Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 255

Min Doo-shik accepted the sauce from Choi Min-sung. “Is this the sauce you were talking about?”

“Yes, it is. It wasn’t easy to get.”

“This is worth 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD]?”

“I can’t believe it either, but what can we do? We’re the ones who need it, so we have to get it somehow.”

Min Doo-shik held the small container, examining it with disbelief.

Click.

He opened the container and scrutinized the contents.

“Are you sure about this?”

“I can’t guarantee it 100%, but we have to trust it for now. What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s not that, but I was wondering if that woman might have tricked us.”

“Do you think she’d trick us for 100,000 won?”

Min Doo-shik nodded and began to taste the sauce.

Choi Min-sung asked, “How is it? Can you tell what’s in the sauce?”

“Well, I recognize some of it, but not everything.”

“Haha, then what should we do?”

“It tastes a little off, so I’ll have to boil it with ramen and taste it again.”

Min Doo-shik went into the kitchen and started preparing ramen.

After a few minutes, Min Doo-shik turned to Choi Min-sung. “Try it. See if it tastes the same.”

“Okay.”

Choi Min-sung tasted the broth. Slurp.

“How is it?”

“Well, it’s similar, but it feels like something’s missing.”

“I haven’t tasted that kid’s ramen, so I don’t know, but that’s how it tastes to you, right?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t taste like what I remember.”

Choi Min-sung tilted his head, puzzled.

Min Doo-shik immediately pressed, “Is it much different?”

“Not much, but something is different. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

“Could it be that we didn’t add enough sauce?”

“Maybe. Should we add more sauce and boil it again?”

“Okay. It’ll be hard to nail the taste in just one or two tries anyway. I’ll figure it out tonight, even if I have to stay up all night.”

With that, Min Doo-shik returned to the kitchen.

Two hours later, Min Doo-shik asked again, his voice laced with anxiety, “How is it this time?”

“…….”

Choi Min-sung shook his head.

Min Doo-shik said in a tired voice, “You mean it’s still not right?”

“That’s right. No matter how much I eat, it’s not the same.”

“No, if the taste doesn’t come out even after boiling it ten times, what am I supposed to do?”

“I’m just as frustrated. What should we do about this?”

Hoo!

A sigh escaped Choi Min-sung’s lips.

Min Doo-shik asked, “What’s the problem?”

“It’s one of two things.”

“One of two things?”

“Either you’re the problem, or the sauce is the problem. Right?”

Min Doo-shik nodded. He had boiled it ten times and still couldn’t replicate the taste. As Choi Min-sung pointed out, one of them had to be the issue.

What’s the problem?

Me? Or the sauce?

Min Doo-shik hesitated to make a decision.

Choi Min-sung then asked, “How much sauce is left?”

“Only enough to boil it about twice more.”

“Are we not going to figure it out after all?”

“There’s no other way right now. Like you said, it’s either me or the sauce. But do you think that woman really played a trick on us?”

“Hmm… well, I can’t guarantee that either. But the important thing is that we have to open for business tomorrow.”

Choi Min-sung looked at Min Doo-shik with a serious expression.

Min Doo-shik continued, “In the end, I think we have no choice but to use the last resort.”

“The last resort? What is it?”

“Price. We have no choice but to lower the price.”

“You mean lower the price because we couldn’t find the taste?”

“Yes, that’s right. There’s no better way to attract customers than price.”

Min Doo-shik stated matter-of-factly.

But Choi Min-sung tilted his head, considering a different approach.

“Will that really work?”

“Of course. Customers are always tempted by lower prices. Especially students; they’re on a tight budget, so they’ll be even more sensitive to prices.”

“I don’t know… It’s true that students are sensitive to prices, like you said, but only if the taste is the same. Otherwise, I don’t think they’ll switch for just a few pennies.”

“Of course, what you’re saying is also true, but the question is how significant the price difference will be.”

Choi Min-sung looked at Min Doo-shik intently, suspecting the price cut would be substantial.

“How much are you thinking of charging for the ramen?” Choi Min-sung asked directly.

“200 won [approximately $0.15 USD]. A 100 won difference is something students can’t ignore.”

“Does that mean you’re not going to use Shin Ramen [a popular brand of instant ramen]?”

“Of course not. We can’t sell it for that price with Shin Ramen. Instead, we’ll use Samyoung Ramen [a cheaper brand]. Since there’s a 100 won difference in cost anyway, we’ll still make a profit even if we sell it for 200 won.”

Choi Min-sung’s expression remained troubled. He doubted that customers accustomed to Shin Ramen’s taste would readily switch to Samyoung Ramen simply because it was cheaper.

“Will students really eat Samyoung Ramen just because it’s 100 won cheaper?”

“From the students’ point of view, 100 won is definitely not a small amount. Just watch; you’ll see my prediction is correct.”

