Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 397

398

‘Condition……?’

Park Hee-cheol tilted his head momentarily. He was talking about his own children, not someone else. He didn’t expect the conversation to turn to conditions at this point.

Park Hee-cheol asked again.

“Did you just say a condition?”

“Yes, if you accept my condition, I’m willing to consider it, but if not, I can’t help it. You might feel momentarily disappointed in me for setting conditions, but that will pass. If you truly want your brothers to stand on their own, you should be willing to bear that much.”

“Hmm…….”

Park Hee-cheol fell silent, his lips tightly shut as if deep in thought.

He began to think that perhaps his own thinking had been too narrow.

These guys had spent almost 30 years abroad, not just a day or two. Asking someone to take care of them might be too much in itself.

Yet, Hyeon-seong wasn’t flatly refusing but was setting a condition. Perhaps even agreeing to it in that way was already remarkable.

Of course, he would have to hear what that condition was.

Park Hee-cheol nodded and opened his mouth.

“Thinking about it, I think I was too focused on my own position out of greed. I was too hasty, so I’ll ask for your understanding on that point.”

“I’m fine.”

“Alright, what is this condition you’re talking about?”

“Living with you for three years.”

“Living with me for three years?”

Park Hee-cheol tilted his head once more.

Even at first hearing, it wasn’t easy to understand what that meant.

Usually, a condition would involve requiring basic qualifications to do something. But instead of that, he was being asked to live with him, of all people, leaving him bewildered.

Moreover, for three years…….

Park Hee-cheol asked immediately.

“That’s the condition?”

“Yes, it is.”

“No, what kind of condition is that? Usually, a condition is …….”

Park Hee-cheol began to explain the conditions he had in mind. Hyeon-seong quietly waited until he finished speaking. And finally, when his explanation was over, he opened his mouth.

“That’s based on other people’s standards. I think living with you for three years after coming to Korea is more important than that. That’s why I’m setting that as a condition.”

“Hmm…….”

Park Hee-cheol still didn’t understand, unable to continue his words.

However, Hyeon-seong’s thinking was simple.

Park Hee-cheol is 63 years old this year. He simply hoped that before it got too late, he could live with his children, something he hadn’t been able to do his whole life.

Work was secondary. Hyeon-seong judged that if there was a will to work, it could be done later.

Park Hee-cheol asked again.

“Is that all?”

“Of course. However, after three years, I will conduct a test.”

“Test?”

“Yes, of course, you can only work with me if you pass that test.”

“You can only work if you pass the test? Does that mean you can’t work with me if you don’t pass the test?”

“Of course.”

“Oh my, this is…….”

Park Hee-cheol’s expression hardened as if he was in trouble.

Hyeon-seong’s words followed immediately.

“But you don’t have to worry. If you get along well with me for three years, you’ll be able to pass the test. And the most important thing depends on you.”

“On me?”

“Yes, that’s right. Your satisfaction will be the most important criterion.”

“My satisfaction?”

“Yes, your satisfaction is the most important thing.”

“So, that means it ultimately depends on how well Min-soo and Beom-soo treat me?”

Hyeon-seong nodded lightly.

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

“Ha-ha, so the conclusion is for me …….”

Park Hee-cheol now seemed to understand why Hyeon-seong had set such a condition.

He now wanted to have precious time with his children more than anything else.

He had just wanted his children to settle down somehow. That’s why he had asked him to find them jobs as soon as they returned home. But Hyeon-seong wanted them to spend at least three years with their father rather than that.

Perhaps it was the thing he had wanted to do most in his life.

When he sent them abroad at a young age, he had sent them out of greed, hoping they would be better than others. But only after years had passed did he realize how futile and wrong that decision had been.

Even now, as they were returning to their homeland, he was about to make the same mistake again, forgetting what was most important.

Though late, what they needed now was not a job but their father’s love. Furthermore, it would be more important to teach them the meaning of the existence of this country called Korea.

