Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 199

199

The next day, in the afternoon.

Hyunsung and Kim Ilsoo hurried out of the classroom after class.

Their haste stemmed from one reason: this post-class period was the busiest time for their ramen shop.

Kim Ilsoo glanced at Hyunsung and asked, “Think we’ll have a big crowd today too?”

“I’m expecting at least thirty people in line…”

“Nah, at this hour, it’ll be closer to fifty. It was like that yesterday.”

“We’ll see when we get there. Let’s step on it.”

They quickened their pace, nearing the alley where the shop was located.

“Huh?”

Hyunsung stopped short, surprised. He’d anticipated a line of at least thirty, but the alley was empty.

“What’s going on?” Kim Ilsoo exclaimed, equally bewildered.

Tadatadak.

Without further hesitation, Hyunsung sprinted toward the shop.

Shin Myungsoon, who had been waiting anxiously outside, rushed to meet him as soon as he arrived.

“Boss!” Her voice trembled.

Hyunsung looked at her, concern etched on his face. “Mother, what on earth is happening?”

“Something terrible,” she replied.

“Terrible? What is it?”

“Well…”

Shin Myungsoon began to explain. About an hour earlier, three men had come in and ordered hangover ramen. She had prepared it as usual.

The problem arose when one of the men suddenly shouted, demanding to see the boss. When she inquired about the issue, he claimed there was a foreign object in his ramen.

After listening to Shin Myungsoon’s account, Hyunsung asked, “A foreign object? What was it?”

“Hair.”

“Hair?”

Hyunsung was taken aback. Cleanliness and hygiene were paramount in the food business. That’s why they always wore sanitary clothes and caps in the kitchen.

But hair…

That implied someone had removed their sanitary cap while cooking.

Hyunsung turned to Shin Myungsoon. “Did you happen to take off your sanitary cap while cooking?”

“What are you saying? That never happened. Neither Jisook nor I have ever removed our caps and clothes.”

“Then how did hair get in there?”

“That’s what I’m saying! I’m just as confused.”

Shin Myungsoon was baffled. She had cooked thousands of bowls of ramen, and this was the first time a foreign object had appeared.

Hyunsung pressed further. “Did you see the hair yourself?”

“Yes, I did.”

“How long was it?”

“It looked to be about ten centimeters [approximately four inches].”

Hyunsung frowned.

‘Ten centimeters…’ That ruled out Shin Myungsoon’s or Kim Jisook’s hair, as they both had long hair.

If it wasn’t theirs, whose was it?

Shin Myungsoon cautiously looked at Hyunsung. “Boss, do you think they might have done it on purpose?”

“On purpose?”

“Yes, I think it’s possible. I’ve seen people do that in restaurants on TV, trying to scam them.”

“Hmm…”

It was certainly plausible.

He had heard of people deliberately contaminating their food with hair or other objects to cause trouble.

The motives behind such actions were usually threefold.

First, money.

If a foreign object was found in the food, the restaurant was liable, regardless of the reason. Demanding money to resolve the issue immediately often worked, as reporting it would lead to further complications.

Second, business obstruction.

This involved disrupting business, either at the instigation of a competitor or for some other malicious reason.

And third, eating without paying.

A petty tactic employed by unscrupulous individuals who wanted a free meal.

The third option seemed unlikely in this case. It was just a 300-won ramen [approximately $0.25 USD]. They wouldn’t go to such lengths for that.

That left the first or second…

After a moment of contemplation, Hyunsung asked Shin Myungsoon, “Are these customers new to our shop?”

“No, boss, you’ll recognize them. They’re the ones who ordered level four spicy ramen last time and asked for it to be remade three times because it was too spicy. You ended up giving them the ramen for free.”

“What? Those guys from that time are inside now?”

He remembered. It hadn’t been long ago. They were the ones who had caused a scene by ordering spicy level four, which wasn’t even on the menu.

This changed things. He had already identified their connection that day. The person they met at Rose Cafe was none other than Choi Minseong.

Choi Minseong was just a henchman of Oh Sangcheol anyway.

That meant Oh Sangcheol was ultimately behind this.

Hyunsung turned to Shin Myungsoon again. “You said they’ve been at it for an hour?”

“Yes, they’re preventing us from doing business.”

“So, their goal is to disrupt our business.”

“I think so. What should we do?”

Shin Myungsoon looked at Hyunsung with a worried expression.

Hyunsung sighed briefly. “They came prepared. They won’t give up easily.”

“Then what do we do?”

“Well… let’s talk to them first. Depending on the situation, we might have to pay them off to get them to leave. Otherwise, they’ll just keep causing trouble.”

They had likely been promised a daily wage by Oh Sangcheol. Any money Hyunsung gave them would be extra income.

