Chapter 86 – Why Did He Return It to the Jurchens

Lunch break at Law Firm Teum.

Rustle, rustle.

Whirrrrr.

Familiarly, the staff gathered in groups of twos and threes and began microwaving rice and side dishes, and a delicious smell filled the pantry.

Assistant Manager Kim, who was tasting the side dishes set on the table little by little, opened his eyes wide and asked Office Director Kim Mi-yeong.

“No, how do you make such delicious, high-quality side dishes? You really have good skill, Director.”

“Ah, sweet pumpkin salad? This is extremely easy.”

“Oh… I tried it and it wasn’t easy at all? I followed the YouTube recipe exactly, but that wasn’t something to be trusted.”

“Really? No taste? Then that must not have gone in.”

At Office Director Kim Mi-yeong’s words, Assistant Manager Kim questioned with an interested expression.

“‘That’? What is that?”

“It’s obvious. In such cases, seasoning is missing. The most important thing in commercially sold food is seasoning. How to mix and use it while masking the taste of seasoning is the secret of a good restaurant.”

Kim Mi-yeong continued speaking as she neatly transferred the side dishes to be eaten into empty plates.

“If you put a bit of starch syrup here, wouldn’t the taste have been exactly the same as the commercial one? Not just regular starch syrup, but commercial-grade. Strangely, just putting a little of that makes the taste completely different.”

As Office Director Kim Mi-yeong smirked triumphantly, Assistant Manager Kim nodded.

“Is that so? The world of cooking is… I still have a long way to go.”

At the next table, Office Manager Yeom was eating while having this and that conversation with Ju Yong-hae, and Chu Wang-cheol, who had finished his lunch, was resting while flipping through the newspaper.

At that moment,

“Hello!”

Ju Ha-yul entered, energetically flinging open the door in a highly excited tone.

“Oh, Ha-yul. Have you eaten?”

“No~ Of course I came to eat lunch. But you know what, my performance assessment score came out really well. So I came to boast about it too!”

“Performance assessment? Surely it wasn’t writing? Because you are uniquely bad at Korean, Ha-yul. Hahahaha.”

“Oh seriously, uncle!”

As Office Manager Yeom teased her, Ju Ha-yul’s lips pouted. Ju Yong-hae patted the chair next to him, offering a seat.

“Hurry up, sit here and eat lunch. But… what did you do so well on?”

“Well, Korean history. Yun Gwan established the Byeolmuvan and occupied Dongbuk 9-seong, right? But it was a question asking why he returned it to the Jurchens…”

“I prepared hard in my own way? Maybe that’s why, while checking the score today, the teacher said I wrote well this time.”

“Oh my, you know such a thing too? Proud of you, my daughter. It’s fine as long as you do well in Korean history!”

Ju Ha-yul put the rice and grilled ham handed by Office Director Kim Mi-yeong in her mouth and chewed,

and suddenly as if remembering something, spoke to Office Manager Yeom who was eating rice next to her.

“But uncle, what is a ttongggo-show?”

“Ttongggo-show?”

Office Manager Yeom stopped his chopsticks and chuckled.

“That? Should I tell you? Your dad working extremely hard at the firm usually, they call that kind of thing a ttongggo-show. Hahahaha.”

At those words, Office Director Kim Mi-yeong immediately grumbled.

“Why do you teach a child like that? My goodness…”

“But where did you hear such a word? Isn’t that a word kids don’t know well?”

As Office Manager Yeom asked with a puzzled expression, Ha-yul opened her eyes wide and answered.

“Ah, while writing the essay for the Korean history performance assessment, a kid in our class wrote, ‘Yun Gwan returned it to the Jurchens because he couldn’t perform a proper ttongggo-show.’ So they got scolded immensely by the teacher today. That’s why I wondered what it was.”

“Ju Ha-yul. You shouldn’t use such words carelessly. Got it?”

As Office Director Kim Mi-yeong spoke with strength in her eyes, Ju Ha-yul nodded quietly, as if her mother were scary. Suddenly, Kim Mi-yeong brought up words as if some thought occurred to her.

“Wait? Isn’t today the day you leave school early in the afternoon and go to the hospital? You made a reservation at the dermatologist because of your facial skin breakouts!”

“Ah, right!”

“Oh dear, you girl, go quickly! I managed to secure it with difficulty when they said reservations are hard to get.”

“What should I do… Mom, should I take a taxi?”

The moment Ju Yong-hae glanced at the clock and was about to lift his buttocks from his seat to see if he should drop off Ha-yul, Chu Wang-cheol lowered his newspaper with a crisp thud and intervened.

“Ha-yul, where is the hospital? I have to go to court now, shall I give you a ride?”

“Pardon? The hospital… just past the Gyodae intersection.”

