Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 495

“Why? What’s wrong?”

Hyun-sung needed to know why Lee Seok-man was acting like this.

But Lee Seok-man kept repeating the same thing. Hyun-sung had no choice but to get Lee Seok-man into the truck and drive off.

He figured something must have happened at home.

But that thought didn’t last long.

Smile.

About a minute after leaving the senior center, Lee Seok-man looked at Hyun-sung and smiled. Even though Hyun-sung was driving, he couldn’t miss the obvious look of happiness on Lee Seok-man’s face.

Hyun-sung asked immediately,

“What are you so happy about?”

“Just… thankful.”

Lee Seok-man replied shyly with just one word.

About ten minutes passed as they drove.

The truck soon arrived at Lee Seok-man’s house. All the way there, Lee Seok-man only answered Hyun-sung’s questions briefly and said nothing else.

He was usually a man of few words anyway, so Hyun-sung just assumed that was how he was.

But one thing was certain.

Lee Seok-man was in a good mood. His expression alone was enough to tell.

“Wait in the room for a bit. I’ll be right in after I go to the kitchen.”

“Pardon? In the room?”

“Yes, go on.”

With those words, Lee Seok-man disappeared into the kitchen.

Hyun-sung was left alone, feeling awkward.

Lee Seok-man going into the kitchen meant he was preparing food. In that situation, pretending not to notice and going into the room didn’t seem right.

Besides, Lee Seok-man lived alone, so there would be no one in the room anyway.

Step.

After a moment of hesitation, Hyun-sung headed for the kitchen. He didn’t know what was going on, but he felt it was right to go to the kitchen first.

Creak.

The old wooden kitchen door made a sound as soon as he opened it.

Lee Seok-man’s voice was immediately heard.

“I told you I’d be right in if you waited in the room…”

He was heating something on the gas stove.

Hyun-sung approached and asked,

“What is that?”

“Soup.”

“Soup?”

“Yeah, seaweed soup.”

The word ‘seaweed soup’ instantly brought a thought to Hyun-sung’s mind. It was the word ‘birthday’.

“Is it perhaps… Grandpa, is it your birthday today?”

“That’s right, it’s this old man’s birthday. So I thought we could have a meal together. Am I being a nuisance?”

“Pardon? Oh, no. Grandpa, I’ll be right back. Please wait just 10, no, 15 minutes.”

With those words, Hyun-sung immediately left the kitchen and got into the truck. Then he stepped on the gas towards the terminal [bus or train station].

Lee Seok-man had been living alone for quite some time. Hyun-sung already knew that.

The reason he brought Hyun-sung home today was that it was his birthday and he needed someone to eat with.

But it’s not like Lee Seok-man doesn’t have children.

He has two sons and a daughter, as far as Hyun-sung knew.

But a moment ago, there was no sign of them at his house. Even though it was his birthday.

In the end, no one came. That’s why Lee Seok-man took Hyun-sung home.

Tsk.

Hyun-sung clicked his tongue as he drove, feeling sorry for him.

Some time later.

Hyun-sung returned to Lee Seok-man’s house with several black plastic bags in his hands.

As Hyun-sung entered the room, Lee Seok-man immediately asked,

“Where did you go?”

“I went to the terminal for a bit. Grandpa, here.”

Hyun-sung handed Lee Seok-man the bags he had brought.

“What’s all this?”

“I bought a few things in a hurry. This one has thermal underwear and socks. And this bag has snacks and candies for you to enjoy when you’re bored. I bought all kinds of candies, so pick and choose.”

“Oh, I don’t know what to do, I feel so bad……”

Lee Seok-man scratched his head, feeling sorry, but he was smiling. Seeing his expression made Hyun-sung feel even more sorry for him.

“Grandpa, let’s eat now.”

Hyun-sung removed the cloth covering the table.

“……”

Hyun-sung was momentarily speechless.

All that was on the table was seaweed soup, rice, kimchi [fermented cabbage], and some old pickled sesame leaves.

It felt like he had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer.

‘What have I been doing all this time?’

A sense of self-reproach washed over him. He had been running around trying to do something for the village, but he realized he had been neglecting the most important things.

Then Lee Seok-man spoke.

