We present the story of the famous Korean writer Gong  Ji Young "Grandma doesn't die anyway" translated by students of the Azerbaijan University of Languages

Brief information about the writer

One of the modern South Korean writers, Gong  Ji Young (공지영), was born in 1963 in Seoul. She graduated from the Faculty of English Language and Literature at Yonsei University. She began her literary career in 1988 while in prison, having published the story "Brightening Dawn" (동트는 새벽) in the magazine "Creativity and Criticism" (창작과 비폽). In 1989, she continued her literary career, publishing her first novel "No More Beautiful Confusion" (더 이상 아름다운 방황은 없다), and in 1993 opened the way to a new direction in the women's and feminist literature of South Korea, raising the themes of discrimination and pressure on women in the novel "Go Alone like a rhino horn" (무소의 뿔처럼 힐서 가라).

In 1994, the works "Mackerel" (고등어) and "Politeness to Man" (인간에 대해 예의) became bestsellers and made her one of the most beloved and famous writers in the country.

The main works of the author:

Novels: "Sister Bongsun" (봉순이 언니, translated into Azerbaijani by Bahar Aliyeva, publishing house Qanun, 2024), "Obedient Woman" (착한 여자), "Our Happy Time" (우리들의 행복한 시간), "House, Sweet Home" (즐��운 나의 집), "Cauldron" (도가니), "High and Blue Staircase" (높고 푸른 사다리), "Heri" (해리), "Distant Sea" (

Collections of stories: "Politeness to Man" (인간에 대한 예의), "Tears of Being" (존재는 눈물을 흘린), "The Field of Stars" (별들의 들판).

Essays and journalism: "Soul without wounds" (상처 없는 영혼), "I was lonely like a drop of rain" (빗방울처럼 나는 혼자였다), "Kon Ji Young's travel notes", p. I and II (공지영의 수도원 기행), "Whatever life you live, I will support you" (네가 얤가 얤 삶을 살든 나는 너를 응원할 것이다), "One Very Light Feather" (아주 가벼운 깃털하나나), "School of Happiness Chirican" (공지��의의 지리상 행복학교

Gong  Ji Young won the XXI Century Literary Award in 2001, the Korean Novel Award in 2002, the Oh Young-soo Literary Award in 2004, the Korean Catholic Literature Award in 2007, and a special award from Amnesty International in 2006.

 

Grandmother never die

 

Part I

 

"I wonder if there is anyone in their right mind in this house?" - that's what I would like to ask. That's why I'm writing these lines. Maybe no one will believe what I'm going to tell, because I don't have any scientific evidence. But if all this had been told by some famous writer, journalist, actor or a singer who had just left the group, these words would have been treated in a completely different way. Perhaps I would even be invited to a program like "What's happening in the world" or "If you want - believe, if you want - not", where I could talk about what is happening in our house and draw logical conclusions, addressing the audience. But I'm only nineteen years old, my chances of entering a prestigious university in Seoul are slim. So I am a young girl whose mind and truthfulness of words will be doubted by everyone.

I swear to everything that happened during my nineteen years, I used to be in my right mind. But now I'm not even sure about it. That's why I gave up preparing for the entrance exams and took up writing this story. I want to hear your opinion, because I feel helpless before what is happening in our house.

I'm also depressed by the fact that I haven't received news from an ex-boyfriend for a long time, with whom I thought I had a "healthy relationship". Someone may think that I'm just looking for a reason not to study. Yes, I really have enough reasons: heat, sick grandmother... And suffering from parting. "Many people have passed through my life, but you were special... You'll forget me, but I'll never..." you - I could send these lines to him by e-mail. But I won't send it. Because, like all sincere feelings, it would still end in regret. One thing I know for sure: the reason for his departure was most likely the situation in our family.

Although, if you think about it, he appeared in my life because of our family. We have a large building at the famous crossroads in Gangnam, and all our family members do is collect rent from it. I was a child who grew up prematurely and understood the joke "We only have money" as: "We have nothing but money".

We first met when I was sitting in my mom's "Porsha". When he got into the car, he said, "Oh, cool." Understanding that these words are addressed not to me, but to the car, offended me. Maybe because he was not only handsome, but also studied at a prestigious university. But I won't be about it — it doesn't matter anymore.

I wonder if at least a month has passed since his last visit to our house? We had real chaos then. He came to us supposedly to visit his grandmother, with a fruit basket in his hands. Although the word "to visit" sounds strange here. Why did he actually come? Did you want to make a good impression and get on your grandmother's list of heirs? Possibly. He's smart, he could cover himself with good intentions: "young people should take care of their elders". He even called my father, a modest official who dreamed of engraving on the grave the phrase "lived poorly, but honestly", "old fox". But even he didn't take everything into account. He saw that we have a "Porshe", but he didn't understand that the rest of us could also be unusual.

To visit grandma... it's all debatable. I choose my words so meticulously, because my grandmother can't die for six months.

I don't know if it sounds dramatic or existential, but it's really strange. Grandma was supposed to die six months ago. Doctors, based on medicine, have almost signed her death sentence - she didn't eat or drink anything for ten days because of esophageal cancer. She was brought home to die. Mom, dad, uncle and his wife were passionately arguing whether to cremate her or bury her. Although I didn't really like my grandmother, everything that was happening made me think: what is a person, what is death?

 

However, contrary to the expectations of doctors and modern medicine, the grandmother did not die - neither in a week nor in a month.

Her face turned black, her breathing was hoarse, similar to the cry of a wild goose. Relatives who sometimes came to visit her did not even enter the room - they sat in the living room, drank whiskey, snacking on cheese and red fish, and discussing golf. And at best, the grandmother was given one phrase: "How she suffers... if she died, it would be better." Considering themselves kind and caring.

And on one of those days it all started. Grandma's breathing was usually unpleasant, but rhythmic. And that night it got stray, sometimes it froze. Relatives gathered around her, thinking that this was the end. But in the morning she suddenly sat down in bed.

Why do I say "suddenly discovered"? Because the younger uncle, who was on duty in her room, was found dead.

Mom was the first to hear everything. She got tired of taking care of her grandmother and taking sleeping pills. That night she entrusted everything to her younger brother. She woke up to strange screams and noise. Then I told me that I heard someone young screaming and someone old grumbling. Then everything suddenly calmed down. And she was able to move. I entered the room and saw my grandmother sitting. She said, "Bring the rice porridge." And then it turned out that the younger uncle had died.

That's all we know. Grandma "resurrected", uncle died. The cause of death is sudden cardiac arrest. The dishes prepared for the grandmother's memorial service were served at the uncle's memorial service. And grandma, even in such a situation, chewing porridge, said: "I can't eat it. Bring the rice. White rice."

 

The translation was made by students of group B22-358, Faculty of Translation, Korean language direction, AUL:

 

Aitaj Muradova

Jamal Mamedova

Maryam Kerimova

Muhammad Musa

Nargiz Talybly

Nigyar Adgyozalova

Nigyar Velieva