We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 108

108

Launch (2)

Without delay, we head to the kimchi factory.

Touring the facility, Lynn couldn’t stop bragging.

“Do you know how much I suffered? I thought my bones would turn to dust.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s a compliment, right?”

“It is a compliment, but you’re so annoying that I can’t bring myself to say you did a good job.”

“Honestly, why are men so petty?”

Lynn grumbled, and our family was becoming more accustomed to her antics.

Su-a watched her and asked Lisa,

“Mom, is that lady ill-mannered?”

“…….”

Lisa looked troubled, and Sujeong stroked Su-a’s hair, saying,

“Yes, Su-a. You shouldn’t talk like that.”

“Okay! I won’t copy that ugly lady, Sis.”

“What was that?”

Su-a even stuck out her tongue.

“Hahaha!”

Who did she take after?

It’s so refreshing.

The construction of the kimchi factory was complete.

The fish sauce factory, warehouse, kimchi factory, dormitory, and offices were all built, with perfect drainage and electrical installations.

It was fair to say that a whole company had been established.

Around this time, Sujeong raised an issue.

“Shouldn’t we start consolidating the company names?”

“Hmm. We should.”

“How about Su Corporation? (水) [The character ‘Su’ (水) means water in Korean].”

“Su?”

“Yeah! Taking the first names of Sujeong and Su-a.”

“Sounds good.”

“Hmm. I like it.”

Everyone seemed to agree.

Except for Lynn, who was as petty as ever.

“Okay. Let’s name the company Su.”

Su Convenience Store, Su Lunchbox, Su Kimchi. Add Su Android and, if we acquire the trading company, Su Trading Company.

It’s easy to say and familiar to the eye.

If we emphasize the use of clean water, the company’s name will also be promoted to some extent.

Meiji is in charge of the factory.

I personally selected Meiji.

“Welcome, President.”

Meiji also aims to be a beautiful woman.

Outwardly, she looks no different from a human.

Lee Tae-jin looked slightly surprised.

All the employees (?) working at the kimchi factory were young and beautiful women.

“Heh. None of your employees are anything less than beautiful, President. Is this even possible?”

“It just happened that way.”

Lee Tae-jin was amazed.

I changed the subject.

There was no need to stir up unnecessary suspicion.

“Rather, the taste is what matters.”

“That’s right.”

Whatever the employees are like, the taste is all that matters.

We tasted the freshly made, crisp kimchi.

“Mmm!”

“It’s good?”

Lee Tae-jin and even Lynn praised it.

Of course, Lynn’s enthusiasm was less intense.

Sujeong also tasted the kimchi.

“This is…”

“Why?”

“It’s different from Mom’s kimchi.”

Finally, my wife picked up her chopsticks.

She has to give the green light for its release; if she finds something lacking, we’ll have to remake the kimchi seasoning.

“The salinity is a bit high.”

“Salinity?”

“Yes. Our family’s kimchi is low-sodium. Of course, kimchi can’t be made without salt, but we need to reduce the saltiness a bit more. Do you have the recipe here?”

“We do.”

At my gesture, factory manager Meiji brings the recipe.

As expected of Meiji, she measured and added everything precisely. I can’t tell the difference, but my wife and Sujeong seem to notice subtle differences in taste.

“We should keep the fish sauce as is and reduce the amount of salt. We should also add more scallions.”

My wife immediately revised the recipe.

Meiji takes the recipe and disappears somewhere.

Kimchi is soon made.

Adding what was needed and subtracting what wasn’t. It seems my culinary skills have dulled since I’ve been involved in other things.

Back when I was learning to cook from my mother, I used to oversee the kitchen. But after the golden hand incident, I hardly ever cooked.

It’s only natural since my wife has been taking care of the housework.

Tasting begins again.

“Oh, it’s definitely different.”

“It’s better than before.”

The two’s reactions are better than before.

Sujeong also gives a thumbs up, and my wife has a satisfied expression.

“How is it?”

“It’s ready for release.”

“Great. Pack it up.”

“Understood, President.”

We’ll release it in convenience stores first.

Cut into easy-to-eat pieces, enough for one meal, and priced at 1,200 won. Considering current prices, it’s quite affordable.

Of course, it’s not enough for a full meal, but with this amount of kimchi and ramen, it’s reasonably satisfying. If it’s not enough, you can buy another one.

With lunchboxes distributed and kimchi released, sales should soar even higher.

“The bait products seem to be doing well.”

“We need to make triangle kimbap [Korean rice ball] too, right?”

“That’s right.”

One challenge remained.

The triangle kimbap recipe. My wife can somehow manage the lunchboxes, but I don’t know if she can make triangle kimbap well.

Some production was already being done at Haejin Lunchbox, but it seems some research is needed to make triangle kimbap.

That’s enough for now.

We left the kimchi factory to tour the island.

GK Retail Headquarters.

GK Convenience Store is known as one of the three major convenience stores in Korea, along with CL Convenience Store and Nine Convenience Store.

