Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 207

207

“Mom!”

Lee Soo-hyuk shouted as he ran into the house, calling out for Yoo Soo-min.

Lee Man-soo and Yoo Soo-min, who were watching TV in the master bedroom, were startled and jumped up, flinging the door open.

“What’s wrong?”

Yoo Soo-min shouted, looking at Lee Soo-hyuk who was running in.

Lee Soo-hyuk then held out a paper bag to Yoo Soo-min.

“Mom, this is for you.”

“What is it?”

“Open it.”

“What is it already…”

Yoo Soo-min checked the paper bag and said with a surprised expression.

“Isn’t this thermal underwear?”

“Yes, it is. I just bought it and brought it here.”

“But why thermal underwear all of a sudden?”

“Mom, I got my first paycheck today!”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s voice was full of energy.

It was because he had earned money for the first time in his life through his own efforts.

Yoo Soo-min looked at Lee Soo-hyuk and asked.

“So, today is payday?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Didn’t you say at first that there wouldn’t be a salary? You said you asked to be there because you needed experience.”

“That’s right. I asked because I needed experience. But Hyun-sung said that even so, he couldn’t just let me work for free, so he took care of the salary.”

“Hyun-sung is different from other people when you look at him. He seems to care about others a lot.”

“That’s right. I’m often surprised when I see Hyun-sung like that.”

This case is the same.

It wasn’t even a case where they needed people. He had just asked for it out of his own need. But Hyun-sung allowed him to work without a word of refusal.

Moreover, Hyun-sung even took care of the salary, even though he said he didn’t need it.

Yoo Soo-min asked again.

“So, how much did you get paid?”

“30,000 won [approximately $25 USD]. Actually, I started working a few days later than other people. But he calculated the full month and gave it to me.”

“I see, he gave you more than I thought.”

“That’s not all.”

Yoo Soo-min tilted her head.

“Is there anything else?”

“I also got a bonus of 10,000 won [approximately $8 USD].”

“He gave you a bonus?”

“Yes, I found out later after checking the envelope. And Hyun-sung said that the more profit they make, the more the bonus will increase in the future.”

As Lee Soo-hyuk finished speaking, Lee Man-soo, who was next to him, smiled and said.

“Hehe, that friend is not ordinary.”

“I think so too. When he does that, other people seem to work harder too. I think people are more motivated to work because they get more money as the business does well.”

“Of course. That friend knows how to do business.”

“He’s my friend, but I think he’s really amazing.”

Lee Soo-hyuk nodded.

No matter how well the business is doing, it won’t be easy to share the profits with the employees. But Hyun-sung is putting it into practice.

Then Yoo Soo-min looked at Lee Soo-hyuk and asked again.

“Anyway, what’s with this thermal underwear?”

“To be honest, I didn’t think about it at first. But Hyun-sung told me to buy thermal underwear for my parents with my first salary, so I bought it.”

“Hehe, that guy…”

Yoo Soo-min just smiled as if she had nothing to say.

A moment later.

“What is this again?”

Yoo Soo-min took out a bottle of soju [a clear, Korean distilled spirit] from the paper bag and asked again.

Then Lee Soo-hyuk smiled and said.

“That’s also from Hyun-sung…”

“So, Hyun-sung told you to buy this too?”

“Yes, he said that alcohol is the best for people who like alcohol.”

“Huh…”

Yoo Soo-min could only let out a hollow laugh.

Then Lee Man-soo said.

“Honey, please set the table. Anyway, our son bought this alcohol with his first salary, so let’s have a good time drinking it.”

“Hehe, okay. Wait a minute.”

“Oh, and three glasses.”

“Huh? Three glasses?”

“I think it’s time for our son to learn how to drink. Let’s have a drink today.”

Lee Man-soo smiled at Lee Soo-hyuk.

It was a blessing in disguise…

He was very worried when he didn’t go to school and caused trouble last time. He even staged a suicide on the roof.

But fortunately, he overcame the crisis and now he’s saying he got his first salary and even bought thermal underwear and soju.

He was a late child, so I thought he was just a child.

But today I realized that’s not the case.

Lee Man-soo looked at Lee Soo-hyuk and asked.

“How was it working for a month?”

“I learned a lot. Above all, I realized how precious money is. In fact, I didn’t know how precious money was because Mom always gave me plenty.”

“Hehe, our son had a valuable experience this time.”

“And working made me realize how much Dad has suffered. In fact, I didn’t think Dad would have such a hard time before.”

As Lee Soo-hyuk finished speaking, Lee Man-soo smiled with satisfaction.

“Soo-hyuk!”

“Yes, Dad.”

“Thank you. For growing up so well…”

“I’m the one who’s grateful. And I’m really sorry for what happened on the roof last time. I was too short-sighted then.”

Lee Man-soo nodded and continued.

“That’s all in the past. The important thing is that it should never happen again. In any case. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand. That will never happen.”

Lee Soo-hyuk bowed to Lee Man-soo.

Then Yoo Soo-min came into the room with the table.

“Here’s the table.”

“Hehe, you look happy.”

