Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 447

“What, a thousand people?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was taken aback by Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young’s words.

He couldn’t help but be surprised that over a thousand people, not just a few hundred, had attended the completion ceremony.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young continued with additional explanations.

“Yes, it turns out that CEO Kim sent invitations not only to the people in that village but also to neighboring villages. So, it seems like almost everyone came. Moreover, it’s currently the off-season in rural areas since the autumn harvest is over, so even more people gathered.”

“Hmm, that could be. But how did they manage to feed so many people?”

“They hired a buffet.”

“A buffet?”

“Yes, they hired a catering buffet from Seoul.”

“Heh, a catering buffet from Seoul…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh let out a hollow laugh, as if he couldn’t believe it.

Who in the world hires a catering buffet for a completion ceremony? Especially from Seoul, which isn’t exactly nearby.

*If that’s the case, it can only mean that he planned a village feast under the guise of a completion ceremony from the start.*

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked again, as if to confirm.

“You’re saying they brought a buffet all the way from Seoul to that rural area?”

“Yes, it seems they had to choose a company in Seoul because there aren’t any large catering companies like that locally.”

“Does that mean CEO Kim expected over a thousand people to come from the beginning?”

“Yes, they signed a contract with the company three months ago, already for a thousand people. And with the premium option, the most expensive one.”

“Premium from the start… Heh.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh let out another hollow laugh. It was already impressive that he hired a catering buffet in that rural area, but to contract for a thousand people, and with the most expensive option, he couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

*In the end, it means that the completion ceremony was just a pretext to gather people.*

Perhaps the real purpose was to have a meal and enjoy themselves with the villagers.

Especially since the harvest season had just ended.

*Always that process he talks about, of becoming one with the villagers.*

Chairman Shin Chun-oh smiled and asked again.

“So, how much does a premium buffet option usually cost these days?”

“They said it was 12,000 won per person [approximately $9 USD]. The food contract alone was 12 million won [approximately $9,000 USD]. And if you include alcohol and drinks, the amount would have been much higher. So, even though it’s a rural area, they couldn’t refuse coming from Seoul. Plus, CEO Kim gave them an extra million won [approximately $750 USD] for gas money.”

“A million won extra for gas? Every time I see him, I’m surprised, but that young man is something else when it comes to getting things done.”

“Yes, I think so too. This isn’t something you can do just because you have a lot of money. In my opinion, CEO Kim’s thought process is different from normal people, no matter how I think about it. How does he come up with such ideas? If it were me, I’d be too stingy…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young stopped talking and shook his head from side to side.

Just the food cost alone was 12 million won, and if you include drinks and alcohol, it would be close to 20 million won [approximately $15,000 USD].

With that amount, the buffet company would do anything you asked. But he couldn’t help but wonder if it was really necessary to give them an extra million won for gas money.

Meanwhile, Chairman Shin Chun-oh nodded and smiled.

By nature, people want another thing once they have one. That’s greed, and that’s how most ordinary people are. So, sometimes, the more money people have, the more reluctant they are to spend it.

Especially if they are a contracting party in a superior position in a contract. This case might have been such a case for Hyun-sung.

The reason is the contract amount.

The food cost alone is 12 million won. If you include drinks and alcohol, it’s almost 20 million won. With that amount, the company would have no choice but to listen to him, no matter how proudly they held their heads.

But he paid the company gas money on top of that?

Why did he do that?

No one doesn’t care about money. Hyun-sung would be the same. But the only reason he did that would be one thing.

That’s service.

Buffets are also done by people. So, the service will inevitably vary depending on the person’s mood.

One million won, that amount accounts for 5% of the total amount of 20 million won, including food, drinks, and alcohol.

He handed over the money under the guise of gas money, but his purpose was to demand the best service.

In the end, that money wasn’t wasted.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh smiled and asked as if it were obvious.

“The service must have been top-notch?”

“Yes, it was. The representative even took the lead and took care of everything from beginning to end that day. Looking at it that way, the million won that CEO Kim gave them was definitely not wasted.”

