Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 609

Two days later.

Hyun-sung headed to Isei’s bakery after finishing his morning exercise to pick up the bread Isei donated.

“Hello! Good morning!”

Hyun-sung greeted cheerfully as soon as he entered the bakery. Isei greeted Hyun-sung with a bright smile.

“Yes, good morning!”

“This bread smell is always so wonderful.”

“Right? I think so too. But you’re a little earlier than usual today?”

“I have something to do. Actually, I’m selling Bungeoppang [fish-shaped pastry filled with sweet red bean paste] in front of the video store starting today.”

“Bungeoppang?”

Isei tilted her head slightly at the word Bungeoppang because she was hearing about it for the first time.

Isei asked again out of curiosity.

“You’re not selling it yourself, are you?”

“No, of course not. There’s a guy named Yoo Min-sang among our video store customers, but he lost his job due to this IMF crisis [International Monetary Fund crisis, a financial crisis that affected many Asian countries in the late 1990s]…….”

Hyun-sung began to briefly explain the situation. As Hyun-sung’s explanation continued, Isei nodded as if she understood.

Then, as soon as Hyun-sung’s explanation was over, she continued.

“So, in the end, you saved another person again?”

“No, it’s not that much. I just gave up the remaining space anyway.”

Pfft.

Isei laughed lightly instead of speaking. Hyun-sung, seeing that, immediately asked, dumbfounded.

“Huh? What’s with that laugh?”

“I’m laughing at you.”

“Laughing? At me?”

“Yes, because now you lie so naturally. Honestly, do you know that what you just said doesn’t make sense? Who in the world likes someone doing business in front of their store? Don’t you think so?”

“…….”

Hyun-sung was momentarily speechless because Isei was right. Honestly, even though he said to do business in front of the store, it bothered him.

Isei’s words continued again.

“Look, you can’t say anything, so that means I’m right, right?”

“Well, that’s…….”

“Okay, that’s enough. Anyone would feel the same way. Who would like someone doing business in front of their store? The problem is that the heart that gives up that spot while putting up with it is amazing. Honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to do it, but you did it again.”

Clicking sound.

Since Hyun-sung had nothing to say, he had no choice but to listen. Then, Isei smiled slightly at Hyun-sung and continued.

“Anyway, you’re amazing. By the way, he’s starting to sell Bungeoppang from today, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But are you starting business this early? It’s not even 7 o’clock yet?”

“We decided to meet in front of the store at 7 o’clock. It’s the first day, so there are things to prepare, and we have to make some Bungeoppang in advance to sell it during people’s commuting hours.”

Originally, when they first talked about it, they were going to start at 8 o’clock, but since today is the first day, there are things to prepare, and they have to make Bungeoppang in advance, so they adjusted the time and decided to meet at 7 o’clock.

“So you’re saying you’re going to do business with people going to work?”

“As you know, the front of our store is very congested with cars only during commuting hours, so I’m going to sell to those people.”

“Ah, so you’re going to sell Bungeoppang to the cars that are stuck?”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s it. If you want to pass through that section, the cars will be congested for at least 10 minutes, so I’m going to sell it during that time.”

“Whose idea is it?”

Isei looked at Hyun-sung with an interesting expression. Then Hyun-sung smiled and continued.

“While discussing it with that 형님 [hyung-nim, older brother or respected male figure]…….”

“You’re lying again. I think this is 100% your idea. Am I wrong?”

“Yes? That’s…….”

Hyun-sung couldn’t answer properly this time either. Isei was already talking as if she knew everything, so he couldn’t say no.

“See, I’m right, right?”

“Haha, you’re like a ghost. Actually, every day during commuting hours, the front of the store is blocked by cars going to work, so I thought about using that and selling it at that time. Of course, I don’t know the result yet.”

“Anyway, you seem to have a natural talent for business?”

“Me?”

“That’s right, thanks to you, the video store owner changed it to a book cafe and is making a lot of money these days, and I’m also doing well these days because I did what you told me to do. It’s true that bread delivery has increased a lot in the morning.”

It was a month ago.

