Ah, Mr . Hyunwoo Jang? Nice to meet you, and thank you . Haruki, say hi to him . Mr . Kuroda deeply lowered his head full of gray hair . Haruki, who looked like a high school freshman, also bowed deeply to Hyunwoo . Arigato gozaimasu (Thanks so much)! said Haruki . Haruki didnt look good for some time . It was not because of her health, but because she didnt want to follow Mr . Kuroda to visit Korea . Still, she didnt forget her manners . She seemed to know it was because of Hyunwoos help that she was getting better . Mr . Kuroda and Harukis mother admonished her quietly to show good manners . Smiling brightly, Hyunwoo dissuaded them, Oh, you dont have to . I feel uncomfortable if you keep doing so, and I dont deserve such a greeting . Hyunwoo took them to his house . His parents welcomed them . As they already heard about Haruki and the wild ginseng from Hyunwoo, they didnt have to ask about it . Mr . Kuroda looked like a well-mannered man by nature . He bowed not only to Hyunwoo but also to Hyunmin and his friend Sungrak, as well as the seniors who stopped by Hyunwoos house to waste time . Thanks so much . I dont know how I can repay my debt to you . Never mind, sir . I told Yos.h.i.+moto that the wild ginseng was not mine, but the states property, so you dont have to thank me . Without your help, my granddaughter Haruki would not have enjoyed its benefits . Thanks so much again . Well, she was lucky . No matter how good the wild ginseng is, not all people who take it see the results . Haruki was really lucky in that respect . Hyunwoo tried to avoid the credit, but Mr . Kuroda shook his head with a heavy expression on his face . There are no coincidences in this world . The way I got a.s.sociated with Yos.h.i.+moto, and I got to know you, and even you obtaining the wild ginseng is the will of the heavens . This means that the heavens have given me an opportunity of embarking on a new mission . Hyunwoo smelled something religious in his remarks, but thats all he said that sounded religious . Then, he talked about something just oriinary . Id like to repay your favor by all means . Fortunately Ive received a huge amount of severance money . How can I pay you back? Hyunwoo shook his head and said, I am not qualified to decide on the method of payment, but I think paying back with money is the least meaningful . Then, what do you think is the most valuable way? It was a very difficult question for Hyunwoo to answer, Hahaha . You dont have to hurry . You can talk about such a heavy topic later . As you have not returned to your fatherland in a long time, please enjoy travelling . Have you come to Korea before? No, this is the first time our family has come to Korea . Do you have place you want to visit then? Mr . Kuroda mentioned Kongju city, his fathers hometown and Daejon, his birthplace . Only then did Hyunwoo know Mr . Kuroda was born in Korea . Let me guide you . No, we should enjoy travel on our own… Though Mr . Kuroda refused Hyunwoos request, Hyunwoo insisted . Actually Hyunwoo had no particular plans that weekend . When he heard Mr . Kuroda was coming to Korea, he cancelled his regular mountain climbing trip with the seniors to spend time with Mr . Kuroda . Mr . Kuroda and his family visited Korea for two day and three nights . Though Mr . Kuroda could spend more days in Korea, his daughter-in-law and Haruki couldnt because of their work and school respectively . Im afraid we cant visit the two places today . Why dont we travel to Daejon first? Thanks so much . Mr . Kurodas family got in Hyunwoos van . Some seniors, the regular members of the mountaineering group, whispered among themselves and came to Hyunwoo, Can we join you? Were so bored at home . Are you going to be tired? And my guests will feel uncomfortable, said Hyunwoo, scratching his head and looking at Mr . Kuroda . Smiling broadly, Mr . Kuroda yielded his seat to them, Dont worry about us . Lets go together . So, the five seniors joined the group . Hyunwoos parents thought of joining, but they decided not to so they could prepare their first cla.s.s for the kids at the alternative school . The seniors who got in the van were all younger than 70 years old and very voluble . Naturally their topic was Mr . Kuroda . They began asking him lots of questions, and he was busy replying until they reached Daejon . After driving through some places in Daejon and other areas, Hyunwoo drove back to Ansan that the evening . As soon as he got home, Hyunwoos parents came out to greet him . They were high-spirited and dynamic in their daily lives these days thanks to the alternative school . Since they were given regular part-time teaching jobs at the school, they had been busy lately, preparing their lesson plans in order to enhance their ability to teach and be understood easily . At the moment, he thought about Mr . Kuroda . Just like his parents enjoyed their lives to the fullest, Mr . Kuroda should enjoy as much here in Korea, and there is no other greater way Mr . Kuroda could repay his fatherland than doing something here, Hyunwoo thought to himself . He was fully capable of teaching kids . According to Unhye, Mr . Kuroda was a veteran car engineer and one of the top experts in j.a.pan . He could share his knowledge with the kids at the alternative school . When he thought as far as that, Hyunwoo felt thrilled to know that Mr . Kurodas speciality was closely linked to his fathers specialty . Maybe both of them can be perfect partners in teaching! Is there no coincidence in this world, as Mr . Kuroda said? Is it true that an invisible power has connected his father and Mr . Kuroda through Yos.h.i.