NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19
Chapter 19
“What do you think of this person?”
Kim Chul-soo looked at the picture Lee Jun-hak stealthily handed him with a puzzled expression.
“She seems a bit old for me to go on a blind date with.”
Lee Jun-hak burst out laughing, looking dumbfounded.
“Hey, you idiot. It’s not for you, you punk. Do you think she’d be a good match for Manager Pyo?”
“Ah, Manager Pyo?”
Kim Chul-soo looked at the picture again carefully.
Manager Pyo Il-soo, 37 years old this year, was single.
He didn’t seem to have any particular hobbies, but he seemed to like computer games. Whenever the team leader was away and he had nothing to do, he would be absorbed in a game website.
It seemed like the only person he was close to in the company was Assistant Manager Lee Jun-hak.
The important thing was that Assistant Manager Lee Jun-hak hadn’t been this actively looking after Manager Pyo Il-soo in the past.
That meant that there must have been talks about Manager Pyo Il-soo’s promotion going around among the higher-ups.
Assistant Manager Lee Jun-hak’s personal network was quite extensive, after all.
Including Manager Park Joon-hyung.
“Isn’t that Assistant Manager Park Eun-sook from the Ethics Management Department?”
“Oh? How did you know? She’s someone you rarely see in the Sales Department. Are you interested in her by any chance?”
“Uh…… no…… That’s not it. Isn’t she your colleague, Assistant Manager Lee?”
“Chul-soo, you really…… Is there anyone in the company you don’t know?”
“I’ve been diligently checking the company directory, Assistant Manager Lee.”
“Ah! Right. So, what do you think?”
“I think it’s not a bad idea to try.”
“Right?”
When Kim Chul-soo nodded in agreement, Lee Jun-hak asked,
“Have you finished the Kenya popcorn project?”
“Yes. I’m all prepared.”
“We’ll be presenting it in the meeting room this afternoon, so be ready. The team leader’s been walking around with a grin plastered on his face like a lump these days, so don’t spoil the mood.”
“Yes. Don’t worry, Assistant Manager Lee.”
“How did you even think of selling popcorn? You’re an interesting guy.”
“It’s a popcorn machine, Assistant Manager Lee.”
‘Is he trying to tell me not to pry into trade secrets? This little rascal!’
Lee Jun-hak put Kim Chul-soo in a headlock, who was subtly changing the subject.
“Don’t get cocky just because you pulled off one good deal!”
“Ouch! I’m sorry, Assistant Manager Lee.”
When Kim Chul-soo apologized profusely, Lee Jun-hak released the headlock and pointed to the office door.
“I’ll be out for a bit. If anyone calls, give them my number, okay?”
“Yes, Assistant Manager Lee.”
As Lee Jun-hak left the office, Kim Chul-soo turned his attention back to the presentation materials and thought.
Deputy Manager Ahn Jeong-gyu’s promotion, Manager Pyo Il-soo’s promotion, and Assistant Manager Lee Jun-hak’s confirmed promotion.
It was rare for promotions to overlap like this in one team.
This meant that the team would have no assistant managers.
If Manager Pyo Il-soo got promoted and moved to another team and no new personnel came in, there would be a possibility of early promotion.
Kim Chul-soo hadn’t anticipated Manager Pyo Il-soo’s promotion at all.
‘Team Leader Ahn must be pushing hard.’
******
“The supplier is offering $500, but the buyer is asking for $700? Then, wouldn’t it be more profitable to buy the machines ourselves and sell them instead of just connecting the two companies?”
At Team Leader Ahn Jeong-gyu’s words, Manager Pyo Il-soo replied,
“Yes, Team Leader Ahn. That would be much better. Since it’s a national project, the guarantee is solid, and the buyer’s credit is good, so using Han-Young Logistics wouldn’t be a bad idea either.”
“I think that would be a good approach, Team Leader Ahn.”
Assistant Manager Lee Jun-hak also nodded in agreement.
Naturally, Kim Chul-soo was aware of this method and had already anticipated this kind of reaction if he presented it this way.
“Ah, I didn’t know we could do that.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t know as a newbie. As for the transaction method, it would be best to involve Han-Young Logistics.”
That way, the superiors could subtly insert themselves into the deal, and at this timing, he could express his respect for them.
