Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 432

434

“Shin Yu-bin speaking.”

“Shin Yu-bin? Shin Yu-bin… That’s a new name. Who is that?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh tilted his head, a name he had never heard before.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young responded immediately.

“She’s a high school senior. The audacious girl I mentioned earlier.”

“Did you say she’s a senior in high school now?”

“Yes, she’s a female student who is now a senior.”

“A female student?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was surprised to hear that she was a female student. His voice seemed to rise without him realizing it.

“Chairman, you seem quite surprised. Your voice…”

“Well, that’s true. When Chief Secretary Choi said she was audacious, I naturally assumed it was a boy. But suddenly hearing she’s a girl caught me off guard.”

“I was also quite surprised when I first received the report.”

“Anyway, what does a high school senior have to do with Kim Gun? It doesn’t seem like they would have any connection.”

Perhaps it was a natural question. Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t understand what connection the high school senior, who hadn’t even graduated yet, had with Hyun-sung.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young continued to explain.

“Actually…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young began to explain in detail how their relationship started. As his explanation continued, Chairman Shin Chun-oh began to nod as if he finally understood. And as his explanation came to an end, a smile spread across Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s face, and he immediately asked,

“So, you’re saying that the girl ended up getting a job at Kim Gun’s farm?”

“Yes, that’s right. The farm operations will start next year anyway, and Yu-bin will graduate next year as well, so she’ll start working right away.”

“She’s choosing a job over college?”

“Yes, and she has unavoidable family circumstances. Actually, her mother…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young began to explain Shin Yu-bin’s family situation once again. As his explanation ended, Chairman Shin Chun-oh nodded and immediately continued,

“Hmm… So that’s the situation. It’s admirable how a young student cares for her mother. And in a way, it’s also pitiful.”

“Yes, I felt the same way. But it turns out she’s very confident. She expresses it as not being able to go to college, but rather choosing not to go.”

“How can that be her true feelings? Who at that age would want to work on a farm, especially a girl?”

“I thought so too at first, but she was firm in her decision. Her dream is to properly farm.”

“Haha… Her dream is to properly farm…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh chuckled lightly. It was hard to understand at first glance, but it was true that she felt different from the students these days.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked again.

“But why did you say she was audacious earlier?”

“Ah, that’s because of the first question she asked Kim Gun.”

“The first question? What was it that made you say that?”

“The future of agriculture.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh momentarily doubted his ears.

At first, when he heard the word ‘audacious,’ he vaguely thought of salary.

He thought so because it was the most important issue in reality. But when he heard that she asked about ‘the future of agriculture,’ he couldn’t help but doubt his ears.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young repeated the same answer.

“She asked about the future of agriculture in our country.”

“The future of agriculture… I don’t easily understand why she asked that question. Do you know the reason?”

“Yes, the reason is that it’s her future.”

“The future of agriculture is her future? Is that what you mean?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Now that I hear it, that’s not wrong. You said earlier that her dream is to farm.”

Perhaps it was a natural thing to say.

If her dream is to farm, then if the future of agriculture is bright, her future will also be bright, and if not, her future will be dark as well.

“That’s right. After hearing the reason, I knew she wasn’t an ordinary student.”

“So, what did Kim Gun say in response?”

“He said that the overall agriculture in Korea would be difficult.”

“That means…”

“Yes, as you might expect, he said that while the overall situation is difficult, he is confident in himself.”

“Of course, there must be a reason?”

“Yes, of course. It’s preparation. He said that if he prepares from now for the future, the value of agriculture is endless.”

“Hmm…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was silent for a moment as if he was thinking about something. He opened his mouth less than a minute later.

“Preparing for the future? Is Kim Gun’s specialty coming out again?”

“Yes, he said he would foresee not only 10 years but also 20 or 30 years into the future and prepare for it.”

“Haha, did you say 30 years from now?”

“Yes, he definitely said 30 years from now.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh slowly shook his head from side to side. He admitted to some extent and would even consider 10 years, but he had nothing to say about 30 years from now.

But at the same time, he was also curious about it.

“So, what does Kim Gun predict for the next 30 years?”

“He says two things are important to survive.”

“Two things? What are they?”

“One is organic farming.”

“Organic farming? What is organic farming?”

“It’s farming without using pesticides or chemical fertilizers. For example, there’s snail farming, duck farming, or microbial farming.”

“Snails, ducks, microorganisms? You’re saying they farm with these things?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh tilted his head.

Of course, it’s not that he doesn’t know the words themselves. But if that happens, the yield will naturally decrease, and the price of agricultural products will inevitably become more expensive.

Of course, it’s good for people’s health because they don’t use pesticides or chemical fertilizers. But one of the important things for selling agricultural products is price.

In the end, the conclusion is whether consumers will buy organically grown agricultural products at an expensive price.

At that time, Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young continued.

“He says that in 30 years, health will be the most important thing, rather than price or appearance. Price is secondary.”

“Health over price, you mean?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hmm… Thinking about it, I think that could be the case. Right now, the most important thing is to make a living, but by then, Korea will be well-off to some extent, and then they will naturally care about their health. Indeed…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh had no choice but to nod. It was the moment when the part he had been worrying about was neatly resolved.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked again.

“The organic farming issue is resolved, so what’s the other thing?”

“Delivery.”

“Delivery?”

“Yes, he says there will be a delivery war in the future. The key is who puts the agricultural products on the consumer’s table first.”

