Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 202

202

At that moment.

Oh Sang-cheol looked at Choi Min-sung and asked,

“What happened?”

“I gave him the reward and sent him off a little while ago.”

“There aren’t any problems, right?”

“Of course, what problems could there be? There’s nothing wrong, so you don’t have to worry.”

Choi Min-sung spoke confidently.

Oh Sang-cheol’s expression seemed more relaxed and stable than before.

In fact, Oh Sang-cheol had looked somewhat uneasy until just now. Choi Min-sung, ever observant, looked at Oh Sang-cheol and asked,

“You look much better than a little while ago.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“I didn’t say anything, but your expression looked uneasy from the start. Is there any reason why?”

Oh Sang-cheol hesitated for a moment at Choi Min-sung’s question before continuing.

“Well… I had a dream last night. I don’t necessarily believe in dreams, but I feel uneasy.”

“What kind of dream did you have…?”

“I dreamt of being bitten by a snake. So, I’ve been subtly nervous today.”

“Hyung-nim [older brother/respected elder], really…”

Choi Min-sung laughed lightly, as if it were nothing.

Then, Oh Sang-cheol smiled and continued,

“I guess you can’t fool age. My body and mind aren’t what they used to be.”

“Hyung-nim, you’re probably stressed because of that kid from the garbage incident. Today’s matter has been successfully concluded without any problems, so please relax.”

“Alright. I trust you.”

Oh Sang-cheol nodded lightly, acknowledging.

Just then.

Creak.

The store door opened, and someone came in. Not just one person, but three.

“What? Why are you guys here?”

Oh Sang-cheol shouted with a dumbfounded expression.

The reason for his bewilderment was simple: these were people who shouldn’t be appearing here. The people who opened the door were none other than Lee Chun-sik, Choi Hee-cheol, and Ahn Yong-soo.

“What’s going on?”

Oh Sang-cheol asked Lee Chun-sik again.

Lee Chun-sik scratched his head and continued,

“Well… something happened.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Oh Sang-cheol’s voice grew louder.

Squeak.

At that moment, someone else entered through the open door.

“Oh? Y-you, how are you here…?”

Oh Sang-cheol couldn’t even speak properly. The person who had just entered was none other than Hyun-sung.

The moment Hyun-sung appeared, Oh Sang-cheol felt his mind go blank. He could instinctively sense that something had gone terribly wrong.

But even so, he couldn’t say anything else in this situation.

Oh Sang-cheol asked again. But without realizing it, his voice trembled.

“H-how are you here?”

“What crime have you committed? Why are you trembling, unlike your usual self?”

“What are you talking about? What crime would I have committed…?”

Oh Sang-cheol played dumb for now.

Then, Hyun-sung moved his face close to Oh Sang-cheol’s and asked,

“Is that really true?”

Oh Sang-cheol took a step back and continued,

“What are you doing to an elder?”

“An elder? You’ve chosen your words well. Is it okay for an elder to act like this?”

“Act like what? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Is that so? You’re saying you’ve done nothing wrong?”

“Of course.”

Oh Sang-cheol pushed through, playing dumb until the end.

There was no other choice. He felt that if he backed down here, everything would be over.

Snort.

Hyun-sung let out a hollow laugh as he looked at Oh Sang-cheol.

He didn’t expect anything anyway. This was a man who had kicked someone out onto the streets after they had been in business for over 10 years. What could he expect from such a person?

Hyun-sung turned around and said again, as if it were nothing,

“Then, I have no choice. I’ll have to report it to the police.”

“What, the police?”

Oh Sang-cheol’s pupils shook violently at the word ‘police’.

‘This isn’t good.’

If it came to this, the story would be different. If he was reported to the police like this, the result would be obvious. The fact that he had brought those three guys here meant that he knew everything…

‘What should I do?’

Oh Sang-cheol found it difficult to make a decision.

Then, Hyun-sung moved first.

“Then, I’ll see you at the local police substation later.”

This was a rural area, so instead of a police station or precinct, the local substation handled police matters.

Just as Hyun-sung was about to leave the store, someone blocked his path.

It was none other than Choi Min-sung.

“Kim Sajang [Mr. Kim, store owner], why are you doing this?”

“Do you really not know why I’m doing this? Who are the people who ruined someone else’s business? Why are you saying this? You weren’t satisfied with the garbage incident last time, so this time you sent people directly to stop the business? I can’t stand it this time. No, I won’t stand it.”

“I-I’m sorry. Don’t do this, and let’s sit down and talk calmly…”

Choi Min-sung grabbed Hyun-sung’s arm and pleaded.

Thud.

Hyun-sung shook off Choi Min-sung’s arm.

Then, a strange thing happened.

Thump!

Choi Min-sung knelt in front of Hyun-sung.

“Kim Sajang, I was wrong. I’m begging you like this, so please calm down your anger.”

“What are you doing?”

“I was wrong. So, this time…”

“Why are you doing this, Ahjussi [term for older man, like ‘uncle’ or ‘mister’]? This isn’t right. The real culprit is someone else…”

Hyun-sung was dumbfounded. Choi Min-sung was just Oh Sang-cheol’s henchman. There was no need for this person to kneel when Oh Sang-cheol was the one responsible.

But Choi Min-sung was adamant.

He was groveling in front of Hyun-sung to the point of being pathetic.

Just then.

“Stop it!”

Did he have a last bit of conscience left?

Oh Sang-cheol’s voice filled the small space.

Hyun-sung looked at Oh Sang-cheol.

Oh Sang-cheol was staring at the air, his lips tightly shut, wondering what to do.

After a moment.

Oh Sang-cheol approached Hyun-sung.

Then, he quietly opened his mouth.

“So… what can I do?”

“Are you admitting your guilt?”

