Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 708

711

The next day, in the afternoon.

Hyun-sung looked at Yoon Ji-soo and asked,

“Ji-soo, aren’t you going to the opening ceremony?”

“I’ll just stay here at the restaurant. It’s a bit strange for me to go all the way there.”

“It’s not strange at all.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll just stay here with Mom. You go alone, Hyun-sung.”

“Okay, I will. Then I’ll be back.”

Hyun-sung nodded as if he understood, then left the restaurant and headed for the parking lot.

At that time.

At a store in downtown Gangneung.

A man was pacing around the store, looking particularly nervous.

He was none other than Park Sang-cheol, who was opening his indoor food stall today.

It was then.

A truck stopped in front of the store.

“Flower delivery!”

A middle-aged man who got out of the truck shouted towards the store. Then Park Sang-cheol, who was in the hall, went outside.

“Flower delivery?”

“Yes.”

The middle-aged man started unloading wreaths from the truck as he answered.

After a while.

Ten five-tiered wreaths were lined up in front of the store. But the strange thing was that all ten wreaths had no sender’s name on them.

Usually, congratulatory phrases are written on the right side of the ribbon, and the sender’s name is written on the left.

However, the delivered wreaths only had congratulatory phrases on both sides.

Park Sang-cheol had no choice but to ask the middle-aged man who had finished displaying the wreaths.

“Who sent all these wreaths?”

“One person sent them.”

“What? One person?”

Park Sang-cheol couldn’t help but be surprised.

Since ten wreaths were displayed, he naturally thought that ten people had ordered the delivery. But he was naturally surprised to hear that one person had sent them.

One person? Who on earth could it be?

Park Sang-cheol immediately asked again out of curiosity.

“Who is that one person?”

“A person named Kim Hyun-sung.”

“What? Who?”

Park Sang-cheol couldn’t help but be surprised once again.

Of course, it’s not that he doesn’t know Kim Hyun-sung.

But he never even dreamed that he would send wreaths.

Who is he?

He is someone who cannot even be compared to himself.

He heard that he runs the largest restaurant in Korea in Hongcheon. Moreover, he recently heard that he is building a mixed-use building in Incheon.

Not just one building, but seven.

Not only that, but he is the person who completely changed our organization. If it weren’t for him, our organization would still be doing loan sharking and acting like thugs.

He is the very person who made Pojangmacha Co., Ltd. [a street food cart company] possible.

A heavenly being, that very person sent him wreaths.

Park Sang-cheol could feel his eyes getting hot for a moment.

Just then.

A group of people was walking towards the store from afar. He could immediately tell who they were.

Park Sang-cheol ran towards them.

“Brothers, you’ve arrived!”

Park Sang-cheol shouted as loudly as he could and bowed.

They were none other than the colleagues from the company called ‘Pojangmacha Co., Ltd.’

Of course, just a year ago, they were all engaged in loan sharking, including himself.

Oh Myung-hwan, who was at the front, patted Park Sang-cheol on the shoulder and said,

“Is our CEO Park ready for the opening?”

“Yes, Brother. All preparations are complete. Now we just need customers.”

“Okay, then. Let’s go inside.”

Oh Myung-hwan moved his feet.

Behind him, sturdy men were following. The number was exactly 48.

It was the number excluding Oh Myung-hwan and Park Sang-cheol himself out of the 50 employees of Pojangmacha Co., Ltd.

In the end, all 50 employees gathered without a single exception.

“Who sent them?”

Oh Myung-hwan, who arrived in front of the store, looked at the wreaths and asked Park Sang-cheol. Perhaps if the sender’s name had been written, he could have known without asking. But since there was no sender’s name on the wreaths, he had no choice but to ask.

Park Sang-cheol immediately answered.

“The Big Boss sent them.”

The Big Boss that Park Sang-cheol mentioned was none other than Hyun-sung. Since some time ago, Hyun-sung had become their Big Boss.

“The Big Boss?”

From Park Sang-cheol’s point of view, Hyun-sung was the Big Boss, but from Oh Myung-hwan’s point of view, Hyun-sung was a Hyung-nim [a respectful Korean term for an older brother or male friend]. Of course, it was natural for everyone else except Oh Myung-hwan to call Hyun-sung the Big Boss.

