I Quit My Job and Run a Café - Chapter 61



Only Krnovel

Episode 61

This guy is serious.

I want to eat Jjajangmyeon.

“Hmm. I’ll ask the village chief or a friend of mine about that.”

“Thank you. Oh, that… … no.”

What the heck? Why do you keep stopping talking?

I was curious about what would happen next, but soon I figured it wouldn’t be a big deal since she was opening a jar of peach preserves and eating them.

“By the way, I guess there was a house to enter in the village?”

“Oh, yes. Actually, I just found out about it too.

My grandfather also said that he used to live here a long time ago.”

“Your grandfather?”

“Yes. Well, I heard that something like that happened a long time ago… … Anyway, since they moved around a lot back then, I heard that the house they lived in back then is still there? Judging from your reaction, it seems like you’ve forgotten about it.”

“oh…….”

Is this fate again?

But wait, when you move, don’t you usually sell your house and stuff?

But, regardless of my thoughts, Han Song-i continued speaking.

“That’s why I asked for it right away.”

“Can you give it to me right away?”

“Of course I said I couldn’t just give it to you! But I convinced you that you would have forgotten if I hadn’t told you, so I barely managed to get it.”

I don’t know if that’s persuasion, but either way, this is a special connection.

“Then it must be a very old house.”

“Yes. Would you like to go there together later? I haven’t seen the house yet.”

“… … Didn’t you see it in advance?”

I don’t know if it’s a good idea or reckless.

You say you want to live there without even seeing the house.

“Actually, if you see it in advance, you might feel disappointed because it’ll be a bit disappointing, but if you just go and see it, it might be thrilling, no, fun… … .”

What are you talking about, man? How far are you imagining things…?

I don’t think this was the image I had when I first saw it.

“But aren’t you already moving the luggage?”

“yes.”

“… … I just checked, but what if it’s not a place I can live in right now?”

That’s what the original building was like.

If you don’t live up to your promises for even a little while, it will show right away.

Even the houses that are commonly called abandoned houses are not abandoned for as long as you might think, but that’s how they end up like that.

But the house you used to live in? You forgot about it? Of course you’d be worried.

But to my worries, Hansong answered confidently with her chest puffed out.

“Oh, that’s okay. Someone once rented it out, and they said it was well-maintained. I don’t remember the details, but my grandfather said he left it to someone. Anyway! I don’t know how you could forget something like that.”

“aha.”

It’s not like you did it without thinking.

But didn’t grandpa say earlier that he forgot?

But is there anyone who manages it?

Hansong shook her head as if she didn’t understand.

… … Then maybe you just have a lot of money.

Sometimes, there were people like that among my clients at my previous job.

There are so many real estate properties that people don’t remember and then their children find them. Isn’t that the case?

That’s not really important, so let’s skip it.

Anyway, I became curious. I wondered where it was, and if it was a place I knew.

“Then should I go with you?”

“Huh? Really? I’m sorry if I’m taking up too much of your time.”

“No, now we’re neighbors. And I’m curious about what kind of house it is.”

I originally liked looking at various buildings.

It’s just that I’m sick of the company, I wasn’t sick of the work to begin with.

Rather, it was because of work that I worked at that horrible company for a long time. I really liked the job.

‘I ended up hating everything because I hated the company, but there was definitely a time when that happened.’

Anyway, I enjoyed looking at the buildings.

In particular, unlike apartments that are all similar, houses have their own unique characteristics, making them interesting to look at.

“I’m so happy. Then when shall we go?”

“I don’t think it’ll work right now because we’re closed. Um… … .”

“Then, are you going to leave after you’re done?”

“Should I? It might be a little late.”

“It’s okay these days because it’s longer~”

If that’s the case, then yes.

Certainly, these days, the sun doesn’t set even after business is over.

Of course, Tiger Shelter closes earlier than other regular cafes.

The closing time was appropriate since no one would want to stay overnight in a rustic cafe like this.

If no more guests come.

* * *

“I think the village is really pretty.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“……yes?”

“Oh, I haven’t really had the chance to look around the town like this since I came back here.”

Since there were no more customers, we closed early and came into town.

And this is what I said while looking around the village to find a house with Hansong-i… … Thinking about it, I realized that I haven’t really looked around here either.

‘Because it was only for a short time when I was young.’

My memories of that time are only vague.

