Chapter 704: Employee Stock Ownership Plan (3) – Part 1

Director Woon-Hak Sim pulled out something from his bag.

“What is it?” Gun-Ho asked.

“It’s the film scenario of Menghuan Yinghua. It’s now fully translated into Korean, so I’m carrying this with me to China.”

“Have you finished reading it?”

“No, I haven’t yet. I finished about the first third. I like it so far. No wonder Ms. Ailing Feng is one of the most famous screenwriters in China.”

“Hmm, is that right?”

“I do like the title as well— Menghuan Yinghua. It means dreamy Sakura. ‘Yinghua’ is Sakura, but in the scenario, it indicates a Japanese geisha. If you read the scenario, the main male character is a Chinese spy. He managed to get into the Japanese society and met a Japanese geisha, and then he fell in love with her. We just need to give a little touch to the story. It will turn out to be a great movie.”

“Hmm.”

“I think that producing a movie based on this scenario is worth devoting everything I have even risking my life.”

“Are you saying ‘Isshokenmei’?”

“I beg your pardon, sir?”

“It’s a Japanese saying. It means that you are putting everything into the work that you are doing, to the extent that you risk your life. It’s ‘Isshokenmei’ in Japanese. The Japanese engineer— Mr. Sakata Ikuzo— used to say it.”

“Oh, I see…”

“Well, if that is your attitude toward the movie production, I’m sure that it will succeed. I’m counting on you, Mr. Director Sim.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Director Woon-Hak Sim gave a bow to Gun-Ho before leaving the office.

Gun-Ho usually got off to work early and went straight home these days. That was because his baby boy— Sang-Min— started laughing and mumbling as he became almost 100 days old. Gun-Ho could forget everything else when he was with his boy. Gun-Ho was lying on the bed with Young-Eun. He asked her, “Did you submit the notice for your leave of absence to the hospital?”

“Yes, I did. I was going to go back to work once my maternity leave ends, but I feel like I wouldn’t be able to focus on work leaving Sang-Min behind at home. So, I chose to take a leave, and I don’t regret my decision.”

“You made the right decision.”

“I guess I’d better look for a deputy director position in a small doctor’s office close to home.”

“Do you want to open your own practice? I can make it happen.”

“No, thank you. I’m not ready yet to open my own. I need more experience.”

“Sang-Min’s 100th day is coming up. Where do you want to have a party for him?”

“I think we should pick a place that is convenient enough for our parents to come.”

“Let’s do it on Yeouido Island then. It’s a convenient location when coming from Incheon City, and it’s convenient for us as well.”

“Sounds good.”

Sang-Min’s 100th-day celebration would be held on Yeouido Island. Now, they had to pick a restaurant on Yeouido Island. Young-Eun asked her college friends about a good place to have a party for her baby, and they recommended the hotel— Conrad Seoul.

There was a premium Korean restaurant called Kyungbokkung on the first floor of Conrad Seoul. They provided services for a family event like a baby’s 100th-day celebration. They set the table for the occasion and took a picture for the event as well.

Gun-Ho’s family gathered in Kyungbokkung to celebrate Sang-Min’s 100th day that day. Gun-Ho’s parents, his sister, her husband, and Jeong-Ah came as well. Young-Eun’s father from Silim Town and her aunt— Artist Choi from Yangpyeong District joined them too. GH Media’s President Shin also showed up; she was carrying a gift for the baby.

Gun-Ho’s mother said while holding the baby, “You didn’t invite anyone from your work, did you?”

“No, mom. We want a private and quiet party just between family. I like it this way a lot better, don’t you think, mom?”

“While you were growing up, people used to bring a gold ring for the baby when they came to congratulate the baby’s 100th day. I guess we don’t do that anymore, huh?”

“We did receive gold rings for Sang-Min today, mom. My sister, and Young-Eun’s aunt from Yangpyeong District, and President Shin brought a gold ring for our baby boy.”

“Haha, really?”

It was May. Gun-Ho received a call from Jae-Sik Moon.

“We are opening our KFC tomorrow.”

“Is that right? Congratulations.”

“Soon-Young’s mom lost a lot of weight lately. She has been crazily busy for the opening. We redid the interior and brought in new kitchen appliances.”

“Losing some weight is normal for the business owners who are about to open their own business.”

“She even had to travel all the way to Beijing to get the KFC training that is required for all new franchisees. Since she couldn’t leave our baby at home, she brought our baby and the helper lady with her to the trip. They stayed in a small motel for a few days.”

“Really? It must have not been easy at all.”

“When we hung our KFC sign on the building for the first time, the pedestrians showed great interest. The people in this town seem to love to have a KFC. Chinese people seem to be very interested in having American food.”

“Haha, I guess the KFC will be a success.”

“According to Soon-Young’s mom, we will soon open the Korean deep-fried restaurant right after we open the KFC. Its basic interior is already completed. We just need to bring some equipment to the kitchen. We will sell draft beer too.”

“I think you will need a floor manager for each restaurant.”

“I agree with you.”

“As to the terminal project, they are constructing the terminal building. They are working on the first floor now. The Chinese partners are still complaining about not receiving the second investment fund yet though. They noticeably treat me very coldly these days.”

“Haha, really?”

“I keep telling them that everything will become easier once they transfer the ownership of the land to the joint venture. We can even take out a loan from a bank once the joint venture officially owns the land. And, they keep saying back to me that the Construction Bureau already approved the use of the land to build the terminal, and it has been ratified by them. And, I then tell them that the land must be registered and recorded as such. The Construction Bureau’s approval document doesn’t determine the ownership of the land. A bank wouldn’t even recognize it and will not lend us money using the land as collateral. I’m having this same conversation with them over and over these days.”

“And, they are still constructing the building, huh? That is good.”

“Yeah, but they will eventually reach the point where they truly don’t have any fund left, and they will start freaking out again.”

“Are they going to give us the additional bus lines or not?”

“Vice President Chun Chang wants to go ahead and start negotiating with Duifang Gongsi (counterpart transportation companies in other cities) anyway even though we might not get the additional bus lines.”

“Then do it. It seems that they will give the additional bus lines.”

“Yeah. I’m visiting the transportation companies in the city where we might start running our bus service, with Vice President Chun Chang tomorrow. I have to get ready to drink a lot.”

“Haha. Well, have a safe trip.”

After getting off the phone with Jae-Sik Moon, Gun-Ho thought about it.

‘Once the KFC is open tomorrow, they will start making money from tomorrow. We have spent a lot of money to get the restaurant ready to open so far. Once they start making income every day, they will feel less anxious. KFC is different from the Vietnamese noodle soup restaurant that I had in Noryangjin Town. It will succeed and bring in a lot of profits.

By the way, Jae-Sik Moon’s wife is a tough woman. She went to Beijing with her baby to receive the training. I respect her toughness. She certainly seems to have a will to succeed. She knows how to devote everything she has to her work.’

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