Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 465

467

Just then, Hyun-sung was on the second floor of the office.

Ring!

“Hello.”

– It’s me, Chairman Shin. How are you?

Hyun-sung tilted his head, recognizing the voice of Chairman Shin Chun-oh immediately. They spoke once or twice a month, so a call at this hour wasn’t unusual.

But his tone was.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was always direct. Today, however, he sounded cautious.

‘What’s going on?’

Curious, Hyun-sung played along. “Yes, Chairman. How have you been?”

– I’m the same as always. How is CEO Kim doing?

Definitely different. Hyun-sung sensed something was up, but he didn’t want to ask first.

“I’m starting to get busy. The perimeter trail construction starts tomorrow…”

– Perimeter trail construction?

Chairman Shin Chun-oh interrupted before Hyun-sung could finish.

He already knew about the perimeter trail construction from Chief Secretary Choi Jin-young’s report. He asked to buy time.

Since the reason for his call wasn’t honorable, he planned to stall before getting to the point.

“Yes, I made a misjudgment, so I had to restart the construction…”

Hyun-sung, unaware of Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s intentions, explained the perimeter trail construction. As he spoke, Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked questions, killing time.

Hyun-sung found it strange.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh showed an unusual amount of interest, even in things he’d normally overlook.

His interest peaked when Hyun-sung mentioned building a concert hall.

It took a while to explain the perimeter trail construction.

Then, Chairman Shin Chun-oh carefully called out, “Um… CEO Kim.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

– By any chance…

Chairman Shin Chun-oh hesitated.

Hyun-sung tilted his head again. Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s behavior was too strange.

He’d sensed it from the start, but the stalling during the perimeter trail construction talk confirmed something was wrong.

‘Something’s up.’

Hyun-sung decided to stop pretending and called out loudly, “Chairman!”

– Huh? Oh, what’s wrong?

“Is something wrong?”

– Oh? No, nothing’s wrong…

Chairman Shin Chun-oh lied, even though he knew he shouldn’t.

Hyun-sung pressed, “Do you remember, Chairman? The promise that we wouldn’t lie to each other, no matter what?”

– Huh? Of course, I do.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh had to admit it. He’d been the one to suggest honesty. Hyun-sung was reminding him.

Hyun-sung repeated, “Then I’ll ask again. What’s wrong?”

– Well, that’s…

“It’s okay, please tell me.”

– Oh? Okay, I understand. Then I’ll tell you. Actually, something happened. It’s about the factory we talked about…

Chairman Shin Chun-oh explained his conversation with his son, Shin Min-ki.

Hyun-sung listened quietly.

The long story concluded that the factory was off due to distribution costs.

As Chairman Shin Chun-oh finished, Hyun-sung quietly said, “Chairman.”

– Oh? Oh, yes. CEO Kim!

Chairman Shin Chun-oh stopped, embarrassed.

Hyun-sung’s expression was unchanged.

“So, the factory establishment is canceled due to distribution costs, is that what you’re saying?”

– That’s what happened. I’m ashamed. I’m really sorry. I’m so sorry.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s words dragged on.

“…”

Hyun-sung remained silent, thinking it would help Chairman Shin Chun-oh.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was having a hard time. His confident voice was gone.

Hyun-sung had expected it.

He’d been happy when Chairman Shin Chun-oh offered to build a ramen factory because of the economic impact.

A large company’s factory in a small rural village would be huge.

But he’d realized how unlikely it was.

The region was difficult.

The highway was too far for distribution.

The road conditions were terrible.

The mountain pass was high, and the road was unpaved.

Improvements would take time.

Ten years.

Construction would start in five years and take five years, so it would be completed in ten years.

Even with improved roads, building a factory in this rural area would be logistically disadvantageous, Hyun-sung thought.

As Hyun-sung was silent, Shin Chun-ho carefully called out, “CEO Kim.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

– Are you okay? I feel bad if you’re hurt because of me.

“Chairman, I’m okay.”

– Come on, man. Don’t lie. You’ve already prepared 30,000 pyeong [approximately 24.7 acres] of factory land. I spoke too soon. I’m so sorry.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s words dragged on. Hyun-sung could tell he was genuine.

“Chairman, I had already expected it.”

Hyun-sung hoped to ease Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s guilt.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was surprised. – CEO Kim! What does that mean? You already expected it?

