Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 429

431

“How cute.”

“…….”

Park Hee-chul was momentarily speechless.

His son called him cute. How should he interpret this…….

He couldn’t call his son rude, not at his age. But it wasn’t like he disliked the comment or felt bad about it. He was just dumbfounded and at a loss for words.

Then,

Park Beom-soo spoke again.

“It feels like a dream.”

“A dream?”

Park Hee-chul was once again speechless at Park Beom-soo’s words.

Park Beom-soo smiled and called out to Park Hee-chul.

“Father.”

“Huh? Oh, yes.”

“Do you perhaps remember when I ever called you cute?”

“I don’t know, I…….”

Park Hee-chul tilted his head slightly.

When Park Beom-soo had called him cute a moment ago, he had just been dumbfounded because it was the first time he had heard it. But the nuance of what he was saying now was that it wasn’t the first time, but that he had said the same thing before.

If so, when…….

Park Hee-chul narrowed his brows as if trying to recall a past memory, lost in thought. After a short time, Park Hee-chul looked at Park Beom-soo and shook his head from side to side, as if he couldn’t remember at all.

“You don’t remember? Well, I had forgotten about it too. But a moment ago, seeing you, Father, a very old memory suddenly came to mind.”

“An old memory?”

“Yes, a very old one. It must have been before I even entered elementary school, so maybe I was about five years old… Anyway, I think I called you cute back then.”

“Five years old? You remember that?”

Park Hee-chul looked at Park Beom-soo as if he was amazed. Of course, people’s memories differ from person to person, but he was amazed that he remembered something from 30 years ago.

“Yes, not exactly, but I have a vague memory of it. Now that I think about it, I don’t know how I could have called you cute, but the important thing is that I think that was the happiest time.”

“That memory…….”

“Yes, you’ll remember this too, Father. When you came home after drinking, you would sometimes sing in front of me, my brother, and Mom. Don’t you remember?”

“…….”

Park Hee-chul’s lips began to spread into a smile as he thought for a moment without saying a word.

“Um… yeah, now that you mention it, I remember. I don’t know why I did it back then, but I did. Now that you mention it, I remember. Yeah, after that song, you would say ‘cute’ to me.”

“Yes, that’s right. And then Mom would say that you shouldn’t say that to adults. But I still kept saying you were cute. I think I thought that was the best compliment back then.”

Park Beom-soo grinned and continued.

“I think that was the happiest time in my memory. But a moment ago, that word suddenly came to my mind when I saw you, Father. So I think I said it without realizing it. And this life feels like a dream too.”

To be honest, even when he was packing up everything in Japan and returning to Korea three years ago, he never thought this life would be possible.

He had no memories of Korea after the age of 10, so he wondered if he would be able to live well. The most worrying thing was his relationship with his father.

-Can I really fill the gap of more than 20 years?

But it didn’t take long for him to realize that it was just a worry. Without having to force anything, everything was resolved naturally after about a month, like a frozen river melting in spring.

His relationship with his father?

Just father and son. There was no need for any other words.

“It’s amazing.”

“What is it this time?”

“Actually, I haven’t told you this before, but in my own way…….”

Park Beom-soo began to explain the things he had been worried about at first. As Park Beom-soo’s explanation continued, Park Hee-chul also nodded and shared his thoughts.

It meant that Park Hee-chul had also had similar concerns.

“Father too…….”

“Yeah, honestly, why wouldn’t I be worried? It wasn’t just a year or two, but more than 20 years… I’m only saying this now, but I was very anxious every day at first.”

“I thought I was the only one.”

“I couldn’t let my father waver, and…….”

Park Hee-chul’s words grew longer.

Park Beom-soo listened to his father’s words.

It was the first time he had heard this. Of course, he never thought his father would be thinking that way. But his father was also having the same concerns as him. Or maybe he had even more concerns than he did.

Park Hee-chul finished speaking and called out to Park Beom-soo in a low voice.

“Beom-soo.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Thank you.”

