60. Duon Eighty One
Two days ago, Choi Moo-ik’s house.
Managing Director Kim Sang-in opened his mouth with a stiff expression.
“Unprofitable, I know very well that your father passed away and you are very sad.”
“… .”
“Still, this isn’t it. Balhae Sports, the company your father started.”
“But now it is the company of the ignorant brother. You’ve seen it all, too. What did my ignorant brother do to me?”
“It’s useless… .”
“When I think of what he did to me, I think I endured it enough. But when it comes to my father’s funeral, I just can’t get over it.”
“You apologized for being ignorant, didn’t you?”
Choi opened his mouth in a calm voice.
“And like I said, this is not an emotional decision. Mister, I don’t have to live anymore. The only inheritance I received is this warehouse… .”
“So you’re saying that the warehouse usage fee is going up, aren’t you?”
“Mister, I am thirty years old. How long can we not live like ignorant older brother? Next year, I will have a child. Now I have to be independent. There is also a business that is being prepared.”
Managing Director Kim Sang-in said with a short sigh.
“Yeah, but you don’t hand over the warehouse to your brother, do you? I know that the ignorant said that he would pay a generous price.”
After a moment’s hesitation, former managing director Choi opened his mouth.
“It’s between you and me. In my mind… I want to ask you to remove the raw materials from the warehouse immediately. In fact, even now, because of you, you are enduring, you know very well. Now, stop talking to your brother.”
“Then give me a few more days.”
Choi’s expression was firm.
“no. I put it up for sale yesterday. If you give it to the new owner, talk to him.”
Kim Sang-in’s lips narrowed, and after a moment of silence, he opened his mouth with a serious expression.
“It’s useless, then, how about selling that warehouse to me?”
“… !”
“Give me that warehouse. Don’t put the price right. And, isn’t this the picture you want?”
In response to Kim Sang-in’s question, Choi smiled faintly, then nodded his head and opened his mouth.
“I am good. By the way… .”
“By the way?”
“I have no intention of selling the warehouse separately. Did you know that if we sell only the warehouse, the whole lot of land behind the warehouse becomes a blank land?”
Kim Sang-in, managing director, nodded and said.
“Yeah, I know about that. Give yourself some time instead. I have a discussion with Yeong-mi’s mother, and there are things to find out.”
“I can’t wait too long.”
“Yeah, I’ll call you by tomorrow at the latest.”
Executive Vice President Kim Sang-in left the home of former Vice President Choi Moo-ik and headed for Namseo-dong.
Arriving in Namseo-dong, he first found a bank, stopped by the real estate in front of the apartment complex, and returned to his house.
“Young-mi’s dad, didn’t you go to work?”
At the words of Yeong-mi’s mother, Executive Director Kim Sang-in shook his head.
“No, I just met and talked with Muik.”
“Mr. Muik, do you think the warehouse problem is more serious than you think?”
Kim Sang-in, managing director, nodded and said.
“Young-mi’s mother, if you’re not busy, would you like to come over and sit down for a moment?”
Seeing Kim Sang-in’s serious expression, Yeong-mi’s mother turned off the TV and sat down at the table carefully.
“What’s going on?”
“It’s worthless to say that the warehouse… .”
“… .”
“I was wondering if we could buy it.”
“What money do we have to buy it? The warehouse space is usually not that big.”
Managing Director Sang-in Kim started the explanation, and after his long explanation, Yeong-mi’s mother spoke.
“What if I get a loan with my house as collateral?”
Managing Director Kim Sang-in shook his head and said.
“Actually, I just stopped by the bank, and I think it will be difficult.”
Youngmi’s mother opened her mouth with a long sigh.
“If I take Yeong-mi to your parents’ house, where are you going to stay?”
“I’m thinking of finding a small studio near my office.”
“Honey, next year, I will be a sophomore in Yeongmi. You will be in high school soon.”
Managing Director Kim Sang-in said with a light smile.
“I know. But our Youngmi, we will do well wherever we go. And by the time Yeong-mi comes to Seoul for college, even my family’s charter will be available again.”
Youngmi’s mother thought for a moment and shook her head.
“I am the opposite. No matter how important the job is, I don’t want my family to fall apart.”
After a moment of silence, executive director Kim Sang-in held Yeong-mi’s mother’s hand and opened his mouth.
“honey… .”
“… .”
“Can’t I be greedy just this one time?”
“To be greedy, what do you mean?”
According to the current articles of association of Balhae Sports, 56% of the company’s shares are owned by President Choi Moo-sik and the remaining 44% by Executive Vice President Kim Sang-in.
If Kim Sang-in, managing director, takes ownership of the Siheung warehouse and invests it in the company, he can secure more than half of the total stake.
Considering that it is difficult to rent a warehouse elsewhere, there was no justification for opposition even as CEO Moo-sik Choi.
In other words, owning the Siheung warehouse meant that Managing Director Kim Sang-in would take over the management of the company.
When Kim Sang-in’s explanation was over with the words of just two years, Young-mi’s mother opened her mouth with a short sigh.
“Then I’ll talk to Young-mi well.”
* * *
Monday Northwest High School.
I put a coin in the payphone in front of the kiosk.
I’ve been thinking a lot over the past two days.
It was a little burdensome that I had to do it myself, and it seemed like I was being too harsh on the topic of high school.
The worries I had all weekend like this ended as soon as I saw Youngmi’s lips at the bus stop this morning.
A decision was made in a single moment.
I dialed the number on the payphone, and after a while I heard a ringing tone and a strange male voice.
– This is the executive office of Balhae Sports.
I said, clearing my voice.
“Can I talk to Executive Director Kim Sang-in for a moment?”
Shall I tell the managing director where it is?
“ah… ! My name is Chae Jeong-ho.”
