The Famous Millionaire

At that moment, Yoshimoto was greatly surprised because Hyunwoo’s remarks suggested that he wouldn’t give it for the typical price tag. In other words, it clearly showed that he wouldn’t give it away for nothing.

Then Hyunwoo continued, “I don’t think we have to trade one’s health for money because that means we’re committing a sin.”

“What do you mean is…”

“The price of this ginseng is Haruki’s health. If she can get well after eating this ginseng, it will serve its purpose.”

Yoshimoto couldn’t get it easily. Rather, he was thinking the opposite. Actually, he was asking Hyunwoo how much he wanted for the ginseng.

Now, Yoshimoto asked unambiguously, “Then, how much do I have to pay to you for this ginseng?”

Hyunwoo shook his head, “I think I mentioned it a little ago. This is not my land, and the ginseng is not mine. It’s the state-owned land; thus, it’s state-owned ginseng, so you have to pay to Korea if you want to pay.”

“But what if I don’t pay even after I promise to pay?”

Hyunwoo smiled, saying, “As you already expected, I had to do lots of research about you to pull off the current deal, and I found out you’re a very conscientious man. I trust your conscience.”

Yoshimoto didn’t reply at all. It was too big a gift for Hyunwoo to give it with trust in his conscience alone.

“And this ginseng is holy. If you act against your conscience after you take this, that conscience of yours will punish you.”

Yoshimoto nodded his head, “Got it. I promise. Let me handle it according to my conscience, and let me review Aurum’s matter according to my conscience.”

“I know Aurum’s technical capability is not as good as Art Hill’s, but take this into account.”

Yoshimoto’s eyes twinkled, determined to listen to him carefully.

“We sent technicians to N&C in Vietnam to improve the quality of its products, and they’re the dream team of Korea’s best technicians in the field.”

“I know it because I heard the news about it.”

“Thanks to that, Aurum got lots of benefits, and I think it’s the same for JBC. If Aurum emerges as Art Hill’s rival, it will bring benefits to JBC, too.”

“I think that’s persuasive, but I’d like to point out one thing. Aurum misses one fundamental thing.”

“What you mean by ‘fundamental’ is…”

“The life of a chair is not in a part like a castor. It’s the health and comfortableness of the customer. I know Aurum has improved in the quality of the products in various fields, but you have to keep it in mind that if you don’t improve in the fundamental area, all your efforts are just meaningless.”

Hyunwoo felt he swallowed a piece of ice at that moment.

Yoshimoto clearly touched the core. Aurum missed that fundamental point. Suddenly, Hyunwoo was at a loss for words.

Yoshimoto continued, smiling lightly, “Of course, I don’t mean that the quality of Aurum’s products is far behind. Let me contact JBC head office, so they can test Aurum’s products, and I’ll make sure they can accept. Let’s go down, then.”

“Ah, yes, let’s go down.”

Hyunwoo suddenly felt alert. What Yoshimoto said was something beyond his control, but he would do his best in his current position. If the deal fell apart despite his best efforts, he would take his hands off without any regret.

Hyunwoo wrapped the ginseng with rock moss nearby and put it in an ice box he prepared in advance.

As wild ginseng was very sensitive, it needed careful attention while one boils it. In particular, there were a few things to be aware of. First, never use metal. Don’t use a knife because all you need to do is wash it, and if you have to use the knife, it should be a wooden knife. When boiling it, you should never use a metal bowl, but a glass or chinaware.

The second was the temperature. The temperature should never go over 100 centigrade. In other words, the ginseng should never be boiled. If it is, the good component, including saponin, would be destroyed. The third thing was pressure. Never use high pressure. All herbal medicine allegedly changes its configuration when exposed to pressure, let alone wild ginseng.

That’s why Hyunwoo used the traditional method when he boiled down wild ginseng or red ginseng. Yoshimoto could not have known it, so Hyunwoo took it to his hotel and boiled it in person. He boiled water in a glass bowl he brought from home and then cooled it down at 95 centigrade before putting the whole ginseng into it; then, he boiled it again.

As the temperature should not go over 100 centigrade, he reduced the gas heat lower than low heat and kept an eye on it. Yoshimoto watched it without leaving his place.

Hyunwoo boiled it for about three hours. At the end, the boiled water was reduced by half.

Only then did Hyunwoo turned off heat.

“All done. When it cools down, put it in the refrigerator. I attached a memo on how to drink it in my email to you.”

