Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 433

“Yubin.”

Hyun-sung had come to Shin Yubin’s house. He was there not only to see Shin Yubin but also to speak with her mother, Park Misoon, first.

Shin Yubin, who was watching TV with her mother after dinner, was startled by the sound of her name and opened the door.

“Oh? Oppa [older brother or male friend, a common Korean term of endearment]? What brings you here at this hour?”

“Yeah, I have some business to discuss.”

“Oh! Hyun-sung, you’re here. Come into the room.”

Shin Yubin’s mother, Park Misoon, welcomed Hyun-sung.

“Have you had dinner?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Shall I get you some coffee then?”

“I would appreciate that.”

Park Misoon immediately got up, made coffee, and placed it in front of Hyun-sung, saying,

“I wanted to thank you anyway, so it’s good you came. Thank you, even though it’s late. Yubin has been so excited lately thanks to you, Hyun-sung.”

“You’re welcome. Actually, I came today because I have something to tell your mother about that matter.”

“To me?”

“Yes, it’s only right that I visit and explain in detail to Yubin’s mother, of all people. I should have come sooner, but I was busy, and it got delayed by a few days.”

This was the reason Hyun-sung came here today.

Shin Yubin was still a student and legally a minor. And apart from that reason, he thought it was only right to tell her mother, Park Misoon, everything.

Park Misoon smiled brightly and continued,

“So, you came all this way just for that?”

“Yes, I wanted to come sooner, but I’ve been so busy lately…”

“No, it’s okay. Everyone in our neighborhood knows how busy you are, Hyun-sung. And honestly, I’m just grateful that you said this.”

Park Misoon continued before Hyun-sung could finish. Her expression was still smiling.

“As you may have heard from Yubin, but let me say it again. From now on…”

Hyun-sung began to talk about what he had discussed with Shin Yubin a few days ago. Since the details would need to be explained again when she officially started working, he ended with a general explanation and finally brought up the issue of salary.

“Lastly, about the salary…”

Hyun-sung said, glancing at Shin Yubin. The reason was that he hadn’t mentioned anything about the salary when he spoke with Shin Yubin a few days ago.

‘…?’

But something strange happened. It was because of Shin Yubin’s behavior. He thought she would be the first to show interest since it was potentially the most sensitive issue.

However, her reaction was the opposite of what Hyun-sung had expected.

Indifference!

She was watching TV as if she hadn’t heard anything. Come to think of it, Shin Yubin hadn’t mentioned anything about the salary a few days ago either.

‘The most sensitive issue, and no mention of it?’

Hyun-sung couldn’t figure out how to interpret it.

After a moment of contemplation, Hyun-sung decided to ask directly.

“Yubin, aren’t you curious about the salary?”

“Not really.”

“…”

Hyun-sung was speechless. He had asked again, thinking she might not have heard. But the answer he received was, ‘Not really.’

‘What is this?’

Hyun-sung was simply dumbfounded.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the most *gunggeumhan* [curious] thing when getting a job is the salary. Yet, she had no interest in it. What was this all about?

Hyun-sung asked outright this time.

“You’re not curious about the salary?”

“No, it’s obvious anyway.”

“Obvious? What do you mean? I haven’t said anything; how is it obvious?”

“I asked the older sisters who graduated. They all said the same thing. They said it’s 60 to 70.”

“Older sisters? Which older sisters?”

“The older sisters who graduated and got jobs in factories or offices. They said that’s about what they get paid after graduating high school. I told you the other day that I was thinking about getting a job in the city.”

Hyun-sung could now understand why Shin Yubin was indifferent to the salary. She had already asked her seniors who had graduated about the salary they could receive after graduating from high school.

In the end, it wasn’t that she wasn’t interested, but that she already knew.

Pfft.

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but laugh. He had been wondering about Shin Yubin, not knowing this.

Hyun-sung called Shin Yubin’s name.

“Yubin.”

