Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 597

After finishing up at the store, Hyun-sung headed to a pork back-bone stew restaurant about 10 minutes away.

“Mr. Kim, over here!”

As he entered the restaurant, Moon Hee-yeol, who was sitting by the window, raised his hand high to greet Hyun-sung. Hyun-sung waved back and walked over to where he was sitting.

“Did you get here early?”

“No, I just got here a little while ago. I already ordered the pork back-bone stew.”

It was one of Moon Hee-yeol’s habits. Whenever they made plans, he always arrived earlier than the agreed time and ordered food in advance. It was the same in his past life.

You could tell a lot from just one thing; Moon Hee-yeol was a man of good habits.

However, even he couldn’t avoid the IMF crisis [International Monetary Fund crisis, a period of financial instability in South Korea] in his previous life. Eventually, he went bankrupt just two months after the IMF hit. As a result, even the house he lived in was auctioned off, and he had no choice but to leave the neighborhood.

Hyun-sung didn’t know how he had lived since then.

But this time, it was different. He had already warned about the foreign exchange crisis a few months ago, and fortunately, Moon Hee-yeol had listened to Hyun-sung and prepared in advance.

That’s why they could sit here comfortably like this.

“As expected, you’re always on time when it comes to appointments, Hyung [older brother or close male friend].”

“I hate people who don’t keep their promises the most. Anyway, what’s going to happen to our country now that we’re entering the IMF system?”

“The next year will be the hardest.”

That was the truth.

In December 1998, Korea gradually emerged from the financial crisis by repaying $1.8 billion in IMF emergency loans, and on December 4, 2000, President Kim Dae-jung officially announced that the country had completely overcome the foreign exchange crisis. Later, on August 23, 2001, Korea prepaid $19.5 billion, completely ending the IMF management system.

The two continued to talk about the foreign exchange crisis for a long time before they started eating the pork back-bone stew. That meant Moon Hee-yeol was also very interested in the IMF situation. Well, that would be the case for anyone in the workforce.

How much time had passed?

It was when both of their faces had turned somewhat red.

Hyun-sung turned to Moon Hee-yeol and asked.

“Hyung, didn’t you say you had something to tell me earlier?”

“Yeah, I did. I asked you to meet because I wanted to thank you for protecting our factory. The moment I heard on TV that we were applying for a bailout from the IMF, your face popped into my head. If it weren’t for you, our factory would probably be in trouble too.”

Moon Hee-yeol paused for a moment before continuing.

“So, I want to repay you.”

“Repay me?”

“Yeah, a person can’t just stand still when they’ve received a favor. So, I’ve prepared something small. Don’t refuse, just take this.”

Moon Hee-yeol took out an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Hyun-sung.

“What is this?”

“It’s not much. It’s just a token of my appreciation, so take it.”

“Are you telling me to take this money right now?”

“Yeah, our factory survived thanks to you. If it weren’t for you, our factory would have been in trouble this time. So, you deserve it. Moreover, if the factory had gone under this time, my father would have been in danger too. In the end, you saved my father.”

Hyun-sung could see that his heart was sincere in Moon Hee-yeol’s eyes. Then, he spoke again.

“Actually, my father mentioned you a few days ago.”

“Your father? Why?”

“Many factories around us have gone bankrupt. We’re the only ones who barely survived. So, my father told me to express our gratitude to you in some way.”

“Then that’s enough. I’ve already received that gratitude. Please put this envelope back.”

Hyun-sung couldn’t possibly accept it.

When he first started the video store in his previous life, Moon Hee-yeol was the one who helped him more than anyone else. At that time, he didn’t know anything about videos, and it was his first time running a business, so everything was clumsy.

Moon Hee-yeol taught him everything from how to display videos to how to serve customers. Not only that, but he also helped him when he didn’t have enough money to pay for the videos at the end of the month.

That’s the kind of person he was.

How could he possibly accept money from such a person now?

“Are you really not going to take it?”

“I can’t take it. I’ve already received more than enough from you, Hyung.”

“I haven’t done anything for you. What did you receive?”

“You may not know it, Hyung, but I’ve already received it. So, let’s not talk about this anymore and have a toast.”

“You’re so stubborn…”

Moon Hee-yeol reluctantly raised his glass.

Of course, he had expected it to some extent.

He didn’t think Hyun-sung would easily accept the money, given his personality. But he had prepared the envelope because he couldn’t think of any other way.

But as expected, his offer was rejected.

Forcing him any further in this situation would be impolite.

Moon Hee-yeol nodded and continued.

“Okay, let’s have a toast. And I’ll say it again, thank you so much. You saved me, and my father too.”

“You’re welcome. But it’s not over yet, so don’t let your guard down and be careful until the end. Cheers.”

Clink.

The two glasses lightly clinked in the air.

After toasting, Hyun-sung glanced at Moon Hee-yeol’s face before drinking his alcohol. In his previous life, he would have been out of his mind with worry by now.

But it was different now. His relaxed expression said it all.

Whatever the reason, Hyun-sung nodded after seeing his different appearance from his previous life, and then brought the glass to his lips.

How much time had passed?

Moon Hee-yeol, who was eating the pork back-bone stew, asked Hyun-sung as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“By the way, what’s this about you getting another store?”

“I have a use for it.”

“Are you going to open another store?”

“Not really, I just need one more.”

“Is it something you can’t talk about? If it’s a business secret, you don’t have to tell me. I’m just curious because you said you were getting another store.”

“It’s not a secret, but actually…”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to explain why he was getting another store. As Hyun-sung’s explanation continued, he could feel Moon Hee-yeol’s expression brightening more than he had expected.

And finally, when Hyun-sung’s explanation was over, Moon Hee-yeol immediately asked.

