Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 451

After saying goodbye to Hyun-sung, Lee Gwang-soo returned to his home in Gangneung.

“Honey!”

Lee Gwang-soo called out loudly for his wife, Choi Mi-ja, as soon as he opened the front door.

Startled by Lee Gwang-soo’s loud voice, Choi Mi-ja, who was preparing dinner in the kitchen, rushed out to the living room and asked anxiously,

“Honey! What’s wrong?”

Suddenly.

Instead of answering, Lee Gwang-soo hugged his wife tightly. Then, he called her again.

“Honey!”

“What’s wrong? Why all of a sudden…?”

Choi Mi-ja was bewildered. Nothing like this had ever happened in all their years together.

‘Why is he acting like this?’

Choi Mi-ja felt a sudden wave of unease.

Her husband had never been like this before.

Of course, she knew he was a warm-hearted person, but he rarely expressed it outwardly and hardly ever held her hand.

She was simply anxious about what had suddenly made him act like this today.

With a worried heart, Choi Mi-ja cautiously opened her mouth.

“Honey, what’s wrong? I’m okay, so…”

“Just like this for a moment.”

Lee Gwang-soo cut off Choi Mi-ja’s words and hugged her even tighter.

Choi Mi-ja, as if she couldn’t help it, hugged Lee Gwang-soo tightly in return. She didn’t know what was going on, but it seemed like she should just stay like this for now.

A moment later.

Pat, pat.

Choi Mi-ja began to gently pat Lee Gwang-soo’s back. She didn’t know exactly, but it seemed like things hadn’t gone well when he went to see Hyun-sung.

She had been somewhat prepared for this since her husband had left the house this morning. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, even though she had desperately gone to see him out of necessity.

Choi Mi-ja bit her lower lip slightly and opened her mouth, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

“Honey, it’s okay. I can save more and spend less…”

“It’s okay!”

“Huh?”

Choi Mi-ja looked at him as soon as she pulled away from Lee Gwang-soo’s embrace. His eyes were already moist with tears.

Looking at him, she cautiously asked, “What… what do you mean it’s okay?”

“We’re going to be okay now.”

“Huh? What does that…”

“I got a job today.”

“A job?”

At the word ‘job,’ Choi Mi-ja’s voice involuntarily grew louder. It was because she had felt a strong sense of unease from her husband’s behavior just a moment ago.

But suddenly, a job…

Choi Mi-ja asked again in a hurried voice.

“Did you just say you got a job?”

“Yes, I’m scheduled to start working in three days.”

“Huh? In three days? Don’t just say that, explain in detail so I can understand what you’re talking about.”

“Alright. Listen carefully to what I’m about to say. So, that is…”

Lee Gwang-soo began to explain what had happened with Hyun-sung today. As Lee Gwang-soo’s explanation continued at length, Choi Mi-ja’s expression gradually began to change.

The anxious look she had at first gradually became more relaxed as time passed, and after a little more time, her expression was already bright with a smile.

And finally, when Lee Gwang-soo’s explanation ended, she immediately asked, “Is that real?”

“Yes. I couldn’t believe it at first either, but the restaurant that Kim is running is so enormous that we can’t even imagine it. Do you know how many employees work there?”

“I don’t know…”

“A whopping thousand people!”

“A… thousand people?”

Choi Mi-ja involuntarily raised her voice for a moment.

She knew from Lee Gwang-soo’s explanation that the restaurant was large, but she had never imagined that it would have as many as a thousand employees.

As if knowing Choi Mi-ja’s thoughts, Lee Gwang-soo immediately added an explanation.

“They even operate their own farm.”

“A farm?”

“Yes, they grow the vegetables they use in the restaurant directly on the farm.”

“They grow the ingredients they need at the restaurant themselves? That much?”

Choi Mi-ja couldn’t help but tilt her head.

The reason was simple. Just a moment ago, he had said that the restaurant wasn’t just ten or twenty *pyeong* [a Korean unit of area, approximately 3.3 square meters or 35.5 square feet], but the hall alone was 200 *pyeong*. And it wasn’t just one floor, but four floors in total, from the first to the fourth floor, were operated as a restaurant.

If that were the case, the amount of vegetables consumed would be unimaginable. But to grow that much themselves, she couldn’t help but wonder.

Curious, Choi Mi-ja asked again.

“Is that even possible?”