Isei called one day. As Hyun-sung said at first, she advertised it as a ‘bakery with delicious bread,’ but people didn’t come to the bakery in the morning because they were busy going to work.

So I said again, then let’s take orders in the morning and try delivering them.

In other words, let’s do ‘bread delivery’.

This is what Isei is talking about now.

“How much has it increased in the past month?”

“The sales increased by delivering in the morning is an average of 300,000 won [approximately $250 USD] per day.”

“That much?”

“Yes, I was surprised too. People say they deliver freshly baked bread, so they’re busy taking orders in the morning. And the important thing is that people don’t just order bread; they also order other breads when they order bread.”

That’s what Hyun-sung was aiming for from the beginning.

If you order bread, it won’t end with just one, but you’ll order other breads as well. And that prediction was correct.

“That’s right, um…….”

After thinking for a while, Hyun-sung immediately opened his mouth.

“Boss, how about starting delivery in earnest from now on?”

“In earnest?”

“Yes, until now, we only delivered for two hours in the morning, but from now on, we’ll increase that time and deliver.”

“How much?”

“We deliver all the time while we’re open. Is there a law that only Chinese restaurants can deliver? Now we deliver bread too. That way, sales will definitely increase. What do you think?”

“Um…….”

Isei didn’t answer right away and seemed to be thinking for a while, but it wasn’t even 5 seconds before she opened her mouth again.

“Yes, I understand.”

“You understand?”

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying. I’m saying that I’m going to deliver all day from now on, as you said.”

It was Hyun-sung who was dumbfounded.

When he spoke a little while ago, he thought she was 고민하다 [gominhada, pondering or contemplating] because she was thinking without saying anything.

Maybe it’s natural. Changing the 영업 방식 [yeong-eop bang-sik, business method or strategy] completely is different from delivering for only two hours, so it would be a lie if you didn’t 고민하다 [gominhada, ponder or contemplate].

But a strange thing happened.

That’s because Isei, who was 고민하다 [gominhada, pondering or contemplating], answered that she would do it in less than 5 seconds.

Decide in less than 5 seconds? Doesn’t that mean you don’t need to 고민하다 [gominhada, ponder or contemplate]?

This doesn’t make sense.

It’s not something else; it’s completely changing the 영업 방식 [yeong-eop bang-sik, business method or strategy]. But you don’t 고민하다 [gominhada, ponder or contemplate]?

It was a part that Hyun-sung couldn’t understand even if he thought about it.

“Isn’t this a problem that can’t be decided so easily? It’s not something else; it’s changing the 영업 방식 [yeong-eop bang-sik, business method or strategy].”

“I didn’t change it easily.”

“It seemed like you were answering right away without 고민하다 [gominhada, pondering or contemplating] much…….”

Smirk.

Isei smiled at Hyun-sung instead of answering. Then she immediately opened her mouth again.

“I just trusted your judgment.”

“Me?”

“Yes, after all, I was able to do business so well against Paris Baguette thanks to you. But if I don’t believe you now, wouldn’t that be a stupid thing to do? Do you know what I mean?”

In the end, Isei was going to believe Hyun-sung’s words, so Hyun-sung had nothing to say.

“I have nothing to say when you say that. Yes, good. Since you said that anyway, I’ll say one more thing. Call a flyer company today and take pictures of all the bread here.”

“Filming?”

“Yes, I’m saying take pictures. Of course, make it look as pretty and delicious as possible, and make flyers based on those bread pictures.”

“Ah, you’re saying we should hand out flyers?”

“Yes, that’s right. Print out the bread pictures with the prices all marked and hand out the flyers. Especially if you hand them out around apartments, I think we’ll need one more delivery person because we’ll get so many orders.”

Clap!

As soon as Hyun-sung finished speaking, Isei clapped her hands. Then she immediately continued.

“Oh my! You’re still the best. I’ve been getting calls occasionally during the day anyway, asking if we deliver.”

“Especially on cold days like these, the effect will be even better.”

“That’s right, no one wants to go out when it’s cold. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“It’s not too late to start now. And if you advertise the 500 won bread properly this time, the effect will be good.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll call a flyer company right away today and start working on the flyers. And this time…….”

