Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 316

Hyung, aren’t I cute? 316

Inside a bar.

As Oh Sang-hwan opened the door and entered, a man at one of the tables waved in greeting.

He must have ordered in advance, because two bottles of beer and one of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] were already on the table.

“Hyung, you’re here? I ordered just in time. They just brought them out.”

“Is that what’s important? Why did you quit the company?”

Oh Sang-hwan couldn’t understand why his younger acquaintance, Park Han-soo, had done that.

He was worried it wasn’t a job change, and that he’d quit without any preparation.

Park Han-soo gave a bitter smile.

“It was a bit impulsive.”

“Do you have a plan? At least?”

“Roughly.”

“It’s a relief that you have something, even if it’s just roughly.”

Oh Sang-hwan’s heart sank at the word ‘impulsive,’ but fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t completely without a plan.

Park Han-soo gulped down his drink.

“Ugh. What’s with all that office politics?”

“Were you pushed out?”

“I was properly pushed out. I was wandering around, and it felt like if I stayed still, I’d be moved to some awful department. But I thought it would be better to quit than do that.”

“That must have been tough.”

“Heh heh. Actually, when I submitted my resignation, I had so many mixed feelings. Like, ‘Ah, what am I going to do now? This is going to be hard.’ Thoughts like that.”

“What about your wife?”

“I handed in my resignation thanks to her. What strength do I have to have the courage to resign?”

“She told you to quit?”

“Yeah. When I said I wanted to start my own business, she told me to go for it.”

“…….”

Oh Sang-hwan was honestly surprised.

Even so, he didn’t expect her to tell him to quit so boldly.

Anyway, even if it’s a business, he’ll be starting from the bottom. It’s going to be hard to get settled.

“What kind of business? No. Can I even ask?”

“Are you going to quit being a professor and start a business with me?”

“Are you crazy?”

“I guess that wouldn’t work, would it?”

“Of course not. First of all, Seung-joon’s mom wouldn’t allow it.”

“Hmm.”

Just then, the skewers they had ordered arrived at the table.

Park Han-soo picked one up and put it in his mouth.

“I still have some experience from working at the company, you know?”

“Trade?”

“Trade it is. I’m going to import goods from foreign countries and sell them in Korea. I’m going to start with that.”

“Have you secured any contracts?”

“I’ve secured them in advance.”

“The contracts aren’t finalized yet, are they?”

“Don’t worry. It’s not a company that would stab you in the back. I know people there, too.”

“I’m still worried.”

Park Han-soo shrugged his shoulders.

“I’ve already secured two high denier [unit of fineness for fibers] fibers, and I’ve secured rubber raw material RB bags and tape. I’m going to start there for now.”

“Hmm?”

“But my real goal is to supply to the aerospace industry.”

“Oh, really?”

“To do that, the problem is securing trading partners for goods that fit that.”

Aerospace industry.

This was related to the Department of Electronic Engineering at Kangin University.

It’s just one of the minor projects.

Professors’ recommendations and high-achieving students can apply to KAI [Korea Aerospace Industries], an aerospace company.

The problem is that it’s nationwide, so it’s not easy to break through the competition.

Anyway, supplying to the aerospace industry is profitable enough.

“The Naro rocket was successfully launched in 2013. Now is a good time.”

“Do you know something?”

“Of course. But it’s also a gamble for me… Isn’t risk always a big part of it?”

“That’s true.”

You can’t do business without risk.

At least, the fact that there are goods that generate income means it’s not a completely gambling start.

Oh Sang-hwan sighed.

“What? I was worried for nothing. I thought it was really serious.”

“No. It’s really serious. I have to sign an office contract now, but I’m all alone. Oh, well, there’s one more person, but I’m trying to persuade them.”

“So?”

“But you know what? Since I’m dealing with foreign countries, there’s work involved in contacting foreign companies. Do you have any students who are good at English? Since they’re in engineering, they’ll probably understand this field to some extent.”

“Even if I did, I can’t entrust them to a new company with no work.”

“Why isn’t there any work! Even if there isn’t, we can just get the work!”

“You’re such a salesman.”

Professor Oh Sang-hwan shook his head.

Park Han-soo said, tearing off a skewer.

“It’s not that I can’t speak English, but if I’m going to run around, I think I need at least one person to help.”

“I don’t have anyone. Not even for a short-term contract. And can you pay the wages without delay?”

“Hmm. Actually, since I’m just starting, I can’t give you a definite answer.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Who would want to go to such a difficult place? Kids these days aren’t like that.”

