Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 195

195

Oh Sang-cheol asked Choi Min-sung, sounding dumbfounded.

“How much did you say?”

“He’s asking for 30,000 won.”

“This crazy… how can a sauce cost 30,000 won? That woman is really obsessed with money.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I was so dumbfounded last night…”

It was around 10 PM last night.

The phone suddenly rang, so I answered it. The caller was none other than Kim Ji-sook.

She was the one who wouldn’t give me the sauce a few days ago. But yesterday, she called first and said she had changed her mind. And the amount of money she asked for was 30,000 won.

That wasn’t all.

She was also raising the monthly information fee from 30,000 won to 50,000 won.

I was so dumbfounded that I had no choice but to hang up.

Choi Min-sung said again.

“She said she’s raising the monthly information fee from 30,000 won to 50,000 won.”

“No, did she suddenly go crazy? Why is she suddenly so obsessed with money?”

“That’s what I’m saying. But the strange thing is that she’s so confident. She wasn’t like this when we talked a few days ago. But now she’s completely changed, to the point where she feels like a different person.”

“What on earth happened in the meantime…”

People don’t change easily. That’s why there’s even a saying, ‘You can’t fix people.’

Oh Sang-cheol was just frustrated.

Then Choi Min-sung spoke again.

“And also, that kid…”

“What about that kid?”

“She said she’s launching a new menu this time.”

“New menu? No, how long has it been since she opened? Why a new menu already?”

Oh Sang-cheol didn’t quite understand.

Usually, new menus are introduced as seasonal menus about 6 months or a year after opening. But in the case of that kid, it’s only been about fifteen days.

But a new menu….

Besides, it’s not like business isn’t doing well. I heard the news that she sold over 300 bowls the day before yesterday. In terms of money, that’s over 90,000 won.

It’s amazing that she’s making that much revenue just selling ramen. But why is she launching a new menu out of greed?

Choi Min-sung said.

“She said she’s launching a new menu to achieve her target.”

“Target?”

“Yes, that kid’s target is 100,000 won in daily sales.”

“Huh! 100,000 won…”

Oh Sang-cheol could only laugh in disbelief.

100,000 won just by selling ramen….

It’s a dreamlike number.

But the problem is that the kid doesn’t think that amount is impossible.

Oh Sang-cheol sighed briefly and then asked Choi Min-sung.

“Okay, what is that new menu?”

“Hangover ramen.”

“Hangover ramen?”

Oh Sang-cheol tilted his head. When he first heard the word new menu, he thought it would be something like kimbap [Korean seaweed rice rolls] to eat with ramen. But hangover ramen….

Choi Min-sung said.

“She boils it with bean sprouts.”

“Bean sprouts?”

“Yes, there’s nothing better than bean sprouts for a hangover, right? I think she made it based on that. But the taste is amazing.”

“So you’ve already tasted it?”

“Yes, we cooked it and ate it after closing yesterday, and everyone unanimously agreed to make it a new menu.”

Oh Sang-cheol nodded.

The fact that everyone unanimously agreed means that it tasted good. Well, even if you think about it briefly, the combination of bean sprouts and ramen wouldn’t be bad.

Oh Sang-cheol asked again.

“Whose idea was that hangover ramen?”

“It’s that kid’s idea again.”

“No, how can that young kid come up with hangover ramen when she doesn’t even drink?”

Oh Sang-cheol didn’t understand.

Usually, when people make something, they think and make it from their own perspective. The same goes for hangover ramen. It’s natural that he doesn’t understand how it came out of the head of a high school sophomore who has never drunk alcohol.

And there’s another thing he doesn’t understand.

That’s the customer base. 95% are students. In that situation, it’s ironic that she chose hangover ramen as a new menu.

Because students won’t like hangover ramen.

Oh Sang-cheol looked at Choi Min-sung and asked again.

“Do you think students will like that hangover ramen?”

“Of course not. Ah, I think you’re mistaken, brother. The kid is targeting adults, not students.”

“Adults?”

“Yes, she’s trying to increase the adult customer base. Isn’t it quiet after the students go to school? So she chose hangover ramen to increase the number of adult customers during that time.”

“I see…”

Oh Sang-cheol finally understood.

In the end, she’s trying to expand the 5% customer base.

As expected, a prodigy is a prodigy. I was wondering what would happen during vacation since there are many student customers during the semester.

Because during vacation, students don’t come to school, so the number of customers in the store will almost be cut off. But if she gradually increases the number of adult customers from now on, it won’t be as much as the reduced number of students, but she will be able to replace it a little.

The calculation is that she only needs to maintain the current situation during vacation since business is doing well during the semester.

Oh Sang-cheol asked again.

“How much is she charging?”

“She’s charging the same 3,000 won as other ramen.”

“I thought so…”

Oh Sang-cheol nodded.

As expected. She’s the kid who didn’t raise the ramen price even while giving free rice.

Anyway, the cheapest thing is bean sprouts. The amount of bean sprouts that goes into a bowl of ramen will also be extremely small. In terms of cost, it will be less than 10 won, and she’s a flawless kid.

She’s already finished all the calculations while making the new menu. The cost is cheap, and it appeals to adult customers, and sales will increase a little more.

Then Choi Min-sung said.

“What are you going to do about the sauce?”

“That’s the problem. It’s too expensive to buy, but I can’t make the sauce if I don’t buy it.”

“In my opinion, it’s unfair, but I don’t think there’s any other way.”

“But the problem is whether this will end with just this one time. That’s what I’m worried about.”

That’s right. If we analyze the sauce this time and make the same sauce, there will be no problem.

The problem is the opposite case.

