I Quit My Job and Run a Café - Chapter 281



Only Krnovel

Quitting the company and opening a cafe Episode 281

Grandfather Han Deok-hwan was a wealthy man who owned several buildings.

Of course, it wasn’t like that from the beginning.

Grandfather Han Deok-hwan’s childhood was poor.

It wasn’t unusual for adults in those days to not be like that.

But among those adults, there were few who became as wealthy as grandfather Han Deok-hwan, who was very successful.

A small lodging business started in Seoul and became a hotel.

The hotel grew in size and became a landmark in major cities across the country, so much so that it was an understatement to say it was a success.

I wonder if Han Deok-hwan, who has been so successful, has any worries.

There was one big concern.

It was the issue of children that could be called a sore hand.

“The first one was raised too noisily.”

Han Deok-hwan spoke with a hint of regret.

First, when Han Deok-hwan was growing up, he was living a life so busy that he could not pay attention to his family.

Because we were in the process of expanding and growing our business.

Naturally, his wife took full responsibility for the children’s problems.

It wasn’t anything special, as it was common back then.

The problem is that his wife is particularly protective of her eldest child.

It’s about relieving the regret of being born in poverty and never having been properly breastfed when you’ve become somewhat affluent.

Han Deok-hwan thought about it like that and moved on.

however.

“It’s gotten worse.”

The skirt width that I thought would be a thing of the past continued even after my first child went to school and became an adult.

When I realized that fact too late, my first child was already in a state where he could not do anything without his mother.

Fortunately, from the second child onwards, they learned how to make their own way of living and did things on their own.

Rather, it’s disappointing that he is so mature that he suddenly went to study abroad as soon as he became an adult.

In the end, only the eldest child remained by Han Deok-hwan’s wife’s side.

“I tried to make him do this and that, but he didn’t know how to do anything. It was to the point where I wondered if he was my child. But he was also greedy, so I had to have whatever he ordered.”

Han Deok-hwan shook his head as he spoke, then Kim Sik took a sip of green tea.

“And then he got into trouble.”

“Accident?”

“He treated his younger siblings badly, and he was also a bully outside of school.”

“hmm.”

I don’t know exactly what he did, but it was clear that it wasn’t a good thing. Hansong’s expression also hardened for a moment.

“In the end, I kicked him out after giving him a few buildings. I told him not to ask for help from my wife or me anymore. I gave my wife a firm warning.”

“That didn’t work out?”

“I’ve lived like that for decades, so it’s only natural. I can’t fix that anymore. After my wife passed away, I was the last one to clean up the failed business and the building, and I cut off all ties with her.”

Well, it’s the same for rich families, too. Even if you’re rich, it doesn’t mean you’re not greedy.

Han Deok-hwan continued speaking with an even older expression.

I figured I’d never have a chance to talk about this, so I just decided to listen.

“Then I heard that I was hospitalized. It was a minor hospitalization, but I wonder how he got the news… … So I tried acting, which wasn’t acting. I wonder how he’ll react when I die.”

“It’s a bad joke, Grandpa.”

At Han Deok-hwan’s words, Han Song-i glared and said a word.

I thought I had just come out of the intensive care unit and ended up here, and that must have been the reason.

“I feel sorry for you. You must have become annoying as you grow older. You don’t know how to worry about other children… … .”

“Don’t do that again.”

“Okay.”

Han Deok-hwan apologized to Han Song-i and drank another cup of green tea, feeling embarrassed.

It seemed like it had cooled down while we were talking, as there was no steam coming out.

“Would you like some green tea warmed up for me?”

“No. It’s just right now. It seems like I can’t eat hot food slowly by nature, so I’ll just eat it like this.”

I tried to warm it up for him, but he refused.

I told him to do that because green tea still smells good even when it cools down, and since it’s already brewed, it won’t get any stronger.

By the way.

‘Is the curse on your chest because of that first child?’

I’m not sure about that.

We’ve been talking for a while now, but there hasn’t been an ounce of movement.

The problem with children is just regret, is there any other reason?

“Don’t worry, I already knew he would react like this, so I’m not sad.”

“grandfather.”

“It’s okay. This is also my original sin anyway.”

“What crime did grandpa commit?”

“… … .”

At Han Song-yi’s words, Han Deok-hwan remained silent for a moment and only fiddled with his teacup.

It was difficult to read what he was thinking.

at that time!

“Because of that?”

“Huh?”

“I heard from my father before. He said he sold the village land.”

Lee Seon-ah, who had been quietly standing, intervened.

And at those words, Han Deok-hwan made a puzzled expression.

What is it? For a moment, the aura in Han Deok-hwan’s chest also stirred.

So is that the cause?

“… … That’s right. I sold it.”

Han Deok-hwan spoke calmly and with a self-mocking tone, but he couldn’t stop himself from trembling at the end.

What land did you sell to be doing this?

“It was a really important piece of land for the village.”

“But didn’t you say that you could sell that land at will because it was your grandfather’s property?”

“That’s true. But it was the village that gave me the land.”

“Land?”

“How could I, who was born with nothing, have land?”

That’s what it was.

As I said earlier, I didn’t inherit a single penny.

So, did the village really give you the land? Grandfather Han Deok-hwan sold it?

“Maybe using that as capital?”

“That’s right. I built everything with the money I earned from selling that land. So it can only be original sin.”

I don’t know what kind of land it was, but it must have been an important land.

When talking about that land, Grandfather Han Deok-hwan’s expression and the aura in his chest became even darker.

But judging from the village chief’s reaction earlier, I’m not sure if that was really the wrong thing to do.

I don’t think someone who really harmed the village would do that.

‘Besides, the village chief was taking care of Hansong’s house little by little, right?’

