Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 711

714

About an hour had passed.

After Jang Min-soo left, only Hyun-sung and Oh Myung-hwan remained at the table, talking.

Hyun-sung asked Oh Myung-hwan,

“What do you think?”

“About the *Janchi Guksu* [banquet noodles] restaurant?”

“Yes, it’s time to make a decision.”

Most of their conversation had been about *Janchi Guksu*.

Initially, it was just the two of them talking, but when Jang Min-soo joined in, the idea of a *Janchi Guksu* restaurant gained even more momentum.

This was because a specific commercial district had been mentioned.

The area in question was around Hyun-sung’s alma mater, Kangsang University.

The three of them concluded that there was no better place to open a *Janchi Guksu* restaurant than there.

Now, only Oh Myung-hwan’s decision remained. So, Hyun-sung was urging him to make a final choice.

“…….”

Oh Myung-hwan still couldn’t decide and seemed deep in thought, remaining silent.

Hyun-sung picked up his drink, took a sip, and then called out to Oh Myung-hwan, who was still silent.

“Director Oh.”

“Yes, *Hyung-nim* [older brother/respected male figure].”

“You know that timing is everything in business, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then why are you so worried? I think you already know the answer.”

Hyun-sung was tempted to open the *Janchi Guksu* restaurant himself.

He knew the Kangsang University area better than anyone else. He had spent four years there during his previous life, until he graduated.

If he were to open a *Janchi Guksu* restaurant there, it would be a piece of cake, according to Hyun-sung.

He could make that judgment because he had lived there before.

But Oh Myung-hwan would be different.

From his perspective, he had never even been near Kangsang University, so he didn’t seem to resonate with what Hyun-sung and Jang Min-soo had been saying.

More time passed.

Oh Myung-hwan, who had been quiet, finally raised his head and looked at Hyun-sung as if he had made a decision. Then, he called out to Hyun-sung in a serious voice.

“*Hyung-nim*!”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“Do you have time right now?”

“Time? Why?”

“I think I need to see it with my own eyes to make a decision. Of course, listening to you and Min-soo, Kangsang University seems to be the best place for a noodle shop, but I need to see it myself…….”

“Okay, I understand.”

Hyun-sung got up before Oh Myung-hwan could finish speaking.

He immediately understood what he was trying to say.

Perhaps it was only natural. It wouldn’t make sense to make a business decision based solely on what others said.

“You’re right, Director Oh. It doesn’t make sense to sit here and make a decision without seeing it. Let’s go to Kangsang University right now. Let’s go and see it for ourselves.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Oh Myung-hwan nodded to Hyun-sung.

To be honest, he was hesitant to say this. Hyun-sung and Jang Min-soo had actually lived in Kangsang University, so they knew the area’s commercial district better than anyone else.

Those people had spent an hour talking about the advantages of the area for him.

In that situation, it wasn’t easy to say that he needed to see it with his own eyes.

But fortunately, Hyun-sung didn’t seem to mind and got up first, suggesting they go there, so he couldn’t help but feel grateful.

As the two men got up to leave, Park Sang-cheol, who was in the kitchen, ran out.

He was holding a 1.5-liter plastic bottle in his hand.

“Big Brother, it’s not much, but take this with you.”

“Huh? What is this?”

“It’s broth.”

“Broth? Is this *Janchi Guksu* broth?”

Hyun-sung asked, lifting the plastic bottle that Park Sang-cheol had handed him.

“Yes, that’s right. I thought about what I could give you, and I decided to prepare some broth. I wanted your wife to taste it too.”

“Thank you, your sister-in-law will probably like it.”

In fact, the person Hyun-sung had thought of while eating the noodles was his wife, Yoon Ji-soo. He knew that she also liked noodle dishes. Of course, his mother-in-law too.

Hyun-sung and Oh Myung-hwan left the indoor food stall, escorted by Park Sang-cheol, and headed to the parking lot.

Oh Myung-hwan, who was walking next to him, asked Hyun-sung,

“*Hyung-nim*, am I taking up too much of your time?”

“It’s okay, there’s still plenty of time. And it’s for Director Oh, so this is nothing.”

Hyun-sung strode towards the parking lot as if it were nothing.

Soon after, the car carrying the two men arrived in front of Kangsang University.

