Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 736

On the Yeongdong Expressway.

A black sedan was gliding along the road.

Inside the car was Shin Min-ki, the chairman of Nongshim.

He had parted ways with Hyun-sung 30 minutes earlier and was now driving to Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, to meet his father, Chairman Shin Chun-oh.

Chairman Shin Min-ki quietly gazed out the window.

Perhaps it was because he was about to see his father.

The passing scenery felt particularly warm and familiar today.

Several years ago, he had a difference of opinion with his father regarding the establishment of a Shin Ramyun factory.

No matter how much they reviewed it, they couldn’t find a solution. So, the factory establishment issue was inevitably dropped.

That’s when the problem arose.

From his father’s perspective, it was a difficult situation because he had already promised Hyun-sung that the factory would be built.

However, they couldn’t proceed with it when it wasn’t financially viable.

The problem was the handling of the matter.

If he had explained the reasons why the factory couldn’t be built to his father in detail, his father wouldn’t have been so disappointed.

It was a mistake to put the working-level staff forward.

He should have taken the initiative to explain things actively, at least when persuading his father.

But he didn’t do that.

He realized later that it was his fault.

But by then, it was already too late.

His father’s heart had already turned away.

As several years passed, his relationship with his father became very distant.

It was always a burden on his mind.

He wanted to restore his relationship with his father as soon as possible, but he couldn’t muster the courage.

That’s how several years had passed.

But today, he finally got that opportunity. Of course, it was a requirement imposed by others, not by his own will.

The moment he heard Hyun-sung say, “Go visit your father,” it felt like being hit in the back of the head with a hammer.

How desperate must he have been to say such a thing?

It was his father, no less.

What other words were needed in front of his father?

Courage?

He didn’t know why he needed courage to meet his father.

He could just go and see him.

He chuckled!

Chairman Shin Min-ki couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

He felt that his actions so far had been pathetic.

He couldn’t understand what he had been thinking, wasting such precious time until now.

Chairman Shin Min-ki called Yoon Seung-hyun, the secretary sitting in front of him.

“Secretary Yoon.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“That friend…….”

“Are you perhaps referring to…… President Kim?”

“Yes, I’m talking about President Kim Hyun-sung.”

Chairman Shin Min-ki nodded and continued.

“That friend really gave me a good one today.”

“A good one?”

“Yes, he made me realize how pathetic I am.”

Chairman Shin Min-ki paused as if thinking, then continued immediately.

“Do you know how much of a fool I made of myself in front of that friend today?”

“Pardon? What…….”

“I was making a big fuss about giving him a reward for acting like a son when I can’t even keep the basics with my own father. How pathetic must I have looked to him?”

Chairman Shin Min-ki shook his head at the end of his sentence. It meant that he felt pathetic about his behavior in front of Hyun-sung, even now.

“How desperate must he have been to directly advise me to visit my father?”

“…….”

“But do you know what’s strange?”

“Pardon? Something strange?”

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun tilted his head as if he didn’t understand. Seeing that, Chairman Shin Min-ki chuckled and immediately continued.

“Well, strangely enough, I didn’t feel ashamed. Instead, it felt like being hit with a switch.”

“A switch, you say?”

“Yes, when I did something wrong as a child, my father used to hit me with a switch. Of course, it wasn’t often.”

“Ah, yes…….”

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun nodded.

He had heard roughly what had happened with Hyun-sung after leaving the restaurant, getting into the car, and before entering the highway.

So, he could understand what Chairman Shin Min-ki meant by the switch now.

“So, I feel good now. It became an opportunity to realize my mistakes.”

A faint smile spread across Chairman Shin Min-ki’s face, as if he was satisfied.

“But it’s really amazing.”

“Pardon? What is?”

“That friend Hyun-sung. I don’t think of him as young at all. There must be at least a 20-year age difference between us.”

“To be exact, there’s a 22-year difference.”

As Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun replied, Chairman Shin Min-ki nodded and immediately said.

“That’s what I mean. Usually, if there’s more than a 20-year age difference, it’s hard to have a good conversation. But I didn’t feel that way at all while talking to that friend. No, rather, what should I say, it felt like he was a friend, that kind of feeling.”

