Chapter 53 · 9 min

Chapter 53

Sudden Business End

Afternoon after business ended.

“Eurachacha!!”

Bong-gu held the large mop and began vigorously pushing the hall floor.

Inside the kitchen the parents were organizing remaining ingredients and finishing dishes while having light conversation.

On the work station beside Mr. Kang was carefully wiping the wooden board he struck noodles on without rest all day today and silently helping the cleanup.

“Honey, business is going so well these days even if the body is hard every day is like a dream.”

“Right. These days feel full even without eating.”

Smiles bloomed on the parents’ faces even amid hardship.

At that time.

Ding!

The restaurant glass door opened and a middle-aged woman with flashy perm entered inside with a ssok.

Appearance holding a thick gold necklace and sparkling luxury bag.

Exactly the owner of this building.

“Aigo, cleaning?”

The landlord lady gave a greeting good-naturedly with her characteristic fussy voice.

“Oh my, madam! Welcome.”

The mother hurriedly took off the rubber gloves and welcomed gladly.

A owner rumored to be picky to the tenants of this building usually, but still not a bad relationship since living paying rent on time.

The mother mixed one mix coffee and guided to an empty table.

“These days Jin Myeong Gak is quite a fuss? Neighborhood people too, and on the internet too fuss? Sweeping all the money of this neighborhood here, can’t even sleep at night counting money, huh?”

The landlord drank the coffee with a horok and made a greasy eye smile.

“Aiyu, what words. Just luck is good so customers come looking.”

“What luck! Because skill is good. I also have a lot of fortune. Because there’s a restaurant that hit the jackpot like this in my building. Hohoho!”

While warm conversation went, Bong-gu who was wiping the floor also nodded with a pleased expression.

But Jin Myeong’s eyes who was resting leaning on one side of the kitchen were strangely sunk.

“...”

He noticed the greed felt in the pupils of that woman laughing emptily.

Jin Myeong looked at the building owner woman with eyes narrowed.

“By the way...”

The landlord lightly put down the finished paper cup on the table with a tok and brought out the main point.

“You know next month is the lease re-contract period?”

“Ah, yes. Anyway I was going to visit within a few days and speak. Please take care this time too.”

The father said with a good-natured smile.

But the landlord erased the smile at the corner of her mouth, and took out one document envelope from the bag and lightly placed it on the table.

“So speaking, seems have to adjust the rent a bit this re-contract.”

“Ah··· yes. Heard the surrounding market price rose a bit these days too. If you tell how much you think···”

“Let’s raise exactly three times from the current rent.”

“···Yes?”

In an instant, silence flowed inside the restaurant.

Mr. Kang who was rinsing the dishcloth in the kitchen also was startled and stopped his hands and looked toward the hall.

The father asked back with a flustered face at the words he just heard.

“Th, three times···?”

“Yeah. Three times. No, honestly speaking with current Jin Myeong Gak sales that level is not even gum price? I’m not even making an unreasonable demand.”

The landlord crossed her arms with an attitude confident to the shameless extent.

The parents’ faces gradually hardened.

Of course, thinking of the tremendous revenue Jin Myeong Gak is earning now raising the rent three times wouldn’t shake the restaurant operation at all.

But, this was tyranny beyond commercial morality.

“Ma, madam. Even if business is going well suddenly raising the rent three times is a bit... We haven’t even been a few years since taking over this shop. Moreover I know there is a legal upper limit on rent increase rate···”

When the father said as if flustered, the landlord’s face instantly changed viciously.

“Hey, boss! Doing business in my building and mentioning law to me?”

“That’s not...”

“Yeah, yeah, do by law! Whether sue or stab the district office do as you please!”

The landlord glared and shot sharply.

“Whether I pay fine or go to trial I don’t care! Anyway just pay that small money fine and stop! There are guys lined up who will come holding money enough to remain even after paying fine and kicking out!”

“······!”

At those words the father was speechless.

“Know how hot this place became now? Other franchises or large restaurants are lining up saying give this place because they’ll add hundreds of millions of floor key money on top of five times rent right now!”

The landlord continued speaking with a shameless face.

“I’m still giving a chance thinking of the affection until now. Others call five times, only three times, three times!”

“Ma, madam. Even so how···”

“If can’t pay that pack luggage even tomorrow right away!”

“...Yes?!”

“Really, why are people who earn a lot of money making such groaning sounds! If don’t like get out! I’ll also push the shop hard this time and rent more expensive and stop!”

“...!”

In that way the landlord shouted as if the restaurant would float away.

At that time.

“This aunt really gone crazy!!”

Bong-gu who couldn’t endure threw the large mop on the floor with a kwang and approached panting.

When the large build glared with a fierce impression, the landlord was startled and stepped back one step.

“Wha, what··· what are you doing, now?!”

“Aunt! Putting a straw like a robber on the shop others sweated and raised?! People should have conscience!”

When Bong-gu yelled, the landlord’s face reddened and blued.

