Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 435

437

“It’s a lease.”

“Pardon? A lease?”

“Yes, that’s right. I will live in that house while I work for you, sir. But when I get old and can no longer work, I will leave that house. This is the last condition I offer you, sir.”

Yu Min-cheol’s explanation became more elaborate.

In the end, he was saying that he would not take ownership of the house. That also meant he would not pass it on as an inheritance.

Hyeonseong double-checked.

“So, to be clear, you will not accept ownership. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s the last vestige of my conscience.”

“…….”

Hyeonseong paused, thinking for a moment, then spoke again.

“I’m sorry.”

“Yes? Does that mean…….”

“Yes, I’m sorry, but I cannot accept your condition, Chief.”

“No, even after I’ve said all this…….”

“Chief!”

Hyeonseong had no choice but to interrupt Yu Min-cheol. At this rate, it felt like they would just keep repeating the same thing.

Hyeonseong continued immediately.

“If I do as you say, you’re making me out to be the worst person in the world. Think about it. You’re saying I should let you live in that house only while you work, and then kick you out when you get old and can’t work anymore?”

“No, who said anything about kicking me out? I’m just saying I’ll leave on my own.”

“Whether you’re kicked out or leave on your own, the conclusion is the same: you’re leaving because you’re old and can’t work. Is this something a human being should do? Isn’t this immoral? Isn’t this abandoning human decency?”

“…….”

Yu Min-cheol was speechless.

Listening to it, what Hyeonseong said was true, even if the words were different. Either way, the conclusion was the same: he would be leaving the house because he was old and couldn’t work.

Hyeonseong continued.

“So, are you still going to make me out to be a parricide [someone who kills a close relative]?”

“Hmm…….”

“Don’t hesitate any longer. I’m not just giving it to you for free, Chief. Please, stay in that house and help me for at least 30 years. That’s all you need to do.”

“30 years? If it’s 30 years, I’ll be 70. What can I do at 70…….”

“What’s wrong with 70? I don’t care about age. This isn’t a public company, and there’s no mandatory retirement age. Even if you’re 100, Chief, it doesn’t matter as long as you can work. So, don’t think you can’t do it because of your age.”

“To that extent…….”

Yu Min-cheol couldn’t continue speaking. He felt that resisting any further, after Hyeonseong had said so much, would also go against his own principles.

To be honest, he was surprised. He never thought Hyeonseong would think of him this much.

Yu Min-cheol lowered his head and continued.

“I will follow your wishes, sir. And thank you. I don’t know why you’re taking care of me this much, but I will serve you to the best of my ability as long as this body can move.”

“I’m the one who’s grateful. You’re different from other people, Chief. Look over there. It was just a cornfield at first, but now it’s completely transformed. Who do you think that’s all thanks to?”

Hyeonseong paused to catch his breath, then continued.

“It’s all thanks to you, Chief. I may be much younger than you, but I’m not so immature that I don’t know how to be grateful. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind giving you not just one house, but ten, for all you’ve done.”

“Thank you. That’s all I can say. Anyway, listening to our boss speak, who would say he’s in his 20s? He sounds at least 10 years older than me.”

“Are you calling me an old man now?”

“No, I’m complimenting you. Haha…….”

Yu Min-cheol laughed lightly.

Then, after a moment, he looked at Hyeonseong and asked.

“Sir, I also have a question.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“About this rooftop we’re on now. Why did you cover it with 1 meter of soil?”

“Are you curious?”

“Yes, of course. I mean, I put the soil up there because you told me to, but I was wondering what it’s for.”

Yu Min-cheol couldn’t help but be curious.

The rooftop area alone was 250 pyeong [approximately 826 square meters]. And they covered the entire thing with soil 1 meter high. At first glance, he knew they were going to plant something since they put the soil up there, but he didn’t know exactly what it was for. So, he asked now that he was up on the rooftop.

“There are two purposes.”

“Two purposes?”

“Yes, one of them is for heating and cooling.”

“Heating and cooling effect…….”

“As you know, Chief, it’s terribly cold here in the winter, isn’t it? And it’s also true that it’s hot in the middle of summer.”

