Chapter 129

“Right now?”

Lim Ho-jin observed Yoo Seong-tae’s puzzled expression and asked him:

“What do you think about this?”

“But your father declined before…”

“I’ve spoken to my father, and he said he’d consider it if certain conditions were met.”

Yoo Seong-tae looked at Lim Ho-jin for a moment before replying.

“Is learning how to make makgeolli one of those conditions?”

“The company has recently acquired new Japanese clients on top of our existing ones. My father can’t handle everything by himself.”

“That’s true, but…” Yoo Seong-tae hesitated briefly before continuing. “If I want to learn how to make makgeolli, I’ll have to live in the countryside…”

“The air is fresh, and people there are friendly. It wouldn’t be so bad.”

“I need to discuss this with my wife and children…”

“Of course, their opinions matter greatly, but…this is about making a living. What could be more important than that? Besides, your sons have grown up now, so there’s no reason you must stay together, right?”

Yoo Seong-tae pondered Lim Ho-jin’s words for a moment before continuing.

“And I’m currently working on another business venture.”

“I heard you’re preparing to enter real estate.”

“Yes, word travels fast.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask what kind of business?”

Lim Ho-jin’s question brought a smile to Yoo Seong-tae’s face.

“I’m looking at properties on Jeju Island.”

“Jeju Island?”

“As you may know, Jeju Island is quite popular these days. Lots of Chinese tourists and visitors come here. So…”

Yoo Seong-tae’s business pitch went on for quite some time. As it dragged on, Lim Ho-jin looked like he was about to interrupt several times. Each time, Kang Jin gently placed his hand on Lim Ho-jin’s knee and shook his head slightly.

Let’s hear him out first.

Lim Ho-jin nodded at Kang Jin’s gesture and stayed silent.

Sssk!

Kang Jin observed Yoo Seong-tae, who enthusiastically continued his spiel. However, both Kang Jin and Lim Ho-jin listened with skepticism, feeling unconvinced that this venture would be successful or trustworthy.

Due to this skepticism, Kang Jin decided to let Yoo Seong-tae finish his pitch without interruption. If he cut him off mid-sentence, Yoo Seong-tae might question why they weren’t willing to listen fully. This could potentially lead to resentment and negatively influence how receptive he’d be towards Lim Ho-jin’s and Kang Jin’s counter-proposal later on.

To persuade someone, you must first attentively listen to what they have to say.

Kang Jin silently repeated this mantra as he genuinely listened to Yoo Seong-tae’s presentation.

When Yoo Seong-tae finally finished his lengthy spiel, Lim Ho-jin briefly glanced at him before turning to Kang Jin. Under Lim Ho-jin’s gaze, Kang Jin pursed his lips slightly and shook his head subtly.

Although Kang Jin wasn’t well-versed in business matters, he did possess some knowledge about real estate. Working part-time jobs at construction sites often involved building structures, which required land ownership—a topic frequently discussed among adults.

Yoo Seong-tae was talking about constructing something. To build anything, one needs land, so Ho-jin had heard many discussions among adults regarding real estate. Topics such as prime locations with scenic views, speculation driving up property values… there were endless conversations about why certain buildings were being constructed or not.

As a result, Yoo Seong-tae’s proposition seemed rather unrealistic.

It’s true that Jeju Island is hot right now, but it reminds me of the cryptocurrency craze.

In the early days of cryptocurrencies, some people made fortunes, but those who joined later often suffered hellish losses. Judging by Lim Ho-jin’s expression, he seemed to share similar thoughts.

Whether investing in stocks or buying real estate, the key to success lies in making moves before rumors spread; waiting until after the news breaks can be too late.

Yoo Seong-tae observed their expressions and said, “I…guess you’re not too keen on my proposal.”

Just as Lim Ho-jin was about to respond, his phone rang. He excused himself briefly to answer it. After a short conversation, he looked apologetic towards Yoo Seong-tae.

“I need to head upstairs for a moment.”

