[127] What Can You Give Me?
Lee Min-gu, who spoke firmly, sighed and went out of the house.
After eating, Kim Seol-ha, who returned home, saw the courier standing in front of the door and bowed her head.
“The mail has arrived. It’s registered mail that needs to be signed.”
Kim Seol-ha, who was looking at the mail sealed in a yellow envelope, signed and sent the courier.
She came home and opened the mail.
“Mom, what is it?”
“Nothing.”
Kim Seol-ha’s expression, which was urgently hidden after checking the mail, turned pale.
Lee Min-goo, who was watching her change, reached out.
“I will check it out. I think it was mail from the court.”
Lee Min-gu, who instantly checked the court pattern and the letters written on the order, showed a hardened expression.
Kim Seol-ha shook her head at his request.
“It is my personal business. Never mind.”
Kim Seol-ha returned what Lee Min-gu had said earlier.
I rushed into the room with the envelope in my arms, and Kim Eun-ha followed me in.
“ha… … .”
It was difficult for a woman to raise a child by herself.
Hard to say was not enough.
I couldn’t raise a child on my own without money.
“Lee Min-goo, I think you know what that mail is.”
It was a coincidence.
Last month, I came down to buy daily necessities and stopped by my house to see Kim Seol-ha.
The courier who was waiting at the house as always that day.
Lee Min-gu signed the autograph on his behalf and received the mail.
I had no intention of opening the envelope and checking it.
But he couldn’t pass the envelope from the courthouse.
“Come in.”
I didn’t know if I could hear Kim Eun-ha talking outside.
As Lee Min-gu entered the room, Si-woo Lee followed him inside.
“It must be an order to put this house up for auction.”
“yes? Why is the house in this mountain village… … ?”
“It is difficult for a woman to raise a child alone without a proper source of income. I also came down from time to time and split a portion of the money I had left and gave it to Mr. Seol-ha, but that seems to be not enough.”
There were few things that Kim Seol-ha could do in this mountainous area.
He had survived by helping the villagers with farming and receiving a daily wage, but the more Kim Eun-ha grew, the more money it took.
I had no choice but to take out a loan with the house as collateral.
The result of taking a loan without fear was disastrous.
If Lee Min-gu had known that, he would have unconditionally stopped Kim Seol-ha, but it was already too late.
“Isn’t there any money that comes out as a basic livelihood recipient?”
“The amount of money paid to basic livelihood recipients ranges from 200,000 to 300,000 won. It’s not enough money to live on right now.”
“okay.”
Lee Min-goo smiled and sat down on the floor.
After hearing the explanation, Siwoo Lee looked down at him.
“I don’t know if I should call it lucky or bad, sir.”
“yes?”
“As soon as we arrived, we came down to the village because of the rainy season, and because of that, we became aware of this situation.”
They were the only mother and daughter who welcomed themselves as outsiders.
At first, I got to know Kim Eun-ha through a relationship.
Kim Eun-ha followed her like her father and gave her affection.
Seeing Lee Min-goo’s affection for his daughter, Seol-ha Kim also accepted him as a family.
Seeing his bitter expression on his face, Siwoo opened the door wide.
“I think I’m a lucky guy.”
“… … ?”
“Ah, I’m not saying this because I like Seol-ha’s situation.”
As it would be if I said this, I found a way to change Lee Min-goo’s heart.
In Siwoo Lee’s eyes, emotions are revealed without hiding.
“Honestly, looking at the CEO, it seems that you are not good at business. All emotions are in the eyes.”
“Have you changed your mind?”
“Not at all. Rather the opposite. In fact, I was skeptical.”
Is it appropriate to appoint Lee Min-goo, who seems unwilling to stand up again, as the representative?
Siwoo Lee was skeptical.
But seeing Kim Seol-ha’s special consideration for mother and daughter, his doubts turned to certainty.
Those who had nothing to protect and those who had something to protect were different from their resolve.
“If you accept the role of representative, what can you give me?”
It might not be the answer he was looking for.
“At least we can make sure that our loved ones don’t have to worry about money. I have no intention of repaying Seol-ha’s debt instead.”
“… … .”
“If you accept the position of CEO of Nuri Cho, instead, we can guarantee you at least the right to personnel. If you wish, you can set up a branch of Nuri Jogyeong in this area.”
Lee Min-gu laughed at Si-woo Lee’s answer.
I had something to tell him before accepting the post.
“What kind of business do you want to run?”
“We want to become a company that manages trees beyond buying and selling them.”
“Manage… … .”
“The purifying ability of the tree is outstanding. But as you get older, its ability to purify diminishes.”
knew
Lee Min-koo was also a representative of a landscaping company.
Those who make landscaping as their main occupation see trees as money and only care about trees of value.
They like colorful and deformed trees and buy them at high prices.
But you don’t have to.
Trees were excellent living things just by their existence.
“I’m going to go on a different trajectory from the existing landscaping companies, right?”
“I am in the junk business. So I thought about it in a different way.”