“Of course, what kind of friend would he be if he gave away a million won, not just a penny or two, for nothing? CEO Kim had a plan from the start. Anyway, this opportunity has proven CEO Kim’s true worth once again.”

“Yes, it seems so. And there was another interesting thing this time.”

“An interesting thing? What is it?”

As soon as Chairman Shin Chun-oh finished speaking, he drank the water in the cup in front of him. Lately, he felt thirsty often, perhaps because he was getting old.

Seeing this, Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young immediately asked with a worried expression.

“Chairman, you seem to be feeling thirsty a lot lately.”

“I know. My mouth keeps getting dry lately.”

“Should I have Dr. Kim come in tomorrow?”

“No, I think it’s just because I’m getting old. What can I do? As time goes by, the body naturally… Anyway, let’s continue with the story you were telling me earlier. So, what’s the interesting thing?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh looked at Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young’s answer followed immediately.

“It’s about someone the chairman knows well.”

“I know?”

“Yes, it’s Kim Il-soo. CEO Kim’s friend.”

“Kim Il-soo? If it’s that friend, didn’t you say he was discharged from the military last spring and is now working at a Korean restaurant in Mapo, Seoul?”

“Yes, that’s right. But that friend attended CEO Kim’s completion ceremony.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t help but be surprised.

He knew that restaurant well. It’s not a very old place, but the food is so good that people have been talking about it lately.

So, it’s a place that’s even busier on weekends. But it doesn’t make sense for him to be away from the restaurant on a Sunday, of all days.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young continued to explain.

“I was surprised at first too. So, I asked the owner directly. And I heard a very interesting story.”

“Yes, what did the owner say?”

“Well, that is…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young began to explain what had happened. As he listened to the explanation, Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s face began to spread with a smile.

And finally, when his explanation was over, he burst out laughing.

“Haha, hahaha… So, the owner thought he wouldn’t go if he said that, but that friend ran to the completion ceremony without looking back?”

“Yes, that’s right. So, the owner was dumbfounded. Who in the world would give up a month’s salary instead of taking a day off?”

“A month’s salary for a day…”

“Yes, it doesn’t make sense. But Kim Il-soo committed that absurd act. It seems he made such a ridiculous mistake because he was young.”

“A mistake…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was silent for a moment, as if he was thinking about something.

After a while.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh called Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young with a strange smile.

“Chief Secretary Choi.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Is that really a mistake?”

“Yes? What do you mean…”

“I don’t think it’s a mistake. Of course, giving up a month’s salary, as Chief Secretary Choi said, doesn’t make sense. Who in the world would give up a month’s salary instead of taking a day off? But!”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh emphasized the last word and paused for a moment before continuing.

“I think it’s a different story if it’s that friend.”

“Yes? What do you mean by that…”

“Does Chief Secretary Choi know who made that friend a chef?”

“Of course, isn’t it CEO Kim?”

“If so, do you know what kind of friend he was before that?”

“Well, I don’t know that much. At that time, I was just driving, and Chief Secretary Kim Young-woo took care of everything else.”

“Yes, that’s right. At that time, that friend was…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh briefly explained what kind of person Kim Il-soo was at that time. Of course, this was a fact that Kim Young-woo found out later while investigating Kim Il-soo after getting to know Hyun-sung.

As soon as Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s brief explanation was over, Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young immediately continued.

“Ah, was Kim Il-soo that kind of friend?”

“Yes, in common parlance, he was a terrible friend, so much so that the expression ‘thug’ would be a perfect fit. CEO Kim made such a friend into the chef he is today.”

“So, what you’re saying, Chairman, is that Kim Il-soo gave up a month’s salary and ran to CEO Kim for that reason?”

“That’s right. Do you know how much that friend’s salary is?”

“It’s 1.5 million won [approximately $1,125 USD].”

“Hmm…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh seemed to think for a moment before continuing.

“The answer is out.”

“Yes?”

“Kim Il-soo ultimately thought that going to CEO Kim’s completion ceremony was more valuable than 1.5 million won.”