“Yes, that’s right. And he sent not just one, but ten of them.”

“Hehe, that’s our Hyung-nim for you.”

Oh Myung-hwan smiled as he looked at the wreaths.

Ten five-tiered wreaths, not even three-tiered ones, were illuminating the front of the store.

When he called the other day and asked for the address, he had expected it to some extent. But he didn’t expect him to send so many as ten congratulatory wreaths.

Oh Myung-hwan, who was smiling, handed Park Sang-cheol an envelope.

“Take this. Congratulations on the opening, our youngest Sang-cheol.”

“Thank you, Hyung-nim.”

That was the beginning. The sturdy men behind Oh Myung-hwan came forward one by one and began handing envelopes to Park Sang-cheol.

After a while.

Park Sang-cheol was holding exactly 49 envelopes in his hands.

“Thank you, Hyung-nims. I will work hard.”

Park Sang-cheol bowed 90 degrees after saying hello in a loud voice.

It was a month ago.

Oh Myung-hwan, the CEO of Pojangmacha Co., Ltd., called him to his office. Then he said something strange.

He was saying that he would open the first indoor food stall under his name.

Of course, not only the name but also the actual operation and ownership would all be his.

At first, it was unbelievable.

Of course, he knew that they were going to open an indoor food stall.

The problem was who would open the first store.

He naturally thought it would be CEO Oh Myung-hwan. That’s what most of the employees thought, not just himself.

But Oh Myung-hwan made the opposite decision.

He was saying that he would have the youngest open it first.

It was touching in itself.

In the end, he ended up showing tears in front of Oh Myung-hwan that day.

Park Sang-cheol looked around. Everyone was there to celebrate the opening; not a single person was missing.

He never dreamed a day like this would come, not even a year ago.

Park Sang-cheol shouted loudly.

“Hyung-nims [older brothers/respected colleagues], please come inside, lunch is ready!”

Oh Myung-hwan entered the store first, followed by the others.

Although it was an indoor food stall, it was quite large, with plenty of room for many people to sit inside.

The lunch menu was already set: Janchi-guksu (banquet noodles) [a Korean noodle dish typically served at celebrations].

It was CEO Oh Myung-hwan who decided on the menu.

The idea was to create a festive atmosphere, even while eating a simple lunch.

That’s how much today’s opening of the first store felt like a festival to them.

Moreover, since everyone gathered here would soon have to go to work at their respective food stalls, it was a decision made by CEO Oh Myung-hwan after much deliberation.

“The noodles are ready!”

When the chef announced this loudly, several people got up and started carrying the noodles.

After a short while.

All the tables were set with noodles, kimchi [traditional Korean fermented side dish], sliced pork head, rice cakes, and soju [Korean distilled rice liquor]. This menu was also based on Oh Myung-hwan’s prior instructions.

“Okay, fill up the glasses in front of you first.”

At Oh Myung-hwan’s words, the glasses were filled in an instant.

Just then.

Someone shouted.

“Big Hyung-nim is coming!”

With those words, everyone’s attention turned outside. Oh Myung-hwan, who was sitting on the innermost side, also naturally turned his gaze outside the store.

Someone was walking confidently toward the store.

There was no doubt who it was.

It was none other than Hyun-sung.

The very Big Hyung-nim they were talking about.

Instantly.

Everyone sitting inside the store stood up at the same time and ran outside.

“Huh!”

Hyun-sung, who had arrived in front of the store, was dumbfounded.

Sturdy men lined up in two rows in front of the store, waiting for him.

“Hyung-nim!”

“Big Hyung-nim, you’ve arrived!”

When Oh Myung-hwan, who was at the front, greeted Hyun-sung, the sturdy men standing in two rows greeted Hyun-sung with a loud voice at the same time.

“Director Oh, since when did I become Big Hyung-nim?”

Hyun-sung asked Oh Myung-hwan as he walked between the two rows. Oh Myung-hwan said with a smile.

“It’s been a few months. These guys have been calling Hyung-nim Big Hyung-nim for a while now. But what’s this? When we talked the day before yesterday, you didn’t say you were coming?”

