A Chairman Who Has No Regrets - Chapter 88



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The Chairman Who Doesn’t Regret Episode 88 – Persuasion (8)

When the renovation of the house of the three siblings of Chang-Hyeon was completed, people who had refused to hand over their houses to me for a while began to move a little more. Just looking at the improved living environment compared to before, they seemed to have realized that it was beneficial to sign a contract with me.

“I think the contract is 70% complete now?”

Although it was still a little lacking, I nodded my head at the words of the real estate owner, Noya Kang.

“Architect, is the construction going well?”

“No problem. Can’t you see the shantytown changing day by day?”

As he said, the shantytown had certainly changed a lot in just a few days.

The houses were mostly made of cement in a style that is not easily found in Korea. The reason why cement was used was because it was easy to add to the original wooden structure and it was cost-effective, as advised by architect Kim Up-joong.

Moreover, the way blue pastel-tone paint was used to add a point to a white wall was definitely a fresh architectural style for contemporary Koreans.

Even I can see it and say, “Wow!” It’s pretty, so how much more so for other people? It may not be a world-renowned building, but since a world-renowned architect personally inspects each and every detail, I can be proud of its completeness and stability.

“Usually it takes 7 days for a house to change?”

Architect Kim Up-joong nodded.

“It was possible because the workers worked hard without any break time. They treated it as if it were their own home.”

It feels like the life the father of three siblings lived was not in vain. The fact that all the laborers treat it like their own home means that sincerity and effort are being put into it.

“It’s 7 percent done.”

Architect Kim Up-joong nodded.

Now, only about 7 percent of the shantytown has changed, but it is no exaggeration to say that my seed money balance has been completely emptied.

Rather, if all the people in the shantytown had come forward to sell their houses at once, I would have been in trouble.

It is not a problem, but rather a difficulty. Soon, the stocks I am managing will grow significantly, so when I look at the morning paper, I can see the stock market fluctuating. Now, it is news worthy of the newspaper that people who have money are flocking to securities firms one by one.

“Kang Noya.”

“why.”

“Why don’t the rest of the residents sign the contract?”

“When I see the changes, I wonder if things will really get better.”

Kang No-ya had an expression of ungratefulness all over his face. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly because I thought I knew what he was thinking.

Land prices are rising and house prices are rising.

Then, isn’t it natural for people to want to sell at a higher price? Greed is the emotion that best suits the current capitalist world, so I understand. But I can’t help but feel bitter.

There was one thing they knew and two they didn’t know.

They were ignoring the fact that the houses they were currently living in were all illegal structures. The reason the district office didn’t step in and touch them was probably because they didn’t know that everything was due to the agreement between the district head and me.

There was a way to convince them all at once.

It might not be exactly persuasion, but rather a threat. It might even be an act of lowering the rope.

Reason and emotion intersect quickly.

“Please try a little harder.”

Kang Noya frowns.

“Oh my, this isn’t even a joke···”

really.

I find it amazing that there is a world where I am treated like a fool.

When I think of my mother, my older sisters, and my grandmother, who would always be waiting for me in the hospital room, ready to help me study.

They are all looking at me and smiling.

For that smile, it might not be a bad idea to become a fool once in a while.

“Please give me one more chance.”

“If the Pyongyang governor doesn’t like me, then just leave it at that.”

After hearing Kang Noya’s answer, I looked at the architect.

“Please take good care of me.”

“Don’t worry, there’s no problem here.”

“yes.”

Architect Kim Up-joong left the real estate first, and I asked Director Baek, who was drinking Hororok tea.

“Are you ready for the documentary now?”

“Of course, we need to film more to increase the amount, so the current level is just right. I think it will come out in about 4 parts.”

“Will it be aired over two days, two hours each?”

“First of all, the special scholarship quiz is a prerequisite···”

He trails off, wondering if it’s a problem for him to present me with conditions. Even if it was a verbal contract, we clearly had a business relationship with such conditions, so I understood him.

“Don’t worry about that part.”

“Student Jeon Gang, I’m asking this out of concern… Are you preparing well for the scholarship quiz?”

I really wanted to tell you that you were just an old woman.

“Is it the same level as last time?”

“The difficulty level will increase a little. It’s hard to find family special members… This time, there are many places where adults and students are on teams.”

Whether professor or doctor.

Since it wasn’t a quiz that required a great deal of specialized knowledge, I couldn’t see it as a disadvantage to me.

I don’t mean to disparage professors, but I pride myself on having greater knowledge than them in some areas.

“If it’s to that extent.”

Director Baek nods his head as if one of his worries has been put aside.

“So, it looks like you’re not going to be filming or anything anymore?”

Director Baek nods his head at Kang Noya’s question.

“Yes, I won’t be here for a while because of the scholarship quiz filming that will be held in a few days.”

“Oh my, it’s too bad I can’t get paid for that.”

“Hey, sir, your brokerage fee is quite high.”

I also got off my butt because I wasn’t interested in their jokes. I had someone waiting for me and I didn’t have much time.

“I’ll go first.”