“Ugh.”

Early members of the company.

There are clear benefits. The bigger it grows, the more exponentially those benefits will return.

But that’s just wishful thinking.

The reality is very harsh.

“Is there really no one to help? Seriously? If I get the contract, I’ll give you a performance bonus!”

“That’s the same with any company.”

“No, seriously, if you just get that business, it’ll be on stable ground. You’re not going to take this? You have to invest early to have fun.”

“I don’t know about that, just drink.”

The two drank their alcohol.

Park Han-soo, who was trying to find someone, became gloomy.

“Ah, hyung. Please find someone who can do it for at least three months. Even if I’m delayed in paying, I’ll make sure to pay them.”

“Hmm.”

Actually, if he got the contract as he said, there would be no delay in wages.

If it just sells in Korea.

Of course, Park Han-soo wouldn’t bring something that wouldn’t sell.

He was that capable.

But leading an early-stage company was another matter.

“Someone who is good at foreign languages, and knows parts that go into textiles or cars, even if they don’t know the aerospace industry. What kind of nonsense is that? If I had such a student, I would have told them to apply to a big company…”

“I guess there isn’t anyone?”

“Huh?”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“There *is* someone?”

Oh Sang-hwan suddenly remembered someone’s resume.

Someone who had worked with a textile harness company, had also worked with the German Meltz automotive company, and was even good at foreign languages.

“What! If there is, introduce them to me! I’m in a hurry!”

Oh Sang-hwan held a skewer and chewed it.

“I’ll ask. I’ll just ask.”

***

I couldn’t sleep at night, so I came outside with Siha.

He kept saying that he wanted to see the moon today. I didn’t ask why.

I’ll just take a walk and ask him.

“Siha. There’s the moon. The moon.”

“Hyung. Do you know that?”

“Know what?”

“There’s a rabbit on the moon. It makes rice cakes, rice cakes!”

“Is that why you wanted to go out to see the moon?”

“You have to open your eyes wide. I can see the rabbit.”

“Can you see it now? I can’t see it?”

Siha looks up at the sky while walking.

The accurate expression would be that he is straining his eyes rather than opening them wide.

But no matter how much he does that, there is no rabbit, so he can’t see it.

Of course, even if there was a rabbit, he wouldn’t be able to see it.

“I can’t see it.”

“You won’t be able to see it even if you open them wide. If you go to the moon, you’ll be able to see if there’s a rabbit, right?”

“Really? How do you go to the moon?”

“You take a spaceship and go all the way to the moon.”

“What’s a spaceship?”

“Ah, a spaceship is… this!”

Showing it is faster than telling it.

I showed him a picture.

“It’s like an airplane rocket that flies all the way to the moon.”

“Did someone go to the moon?”

“Yeah. They say they did.”

“That’s amazing! Did you see the rabbit?”

“Huh?”

Should I say I saw the rabbit? Should I say I didn’t see it?

I don’t know whether to protect the childlike innocence of the dream-filled Siha or to tell the truth so I don’t become a lying older brother.

The problem is that there is a big risk in choosing either one.

What. Isn’t there an option where I can only get benefits?

“Hyung. The rabbit on the moon does this: ‘Buy rice cakes! Rice cakes! I’ll give you a discount! Three for a thousand won [Korean currency]. A thousand won!'”

I can see familiar market ladies in the rabbit.

Suddenly, the moon rabbit becomes familiar.

“They say they do this too? ‘Sticky rice cake~ Buckwheat jelly~'”

“Buckwheat jelly?”

“There’s something to eat.”

“Is it yummy?”

“Huh? It depends on the person, but it has a little taste.”

Thanks to getting sidetracked into a random story, I couldn’t answer whether I met a rabbit on the moon.

Well, there should be days when we get through it smoothly like this.

“Then, if Siha goes to the moon, will you buy rice cakes for the rabbit?”

“Siha has a lot of money in his piggy bank. I’ll buy a lot of rice cakes.”

“How much are you going to buy?”

“I’m going to give it to grandma.”

It’s worth 50,000 won of rice cakes.

If it’s 3 for 1,000 won, then 10,000 won is 30. 50,000 won is 150.

If I buy it, I should share it with the daycare center.

“You’re buying a lot?”

“Because the rabbit worked hard. I have to buy a lot.”

“Wow. Siha is so kind. But what if the rabbit asks you to buy more? What if they ask you to buy a million won worth?”

Siha seriously pondered and wiggled his fingers.

“Then Siha doesn’t have money. I’m sorry. I have to say.”

