Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 478

The next day,

A sedan sped down the highway.

Inside were two people.

“How are you feeling?”

Kim Min-joong, sitting in the passenger seat, asked Han Seok-ho, who was driving.

Han Seok-ho, who was driving, smiled brightly and immediately replied.

“I feel great! It’s like a field trip back in my school days, being out after 20 years.”

“Really? I’m glad to hear that.”

“How about you, Director?”

“What can I say? The moment I got out of Seoul, I felt like I could breathe. Here, take a breath of this air. Doesn’t the air quality feel different already?”

Kim Min-joong was taking in the air coming in through the fully lowered window.

Han Seok-ho smiled at the sight and continued.

“But there’s something I’m curious about.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“You said you’d been thinking about it for a year, didn’t you? Was there a particular trigger?”

In fact, he had been curious since he heard about it from Director Kim Min-joong the day before.

It was completely unexpected.

The fact that someone who had been living well for almost 20 years suddenly had such thoughts meant there must have been a trigger, Han Seok-ho thought.

Kim Min-joong asked back as if to confirm.

“A trigger?”

“Yes, to be honest, I was very surprised yesterday. I mean, why would someone who has been working harder than anyone else suddenly have such thoughts?”

“Well…”

Kim Min-joong hesitated for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.

“… A friend of mine died.”

“Are you talking about the one you went to the funeral home in Incheon for last spring?”

“Yes, that’s right. Of course, it was a traffic accident, but he was someone who lived harder than anyone else. Seeing him go so suddenly made me feel a sense of futility.”

“Ah, I see… that’s what happened.”

It was a year ago.

As soon as the treatment was over, he disappeared, saying he was going to a funeral home.

The problem was what followed. For a week after visiting the funeral home, he felt so different from his usual self that he felt like a different person.

Only later did he find out that his friend had passed away.

In the end, that was the starting point.

Kim Min-joong continued.

“Actually, I’ve been thinking a lot since then. How long do I have to live like a hamster in a wheel in this stuffy Seoul?”

“Yes, I understand completely.”

“After a year of 고민 [agony/worry], the moment I saw that ad in the newspaper yesterday, my eyes lit up.”

Han Seok-ho nodded instead of answering. It was something he could fully relate to.

Then Kim Min-joong immediately continued.

“Why do I have to compete with so many oriental medicine clinics in Seoul and live a suffocating life without a single day off?”

“Actually, that didn’t make sense. How could there be 100 oriental medicine clinics in that small neighborhood? When we first opened in that neighborhood, there weren’t even half that many.”

“I know, right? But what’s the point of complaining now? It’s already in the past, and we just need to get out of that hell now.”

Han Seok-ho quietly nodded.

Come to think of it, it was amazing that he had endured it for 20 years. It wasn’t like there were so many oriental medicine clinics there from the beginning. Until the 70s, it was manageable, taking breaks from Saturday afternoons.

The change started in the early 80s.

As the commercial district of Kyungdong Market rapidly grew in the 80s, oriental medicine clinics began to flock to the area.

Eventually, there were three oriental medicine clinics in one building, so what more needs to be said?

In the end, the result of excessive competition was that they had no choice but to become slaves to work without Saturdays or Sundays.

The problem was the patients from the provinces.

They started coming up on weekends because they didn’t have time on weekdays. As that accumulated, the oriental medicine clinics in the Kyungdong Market area were labeled as not resting 365 days a year, and all the oriental medicine clinics started seeing patients on weekends as well.

If they rested, they would inevitably lose customers, so everyone had no choice but to open their doors.

That time has already passed 20 years.

The sedan speeding down the highway was already passing through the Wonju tollgate.

“Turn left up ahead.”

Kim Min-joong pointed to the left with his hand.

Then Han Seok-ho immediately asked.

“Come to think of it, did you say you served in the military in Wonju?”

“That’s right, I worked here in Taejang-dong exactly 40 years ago. I don’t know if that unit still exists, though.”

“So you know the area well?”

