A Chairman Who Has No Regrets - Chapter 109



Only Krnovel

The Chairman Who Has No Regrets Episode 109 – Faith, Hope, Love and Despair (3)

Sweep, sweep.

Director Baek nods his head as he watches me sign the contract.

“Huh- Student Jeon. Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Now stop talking, you’re pissing me off.”

“I’m saying this because I’m worried.”

“What did you see and hear, Director? Was it a fraud like that person said?”

Director Baek frowns and shakes his head. He seems to be strongly convinced that it can’t be true.

“So that’s it. You don’t have to worry.”

“Are the people around you okay?”

Saving the shantytowns involves many interests.

And the death of the illegitimate grandmother.

“Did they do anything wrong? All they did was enjoy and mourn together.”

“I see, I understand. Once I sign the contract, I will act strictly for the sake of ratings. Do you understand?”

He asks if I understand with his words, but his expression looks very apologetic. Why does he say something like that when he’s trying to read my mind? In any case, he’s a person who’s terrible at social life.

I said, tapping the contract.

“They even give extra bonuses based on viewer ratings, so of course.”

“Be careful with that kind of talk. If someone sees you, they’ll think you’re really putting all your effort into the shantytown for the money.”

He shrugged.

That’s half true.

Of course, if you spend the same amount of money elsewhere, you can be assured of greater profits and faster success, but it is not an investment that has no profitability at all. It is also inevitable because it is absolutely necessary for the foundation of plans and hopes.

Of course, if I wanted to, it would be nearly impossible to realize profits forever. Real estate is something that doesn’t make profits without trading, so I wouldn’t receive dividends. Of course, I don’t intend to trade. In the end, it’s highly likely that I won’t have any income. Unless I create a system to roll over dividends.

“So you have to make money, right? How much money have you poured in?”

Director Baek chuckles at my words.

“Come to think of it… why does Jeon Gang-hak have so much money?”

He knows roughly how much I spent on the shantytown. I calculated all the expenses that went into building Hodori Village with my own money. The land price, the house price, and even the construction cost.

Fortunately, most of the labor costs could be covered very cheaply. This was possible because Chang-Hyeon’s uncle helped a lot.

“The editorial was long. When will it be broadcast?”

“The first episode will air in three days.”

“That’s fast.”

“We’re combining what we filmed before with what we’re going to film this time, and that son… That guy’s interview is the main content… Of course, there will also be interviews with the residents of Hodori Village…”

I nodded to Director Baek, who kept checking my mood. The word ‘jipjigi’ reminded me of the future meme of ‘devil’s editing’.

“Yes, well. You have to row when the water comes in. I saw an article this morning saying that the whole nation is interested in finding a house. The sooner you do it, the better it will be to bring up the issue.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Episode 2 will air in a week, right?”

“Yes, both the first and second episodes will be aired during prime time on Sundays.”

“Episode 2, it’ll be fun.”

Director Baek smiled brightly.

I can see the worry in his eyes.

“I wonder if things will really go as the students wish… The world isn’t like that.”

A tone of voice that is a bit frustrating.

“Why does that happen sometimes?”

“which?”

“I just want to believe.”

“Well, I don’t know···”

“Director, just trust the ratings like you always did. No matter what happens, the ratings will be great, right?”

“Is that so?”

“Okay then.”

“Yeah, okay. Let’s do that.”

I shook hands with Director Baek and then stood up.

**

Monday, a few days later.

The day started like any other.

“female-”

The morning started with a greeting from Kim Gyu-il.

“Are you eating again?”

“It’s delicious.”

Kim Seong-hak, Cho Sang-geun, and the guys from Sanggye-dong show the same behavior as any other day. As we head to the supply depot, chatting about trivial things, the guys and I never stop smiling.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Taesu greets us with the same greeting as always.

“okay.”

As I was putting away my newspaper and about to leave, a delivery man passed me by and bumped into my shoulder.

Clang.

The newspaper falls to the floor, the man coughs and snickers without saying a word of apology.

“Hey, mister, be careful!”

The impatient Dong-su yells at him, but the man pretends not to hear him and goes on his way.

While some children were quickly picking up the newspapers, Hwang Dong-su shouted again.

“Are you walking around without looking?”

And at that sound, several deliverymen inside the supply depot started to shout out.

“Those little kids are really noisy.”

