Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Happiness Snacks Joins
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"If I said there's a way to boost this snack bar's sales ten times over, what would you say?"
"...Huh? Ten times?"
Han Mi-ae’s eyes went wide. She looked utterly baffled by the out-of-the-blue comment.
But I wasn't joking around, nor was I the type to toss out empty flattery. Just like with Lee In-cheol, I was simply making a solid offer.
'My track record's already proven, so things move faster this time.'
Not having to prove who I am from scratch was a huge plus.
'The location's decent, and the menu selection's solid. The customer bases don't overlap with the gukbap joint, so they could coexist on the same street. Even some synergy potential.'
When I weighed all the factors, it checked out as a good pick.
'Plus, the more diverse the franchise brands, the better.'
The food service industry was full of ups and downs.
If bird flu suddenly hit, a company that only did chicken would take a massive hit. But what if they also had snack bars and gukbap brands?
That mutual support and backup from a diverse portfolio was the ideal setup.
"I'm with this company."
I pulled out one of the business cards I'd had printed earlier and handed it over.
Han Mi-ae took it like she was entranced.
"'The Song'... CEO...?"
"Yeah. [Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap 0212] is a franchise brand under The Song."
As soon as I finished, Han Mi-ae stared at me in disbelief. I still looked like a fresh-faced guy in my early twenties, so she couldn't wrap her head around me running a legit company.
'CEO or not, it's basically just a sole proprietorship I registered recently.'
No stock listing, no employees. But no need to mention that right now.
"[The Song] is planning to expand into various corners of the food service world, and acquiring your snack bar feels like a great fit."
"Acquire...? You mean sell the place?"
"Nah, nothing like that. [The Song] respects the owners' decisions completely. We take a cut of the sales in exchange for management consulting and a bunch of other services."
"Ah!"
Naming management consulting specifically seemed to click for her.
"No wonder. You come in once, spot every issue like it's nothing."
"You can count on advice like that anytime."
Han Mi-ae stared at the card I'd given her, mesmerized.
"My personal number's on there, so if you're interested, give me a call. I'll walk you through all the details."
I couldn't drag this out any longer, so I wrapped it up quick. Like it was just a casual offer, and I wasn't the one who'd be bummed if she passed.
"See you around, then."
I gave a quick bow and turned to go.
Attitude was everything in business.
'Acting like I have zero desperation drives people crazy.'
Truth was, I wasn't sweating it much. Worst case, I could snag the shop next door, open my own snack bar, and shake up [Happiness Snacks] in no time.
Not that I'd stoop to unethical tactics like that. Point was, starting a snack bar from scratch wasn't a big deal.
So why was I bothering to persuade and reel in Han Mi-ae...?
'Because I'm short on seed capital.'
Yeah. Right now, I didn't have the basics to pay key money and take over a place.
I was getting steady monthly royalties from Lee In-cheol, sure. But it wasn't like I was an overnight millionaire after a few months.
'Plus, opening this [Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap] branch burned through a chunk of my cash.'
I could've gone 100% with Kim Jong-chun's money. But that would've left me strapped for spare funds.
When starting a business, you needed enough cash to float at least six months with zero revenue. Pouring my own money into the interior design had emptied my pockets fast.
'It'll fill up eventually, but I can't afford to wait.'
Time was money. Especially now, hustling to bulk up [The Song].
I hurried back to the gukbap joint, and in the short time I'd been gone, tasks had piled up.
"Woo-yeon-ah, clear that table over there!"
"Got it~."
I tied my hair back, threw on an apron. Helped with checkout, refilled kimchi for customers asking, cleared tables—and just like that, time flew by.
"Whew. Finally catching a break."
Around 4 p.m.—that awkward in-between hour after lunch and before dinner—the shop quieted down. Kim Jong-chun finally slumped into a chair, worn out.
"You must be beat."
"Nah. You're the one who had it rough. The front was slammed."
Kim Jong-chun wiped his sweat as he replied. He could've griped after all that grind, but nope. Steady as ever.
I chuckled and wiped down a table, but Kim Jong-chun hovered around me like an antsy puppy with something to pee.
What’s up?
...?
"N-No, nothing."
I'd whip my head around, puzzled, and he'd jump like he'd been caught, pretending otherwise. No reason for it. Why?
I tilted my head, curious, but finished wiping the table first.
Then Kim Jong-chun sidled up next to me and finally spoke.
"Uh, hey, Woo-yeon-ah..."
"Yeah? Something on your mind?"
Hm. Did I come off too bossy teaching him? Nah, not his style. Or maybe because I stepped out mid-shift? Shouldn't have been a big deal.
My confusion was growing when...
"You smoke, by any chance?"
"......Pardon?"
It was so out of left field, I blanked.
"I know it might sound like old-man nagging. But smokes start as fun, and quitting later? Brutal. I'm speaking from experience. Plus, in food service, smoking doesn't look good, right? They're pure poison—no benefits. Better for you to quit now, for your own sake..."
"No, hold up. Uncle, I don't smoke."
The absurdity cracked me up. Smoke? I never touched them even before my regression.
Just like he said, smoking in food service was a killer. You couldn't handle food with nicotine-stained hands.
I freaked, and Kim Jong-chun blinked slowly.
"H-Huh? Then what was that sudden dash out mid-shift?"
Oh, man. That’s what he thought?
"If you're bolting out like that during work, it's either the bathroom or a smoke... And we've got one inside, so obviously a smoke."
Kim Jong-chun scratched his cheek, embarrassed at his wrong guess. Fair enough, easy to assume...
"Sigh. Good if you don't. Just some life advice from someone who's been around—don't take it the wrong way."
Wasn't offended, so all good. But next time, explain before I head out.
"I was monitoring customer reactions. I do this sometimes to hear honest feedback."
Been a while since I last searched [Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap] online. So far, mostly rave reviews—lucky break.
"Oh yeah? What're they saying? Everyone tells me it's great to my face."
"The ones I tailed said the same. Seems solid so far."
Kim Jong-chun beamed, relieved.
"Heh heh. Never knew till I started, but folks scarfing down a full bowl of my food? Feels damn good."
"That's the fun of the business."
"Yeah? Tough as it is, seeing them polish off the stone pot—that's pride."
Kim Jong-chun's grin was pure as a kid with a new toy. That mindset was priceless—you couldn't buy it.
"Hope it stays like this forever, Uncle."
"Hm?"
"Nothing."
Silly worry. Even before regression, Kim Jong-chun's work ethic was unmatched.
Pre-regression, he'd opened two or three [The Song] brands and made bank.
As an early member, he'd probably scored stock options worth a lifetime of security. Yet he still managed shops frontline as a hobby.
No one for me to fret over, so I worried about him instead.
"Sigh. Time to prep for dinner rush. Any boiled meat left?"
"Yeah. Gotta reboil a batch later."
"I'll check sales midway. You inspect the kitchen once more... Huh?"
That’s when it happened.
I turned at the sound outside, and someone pushed open the door into the restaurant.
"...Huh?"
The unexpected face made my eyes widen.
"...Han Mi-ae, Owner?"
It was Han Mi-ae, the one I'd talked to earlier that day. Kim Jong-chun looked baffled, clueless why she'd shown up out of nowhere.
"What brings you here, Owner?"
"To see Woo-yeon student. Or..."
Han Mi-ae looked me dead in the eye.
"Better to say Song CEO?"
Her face was set. Ready to take flight.
I grinned wide and pointed to a freshly cleaned table.
"Have a seat. This'll take a while."
And that marked the beginning of [The Song]'s second franchise brand after Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap: [Happiness Snacks].