I’d Rather Live as a Villain - I’d Rather Live as a Villain chapter 54

54 Is it the salary or the bonus that matters?

Spring seemed to be on the verge of beginning.

Before we knew it, the first week of March, Friday.

As of today, 41 countries, 74 overseas bases.

Headquarters, including overseas branches, a total of 3,183 employees.

From steel to energy, advanced materials, as well as traders of functional chemical raw materials and new businesses.

This was the current reference for Daeyoung Trading’s commercial division.

Former heads of the commercial division (related to overseas market sales) and division managers (related to material business) gathered inside the conference hall at the call of President Min Byung-jin.

A conference table laid out in a square ‘ㅁ’ shape.

Naturally, the name tag bearing my name was placed right next to President Min Byung-jin.

“Since everyone is busy, I’ll only go over the content with insight,” he said.

It was a concept of settlement that proceeded quarterly.

Naturally, it was not the current quarter being discussed, but a public settlement of the past quarter.

Due to the nature of the trading business, the period when sales are confirmed varies depending on the cargo distance or the invoice processing method.

That’s why we don’t have a concept of year-end settlement.

We simply enter into settlement based on the performance of the previous quarter, every quarter.

It’s a place where emotions have no room to interfere.

A place where discussions are held solely on the performance and numbers of sales.

A place where reasons and causes are neither asked nor disputed.

Therefore, understanding and consent mean nothing here.

It’s a place where only the end results are discussed.

When the phrase ‘You need to make an effort’ comes from the president’s mouth, we take it as a warning.

That your position might be in jeopardy.

On the other hand, when he says ‘The exchange rate must have been favorable,’ we take it as a kind of praise, expecting good results in the next quarter as well.

And while the sales and operating profits of other regions and parts are disclosed, the fact that only certain regions and parts are not mentioned in the meeting is understood as a notification that there will be no contract renewal for your position.

“Lastly, the European Division.”

It was clear that I had no reason to be warned, nor did I feel any danger regarding my position.

But…

“The revenue stands at 427.1 billion won, based on Hanwha.”

It was a precise 30 percent increase in sales compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Sales that were literally dragged up by the scruff of the neck.

Low exclamations of awe flowed from all around.

Soon, President Min Byung-jin continued.

“Even considering the entire conglomerate, it’s second only to the overseas construction division, which brought in 682.4 billion won in the last quarter of last year. Strictly speaking, if the final invoice from Dubai Consolado, which the overseas construction division secured the summer before last, hadn’t been delayed and had been processed normally in the third quarter, the European Division would have topped the conglomerate’s total sales for the last quarter.”

This wasn’t a call for celebration.

With the European Division exploding in sales, the president’s indirect criticism was aimed at the other division heads and department managers who were generating negative growth.

I never felt any discomfort in such a place where indirect criticism was rampant.

Wasn’t I the one who had experienced more treacherous breakfasts in Pyeongchang-dong for over three years?

Compared to those, this was nothing but a kindergarten recital.

However, what weighed on my mind was that the European Division was the last on today’s financial review agenda.

President Min had not yet mentioned the sales of the China Division.

I subtly turned my eyes to the right, observing the expression of Director Jang Ki-won of the China Division, who was sitting at the very end of the conference table, with his back to the window.

I could feel the many gazes that had already turned towards Director Jang before mine.

Director Jang Ki-won, with his head bowed, silently concealed his lips like a reed, as if ready to take responsibility for the outcome.

He seemed to have anticipated this to some extent.

The China Division, which once followed the European Division in generating substantial revenue, supporting a major pillar of the trading sector.

Nothing is eternal, after all.

Still, it was personally regrettable that the end of a Daeyoung Mulsan man, who had been in charge of the China Division for over five years and led its golden age during his time as a manager, was being treated so dismissively.

Seeing this, President Min is truly remarkable.

Of all days, he chooses to hold such financial reviews right before quitting time on Fridays.

Forcing those responsible for poor results to be unable to rest easy over the weekend.

It’s no coincidence that he has been protecting the president’s seat of a subsidiary, a pillar of Daeyoung, for the past nine years.

“Then, let’s conclude the financial review for the last quarter.”

The moment President Min Byung-chul organized the charts and stood up, all the executives of the trading sector rose from their seats.

