Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 586

588

Two days later.

A banner was hung at the bakery run by Lee Se-i. It announced a special event to celebrate its 7th anniversary, featuring a 20% discount on all items and a small cake for customers who purchased 30,000 won or more [approximately $25 USD].

“Mommy, what does ‘special event’ mean?”

Yoon Su-jeong, who had just started learning Korean at daycare, looked at the banner and asked Lee Se-i.

“Um… ‘special event’ means saying thank you. It’s been seven years since Mom started this bakery. So, it’s a way of saying thank you to everyone who has bought bread from our store.”

“Ah, I see.”

Yoon Su-jeong nodded as if she understood. Lee Se-i, watching her, stroked her hair and continued, “Our Su-jeong just needs to focus on school and not worry about anything else. Mom will learn how to make coffee and run a cafe to earn lots of money, so you won’t have to be sad about leaving this neighborhood.”

“Huh? I wasn’t sad!”

“Yes, that’s right. Our Su-jeong wasn’t sad. Mom is just talking to herself.”

Lee Se-i stroked Yoon Su-jeong’s hair once more.

Two days ago, when she heard from Hyun-sung about Yoon Su-jeong being upset because she didn’t want to leave the neighborhood, she felt a pang of sadness.

She realized that if it weren’t for Hyun-sung’s help, they might have actually had to move.

“Mom.”

“Yes, Su-jeong. What is it?”

“Is the place across the street going to sell bread starting tomorrow too?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. Tomorrow is their opening day, so they’ll probably start selling bread. Why do you ask?”

“It’s strange.”

Yoon Su-jeong tilted her head and looked at Lee Se-i, a puzzled expression on her face.

“What’s strange?”

“It’s strange because we’re selling bread, and they’re selling bread right across the street. The customers who come to our store keep talking about it.”

“What did they say?”

“They said it shouldn’t be allowed. They said it’s not okay to sell the same bread right across the street, so close by.”

“……”

Lee Se-i was speechless. Even a child was saying that, so what could she say?

In fact, her daughter was absolutely right.

It didn’t make sense for the same type of business to open right across the street, separated only by a road.

But what could she do? That’s just how things were.

Yoon Su-jeong continued, “Is money that important?”

“Huh? Why are you saying that?”

“People said they’re doing it because of money.”

“Did people say that to you?”

“No, the customers didn’t say it to me directly, but I overheard them talking.”

“……”

Lee Se-i was at a loss. She didn’t know what to say to a child.

At that moment, Yoon Su-jeong took something out of her pocket and held it out to Lee Se-i.

“Mom, this.”

In Yoon Su-jeong’s small hand were a few thousand-won bills.

“What is this money?”

“It’s money I saved. I’ll give it to you, Mom.”

“Why are you giving it to me?”

“To cheer you up, Mom. Mom is alone. You don’t have a dad. So, I have to help. You have to use this money to fight and win against those people.”

Yoon Su-jeong pointed across the street with her finger. It seemed she had heard everything the customers were saying.

Lee Se-i hugged Yoon Su-jeong tightly and said, “Okay, Su-jeong. Mom will fight and win against those people. So, you shouldn’t talk about this anymore. Okay?”

“Yes, Mom.”

Lee Se-i hugged Yoon Su-jeong, who answered, once more.

***

“What is that?”

Ma Sang-gu, the owner of the Paris Baguette across from Lee Se-i’s store, asked his employee, Oh Ji-hye, as he looked at the banner.

Oh Ji-hye chuckled and replied, “It looks like they’re making a last-ditch effort.”

“A last-ditch effort?”

“Yes, they’re trying to get ahead of us since we’re opening tomorrow. But what does it matter? The outcome is already decided anyway.”

Oh Ji-hye had a relaxed expression, as if the victory was already assured.

Perhaps it was natural. They were opening a Paris Baguette franchise against an independent bakery. The owner, Ma Sang-gu, seemed to feel the same way, as his expression also looked relaxed.

He asked again, “How long do you think that bakery will last, Oh Manager?”

“Well, at most two or three months… maybe six months at the latest.”

“Six months? Why is that?”

“I found out that their contract renewal is in six months. So, they won’t be able to stay even if they want to. After a few months of business, they’ll realize they can’t compete with us.”

“Of course, that’s right, isn’t it?”

“Of course. It won’t even be a close competition, so you don’t have to worry about it, Mr. Ma.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

Ma Sang-gu nodded as if he understood. Then he subtly asked again, “Did you find out what I asked you to find out?”

“Yes, I did. Her name is Lee Se-i, and she’s currently 34 years old. She has a daughter who is five years old this year.”

“What about her husband?”

“She got divorced three years ago. I don’t know why she got divorced. And…”

Oh Ji-hye continued to explain about Lee Se-i. As her explanation continued, Ma Sang-gu looked at the bakery across the street with a strange, interested expression.

About five minutes later, when Oh Ji-hye’s explanation ended, Ma Sang-gu asked again, “So, you’re saying she’s raising a five-year-old daughter alone while running a bakery?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then what about that guy?”

“That guy?”

“Yes, the man who’s been practically living at the bakery for the past few days.”

“Ah, you mean Kim Hyun-sung?”

Oh Ji-hye finally seemed to understand and mentioned Hyun-sung’s name. Ma Sang-gu immediately followed up with another question.

“His name is Kim Hyun-sung?”

“Yes, that’s right. He’s the owner of the video store down the street, about five minutes away from here.”

