Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 226

226

A moment later.

Regaining his senses, Father looked at Hyun-sung and said,

“I still can’t believe it.”

“I feel the same way. It’s like I’m dreaming.”

Hyun-sung felt the same. He could see the number 1 billion in his bank account, but it wasn’t enough for him to truly grasp its value.

Father asked again.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“Before that, I want to ask you something, Father. Have you ever thought about moving to the city?”

“I have no intention of doing that. What would I do in the city? I’ve farmed all my life. As I said before, I like farming my land here the best.”

“Ah, okay.”

Hyun-sung nodded.

Then he continued immediately.

“Then, first of all, I’ll give you 100 million won, Father.”

“That much money for me?”

“Yes, you can do whatever you want with it. You can build a house or buy land, as you said earlier.”

“But is it okay for me to spend that money so freely?”

Father looked at Hyun-sung with a worried expression rather than a joyful one.

Hyun-sung then said.

“You’re spending it for the family anyway. So don’t worry about it and use it with a happy heart.”

“Even so…”

“And also, Father, you need to get your driver’s license.”

“Even a license?”

“Yes, you should even get a car if possible.”

“Heh…”

Father just laughed, as if he was dumbfounded.

At that moment, Mother, who was next to him, looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Did that chairman say anything else when he gave you the money?”

“He said two things.”

“Two things?”

“Yes, one was not to become a slave to money, and the other was to live in harmony with others, as people don’t live alone.”

Mother nodded and continued.

“Good words. No matter how much money you have, there’s no end to greed, and people don’t live alone.”

“Yes, I’m keeping that in mind.”

Just then.

Growl.

Hyun-sung’s stomach growled.

Then Mother smiled and continued.

“Hoho, no matter how much money you have in your account, you still have to eat dinner, right?”

“I guess so. I can’t help it.”

Hyun-sung chuckled.

He thought he would feel full even without eating, but that wasn’t the case.

Late at night.

Hyun-sung was in his room, contemplating what to do in the future.

Knock knock.

The person who opened the door and came in was none other than Father.

Father asked first.

“What are you doing?”

“I just have a lot of thoughts.”

“Can you tell me what you’re thinking? Of course, I trust you, but it’s such a large sum of money that I came in to see how you’re going to use it.”

“You did well. I was also wondering, so it’s good for me to talk with you, Father.”

“I appreciate you saying that.”

Father smiled at Hyun-sung.

Then Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“First of all, I’m thinking of buying land.”

“What land are you talking about?”

“You know the land that Mr. Park gave me [alluding to a previous transaction]? I’m thinking of buying the entire area.”

“The entire area?”

“Yes, I’m going to open a large restaurant there later.”

Father tilted his head. He thought it wasn’t a suitable place to open a restaurant, as it was in the middle of a mountain.

Father asked.

“No, what do you mean by opening a restaurant in the middle of a mountain?”

“Because of the view.”

“The view?”

“Yes, as you know, Father, the view there is the best in this neighborhood, isn’t it? You can overlook the village, and moreover, there’s a mountain behind it, so if you make a proper path, it’ll be great to have a light walk after eating.”

“Well…”

Father still didn’t seem to like the idea.

If he hadn’t regressed, Hyun-sung wouldn’t have even thought of opening a restaurant there. In his past life, a large barbecue restaurant would be built there in three years.

Of course, when the barbecue restaurant was first built there, the villagers said the owner was crazy. They worried who would go all the way up the mountain to eat meat. But that worry soon turned into surprise.

In a word, the place was a hit.

Hyun-sung said.

“In a few years, that place will be famous for its barbecue restaurant.”

“Did you see that in a dream too, like the ramen shop this time?”

“Yes? Ah… yes.”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be taken aback for a moment. It was something that actually happened in his past life, not a dream, but his father asked if he had seen it in a dream.

Father asked again.

“Didn’t you see any other places in your dream? For example, other places in the city…”

“It’s meaningless to me if it’s not here.”

“What does that mean?”

“The reason I’m opening a restaurant here is not just to live well on my own.”

Father tilted his head and asked.

“Does that mean you have another purpose?”

“Yes, I’m planning to open a restaurant there for the sake of the entire village. That’s why I’m buying all the land in that area.”

Father still looked at Hyun-sung with a puzzled expression.

Then Hyun-sung said again.

“I’m thinking of creating a space where at least 50 people, and at most more than 100 people, can work at that restaurant.”

“100 people?”

“Yes, I’m even thinking of more than that.”

In the next 20 or 30 years, like other places, many people will leave this rural area. There are many reasons for leaving the countryside, but the biggest reason is that it’s hard to make a living.

