Chapter 51

Do Sunyoung gave Hyunwoo’s press release draft to Minhye.

Reviewing it, she felt Do had a legitimate reason to get upset, for it was publicizing the factory in Vietnam instead of Aurum a lot, for which the release was intended.

However, Hyunwoo’s proposal made sense as well. In addition, it really smelled like a newspaper article because of its objective nature.

If Minhye was a consumer, she would have a more favorable look on Hyunwoo’s press release rather than the one giving favorable publicity to Aurum alone.

Come to think of it, Minhye recalled an episode the other day.

At the time, Do made a press release about the students’ visit to the factory. Minhye herself scolded Do because the release didn’t highlight Aurum. Perhaps that was why Do reacted sensitively to Hyunwoo’s proposal, which gave more of the limelight to the Vietnamese factory.

Minhye mediated between them to save face.

“I think assistant manager Jang also has a point. But it’s a bit too focused on the Vietnamese factory, so you should put in a bit more about Aurum in the draft and prepare the final press release.”

She then rose from her seat because she had to get off work on time.

At Aurum, all managers above the team manager had to leave the office when the work day ended. It was the president’s policy.

“Let me get off work now. Deputy manager Do, please draft the press release and then go home.”

Thanks to Minhye’s help, the press release was drafted easily, which contained most of Hyunwoo’s ideas and added some more description about Aurum to it.

The completed press release was satisfactory to Hyunwoo.

The press release handed out by Aurum was reported in the press. It got printed not only in the local press but also in the economic sections of major national dailies. Some newspapers carried the president’s photo along with the article.

It was possible thanks to Park Youngsu’s lobbying efforts. Even though he didn’t spent a lot of money, he completely won over the reporters’ minds.

The reports had an immediate effect. The stock price of Aurum was at an all time high for the next couple of days, which stood out because most of the other stocks were down during that period.

“Nice job! I think I have a good nephew,” said Park Daebong.

“Ha ha. Don’t say that, uncle,” answered Park Youngsu.

In a good mood, Park Youngsu praised Hyunwoo, saying,

“Thanks. I think you’re the gem of our team. Tell me anything that you need.”

“No, sir. It was possible because of your excellent lobbying. Who could control the reporters so easily like that?”

“Really? Ha ha ha.”

Hyunwoo was as happy as Park.

Thanks to his risky investment in the factory in Vietnam, everybody could laugh a lot now. When he thought of Mr. Na and Kwon Sangtaek’s family in Vietnam smiling broadly, laughing came naturally.

During the weekend, Hyunwoo went climbing along with his parents and the seniors in his neighborhood. Suddenly, he got a call from his friend, and his high school friends had an alumni meeting in a long time. Some of them gladly waved at him, recognizing his face.

“Hey, long time no see!”

They were in the same class with Hyunwoo during the senior year in high school.

Hyunwoo and Yonggu were only in the same class during junior year.

There were some faces Hyunwoo had fond memories of but other faces he didn’t.

An alumnus by the name of Kim Hyungsun took out a business card from a gold-plated case and gave one to him. The title on it read ‘President.’

“Sangwon Foods? Are you its president?”

“Two years ago, I set up a small foods company with my brother in the port of Pyongtaek. If you happen to come to my place, just call me. By the way, how are you doing these days? You’re working at a company, right?”

Hyunwoo felt that his question was weird. Kim seemed to ask sarcastically ‘You’re out of work, right?’ Actually, Kim’s image in high school was about the same. He was from a rich family, but he blatantly ignored and looked down on those who were less fortunate than him.

He still had that bad habit.

Hyunwoo wanted to say something back like, “Hey, dude. I’m a proud investor!”

But he suppressed it, of course. He hated the way they judged people by money or position. In a way, he might have thought that way because he had no money or position up to that point. Still, he was just upset, and his stomach churned when someone discriminated against people, judging their money and position.

Suddenly, Hyunwoo felt he might be changing to that type of person himself, putting money above anything else.

‘Hummmm I have been changing, too, before I knew it. I think I have to be more prudent. I can’t allow myself to change into such a type.”

At Kim’s sarcastic question, Hyunwoo smiled lightly instead of boasting.

He then kindly replied, “I work at a furniture company called Aurum.”