“Yes, I saw that. It’s pretty complicated. Do you have to drink like that?”

“Well, I’m not a medical doctor, but what I can say for sure that kind of drinking is much better. If you have to use this, don’t you think you should do your best?”

“Of course. Thanks so much from the bottom of my heart.”

Hyunwoo left out of his motel. It’s almost 2 am.

“Phew! It was a well-spent day. The thing about the quality of our products… that’s what I can’t do anything about…”

Hyunwoo headed home lightheartedly, took a nap, and went to work early.

Yoshimoto called Aurum early in the morning to say that he was deeply touched by the purchasing team’s devoted efforts, conveying the message that they would formally test Aurum’s products.

President Daebong Park sent the sample products to JBC’s head office using the quickest shipping method, and one week later, he got the test results.

<Sub-quality in certain test areas>

It was a regrettable result, but Daebong cheered because of the comment below of the test outcome.

<Failed quality standard by a slight difference but has a promising prospect for improvemen.t>

JBC also wished to sign a contract for about $100,000 per year. $100,000 per year was only 0.5% of JBC’s imports from Korea and less than 10% in terms of new products. Moreover, the contents of the contract were even more attractive. JBC said they would transfer some of its technology to Aurum to make up for the sub-quality areas.

Daebong immediately brought in Youngsu, the manager of the purchasing team.

“Hey, what the heck did you do? How did you make such a big thing like this happen?”

As he was not aware of the contract, Youngsu felt his heart sank. He okayed it because Yonggu was so enthusiastic about it, but he was nervous all along.

Checking out Daebong’s face, however, Youngsu felt the situation was not that bad, and as someone who had quick wits, he immediately understood after checking Daebong’s expression.

“Did the contract go well?”

Instead of replying, Daebong showed him the email.

Brightening his face, Youngsu said, “Hahaha, I knew this was gonna happen. See, this is the capability of our purchasing team!”

“I think you guys deserve a reward. I think the whole purchasing team should have the reward, but there must be someone who deserves the most credit. Who was it?”

“Of course, it’s Assistant Manager Yonggu. From start to finish, Yonggu did it.”

“Hummm… Assistant Manager Yonggu Kim. Got it,” said Daebong, nodding his head as if he would remember his name. He gave Youngsu the company card.

“Great job. Have a great meal!”

***

The president of Art Hill fumed.

“What the heck is this? Why did you lose our buyer to Aurum? What did the sales team do?”

The sales team manager was at a loss for words. He was dumbfounded because he felt things would go smoothly as he bribed Oda more than enough.

“I just don’t understand the situation. This can’t be happening.”

“Shut up! Come up with the countermeasure immediately. It will be only a matter of time before we’re being beaten if they begin to take away our customers little by little.”

“Got it, sir.”

The sales manager left the president’s office.

Left alone in the office, the president was agonizing, frowning deeply, If we let Aurum alone like that, they’re going to squeeze us by the throat. Let me take some strong measures against them. What might be a good idea?

***

“Great job, guys. You can leave early today,” said Youngsu to his team members.

These days Hyunwoo often thought Youngsu changed a lot. Actually, he was changing every day as if he was going to a private academy to become a popular manager.

Youngsu stood up from his seat and left the office even before 6 pm. His team members began to leave, so nobody worked through the night that day. Actually, even if they wanted to work all night, they might not feel up to it because they ate and drunk a lot the previous evening thanks to the company card offered by the president.

Even Youngsu, who usually left after the get-together dinner was over, sat with his team members and continued drinking until 2 am. There had only been two of them who left at the end of the party, Sangho Oh and Suji Min.

So, all the team members left the office at the same time for the day.

Then, suddenly someone was seen running out hurriedly.

At a glance, it was some familiar face.

“Uh? Looks like Researcher Byungwon, doesn’t it?”

“Yea, you’re right. His son seems to be sick again. I just feel bad that he goes to the hospital like that so often,” said Yonggu.

Hyunwoo remembered talking with Byongwon about his son during the recent company picnic, and he saw his son Mingyu there.

Mingyu’s sick body was still vivid in his memories.

Suddenly, Haruki came to his mind. Though he had never seen her, she was as fragile and weak as Mingyu.

At that moment, he felt guilty.

What am I doing now? I should have taken care of someone near me. Oh, I think I was blinded with the sales performance of my company.