After listening to Chairman Shin Min-ki’s story, Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun nodded and immediately continued.

“Now that you mention it, I feel similarly to the Chairman. The first time I saw that friend was the day we were transporting the patient Lee Soo-hyuk last time. Although it was the first time I saw him that day, I didn’t think he was young at all. No, I even felt like he was older than me.”

“Right? Right?”

Chairman Shin Min-ki reacted strongly, as if trying to confirm that his thoughts were correct. Then, Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun nodded and immediately responded to his words.

“Yes, that’s right. Not only then, but I felt that way again today.”

“You’re right. I was initially surprised at the *Gopchang* [grilled small intestines] restaurant when he told me to bring Secretary Yoon and Driver Kim in. But when I thought about it, that friend was right. They’re the two people closest to me, so how could I make them wait in the car?”

At first, he was honestly taken aback.

But soon, he realized how wrong that action was.

It was about food, no less, and he shouldn’t have done that.

Chairman Shin Min-ki’s words continued.

“So, I want to apologize to both of you now, even though it’s late.”

“Chairman, an apology? Why are you saying that? That’s not something you should say.”

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun shook his hand as if it was absurd. Then, Chairman Shin Min-ki also shook his hand as if he wouldn’t be outdone and immediately said.

“No, that’s not true. Even though I’m the chairman, I’ve made too many mistakes towards you two. I realized today how wrong that behavior was.”

Chairman Shin Min-ki called the driver, Kim Woo-shik.

“Driver Kim.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“I’m sorry for everything. You’re always working hard for me, but I’ve been too indifferent. If you’ve had any hard feelings, please let them go now.”

“No, Chairman. I don’t have any…….”

“Driver Kim!”

Chairman Shin Min-ki immediately interrupted Driver Kim Woo-shik’s words. Then, he immediately continued.

“No, no matter how I think about it, this isn’t right. You shouldn’t do that in front of food. I realized that today. Of course, thanks to that President Kim…….”

Chairman Shin Min-ki paused for a moment and then called Yoon Seung-hyun this time.

“Secretary Yoon.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to Secretary Yoon as well. You’ve been working hard day and night, but I haven’t been able to think about it. It was my fault. I’m sincerely sorry.”

As Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun’s words ended, Chairman Shin Min-ki shook his head from side to side. Then, he immediately continued.

“No, it was all my ignorance. I thought it was natural all along. But the moment I heard that from President Kim, I thought, ‘Oh no!’ I realized at that moment that I had been thinking wrong. Haha…….”

Chairman Shin Min-ki laughed lightly and then continued.

“Today, thanks to that friend, I realized what the basics are that people should keep in mind while living. Secretary Yoon, Driver Kim.”

Chairman Shin Min-ki suddenly called out to the two of them at the end of his sentence. Then, the two of them answered at the same time as if they had made a promise.

“Yes, Chairman!”

“I’ll make a promise to both of you here. Even if I don’t know anything else, I’ll never eat alone from now on, no matter where I go. I’ll definitely promise you that.”

“…….”

“…….”

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun and Driver Kim Woo-shik couldn’t say anything and just looked at each other.

At that time, Chairman Shin Min-ki opened his mouth again.

“Let’s settle that issue like that, and Secretary Yoon.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Regarding the issue of making ramen with that food truck, how effective do you think it will be?”

“I think it’s a very good idea. The results have already been verified in Gangneung in the past.”

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun honestly stated his thoughts.

That’s because they had achieved a whopping 10% sales growth in just two months.

Until now, even if they directly advertised the product, the sales effect had never been that great.

At that time, the entire company was in a festive mood.

The reason why it was even more of a big deal was because the sales suddenly jumped in a state where they didn’t expect it.

At that time, it was a pure heart.

Of course, there was a special instruction from the former chairman.

This is not an advertisement, but helping the victims of the disaster, so do your best.

But that was a huge success.

Consumers recognized the pure heart.

“So that’s what you mean…….”

Chairman Shin Min-ki stroked his chin as if thinking for a moment.

After a while.

Chairman Shin Min-ki nodded as if he had made a decision and immediately opened his mouth.