So, conversely, Hyun-sung’s idea is that if there is a stable job to make a living, there is no need to leave the countryside.

Father asked again.

“So, you’re going to create a space where the villagers can work?”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s how this village will survive. Otherwise, in the next 20 or 30 years, only about 30 or 40% of the people will remain in this village.”

“Surely, not that much…”

“It won’t be a ‘surely’. There’s no answer if you only farm. Perhaps from some point on, the rural population will decrease at an alarming rate.”

That’s right. It was a fact that Hyun-sung had witnessed in his past life.

“So you’re going to invest in that place with this money?”

“This money is not enough.”

“That’s not enough?”

It was hard for Father to understand. If you subtract 100 million won from 1 billion won, you have 900 million won left. The fact that that money is not enough means that there is another purpose.

Father asked immediately.

“Do you have another purpose?”

“Yes, later I’m going to build a communal house here and create a space where many people can live together.”

“You’re talking about creating an entire village?”

“That’s the ultimate goal. That’s why I’m going to buy all the surrounding land. I think about 100,000 pyeong [approximately 82 acres] would be appropriate. What do you think, Father?”

“Huh, 100,000 pyeong…”

Father couldn’t say anything more, as if he was dumbfounded.

A moment later.

Hyun-sung asked.

“When are you planning to start building the house?”

“I can’t do construction in the winter because it’s cold, so I have to start in the spring of next year. By the way, that chairman is no ordinary person. Even so, how could he give 1 billion won…”

“I know, I was so embarrassed at first.”

“That’s true, but is that chairman’s health okay?”

Father asked with a worried look.

Then Hyun-sung said.

“Maybe it’s in the early stages, so he can be cured.”

“If you hadn’t met him, he might have made the disease worse?”

“That’s probably right.”

If that had happened, Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s treatment would have been delayed and he would have been in a dangerous situation.

Father nodded and said.

“Human relationships are so amazing. By the way, how did that chairman come to the store?”

“I was on TV a while ago, right? He saw that and came.”

“No, he came all the way here from Seoul to eat ramen?”

“It wasn’t just for that reason, there were other reasons too. Anyway, thanks to that, I found the tumor early.”

“Come to think of it, I guess the word ‘relationship’ isn’t there for nothing. Anyway, I hope that chairman gets well soon.”

“He will.”

Father nodded and continued.

“Okay. Then rest.”

“Yes, and I’ll transfer 100 million won to Father’s account tomorrow, so keep that in mind.”

“There’s no rush, so you can do it slowly…”

“You’re going to buy land, right? Let’s find out right away from tomorrow and buy it quickly if you’re going to buy it.”

“Heh, really… I’m getting a lot of help from my son. Okay, I’ll look into the land from tomorrow.”

Father smiled as if he was in a good mood and left the room.

In his past life, Father’s lifelong wish was to buy the land in front of his house. It was a dream he couldn’t fulfill in his past life.

At least he bought one field by selling wild ginseng last time, and if he buys the rest this time, Father’s dream will be perfectly fulfilled.

That’s probably why Father can smile even as he leaves the room. It was a moment when a smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he looked at such a father.

***

The next day.

After finishing class, Hyun-sung stopped by the Nonghyup [National Agricultural Cooperative Federation] and transferred 100 million won to his father’s account, then headed to the real estate agency.

Sliding.

As he opened the door of the real estate agency and entered, President Park In-soo greeted Hyun-sung happily.

“Who is this? Aren’t you President Kim?”

“Have you been well?”

“I’m always well. And I saw you on TV the other day.”

“You saw it?”

“Of course. I like to eat, so I never miss that program.”

Hyun-sung nodded slightly as a sign that he understood.

Then Park In-soo immediately continued.

“It was even more welcoming to see someone I know on TV. I sometimes go there to eat ramen after watching that show.”

“Yes, I heard that you sometimes come during the day.”

“I went there yesterday too, but the hangover ramen is still the best.”

“Thank you. I look forward to your continued support.”

Hyun-sung bowed slightly.

Then Park In-soo said again.

“Anyway, what brings President Kim here?”

“I’m thinking of buying some land.”

“Did you say land now?”

Park In-soo tilted his head. That’s because Hyun-sung is only eighteen years old now. Of course, he runs a store, but that’s a separate issue.

The amount of money for land and a store cannot be compared.

Park In-soo asked again.

“Are you really going to buy land?”

“Why? Can’t you believe it?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that… Okay, how much land do you need?”

“It’s a bit much.”

“A lot? How much is it that you’re hesitating like this?”

Hyun-sung smiled and continued.

“That’s…”