When he said that, another alumnus by the name of Sangyun, sitting on the other side, came over and joined them.

“Oh, I now get it. I heard you were on a roll these days at Aurum. They say you received tens of million won in award money for reducing the costs, and you got promoted to assistant manager in less than three months after you got hired.”

His alumni’s jaws were dropping at Sangyun’s mention of tens of million won in award money. However, it was Hyunwoo who was as surprised as them.

How did Sangyun hear the rumor about me?

Holding his cup, Sangyun moved next to Hyunwoo’s place and said,

“Actually, our president is really pressing us to reduce costs, so I’ve been trying to find out how other companies are doing. I then heard this about you. Is that true?”

As if he felt shy, Hyunwoo just scratched his head and said,

“Well I was lucky enough to get the award.”

When he said that, Kim Hyungsun again said sarcastically,

“You reduced the cost of tens of million won, I guess. How come the award money is tens of million won?”

Come to think of it, the award money was too big, Sangyun thought.

Sangyun asked once more, “Really? Did I hear wrong?”

Chuckling, Hyunwoo replied, “I told you already, man. I just got the money by luck.”

Sangyun’s eyes opened wider now, for it was the award money that Hyunwoo had received, not the amount of cost reduction. Even Hyungsun was astonished this time.

“Really? Wow, you’re great! How did you receive tens of million won in award money?”

“Hey, you guys make me keep repeating what I said already. I was just lucky.”

Suddenly, Hyungsun put forward an absurd proposal to Hyunwoo.

“Don’t you want to work with me by any chance? Actually, I wanted to hire one more smart guy. I can give you a higher salary than what you receive from Aurum right now. Just call me when you feel up to it.”

Hyunwoo sneered at him in his heart. Why would he leave a good company and work under Kim? Also, it seemed that he would have no future in the company Kim was running.

“How can I change my workplace so suddenly? My company is very good, and the employees there are also good” said Hyunwoo, politely declining Kim’s offer.

Kim smacked his lips as if he regretted Hyunwoo’s decision.

“Well, I’m merely mentioning it just in case you might need my help.”

“Thanks for your consideration, friend,” said Hyunwoo with a big smile.

A conversation between them stopped for a while, when Sangyun interrupted as if he had been waiting for a chance to join.

“What happened, man? Please tell me how. I just want to get some award money with your coaching, dude.”

“Hummm does your company export at all?”

“No, we’re not exporting.”

Then, it has nothing to do with the refund.

“What kind of a company is it?”

“Handcarts. It’s used to carry packages.”

“Where do you buy the raw material? Don’t you import parts from abroad?”

“Well, we buy the handle and pads from local factories and only the wheels from abroad.”

“Which country?”

“China. But the ratio of defective parts is too high. I heard the quality of Chinese products has improved, but it still has a long way to go. So, it looks like our material department is trying to change the wheel supplier now.”

At that moment, Hyunwoo’s eyes opened wider because the wheels used for the handcarts were also produced by N&C factory in Vietnam.

“Can I introduce you a foreign wheel producer I know well? In fact, our company has recently changed the wheel supplier from Taiwan to Vietnam, and I got the award money because of my contribution.”

Sangyun opened his eyes wide suddenly at his reply. If Hyunwoo received the award money for that, he felt he could get it, too.

“Where is the company?”

“It’s located in Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam. I wonder if the unit price is cheaper than the Chinese part, but the quality is really good. It’s a wheel factory set up by Korean experts in Vietnam.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that. By the way, as I don’t work at the production team, I don’t know much. I’m not sure if I can get the award money without understanding anything about it.”

“It’s not that difficult. Why don’t you initiate the cost reduction proposal and submit it to your boss?”

“That might be an easy job for you since you know it well. Can you help me? Let me treat you to a big dinner if I get the award money.”

Hyunwoo thought about it for a moment.

If he collected some information, it was a very simple job. In addition, it would be a good thing for Hyunwoo that N&C company could expand its sales market in Korea.

“Sure. Please let me know the product details and the unit price of the Chinese part. Then, let me make a proposal for you. You should treat me big instead, okay?”

“No problem, dude. Give me your business card. I’ll email you the product specifications and the import unit price.”

Hyunwoo gave his business card to Sangyun.

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