+moto and Haruki, wild ginseng and Hyunwoo? Only G.o.d knows that . Hyunwoo cautiously opened his mouth, Dont you think the most valuable thing in this world is someones dream and future? Dream and future . Yes, youre right . Thats more valuable than anything else, said Mr . Kuroda, nodding his head as if he saw eye to eye with Hyunwoo . In particular, the future of students like Haruki is more valuable than anything else, I think . Why dont you share knowledge and experience with such students? Do you think my knowledge and experience can be of any help? Hyunwoo took a deep breath and said, As I understand, you are the best engineer in j.a.pan as far as car engines are concerned . I think if you can share your knowledge and experience in the field with the kids, that will be a big help to them . While Hyunwoo spoke, he glanced at his fathers expression on his face . As expected, his father shrugged his shoulder to hear Mr . Kuroda was a car engineer and hardened his face a bit because of the bitter memories in the past . He might have recalled his original dream that he had to give up and didnt dare to pick up again because his rivals were too tough and too numerous . He wondered if Mr . Kuroda could stay long enough in Korea to be his partner . Hyunwoo continued, There is an alternative school called School of Dream not far from here . Wont you teach the kids there? Mr . Kuroda nodded, with a stiff look, Teaching the kids is a good idea, but I cant think of how to as I wont stay here long enough . Oh, what does it matter these days when internet is so advanced? If you have a will, I think you can find some way to do it . Yes, youre right, but I cant reveal my companys secrets even if I share my knowledge and expertise here . That bothers me a bit . Hyunwoo smiled lightly and said, Well, youre teaching the kids . I dont think that will rise to the level of leaking your companys secrets, and you can control what you teach, of course . Um . Thats right, replied Mr . Kuroda, nodding . And I just cited one example . Its up to you, Mr . Kuroda . You can repay any other way, and n.o.body would blame you even if you dont repay . Mr . Kuroda seemed to agonize a bit, and then said, as if he decided on something, As a matter of fact, its been my long -time dream to teach kids . If I have a chance, Id like to teach them, but Im not so sure if I am qualified . I wonder if the alternative school will let me teach . Oh, you can ask the school about it . Hyunwoo called the School of Dream and made an appointment for Mr . Kuroda . On Sunday, the next day after Mr . Kurodas arrival, he went to the school with his parents and the rest of Mr . Kurodas family . The teacher in charge at the School of Dream greeted Mr . Kuroda warmly . Offering a cup of warm tea, he explained to Mr . Kuroda about the status of the school and the students, pointing out the problems of the students who couldnt adjust themselves to the current normal schools . Mr . Kuroda was impressed with the fact that the School of Dream was focused on creative education, not college preparation . Ive been thinking for long that we need such a school . In j.a.pan there are lots of students suffering from standardized education focused on college preparation . Our school is different . We value each students personality and diversity as much as possible . We had an exhibition the other day, and the students works are in storage . Would you like to look at them? Oh, sure . I love to see them . The teacher showed Mr . Kuroda, his family, and Hyunwoo the storage . Just like Hyunwoos parents and Mrs . Kong, Mr . Kuroda was very surprised . Wow! This is a really good school . I just wonder what the kids educated here are growing up to be . We adults should help them a lot to make their dreams come true . Id like to help, but I live in j.a.pan, so Mr . Kuroda explained about the difficulties, but asked about the online teaching that Hyunwoo suggested . The teacher replied in the positive, Our school likes to think outside the box . I think online teaching is possible . Once you start it, we can find out how effective it is, and iron out the problems . Got it . Let me prepare the lesson as soon as I go back to j.a.pan . Ive come here to repay, but it looks like I have received a bigger gift .