Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 321

321

Choi Seong-pil felt a thrill run through his entire body.

‘This kid’s words are true. Exactly two years from now, a four-lane road will be built in front of that land. When that happens, that land on the mountainside will become the best spot in the neighborhood for a barbecue restaurant.’

The problem is, how did this kid know that? That’s the key.

It’s hard to believe, but if this kid really has a powerful information network, then this is a whole different story.

The land on the mountainside isn’t the real issue.

That’s just a drop in the bucket, a tiny fraction.

Park Young-jin said earlier that if Ilsan is announced as a new city, it would be worth at least 100 times more. That means an investment of just 100 million won would become 10 billion won [approximately $7,500 to $750,000 USD based on current exchange rates].

If that happens, it’s not just a life-changing reversal, but we can enjoy that wealth for generations and live ruling over this world.

So, all that’s left now is to confirm whether this kid really knows that information.

Choi Seong-pil looked at Hyun-sung and asked loudly,

“A road will be built?”

“Yes, it will be built.”

“And it will be four lanes wide?”

“Yes, it will be four lanes wide.”

‘That’s it!’

First, he confirmed that a road will be built. And it will be four lanes wide. So, now there’s only one thing left.

The timing. If the answer ‘two years later’ comes out of this kid’s mouth, then the game is over.

‘I can gather all the money I have right away, even tomorrow, and run to Ilsan.’

Choi Seong-pil glanced at Park Young-jin.

They’re both after the same thing anyway. Park Young-jin was already holding his hands together, just looking at Hyun-sung’s mouth.

Choi Seong-pil nodded at Park Young-jin.

Then Park Young-jin nodded his head vigorously.

Choi Seong-pil opened his mouth with a trembling heart.

“When?”

“Huh? I don’t know about that.”

Choi Seong-pil couldn’t believe his ears. Until just now, he had been talking about the road being built with a confident voice. But now he doesn’t know the timing? That doesn’t make any sense.

Choi Seong-pil’s voice grew louder.

“What are you talking about?”

“What are you talking about, mister? How would I know the timing?”

“No, your tone just now was so confident!”

“That’s just saying it will be built someday.”

“Someday…….”

Choi Seong-pil felt all the strength suddenly drain from his body, like air escaping from a balloon.

And another person.

Park Young-jin wanted to cry. The moment the words ‘someday’ came out of Hyun-sung’s mouth, he almost collapsed on the spot.

He thought it was the last chance of his life.

For a moment, he even made specific plans. He had a little over 200 million won in cash that he could raise within a week. He was planning to buy land in Ilsan with that money as soon as possible. And he was planning to buy more as the real estate was sold off.

If Ilsan was announced as a new city within at least five years, he would be sitting on a gold mine. But all of that vanished in an instant.

“Heh heh…….”

Park Young-jin let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.

Then Choi Seong-pil looked at Park Young-jin and said,

“Hey, let’s go for a smoke…….”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. No, let’s go together. I need to too…….”

The two men left the real estate agency with weak steps, as if the world had collapsed.

Hyun-sung was left alone.

He grinned.

A strange smile began to spread across his face.

***

That evening.

Hyun-sung, heading to the village hall, asked Park Young-jin,

“How many people do you think will have gathered?”

“Actually, I’m worried about that too. I had no choice but to set the time at 7 o’clock, but some people haven’t finished their business yet, so I’m worried about that. But if I set it any later, I’d feel sorry for you, so let’s go and see. Maybe this opportunity will be a time to confirm people’s hearts. How much they want change.”

Hyun-sung nodded.

Park Young-jin is right. Of course, it’s early to finish business, but it’s not every day, and it’s the first time they’re gathering to revive the shopping district.

It’s that important. Some sacrifice is necessary. But it’s also a situation where you can’t force that. You can only rely on voluntary participation.

The important thing is that the number of attendees today will show the shopping district people’s will to change.

Hyun-sung hurried his steps with a nervous heart.

10 minutes later.

“Hoo hoo!”

Hyun-sung, who arrived in front of the village hall, took a light breath.

Then Park Young-jin asked slyly.

“Why, are you nervous?”

“Of course, wouldn’t I be? If only a few people came, that would be like…….”

Hyun-sung’s concern was still the participation rate of the shopping district people. Of course, he was nervous about standing in front of many people, but more than that, he couldn’t help but worry about what if there were few people.

Because if the participation rate is low, it will inevitably be more difficult in the future.

Then Park Young-jin lightly tapped Hyun-sung’s shoulder.

“Mr. Kim!”

“Yes, Mr. Park.”

“Don’t feel too pressured. You’ve already done your best. Even if a few people don’t come, that’s also the choice of the people here. Then, I won’t have any intention of holding you back any longer. If the people here are only that much, then I should give up any more lingering feelings. So, I’m saying don’t feel too pressured.”

Park Young-jin seemed to have already considered the worst-case scenario.

Hyun-sung stopped walking for a moment.

‘I’ve come this far…….’

‘I can’t back down like this.’

At first, there was nothing, but now it’s different. First of all, the landlords made a difficult decision. They reduced the rent by 50% overall, which was thought to be almost impossible. That proves their affection for the commercial district.

Now it’s up to the tenants.

I didn’t expect it to be easy from the beginning. Of course, I’ll have to go into the hall to know, but I don’t know how many people will have come. Maybe that number will be woefully small. But the important thing is not that number, but that the die has already been cast.