Even for a small place like Dume, it’s strangely large, and lately I’ve been putting all my effort into getting used to the cafe.

I just took a quick look when I visited the village chief’s house before?

This might be the first time I’ve been this far into a corner.

It was morning, just as dusk was beginning to lift, and it wasn’t in this direction.

So it felt like something new.

‘So this is what our town was like.’

It felt like I knew why Hansong was said to be pretty.

It was quiet and the spaces between the houses were wide, so it didn’t feel stuffy.

The roads feel well-organized, and the doors of the houses and the roofs visible over the walls are different.

As I look at it like this, I feel like old memories are coming back to me little by little?

“I lived there for a long time and then moved to the city. So my memory is a little different.”

“Aha. I see. The world seen from a child’s perspective is a different world. Oh… … What was the scenery like back then?”

“Well, I wasn’t tall enough to see over the wall, so all I could see was the door and the wall.”

Yeah, that was my perspective at the time when I was young.

I didn’t have enough time or the situation to look around, so I just thought about running forward.

Maybe that’s why he didn’t listen even when his grandfather kept telling him to come. And… … .

“So I guess that’s why I ended up coming back here.”

“yes?”

“If you wander around without knowing the way, you will eventually find your way back to where you came from. Just like now.”

“… … Are you saying that you don’t know the way just now?”

I couldn’t help but scratch my cheek at Hansong’s dumbfounded expression. I thought it was this way, but it turned out to be the other way around.

It would be nice if Su-ah was here at times like this, but she’s always late because she’s practicing.

If I saw someone around me, I would ask them, but today, they are unusually quiet.

Where did everyone go?

I feel embarrassed and want to turn on the map app right now.

“Thanks to that, I was able to explore the town leisurely, so it was actually nice.”

Hansong said, pushing away the phone that she was trying to take out.

So I put my phone back in.

Come to think of it, the town isn’t that big, so I figured I’d find my way around if I just looked around a little more.

“Okay. Um. Just a moment.”

I looked around while listening to Hansong’s words. Then I bowed slightly.

It’s not quite the perspective of a child, but it’s a perspective that only shows a wall, a door, and a road, without a roof.

Memories from my childhood came flooding back vividly.

‘Ah! There was an empty house over there. That must be it.’

Now I really think I understand.

Because I’ve been there before.

But why did you go? It’s in the opposite direction from home.

Something just popped into my head… … .

I saw myself heading that way. But I wasn’t alone. There was someone next to me.

Who is it? I can barely remember the face.

“What are you looking at?”

“huh?”

Suddenly, a familiar face entered my reality, not my memory.

And he asked with a crooked expression.

“Lee Seon-ah?”

“… … Do you remember now?”

“Lee Seon-ah, the one with the prickly nose?”

“Who said, ‘Nose, nose tingling?’”

I think it would be better to be flustered than to answer correctly? By the way, I remember correctly now.

Lee Seon-ah, runny nose.

As a child, the only child of my age in this village was naturally a playmate of mine.

The memory that came to mind earlier was also something that remained from playing like that.

Because it was a time when I was running around the village.

There was a time when you held my hand tightly and followed me around. You’ve grown so much.

But how did you remember me right away?

It’s been a long time, you know.

“Wow. It was exactly the same scene as when I found my first love.”

“What are you talking about?”

This guy is starting again.

“… … First love? Huh? With that person?”

“Huh? Isn’t it?”

“No way. If it were an enemy, I wouldn’t know.”

“Oh? Is that your story?”

“……yes?”

Lee Seon-ah, who had been angry for a while, looked at me with a bewildered expression at Han Song-i’s words.

This guy has this look on his face… … .

Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on in Hansong’s head.

Why did you go out of your way to throw out bait like that?

“He’s just a friend from when I was young in this town. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him, but I recognize him now. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize him before. How have you been?”

“… … Now? There’s nothing to do.”

Are you upset?

It’s annoying.

Well, I guess there’s nothing we can do about it.

I was planning on going to the village chief’s house anyway, but I don’t think that’s necessary.

“Did you just come down here for a bit?”

“then?”

“Come to the cafe when you have time. You just left earlier.”

“… … Well. If it works.”

That’s why I invited her to a cafe. Of course, Lee Sun-ah responded indifferently.

If I had written a blessing and come back, I could have seen the current status, but that’s too bad. Still, judging from the response, I think I’ll visit the cafe sometime.