“Of course. Our son bought red thermal underwear with his first salary, and he even bought soju, so how can I not be happy?”

“Well, I’m happy too. Let’s have a drink then.”

Lee Soo-hyuk quickly poured soju and held the bottle to Lee Man-soo.

“Dad, have a drink.”

“Okay, fill it up.”

Pour, pour.

Lee Soo-hyuk filled Lee Man-soo’s glass, then held the bottle to Yoo Soo-min.

“Mom, have a drink too.”

“Hehe, okay. Let’s have a drink from our son today.”

Pour, pour.

When Yoo Soo-min’s glass was full, Lee Man-soo grabbed the soju bottle.

“Soo-hyuk, have a drink too.”

“Can I really drink?”

“You should learn how to drink from an adult. When an adult gives you alcohol…”

Lee Man-soo began to explain about the etiquette of drinking. As Lee Man-soo’s explanation grew longer, Lee Soo-hyuk’s eyes began to shine.

It was different from the curriculum he had learned in school so far.

Finally, when Lee Man-soo’s explanation was over, Lee Soo-hyuk said.

“So, you can’t just drink alcohol?”

“The important thing is that alcohol is also food. If you eat well, it’s good for your body, but if you don’t, it’s poison.”

“So, you’re saying don’t overdo it.”

“That’s right, a person should drink alcohol, not alcohol should drink a person.”

Lee Soo-hyuk nodded.

Then Lee Man-soo picked up the glass in front of him and said.

“Shall we have a drink then?”

As Lee Man-soo’s words fell, Yoo Soo-min and Lee Soo-hyuk raised their glasses high.

Then Lee Man-soo said again.

“For the health and happiness of our family!”

“Cheers!”

Clink.

The three glasses clinked in the air.

It was the moment when Lee Soo-hyuk’s first payday was coming to an end.

At that time.

“What is all this?”

Shin Yoo-bok looked at Kim Il-soo and asked.

Then Kim Il-soo said.

“Grandma, I got my first paycheck today. So I bought you thermal underwear and soy milk.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Grandma. So wear this thermal underwear this winter and stay warm.”

Shin Yoo-bok took the thermal underwear that Kim Il-soo handed her.

Then she opened the box and pulled out the thermal underwear.

Swish.

When she rubbed it with her hand, a soft touch was transmitted to her hand.

“Il-soo!”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“Is this a dream?”

“Grandma, it’s definitely not a dream. And I’ll be getting paid every month from now on, so I’ll buy you whatever you want to eat. So live a long, long life.”

“Our puppy has grown up so much…”

Shin Yoo-bok’s voice was choked up.

I just thought he was young. But how did he grow up so much?

Shin Yoo-bok took Kim Il-soo’s hand.

“Thank you, my baby.”

“Grandma, you’ve suffered a lot because of me, right? Just bear with it a little longer. I’ll graduate and become a chef and take care of you comfortably.”

“Chef?”

Shin Yoo-bok tilted her head.

Then Kim Il-soo said.

“Grandma, I haven’t told you this before, but my dream was to be a chef.”

“Really? This grandma didn’t know at all.”

“Do you remember when you used to ask me how to make side dishes when I was young?”

“It was probably when you were in elementary school. Whenever I made side dishes, you would ask me how to make them.”

“That’s right. There was nothing more exciting than that at that time.”

That’s how it was back then.

The side dishes that Grandma made were the object of curiosity. No matter what the side dish was, the first thing to do was to ask, and it was the only joy to write it down in a notebook.

Shin Yoo-bok continued.

“But you stopped asking at some point. Maybe that was…”

“It must have been after my mom died.”

“Um…, that’s right.”

“I thought there was no more hope. So I naturally lost interest.”

That’s true.

The moment I confirmed my mom’s body the day after elementary school graduation, I thought everything was over. I thought there was no point in dreaming anymore.

Shin Yoo-bok asked.

“But what happened now?”

“I found that dream again.”

“You found it again? When?”

Shin Yoo-bok asked right away as if she was glad.

Then Kim Il-soo smiled and continued.

“I found it again when I went to Hyun-sung’s house last time and talked about it. Of course, Hyun-sung helped me.”

“Ah, I see. So you studied harder too?”

“Yes, Grandma. People’s minds change when they have a goal. So I’m working hard at my part-time job now. I’m going to go to cooking school as soon as I graduate.”

“Our Il-soo is all grown up now. This grandma has no regrets even if I die if that happens. I was worried about what to do after graduation anyway…”

Shin Yoo-bok smiled at Kim Il-soo.

Then Kim Il-soo asked.

“By the way, you haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

“Of course, I was waiting for our baby to come.”

“I bought your favorite pork anyway. I’ll make kimchi stew soon, so wait a minute.”

“Hehe, okay. Then shall we look forward to what the kimchi stew made by the future chef tastes like?”

“Yes, Grandma. Wait 30 minutes.”

Kim Il-soo disappeared straight into the kitchen.

Shin Yoo-bok was left alone in the room.

Shin Yoo-bok hugged the red thermal underwear that Kim Il-soo had bought her.