Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: For Survival (2)
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Ma Jeong-woo had been sneaking glances at Park Hee-won, who was sitting on the right side of the sofa, slurping down a cup of instant ramen.
"Your wife not feeding you?"
"Nah, she feeds me plenty."
"Then why do you always come to the office and eat cup ramen?"
"It's a snack. A snack."
It wasn't wrong, so Jeong-woo nodded along.
Then, about a minute later, he struck up conversation again.
"How's it going lately?"
"With what?"
"Your wife. She settling into life in England okay?"
"Oh, yeah. It's alright. There are Korean families nearby and all."
"That's a relief."
But Jeong-woo's questions kept coming.
"Does your wife have any thoughts about getting a job?"
"A job? Dunno."
"Come on, though. It's a foreign country. With your daughter in kindergarten, she'd be bored at home all day. Could even lead to depression if she's not careful."
"Psh, my wife's got nerves of steel. No way she'd get depressed. If anyone's at risk, it's me."
"Hmm, really?"
Jeong-woo looked dissatisfied.
Some time passed like that.
Jeong-woo, slouched on the sofa, rocked his upper body back and forth as he mumbled on.
"Still, your wife must get bored..."
"I told you, she's fine."
"How would you know what someone else is feeling? You been inside her head? She could be hiding it all bottled up."
"My wife wears everything on her sleeve."
"Your wife...!"
"Whoa, hold up!"
Before Jeong-woo could finish, Hee-won shot out a hand to stop him.
Now Hee-won was eyeing him with a wrinkled frown and suspicious glare.
"You bastard... why do you keep asking about my wife?"
"No, it's just..."
Jeong-woo trailed off, rolling his eyes to the left.
"Huh? Check this guy out?"
Something was off. Jeong-woo avoiding eye contact wasn't like him.
'Look at me. Look at me.'
Sometimes, a man's intuition sharpened like never before.
'Come to think of it... this guy's been way too nice to my family.'
He'd even set them up with a decent house near Horwich to win him over.
Even for a brother-from-another-mother kind of friend, renting out a place like that wasn't easy.
Especially since Jeong-woo doted on his daughter.
Like she was his own kid.
"..."
Jeong-woo glanced left again, then back at Hee-won, furrowing his brow hard.
He could see right through Hee-won's crumpled expression—the guy was jumping to wild conclusions.
That look in his eyes screamed love and war.
"It's not that. Not that at all."
"Then what is it?"
Hee-won slammed his half-eaten cup ramen on the table.
Spit flying, he pressed on.
"Yeah, I know. I married up. My wife's so gorgeous she could've been Miss Korea runner-up back in the day. Still is. Even with her rapping about farts the last few years, she's drop-dead beautiful."
"No, that's not it."
"Then what?!"
Dragging it out would just fan the flames of misunderstanding, so Jeong-woo cut to the chase.
"Your wife ran a side dish shop back in the day, right? Made a killing for a bit."
Hee-won narrowed his eyes at the sudden blast from the past but nodded.
"Yeah... until those big corp franchises squeezed in from both sides and tanked it."
Seizing the moment, Jeong-woo straightened up, eyes gleaming.
"I've tried your wife's cooking... still delicious. The kind you crave again right after. Plus, she's got experience—don't sleep on that."
"What bullshit is this?"
"Not bullshit. Time to break free from the corps, no more kissing ass. Give her a shot at her own place."
"...Where?"
Finally, Hee-won looked intrigued.
Jeong-woo jabbed his index finger straight down at the floor.
"Right here."
He sprawled arrogantly on the sofa, crossing his legs as he added,
"It's the era of K-food now."
* * *
A ton of folks from the northwest head through Horwich to catch Manchester United or Manchester City games.
They pass right by University Stadium on the way.
And the day before, Jeong-woo had seen it clear as day.
Plenty of people stopping by Bolton's home ground for quick bites or the bathroom.
"So, we're putting in a rest area at Bolton's stadium."
Jeong-woo scanned each team leader as he spoke.
"Like a truck stop or travel center."
England had roadside rest stops like Korea.
Unlike Korea, some were small operations by independents.
No legal headaches there.
"As you know, we've got plenty of empty spaces."
After relegation to League One, main revenue dried up, so the two big fast-food partners bailed.
Bolton's stadium was huge even for League One.
Big enough to rank top in the Championship if promoted.
Plenty of room along the outer walls for food spots.
"We can punch through walls between pillars for stalls, street-food style. Hook up water where it's missing. Fix electrics with some work. Start by tweaking existing empties to test the waters."
He'd tipped off Richard Geers already.
Through him, learned the club had water connection rights.
Most team leaders nodded positively.
"Sounds good. I hear fans complain about no food options when I walk around."
