Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 460

“What kind of…?”

Hyun-sung looked directly at Han Min-gu, his curiosity piqued.

But unlike Hyun-sung’s eagerness, Han Min-gu didn’t immediately respond, seemingly lost in thought.

Growing impatient, Hyun-sung pressed him, “Manager, what’s the method?”

“Well… I’ve been giving it some thought, and I believe the best approach would be to finish the construction as quickly as possible, even if it means pushing ourselves.”

“Quickly?”

“Yes, since we have to do additional construction anyway, we should shorten the construction period as much as possible.”

It was obvious that Hyun-sung wanted to finish the construction as soon as possible, especially with the trail closed.

The problem was the *how*.

How to shorten the construction period as much as possible was Hyun-sung’s biggest concern.

Perhaps that’s why his voice grew stronger as he called out to Han Min-gu.

“So, what’s the method, Manager!”

“24 hours.”

“24 hours?”

“Yes, that’s right. If we proceed as the president mentioned earlier, it will take at least ten days, no matter how fast we work. We need to secure the space to install the benches, not just install the benches, so it will take that long.”

Hyun-sung immediately nodded.

It was obvious. Since you can’t install benches on a path where people are walking, the first priority would be to secure a space away from the path. Therefore, the construction period would naturally take that long.

Hyun-sung responded, “So, you’re saying we should work around the clock, 24 hours a day, without rest?”

“Exactly. That way, the construction period will naturally be cut in half. Of course, the construction cost will increase.”

The construction cost would inevitably increase. Night shift wages are different from daytime wages.

It’s standard to pay 1.5 times more at night than during the day, so the cost will naturally increase.

But the important thing now wasn’t the construction cost. The biggest goal was to shorten the construction period as much as possible.

*Clap!*

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung slapped his knee. “Now I understand what you mean. Since electricity is already installed throughout the trail, it won’t be difficult to light up the area at night. And since the farming season is still a while away, it won’t be difficult to find people willing to work.”

“That’s right. And since we’re paying 1.5 times the wage for working at night, there will be many people willing to work.”

“Exactly. And on top of that…”

Hyun-sung’s explanation began to lengthen. Once the direction of the work was decided, everything else started to flow smoothly.

Hyun-sung’s explanation continued, and Han Min-gu added necessary information from time to time. Their conversation continued for a long time.

How much time had passed?

Hyun-sung looked at Han Min-gu and spoke again. “As expected, your judgment was correct. If we follow the plan, we should be able to finish the construction within 5 days.”

“I think so too. By the way, you’re really amazing, President.”

“Me? What did I do? I just did as you said.”

“No. I just said ‘24 hours.’ But you proceeded with the rest of the work in one go, without any errors, in about 20 minutes. You’re really amazing.”

Han Min-gu had no choice but to admit it.

When he first mentioned 24 hours, he was honestly skeptical. He wasn’t sure if that method was possible.

It’s easy to say 24 hours, but it’s not easy to work a full 24 hours. Not just for a day or two, but for several days.

But Hyun-sung was definitely different. As soon as he heard the words “24 hours,” he immediately explained the next schedule in about 20 minutes, as if he had been waiting for it.

What was surprising wasn’t only that.

The purpose of finishing the construction quickly was also something that others couldn’t easily think of.

Most people would want to finish the construction quickly for one reason: to finish the construction as soon as possible and receive guests as soon as possible. In other words, the biggest goal would be to earn back the money lost during that time by receiving guests as soon as possible.

As a business person, that would probably be natural.

But Hyun-sung was different.

He didn’t even mention sales. He said he wanted to let the guests enjoy the beauty of the azaleas while walking along the trail with a happy heart as soon as possible.

In the end, his goal was not sales, but the happiness of the people.

Of course, the result would be the same in some ways. The sooner the construction is finished, the more it will help sales.

But his approach was definitely different from ordinary people.

What is the purpose?

