Chapter 95

Bori Jiyuan Company

President: Wang Kangshin

Kang Jin read the company name on the business card and asked, “Is it named after Bori-ji, the place where enlightenment was attained?”

Wang Kangshin smiled and nodded at Kang Jin’s question.

“It is indeed inspired by Bori-ji. The name signifies my hope for happiness and prosperity among people living in the real estate properties I deal with.”

“I see,” replied Kang Jin.

Wang Kangshin looked up from observing Kang Jin and stood up.

“Well then, thank you for the meal. Until next time.”

“Have a good day.”

“I’d like to rest now.”

As Kang Jin rose to accompany Mr. Wang, Yoon Soo-hong discreetly approached them while seeing him off.

“Thank you very much for today.” With these words, Yoon Soo-hong handed Kang Jin an envelope, which he gratefully accepted.

“And…I added a little extra.”

Although they had agreed on 20,000 won per person, today’s menu consisted of expensive dishes typically found at upscale restaurants. Just one serving of chinese-style short ribs alone would cost around 100,000 won elsewhere due to its exquisite taste. Considering all the other items consumed, the total value easily exceeded 100,000 won. Hence, Yoon Soo-hong decided to include additional money. He believed that being thorough with payment now would ensure a relaxed return visit in the future.

“Thank you very much.”

“Enjoy your meal and have a safe trip home.”

Kang Jin responded to Yoon Soo-hong’s farewell:

“But…what about your car? Would you like me to call for a designated driver?” Concerned that Yoon Soo-hong might drive under the influence, Kang Jin asked cautiously, eliciting a smile from Yoon Soo-hong.

“Who drives drunk these days? We need to call for a designated driver.” Yoon Soo-hong smiled and waved his phone at Kang Jin, who nodded understandingly.

“Then please drive safely.”

“It’s been a pleasure doing business with you today.”

As he watched Yoon Soo-hong lead the Chinese guests away, Kang Jin returned to his seat.

“Ack!” Once they were gone, Kang Jin let out a small groan, feeling drained. The combination of soju shots and several glasses of strong liquor had left him with a burning sensation inside. He’d managed to hold on due to having customers present, but now that they were gone, the alcohol was starting to kick in. With a grimace, Kang Jin waited a moment before taking a sip of cold water.

“You okay?”

Bae Yongsoo looked worriedly at Kang Jin, who nodded reassuringly.

“It’s not that bad.” In a hushed tone, Kang Jin opened the envelope Yoon Soo-hong had given him earlier. Inside was 200,000 won.

“That’s two hundred… With tips included, it’s four hundred thousand won.”

Kang Jin chuckled contentedly and stretched his neck.

Krik! Krik!

As if loosening up from the alcohol, he heard cracking sounds as he rotated his neck. Feeling refreshed, Kang Jin started clearing the table.

“I need to clean up quickly and get some sleep,” he muttered softly while hastily moving dishes to the kitchen.

The next morning, Kang Jin arrived at work and began reviewing documents. Lately, most of his tasks involved checking business plans created by team members for errors and numerical accuracy.

Most of Kang Jin’s work involved reviewing business plans prepared by his team members and checking for typos or numerical errors. As he was scanning through documents, Lim Ho-jin approached him.

“Kang Jin!”

Kang Jin looked up at Lim Ho-jin’s call.

“Yes?”

“I heard Yoon took our honored guest out yesterday?”

“That’s correct.”

Lim Ho-jin pulled up a chair next to Kang Jin.

“I’ve been told Mr. Wang seemed quite pleased with you?”

“Do you know Mr. Wang?”

“No, I haven’t met him personally, but I’ve heard about him several times.” Lim Ho-jin smiled before continuing, “Anyway, it appears Mr. Wang has taken a liking to you, Kang Jin.”

“He is indeed a fine gentleman,” replied Kang Jin.

Lim Ho-jin glanced between Kang Jin and Choi Donghae as they spoke.

“Donghae.”

Choi Donghae turned towards Lim Ho-jin.

“What is the most important aspect when dealing with China?”

In response to Lim Ho-jin’s question, Choi Donghae promptly answered without hesitation:

“Guanxi.”

