Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Chapter 623: Jae-Sik's Wife is Leaving for China - Part 2

President Jeong-Sook Shin said to Gun-Ho, "Did the lady who was operating the book cafe stop by your office? Today is her last day with us."

"I heard about it. Did you find someone to replace her position yet?"

"I did. I have a friend of mine who is younger than me. After becoming single, she is living by herself. I asked her to come and work at the book cafe."

"Becoming single?"

"She divorced her husband. They have a son—a second-grader. She is living by herself with her kid. She worked as an insurance salesperson for a while, but she was not good at it. And she didn't make enough accordingly. I told her to come and work with me at the book cafe. She is 40 something years old, but she is still pretty."

"Haha, I see. Well, do what you have to do, Ms. President Shin. Is the book cafe generating enough profits?"

"I can't expect to make huge profits with the book cafe, but I can tell you that the earnings from it certainly help GH Media in paying the rent for the office. Haha."

"That's good enough."

The accounting manager—Mr. Hong—entered Gun-Ho's office.

"Sir, I brought the chart that you requested the other day. It contains all the information about GH companies' bank accounts and contact information of a person who is in charge of accounting of each company."

"Hmm, good job."

While Gun-Ho was reviewing the chart, Manager Hong said, "Umm, the person in charge of accounting at GH Logistics is Manager Hyeong-Nam Eun, not Director Gun-Sook Goo, sir."

"Hyeong-Nam Eun?"

"Yes, I thought the person was a male manager, but it turned out it was she. I talked with her on the phone. She told me that she joined the company not long ago. She also said that she used to work for a paper cup factory doing accounting work."

"Oh, oh, the paper cup manufacturing factory."

When Manager Hong mentioned a paper cup manufacturing company, Gun-Ho now remembered who that was. Gun-Ho's sister used to work at a paper cup manufacturing company as a production worker for a long time.

His sister mentioned that she hired someone, who she used to work with at the paper cup factory, for an accounting staff at GH Logistics. She also told Gun-Ho the other day that she was feeling much comfortable at the office since the new hire joined the company.

"Please send this chart to each GH company's accounting person via email."

"Yes, sir."

"It will make their work easier once they know each other's contact information."

"Okay, sir. I will do that."

"Also, when you send out this chart to each company's accounting person, ask them to send us last month's profit and loss statement."

"You mean the profit and loss statement for the month of September, sir? The GH manufacturing companies might not finalize the payment from their clients yet."

"It's early October now. Ask them to send it to us by October 15th then."

"Yes, sir."

"When you send out the request, make it as an official letter, and tell them that I requested it."

"Yes, sir."

"Umm… since it's for the month of September, do you want me to ask them to send us the profit and loss balance for the third quarter of this year as well?"

"I don't want to impose them, especially at the very first request. Let's have the statement for September only for now. Once they get used to making the statement for a month, I will ask them for the quarterly profit and loss statement as well."

"Yes, sir."

After the accounting manager—Mr. Hong—left the office, Gun-Ho read a newspaper with his legs crossed.

He then called for the secretary—Ms. Yeon-Soo Oh.

"We have the Longjing Tea that I brought from China, right?"

"Yes, sir, we do."

"Let me have a cup of the Longjing Tea, please."

"Yes, sir."

Gun-Ho continued to read the newspaper while having the Longjing Tea that Ms. Deng Jufen—the Shanghai Art Gallery's director—gave to him as a present. At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

"Please come in."

A lady entered his office, giving a greeting bow to Gun-Ho. It was Jae-Sik Moon's wife. Gun-Ho stood up from his seat.

"Umm, I just wanted to let you know that I'm not coming to work at the book cafe from tomorrow. I came to say good bye."

"Oh, I see."

"It has been a pleasure working at the book cafe, and I do thank you for giving me the opportunity. Thank you."

Jae-Sik Moon's wife was holding her hands in front of her. Since she was eight months pregnant, her belly bulged out noticeably.

"Thank you for your hard work so far. It seems that President Moon is settling very well in China. I think you will be fine joining him in China now."

"Right. As a matter of fact, I'm leaving for China next week."

"President Moon already moved into a condo there. Daily life in China should be comfortable."

"Thank you. Hope you and your family stay well."

"Likewise. Please take good care of yourself."

Jae-Sik Moon's spouse and Gun-Ho gave a 90-degree bow to each other as a way to say goodbye. Gun-Ho walked her out of the office, and they exchanged another 90-degree bow with each other for the second time.

It was late afternoon when Gun-Ho received a call from Dyeon Korea's Director Kim.

"Hello, Mr. Director Kim."

"I'm calling you about our research center's equipment purchase, sir."

"I already told them to buy the necessary lab equipment."

"I reviewed the purchase list that Manager Hee-Yeol Yoo brought to me. The total cost exceeds 10 million won. Vice President Adam Castler wants to make sure with you if it is absolutely necessary to purchase them. He wants your confirmation before he approves it."

"Okay. I will come to Dyeon Korea tomorrow and will explain the situation to him."

"I explained to him already that we need those equipment and tools at our new research center because we have to produce a list of them placed in our research center when we report the authority that we have now a research center within our company. But, he still refused to sign it."

"Really?"

"It seems that sometimes we have to go through things that we didn't have to if it was not a joint venture company but our own company."

"Haha, it looks like so."

"Once Mr. Adam Castler signs the purchase request, there is no other issue, isn't there?"

"No, sir. We will need to include the list of researchers when we make a report to the authority, and we have no problem doing it since our workers there are highly qualified with excellent academic backgrounds. For example, our chief research officer—even though his position is temporary—is holding a Ph.D in engineering. Manager Hee-Yeol Yoo also has a master's degree in engineering."

"That's right."

"The young workers there are very qualified researchers as well. Having a bachelor's degree is a very basic start these days. Many of our workers at the research center are holding a master's degree on top of it."

"Where do we apply for having a research center in our company?"

"It's the Korea Industrial Technology Association, sir."

"We won't have any problem with our research center being recognized by them, right?"

"Of course, sir. Even a smaller company than ours had their research center successfully recognized."

"I see."

"We just need to include the pictures of the research center with all the lab equipment and tools. It has been delayed because of Mr. Adam Castler."

"Maybe there is a reason why he is so reluctant to approve the purchase. Do you think that maybe the head office of Lymondell Dyeon doesn't like the fact that we have our own fully-functioning research center?"

"That sounds plausible, sir."

"I will explain to him tomorrow when I get there, but for now, why don't you tell Mr. Castler that we will need it in order to receive favorable tax treatment as we can enjoy the tax reduction as a result. Also, in Korea, many client companies prefer to buy products from a company that has its own research center. The third reason would be that having a research center will definitely help our company to successfully register with KOSDAQ."

"Yes, sir."