Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 218

218

A week later.

Shin Myung-soon looked at Hyun-sung and asked,

“Is today finally the day it airs?”

“Yes, it will be on at 8 PM today.”

“I’m really curious how our store will look on TV.”

“You said it. I’m also very curious.”

Just then, Kim Ji-sook, who had finished cleaning in the kitchen, came out and said,

“Boss, is everyone gathering to watch TV today?”

“No. Those who want to leave can leave, and those who want to stay and watch TV can watch together.”

“Okay, I understand. But it seems like no one wants to leave.”

“Is that so? Then let’s all watch together.”

Hyun-sung sat down in front of the TV. Then, Shin Myung-soon and Kim Ji-sook, who had finished cleaning, also took their seats.

At that moment, Kim Il-soo and Lee Min-woo, who had finished tidying up the inner quarters, also sat down next to them.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Min-woo and said,

“How has it been for the past week?”

“It’s been good. Il-soo is here to help and teach me a lot, so there are no major difficulties.”

“That’s a relief. If you have any difficulties while working, let me know right away.”

“Yes, boss.”

Lee Min-woo bowed his head.

Hyun-sung asked again,

“Is your younger brother studying hard these days?”

“Don’t even mention it. Ever since that day, he’s been saying he’ll definitely get into the ‘grass field’ [a slang term for a top university] next year, and he’s been studying like crazy whenever he comes home.”

“Haha, that’s great.”

“You said it. He never used to study even when we told him to, but these days he does it on his own without anyone telling him. I couldn’t be happier.”

Then, Kim Il-soo, who was next to him, looked at Lee Min-woo and asked,

“Your brother is getting into the ‘grass field’? What’s that about?”

“It’s like this…”

Lee Min-woo began to explain to Kim Il-soo what had happened a week ago. When Lee Min-woo’s explanation was over, Kim Il-soo smiled and said,

“Our boss has done something big.”

“I’m telling you. Thanks to the boss, our Jin-woo might become a top student if he does well, haha…”

Lee Min-woo laughed loudly and was happy.

Hyun-sung smiled as he looked at Lee Min-woo.

Just then, Kim Ji-sook said,

“Boss, the broadcast is starting.”

“Yes, let’s watch now.”

The clock was already pointing to 8 PM.

The broadcast began with the comments of two announcers.

– These days, when the weather is chilly, we think more about hot soup, so today we visited a restaurant famous for its soup dishes.

– Soup dishes?

– Yes, it’s a perfect dish for the current weather.

– What is it?

– Are you curious? Then shall we watch it on the screen? Reporter Kim Jung-hyun, please come out.

The screen quickly changed.

– Yes, this is Kim Jung-hyun. I am here today in Seomyeong-myeon, Gangwon-do. If you look here, there is a long line, so I will talk to a customer for a moment.

The camera was already filming the long line in the alley.

Reporter Kim Jung-hyun grabbed a customer and asked,

– What is this line for?

– It’s a line to eat ramen.

– Ramen?

– Yes, the ramen here is unique.

– Are you saying it’s not the ramen we usually eat?

– Yes, that’s right. It’s hangover ramen with bean sprouts in Shin ramen, and the taste is really amazing.

– Ah, I see. Then I will go inside the restaurant and taste it myself.

Following reporter Kim Jung-hyun, the camera began to enter the restaurant.

Kim Ji-sook, who was watching TV, said loudly,

“Oh my! The boss’s face is on TV! Wow! Our boss looks great on camera.”

“I know, right? He’s always good-looking, but he looks even better on screen.”

Shin Myung-soon chimed in from the side.

On the screen, reporter Kim Jung-hyun was already interviewing Hyun-sung.

– You’re really young, are you a student?

– Yes, I’m a second-year student at Seomyeong High School.

– No, how did you think of running a restaurant while going to school?

– It just happened.

– Hoho, I can’t help but be surprised. Was there any special reason? No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t make sense, so I can’t help but ask.

– The location was too good to pass up. A lot of students pass by this alley.

– Ah, so you had an excellent ability to see commercial districts.

– I was lucky.

– You’re young and even humble. Can I taste the famous ramen now?

– Yes, please do. Just wait a moment.

As Hyun-sung disappeared, the camera turned to the kitchen.

Then Shin Myung-soon’s face appeared on TV.

“Oh my! It’s my sister!”

Kim Ji-sook said loudly as if she was amazed.

At that time.

7th floor of Nongshim headquarters in Shindaebang-dong.

A man was watching TV with interest.

Shin Chun-ho.

The founder of Nongshim [a major South Korean food and beverage company] and the current chairman of Nongshim Group.

“Hehe.”

A hollow laugh escaped from Shin Chun-ho’s mouth.

Then, Chief Secretary Kim Young-woo, who was behind him, carefully opened his mouth.

“Chairman, is there anything interesting?”

“Chief Kim, take a look at that young man.”

Kim Young-woo looked at the TV screen that Shin Chun-ho was pointing to. There, a young student was being interviewed.

“Are you talking about this student?”

“Yes, I heard that friend is the owner there. What do you think?”

“Yes? This young friend is the owner of this ramen shop?”

“That’s what they say. But do you know what that friend is selling now?”

“Isn’t it ramen?”

Shin Chun-ho smiled at Kim Young-woo’s answer.