Kang Noya asks the back of my head.

“Are you going to the hospital again?”

“Yes. If anything comes up, please call me.”

“Anyway, it’s sincerity… If it’s that much, I could sell the house and land.”

He still seems to think that the reason I go to the hospital is because of the land and house that Grandma Kang Seo-ja owns.

I didn’t bother explaining it in detail because it didn’t concern me what other people thought. I just nodded slightly and headed to the hospital.

**

Boom boom, boom boom, boom!

“Get out, you evil company that is killing the lives of its employees!”

“Get out! Get out!”

“Pay the overdue wages! Rewrite the employment contract!”

“Write again! Write again!”

“Reinstate the unfairly dismissed workers and pay their overdue wages!”

“Pay me! Pay me!”

In front of Gyeongseong Wool Textiles located in Junggye-dong.

There is a loud drum sound and women with headbands on are screaming and complaining.

In the meantime, Gyeongseong Wool Textile’s sewing machines were running noisily.

“Go to sleep! Don’t worry about the outside! Focus on your work! Focus!”

A man wearing an armband that says “class president” is urging and urging the women. Hye-rin, who was quietly working on her sewing machine, bites her lower lip.

Hye-rin suddenly got up from her seat.

“Class president!”

“Why, Hye-rin?”

“When on earth are you going to pay me my salary? You’ve been saying that for two weeks now! School starts in a day or two, so when on earth are you going to pay me?”

Hye-rin’s voice was trembling slightly, as if she had endured too much.

“Hye-rin! Are you upset about this? Can’t you hear that noise outside? Why did those people get fired? Huh? They didn’t get fired because they made a fuss about getting paid! Hye-rin wants to get fired too!”

“I don’t care if you quit, just give me my salary! It’s the money I earned! It’s the money I earned by working so hard that my fingers were all torn off!”

Hye-rin’s raised hands had bandages stuck here and there. The sewing machines that had been making a loud noise stopped.

“what’s the matter!”

Perhaps because the sewing machine has stopped, the door to the president’s office, made of sloppily assembled panels, opens and a young man comes out.

“What are you ladies doing? Don’t you want to get paid? Huh? You want to quit your job! Don’t you want to work soon?”

A boss who suddenly starts making threats.

“Boss! I want my salary!”

Hye-rin screamed.

“That’s real! What kind of salary do you get for doing your work like this? Huh? Those who can’t even meet deadlines are getting paid more.”

“The boss fired the employees, so we can’t meet the deadline! How can we meet the deadline when we don’t pay them and don’t give them overtime!”

“Hey! The foreman! Let’s get him out! Cut him off!”

The man standing in front of Hye-rin grabbed both of her arms. Hye-rin groaned as if trying to shake off the hands.

“Let go of this! Let go of this! How can you say you don’t have money and still buy a car and drink expensive coffee at a coffee shop every day? How can you brag about buying an apartment a while ago?”

As if in agreement with Hye-rin’s words, several women nod their heads, turn on their glasses, and look at the president.

The young boss laughs at the sight and threatens again.

“These guys! All you ladies want to suck your thumbs? Huh? What if the ladies don’t work and the company goes bankrupt? What if it goes bankrupt? I think you ladies will be able to get your overdue wages! Huh? Let’s go broke for once? Who will lose more? We’re the only company left in this town! Don’t you come to your senses!”

“······”

Women who are unable to respond to the chilling momentum and shamelessness and who are only looking around.

“Where else do you work besides this company, ladies? Huh? Do you serve food at a restaurant? Wash dishes? Or do some cleaning? Huh! How many companies in Korea these days operate sewing machines? Just work, work! The company has to survive so I don’t care if you pay me or not! I’m telling you to eat well and live well right now.”

The woman sitting next to Hye-rin glances at Hye-rin.

“Hye-rin… I’m sorry… Our Yeong-hee… just started elementary school…”

Gulp.

She sheds tears, takes her eyes off Hye-rin, and starts rolling her feet to turn the sewing machine.

Knock knock, knock knock.

The sound of sewing machines pierces the silence, and one by one, the factories begin to fill with the loud sound of sewing machines. Many women are biting their lower lips until they bleed, but they all feel that they have to do this job.

“Hey! What are you doing! Get him out!”

At the president’s words, the man grabs Hye-rin’s arms and drags her out of the factory in a menacingly violent manner. Hye-rin looks at the woman sitting next to her, who is unable to look at her through tears, and is helplessly dragged out of the factory.

Iron Fist.

As the man who had pushed Hye-rin out of the factory slammed the sliding door shut with a loud bang, several women who had been beating drums and screaming ran over and helped Hye-rin up.

“Sister! Are you okay?”

The young women who always spoke to Hye-rin.

They were students who pretended not to be college students while attending college and got jobs at factories. They were students who were filled with a sense of mission to represent the workers.

“Sister… Sister, you too, you should do it together, you should receive your overdue wages, we should help the other sisters who were unfairly fired! Even if they are being treated unfairly, even if they don’t receive a single penny of wages, we should help those sisters who have no choice but to work, okay? Let’s do it together, sister.”