“Yes, Oppa.”

“Do you think the salary that the older sisters receive is appropriate?”

“Hmm… I don’t know; I haven’t really thought about it. They just said that’s what they get paid, so I just thought that’s how it is. I don’t have any experience, so I don’t have a standard for it.”

Perhaps it was only natural. Without a standard, it wouldn’t be easy to judge whether it was a lot or a little.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“Do you know how much a Level 7 civil servant’s starting salary is these days?”

“No, I don’t know. And honestly, I’m not curious because it doesn’t concern me. I don’t plan on becoming a civil servant anyway. I’m not suited for it. I like moving my body like this.”

Shin Yubin shook her shoulders as she spoke. Hyun-sung smiled at the sight. He thought Shin Yubin was definitely suited for farming.

And at that moment, another person’s face came to mind. It was Baek Doosoon, his fellow recruit in the training camp. He was also a natural-born farmer.

Hyun-sung continued,

“It’s a little over 100.”

“100?”

“Yeah, that’s the total amount including various allowances.”

“Is that a lot? Or a little…”

Shin Yubin tilted her head as if she didn’t know. That meant she still lacked a good understanding of money.

Hyun-sung continued,

“It’s definitely not a lot compared to the effort it takes to become a Level 7 civil servant.”

“That’s right, even Level 9 is hard, so Level 7 must be incredibly difficult. But why are you telling me this…”

“That’s the first salary I’m going to give Yubin.”

“Yes?”

Shin Yubin looked at Hyun-sung in disbelief. Park Misoon, who was next to Shin Yubin, was the same.

Shin Yubin asked immediately, as if to confirm,

“Oppa, is that real? You’re really going to give that much as the first salary?”

“Yeah, I have to give at least that much. I don’t think people in our countryside work less than Level 7 civil servants.”

“Wow! So, am I becoming a Level 7 next year?”

“Level 7?”

“Yes, if the salary is the same as Level 7, then I’m a Level 7, right? Isn’t that right?”

“Huh? Does it work that way? Haha…”

Hyun-sung laughed lightly.

Of course, you can’t evaluate everything with money. But it’s also true that nothing is as much of a standard for evaluation as money.

Compared to that, there probably isn’t an industry that is as undervalued as farming. Starting early in the morning, sometimes until late at night, 10 hours a day is the norm, and on days when harvesting rice in the fall, it’s not uncommon to work more than 14 hours a day.

Yet, after finishing the autumn harvest, it’s barely enough to pay off the debts to the agricultural cooperative. So, who would want to farm?

It was a sight he had always seen in his past life.

There would be many complex reasons for this, but the biggest reason was that it was impossible to create added value with agricultural products.

So, the method he found was operating a restaurant.

There was nothing better to maximize added value. Only then could farmers live, and only when farmers live could the countryside live.

At that time, Shin Yubin looked at Hyun-sung and asked,

“Oppa, are you sure about this?”

“Huh? About what?”

“No, I was just thinking about what you said, and it seems too much. I’d be happy to receive that money, but wouldn’t it be too much for you to handle, since it’s not just one or two people?”

“Are you worried about Oppa now?”

“…”

Shin Yubin nodded instead of answering. But her face was filled with worry, unlike before.

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

“No matter how I think about it, maybe after a few years, but not 1 million won from the beginning. I think you’re mistaken about something…”

“Wait a minute!”

Hyun-sung raised his hand to stop Shin Yubin. Then he immediately continued.

“Why do you think Oppa is starting a restaurant?”

“Huh? Well… isn’t it *dangyeonhi* [naturally/obviously] to make money?”

“That’s right. But I’m not doing it just to live well on my own. Do you know what I mean?”

“Hmm… I don’t really know, to be honest.”

Shin Yubin shook her head slightly as she answered. Even so, her eyes were sparkling. She was curious about Hyun-sung’s answer.

