Tools for a Purpose 2
“Hmm…”
“What’s up? Grandpa said you’d be all for it. You don’t know either?”
My father scrutinized my expression, trying to decipher any hidden meaning.
“Oh, no. It’s more like he’s planning to sell something cheap. I can’t quite guess what he’s offering.”
“Then can’t you at least tell me what you do know? I’m dying of curiosity here.”
“I think he’s offering people.”
“People?”
“Yes. Sunyang Hospital is famous for its VIP clientele. High-ranking officials and politicians are cautious about their health information leaking, so they choose Sunyang for its confidentiality. And there are plenty of celebrities too.”
“Ah…!”
A low exclamation escaped him.
“Now, anyone wanting special treatment or privileges will contact you. It’s a natural way to build connections. You could even cater to directors or lead actors from Sunyang Hospital when making films.”
“What about the Human Resources Development Center? Is that people too?”
“Of course. Everyone up for promotion trains at the center. While the training evaluation doesn’t guarantee a promotion, it heavily influences who doesn’t get promoted.”
Sunyang Group’s meticulous personnel management is well-known. Unlike other companies where training centers are a break or even a vacation, Sunyang’s is rigorous, filled with seminars, discussions, exams, and evaluations, akin to a judicial training institute.
“Everyone aiming for the group’s core goes through the center…”
“Calls will flood in, asking you, the center’s head, for favors, and that all becomes a network.”
“So you’re building connections both inside and outside the group.”
“Yes. It’s a fast-track way to make them your people since you started late.”
“It’s not for me, but for you to make them your people.”
My father spoke quietly, looking at me with a mix of wonder.
“How do you even figure this out? Connecting the hospital and the training center to networks, just like your grandfather, and you grasp it instantly… I’m speechless.”
Anyone who’s worked at Sunyang knows the potential of the training center. For a mere promotion to assistant manager, they endure sleepless nights in a four-person room with bunk beds for ten days.
Middle-aged managers have it worse. They endure a grueling two-week schedule in a two-person room.
If they can’t physically endure it, their chances of becoming an executive vanish, so they push through with sheer willpower. But enduring isn’t the end.
If the final evaluation at the Human Resources Development Center is below a C, they must decide whether to remain a perennial manager until retirement or resign.
What if the center’s director made a single call? Even a discreet instruction from the training center head could bring them a step closer to an executive position.
No matter how undervalued the center is, it’s a key position where you can share a drink with future executives of Sunyang Group.
Only those who receive a paycheck from Sunyang know this.
It’s only natural that my father, who’s never sighed over the numbers in his salary account, wouldn’t know.
“Maybe it’s because you’re not interested. But could you find out the ownership structure of the Human Resources Development Center? And its assets?”
“You want me to look into it?”
“Yes. It seems like more than just a network. If that were all, he wouldn’t have told us to keep it a secret. There must be something that might cause a backlash if the uncles find out.”
“There’s another secret within the secret?”
“Grandpa’s a man of many secrets, isn’t he? Hehe.”
My father let out a short sigh at my laughter.
“Sigh. How come you take after your grandfather more than me?”
“Talent sometimes skips a generation.”
My father sighed again and stood up.
“Being a proper father isn’t easy.”
“How was the wedding?”
“It wasn’t my wedding, so what’s there to say? More importantly, what happened?”
There’s something more important than a wedding. Da-Ah Construction.
“Arranged marriages among the rich always spark curiosity, don’t they?”
“Meeting a couple of times and calling it a marriage—is that really marriage? It’s a contract.”
“Oh, so you’re not going for an arranged marriage? Like a romance comic hero marrying a simple but resilient girl?”
“I’ll marry the woman I need, whatever that may be. Uncle, why do you keep changing the subject? What about Da-Ah Construction’s stocks?”
“Kid, when you get older, you get curious about young people’s love lives and marriages. Ours are over, after all.”
Oh Se-hyun chuckled and pulled out a note on the stock status.
“Looks like they panicked. As soon as we bought 5% and filed as major shareholders, they reached out, wanting to meet.”
The stock market was completely frozen. In a stagnant market, buying shares of a company on the brink of bankruptcy would naturally make the company nervous.
Moreover, the one buying these worthless stocks is Miracle, the massive investment firm that swallowed Ajin Group, so they must be terrified. Especially if they have a guilty conscience.
“We should meet them, right?”
“Of course.”
“What do you think their move will be?”
Oh Se-hyun winked.
“Leave it to me. Do you think I haven’t seen my share of people embezzling company funds in my investment career? Do you know what happened to those caught by me?”
“They’re either in jail or have criminal records, right?”
“Bingo!”
Oh Se-hyun snapped his fingers and grabbed his bag.
“Let’s go. Time for a showdown.”
The headquarters of Da-Ah Construction in Yeongdeungpo felt even more desolate than the winter weather outside.
Inside, employees clocked in at a company that couldn’t even pay their salaries, just holding onto their desks.
They knew the company was about to collapse, but they clung to a nonexistent hope, showing up for work.
When they wake up in the morning, there’s nowhere else to go but this building.
The unpaid wages spur their steps.
