Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 142

142

“Instead of Jajangmyeon [Korean-Chinese noodle dish], shall we go eat Donkatsu [Japanese-style pork cutlet]?”

“Donkatsu? What’s that?”

Back then, Donkatsu was a rare dish. Moreover, it was a dish you couldn’t even find in the countryside. Even Hyun-sung had his first taste of Donkatsu after entering university in his past life.

It was so uncommon that the English teacher taught how to eat Donkatsu during a third-year class.

“You haven’t tried it yet. I’ll treat you to Donkatsu today, so let’s go eat that.”

“Okay. I like anything as long as I eat with you. Whether it’s Donkatsu or Jajangmyeon, it doesn’t matter.”

“There’s something we need to do before that.”

“What is it?”

Seo In-hye looked at Hyun-sung, curious.

Hyun-sung’s words followed immediately.

“Call your mother first.”

“Call Mom…?”

“Yes, how upset do you think your mother is right now because of you?”

“I know. I’m already regretting it. It’s not like Mom is doing it on purpose; it’s because the family is having a hard time…”

In fact, that’s why she was even more upset. The situation where she couldn’t escape reality no matter how hard she struggled; she hated that situation even more.

“Whether you know it or not, your mother must have been hurting several times more than you.”

Why wouldn’t she? How much would a parent’s heart ache, seeing their child cry and not being able to do anything about it?

“…I will.”

After walking a bit more, a public telephone booth appeared.

“Here.”

“Thank you, Oppa [term used by a younger woman to address an older brother or male friend].”

Seo In-hye, after receiving the coin, went inside the public telephone booth.

Didiik.

After inserting the coin and dialing the number, the dial tone rang immediately, and soon Lee Se-hee’s urgent voice was heard.

– Hello!

“…Mom.”

Seo In-hye’s mouth barely opened.

– In-hye!

“Yes, Mom.”

– Where are you now?

“Here, downtown Hongcheon. I’m with Hyun-sung Oppa.”

– How did that student know and find you there?

“I don’t know either. But he came looking for me. I’m making this call now because Oppa told me to call, saying you must be worried.”

– Is that so? I’m really grateful to that student. But have you eaten?

“I’m about to eat. What about you, Mom?”

– Is food the problem now? I don’t even know where you went… but it’s okay now. Don’t worry about Mom and eat quickly.”

“Okay. Mom, you eat quickly too. And I’m sorry.”

– …….

Instead of words, a sobbing sound was heard over the receiver.

“Mom, are you crying?”

– No. Who’s crying… Hurry up and eat.

“Okay, Mom, I’ll eat and go.”

– Okay…

Click.

The call was disconnected.

Seo In-hye stared at Hyun-sung with a blank expression.

Then Hyun-sung asked.

“What did your mother say?”

“Just…”

“She’s worried a lot, isn’t she?”

Seo In-hye nodded instead of answering. Then, wondering what she was thinking, she started walking without saying anything.

After a moment.

Seo In-hye, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around and looked at Hyun-sung.

“Oppa, let’s go home.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t think I can. I don’t think I can go eat lunch like this. Mom can’t eat anything because of me, and I don’t think it’s right for me to eat here alone and go back.”

Hyun-sung smiled as he looked at Seo In-hye.

As expected, there was no need to nag. Seo In-hye herself was already aware of the whole situation.

When he first saw her at the arcade, he honestly had some conflict.

He almost shouted without realizing it.

But at that moment, he thought that might not be the right thing to do. So, the method he chose was to approach her like a friend.

But now, seeing Seo In-hye’s actions, he thought it was the right thing to do.

“Really?”

“Yes, I honestly came out of rebellion for a moment, but I don’t think this is right.”

“You thought well. I’m glad you realized it quickly.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Oppa. If you hadn’t come, I would still be wandering around. And I was scared because people kept looking at me with strange eyes.”

“Don’t ever do this again. I won’t stand for it next time.”

“Hehe, I understand. Let’s go home quickly.”

The two started walking back in the opposite direction.

After a while.