“Let’s do it!”

“Yes, I strongly agree.”

“But the problem is the sincerity that friend talked about. I don’t know how to do that.”

“That’s what I mean. I also don’t know about that part…….”

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun tilted his head as if he didn’t know either.

It would be easy if they advertised openly. But this time, they have to hide the advertisement.

In the end, no one should know that Nongshim is volunteering, but is that even possible?

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun unknowingly began to press on both temples.

Chairman Shin Min-ki was just as frustrated.

Advertise, but hide the advertisement?

Put your heart into it?

That’s how it’s effective?

It’s easy to say, but how is it even possible?

But the important thing is that they have to solve that difficult problem. That’s how Nongshim will grow one step further, right?

Hyun-sung, who knows the future, said that.

“Hmm, sincerity…….”

It was when Chairman Shin Min-ki was repeatedly chewing on Hyun-sung’s words. A rest area sign came into his eyes.

“Driver Kim, let’s stop by the rest area and have a cup of coffee.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kim Woo-shik turned on the right turn signal at the same time as answering. Then, Chairman Shin Min-ki turned to Yoon Seung-hyun this time and said.

“Secretary Yoon, let’s have a cup of coffee first. Then, let’s think more about the food truck issue.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

The car with the three people got into the rest area.

A little later.

The three people arrived in front of the coffee shop.

Normally, Chairman Shin Min-ki would not have come to this place.

But what’s even stranger is that he’s standing at the front today.

Chairman Shin Min-ki asked Yoon Seung-hyun and Driver Kim Woo-shik.

“What would you two like to drink?”

“Pardon?”

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun was momentarily embarrassed.

He had been with him countless times, but this had never happened before. So, it’s only natural that he was surprised.

“Chairman, don’t do this and just sit over there…….”

“No, I’ve always been on the receiving end, so I’ll buy you [both] today. So, tell me what you want to eat quickly.”

It was difficult for the two of them.

People change to some extent. He changed too suddenly.

The two people could not help but look at each other.

“Hey, what are you doing? Order quickly.”

“Pardon? That’s me…….”

“Oh, you people, I see. I’ll order for you instead. Both of you just want coffee, right?”

“Pardon? Ah, yes…….”

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun and Driver Kim Woo-shik were still out of their minds.

A little later.

Chairman Shin Min-ki came to the two people with three cups of coffee and handed them the coffee.

“Here, take it.”

“Pardon? Yes, thank you.”

“Thank you!”

The two bowed their heads as soon as they received the coffee.

Chairman Shin Min-ki went to the snack corner this time and brought three hot dogs.

“Here, try this too this time.”

“Chairman, why are you doing this?”

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun couldn’t stand it any longer and looked at Chairman Shin Min-ki and asked. Then, Chairman Shin Min-ki chuckled and replied.

“Didn’t I say that I would eat the same thing from now on?”

“Even so…….”

“No, this was the basics of living. Now I know for sure what President Kim was talking about earlier.”

“What did President Kim say…….”

“That friend said that who has a mouth and who has a snout [a Korean idiom referring to someone who only thinks of themselves when eating]. Now I know for sure what that means. Haha…….”

Chairman Shin Min-ki laughed and started eating the hot dog.

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun and Driver Kim Woo-shik were speechless.

They looked at each other and smiled slightly before starting to eat the hot dog.

Some time later, the car with the three people left the rest area and started running on the highway again.

Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun asked.

“Chairman, shall I call the Big Chairman [Shin Min-ki’s father] in advance and tell him that we are going now?”

“No, let’s just go. It might be nice to visit as a surprise event if possible.”

After answering, Chairman Shin Min-ki turned his gaze to the side.

A box of walnut cookies was placed next to him. He bought it for his father at the rest area earlier.

He doesn’t even remember when he bought something for his father.

Thump, thump.

Chairman Shin Min-ki punched his head with his fist several times. It was self-reproach for his past mistakes.

‘Let’s do better from now on.’

It was Chairman Shin Min-ki who was determined to do so.

Then he quietly muttered.

“President Kim, thank you.”

The car with Chairman Shin Min-ki headed towards Seomyeon, Hongcheon, powerfully.