Peninsula: I run a bed and breakfast on Jeju Island

Chapter 121 Scented Sachets

The bedroom on the other side.

After washing up, Choi Jin-ri sat down on the edge of the bed.

She stared at the kitten doll in her hand, somewhat lost in thought.

After a while, she took off her slippers, revealing her fair toes, and gently moved them.

Choi Jin-ri wrapped her arms around her knees and pressed the play button on the doll's recording with her thumb.

"The dark sky hangs low."

"The bright stars follow me~"

"The insects fly, the insects fly~"

Who are you missing?

She didn't know why, but even though it was the same equipment, she felt that this recording of "The Little Insects Fly" was much clearer than her previous recordings.

Perhaps it was because I listened to it too many times that night, or perhaps for some other reason?

-

She glanced at the sky outside the window, placed the doll next to her pillow, and lay down on the bed herself.

Choi Jin-ri closed her eyes and listened quietly to the sounds coming from her ears, silently singing along in her heart.

Since it was a lullaby, Li Ran didn't sing very loudly, so Cui Zhenli wouldn't be suddenly woken up by the singing when she was almost asleep.

Choi Jin-ri has returned to this familiar town that belongs only to her.

She gently kicked the weeds that were sprouting from the cracks in the stone path.

The light here is so soft that it's impossible to tell whether it's noon or evening by the intensity of the light.

Looking around, she noticed that the things hanging under the eaves of the previous houses were still drying, and she wondered when they would be done.

Choi Jin-ri followed the familiar path to a low house.

The walls of the low house were covered with dark green ivy.

Not content with that, they began climbing up their neighbor's wall.

Choi Jin-ri arrived at the door and knocked. "Mother-in-law! I'm here!"

She stood outside the door and waited quietly for a while.

The door was indeed opened.

The old woman was wearing reading glasses and holding a needle and thread in her hand.

"It's our Zhenli! Missing Grandma?"

"Inside!"

She wrapped her arms around the old woman and bent down to rest her head on her shoulder.

"Oh dear, what happened!" She moved the needle in her right hand a little further away, afraid of pricking Choi Jin-ri.

She gently rubbed her face against the old woman's neck.

"How old are you? Why do you still act so spoiled?"

Although the old woman said that, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

"Come in."

"Yes." Choi Jin-ri nodded obediently.

The room was the same as before.

The wooden floor made a slightly worn sound when you stepped on it, and the air carried a faint scent of herbs and the aroma of fabric that had been dried in the sun.

Choi Jin-ri easily changed into the slippers by the door.

The old woman handed over several packets of peach shortbread and cookies, saying, "Have some snacks."

The old man always seemed to have only a few kinds of snacks, but Choi Jin-ri didn't mind and instead took them with a smile.

"Click~"

She took a bite of the peach shortbread, chewed it, and exclaimed, "It's still so delicious!"

The old woman looked at her with a smile, "Eat more if you like it."

"Hey Grandma, what are you sewing?"

She glanced down at the needle and thread in the old woman's hands.

"Me? I'm sewing a sachet for you! When you get married, you can wear the sachet that your mother-in-law gave you."

"Mother-in-law~" she pouted, "I'm still a long way from getting married! Maybe I'll stay single forever, who knows? Who embroiders this so early?"

"Is it far? It looks very close to me!"

She smiled and patted Choi Jin-ri's hand.

"Mother-in-law~"

"Haha, okay, okay. Consider this as preparation for the future."

She finished the peach shortbread in her hand and wiped her hands with a tissue.

"Drink some water, don't choke."

Choi Jin-ri took the water cup from the old woman and took a sip.

She sat next to the old woman, her eyes glancing occasionally at the needlework in her hands.

"What are you always peeking at?"

The old woman continued her needlework, giving her a reproachful look.

Choi Jin-ri blinked. "I'm just curious."

She leaned a little closer to take a look.

The sachet wasn't finished yet; one peach blossom was only half-embroidered, and there was still a ball of yarn lying next to it that hadn't been put away yet.

The sachet is made of pinkish-white silk, with several small peach blossoms embroidered on it.

The peach blossoms weren't large, but the stitches were very fine. The edges of the petals were also pressed with light pink and white thread, making them look soft.

A thin branch was bent beside the petals.

Choi Jin-ri couldn't resist reaching out and touching it. "It's so beautiful."

"Isn't it beautiful?"

The old woman pushed up her reading glasses. "After I sew it up, I'll fill it with spices, and it'll be finished."

"What kind of spices are usually put inside?"

The old woman put down the needle, picked up a small wooden box from the side, and said, "I'll put some herbs in it later."

She opened the box, which contained some small, dried items.

Choi Jin-ri leaned over and took a sniff.

It has a faint fragrance, and also carries a hint of sun-dried scent.

"This is mugwort, this is osmanthus, and this is some dried orange peel."

The old woman spoke as she showed her the device.

Choi Jin-ri picked up a small piece of orange peel, held it to her nose, and gently smelled it.

It has a slightly sweet fruity aroma, but more of a warm, sun-dried scent.

"Mother-in-law, why did you suddenly want to embroider sachets?" she asked.

The old woman stopped her needlework, looked at her with a smile, and said, "Then you'll have to ask yourself."

"I?"

Choi Jin-ri was slightly taken aback.

Suddenly, she faintly heard some soft sounds.

Sometimes the sound seemed to be right next to her ear, and sometimes it seemed to have traveled to a very far place.

She strained her ear to listen.

"The dark sky hangs low."

It's Li Ran's voice!

She blinked and glanced at the old woman.

The old woman was still smiling at him.

"The bright stars follow me~"

"The insects fly, the insects fly~"

Li Ran's singing grew louder and louder.

Choi Jin-ri finally heard the source of the sound.

It felt like it was right next to my right ear!

She rubbed her eyes, then sat up straight in bed, still somewhat bewildered.

Who are you missing?

Choi Jin-ri glanced at the doll next to her that was making noise, following the sound.

She didn't know how she was feeling right now.

Choi Jin-ri glanced out the window.

Light from outside leaked in through the gaps in the curtains and fell directly onto the floor at the foot of the bed.

The floor looked like it had been cut in half.

It seems to be past midnight?

-

She turned off the doll's recording and then took out her phone.

The light from the phone screen was a bit too bright, forcing her to squint.

Choi Jin-ri lowered the screen brightness a little, then looked at the time on the lock screen.

3:23.

What time did I go to sleep?

She doesn't remember much about it anymore.

It's a pity, I don't know when I'll dream again.

She misses her mother-in-law very much.

"Um?"

Feeling a chill in her feet, she looked down and discovered that her toes were sticking out from under the blanket.

Choi Jin-ri pulled her foot back and then pulled the blanket down a little.