“Yes, I was working as a driver before I entered oriental medicine college. And actually, I’ve been to Seomyeong-myeon, where we’re going now, a few times when I was training.”

“Oh, really? So you already knew when you saw the ad yesterday?”

“Yes, that’s right. Maybe that’s why I was more interested. To be honest, I feel like I’m visiting my hometown after a long time.”

Han Seok-ho smiled and looked at Kim Min-joong.

A smile was spreading across his face. He seemed to fully understand how he was feeling.

The sedan that had exited the tollgate started running towards Hoengseong again.

How much time had passed?

The signpost showed the word Seomyeong-myeon.

Han Seok-ho smiled and said.

“Director, we’re finally in Seomyeong-myeon.”

“It’s still far. We’ll have to drive another hour and a half. Should we switch if you’re tired?”

“No, I’m fine. I feel good driving on an unpaved road for the first time in a while.”

Han Seok-ho focused on driving again. The shaking of the unpaved road felt all over his body seemed to awaken very old memories.

Then Kim Min-joong looked at Han Seok-ho again and opened his mouth.

“I have something I’m curious about with you, Manager.”

“Yes? You mean me?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s not that, but in my opinion, with your experience, you would be welcomed at any oriental medicine clinic in Kyungdong Market, but I’m wondering why you’re willing to work with me…”

“You’re curious about that?”

“…….”

Kim Min-joong nodded instead of speaking.

Then Han Seok-ho immediately continued.

“Do you happen to remember?”

“Yes? Remember what?”

“20 years ago. The money you gave me when you first hired me.”

“Yes? Ah, that.”

Kim Min-joong also remembers it.

It was when he first hired him. On the day his employment was confirmed, strange words came out of his mouth.

That was to ask for a year’s salary in advance.

It was impossible not to be taken aback. It wasn’t even a month, but on the day his employment was confirmed, he asked for a year’s salary.

Of course, there was a reason.

It was because of his mother. He needed a lump sum of money for his mother’s urgent surgery.

To be honest, he wasn’t without 고민 [agony/worry] at the time.

But the 고민 [agony/worry] didn’t last long. It was because of his mother. It wasn’t just any other matter, but he couldn’t turn a blind eye to his mother’s surgery.

Han Seok-ho continued.

“You weren’t well off at the time either, Director. It was obvious since you had just opened your practice. But you still managed to get that money. You even took out a loan to do it.”

“Well, my mother was in urgent need…”

“No, that’s not it. That doesn’t happen. Who in the world would give a newly hired employee a year’s salary when they ask for it? Especially by taking out a loan.”

“…….”

Kim Min-joong had nothing special to say.

Then Han Seok-ho immediately continued.

“Thanks to that, my mother was able to have surgery safely. Although she has passed away now, my mother talked about you until the day she died. And before my mother passed away, she asked me.”

“Asked?”

“Yes, that was to never forget your kindness for the rest of my life. So I promised my mother at that time: that I would serve you like an older brother for the rest of my life, for as long as I can work.”

This is the first time Kim Min-joong has heard of this.

Of course, he gave him the money because of his mother, but he didn’t know that he would be thinking that way because of that.

He wondered if it was strange.

He knew that he had received a scouting offer two years ago. That’s because there was no manager who had worked that long in Kyungdong Market.

This is a phenomenon that occurs because the profits of an oriental medicine clinic are largely dependent on the manager.

But the strange thing was that he rejected the scouting offer out of hand.

“Did you happen to reject it two years ago for that reason?”

“Reject? What……?”

“The scouting. I heard you rejected it out of hand?”

“Oh? Did you know?”

“Yes, somehow it got to my ears.”

“It’s embarrassing to say to you, but it’s true. But I couldn’t sell my conscience just because they offered me a few more bucks. My deceased mother wouldn’t allow it either.”

“…….”

Kim Min-joong was speechless.

To be honest, he was curious about the reason two years ago, but now that he heard the reason, he didn’t have anything special to say.

Then Han Seok-ho opened his mouth again.

“That’s not the only reason.”

“Yes? Does that mean there was another reason?”