After a while, Youngmi’s father’s voice was heard.
– Yes, it’s Jeongho. By the way… What’s going on at this hour?
So, I made an appointment with my uncle in the afternoon.
I gave my homeroom teacher enough excuses, and before night self-study started, I left school and got on the bus.
Balhae Sports Executive Office.
The uncle started talking about the company’s circumstances.
“The conversation with Cuerpino is going well. You’re right. Uruguay has a huge demand for soccer equipment, and I think the price is competitive enough.”
I nodded, and he continued the story.
“Fortunately, Cuerpino is very cooperative. With that help, we had a basic conversation with a local distributor, and if this goes well, I think we will have to clear the stock and increase the operation of the plant.”
“I’m really happy.”
“Thank you, Jeongho. How did you come up with this idea? ha ha ha!”
Fortunately, he seemed to be in a good mood.
I opened my mouth carefully, looking into his eyes.
“I… Uncle, I heard that Youngmi is going to her mother-in-law’s house.”
“… !”
“Maybe that… Is it because of the Siheung warehouse?”
Hearing my words, my uncle opened his mouth with a surprised expression.
“Youngmi… Did you say that?”
“I only heard from Youngmi that she was moving. As for the warehouse problem, I didn’t know the password that my uncle gave me last time, after looking through the materials of the executive meeting.”
“I see.”
“By the way, that warehouse… Can I buy it?”
“… !”
“If it hasn’t been sold yet, I would like to see the warehouse building and site today.”
After a while, I got into my uncle’s car and headed for Siheung.
* * *
past life.
The last place Yeongmi and I made a nest was in a small townhouse in Daeya-dong, Siheung-si.
My mother died in a car accident and I moved there, so I lived in Siheung for about a year and a half.
Early in the morning, Youngmi got up first and went to work in Seoul, and when Youngmi came to work, I closed my eyes again.
When it was time for middle and high school students to leave school, my day began.
After a simple meal, I went to the tutoring school, and it was after midnight that I was able to finish the last class and return home.
When I got home, Youngmi had already fallen asleep, and I ate dinner that Youngmi had prepared and went to bed.
Since we didn’t have much time to spend together on weekdays like this, Yeongmi and I always visited Soraesan in the neighborhood on weekends.
Due to my poor health, I rarely climbed to the top of the mountain, and we mostly went for a walk at the foot of Mt. Sorae or spent time at the museum or cafe located there.
Youngmi once said something like this at a cafe there.
“Jeongho-ya, when this charter contract ends, shall we move here?”
“why? Do you like this town?”
Youngmi nodded her head in response to my question.
“Yeah, it’s under the mountain, so the air is clean, the scenery is nice, and the neighborhood is pretty.”
Looking back, Youngmi particularly liked this neighborhood.
Since I moved to Siheung, I haven’t missed a single one, and I’ve been to this place twice a week.
I silently watched the smile spread across Yeong-mi’s face, and Yeong-mi narrowed her eyes and continued speaking.
“Does it really make you feel better when you come to this town? Feeling just happy? There is such a thing.”
“really?”
“Yeah, I don’t know why, but every time I come here, I feel like I’m just being recharged. It also seems to relieve fatigue.”
“okay? That’s enough for me to really live here. ha ha ha!”
When I stopped laughing, Youngmi said with a serious expression.
“Let’s move here next summer. Understand?”
“okay.”
“Then you promise?”
At Yeong-mi’s question, I reached out and took Young-mi’s hand and said.
“Yes, I promise.”
But I didn’t keep that promise.
My health deteriorated sharply, and my last moment came because I couldn’t get through that winter.
* * *
A familiar landscape began to enter my eyes through the car window.
It had not been developed yet, so the bottom of the mountain was a wasteland, but it seemed that he knew roughly what was going on where.
The hill over there is where the ceramics art museum is located, and the place you just passed is the place where Youngmi and her frequent cafe used to be.
I felt weird.
It was like stepping into a time machine to the past.
It was only 20 years ago, did you really think this place was such a wasteland?
It was unbelievable.
As I was looking outside like this, I heard the voice of my uncle.
“Now it’s all over. In front of me is the raw material warehouse.”
The uncle turned his car to the right at the intersection and stopped in front of the warehouse building that appeared after a while.
I got out of the car and looked around the warehouse, but maybe it was because there were thick trees on either side of the warehouse… .
I had no idea what had been in this place in my past life.
The old man said, pointing to the warehouse building.
“Would you like to go in?”
“yes.”
The uncle unlocked the large lock and opened the door, and soon the strong smell of leather stung his nostrils.
When the old man turned on the light, the warehouse was filled with scrolls of leather fabric about 2 meters high.
“It’s warmer than I thought.”
“Leather fabric is sensitive to humidity, so it needs to be kept warm in winter. Conversely, in summer, you have to turn on the air conditioner.”
I nodded, and the man continued.
“The warehouse usage fee is on the high side, but in fact, about half of the usage fee will be used for heating and cooling expenses.”
So, we checked the warehouse where the leather fabric and processed rubber were stored, and the uncle said as we left the second warehouse.
“Does the smell of rubber give you a headache?”
“Yes, the smell is more poisonous than I thought.”
At my words, my uncle smiled and said.
“But it’s fine now. When I get into and out of the rubber storage shed in the summer, I get a headache all day.”
We got out of the warehouse and headed towards the back of the building.
Behind the warehouse was an open site, and a large pine tree stood in the center of the site.
The two huge branches were like pine trees that had grown with their arms wide open, and the moment I saw them, I let out a low groan without realizing it.
At the same time, the scenery of the past life here, centered on the pine trees, unfolded before my eyes.
An alleyway passes in front of this pine tree, and behind the pine tree… So, inside this warehouse site, luxury villas will be built one after another.