“Shall we meet again later?”

“No, um…”

Lim Ho-jin glanced at Kang Jin.

Can you persuade him?

Kang Jin understood the unspoken question and replied, “Let me talk to him.”

Lim Ho-jin then turned to Yoo Seong-tae. “I’ll be back shortly. In the meantime, please have a chat with Mr. Kang.”

“But we can meet again—”

“No need. I’ll be back soon, so please continue your discussion.”

As Lim Ho-jin hurriedly left the café, Kang Jin turned to Yoo Seong-tae.

“Would you like to make makgeolli?”

Yoo Seong-tae shook his head at Kang Jin’s abrupt change of topic from Jeju Island to makgeolli brewing.

“In truth, when I was younger, I briefly assisted my father with it.”

“Really?”

“My family has been making makgeolli for five generations. My father loves it, and I had plans to expand our business as the sixth generation.”

“Oh… So why didn’t you pursue that?”

Kang Jin’s question elicited a sigh from Yoo Seong-tae.

“I lacked confidence in working alongside my father.”

“Why’s that?”

“Didn’t you meet my father earlier today?”

“He seemed like a nice man.”

“Hah!” Yoo Seong-tae laughed at Kang Jin’s remark.

“Have you heard about how Manager Lim felt like he’d been struck by lightning when he first met my father?”

“I have indeed.”

“That describes him perfectly. He has a fiery temper and yells whenever something doesn’t go his way. Many potential clients were driven away because of it.”

“Is that so?”

Yoo Seong-tae sighed deeply and shook his head before continuing.

“Do you know what happens when someone teaches their spouse to drive?”

“They end up fighting, right?”

It was a common saying: Never lend money to or teach driving to someone close to you.

“If I learn under my father’s tutelage, every day will feel like teaching my wife how to drive.”

Kang Jin grimaced, understanding what Yoo Seong-tae meant by this analogy.

He harbors both fear and discomfort towards his father. Then…logical persuasion won’t work.

There is a common saying that emotions often precede reason. No matter how logically sound an argument may be, humans are emotional creatures where feelings tend to override rationality.

After observing Yoo Seong-tae for a moment, Kang Jin spoke up again.

“How old are your children?”

“My eldest is currently in their third year of university, and the youngest is serving in the military.”

“They’re older than I expected.”

“I just had kids earlier than most people.”

Kang Jin looked at Yoo Seong-tae and asked, “What kind of person do you think our manager is?”

“Manager Lim seems like a good man.”

Seeing Yoo Seong-tae’s smile, Kang Jin continued, “What would you do if Manager Lim expressed negative thoughts about the Jeju Island real estate venture?”

“Every business involves some level of risk. If every venture guaranteed success, everyone would be doing it.”

“You’re right.” Kang Jin nodded, agreeing with Yoo Seong-tae’s point. Observing this affirmation, Yoo Seong-tae visibly relaxed as his shoulders dropped slightly. Encouraged by Kang Jin’s agreement, he felt more at ease.

Kang Jin continued, “Then why do you think you’ll succeed instead of failing, Mr. Yoo Seong-tae? Plus, I’ve heard that you don’t have much knowledge about real estate.”

“I’m learning now.”

‘Learning from now on…’

Kang Jin observed Yoo Seong-tae for a moment before sighing and asking,

“Are you free tonight?”

“Tonight?”

“I own a small restaurant nearby.”

“Aren’t you an employee at Taekwang Trading Company?”

“I’m an intern there.”

“Oh…then what about becoming a full-time staff member?”

“That doesn’t seem possible.”

“Ah…”

Seeing Yoo Seong-tae’s sympathetic expression, Kang Jin shook his head and said:

“Do you have time tonight?”

“I do, but…”

“Please join us for dinner at our restaurant.”

“Umm… May I ask why?”

Kang Jin looked Yoo Seong-tae straight in the eye. “As you can tell from the atmosphere here, both Manager Lim and I are against your proposal.”

