The Famous Millionaire

“You can’t go in there. That’s my neighbor Kuroda’s research room. It has nothing to do with food or even with us,” said Duyoung resolutely.

But the general affairs manager was pretty nervous. He might have to leave empty-handed as he didn’t find any fault. He had to find out any loophole to avoid the president’s rebuke.

“Would you get his approval? Or let me request him directly.”

“That’s too unreasonable a request, I think.”

“Oh, that’s fine. You may come in and take a look,” came out Kuroda’s voice, when Duyoung was about to quarrel with him. Kuroda already opened the main door wide.

The general affairs manager quickly stepped in and peeped into it.

Just like Duyoung’s container house, Kuroda’s had nothing to do with food research.

With a sigh in heart, he thought, How should I report to the president?

And he left the place with a heavy heart.

When he was gone, Duyoung pushed his own wheelchair to Kuroda, “I’m so sorry. I’ve made a gaffe.”

“Oh, not at all. That’s not a big deal,” replied Kuroda with a pleasing smile.

In fact, Duyoung was very curious about his research. Especially when Duyoung could not make any progress in his own research because of his insufficient knowledge of the car engines, and Duyoung wanted to know about Kuroda’s ongoing research. He felt if he could share Kuroda’s knowledge of the car engine, it would be of great help to him, but Duyoung suffered in silence because he clearly mentioned something about ‘leak of company secrets” when he first visited Korea. Duyoung was afraid Kuroda might move to another place, frightened beforehand when he wrongly mentioned it, but Duyoung felt that it was about time to mention it given Kuroda’s mood at the moment.

“How is your research doing these days?” asked Duyoung cautiously.

“It’s not easy. I run into lots of difficulties as I don’t have much knowledge in the area,” said Kuroda, shaking his head.

“I wonder if I could be of any help to you. As you know, I’ve got some competent knowledge of car fuel.”

Kuroda suddenly opened his eyes wide, “Are you serious?”

Duyoung made a puzzled look because he thought Kuroda must have known about his expertise, “Oh, didn’t you know that? I think you saw me teaching the kids at the alternative school about it several times.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. Can you share your knowledge with me? In fact, I wanted to ask you a favor several times, but I was hesitant to do so,” said Kuroda.

It looked like Kuroda had the same agony as Duyoung. Whenever he couldn’t make any progress, Kuroda wanted to seek his help, but could not mention it because it might be discourteous to him.

“Hahaha. I wish you had mentioned it to me a long time ago. If you need my help, I’m always available. In fact, I needed your help…” said Duyoung, confiding to him about his difficulties in doing the research.

At that moment, Kuroda came to Duyoung quickly and held his hands, “Got it. Why don’t we do this way?”

“How?”

“Let’s share our research. Of course, we can’t reveal everything. I have to keep the company secrets and you also have to keep the outcome of your core research to yourself. Except for that, don’t you think we can share our research outcomes freely?”

Duyoung grabbed his hands more firmly and said, “That’s what I really wanted.”

“Oh my god! If that’s the case, I wish I had spoken to you about it much sooner. Thanks so much.”

“It’s my pleasure. I would like to thank you, too. Hahaha”

Both of them smiled brightly.

Watching them quietly Jisuk smiled, Looks like I have to give thanks to the general manager for all this.

In the meantime, the general manager was quite uneasy while he was driving back to the company. He just let out a sigh when the thought that he would be scolded by the president.

Nonetheless, he had to report his findings. If he found any fault, his report would be supposed to be short, but actually, it was thick because there was nothing substantial. It was intended to show how much he worked to find out any fault in vain. It contained as many as 70 attached pictures.

When he stepped into the president’s office, he presented the report quietly.

Daebong, the president, examined the report silently and put it down on the table after checking the last page.

“Didn’t you find any fault at all?”

“Nothing, sir. Everything was perfect. I tried to find one in every way, but couldn’t.”

“Got it. You may leave now.”

At the moment, the general manager opened his eyes wide. He thought he would get a severe scolding, but actually, he didn’t. He quickly got out of the president’s office for fear he might change his mind and get furious.

Daebong expected he would find no fault. Sometimes, Daebong saw Hyunwoo working at the office. He did his job professionally, never carrying his assignments in a slovenly manner.

The impression of his mother at the House of Happiness was the same. Though she took a submissive attitude, she seemed to be a big person, not doing things carelessly.

Like son, like mother?

Hmmm…still I need to find whatsoever fault anyway, Daebong said to himself.

At that moment, he thought of the House of Happiness. Specifically that outdated warehouse on the way to the orphanage, with a simple sign <N&C Korea.>

Who is in charge of the warehouse? By now, it’s open.

