Reborn as Van Gogh – Chapter 17
5. European Trip (2)
I opened a bank account.
Grandfather deposited the earnings from selling Sunflowers, which he had received on my behalf, and then taught me how to use an ATM.
The screen displayed the number 2,436,840,000.
Apparently, that was the amount after withholding taxes.
“Why didn’t you keep it?”
“Tsks.”
He always gets upset the moment I bring up paying him back.
It’s about keeping a promise, but he flat-out refuses every time, so there’s nothing more I can do.
“Now, press here like this. Set the amount you want to withdraw and hit the button.”
I pressed for 30,000 won and entered the PIN. A voice instructed me to take out my card.
Cash came out too.
To think money could be managed so conveniently.
“The world’s gotten really nice.”
“Heheheh. Yeah, it sure has, kid.”
Grandfather gave my hair a good ruffle.
He handed me a small box.
Inside was a wallet with an avant-garde design featuring a yellow sponge.
When I was in the hospital, I’d simply found the moving picture amusing, but I guess he thought I liked the character.
“Thank you.”
Inside the wallet was a 10,000-won bill.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a tradition—putting it in means I hope you’ll make a lot of money.”
I used to do the same when I was younger.
Even in a world this advanced, superstitions like this persist. Some things change, and some don’t.
We got in Grandfather’s car.
We weren’t heading home.
“Where are we going?”
“To the tax office. Since you made money, you have to register a business and pay taxes.”
I understood the part about paying taxes, but I didn’t know words like “tax office” or “business registration.”
“I don’t really get what that means.”
“It’s okay not to know now—Grandpa will take care of it. But you do need to study this stuff eventually. Selling your art is important, but how you manage the money afterward is just as important.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’ve earned a lot, but if you don’t manage it and spend recklessly, it’ll be gone in no time. That’s how money works. Today, let’s create a corporation and learn how to manage money.”
He used a lot of unfamiliar words, so I didn’t understand everything, but I’ve seen plenty of people crumble after coming into sudden wealth.
He’s probably warning me against becoming one of them.
“What’s a corporation?”
“Think of it as a legally recognized company.”
“…Huh?”
“You’re setting up a company. Your income becomes the company’s income. And then the company pays you.”
I didn’t understand at all.
“You said I’m making the company?”
“Yes.”
“Then the money I make belongs to the company, and the company gives me an allowance?”
“Exactly.”
“I didn’t understand any of that. Why does it have to be so complicated?”
“The more you earn, the more taxes you pay. Tax rates are based on income thresholds. But corporations can benefit from better tax rates. The government gives advantages to companies so they can grow.”
“So if I don’t set up a corporation, I’ll pay more taxes?”
“Exactly. Just like your grandfather, you’re quick to catch on.”
To be clear—I still didn’t understand.
And I don’t think I will anytime soon.
I really have no clue.
While I was feeling frustrated about how important this all seemed yet so incomprehensible, Grandfather smiled kindly.
“You can take your time. It’s not something you’re supposed to understand all at once.”
“Yes.”
Unlike the old days when just painting was enough, modern artists seem to have a lot more to worry about.
Grandfather and I created this so-called corporation.
I didn’t know what it was, and when asked to name the company, I just wrote “Go Hoon.”
“Alright, now let’s go get a cellphone.”
“What’s a cellphone?”
“A phone, I mean.”
“What’s a phone?”
“This. This thing is a phone.”
Grandfather took out his smartphone.
“Isn’t that a smartphone?”
“Same thing—a cellphone.”
So many confusing things today.
“…Is this a riddle?”
“What riddle? Heh heh. Don’t be silly. Let’s go.”
After thinking about it for a moment, I concluded all three words—cellphone, phone, and smartphone—must mean the same thing.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to make sense of what he was saying.
Why does one object need three names?
We entered a flashy store.
“Welcome!”
“We’re here to buy a phone for my grandson.”
The staff member gave a fake smile and asked,
“Do you have something specific in mind?”
I didn’t know enough to have preferences.
“Show us the best one.”
Grandfather answered for me.
“Sure, this way.”
The employee showed us a phone that stretched from my wrist to my elbow.
“This is a new release from WH, just launched last month. Large screen, 400MP camera, 244Hz display—perfect for students watching videos while studying. Want to try it?”
I didn’t understand a word he said, and it looked too big.
I didn’t even know how to use it.
I just wanted something like Grandfather’s—at least I’d seen him use it a few times.
“I want one like Grandpa’s.”
“Mine?”
When Grandfather pulled out his smartphone, the employee’s expression changed instantly.
Gone was the fake smile—his face showed clear annoyance.
He won’t last long in this business.
“These days, with all the apps out there, you really need something high-spec. Especially for students studying.”
“Really?”
Grandfather nodded.
“Hoon, this man says that’s better. How about getting a good one?”
Grandfather knows a lot, but he’s clearly clueless about things like this.
They keep bringing up studying, but honestly, if you’re going to study, shouldn’t you be not holding a smartphone?
“Grandpa, can you only buy phones here?”
“No, but… Why? You don’t like any of them?”
“No. I want to take my time.”
“Hmm. Alright, let’s do that then.”
Buying something over a million won without any knowledge is reckless.
