Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 183

183

Bang!

Back in his shop, Oh Sang-cheol slammed his fist on the table.

“What a disgrace to start the day?”

“Tell me about it. I was so embarrassed I wanted to die.”

“Who isn’t? Anyway, who was that kid earlier?”

He would have been less embarrassed if he had been cursed at by an adult. But to be lectured by someone young enough to be his great-grandchild, he was at a loss for words and felt like he was going crazy.

“Ah, that kid. As far as I know, he’s the son of the previous owner.”

“The previous owner? You mean the woman who died of a heart attack?”

“Yes.”

Choi Min-seong nodded.

Oh Sang-cheol frowned and spoke again.

“And that little brat, the more I think about it, the more I hate him.”

“Which kid are you talking about…?”

“Who else? That ramen shop’s little boss.”

“Ah, yes.”

Oh Sang-cheol, feeling agitated, drank a glass of water and continued.

“Did you see him deliberately shouting at the top of his lungs early in the morning to wake up the whole neighborhood?”

“Who didn’t? He’s no ordinary kid. How did he even think of that?”

“Of course, I knew he was unusually clever, but I didn’t know he was that clever.”

“Exactly. How did he think of that…?”

“Anyway…”

Oh Sang-cheol was horrified just thinking about it.

It was obvious that it was intentional. Shouting that loudly in the early morning, there was no way people wouldn’t wake up.

Who doesn’t like watching a fight?

Those who woke up would naturally come out of curiosity.

Of course, that’s what the kid was aiming for. The problem is, how could that young kid think of that at that moment?

Hoo.

Oh Sang-cheol sighed and opened his mouth again.

“It’s all because of that bitch.”

“You mean Kim Ji-sook?”

“Yeah, if she had given me the right information about that kid, I wouldn’t have been so humiliated.”

“That’s…”

Choi Min-seong had nothing to say about that. He knew that Kim Ji-sook had also done her best.

She had definitely warned him in advance.

To be careful because she didn’t know if the little boss would be working overnight.

And Choi Min-seong himself had also dissuaded him this time. To be careful just in case. But Oh Sang-cheol himself had proceeded with the plan, saying that it would be fine since he had been working overnight for three days.

However, saying anything else in this atmosphere would cause a commotion, so it would be best to just keep his mouth shut.

Oh Sang-cheol, still not relieved, frowned again.

“How much did we say we’d give that bitch a month?”

“30,000 won [approximately $25 USD, depending on the exchange rate at the time of the story].”

“Isn’t that too much? She can’t even get the information properly.”

“But that was the condition we set from the beginning, so it’s hard to say anything.”

That’s right.

It wasn’t Kim Ji-sook who set the conditions first. They had approached her first, and they had also offered the amount. Kim Ji-sook had simply accepted their conditions.

In that situation, bringing up the amount now would only mean breaking the contract.

Oh Sang-cheol continued.

“You frustrating old man, contract conditions change when the situation changes. Why are we giving 30,000 won a month when business isn’t even doing well, as if she’s doing some great work?”

“Are you saying we should renegotiate…?”

“Do I have to say it explicitly? You should know what to do if I’ve said that much.”

“…Ah, yes.”

What a bastard.

Choi Min-seong cursed inwardly as he answered.

It was Oh Sang-cheol who had begged them first because he was desperate. It was also Oh Sang-cheol who had set the amount.

But now he’s telling him to cut the price.

It would be strange if Choi Min-seong’s expression was normal.

Did Oh Sang-cheol notice something?

“Why, you don’t like it?”

“Well, it’s not that I don’t like it, but it hasn’t even been a month yet…”

“So prepare in advance. And as I said before, if the tail gets too long, it’ll get stepped on, so cut it off at a reasonable point before that happens.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Even if it’s dirty, what can he do? Choi Min-seong had no choice but to bow his head.

Then Oh Sang-cheol spoke again.

“Oh, what happened to that chili pepper we talked about last time?”

“You mean the habanero chili pepper?”

“Yeah, that haba-whatever.”

“They said they’d contact me as soon as they were imported. But the strange thing is, the importer said that the number of people looking for that chili pepper has increased a lot these days.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes, they can’t sell enough of it.”

“Can’t sell enough…?”

Oh Sang-cheol tilted his head.

If that’s the case, then what that kid said about the ‘spicy flavor craze’ is true. If that’s the case, it won’t just be ramen. It means a spicy flavor craze will hit all foods…

‘How on earth…’

It was a part that Oh Sang-cheol couldn’t understand at all.

Oh Sang-cheol looked at Choi Min-seong and spoke again.

“Just in case, order a lot when you order for the first time.”

“Yes, I understand. But there’s a problem.”

“A problem? What are you talking about now?”

“We can import the chili powder, but the problem is that we can’t use the chili powder as it is.”

What is he talking about now?

Oh Sang-cheol looked at Choi Min-seong and asked immediately.

“What do you mean we can’t use the chili powder as it is?”

“They say they make a seasoning paste with it.”

“Did that woman say that?”

Choi Min-seong nodded.

Then Oh Sang-cheol asked again.

“So you’re saying that we have to process the chili powder once more to use it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. Apparently, the kid doesn’t teach anyone how to make the seasoning paste.”

“Huh…”

Oh Sang-cheol was dumbfounded.

It was like climbing over one mountain after another. He thought everything would be solved if he just got the chili powder. But as soon as he solved the chili powder problem, another problem was waiting for him.

Oh Sang-cheol asked again.

“So you’re saying that the kid makes the seasoning paste?”

“Yes, that’s right. I don’t understand it either. I thought Shin was making it. But that’s not the case.”

“No, what does that kid know about making seasoning paste?”

“I don’t understand it either, but the important thing is that it’s true. Furthermore, he doesn’t teach the method to anyone. Not even to Shin.”

