THE POWER OF GOD'S COIN

Chapter 2 - Grandfather of Ramen Shop Owner

Richard decided to take shelter in front of a Japanese grocery store on the side of the road where there were many shops along the slightly uphill road. Unlike previous places that were so dark and smelly, this place had some people pass by wearing umbrellas and also four-wheeled vehicles that passed through it several times.

It's the first time for Richard to be in the neighborhood, looking so foreign. A lot of shops seem obsolete and empty. Only a few shops are still open along the narrow road that only one car can pass.

"Why is it so cold?" Richard murmured while cleaning his jacket that was hit by raindrops.

The smell of fish broth—mixed with the strong scent of rainwater—was felt by Richard. The scent that makes his empty stomach ring, comes from inside a Japanese ramen restaurant right behind him.

Richard turned his body—looking through the window—appears white smoke appeared rising from a pan. A middle-aged man who seems to be cooking something inside. Richard's eyes are trying to dig deeper, there's no one but the grandfather.

"I'm hungry, but I have no money."

Sighing down, there's nothing he can do about it right now. And hunger has become a habit for Richard anyway. He didn't even eat for three days and ate stale food to survive. But simultaneously he also almost died of poisoning.

Until any time his life is so poor will never change. He always works hard day and night, but his debt is increasing due to loan interest. If only he hadn't borrowed money from the loan shark, perhaps his life wouldn't be as miserable as it is today. But if he doesn't borrow money, maybe Naomi's life won't be saved.

Suddenly there was a sound of door friction from behind—Richard spontaneously removed his body—to see a 70-year-old grandfather walking out with his squatted body.

"Don't stand at the door! You're blocking my customers from coming!" he said firmly.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to stay for a while." Richard said, trying to ask Grandpa for a little understanding of what he looked so unique.

The grandfather wore a Kimono, a typical Japanese outfit. Grandfather's fingers were covered with Agate rings made of stone. A look that seemed to show even his life's experience for so long. His face is a little scary because his facial skin is no longer strong, plus one of his eyes has cataracts.

"If you want shelter go inside! Don't block the door! Let's go!" snapped the ramen shop's grandfather as he walked inside leaving the door open.

Richard was silent for a moment, confused by the grandfather's harsh but well-intentioned words. Reluctantly, Richard began to step inside and did not forget to close the sliding door again so that the splash of rainwater would not go inside. 

When he came in, the distinctive aroma of ramen was clear. His whole body was filled with the scent of chicken broth mixed with seaweed. The noodle dough that has just matured and is lifted from the brewery to emit white smoke that fills the ceiling of the room. The scent that kept Richard's stomach from shaking, he was really starving.

"Did you eat?" asked the grandfather in a loud voice.

"I don't even have money to buy food," Richard said.

"Sit here! Hurry! Before I change my mind!"

Grandfather owned the tavern again.

Then Richard rushed to a long bench and a table attached directly to the kitchen counter so that he could see directly how the grandfather was making ramen.

Richard sits right next to grandpa preparing a bowl of ramen. The bowl is quite large, where there are noodles in it with pieces of meat katsu and white broth soup that are so dense. On top of it are sprinkles of leek and dried seaweed. It's very appetizing. Richard's eyes sparkled when he saw a bowl of ramen landing in front of him. Looks like it's been his lucky day.

"Hurry and eat!"

"Thank you very much!"

Without thinking much longer, Richard quickly ate the hot ramen. The ramen shop owner's grandfather was only silent when he saw a man who looked so hungry that no matter what he ate, he could burn his tongue because of the heat.

It's so hot! It's so good! Well!"

Richard looks so happy with just a bowl of ramen. Even though his tongue feels burned, he doesn't care because his stomach can no longer endure hunger.

"Why did your face come to that? Did you get beaten up by people?" asked the Grandfather, giving him a glass of water.

"I deserve it," Richard replied.

"Pathetic! You're young, you should've worked harder! Look at you right now! It's the result of your laziness and stupidity!" syndicated Grandpa the tavern owner.

Hearing the words from the tavern's grandfather, Richard was silent for a few seconds. It was like someone stabbed him in the back through his heart. How did the grandfather comment on his life, even the grandfather did not know what he had been natural for so long. Grandfather's words seem to know everything about his life, so he deserves to study his life.

If it wasn't for the kindness of giving him ramen for free, he might have hit his grandfather. However, Richard tries to contain his anger and continues eating the little remaining ramen.

"The world has so much competition. They'll use every means to survive. If you act like a loser you'll never be able to live in peace. Even ants always work hard to get food." he said again sarcastically Richard while grilling the noodle dough.

Richard's patience was unstoppable until he immediately put his chopsticks on the table loudly, until the sound was clear.

"Do you know me?" Richard asked in a voice that sounded so cold—a subdued look tried again to hold back patiently in honor of someone much older than him.

"No."

"Therefore, what right do you comment on my life!" said Richard with a high voice at the end of his sentence—looking at the grandfather with anger and injustice.

"Just think of it as a payoff for the ramen you've eaten. "Nothing in the world is free." said the Grandpa—so relaxed without guilt.

Richard feels his pride is being played by Grandpa who owns the ramen shop. He thought Grandpa was well-intentioned to give him a bowl of ramen, apparently he had been wrong with his thoughts. Right. Nothing in the world is free.

The middle-aged man suddenly shook his head several times while staring with a look that seemed to be condescending to Richard. She didn't even shake a bit as Richard kept looking at her with an emotional look. It could have cost him his life. But instead he said to Richard, "You have to use your brain first physically if you want to survive."