“You’re not going to buy it?”

“Instead, Siha will sell it. Siha sold books before.”

Is he going to take it from the moon to Earth and sell it?

He’s a genius?

Finally, Lee Siha. Is he going to become a big player in the distribution business connecting the moon and Earth!

“But what if it doesn’t sell well on Earth? The rabbit won’t be able to make money?”

“It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ll sell it all.”

It was tremendous confidence.

“Siha is Red hyung’s younger brother. So I’ll sell it all.”

“!!!”

The basis is considerable?

He had a positive mindset that he could sell everything because he was Red hyung’s younger brother.

But the world is not that easy!

“Where are you going to sell it? Siha. 1 million won is 3,000! It’s piled up like a mountain!”

“Three thousand?! Like a mountain?!”

He seems to get the sense of it now that I’ve said the number.

Even if he doesn’t understand 3,000, he must have understood as much as a mountain.

“Siha has a way.”

“Yeah.”

“Sell it at the daycare center. Uncle Moon-do, Baek-dong hyung, Lisa noona, Frog noona. Also. Also.”

Is it a business with acquaintances! He tasted something sweet before?!

Uncle Hong comes out, grandpa comes out, and all the acquaintances come out.

“Do an event on YouTube. An event. Siha sold Red hyung Pepe before.”

“That’s right.”

This has potential? He’s smart? He already knows about advertising.

“But you couldn’t sell as much as a mountain with Red hyung Pepe?”

“!!!”

I’m curious to know how far I can answer at this point.

Will Lee Siha be able to overcome this situation?

“Siha thought of a way!”

“Huh? What is it?”

“Make a house. A house. Hansel and Gretel.”

“Ah… That’s amazing?!”

“So sell it to the witch~!”

Instead of making a house with cookies and chocolate, he makes it with rice cakes.

This is the Korean version of the gingerbread house.

Siha already knew that real estate makes money.

Of course, this is just my wishful thinking.

Anyway, we continued to talk about the moon and finished our walk.

***

One day, I got a call.

It was Professor Oh Sang-hwan, and he contacted me to see if I was interested in joining a new company.

Three months. There may not be much to do, but they are preparing an interesting project.

Aerospace industry.

The contract they are aiming for is in this area, and whether they can do it or not depends on their efforts.

It’s an unfamiliar field, but if you listen carefully, there are quite a few things you already know.

First of all, the materials.

There were textiles and films, and these were also related to automobiles.

“Hmm.”

「I guess it won’t work? If it doesn’t work, look for someone else. Actually, I’m embarrassed to ask.」

The problem was the salary, but honestly, the amount wasn’t that big.

It would be better to do more translation.

But I don’t know how much the performance bonus is, and that part is attractive.

I don’t know how much it will be, but I’ve heard rumors that people at other companies work with incentives that are more than double their annual salary.

I’ve been working as a contract worker so far, but this is a full-time position at a new company.

Of course, I’m not planning on working for a year, so you can think of it as a contract position.

But if I get the contract, I’ll get a performance bonus, so it might be fun in a way.

“The contract is being obtained from a foreign country?”

「Why? Are you interested?」

“Surprisingly, I think sales are more suited to my aptitude than interpretation.”

「Well, it’s not bad to think of it as an experience.」

“That’s true. I’m in my fourth year, so I don’t think there’s much time left to challenge myself.”

「You’re still young. It’s enough.」

“I have Siha. I need to settle down quickly.”

「Ah… That’s right. Your situation is different from others.」

Experience in obtaining contracts from foreign companies from the ground up.

I want to try it at least once.

Moreover, they say they already have a plan, so all I have to do is jump in.

There seemed to be something to learn there.

“Then I’ll give it a try. You said there’s not much work?”

「Yeah. It’s still a new company, so there won’t be that much work.」

“Then I’ll do it.”

I think I’ll have enough time to translate.

If it was last year, I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it.

Because I had quite a few school lectures, so I wouldn’t have been able to do three jobs.

But not now.

I don’t have many lectures at school, so I’m basically just going through the motions.

And the next day.

Park Han-soo’s gaze, as if he were looking at a lovely golden calf, was burdensome.

“Nice to meet you! I’m Park Han-soo! I’ll show you a good side so you can work for a long time! I’ll make sure you don’t regret coming here! I’ll serve you without letting you get a drop of water on your hands… well, not really! I’ll never delay your pay! Keep your resignation in your heart and don’t take it out!”

“…….”

I already want to write my resignation.