Isei’s words got longer, showing how positively she accepted the delivery and expressed her will to do it actively.

Hyun-sung nodded as he looked at her.

Of course, I don’t know the result yet, but if delivery succeeds like this, we will never be 밀리다 [millida, pushed back or fall behind] in the competition with Paris Baguette.

It was a 확실한 [hwakshilhan, definite or certain] change that couldn’t be compared to the previous life.

A moment later.

Hyun-sung, who came out of Isei’s bakery, headed to the free sharing store. His steps were lighter than ever.

***

“Hello, boss!”

As soon as Hyun-sung arrived in front of the video store, Yoo Min-sang, who was waiting, greeted him happily. Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Did you come early?”

“No, I just arrived too. By the way, I’m so sorry that I seem to be bothering you too much because of me.”

“There’s nothing like that at all, so don’t worry about it. Okay, then shall we start preparing now?”

The two began to install the Bungeoppang cart in front of the video store.

10 minutes later.

Yoo Min-sang’s expression, who had finished all the preparations, seemed a little nervous. Hyun-sung, seeing that, asked slightly.

“Are you nervous?”

“To be honest, I’m very nervous. I’ve only worked in a company, so this is my first time doing business like this…….”

It was then that a passerby looked at Yoo Min-sang and asked.

“When will you have Bungeoppang?”

“What should I do? It just came out and it will take about 20 minutes.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The customer nodded as if he understood and disappeared 총총 [chong-chong, quickly or hastily] in the way he was going. Then Yoo Min-sang looked at Hyun-sung and said regretfully.

“It’s the first customer, so it’s a shame.”

“It’s just the beginning, so don’t worry about it. Okay, now hurry up and make Bungeoppang. Cars will be 밀리다 [millida, congested or backed up] in front of here from 30 to 40 minutes from now.”

“Yes, I understand, but I don’t know how much to make in advance.”

“Um…….”

Hyun-sung also had no experience with Bungeoppang, so he had nothing to say, but that didn’t mean he had nothing to say at all.

“Should we bake about 100 first? Then we can make it while watching it go out.”

“Then shall we do that? Okay, then you go in now. From now on, I’ll take care of it myself.”

“Can you handle it alone?”

“Well, to be honest, I’m scared, but I have to do it anyway because it’s what I have to do.”

“Yes, I understand. Then take care.”

Hyun-sung nodded slightly and went up to the second floor of the video store.

Yoo Min-sang alone.

“Hehe! Okay, shall we start now?”

Yoo Min-sang lit the fire on the Bungeoppang machine.

30 minutes later.

Bungeoppang began to pile up on the Bungeoppang machine.

It was then.

Honk!

A taxi passing by stopped in front of the Bungeoppang machine and said loudly.

“One bag of Bungeoppang!”

That was the beginning. Several more passenger cars were waiting behind it.

Honk honk!

Yoo Min-sang was so 정신없다 [jeongshineopda, distracted or overwhelmed] with the sound of constant honking, but a smile was 완연히 [wanyeonhi, clearly or obviously] spreading on his face.

10 minutes later.

Honk honk!

Order voices began to be heard here and there along with the sound of honking.

“One bag of Bungeoppang.”

“Two bags.”

“How much is it?”

“Here’s 3,000 won worth.”

Before he knew it, it was commuting time. Yoo Min-sang was so 정신없다 [jeongshineopda, distracted or overwhelmed]. He ran around selling Bungeoppang, then came back and flipped the Bungeoppang machine, and before he knew it, sweat was flowing on his face even though it was midwinter.

Hyun-sung, who was watching the scene from the second floor, began to move at some point.

“형님 [hyung-nim, older brother or respected male figure], I’m back.”

“Oh, boss!”

It was the moment when Yoo Min-sang’s voice was full of energy.

“Okay, from now on, you just bake Bungeoppang; I’ll be in charge of selling it.”

As soon as Hyun-sung finished speaking, he filled a basket with Bungeoppang and shouted as he entered the road.

“Okay, Bungeoppang! 1,000 won per bag! 2,000 won for two bags!”

That’s how Hyun-sung’s voice began to 울려 퍼지다 [ullyeo peojida, echo or resound].