Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 715

718

Inside the office, 48 burly men were gathered.

This number represented the employees of Cart Bar Corporation, excluding Oh Myung-hwan and Han Sang-tae.

Their expressions were uniformly tense.

The reason was that an emergency call had been issued an hour earlier.

Such a thing hadn’t happened once in the past year. That meant today’s emergency summons was special.

Naturally, everyone who had gathered couldn’t help but be nervous.

Clunk!

The office door opened, and two men entered.

It was Oh Myung-hwan, the CEO of Cart Bar Corporation, and Han Sang-tae, the executive director.

Everyone gathered bowed their heads simultaneously, as if by agreement.

“Welcome, CEO!”

“Alright, everyone, take a seat.”

Oh Myung-hwan walked to the front. Then, looking at the gathered people, he said in a loud voice.

“Everyone must be tired, right?”

“No, we’re fine!”

The gathered people answered in unison, as if by agreement. Oh Myung-hwan immediately continued.

“No. You must all be tired since you stayed up all night. But the reason I called you all here at this hour, knowing that, is because of a new business I need to urgently inform you about.”

The eyes of the gathered people sparkled at the mention of a new business.

They were already curious about the reason for being called in today, and the words ‘new business’ were enough to surprise them.

Someone asked.

“Are you saying you’re starting a new business besides the cart bars?”

“Yes, that’s right. That business is Janchi Guksu (Banquet Noodles).”

“Pardon? Are you saying Janchi Guksu is a new business?”

The man who asked tilted his head.

It was hard to understand at first listen. The reason was that Janchi Guksu was already a menu item sold in the cart bars.

The man asked again.

“CEO, isn’t Janchi Guksu already being sold at the cart bars?”

“Yes, that’s right. Janchi Guksu is already a food we sell. But from now on, we will develop this menu separately as a business.”

“Are you saying you’ll only sell Janchi Guksu?”

“Yes, that’s exactly it. We plan to open a Janchi Guksu specialty restaurant in the future.”

Rumble, rumble.

Suddenly, the office became noisy. Everyone looked at the person next to them and started talking in small voices.

“What is this? A Janchi Guksu specialty restaurant.”

“I know, right? Will it work selling only Janchi Guksu?”

“It’s going to be tough.”

“This doesn’t seem right…….”

The content of their conversations was mostly worried. It seemed they were mostly negative about running a business with only Janchi Guksu.

Oh Myung-hwan, who was listening to their conversation, called the youngest, Park Sang-cheol, who was standing at the front.

“Sang-cheol.”

“Yes, hyungnim [older brother/term of endearment]. No, CEO.”

“We opened for the first time yesterday, how was it?”

“It was better than I thought.”

Oh Myung-hwan nodded and asked again.

“How was the reaction to the Janchi Guksu?”

Yesterday was the opening day, so Janchi Guksu was given as a service to all customers. Therefore, there would have been reactions from all the customers. Oh Myung-hwan was asking about that reaction now.

Park Sang-cheol answered in a confident voice.

“It was the best.”

“The best?”

“Yes, the reaction to Janchi Guksu was the best of all the other menu items. They said they would definitely order it next time they come.”

Oh Myung-hwan nodded as if he had expected it, then looked at the others and asked.

“How were the reactions to Janchi Guksu in other places?”

“It’s good. These days, there are even customers who come just to eat Janchi Guksu.”

“That’s right. At some point, Janchi Guksu became the number one popular menu item at the cart bars.”

Two people answered in confident voices.

After that, a few more people answered, but it was almost the same content.

Oh Myung-hwan’s words continued.

“You’ve all heard. Janchi Guksu is very popular at our cart bars. So, I’m going to develop this item into a business. Of course, this business was not decided by me alone. It was decided after a long discussion with Hyunsung hyungnim [older brother/respected figure] yesterday.”

“Are you saying Big Brother also agreed?”

“Yes, that’s right. In fact, Hyunsung hyungnim suggested the Janchi Guksu business first. So, I agreed.”

As soon as Hyunsung’s name came out, it could be seen that the previously uneasy expressions quickly changed to expectant eyes.

That probably meant that Hyunsung was a special presence to them.

Oh Myung-hwan raised an envelope high.

“Everyone, look here. Do you know what this is?”

“Is it money by any chance?”

Park Sang-cheol, who was at the front, asked.

