Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Gun-Ho was talking with GH Mobile’s President Jang-Hwan Song on the phone about the products that A Electronics requested.

“How many products do they want?”

“He was not sure about the volume of the product order because his job is not directly involved with product order. Since they are a research center, they only get involved in determining whether the product can be made or not.”

“Hmm, really?”

“He suggested talking with the plant manager of the factory in Dangjin City or Changwon City about the number of products and their prices.”

“I guess his part is to conduct a testing on the sample product that we will make.”

“I think so.”

“Who’s going to pay for the product molds then?”

“He said they will pay for them.”

“Hmm, really? You went there with our research center’s chief officer— Mr. Director Oh, right?”

“Yes, I did.”

“What did Mr. Director Oh say?”

“He said that it won’t be difficult to make those products.”

“Okay, then. Good job.”

“A Electronics’ chief officer of the research center seemed to be excited to see our Director Oh. He said that he always wanted to meet with one of the people who obtained their Ph.D. from the Technical University of Munich in Germany and who were in the automobile industry. In doing some research work, there seemed to be things that they could help each other with.”

“I see. That’s good.”

“After lunch, we will head to their factory in Dangjin City right away. I will let you know once I meet with their plant manager.”

“Sounds good.”

Gun-Ho left his office for the lunch appointment with President Shin a bit later than noon because of the phone call from President Song. When Gun-Ho came down to the first floor at the building entrance, President Shin and Mr. Yoshitake Matsuda were waiting for him.

“I’m so sorry that I came down late. I had an important call that I had to take.”

“You said that we are going to the sushi restaurant across the street, right, sir?”

“Yes.”

The three people crossed the street and walked toward the alley in the direction of Nonhyeon Town. When they sat at the table at the sushi restaurant, Mr. Yoshitake Matsuda said, “This restaurant reminds me of Japan every time I come here.”

“Is it so? Please have sushi as much as you please.”

The first dish that came out was sliced raw flatfish. Gun-Ho dipped the piece of raw fish in a wasabi in soy sauce and put it in his mouth. It felt like it was melting in his mouth.

While having their sushi, Gun-Ho asked Mr. Yoshitake Matsuda, “How do you know Ms. President Ji-Yeon Choi in Akasaka, Tokyo?”

“It has been more than twenty years since I first met her. The day when I was assigned for the position as a newspaper correspondent in Korea, I went to that Korean restaurant. I wanted to experience some Korean culture before I leave for Korea, and the Korean restaurant seemed to be the right place to start it. That restaurant was a newly opened restaurant at that time.”

“Really?”

“When I went there, I was astonished.”

“For what?”

“I was astonished by the beauty of Ms. Ji-Yeon Choi. She is now an old lady, but twenty years ago, she was an amazingly beautiful woman. Lots of men went to the restaurant to see her in the old days.”

President Shin who was sitting at the table asked, “Who is Ms. President Ji-Yeon Choi?”

“She is a Korean lady owner president who is running a Korean restaurant in Tokyo. I believe that she is about the same age as you, Ms. President Shin.”

Mr. Yoshitake Matsuda continued his talk while having his sushi with seaweed, “Whenever I stay in Tokyo and when I have a guest from Korea, that restaurant was my first pick to go, and I went there pretty often. The newspaper that I worked for at that time did the marketing for that restaurant as well. That way, I became close to her.”

When Mr. Yoshitake Matsuda mentioned Tokyo, that reminded Gun-Ho of Mori Aikko.

‘Since the weather is still too hot, she probably doesn’t do her dance performance as much. What is she doing these days? When the weather becomes cooler, will she participate in Aki Matsuri (Fall Festival)?’

Noticing that Gun-Ho was lost in thought for a moment, President Shin said while placing a vegetable salad in front of Gun-Ho, “What are you thinking, sir? Please have some salad.”

“Huh? Oh, oh sure.”

Gun-Ho was thinking of asking Mr. Yoshitake Matsuda if he knew of Mama-san Segawa Joonkko, and then he decided against it. He didn’t want to take a risk revealing his relationship with Mori Aikko, especially to President Shin.

Mr. Yoshitake Matsuda said while picking up a piece of shrimp sushi, “Oh, I talked with Mr. Sakata Ikuzo the other day. He wanted to treat you both, Mr. President Goo and Ms. President Shin when you have a chance to visit Japan. He was very happy with the earnings that he made with his art exhibition here.”

“Haha, really?”

After lunch, Gun-Ho came back to his office. After having a cup of coffee in his office, he fell asleep. When his secretary— Ms. Yeon-Soo Oh— came in the office to pick up the empty cup, Gun-Ho was already deep in sleep. His neck was weirdly folded to the side. Yeon-Soo Oh walked backwards to the front door trying not to make any sound.

Around thirty minutes later, Gun-Ho woke up feeling thirsty. He found a bottle of the beverage— Vita 500— under his desk. It was from a tenant company. Director Kang had brought a box of Vita 500 to Gun-Ho the other day saying that a new tenant dropped it to the office.

While having the beverage, Gun-Ho looked at the box of Vita 500 and thought, “If I fill this box with 50,000 won bills, how much would it hold?”

That thought often popped up in Gun-Ho’s head whenever he saw a box of Vita 500.

Gun-Ho made a call to his mother in Guweol Town, Incheon City.

“Mom? What are you doing?”

“I’m watching TV. One of my favorite soap operas is being re-aired right now.”

“Mom, Young-Eun is pregnant.”

“Young-Eun? Who is Young-Eun?”

“You don’t know Young-Eun, mom? She is your daughter-in-law.”

“What? Your wife is pregnant?”

“Yeah. She already verified her pregnancy by having an ultrasound. She is about two months pregnant according to an ob-gyn.”

“Really? Really? Finally, you will be a father. Hahaha.”

“She is doing okay. She has no morning sickness or anything like that yet.”

“She will start it soon. You have to be good to her, especially during her pregnancy. The best thing that you could do for your wife is to stay with her. That’s what most women want.”

“Really?”

“Just focus on her well-being, both physical and emotional. If she wants to eat something, you should get it for her. Don’t let her do any hard physical work. Tell her to be extra careful when she drives.”

“She can take care of herself.”

“No, you can’t just leave it to her. You have to actively help her. Oh, my goodness. I will soon have my own grandchild.”

“Well, mom, I just wanted to let you know that. I have to go now. I will call you later.”

It didn’t take even thirty minutes until Gun-Ho received another call from his sister.

“Your wife is pregnant, huh?”

“News indeed flies fast, huh? Her ultrasound test said so. We are not 100% sure yet.”

“If the ultrasound said so, then she is pregnant. Your wife now becomes a mother.”

“Haha, I think so.”

“Tell her that she is welcome to the club, and give her my congratulations. I will send her Mom’s Package.”

“Mom’s Package? What is it?”

“It’s a box containing all sorts of things related to infant care. You will find things from wet tissues to dried seaweed to towels and stuff. Oh, you will find a children’s storybook as well, that is supposed to be used for prenatal education.”

“Oh, that kind of thing can be found in the market, huh? People are so smart. It seems that people’s business skills and ideas are evolving every day.”