“This··· this gangster-like bastard glaring where?! I won’t contract with humans like you anymore, pack luggage and get out right now!!”

“Ma, madam!”

“Move!”

The landlord panted and left the restaurant.

Soon silence descended on Jin Myeong Gak’s hall.

“······.”

The flustered parents didn’t know what to do, and Mr. Kang who watched the situation also stood with a stiff expression.

“Bo, boss··· madam···.”

What broke the silence was Bong-gu.

The flustered Bong-gu deeply lowered his head.

“So, sorry! I couldn’t endure the temper that heats up and just···. Because of me the matter grew. All my fault!”

When Bong-gu blamed himself and spoke, the father who then came to his senses hurriedly approached and grabbed Bong-gu’s shoulders.

“No, Bong-gu young man! Why are you apologizing.”

“But because I stepped out for nothing...”

“Even if not Bong-gu young man the result would have been the same.”

The mother also let out a sigh and shook her head.

“To begin with the expression came determined. Raising the rent three times is no different from saying get out. Even if we obediently raised, next time would have dried the blood calling five times, ten times.”

The parents who saw the landlord’s greedy two eyes were already facing reality.

Rather only grateful to Bong-gu who got angry like fire for them in an unfair situation.

“Haa··· having to vacate the shop right away, blocked.”

The father plopped down on the old chair and dry-washed his face.

At that time the mother said looking at the father.

“Honey, how much money have we saved now?”

“If gathering this and that··· about 200 million.”

200 million.

Not a small amount from an ordinary citizen’s position, but money awkward to start something.

“With 200 million can’t even buy a shop exclusive building near here. And entering someone else’s rent again··· no guarantee won’t suffer the same sight as today if business goes well again.”

At the mother’s words everyone submerged in silence.

The act of the building owner filling the belly and kicking out after reviving the commercial district with sweat and blood.

Couldn’t experience this again.

“No matter how small and shabby, have to find our own building we can purchase entirely without key money. Even if outer area with dead commercial district doesn’t matter. First find a inn room our three family can stay right away, and slowly look for the restaurant place.”

At that time, Bong-gu who was dejected raised his head with a flash.

“Boss! I’ll look for the shop place!”

“Bong-gu young man?”

“Yes! I have quite a few friends with wide feet in the neighborhood. If even no key money and residential outer area doesn’t matter, I’ll release the fellows right away and look if there’s an empty building that exactly matches the conditions.”

When Bong-gu patted his chest and spoke vigorously, Mr. Kang beside also added.

“Bong-gu’s words are right. Boss, commercial district or whatever doesn’t matter. With our chef’s skill, people will come to eat even if opening the shop anywhere. Raising the shop again won’t even be a matter.”

Mr. Kang sent a gaze full of conviction looking at Jin Myeong.

“...”

Jin Myeong was only standing with an indifferent face with arms crossed.

“Everyone··· thank you.”

A smile of hope bloomed again on the parents’ faces too.

Next day dawn.

Before even the east brightened, two old moving trucks stopped in front of Jin Myeong Gak making noisy engine sounds.

“Okay! Okay! Stop!”

With Bong-gu’s shout the moving truck and the following van door opened, and five or six youths of sturdy build got off in a rush.

Including the junior who did the iron plate fried rice cart, younger brothers and friends Bong-gu contacted and urgently gathered.

“Aigo, everyone coming to such hard work from dawn··· sorry what to do. Really thank you.”

When the father said apologetically, the junior laughed good-naturedly and waved his hands.

“Aei, boss! How much favor received from master hyung’s fried rice! Of course have to come and put strength at times like this!”

Thanks to the sturdy men the move was at lightning speed.

“One, two, euratcha!”

When four men stuck the noodle machine and commercial large refrigerator were also loaded onto the moving truck cargo one by one.

The parents and Mr. Kang also carried small luggage and diligently helped the work.

Meanwhile, Jin Myeong took care of the cooking tools stained with his hand marks.

A place he became attached to as the place he made cooking after opening his eyes in this world.

He who looked around for a moment left the place.

And at some point the restaurant interior became emptily empty.

“Luggage I’ll temporarily borrow the empty warehouse of a hyung I know, so move there with the kids! Boss, madam first unpack luggage in the inn room I reserved and rest a bit!”

“Thank you.”

“What thanks.”

Soon the group of moving trucks loaded full with luggage exited the alley.

Under the lights-off sign, only silence remained alone in the empty Jin Myeong Gak.

And as time passed and the original opening time of Jin Myeong Gak approached, people flocked as usual.

“Ah, why so hungry today.”

“If not eating jajangmyeon here regularly now seems like going crazy.”

“Anyway opening time all came why not opening?”

People murmured and approached in front of the closed glass door.

And discovered one white paper stuck alone in the middle of the door.

“Eh? What is that?”

[Thank you for loving Jin Myeong Gak until now. Ending business due to personal circumstances.]

People who read the notice all were shocked.

“······What? Ending··· business?!”