“The farm is a whopping 50,000 *pyeong*. They said there are 100 greenhouses, and each one is 500 *pyeong*.”

“100 greenhouses with 500 *pyeong* each?”

“Yes, they said there are 500 people working on the farm alone.”

“…”

Choi Mi-ja was momentarily speechless.

At first, when they said they grew all those vegetables themselves, she naturally thought it was impossible.

But once she heard the explanation, it was beyond anything she had imagined. And what was even more surprising was that there were 500 people working on the farm alone, so she couldn’t help but be amazed.

Then, Lee Gwang-soo’s additional explanation followed.

“The reason why there are so many people working is that they don’t use any fertilizers or pesticides and grow everything 100% organically, so they need that much manpower.”

“Then the labor costs must be high?”

“That’s right. I talked about that part too, and Kim, no, our boss now. Do you know what our boss said?”

“I don’t know, what…”

“He said he could just take less.”

“Huh? Does that mean…”

“He’s saying he’ll give up that much of his profits.”

“…”

Choi Mi-ja was speechless again.

Does that make sense?

What is the purpose of doing business?

It’s the same for everyone: to earn even a penny more. No matter what words you use to dress it up, the ultimate goal is money.

But he’s saying he’ll take less…?

No matter how she thought about it, it was a part that she couldn’t understand at all in terms of common sense.

Choi Mi-ja asked immediately.

“Does that even make sense?”

“I didn’t understand it either, of course. So I asked again: ‘Does that make sense or not?'”

“And then?”

“He said that the reason he started the restaurant in the first place wasn’t for money.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“At first, I wondered what that meant. But after listening to the boss’s explanation, I understood it to some extent, though not entirely.”

“What did he say?”

“The boss, from the beginning…”

Lee Gwang-soo began to explain to Choi Mi-ja again what he had heard from Hyun-sung during the day. As his explanation continued, Choi Mi-ja also began to nod as if she understood at some point.

And finally, when his explanation ended, Choi Mi-ja immediately spoke. “So, the purpose from the beginning wasn’t money, but to revitalize the village, and at the same time, the purpose was to create jobs, right?”

“Exactly. And at the same time, the goal is to allow the customers who come there to eat healthy meals using vegetables grown with organic farming methods.”

“And that’s possible because the boss isn’t greedy?”

“Of course. He said that if he had been greedy from the beginning, he wouldn’t have operated the farm either. It would be cheaper to get supplies from a supplier.”

“Hmm… I know what you mean, but honestly, I don’t understand it. How can a person give up their greed? Especially at that young age…”

Perhaps it’s a natural thing to say.

In this world, who can believe that the purpose of doing business from the beginning wasn’t money? So it may be natural that Choi Mi-ja doesn’t understand either.

Lee Gwang-soo’s words continued again.

“He said he wanted to protect his hometown.”

“Protect his hometown?”

“Yes, he said that his hometown will collapse rapidly in 10 or 20 years. The reason is that farming is not the answer, so eventually people will leave the countryside to make a living.”

“So, is that why he’s running the restaurant so big, to create jobs? And the farm too?”

“That’s right. He said the effect is already showing.”

“Already?”

“Yes, he said that more than 200 young people who had gone to other areas have already returned to their hometowns. Of course, those friends have gotten jobs at restaurants, cafes, and farms.”

“Hmm…”

Choi Mi-ja was silent for a moment, wondering what she was thinking.

It was about a minute later that she opened her mouth again.

“Honey.”

“Tell me.”

“I think the boss may have a different way of thinking than ordinary people we know.”

“Do you think so too?”

“You too?”

“Yes, in fact, while listening to the boss’s story, no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand it with my common sense.”

“Right?”

“Of course, I know what you mean, but that’s just words, and how can a person…”

Lee Gwang-soo shook his head a few times as if he couldn’t understand, and then continued.

“So, the conclusion I came to was that our boss has a different way of thinking than ordinary people like us. Otherwise, this situation can’t be sorted out.”

“That’s right, this is impossible… And right!”

Choi Mi-ja looked at Lee Gwang-soo as if she suddenly remembered something. Then she immediately continued.

“Did you say you’re going to work in three days?”

“Yes, I’m scheduled to start working in three days. He said the restaurant will open on that day.”

“Wait a minute…”

Choi Mi-ja was suddenly lost in thought, as if she was worried.