“No. That’s what I wanted to say. The reason I can smile like this today and live a normal life is all thanks to you, Father. If it weren’t for you, I…….”

Toc toc [Knock knock].

Park Hee-chul lightly patted Park Beom-soo’s shoulder, who was about to say more.

It wouldn’t have been easy. He was just grateful that he had overcome that time so steadfastly.

“Okay, I won’t say any more because you know everything. And also, I got a call from your brother this afternoon.”

“Really? What did he say?”

“He said that everything was resolved thanks to you, Father. He said that if he had been any later, everything he had invested so far would have been lost.”

“Um… okay, that’s good.”

Park Hee-chul nodded lightly.

When he first heard that the business was in trouble, his heart ached, but he ignored it and moved on. The reason was that he didn’t want to make the same mistake again.

He had already divided the inheritance in advance, and the human betrayal he had suffered during that time was enough, he thought.

But as time went by, the pain that was transmitted to his heart was a different kind of pain than the betrayal he had felt before.

Then, he called again, crying.

How could he resist his child’s tears any longer? Without asking, he went straight to the bank that day.

“And…….”

“Huh? Is there another problem?”

“No, that’s not it, but thank you. And he was sorry for what happened in the past. He said that would never happen again.”

“…….”

“He said he would come to see you, Father, when the business is back on track to some extent, like before. He said he would visit at least before this winter.”

“…….”

Park Hee-chul just nodded as if he understood, without saying a word.

Then Park Beom-soo carefully opened his mouth again.

“But how did your mind change? At first…….”

“Why, are you curious about that?”

“My brother and I know the sins we committed. But still, you…….”

“…….”

“I can’t understand it with my common sense. How much have we done to you…….”

Park Beom-soo couldn’t bring himself to say all the mistakes he had made in the past.

Then Park Hee-chul opened his mouth slightly.

“Because it’s you guys.”

“Yes? Us…? Is that all?”

“There’s no other reason besides my children…….”

Park Hee-chul shook his head slightly from side to side.

There was a saying that no parent could win against their children for no reason. He would rather have tears of blood in his eyes again than to bear the tears in his children’s eyes.

“…….”

Park Beom-soo couldn’t say anything.

***

At that time.

The village hall was full of villagers.

“Okay, is everyone here?”

Village chief Lee Kang-seok stepped forward.

“Everyone knows why we’re here today. As you all know, a splendid wholesale market has been completed at the entrance of the village. Of course, you all know that Kim Hyun-sung here paid for all the costs. In that sense, I would like to ask you to give Kim Hyun-sung a round of applause for building such a wonderful building for our village. Okay, applause!”

Clap clap clap…….

As soon as Chief Lee Kang-seok finished speaking, applause filled the hall. No one among the people clapping was unhappy.

Why wouldn’t they be? Everyone in the village can now sell their produce, so no one would be unhappy.

“Okay, now let’s hear the details about the operation of the wholesale market from Kim Hyun-sung.”

“Wait!”

“Oh? Mr. Kim, why? Do you have something to say?”

“No, Chief, it’s not that, but he’s the one who built this wonderful wholesale market for our village, but you keep calling him president, president, and I don’t think that’s right. Of course, everyone knows who Hyun-sung is, but even so, I don’t think you should call him that in such a formal setting. I think it’s right to add ‘nim’ [a Korean honorific suffix] to his name. Don’t you think so? Everyone?”

When one of the villagers spoke, words that it was right poured out from here and there. Among them, Lee Soon-ok, the head of the women’s association, stood up from her seat and opened her mouth.

“I think what Mr. Kim said is a hundred times right. Chief, I would appreciate it if you could call our wonderful President Kim loudly again.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I made a mistake without realizing it. I always call him President Kim, so I made this mistake. First of all, I admit my mistake and apologize. Okay, now let’s listen to President Kim Hyun-sung’s words again. Okay, with applause…….”

Before Chief Lee Kang-seok could finish speaking, applause began to ring out again.

Hyun-sung, who came to the front of the auditorium, bowed his head first. Then he continued.