The two returned to Seo-myeon.

Hyun-sung asked Seo In-hye first.

“How do you feel about running away from home for the first time?”

“It was good.”

“What?”

“Thanks to you, I got to go on a date with Oppa.”

“Don’t even joke about that. Do you know how worried I was that you might have been kidnapped?”

“Sorry, Oppa. That won’t happen again. I promise.”

Seo In-hye held out her pinky finger to Hyun-sung. Hyun-sung looked at Seo In-hye and chuckled.

It was a relief that nothing happened, but what if something had happened?

Arriving in front of her house, Hyun-sung said to Seo In-hye.

“Go in quickly. Your mother is waiting.”

“Okay. You go home safely too, and thank you so much for today.”

“Okay.”

“Bye, Oppa.”

Watching Seo In-hye run into the house with those words, Hyun-sung let out a long sigh without realizing it.

It was a dizzying day, the more he thought about it.

It was something he could never have imagined in his past life. Hyun-sung was grateful that it ended like this.

Whew!

Hyun-sung, looking at the calendar, took a short, deep breath.

Today is the last day he’ll be sleeping at home. Tomorrow, he’ll be moving to the place where the ramen shop is located.

Now it finally begins.

Tomorrow evening, 100 boxes of Shin Ramen [a popular brand of instant noodles in Korea] will be delivered from the agency. And the opening is in two days.

It would be a lie if he said he wasn’t excited.

He had prepared that much.

Looking at the clock, it was almost 12 o’clock.

Hyun-sung’s gaze was already directed towards the door. There was someone who always came to visit around this time.

As expected.

A presence was felt outside the door. Hyun-sung got up from his seat and opened the door.

Creak.

As expected, his father was standing outside the door. He was still holding honey water in his hand.

“Father, come in.”

The father, who came into the room, handed the honey water to Hyun-sung.

“This honey water is the last one today.”

“That’s right. What should I do, I’m so sad?”

“If it comes to being sad, I’m just as sad.”

The father made a regretful expression.

Hyun-sung smiled at his father.

The biggest change since his regression would be his relationship with his father. In his past life, he didn’t have such a close relationship with his father.

Hyun-sung himself was quiet, so his father couldn’t help it.

Hyun-sung, who drank the honey water, put down the bowl and said.

“How’s your body these days?”

“Just so-so, when I work, the place I hurt before hurts a little, but it’s bearable.”

“Ah, your shoulder.”

It was one winter.

Because it was the countryside, heating was inevitably done with wood, so going to the mountains to get wood was a daily routine in winter. One day, he slipped on the snowy road and injured his shoulder.

So, if he overdid it a bit, his shoulder seemed to hurt.

Hyun-sung looked at his father and said.

“Turn around a bit. I’ll rub it for a moment.”

“No, it’s okay. It’ll be okay after a nap.”

“Don’t do that, just turn around for a moment.”

“Then…”

The father reluctantly pushed his shoulder towards Hyun-sung. Then Hyun-sung started rubbing his father’s shoulder with force.

“How is it? Does it feel much cooler?”

“Yes, it’s very cool.”

“Father, your shoulders are quite broad.”

“Hehe, is that so? By the way, when did our Hyun-sung become such an adult?”

“Is that so? I still feel like I’m far away…”

Hyun-sung deliberately joked.

Father.

In the past, he didn’t know how precious he was because he was always by his side. He just thought he would always be there.

Then, at some point, when his father got sick and disappeared from his side, he realized his father’s absence.

The more he thought about it, the more foolish he was.

Belated regret, it had no meaning then.

But now it’s different.

He knows too well how precious and valuable his father’s existence is.

Hyun-sung called his father.

“Father!”

“What is it, you rascal… why?”

“Because I like you.”

“Hehe, really. That rascal.”

Thump.

The father got up from his seat and lightly touched Hyun-sung’s shoulder. Then he continued.

“I’m going, don’t overdo it and go to sleep soon. And… I like you too.”

The father left those words and hurried out of the room, as if he was embarrassed.

A smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he watched him.