* * *

From noble mtl dot nete

My attention was still fixed on Director Jang Ki-won.

Chief Director Jang Ki-won.

To me, he was more familiar as Chief Jang.

When Chief Director Jang Ki-won, as Chief Jang, was leading the China division office, there wasn’t a single team within our European sector that didn’t receive help from the China division.

Even setting aside the shortcomings of the products from that market, in terms of sheer size alone, it was the most meritorious market.

In fact, the Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Haikou branches located in China were established not for the export of Chinese products but rather for the import of foreign products into China.

It was when I was concretizing the business plan related to the olive industry in Andalusia, Spain.

Usually, instead of attempting intermediary trade using the branch as a base, like the Andalusian Olive Oil Project, the goal was to establish a branch. Within it, securing other intermediary trade countries beforehand was fundamental when creating new businesses or products.

First, you create a sales route, and then conservatively estimate the revenue that can be generated for that market to determine the billing turnover.

It’s the very basics.

Naturally, the first market I had to secure at that time was the Chinese market.

The Andalusian olive farm owners were negotiating margins with us, Daeyoung Commodities, and a few Chinese companies until the last moment, such was the exponential rise in demand for olive oil in China at the time.

I had taken the basic proposal to the China division, and while it was a desperate and promising business from my and our Spanish team’s perspective, it wasn’t exactly an appealing business for the China division.

Olive oil, after all, how much could selling a bottle really amount to?

The issue wasn’t the price but the volume and weight.

At that time, the Chinese economy was still booming, so the China division needed products that could economically take a margin.

There was no reason to handle products like olive oil, which required not just a basic warehouse but a factory-type large warehouse and careful storage due to its short shelf life, known as high-maintenance products.

“Really? Then send it over, we’ll try our best to sell it.”

At that time, Deputy Manager Park Je-dong took me and Jung Chang-ho to the China division meeting.

Of course, the China division representatives who attended the meeting were not keen.

“Thank you, Chief.”

As soon as the word ‘okay’ fell from Chief Jang Ki-won’s mouth, the China division representatives started to open their mouths one after another, as if they were too quick and easy to give the okay sign without even trying to adjust the price.

“Chief, we should consider this matter as positively as possible, but instead of deciding right here, let’s keep it on hold for a while…”

“Hey, Deputy Manager Ko, just… just…”

“…Yes, Chief.”

“Whether we’re putting in a deal or not. If you look at it, it’s not like we’re on our side but more like an X-man. Right now, Deputy Yun isn’t trying to sell us something.”

It wasn’t that it wasn’t true.

I was right to have aimed to establish a solid sales route against the China division.

But the words that came out of Chief Jang’s mouth were enough to silence the other China division representatives who had attended the meeting.

“It’s not about making a commission by mediating trade for other companies’ goods, we’re talking about creating our own Daeyoung Commodities brand.”

“……”

“What’s important, really? Geez… Is it more important to sell other companies’ products that offer a slightly higher margin and are easier to handle, or to collaborate to launch our own company brand? Is salary important, or is the bonus? You can earn the bonus with your own abilities, but you need the company for the salary. Why do you always mess up right in front of the big picture? Think broader, Chief Go. Isn’t it absurd that a manager can’t think what even an assistant manager can? Assistant Manager Yoon.”

“Yes, Director.”

At that time, I truly felt like I had an army at my back.

The world I lived in wasn’t as broad as it is now, so when the China Division Director, of all people, promised support without question, I remember feeling a confidence that made me feel like there was nothing I couldn’t do.

“People in China these days aren’t as easy as before. The times when they would rush to buy in bulk if they heard something was good are over. And looking at the plan, this project isn’t just targeting the Chinese market.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Create a good product. If the product is good, the market won’t discriminate.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“For now, Haikou has the advantage over Shenzhen and Shanghai for alcohol and cooking oil. There’s no tariff on cooking oil there.”

“Yes, I’ve already checked that.”

“Then we’ll send it there. Assistant Director Park.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Let’s proceed with that. Anything else?”

“Thank you, Director.”

I owe a certain debt of gratitude to him.

Perhaps that’s why, Director Jang Ki-won.

I kept wondering if it was right to just watch passively as my life in trade ended so anticlimactically.