“Adventure! Get out of the way!”

The men give me sharp looks.

And it wasn’t like I couldn’t read the mood, and the guys in Sanggye-dong weren’t completely clueless.

“What are you guys doing? Aren’t you doing anything? Hit me?”

The delivery men only leave after the store owner yells at them.

“People say, tsk tsk.”

The owner of the supply depot glanced at me, licked his lips, and then quickly turned his head away.

“Come on, come back quickly. Aren’t you going to school?”

The owner, as always, speaks bluntly and then goes about his business.

“Ugh.”

A few kids were licking their lips, and I tapped the shoulders of Taesu and Dongsu, who were frowning the most, and said.

“Let’s go- quickly.”

The children nodded to my words and each went their separate ways. I also climbed the hill at Sanggye-dong today.

Knock, knock.

I greet open houses by throwing newspapers or shoving them through doorways.

“hello-”

“Uh… okay.”

I can see the nervousness on the faces of the townspeople who greet me. Regardless, I try to speed up my work so that there are no problems.

Squeak.

The iron gate of Dong-su’s house opened, and Dong-su’s uncle, an old bachelor, came out.

“Hey, did you run today?”

“yes.”

He took the milk out of the milk bag, thought about it for a moment, and today he handed me both of the milks he was holding in his hands.

“Okay! Two today!”

“Oh, that’s okay.”

“Just eat two today and s …

Then he waves his hand and disappears.

Pick, it makes me laugh.

The reason he gave me two bottles of milk today was probably because of the broadcast the day before. That great documentary.

Squeak.

“Are you here?”

As I open the front door and go in, I see my mother trying to lift the dinner table.

“Okay, Mom. I’ll take it.”

“okay.”

When the dining table is set, my mother and older sisters sit in front of it.

“Oh my – what should I buy today and how much should I buy?”

“Mom, I see. I think we should order delivery now. There’s too much for us to carry.”

“so?”

“I think it would be better to order delivery from a greengrocer or butcher shop even if it costs a little more.”

My older sister was staring at her notebook, talking about how she had organized things during the night, and how this was like this and that was like that.

“I heard that Mr. Kim’s vegetable store has cheap spinach and that they have burdock in stock today.”

“Oh my, is it already time for the burdocks to come out? How much burdock should I buy? I think the customers will like it. I should buy about 5kg.”

“If I tell the customers that I will give them about 2 roots per head···”

I felt like I couldn’t do this anymore, so I intervened.

“It’s over there, Mom.”

“huh?”

My mother looks at me.

I put down my spoon and said.

“Hey, how about buying just a few ingredients today?”

“Huh? Why?”

My sisters and my mother too.

He looks at me as if to say, “What’s that weird thing?”

Because Kang’s restaurant has been suffering from a shortage of ingredients to the point where they can’t accept customers because they’re running out of ingredients every day.

“Probably, there won’t be many customers today.”

“So why?”

“There was a broadcast yesterday?”

“broadcast?”

“Yeah, a little bit there. I came out in a bad way.”

The mother opens her eyes wide and speaks.

“Oh my, that’s funny- what’s wrong with our son? Huh- right! Son! Don’t worry about that, okay?”

I think my mother is more concerned.

“hey.”

Little sister’s call.

“uh.”

“Is that what you meant by the accident last time?”

“Oh, well. Really?”

“What show is it?”

“Documentary.”

“Something similar to that one from last time?”

“Oh, right. Should I say it’s a bit disadvantageous for me this time? At least that’s what happened in this week’s broadcast.”

The younger sister nodded and looked at her mother.

“Mom, isn’t broadcasting scary? Should I listen to her and only buy half the ingredients today?”

The mother hesitates for a moment and then shakes her head.

“But that’s not how business works. I felt so bad yesterday when I had to send customers away because they had no ingredients. Even if there are ingredients left over and they are thrown away, I have to treat the customers who come in without any shortcomings.”

“That’s because it’s a loss.”

“Why is that a loss? Mom has never lost money in business like that.”

“I see.”

“Then- don’t worry about it and just eat. Since you didn’t get any rest on the weekend, let’s make sure to rest on Hye-ri’s graduation day, okay?”

The older sisters laugh heartily at their mother’s words.

I wanted to say more.

That would be a waste of material.

