Bring it to me today
Jeong Han-cheol glared at me as if he was going to kill me and threw down the coat he was wearing.
"Don't you remember this either?"
He took off his coat and was wearing short sleeves even though it was midwinter.
I couldn't help but laugh at the cheap tattoo of a snake running from my neck to my left arm.
Jeong Han-cheol raised his voice even more after seeing my laughter.
"What are you splitting it for? What are you going to do?"
I shrugged my shoulders and answered him, who was still raising his voice.
"I don't even know who you are, your tattoos are ridiculous, and your actions are so cheap that it's laughable. What the hell are you doing?"
"What, what? What did you just say?"
I ignored Jeong Han-cheol and spoke to Jeong Jin-seok, who was looking at me with an anxious look.
"Jinseok. First, let me send your mother away."
"Yes? Oh, yes! I will."
Jeong Jin-seok, who suddenly came to his senses, tried to drag the woman out of the store to see her off first.
"Where are you going! No one can go out without my permission. Stop them!"
Jeong Han-cheol shouted as he glared at Jeong Jin-seok.
Then, the men who came with him blocked the entrance with their bodies and glared at Jeong Jin-seok.
"Your Majesty is speaking. Why don't you stay still?"
"Oh my, gentlemen. Let's send Mother off first and then we can talk it over among ourselves. Mother's heart isn't in good condition either."
"It's none of our business. Not a single ant can leave until the master gives permission. If you don't want to get beaten, stay still."
They say that like-minded people stick together. No matter how you look at the behavior and speech of Jeong Jin-seok's 'younger siblings', they are clearly at the level of neighborhood thugs.
"Director, please organize things first."
We decided to first sort out the situation and then have a conversation.
At my command, Chief Ma and his bodyguards moved. As the well-dressed, large men stood up, I saw Jeong Han-cheol flinch.
"What the heck! Did you turn around!"
Jeong Han-cheol threw a punch at the approaching Chief Ma.
However, Director Ma slightly avoided the attack by turning his head slightly, and then grabbed him by the neck.
"Ke, kek!"
Jeong Han-cheol, whose breathing hole was blocked, struggled.
At that sight, the men guarding the entrance came running.
"What the heck! What the hell are you doing! Why don't you put the sergeant down all of a sudden!"
The men were chattering, but Chief Ma paid no attention and lifted the large man, Jeong Han-cheol, with one hand.
The color began to drain from Jeong Han-cheol's face as he was suspended in the air with his neck grabbed.
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"Please don't kill me. I have a lot to ask you."
Soon after, the bodyguards who had been waiting outside were contacted and arrived.
It didn't take long to subdue Jeong Han-cheol and his men.
As the situation was quickly resolved, both Jeong Jin-seok and the woman just stood there blankly, bewildered.
I called Jeong Jin-seok like that.
"Jinseok. First, send your mother away."
Only then did Jeong Jin-seok come to his senses and drag the woman out of the store.
The old lady muttered as she glanced around the store, perhaps worried as she left.
"······Uyano? Aren't we going to get in big trouble like this?"
"Mu-hyeok is the one who's in charge. He'll take care of things. So go in first. If Mom gets hurt too, I'll really go crazy."
"······Don't get hurt."
"Okay, then go in."
Jeong Jin-seok closed the door after sending the woman out.
Until then, Jeong Han-cheol, who had been grabbed by the neck, tried to escape by scratching Director Ma's arm, but it was in vain.
Eventually, he lost consciousness and passed out, and Director Ma roughly threw him to the floor.
"Myeongsu and Hyeonseong, go in first."
"what?"
They both looked at me at the same time.
"It wouldn't be good for Myeongsu to get involved in something like this, and Hyeonseong has a bastard waiting for him at home."
"Kim Mu-hyuk!"
Myeongsu blushed as if he was truly angry.
But I was serious. I couldn't let two people suffer because of one punk.
"Just go. I'll tell you everything tomorrow morning."
Hyunseong, who read the sincerity in my eyes, nodded and grabbed Myeongsu's arm.
"Lee Myeong-su. Let's go first."
Myeongsu looked up at Hyeonseong with a resentful look, but Hyeonseong just shook his head and didn't say anything.
Eventually, Myeongsu gave up and looked at Jeong Hancheol and me alternately with worried eyes.
"······Ha. I understand. Do whatever it takes. Just don't kill me."
"I hope it's worth it. Go inside quickly. I'll see you tomorrow."
Hyunseong dragged Myeongsu, who didn't want to go, out of the store.
Outside, the store was packed with people milling about.