“It’s ramen, but it’s not just any ramen. He’s selling our Shin ramen. And he’s not just selling it, he’s putting bean sprouts in it and serving it as hangover soup.”

“Yes? Shin ramen as hangover soup?”

“That’s right. Isn’t it amazing? No, I can’t believe it even after seeing how that young friend could have thought of that.”

“You said it. By the way, our ramen is on a popular restaurant program, so the advertising effect will be considerable.”

Usually, even advertising broadcasts are only 15 seconds long. But this program is a whopping 20 minutes. It’s advertising Shin ramen for 20 minutes. If you convert that value into money, it will be an unimaginable amount.

Shin Chun-ho said with a smile.

“Perhaps…”

“Yes, please speak.”

“What if that broadcast wasn’t a coincidence but a planned work by someone?”

“Yes? Is that possible? That’s just a program for selecting popular restaurants by the broadcasting station.”

Shin Chun-ho didn’t think so.

On TV, they said it had only been a little over a month since it opened.

It’s impossible to be selected as a popular restaurant just one month after starting business. Moreover, it’s not in the metropolitan area but in the provinces.

That means it would have been impossible without someone’s tip-off.

The question is who that someone is.

Shin Chun-ho looked at Kim Young-woo and said,

“Look into it, just in case.”

“Yes? What do you mean…”

“I don’t think this is just a coincidence.”

“If it’s not a coincidence… Ah, yes. I understand what you mean. I will find out as soon as possible.”

Kim Young-woo nodded.

At first, he didn’t know what he meant.

However, after Shin Chun-ho’s repeated requests, he finally understood what he meant. In the end, this broadcast was not a coincidence that was selected as a popular restaurant, but a planned work by someone.

Then Shin Chun-ho said again.

“And about that hangover ramen…”

“Yes…”

“Is there any way to eat it?”

“No, how can we…”

Kim Young-woo was just perplexed.

Then Shin Chun-ho continued.

“Chief Kim, I think I need to go to Gangwon-do.”

“You don’t mean you’re going to eat that ramen, do you?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I can’t bring that kid here, can I?”

“Of course, that’s difficult, but going all the way to Gangwon-do just to eat a bowl of ramen is a bit…”

Of course, he knows that Shin Chun-ho is special when it comes to food. But even so, he couldn’t understand going all the way to Gangwon-do for a bowl of ramen.

Shin Chun-ho said again.

“Is it too much?”

“I think so. How about telling the restaurant to make a spicy hangover ramen?”

“That’s meaningless. What I want to eat is the ramen that that friend makes. Moreover, that friend’s sauce must be the secret to the special taste.”

“Ah, is that so? Then how…”

Kim Young-woo couldn’t help but be perplexed.

He knows Shin Chun-ho better than anyone else. He’s not someone who gives up. He won’t be able to let go until this problem is solved somehow.

Then there are only two ways.

Of course, it’s too much, but either call the young friend to Seoul or go down there yourself.

Kim Young-woo looked at Shin Chun-ho and said,

“Shall I call that friend?”

“Call him?”

“There’s no other way, is there? You’ll never give up, Chairman. But you can’t go down to Gangwon-do either.”

“Hmm…, I can’t call a young friend no matter what. Isn’t there a good way?”

Shin Chun-ho was making a serious expression.

Kim Young-woo, who saw that, said again,

“Then shall I go?”

“Are you going to bring the sauce?”

“Yes, I thought it would be better than you going yourself, Chairman.”

“Even if I’m greedy for food, it doesn’t make sense to send Chief Kim there alone just to put it in my mouth.”

“I’m okay, but…”

“No. That’s not it.”

Shin Chun-ho shook his head from side to side.

As expected, the difficult part was still Kim Young-woo’s responsibility.

Then Shin Chun-ho said again.

“I’m not just doing this because I want to eat hangover ramen.”

“Yes? Then do you have another purpose?”

“Actually, I want to see that young friend in person. No matter how I look at it, it’s amazing. Starting a business at that age, and the fact that he thought of hangover ramen with our Shin ramen is both grateful and amazing.”

“Ah, yes…”

Kim Young-woo nodded.

It’s greed for people. It’s one of Shin Chun-ho’s characteristics. A heart that values people so much that it’s excessive.

Shin Chun-ho said again.

“And I want to express my gratitude for the Shin ramen advertisement in person. I don’t know, but the advertising effect will appear right away from tomorrow. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right. It’s not just 1 or 2 minutes, but 20 minutes of advertising, so I think the effect will be great.”

“That’s what I’m saying. So, I think I’ll have to go.”

“…Yes, I understand. Just tell me the date and I’ll prepare.”

Kim Young-woo bowed his head.

Then Shin Chun-ho immediately continued.

“What’s the schedule for tomorrow?”

“Yes? Right away tomorrow?”

“Now that I’ve decided to go, what’s the point of dragging it out?”

“Yes, I understand. There’s a meeting tomorrow morning, so it won’t work. I’ll prepare so that you can move right after lunch and a little rest.”
“Okay, it will be a fall trip with Chief Kim for the first time in a while.”

“Yes, thanks to you, Chairman, I’ll get some fresh air in Gangwon-do for the first time in a while.”

Shin Chun-ho nodded and smiled.

There was something the two didn’t know. That travel always comes with variables.