“Video store?”

Ma Sang-gu’s expression suddenly twisted slightly, as if he found it pathetic. He seemed to look down on him because he ran a video store.

He opened his mouth again.

“Why is he neglecting his own store and hanging around someone else’s store when he runs a video store?”

“Neglecting?”

“Yes, think about it, Oh Manager. It doesn’t make sense why he’s spending time at someone else’s store when he has his own store to run. That’s why I’m saying he’s neglecting it. Am I wrong?”

“Well, that’s a bit…”

Oh Ji-hye couldn’t continue her answer for some reason. Ma Sang-gu immediately asked again, “Why? Is there a reason? Why can’t you answer properly?”

“You don’t know what kind of person Kim Hyun-sung is, do you, Mr. Ma?”

“I’m not from this neighborhood, so of course, I don’t know. But why? He runs a video store, right? Then it’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“Kim Hyun-sung is a well-known figure in this neighborhood.”

“Well-known? He runs a video store? What’s so famous about him?”

Ma Sang-gu tilted his head, as if he couldn’t understand. Seeing this, Oh Ji-hye immediately continued her explanation.

“Of course, it’s true that he runs a video store, but the thing is, he is…”

Oh Ji-hye’s explanation continued. As her explanation grew longer, Ma Sang-gu’s expression gradually changed from his initial one to a more serious one. And finally, when her explanation ended, Ma Sang-gu made an unbelievable expression and immediately asked, “Is that true?”

“Yes, everything I said is true.”

“He makes 200 million won [approximately $166,000 USD] in sales a month from the video store?”

“Yes, that’s right. Not only that, but he also gives his employees 10 million won [approximately $8,300 USD] in salary and donates 50 million won [approximately $41,500 USD] to the community center.”

“Wow, what the…”

Ma Sang-gu could only let out a dumbfounded laugh. Perhaps it was a natural reaction. He had looked down on him because he ran a video store, but he made 200 million won in sales a month. Not only that, but he even made donations, so the surprise was bound to be even greater.

“And they say he’s the first person in the country to beat the Movie Heart franchise.”

“He’s a real monster. How can an individual beat a franchise?”

“That’s what I’m saying. The Movie Heart headquarters can’t do anything to him either.”

“Wow…”

Ma Sang-gu let out another dumbfounded laugh.

A moment later.

Ma Sang-gu tilted his head and asked Oh Ji-hye again, “What’s the relationship between the two of them?”

“Well, I don’t really know. But I don’t think they’re romantically involved…”

“They’re not lovers, but he’s practically living at her store?”

“That’s what’s strange. They’re not romantically involved, but he’s there so often…”

“Wait a minute!”

Ma Sang-gu interrupted Oh Ji-hye. Then he immediately continued, “How can you be so sure that they’re not romantically involved?”

“Because people…”

“How do people know? The relationship between a man and a woman is something no one can truly know. What you see on the surface isn’t everything.”

“Then maybe…”

“Yes, anything is possible. Older women and younger men are popular these days.”

“That’s true, but even so, a single mom and a bachelor…”

Oh Ji-hye tilted her head. Seeing this, Ma Sang-gu immediately said, “Let’s stop talking about it.”

“Yes?”

“Whether they’re lovers or not, it has nothing to do with us, so let’s stop talking about it. The important thing is that they’re our competitors now. We’ll have to compete with them starting tomorrow.”

“Well, as I said before, I don’t think we can even compare to them. After all, they’re just an individual, and we’re the Paris Baguette franchise.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Ma Sang-gu’s expression was clearly anxious, unlike his initial expression. Confirming this, Oh Ji-hye asked him, “What are you worried about, Mr. Ma?”

“That guy.”

“Are you talking about Kim Hyun-sung?”

“Yes, I can’t help but worry about him. He’s the only one in the country who beat the Movie Heart franchise, right? That’s not something an ordinary person can do.”

“That’s true, but…”

Oh Ji-hye seemed to think for a moment before continuing, “I have a different opinion.”

“Different? What’s different?”

“Video stores and bakeries are different. All video products are the same, but bread is not like that. As you know, our bread is supplied by the headquarters…”

Oh Ji-hye’s explanation continued. What she wanted to say was the difference between independent businesses and franchises. More precisely, she wanted to talk about the advantages of franchises.

In any case, her conclusion was that independent businesses could never beat franchises in the case of bakeries.

“So, you’re saying that independent businesses can’t beat franchises?”

“Of course. Besides, who is our franchise? We’re Paris Baguette, the leading franchise. Is there any place in Korea that can compete with our franchise? I don’t think so. What do you think, Mr. Ma?”

“Hmm…”

Ma Sang-gu didn’t say anything, as if he was thinking about something.

After a while.

As if he had organized his thoughts, Ma Sang-gu nodded and opened his mouth again.

“Well… there’s no bakery in Korea that can compete with us, right?”

“Of course. We don’t pay a lot of money to open a franchise for nothing, right? So, you don’t have to worry too much, Mr. Ma.”

“I guess so? Was I being too sensitive?”

“That’s right. I think you’ve become a bit sensitive because the opening is tomorrow.”

“Hmm, okay. Then I’ll trust you, Oh Manager.”

Ma Sang-gu nodded as if he understood. His expression was definitely more confident than before.

But there was something they didn’t know.

It was true that franchises had many advantages, but that wasn’t always the case. Franchises also had disadvantages.