“I’m embarrassed to stand in front of the villagers like this. And from now on, instead of saying president, just call me by my name like before…….”

“Oh, no, that’s not right. We could call you that as much as we wanted in the past, but we can’t do that now. Who would say that you are not the one who is working the hardest for this village? Of course, it’s right to give you that much respect. Isn’t that right? Everyone?”

Chief Lee Kang-seok stepped forward once more and set the mood before Hyun-sung could finish speaking. Then everyone nodded and agreed as if it were natural.

Hyun-sung had no choice but to bow to the people again. He judged that the title was not important right now anyway.

“Yes, that’s good. Then call me as you elders wish. Whatever you call me, I will always be by your side.”

“Wow, our President Kim is good at talking.”

“Hey, Mr. Kim, stop interrupting and let’s listen to our president.”

“No, I…….”

Hyun-sung smiled and continued.

“There are three reasons why I built the wholesale market. The first is…….”

Hyun-sung’s explanation continued.

What he started building at the same time as the restaurant building was the wholesale market building at the entrance of the village. The reason was to help the villagers sell their produce. Moreover, in the spring, there are quite a lot of spring greens in the fields and mountains because it is a rural area. Even if they only collect and sell those, they will make more profit than farming for a year.

But until now, even if they harvested mountain greens, they only harvested enough to eat at home because there was no way to sell them. But even if people come to see the flowers for only about two months from next week, the sales will be unimaginable.

There were three purposes for building the wholesale market. The first is to increase the income of the villagers, the second is to develop the village, and the last is to unite the village.

Hyun-sung judged that there wouldn’t be that many people this year because it was the first year, but after a few years, people would come on their own.

Hyun-sung finished his explanation and asked one last question.

“I told you to pick and dry the mountain greens last year, would anyone who did that raise their hand?”

“I have 50 kilos [110 pounds].”

“I have 100 kilos [220 pounds].”

“I made up my mind and did 300 kilos [660 pounds], it was so hard to dry them.”

Not many, but a few people raised their hands and said.

Then Hyun-sung smiled and continued.

“Those of you who raised your hands will be very happy this spring. And the operation of the wholesale market will be 100% managed by the head of the women’s association. And for your information, the profits from the women’s association’s business will be used for the salaries of the workers and the village’s joint fund. The chief and the head of the women’s association will explain that part in more detail. I will only say this much and step down.”

Hyun-sung was about to turn around when he continued.

“Oh, and one more thing. There will be employee recruitment in December. First of all, we plan to hire residents and their children first. Then, we will hire the remaining number from outside. So please tell your children when they come for Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving] this fall.”

“Wait, I have a question.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“I was wondering if there is an age limit or something like that.”

“There is no such thing. Even if you are over 60 years old, you can apply as long as you can work. And there are many fields of recruitment. For example, there are many things to do, such as restaurants, farms, cleaning, and parking, so don’t worry and come.”

The purpose from the beginning was to create jobs. There was only one reason why the rural community was collapsing. It was because it was difficult to make a living, so they had no choice but to leave their hometown and go to the city.

If he solved that cause, Hyun-sung thought that no one would want to leave their hometown.

“Okay, then I’ll step down and the head of the women’s association will give you a detailed explanation about the operation of the wholesale market in the future. Okay, let’s all live well together! Fighting! [Hwaiting – a Korean expression of encouragement!]”

Hyun-sung clenched his fist and shouted fighting, then came down from the platform.

Then Chief Lee Kang-seok went up to the platform again and grabbed the microphone.

“Thank you again to President Kim, and this time, the head of the women’s association will talk about the operation of the wholesale market in the future…….”

Hyun-sung quietly left the hall, leaving the sound of the microphone behind. The operation method of the wholesale market had already been discussed last month. From now on, the chief and the head of the women’s association will take care of it.

“Excuse me…….”

It was when he came out of the hall and took a few steps. Someone called from behind. But the voice was a woman’s voice that he had heard a lot.

But it was too dark to recognize her face.

“Who……?”