“What else can I hide in this situation? It’s all my fault.”

Oh Sang-cheol lowered his head as if he had given up.

Hyun-sung was the one who was dumbfounded by Oh Sang-cheol’s sudden actions. He didn’t expect him to admit it so quickly like this.

Or perhaps, from the moment Hyun-sung first entered this store, Oh Sang-cheol had anticipated this situation. It just took him some time to admit it…

Hyun-sung looked at Oh Sang-cheol and said,

“Apologize.”

“Apologize?”

“Yes, I need to receive a formal apology first.”

“Apologize first…”

Oh Sang-cheol fell into 고민 [agony/worry] the moment he heard Hyun-sung’s words. Clearly, there was a condition attached with the word ‘first’. That meant this wasn’t the end. Moreover, the words ‘formally’ were also added.

‘A formal apology…’

Was he telling him to kneel?

He had to end it here no matter what. If he were to be reported to the police like that brat said, there would be more than one or two headaches.

Putting everything else aside, he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up in the neighborhood. This was a different problem than the garbage incident last time. Back then, he was just being ridiculed by a few people in the neighborhood, but this case was different.

If he went back and forth to the local substation, the village chief and the neighborhood elders would be the first to know, and the rumors would spread quickly among the local leaders.

He had to prevent that at all costs. That’s why he quickly admitted his guilt a little while ago.

‘But how do I apologize?’

After 고민 [agonizing/worrying] for a moment, Oh Sang-cheol looked at Hyun-sung.

Then, he quietly knelt down.

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me just this once.”

“No, what…”

Ha!

Hyun-sung could only laugh in disbelief as he looked at Oh Sang-cheol.

He never expected him to kneel. He just wanted a sincere apology.

‘Sincere?’

Well, he wondered if the word ‘sincere’ even suited this human being. After all, his current actions were just for damage control. He just wanted to get out of this moment, that’s all.

Tsk.

Hyun-sung felt bitter, but he decided not to worry about it anymore.

“Alright. Please get up.”

“So, you’re forgiving me?”

“What else can I do when an elder has even knelt? And what’s important is the future, right? This kind of thing shouldn’t happen again.”

Oh Sang-cheol’s expression was completely different from before.

“Of course, there will never be such a mistake again in the future.”

“Alright. Then let’s end the apology with this for now.”

“For now?”

Oh Sang-cheol tensed up again. He thought he was just going to let it go, but Hyun-sung added the condition ‘for now’.

Oh Sang-cheol asked cautiously,

“What else is left?”

“Compensation.”

“Compensation?”

“Yes, I couldn’t do business today because of those guys. And I’ve been under a lot of mental stress too.”

Oh Sang-cheol bit his lip slightly.

This was what he had been worried about from the beginning. In the end, he was asking for money.

Oh Sang-cheol asked cautiously,

“Alright, about how much…?”

Hyun-sung showed three fingers instead of speaking.

Then, Oh Sang-cheol smiled, relieved.

Seeing that, Hyun-sung said,

“Is it too little?”

“What are you talking about? It’s a very appropriate amount. I’ll give you that money right away.”

Oh Sang-cheol took out 30,000 won [approximately $25 USD] from his wallet and handed it to Hyun-sung.

Then, Hyun-sung looked at Oh Sang-cheol with a dumbfounded expression.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s the 30,000 won you talked about. Why are you doing this?”

“Are you kidding me right now?”

“Kidding? You don’t mean…?”

Oh Sang-cheol looked at Hyun-sung with a dumbfounded expression. Then he asked immediately,

“Could it be that the amount you were thinking of wasn’t this amount… but 300,000 won [approximately $250 USD]?”

“I barely held back from asking for 3 million won [approximately $2500 USD].”

“No, what…?”

Oh Sang-cheol was speechless.

300,000 won for not being able to do business for two hours? That didn’t make sense.

“Isn’t that too much?”

“Too much?”

“Isn’t it? 300,000 won for not being able to do business for two hours…”

No matter how much Oh Sang-cheol thought about it, he couldn’t accept the condition.

Then Hyun-sung asked,

“So, you’re saying you can’t give it to me right now?”

“Kim Sajang, no matter how I think about it, this isn’t right.”

“Did you just say ‘right’?”

“Yes, the moral principles that people should generally follow in life.”

Oh Sang-cheol spoke loudly, as if he had gained momentum.

Of course, in a normal case, Oh Sang-cheol’s words would be correct. It didn’t make sense to demand 300,000 won for not being able to do business for two hours.

But who was Oh Sang-cheol? He was the man who had kicked someone out onto the streets after they had been in business for over 10 years. At least Oh Sang-cheol was not qualified to talk about righteousness, that was Hyun-sung’s thought.

Was that why?

Hyun-sung’s words became rough.

“You’re good at talking with that mouth of yours?”

“What? That mouth? This guy is saying whatever he wants now.”

Oh Sang-cheol couldn’t hide his anger, his face turning red.

Then Hyun-sung said immediately,

“Is that the kind of thing a person who knows righteousness would do, kicking someone out onto the streets after they’ve been in business for over 10 years?”

“Wh, that’s…”

“Why can’t you speak? Is that what you call the moral principles that people should generally follow in life?”

“…”

Oh Sang-cheol had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths.

After a while.

Hyun-sung, who had returned to the store, called Shin Myung-soon.

“Mother, please take this.”

“Oh? What is this check?”

“It’s not enough, but please think of it as the key money [deposit money] you haven’t received all this time.”

“Key money? You don’t mean that human gave this willingly, so what happened?”

“Well, that’s…”

Hyun-sung began to explain to Shin Myung-soon what had happened. When Hyun-sung’s explanation was over, Shin Myung-soon smiled and said,