Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 506

508

“You’re opening a video store?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh found it hard to understand.

When Hyun-sung went up to Incheon, he hadn’t heard anything about renting videos. But a little while ago, he heard something strange from Chief Manager Choi Jin-young.

It was that Hyun-sung had taken over a video rental store, expanded it, and was about to start business soon.

Was this even possible?

To leave a restaurant that makes 1 billion won a day and go up there to run a video rental store.

Of course, there’s no such thing as nobility in business. But even so, a video rental store was something he had never even thought of, so Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t help but be surprised.

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young continued his answer.

“Yes, that’s right. Now, almost all the preparations are finished, and they are finally hiring employees.”

“Employees?”

“Yes, delivery staff.”

“Does that mean you’re delivering videos like a Chinese restaurant?”

“I think that’s what it means.”

“Delivery…….”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh still couldn’t understand. He knew about Chinese restaurants delivering food, but he had never heard of video stores delivering.

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young’s explanation followed immediately.

“It’s rare, but sometimes video rental stores do deliver. But the reason why rental stores use delivery staff is different from what we generally think.”

“The purpose is different? What does that mean?”

“Of course, delivering videos is also a purpose, but the bigger purpose is to collect them.”

“The bigger purpose is to collect rather than rent?”

“Yes, that’s because of the nature of the rental store. The reason is…….”

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young’s additional explanation followed.

Due to the nature of rental stores, when a popular new program is released, all customers have the same psychology.

The desire to see it first.

Therefore, when a popular new program is released, most customers look for popular programs.

But the problem is that not every rental store can secure enough quantity.

A limited quantity.

So, what’s important is collecting the rented videos.

The store’s sales depend on how quickly the videos are collected and how much they are rotated.

Usually, customers rent for one night and two days, but if a delivery person goes directly to collect them, the turnover rate increases accordingly.

They can even rotate one program three or four times a day.

That’s why delivery staff are needed.

When Chief Manager Choi Jin-young finished his explanation, Chairman Shin Chun-oh immediately asked.

“How does Chief Manager Choi know so much about video rental stores?”

“I studied a bit this time, thanks to President Kim.”

“Heh, is that so? By the way, isn’t this President Kim’s first time running a video rental store?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But how does President Kim know all those management know-hows?”

“I was also amazed by that. When I looked into it this time, I found out that video rental stores are not easy at all without experience. But the president knows so much about video rental stores that it’s amazing. Anyone would think he has at least 10 years of experience running a rental store.”

“Heh, gee…….”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh could only let out a hollow laugh.

He knows Hyun-sung’s past very well. After graduating from high school, he went to college, took a leave of absence, and went to the army. Then, after being discharged, he gave up returning to school and immediately started a restaurant. That was all of his life.

How could he know so much about running a video rental store?

Then, Chief Manager Choi Jin-young’s words continued again.

“But there’s another strange thing.”

“Again? What is it this time?”

“It’s the relationship between the equipment installer, Kim Dong-ho, and the president.”

“Why those two?”

“I didn’t know at first, but I received a report and found out later that the work started with them becoming close from the first day they met. I’m talking about the expansion construction.”

“Why the expansion construction?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh stared intently at Chief Manager Choi Jin-young as if curious.

Then, Chief Manager Choi Jin-young’s answer followed immediately.

“Originally, it was a one-month construction.”

“A one-month construction? But?”

“The person who shortened that period to two weeks is the equipment installer, Kim Dong-ho. The person who became close with our president from the first day.”

“What’s so strange about that?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t understand it at first glance.

It’s not like people absolutely need time to become close, and shortening the construction period can also vary to some extent depending on how the work is done.

Of course, the construction cost will be different accordingly.

“The problem is money. Usually, that level of construction costs at least 30 million won.”

“But?”

“That Kim Dong-ho initially asked for 20 million won, and when our president asked to shorten the construction period, he asked for only 5 million won more.”

“5 million? Does that make sense?”

Of course, it doesn’t make sense.