Lim Ho-jin nodded at Choi Donghae’s answer.

“Do you know what Guanxi means, Kang Jin?”

“It seems to refer to relationships or connections, right?”

Literally translated from Chinese characters, it indeed meant ‘relationships.’

“That’s correct. Guanxi literally refers to relationships and connections. In China, trade is often referred to as ‘Guanxi Trade.’”

“‘Relationships Trade’?” Kang Jin repeated.

Lim Ho-jin nodded affirmatively.

“When doing business with the Chinese, they won’t engage unless it involves people they personally know or those introduced by someone they trust. No matter how great the product or proposal… if there’s no Guanxi, they won’t proceed with the deal.”

“I see.”

“Hence, it’s commonly known as ‘Guanxi Trade’ or ‘Hospitality Trade.’”

“In other words, building good relationships requires proper hospitality.”

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

“It’s more effective to entertain someone for one day over drinks than spending ten days discussing business in an office.”

“I see.” Kang Jin acknowledged Lim Ho-jin’s point and looked at him curiously. “May I ask why you’re sharing this with me?”

“I wanted to inform you that we’ve established a great connection.”

“So Mr. Wang must be quite influential?”

Lim Ho-jin affirmed Kang Jin’s assessment. “In South Korea, it’s said that everyone is just one degree of separation away from each other.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“In Mr. Wang’s case, he’s only two degrees removed from meeting the President of China.”

“Wow, impressive!”

“He truly is remarkable.” As they spoke, Lim Ho-jin casually mentioned, “Did he mention if he’ll return to your store?”

“Why do you ask?”

“If by any chance Mrs. Wang comes to your restaurant, could you please give me a call?”

“A call?”

“I haven’t established a connection with Mrs. Wang yet. Since she’s visiting South Korea, I’d like to build a relationship this time around.”

Kang Jin found Lim Ho-jin’s request curious.

“Can’t Yoon Soo-hong introduce you?”

“Although Yoon and I are close friends, he wouldn’t share his breadbasket.”

“Oh…”

Kang Jin understood Lim Ho-jin’s implication. For Yoon Soo-hong, Wang Kangshin was the cornerstone of his connections in China. Hence, despite their friendly rapport, Yoon hadn’t introduced her to Lim Ho-jin.

After considering Lim Ho-jin’s words for a moment, Kang Jin responded:

“I’ll definitely give you a call. However, please don’t greet her inside the restaurant.”

“What?”

Seeing Lim Ho-jin pondering where to greet Mr. Wang, Kang Jin continued:

“I believe restaurants should provide a comfortable dining experience. While there’s no guarantee that Mr. Wang will return, if he does, it would be for a relaxing meal…”

Without needing further explanation, Lim Ho-jin understood what Kang Jin was implying.

“You’re worried I might make him uncomfortable.”

“At work, I’m just an intern, but after hours, I am the restaurant owner.”

Kang Jin subtly hinted that although Lim Ho-jin was his superior at the company, outside of work, Kang Jin held authority as the restaurant owner.

Lim Ho-jin considered this momentarily before responding, “Could you at least let me say hello when he finishes his meal and is leaving?”

“I’ll ask him once he’s done eating, and only introduce you with his permission.”

“Alright then. Please give me your phone number first. I won’t just drop by unannounced.”

“Understood.”

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

“You’re going to be a great restaurant owner, Mr. Kang.”

“As a subordinate, though, not so much.”

Lim Ho-jin chuckled and shook his head at Kang Jin’s self-deprecating remark.

“Oh well, it’s fine. You won’t stay under my wing forever… In two months, you’ll be the owner of my favorite dining spot anyway.”

As Lim Ho-jin returned to his seat with a grin, Choi Donghae quietly asked Kang Jin:

“Seems like this Mr. Wang is quite extraordinary.”

“It might just be due to Chinese cultural norms.”

The concept of guanxi, or personal connections, was unique to China. This gave someone like Wang Kangshin, who had extensive networks, even more influence.

Kang Jin then turned to Choi Donghae.

“You speak Chinese, right?”

Previously, Kang Jin had overheard Choi Donghae conversing with a Chinese company on the phone.