That was probably what Hyeon-seong wanted to say.

“Hoo!”

Park Hee-cheol sighed without realizing it.

He almost made the same mistake again. He was just grateful to Hyeon-seong for making him realize what was precious, even now.

“Thank you.”

“…….”

Hyeon-seong nodded instead of answering. He was relieved that he seemed to understand his heart, even if it was late.

“I will let them live with me as you wish, for now.”

“Yes, you’ve made a good decision. Your brothers will probably miss your warm embrace the most. Work is secondary.”

“I understand what you mean. Instead of blaming my children, I will try harder this time. I’ll say it again, thank you for making me realize what is precious, even now.”

“Alright. Then I’ll see you two months after the exam. And by the way, when did you say your brothers would be back?”

“I told them to come as soon as possible, so they’ll probably be here by the end of the year.”

Hyeon-seong nodded and continued immediately.

“Since I’ll be starting the restaurant business on the mountainside in earnest after I finish my military service, they can work with me from then on. Of course, if it doesn’t suit them, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Alright. And by the way, about that test, is it still valid?”

“Of course. If you don’t pass that test, you won’t be able to work with me.”

“Oh my, this is…… Is there any way you could tell me in advance what that test is……?”

“That’s not possible.”

Hyeon-seong shook his hand before Park Hee-cheol could finish speaking. Then he continued immediately.

“As I said before, they are basic things in life, so you don’t have to feel too burdened.”

“Originally, the basics are difficult…….”

“Well, I guess it’s not easy for people to keep the basics.”

“Ha-ha, what do you want me to do when you say that…….”

“Well, I have a long way to go, so I’ll be going now.”

“You’re just leaving like this?”

“I’m really leaving. Please discuss with your sons what the basics are.”

Hyeon-seong stepped on the accelerator, finishing his words.

In his past life, Park Hee-cheol’s two sons fought over his remaining assets after his death.

Those two would now be living in the same space. He was curious to see how those three would live together. But he would be able to tell how well they lived with just a few questions later.

In any case, the important thing was that they had been given another chance like this. From now on, it would depend on them.

Hyeon-seong’s truck was heading towards Gangneung.

***

Chairman Shin Chun-oh looked at Manager Kim Young-woo and asked.

“Kim, when did you say the second exam was?”

“He said it’s on June 27th and 28th, so there are only two days left.”

“Time really flies. It feels like just yesterday that the Ilsan New Town announcement was made, but it’s already been two months?”

“That’s right. I feel like time is passing even faster these days.”

Indeed. Until recently, he hadn’t felt that time was passing so quickly.

A few days after the Ilsan New Town announcement, after discussing it with Chairman Shin Chun-oh, they decided to extend his employment until the end of the year.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh wanted him to quit immediately. The reason was to quit his secretarial position as soon as possible and prepare for his own life.

That was like a final gift from Chairman Shin Chun-oh, solely for Kim Young-woo’s sake.

However, that was only Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s position, and Kim Young-woo couldn’t do that.

It wasn’t just a day or two, but a job he had been working at for 20 years.

It wasn’t just a regular office job, but a secretarial position that managed one person’s daily schedule. The bond between the two people was bound to be special.

Others might only see a vertical relationship between the chairman and the secretary, but that wasn’t the whole story.

So, the method they chose after discussion was to continue working until the end of the year when Chairman Shin Chun-oh would retire from the front lines.

Perhaps that’s why.

Kim Young-woo felt that each day was passing even faster these days.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s question followed.

“Of course, you’ve secured a place to stay, right?”

“Yes, I’ve booked the Shinyoung Hotel, which is 20 minutes away from Hanyang University.”

“Hmm, good job. So, when are you meeting Kim?”

“He doesn’t seem to have time before the exam, so I’ve made an appointment to meet him at the main gate of Hanyang University after 4 PM on the 28th when the exam ends. I’ll bring you there at that time.”

He had deliberately made the appointment for the time when the exam ended, as he thought it would be burdensome before the exam.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s words continued.