It doesn’t make sense to ask for 20 million won for a construction that costs 30 million won. In addition, in order to shorten the construction period by half, more additional personnel will be needed, and in that case, the construction cost will inevitably increase by almost double, if not 2/3 more.

But to ask for only 5 million won more is not a logically consistent story.

In the end, that means the equipment installer gave up that much of his profit.

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young’s words continued.

“That’s what I’m saying. It’s obviously an impossible situation, but that impossible thing happened between the equipment installer, Kim Dong-ho, and the president.”

“In the end, that means the equipment installer gave up his profit?”

“That’s what I thought, but!”

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young interrupted his words in the middle.

Then, Chairman Shin Chun-oh immediately asked.

“But? Does that mean that’s not the end?”

“Yes, that’s right. On the last day of construction, the two met at a restaurant.”

“The two people are talking about the equipment installer and President Kim, so?”

“What kind of person is our president?”

“Does that mean President Kim didn’t stay still?”

“Yes, he handed the equipment installer a check before they parted that day.”

“One check…… Are you talking about 10 million won?”

“Yes, that’s right. The president gave the equipment installer 10 million won directly. In the end, the president took care of the profit that the equipment installer had given up.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t understand it even if he heard it at first glance.

“I don’t understand. First of all, I don’t understand why the equipment installer set the construction cost so low from the beginning. And I don’t understand why President Kim later took care of him with 10 million won. What kind of relationship do the two have…….”

“I don’t understand that part either. They definitely met for the first time this time, but I don’t understand how that happened. But anyway, what’s important is that after that incident, the relationship between the two became even more special.”

“Heh…… geez, every time I feel it, but there’s always something incomprehensible happening around President Kim. By the way, no matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand why President Kim chose a video store that doesn’t make money.”

No matter how much Chairman Shin Chun-oh thought about it, he couldn’t understand it.

It’s not like he doesn’t have money, and he could have done other businesses that make money if he wanted to. But among those many industries, Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t understand why it had to be a video rental store that doesn’t make money.

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young slowly opened his mouth.

“Could it be that?”

“That?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh looked at Chief Manager Choi Jin-young as if curious.

Then, Chief Manager Choi Jin-young immediately continued.

“Yes, his wife. Didn’t the president say that the reason he first went up to Incheon was to meet his wife?”

“So, Chief Manager Choi is saying that President Kim is running a video store to meet his wife?”

“Yes, that’s what I think. Maybe the place where he met his wife in the premonition dream was a video store?”

“So, he’s running a video store?”

“Yes, that’s right. There’s no other explanation. It can’t be that the president is running a video store because of money.”

“Well…….”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh slowly nodded his head.

That’s obvious.

President Kim wouldn’t have chosen a video store because of money. Then, in the end, all that’s left is what he said when he first went up to Incheon.

He said he was going up to Incheon to meet his wife.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh continued again.

“I’m curious.”

“Are you talking about the president’s wife?”

“Yes, I wonder what kind of woman she is.”

“I feel the same way. But honestly, I’m more curious about whether the president can really meet his wife at the video store.”

“Chief Manager Choi still can’t believe in President Kim’s premonition dream?”

“Honestly…….”

Chief Manager Choi Jin-young slightly nodded his head.

Looking at Hyun-sung’s actions so far, it’s right to believe in his premonition dream. But even though he knows it in his head, he can’t help but not actually believe it.

“By the way, when is President Kim officially opening the video store?”

“Two days later.”

“He must be very busy by now?”

“Probably. Then, I will report to you as soon as I hear any news.”

“Okay, thank you for your hard work.”

As Chief Manager Choi Jin-young left the room, a smile began to spread on Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s face.

The reason was simple. It was because of the anticipation of when Hyun-sung would meet the woman he wanted.

Even if other people don’t know, Chairman Shin Chun-oh himself definitely believes in Hyun-sung’s premonition dream.

***

Movie Heart Headquarters.

“What? He hired five employees?”

“Yes, Chairman. That’s what was reported a little while ago.”

“No, is that bastard crazy?”

