Sunday and Monday passed in the blink of an eye. The guests checked out without a hitch, and Eun-chae handled everything herself, from cleaning the rooms to changing the bedding. She was definitely faster with her hands than she'd been at first.
On Tuesday morning, Eun-chae opened her eyes at six. She'd woken up before her alarm.
“Gran, the fire inspection is at ten today, right?”
Grandma answered from the kitchen.
“Yeah. And you said we have to go to city hall after that.”
“To resubmit the succession report. They said some of the paperwork was missing last time.”
Eun-chae opened her spreadsheet and checked today's tasks again. Two items sat side by side in the In Progress column.
*Handle fire inspection (10:00 a.m.)* *Resubmit succession report at city hall*
While eating breakfast, Eun-chae checked the document envelope again. She'd filled in all the blanks on the succession report form she'd received from city hall last time. The paperwork for changing the registered representative was ready, too.
“Gran, if they ask me something during the fire inspection, I'm supposed to answer, right?”
“Handle the basic stuff yourself. I'll help from the side.”
At nine thirty, a fire truck pulled to a stop in front of the yard. Two people in uniform got out.
“This is Sandeul Haven Guesthouse, right? We're here to inspect it for the renewal of your certificate of completion.”
Eun-chae went out into the yard and greeted them.
“Yes, hello. I'll show you around.”
One of the inspectors checked the paperwork and asked, “Are fire extinguishers placed on every floor?”
“Yes. There's one in the first-floor kitchen and one in the second-floor hallway. We replaced one of them recently.”
Eun-chae led them to the shed and showed them the fire extinguishers. The inspector checked the pressure gauge and nodded.
“They're in good condition. What about the emergency exit lights?”
“This way.”
She took them upstairs and showed them the light they'd replaced a few days earlier. The inspector pressed the switch to make sure it worked.
“It works fine.”
As the inspection continued, Eun-chae answered the questions from beside them. Whenever she stumbled over her words, Grandma briefly stepped in to help. After about thirty minutes, the inspector entered something on a tablet.
“There are no issues. Your certificate of completion should be renewed and issued within a week.”
“Thank you.”
Only after the fire truck left the yard did Eun-chae finally relax her shoulders.
“Gran, we passed!”
“Told you. When you prepare ahead of time, it's nothing.”
The clock read ten ten. Eun-chae hurried to grab the document envelope.
“Gran, I'm heading to city hall now. I have to catch the bus.”
“Okay. Be careful.”
She practically ran all the way to the bus stop. Luckily, the bus arrived five minutes late.
During the forty-minute ride to city hall, Eun-chae checked the paperwork one more time. The succession report, the documents for changing the registered representative, a copy of the business registration certificate, and the notice concerning the fire inspection. She counted everything three times to make sure nothing was missing.
At the civil affairs office, she took a number. There were fewer people waiting than last time.
When her number was called, she went to the counter.
“I'm here to resubmit the succession report.”
It was the same employee as last time. They accepted the documents, skimmed through them, and nodded.
“Everything's in order this time. Did you get the fire inspection?”
“Yes, this morning. They said the certificate of completion would be issued within a week.”
“Then just send us a scanned copy once you receive it. Until then, we'll process this as a temporary filing.”
The employee organized the documents and stamped them.
“Your filing is complete. It should take about two weeks to process.”
“Two weeks?”
“Yes. Changing the registered name takes a little time. We'll notify you by text when it's processed.”
Eun-chae accepted the receipt and stepped away from the counter. Two weeks felt longer than she'd expected, but she felt relieved that everything had gone much more smoothly than last time.
As she left city hall, Eun-chae took out her phone and opened her spreadsheet. She moved *Resubmit succession report at city hall* to the Completed column. In its place, she added a new item.
*Wait for certificate of completion → Submit to city hall*
On the way to the bus stop, Eun-chae looked over the Completed column again. It had grown much longer than it was at first. There were only a few items left in the Not Started column.
*Repair kitchen garden fence, prepare for next booking*
When she got on the bus and took a window seat, the afternoon sunlight touched her face. Eun-chae closed her eyes and took a brief rest.
When she arrived back at the guesthouse, Grandma was looking over the kitchen garden in the yard.
“How'd it go?”
“They accepted it. They said it'll take about two weeks.”
“Good work.”
Eun-chae sat on the veranda and slipped off her shoes. Her legs felt stiff.
“Gran, I finished both the fire inspection and city hall in one day.”
“See? A few days ago, you said you were completely overwhelmed. Now you're getting the hang of it.”
“Yeah. I'm surprised, too.”
Grandma picked a few lettuce leaves from the kitchen garden and said, “Let's make fresh kimchi with these for dinner. You worked hard today.”
Eun-chae smiled at that and got to her feet. Her steps felt light as she went into the kitchen.
After finishing her dinner of fresh kimchi, Eun-chae returned to her room, when a thought suddenly crossed her mind.
*Do I need to change the card terminal information, too?*
If the registered name changed, it seemed like the payment system would have to change along with it. Eun-chae opened her laptop and typed into the search bar.
*“Changing the registered name for a business card terminal”*
Several blog posts came up. Eun-chae read through them one by one.
*If the business registration number changes, use of the existing card terminal may be suspended. You must apply for a change of registered name with the VAN company.*
Eun-chae read the sentence again. Her fingertips went cold for a moment at the words “may be suspended.”
*If I don't take care of this ahead of time, won't guests be unable to pay by card?*
Eun-chae hurriedly opened her spreadsheet and added a new item.
