Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 241

241

The next day.

Hyeon-seong headed to the real estate agency.

Creak.

As Hyeon-seong opened the door and entered, the owner, Park In-soo, greeted him warmly.

“Welcome. I was waiting for you.”

“How much land have you secured?”

“I’m trying hard, but it’s not as easy as I thought. People are farming, so not many are willing to sell their land. As of today, I’ve secured a little less than 20,000 pyeong [approximately 16.5 acres].”

Hyeon-seong nodded.

He had expected this to some extent from the beginning. In the next 20 to 30 years, most people will leave their hometowns, but for now, not many are willing to leave.

“Don’t push yourself too hard. It’s not something that will be done in a day or two anyway.”

“I know. I was greedy at first, but as I worked on it, I realized it’s not something that can be rushed.”

“That’s right. My goal is to secure land, but not by kicking out the people who live there. And the important thing is that my ultimate goal is to live with them there in the future.”

“Live with them? What does that mean?”

Park In-soo tilted his head.

Hyeon-seong immediately continued.

“I didn’t explain it in detail last time, but I’m actually going to build a village there.”

“Did you say a village?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. I’m sorry, but can you explain it in more detail?”

“Well, that is…”

Hyeon-seong had no choice but to start explaining his plan. As Hyeon-seong’s explanation grew longer, Park In-soo’s expression began to change subtly.

And finally, when Hyeon-seong finished his explanation, Park In-soo immediately asked.

“So, you’re saying that in the next 20 to 30 years, there won’t be many people in this village?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And the reason is that it’s hard to make a living by farming alone?”

“That’s right. So, young people will eventually have to leave their hometowns.”

“Hoo!”

Park In-soo took a short, deep breath and continued.

“So, you’re going to open a restaurant on the mountainside?”

“Yes, that’s right. I don’t think there’s any other way.”

“Then the size of the restaurant must be quite large. How big are you thinking?”

“For now, I’m thinking of a three-story building with 150 pyeong [approximately 5,340 square feet]. Of course, I’m thinking of expanding it later.”

“Heh, a three-story building with 150 pyeong…”

Park In-soo looked at Hyeon-seong with an incredulous expression.

Hyeon-seong spoke again.

“I’m thinking of starting with that size at first.”

“Does that mean you might expand it later?”

“Yes, I’m going to build a cafe later. As you know, the scenery there is the best in this village.”

“Of course, it is. You won’t find a place like that anywhere else. But I have one question.”

“Yes, please ask.”

Hyeon-seong looked at Park In-soo.

Park In-soo carefully opened his mouth.

“What’s the reason for doing this?”

“Excuse me? What do you mean?”

“To be honest, I don’t think I would go through all that trouble. With that money, you could live well for the rest of your life. Is it really necessary to live such a hard life?”

“I think it’s my calling.”

“Calling?”

“Yes, the reason I live.”

It was the direction of life he had thought about since his regression.

It’s easy to live well alone. Since he knows the future, what can’t he do? But he felt that living that way would make his regressed life meaningless.

So, he found that living with many people was the answer.

Park In-soo asked again.

“Is that calling to prepare for the future?”

“Yes, that’s right. In other words, it’s protecting our hometown. Otherwise, our hometown will disappear someday.”

“So, you’re going to protect your hometown after all.”

Park In-soo nodded and looked at Hyeon-seong.

Hyeon-seong continued.

“So, you can think of it as joining me with pride.”

“I understand what you mean. I don’t know if I’ll be alive until then, but I’ll do my best until the day I die.”

“Thank you. I look forward to working with you.”

Hyeon-seong talked a little more and then left the real estate agency.

Hyeon-seong headed to Miso Restaurant after leaving the real estate agency.

Because he had made an appointment with Park Hee-cheol.

Creak.

As he entered the restaurant, the owner, Kwon Oh-young, greeted Hyeon-seong warmly.

“Mr. Kim, welcome.”

“Hello. Is business still good?”

“It’s winter, so we don’t have many customers these days. As you can see, there are no customers at this time. How is it over there?”

“It’s similar for us. Since it’s vacation, I’m just trying to maintain the status quo.”

“But it seems like you’re doing steady business.”

“Isn’t it always the case that other people’s rice cakes look bigger? [A Korean saying similar to ‘the grass is always greener on the other side.’] By the way, has Mr. Park arrived yet?”

Hyeon-seong looked around and said.

Kwon Oh-young gestured and said.

“He’s been waiting in that room for a while.”

“Ah, really? Then I’ll be going…”

Hyeon-seong quickly moved to the room Kwon Oh-young had mentioned.

Creak.

Opening the door and entering, Park Hee-cheol gestured and greeted Hyeon-seong.

“Mr. Kim, over here.”

“Did you come early?”

“No, I arrived 10 minutes ago.”

“Did you call me because something happened?”

