Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 491

The conversation with Director Kim Min-joong regarding the establishment of the Korean medicine complex concluded smoothly.

He had only one condition.

To guarantee holidays from Saturday afternoon to Sunday.

He would agree to the establishment of the Korean medicine complex if that condition was met.

“One of the reasons I moved down here from Seoul was to enjoy leisure and rest on the weekends,” he said.

Hyeonseong fully understood his perspective and agreed to proceed accordingly.

The establishment of the Korean medicine complex began the very next day.

The first thing he did was place an advertisement in the daily newspaper, just like before. The conditions were the same: free rent and guaranteed income for five years.

A week after the advertisement was placed, inquiries started coming in from various places. After a fortnight [two weeks], people began visiting in person, one or two at a time. But even then, no one had made up their mind.

Like that, a month passed.

One day.

Five people came at once. It turned out that Director Kim Min-joong of Minjoong Korean Medicine Clinic had introduced them.

Introducing someone meant he himself was satisfied. It meant that Kim Min-joong, who had moved down earlier, was genuinely happy with his current life.

In the end, all five people introduced by Director Kim Min-joong decided to move down.

The biggest factor in their decision was the country house provided by Hyeonseong.

Of course, the construction cost of the country house was their responsibility.

Hyeonseong provided the land and vegetable garden on which to build the country house. The area was 150 pyeong [approximately 5,334 square feet] per household.

About a month passed like that.

This time, five more people came down at once. The people who had decided to come earlier brought their acquaintances with them, one by one.

In the end, in just two months, the targeted 10 Korean medicine clinics were all recruited, and a total of 11 Korean medicine complexes, including Minjoong Korean Medicine Clinic, were established.

Then one day, Kim Min-joong came to visit again after business hours.

“Welcome, Director!”

Hyeonseong’s voice was full of joy because Kim Min-joong was the person who played the biggest role in establishing the Korean medicine complex.

Hyeonseong immediately got up from his seat and prepared ginger tea for him.

“This is ginger tea that the director likes. I heard you liked it last time, so I prepared it especially.”

“Oh, did you prepare it on purpose for me?”

“It’s the least I can do since you helped me build the medical complex so smoothly.”

Slurp.

Kim Min-joong took a sip of the ginger tea that Hyeonseong offered and continued.

“There’s a lot of ginger in it, isn’t there? It tastes very good.”

“I’m even more grateful that it suits your taste. And thank you again for this. Thanks to you, I was able to build the medical complex without a hitch.”

“If you say that, I should be thanking you. Thanks to you, I can live with my friends. Thanks to you, my old age won’t be boring.”

That’s right.

Five of his friends had come down to build the Korean medicine complex this time. And those friends brought their acquaintances, so all 10 of them knew each other.

That would mean a total of 11 households, and if you add the office managers of each clinic, a total of 22 households would live together.

If they live together in the same occupation, the bond will be special.

Perhaps life in the countryside could have been boring, but living with those people would prevent that.

Hyeonseong continued.

“I’m even more grateful that you feel that way.”

“It’s all thanks to the country house that you provided. My friends made up their minds after seeing the house I live in.”

“Ah, yes…….”

“Honestly, who wouldn’t want that house? Moreover, you provide the land and vegetable garden for free and only charge the construction cost for the house.”

Hyeonseong nodded slightly.

In fact, he had put his heart and soul into the houses where the Korean medicine clinic directors and office managers would live from the beginning.

In order to attract them to the countryside, the income of the Korean medicine clinic was important, but their living environment was just as important.

So he envisioned a country house with a vegetable garden.

Many people who live in the city dream of owning a country house. And the vegetable garden was also important, not just the house. Gardening is also an enjoyable activity in the countryside.

Kim Min-joong smiled slightly and opened his mouth again.

“Actually, now that I mention it, one of the reasons I decided to come here was the housing conditions that you suggested. Who in the world would suggest such conditions? So, I have a question for you.”

“Yes, anything.”

“What’s the reason?”

