Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 489

491

“Is that really true?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh had just heard something unbelievable. It was a report on the hospital’s operations.

Three months had passed since Hyunseong attracted the hospital, and eight clinics moved in. Among them, the oriental medicine clinic had a line of patients all day long.

Of course, he had heard that the director was skilled in acupuncture when he was in Seoul, but he couldn’t believe that patients would be lining up all day long in a small rural town.

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young continued his report.

“Yes, it’s true. At first, I thought that even if the acupuncture was excellent, there would be a limit in a rural area, but that’s not the case.”

“What’s the reason?”

“CEO Kim stepped in directly.”

“CEO Kim? How?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t help but tilt his head. Of course, he knew that Hyunseong’s abilities were superior to others, but he was still just an ordinary person. He wondered what he could do by directly getting involved in the hospital’s affairs.

“He deployed vehicles.”

“Vehicles? What are you talking about?”

“You know that CEO Kim operates vehicles for the restaurant.”

“Of course, I know that. I already knew that he operates two 25-seater buses and three vans. But why is that relevant?”

“He deployed all those vehicles there.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t understand something in Chief Manager Choi Jin-young’s explanation.

It was the way the vehicles were operated.

Those vehicles were originally needed for the restaurant. But he couldn’t understand why they were deployed to the hospital instead of the restaurant.

After thinking for a moment, Chairman Shin Chun-oh immediately asked.

“Aren’t those vehicles meant to bring customers to the restaurant?”

“Yes, that’s right. But he expanded the purpose.”

“Expanded?”

“Yes, while picking up people coming to the restaurant, he also transports patients coming to the hospital. After all, the distance between the restaurant and the hospital is only 10 minutes.”

“So, he’s adding an extra 10 minutes to the hospital route while he’s already making the restaurant run?”

“Yes, that’s exactly it. And the best part is that it also helps the restaurant’s business. The way it works is…”

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young continued to explain the situation in detail. As his explanation continued, Chairman Shin Chun-oh began to nod as if he understood.

And when his explanation finally ended, Chairman Shin Chun-oh immediately continued.

“So, half of the customers coming to the hospital stop by the restaurant?”

“Yes, that’s right. So, it helps both the hospital and the restaurant.”

“Haha, isn’t that like killing two birds with one stone? Serving the villagers, and the restaurant’s sales are also increasing.”

“That’s right. He’s really an amazing guy. And not only the oriental medicine clinic but also other hospitals are seeing steady patients thanks to him.”

“Of course, they would. It’s a rural area, so there aren’t many buses, and CEO Kim is taking over that role.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh nodded.

That would be the case. In a rural area, cars would be rare, and there wouldn’t be many buses either. In that situation, if you could just call and get a ride, there would be no better transportation for patients trying to go to the hospital.

And half of them would also stop by the restaurant, so it would be helpful for the restaurant as well.

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young continued.

“And there’s another reason why there are many patients at the hospital.”

“Another reason? What is it?”

“It’s the concentration phenomenon that you predicted, Chairman.”

“Concentration phenomenon?”

“Yes, didn’t you say that if eight hospitals were to open at once in a rural area where there are no proper hospitals, patients in the area would flock to that place? At first, there was no such phenomenon, but now, after about two months, the word has spread throughout Hongcheon.”

“So, people are flocking there?”

“Yes, that’s right. And since CEO Kim is taking people there, it’s natural that patients would flock there.”

“In the end, it’s a win-win situation for everyone. And CEO Kim has the added benefit of serving the village, so it’s even better for him.”

It’s not just killing two birds with one stone, but three. It helps the hospital and the restaurant, and he also gets the reputation of serving the village.

Then, Chief Manager Choi Jin-young spoke again.

“That’s not all.”

“Huh? What else is there?”

“The terminal commercial district is flourishing day by day.”

“Terminal commercial district?”

“Yes, since the hospital is right next to the terminal, the commercial district there is booming these days. So, buildings are constantly increasing in that area.”

That would be natural. If people flock there, the commercial district around it would come alive. So, buildings would gradually increase.

“That’s right. If people flock there, the commercial district would naturally come alive. In the end, it proves that CEO Kim’s judgment was right once again.”

“I think so. That’s what he said when he was building the hospital.”