“Wait a minute!”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh raised his hand slightly. There was something he couldn’t understand at first glance.

“Chief Secretary Choi, do you understand what he’s saying?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Did you just say delivery?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m saying I don’t understand what he’s saying. Delivery seems to be talking about parcels, but what agricultural products are you sending by parcel? And going to the post office one by one?”

Perhaps Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s words are not wrong. Back then, the only way to send things was through parcels at the post office.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young continued.

“There was an explanation for that part as well. He said that Hanjin will start a delivery service this year, in 1992.”

“Hanjin will do delivery?”

“Yes, that’s right. He said that the delivery business will be the best blue ocean [untapped market] in Korea in the future, to a different dimension than the parcel concept we know from the post office.”

“Is that true?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked, but he couldn’t believe it.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young nodded and continued.

“Yes, that’s right. He said it’s possible because of the characteristics of Korea.”

“The characteristics of Korea?”

“Yes, it’s the small land area. That’s why Korea is so advantageous compared to other countries.”

“Advantageous because it’s small? Hmm… Thinking about it, that’s not wrong.”

“Starting this year, large corporations will soon jump into the delivery business, and in just a few years, Korea will become a delivery republic.”

“Delivery republic?”

“Ah, that’s just a figure of speech. It means the delivery business will develop that much.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh nodded and asked again.

“So, you’re saying that in the future, you’ll sell agricultural products using delivery?”

“Yes, that’s right. He said that later, same-day delivery will be possible, following early morning delivery that arrives the day after ordering.”

“Huh… Early morning delivery and same-day delivery…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh shook his head from side to side as if he couldn’t believe it.

Perhaps that’s a natural reaction from Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s point of view. How could he easily accept the words early morning delivery and same-day delivery while living in an era without the concept of delivery?

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked again.

“So, the conclusion is that you’re going to sell organically grown agricultural products at an expensive price with early morning delivery or same-day delivery across the country?”

“That’s not it.”

“What? Not it… Wasn’t that what you were talking about all along?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh looked at Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young with a bewildered expression.

Then, Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young bowed his head and immediately continued.

“I’m sorry. But I had no choice but to explain Kim Gun’s next words in order to do so.”

“Hmm? Other words?”

“Yes, he said that’s the story for ordinary farmers.”

“Ordinary farmers? Does that mean Kim Gun is going to find a different way to sell than those people?”

“Yes, that’s right. Kim Gun is going to have people come directly.”

“Have people come directly? That means… Ah! Now I think I understand what you mean. So that’s why Kim Gun paid so much attention to that village.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh nodded his head vigorously without realizing it.

He knew that the reason Hyun-sung bought the land and spent three years making it beautiful, planting cherry trees and sowing canola flowers in between, was to attract people.

He thought the reason was obvious: to run a large restaurant.

But after listening to Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young, his purpose was not just that from the beginning.

It means that at some point, although not right now, he will generate another source of income from those people.

Of course, organically grown agricultural products will be the basics, and perhaps he will even make and sell side dishes directly from those agricultural products.

Because if that happens, the added value will increase several times more than just selling them.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh smiled and asked again.

“By any chance, did Kim Gun say anything about building a factory there later?”

“Huh? Did you know?”

“Of course not.”

“Then how?”

“My friend, I’ve been a businessman all my life. Isn’t it obvious when I see money? And Kim Gun is a natural businessman anyway.”

“He’s going to build a local food emporium. He said he’s going to sell organic agricultural products and side dishes there.”

“Haha… That friend is always ahead of us.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh laughed happily as if he was enjoying it.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young, who saw the scene, continued.

“Now, I will continue to report on Shin Yu-bin.”

“Huh? Is there anything left?”

“It’s more interesting from now on.”

“Really? Wait a minute…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh took out a bottle of juice from the refrigerator, brought two cups, and poured it.

“Here, drink.”

“If you had told me, I would have prepared it…”

“It’s okay, my friend. I have to move like this to avoid getting rusty. Let’s drink.”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young bowed his head to Chairman Shin Chun-oh and began to drink the juice.

A little later.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh put down his juice glass and asked again.

“Okay, tell me that interesting story.”

“Yu-bin is gathering children.”

“Gathering children? What does that mean?”

“Well, that’s…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young began to explain what Shin Yu-bin is doing these days. As his explanation continued, Chairman Shin Chun-oh chuckled and listened with interest. And finally, when his explanation ended, he immediately asked.

“So, you’re saying that Shin Yu-bin is gathering students to work with her?”

“Yes, that’s right. Since they have to get a job next year anyway, it seems that many students are tempted by Shin Yu-bin’s words.”

“Hmm… I guess so. If they’re going to get a job anyway, it’s better to work in their hometown than to go somewhere else. By the way, how many people said they would do it?”

“It’s only been two days, but there are over 30 people.”

“Haha, 30 people in two days…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh could only laugh.

From the beginning, Hyun-sung talked about creating jobs. At this rate, by the end of the year, almost all the graduates, except for those who go to college, will be employed at the restaurant, cafe, and farm run by Hyun-sung.

In the end, he will definitely achieve the job creation he aimed for.

He’s only twenty-four years old.

What are the limits of what he can do in the future…?

No, are there any limits…?”

After thinking for a moment, a smile began to spread across Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s face. He slowly began to shake his head.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh thought there would be no limits.