Even after his father left the room, Hyun-sung’s gaze couldn’t leave the door.

After a while.

Hyun-sung sat back at his desk.

Then he opened his notebook.

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung started writing something in the notebook.

The content was his plan.

1. Ramen shop – Daily sales of 50,000 won [Korean currency].

2. Park Hee-cheol’s investment.

3. Investment destination – Ilsan New Town.

4. Recovery of investment and purchase of land after 3 years.

This is Hyun-sung’s future plan.

First of all, the ramen shop’s success is the priority. It only needs to exceed an average daily sales of 50,000 won. Only then will Park Hee-cheol have no choice but to acknowledge it.

The problem is how much will Park Hee-cheol’s investment be? This is the problem.

Of course, the more the better.

Next, the investment destination that Hyun-sung is thinking about is Ilsan New Town. If the investment is made within this year, he will be able to generate at least 100 times the investment return in 3 years.

The moment the government announces the 1st New Town in April 1989, land prices will skyrocket. At that time, he will recover the investment and purchase all the land around the land he received from Park Hee-cheol.

It will be about 30,000 pyeong [Korean unit of area, approximately 1,200 acres]. Of course, he will open a large restaurant there, just like in his past life. It will be created as a place where many people can come and enjoy, not just a simple restaurant.

Clack.

Hyun-sung, who put down the pen, crossed his arms and looked into the notebook.

Each and every one of them was something he could dream of because he had regressed.

“Hmm…”

This is the second chance he’s been given. He will definitely succeed this time and live a wonderful life.

Hyun-sung came outside.

When he came out into the yard, countless stars were in the sky.

The stars of his hometown.

The sky of his hometown that he missed while living in the city.

As soon as he thought about leaving home tomorrow, his heart was restless. Of course, he could come home on weekends, but he couldn’t help but feel a little sad.

For a long time, Hyun-sung spent the night in the yard, looking at the stars in the sky.

The next morning.

“Mother, what day is it today?”

Hyun-sung said, looking at the breakfast table. The number of side dishes was incomparably more than usual.

“To eat a lot. You’ll have a hard time if you move out today…”

“No, it’s not like I’m going far away, and I’ll come home sometimes, so why this much…”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to cut off his words in the middle. Because his father was looking at Hyun-sung and winking.

Only then did he realize it.

The heart of a mother who wants to feed her leaving child even one more thing; he had momentarily forgotten that it was his mother’s heart.

“Let’s eat quickly.”

“Yes, I will eat well!”

Hyun-sung, who belatedly realized his mother’s heart, could only replace his embarrassment with a loud voice.

Then, Kim Ji-yeon, his younger sister who was watching from the side, threw a word.

“You’re so immature…”

“You, Kim Ji-yeon…”

Hyun-sung, knowing his shortcomings, had nothing more to say to his younger sister.

Then Kim Ji-yeon was teasing Hyun-sung, sticking out her tongue.

After eating for a while, Kim Ji-yeon looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Oppa, is the ramen coming in today?”

“Yeah, it’ll be delivered in the evening.”

“And that’s Shin Ramen?”

“That’s right. It’ll be released in the market tomorrow.”

Kim Ji-yeon was still shaking her head from side to side.

Then Kim Ji-yeon spoke again.

“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand?”

“What don’t you understand so much?”

“I’m talking about Oppa’s dream. No, how can ramen come out in any dream? And it’s not just for a day or two, but the exact date comes out several weeks ago, does that make sense logically?”

“It made sense. What more words do you need? So don’t think about anything else and eat.”

As soon as Hyun-sung finished speaking, Kim Ji-yeon’s face contorted.

It was an expression that she couldn’t believe at all.

Then the mother looked at Kim Ji-yeon and said.

“Don’t frown and eat quickly. How many things in the world don’t make sense, why do you keep nagging about Oppa’s dream?”

“Mom, that’s what I mean. Can’t people even talk?”

“This girl is arguing back…”

“Tsk, Mom only scolds me.”

It’s a peaceful daily life that anyone can see.

