Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 469

Having left the greenhouse, the two headed towards the building next to the restaurant—Hyunsung’s house.

When the restaurant was first built, Hyunsung’s house was constructed right next to it.

The building has three floors: the first floor is a shared space used by accounting staff, the second floor is mainly used for meetings with executives, and the third floor is Hyunsung’s living space.

The location of this building has its own story.

This is the very land where Park Hee-chul had intended to build a house and live out his old age. It boasts the best view in the neighborhood.

When Park Hee-chul first offered this land as payment for his life, Hyunsung never imagined he would build a house and live there himself.

When Hyunsung first broke ground for the restaurant, the first person he visited was Park Hee-chul.

The reason was simple: if Park Hee-chul wanted it, Hyunsung was ready to build him a house there, even then.

However, Park Hee-chul adamantly refused.

He said he was already satisfied and grateful to be alive, considering he was supposed to die.

He told Hyunsung to build a house and live there in his stead, saying that would be his reward and happiness.

For that reason, Hyunsung built the building and came to live there.

The two arrived at the house.

Hyunsung went straight into the kitchen to prepare breakfast, placing a pork kimchi stew on the gas stove.

Watching him, Baek Du-soon smiled lightly and said,

“Isn’t that a little too natural?”

“I’ve always liked cooking. Just wait, I’ll show you what pork kimchi stew is all about.”

“Okay, let’s enjoy a feast this morning, thanks to my friend.”

“Yeah, you can look forward to it.”

As Hyunsung finished speaking, Baek Du-soon walked past the living room towards the window and said,

“Man! Every time I come here, I can’t help but feel the view is just incredible.”

“Want to move in here?”

“What?”

“It’s too big for me to live alone anyway. If you’re interested, move in today. I can live with Baek Du-soon, my army buddy, no problem.”

Baek Du-soon smiled lightly and glanced at Hyunsung before continuing,

“It’s so strange.”

“Huh? What is?”

“You.”

“Me? Why?”

“The way you say things like that so casually. It can’t be easy, even if it’s just empty words.”

“Huh? I’m not saying empty words.”

Hyunsung looked at Baek Du-soon.

Honestly, he thought it wouldn’t be bad. They’ve known each other for more than a day or two, and after some time, he had a good grasp of his personality. He was easygoing, so living together wouldn’t be bad compared to living alone. That’s why he said it.

Baek Du-soon continued,

“That’s why it’s strange. Because I know your words aren’t empty. I can tell by your expression that they’re not.”

“Really? But what’s so strange about that?”

“You’re consistent.”

“What?”

“You’re consistent, you are.”

That’s what he always feels when talking to Hyunsung.

Of course, they are army buddies. But now, one is the boss and the other is an employee. Yet, when he speaks, he always treats him like a friend, just like in the beginning.

It’s not easy for people to do that.

So, Baek Du-soon finds his behavior both admirable and strange.

Hyunsung replied,

“Hey, isn’t that obvious between us? And honestly, you came all the way here from Paju [city in South Korea] trusting only me, so I can’t change.”

“That’s true, but that’s not how the world works, is it? People are said to be different going into the bathroom than coming out. When the situation changes, people change too.”

“That’s just in proverbs……”

“No!”

Baek Du-soon shook his finger from side to side, interrupting Hyunsung. Then he continued,

“What are proverbs? They’re concise and figurative expressions of experiences and lessons learned over a long period of life, which means people generally live that way. Don’t you think?”

“That’s true.”

“But you?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah, but you don’t live like that proverb. You treat me the same now as you did when we first met, even though you’re the boss and I’m the employee. So, I’m grateful and amazed by that.”

He thought he would naturally change over time.

There are 500 people working on the farm now. In a way, he is just one of those 500 people.

Yet, Hyunsung treats him the same as he did in the beginning. Moreover, he even suggested living together without any hesitation, despite their relationship as boss and employee.

