Chapter 100

Kang Jin called Choi Ho-cheol’s name several more times when he didn’t respond to his initial summons, but there was still no sign of him.

“He isn’t coming?”

Bae Yongsoo turned from his chair and asked Kang Jin, who shook his head.

“No show?”

“Must have something else going on.”

“What could possibly keep a ghost busy?”

“Well… In some ways, ghosts are the busiest beings.”

“Why is that?”

Bae Yongsoo pursed his lips at Kang Jin’s response.

“Watching over people?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Or maybe he ascended?”

“Ascended already after just one week?”

“You’ve seen ghosts ascend before.”

“That’s true.”

“Does it have anything to do with time?”

Kang Jin nodded at Bae Yongsoo’s words. Whether it was the boy, Oh Soon-young, or Wang Gangjun, their ascensions had occurred abruptly without regard for timing. Ascension could happen immediately upon letting go of earthly attachments, but if one couldn’t relinquish them, it might take decades and still not occur.

“It’d be great if we found him…”

“We’ll try again tomorrow, and if that doesn’t work…ask JS Finance.”

“JS Finance?”

“They would know best since they’re entitled to collect debts from missing ghosts.”

“Oh…that makes sense.”

If anyone knew about the whereabouts of indebted ghosts, it would be JS Finance.

Kang Jin pondered for a moment before nodding his head.

What could possibly happen when dealing with a ghost?

After all, they had already experienced death in their worst-case scenario.

The next day, Kang Jin was having a conversation with Lim Ho-jin.

“…and she agreed to meet us.”

“Really? Phew! I thought it fell through since there was no contact yesterday… That’s great news.” Lim Ho-jin breathed a sigh of relief.

As he observed this, Kang Jin spoke up:

“Please don’t push Mrs. Wang too much.”

Lim Ho-jin nodded and suddenly looked at Kang Jin.

“Oh!” Lim Ho-jin exclaimed. “It seems like you misunderstood what guanxi means, Kang Jin.”

“Did I misunderstand?”

“Guanxi… Hmm…” Lim Ho-jin paused briefly before continuing. “Guanxi… It refers to reciprocal relationships. Only parent-child relationships can be one-sided. Even between siblings, it’s not possible to have entirely one-sided interactions.”

“I see.”

“Moreover, establishing guanxi doesn’t mean agreeing to everything asked of you. Unless Chinese people are fools, would they fulfill every request after just meeting someone once?”

“No, that wouldn’t be the case.”

Lim Ho-jin nodded at Kang Jin’s response.

“Chinese people aren’t fools. In fact, they’re quite shrewd when it comes to business.” Lim Ho-jin continued while looking at Kang Jin. “A quanxi is a mutually beneficial relationship. It should never be one-sided.”

Kang Jin smiled as he listened to Lim Ho-jin’s words.

At least introducing Manager Lim to Mr. Wang won’t get me any criticism.

As this thought crossed his mind, his phone rang. Puzzlement appeared on Kang Jin’s face upon seeing the caller ID.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Mrs. Wang.”

“Wang Gangshin? Please answer it.”

Following Lim Ho-jin’s suggestion, Kang Jin answered the call.

“Hello?”

“We had quite a feast yesterday.”

“Yes, thank you for your hospitality.”

“That aside… Can I meet the person you mentioned to me yesterday right now?”

“Right now?” Kang Jin was taken aback by Wang Gangshin’s request. It was only 9:20 AM. Unlike Kim Bongnam, who paced himself during their drinking session, Wang Gangshin had consumed a significant amount quickly. Despite this, he seemed fully awake and ready. Moreover, at this hour, most people were just starting their day rather than meeting someone…

“You drank heavily last night. Aren’t you feeling tired?”

“If alcohol made me drowsy, I’d be lying in a coffin by now. Are you available soon?”

Wang Gangshin paused briefly before turning to Lim Ho-jin.

“He said he’d like to see you now if it’s convenient for you.”

“Of course.” Lim Ho-jin nodded eagerly.

Kang Jin relayed his response over the phone. “He says that’s fine.”

“That’s great! I’ll meet you at your shop in ten minutes.”

“My shop?”

“I haven’t had breakfast yet.”

“You’re staying at a hotel, right?”