It had been a while since Hyun-sung had visited his alma mater. Perhaps that’s why the sight of the school’s main gate brought back old memories.

Hyun-sung stared at the main gate for a moment, then passed through it and entered the school.

“Where are we going?”

Oh Myung-hwan asked immediately.

From his perspective, he was probably curious as to why they were entering the school instead of going to the commercial district around the school.

Hyun-sung’s answer followed immediately.

“I’m going to show Director Oh what the school looks like.”

If they were to open a *Janchi Guksu* restaurant around Kangsang University, the main customer base would naturally be the students of Kangsang University.

Of course, to analyze the commercial district, it would be important to look at the area where the commercial district was formed, but he thought it would be good to show him how the students, who were the center of the commercial district, lived first, so he came straight into the school.

“There are quite a few students here today.”

Oh Myung-hwan said, looking at the students in the school.

As he said, quite a few students were noticeable, even though it was Saturday.

“I know, there shouldn’t be any classes today since it’s Saturday.”

With those words, Hyun-sung turned the steering wheel towards the central library.

“There are even more students here?”

Oh Myung-hwan leaned out and looked outside, as if he was amazed.

Hyun-sung also noticed the sight.

“Huh? Where are they all going?”

Oh Myung-hwan noticed that the students were heading in one direction. The students who had come out of the library were moving in one direction. And there were quite a few of them.

Seeing this, Hyun-sung immediately asked,

“Where do you think they’re all going? From your perspective, Director Oh.”

“Well, I’m not familiar with universities…….”

Oh Myung-hwan looked at Hyun-sung as if he didn’t know. Then Hyun-sung chuckled and asked,

“What time is it now?”

“Um, it’s a little after 4 o’clock. But why are you suddenly asking about the time?”

“Doesn’t that remind you of anything at this time?”

“Well…….”

Oh Myung-hwan tilted his head again as if he didn’t know. Then Hyun-sung immediately opened his mouth.

“It’s snack time.”

“Snack time?”

“Yeah, they had lunch at 12 o’clock, so they must be hungry around this time. It’s the time when they’re eating a lot.”

“Ah, so the place where those students are going now is…….”

Oh Myung-hwan nodded as if he finally understood where the students were gathering.

“If we open a noodle shop, it would be really chaotic if those students came all at once.”

“That’s right. It’ll be almost like a war. Especially at lunchtime, it’ll be beyond imagination.”

Oh Myung-hwan nodded and seemed to think for a moment before opening his mouth again.

“By any chance, if we open, how many people will come at lunchtime?”

“Well, even if it’s not much, wouldn’t at least 500 people come?”

“What? 500 people?”

“Yeah, I think that’s the minimum. The school cafeteria here is about 1,800 won now. Since we have an advantage in terms of price, students will definitely flock to us.”

Of course, the taste of the noodles is also important. But no less important than that is the price.

Hyun-sung knew that students didn’t have a lot of money.

Fortunately, *Janchi Guksu* had an advantage in terms of price.

That was why Hyun-sung could say that with confidence.

The car carrying the two men had circled the school once and was heading back to the main gate.

Oh Myung-hwan asked,

“How much do you think we’ll sell in a day?”

“Well, we’ll have to open it to find out, but I think we can easily make at least 150.”

“What? 150?”

Oh Myung-hwan turned his head and looked at Hyun-sung as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Why? Don’t you believe me?”

“If it’s 150, we have to sell 1,500 bowls of noodles at 1,000 won each, but is that really possible…….”

“I’m taking that as the minimum.”

“Are you saying that it’s possible to sell more than that?”

“Of course. The problem is how to handle the students who come all at once. If we can solve that problem, I think the sales could be even higher.”

While the two men were talking, the car that had passed through the main gate arrived at the place where the students who had come out of the library were gathering.

Hyun-sung, who had parked the car, said to Oh Myung-hwan,

“Get out.”

“What? Why here?”

“Why do you ask? We have to get out and see what the students are eating and what the atmosphere is like. We came here to investigate the commercial district, didn’t we?”

“Ah, yes…….”

Oh Myung-hwan got out of the car as if he finally understood.

The two men who got out of the car moved towards the place where the students were gathering.

About 10 minutes passed.

The two men who had returned to the car got in right away.

Hyun-sung asked first,

“How was it?”