What Hyunseong said when he started building the hospital was a prediction about the commercial district. He said that if the hospital thrives, the commercial district would also come alive. And that it would help the entire village.

And that came true just two months after the hospital opened.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked again.

“And what about the medical tourism we talked about before?”

“For now, it’s been put on hold.”

“I guess it’s not necessary. There are enough patients even without it.”

“Yes, that’s right. Even now, you have to wait at least an hour to get treatment, so I don’t think they feel the need to do that. So, CEO Kim is worried these days.”

“Worried?”

“Yes, about increasing the number of hospitals. Other hospitals are not at that level yet, but in the case of oriental medicine, it’s already so crowded that he thinks it will be even more crowded later.”

That would be natural.

It’s only been two months since it opened. But even now, you have to wait an hour to get treatment, so it’s natural that more patients will flock to the hospital in the future.

Besides, there aren’t many people coming to the restaurant in winter, but when spring comes and the cherry blossoms start to bloom, the number of people will increase several times more than now. Then, the number of patients visiting the hospital will naturally increase.

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young continued.

“And there’s a new interesting report.”

“An interesting report… Okay, what is it?”

“A few days ago, CEO Kim met Kim Min-jung, the director of the oriental medicine clinic, and asked him something.”

“What…?”

“About creating a complex. A medical complex.”

“Haha, did you just say a medical complex?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh was dumbfounded.

What is a medical complex?

In the end, it means building more hospitals. And if it’s a complex, it won’t be just one or two.

An individual creating a medical complex?

Does that make sense?

Just a few months ago, Hyunseong even advertised in a daily newspaper to attract hospitals. And now, after a few months, he’s going to create a medical complex…

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked again out of curiosity.

“So, what decision was made?”

“The director of the oriental medicine clinic said he would think about it more.”

“Does that mean that if he gets the consent of the director of the oriental medicine clinic, he will implement the project?”

“Yes, that’s right. But from the director of the oriental medicine clinic’s point of view, it seems difficult to agree.”

“Of course, it would be. It’s a battle for the pie. The question is how CEO Kim will persuade him.”

That would be natural.

If you’re alone and then many people come in, the competition will be more intense. In the end, the key is the number of patients. How many patients can you attract?

Once that calculation is done, the next thing will be solved automatically.

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young continued.

“So, I said a little while ago that medical tourism is on hold. If a medical complex is created, I think medical tourism will be implemented immediately.”

“That would be natural. But how many more oriental medicine clinics are they going to add?”

“The ultimate goal is ten.”

“Haha, ten…”

At the word ten, Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t help but laugh.

He always feels that he can’t keep up with Hyunseong’s thoughts. To attract ten oriental medicine clinics in that rural area, does that make sense?

But the problem is that it’s probably not just empty talk.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh looked at Chief Manager Choi Jin-young and asked.

“Chief Manager Choi, do you think it’s possible to maintain ten oriental medicine clinics in that rural area?”

“That’s… Haa!”

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young couldn’t help but sigh.

No matter how he thinks about it, it’s not possible.

Of course, he knows that Hyunseong’s abilities are different from others, but even so, it doesn’t make sense to attract ten oriental medicine clinics in that rural area and operate them normally, not just two or three.

As Chief Manager Choi Jin-young sighed, Chairman Shin Chun-oh nodded as if he understood and continued.

“In the end, Chief Manager Choi’s judgment is pessimistic?”

“That’s my honest feeling. But…”

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young left a lingering feeling at the end of his words.

Then, Chairman Shin Chun-oh immediately asked.

“But? What does that mean?”

“It’s CEO Kim that’s bothering me.”

“Bothering you? In the end, does that mean that you can’t say it’s unconditionally pessimistic because it’s CEO Kim?”

“Yes, that’s right. No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t make sense realistically, but since it’s CEO Kim, not someone else, I can’t just look at it pessimistically. He’s done a lot of things so far.”

In fact, it was an impossible case from the beginning when he said he would attract hospitals to that rural area. To attract eight hospitals, not just one or two.

But he managed to attract eight hospitals in just two weeks after advertising in a daily newspaper.

So, even now, he can’t understand it in his head, but he can’t say unconditionally that it’s impossible.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh continued.

“In the end, does that mean that we can only watch this time as well?”

