Kang Min came up with a good idea and went into the ‘Rich Man’s Mart’.
The inside of the supermarket was quite spacious. The display case was filled with snacks and ramen necessities, and food that needed refrigeration was placed on the wall.
‘At first glance, it looks like it’s about 30 pyeong?’
It seemed like everything was there.
‘But why is it so dark?’
It was dull. In addition, the supermarket was quite old and shabby, and there were cobwebs in the corners. The prices were not cheap compared to other supermarkets.
‘This is why business can’t happen.’
Kangmin had worked at a convenience store for quite a long time and knew very well what customers liked.
Kangmin picked up a bottle of ‘banana milk’ from the refrigerator and went to the checkout counter.
There was a lady sitting at the checkout counter with a gloomy expression.
“It’s 1,100 won.”
At the lady’s words, Kangmin took out his wallet. Her wallet was full of 50,000 won bills.
“I only have 50,000 won, is that okay?”
“sure.”
“It looks like the store is going out of business?”
“… yes.”
The lady handed 49,000 won to Kang Min.
“uh? “Didn’t you give me the wrong money?”
“no. “I only calculated 1,000 won by applying the closing sale.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Since he had received the change, Kang-min had to leave, but instead of going out, he put a straw in the banana milk, took a sip, and then asked the lady again.
“Even if I sell this on sale, won’t I be able to sell all of this stuff? “What should I do with the remaining items?”
“that… that.”
As the woman’s face darkened further, a middle-aged man in a blue vest approached and spoke with a stern expression.
“Sir, just leave it at that.”
“Oh, sorry.”
Kangmin immediately apologized. Then the middle-aged man also immediately relaxed his face.
I recognized him when I bumped into him a little while ago, but he didn’t seem to be a bad person.
“Phew, no. I think I became very sensitive at the thought of having to quit the supermarket where I had been working for a long time. “You asked what to do with the items that couldn’t be sold?”
“… yes.”
“What can I do if there are items I can’t sell? “You should either throw it away or give it away at a low price.”
The middle-aged man sighed heavily.
‘Even if it were me, I would sigh.’
At first glance, the product inside seemed to be worth close to 20 million won.
Kangmin ate banana milk and looked at the middle-aged man and woman in front of him. From what I heard them talking about, she sounded like a married couple.
Kangmin put the finished banana milk in the trash can and asked the middle-aged man.
“Hey, boss. “If I were to buy all the products here, how much would you sell them for?”
Han Dae-sik, a middle-aged man, was surprised by Kang Min’s words and asked.
“Sir, don’t play around.”
“It’s not a joke.”
Kangmin took out cash from his wallet and put it on the counter. There were 20 Omani won notes worth 1 million won.
“I’ll give you this now as a down payment.”
The eyes of the middle-aged man and woman did not leave the money.
“jin… Are you serious?”
“So you think it’s a joke? “How much will you sell all the products here?”
Daesik’s eyes wavered and he said.
“5,300… “No, just give me 52 million won.”
“Let’s take 5100. Instead, I will give it all in cash.”
“Are you serious?”
Daesik opened his eyes wide. He thought he wouldn’t pay even 50 million won, so he asked for 5,200, but it was a profitable business if he paid 5,100 in cash.
Plus, if you give it in cash, you don’t have to worry about taxes. Unless it was a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars, cash was much better.
“I’ll leave the down payment here. I’ll bring you the rest of the money in an hour. “Please close the store.”
An hour after saying that, Kangmin actually came back with a bundle of cash in his bag.
“Honey, it’s exactly 50 million won.”
A middle-aged woman looked at her husband while holding 50 million won in cash. In addition to the 1 million won given as her down payment, 51 million won was in her hands.
“thank you. I was wondering what to do with all this stuff… … .”
“I only bought it because I needed it.”
For Kang Min, these items were absolutely necessary. He planned to take these with him when he returned to the parallel world a week later.