Now all that’s left is to finish.

In any way, I have to bring about a change in this commercial district, that’s Hyun-sung’s own calling.

‘Yes! I’m going to do it. I’m going to try it.’

Hyun-sung, having sorted out his thoughts, said powerfully to Park Young-jin.

“No. Since I’ve already started, I’m going to do my best even if only one person comes. Since I’ve already started, I’m going to see it through to the end. I think I need a tenacious spirit at times like this.”

“A tenacious spirit?”

“Yes, if I know the problem, there’s no way I can’t find the answer, right? I’m going to find the answer and revive this commercial district.”

“Heh heh, this guy, anyway……, good! If you say that much, I can’t just stand still. I’ll be with you to the end. Now, let’s go in!”

Bang.

Park Young-jin forcefully threw open the hall door.

“…….”

“…….”

The two couldn’t say anything for a while.

Park Young-jin was the first to open his mouth.

“I’m sorry.”

Park Young-jin was just dumbfounded. Of course, he wasn’t without worries. But he still had some expectations. It’s not someone else’s business, and if you think about it, it’s the business of the shopping district people.

The moment he opened the door, he doubted his eyes. He couldn’t believe that only three people were in attendance in that large auditorium.

Then Hyun-sung’s words followed.

“Mr. Park, it’s okay. I told you a little while ago. I’m going to go to the end even if only one person comes. At least there are three people, right? I’ll start with these people.”

“Still, this is…….”

“Isn’t there a saying that one person is worth a hundred? So, don’t be too disappointed. You said you’d be with me to the end, right?”

“That’s right, but this is too much.”

Park Young-jin still looked disappointed.

Then Kim Myung-soon, one of the three attendees, looked at Park Young-jin and said.

“Mr. Park, don’t be too disappointed.”

“What happened to the other people? They clearly said they would attend when I contacted them earlier, but what is this?”

“There are still 5 minutes left. Let’s wait a little longer. I believe in our shopping district people. They won’t betray us like this.”

Park Young-jin checked the clock on the wall and continued.

“Do you really think so?”

“Actually, it’s a little early. It’s hard to make time because it’s the time for evening business.”

“Still, it’s not like we have this every day…….”

“That’s because Mr. Park doesn’t know. The people here are desperate for even one customer right now. That’s how hard it is. So, gathering at this time is a little…….”

Kim Myung-soon cut off Park Young-jin’s words and spoke her mind.

Hyun-sung nodded at those words.

No matter how much I try to understand the other person’s position from their perspective, I had to admit that there are parts that I can’t feel unless I’m directly involved.

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Myung-soon and said.

“I’m sorry. Because of me, the time is like this…….”

“No, that’s not it. I’m just saying that, how can we say anything to Mr. Kim? I may be old, but I’m not that shameless. I just wanted to say that the people here are having a hard time. So, don’t even think about that. Honestly, Mr. Kim also knows that I was going to close my business that I had been running for over 20 years. But Mr. Kim knows who I was able to start my business again thanks to, right? It’s all thanks to Mr. Kim. And that feeling is not only me, but also the same feeling for the people in this shopping district. So, just a little more…….”

It was then.

Step step.

Footsteps began to be heard from afar. But it wasn’t the sound of one or two people’s footsteps. The sound was getting closer and closer to the hall.

Kim Myung-soon smiled at Park Young-jin and Hyun-sung.

“See? I was right. Our shopping district people are not the kind of people who betray trust.”

No sooner had Kim Myung-soon’s words ended than the hall door opened.

Bang.

Kim Myung-soon’s prediction was correct.

The shopping district people attended 100% without missing a single person. Even in some shopping districts, as many as three people attended.

Not only that. Among the attendees, there were 10 landlords, including Choi Seong-pil, who was a county councilor, and Lee Woo-seok, whom Hyun-sung met last.

Hyun-sung smiled and looked at Park Young-jin. Park Young-jin’s expression was as happy as it could be, with his mouth hanging from ear to ear.

Hyun-sung nodded at Park Young-jin.

Then Park Young-jin nodded as if he knew, and stepped forward to the podium.

Then he bowed to the people gathered in the auditorium.

“Thank you. That everyone is of one mind like this…….”

Park Young-jin’s greeting continued longer than expected. He must have had a hard time for a while, as he choked up in the middle of the greeting. But no one blamed him for it. Rather, there were people who applauded in the middle of such a sight.

About 10 minutes had passed.

Park Young-jin nodded at Hyun-sung. It was a signal to come to his side.

As Hyun-sung approached, Park Young-jin opened his mouth again.

“As you all know, this student is…….”

Hyun-sung’s introduction continued. At first, I thought it was a natural step, so I thought so. But the problem is that as time goes by, it starts to change from a simple introduction to a praise for Hyun-sung.

He didn’t miss the fact that he runs a ramen shop despite being a student, that his average daily sales are over 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD], and even that he is number one in school.

But what’s even funnier was the reaction of the shopping district people who gathered more than Park Young-jin. The way they looked at Hyun-sung was no joke, as if they had invited a famous lecturer.

In the end, all the burden was on Hyun-sung.

Even though I lived over 50 years in my previous life, it would be a lie if I said I wasn’t nervous because this was the first time.

Finally, Park Young-jin’s introduction ended, and Hyun-sung stood in front of the podium and opened his mouth with difficulty.

“……Hello?”