Even though I didn’t pay much attention to it, I was able to prevent it from becoming a ruin to some extent…

It doesn’t seem like the land that Grandfather Han Deok-hwan sold is the land that has become an enemy.

Of course, I didn’t know that. When I heard it, it seemed like a story from a long time ago, not relevant to the current village chief.

Because Grandfather Han Deok-hwan was young.

So, it’s possible that the village chief doesn’t really care right now.

‘But then again, given what I know, I don’t think they’re completely unrelated.’

What land did you sell?

“… … This is the land I sold.”

“yes?”

“huh?”

Everyone’s reaction to Han Deok-hwan’s words after much thought was like this.

Me too.

What were you talking about just now?

“This is it. I sold it.”

“… … Are you talking about the land where the tiger shelter is?”

“yes.”

This is a bit shocking, isn’t it?

The one who sold the land for the tiger shelter was Grandfather Han Deok-hwan.

Oh, but my grandfather didn’t buy it right away. It looks like it was passed on to someone in the middle and eventually sold to my grandfather.

Still, it was a bit surprising.

“Originally, this place was where the village spirit was worshipped.”

“Are you a spirit?”

“The village gave me the land to manage this place.”

And this was a bit shocking.

The village didn’t just give it to Grandfather Han Deok-hwan, they entrusted it to him for management… … So they sold that land.

Surely, even if other people said there was no problem, it was something I couldn’t be proud of.

“I still regret that choice.”

No one could answer Han Deok-hwan’s words. This is something we cannot say anything about.

First of all, I wasn’t a party to it.

It was also something that had to be resolved between the parties who knew about it.

“That’s why I’ve tried so hard to forget about it until now. If it weren’t for that kid… … Hehe. It all comes back to this in the end. I knew this day would come ever since Songi said she’d live here.”

“grandfather…….”

“I have come here because of one thing that is on my mind. I hope that my sins will come only to me, and that my children will not commit sins here again.”

Me, Lee Seon-ah, and Han Song-i just listened.

It was the mumbling of Grandfather Han Deok-hwan, who could not tell whether he was apologizing for the land he had sold, or for apologizing to someone.

And when the mumbling was over… … .

“If you think so, then it’s okay.”

“!?”

Grandfather Han Deok-hwan, who had been bowing his head, suddenly sat up at the sound of a voice coming through the open door.

The person speaking at the door was Grandpa Kang Seok, one of the village elders.

I thought that Grandfather Kang Seok would definitely know Grandfather Han Deok-hwan’s work, and I guess it was as expected.

There were other elderly people around.

‘I guess the village chief said something.’

It’s funny to see everyone here.

“Mr. Kang?”

“I knew you’d come back someday.”

“… … I’m sorry.”

“You should apologize to us. It wasn’t our decision anyway. In the end, it was the village chief who made the decision.”

“Because of me, he… … .”

“You must have gone to a good place. In the end, that decision made this place like this. Everyone tried to stop you from going outside the village, but in the end, it was thanks to you going outside the village that this place came to life.”

The adults’ conversation was a series of words that we could not follow.

It is only possible to roughly understand the context.

Well, that’s not what’s important anyway.

‘The curse in my heart shook.’

At Grandfather Kang Seok’s words, the curse in Grandfather Han Deok Hwan’s heart shook.

That was the opposite of what he had said earlier, as if he was making amends, and his expression became more intense.

“I’ll bring you some tea.”

“Oh, oh, can I help you?”

“Huh? No, I won’t help you… … No. Do you both want to help me?”

I quickly brought Hansong and Lee Seon-ah inside.

I caught a glimpse of the adults sitting together and talking.

It was a place to shake off long-standing regrets.

We shouldn’t bother you for no reason.

“Just put this here and let’s take our time.”

“I think the kitchen has changed again while I wasn’t looking.”

I showed Han Song-i and Lee Seon-ah how to make tea, but neither of them seemed interested in it.

“Can I take a picture?”

“Will it work?”

“Kkabi.”

“Take a close-up. Just show the hands.”

“Oh! Good.”

Hansong looked around the kitchen, and Seonah Lee looked for content.

In the end, it was the country that built the car.

It didn’t matter since the purpose was to vacate the seat anyway.

I took out some well-dried green tea leaves and made cold brew this time.

Soaking it in warm water will make it come out faster, but I don’t think there’s a need to do it quickly right now.

I listened to the story outside.

“Then him?”

“You already saw it all the way here. You already knew that the dying land wouldn’t come back to life just because the village was holding on to it.”

“Uhh─.”

“Of course, things don’t always go as planned, but as you can see, everything worked out well. Mr. Cheon, an outsider, saved this place more than any of us. You must have felt it when you came. Did you notice the change in the atmosphere of the village?”

“I see. Then, is this all Mr. Cheon’s?”

“Mr. Cheon is also a Cheon, and Mr. Cheon’s grandson here is very special. Since he came, young friends have come to the village, and those friends have been volunteering and helping the village a lot. Oh, and your granddaughter is also there.”

How much time has passed like that?

The story outside sounded positive.

The topic had changed a bit. It seemed like it was time to start tea.

“Okay. Take this glass.”

I left the drinks for Han Song-i and Lee Seon-ah and went out together. Then I headed to where the adults were sitting.

“Haha. Look at that.”

“Uhh─.”

The adults smiled when they saw us like that.

To adults, it might have looked like I was just joking around. Well, whatever.

Bam!

The curse of Grandfather Han Deok-hwan looking at us cracked as if a lock that had been locked had been removed.

It seemed like a time when the effect of green tea to destroy the evil spirit was needed.

“Come here and have some green tea and chat.”

“Haha. Thanks.”

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