Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 464

466

“A phone call… what are you talking about?”

“Yes, there’s no guarantee it will happen, but shouldn’t we check just in case?”

After much deliberation, Chairman Shin Chun-oh concluded that it was unlikely to happen.

Even though he had stepped down from the chairmanship, the factory decision had been made during his tenure. He believed it wouldn’t make sense to put it on hold now, two years later.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young was momentarily flustered by the word ‘check’.

He had heard the rumor the day before and was quietly investigating, judging that it was an unbelievable story that needed further confirmation.

But a little while ago, Chairman Shin Chun-oh suddenly brought up the factory, so he had no choice but to speak up. Now, the chairman was suggesting an immediate check, which flustered Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young glanced at Chairman Shin Chun-oh and carefully broached the subject.

“Chairman, if you give me some more time…”

“No, there’s no need for that. It’s just a groundless rumor anyway. Why should Chief Secretary Choi go to the trouble when a phone call will do?”

“…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young was speechless.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s words weren’t wrong. Direct confirmation from Chairman Shin Chun-oh would be more certain than any investigation he could conduct.

But the problem was the potential truth of the rumor.

If it was just a false rumor, as Chairman Shin Chun-oh believed, there would be no problem. However, if the opposite were true…

If the rumor turned out to be true, the shock to the chairman would be significant.

When Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young remained silent, Chairman Shin Chun-oh spoke again.

“Chief Secretary Choi, don’t worry too much.”

“Yes?”

“I know what you’re worried about. But I’m telling you not to fret. I’m also prepared to some extent.”

“Does that mean…”

“I’ve been around the block [lived a long life], so I have some sense of these things. Actually, I didn’t say it, but when I heard you say the research institute refused to answer a little while ago, I already had a feeling. So, I decided I should check it myself this time.”

That’s right.

A little while ago, when he heard from Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young that the research lab had refused to report on the Dullegil [a scenic walking trail] due to instructions from above, he already suspected something.

But he just didn’t show it.

But the moment he heard the rumor that the factory installation was being put on hold again, he was almost certain.

There’s no smoke without fire. The fact that the rumor was circulating meant that the issue had already been discussed and some conclusions reached.

But he couldn’t reveal his suspicions right away, so he just tried to check it as if nothing was wrong.

But when he saw Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young worrying, he couldn’t help but share his honest feelings.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh looked at Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young and nodded, signaling that he had already prepared himself, so there was no need to worry; just make the phone call.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young, understanding the meaning, also nodded and approached the phone.

“Shall I call the Planning Office?”

“Is there any need to bother them?”

That’s also true. If the rumor was true, all decisions would have come from his eldest son, Chairman Shin Min-ki. In that situation, it wouldn’t be appropriate for the former chairman, rather than someone else, to check with the Planning Office.

“Yes, I understand.”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young bowed his head, made a phone call, and handed the receiver directly to Chairman Shin Chun-oh.

-Yes, it’s me.

The other person answered the phone politely, as if he already knew who was calling.

Then Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked briefly.

“Is the rumor true?”

-I’m sorry.

The fact that he apologized meant that he already knew the content of the question.

In the end, Shin Min-ki knew why Chairman Shin Chun-oh was calling the moment he saw the call.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked again briefly.

“What’s the reason?”

-We can’t handle the distribution costs.

“Absolutely?”

-Yes, I don’t know about 10 years from now, but there’s no solution right now. The distance is a problem, but the road conditions there are currently…

Chairman Shin Min-ki’s explanation became longer. The fact that the explanation was getting longer meant that all reviews had already been done before making such a decision.

“…”

As Chairman Shin Min-ki’s words grew longer, Chairman Shin Chun-oh just listened quietly without saying anything.

His expression was surprisingly calm.

About five minutes later, he heard a voice calling him from the receiver.

-Father.

“Speak.”

-Why did you do that? If it was you, Father, you would have known from the planning stage. You would have known better than anyone that the site was unsuitable for a factory.

“…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh had nothing to say.

His words were true.

He knew from the beginning that it was unreasonable.

There were two problems.

One of them was that the road was too rough because of the region. Later, he found out that to go from Hoengseong to Seomyeon, you had to go over several hills, and the road was rougher than he thought.

And the other was that the road was unpaved.

In conclusion, the distribution cost was unbearable because the road was rough and unpaved.

But when he found out about that fact, it was already long after he had made a promise with Hyeonseong. So he couldn’t do anything about it and was just suffering alone.

So, a little while ago, when he heard the rumor about the factory, he was already prepared to some extent.

Nevertheless, the reason why he wanted to check directly was that he thought he had to put an end to it in some way.

And there was another reason.

He wanted to check.

Others may think it’s childish, but he wanted to gauge his son’s true feelings.

Whether he was unconditionally opposed or persuaded with reasonable reasons.

But that was already confirmed a little while ago when he explained with various reasons. At least he wasn’t ignoring his old father.

Anyway, he achieved his initial goal.

Then that’s enough.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh quietly called his son’s name.

“Min-ki.”

-Yes? Yes, Father.

Shin Min-ki was momentarily startled because his father had never called his name since he became chairman. That’s because his father had never called his name since he became chairman.

“That’s enough.”

-Yes? What does that mean…

“I won’t talk about the factory issue anymore. After all, that issue from the beginning…”

-Father!

Shin Min-ki interrupted Chairman Shin Chun-oh. Then he immediately continued.

-I clearly said it was on hold.