Market share was in the order of GK, CL, and Nine, but there was no significant difference. They only had about 3,000 more stores.

It was a convenience store that could be found anywhere in Korea, and CL Convenience Store had almost gone bankrupt for a while, but CEO Lee Yu-seong acquired it and it was operating well.

Today, CL Convenience Store launched the “Wife’s Taste” brand.

Lunchboxes under the same brand were released from Haejin Lunchbox, and lunchboxes under the same brand were also entering convenience stores.

It was only natural that GK was sensitive to this.

The H Group chairman had indirectly advertised it, so it was understandable that the public’s attention was focused on it.

But what about the taste?

CEO Lee Jeong-man was looking down at the lunchbox that his secretary had brought. He had come to work because of overtime and had it brought to him thinking he would try it.

“Is this the product that was released today?”

“It was hard to get. Everything was sold out in the morning. This is a product that I personally bought in the morning and brought with me.”

“Good work.”

It was getting late.

Evening was approaching.

What was so delicious about it that the media, the internet, and SNS were going crazy?

He takes out the bulgogi [Korean marinated beef] from the microwave and tastes it.

“Hmm?”

Lee Jeong-man’s face contorted.

It was completely different from the lunchboxes that had been released so far.

“Wife’s Taste” first released three types of lunchboxes, which were gaining explosive popularity.

People flocked to Haejin Lunchbox because they couldn’t buy them at convenience stores, and they were all sold out in the morning.

After tasting it, he could see why.

“Heh. Can they make a profit with this?”

Were they pursuing low-margin sales?

Otherwise, a lunchbox of this quality could not have been produced.

He immediately called the chief of staff.

“Chief Ahn!”

A middle-aged man appears.

He was the chief of staff, but he was also a close aide who held the position of general manager.

“Place an order with Haejin Lunchbox.”

“With Haejin Lunchbox? You’re likely to be rejected. They don’t have enough supply for themselves.”

“Still, try. Subtly threaten them that you will collude with Nine Convenience Store if they don’t give it to you.”

“Understood.”

The chief of staff bows and leaves.

The most feared thing in the three-way industry is collusion between the remaining companies.

The axis immediately shakes in the triangular structure, and the balance collapses. If something goes wrong, the remaining companies may go bankrupt.

So they will try to negotiate to some extent.

“Our convenience store can’t be left behind.”

They had to sell it at least at directly managed convenience stores.

Otherwise, he thought they would definitely be left behind.

Today’s outing is over.

“Wife’s Taste” was successfully launched and became so popular that it couldn’t be sold.

It may have been sold out due to a kind of new product effect, so we need to watch it a little more, but if we change the recipe and continue to release new products, the brand will be able to establish itself successfully.

I came home, took a shower, and turned on the TV.

As expected, there was news highlighting “Wife’s Taste.”

It was already rising in real-time searches on the internet, making us realize its power.

At this rate, the business seems to be sailing smoothly.

Beep!

The phone rings.

The caller is Chief Lee Seul-gi.

What’s going on today when there’s no work?

“What’s up?”

-President. GK Retail has contacted us.

“GK? Today is a holiday. Don’t those people ever rest?”

-They contacted us urgently and asked if we could supply to GK as well.

“What do you think, Chief Lee?”

-We don’t even have anything to sell, so supplying to GK? That’s impossible.

“Then refuse.”

-But if we just refuse, there’s a possibility that they will collude with Nine Convenience Store.

“Collude?”

-The convenience store industry is a three-way battle right now. If two companies collude, we have no choice but to break down.

“How? Are we going to play a chicken game or something?”

-Maybe. They’re playing a chicken game until one company goes bankrupt. Even if the goal isn’t bankruptcy but pressure, it will still have an impact on us.

“Hmm.”

It wasn’t a problem to just laugh off.

If a chicken game starts here, the growth of convenience stores will be stunted. We thought management was finally getting back on track, but what would happen if we were hit here?

The company will probably suffer huge losses.

If one company goes bankrupt, the remaining companies will divide the shares.

I get up from my seat.

This seems like an important decision.

“Even so, we can’t show a weak side, can we?”

-That’s right. If we accept their demands this time, there’s a high possibility that we’ll have to keep doing it in the future.

“What do you think, Chief Lee?”

-If we can afford to take a slight loss, I think it’s not bad to just let them do it. However, we need to make some preparations.

If a chicken game starts, we’ll be hit immediately.

But what if we can produce a large amount of dummies [products made with cheaper ingredients to fulfill orders]?

“Do I have to answer right now?”

-No. It’s unreasonable to answer right away, and we can buy time by saying we’ll give an answer in about a week.”

“Okay. Do that right away. Let’s come up with a plan and then decide whether to start or not.”

-Yes, President.”

I hang up the phone and sit on the sofa.

My wife was taking a shower with Su-a, and Sujeong was watching TV next to me.

“Sujeong. Isn’t there another way to produce dummies in large quantities?”

“Um… there is one.”