Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 236

236

A week later.

Around midnight.

Hyunsung, who had been studying, opened the store door and stepped outside.

“Hoo!”

As he took a short, deep breath, Kim Ilsoo came out.

Hyunsung asked first.

“Is studying going well?”

“Well… I didn’t know it before, but now that I’m doing it, I think I’m getting the hang of studying.”

“I guess so. You improve at anything if you keep doing it.”

“Speaking of which, aren’t those Lawn Clique [a group of young people] kids amazing?”

Kim Ilsoo pointed his chin towards the inner building.

Hyunsung chuckled and said.

“I know, right? Those young ones are more diligent than I thought.”

“I was surprised too. At first, I honestly thought they’d give up after a while, but after watching them for a week, I realized I was wrong.”

“I feel the same way. But if you think about it, you’re just as impressive. Who would have thought you’d change this much?”

“Hehe, if you put it that way, I have nothing to say. Sometimes, even I’m amazed when I look at myself.”

Kim Ilsoo laughed to himself.

Watching him, Hyunsung spoke again.

“Having a goal makes a big difference, even when you’re doing the same studying, right?”

“Of course. I really think there’s a world of difference between having a goal and not having one. I know that for sure now that I’ve experienced it. And when I think about what I’ll be like in two or three years, I automatically feel energized.”

“I’m really glad.”

“It’s all thanks to you. Meeting you has been the greatest luck in my life.”

“Geez, you’re making me blush…”

Hyunsung chuckled.

Then Kim Ilsoo spoke again.

“And hey, what was that thing you said to me last time?”

“What thing?”

“You said we should work together when I become a chef.”

“Ah, that. Actually, I’m going to open a big restaurant in the future. I’d like you to work with me then.”

Kim Ilsoo tilted his head and asked.

“I thought your dream was to be a landlord? What’s with the restaurant all of a sudden?”

“Being a landlord is the basic, and the restaurant is something I’m preparing for the future of this village.”

“For the village? Not to make money, but for the village? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, that is…”

Hyunsung began to explain his future plans to Kim Ilsoo. The longer Hyunsung explained, the more Kim Ilsoo looked at him with disbelief.

And finally, when Hyunsung finished his explanation, Kim Ilsoo immediately asked.

“So, in the end, you’re saying you’re going to open a restaurant to create jobs for the people in this village?”

“Exactly. Otherwise, this countryside will have almost no young people in 20 or 30 years.”

“No way…”

“It’s not ‘no way,’ it’s the future of our countryside.”

Kim Ilsoo tilted his head in disbelief at Hyunsung’s words and continued.

“So you’re saying we need to prepare in advance from now on?”

“That’s right. If we don’t prepare in advance, we won’t be able to handle it later.”

“I don’t know, honestly, right now…”

Kim Ilsoo still looked at Hyunsung with a doubtful expression.

Then Hyunsung continued.

“Of course, it’s hard to imagine right now. But as time goes on, the countryside will start to collapse rapidly. Farming alone won’t solve the problem.”

“So you’re saying we should start preparing now?”

“I’ve already started.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

Kim Ilsoo looked at Hyunsung.

Hyunsung continued.

“I started buying land a while ago. It’s still not enough, but I’m going to buy all the land in that area and create a space where we can build a new village later.”

“Rebuild the village?”

“Yeah, we’ll build communal housing centered around that restaurant, and we’ll grow the ingredients needed for the restaurant ourselves.”

“Is that possible?”

“We have to make it possible.”

At Hyunsung’s firm answer, Kim Ilsoo looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.

Then he immediately continued.

“If that’s the case, the restaurant must be huge?”

“Right now, I’m thinking of a three-story building with 150 *pyeong* [approximately 5,349 square feet].”

“150 *pyeong* and three stories?”

“Yeah, that’s about the size we need to run a village. I’m thinking of employing anywhere from 100 to 300 people. Of course, if it’s possible, we’ll increase it even more.”

“Heh…”

Kim Ilsoo just let out a hollow laugh, as if he had nothing to say.

Then Hyunsung spoke again.

“Will you help me?”

“Honestly, I don’t know what you’re talking about right now, but if you really need me, I’ll gladly join you.”

“Thanks. I think we’ll start in earnest after we come back from the military.”

“So you’re saying we’ll start in about 5 or 6 years?”

“Roughly around that time. By then, you’ll already be a chef.”

Kim Ilsoo smiled at Hyunsung.

Then he continued.

“Anyway, I feel good about doing something with you.”

“Really? I feel the same way. I feel reassured knowing you’re helping me.”

“Speaking of which, it looks like it’s time for the kids’ late-night snack…”

“Yeah, let’s go inside and make ramen.”

The two of them went into the store side by side and headed to the kitchen.

Soon after.

“Hey, everyone, let’s eat ramen.”

At Hyunsung’s shout, Han Myungsoo quickly ran from the inner building to the kitchen.

“Is it already this late?”

“Are you studying without even realizing the time?”

“Hehe, that’s how it is. By the way, how can I make it up to you for going through the trouble of making ramen every time? Especially since you don’t even take money.”

“If you feel sorry, do well on the exam starting tomorrow.”

“That’s a given. I’ll come back to see you again after the exam.”

“There’s no need for that. Don’t worry about that, just do well on the exam.”

“Yes, sir.”

