A Chairman Who Has No Regrets - Chapter 61



Only Krnovel

As soon as we arrived at the supply depot, Taesu approached me as if he had been waiting for me and asked me.

“Hey, Jeon Gang.”

“uh.”

“Are you going today too?”

I nodded.

Since I haven’t had enough time to build relationships with the people in the shantytown, I asked the father of the three siblings for cooperation, but it would take at least a minimum amount of time.

“Okay, then let’s go together.”

“Aren’t you busy?”

The guy chuckles.

“Oh, I have a lot of money.”

“Is that so?”

A guy who laughs heartily.

It’s not because of the scholarship quiz prize money, but they are sincere in helping someone, but they are always looking for excuses.

“Okay. Then 9 o’clock?”

“Okay, I’ll go by then.”

“Okay, see you later.”

“uh.”

After finishing my work, sweating, I sat down to a simple breakfast prepared by my mother.

“Okay, eat a lot, son.”

“huh.”

“Kimchi stew again!”

The little sister is stamping her feet.

Either way, I’m deep, deep.

I poured some kimchi stew onto a bowl of rice, mixed it well, and took a handful to my mouth.

Today, too, my mother’s kimchi stew was delicious.

“What the hell.”

My little sister looks at me as if she’s going to kill me.

“why.”

“Does Sooyoung’s uncle work for a construction company?”

“Oh, is that Dongguk Construction?”

The little sister who answered obediently suddenly frowned.

“But, Suyeong is your older sister and why am I your crush? Do you want to die?”

“What time do you think you’ll be leaving for work?”

Mother glances at her watch.

It’s already 7 o’clock.

“You’re already at work.”

“okay?”

“Yeah, you’re a hard worker. That’s why you got such a nice house.”

The older sisters nodded at their mother’s words. It seems that being honest and straightforward is one of the greatest virtues in this day and age.

Well, since tomorrow is Sunday and I probably won’t be going to work, I decided to wait until tomorrow.

The dining table disappeared, and before I knew it, the family had left the house. Today, too, I envied the backs of the three mothers and daughters as they left the front door.

I feel really bad that I won’t be able to join them for a while because of the shantytown work. I’ll have to finish it quickly so that I can join them on their way to work.

“Huh? A dog?”

I was sitting on the bench, spending my time leisurely until 9 o’clock, when I heard Suyeong’s older sister’s voice at the back of my head.

“Oh, sis.”

“What are you doing there since morning?”

“Wait for your friend.”

“Ahhh- I thought you were coming out to see me off?”

Well, I hadn’t even thought about where I was going at this time.

“Where are you going, sister?”

Sooyoung, the girl who was banging on the bag that looked like something an art student would carry around.

“To draw a picture.”

“Ah, school?”

“What, it’s similar? It’s a flower shop.”

It’s a flower shop.

I called my sister, who had just opened the front door.

“Sister.”

“huh?”

“There must be a lot of people there who are good at drawing?”

“Is there a lot?”

“okay?”

“Yeah, why?”

“That, paper is expensive? Canvas.”

“Yeah, it’s really expensive···”

Sister Suyeong, who clicks her tongue.

It seems like the price is a burden to her too.

“Then, are there many people who can’t draw pictures because they feel bad about wasting paper?”

“Well, most of them are kids from wealthy families, so they just use it. A few of us, including me, are a bit more cautious.”

“I would love a place where I could draw to my heart’s content.”

“I think so?”

“That went well.”

“huh?”

“No, take care on your way-”

“okay-”

As it happens, there was a great need for many artists.

What about college students who find it difficult to practice?

While I was briefly pondering this and that, I saw Taesu climbing the hill through the open gap in the front door.

As I leave the main gate, Taesu waves his hand and greets me.

“What is that?”

On his bike was a box just like the one I bought yesterday.

“It was delicious yesterday. Potatoes.”

That guy is imitating me quite well.

Thanks to that, I thought I could ride a bike comfortably, but it looks like I’ll have to walk.

With the guy, I was able to get to the shantytown through the desolate mountains and rivers. The place we headed to was not the house of the three siblings, but the place where the screen construction was being done.

A place where traces of yesterday remain.

“You’re number one hyung!”