There was only one thing she was worried about: where to sleep.

To start working in three days, you need a place to live by at least the day after tomorrow. That means you can’t commute from here, so you’ll end up having to move.

But there’s not enough time to do that.

Choi Mi-ja looked at Lee Gwang-soo and asked immediately, “Honey, what about moving?”

“Moving?”

“Yes, if you’re going to work, of course, you’ll have to go there…”

Choi Mi-ja stopped talking. The reason was that Lee Gwang-soo was looking at her with a smile, as if telling her not to worry.

“Honey, what’s with that look on your face right now?”

“Don’t worry. We already have a house to live in.”

“Huh? What are you talking about? We already have a house to live in?”

Choi Mi-ja was just dumbfounded, so she couldn’t help but stare at Lee Gwang-soo.

Then Lee Gwang-soo smiled and immediately continued, “The boss has already taken care of the housing problem…”

Lee Gwang-soo’s explanation continued again.

A moment later.

When Lee Gwang-soo’s explanation ended, Choi Mi-ja immediately asked, as if she couldn’t believe it, “Did you just say it’s a dormitory?”

“Yes.”

“But you said it’s more like an apartment than a dormitory?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t know how surprised I was when I first went inside. The bathroom is basic, and the kitchen and living room are perfect. And the kitchen already has a sink and cabinets, and even a refrigerator.”

“Even a refrigerator?”

“Yes, there were already 500 households prepared for the employees. There are five buildings with 100 households each.”

Lee Gwang-soo was also surprised when he first saw the building. What company in the world provides apartment-style living spaces for its employees? And for free.

Choi Mi-ja asked again.

“We get to use that for free?”

“Yes, the boss provides it without paying a penny while we’re working there. He said he built the employee dormitories at the same time as he built the restaurant building, for people like us who come from other areas.”

“…”

Choi Mi-ja was speechless. It’s unimaginable. How can this happen…

When Choi Mi-ja was silent, Lee Gwang-soo opened his mouth again.

“And do you know where my workplace is?”

“Ah, right. I’m so out of it right now… So, where do you work?”

“It’s right in Building A where we live.”

“Huh? Building A?”

“Yes, my area of responsibility is one building where 100 households live. The security office on the first floor is my workplace. And the house we’re going to live in is right next to the security office, in room 101.”

Lee Gwang-soo’s face was full of smiles as he spoke; he was so happy.

Choi Mi-ja looked at him and smiled, then immediately continued.

“Then you won’t have to worry about going to work even if it’s cold?”

“Of course. As soon as you open the door, it’s your workplace. Isn’t this a dream job? Haha…”

Lee Gwang-soo laughed loudly as if he was in a good mood, then suddenly looked at Choi Mi-ja.

Then Choi Mi-ja asked immediately, “Why? Is there something on my face?”

“Don’t be surprised; I haven’t told you the real last card yet.”

“Huh? Is there something else?”

“It’s the salary.”

“Ah…”

Choi Mi-ja opened her mouth without realizing it.

Come to think of it, she had forgotten for a moment because she was so happy. It may be the most important issue.

Choi Mi-ja looked at Lee Gwang-soo, signaling him to tell her quickly.

Lee Gwang-soo, oblivious to her silent prompting, smiled and immediately continued, “It’s a million *won* [Korean currency, approximately $750 USD]!”

“Huh? What did you just say?”

“I can’t believe it either, but he said he’ll give me a million *won* for my first salary. And there’s no retirement age. He said I can work until I’m 70 or 80 as long as I can work.”

“…”

Choi Mi-ja couldn’t say anything more.

Just a while ago, when she heard that the salary would be reduced from 400,000 *won* to 250,000 *won* due to the change in working conditions, she thought the world had ended.

Saying it’s 250,000 *won* is virtually impossible to live on. Of course, she’ll live somehow because she’s alive, but how much would she have to do to do that?

She watched her husband leave the house in the morning with a desperate heart, and she waited all day, praying with a sincere heart.

But a truly dreamlike thing happened.

Choi Mi-ja slowly looked at Lee Gwang-soo.

Her eyes were already moist with tears.

Lee Gwang-soo, who was watching her, also had red eyes at some point.

At some point, the two slowly hugged each other as if they had promised.

“Honey, I love you.”

“Me too!”

So the two hugged each other even tighter.