Hyun-sung smiled at the sight, wondering what was so good.

He liked the fact that his mother, father, and younger sister, the four of them, were eating and talking together.

He only knew later that it was happiness.

Hyun-sung, who had finished breakfast, came into his room.

He had already moved most of his luggage a few days ago, so today he only needs to pack a few clothes and the books he was studying.

Swish.

Hyun-sung’s gaze stopped at one place.

There was a bed in the place where his gaze stopped. A crude wooden bed that his father made as a middle school entrance gift.

Tap tap.

Hyun-sung tapped the bed with his hand.

The tactile sensation still felt hard on his fingertips. But when he actually lay down, it was so comfortable.

Like his father’s heart.

Looking at the bed, he remembered how happy he was when he first received the bed.

Hyun-sung, who came out of his room, greeted his father and mother.

“Then, I’m leaving. Stay healthy.”

“Yes, go and do well in business and study hard, and above all, eat well.”

The mother’s words continued.

“Don’t overdo it too much.”

The father added.

“Yes, I understand. And I’ll come home on weekends, so don’t worry too much and stay comfortable.”

Hyun-sung was about to turn around after saying goodbye.

“Hey, you’re not even saying goodbye to me?”

It was his younger sister, Kim Ji-yeon.

“You’re going to see me every day anyway. Aren’t you coming to see Oppa after school?”

“That’s that, and this is this, anyway, you’re moving out.”

“Is that so? Then our pretty lady, take care, and you know you can tell Oppa right away if anything happens, right?”

“Yeah, I know. Oppa, don’t just cook ramen every day and don’t forget to eat rice. Got it?”

Hyun-sung chuckled and nodded.

Hyun-sung, who had finished saying goodbye, headed to the pigsty.

“Hey, Joon-chi!”

“Kkuek.”

It was Joon-chi who was shouting as if answering.

“You too, don’t get sick, eat well, and take care.”

“Kkuek.”

Hyun-sung chuckled as he watched Joon-chi shout as if he understood. Contrary to what he had initially worried about, he was adapting too well.

Hyun-sung, who came out of the house, vigorously pedaled his bicycle.

Now it begins. No matter what reason he started for the first time, the important thing is that Hyun-sung will open the store in two days.

The memory of his past life was decisive.

However, he will not be complacent and lazy, believing only in the glory of his past life. He knows better than anyone that business is not easy.

He will do his best to make it a successful store.

That is the first goal.

Hyun-sung’s will was rising from his firmly closed lips.

It was when Hyun-sung was passing in front of the community center.

The village chief, Choi Min-seok, called Hyun-sung.

“Where are you going?”

“Ah, yes. I’m going to the store.”

“Ah, that ramen shop?”

“Yes. But how do you know?”

“Who in our village wouldn’t know that you’re running a ramen shop? Chairman Park was so proud of it.”

This was something he didn’t know.

“You said Uncle was proud?”

“Don’t you know that Chairman Park is bragging about you like his own grandson?”

“No, I didn’t know.”

No wonder the reaction was different from before every time he met and greeted the villagers these days. But he didn’t know that the reason was because of Park Hee-cheol.

“Anyway, about the bridge at the entrance of the village that you talked about last time.”

“Ah, yes. What was the conclusion?”

“It was decided to build the bridge as you said. So I’m talking about it today when we met.”

“That’s great. Now we can go without worrying even if it rains a lot.”

They used to control the bridge because it was dangerous when it rained a lot. Now, once this construction is finished, that will not happen. In his past life, this bridge was only possible to be rebuilt 5 years later.

In the end, it was 5 years ahead.

Hyun-sung, who parted ways with the village chief, vigorously pedaled his bicycle again.

“Huh!”

A hollow laugh came out of his mouth.

He couldn’t help but laugh when he thought of Park Hee-cheol. It was a fact he didn’t know at all.

‘A grandson…’

It is a new relationship that has been formed since his regression. He didn’t know that the choice of that day would lead to this. Anyway, the important thing is that they are symbiotic.

Does Park Hee-cheol know?