Chang-Hyeon notices me and waves happily. I wave back, and I see the kids who were drawing on the curtain hesitantly looking around.

In each of their hands was a piece of charcoal that I had left behind yesterday. I tried not to see them and looked at the exposed ground.

Luckily, the potatoes that were inside me yesterday seem to have ended up in someone’s stomach.

Taesu and I walked to the box of potatoes we had left behind yesterday.

“It’s the same.”

I nodded at Taesu’s words.

Inside the potato box, the potatoes look untouched. In fact, I was hoping that these potatoes would shrink, but apparently no one has touched them.

People who are unnecessarily honest.

At least the potatoes I had cooked were all gone, so that’s a relief.

“Tsk, let’s pour it out.”

The guy nodded and poured the potatoes into the small hole I had dug, and I covered it with the dirt I had dug.

Then, just like yesterday, he lights a firewood fire. Meanwhile, Taesu puts down the potatoes that were loaded onto his bicycle.

“Are you eating potatoes today too, hyung?”

“Yeah, it was delicious yesterday.”

“wow-”

The box of potatoes must have been left outside in the cold weather, so I think they might taste a little less delicious today than yesterday.

Mi-kyung came closer, hesitantly.

“I gave the kids some charcoal.”

As if it was my fault.

So, Mi-kyung speaks as if she is the only one who is being scolded.

“It’s yours anyway.”

“yes?”

“Mi-kyung is yours.”

I said, pointing to the charcoal in Mikyung’s hand and the firewood that was burning.

“This and that. We don’t need that today either. We can just roast potatoes and eat them.”

I glanced around and saw Taesu nodding his head. He raised the corners of his mouth slightly as if he was glad that it was the shantytown kids and not the three siblings.

Yeah, but today is better than yesterday. The guys are a little closer to me so that’s good.

Knock, knock.

Could it be because smoke is rising?

“Ke-hack-”

The grandmother who lives next door to the three siblings came out.

“These guys, are you eating sweet potatoes again today?”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“Is it that delicious?”

“Haha, is the rumor that good?”

My grandmother smiles and slowly sits down next to me.

And then he taps my thigh.

Although she didn’t say anything, I could sense her gratitude in her gesture. Perhaps the old woman, with her many years of experience, knew a little about Taesu and me.

“Can this old lady eat it too?”

“Really? There’s some left anyway.”

Yesterday, only Taesu, me, and the three siblings were able to eat the potatoes.

“I knew this would happen, so I called all the old people in the back room.”

Elderly people appear between the burning campfire and begin to sit around it.

Are all shantytowns difficult and tough?

Are you skipping meals?

How could that be?

Even if you are a little worse off than others, this is still a place where people live. Some people are a little more comfortable, and some are a little less comfortable. It’s just that it’s hard to find the time and courage to take care of others.

“Chang-Hyeon’s father asked me to do this.”

“Was it like that?”

“Even if it weren’t for that, the old people would have come out because it was so lonely. Ke-hack-”

“I was worried that the potatoes would be frozen and I would have to throw them away, but it turned out okay, right?”

“Oh my – why are you throwing that away? There’s so much to eat here.”

“Right?”

“Then- then, don’t worry.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

It is not realistically possible to eat potatoes here every day. I just needed an excuse for the shantytown people to come closer to me, step by step.

It seems that I have unintentionally gained a strong supporter in the form of a grandmother. I heard from Taesu that she is the biggest adult in this shantytown. In these times, the weight of an adult’s words is quite heavy, so it is no exaggeration to say that she is a strong supporter.

“Hoo- Hoo-”

That old lady peeled the potatoes first and gave them to me.

“Oh, that’s okay.”

“Eat. Master, eat first so that you can eat comfortably.”

He bowed his head slightly and accepted the potatoes with both hands, just like that day.

“Are you coming every day? Kehak-”

“no.”

“Okay. If you’re in too much of a hurry, you won’t be able to use it.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“Originally, a wounded beast is Kehak- more annoying.”

“Yes.”

“Take your tongue, take your tongue.”

“yes.”

My grandmother rolled a potato with a stick, but she couldn’t hold it with her own hands, so she coughed and spoke loudly.

