Chapter 53
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Mae-Hyang seemed to know a lot about the driver's license exam system in China .
"How can I take a driver's license exam here? I don't know the Chinese language . "
"You can bring an interpreter with you when you take the exam . I've done it before when I worked in my previous company . "
"Really?"
"But renting a car is pricey . "
"How much is it?"
"The price varies depending on the types of car you rent, but you can say it would be over 3,000 Yuan . "
"Hmm… If I add the rental car payment to the apartment rent, that would be too much for me to pay every month . "
"Why don't you commute by bus for now and think about renting a car later once you see how the restaurant business goes . President Byeon commuted by bike and he didn't drive a car . But, the Hobanhwawon apartment is too far and expensive . Do you really want to live there?"
"I'm not sure, but I want to receive Marwin's energy from there since he used to live in that apartment . "
"Haha . Suit yourself then . "
It was after 9 PM—time to close the restaurant .
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The kitchen ladies were changing their clothes to get ready for home, and the two lady hall staffs started cleaning the hall . Mae-Hyang was arranging trash .
Dingming gave Gun-Ho a sales report . Today's sales were 3,100 Yun including credit card payments . Dingming said she would keep today's earnings and use it when she purchase fresh produce tomorrow, and she would give the earnings to Gun-Ho from tomorrow . She then added, "That's how I have done it with President Byeon as well . "
Gun-Ho thought that made sense, so he said okay . He, then, went downstairs to his room .
Gun-Ho turned on the TV in his room . Since he didn't understand Chinese, the TV sound was a noise to him .
"It is good that I can have Korean food every day since my restaurant is a Korean restaurant . However, it's very inconvenient handling things without knowing the language . "
Gun-Ho opened the Chinese conversation learning book that he brought from Korea .
"Ni Hao (Hello) . "
"Cheu Pan Lo Ma? (Did you eat?)"
"Cheu Pan Lo Ma sounds like 'Shi Pal No Ma' (you, f*cker) in Korean . "
He couldn't concentrate on studying . All he could think of was 3,100 Yuan that he made today .
"The earnings today was 3,100 Yuan . Assuming that I maintain the same level of sales as today, I can make 93,000 Yuan per month . The ingredients cost 30% of the sales which is almost 30,000 Yuan . The labor cost for eight staffs is 15,000 Yuan and maintenance fee is 5,000 . If I subtract all these expenses, the profit will be 43,000 Yuan . I have to put aside 25,000 Yuan for the next period of rent, then the amount that falls into my hand is 18,000 Yuan . How much is this in Korean won? It's 2,160,000 won . "
Gun-Ho calculated it with an electronic calculator several times .
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"Wait a minute . I don't open the restaurant for a full 30 days per month; I have to close it for a few days . If say the restaurant will be open for 25 days each month, the earnings will be less than my earlier calculation . I have to consider the retirement payment for staffs and taxes as well . Then I could take only about 10,000 Yuan per month . It's 1,200,000 won . "
He realized that if he had a family to support in Korea, he wouldn't be able to send money to Korea with 1,200,000 won income .
"It wouldn't even be enough for one person's living expense . Whew . If I was married, my wife would have left me already . Running my own business is hard everywhere, in Korea and in China . The restaurant looks good since it is situated in the hotel building, but actually, it is not good . "
Gun-Ho kept thinking while rolling around on the bed .
"There is no chance of winning with this restaurant . I guess this is how people failed after having a business in China . If I can't save for the rent for the next period, I won't be able to keep the restaurant . I will have to pack my stuff and leave with nothing in my hand . "
Gun-Ho clenched his teeth .
"Let's bet on real estate . I still have over 400 million won even after having invested in this Korean restaurant!"
Gun-Ho decided to visit the realtor's office again tomorrow and take a look at the apartment which Marwin had used to live .
"The land of this area is flat which makes it easy to ride a bike, unlike Korea . Let's just use a bike for commuting until I obtain a driver's license . "
Gun-Ho calculated again .
"With a monthly income of 10,000 Yuan, I can pay 2,500 for the Hobanhwawon apartment rent . That would leave me 7,500 Yuan . I don't think I can save any money, but I can survive . I can have meals in my restaurant . What if I rent a car after I get my driver's license? Then I won't be able to cover my living expenses . Hmm . My head hurts . Let's decide later whether I want to rent a car or not . "
Gun-Ho studied Chinese language a bit before he fell asleep .
Gun-Ho changed his usual morning greeting to "Ni Hao . " When he came to work in the morning he always said: "Ni Hao" to each staff at the restaurant . He stuck his head into the kitchen door to say "Ni Hao" to the kitchen ladies . The ladies laughed and responded, "G-jjong, Ni Hao . "
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Mr . Byeon came to the restaurant with his luggage; he was going back to Korea .
"I am leaving today . It's good to see you, Mr . Gun-Ho Goo, get used to the restaurant business in China . If you have any questions, just call me to Korea . I wish you prosperity in your business . "
"Where do I get an Alien Resident Certificate?"
"You need to go to Public Security Office to apply for it . You will have a physical exam . They will check if you have any serious disease, especially a communicable disease . "
"Then I will receive something like an ID card?"
"When I applied for it, I did receive an ID card, but these days I was told that they just put a sticker on your passport . "
"What sticker?"
"It should be a sticker showing you have permission to stay in China for a certain period of time . "
Gun-Ho was going to ask if he could acquire a real estate if he brought his passport with the sticker to a realtor's office, and then he decided not to .
"Thank you for everything, Mr . Byeon . I hope you every success with your business in Korea . I will visit your restaurant when I go to Korea . Please say hello to your nephew in Noryangjin . "
Mr . Byeon looked around the restaurant before he headed out . He seemed to have mixed feelings . From the back, he looked lonely .
"He probably hadn't been able to support his family in Korea by sending any money . "
Gun-Ho also felt mixed feelings .
Gun-Ho went to the realtor's office again with Mae-Hyang .
"Is there any apartment in this community smaller than 120㎡? I think it's a bit too big for me . "
"There isn't . The smallest one is 120㎡ . The one which Marwin used to live was 150㎡ . Well, of course, he used the apartment for multipurpose: a residence and an office . "
President Marwin had given a presentation to investors in this apartment . He gave an impassioned speech to attract investors in order to receive 500,000 Yuan (about 60,000,000 won at that time) and establish an e-commerce company . The picture of him giving the presentation can still be found on the Internet .
President Marwin was a great entrepreneur and he didn't cling to the government job exam . The government job exam was extremely competitive in China, just like in Korea due to high population .
"I will take the 120㎡ apartment . "
Mae-Hyang who was sitting next to Gun-Ho was stunned .
"What? The 120㎡ apartment is so big that you can even play soccer . I was told that you are not married . Do you have a family and you didn't tell us?"
"No, I think I will have a guest from Korea from time to time . Haha . "
"The unit 305 is 120㎡ . Would you like to take a look?"
The realtor talked, Mae-Hyang interpreted, and Gun-Ho nodded .
Once Gun-Ho agreed to see the apartment, the realtor made a call to someone .
"The old lady is at home now . We can go see the apartment . "