“Reason? What reason are you talking about?”

Hyeonseong tilted his head, confused by the question.

Kim Min-joong continued immediately.

“I’m talking about the reason why you are putting so much effort into this village. I heard that you donated the village’s marketplace for the village, and that you will soon be running an academy for free for the students and the elderly in the village.”

Kim Min-joong took a breath and continued.

“Honestly, doing that kind of thing isn’t easy, is it? It’s not something you can do just because you have a lot of money. If you don’t mind, can you tell me the reason?”

Kim Min-joong’s expression looked quite serious as he spoke, showing how sincerely he wanted to know the reason for Hyeonseong’s actions.

“Would you understand if I said it was a calling?”

“A calling?”

“Yes, I think it’s a mission given to me.”

That’s what he thought about when he regressed.

In conclusion, wasn’t it an opportunity to get another chance?

In that situation, Hyeonseong thought that there was no point in regressing if he only focused on personal wealth and comfort. He felt he should at least consider the lives of the people around him.

So the first thing he cared about was his family, then his friends, and now the village. He thought that giving back in that way was the mission he had to fulfill after receiving another chance.

Kim Min-joong tilted his head and asked again.

“Well, I don’t really understand the meaning of that calling. In the end, it means that you had that feeling yourself, but I don’t understand that feeling. It’s human nature to want to have more and more as you have more.”

“I have a special reason.”

“A special reason?”

“Yes, that’s right. But I’m sorry, I can’t tell you more than that…….”

It was unavoidable for Hyeonseong. It was absurd to tell him the truth.

Unfortunately, that was all Hyeonseong could say.

Click.

Kim Min-joong smacked his lips as if he was disappointed and opened his mouth again.

“Yes, I understand. Anyway, I don’t think I’m capable of understanding it yet. The reason I came to see you today is to tell you something in advance.”

“Yes, what……?”

“This time, our Korean medicine doctors got together and decided on something: free treatment.”

“Free treatment?”

Hyeonseong’s voice grew louder without him realizing it at the words “free treatment.” The idea of providing free treatment meant they would volunteer for the village.

That’s why his voice grew louder without him realizing it—he was so happy.

Kim Min-joong was rather surprised by Hyeonseong’s delight.

“Oh, why are you so surprised by that?”

“I’m not surprised, I’m happy. The fact that you’re providing free treatment means that you’re volunteering.”

“You understand right away. Yes, that’s right. It’s about volunteering. It’s difficult to do every month, but we’ve decided to provide free treatment for one day every quarter.”

“So you’re saying you’re going to provide free treatment four times a year?”

“Yes, that’s right. We’re now members of this community, so I think we should do that much.”

Thump.

Hyeonseong immediately got up from his seat and bowed 90 degrees.

“Thank you so much.”

“Are you that happy?”

“Of course, I’m happy. That’s a great help to the villagers.”

“It’s all thanks to you.”

“Yes? Because of me?”

Hyeonseong couldn’t understand.

He had never met the Korean medicine doctors as a group, and he had never mentioned such a thing when he signed the contract individually. He couldn’t understand why Kim Min-joong was saying it was his fault.

Kim Min-joong smiled and continued.

“It’s not that I’m blaming you. I’m trying to repay you even a little bit.”

“Repay?”

“Yes, didn’t you give us all 150 pyeong of land for free? The land value alone must be considerable. So we feel a sense of obligation, don’t we?”

“Haha, did you just say obligation?”

Hyeonseong couldn’t help but laugh at the word “obligation.”

It was something he had never considered.

The first thing that came to his mind when he decided to build a medical complex was their residence. If they moved here, housing would be essential.

Of course, he didn’t have any worries from the beginning.

But the worry didn’t last long.

Purpose.

He thought about what the purpose was first. The reason he considered the medical complex was for the development of the village, and the changes that 10 more Korean medicine clinics would bring.

Thinking about the changes, giving 150 pyeong of land to the clinic directors and office managers was not a big deal. He didn’t regret it because he thought it was an investment for the village.