“Isn’t it almost New Year’s in two days? So, I called you to have dinner with you before the year ends.”

“I was going to contact you first, but I didn’t…”

“It’s okay. What does it matter who contacts first? We’re seeing each other like this.”

Park Hee-cheol smiled and looked at Hyeon-seong.

Hyeon-seong immediately continued.

“How’s your health these days?”

“Good. The strange thing is that my stomach has been comfortable ever since you treated me. I used to have chronic gastritis.”

“I’m glad it worked.”

“It’s more than just effective. It was chronic, but I haven’t had any pain since then. Here, hold my hand again.”

With those words, Park Hee-cheol held out his hand to Hyeon-seong.

Hyeon-seong smiled and took Park Hee-cheol’s hand.

Then, he concentrated and began to examine Park Hee-cheol’s body as he had done before.

After a while.

Hyeon-seong opened his mouth.

“You’re clean.”

“Right? My stomach has been strangely comfortable these days.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Isn’t it really amazing? How do you have this ability?”

“I know, right? I’m just amazed the more I think about it.”

“You’re my personal doctor from now on.”

“Excuse me? Is that how it works? Haha…”

Hyeon-seong laughed without realizing it.

At that moment.

Creak.

The door opened, and Kwon Oh-young came in with meat and said.

“What’s so fun?”

“Excuse me? It’s nothing.”

“Don’t just keep it to yourself, let’s laugh together.”

When Hyeon-seong couldn’t say anything properly, Park Hee-cheol stepped in.

“Mr. Kwon, sit down here.”

“Excuse me? Why are you doing this?”

“Hold out your hand.”

Kwon Oh-young looked back and forth between the two, as if he didn’t understand what Park Hee-cheol was saying. Then, Park Hee-cheol began to explain why.

As Park Hee-cheol’s explanation continued, Kwon Oh-young stared intently at Hyeon-seong.

And finally, when Park Hee-cheol’s explanation was over, Kwon Oh-young looked at Hyeon-seong and asked.

“Is what Hyung-nim [older brother/close male friend] is saying true?”

“Well…”

“Here, hold my hand.”

Kwon Oh-young held out his hand to Hyeon-seong.

Hyeon-seong had no choice but to take Kwon Oh-young’s hand and concentrate.

After a while.

Hyeon-seong quietly opened his mouth.

“Do you drink a lot of alcohol?”

“I tend to drink every day after work because I’m tired. Is there something wrong?”

“Your liver is very strained. I think you should go to the hospital.”

“Is it a tumor or something?”

Kwon Oh-young looked at Hyeon-seong with anxious eyes.

Hyeon-seong immediately continued.

“I don’t think it’s that, but you should still go to the hospital.”

“Can’t you treat it?”

“I’m not sure yet, so it’s hard to say. But you should stop drinking alcohol from today and go to the hospital as soon as possible.”

“I understand. I’ll go to the hospital for a checkup tomorrow.”

As Kwon Oh-young finished speaking, Park Hee-cheol said.

“How is it? Is what I said true?”

“To be honest, it’s just amazing. I’ve always been anxious even while drinking. I wouldn’t have even thought about going to the hospital if it weren’t for you. If that had happened, my body would have gotten worse.”

“…”

Hyeon-seong had nothing to say.

Then, Kwon Oh-young spoke again.

“Anyway, I’m alive thanks to you. I’ll visit you after I get a checkup at the hospital tomorrow.”

“You don’t have to go that far…”

“No, you can’t use a person who doesn’t know gratitude.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. Just get good treatment.”

“I’ll take care of that.”

Kwon Oh-young looked at Park Hee-cheol this time and said.

“Hyung-nim, in that sense, I won’t take the meat price today.”

“What does that mean?”

“Of course, it’s thanks to Mr. Kim, but didn’t Hyung-nim tell me to hold out my hand first, so I found out that there was something wrong with my body?”

“That’s true, but…”

Park Hee-cheol cut off his words in the middle, as if he had nothing special to say.

Then, Kwon Oh-young spoke again.

“So, if you think about it, it’s also thanks to Hyung-nim.”

“I didn’t do it to get such compliments, so don’t worry about it.”

“It’s my heart. Please accept it.”

“Heh, this guy… Mr. Kim, what should I do?”

Park Hee-cheol looked at Hyeon-seong and asked.

Hyeon-seong looked at Kwon Oh-young and said.

“Mr. Kwon, this isn’t right. Neither the old man nor I did it for that, so don’t worry about it anymore.”

“Still…”

“I’ll just accept your heart. And please go to the hospital tomorrow.”

“If you say so… I understand. Then I’ll go out now, so eat the meat quickly.”

“And don’t worry too much.”

Kwon Oh-young nodded, greeted Park Hee-cheol, and went outside.

After a while.

Park Hee-cheol looked at Hyeon-seong and asked.

“What’s the diagnosis?”

“Well…”