It was a way of showing that things were moving forward thanks to them, not because he was skilled.
It was a form of flattery.
“Understood. I’ll revise the business plan based on your feedback, Team Leader Ahn and Manager Pyo.”
At Kim Chul-soo’s words, Ahn Jeong-gyu nodded with a satisfied look and asked,
“Can Gadeok Machinery handle that kind of volume?”
“Yes. I inquired when I visited them before, and I received the documents via email this time. However, I’ll visit them again to cross-check if it’s actually feasible.”
“Good! Then, create a business plan incorporating Han-Young Logistics and submit it.”
3,000 units per year.
15,000 units over five years.
Even after deducting related expenses, the profit was $150 per unit, resulting in a total profit of $2.25 million over five years. It was a lucrative deal.
Team Leader Ahn Jeong-gyu’s grin seemed to have grown even wider.
Kim Chul-soo immediately replied with a ‘Yes’ and proceeded to the next presentation.
“And we need to establish a local distributor in Kenya.”
“A distributor?”
“Yes. The CEO of ATC Company, with whom we are dealing, is Buhoho Kenyatta, the fourth son of Jomo Kenyatta, who led Kenya to independence from British rule. Perhaps, we can use this opportunity to secure more deals with Kenya.”
Assistant Manager Lee Jun-hak, who had been dealing with Kenya, nodded and said,
“Chul-soo has a point. Although Kenya is a relatively underdeveloped region, it has world-renowned tourist attractions like Safari and Kilimanjaro, attracting many visitors. The beaches along the Indian Ocean are also quite beautiful. If Uhuru Kenyatta, who lost the presidential election last year, becomes president in the next election, there’s a high chance he will attract foreign capital for development. Naturally, there will be much to gain from his brother, Buhoho Kenyatta.”
“If it involves development attracting foreign capital, the scale would be significant.”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea as a new business item for the company.”
After exchanging words with Lee Jun-hak, Ahn Jeong-gyu nodded and thought.
‘As expected of Jun-hak.’
Ahn Jeong-gyu, who had started to envision a bigger picture, asked Kim Chul-soo,
“We’ll need someone trustworthy to set up a local distributor.”
As Ahn Jeong-gyu asked, Kim Chul-soo moved on to the next slide in the presentation.
There, a picture of Kennedy was plastered, and Lee Jun-hak gasped in surprise.
“His name is Kennedy Zouma. I used him as a guide this time, and he was a very capable person.”
After Kim Chul-soo finished his presentation, Ahn Jeong-gyu asked Lee Jun-hak,
“Do you know him?”
“Yes. He was my guide when I went to Kenya last year. As Chul-soo said, he’s a truly capable person. He would be a great local agent.”
Ahn Jeong-gyu nodded as both Lee Jun-hak and Kim Chul-soo praised Kennedy.
“Alright. I’ll take care of the local agent matter. We need one right away to manage the coffee and popcorn machines. Let’s wrap this up, shall we? Chul-soo, organize your expense reports and submit them to the General Affairs Department by today. Manager Pyo, please stay behind for a moment.”
After Lee Jun-hak and Kim Chul-soo left the meeting room, Ahn Jeong-gyu said to Pyo Il-soo,
“You know what to do this week, right?”
“This is too much. The saying ‘Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Friday, Friday’ really hits home.”
“Don’t complain. Next month, all the sales teams will be submitting business plans under the Chairman’s orders.”
“What? The Chairman’s orders?”
“It seems he was quite impressed after seeing the new employees’ presentations.”
Ahn Jeong-gyu said so and handed the file he had brought to Pyo Il-soo.
“What is this?”
“Refer to this and create a business plan. Make a good one and catch the Chairman’s eye.”
“Ah!”
“That’s the only way I can push for your promotion to Deputy Manager.”
“So, Team Leader Ahn, your promotion to Manager this time……”
Ahn Jeong-gyu nodded.
“It’s confirmed.”
“Ah, congratulations, Team Leader Ahn.”
“Thanks.”
After finishing his words, Ahn Jeong-gyu crossed his arms and looked at Pyo Il-soo with a pitiful expression.
“By the way, when are you getting married?”
“Huh?”
“You said you’d treat us to Janchi-guksu this year, didn’t you?”
“Ahahaha!”