“I didn’t come all the way to South Korea just to eat eggs and sausages. I’m already on my way…so let’s plan to meet there in ten minutes.”

“Why did you leave so soon without knowing if I was available?”

“If you weren’t around, I planned to explore Gangnam instead.”

“Is it Gangnam?”

[Wang Gangshin: Since Gangnam is known for having the most expensive real estate in South Korea, I wanted to check it out.]

Kang Jin nodded at Wang Gangshin’s words.

‘Considering he’s involved in the real estate business, it makes sense for him to be interested in such areas.’

Kang Jin murmured internally before asking aloud:

“What would you like for breakfast then?”

[I’d prefer something Koreans typically eat after drinking alcohol. Keep it simple, though. I have somewhere else to go right after eating.]

“Understood.”

With that, Kang Jin ended the call and looked at Lim Ho-jin.

“He wants to meet me at my shop in ten minutes.”

“So, you’re planning to have breakfast there?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go somewhere better… Ah! Not that your place isn’t good enough.”

Kang Jin nodded at Lim Ho-jin’s words.

“I understand. However… I don’t think we should be doing this now.”

“Oh!”

Lim Ho-jin turned to Lee Sangsub.

“Kang Jin and I will step out for a field visit.”

“Understood.”

With that, Lim Ho-jin looked at Kang Jin.

“Let’s go.”

Kang Jin followed Lim Ho-jin out of the government office.

Upon entering his restaurant, Kang Jin expelled all the ghosts. After sending away Bae Yongsoo as well, he filled a pot with water and started slicing squid.

“What are you making?”

“Seafood ramen.”

“Seafood ramen?”

Lim Ho-jin pursed his lips at Kang Jin’s suggestion. “But he is an honored guest, so we should serve him something better…”

“He mentioned wanting to try what Koreans often eat for hangover prevention.”

“Ramen is indeed popular for that… But still, considering our esteemed guest—”

As someone aware of Chinese hospitality customs, Lim Ho-jin felt uneasy about serving instant noodles as their first meal.

“Don’t overthink it with King Da-in. Just enjoy some hangover ramen together.”

Lim Ho-jin nodded slightly and looked at Kang Jin. “It seems you’ve become quite close.”

“We’ve shared drinks two nights in a row… So, yeah, a bit.”

Kang Jin then poured oil into his wok and started stir-frying some peppers. As soon as he did, a spicy aroma filled the air.

“Ack!” Lim Ho-jin coughed, drawing Kang Jin’s attention.

“You don’t like spicy food?” asked Kang Jin.

“I can handle it… Why do you ask?”

“Mrs. Wang is from Scorching Heat Province, so she enjoys spicy dishes. This seafood ramen will also be quite spicy.”

“No problem for me,” replied Lim Ho-jin with a nod.

Just then, the door opened.

Ting-a-ling!

The clear sound of wind chimes announced the arrival of Wang Gangshin and her son.

“Welcome back.” Kang Jin turned off the gas burner and stepped outside the kitchen.

“It smells spicy.”

“For hangover food, something spicy and greasy is best.”

It might not be healthy, but for sure, spicy and greasy dishes were delicious remedies for hangovers.

Kang Jin then gestured towards Lim Ho-jin. “This is Manager Lim Ho-jin, whom I mentioned yesterday.”

Following Kang Jin’s introduction, Wang Gangshin extended his hand.

“Pleased to meet you. My name is Wang Gangshin.”

“I’m Lim Ho-jin from Taekwang Trading Company.” Lim Ho-jin handed over a business card he had prepared beforehand. The card featured his title and name written in Chinese characters.

Wang Gangshin accepted the card and passed it to his son. As Lim Ho-jin observed the son examining the card before placing it in his wallet, he turned back to Wang Gangshin.

Lim Ho-jin expected to receive Wang Gangshin’s business card as well, but it seemed like he had no intention of giving one out. Instead, he smiled and gestured toward the seats.

“Please have a seat first.”

At Wang Gangshin’s words, Kang Jin spoke up.

“I see you two were already talking. I just stepped away for some cooking; let me finish this quickly.”

“All right.”

As Kang Jin returned to the kitchen, Lim Ho-jin glanced at him before taking his seat next to Wang Gangshin.