“Ah, really? Then I’ll drop you off in front of it. The weather is cold, go in my car.”

As Chu Wang-cheol stepped forward first with a kind attitude, Kim Mi-yeong smiled slightly.

“Office Manager Chu, you are busy, isn’t our daughter owing a favor for nothing?”

“Not at all. I have to go to the Southern District Court anyway, I can just drop her off on the way. Please finish your meals. Hahaha.”

“But Ha-yul is very lucky. I bought a new car and just initiated it, and the first passenger is Ha-yul.”

“Wow, Office Manager Chu, is it a new car?”

“Of course, of course. I got a Genesis this time.”

At Chu Wang-cheol’s words, the staff showed interest.

“Wow, a Genesis? That was completely hot for a while. Saying the car came out well.”

“An SUV? Wow, you must be happy.”

“Ahahaha, what is there to life. You only live once, you should ride a good car at least once.”

“Wow… please show us your car next time. What’s the color?”

“Yeah, white.”

“As expected, Genesis is white…”

In that way, Chu Wang-cheol proudly continued boasting about his car. And soon, he left the pantry with Ju Ha-yul.

Watching his daughter’s back follow Chu Wang-cheol with excitement, Ju Yong-hae bowed his head and quietly began to eat again.

***

After the mealtime ended, a brief break time.

Office Manager Yeom and Ju Yong-hae talked about this and that while smoking in the smoking area behind the building.

“Sigh… I should quit this damn smoking, but it doesn’t work.”

“I learned this when I went to the military, and even after discharge, it doesn’t leave me for life. Haha.”

“But Brother Ju, you are truly single-minded in everything. Smoking the same brand for life, too. Didn’t you also drive your car for a really long time? Aren’t you changing your car?”

“A car?”

“Well… even granting that you kept driving the car you drove two years ago considering your income, you have the ability to buy a good car now, right? Are you perhaps just unable to change it because you’re busy?”

“Oh, what good car… I don’t even have anywhere to drive it. Whatever.”

“Oh my. We are old enough… there is no need to overstretch and ride a good car, but… if you have the ability, shouldn’t you drive a good car, and buy at least one thing you want in life and know how to enjoy it? Look at Ms. Ra-ri, maybe because she is young, she drives a good car just fine.”

“…Hmm.”

“I saw last time that your K6 was rattling? The model year of that is too old. Brother Ju, you should change it this time too. Looking at Office Manager Chu earlier, his car is good… and he seems to live enjoying life, which looked good.”

“…Is that so?”

In that way, the two returned to work after enjoying their cigarette time following lunch.

Entering the office, Ju Yong-hae glanced slightly at Cha Ra-ri’s desk.

Cha Ra-ri was opening an Excel file to neatly organize various information such as her contacts and networks at a glance.

“Ms. Ra-ri, what are you doing?”

“Me? Mmh… how should I say, should I call it a kind of capability development?”

“Capability?”

“Only when the firm does well does my salary increase too. Sourcing litigation opponents of well-performing law firms is extremely difficult than I thought.”

“Then… of course. If they appoint a large law firm and file a lawsuit, the opponent side is also usually highly likely to be a large corporation, and once sued, they immediately appoint a large-scale law firm themselves.

Although Attorney Geum is good at trials… we aren’t at the level of being counted as the top-tier or best in this field yet. Raising recognition in this league is not easy.”

Cha Ra-ri nodded in agreement.

“But looking at it like this, Ms. Ra-ri, you indeed know many people. Enough to organize contacts in Excel like this.”

“Of course. I lived with the mindset that ‘everyone in the world is my friend, telepathy,’ you know?

Actually, I’ve also been amazingly good at remembering things about people since I was young.

But as I did social life, friends’ contacts went way beyond my brain capacity. That’s why I’m managing them like this.”

“Haha… looking closely, you indeed know a lot of people.”

“Oh… it suddenly occurred to me, you watch out too, Office Manager. Recently, I also received a weird call saying they are a Gangyeok lawyer and wanting to scout me. Where do they tell such lies… voice phishing is indeed diverse, right?”

“…That… might not be a lie…”

Ju Yong-hae muttered softly, trailing off, and brought up the words he originally intended to say.

“But Ms. Ra-ri. By any chance, do you know a BMW car dealer too?”

“BMW? Of course I do.”

“Really? As expected of Ms. Ra-ri. I’m not buying right away, but I want to go and find out the price…”

“Should I introduce you? Just a moment.”

Cha Ra-ri searched for something in her contacts, and wrote down a number and handed it over.

“I will contact him in advance. This person is a really good person. Probably if you do installment, he will attach promotions well and look after you, so trust me and go visit.”

“Ah, really? Thanks. I am going to the bank now, I might as well stop by briefly on the way. I’ll step away for about 30 minutes.”