“I was happy when you first said you were building a factory, but then…”

Hyun-sung explained his reasoning. Chairman Shin Chun-oh listened silently.

When Hyun-sung finished, Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked, “Is that really true?”

“Yes, Chairman. So you don’t have to apologize.”

– Hehe, this is…

Chairman Shin Chun-oh laughed, feeling helpless.

He knew Hyun-sung was different, but he hadn’t expected such accurate judgment.

He had a question.

The factory site.

Why had Hyun-sung set it aside?

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked, “What about the factory site?”

“Factories aren’t just ramen factories, are they?”

He’d had two purposes: a ramen factory and a wild vegetable processing factory.

He’d secured a large site from the start.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked, “It’s not just a ramen factory? You had another factory in mind?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

– Another factory?

“A wild vegetable processing factory.”

– Wild vegetable processing factory? Is there a chance of success with wild vegetables?

“Yes, of course. There’s not much interest now, but eating habits will change in about ten years.”

People preferred meat then, but eating habits changed in the early 2000s. Hyun-sung was referring to that.

He’d experienced it firsthand. He was confident.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh tilted his head. – A change in eating habits?

“Yes, people will switch from meat to vegetables for health reasons. That’s why I’m building a wild vegetable processing factory.”

– So, CEO Kim, you’re saying people will change from meat to vegetables for health reasons? And that’s why you’re building a wild vegetable processing factory?

“Yes, that’s right. Wild vegetables will become a luxury food.”

– Hehe, a luxury food…

Chairman Shin Chun-oh laughed.

Hyun-sung’s insight was amazing.

Hyun-sung continued, “I created a large factory site from the beginning because I was thinking of two factories.”

– Two? A ramen factory and a wild vegetable factory?

“Yes, that’s right.”

– You were prepared for all possibilities?

“Yes, if the ramen factory doesn’t come, I can build two wild vegetable factories. The demand will be endless. This is Gangwon-do [a province in South Korea known for its mountainous terrain and natural beauty], isn’t it? It’s perfect for cultivating wild vegetables. And…”

– Wait a minute!

Chairman Shin Chun-oh interrupted. – In the end, whether the ramen factory comes or not, it doesn’t matter to CEO Kim, right?

“That’s not true.”

– Huh? What does that mean? It sounds like it would be better if the ramen factory didn’t come. Am I wrong?

“Yes, you’re wrong. I wanted to build this village with you, Chairman.”

It was true.

Hyun-sung had accomplished so much thanks to Chairman Shin Chun-oh.

The 1 billion won he’d given him. Without that money, he wouldn’t be where he was.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh said, “With me?”

“Yes, thanks to you, Chairman, I came this far. I wanted to build this village with you.”

– What have I done?

“Do you remember the 1 billion won? Without that money, I couldn’t have come this far.”

– That was the value of my life.

“Whatever the reason, you gave me 1 billion won. I made 50 billion won with that money. You are the eternal owner of this village, Chairman.”

– Hehe, this friend, really…

Chairman Shin Chun-oh laughed.

He hadn’t expected to hear these words. He’d just wanted to apologize. He was the eternal owner of this village. His heart felt strange.

– CEO Kim, thank you. Thank you for thinking of me so much.

“It’s still too early.”

– Huh? What does that mean? Still too early?

“You have to receive the penalty.”

– Penalty?

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was dumbfounded. He thought he was free from guilt, but suddenly a penalty…

– What does that mean? What penalty?

“You broke your promise, right?”

– Huh? Oh, that’s right.

“Then you should receive a penalty.”

– Hehe…

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was speechless.

Hyun-sung said, “It’s two years.”

– Two years?

“Yes, come down here in two years. I’ll give you the penalty then.”

– What… penalty?

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was speechless. He’d thought it was a joke, but now there was a specific period.

“When you came last year, you said you’d run a private school here later, right?”

– Of course, I did.

“One more subject has been added.”

– One more subject? Is that the penalty?

“Yes, that’s right.”

– Okay, what is it?

Gulp.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh swallowed, nervous.

Hyun-sung answered, “It’s a Korean language class. Surprisingly, many elderly people here don’t know Korean. You will teach them Korean. This is the penalty, Chairman.”

– Hehe… hahaha, hahahaha…

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s laughter grew louder.

In two years, a senior citizen school would be established.