“On hold?”

-Yes, that means the factory issue has been postponed for now. It doesn’t mean it’s completely off the table.”

“…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh doubted his ears. If what he said was true, it meant that he would leave room for the establishment of the factory.

This doesn’t make sense.

Even he thought it was too unreasonable to build a factory there geographically. He made such a decision because of his relationship with Hyeonseong, but his son’s position was completely different.

But why on earth would he make such a decision…

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked immediately out of curiosity.

“What does that mean?”

-They will start construction in 5 years.

“Start construction in 5 years? What does that mean? What kind of construction are you talking about in 5 years?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s words suddenly became faster, indicating his confusion.

Shin Min-ki’s explanation continued again.

-They will start a major road construction project in that section in 5 years. So the construction period will take 5 years.

“Does that mean now…”

-Yes, I looked into it myself. So I mentioned 10 years later a little while ago. Around that time, as you said, Father…

Shin Min-ki’s words continued further. The explanation was long, but the core was this: after the road construction is completed, the factory establishment issue will be reviewed again at that time.

Of course, if the requirements are met after the review, he would proceed with the factory establishment as Chairman Shin Chun-oh had planned.

Pfft.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh, who hung up the phone, couldn’t help but laugh.

It was something he never expected.

Of course, it may be meaningless in some ways. He is 68 this year. That means that in 10 years, he will be 78, soon to be eighty.

What can he do at that age? No, maybe there’s no guarantee that he’ll be alive by then.

But the important thing is not that now.

At first, he was worried that his son might be ignoring him.

So he called directly to check.

But he already confirmed that wasn’t the case.

But it didn’t end there; his son went one step further and left room for it, specifically 10 years after the road expansion construction is completed.

The important thing here is not the period of 10 years, but the process. The process leading up to making such a decision.

It would have taken a lot of time and effort to get that much information.

It could have been discarded because it was a plan that no one thought was realistic. But Shin Min-ki did not do that and spent a lot of time and effort to find that possibility.

Of course, the validity will have to be reviewed again later, but the important thing is that he did not ignore it and respected it.

That is what Chairman Shin Chun-oh thinks is important now, and that is why he is smiling.

“Chairman…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young carefully called to Chairman Shin Chun-oh, who was smiling.

Then Chairman Shin Chun-oh, realizing that he was not alone, quickly responded.

“Oh? Oh, yes. Chief Secretary Choi, I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else for a while, so I forgot you were there.”

“No. I’m okay. But Chairman, your expression is good. Maybe the young chairman said something…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young had no choice but to be careful.

When he first made the phone call, he was worried about the shock Chairman Shin Chun-oh would receive.

But as the call time grew longer, his expression gradually improved, contrary to his initial worries. Moreover, after hanging up the phone, he was smiling as if he was satisfied, so he couldn’t help but wonder what they had talked about.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh smiled and continued.

“Chief Secretary Choi, listen carefully to what I’m going to say from now on. Well, that guy…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh began to explain what he had talked about with Shin Min-ki a little while ago.

Of course, he could have just glossed over it, but he couldn’t do that because he knew that Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young had more worries than anyone else.

When Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s explanation was over, Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young asked immediately.

“Chairman, is that real?”

“Haha, that’s right. I didn’t expect this to happen either. I didn’t know our Min-ki thought of this father that much.”

“That’s a relief. That’s really a relief. Whew!”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young unknowingly sighed in relief at the end of his words.

Then Chairman Shin Chun-oh, who saw the scene, immediately opened his mouth.

“Haha, our Chief Secretary Choi was worried a lot?”

“Yes? Ah, no. I’m just…”

“Thank you. Still, I’m glad you’re by my side and worried about me.”

“You’re welcome. Of course, I… By the way, what should I say to President Kim now?”

“Hmm… I’m worried about that too.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s wrinkles deepened, unlike his bright appearance a little while ago.

Why wouldn’t he? The time he promised with Hyeonseong was next year, one year later.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young’s words continued again.

“We have to talk about it in some way, don’t we?”

“Of course we have to. But the problem is President Kim. I’m wondering what President Kim will think of me.”

“President Kim will be very disappointed, won’t he?”

“He will. What should I do about this…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s wrinkles deepened even more than before.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young was also worried. But the important thing was that no matter how much he thought about it, there was no good way.

“…”

“…”

The two people were just looking at the ceiling without saying a word.

After a while.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was the first to speak.

“Should I talk to President Kim in advance?”

“That’s right, but what should I say…”

“Isn’t the conclusion already decided?”

“Does that mean?”

“Isn’t the only way to be honest? Of course, I have to take all the responsibility, but.”

The site promised for the factory was 30,000 pyeong [approximately 74 acres]. Of course, Hyeonseong had already prepared the site.

The problem is not the 30,000 pyeong.

It’s the expectations.

What Hyeonseong expected was the economic effect derived from the creation of the factory.

But now he’s about to shatter it all at once…

After thinking for a while, Chairman Shin Chun-oh opened his mouth again.

“Chief Secretary Choi.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Call President Kim.”

“Yes? Right now?”

“Isn’t it better to get hit first if you’re going to get hit anyway? Surely he won’t kill this old man?”

“…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young couldn’t say anything more. That was because of Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s expression.

Solemnity.

Somehow, he could feel solemnity in his expression. That meant that he was burdened by the current situation.

But he couldn’t help it either.

“Whew!”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young took a breath and started making a phone call.