Hyunsung concluded that paying them off was the quickest way to resolve the situation.

“I’ll go in first.”

Hyunsung opened the shop door.

“Hyungs [an honorific term for older male friends or brothers], you’re here?”

Hyunsung bowed his head to Lee Chunshik and his gang. He was the one in a desperate situation. This wasn’t the time for pride.

Lee Chunshik was taken aback by Hyunsung’s friendly greeting.

“Oh? Y-yes.”

“You said there was hair in the ramen?”

“What kind of business are you running? What if something like that makes someone sick?” Lee Chunshik immediately dropped the pretense.

Hyunsung bowed again. “I’m sorry. We’re usually very careful about hygiene, but it seems we made a mistake today.”

“A mistake? So you admit it?”

“Of course. I admit it. I’ll be more careful in the future. Please, be lenient this time.”

Hyunsung had no choice but to appease them.

Reporting the incident would only complicate matters. While a single hair wouldn’t cause serious issues, it would be a major inconvenience and disrupt business.

Hyunsung decided it wasn’t worth provoking them.

Lee Chunshik asked, “What are you going to do about it?”

“Yes?”

Hyunsung was momentarily confused. He didn’t understand the question.

When Hyunsung didn’t respond, Lee Chunshik repeated, “We’ve been here for over an hour. What are you going to do to compensate us?”

“Yes? Ah, yes…”

Hyunsung finally understood. Lee Chunshik wanted compensation. It was absurd, but Hyunsung saw it as a positive sign.

Initially, he had believed their sole purpose was to disrupt business. That’s why he hadn’t understood Lee Chunshik’s intention.

Hyunsung quickly pulled a 10,000 won bill [approximately $8 USD] from his pocket.

“Hyung, please accept this.”

“Are you giving this to us now?”

“Yes, please have a drink and relax.”

“Little boss, why are you doing this? I know business is good these days, but this is upsetting. Add a little more to it.”

As expected, their goal wasn’t just disruption. They had other motives.

Hyunsung reluctantly took out two more 10,000 won bills.

He didn’t intend to let them keep the money. He could always find it later. Getting them out of the shop and resuming business was the priority.

“Here you go.”

Lee Chunshik smiled as Hyunsung handed over the money.

“Business is good these days, huh? You pay up right away.”

“It’s not easy. I have my difficulties too. Please, just stop now…”

“What, are you telling us to leave?”

“Hyung, please help me out. We have to prepare for the dinner rush, right? Come back and visit us again sometime. I’ll buy you a drink then. Please stop causing trouble today…”

Hyunsung bit his lip and continued.

Lee Chunshik smiled and accepted Hyunsung’s offer.

“Next time?”

“Yes, come on your day off. I’ll treat you to soju [Korean rice wine] with pork belly.”

“You’re quick-witted for someone in business.”

“Isn’t it just the wisdom of life?”

Hyunsung deliberately joked.

Lee Chunshik turned to Choi Heecheol and Ahn Yongsoo, who were sitting across from him. “We should go now that he’s saying this, right?”

“Yeah, let’s come back for a drink next time.”

“The young boss is polite.”

They each said a few words and stood up.

Hyunsung wanted to strangle them, but he had to endure it until they left.

“Little boss, see you next time. Don’t think of this money as a waste. Life has its ups and downs.”

Lee Chunshik patted Hyunsung on the shoulder as he walked out.

Hyunsung smiled mockingly at Lee Chunshik’s back.

As the three men left, Shin Myungsoon rushed over.

“Boss, you told them to come back next time? Are you crazy?”

“Next time? That won’t happen. Today is the last day anyway.”

“But you clearly said…”

“We had to get them out first, right? I’m going to find the money now. Please prepare for business.”

“Money?”

“30,000 won is a hundred bowls of ramen. We can’t just give that money away, can we?”

“But how…”

Hyunsung turned around before Shin Myungsoon could finish.

As he reached the door, Kim Ilsoo blocked his path.

“Are you going to be okay on your own?”

“Don’t worry. Get ready for business. I’ll be right back.”

“Don’t get hurt.”

“Okay. And you held back well earlier. There’s no point in using your fists recklessly. Sometimes, enduring even if it’s humiliating is the way to win.”

Hyunsung knew that Kim Ilsoo had almost lost his temper when he saw Hyunsung handing over the money.

Hyunsung had noticed Kim Ilsoo’s reaction and stopped him with a look.

Fortunately, Kim Ilsoo had listened, preventing a potential disaster.

If he hadn’t held back, the shop would have been wrecked, regardless of who was at fault.

Kim Ilsoo had demonstrated that sometimes, enduring is the best course of action.

Hyunsung left Kim Ilsoo behind and hurried after Lee Chunshik and his gang.