“A little bit,” replied Choi Donghae.

With that, Kang Jin started speaking in Chinese.

“How’s my pronunciation?”

Choi Donghae chuckled at Kang Jin’s question.

“Did you know Chinese as well?”

“I picked up some phrases from Chinese workers during temp jobs. So how’s my pronunciation?”

As Kang Jin continued in Chinese, Choi Donghae responded likewise.

“When South Koreans converse in Chinese, we can generally understand each other despite slight differences in pronunciation.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. Think of it like using English. When South Koreans say ‘milk,’ everyone understands it means milk. However, native English speakers might not comprehend ‘milk’ due to pronunciation differences.”

When South Koreans speak English using Konglish, they generally understand each other. However, if one tries to communicate with Americans using Konglish, it would sound like gibberish to them.

“How well do you know Chinese?”

“I can handle basic communication.”

Kang Jin looked at Choi Donghae as if impressed by his skills.

“You speak English fluently like a native speaker, right?”

“Yes.”

“So, you’re proficient in both English and Chinese.”

“To work in international trade, knowing two foreign languages is essential. You also speak English and some Chinese, don’t you?”

“It’s more street-level proficiency,” Kang Jin replied, referring to conversational language used on the streets rather than formal or academic language.

“Well, regardless, being able to communicate is crucial.”

Kang Jin nodded in agreement and then asked in Korean:

“Do you have any books for learning Chinese?”

“I have some at home. Should I bring them over?”

“Please do.”

“Then…can I ask you for a favor?”

“What is it?”

“After my internship ends… can I contact you?”

Kang Jin chuckled at Choi Donghae’s request.

“Were you planning not to?”

Choi Donghae beamed brightly.

“Thank you.”

“Let’s get back to work.”

With that, Choi Donghae nodded and resumed reviewing documents.

After clocking out, Kang Jin walked towards his shop. On the way, he called Shin Suho.

“Hello?” answered Shin Suho.

“It’s Lee Kang-jin.”

“How may I assist you?”

“Do y-you know about the person I sent to heaven yesterday?”

Previously, when Che Yongho needed a lawyer, Shin Suho had appeared as if conjured by magic. Hence, Kang Jin assumed there was no need to elaborate on what happened yesterday.

“I am aware.”

“Hmm… By any chance, do we have CCTV installed or something?”

“No, not at all.”

“But you seem to know it quite well?”

“It was my home.”

As if that explained everything, Shin Suho stopped talking. Lee Kang-jin sighed and continued:

“I didn’t call for any other reason. By chance, should I keep hidden from people that I can communicate with ghosts?”

“Do you wish to share this information?”

“I don’t think there’s any specific need to hide it. Some believe shamans can converse with ghosts, and movies or dramas often feature stories about individuals who see spirits.” As Kang Jin provided explanations almost defensively, Shin Suho responded:

“Since you mentioned movies, let me draw an analogy. Do you know why movie heroes typically conceal their identities?”

“To avoid drawing attention from the world?”

[That’s right. Superman didn’t hide his identity because he feared guns or knives. It was to avoid attracting attention from the world.]

“Are you saying it will be troublesome for me?”

[There is someone who listens to their stories and resolves their grievances. Wouldn’t ghosts love such tales?]

“You mean ghosts will flock towards me?”

[Our brothers lived in that house.]

Kang Jin nodded at Shin Suho’s words.

“I understand what you’re saying.”

Shin Suho and his brothers had lived in this house and dealt with ghosts. This meant Kang Jin would encounter more ghosts than she has seen so far and hear even sadder stories.

Among those stories, there might be one similar to Kang Jin’s current situation. In other words, what Kang Jin faced now was something Shin Suho had experienced when he was younger or still young.

[Do you need anything else?]

“Can you give me any advice on how to handle this?”

[There is only one answer: Follow your heart.]

Kang Jin pondered over Shin Suho’s response for a moment before nodding.

“Thank you for the advice.”

[Do you need anything else?]

Smiling at Shin Suho’s repeated question, Kang Jin shook his head.

“No, that’s all.”

Ending the call, Kang Jin looked at his phone and nodded resolutely.

“Yes, let’s follow my heart.”