The student said that and handed Hye-rin a red headband. Hye-rin looked down at the headband she had accepted in a panic.

[ Step down, evil boss who oppresses labor rights! ]

Hyelin looks at her hairband for a long time as if she is thinking about it.

She bites her lower lip until it bleeds, then puts the headband around her head and ties it tightly.

The students who had been flirting with her smiled brightly, put their arms around Hye-rin’s shoulders, and shouted.

“The evil CEO who suppresses labor rights, step down!”

“Get out! Get out!”

Before she knew it, Hye-rin was also crying out loud.

**

I asked the grandmother, whose eyes were bright with concentration, pointing to a section of an outdated elementary school textbook she had prepared herself.

“So, what is this?”

“Tiger.”

“The tiger is a dialect, and the grandmother is a tiger.”

“It’s so gross, so gross.”

“Okay, tiger. Write it down.”

An old woman writing with trembling hands, pressing hard.

[ Horai ]

“No, Grandma, this is tiger. This is how you write tiger.”

“Just understand it roughly.”

“Then write down what you just said.”

“Oh, it’s done.”

When things get difficult, you always run away like that.

“Quickly.”

“Oh my, that guy, being a sailor is his calling, his calling.”

“What are you talking about, to someone who should be doing bigger things?”

“Plague-”

Now, he often curses at me.

There were only two people my grandmother swore at.

Me and Hyo-ryong’s grandmother.

Of course, he doesn’t curse at Hyo-ryong’s grandmother directly. He just mixes curses into his conversation.

I was actually happy about it because I knew that my grandmother swearing was proof that we were close.

“Okay, write it quickly!”

At that moment, my grandmother was trying to write with trembling hands and pursed lips.

Knock knock.

“Oh my god, I told you not to do that, these people really are!”

The hospital room door opened with the sound of Kang Noya’s voice.

A crowd of people poured in, and my grandmother and I naturally drew attention to them.

“Hey! Jeon Gang students!”

Starting with the man.

“How can that be?”

Even women.

I could tell who they were by looking at their faces. They were the people who had made a contract with me a while ago. Not all of them had come, but some of them had. They were the people who had signed the contract after Kang Noya’s persistent persuasion.

“If our shantytown is shown on TV, the price of land will go up, right? Then, of course, the price of houses will go up too? Isn’t it fraud to buy things at a low price while fooling others about that? Huh?”

Now he’s harassing me.

“Oh my! These people are really! I saved a drowning person and now they’re asking me to hand over a bundle! What the heck!”

Kang Noya shouts, but they don’t listen.

“Here I brought you some more money, so step back!”

He pushes the contract and money in and threatens the victim.

“Get out of here quickly! I didn’t know this was such a scam! And how can you be taking advantage of other people’s backs at such a young age? Oh my – they say the world is scary, scary, but it really is.”

“The kid is already learning only bad things! Hurry up and give up the contract!”

Continuous high-pitched voices.

I was more concerned about my grandmother than them.

For a frail elderly person suffering from multiple illnesses, dementia and delirium are like hyenas always waiting for an opportunity.

I patted the trembling grandmother’s shoulders and spoke to them.

“This is a hospital. Let’s go out and talk.”

“I don’t know about that! Get off of this quickly!”

Nurses appeared at their commotion.

Grandma shuts her eyes tightly and shakes her body.

Kang Noya joins the nurses in pushing them out of the ward again and again.

Even as they were pushed out of the ward, their bickering continued, and every time a loud voice was heard, the grandmother flinched and her delicate shoulders shook.

“Grandma, are you okay?”

“I have nothing, nothing, nothing, I can’t give, I won’t give, if I give it to you it won’t come, I can’t give, I won’t give.”

“Grandma, it’s me. Kang-i, Grandma’s grandson- Grandma-”

“No! No, you rotten bastards! No!”

The grandmother who covers herself with the blanket and just keeps repeating that there is nothing.

Suddenly.

My wisdom teeth are being crushed by themselves.

Knock knock.

The hospital room door opens and Kang Noya comes in, shaking his head.

“Whew- I keep telling you not to listen, but you still have to listen, oh my- So what did you say? This is just a fool, you fool!”

Kang Noya speaks as if he is frustrated.

“What kind of guy is he, blowing the wind of nonsense at innocent people? Oh my – oh my. Anyway, even if you like someone, it’s a problem.”

I stood a little further away from my grandmother and looked straight at Kang Noya and said.

“You are wrong.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“I’m not a very good person.”

Gulp.

Kang Noya swallows and blinks his eyes.

“If you only see people in a good light and treat them like fools, you should let them know what happens if they cross the line.”

“Uh, yeah?”

Now it’s time to stop trying to persuade people with nice words.

The rest of you, those who didn’t cooperate with me.

Not qualified.

Lost my qualification.

“Let’s do whatever you want.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s break the contract.”

“What? Really?”

I nodded and opened the door to the hospital room first. Then I crossed the threshold of mercy that I had created.