“I… “But I have a favor to ask.”
“yes? “Which one?”
“After walking around, I thought this was a good place. “I’m thinking of running a supermarket here.”
The two people were surprised by Kangmin’s words.
“By any chance, did you buy all the goods to run a supermarket?”
Kangmin shook his head at Daesik’s words.
“Maybe some of them are, but most of them have other places they want to use.”
Kang Min spoke first, interrupting Dae Sik when he was about to say something.
“I’ll tell you straight. I will build a state-of-the-art supermarket here. However, I have no experience running a supermarket. That’s why we’d like to hire two people.”
The two people widened their eyes in surprise.
“stick… “Recruiting?”
“Yes, I will hire both the boss and the wife. The annual salary of both of them is 5000. How do you feel?”
Daesik opened his eyes wide. According to what Kang Min said, the two of them had a combined annual salary of 100 million won.
Considering only net profits, that money was money that I had never made while running a supermarket.
“jin… Are you serious?
I was already worried about what I would have to eat to survive if I quit the supermarket, but if Kangmin said it, my worries would disappear.
“I’m serious. The president will be the manager of this mart. He may sound like a manager, but in reality, he is no different from the president. I won’t be involved in management. Instead, please don’t deceive me. “I hate people who deceive me the most.”
Kangmin stood up and held out his hand.
“I will understand that you accept this if you hold my hand. Of course, we will also give you the key money.”
Dae-sik was so shocked that his wife, who was next to him, pinched his side. She meant to grab his hand quickly.
Daesik held Kangmin’s hand. Kangmin said with a big smile.
“Manager, please talk to the building owner so I can take over this store.”
Daesik said with a wide smile.
“Do not worry. “There will be no problem, boss.”
* * *
There were many reasons why Kang Min took over the supermarket.
‘If you go to a supermarket, you can get all the goods at wholesale prices.’
That wasn’t all. I could have fed the convenience store owner some taffy.
Kang Min was more knowledgeable about the situation of convenience stores around here than anyone else.
Kang Min was planning to sell convenience store flagship products at cost price at the new supermarket.
Kang Min was very curious about what kind of face the convenience store owner would make at that time.
Things went smoothly. It wasn’t supposed to be smooth sailing, but with money, everything became smooth.
Interior construction was also reduced from 2 weeks to 4 days. Giving 1.5 times the impossible has become possible.
On Sunday afternoon, a signboard contractor came.
“Boss, what should we name the mart? “Should we keep it as a rich mart like before?”
Kangmin thought for a moment before answering.
“Kangmin Mart.”
Kang Min named the mart after himself. The words of his father from before came to mind.
– You must become someone who takes responsibility for your name.
‘Father, don’t worry. Maybe Kangmin Mart can feed the world.’
Just like that, a great story began to begin in a mart in Gangbuk that no one paid attention to.
* * *
Students who appeared to be middle and high school students bought drinks and left the convenience store.
“thank you. Please come again.”
KU convenience store owner Taebong Han couldn’t stop smiling.
“I think sales have doubled!”
In particular, sales of snacks, drinks, and cup ramen increased significantly. It was all thanks to the closure of ‘Rich Mart’.
A hum came out spontaneously.
Taebong looked out the glass window. Construction was going on at what used to be the ‘Rich Mart’.
I knew through rumors that a new supermarket was opening.
“Is your name Kangmin Mart?”
Taebong frowned as he remembered Kangmin.
“Anyway, this bastard Choi Kang-min really doesn’t seem to have a part-time job around here, does he? Well, how can you work when you’ve been filmed by me?”
Taebong was the president of the nearby merchant association. Taebong had spread all the negative reviews about Kang Min through his connections.
‘You will never work around here.’
Taebong laughed out loud, thinking of Kangmin’s crumpled face.
* * *
Taebong looked at the supermarket that was holding an opening ceremony with loud music playing.