“More valuable than 1.5 million won?”

“Why? Does Chief Secretary Choi not understand?”

“To be honest, I don’t…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young shook his head.

It’s not just a penny or two, but a whopping 1.5 million won. But how can he give up that amount and attend his friend’s completion ceremony?

Chairman Shin Chun-oh continued.

“Of course, it wouldn’t have been easy to make such a decision. But no matter who else, Kim Il-soo thought that participating in CEO Kim’s completion ceremony was more valuable than his month’s salary. The value that people feel is ultimately a relative concept.”

“That’s true, but…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young shook his head slightly, as if he still didn’t understand.

Seeing this, Chairman Shin Chun-oh smiled and continued.

“The value that people feel is different, so it’s not easy to understand unless you’re the person himself. Anyway, is there anything else to talk about?”

“There is more.”

“Hmm? More?”

“Yes, this time it’s about CEO Kim.”

“Why, what about CEO Kim?”

“Right after the completion ceremony, he deposited 3 million won [approximately $2,250 USD] the next day.”

“Three million? Where did that money go? Perhaps…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh looked at Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young with a strange expression, as if he was amused.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young immediately continued.

“Yes, Chairman, your guess is correct. CEO Kim deposited 3 million won into Kim Il-soo’s account.”

“Heh, three million…?”

“Yes, he deposited twice his friend’s salary. Anyway, Kim Il-soo gave up his salary and attended the completion ceremony, and CEO Kim deposited twice his friend’s salary, 3 million won, into his account the very next day. The two people’s friendship is touching.”

“Touching? Chief Secretary Choi’s expression is very interesting.”

“On the one hand, it’s also bitter.”

“What does that mean?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh looked at Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young, as if he didn’t know what he meant.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young immediately continued.

“I don’t understand the two people’s actions with my head.”

“So, you’re saying you’re bitter now?”

“Yes, that’s right. Even though they’re young friends, their friendship is at that level, but I, who am older, don’t even understand…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young smiled bitterly before finishing his sentence.

Seeing this, Chairman Shin Chun-oh immediately asked.

“Why, what’s wrong with you?”

“I don’t have a single friend like that, even after all these years.”

“Hey, are you insulting me now?”

“Yes? No, how dare I…”

“I’m just kidding. I don’t have such a friend either. So, don’t blame yourself too much.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh glanced at Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young and continued.

“You’ve lived hard, haven’t you? That’s all that matters.”

“Still, today, after talking about CEO Kim and Kim Il-soo, I suddenly have that thought. Actually, it’s not that I didn’t have friends, but at some point, I became so focused on making a living that I naturally drifted apart from my friends…”

“I don’t know what Chief Secretary Choi will think if I say this, but I think Chief Secretary Choi is amazing.”

“Yes? Me?”

“Yes, just between us, honestly, you came from the countryside, built a family, your children grew up well, and you even take care of your widowed mother.”

“It’s all thanks to the chairman. If it weren’t for that, I would have…”

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young shook his head from side to side.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh opened his mouth again.

“No, I told you last time, I was able to come this far safely thanks to you too.”

“No, Chairman, that’s just…”

“Stop.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh raised his hand and stopped Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young’s words. Then he immediately continued.

“Anyway, you’ve had a successful life to this extent. You can make more friends from now on.”

“Yes? From now on?”

“Yes, in that sense, how about we go to a street stall by the Han River for a drink today?”

“Yes? With me?”

“Yes, neither you nor I have friends, so let’s have a drink with people who don’t have friends. Who knows, maybe we’ll become friends while drinking.”

“How dare I…”

“Don’t say that. If you know me, I’m a pitiful person too. So, let’s take off our ranks and go for a drink today.”

With those words, Chairman Shin Chun-oh got up from his seat and started walking.

Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young also quietly began to follow him. He was thinking of having a drink of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] because the weather was getting chilly, so he thought it was a good thing.

The two left Pyeongchang-dong [an affluent neighborhood in Seoul] and headed to a street stall located in the Han River Park. October was coming to an end like that.