Hyunsung had given 100 million won when they first started the cart bars, so he spoke with the hope that it might be the same this time.

Oh Myung-hwan chuckled and shook his head.

“No. This isn’t money, it’s a commercial building contract. Yesterday, I went with Hyunsung hyungnim and signed a contract for a commercial building in front of Kangsang University. Of course, this commercial building is where the Janchi Guksu specialty restaurant will be located in the future. The size is 200 pyeong [approximately 7,200 square feet].”

Oh Myung-hwan deliberately emphasized the number ‘200’. The reason was to show that the company was growing that much.

However, contrary to his intention, the office started buzzing again.

“200 pyeong? Wow! That’s a complete playground.”

“Can we maintain that size with just noodles?”

“I don’t think it’ll be easy.”

“How much is the monthly rent for 200 pyeong?”

“We’ll need a lot of staff at that size.”

As expected, most of the concerns were the same as before. It seemed that the size of 200 pyeong was more of a concern than an expectation for growth.

Oh Myung-hwan, who was watching the scene, spoke again.

“Of course, it’s true that the size of 200 pyeong is a burden. But fortunately, since the location of the commercial building is underground, it also has the advantage of being relatively cheaper than above ground.”

The reason they were worried was mostly because of operating costs.

One of the most important things in operating costs is monthly rent. Oh Myung-hwan wanted to emphasize that the rent was relatively cheaper because it was underground.

This time, someone sitting in the middle asked.

“How much is the monthly rent?”

“It’s 3 million won [approximately $2,250 USD].”

“…….”

No one easily opened their mouth at the mention of 3 million won. That probably meant that the number 3 million was a burden to them.

Monthly rent of 3 million won.

In the end, this number is a relative meaning.

Oh Myung-hwan thought it was cheap compared to the large size, but others didn’t think so.

Perhaps their reaction was natural.

Because a monthly rent of 3 million won is definitely not a small amount.

Then someone carefully asked.

“CEO, then…… how much monthly sales are you expecting?”

It was the moment when everyone’s attention was focused on Oh Myung-hwan’s mouth.

It was a natural reaction. After all, the most important thing is monthly sales.

Oh Myung-hwan’s answer followed.

“At least 40 million won [approximately $30,000 USD]. With Sundays off every week. If you calculate it, you’ll see that we’re expecting to make about 1.5 million won [approximately $1,125 USD] a day.”

“Are you saying that 1,500 bowls will be sold a day?”

“Yes, that’s right. This was also not decided by me alone, but concluded after consulting with Hyunsung hyungnim. At that rate, after deducting all expenses such as monthly rent, labor costs, and material costs, we’re calculating that we’ll have at least 15 million won [approximately $11,250 USD] left over.”

Oh Myung-hwan looked around the office and continued.

“This amount is the minimum amount. Depending on the situation, I think it’s possible to make more than that.”

“More than that?”

“Yes, I think sales will vary depending on how you operate it. If that happens, the net profit will naturally change as well.”

“…….”

Silence flowed.

Everyone seemed to be thinking.

After a while, someone asked.

“CEO, who will be running the restaurant?”

Perhaps it was the most important part.

Who will be starting at the point of starting a new business.

Was that why?

Everyone’s eyes were once again focused on Oh Myung-hwan’s mouth.

Their eyes looked quite serious.

But unlike the serious ones, Oh Myung-hwan said immediately without any hesitation, as if it were natural.

“That person is Hwang Seung-il, the second youngest among us. Seung-il will be running the first Janchi Guksu restaurant.”

“Pardon? Are you talking about me?”

Hwang Seung-il, who was standing at the front, showed a surprised expression. Then Oh Myung-hwan looked at him and immediately continued.

“Yes, as I already said, we decided to open the restaurants in order of youngest, so it’s natural for you to take charge of running it.”

“…….”

Hwang Seung-il couldn’t say anything and didn’t know what to do.

After a while.

Hwang Seung-il, whose face turned red, slowly opened his mouth.

“CEO, I absolutely…… can’t do it.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“I’m not confident. How can I run such a large restaurant? I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can do it.”

Hwang Seung-il shook his head.

Oh Myung-hwan was just dumbfounded.

He thought that Hwang Seung-il would naturally take charge of running the first Janchi Guksu restaurant if he just told him. He had already said that he would open new restaurants in order of youngest.