“So, you’re going to give out free food to families who are struggling because of this IMF crisis?”

“Well, if you suddenly lose your job, you might be okay at first, but after a month or two, you’ll be in a lot of financial trouble. I’m trying to prepare in advance for that time.”

When people are in financial trouble, the first thing that becomes a problem is food.

You can’t live without eating, no matter what.

Moreover, winter is coming soon. This winter during the IMF crisis will probably be colder than any other winter.

Of course, he couldn’t do anything in his previous life.

He was too busy fighting the Movie Mind at that time, so he was too busy trying to survive on his own during the IMF situation.

But it’s different now.

At least until the day South Korea emerges from the IMF system, he has enough ability to help.

That’s why he’s going to run a free sharing store.

“Are you going to do that alone?”

“I’ll do it with my employees.”

“Can you handle it? If you give it away for free, a lot of people will flock to it.”

“Now that I’ve started, I have to maintain it no matter what. I’m planning to do it for about four years in the first phase.”

The period of time in the IMF system is four years. He’s planning to maintain it at least until then. Of course, he’ll think about it again after that.

“Four years? Why four years?”

“Because we’ll be out of the IMF system in about four years.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes, it’ll be over by then.”

“Well…”

Moon Hee-yeol tilted his head as if he didn’t understand, and then asked again.

“How do you know that?”

“Didn’t I accurately predict the IMF foreign exchange crisis before? So, it’s only natural that I know when it will end, isn’t it?”

“I have nothing to say if you put it that way…”

Moon Hee-yeol still tilted his head as if he couldn’t believe it. Then, Hyun-sung continued.

“I told you when I talked about the IMF crisis before, but I had a dream again.”

“That precognitive dream you’re talking about?”

“Yes, so my dream will be right this time too.”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to say that he had a dream again in order to make Moon Hee-yeol understand. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to make him understand this situation, so Hyun-sung had no choice.

But was that effective again?

Moon Hee-yeol’s expression seemed to change little by little, and then he nodded and continued.

“Well, that means what you’re saying must be right. You already predicted today’s IMF crisis a few months ago. By the way, you said earlier that you’re going to run the sharing store for four years in the first phase, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m going to run it that way for the first phase.”

“Does that mean you’re going to continue operating it for the second and third phases after four years?”

“That’s what I’m thinking now, but I think I’ll have to decide again at that time. Because I don’t know how the situation will change then.”

It was a problem he had been worried about from the beginning.

He’s starting, but when will he end it?

So, he decided to set the point when the IMF crisis ends as the first deadline. And then he decided to decide what to do next at that time.

“Well, no one knows how the world will change.”

“That’s right, so I’ve decided to operate it only until then in the first phase.”

“You’re amazing anyway. How can an individual think of doing such a thing?”

“I had my own reasons.”

It’s not that he didn’t have any worries.

Running a free sharing store wouldn’t be easy.

But despite that, there was only one reason why he decided to run it.

That was the thought of helping people in need.

There will definitely be troublesome things that will happen when running a free sharing store.

But there will be much more help for people in need than that.

And one more thing, that’s the fact that he regressed.

Thanks to the regression, his life has completely changed.

He has an amount of money that he couldn’t even imagine in his previous life. Moreover, Hyun-sung has personally earned more than 1 trillion won [approximately $750 million USD] because of this IMF crisis.

It’s money he earned thanks to buying dollars in January.

All of this was possible because he regressed.

So, he thought about giving back.

How to give back to society in some way.

One of the ways was the free sharing store.

“Anyway, it’s amazing. So, can I get involved in that amazing thing too?” (Implied meaning: Can I help?)

“Excuse me? What do you mean?”

“I want to help you with that too.”

“Excuse me? You, Hyung?”

It was something he had never expected.

That’s why his voice got louder without him realizing it. Then, Moon Hee-yeol immediately spoke.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Because it’s something I didn’t expect.”

“When I thought about it, I realized that I shouldn’t turn a blind eye to that.”

“What do you mean by that?”

It was hard for Hyun-sung to understand.

Moon Hee-yeol has nothing to do with this. But suddenly he said that he shouldn’t turn a blind eye to it, so Hyun-sung couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“I survived.”

“Yes?”

“Thanks to you, I survived despite the IMF crisis. So, I have a duty to help those who are in trouble because of this.”

“Ah, yes…”

Hyun-sung finally understood what Moon Hee-yeol was saying.

He was saying that he would help those who were in trouble because he had survived despite the IMF crisis thanks to Hyun-sung’s help.

“In that sense, take this.”

Moon Hee-yeol handed over the envelope he had given earlier again. Then he continued.

“It’s not much, but use this money to buy things they need for those people.”

“You don’t have to go this far…”

“No, that’s not true. I also received help from you, so it’s natural to give help. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to help even in this way. I’ll go to the free sharing store you run after work and help you.”

“Hmm…”

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung took the envelope that Moon Hee-yeol handed him and immediately continued.

“Yes, that’s great. Since you’re saying that, I’ll accept this money with gratitude. And thank you for saying that you’ll come to the store and help. I feel more energized because you said you’ll help me, Hyung.”

“I’m more grateful that you said that.”

“This work might be more difficult than you think. But let’s do it together.”

“Okay, I’ll do my best, although I’m not enough.”

“Hyung, in that sense, let’s have a toast.”

“Okay, for our free sharing store. Cheers!”

Clink.

The two glasses made a cheerful sound as they clinked in the air.

In this way, it was the moment when one more person was added to the free sharing store.

Ironically, that person was the one who went bankrupt due to the IMF in his previous life. That person is now going to help those who are in trouble because of the IMF.