Oh Sang-cheol tilted his head again.

Another incomprehensible thing had happened. He thought Shin Myung-soon would be making it, but that’s not the case.

He’s only a sophomore in high school. What talent does he have to make seasoning paste? It doesn’t make sense logically. But the problem is that it’s true.

‘Then…’

Oh Sang-cheol seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, not saying anything.

After a while, as if he had finished thinking, Oh Sang-cheol looked at Choi Min-seong and said.

“Now there’s only one way left.”

“What is it?”

“To get the seasoning paste.”

“Are you saying we should steal it?”

Choi Min-seong was taken aback. He hadn’t lived a virtuous life, but he had never stolen anything.

As Choi Min-seong’s expression changed, Oh Sang-cheol smiled lightly and said.

“Why, do you think I’m going to make you steal something?”

“What you said a moment ago…”

“Are you going to use your head to boil soup? That’s when you use that woman.”

“That woman…?”

Only then did Choi Min-seong realize Oh Sang-cheol’s intention.

In the end, he’s saying to use Kim Ji-sook to steal the seasoning paste. Of course, he’s not directly involved, but stealing is stealing, and it’s not a pleasant thing.

But the important thing is that he can’t refuse.

Then Oh Sang-cheol opened his mouth again.

“As soon as possible. And the more the better.”

“…Ah, yes.”

Choi Min-seong answered in a low voice.

Then Oh Sang-cheol’s eyes narrowed and he said.

“Why? You don’t want to do it?”

“It’s not that, but it’s my first time doing something like this…”

As Choi Min-seong hesitated, Oh Sang-cheol’s eyes flashed as if he had made up his mind, and he continued.

“No, not at all. I’m going to call right now. I don’t think things will work out properly if I leave it to you alone.”

“Yes? Even so, how can you call at this early hour…?”

“Hurry up!”

Choi Min-seong couldn’t believe his ears.

It’s 5 a.m. now. What crazy person calls a woman living alone at this hour?

No matter how he thought about it, this wasn’t right.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], this isn’t right.”

“Her husband is in the hospital anyway, right? Then what’s the problem since she’ll be alone?”

“It’s 5 a.m. now. How can you call at this hour? This is absolutely absurd.”

“So are you saying you can’t do it now?”

“Just wait a little longer…”

“No, right now!”

Oh Sang-cheol’s voice was low. That meant he had no intention of backing down.

Who is Oh Sang-cheol?

He’s the kind of person who has to do what he wants no matter what. If Choi Min-seong doesn’t make the call, Oh Sang-cheol himself will step up and make the call himself.

Hoo!

A sigh came out of Choi Min-seong’s mouth.

“Okay, I’ll call.”

“You should have done that from the start.”

Only then did Oh Sang-cheol look at Choi Min-seong with a satisfied expression.

Beep beep beep.

Choi Min-seong had no choice but to press Kim Ji-sook’s phone number.

The signal rang for a long time before the other party answered the phone.

– Hello.

A small voice barely audible, probably answering in her sleep.

“Ji-sook, it’s me.”

– Min-seong Ajusshi [a respectful term for an older man]? But what’s going on at this early hour?

“Actually, this morning…”

Choi Min-seong started by talking about the garbage incident that happened this morning. Then Kim Ji-sook asked again in surprise.

– Is that true?

“I was thoroughly disgraced from early in the morning.”

– I told you to be careful. Our boss is young, but he’s a real 독종 [dokjong – a ruthless/determined person].

“Tell me about it. I never thought anyone would be watching until today.”

– Anyway, what’s going on at this hour?

“That’s…”

– What is it?

“It’s about that seasoning paste…”

Choi Min-seong began to explain about the seasoning paste.

When Choi Min-seong’s explanation was over, Kim Ji-sook said in an absurd tone.

– Are you telling me to steal now?

“That’s too harsh of an expression. We’re just sharing information…”

– Sharing information? What’s wrong with you? People will laugh if they hear that.

“That’s just how I’m saying it, but anyway, is it possible?”

– Well, let me think about it for a moment.

Kim Ji-sook was silent for a moment.

After a while.

Kim Ji-sook’s voice was heard again over the receiver.

– By when?

“We’d like it as soon as possible. And the more the better.”

– As soon as possible and a lot…

Kim Ji-sook seemed to be muttering to herself, then said again.

– Is this not for free?

“Huh? That’s…”

Choi Min-seong was startled for a moment and covered the receiver with his hand. Then he immediately looked at Oh Sang-cheol.

“Hyung, this woman wants money?”

“We give her once a month.”

“It seems like she’s asking for it separately. What should I do?”

“This 쌍… [ssang – a vulgar prefix, like ‘damn’]”

Oh Sang-cheol’s expression began to distort for a moment.

Then he said again.

“Ask her first. How much she’s asking for. She’s just a money-grubber.”

Choi Min-seong took his hand off the receiver and said again.

“How much…?”

“I need to get at least ten thousand won. It’s cheap for hazard pay, but…”

Choi Min-seong covered the receiver with his hand again. Then he looked at Oh Sang-cheol again and said.

“Hyung, ten thousand won. What should I do?”

“Ten thousand won? This bitch is a complete thief. For one seasoning paste…”

“What should I do?”

At Choi Min-seong’s question, Oh Sang-cheol bit his lower lip tightly. He wanted to hang up the phone right away, saying he didn’t need it, but realistically he couldn’t.

Because he was the one who needed the seasoning paste.

Oh Sang-cheol had no choice but to nod.

Then Choi Min-seong took his hand off the receiver and said again.

“Ten thousand won, okay. But by today.”

– Okay. See you there at 8 p.m. tonight.

Click.

A smile began to spread across Kim Ji-sook’s face as she hung up the phone.