“I should’ve greeted you earlier, but there wasn’t an opportunity until now. Please allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Lim Ho-jin.” Lim Ho-jin politely reintroduced himself with utmost respect.

Kang Jin briefly peeked into the living room from the kitchen before resuming his work. He turned on the stove and started sautéing peppers, adding a touch of chili oil over them.

Sizzle!

As the spicy aroma intensified, Kang Jin tilted the wok to gather oil and seasonings on one side before carefully pouring soy sauce along its rim.

Sizzle! Fzzt!

The soy sauce sizzled as it hit the hot surface of the pan.

It’s fascinating.

Burning the soy sauce onto the food enhanced the taste more than directly adding it. He wasn’t sure why, but that was his experience.

Once all the seasoning was complete, Kang Jin added water.

Sizzle! Fzzt!

From there, it was just like boiling ramen noodles. He threw in some green onions and half the soup packet. Then he added squid, clams, and mussels. When the broth started boiling, he put in the noodles. After they were cooked, Kang Jin carried the entire wok out into the hall.

“Here’s your food.”

Lim Ho-jin spoke as Kang Jin put down the heavy wok.

“Please serve it properly in bowls.”

While Lim Ho-jin didn’t mind, he considered Wang Gangshin’s presence.

Kang Jin smiled and looked at Wang Gangshin. “I prepared it casually because we’re here to enjoy the meal comfortably.”

“I also prefer eating like this.” With Wang Gangshin smiling, Kang Jin placed the dish before him.

“Please go ahead first.”

Wang Gangshin nodded, stood up, and scooped out a generous portion of noodles and broth. His son followed suit, prompting Kang Jin to glance at Lim Ho-jin. Sensing his gaze, Lim Ho-jin also served himself some ramen.

Both Kang Jin and Lim Ho-jin had already eaten breakfast, but sharing a meal made conversation more comfortable.

Sliiip!

“Mm! Delicious!”

Seeing Wang Gangshin enjoying his noodles, Lim Ho-jin and Kang Jin also started eating their meals. Their faces turned red due to the spiciness, which affected Kang Jin as well.

I made it myself, but it’s really hot.

However…it was flavorful. The heat actually enhanced the taste.

After finishing his ramen, Wang Gangshin sipped on the tea Kang Jin had provided while eyeing Lim Ho-jin.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

Lim Ho-jin wiped the sweat from his forehead before replying.

“As I mentioned earlier, I just wanted to greet you properly.”

“Is that all?” Wang Gangshin looked at him with a meaningful gaze.

“I would like to form a quanxi with you,” Lim Ho-jin stated firmly.

“A quanxi…” Wang Gangshin acknowledged Lim Ho-jin’s request.

“A quanxi can benefit you as well, but do you understand what it entails?”

If Lim Ho-jin could ask Wang Gangshin for favors, then conversely, Wang Gangshin could also request things from Lim Ho-jin. Refusing any of those requests would potentially turn all his quanxi against him.

Lim Ho-jin nodded at Wang Gangshin’s question. “As far as I know, my lord, you value quanxi that mutually benefit both parties. Therefore, I aim to establish a relationship where I can be equally helpful to you.”

Wang Gangshin observed Lim Ho-jin before responding, “I guess…we’ll see how it goes.” He then took out a business card from his wallet and handed it over. “Let’s keep in touch.”

Lim Ho-jin respectfully accepted the card. “Thank you very much.”

Finally, Wang Gangshin turned to Kang Jin.

“It seems like today is my last day seeing you here in South Korea.”

“Huh? Did I do something to upset you…?”

“Of course not. Meeting you and your boss has been the best part of my visit to South Korea.”

“But why is today our last meeting?”

“I initially planned to stay for a few more days, but it looks like I have to return to China this afternoon.”

“Oh! That’s too bad.”

“Yes, it is unfortunate. I’ll stop by the boss’ restaurant for lunch before leaving.”

Kang Jin expressed his disappointment as he exchanged traditional bows with Wang Gangshin.

“Please come back again someday.”

Wang Gangshin smiled and returned the bow.

“Next time, let’s meet in China.”

“Understood.”

As Wang Gangshin turned to leave the shop, Kang Jin couldn’t help but feel wistful.

I wonder when we’ll see each other again.

With Kang Jin committed to running One Meal Restaurant for the next four years, visiting China wouldn’t be easy.