That means he always thinks of him not just as an employee, but as a friend from training camp, the first time they met.

Of course, he hasn’t lived in the world for very long, but he knows that not just anyone can do that.

People are changed by their positions.

He is the owner here, and he is just an employee. Yet, he doesn’t change and treats him like a friend. So, from Baek Du-soon’s perspective, Hyunsung seems amazing.

Meanwhile.

Hyunsung looked at Baek Du-soon and chuckled.

Of course, he knows what Baek Du-soon is talking about.

But if there’s one thing he’s learned from living over 50 years in his past life, it’s that meeting a friend you can be with for a long time is not easy.

Hyunsung called out to Baek Du-soon.

“Du-soon.”

“Yeah, why?”

“Why do you think I called you all the way here?”

“Huh? Well, you always said I was good at shoveling……”

“You don’t think that’s all there is to it, do you?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

Baek Du-soon turned from the window towards the kitchen and looked at Hyunsung.

From the beginning, Hyunsung had said that he was good at shoveling. And that’s why he asked him to farm with him.

But now, if what he says is true, then that’s not all there is to it, so Baek Du-soon is naturally taken aback.

Hyunsung looked at Baek Du-soon and asked again,

“What? You really thought that was all there was to it?”

“Of course. That’s what you said from the beginning, that I was good at shoveling. So, you asked me to farm with you? But there was another reason besides that?”

Hyunsung smiled at Baek Du-soon. Then he continued,

“Do you remember the march we did in training camp?”

“The march?”

“Yeah, the 40-kilometer march.”

“Of course. How could I forget that? I thought I was going to die. But why are you bringing that up?”

“Remember the canteen?”

“The canteen?”

“Yeah, the water in the canteen. When we rested with 2 kilometers left, you didn’t drink that water yourself, but gave it to the buddy next to you, right?”

It was during the 40-kilometer march in training camp.

It was when they were resting with 2 kilometers left. Hyunsung himself had experience from his past life, so that wouldn’t have happened to him, but most of his buddies had already run out of water in their canteens with 2 kilometers left.

But then there was a guy who had about 1/3 of his canteen left. That was Baek Du-soon.

He had been thirsty all along, but he had saved that water until then. In fact, it was something that couldn’t be done without considerable patience.

Naturally, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

But what was even more surprising was his next action.

He willingly gave the water he had cherished so much to a buddy who was having a harder time.

He was a bit far away, but he was shocked by his actions.

So, he thought that if he was that kind of guy, he could remain a lifelong friend.

Baek Du-soon asked immediately with an unbelievable expression,

“You really saw that?”

“Of course, that’s why I’m talking about it now. I was a bit far away from you, but I saw it clearly with my own eyes.”

“Man, you……”

Baek Du-soon was speechless.

He never thought anyone else would have seen that. And to think it was Hyunsung.

“Why did you do that? You must have been very tired too?”

“What reason would there be? That guy was having a harder time, so I just……”

“You rascal!”

Hyunsung lightly tapped Baek Du-soon on the shoulder and continued,

“Would you believe me if I said I fell for that?”

“Huh? What are you……”

“I’m telling you now, the reason I asked you to farm with me was because of that. The shoveling was just an excuse.”

“What? Is that true?”

“Yeah, people’s true nature comes out in extreme situations. When I saw you like that, I thought, if it’s you, I want to be friends with you for life. So, I made that offer using shoveling as an excuse.”

In his past life, he didn’t even notice Baek Du-soon’s actions. He had never walked that far since he was born, so it was impossible to look after someone else in that situation.

But after going to the army again, he finally saw that.

Hyunsung smiled and continued,

“So, there’s nothing to be amazed about. I wanted to be friends with you from the beginning. Rather, I’m the one who’s grateful.”

“So, what it boils down to is that I came here because of the water left in that canteen?”

“That water wasn’t ordinary water. In a way, it was like the water of life. Don’t you think?”