-Is it people first, or money first?

He definitely valued people more than money.

Han Min-gu couldn’t help but wonder if it was all an act, but Hyun-sung’s eyes were too clear to see it that way.

Hyun-sung’s words continued. “The beginning is important in everything. In that respect, your instantaneous judgment was quick and excellent. I couldn’t even think of working for 24 hours. Anyway, this credit goes to you. I just colored in your sketch.”

“Well, that’s…”

Han Min-gu closed his mouth, about to say something. He knew that even if he said something else here, his words wouldn’t change.

It was another moment when he realized that Hyun-sung was definitely different from other presidents who tried to take credit for other people’s work.

Han Min-gu glanced at Hyun-sung instead of speaking.

Suddenly, an unknown, subtle smile began to spread across his face.

Hyun-sung couldn’t just stand by when he saw that. “Manager, what does that smile mean?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just…”

“That’s what I’m saying. I’m curious about what’s not a big deal. Your expression just now was very interesting.”

“Oh, President…”

Han Min-gu couldn’t speak, scratching his head as if he was in trouble. But his face was already tinged with red.

Then Hyun-sung spoke again. “Huh? Manager, you’re really strange? I didn’t think anything of it, but your face is changing color, so I’m really curious.”

“Oh? That’s…”

“Oh oh? You’re getting stranger and stranger. Is there really something going on?”

Hyun-sung smiled at Han Min-gu as if he was enjoying it.

It was Han Min-gu who was embarrassed. The reason he smiled at Hyun-sung a little while ago was because there was something he couldn’t understand no matter how much he thought about it.

That was his age. No, to be more precise, there were too many things he couldn’t understand about the actions of someone who was only twenty-five years old.

It was the same when he first hired him, and the humble attitude of asking for help in deciding on coffee was also an action that was not easy to see.

And just now, the issue of constructing the trail was also a sight that was difficult to see at that age.

He was humble, but Han Min-gu couldn’t help but be surprised by his work ability. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn’t understand how Hyun-sung knew the work schedule so well.

In fact, that’s why a strange smile came to his face without him knowing it.

But now that he’s asking about the reason, how can he not be embarrassed?

And he can’t say it all one by one.

It was then.

Hyun-sung handed three envelopes to Han Min-gu. “It seems like it’s a difficult question for you, so I’ll just let it go. And please accept this.”

“Yes? Oh, thank you. But what is this?”

“Do you know what day it is today?”

“Of course. Oh, is this my salary?”

Han Min-gu realized that the envelope Hyun-sung handed him might be his salary.

Of course, he knew from the morning that today was payday. The biggest joy of a salaried worker is payday, so how could he not know that day? Especially since it was his first salary.

But he didn’t think that the president would give him his salary at this time, so he was puzzled when he saw the envelope Hyun-sung handed him a little while ago.

Hyun-sung’s answer followed. “Yes, that’s right. It’s your salary.”

“But is the president giving this to me directly instead of the accounting department?”

“I wanted to. No, I thought I should. I wanted to hand it out to all the employees one by one, but I can’t, so I wanted to hand it out to a few people directly.”

He had been thinking about it for several days.

The first concern was the method of paying the salary: whether to give it in cash or transfer it to a bank account.

The conclusion he came to after much deliberation was cash. The reason was that he wanted them to feel the reward for their hard work for a month directly.

Moreover, a considerable number of the employees had graduated from high school and started working right away. As it was the first salary they had ever received in their lives, he wanted to convey that feeling to them as it was.

The second concern was the method of delivery.

But this part didn’t take as long as he thought. It wasn’t just one or two hundred people, but a whopping thousand. Of course, he wanted to hand it out to each and every person, looking at their faces. There wasn’t a single person who wasn’t precious.

But Hyun-sung couldn’t possibly not know that it was his greed.

So, the method he chose was to have the accounting staff deliver it in bulk, except for a few people.

One of those few people was Han Min-gu.