However, looking at my mother’s unwavering eyes, I couldn’t dissuade her. Even if I tried to dissuade her, she probably wouldn’t listen. All of our family’s stubbornness is probably passed down through my mother’s blood.

Aren’t you the strongest among us?

Who can break that stubbornness?

“Should we buy a TV too?”

My mother pretended not to hear my older sister’s fleeting words and moved her spoon busily.

The older sister pokes the younger sister in the ribs.

“No, I just.”

“Eat rice, eat rice.”

“Yeah.”

My sisters and mother are on their way to work.

I started walking to school.

The day before my little sister’s graduation ceremony, my spring break ceremony begins. It’s really inefficient. Even if I go to school at this time, there are no classes. It’s just like playing all day.

Still, what needs to be done must be done. Today, too, in front of the school gate on the hill, the drill instructor and the homeroom teacher, Seo Yoon-seok, were scolding the students.

“hello.”

A drill sergeant stops me as I pass by to say hello.

“You over there.”

“Yes, you called.”

“Your rank and name.”

“First year. River.”

“Yeah, you’re Jeon Gang, right? The guy who was on TV yesterday.”

“I don’t know because I didn’t watch the broadcast.”

“I don’t know? Where would a soldier give such an answer!”

Are you serious?

Do you think I’m a soldier?

“Oh my – teacher – what’s wrong?”

Homeroom teacher Seo Yoon-seok appeared with a sad look.

It’s almost like a picture from the first day I came back to this life.

“Oh right, wasn’t this guy in Mr. Seo’s class?”

“Yes, that’s right. Our class even received a scholarship at the opening ceremony a few days ago, so we’re proud of that.”

“Shouldn’t we be educating students properly?”

Seo Yoon-seok’s cheeks tremble.

“Teacher, what you said is a bit excessive.”

“Didn’t you watch the broadcast yesterday, Mr. Seo? Huh? A guy like this goes to our school? I should have formally spoken to the principal! Where- Soldiers can’t protect the people, but they suck their blood and pus!”

Enough to make me wonder if I’m in my right mind.

You’re a human being who is obsessed with strange things, even down to your marrow.

Yeah, I guess all drill instructors these days are like that.

“Teacher, aren’t you mistaken? Are these guys soldiers? They’re students! Why do you keep treating students like soldiers? Yes!”

“Oh my! Mr. Seo, you’re in big trouble. Are you a communist? Huh?”

“What!”

The sight of the homeroom teacher yelling at me is unfamiliar. Was he always like this? I knew he was a kind person, but I didn’t know he had such righteous thoughts.

His personality is felt in every word he says.

I may have had a really good teacher during my three years of high school.

It was such a fresh shock that I wondered if this was really the person who beat my buttocks with a stick until it burned for not paying my membership fees.

“Kang, you go in and study!”

“Yes, sir.”

“Where are you going! Stop moving!”

What do you want me to do?

“Spring break is coming soon! Spring break! Why are you catching kids like rats? When it’s time to rest, rest! When it’s time to study, aren’t you students supposed to be studying!”

“What’s the point of studying? Just go around protesting! You have to start by properly educating yourself mentally, Mr. Seo!”

“Mental education is what you need to receive now! This is a high school, not Samcheong Education College or something!”

“What? Are you telling me to go right now?”

It’s been a while since morning.

I appeared on TV.

People around me keep fighting.

As the noise grows, students naturally gather, as well as teachers on their way to work.

“Is that him? Oh my – he was the pride of the school and all, but he was doing all kinds of things behind people’s backs? He stole all the land and houses from people who weren’t educated.”

“How could a high school student do that? There must have been someone behind the scenes who intervened. I heard it was a real estate agent.”

In just one day.

What kind of rumors could have spread?

“That kid’s nickname is Tanaka, right? He’s trying to take everything away from me because I did something so stupid. Tsk!”

I keep hearing the sound of a squeak.

“Hey! I can hear everything!”

Hwang Dong-su shouts at the children who were making a fuss with his thin body.

“What the heck, that bean sprout head-like kid, what are you going to do if you hear that?”

Sanggeun, who was lying face down, suddenly gets up from his seat.

“I heard it too.”

The children who had been shouting at Dong-su become quiet.

This is really noisy.

I feel really fortunate that the vacation starts in a few days.

By the way, is the store okay?

If the school is like this, I feel like the number of stores frequented by outsiders will only increase, not decrease.