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This light novel is inspired by the beautiful landscapes and cultures of Bolivia and South Korea. However, the characters, events, and situations portrayed are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is purely coincidental. This content does not intend to represent or reflect the historical, social, or cultural reality of either country. The author disclaims any legal liability arising from the interpretation of these elements.
Chapter 87 — Perceptions
87.1 Where did this daughter-in-law... come from?
A warm morning light filtered through the paper screens.
The air smelled of toasted sesame and cinnamon, and steam rose in faint spirals from porcelain cups.
The women of the Kang family had gathered for tea,
sitting on padded cushions in the main hall.
Amid soft laughter and measured glances, the grandmothers, aunts,
and Ryu's mother ran their fingers over the gifts they had received.
The Bolivian ametrine charms caught the light like drops of ancient ice.
There was a reverent silence,
but what truly stole their attention was the alpaca blanket draped over the paternal grandmother's legs.
She spread it with a slow, almost ceremonial gesture,
stroking the soft texture with her fingertips.
"It is not common..."
The grandmother murmured, caressing the blanket.
"But this girl has many trials ahead of her."
The aunts looked at each other in silence.
One of them swallowed discreetly.
The atmosphere grew dense,
filled with contained attention.
The grandmother lifted her chin firmly.
"Most people give gifts to impress.
This was chosen with care. Not everyone knows how to do that."
Ryu's mother, Min Seo-Yeon, nodded, barely lifting the corner of her lips.
Although she strove to maintain decorum, a spark of pride danced in her eyes.
"She had it brought from La Paz, Bolivia."
She said in a calm voice.
"Her father has relationships with the producers. And besides... he owns mines."
One of the ladies frowned, narrowing her eyes as if in doubt.
"What kind of mines?"
Ryu's mother replied with her characteristic calm and elegance, pouring more tea.
"Enough so as not to depend on intermediaries."
She answered serenely.
"The stones come directly from the source."
Her husband's eldest sister wondered to herself.
"Wouldn't a Korean girl have been more convenient?"
But before she could ask, the second aunt beat her to it.
"Even so..."
She insisted, with a polite smile.
"The customs of this house are not learned from books."
Ryu's mother looked up and said subtly.
"It is not just a marriage, but an alliance between families whose stability matters beyond themselves.
Bolivia may be small on the map, but not in raw materials."
She paused for a moment and, with a kind smile that blended Thai serenity and Korean firmness, added.
"In our combined culture, we value roots, but also adaptability.
This marriage is a bridge between worlds that must be sustained with respect and patience."
A silence flooded the room. After taking a discreet deep breath, she said.
"My husband and her father have been like brothers since they were young.
Those friendships are what make these alliances much more than business; they are bonds of trust."
One of the grandmothers nodded and couldn't help but smile,
remembering her son playing with Choi Dae-Hyun.
"He was a rebel, but he grew up and settled down.
Who would have thought his daughter would be a daughter-in-law to our family?"
Mrs. Min Seo-Yeon looked at them with a glow of pride and added.
"Furthermore, Zayra completed her education in the United States."
"So... the only drawback is that she isn't Korean."
The aunt muttered, more to herself than to the others.
Another aunt blinked, genuinely surprised.
"And that girl never said anything?"
Ryu's mother shook her head, placing her cup on its saucer with care.
"She never said a word; her mother taught them to be that way."
The maternal grandmother took the edge of the blanket and inspected it in detail,
as if reading an ancient code among its threads.
"Then she comes from good soil."
She declared.
One of the cousins, who until then had been glued to her phone,
looked down in surprise.
"I looked up the prices... These stones aren't available here.
And let's not even talk about the weaving. It's handcrafted."
Another aunt crossed her arms, leaning forward slightly.
"And she plays the piano. Did she learn that there too?"
Ryu's mother couldn't help but smile.
"Well, I must admit it was a surprise to me as well."
The paternal grandmother let out a soft exhalation, like a held sigh.
"A Bolivian girl who plays the music of her land and gives gifts as if she were reading your soul."
The aunts nodded in silence, exchanging discreet glances.
There was respect, and also a kind of silent redemption in their gestures.
"And the father? What is he like?"
The eldest aunt asked, her tone softer this time.
"Half-Korean and half-Brazilian."
Ryu's mother replied, straightening her back slightly.
"He stayed in Bolivia for love. My husband's best friend.
A millionaire, but humble. Just like his daughter."
The women lowered their gazes in unison.
There was no more stifled laughter or doubts disguised as etiquette.
Only a solemn silence filled the room like the mist from the tea.
The paternal grandmother, covering her legs with the blanket, gave a faint smile.
Her fingers trembled slightly, but her voice was firm.
"This daughter-in-law... is no ordinary thing. She has an old soul."
"But the soul is also tested by time."
She added, without raising her voice.
"We shall see how she walks with us when the seasons change."
And so, amidst that air permeated with cinnamon and revelations,
with the warmth of a highland fabric over their knees, they all understood the same thing.
Zayra hadn't just arrived in their lives.
She had taken root.
87.2 Gossip
The warm light of the living room created a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere,
ideal for Seo-Yeon and her cousins to talk freely.
Seo-Yeon held the bolivianite necklace Zayra had given her,
while the others admired the azurite bracelets the new daughter-in-law had also gifted them.
"Look at this," Seo-Yeon said, showing off the piece with pride.
"They aren't just beautiful; they have a story behind them that few people know."
A curious cousin asked.
"Where do these stones come from?"
Seo-Yeon smiled confidently.
"From the lands Zayra's family owns in Bolivia."
"Really?"
A cousin exclaimed, surprised.
"That sounds impressive!"
Seo-Yeon nodded; her eyes full of admiration.
"Yes. They aren't simple stones. They are worked by Bolivian artisans; they are unique gems;
with colors and properties, you won't find anywhere else."
Another cousin, enthused, took one of the bracelets and examined it under the light.
"I searched online, and it says these stones are unique semi-precious gems."
One of the cousins raised an eyebrow and asked, in a slightly incredulous tone.
"I suppose... if she had wanted comfort, she wouldn't have chosen this life."
Seo-Yeon was clear and firm.
"Not at all. I saw everything with my own eyes.
This family has money, yes, but Zayra is here because she loves Ryu.
She could go back to Bolivia whenever she wanted, but she chose to be here with him."
"I really admire Ryu," said one of the younger cousins, looking at her bracelet with a certain melancholy.
"Dating someone from another culture must be a huge challenge, right?"
"They say Latinas are very passionate," another commented with a mischievous smile.
"But also, that they can be a bit... unpredictable."
Another cousin at the edge of the table, looking seriously at her phone, commented.
"In our culture, we value strong women who stand their ground without failing to respect the family balance.
She seems to be an example of that, don't you think?"
Seo-Yeon laughed softly.
"That's exactly what my mother thought, but Zayra has proven to be different respectful and patient."
A more curious cousin said.
"But if she is here for him... it must be true love."
Laughter began to fill the room, and an excited cousin remarked.
"Besides, the gifts she brought us are unique. There's nothing like them here. I feel very special!"
Another joked.
"At first, I thought Zayra was different, but now I see she has a big heart and much humility."
Seo-Yeon smiled, seeing how Zayra was slowly winning over the family.
"When her Korean improves and you can get to know her better, you'll see what she's like.
For now, these gifts tell her story for her."
The talk continued with smiles and curiosity as the young women grew closer to the newest member of the family,
who, with her authenticity and deep roots, was beginning to leave an indelible mark.
For the family, the matter could rest... for now. For others, it was just beginning.