up the steps onto the terrace, and glared up at me with an incredibly stern, serious expression. It was overwhelmingly adorable.

I chuckled, shifting her onto my lap. Honestly, I had only thrown out those ridiculous, over-the-top names because her dramatic reactions were too cute to resist.

"Alright, alright. What about... 'Happiness Growing Farm'? How does that sound?"

I looked down to gauge her reaction. Sang-do's eyes lit up instantly, finding the title incredibly warm and fitting.

"Bam!" Seol-ah cheered, a radiant smile instantly replacing her pout as she threw her arms around my neck, thoroughly satisfied with the final choice.

I wrapped my arms around her, gently stroking her soft hair as a wave of quiet reflection washed over me. When I had first packed up my life and fled to this quiet countryside, it was purely an act of desperate escapism. Having lost both of my parents at a young age, I had spent my entire youth fighting a losing battle against a cold, unyielding reality, only to be hit with the devastating news that my remaining time on earth was strictly limited. This rural town was supposed to be nothing more than a quiet refuge to run away to.

Yet, somewhere along the way, I had miraculously become a dragon's father.

An outsider might look at my situation and ask, "How can a man whose own life is actively ticking away take on the burden of raising a child?" But honestly, as I spent each day watching over Seol-ah, interacting with the playful earth fairies, and working the rich soil of the garden...

Before I even realized it, the crushing, chronic fatigue that had plagued my soul for years had completely vanished, replaced by a deep, refreshing sense of genuine happiness. The local townspeople were incredibly kind, and right in front of me was a beautiful family who had recovered their laughter all because of the tomatoes we grew.

If this wasn't a place where happiness organically multiplied, I didn't know what was.

[You have bestowed a magnificent name upon the lair!]

[Just like the beautiful title of the 'Happiness Growing Farm,' this sacred space will henceforth attract nothing but boundless joy and fortunate blessings!]

"Let's officially go with 'Happiness Growing Farm,' Uncle." I said.

"It's a beautiful name, Jin-sol. Truly perfect." Sang-do nodded warmly, his fingers rapidly typing the name into the administrative interface. 

"In that case, should we take a quick, high-quality photo to feature on the main banner of the store page?"

At his excellent suggestion, I stepped out to the edge of the vibrant green garden, lifting Seol-ah securely into my arms.

"Alright! One, two, three!" Sang-do called out, raising his phone camera.

Seol-ah, Sang-do, and I all flashed brilliant smiles toward the lens.

*Click!*

The crisp shutter sound echoed across the yard.

"Wow, Jin-sol, take a look at this. The lighting is perfect. The photo came out beautifully." Sang-do said, showing me the screen.

"Hey!" Seol-ah chirped, pointing at the image.

Frozen on the smartphone screen, illuminated by the golden mid-day sunlight, was a picture of Seol-ah and me smiling radiantly against the lush, thriving backdrop of our magical crops. Looking at our shared expressions, a quiet, immovable resolve settled deep within my chest.

Yes. Together with Seol-ah, I was going to cultivate an abundance of joy right here. I was going to live a genuinely happy life.

Late that afternoon, as the sun began its gentle descent, Kim Sang-do and So-yoon finally made their way back to their own home.

"Honey, we're back!" Sang-do called out, sliding the front door open.

"Welcome home! Did you have fun today, So-yoon?" her mother, Park Ji-soo, greeted them from the kitchen.

"Yes!" the little girl cheered.

Since Sang-do had already given his wife a detailed play-by-play via text messages throughout the afternoon, there wasn't much explaining left to do. Instead, Ji-soo simply basked in the sight of her daughter’s exceptionally bright, energetic expression. So-yoon had become a completely different, joyful child over the past few weeks, and the dark clouds that used to hang over their household had completely evaporated.

"Did you eat a good lunch?" Ji-soo asked, kneeling down to help her daughter untie her shoes.

"Yes! It was so good!"

"Jin-sol's cooking skills are seriously out of this world, honey." Sang-do chimed in, leaning against the wall.

"Oh, really?" Ji-soo raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.

Of course, Sang-do hadn't survived years of marriage by accident. He instantly caught his mistake and pivoted flawlessly. 

"I mean, it was great, but obviously, your home cooking is still the absolute best in the universe."