“Yubin, listen carefully to what this Oppa is going to say from now on. So…”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to explain why he was trying to run a restaurant from the beginning and how he would operate it in the future. As Hyun-sung’s explanation continued, Shin Yubin began to nod as if she understood.

And finally, when Hyun-sung’s explanation ended, Shin Yubin asked again.

“So, you’re saying that you created such a big restaurant from the beginning not for your own sake, but for our village?”

“Yeah, but honestly, it’s not 100%. I have some greed too. You can think of it as 50:50. I have another goal.”

“So, you’re saying that you’ll use 50% of the profits for the village anyway.”

“That’s right, so I can give that much. Of course, if the business does better in the future, the salary will naturally increase in proportion.”

“Wow! Turns out my Oppa is the president.”

“What? President?”

Hyun-sung smiled and looked at Shin Yubin.

Then Shin Yubin immediately continued as if it were obvious.

“The president of our village. No, maybe Oppa is much better than the president of the country. Honestly, it’s not like the president is always doing well for the people. And anyway, that person is a salaried worker, but Oppa is giving salaries, so he’s better than the president of the country. Isn’t that right?”

“Huh? No, that’s…”

At that moment, the faces of several presidents flashed through Hyun-sung’s mind. Come to think of it, none of those people had a good ending.

Whether they did well or not, he just felt sorry for them.

Shin Yubin opened her mouth again.

“Anyway, thanks to Oppa, not only me but also the people in our village are blessed. And oh, about what you told me a few days ago…”

“Huh? What…”

“About my friends. You told me to gather any kids who want to farm with me.”

“Um, yeah. How many are there?”

“Hehe…”

Shin Yubin suddenly covered her mouth and started laughing.

Then Hyun-sung asked immediately.

“What is it? Why are you laughing all of a sudden?”

“Well, as of today, there are over 50 people.”

“What?”

Hyun-sung was startled.

Before parting ways after talking with Shin Yubin on the first day, he had asked if it was okay to gather any friends who wanted to farm, and she said yes.

That was five days ago. But Hyun-sung was naturally surprised that 50 people had gathered in just five days.

“Is that real?”

“Yes, I was surprised too, to be honest. But do you know what’s even more surprising?”

“Huh? What else is there?”

“If you include the kids who asked, there are over 100 people.”

“Does that mean 50 people are already confirmed?”

“Yes, I think the friends who aren’t going to college think there’s no need to go to the city to get a job anyway. And this is just my opinion…”

Shin Yubin stopped in the middle of her sentence and then continued.

“If I go to school tomorrow and talk about the salary, I think everyone except about 50 kids who are going to college will say they’ll work at Oppa’s restaurant, cafe, or farm.”

“Yubin!”

Hyun-sung urgently called her name as soon as Shin Yubin finished speaking.

“Why? Oppa.”

“Don’t talk about the salary.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I think I made a mistake.”

“What are you talking about? What mistake did you make…”

“The atmosphere will be ruined. It’s only the beginning of the third grade, and if everyone is not studying and saying they’re going to get a job, what will the school atmosphere be like? Isn’t that right?”

“Um…”

Shin Yubin seemed to be thinking silently for a moment, then began to nod.

“Come to think of it, I think you’re right. If that happens, the friends who are going to college will also have trouble studying because of the chaotic atmosphere.”

“That’s right. So, let’s not talk about getting a job anymore after this time. After the college entrance exam, I’ll formally visit the school. Then I’ll talk about everything from the salary to everything else in front of the students. What do you think?”

“Yes, I think that’s right. I was just doing it for my friends at first, but after hearing what you said, I think it would be bad for them. Okay, I’ll do as you say.”

He had forgotten for a moment.

That it was hard to get a job in the countryside. That in this harsh reality, 50 people had gathered like moths to a flame in just five days, without even knowing how much they would be paid.

Tap tap.

Hyun-sung lightly tapped his head.

It was a promise not to make this mistake again.