Even an ugly tree is fine.
A straight tree is fine.
Any tree should be taken care of as long as the air purification ability is excellent.
“I heard that Chairman Su-beom Park recommended me to the CEO. The representative left and came to me the next day.”
“I will not deny it. Chairman Park listened to my concerns and recommended the CEO.”
“He said he was a good person. They are preparing even the arboretum and expanding the post-processing business for unrelated people.”
“Maybe I look stupid like this.”
Rather than being foolish, I honestly thought it was great.
Where is the junkyard boss who cares about the environment?
And Siwoo Lee was a representative of a waste company, which is said to be the main culprit of environmental pollution.
If other people were just thinking about making money, Siwoo Lee conducted his business as a human being.
“I don’t think it’s stupid. Because I once envisioned the same method as the representative. But I gave up because it cost too much money and it was difficult to get a system in place.”
Siwoo Lee wasn’t the only one who thought of a tree statue.
Countless people cry out that trees need systematic care.
But they only have a voice, not an action.
why?
Because it costs too much money and there is no guarantee of profitability.
It was a tough road.
Siwoo Lee chose such a path without any hesitation.
“I want to be a person who is not ashamed of Eunha.”
“I also want to become an uncle who is not ashamed of Eunha.”
Lee Min-goo looked out blankly at the mischievous Si-woo Lee’s words and said.
“I don’t care how much you pay me. But, can you provide a separate house for three people including me?”
At Lee Min-goo’s request, Si-woo Lee smiled faintly and nodded.
“I know a village with good air and good people, and I would like you to establish a foundation there. It’s where I can get a house right away.”
“good. However, I have some work to do here, so I would like you to give me just one week.”
“I can give you that amount of time. And Galactic School can be quite a distance away. Are you okay?”
“What time do you go to work?”
“If you are going to become the representative of Nuri Jojo, you have to decide that too. For reference, Nuri Recycling’s departure time is 9:00. And it’s six o’clock after work.”
That was enough.
Even if you are far away, Lee Min-gu can pick you up.
However, school time was a problem.
“If I become the representative, will the car be paid?”
“Do you have a vehicle you want?”
“There is no need for an expensive car. However, I would like you to pay me one more car for Seolha to ride.”
Enthusiasm began to show in his hazy eyes.
Ishiu nodded his head at those eyes where he could feel the firm will.
“I will accept all the requirements of the representative.”
* * *
the next morning.
Si-woo Lee and his party, who stayed for one day, prepared to return to Nuri.
Kim Eun-ha, with her head sticking out, pouted her lips.
“Uncle, are you going?”
“You have to go to work too. Are you sorry?”
Si-woo Lee, who had roughly packed his clothes in his bag, did not enter the room, but approached Eun-ha Kim, who was outside the door.
He knelt down on one knee and placed his hand on Kim Eun-ha’s head.
“no! I’m not sorry.”
“Are you feeling a little sad? Whoops.”
Contrary to the words, Eunha Kim had an expression that looked like she was about to cry with her cute eyes.
“Hey… … .”
“Eunha, don’t be too sad. We will see you again soon.”
As long as Lee Min-gu accepted the role of representative, I thought that I would be able to see Kim Eun-ha soon.
However, it will depend on what choice Kim Seol-ha makes.
“really?”
“Do you think so? If you see Uncle anywhere else, don’t pretend you don’t know. got it?”
“yes! I’ll promise!”
In response to Kim Eun-ha’s loud answer, Si-woo Lee nodded and got up.
It was still raining heavily, but my heart was light.
“Are you going?”
“yes. It’s because I can’t be away for a long time.”
“I… I heard you are the owner of a junk dealer, what is the name of that junk dealer?”
“Nuri recycling. It’s a little-known place.”
I thought the general public did not know about Nuri recycling.
But Kim Seol-ha’s eyes widened.
“Are you the CEO of Nuri Recycling that said Kang Eung-ryong was the governor of Gyeonggi-do?”
“ah… … .”
Lee Si-woo scratched his head at Kim Seol-ha’s question.
The name Nuri Recycling has already been engraved in the minds of citizens.
Reports went out that he risked his life to catch Kang Eung-ryong, who ran away after committing the greatest corruption of a politician.
It was a quiet case now, but Kang Eung-ryong’s image was so good that it came as a pretty strong shock to the citizens.
“I had no idea that Nuri recycling would be known in this way.”
“I didn’t know anyone famous.”
“Not very famous.”
Lee Si-woo, who smiled, looked at Kim Seol-ha.
A woman who appears to be in her mid-30s.
She had long straight hair and a graceful figure.
“By the way… It seems that the conversation with Min-goo didn’t go well.”
“Good.”
“yes?”
“We’ll talk and go back.”
she wondered
I wonder what happened to Lee Si-woo to visit Lee Min-goo.
But it was a personal matter, so I couldn’t ask directly.
Perhaps noticing her feelings, Siwoo Lee answered honestly.
“I proposed the position of CEO of Nuri Recycling’s affiliate.”