“That’s right, so you’re saying you covered the rooftop with soil to make it less hot in the summer and less cold in the winter?”

Hyeonseong nodded. Then he immediately continued.

“But that’s a secondary purpose.”

“A secondary purpose? Does that mean the real purpose is something else?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m going to use this place as a business venue.”

“A business venue means you’re going to do business here?”

“Of course. This place will be used as a cafe and bar on weekdays, and as an outdoor wedding venue on weekends. Not only that…….”

Hyeonseong’s explanation continued at length. As Hyeonseong’s explanation went on, Yu Min-cheol’s eyes widened in amazement.

In fact, even at this time, rooftops were more often seen as abandoned spaces rather than being used for any special purpose. In most cases, rooftop access was blocked altogether for security and safety reasons.

But as time passed, rooftop commercial districts, which transformed rooftops into unique spaces, would emerge as a new trend.

This was because the biggest attraction of rooftops was that they allowed people to feel the natural light and wind in a cool, open space, while at the same time experiencing a sense of liberation as if they were away from the city, even though they were in the middle of it.

The same was true here. Of course, it was in the countryside, so it was a different feeling from the city, but the view from here was the best of any place. Not only that, but the countless stars spread across the sky at night were art itself.

In about five years, this place would be one of the most popular places in the country. Moreover, when the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway opens in June 2017, 25 years from now, it will be possible to get here from Seoul in just over 2 hours.

By then, it will be such a hot place that you won’t be able to come here without a reservation. Of course, by then, this entire village will have undergone tremendous changes that cannot be compared to what it is now.

When Hyeonseong’s explanation was over, Yu Min-cheol barely opened his mouth.

“You’re saying that in the future, you’ll be able to come here from Seoul in just over 2 hours?”

“Yes, that’s my prediction. I think it will take about two and a half hours to get here. Then think about it. You can leave at 10 a.m., come here, have lunch and coffee, and be back home by 6 p.m. I’m confident that by then, this place will be so popular that you won’t be able to come without a reservation.”

“Huh…….”

Yu Min-cheol was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t speak. Of course, the world would change over time, but he didn’t think people would come all the way here from Seoul just to have a meal.

Hyeonseong continued.

“You don’t believe me, do you?”

“I’m sorry. To be honest, I can’t believe it.”

“Yes, that’s okay. I’m not going to force you to believe me now anyway. It will naturally be proven as time goes by. Anyway, I’m going to create the most beautiful garden here. And I’m going to put tables in that empty space. And starting next year, I’m going to start operating this place at the same time as the restaurant. Of course, as I said before, I’m also going to run a wedding hall. Instead, the wedding hall will be free to use.”

“Free?”

“Yes, it will be another landmark here as an outdoor wedding venue.”

“Ah, in that case, the guests from both families will naturally use the restaurant here, and it will also be a natural advertisement. Anyway, our boss is naturally gifted.”

Hyeonseong shook his head at Yu Min-cheol’s words and continued.

“Of course, as a result, it will help with business and advertising. But more than that, I want to share the beauty of this place with more people. In fact, where else in Korea is there a place as beautiful as this? Don’t you think so?”

“Of course. Compared to three years ago, this place has really been completely reborn. I really didn’t know that this place would change like this. No matter how I think about it, it’s a miracle.”

“And you made that miracle with your own hands, Chief.”

“No, that’s…….”

Yu Min-cheol stopped trying to say something else. He thought that the same words would be repeated again anyway. In any case, the most important thing was that this place would be one of the most famous places in a few years.

Yu Min-cheol looked at Hyeonseong and asked again.

“Is that the end of your plans?”

“Well, wouldn’t it be too bland if that was the end?”

“Then, you have another plan?”

“Once this restaurant building and the studio apartment building over there are completed, I’m going to build a road on the mountain right behind the restaurant this fall.”

“A road on the mountain?”

Yu Min-cheol tilted his head and looked at Hyeonseong. At first glance, he couldn’t understand what it meant to build a road on the mountain.

“Have you ever heard of a Dulle Trail [a walking trail around a mountain]?”

“A Dulle Trail? I’ve never heard of it. What is a Dulle Trail?”