But today was Friday, and soon it would be time to leave work.

President Min Byung-jin had already left the conference room.

Most of the executives were also leaving the meeting room one by one.

The last ones glued to the conference chairs were just Director Jang and me.

Our eyes met.

Director Jang struggled to curl the corners of his mouth, sending me an awkward smile.

I had no choice but to bow first to Director Jang, and he responded by bowing a little deeper than I did.

In that moment of exchanging greetings, I suddenly remembered what he had said to the current China Division Director, Ko Hyung-soo, back then.

“Is salary important, or is the bonus? You can earn the bonus with your own abilities, but you need the company for the salary.”

Even though I knew him from before, that one sentence Director Jang said at that department meeting described Jang Ki-won the person the best.

* * *

Sunday afternoon.

I headed to the wedding hall where the ceremony was said to be, with my wife to pick up my mother.

“Why can’t we eat at the buffet if they’ve chartered a bus from Daejeon?”

“It’s not that we can’t eat; it seems they’ve reserved a separate restaurant outside for those coming from Daejeon.”

“Why make it so complicated?”

“That’s what everyone does. Those who hold tight-scheduled weddings, when inviting guests from afar, they go through the trouble to offer a more proper meal, even for the same price.”

“Really?”

“Of course, you wouldn’t know, having only seen hotel weddings. They’re all older folks, after all. They have to take the bus back down, so a clean, simple menu is better than buffet food.”

A tour bus, likely the one my mother came on, caught my eye.

The bus had a sign with the departure points for Daejeon and Seoul.

I parked the car behind it and checked the time.

Meanwhile, my wife called the Daeyoung Hotel Sogong-dong branch.

“Hello, it’s me. Could you reserve a table for three at Haewoorum (a signature Korean dining restaurant brand of Daeyoung Hotel) in about 30 minutes? My mother-in-law has come up from Daejeon. We’re thinking of taking her there for lunch. Please prepare everything with utmost care, the seating and the food. She’s very important to me. Yes, I’ll be counting on you. Thank you.”

After ending the call with the general manager of the Daeyoung Hotel Sogong-dong branch, I asked my wife.

“Why go all the way there for lunch? There are plenty of nice restaurants near our house.”

“Wouldn’t you be curious?”

“About what?”

“The company where your son and daughter-in-law work. Later, when she talks with her friends, she could brag about her son, saying she went there because her son and daughter-in-law took her.”

“You still don’t know my mother.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s the type who would close her own shop rather than risk hearing any complaints about her due to her son and daughter-in-law.”

“…”

“Well, that’s a different matter. Anyway, thanks for caring.”

“I’m just doing what I should. Why thank me? If you’re going to be grateful for this, then I should be thanking you every day.”

At 12:30 PM.

A crowd of wedding guests was pouring out of the hall.

Among them, I could spot my mother.

“Oh? There’s Mom.”

My wife and I quickly got out of the car and headed towards the gathering crowd by the tour bus.

“Mom!”

She seemed not to hear her son calling, busy greeting the other ladies.

“Mom!”

As I called out again, drawing closer, a lady next to her gently nudged my mother’s arm, bringing her attention to the presence of her son and daughter-in-law.

The moment my wife affectionately approached and linked arms with my mother, everyone around us began to stare with half-open mouths.

“Waiting for you to come out, my neck’s about to fall off, and my stomach’s growling… I’m in a total mess right now. Let’s go, Mom. Let’s go eat something delicious.”

Among the crowd, there must have been those who were acquainted with my mother, and certainly many who had come together on the bus just for today’s wedding.

Right now, those blinking in surprise at the entrance of a woman named Kang Moon-jung must be among them.

Even those who had boarded the bus earlier began to gaze out the windows in wonder at the sight of my wife.

“Why… Moon-jung, you came too?”

My mother, conscious of the stares from others, couldn’t immediately respond to the warm welcome of my wife, who was clinging to her arm.

“Of course, we should come together. Why take two cars in a country without a drop of oil? Let’s hurry, Mom. I’ve made reservations at the best restaurant in our hotel. We’ll have a big lunch, and for dinner, let’s keep it simple with chicken and beer at home. Hehehe, that’s alright, isn’t it?”