“The side dishes are not much……”

“No, it’s okay. I like seaweed soup too. And I like pickled sesame leaves too. Come on, Grandpa, let’s eat together.”

There was nothing he could do about the situation now.

He couldn’t do anything. He thought that the best thing to do was to enjoy the seaweed soup and make Lee Seok-man happy.

“Oh! Grandpa, should I sing you a birthday song?”

“A song?”

“Yes, I’m quite a singer. Okay, here I go.”

Hyun-sung started singing right away.

At first, Lee Seok-man scratched his head, but then he slowly started clapping.

-Happy birthday to our beloved Grandpa~~~-

And so, the birthday song echoed through the room.

***

Hyun-sung left Lee Seok-man’s house and headed for the marketplace at the entrance of the village.

“Welcome, Mr. President.”

It was Lee Soon-ok, the head of the women’s association, who greeted Hyun-sung.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

The two entered the office.

“……”

Hyun-sung didn’t say anything for a while, as if he was deep in thought.

Lee Soon-ok was also silent. She sensed something serious in Hyun-sung’s expression, so she was waiting for him to speak.

After a while.

Hyun-sung finally opened his mouth.

“Ms. Head of the Women’s Association.”

“Yes, Mr. President. What’s wrong? Why are you so serious?”

“Actually, a little while ago……”

Hyun-sung began to explain what had happened with Lee Seok-man. As Hyun-sung explained, Lee Soon-ok listened quietly, nodding without saying a word. Then, at some point, Lee Soon-ok lowered her head.

And finally, when Hyun-sung finished his explanation, she immediately said,

“It’s my fault.”

“No, why is it only your fault, Ms. Head of the Women’s Association? That’s not true. So don’t say that.”

“No, honestly, I should have taken care of that……”

“Ms. Head of the Women’s Association.”

Hyun-sung interrupted Lee Soon-ok before she could finish her sentence. Then he immediately continued,

“The reason I came to you is not to find out who is to blame, but to prevent such things from happening in the future. It’s already in the past, and it’s no use talking about it now.”

“That’s true, but still……”

“No, that’s not true. There’s no need for you to take responsibility for it. In fact, it’s not your fault. As I said a moment ago, we just need to work together to prevent such things from happening in the future.”

What good would it do to dwell on the past? The important thing is the future. The key is what we will do in the future.

And if we were to assign blame, it wouldn’t be just her responsibility.

There’s the village chief and the group leaders. And Hyun-sung cannot be free from that responsibility either. It’s everyone’s responsibility anyway.

Lee Soon-ok slowly opened her mouth.

“Then what should we do in the future……?”

“First, Ms. Head of the Women’s Association, please investigate those who live alone or are in difficult circumstances. I mean those who are really struggling.”

“Those who are really struggling?”

“Yes, there may be elderly people who are struggling even though they have children. Sometimes, there are people who are neglected because they have children. But those children don’t care about them. Even if the country can’t take care of them, we shouldn’t make that mistake.”

He had seen it a lot in his past life. There were cases where the children were not known to be alive or dead, but they were excluded from government support because they were registered as having children. Hyun-sung is saying that we should not create such cases now.

“Ah, yes. I understand what you mean. Then when should I finish the investigation?”

“Would it be possible by tomorrow evening?”

“Tomorrow evening?”

“Yes, I want to take care of at least one meal for them first if possible. It may not be a big deal for us, but it seems like it would be a difficult meal for them.”

“Yes, I understand. Since you’ve said that, I have to finish the investigation by tomorrow no matter what. But how will we support them……?”

Lee Soon-ok looked at Hyun-sung with curiosity.

Then Hyun-sung immediately continued,

“We will deliver side dishes every morning.”

“Every day?”

“Yes, I exercise every morning anyway. Until now, I’ve just been riding my bike, but from now on, I can exercise with a lunch box on my bike. And since there are three of us, it will be enough.”

Hyun-sung was thinking of Chairman Shin Chun-oh and Chief Manager Choi Jin-young.

He thought it would be perfect to load up the side dishes and deliver them instead of just riding a bike at that time.

Of course, he would have to check with them, but he didn’t think they would object either. After all, their purpose in coming down to this rural area was to volunteer.