“I was surprised. I didn’t know students were so enthusiastic about eating.”

“It’s because they’re at the age when they eat a lot. That’s why *Janchi Guksu* has a better chance of success. The portion of noodles is also huge.”

“That seems to be true. It can’t be compared to a bowl of ramen.”

Earlier, Oh Myung-hwan had seen it with his own eyes. Most of the students were eating ramen.

Of course, the amount was less than half of what was sold at the food stall. But still, most of the students were waiting in line to eat that ramen.

“Now that you’ve seen it with your own eyes, think about it carefully. As I said before, timing is everything in business. So, make a decision now.”

“Um…….”

Oh Myung-hwan hesitated for a moment, then nodded as if he had made up his mind and said immediately,

“Yes, I understand. I’ll do it.”

“You’ve decided?”

“Yes, as you said, I’ll look for an empty store right away. Before that, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“A favor? What is it?”

Hyun-sung looked at Oh Myung-hwan. Then Oh Myung-hwan immediately opened his mouth.

“Please lend me that 100 million won [approximately $75,000 USD].”

“Lend it to you? So you don’t want me to just give it to you, you want me to lend it to you?”

“Yes, that’s right. As I said before, I made a promise to myself. I will definitely keep that promise. I will definitely repay the money you lend me with fair interest within two years.”

Smirk.

Hyun-sung smiled as he looked at Oh Myung-hwan speaking.

He was definitely different from a year ago.

For a person to change.

It wouldn’t be easy at all. But Oh Myung-hwan in front of him was showing it directly.

Hyun-sung had no reason to hesitate.

“Okay, let me get some interest too.”

Interest, money wasn’t the issue. He liked Oh Myung-hwan’s attitude.

He didn’t want to just take the money, he wanted to borrow it with interest. For the sake of a promise he made to himself.

Hyun-sung happily took out a check from his wallet.

“Here, take it.”

“Yes, I’ll go to the office later and write a formal promissory note.”

“Even a promissory note?”

“Of course. That’s the basics. I used to work in the finance industry, you know.”

With those words, Oh Myung-hwan scratched his head as if he was embarrassed. Seeing this, Hyun-sung immediately asked,

“Director Oh, it’s late, but let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“You must have made quite a bit of money in the private loan business, where did all that money go?”

That was what he had been curious about from the beginning. He had fought with them and then talked to Oh Myung-hwan two months later. But the strange thing was that he didn’t have any money.

Of course, it didn’t make sense. He said he was in the private loan business, but he didn’t have any money. But at that time, it wasn’t the atmosphere to ask why, so he just let it go.

“I put it all in my mouth.”

“In your mouth?”

“Yes, stocks. I was being reckless, saying I was going to invest in stocks, and then…… Whew!”

Oh Myung-hwan sighed at the end of his words.

Hyun-sung nodded. Then he immediately asked,

“By any chance, the IMF crisis [1997 Asian Financial Crisis]?”

“Yes, who would have known? I didn’t know that so many stocks would become scraps of paper overnight. Actually, I even borrowed money from a private lender I knew in Seoul and went all in, but…….”

Oh Myung-hwan shook his head from side to side as if he didn’t want to remember. Then he continued,

“After I liquidated the private loan business and paid off my debts, I had nothing left. That’s when you helped me, *Hyung-nim*.”

Oh Myung-hwan continued,

“I think I know now.”

“Know what?”

“How to make money. I learned that money that is easily earned is easily lost. Back then, I was just eating and having fun every night. I thought that was the taste of life. Looking back, I realized how meaningless and wasteful those times were. I regret it now.”

Oh Myung-hwan smiled bitterly and then continued,

“I don’t know what you think, *Hyung-nim*, but I’m going to try to live a decent life now, even if it’s late. That’s why I said I didn’t want the money you were just giving me.”

Oh Myung-hwan looked at Hyun-sung this time and then continued,

“All of this is thanks to you, *Hyung-nim*. Now, let’s go to the real estate office. We need to find an empty store. Even though it’s only 1,000 won, I’m going to make some money with *Janchi Guksu* from now on.”

“Okay, I understand!”

Hyun-sung turned his head and glanced at Oh Myung-hwan, then smiled and started the car.

Vroom!

The car carrying the two men passed through the main gate and headed towards the real estate office with vigor.