“But what are you two doing? All the villagers are gathered in the community center right now.”

“Huh? To the town hall? Why?”

“I don’t know about that. I think it was some kind of Family Month event. I heard they were doing something.”

“ah.”

I see. So that’s why there were no people.

I was wondering what was going on… … Ah! But now is not the time for this.

Lee Seon-ah’s question made me remember something I almost forgot.

The reason I came here was to see Hansong’s house. Not the villagers, nor Lee Seon-ah.

“I’m sorry. I’ve already made a round and I’m sorry for delaying you again.”

“I’m fine.”

Fortunately, it seemed really okay.

However, the eyes are too bright and it is burdensome.

“Please come to the cafe. Okay?”

“What, I said I’ll go when the time comes?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

I quickly exchanged greetings with Lee Seon-ah.

And then he headed to the empty house with a flower that had a strange look in its eyes. His footsteps stopped sooner than he thought.

“Have you seen this place?”

“Oh. The address is… … correct. It’s here.”

In front of the house we just arrived at.

Hansong nodded after looking at the house number hanging next to the door.

This time, I really found the right one.

They said it was managed, but the door was in a very clean condition, as if the concerns were unfounded. No, it almost looked like it had been remodeled.

‘I remember it as an abandoned house when I was young… … .’

It looked completely different from before, just like a new house.

“Come on in quickly!”

“Oh, yes.”

As if excited by the state of the house, Hansong quickly waved her hands.

I left my thoughts aside and went inside through the beautiful wooden door that Hansong had opened. The first thing that greeted me was a fairly large yard.

‘The structure… is a bit unusual?’

Even though it was managed, the grass grew… … The yard wasn’t in good condition either.

The structure was a little different from the typical country house. What should I say?

“Huh? This place looks like a cafe?”

Yeah, like Hansong said, it felt more like a cafe than a house.

You can also see tables around the fence.

The inside of the Hanok-style house, made of large windows, also had a clear view of the kitchen.

‘It feels similar to a tiger shelter?’

I don’t know if it was a mistake, but it felt that way for some reason.

Of course, the tiger shelter felt completely different because it was something my grandfather had built with his own hands out of logs.

Still, I still felt like it was somewhat helpful.

“That’s right. It looks just like a cafe. But it’s managed well, isn’t it?”

“Wow─! That’s a relief. Actually, I was really worried. What if the house was haunted?”

… … Did someone who was worried about that suddenly pack their bags and come?

Anyway, let’s say that’s my situation.

‘Who did this?’

The management is like that, and the outside looks clean as if it was remodeled, but the inside is a mess.

No, to be exact, the content is… … .

“The house is so pretty! Wow, I can even see the rafters here!”

The landlord is nice.

But I muttered, touching the part that bothered me.

“It’s not even double-glazed, it’s single-glazed… … .”

“yes?”

“Wait a minute. Hmm. This side seems to have been a load-bearing wall. Did you reinforce it?”

“Why, why? What’s the problem?”

“Yes. There are a lot.”

The impression was written naturally.

If the previous tenant had remodeled it, it feels like I was scammed or a rookie just did this and that to make it look nice.

Hansong’s grandfather said that he hadn’t paid attention for a long time…

“By any chance, have you heard of the person who rented this place before?”

“No. Not really… … .”

“is it so?”

“Uh, is there a problem? Is there anything?”

“There is a problem.”

Because everything is a mess.

“Ears, ghosts or something like that… … .”

“Other things aside, insulation is the problem. It’s okay now, but come winter, it’s a real problem.”

“……yes?”

“Before winter comes, we need to do some insulation work. No, we need to do some waterproofing first. The rainy season is coming soon. Do you see that water mark? It’s a mark where the rain leaked in.”

It feels like it’s boiling over.

It’s like watching good material being ruined to pieces?

A place like this, like this… … Ah!

‘I just came to see it because I thought it would be fun.’

For a moment, I came to my senses.

It seemed like my occupational disease had returned after a long time.

“Oh… … This seems like something from an expert. Then what should I do?”

But why is this person like this? With his bright eyes and burdensome manners.

But since I came here anyway, I decided to explain it to Hansong-i… … .

“First of all, insulation. A country house needs insulation first, no matter how pretty the remodeling is. There’s no way that it’ll work if you just stuff a book in the gap between the door like this… …Huh? Recipe?”

“yes?”

But I think I discovered something strange while explaining.

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