Chapter 17

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Hyunwoo suddenly felt tense at the team manager’s remark. He felt as if he had become an animal chased by a hunter.
The team manager and Yonggu were the hunters.

Don’t you think so? You didn’t find this out by yourself. Instead, it was something the customs officer tipped you off on.

Hyunwoo just felt dumbfounded at that moment. That was how the world went around. A baby can’t live alone. If it sits idle, nobody would come over to put a rice spoon into its mouth.
The same can be true for this. Without Hyunwoo’s active involvement, nobody would’ve found out the information about the refund. Who would take the initiative if his or her achievement would be underappreciated by the manager or colleagues at the company?
Hyunwoo found himself fought with himself at this moment.
Fight with them or admit it?
The chances are that he wouldn’t be able to win. How could he fight and beat the manager and Yonggu, the two central figures of the purchasing department? Here at the department, their remarks were the law.
If Hyunwoo could come up with a tight explanation to take the credit for himself, he could probably get the award money and special promotion. However, he would lose everything other than that. The two of them would treat Hyunwoo like an enemy, and the other team members would try to avoid him in order to not to be involved. In short, there was much more to lose than to gain from this. In this situation, the best policy was for him to please them.

Absolutely, sir. Did you think that I would take credit for it alone? No way. It should be the performance of the purchasing department,
Hyunwoo said with a broad smile.
Both of them brightened their sullen faces and smiled at him. The manager tapped him on the shoulder.

You’re a really nice guy. How come we’ve met such a man of fortune like him? Yonggu, compile the report and bring it to me.

Hyunwoo’s expression became slightly rigid. Why did he ask Yonggu to make the report? It suggested that he wanted to give Yonggu the credit.
But Hyunwoo softened his rigid look instantly so that nobody would notice it.
Min noticed me, he thought to himself.
Min Suji was looking at him. Though she smiled, he felt some sort of bitterness in it, something like sympathy toward him.

Got it. Hyunwoo, make the draft and bring it to me.

Hyunwoo felt bitter. It was him who had obtained the information and made the draft, but it was Yonggo who got the credit. Nonetheless, Hyunwoo already decided to empty his mind.

Okay, sir

Hyunwoo immediately began making the draft. He made it perfect enough so that there was nothing to correct in it.

I’ve completed the draft.


Let me take a look.

Yonggu reviewed the draft. Though he was very good at accounting, he didn’t know much about customs clearance or the refund regulation. In particular, the refund regulation was completely new to him because he didn’t even know that it had existed.
There was nothing for Yonggu to correct in the draft. Still, he corrected something because he wanted to make it his own by revising it. Otherwise, it would still be Hyunwoo’s.

Send the file to me.

Yonggu completed the report based on Hyunwoo’s draft, and he then went with the team manager to see the company president.
Back to the office, both of them didn’t hide their happy expressions.

Our team succeeded in cutting down the company’s costs for the first time. Everybody, let’s applaud!


Wow!

The team members were clapping their hands out of joy, and Hyunwoo was no exception.

The president gave us big praise, saying that our team set an example. He promised to give us a lot of award money, vowing to make our performance as an example to other departments. Don’t you think that we should have a dinner together?


Hurrah!

The team members burst into exclamation once again.
Yonggu said to them,
Let me treat you today. Be ready when the clock hits 5 pm sharp.

With the team members shouting with joy, the team manager approached Hyunwoo and tapped him on the shoulder.

Though Yonggu submitted the report, this is the performance of the team, not any particular individual. Also, the award money will be evenly distributed to everyone, but let me give you more.


Oh, you don’t have to. I can’t receive more money because the credit goes to all of the team members. So, evenly five it to everybody…

However, the manager cut off his remarks, and he asked the team members as if he thought the world of Hyunwoo.

No, no. Is there anyone dissatisfied with my decision?


No, sir

Only then did Hyunwoo nod his head reluctantly.

Thanks so much for your consideration.

Hyunwoo thought of other things in heart, though.
‘Okay, you claim the money and the grade promotion. I’ll get other things much greater than that.’
Led by Yonggu, the team members headed to the dinner place, where the production team had already taken their seats for dinner.

Oh, you guys are from the production department. Manager Yang, you also got here. Congrats! I know the production team got a big catch this time.


Manager Park, ha ha ha. Thanks. All the credit goes to my team members.

Hyunwoo could notice it, though. There was some sort of subtle competition between the managers of the production team and the purchasing team.

Good. Do we have sit apart from each other? I don’t think so. Let’s introduce our new hires to each other on this occasion.


Great idea. Hey, put the tables close together.