If we can’t figure out the secret of the sauce this time, we’ll have to buy the sauce again. It’s too expensive to buy a sauce that’s only about three spoons for 30,000 won.

Oh Sang-cheol had no choice but to worry for a long time.

After a while.

Oh Sang-cheol, who had finished worrying, opened his mouth with a deep sigh.

“Hoo… no matter how much I worry, there’s only one conclusion.”

“Shall I contact her?”

“I don’t think there’s any other way. We have to do business properly. Instead, we have to find out the secret of the sauce no matter what this time.”

“We have to…”

Choi Min-sung’s voice was weak as he answered.

Oh Sang-cheol was also weak. That’s because he experienced last time that it’s not easy to find out what’s in the sauce just by tasting it.

And there’s something Oh Sang-cheol doesn’t know. That Hyun-sung will directly make the sauce this time. And that he will add other seasonings to the sauce….

***

“Hello, this is Kim Hyun-sung.”

– Oh? What’s up, Mr. Kim?

“Are you busy these days?”

– The Shin Ramen is getting a good response, just like you said. It’s going to be a hit.

“What did I say? I told you it would be a big hit, not just a big hit.”

– That’s right. By the way, how’s business there?

“I’m doing okay too. Actually, that’s why I called you.”

– Don’t tell me you’re already out of stock?

“I’m not out of stock, but I only have 20 boxes left. So I’m calling to ask you to send me some more.”

– What? Is that true?

Director Yoo Seong-il couldn’t help but be surprised. When he first sent it, he sent a total of 120 boxes, including 100 boxes he purchased and promotional items.

The fact that there are only 20 boxes left means that he sold 100 boxes. It hasn’t even been 20 days since he opened. So on average, he sold 7 boxes a day.

Does that make sense?

Director Yoo Seong-il asked immediately.

– Is business that good?

“It just happened to be that way. I was lucky.”

– This guy is humble… how can that be done with luck? Anyway, that young friend is amazing. Congratulations on the big hit, even though it’s late.”

“Thank you. But when can you come?”

– I can’t make it tomorrow, but I’ll definitely go by the day after tomorrow. And I’ll bring the same promotional items as last time.”

“Thank you. Then I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”

Click.

Yoo Seong-il tilted his head after hanging up the phone.

Of course, from the beginning, it didn’t make sense to start a business at that age. But from the perspective of selling goods, that didn’t matter. All he had to do was sell the goods and get paid.

Even if the store goes out of business in a month or two, he wouldn’t lose anything from his point of view, so he wouldn’t be disappointed.

But on the other hand, it wasn’t that he had no expectations at all.

There were two reasons.

The first reason was his status as a high school sophomore. He had been doing this job for over 10 years, but it was the first time a high school student had started a business.

So he wanted to support him out of curiosity.

And the second reason was the store.

To be honest, he was skeptical when he first came to the office. But after seeing the store in person, he changed his mind.

From the outside, it was an ordinary store. But when he went inside, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

The first thing he noticed was the large kitchen. It was so spacious that he didn’t feel cramped even if four or five people were working at the same time.

And what was even more surprising was the hidden space. It was the inner quarters.

He couldn’t help but be surprised by his insight and drive to renovate the inner quarters to accommodate guests.

And today, the results came out.

He sold 100 boxes in less than 20 days.

As expected, he was different from the start.

Yoo Seong-il picked up the receiver.

Beep beep beep.

After dialing the number and waiting for a while, the other party answered the phone.

– This is Lee Il-woo from the Nongshim Planning Department.

“Hello? This is Yoo Seong-il from Wonju.”

– Ah, Director Yoo Seong-il. What’s going on?

“It’s about that kid you mentioned last time.”

– Kid?

“Why, the kid who said he was going to run a ramen shop as a high school sophomore.”

– Ah, Kim Hyun-sung?

“Do you remember his name?”

Yoo Seong-il was very surprised. It was amazing that he remembered someone he had only seen once while dealing with so many people.

– I’m good at remembering people’s names, even if I don’t remember anything else. But why that student?

“You asked me to let you know when the second order came in last time, so I’m contacting you.”

– Don’t tell me you’ve already received an order?

“That’s right.”

– What? Is that true?

“I just received the second order.”

– Does that mean you’ve already sold all of the first order?

“There are 20 boxes left. So I told him I would bring the second order the day after tomorrow.”

– How many days has it been since he opened?

“I think it’s… just a moment.”

Yoo Seong-il checked the calendar on his desk.

Then he said again.

“Today is exactly the 16th day.”

– Are you saying that you sold 100 boxes in 16 days?

“He rests on Sundays, so to be exact, he sold 100 boxes in 14 days. In the end, he sells an average of more than 280 bowls a day.”

– 280 bowls… is that possible in that rural area?

“That’s what I’m saying. I’m surprised too, but anyway, the order came in. I don’t think he’s lying… I think the product is good.”

– I think so too. Anyway, it’s good for us, so let’s watch it a little more.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll contact you again if I have any other information.”

– Yes, okay. Then keep up the good work.”

“Goodbye, Director. Bye…”

Tuk tuk.

Lee Il-woo tapped the desk lightly with his index finger after hanging up the phone. It was his habit when he was thinking deeply about something.

How much time has passed?

Lee Il-woo took out a business card from his desk drawer.

Then he started calling somewhere.

Doo doo doo doo.

After the signal rang a few times, the other party answered the phone.

– This is Jo Min-sik.

“It’s me, PD Jo.”

– Yes, 형님 [hyung-nim, older brother/respected male figure]. What’s going on at this hour?

“Well, I think I found something…”