Two event helpers were dancing in front of the door, and numerous people were lining up next to them to enter.
Taebong was holding a leaflet for ‘Kangmin Mart’ in his hand.
‘The price is really cheap. Of course, this is an open event, right? I should hurry and get it before it ends.’
Taebong went to Kangmin Mart as soon as the part-time worker arrived. Perhaps because of the exceptional price, there were a lot of customers.
‘Are all supermarkets like this these days? The design looks like a convenience store?’
It didn’t feel like a regular supermarket.
It had a neat interior, like a convenience store, with a place to eat cup ramen and a separate display stand with kimbap and lunch boxes.
In addition, there was even a roasting machine available next to the counter for take-out.
Taebong, who loves coffee, immediately tried it.
‘Selling this quality for just 1,000 won? Also, iced coffee?’
Iced coffee had to be more expensive than hot coffee because it contained more ice. But here, both iced coffee and hot coffee were 1,000 won.
Taebong’s heart suddenly started pounding.
‘Ah, it’s only like this when it’s open. We can’t keep selling coffee of this quality at this price. Unless you want to do business at a loss.’
Taebong tried to reassure himself and went home with his hands full of cheap items.
The problem was the next day.
“what!”
Taebong frowned as he looked at the flyer.
“They lowered the price further? Besides, what is this! ‘Special discount offer?’
At the very bottom of the flyer, there was something written in large letters saying [Special Discount].
– Small ice cups cost 300 won, large ice cups cost 400 won.
– Super special price on banana milk. 700 won each.
– XXX bottled water 200 won!
– 9,000 won for 4 cans of XXX beer!
– XX Cup Ramen 500 won.
Taebong trembled.
These products were the top 5 selling products at his convenience store. He was advertising that he would sell it at the cost price at Kangmin Mart.
And there was a bigger problem.
[These 5 products will be offered specially at this price for one year to commemorate the opening.]
Taebong shook his head.
“Selling it at this price for a year? ah… no!”
The supermarket and his convenience store were only 100 meters away.
If this product was sold at this price for one year according to this flyer, it was only a matter of time before the convenience store went bankrupt.
Taebong became anxious and paced back and forth in front of the cash register.
‘It won’t work!’
I closed the convenience store for a moment and ran to ‘Kangmin Mart’.
‘I know the owner of that house, so I need to talk to him. If I keep going like this, I’m done.’
Since he was the president of the Merchants’ Association, he planned to go and threaten him and make an inquiry.
When I entered the supermarket, they were restocking the items that I was missing.
“Hey Daesik!”
“Oh, aren’t you the chairman?”
“No, how could you do this! “People must have good morals!”
“What do you mean?”
Taebong shouted, pointing at the flyer.
“This is it. Special discount products. “Are you trying to kill me?”
Daesik looked at the flyer and shook his head.
“I did not decide on this discount product.”
“huh? You didn’t make the decision. “Aren’t you the boss?”
Daesik shook his head at Taebong’s words.
“I am not the boss. “I’m the manager here.”
“head of a department?”
Until now, Taebong thought Daesik was the owner of this place. When I came yesterday, Daesik and his wife were giving instructions to the employees.
“Not you? “Then who is the boss?”
Daesik was about to answer when he pointed to a place with his hand.
“Hey, the boss is coming in.”
Taebong turned around and looked at the direction Daesik pointed. There was a man there, wearing an expensive-looking suit and looking younger than he was young.
‘Are you a person with a golden spoon to be the owner of a supermarket at that age? ‘But where have I seen you before?’
For a moment, Taebong’s eyes widened.
“you! Choi Kang-min!”
Kangmin approached Taebong.
“Boss, didn’t you study well during your school days? “Don’t you remember I told you not to yell at me a few days ago!”
“you! you! How dare you! I’m the boss here! “A bastard like you.”
Kangmin chuckled.