But a problem arose. He thought he would naturally take charge of running it, but he said he didn’t want to.

Of course, this was a part that he was worried about when talking to Hyunsung yesterday. It was because he judged that running a large restaurant of 200 pyeong would not be easy.

But the fact that Hwang Seung-il said he didn’t want to was dumbfounding.

Whatever the reason, there wouldn’t be a better opportunity than this.

“What’s the reason?”

“As I said before, I’m not confident. How can I run a restaurant that’s 200 pyeong? I absolutely…….”

Hwang Seung-il shook his head violently.

He talked a few more times after that, but Hwang Seung-il’s position did not change.

Oh Myung-hwan looked at Lee Min-ho next to Hwang Seung-il this time. He was the third youngest in the organization.

“Lee Min-ho, how about you?”

“Pardon? Are you talking about me?”

Lee Min-ho was surprised when his name was suddenly called. Oh Myung-hwan looked at him and said again.

“Yes, Seung-il said he doesn’t want to, so it’s your turn next. What do you think?”

“I, well…….”

Lee Min-ho couldn’t continue speaking properly.

After a while.

He continued speaking immediately as if he had made a decision.

“CEO, I’m the same as Seung-il. I’m not confident that I can run a 200-pyeong restaurant with my abilities.”

“Hmm…….”

Oh Myung-hwan was at a loss. He had expected it to some extent, but he didn’t know that the pressure of 200 pyeong would be this great.

Oh Myung-hwan had no choice but to ask the others in order of youngest. But the reactions of the others were not much different from Hwang Seung-il or Lee Min-ho.

They also consistently said that their capabilities were insufficient to run 200 pyeong.

“Hoo!”

Oh Myung-hwan sighed deeply without realizing it.

It was then.

Han Sang-tae, who had been quiet until now, opened his mouth.

“CEO, it seems that you will have to run the first Janchi Guksu restaurant yourself.”

“Me?”

“Yes, that’s right. As you can see now, I don’t think there’s anyone here, including me, who can run a large restaurant of 200 pyeong. I think you’re the only one who can run that restaurant.”

“Hmm…….”

Oh Myung-hwan couldn’t continue speaking immediately.

He didn’t know the situation would turn out like this.

If this happens, his words that he would open the restaurants starting with the youngest will become meaningless.

‘What should I do?’

As Oh Myung-hwan was worried, Han Sang-tae, who was watching the scene, opened his mouth again.

“CEO, what are you worried about?”

“As Executive Director Han knows, I have something I said with my own mouth.”

“Are you talking about the words that you would open the restaurants in order of youngest?”

“Yes, I clearly said that with my own mouth. But…….”

“CEO!”

Han Sang-tae interrupted Oh Myung-hwan’s words. Then he continued immediately.

“This is a different case.”

“Different?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s not that their right to choose was taken away, but they themselves gave up because they didn’t have the ability to manage, right?”

It wasn’t wrong. He clearly gave them the right to choose first, but they themselves refused because the size was too large.

Han Sang-tae’s words continued again.

“So, you don’t have to think that you’re taking away the rice bowls [livelihoods] of your juniors. Now is the time for you to step up and become the hope for all of us.”

“Hope?”

“Yes, that’s right. If the first Janchi Guksu restaurant is successful, we will have new hope. Cart bars have to be open all night, but Janchi Guksu can be open only during the day, so it will be an opportunity for us to make new choices. Please open that new opportunity for us, CEO.”

It was right then.

As soon as Han Sang-tae’s words ended, everyone gathered bowed their heads and said at the same time.

“That’s right, CEO! Please open a new opportunity for us!”

The voices of 48 people, excluding Oh Myung-hwan and Han Sang-tae, filled the office.

Cart bars and Janchi Guksu specialty restaurants.

They are clearly different. Both restaurants will have their pros and cons. But the important thing is that if the Janchi Guksu specialty restaurant is successful this time, they will have more choices.

That’s what they’re hoping for now.

“…….”

Oh Myung-hwan quietly looked at the people gathered in the office.

Their eyes were shining brighter than ever.

Oh Myung-hwan, who was watching the scene, nodded as if he had made a decision and immediately opened his mouth.

“Alright. If everyone thinks so, I will gladly take on the first restaurant. I will definitely succeed and give new hope to our brothers gathered here. Look forward to it!”