Han Min-gu, who had received three envelopes, answered. “President, did you prepare all of this in cash?”

“Yes, I deliberately prepared it in cash. What’s better than the feeling of money in cash? It’s 3 million won [approximately $2,250 USD], 1 million won per envelope. How do you feel?”

“Haha, hahahaha…”

Han Min-gu looked at the envelope for a moment and then burst out laughing. Then he immediately continued. “President, I feel great. I’ve worked at a hotel for 25 years, but this is the first time I’ve received so much money in cash.”

“I’m even happier that you’re happy to receive it.”

“I thought it would come into my bank account. It’s not like there are only one or two hundred employees, but a thousand.”

“So I was a little worried about that part. But I decided that it would be better to do it in cash, even if it was a hassle.”

“Of course, you have a reason?”

“Yes, that’s right. In fact, there are quite a few friends among the employees who graduated from high school and started working this time.”

“Oh, it was because of those friends?”

“Yes, that was the biggest reason. It’s the first salary they’ve ever received in their lives, so I wanted them to feel the reward for their work directly.”

“You did a really good job. Those friends will never forget today’s memories for the rest of their lives.”

Han Min-gu nodded as he answered.

The word ‘first’ wouldn’t exist for no reason. Moreover, the meaning of the first salary received after entering society would be even more special.

In that sense, the feeling of receiving the first salary today, especially in crisp cash, will not be forgotten for the rest of their lives.

The president, Hyun-sung, would have wanted to give that lifelong memory as a gift.

Anyway, no matter how I think about it, I can’t help but be surprised by his thoughtfulness once again.

Then Hyun-sung handed another envelope to Han Min-gu. “This is what I’m giving you personally.”

“What is this again?”

“You said your youngest son entered college this time, right?”

“You remembered that too? I just said it in passing…”

It was a word that came out at the end of a brief conversation after the interview. But he didn’t know that Hyun-sung would remember it.

“It’s not much. Tell him to add it to the cost of books.”

“President…”

Han Min-gu had nothing more to say.

He thought everything was over the moment he was fired from the hotel. He thought he would never smile in front of his family again.

But what is it like now?

He’s holding three envelopes worth 1 million won each in one hand, with crisp new bills.

And in the other hand, the envelope that the president gave him to add to the cost of his youngest son’s books.

Until recently, he thought there would be no more hope, but to think that this day would come again….

Of course, all of this is thanks to one person.

Han Min-gu, who had been silent for a while, stood up and bowed to Hyun-sung.

***

After Han Min-gu left, Hyun-sung immediately made a phone call.

And after a while, *knock knock*.

The person who opened the door and came in was Manager Yoo Min-cheol.

Since he was a founding member from the beginning, Hyun-sung couldn’t help but take care of him. No matter what anyone says, Yoo Min-cheol is the one who made this place what it is today.

“Welcome, Manager!” Hyun-sung’s voice conveyed his heartfelt appreciation.

“Please accept this.” Hyun-sung handed Yoo Min-cheol the salary envelope.

Yoo Min-cheol looked at Hyun-sung with surprised eyes. “President, why are there three envelopes?”

“From this month, three people have the same salary: the manager, the vice president, and the head chef.”

These are the three people who will run this restaurant together in the future. Therefore, the salaries of the three people are matched equally.

Of course, they will also have the same sense of responsibility.

After Yoo Min-cheol thanked him and left, the next person who came in was Kim Il-soo, the vice president and chef.

He also couldn’t possibly not know the meaning of the salary envelope that Hyun-sung handed him.

“President, thank you. I will give my loyalty…”

“That’s enough. Let’s have a drink after work today. You’ve worked hard for a month, and it’s going to be really busy from next month, so please take care of me.”

“Of course, President. Hehe…”

Kim Il-soo, who was smiling brightly, was also holding three envelopes in his hand. After all, the best feeling is the feeling of money, as you could see from his expression.