“Is there a law that says that just because it was difficult at one time, it will continue to be that way? Who knows? “Did you win the lottery?”
Taebong’s eyes wavered.
‘Lotto?’
Certainly, with that money, I could have taken over the supermarket. Only then did Taebong realize that all of this was Kangmin’s plan.
‘It’s a big deal! ‘What should I do with this?’
Taebong said with a low voice.
“Look, Kangmin. No, President Choi. You don’t know. “What should I do if they sell it like that?”
“That’s a problem for the boss to worry about. “Boss, let’s have some good competition among our close neighbors.”
“Please don’t do that. “Please look after me.”
Kangmin shook his head.
“When did the boss take care of my situation? go. “My mind will never change.”
Hearing Kang-min’s firm voice, Taebong realized that Kang-min was not changing his mind.
Watching Taebong helplessly leaving the supermarket, Kangmin felt like a ten-year-old problem was going away.
‘What kind of bastard said revenge is bitter? ‘It’s so good.’
Kangmin, smiling brightly, took out a cider from the refrigerator and drank it.
“ah. “The cider is so refreshing.”
* * *
“By the way, Chief. “Is there any leftover steamed rice cake?”
As the number of people in the supermarket decreased, Kang-min asked Dae-sik.
“sure! “The boss told me to keep it.”
Manager Daesik said that and brought a box of ramen from inside the counter. When Kang-min opened the box, it was full of steamed rice cakes that were still warm.
Kang-min tied the box with box tape, made a handle, and lifted it.
“I have an appointment, so I’ll go in first. “Please do the rest.”
“Oh, don’t worry, go in.”
When Kang Min left, Daesik and his wife and the newly hired staff came out and all greeted Kang Min.
I looked at the clock and it was around 4 PM.
‘You won’t be late, right?’
The place Kang Min went to was ‘Happiness Loan’ where Palbong was located.
A few days ago, I hinted to Palbong that I had taken over the mart, and on the opening day, Palbong visited the mart with a large wreath.
Kangmin wanted to treat Palbong, but it was the first day of opening and he was completely absorbed in his first business.
– It’s good to see you working hard. Now stop doing dangerous things and work hard at running the mart.
Palbong only said those words and went back with the Happy Loan employees. That was on Kangmin’s mind the whole time.
So, I came to the office with a box of the sirutteok I had made this morning.
Kang-min arrived in front of the ‘Happiness Loan’ office and grabbed the handle to open the door.
But at that moment, the office door opened and a person came out from inside. He was a man who appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s.
“uh? “I guess there’s a guest here?”
The person who came out from inside took a look at Kang Min from head to toe, laughed and shouted to the inside of the office.
“Palbong hyung! A guest has arrived. Because it looks like a baton. Eat well. “Kkkkkk.”
The man opened the door wide, glanced at Kang-min, and then tried to pass by.
But at that moment, Kangmin urgently opened his mouth.
“Uh… … .”
“huh? Man, why? “Do you have business for me?”
Kangmin looked at the man in front of him. He had yellow hair and a piercing in his nose. The eyes were exactly like the eyes of a snake.
An image of a person Kangmin could never forget came to mind.
“like… By any chance, have we never seen each other before?”
“huh?”
The yellow-haired man looked at Kangmin carefully and then tilted his head.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before?”
The man tilted his head and continued speaking with a wide smile.
“I’m taking medication these days, but my memories come and go. know? That drug. haha.”
The man laughed, and as if he remembered something, he took out his wallet from his pocket and handed me a business card.
“Well, we met, but I might not remember. Uncle, if you don’t lend me money here, come to me. “I’ll make it good for you, kekeuk.”
The man said that and left.
Kangmin, who was standing blankly, looked at the business card he had been handed.
– Bang Jin-ho, head of angel lending.
Kangmin’s eyes widened.
It was definitely true.
The man a moment ago was Bang Jin-ho, whose head Kang-min had blown off with an ax in a parallel world.
