Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: The Neighbors
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Kim Jin-seong drove his campervan to the construction site of his new house for the first time in ages.
In fact, most of the exterior work was already finished, and they were in the final stages. The large parking lot outside the house was already complete.
The campervan glided smoothly into the site and pulled up in front of the house.
A vast and impressive parking lot spread out before Jin-seong's eyes.
The parking lot was perfectly finished.
The glossy epoxy floor gleamed cleanly, and the parking lines were sharply marked, making the space impeccably organized.
The ceiling featured sleek black-toned metal mesh that softly diffused the lighting, creating an overall bright yet sophisticated atmosphere.
The walls were finished with subtle gray vertical wood-grain panels, and sturdy brick pillars in the middle of the lot served as natural accents.
The interior exuded a sense of ample space and comfort, easily accommodating at least ten vehicles with room to spare.
Jin-seong smiled, clearly pleased with the parking lot's scale and pristine interior.
After safely parking the campervan and stepping out, his heart raced at the thought of filling this expansive space with his favorite cars in the future.
Leaving the parking lot, Jin-seong headed inside the house.
Inside, the hustle of construction noises mingled with the lively voices of the workers.
The site supervisor and Im Hye-ji, the manager from Semone Mo House, were overseeing the interior work.
"Hello. You've been working hard."
Jin-seong greeted them first, and the supervisor beamed back with a wide smile.
"Ah, sir! Come take a look around?"
The manager chimed in with a smile as well.
"You've probably seen it all on your way in, but everything's progressing smoothly overall. With such a generous budget, we're excited and taking extra care with every detail."
Jin-seong glanced around appreciatively.
"Yeah, I checked it out coming in, and I love it. When are the furnishings due to arrive?"
The manager recalled the schedule from memory.
"Probably next week, along with the final interior touches."
Jin-seong nodded.
"Got it."
Then, as if it just occurred to him, he turned to the supervisor.
"Supervisor, I'd like to add a deck on one side of the pool area. Is that doable?"
The supervisor thought for a moment before replying promptly.
"That's no big deal at all. If it's just one side, we can start tomorrow."
Jin-seong smiled, satisfied.
"Great, please take care of it."
With that, he pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to the supervisor.
"Treat yourselves to something nice for all your hard work."
The supervisor bowed deeply, accepting it with gratitude.
"Oh, sir! You always bring something every time you visit. Thank you so much."
After their brief chat, Jin-seong called a taxi and left the site.
The supervisor and manager watched him go, feeling content, then turned back to the work with renewed energy.
The house was being built in a small rural village a bit further out from Gyeongsan, a satellite city of Daegu.
The population was under a hundred, mostly people over fifty quietly tending crops like oriental melons and jujubes.
Then one day, rumors spread that the largest farmland plot in the village had been sold.
Given its size, villagers assumed it was some agricultural company or big farm operation moving in, and they hoped for the best.
More workers could mean population growth and some vitality for the neighborhood.
But contrary to expectations, the fields were cleared clean one day, and massive construction began.
Heavy machinery rolled in, and enormous walls rose from the ground by the day.
"They're building a house there?"
"No kidding. That land's so huge—is it really just one house?"
The villagers murmured in confusion.
A few days later, it was clearly a house taking shape.
Tall walls went up like castle fortifications, unprecedented in scale for the village.
But what puzzled and irked the villagers even more was something else.
"Look, buying land and building a house is their business, but if you're moving into our village, shouldn't you at least come say hello?"
"That's how it's always been here. Coming to live in this tiny place without a greeting or even a little gesture. Unbelievable..."
Resentment bordering on outrage began circulating among the villagers.
In such a small village, buying up prime land and building a flashy mansion without so much as a hello felt downright rude.
Soon after, talk turned to who this owner was—what did they do for a living? Why choose this quiet countryside?
The peaceful village buzzed with unexpected tension and curiosity over the massive mansion.
Labor shortages in the small village weren't a new problem.
With most residents over fifty—many in their sixties and seventies—finding workers for harvest season was always the biggest worry.
It had been a chronic issue for years.
So when a young outsider suddenly started building a huge house, grumbles naturally arose among the villagers.
A seventy-year-old jujube farmer, known for his loud voice and involvement in village affairs, vented whenever he saw people.
"I hear the owner's in his thirties. Building something this big means he's loaded, right? Young and rich—shouldn't he do something for the village?"
The old man's words dripped with expectation.
He argued that since the guy was wealthy, he should contribute to village development funds or help with farm labor, spreading the word everywhere.
"We have good hearts here and help each other out. Even a young rich guy can't just live high on the hog alone. Buy our land, build your house—then pitch in for the village."
Villagers began nodding along.
The tight-knit community spirit of small rural villages ran deep; decades of shared faces fostered strong bonds.
"Yeah, that's right. It's only proper."
"A young guy with money should give back some, no?"
Opinions coalesced into consensus, turning expectation into silent pressure on the young outsider.
The village watched quietly, tensely, waiting to see what the new neighbor would do.
Jin-seong had no idea about the village rumors or talk surrounding him.
The shopping spree right in front of him was far more important and exciting.
With luxury sedans and a campervan already in his possession, everyday transport held no appeal.
What caught his eye were sports cars for a thrill.
So Jin-seong opened his laptop and dove into car shopping.
He first picked a eye-catching new Lamborghini model, then added a flashy red Ferrari sports car and a sleek Porsche to the list.
Each addition brought a satisfied smile to his lips.
By the end of the day, he'd reserved five high-end sports cars.
Quick contracts with each brand's dealership; delivery in a few weeks to two months, just in time to fill the garage as the house finished.
The total was hefty, but pocket change compared to his monthly fixed income.
Money piling up unused anyway, he shopped freely without a care.
Content with his purchases, Jin-seong leaned back in his chair, relaxing and looking forward to leisurely days ahead.
All while oblivious to the chatter about him in that quiet rural village.
Jin-seong ran into the site supervisor at the entrance to the ongoing construction.
Spotting him, the supervisor hurried over with a troubled expression.
"Sir, you're here? There's something I need to tell you..."
Jin-seong frowned slightly at the man's face.
"What's wrong? You don't look too happy."
The supervisor sighed heavily before speaking.
"Well, the villagers are causing some trouble. They've been filing complaints nonstop lately. Noise, dust from material trucks—now they're even threatening to block the road."
Jin-seong looked baffled.
"Block the road? I paid out of pocket to pave and clean it up spotless—what's their problem?"
The supervisor nodded awkwardly.
"Exactly. We explained, but they're upset you moved in without greetings or contributing to village funds."
Jin-seong let out an incredulous laugh.
"Greetings? Village funds? This isn't an apartment complex. I bought the land and built my house—why should I have to do that?"
The supervisor scratched his head sheepishly.
"Small villages have their ways, you know. We're always grateful to you, sir, but they feel slighted for not getting what they want."
Jin-seong shook his head in disbelief.
"Ha... This is ridiculous. I fixed the road at my expense to make it nice, and they throw a tantrum?"
The supervisor gave a wry smile.
"Tell me about it. That's why we're reporting to you."
Jin-seong thought for a moment, then spoke firmly.
"Got it. Ignore all complaints from now on. If they block the road or interfere, call me immediately. I'll have my lawyer handle it aggressively."
Relief washed over the supervisor's face.
"Yes, sir. That puts us at ease. We'll contact you right away if anything happens."
Jin-seong clicked his tongue in exasperation.
"Man... The world's full of weirdos. Anyway, keep up the good work, and call if there's more trouble."
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
Wearing a stunned expression, Jin-seong got into his car.
He never dreamed such absurdity could happen in a quiet countryside spot.