Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 272

272

“He’s coming.”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, he is, but it’s rare compared to women. Only about 30% of men experience it, I hear. Why do you ask?”

“Well, lately, I’ve been watching dramas and sometimes I find myself tearing up without even realizing it.”

My father said with a worried expression.

Then, Hyun-sung asked again.

“Do you ever feel depressed or have hot flashes?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“Well, do you ever feel anxious or suddenly get angry?”

“Hmm, I do get angry sometimes, but I don’t think it’s that bad.”

“Do you sleep well at night?”

“Yeah, I haven’t had trouble sleeping yet. But some of my friends say they can’t sleep at night.”

Hyun-sung smiled and said.

“You’re not going through male menopause, Dad. So, you don’t have to worry.”

“But why do I tear up whenever I watch dramas?”

“That’s because you’re just sensitive, Dad, so it’s okay. But you should still take care of your health from now on. Cut down on alcohol and cigarettes, and avoid greasy foods as much as possible.”

My father nodded and continued.

“Okay, I got it. I’ve been noticing that my belly is getting a little bigger lately, so I’ve been trying to be careful.”

“Do you eat late-night snacks?”

“It’s become a habit…….”

“Don’t tell me it’s ramen?”

“…….”

My father couldn’t answer.

Then, Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“Even if you couldn’t help it until now, you absolutely can’t do it anymore.”

“Okay, I got it.”

“Promise me.”

“I said I got it.”

My father nodded as if making a pledge and continued.

Then, my mother, who was next to him, teased my father.

“You never listen when I tell you, but you can’t help but listen to your son, can you?”

“Haha, you…….”

My father looked at my mother and just smiled.

Then, Hyun-sung spoke again.

“When are they starting the house construction?”

“They said they’re starting construction the day after tomorrow.”

“Then, we’ll be able to move in before Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving]?”

“That’s right. It looks like we’ll be able to spend this Chuseok in a new house. Just thinking about it makes me smile.”

My father’s face was full of smiles.

Why wouldn’t he be?

In my past life, my father’s lifelong wish was to have a decent house. Maybe it was a sense of duty as the head of the household. But in my past life, he couldn’t fulfill that wish.

Hyun-sung smiled involuntarily as he looked at his smiling father.

A little later.

Hyun-sung looked at his father and asked again.

“And by the way, how’s the angelica [a medicinal herb] cultivation going?”

This was something Hyun-sung had told his father last year. After worrying about finding a source of income in the countryside, Hyun-sung came up with this special crop.

Of course, Kim Jin-yong, the president and father of my army buddy Kim Dong-soo, helped me find it. It was possible because he ran a medicinal herb store in Seoul.

My father said.

“I actually went to Jinbu last week and got the seeds. I also learned how to plant them. They said I should plant them around the end of March.”

“Oh, you did? But how many *pyeong* [a Korean unit of area, approximately 3.3 square meters] are you going to plant?”

“I’m only going to plant 200 *pyeong* this year since it’s the first time. And if it goes well, I’m planning to plant it in earnest from next year. By the way, is there no worry about sales?”

“Of course, don’t worry about that. Mr. Kim from the medicinal herb store said he’ll buy the entire amount.”

It was possible because Kim Jin-yong ran a large medicinal herb store in the Gyeongdong Market [a large traditional medicine market in Seoul].

When Hyun-sung spoke confidently, his father asked again.

“Is that Mr. Kim trustworthy?”

“Of course, he’s the one who suggested growing angelica in the first place.”

“I’m just worried.”

“Don’t worry about that, Dad, just focus on the angelica.”

My father nodded at Hyun-sung’s words.

But he still seemed uneasy and unsure.

Then, Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“That president said that he’ll even handle the entire amount that comes out of this village in the future, so you don’t have to worry about sales at all.”

“That much? That’s a relief then…….”

Only then did my father look relieved.

My father asked immediately.

“That man must be running a big medicinal herb store?”

“Yes, he’s one of the best in Gyeongdong Market. He’s even the one who directly imports the habanero peppers I use.”

“Hmm……, I see. Then I’ll just focus on the angelica from now on.”

My father nodded, looking satisfied.

Then, my mother, who had been listening to the two of them, looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Are you saying that the villagers will also grow angelica in the future?”

“Yes, of course. But first, we need to verify that the growing environment is suitable. That’s what Dad is doing now.”

“Haha, so your father has a big responsibility?”

My mother smiled and continued.

Then, Hyun-sung smiled and said.

“Yes, that’s right. If Dad succeeds in cultivation, I’ll actively encourage the villagers to cultivate it as well. Of course, the profitability has to be good.”

“Profitability?”

“Yes, even if cultivation is possible, it’s meaningless if the profitability is low. That president said it would be at least five times better than planting potatoes.”

“Five times as much?”

My mother looked at Hyun-sung in surprise.

Then, Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“Yes, so this year is the most important time. If what that president said is true, it will be a great blessing for our village.”

“That’s right. If we can make five times the profit from the same land, there’s nothing better than that. If that’s the case, our village will be livable.”

“Of course. That’s why Dad’s responsibility is so great this time.”

When Hyun-sung finished speaking, his father nodded as if he understood.