Yoo Seong-tae remained silent, understanding what Kang Jin was implying without needing to say it explicitly.

Kang Jin continued, observing Yoo Seong-tae’s reaction. “We were hoping to persuade you, but…it seems unlikely through words alone.”

“So, by inviting me to dine at your restaurant, do you think you could convince me?”

“I’m not sure about that… But if you have a business mindset, I believe we can persuade you.”

Yoo Seong-tae looked at Kang Jin and softly asked, “Do you think real estate is such a bad industry?”

“Have you been to Jeju Island often?”

“Yes, frequently with a friend.”

“How about by yourself?”

“Never.”

Kang Jin responded, “Next time, visit Jeju Island alone.”

“Do you suspect my friend might be misleading me?”

“No, I don’t think so. However…” Kang Jin glanced at Yoo Seong-tae. “Imagine asking a restaurant owner, ‘What dish here isn’t good?’ Would they tell you honestly?”

“They probably wouldn’t.”

“Something like that. Wouldn’t he only show you the positive aspects?”

Yoo Seong-tae nodded slightly with a small sigh. Lim Ho-jin hadn’t accused him of being clueless about business matters, so Yoo Seong-tae understood Kang Jin’s implication.

As Kang Jin observed Yoo Seong-tae, he suddenly asked, “By any chance, what is your mother’s name?”

“My mother?”

“Yes.”

Yoo Seong-tae wondered why Kang Jin would ask such a question but replied nonetheless, “Her name starts with ‘Go’ and ends with ‘Yoonmi.’”

Go Yoonmi, Go Yoonmi.

Kang Jin repeated the name a few times before nodding.

“Just across from Taekwang Trading Company…there’s a restaurant near a cell phone store called One Meal Restaurant. It might sound immodest coming from me, but I assure you, the food there is truly delicious.”

“Okay?”

“If you search for One Meal Restaurant online, there are reviews from people… You won’t regret having a meal here.”

“I see.”

“Please bring Mrs. Yoo and your son with you. I’ll serve delicious food…for a small fee, of course.”

“So it’s not free?”

“It might seem good to eat for free now, but later, karma comes back around… So, except for those who can’t afford it, everyone pays.”

“Do you give meals for free if someone doesn’t have money?”

“It may sound strange, but…over half our customers don’t pay at our restaurant.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yes, indeed.”

“But how do you stay in business?”

“We’re able to operate thanks to generous donations.”

“Wow… That’s amazing work you’re doing.” Yoo Seong-tae regarded Kang Jin with admiration, thinking of One Meal Restaurant as a free community kitchen concept.

Kang Jin smiled and said, “Then I’ll expect you for dinner tonight.”

“I’ll call my wife first and ask her.”

“If she can’t make it, please come alone anyway.”

“Understood.”

As Yoo Seong-tae nodded, Kang Jin bowed politely before heading back to his company. Upon entering the office, he noticed Lim Ho-jin talking with Choi Mina.

“How did it go with Mr. Yoo Seong-tae?”

“I found it challenging to persuade him verbally, so I sent him away.”

“You just let him leave without convincing him?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh… You should’ve asked him to wait and called me instead.” Lim Ho-jin clicked his tongue, disappointed that he hadn’t been given a chance to persuade Yoo Seong-tae himself.

Kang Jin explained, “I felt it might be difficult to convince him through words alone.”

“Why’s that?”

“It seemed like working with his father would put too much pressure on him.”

“Pressure?”

“He compared it to teaching your wife how to drive.”

“Ah…” Lim Ho-jin nodded as realization dawned on him.

“Well, when working with someone older… Arguments are bound to happen more often, especially between parent and child.”

“You think so too, Manager Lim?”

“The elderly gentleman has quite a temper,” Lim Ho-jin sighed as he nodded his head.

“Is there any way around this?” Lim Ho-jin muttered to himself.

Kang Jin glanced at him after hearing his mumbling. Next to Kang Jin, the ghost of the elderly man was watching them intently.

There is indeed a solution.