*Change card terminal's registered name (contact VAN company)*
She was about to put it in the Not Started column when she stopped and searched a little more.
*“Procedure for changing the registered name on a guesthouse card terminal”*
This time, more specific posts came up. They said she could call the VAN company's customer service center and submit a copy of the business registration certificate and a copy of her bankbook. Processing usually took three or four days.
Eun-chae went downstairs to look for Grandma. Grandma had finished washing the dishes and was sitting on the veranda watching television.
“Gran, do we have a card terminal?”
“Of course. It's in the drawer under the register over there.”
“They say I have to apply for a new one when the registered name changes. With the VAN company, or whatever it's called.”
Grandma took her eyes off the television and looked at Eun-chae.
“Who knew there was stuff like that, too?”
“I just found out. It came up while I was searching.”
“Then call them tomorrow.”
“Okay. But they say I need a copy of the business registration certificate and a copy of the bankbook. Don't I need to open a new bank account, too?”
Grandma thought for a moment before answering.
“It would be right to open a new business account in your name. Until now, everything's been going into my account.”
Feeling another task being added to her list, Eun-chae wrote it down.
*Open business bank account (visit bank)*
“Gran, I look into one thing and more things just keep popping up.”
“That’s how it is. You dig into one thing, and another one next to it turns up.”
Eun-chae looked over the list again. The Not Started column had grown once more. Even so, it didn't feel as overwhelming as before. She knew now that if she handled things one at a time, eventually she'd finish everything.
“I guess I should go to the bank first tomorrow.”
“Go ahead. Want me to come with you?”
“No, I'll go by myself. I can handle this kind of thing on my own now.”
Grandma gave a short laugh and turned her attention back to the television. Eun-chae closed her laptop and looked out the window. The kitchen garden remained as a shadow in the darkening yard.
Eun-chae opened her laptop again. She brought up the spreadsheet and moved each thing she'd handled that day.
She moved *Handle fire inspection* to the Completed column. Then she moved *Resubmit succession report at city hall* to Completed, too.
The two lines that had been in the Not Started column now moved into In Progress.
*Wait for certificate of completion → Submit to city hall* *Change card terminal's registered name (contact VAN company)*
Then she added the item she'd learned about that day to the Not Started column.
*Open business bank account (visit bank)*
Eun-chae scanned up and down the screen. The Completed column had filled an entire page before she knew it. From checking the business registration certificate to completing the fire inspection, it held the full record of the past several days.
There were three items in In Progress and only about two in Not Started. The list looked much more organized than it had when she'd first made it.
Eun-chae took a screenshot and saved it to her photo album. It might be fun to compare them by date.
She was about to close the laptop when her eyes fell on the first item at the very top of the Completed column.
*Check copy of business registration certificate*
She remembered that day five days ago, when she'd started without knowing anything. Back then, she hadn't imagined the list would grow this long.
When she opened the door and went out, Grandma was knitting on the veranda.
“Gran, I finished organizing today's list.”
“How much is left?”
“Not much now. Opening the bank account, changing the terminal's registered name, and waiting for the certificate of completion to come out.”
Grandma paused her knitting and looked at Eun-chae.
“You're almost there.”
“Yeah. But strangely, I think I'll feel a little sad when it's all over.”
“Why?”
“Because it was fun crossing things off one by one.”
Grandma gave a short laugh.
“Then make another list when you're done. When you're running a guesthouse, there's always more work to do.”
Eun-chae nodded at that and sat down on the veranda. One by one, stars were appearing in the night sky.
“Gran, my days have been going by so fast lately.”
“That’s because you're living a busy life.”
“But I'm not tired. Strangely, I'm actually having fun.”
When Eun-chae added that, Grandma turned her head toward her.
“You're having fun?”
“Yeah. At the company, as soon as I finished one task, the next one piled up. But here, when I finish something, it really feels finished.”
Grandma took up her knitting needles again and asked, “What's different?”
“I don't know. But this list here… I made it because I wanted to. The ones at work were made because I was told to.”
“You said something similar last time.”
“I did?”
Eun-chae sat with her knees pulled to her chest. The night breeze was cool.
“Gran, I didn't know I'd enjoy this work so much. I thought getting documents and making phone calls would all be a hassle.”
“But?”
“But every time I finish something, it feels like… I'm putting down roots here.”
Grandma's hands stopped for a moment at those words. The tips of her knitting needles glimmered in the moonlight.
“Putting down roots. That's exactly right.”
“Right?”
“The kitchen garden, the paperwork, all of it. At first, everything feels unfamiliar, but once you do it enough, your hands learn. And before you know it, this becomes your place.”
Eun-chae listened quietly and nodded.
“Was it like that for you at first, too, Gran?”
“Of course. But now I can do it with my eyes closed.”
“Will I get like that, too?”
“You will. Just keep doing what you're doing now.”
Eun-chae smiled faintly and looked up at the sky again. Starlight settled softly over the yard.
“Gran, I think I can handle the next guests, too.”
“The guests bringing a dog?”
“Yeah. I don't think I'll be nervous this time.”
Grandma gave a short laugh and picked up her knitting again.
“We'll see. Let's see where you get lost this time.”
“Gran!”
When Eun-chae protested, Grandma let out a laugh instead of answering. The low hum of insects spread across the yard.
Author's Note
I wanted to capture a little more of the fun Eun-chae is finding in this work and the feeling of putting down roots. As promised, the next chapter will continue with an episode about a family guest traveling with their dog.