“Oh my gosh- Kehak- It’s so hot I can’t open it-”

As I quickly tried to stretch out my hand, a tree branch hit the back of my hand.

“Oh my gosh- I wish someone would give me a hack-?”

A child crouches down next to his grandmother.

“Grandma, should I help you?”

“Huh? Would it be okay if Yeon-i teased you?”

A picture unfolds of other children sitting around the elderly, carefully peeling potatoes.

I glanced at Taesu.

“Ah, I’m full.”

There’s a big difference between the acting of a robotic guy and the acting of an older person who looks experienced.

Thanks to the elders, I feel like the shantytown has come one step closer to me, so I’m glad. Just like my grandmother said, if we take it slow, it will work out. There are still about two years left until the shantytown is demolished.

After eating one potato, I stood up.

“Huh? Are you leaving already?”

“Yes, I’m full.”

The grandmother smiles faintly and nods her head.

“Since you old ladies have nothing better to do, just go-”

“Yes, Grandma. See you next time.”

“huh.”

I need to disappear quickly.

Those kids peeling potatoes diligently will be able to put them in their mouths with ease.

Building trust seems to be sailing smoothly, so now I feel like I can take the next step.

No matter how you think about it, a shantytown that shows off its individuality here and there is not a very pleasing sight to the eye. Shouldn’t we get rid of that excuse?

I slowly sorted out my plans as I made my way through the alley between the screens and headed toward my mother’s shop.

Knock knock.

“came?”

The broadcasting station guys are out again today.

How many days has it been like that?

Now, even without my older sister and mother asking me to, I find myself sitting at the broadcasting station guys’ table out of habit.

Everything becomes familiar.

“Isn’t that right?”

At the younger sister’s words, the assistant director lowered his head and nodded weakly.

Still, it’s not bad for the customer since they sell the most expensive menu every day.

I waited for the food in silence. For several days, the director didn’t say a word to me. To be exact, it was probably because I answered everything he said with short answers.

Knock knock.

The silence was broken by the owner opening the door and coming in.

“Oh my- Kang is here too? Hye-ri is here too.”

The owner, Choi Deok-su, entered the restaurant wearing a jacket with the Dongkuk Construction logo clearly visible.

“Oh my- what brings you here for lunch?”

His mother greets him warmly and guides him to the table where the broadcasting station guys and I are sitting.

“Haha, I finished work early because it’s Saturday. I came here because Suyeong’s mom is out and I thought we’d have lunch.”

“I ordered a stir-fry here, so please do it together.”

“Isn’t it good for a wrap?”

The old man glances at the people at the broadcasting station, not at me.

“We are fine with it too.”

The director welcomes him with a broad smile, perhaps to ease the awkward atmosphere.

“I’ll give you plenty-”

My mother went into the kitchen.

Just as the scholarship quiz director was about to open his mouth.

“mister.”

“Yeah, Kang-ah, why?”

“I had something to ask you.”

“Really? To me?”

“yes.”

“Ask? If Kang-i asks, I have to tell him.”

“Do you know any architects by any chance?”

The old man tilts his head, and the guys from the broadcasting station look interested in me.

“architect?”

“Yes, I have something to design.”

“Haha, are you trying to build a house?”

I shook my head.

“No, I’m trying to build a village.”

The old man looks at me, dreamily.

“Haha, the village? Even boasting about Sanggye-dong is a pipe dream.”

“Does anyone know?”

“Well, sir, that’s not the kind of thing you’re in charge of···”

The director of the scholarship quiz program suddenly intervenes.

“Student Jeon? I know an architect like that.”

I turned my head and looked at the director.

There is a certain hope filling his eyes.

It would have been better if someone else had that kind of hope, not that person.

“is it so?”

“Isn’t he really famous?”

The assistant director tilts his head at the director’s words.

“Who are you talking about, Director?”

“The person who designed the NBC Mokpo building.”

“ah-”

The director looks at me with a confident look on his face.

“Do you know the architect Kim Up-joong?”

“Architect Kim Up-joong? He’s stateless?”

“Oh, so the student from Jeon Gang knows?”

As you know.

Wasn’t he famous for his outspoken personality?

By the way, it’s amazing that this director has a connection with such a great architect.