“Excuse me, sir. Today’s the last day for our discount. If you buy now, you’ll get 20,000 won off your monthly bill.”
“Hmm.”
“You’ll have to buy him a phone anyway. All the kids at school have one these days. Without it, he might be looked down on.”
“Really?”
Grandfather, clearly worried, was half-persuaded by the phone salesman.
“I don’t go to school.”
I grabbed Grandfather’s hand and tugged.
“Wait a second. I really think we should buy it… He said all his friends have one.”
Using the “everyone else has one” trick is a classic sales move.
Back at the gallery, they used to say that people who didn’t own certain artworks were uncultured.
Sales tricks haven’t changed one bit.
“Let’s get it later.”
“Why? Grandpa wants to give you a gift to celebrate. How about this one?”
The employee’s face lit up.
Definitely a product I should not buy.
I had no intention of buying it—but I’d have to pretend otherwise.
“If we don’t leave now, I’ll lie on the floor and cry.”
“What’s gotten into you?”
“I mean it.”
I’ve pretended to be crazy before. Lying down and throwing a tantrum is nothing.
“Uh… sorry. We’ll come back another time.”
“Oh… okay.”
Leaving the disappointed employee behind, I dragged Grandfather out of the store.
“Wow. You really didn’t want it that bad?”
“Let’s ask Aunt Mirae later. You almost made a terrible mistake.”
“Hey, I’m a very rational man! The discount ends today, after all. If you’re going to buy it anyway, better to get it cheaper.”
“That discount will still be there later.”
“How would you know?”
“All salespeople are like that.”
“Who did you get this stubbornness from?”
“Probably you, Grandpa.”
After dinner, we returned home.
We had samgyeopsal—thick slices of pork belly grilled on a hot stone.
Alongside potato pizza and jjajangmyeon, it might just be one of the best foods in the world.
The juicy, tender meat, the rich aroma… even kimchi, which I used to dislike, tasted amazing when grilled in pork fat.
I’m seriously considering making my next painting about samgyeopsal.
It was a perfect end to a long day.
‘What even happened today?’
I opened a bank account, established a corporation, opened a business account, split my funds, and opened a stock trading account.
I’m not even sure I remember everything.
Tomorrow, Mirae will help me buy a phone—who knows how much more brain power that’ll take.
“Hehehe. Tired?”
“I feel like I should know what’s going on, but I don’t.”
“That’s normal at first. Grandpa could do everything for you, but one day, you’ll have to do it yourself.”
Grandfather patted my head gently, looking a bit wistful.
“I’m letting you keep this large sum of money because of that. Just because your wallet is full doesn’t mean you should spend freely. If you manage it well, you can live your whole life painting without worrying about money. But if you slip up, your life could become very difficult.”
He clearly wanted to instill good financial habits in me.
Honestly, even most adults wouldn’t know how to handle everything that happened today.
“Phew. I’m tired too—it’s been a while since I’ve walked around this much.”
Still, the reason he’s going to such lengths is probably to prepare me for the day he’s no longer around.
He looked so young for his age, but today I learned he was sixty-four.
That was a shock.
An age where death wouldn’t be surprising.
“…Please live a long time.”
“You rascal, I’m still in my prime! I’m only sixty-four!”
He probably wants to believe that.
And so do I.
“When I retire next year, I’ll take some trips and finally work on all the projects I’ve put off. Then we can go look at art together.”
My heart grew heavy.
Though he said it so casually, it felt like today was part of a farewell tour.
Otherwise, why suddenly teach me so much, try to buy me a phone, and feed me luxurious food like samgyeopsal?
“Let’s do that.”
“Hm?”
Grandfather leaned in.
“Why are you crying, huh?”
“I’m not crying.”
It hadn’t been long since we met.
It may have started wrong, but the love he gave me helped me adjust to this new life.
“You’re clearly tearing up. You don’t want to go on a trip?”
Is he trying to keep it hidden?
Maybe because Go Hoon is still a child who recently lost his parents.
But I can’t leave someone nearing the end of their life feeling lonely.
He treated me with genuine care when even my own family didn’t.
He reminded me of what family warmth feels like.
“…How much time do you have left?”
“What?”
“You don’t have to pretend. You don’t have long, do you?”
“What are you talking about? What’s not long?”
It was hard to speak through the lump in my throat.
“Your… time left to live.”
“What?”
His eyes went wide with shock.
“You don’t have much time left, right?”
“You rascal, what nonsense is this? I’ll live to be a hundred!”
“I hope you do.”
But people don’t live to a hundred.
The fact that he’s made it to sixty-four in good health already makes him long-lived.
“Let’s make lots of good memories. Let’s travel. Let’s see lots of art.”
“Stop that! If I start preparing for death at my age, people will gossip! They won’t even let me into the senior center!”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“What lie? Why are you acting like this today? Did someone say I’m dying?”
“Then why did you set up a corporation?”
“So you can pay taxes and manage money!”
“You suddenly tried to buy me a phone.”
“Because all the kids have them nowadays!”
“You even gave me high-quality food like samgyeopsal.”
“What?”
“I don’t need any of that. I’d rather you stay healthy.”
“Stop spouting nonsense and go wash your hands! What kind of kid gets worked up over some pork belly? People are gonna think it was your last supper!”
“…”
Maybe I misunderstood something.