I saw Myeongsu and Hyeonseong, with their faces covered, disappearing through them.
"Sir, let's take him out for now."
As I got up from my seat, Jeong Jin-seok came running towards me.
"Can I go this way?"
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I asked, looking at the road that led towards the beach rather than the entrance.
"Yes, sir."
"Okay. Let's go."
I went outside, taking the small stairs next to the terrace.
I crossed the road and walked down to the pebbly beach.
Director Ma followed me, dragging the unconscious Jeong Han-cheol, and the bodyguards followed me, taking the rest of the men with them.
"Jinseok. What are you doing?"
"Is Hancheol Haengnim?"
Jeong Jin-seok was glancing behind him, checking the expressions of Jeong Han-cheol and the group.
"just······."
I lightly patted him on the back as he was just mumbling around without saying anything.
"Just tell me without worrying about what others think."
Jeong Jin-seok swallowed hard and spoke with difficulty.
"Hancheol, you've come back to Yeongdo again, so… the atmosphere is really bad."
"The atmosphere is not good?"
"I work for the market vendors here. But even if they don't spend money, they force them to do so. If they don't spend money, they force them to do so, and they use all sorts of tricks in front of them so that they can't even do business."
"Isn't there someone here who used to deal with people?"
Jeong Jin-seok nodded and continued speaking.
"Yes. But Hancheol got into a fight with Haengnim and disappeared without a trace. Hancheol took over the job or something, and he took the job there."
In fact, it was common to do outsourcing to small business owners.
In any traditional market, there were always day laborers.
The day laborers lent money to merchants in urgent need and charged high interest rates.
But I don't do anything stupid like killing the goose.
They help each other out with the market merchants and sometimes even show consideration for their circumstances.
This was because only then could money circulate in the market and interest be earned.
So, most of the people who grew up in that neighborhood and were good at using their fists ended up taking on that job.
"Is the original person someone I know?"
"Yes. You must know. He is four years older than you. Isn't he your older brother?"
When I heard Jeong Jin-seok's words, I thought I knew who it was.
"That guy did the work?"
"Yes. That gentleman was doing some work around here."
"Do you guys also work hard?"
Jeong Jin-seok nodded, smiling faintly.
"You know, Master. No matter how well business is going here, there are times when money suddenly becomes a problem. Anyway, I used to borrow money from my father-in-law, Master, and I paid the principal and interest every day without fail, right? But then Han-cheol suddenly said that he could give it to me. He even charged me more interest."
"You raised the interest rate on your own? Didn't you write a loan certificate or something?"
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At my words, Jeong Jin-seok burst into laughter again.
"Where? We don't use that kind of thing here. We just trust each other and lend and borrow. It's not like we're going to stop doing business anyway."
"It's a fist fight."
"Well, that's okay. We all know each other's faces. We just write it down in our notebooks and pay each other back every day."
While we were talking like that, we arrived at a pebble beach.
When I motioned to Director Ma to wake up Jeong Han-cheol, he slapped Jeong Han-cheol's cheek while he was lying on the floor.
"Huh, gasp gasp!"
Jeong Han-cheol came to his senses and looked around, gasping for breath.
"Hey, this kid! Do you want to die!"
Jeong Han-cheol jumped up from his seat, pointed his finger at me, and shouted.
But that didn't last long. Chief Ma kicked him in the back of the knee.
"Ugh!"
He knelt down on the gravel and screamed in pain.
I slowly walked towards Jeong Han-cheol.
Then, he stood in front of Jeong Han-cheol, who was looking up at me, and stepped on his hand that was on the floor and said.
"You've been acting like you know me since earlier, but I really don't remember who you are. Why did you show up on such a nice day and ruin my mood?"
Jeong Han-cheol shouted, cursing.
Oh, I know who it is!
Ha, it's the same old story. I keep hearing it, and now I'm starting to get annoyed and I can't help but laugh out loud.
"So, who are you?"
"It's Jeong Han-cheol, Jeong Han-cheol! I'm about to be hired as a full-time employee at Cheonha Group!"
"Cheonha Group?"
"Yeah! You know Cheonha Group? You're in real trouble! I'm not the Jeong Han-cheol of old anymore!"
Jeong Han-cheol continued speaking in a proud tone, caressing the hand that had been stepped on with his other hand.
"If you join Cheonha Group, you'll all be Shima! You won't have to live in this shitty neighborhood anymore!"
"Did you say Cheonha Group?"
"Yeah! Now you're starting to feel like you've messed up the wrong thing? I'm starting to get anxious. Even if you're a member of the National Assembly, you can't stop Cheonha Group, you punk!"