“Okay, I’ll do my best to succeed.”

“Yes, Dad. I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t worry. My son is putting so much effort into it, how can I, as a father, not do it?”

My father’s eyes were shining brighter than ever.

Hyun-sung smiled at his father.

After exchanging a few more words, Hyun-sung left the main room and headed to his room.

Hyun-sung, who entered his room, flopped down on the wooden bed his father had made for him.

Every time he lay down, he always felt that the comfort was indescribable, even though it was a wooden bed.

Was that why?

Hyun-sung fell asleep without even realizing it.

How much time had passed?

“Huh?”

When he opened his eyes, it was already past 12 o’clock at night.

“Why is this happening?”

He felt uneasy for some reason.

At that time.

Two people wearing masks appeared in the alley.

Choi Min-sung looked at Min Doo-shik and asked.

“Will this be okay?”

“It’s now or never. If we can’t find out the secret of the seasoning sauce, our ramen shop has no hope. We have to solve it this time no matter what.”

“But even stealing…….”

“What’s with the weak talk now? You just keep watch for anyone coming. I’ll go in and get the seasoning sauce.”

Min Doo-shik already had a crowbar in his hand.

Whoosh!

Choi Min-sung took a short breath and said.

“Okay, I’ll keep watch here, so hurry up and come back. And if anyone comes, I’ll make a cat sound.”

“Yes, I understand. It won’t take long anyway.”

Step.

Min Doo-shik moved his feet after finishing his words.

Arriving in front of Hyun-sung’s shop, Min Doo-shik pushed the crowbar into the gap in the door. Then he pried it open with all his might.

Clunk.

The lock was released and the door opened.

Min Doo-shik, who entered the store, headed straight for the kitchen. He already had a flashlight in his hand.

Standing in front of the large refrigerator, Min Doo-shik opened the refrigerator door without hesitation. Then he started scooping the seasoning sauce into a small container he had prepared.

He wanted to take a large amount if he could, but he couldn’t.

The reason was simple. It was to avoid suspicion.

Anyway, tomorrow morning, he would find out that the store had been burglarized.

Then, he would first figure out what was missing. If he found out that the seasoning sauce was missing, he would obviously suspect himself, who was in the same industry.

But if he only took a small amount so that he wouldn’t know that the seasoning sauce was missing, there would be no reason to be suspected.

That’s why Min Doo-shik gave up his greed and only took the minimum amount of seasoning sauce.

Swish.

Min Doo-shik finished taking the seasoning sauce and then closed the refrigerator door.

And the place he headed to was the counter.

Fortunately, the small safe was not locked.

Min Doo-shik took all the 100 won coins [approximately $0.08 USD] as well as the 10 won coins [approximately $0.008 USD] from the safe.

Then, Min Doo-shik headed back to the kitchen.

This time, he took two Shin ramen [a popular brand of Korean instant noodles] from the shelf. Then he leisurely left Hyun-sung’s ramen shop.

The two men returned to Min Doo-shik’s shop.

Min Doo-shik first took out the coins from his pocket and put them on the table.

Then, Choi Min-sung asked.

“What are these coins?”

“I brought them from that kid’s shop.”

“I know that. So, I’m asking why you brought these coins. It doesn’t seem like you brought them because you were greedy for money…….”

Pfft.

Min Doo-shik laughed lightly at Choi Min-sung’s question.

Then, Choi Min-sung asked again.

“What’s the meaning of that laugh?”

“Would you understand if I said it was a trick?”

“A trick? So, you’re saying that bringing those coins was a trick?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Min Doo-shik nodded and was still laughing.

Then, Choi Min-sung tilted his head as if he didn’t know what he was talking about.

“What exactly is the trick?”

“Think about it. Tomorrow morning, that kid will know that the store has been burglarized, right?”

“Of course, he will.”

“Then, what’s the first thing that kid will do?”

“He’ll check what’s missing first.”

Choi Min-sung answered as if it was obvious.

Then, Min Doo-shik nodded and continued.

“That’s right. That’s exactly it. At that time, if he finds out that not only the 100 won coins but also the 10 won coins are missing, what will he think?”

“Well…… if that happens, he’ll think that the thief is a kid, not an adult…… Ah, so you deliberately acted like that to make him think that the culprit was a kid?”

“That’s right. Who would take even 10 won coins if they were an adult?”

“Haha, that makes sense. So, you brought these two Shin ramen too?”

Choi Min-sung looked at the Shin ramen on the table and continued.

Then, Min Doo-shik immediately said.

“That’s exactly it. What adult would think that they stole ramen while stealing? Even if the police come, they’ll definitely think it’s a kid’s doing.”

“Listening to you, it seems like you’re right.”

Then, Min Doo-shik took out a small seasoning container from his pocket and continued.

“And I only put a very small amount of seasoning sauce so that they wouldn’t even know it was missing.”

“Haha, you have a great brain.”

“That kid will never know who the culprit is even if he dies and comes back to life.”

Min Doo-shik showed his teeth and gave a bitter smile.

There was something Min Doo-shik didn’t know. Hyun-sung personally manages the seasoning sauce in particular.