“Alright, make sure to take care of him so that he doesn’t have any inconvenience during the exam.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“And by the way, about Kim’s story that we talked about last time, he said he’s going to run a restaurant on the mountainside, what’s that all about?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t understand it even at first hearing.

According to the report, Kim is planning to run a restaurant in the future.

Moreover, not on a small scale, but with two basement floors and five floors above ground. Of course, the basement is used as a parking lot, but he said he would run all five floors above ground as a restaurant, which didn’t make sense.

Moreover, not in the city center, but in a rural village.

“I don’t understand that part either. I don’t know why he’s going to run such a big restaurant in that rural area. So, I had no choice but to ask an external professional company to analyze it…….”

“And?”

“A strange result came out.”

“A strange result?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh suddenly turned his gaze to Kim Young-woo.

Then Kim Young-woo continued immediately.

“It’s possible. Of course, there was a prerequisite.”

“Prerequisite?”

“Yes, it’s the infrastructure. The most basic thing is the road.”

“Road?”

“Yes, but that problem has already been solved.”

“Does that mean the road has already been paved?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh tilted his head and asked. He had gone there three years ago, but he didn’t think there was any possibility of a road being built in that direction.

“Yes, that’s right. Construction will start this October. Moreover, it’s a four-lane road. The construction period is two years, so it will be completed in September 1991.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes, it’s already been confirmed by the Hongcheon County Office.”

“In the end, what Kim said three years ago has come true.”

When Hyeon-seong went to Seomyeon three years ago, he said that asphalt would be laid on that side as a two-lane road one year after the Olympics. But he didn’t believe it at the time. The reason was that the road was already open in another direction.

“That’s right. What Hyeon-seong said at that time has come true in three years.”

“Oh my, this is…… Anyway, it wouldn’t be easy to run such a big restaurant just because the road has been built, right?”

“Of course. But he says a new era will open in the future.”

“A new era?”

“Yes, it’s the internet world. That means the whole world will become one space. In other words, it will be easier to advertise. Moreover, the number of cars owned in Korea will increase exponentially.”

“Advertising is easier and the number of cars is increasing, so that means more people will gather? On top of that, the road has been widened.”

Kim Young-woo began to explain the contents he had received from the professional company after that. The longer Kim Young-woo’s explanation went on, the more Chairman Shin Chun-oh just looked surprised. And finally, when Kim Young-woo’s explanation was over, a huge number came out of Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s mouth.

“10 billion won?”

“Yes, that’s right. If you open the restaurant properly, you’ll make at least 10 billion won in net profit a year.”

“At least? Does that mean it’s possible to make more than that?”

“Of course. According to the report, it’s possible to make up to 30 billion won depending on how you market it.”

“Huh…….”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was speechless. When he first said he was going to start a restaurant, he just thought, ‘Oh, really?’ But he never thought it would get this big…….

If this happens, the plan to bring him to Nongshim will become meaningless.

Like a dog chasing a chicken…….

At that time, strange words came out of Kim Young-woo’s mouth.

“But Hyeon-seong’s purpose in making the restaurant so big isn’t because of money.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ve heard it before, Chairman. Hyeon-seong’s goal is to save the village. Why, don’t you remember?”

“Come to think of it, I think he said something like that…….”

“I didn’t pay much attention to it at the time, but he said it again this time. He said that his top priority is to prevent people from leaving the countryside and to provide them with jobs.”

Tsk.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was speechless. As someone who had been pursuing profits in a company all his life, it was hard for him to understand.

A moment later.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh opened his mouth again.

“Manager Kim.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“You said you’re meeting Kim on the evening of the 28th, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That day, I’ll have to ask Kim directly about his future plans. And by any chance, do you think I’d be good at managing the parking lot?”

“Pardon? No, what…… Chairman, don’t tell me…….”

A smile began to spread across Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s face, as if he had something in mind. Kim Young-woo, who was watching the scene, began to shake his head.