All of a sudden, the dinner combined both teams.
The two teams were clearly rivals. Hyunwoo could notice it when they exchange cups.
There was one female member on the production team. Just by her look, she seemed to be a heavy drinker. All smiles on her face, she was sort of attacking Min Suji by repeatedly refilling her cup.
Easily drunk, Min already waved her hands right after the dinner began.

Let me drink slowly. I get really drunk quickly.


Really? How can you deal with your daily working life with such a low drinking limit? Our members at the production team drink with strong mindedness, though we can’t drink much.


I can’t drink any more,
Min said.
The heaviest drinker of the purchasing team, Han Sanghoon, was in a drinking battle with his counterpart of the production team.
The problem was even Han seemed to be losing. While his counterpart emptied the cup boastingly as soon as he received it, Han was toiling to slow down his drinking speed.
Han slightly gestured toward Hyunwoo, asking to help him out.
Until then, Hyunwoo had been drinking slowly. It wasn’t because he avoided drinking but because he was getting ready for full-fledged drinking. Only after that could he show off his drinking capacity.
Though there was nothing as stupid as a drinking battle, Hyunwoo felt that it wasn’t necessarily bad to be a fool when the pride of his team was at stake.
Hyunwoo rolled up his sleeves and held one bottle of soju in one hand and a cup in the other. He now dealt with Han’s counterpart.

Let me introduce myself again. My name is Jang Hyunwoo, and I just got hired. Let me refill it for you.

At that moment, the captain of the production team cast a wary look. Han was tough for him to deal with, but he now had to beat his supporting replacement. Soon, another from the production team joined in the drinking battle. They kept refilling the cups while the team managers of each team continued their own drinking battle.

This time, the purchasing team was very lucky. Lucky guys fall on a wad of bank bills even if they fall backward,
the production team manager said, suggesting that their performance was the outcome of sheer luck.
The purchasing team manager replied,

No way. How can you say that in front of our team members?

Then, Yang Suchol, the purchasing team manager, said to his team members,

The production team can’t beat us.


Shall we make a bet then?
said his counterpart of the production team.

Betting? Do you want to make a bet with the purchasing team?


Sure, how about betting on the cost-reduction suggestion put forward by our president? The winner is the one that receives more award money.

Yang, who was very competitive, had no reason to reject it.

Okay, how much is the bet?
Yang asked.

Well, how about one million won?
answered the production team manager.

Alright, then. You guys heard it all, right? You’re the witnesses,
Yang said.
At that moment, they heard a thump from the table nearby, a clear sign of who won the drinking battle. The two team managers turned their heads. There was satisfactory smile on the purchasing team manager’s face while there was some sort of bitterness on his counterpart’s face.

Hey, Mr. Han, are you okay?

The team manager asked as Han shook his head.

Ooops, I’ve barely survived it. By the way, Hyunwoo, looks like you’re really a heavier drinker than me.


Me? I vomited all through the night. I drank for my life for the honor of the purchasing team, but it was really tough for me.


Anyway, we had a great time yesterday.

Everybody was sort of lively in the morning thanks to the award money incentive. Though they might have a hangover from drinking last night, everybody was as light and nimble as a deer.
Hyunwoo was no exception. He got actively involved in work more than anybody else.

Yonggu, what about the refund application? I think we have to pay a lot if we ask for the customs broker’s help.

Yonggu’s face slightly became rigid. It was clear that he wanted Hyunwoo to take care of it.
Of course, Hyunwoo would do so because that was the way he could get something bigger in return. However, he needed to announce it to everybody so that they could realize that Yonggu was getting the real credit even though it was Hyunwoo who did all the work involved.
When Yonggu seemed embarrassed, the team manager stepped in gently and said,

Who do you think is to take care of this, Hyunwoo?


Well, this is something that needs direct dealings with the customs officer. I think someone with a high position is the right fit.


Who?

The team manager asked combatively. Though his tone was polite, it looked like he was rebuking Hyunwoo.
Hyunwoo felt disgusted. Why was the manager asking Hyunwoo? Isn’t it the position of the team manager who is supposed to take care of such work?

I think it’s appropriate for you to decide,
Hyunwoo said.

Really? Okay, I think assistant manager Kim should take care of it, but he has too much work. So, I think you should do it.


May I? As a matter of fact, I wanted to learn about the refund regulation. Thanks for the opportunity for me to learn.

Hiding his bitter feelings, Hyunwoo pretended to be happy. Only then did the team manager clear his misunderstanding of Hyunwoo, and a smile appeared on his face.

I just feel secure because of you.