Oh Myung-hwan had been surprised to see Hyun-sung a little while ago because even when they talked the day before yesterday, Hyun-sung hadn’t mentioned coming to Gangneung.

Moreover, since he had even sent congratulatory wreaths, he naturally assumed he wouldn’t come.

“It’s the opening of the youngest; it’s not just anyone, so I had to come.”

“Anyway, welcome. Let’s go inside.”

Oh Myung-hwan took Hyun-sung into the store and made room for him to sit at the table where he was sitting.

Just then, Park Sang-cheol approached.

“Big Hyung-nim! Thank you for coming, and thank you for the wreaths.”

“Oh, yeah. Congratulations on the opening. And this.”

Hyun-sung handed over an envelope.

“No, Big Hyung-nim. Why are you giving me another envelope? I already received 10 wreaths.”

“Just take it and quickly make me a bowl of Janchi-guksu.”

Park Sang-cheol momentarily didn’t know what to do and looked at Oh Myung-hwan next to him. Oh Myung-hwan nodded and immediately continued.

“Hyung-nim is giving it to you. Take it quickly and bring a bowl of noodles.”

“Yes, Hyung-nim.”

Only then did Park Sang-cheol receive the envelope Hyun-sung handed him and head to the kitchen.

Hyun-sung asked Oh Myung-hwan.

“What were you doing?”

“We were just about to make a toast. This is great. Hyung-nim, please give us a wonderful toast.”

“No, it’s not that; just finish what you were doing.”

“Still, Hyung-nim…….”

“No, it’s not that. The noodles will get soggy. Hurry up and feed these guys noodles.”

“Yes, then…….”

Oh Myung-hwan bowed his head toward Hyun-sung, then got up from his seat and raised his soju glass high.

“Okay, everyone, raise your glasses!”

At Oh Myung-hwan’s words, everyone raised their soju glasses above their heads. Hyun-sung also raised his soju glass high with them.

Oh Myung-hwan’s words continued again.

“Today, the youngest is opening the first store, and this is just the beginning. We will promote the business with the goal of opening three stores a year from now on. And as I said in advance, let me say it again: I will open under your names, and then I will open last. So, everyone, have hope and work hard!”

Oh Myung-hwan looked around the store once, then made eye contact with Hyun-sung one last time before continuing.

“Okay, brothers! For the development of our future, the indoor food stall……!”

“For the development!”

Everyone in the store shouted loudly at the same time.

Oh Myung-hwan said quietly to Hyun-sung.

“Hyung-nim, thank you for coming all the way here.”

“Yeah, you’ve worked hard. Okay, let’s drink.”

The two clinked glasses and emptied their soju glasses.

Oh Myung-hwan looked around again and continued.

“Today’s Janchi-guksu has a special meaning. It is our feast for the opening of the first store. There are plenty of noodles, so eat and eat more!”

Oh Myung-hwan’s last voice was full of strength, showing his determination.

“We will eat well!”

With a powerful voice, the sturdy men began to eat Janchi-guksu.

It was a scene that could not be seen at a typical opening ceremony.

Hyun-sung glanced at the people eating noodles. They definitely had different expressions than the last time he saw them.

Their eyes were shining.

Perhaps it was because of the hope that they would be able to have their own store in a few years.

Of course, Oh Myung-hwan would be at the center of it.

Hyun-sung looked at Oh Myung-hwan, who was eating noodles next to him. Oh Myung-hwan, while eating noodles, immediately asked.

“Why are you looking at me? Is there something on my face?”

“Yeah, there’s something on it. A lot of it.”

“Yes? What is it?”

Oh Myung-hwan wiped his face with his hand and checked, but there was nothing묻어 [묻어 (mudeo) means ‘to be묻어ed’ or ‘to have something묻어ed on it’] on his hand.

“Hyung-nim, are you teasing me right now?”

“Who’s teasing? Originally, a person’s charm doesn’t 묻어 [doesn’t stick/isn’t묻어ed].”

“Yes? Hyung-nim, really…….”

Oh Myung-hwan chuckled as if he was embarrassed. Then Hyun-sung looked at him, smiled, and raised his thumb.

Slurp!

Only then did Hyun-sung start eating Janchi-guksu.