Daniel Shay kicked it off, others chiming in.
"Yeah, nothing nearby, so I trek to Kiernzurly."
"Food trucks? Just hot dogs... yeah, this could hook 'em."
Not everyone agreed.
The office manager creased his brow, muttering,
"Don't we already sell hot dogs and fish 'n' chips on match days?"
Like he'd anticipated it, Jeong-woo fired back.
"Nah~ diversify. Beyond hot dogs and fish 'n' chips—K-food too."
Leaning into the table, he continued.
"Rest areas aren't just match days. Like our convenience store on weekdays—open non-game days for locals and visitors, not just fans."
Richard Geers, briefed ahead, smiled warmly.
"With a food corner... like you said, Horwich locals as main customers."
Geers added,
"How about franchising the food corner?"
"Franchising?"
Jeong-woo echoed, Geers pressing on with a kind smile.
"Like service providers licensing territories for royalties—we collect fees on sales via building rent. With survival odds up, food truck inquiries are pouring in. Talking to them wouldn't hurt."
Perfect.
Jeong-woo hadn't gone that far yet.
'Heads together for a reason.'
He nodded.
"Good. No objections? Follow the exec director's lead."
Approval wouldn't mean food corners tomorrow.
'Electrics, water works—takes time. Need staff too.'
Maybe not till season's end.
No biggie for Jeong-woo.
Just inflating club value for sale.
'As long as it runs before the sale...'
He was confident.
It'd work.
'If not... bittersweet, but no huge loss.'
Life's all or nothing.
Planned to sell cheap anyway.
Boosting value via franchise star and plans.
Empties better used than idle.
Hee-won seemed happy here.
Hadn't he hinted?
'Thought he was a diehard Wanderers fan in his past life.'
'The bastard wolfs down England's crap food like it's gourmet—clear sign he wants roots here.'
That's why the food corner pitch.
Minimal gift as a friend.
'Build foundations beyond soccer.'
Twitch.
The thought made his lips twitch up unwittingly.
Even now...
'Damn, I'm cool.'
* * *
League Round 44.
Two games left, two teams confirmed relegated.
23rd Swindon and 24th Tranmere Rovers.
They lost 42, 43, and now 44 in a row.
Both managers sacked mid-remaining games for poor results.
But two relegation spots left.
"Bolton might fight survival to the wire."
Horwich local radio.
Aaron Bench, now a Jeong-woo fan, spoke.
Beside him, Jeong-woo in his usual rumpled suit.
"Could be."
Undeniable.
Snuck a win at Wigan, but last round drew mid-table Ipswich.
Jeong-woo drooped his mouth.
"Drew the last one, dropped to 17th."
Current standings:
[[17th] Bolton Wanderers 44 played 13W 5D 26L 44 pts]
[[18th] Crewe 44 played 13W 3D 28L 42 pts]
[[19th] Accrington 42 played 12W 6D 26L 42 pts]
[[20th] MK Dons 44 played 12W 6D 26L 42 pts]
[[21st] Shrewsbury Town 44 played 12W 5D 27L 41 pts]
[[22nd] Rochdale 44 played 11W 6D 27L 39 pts]
[[23rd] Swindon 44 played 9W 7D 28L 34 pts]
[[24th] Tranmere Rovers 44 played 8W 7D 29L 31 pts]
Down to 3 points from relegation-zone Shrewsbury.
Jeong-woo smiled wryly.
"Like a rubber band. Gaps widen, shrink."
Shrewsbury on late survival streak.
Jeong-woo chatted club stuff with Aaron for a while.
Unlike before, Aaron probed players.
"Why pick Sensuous Ruff? What'd you see in him?"
"What do you think I saw as coach and owner? Talent, obviously."
Jeong-woo answered shamelessly.
"Heard Owen's grinding hamstring drills lately. Think he can regain his old form?"
"Don't think it's impossible. Saw his exceptional talent, and he's got the drive to improve."
First meeting, such answers might've earned a scoff.
Not now.
Aaron and radio booth staff hung on every word.
Each carried conviction and truth.
Overwhelming results shattered perceptions.
Time passed.
One win in last two secures survival outright.
To listeners and Wanderers fans, Jeong-woo's final line rang with certainty.
"We're the Wanderers. As one, Bolton will survive—no doubt—and challenge for Championship promotion next season."
Recent 15-game form backed it—no counter.
Jeong-woo thought,
'Whoever buys, they'll promote us.'
His minimum: hand off to deep-pocketed owner post-survival.
Wanted to see it again.
Bolton rising to Championship, even Premier League.
Old glory days.
'Kids want it too.'
He smiled wryly anew.
Seemed he'd grown attached to the team.
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