Han Myungsoo answered energetically and started carrying the ramen.

***

A few days later.

Evening, after the exam.

Hyunsung was resting in the hall after finishing his business for the day.

Clang.

The store door opened and someone came in.

It was Han Myungsoo from the Lawn Clique.

Hyunsung asked.

“Hey, what brings you here at this hour?”

“I said I’d come to see you after the exam, didn’t I?”

“So you actually came?”

Hyunsung was naturally surprised. He thought it was just a polite greeting at the time.

Han Myungsoo continued.

“Of course I had to come. How did you treat us Lawn Clique kids for a week? Honestly, who else would be so dedicated?”

“…”

“Honestly, I was very surprised by you this time.”

“I did it because I wanted to.”

It was true for Hyunsung. He wouldn’t have done it if someone had told him to. At some point, he noticed the kids and thought their actions were commendable.

These were the kids who had been causing trouble until a few months ago.

But from some point on, they started to change.

They started doing volunteer work, such as cleaning the neighborhood, as well as studying.

Not only that.

He heard stories of them visiting friends in difficult circumstances and helping them, and going to the homes of elderly people living alone to help with chores.

So Hyunsung couldn’t help but find them commendable.

Han Myungsoo spoke again.

“That’s right, I was even more grateful because I sincerely felt your heart.”

“I just made ramen…”

“Of course, you might think you just made ramen, but I didn’t feel like it was just ramen. And it wouldn’t have been easy to take care of as many as twenty people every day for a week without missing a single day. But you did it silently.”

“That’s…”

Hyunsung had nothing special to say.

Then Han Myungsoo took something out of his bag and handed it to him.

“Please accept this.”

“What is this?”

“It’s nothing special, it’s a gift that our Lawn Clique kids prepared for you.”

“A gift?”

“Yes, please open it.”

Hyunsung opened the gift that Han Myungsoo handed him.

What came out of the wrapping paper was none other than leather gloves.

Hyunsung looked at Han Myungsoo and said.

“These are leather gloves?”

“Yes, it’s our heart. We prepared them so you can have a warm winter.”

“You didn’t have to prepare something like this.”

“It’s nothing compared to the kindness you’ve shown us. As I said a few days ago, our Lawn Clique wouldn’t have been able to act like human beings if it weren’t for you.”

“…”

Hyunsung still had nothing to say.

When Hyunsung didn’t say anything, Han Myungsoo spoke again.

“Can I ask you one personal question?”

“What is it?”

“What do you think I should do in the future?”

“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

Hyunsung couldn’t help but be taken aback.

Han Myungsoo spoke again.

“No matter how much I think about it myself, I don’t think studying is for me.”

“There you go again. We already finished that conversation last time, didn’t we?”

“Of course, I decided to try a little harder last time, but as I took the final exam this time, I felt once again that studying isn’t for just anyone.”

“Isn’t that obvious? If anyone could do it, where would there be people who can’t study?”

“It’s not just a matter of being good or bad at studying.”

Hyunsung tilted his head.

“What do you mean?”

“Honestly, I worked hard this time.”

“I admit that because I watched you from the side.”

“But as I took the exam this time, I realized that it’s no use.”

“Why, did you mess up the exam?”

Han Myungsoo’s expression was different from a moment ago.

Such Han Myungsoo opened his mouth again.

“I feel like I know it when I study, but when I actually go into the exam room, I can’t remember it.”

“Isn’t it because you’re too nervous?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, after that, I started to hate studying itself. I guess studying and I are just not compatible.”

“What, not compatible? Huh…”

Hyunsung could only let out a hollow laugh because he was dumbfounded.

Of course, he doesn’t completely fail to understand Han Myungsoo’s feelings.

If you worked hard in your own way, but when you actually go into the exam room, you can’t remember what you studied, there’s nothing more frustrating than that.

But even so, he thought it didn’t make sense to say that he and studying were not compatible.

Hyunsung looked at Han Myungsoo and asked.

“Do you happen to concentrate well when you study?”

“That’s honestly difficult.”

“How many hours do you usually sit and study?”

“I usually sit for about three hours, but the actual time I spend studying is less than an hour.”

Han Myungsoo himself shook his head from side to side, as if he was pathetic.

Hyunsung looked at such Han Myungsoo and said.

“From now on, cut your study time in half.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Study in one and a half hour intervals. That way, you’ll be more efficient. You’re the type to just waste time if you sit for too long.”

“Will it really get better if I do that?”

Hyunsung nodded and continued.

“Myungsoo, I’m telling you clearly, there’s no such thing as being incompatible with studying. And I’m telling you again, don’t even think about not going to high school with such ridiculous excuses.”

“Do I really have to go to high school? I don’t think I need to…”

“Shut up, do you happen to want to work with me later?”

“Really? If you ask me to join you, I’ll always be grateful.”

“Then graduate from high school first. Then go to a heavy equipment academy and get a license. Then you’ll have a lot to do.”

“I’m confident in that. As long as it’s not studying… hehe.”

Hyunsung smiled at such Han Myungsoo.

Anyway, studying isn’t everything in life.

If so, we can find a way.

Kim Ilsoo is a chef, Han Myungsoo is a heavy equipment operator. Anyway, they’re people who will be needed to build the village later. It wouldn’t be bad to create them one by one from now on.

Hyunsung smiled and looked at Han Myungsoo.