“Yes, of course. The promise with my mother was also important. But more than that, I wanted to uphold my human duty.”

“Human duty?”

“Yes, I’m fifty-five years old this year. Of course, I haven’t lived that long, but I still know how to live according to human duty. Of course, I also know that money isn’t everything.”

Kim Min-joong looked at him with a pleased expression when Han Seok-ho finished speaking.

Human duty.

Perhaps the words are easy. But he knows better than anyone else that putting it into action is not as easy as it sounds.

And it’s even more so when it’s tied to money.

He heard that the money wasn’t small either.

They said they would give him 50 more of his current salary and an additional 10 million won separately. But Han Seok-ho rejected all of that and stayed by his side.

To fulfill the human duty he speaks of. That’s why he couldn’t help but look at him with a pleased expression.

Kim Min-joong called Han Seok-ho affectionately.

“Manager!”

“Yes?”

Han Seok-ho couldn’t help but be momentarily surprised by Kim Min-joong’s sudden voice. That’s why his voice came out louder without him realizing it.

Then Kim Min-joong smiled and continued.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Ah, I didn’t mean to…….”

“I’ll reward you separately.”

“Yes, what do you mean?”

“I’ll give you the same conditions that they offered you from next month’s salary. Of course, I’ll also give you 10 million won as a special bonus.”

“Yes? ……!”

Han Seok-ho was speechless.

To be honest, it would be a lie if he said he didn’t have a conflict when he received a scouting offer from a newly established oriental medicine clinic two years ago.

The amount was too large to ignore.

But no matter how he thought about it, it was something he couldn’t do as a human being.

Han Seok-ho lowered his head and continued.

“I’m sorry.”

“Yes? What are you sorry about?”

“To be honest, I was conflicted. I shouldn’t have done that if I knew your kindness.”

“Aren’t you a human being?”

“Yes? What does that……?”

“It’s natural, if you’re a human being. No matter how you package it, we humans waver in the face of money. But the important thing is the person’s final choice. And you ended up choosing me. Isn’t that right?”

“…….”

Han Seok-ho replaced his answer with silence. Whatever the reason, it was true that his heart had wavered momentarily.

Then Kim Min-joong continued.

“That human duty you mentioned earlier—it’s not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes, something scarier than human duty is material gain. But you did that difficult thing.”

“I’m ashamed.”

“No. That’s why I’m thinking of giving you a gift this time.”

“Yes? A gift? You just said you’d raise my salary…….”

“Ah, that’s natural. I have something else in mind besides that.”

“Yes? Again?”

“That’s a secret for now. I’ll tell you after I meet the young CEO here today and decide what to do in the future.”

Then Han Seok-ho’s eyes caught a signpost.

“Oh? I think we’re finally here. It’s only 4 kilometers away now.”

“Yes, that’s right. From here, we’ll see the Seomyeong-myeon Terminal in about 10 more minutes.”

“People’s minds are strange.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Even though I’m old, I’m excited because you said you’d give me a gift. But I’m sorry, what is that gift……?”

“It’s a secret.”

Kim Min-joong cut off Han Seok-ho’s words before he could finish. Then he immediately opened his mouth again.

“I’ll tell you after I meet the young CEO. But I’m sure of one thing.”

“Yes? What……?”

“Whatever you imagine, it will be more than that.”

“No, if you say that, what am I supposed to do because I’m curious…….”

For Han Seok-ho, there was no torture like this.

But on the contrary, a smile was spreading across Kim Min-joong’s face, wondering what he was thinking.

A few minutes later.

When the three-way intersection came out, Han Seok-ho immediately asked.

“Where are we going?”

“The left is towards the terminal, and the right is where the restaurant that young CEO runs. Which way are you going?”

“Of course, the left.”

Han Seok-ho turned the steering wheel to the left without even thinking. That’s where the building where the hospital will be built is located.

It was the very place he saw in the newspaper ad the day before.

Vroom!

The sedan started running towards the building where the hospital will be built again.

481

회귀해서 건물주 [Return and become a building owner]