Maybe, just maybe, they might get paid a little.
Their minds tell them there’s no hope, but a sliver of false hope still tortures the employees in this building.
People come first.
Another family.
In twenty years, no one will believe such nonsense, but not now. The concept of a lifelong job still lingers.
“What will happen to those people?”
“You should be their savior. Pay their back wages and give them a special bonus to cheer them up. Right?”
Oh Se-hyun gave me a pat on the back and knocked on the door to the president’s office of Da-Ah Construction.
“Welcome. I’m Kang Moo-jin, Executive Director of Da-Ah Construction.”
“I’m Oh Se-hyun.”
Well, look at this. The president’s office has no owner, just a butler sitting in.
Are they gearing up for some tricks?
“Honestly, we were surprised. Suddenly buying our Da-Ah’s stocks… It doesn’t seem like a company a large investment firm like Miracle would be interested in. Could you tell us why?”
“There’s only one reason an investment firm buys stocks. Because it’s profitable.”
Executive Director Kang Moo-jin discreetly licked his dry lips.
“I don’t know what you see as profitable, but haven’t you read the papers? Or watched the news? You might lose out by getting involved with a collapsing Da-Ah Construction.”
“Who invests in stocks these days? It’s a surefire way to go broke. Money should be in the bank. The interest rates are quite high.”
A middle-aged man sitting next to Executive Director Kang chimed in.
“Is your rank higher than Executive Director?”
Oh Se-hyun frowned and abruptly spoke informally.
“What? What did you say?”
“The major shareholder is speaking. If you’re not the head of this place, get out. It’s annoying enough to talk to an executive director instead of the CEO, and now you’re butting in! Do you know what a shareholder is? It’s the owner of this company. You’ve got the wrong attitude for welcoming the owner.”
Despite the rudeness, Executive Director Kang didn’t get angry. Instead, he stood up and bowed.
“Please understand. The president is out trying to secure funds to save the company. He’s meeting with even the smallest credit union agents.”
“I was rude. I apologize.”
At Kang’s signal, the middle-aged man also stood and bowed.
“Then why don’t you all clear out? We’d like to have a quiet conversation.”
At Kang’s nod, the men sitting on the office sofa all bowed and shuffled out.
“Now, tell me why you’re suddenly buying our company’s stocks.”
Kang regained his composure, even smiling.
“Shouldn’t you first explain why you wanted to see me?”
This was the first time I’d seen Oh Se-hyun like this.
He was always polite, never losing his sense of humor, often making corny jokes. But now, he was rude and aggressive.
I guessed it was because he was sure Da-Ah Construction’s management was embezzling company funds.
He’s tough on those with weaknesses.
I have plenty of people around me who hide their claws and fangs, so I must avoid giving them any leverage. Otherwise, I’ll end up like Executive Director Kang.
“We wanted to see Mr. Oh to ask that very question. You must have something in mind. Please speak frankly. It’s the management’s duty to listen to what the shareholders want.”
His words flowed smoothly, like oil on a slick tongue.
A sly expression, eyes darting constantly.
My suspicion was turning into certainty.
“I already told you, didn’t I? To make money. Isn’t that what investors do?”
“That’s why I’m saying this. You’ll need to sell the stocks at a higher price than you bought them, but isn’t that impossible?”
“Someone might be willing to buy it back at a good price… don’t you think?”
Oh Se-hyun smiled slyly, fixing his gaze on Director Kang.
“Ah, I see. Well, that’s certainly possible.”
Director Kang responded to Oh Se-hyun’s smile with a knowing nod.
“Shall we look into it for you? There are still quite a few people who believe in Dae-A Construction’s recovery. They’re ready to buy up our company’s shares in bulk.”
“If you could do that, it would make my visit here worthwhile. Could you find someone quickly?”
“I’ll do my best to expedite the process.”
In the end, these guys would either snatch back their plans before we could ruin them or stall for time.
“Since we’ve said all there is to say, I’ll be taking my leave.”
As Oh Se-hyun rose from the sofa, Director Kang stood up and extended his hand.
“I’m glad to see you’re satisfied. We’ll find the right person as soon as possible to line your pockets, Mr. Oh.”
“Yes, please act quickly. By tomorrow.”
Director Kang abruptly let go of the handshake.
“Mr. Oh, by tomorrow is a bit difficult.”
Though Director Kang was flustered by Oh Se-hyun’s sudden demand, he didn’t bother listening to any more excuses.
“I’ll be calling for an emergency shareholders’ meeting the morning after tomorrow. If you want to stop it, you’d better hurry. Well then…”
Without waiting for a response, Oh Se-hyun swiftly exited Dae-A Construction.
As soon as he got into the waiting car outside the building, Oh Se-hyun clenched his fist.
“It’s clear now. Those bastards.”
“Let’s move in tomorrow. We need to assert our right to inspect the accounting books and start by checking Dae-A Construction’s assets.”
Oh Se-hyun glanced at me and stuck out his tongue playfully.
“You’re quick. You’ve learned it all, haven’t you?”
“Oh, I’ve got a long way to go before I can leave the master’s side.”
After a hearty laugh, we both simultaneously pulled out our phones.