“Oh, I see.”
“The famous person in the landscaping industry was CEO Lee Min-koo. You can hear the rest of the story directly from the representative.”
Ishiu bowed his head.
Kim Seol-ha stared blankly as he headed for the car with Lee Mu-yeol and Kim Seo-hwan, and closed his eyes tightly.
And after a while, Lee Min-goo prepared Lee Eun-ha and came out holding hands.
“Eunha, you should say hello to your mother.”
Lee Min-gu promised to take him to school today.
Kim Seol-ha bit her lip when he saw him with an umbrella.
“I will go.”
wanting to say something. Lee Min-gu smiled faintly at Kim Seol-ha’s actions.
“I’ll take you to Eunha School. And I have something to tell you when I go back, Seol-ha.”
“yes. Bye.”
It was unfamiliar to see Lee Min-goo appearing after shaving cleanly after a long time.
It was the first time I had seen her neatly tied her hair down to her shoulders.
Holding Kim Eun-ha’s hand and staring blankly at his back as he left the house, she entered the room.
And about 30 minutes later, Lee Min-gu, who returned home, strode over and knocked on the door.
“I’m Lee Min-gu.”
“Come on in.”
When I opened the door and went in, Kim Seol-ha was looking at the mail from yesterday, laying down on the floor.
“I think I acted too coldly yesterday. I’m sorry.”
“no. I haven’t done anything well either.”
“Mingu, this house is the legacy that Eunha’s father left behind. In fact, I wasn’t happy if he left me a house in this mountain village.”
“Why do I not know Seol-ha’s heart?”
Lee Min-goo picked up the yellow envelope lying on the floor.
“The house is going up for auction. I didn’t know that raising a galaxy by myself would be this hard.”
Lee Min-gu bowed his head and closed his eyes at a bitter smile.
“When I meet Eun-ha’s father later, I want to speak confidently. Even without you, Eunha was raised well. But now it seems that my home is disappearing.”
“I know it’s hard to ask for help.”
“I have no worries. Every time you come down, they help you, how do you ask for help again?”
Once a month, Lee Min-goo came down from the mountain to buy daily necessities.
He stayed at Kim Seol-ha’s house for a day, gave her enough money to support her life, and left.
“I was always sorry that I couldn’t give you more money. The business went bankrupt and most of his fortune was blown into the air. Still, it was fortunate that I had enough money left to play and eat.”
Selling a part of the mountain where I live now, I made money to live on.
Even that was showing the bottom.
If I hadn’t helped Kim Seol-ha, I could have survived at least one more year.
but no regrets
“Min-gu, did you accept the proposal of Nuri Recycling CEO? I heard that you offered the representative position… … .”
“The representative said it. you’re right.”
“You may leave now.”
With Kim Seol-ha’s lonely expression on her face, Lee Min-gu spoke up in a trembling voice.
“Seolha, how about trying to grow Eunha in a better place?”
“What do you mean?”
It was a mountain village.
The elementary school Kim Eun-ha attended was also on the verge of closing.
Because the school had only about ten students.
“Would you like to leave with me? I will take responsibility until the galaxy grows.”
She didn’t know it would turn out like this.
I thought Lee Min-goo would leave alone, but he wanted to leave with Kim Seol-ha and his mother and daughter.
“Mr. Mingoo… … .”
“I want to be a good father to Eunha.”
Kim Seol-ha’s eyes widened at his words.
Then her cheeks turned red and she bowed her head.
Lee Min-goo hurriedly waved his hand.
“It may sound strange to say that I will be a good father, but… Hey, how do I explain this… … .”
To be honest, he had a heart for Kim Seol-ha.
However, I wanted Kim Seol-ha and Kim Eun-ha to be happy rather than their own feelings.
I want to live a more stable life within the fence of home.
Kim Seol-ha laughed at the sight of Lee Min-gu’s blushing and gibberish speech.
“I know. That good dad doesn’t mean that.”
“… … .”
“They say the auction starts next week. It’s an order to get out of the house by next week.”
Kim Seol-ha looked at the envelope and continued speaking.
When the auction started, it was a notice to leave the house.
It was now in a position where there was nowhere to go.
“How much is the loan?”
“I borrowed 30 million won, but the amount has turned to 50 million won. I can’t afford to pay it back, so I guess I should get out of this house.”
“Mr Seolha.”
“Even though I get help from Min-goo this time, I will definitely repay this favor later.”
Lee Min-gu let out a deep sigh.
“The schedule is too fast. I wanted to repay the loan by selling the house I was living in.”
“This house is old and old, so you don’t have to work so hard to protect it.”
“However… Isn’t it a meaningful space for Seol-ha?”
“Okay, now. I have to let Eunha dad go too.”
It has now been six years since her husband passed away.
It was not an environment where I could afford to live, but I desperately wanted to survive here.
But what if you hold onto someone who has already left?
“Please keep your promise to be a good father to Eunha.”
“I will risk my everything to protect it.”