Ju Yong-hae thus received the dealer’s contact from Cha Ra-ri and directed his steps to the BMW showroom.

***

Upon entering an imported car showroom in Gangnam, a young man who appeared to be a new employee greeted him and habitually scanned Ju Yong-hae from head to toe.

“Welcome.”

‘Sigh… another onlooker…’

Seeing Ju Yong-hae’s attire as he had just come out of the office for a bit, he thought the possibility of a sale was low, so he greeted him half-heartedly and roughly recited the set lines.

“Uh… look around and tell me… if you need anything…”

Then he picked up his cell phone, played a short video clip, and began to watch it on the sly.

It was then.

A middle-aged man who was sitting inside the showroom jumped up and approached Ju Yong-hae.

“Are you… by any chance, the person who came through Cha Ra-ri’s introduction?”

“Ah… yes…”

Ju Yong-hae nodded at the man’s words.

“Oh, glad to meet you. I received the contact in advance.”

Handing over a crisp business card, the dealer extended a polite greeting.

“I am dealer Kang Min-uk. Shall I give you a beverage and a catalog first?”

The dealer guided Ju Yong-hae to a cushioned sofa reception seat, brought the latest catalog, and spread it out.

“Would you like to look at sedans? Or are you interested in SUVs?”

Ju Yong-hae thought for a moment, and said in a calm tone.

“Well… I don’t have much interest in cars… but if I’m going to buy one anyway, for the purpose of carrying our kid in the back and dropping her off at school. And going fishing occasionally.”

“Ah, then an SUV is good.”

Rustle, rustle. The dealer flipped through a few pages and pointed to a model.

“This X3 series came out well. Not to mention BMW’s unique driving feel, even a comfortable ride quality expected from a large SUV has been similarly implemented. The interior is spacious like this. The interior design is also excellent, so the biggest strength is that it can be utilized for long-distance travel and camping without any problem.

Since it’s a well-designed model, you will like it.”

Ju Yong-hae did not say yes or no and quietly turned the pages of the catalog while listening to the dealer’s explanation.

Watching that scene from afar, the rookie dealer tilted his head.

“Sigh… looking closely, it doesn’t seem like a situation where the assistant branch manager would personally respond? No matter how you look at it, X3 is too much, they should just sell a cheap model to a customer who seems to at least seriously contemplate…”

Ju Yong-hae silently looked at the catalog, recalling Office Manager Yeom’s words.

‘Right, as Yeom said, one should know how to enjoy life. Since I’m buying one anyway… if our Ha-yul says she’s going somewhere, I can drop her off, go camping together, and if Ha-yul says she’s a singer later, I might have to transport her to the performance hall… yes, let’s go with this. It’s a gift for myself who suffered all this time.’

And as if decided, he tapped a spot on the catalog with his finger.

“I will buy this. X7.”

When Ju Yong-hae spoke as if he made up his mind, the dealer smiled as if he expected it.

“X7! Indeed, you know how to look at cars! Truly a great choice! Since you’re introduced by Ms. Cha Ra-ri, I will look after installments or promotions as much as possible. If you wait a moment, I will quickly bring the contract.

But since this is a model exceeding 150 million won… there is also a long-term rental format, how would you like me to look into it?”

At those words, Ju Yong-hae replied impassively.

“I will give the down payment right now, and the balance will also be in cash.”

“…In full? Hahaha. You are hot-tempered. But the X7 model you want currently… is not on display in our showroom, shall I schedule a test drive meeting for you?”

“No. I’ll just buy and ride it. I’ll pay the down payment now.”

“Ah, yes. Right away? Then I will check the price and guide you immediately.”

Ju Yong-hae, who finished the purchase contract right away without even a test drive like that, transferred the down payment by opening his banking app with the same impassive expression, and then left the showroom.

Once he disappeared, the rookie dealer approached the assistant branch manager with a face that still couldn’t believe it.

“No… he looked like an ordinary office worker by all appearances… buying a car exceeding 150 million won just in cash?”

The assistant branch manager chuckled, tapped the rookie’s side, and whispered.

“That’s why career is also important in sales. The real deal doesn’t show off that they have money, they just come slowly like that, and buy without even riding the car.”

Around the time Ju Yong-hae finished the car contract and returned to the firm, a mid-sized sedan stopped in the parking lot of Law Firm Teum.

Click.

The back seat door opened, and a woman got off while putting on sunglasses and slung a large luxury handbag over one shoulder.

“No matter what this attorney says… if I just draw the character for ‘patience’ five times in my mind, he’ll make sure I win the lawsuit unconditionally, right?”

Repeating those words to herself, the woman headed to the elevator of the building where Law Firm Teum was located.