Lee Soon-ok asked again,

“Are you talking about Chairman Nongshim and his chief manager who came down from Seoul?”

“Yes, that’s right. They will gladly accept it. So you don’t have to worry about the delivery issue.”

“But will they really……?”

“Why, are you worried?”

“I heard he’s the former chairman of Nongshim [a large food company]? Are you saying that such a person will deliver side dishes?”

“Yes, the chairman I know is more than capable of doing that. So you don’t have to worry about that part.”

Despite Hyun-sung’s words, Lee Soon-ok only tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.

Well, maybe it’s a natural reaction.

It wouldn’t be easy for someone who used to be a chairman to deliver lunch boxes.

“So, do I just have to do the investigation?”

“Of course not. You have other things to do, Ms. Head of the Women’s Association.”

“Yes? What……?”

“It’s going to be hard to do it often, but I hope you can visit them at least once a month. Of course, I don’t mean for you to do it alone, but with the members of the women’s association. Maybe what they need is not side dishes, but to miss people [to feel lonely and want companionship].”

That’s what he felt while looking at Lee Seok-man today. They miss the person they want to share their birthday meal with, more than the side dishes.

“Yes, I understand. Now that I think about it, I think I’ve forgotten a lot of things. I’ll think again about what’s important and pay attention in the future.”

“Yes, I will also reflect on this opportunity and try to take care of things more carefully in the future.”

The two finished by thanking each other.

***

Hyun-sung returned to the office and immediately called the chef, Kim Il-soo.

“Did you call me, Mr. President?”

“There you go again. Never mind, sit here.”

As Kim Il-soo sat across from him, Hyun-sung asked abruptly,

“How was business today?”

“It wasn’t bad today either. I don’t know for sure yet because the dinner business hasn’t ended, but it was still good for a weekday. And anyway, I’m just waiting for next month when the cherry blossoms start to bloom, because it’ll be a war then [very busy]. Anyway, you didn’t call me because of that, so what’s up?”

“I’m sorry, but I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor? What favor?”

Kim Il-soo tilted his head at the word favor and looked at Hyun-sung.

Then Hyun-sung immediately continued to explain.

“Actually……”

Hyun-sung began to explain what had happened today. As Hyun-sung explained, Kim Il-soo began to nod as if he understood.

Since he didn’t beat around the bush and told him right away, he understood easily.

When Hyun-sung finished his explanation, Kim Il-soo immediately asked,

“So, in the end, you’re saying to make side dish lunch boxes every evening?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Then I’ll deliver the side dishes the next morning.”

“Okay, that’s easy. Anyway, there are side dishes left over in the evening, so I’ll use that……”

“No, not that.”

Hyun-sung immediately interrupted Kim Il-soo.

Then Kim Il-soo immediately asked,

“Not that? What do you mean? Does that mean you don’t want me to use the leftover side dishes?”

“Yeah, that’s just leftovers, isn’t it?”

“Well, yeah. But it’s not like you can’t eat it……”

“Make it with new ones.”

“So, you’re saying not to use the leftover food, but to make it completely new?”

“Yeah.”

Hyun-sung nodded.

Since he was making side dishes anyway, he wanted to make completely new food, not leftover food. It bothered him to give the elderly people food that had been left over, especially since it was for them.

“Is it really necessary to do that? Even if it’s leftover food, it’s not like it’s untouched side dishes……”

“Still, I don’t like that. I want to make it new……”

“Okay, I know what you mean. So you want the side dishes that were made first, not the leftover side dishes?”

“Yeah, it’s for the elderly, so I can’t give them leftovers.”

“Hmm……”

Kim Il-soo seemed to be thinking for a moment, then immediately opened his mouth.

“Then how about this method?”

“What method?”

“The last time we make side dishes is at 4 p.m. At that time, we can set aside the side dishes for the elderly in advance as soon as we make them. Then it’s like they’re eating them first, not eating the leftovers.”

“Oh! Yeah, there was such a method.”

Even if it was the same side dish, it felt different.

Hyun-sung stretched out his palm forward. Then Kim Il-soo also bumped his palm.

Clap!

The two’s palms made a cheerful sound in the air.

It was the moment when the side dishes for the elderly were solved again.