But now the result is coming back as free treatment, which is a benefit for the residents.

And Kim Min-joong is talking about it in terms of obligation.

Hyeonseong smiled and continued.

“I didn’t give you the land for that purpose, so why are you talking about obligation?”

“We’re not kids, so we don’t have to say everything explicitly, do we? Anyway, we wanted to volunteer for the village in some way, and we decided that we could treat them, so we decided to do that. So please keep that in mind…….”

Kim Min-joong continued to speak, but the conclusion was that they would provide free treatment on the last Sunday of the month at the end of each quarter.

Of course, the target was the elderly over 60 years old.

When Kim Min-joong finished speaking, Hyeonseong bowed his head once more and continued.

“Yes, I understand. I will inform the village chief of that fact. It must not have been an easy decision, but thank you for making that decision.”

“Do you know what a drop in the bucket is?”

“Of course, but why are you suddenly saying that?”

“That’s what we are, compared to what you are doing for the village.”

“Ha, Mr. President…….”

Hyeonseong just laughed lightly.

After that, he talked to Kim Min-joong about various things and they parted ways.

The important thing is that from now on, the elderly in the village will be able to receive free treatment, even if it’s only for one day every quarter.

Free treatment.

It’s easy to say, but it’s not easy to put into action. Kim Min-joong and the others managed to do that difficult thing. He was just grateful to them.

Hyeonseong left the office and went home.

About 10 minutes passed.

Knock knock.

The person who opened the front door was Baek Doo-soon.

“Mr. President! I’m here!”

Baek Doo-soon’s voice was brighter than ever, which meant something had happened.

Hyeonseong asked right away.

“Stop joking around, what’s going on?”

“Big news!”

His tone was still high.

“Big news? What is it?”

“Don’t be surprised. That’s…….”

Baek Doo-soon couldn’t say what it was all at once and was stalling. He clenched his fists again and opened his mouth.

“I’m finally going to be a dad!”

“What?”

“I’m going to be a dad! Yubin told me a little while ago when I got off work. As soon as I heard the news, I ran to you. Wow! Something like this is happening to me…….”

Light began to shine in Baek Doo-soon’s eyes as he spoke.

Hyeonseong opened his arms and said.

“Hey, Baek Doo-soon, congratulations! You’re finally going to be a dad.”

The two hugged as if they had promised.

Just a few months ago, when he came to visit, his face was full of worries because his mother-in-law and mother kept fighting.

What Hyeonseong said at that time was to talk about his grandchild.

It was to give the two mothers a grandchild as soon as possible.

But that has now come true like a lie.

Baek Doo-soon continued.

“It’s all thanks to you.”

“Hey, what are you talking about?”

“You said that the way to stop our two mothers from fighting was to give them a grandchild as soon as possible, right?”

“That’s right, but what does that have to do with me?”

“Hehe.”

Baek Doo-soon suddenly started laughing instead of talking.

“You son of a bitch, why suddenly?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? Anyway, the effect appeared today. It’s been 3 months.”

“Pfft!”

Hyeonseong couldn’t help but laugh.

Come to think of it, that was almost 3 months ago. It was just like the saying, ‘When the crow flies, the pear falls’ [a Korean proverb meaning a coincidence].

“Now you know what I mean, right? Hehe.”

“Anyway…….”

“Oh, this is not the time for me to be doing this. Yubin said she wanted to eat pig’s feet. I’m going.”

Baek Doo-soon turned around after saying that.

“Hey, wait a minute!”

Hyeonseong hurriedly called Baek Doo-soon. Then he quickly took out a check from his wallet and handed it to him.

“Buy your wife everything she wants to eat with this. Okay, go now.”

“Oh! Our president is so generous. Anyway, I’m so glad I have a great friend. Thanks, I’m going then.”

With those words, Baek Doo-soon disappeared.

Smirk.

Hyeonseong smiled as he looked at the front door where Baek Doo-soon had disappeared.

“You son of a bitch, you’re so talented.”