That’s natural. Until now, the word Dulle Trail was an unfamiliar word. So it was natural that Yu Min-cheol didn’t know it.

“It’s simple. A Dulle Trail is a road that surrounds the outside of a mountain. If you make that road, you can take a walk along that road, do some light exercise, and have time for yourself while contemplating alone.”

“So you’re saying you’re going to make a road around that mountain?”

“Yes, that’s right. We will create a road with a width of about 1 meter while minimizing damage to nature. Of course, the floor will be covered with preservative wood. And we will install benches and exercise equipment along the way.”

“Then people are going to go there?”

“Of course. It will probably become a new trend. If you come here, have a meal, and walk the Dulle Trail for about an hour, you will automatically feel good.”

“Well, in my opinion, will people really…….”

Yu Min-cheol couldn’t finish his sentence. No matter how he thought about it, he didn’t think people would go there with difficulty. But he couldn’t throw cold water on what the boss was doing, so he didn’t say anything more.

Hyeonseong smiled lightly at Yu Min-cheol.

Since he hadn’t experienced it yet, it would be difficult for Yu Min-cheol to understand. But as time goes by, he will naturally accept it. Dulle Trails will be created like a trend in most places. But Hyeonseong thought that there would be few Dulle Trails as beautiful as this place.

“Okay, Chief, let’s go have lunch now.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

“Oh, and after you eat, please take a lot of cherry blossom pictures. I think I need to do some advertising.”

“Advertising?”

“Yes, I don’t think it will work in this state. With this many people, our Women’s Association President will be very anxious. If I don’t take any action, she will probably fry me without oil [scold me severely].”

With those words, Hyeonseong began to move. Then Yu Min-cheol also began to follow Hyeonseong.

The two disappeared from the rooftop after a while.

***

3 days later.

“No, boss, what’s going on?”

The first words of Lee Sun-ok, the president of the Women’s Association, who opened the office door and came in.

Hyeonseong asked immediately.

“Is there a problem?”

“Business is not good.”

“Business is not good? How bad is it that you say business is not good?”

“There are more people selling than buying.”

“Yes? Is it that bad?”

Hyeonseong tilted his head.

He had already grasped the number of people who came from the first day to some extent.

Of course, since it was the countryside, there were still not many people coming to see it, but it was definitely not a small number. And the important thing was that today was the third day since it bloomed, and the number of people coming every day was gradually increasing.

Then there is no way that business is not good. Furthermore, there are no other stores, and the only place that sells food or local products is the public market at the entrance of the village.

The number of people coming is increasing, but business is not good, which does not make sense.

Hyeonseong asked again.

“What do you think is the reason?”

“I don’t know. This is my first time doing business, so I don’t know where the reason is… Strangely, people just look around and pass by.”

“Just pass by?”

“Yes, so I couldn’t stand it and came to see you, boss.”

“Hmm…….”

Hyeonseong had no choice but to tilt his head once again.

There is a clear difference between not having people at all and just looking around and passing by. If there are no people, it will naturally increase as time passes and advertising is done, so there is no big problem.

But if they just pass by without buying anything even after seeing the goods, this is not a normal problem. In this case, it means that it doesn’t matter how many people come. There is no meaning.

Furthermore, this is the first year.

If the first button is buttoned wrong, there are 90,000 miles to go [if you start something badly, it will continue badly], but this is not it.

‘What’s the problem……’

There are people, but business is not good? Just look and pass by? Then…….

Hyeonseong jumped up from his seat after thinking for a while.

In this case, there is only one conclusion.

“Women’s Association President, lead the way.”

“Yes?”

“I said lead the way. If there are people anyway, and there are people but business is not good, there can only be one of two reasons.”

“One of two?”

“Yes, there must be something wrong with the goods or there is a problem with the price. I have to check it with my own eyes. Come on, lead the way.”

As soon as Hyeonseong finished speaking, Lee Sun-ok, the president of the Women’s Association, left the office with a stiff face. Hyeonseong also began to follow her. Anyway, Hyeonseong thought that the answer would be on the spot. Hyeonseong’s pace was getting faster and faster, and at some point, he began to overtake Lee Sun-ok. That meant that Hyeonseong’s mind was that urgent.