“Haha, well… we’ll see. By the way, what should I do tomorrow?”

“Please put up four banners in the morning. One in front of the store, and the others in front of the elementary, middle, and high schools. Make sure the ramen price is clearly marked as 200 won.”

“Okay. But can’t I put one up in front of the senior center?”

“There’s no need to put one there. It’s no help even if the old people come. They spill food while eating, and they eat so slowly that the turnover rate is low. It’s better if they don’t come at all.”

“That’s true. Okay. I’ll take care of the banners, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Choi Min-sung nodded in understanding.

Min Doo-shik continued, “And please don’t come into the store during the day if possible; stay outside. I’ll call you when I need you.”

“Huh? Me too?”

“Yes, and if possible, don’t go around with that white hair; dye it. And change your clothes to something brighter instead of those drab clothes.”

“Ah… okay.”

Choi Min-sung scratched his head and nodded.

***

The next day, in the afternoon, Hyun-sung and Kim Il-soo were leaving the school gate after class.

“What’s that?” Kim Il-soo asked, pointing to a banner hanging in front of the school.

“Where?”

“There. It’s a banner from the Samgeori ramen shop. It says ramen is 200 won now?”

“200 won?”

Hyun-sung looked where Kim Il-soo was pointing. The banner clearly advertised ramen for 200 won.

Kim Il-soo asked, bewildered, “What does that mean?”

“Min Doo-shik is up to something. I wondered if he would, and he’s not letting it go.”

“But is that price even possible?”

“Of course, it’s not possible with Shin Ramen, but it’s possible with Samyoung Ramen. There’s a 100 won difference in cost anyway.”

If you get ramen supplied at a 20% discount, Samyoung Ramen costs 80 won. On the other hand, Shin Ramen costs 160 won. If you include rent and labor costs, the price you can charge is determined.

Min Doo-shik’s 200 won price means he’s going to sell Samyoung Ramen, not Shin Ramen.

Kim Il-soo asked again, “Will students eat Samyoung Ramen? They’re already used to the taste of Shin Ramen.”

“Min Doo-shik must have thought about that too, and he must have concluded that students will switch if there’s a 100 won difference.”

“What do you think?”

“Well, I have to see how it plays out, but I think they’ll switch to some extent. After all, from the students’ point of view, they can’t ignore the 100 won difference.”

Kim Il-soo continued with a worried expression, “How much will they switch?”

“Of course, I can’t say for sure, but I don’t think you have to worry too much.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, at first, everyone will go once or twice out of curiosity, but in the end, they’ll come back.”

Kim Il-soo looked at Hyun-sung, puzzled. “Why?”

“Min Doo-shik is mistaken about something.”

“Mistaken?”

“Yeah, he must think it’s just about being cheap if the price is low, but what’s more important than the price is the taste.”

Of course, price is important, but only when the taste is the same. If there’s a difference in taste, the price becomes meaningless.

Kim Il-soo said again, “You mean they’ll eventually come back to our store because of the taste?”

“That’s right. Why do you think he chose Samyoung Ramen?”

“Well, I don’t know about that.”

“It means he couldn’t replicate the taste of Shin Ramen properly. That’s why he chose a cheap ramen as a last resort.”

“You mean he’s going to compete with a cheap price?”

“That’s right, but that’s what he thinks because he doesn’t know the students. How picky are the students’ palates? They’ll go once for the cheap price, but they won’t go twice.”

Kim Il-soo chuckled. “Well, yeah, the kids won’t give up the taste for 100 won.”

“But anyway, there will be fewer customers for a few days.”

“Well, at first, the students will move. The more that happens, the better we have to do.”

“That’s right. We shouldn’t be shaken, and we should treat our customers even better. After a few days, the customers will come back. Let’s go to the store quickly.”

The two hurried their steps.

At that time…

“Hehe.”

A smile crept across Min Doo-shik’s face.

“How many people is this?”

Min Doo-shik came out of the store, observing the long line. At least 50 students were waiting to eat ramen.

Choi Min-sung approached and said, “How do you feel, Mr. Min?”

“I feel great, hyung [older brother/friend]. My prediction was right, wasn’t it?”

“I know. I thought the students who used to eat Shin Ramen wouldn’t eat Samyoung Ramen, but seeing them line up to eat it, I realized once again that price is king.”

“What did I tell you? Didn’t I say that the 100 won difference would be a big deal for the students?”

Min Doo-shik’s smile was wide and triumphant.

Looking at him, Choi Min-sung continued, “Will these friends come tomorrow too?”

“Of course. Do you still not believe me?”

“It’s not that; I was just wondering.”

Just then, a staff member called Min Doo-shik. “Boss, some students at table 5 are calling for you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, I think you should go.”

“Okay. I’ll go.”

Min Doo-shik went into the store and approached table 5.

“Did the students call for me?”

“Mister, what is this ramen? What does it taste like?”