What kind of crazy guy would have blown that kind of air? He looked down at Jeong Han-cheol with a smirk.
"Split? Can't you assess the situation yet? Stop! You're going to die now, you punk!"
"Who is the person who will accept you?"
"If I tell you, you'll know? What the hell do you know?!"
It was funny to see Jeong Han-cheol acting so smug while not even knowing what was going on.
"Call me here right now. Cheonha Group or something. Or you'll die here. Call me if you want to live."
"Are you crazy? You know what kind of people they are! I, I'm really going to die!"
For the first time, confusion appeared on Jeong Han-cheol's face.
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I don't know who it is, but it was obvious that he was afraid of anyone who was connected to Cheonha Group.
"Why? Are you scared? You said you were waiting for today to kill me. Whether I die or not, that's none of your business. Let's see the face of the person you trust. Let's see if the rope you're holding onto, you piece of trash that ruined the mood on this wonderful day, is a gold rope."
It was a peaceful routine that I had not experienced in a long time. It was a pleasant drinking party with Myeongsu and Hyeonseong, talking about old memories.
But perhaps because the ending was such a mess, I couldn't stop talking and started to feel angry inside.
I gritted my teeth and glared at Jeong Han-cheol.
"How dare you, a brat, waste my precious time······."
"Boss. I'll take care of it."
Director Ma quickly stood in front of me and blocked my view.
I took a deep breath slowly, looking at Chief Ma's face as usual.
He soon calmed down and nodded.
"······Bring me in front of you today. Otherwise, I won't move an inch from here."
"Understood, boss."
Director Ma, who had lowered his head, turned around and kicked Jeong Han-cheol in the face with his shoe.
At first, Jeong Han-cheol was shouting something, but as the brutal violence poured out, he soon became speechless and just crouched down and took the beatings.
"Hey, my lord."
Jeong Jin-seok called me from the side with a voice full of fear.
"Why, Jinseok? Do you want to go first too?"
"Oh, no. I'll just stay. But is that okay? What would you do if a real gangster came?"
He just smiled at the innocent question and tossed his large hair like he did when he was a child.
"Don't worry, I won't have to step forward no matter who comes. Don't you trust me?"
"Oh, no. I believe you."
I couldn't help but laugh again at the answer that came out reflexively.
I don't know why they still mistake me for Superman even though I'm all grown up, or what they see in me that they believe.
"Sir! Do your legs hurt?"
Jeong Jin-seok ran towards the store and returned holding a few square plastic chairs.
Then he put the chair behind me and said.
"Please sit down and wait."
I nodded and sat down on the chair.
After a while, Jeong Han-cheol, whose face was so swollen that it was hard to recognize him, handed his cell phone over to Director Ma and begged him to help him.
"Sir, give it to me."
At my call, Director Ma approached me and handed me his cell phone.
"This is the person."
It was set up so that you could connect a phone call just by pressing a button.
When I pressed the call button, the beeping sounded for quite a while.
- What is it? What's going on at this hour? Did you come back?
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The person on the other end of the phone started getting annoyed as soon as he picked up the phone.
I checked the name on the screen and opened my mouth.
"그쪽이 개새끼야?"
- What? Did this kid eat his food wrong! Jeong Han-cheol! Where are you!
"I thought it was a nickname because it was saved on my phone. Jeong Han-cheol sold your name. You're going to kill me."
- What is it? Who are you? Where did Hancheol go?
I said this while looking down at Jeong Han-cheol, who was writhing on the gravel.
"It's wriggling like an earthworm on the gravel."
― This kid knows who I am! Where are you, you little shit!
"Gravel yard. If you're going to come, don't come alone. Bring everyone with you."
― Wow! What kind of kid is this! Do you know who I am? Just wait!
You have a good voice. With those words, the call ended.
"He said to wait."
I handed the phone back to Manager Ma.
"Should we call more people?"
"Okay. Let's not make a big deal out of it."
"Yes, boss."
He pushed Jeong Han-cheol and his group into a corner and waited for them.
After quite some time had passed, two vans came speeding by and stopped on the side of the road.
The forklift had the company name Cheonha Yongyeok written on it.
Soon, the men got out of the van that had stopped.
And finally, a passenger car arrived.
One of the men who got out of the van opened the back seat door, and a man came out of the car.
"You're here, brother!"
The men who got out of the forklift bowed their heads to greet him.
The man looked at us and opened his mouth.
"What kind of kid is that guy who made the phone call!"
< Bring it to me today > End