Daebong didn’t have any particular appointment that day. Though he could have had one of his staff members find out more about the warehouse, he decided to check it out for himself.

When he arrived at the warehouse, he felt there was something going on inside it because the lights were on. The door was not locked, so he cautiously went inside.

“Excuse me.”

Daebong found two young men working inside, busy packing the castors.

“How can I help you?”

“Oh, I live nearby and didn’t notice before. How long has this company been operating?”

“Not that long. Why are you asking about it?”

“Oh, I know something about N&C Korea. And I’m associated with it a bit, too. May I ask who is the owner here?” asked Daebong.

The two men looked at each other. After some hesitation, they looked at him again.

“Actually we’re the representatives here…”

“Do you mean there is the actual owner then?”

“Yes, that’s true. Why are you asking it repeatedly? I wonder how you’re associated with N&C…”

They cast a wary eye at him this time.

Only they did Daebong give his name cards to them, “Oh, I think I made a gaffe. This is my business card. I’m the president of Aurum, and N&C in Vietnam is supplying castors to us, so I got interested in this place and that’s why I’m here now.”

“Oh, I see…Would you want coffee?”

His mention of Aurum put their noses out of joint immediately. Taking a submissive attitude, they tried to entertain him nicely.

Daebong felt something strange about their behavior, too. Given that N&C was supplying parts to Aurum, it had nothing to do with these young men. A little later one of the young men got a call from somebody, whose name was familiar to Daebong.

“…Hyunwoo…”

Hyunwoo? Can he be the same Hyunwoo of Aurum?

Daebong waited until the young guy finished the call and then asked, “Is that the person Hyunwoo working at Aurum?”

The young guy nodded his head, saying

“Yes, that’s right. He lent this warehouse to us and helped us a lot.”

He told Daebong about lots of good things about Hyunwoo, as if he felt it was a good chance to promote Hyunwoo, and Daebong nodded, agreeing Hyunwoo was a great guy.

But in heart Daebong was surprised a lot. Did Hyunwoo buy this warehouse? And he lent it to these young men? Why?

He asked again, “I think you guys have to repay his favor then. I don’t think he lent it to you free.”

“We’re returning 30% of the sales profits here. I understand he shares the profits with us.”

“Sharing the 30% profits with you?”

They nodded their heads. Daebong couldn’t understand it.

Hearing what they told him, Daebong found out they’re no more than employees, but Hyunwoo gave them salaries as an incentive. Their salaries would go up in proportion to the sales increase.

Then, it was reasonable for Hyunwoo, the actual owner, to take 70% and the two young men to take the remaining 30%, but Hyunwoo gave much more profits to them.

Daebong felt there must be some secret that he didn’t know, which made him recall what Youngsu Park, the manager of the purchasing team, had reported to him a while ago. It was a conversation about N&C.

<According to the former manager, N&C in Vietnam was in such a bad financial situation that it could not operate without 300 million won, but the company overcame the financial crisis and improved its product quality and sent the samples to us.>

To the small company in Vietnam, 300 million won was a huge amount. At that time Daebong had been impressed with the company’s improvement of the product quality after overcoming the enormous financial crisis. So, it was still vivid in his memory.

When he thought as far as that, Daebong suddenly opened his eyes wide, I wonder if Hyunwoo invested in that company then…

He shook his head immediately, though. Wasn’t Hyunwoo the very person who ran around to make money, driving his old van during the day, and offering a chauffeur service during the night? How could he make so enough money to invest in that company?

However, Daebong thought Hyunwoo could afford to do that. Didn’t he hear from the young men that Hyunwoo bought the warehouse and lent it to them free? The fact that he spent so much money for others, not himself, meant he was a man of wealth.

Daebong also recalled the computers and the relevant computer programs that Hyunwoo donated to the House of Happiness, worth several million won. In addition, he paid salaries to the part-time teachers of the orphanage every month.

Only then did Daebong nod his head, thinking, I now know it. He was not a poor guy. He was extremely frugal. Why didn’t I know that…?

That was not important. What mattered to him was Hyunwoo’s weakness.

Back in his office, Daebong called Minhye and said conclusively, “Just put the name Hyunwoo Jang in the list of the candidates joining the new corporation.”

“Is it okay when he doesn’t want it?”

“How dare he refuse it? It’s the president’s order. And didn’t you say he’s an indispensable person to you?”

“Yes, I need him badly,” said Minhye with a strong will.

Daebong was of the same opinion. Apart from his excellent performance, Daebong wanted to have Hyunwoo work right beside Minhye to have a correct judgment of him as the groom candidate for her.

“Let me persuade him in every way. So, just include his name!”

Minhye’s face brightened.

“Got it. Let me put his name as I trust you!”