“I’m sorry, but there’s no other way…”

“Honestly, I have the same thoughts as Chief Manager Choi. I know it doesn’t make sense, but I can’t just say it’s impossible because the target is CEO Kim, not someone else. As Chief Manager Choi knows, there’s nothing that friend hasn’t done if he’s made up his mind.”

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young nodded. After all, his thoughts were the same as Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s.

Then, Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked again.

“If they build another hospital, where is the site?”

“It’s right next to the current oriental medicine clinic. Construction has already begun there. It will be completed in April next year.”

“Construction has already begun even though the director of the oriental medicine clinic hasn’t agreed yet?”

“Yes, that’s right. But that doesn’t mean they’re building a hospital in that building without the director’s consent. They’re building it as a general commercial building for now, and if the director agrees later, they’ll use it as a hospital.”

“Hmm… I guess so. CEO Kim wouldn’t do anything against the rules.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh nodded. And immediately continued.

“Okay, let’s keep watching that issue and move on to the academy issue. Did you say you’ve found all the academy instructors?”

“It’s in progress. The English instructor has been contacted at his alma mater, Kangsang University, and Park Beom-soo has agreed to take on Japanese. And Chairman, you will be in charge of Chinese and Korean…”

“Wait a minute!”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh raised his hand to stop Chief Manager Choi Jin-young’s words. Then he immediately continued.

“About that Chinese and Korean, I don’t think I can handle it.”

“Yes? What do you mean? Isn’t that something that’s been confirmed for years? But if you say you can’t handle it now…?”

“So, I can’t sleep these days just thinking about that issue. What should I do? Haa!”

As soon as Chairman Shin Chun-oh finished speaking, he sighed. That means he had a lot of worries.

Seeing that, Chief Manager Choi Jin-young immediately asked.

“Didn’t you say at first that you could handle both Chinese and Korean?”

“I did then.”

“But?”

“Now, no matter how I think about it, I don’t think it’s possible.”

“Is there a special reason?”

“I’m not confident. As Chief Manager Choi knows, I’ll be 70 in just a few years. I don’t think I have the physical strength. So, about that…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh carefully looked at Chief Manager Choi Jin-young at the end of his words.

Then, Chief Manager Choi Jin-young, as if conscious of that gaze, made a strange expression and continued.

“Chairman, why are you looking at me?”

“Can’t Chief Manager Choi help me?”

“Me? How can I?”

“I’ll take responsibility for Chinese, so can’t Chief Manager Choi teach Korean?”

“No, how can I…?”

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t say anything.

He graduated from a junior college and has only been Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s driver until now. How can he teach someone now?

In fact, he had a dream when he was young.

It was to be a school teacher. But that’s not what he thought it would be. At that time, he had no choice but to go to a junior college instead of a teacher’s college. It was a priority to graduate quickly and earn money.

Of course, that feeling hasn’t completely disappeared from his mind. But he’s never thought about teaching someone now. But suddenly, he’s being asked to teach Korean…

Then, Chairman Shin Chun-oh spoke again.

“I remember.”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

“Chief Manager Choi’s childhood dream. It was clearly written on the first resume.”

“No, do you still remember that?”

“Of course. How can I forget that dream? I also had the same dream.”

“Yes? You too?”

That’s something he never knew.

Then, Chairman Shin Chun-oh spoke again.

“I also dreamed of being a school teacher until high school. But my father…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh paused for a moment and then continued.

“Anyway, that’s all in the past, and I’m trying to find that dream again now. So, won’t Chief Manager Choi also try to find that forgotten dream with me?”

“Can I really…?”

“Don’t be too burdened. It’s not like you’re teaching middle and high school students, but teaching Korean to grandfathers and grandmothers in the countryside. I think Chief Manager Choi can do it well enough.”

“…”

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young couldn’t answer easily. So, he couldn’t say anything.

Then, Chairman Shin Chun-oh opened his mouth again.

“Chief Manager Choi, I’m asking you a favor. Please save my face. If I break my promise here again, I’ll have no face to see CEO Kim. Didn’t I break my promise about the factory last time? So, please…”

“Um…”

After thinking for a while, Chief Manager Choi Jin-young slowly nodded and continued.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll think about it seriously.”

His heart was already beating fast. He never thought he would have this opportunity in his 50s.

Dream.

To achieve that dream he had when he was very young now…

Before he knew it, a smile began to spread across his face.

492

Regressing to be a Building Owner