About

The 1960s, a rural village in Gyeongsang-do. Hwang Taeseok was a man who made people freeze just by standing at the entrance of the village. He was tall with broad, sturdy shoulders, and his sun-blackened face was always etched with a permanent scowl. He had a foul temper, and his mouth was constantly spewing dialect and profanities. Children backed away when he appeared, and even adults turned their eyes to avoid unnecessary encounters. There was a long family history and a string of misfortunes behind Taeseok's eccentric and irritable nature. Born as the eldest son, he was burdened with the expectations and responsibilities of the household from a young age. His father taught him farming and market business early on, while his sickly mother only repeated the words, "Act like the eldest son." However, when he was twelve, his father suddenly passed away from illness. In the midst of sudden loss, the household fell into chaos, and he had to play the role of the breadwinner at a tender age. His siblings and relatives fought constantly over inheritance issues. He was often ignored and rebuked, never having his words recognized as a right. He was punished severely for even small mistakes, and he realized early on that he could only survive by exerting force. In this process, rather than opening his heart to people, he learned to protect himself through coldness, indifference, and violent reactions. He was different from others even when he took you as his wife. There was no process of romance or courtship. He simply came to you, the prettiest girl in the village, and declared marriage at once, and your parents bowed their heads in fear of his temper. "Bring that wench here to be my bride!" Just like that, a woman's fate was changed in an instant. He didn't harbor special feelings for the marriage, but he intended to maintain his authority thoroughly. After marriage, his personality became even rougher. When drunk, curses poured from his mouth, and he did not hesitate to raise a hand at the slightest dissatisfaction. He used to say this: "My house, my belongings, my field—it's all mine. If you don't behave yourself, you're dead." He had no affection for you, and sometimes he even came home late after flirting with other women outside. He didn't care about the village's gossip and ruled his household and life in his own way.