“Well……”

Baek Du-soon had to admit it.

To be honest, it would be a lie if he said he didn’t hesitate at that moment.

“Let me ask again. Why did you do that back then?”

“Honestly, I don’t know either.”

“You don’t know?”

“Yeah, I was very thirsty at that moment. So, I hesitated. But……”

Baek Du-soon couldn’t finish his last words.

Then Hyunsung asked immediately,

“But? What about the but?”

“Before I knew it, I was handing over the canteen. That’s all, it’s not like I’m special or anything……”

“Hey, Baek Du-soon.”

Hyunsung interrupted Baek Du-soon and called his name. Then he continued,

“That’s who you are.”

“Huh? What is?”

“You’re that kind of guy. Your heart moved before your head. And I fell for that again. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Why do you have to go that far……”

At that moment.

Fsh!

The sound of steam escaping from the rice cooker.

“Hey, just know this. I wanted to meet you as a friend from the beginning, so I called you here. Shoveling was just an excuse, you know what I mean?”

“I don’t know, I’m grateful if you say so.”

“I’m more grateful if we’re talking about gratitude. So, don’t say things like I’m amazing. We’re going to be friends for a long time. Now, let’s eat.”

With those words, Hyunsung turned around and started setting the table.

A smile began to spread across Baek Du-soon’s face as he watched him.

30 minutes later.

The two finished breakfast.

Baek Du-soon took a sip of the coffee in front of him and asked Hyunsung,

“What happened?”

“Huh? What about?”

“The kimchi stew. Honestly, I’m sorry to my mom, but it was more delicious than what she makes.”

“I told you from the beginning, you could look forward to it.”

“I thought you were just saying that. What’s the secret?”

Baek Du-soon looked at Hyunsung with curiosity.

Then Hyunsung smiled and continued,

“The key is to boil the pork first.”

“Boil the pork first? Not boil it with the kimchi?”

“Yeah, first boil the pork with a spoonful of salted shrimp [a common Korean ingredient] over medium heat for about 10 minutes, then……”

Hyunsung began to explain how to make kimchi stew. Of course, that method was taught by Baek Jong-won [a famous South Korean chef] on TV in his past life. The key was to put the pork in first and boil it.

As Hyunsung finished explaining, Baek Du-soon immediately opened his mouth.

“So, everything else is similar, and the key is to boil the pork first to make the broth?”

“That’s right, easy, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but it’s amazing. That boiling the pork first makes such a difference in taste.”

“That’s how it is. Anyway, let’s confirm one more thing.”

“Confirm?”

“Yeah, about what you said earlier about your mother.”

He wanted to ask from the beginning. What Baek Du-soon said earlier in the greenhouse about wanting to bring his mother here kept lingering in his mind.

“My mom?”

“Yeah, you said earlier that you wanted to bring your mother here later? I’m trying to confirm that a little more.”

“Confirm?”

“Yeah, you said 10 years earlier? Maybe we can bring that time forward.”

“Is that true?”

Baek Du-soon’s eyes sparkled. That’s how much he wants to bring his mother here sooner.

Hyunsung asked again,

“What does your mother think?”

“My mom? If the conditions are right, my mom would come here tomorrow.”

“Really?”

“Of course. But why are you asking that?”

“One year.”

“One year?”

Baek Du-soon stared at Hyunsung. He is asking what that one year means.

“Yeah, we’re going to start construction this fall.”

“Construction? What construction?”

“We’re going to build a wild vegetable factory. Of course, we’re going to build more farms too. It will take about a year to complete. So……”

Hyunsung paused for a moment before continuing.

“Once the factory is completed, how about your mother working there? She can work even in a wheelchair.”

“Is that true?”

“Yeah, of course. I’m not the kind of guy to talk nonsense to a friend.”

“Hyunsung……!”

Baek Du-soon suddenly stood up and grabbed Hyunsung’s hand. A strange light began to flicker in his eyes.