Chairman Min Hong-shik was just dumbfounded.

Does this make sense?

He said the store was only 40 pyeong [approximately 132 square feet] at best. But he hired five employees, not just one or two.

This is something that can’t happen if you’re in your right mind.

Of course, that many employees are needed in a very large store of over 150 pyeong [approximately 495 square feet]. But there is no store in the country that uses five employees in a 40 pyeong store.

Chief Manager Park Sun-woo’s answer followed.

“I don’t think he’s in his right mind either. How much money can he make in a video store to hire five employees?”

“That’s what I’m saying. But those five people aren’t working in the store, are they?”

“One is in the store and the other four are delivery staff.”

“Delivery staff? Does that mean he’s going to deliver videos now?”

“Yes, that’s right. He’s already distributed flyers to the surrounding apartment complexes.”

“Hmm…….”

Chairman Min Hong-shik was silent for a while, wondering what he was thinking.

It was about two minutes later that he opened his mouth.

“Chief Manager Park.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“What if that friend isn’t an amateur?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, I have a bad feeling. No matter how much I think about it, his actions are too bold for someone who doesn’t know anything.”

“Honestly, I’m a little worried too. His movements are too perfect for an amateur. He’s already bought four motorcycles. Not only that, but he’s also prepared 20 video tape rewinders. And…….”

Chief Manager Park Sun-woo’s explanation followed.

As his explanation continued for a long time, Chairman Min Hong-shik’s expression gradually darkened. And finally, when his explanation was over, Chairman Min Hong-shik immediately asked.

“All the preparations are perfect.”

“If he’s an amateur, he’ll be too busy opening the store, but he’s even handing out rice cakes to the surrounding stores?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Something’s wrong. I ignored him at first because he was an amateur, but as time goes by, I smell something professional.”

Deep wrinkles were etched on Chairman Min Hong-shik’s forehead. That meant he had a lot of worries.

Then he opened his mouth again.

“When did you say the opening was?”

“Two days later.”

“Isn’t that the day ‘Heat’ starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro is released?”

“That’s right. Heat, which was the biggest hit in theaters last year, will be released.”

“Do you know how many copies that friend ordered?”

“Yes, of course. I’ve already identified it through the sales office. But that’s…….”

Chief Manager Park Sun-woo couldn’t continue his words for some reason.

Then, Chairman Min Hong-shik immediately asked.

“Why? Why are you stopping in the middle of your words?”

“That’s because it’s such an amazing thing. He ordered 300 copies of Heat.”

“What? How many copies? 300 copies?”

Chairman Min Hong-shik shouted without realizing it.

Does this make sense?

If it’s 300 copies, it’s 22,500 won per copy, so the video tape value alone is 6,750,000 won [approximately $5,000 USD]. In addition, there are at least five hit programs a month.

If he buys 300 copies of other works like Heat, the tape value alone will be over 33 million won [approximately $25,000 USD].

But that’s not all. He has to buy at least 20 more other works.

At this rate, the video purchase cost alone will be at least 50 to 60 million won [approximately $37,000 – $45,000 USD] a month.

What is he thinking…….

How can he do such a reckless thing unless he’s really crazy?

Chairman Min Hong-shik called Chief Manager Park Sun-woo again.

“Chief Manager Park.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Did the results of the investigation you told me to do last time come out? I’m talking about that friend’s father.”

“Yes, it came out. But there was nothing special. He’s not rich, just a little better off than the countryside. It seems that he gathered all the money he had and helped him this time because he only has one son.”

“Is that so…….”

Chairman Min Hong-shik slowly nodded his head.

Then, Chief Manager Park Sun-woo opened his mouth again.

“No matter how much I think about it, that friend must be an amateur. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense to overdo it like that.”

“Right?”

“Yes, otherwise, how can he pay 50 to 60 million won for video tape value in a month? Maybe he’ll collapse on his own before three months pass.”

“Well, how can he get that money…….”

Chairman Min Hong-shik, who was worried for a while, asked again.

“By any chance, did you find out about that friend too?”