"Mom's cooking is definitely the best!" So-yoon echoed right on cue, giggling.

"Oh, goodness, you two. Go wash your hands and mouths right now." Ji-soo laughed, thoroughly amused by their coordinated flattery.

The father and daughter shared a secret, knowing look and smiled. What had happened at lunch today regarding the sausage and makgeolli deal was officially a classified, lifelong secret between the two of them. The contract remained unbroken.

While So-yoon happily snacked on a fresh tomato in the living room with her mother, Sang-do sat down at the family computer to apply the final, finishing touches to Jin-sol online storefront. He locked in the official domain name, uploaded the formatting for the blog, and placed their terrace portrait right onto the center banner.

‘Happiness Growing Farm.’

The image of the young father and his chubby baby daughter smiling brightly amidst the glowing crops radiated a sense of profound, infectious joy that would turn any casual browser into a customer. The initial product listings featured our signature golden bell tomatoes along with a few minor garden crops.

"Are you all finished with the setup, honey?" Ji-soo asked, walking over to check on his progress.

"Yep, just hit the final publish button." Sang-do replied, stretching his arms.

"The store is officially live."

"Wow, thank you for your hard work..."

Ji-soo leaned in to look at the monitor, her eyes widening in surprise. 

"Oh my word... Sang-do, this photo is absolutely stunning."

She was staring intently at the banner image of Jin-sol and Seol-ah surrounded by the lush, magical greenery.

"Right? It turned out incredibly well right from the first take." Sang-do agreed proudly.

"The modeling is just fantastic. They both look so natural and cinematic." Ji-soo murmured softly. 

She quieted down for a moment before looking up at her husband. 

"Once So-yoon’s skin clears up completely... do you think we could take a family photo like that and put it up in our living room?"

Hearing her mother's words from across the room, So-yoon bounced up and down. 

"I want to! Let's do it!"

Ji-soo’s smile widened, her heart swelling with emotion at how eagerly and confidently her daughter could respond to the idea of taking a photograph now. Previously, the little girl had hated cameras, always hiding her irritated skin from view. Suddenly, a flicker of gentle concern crossed Ji-soo’s features.

"But... how did Jin-sol and little Seol-ah seem to you today? Do they look like they're managing okay on their own?"

"Oh, they're doing remarkably well. You really don't have to worry about them." Sang-do reassured her gently.

"Phew, that’s a relief..." 

Ji-soo exhaled a soft sigh. When she had first crossed paths with Jin-sol and Seol-ah at the village hall, she had honestly been deeply worried. 

"There must be quite a heavy history behind those two."

"I'd imagine so." Sang-do agreed quietly.

The child was clearly of unique lineage with her distinct hair and eye color, and her clothes were always slightly oversized, while the young father often looked a bit unpolished and clumsy with his parenting. There had to be a deeply complex, profound reason for a young city man to abruptly move down to a remote rural town to raise a baby completely on his own. It certainly wasn't a light story.

"I truly, deeply hope that happiness grows for them on that farm." Ji-soo whispered.

"Me too, honey. Me too."

Whatever their private circumstances were, Jin-sol had single-handedly cured their daughter's agonizing skin condition, which had been the single greatest nightmare of their lives. It was their turn to repay the favor.

"Alright, it's time for me to officially get to work." Ji-soo said, a look of fierce determination settling into her eyes as she gently nudged her husband out of the chair and took her place in front of the keyboard.

She opened up the interface for a massive online community network—the premier digital forum where thousands of desperate mothers of children suffering from severe atopic dermatitis gathered to share resources. Ji-soo was an active, highly respected moderator on the platform.

Navigating to the main board, she began typing out a single, definitive post.

[Title: Everyone, my So-yoon's skin has officially, completely recovered.]

Within minutes of hitting submit, the notification bell began ringing relentlessly.

>'Wait, she completely recovered just from eating a specific type of tomato?! Oh my god, are you serious?'

>'Is this real?! Where on earth can we buy them? Can our kids order from there too?'

>'Please, please send me the purchase link, even if it’s through a private message! My child is crying from itching right now!'

A massive tidal wave of frantic comments and inquiries began pouring into the thread, lighting up the screen in the quiet afternoon.