Chapter 21

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Well, we aren’t just making up for the refund loss. Actually, we’re getting a bigger refund.

The team manager talked loudly out of excitement. Though he let Hyunwoo answer the president’s questions, he didn’t give Hyunwoo and Yonggu a chance to talk.

When we calculated the individual refunds, the total amounted to 56 million won. Also, the refund of the customs tax is around 29 million won on average per year. As we increase the export volume, we will see a bigger increase in the refund. This is the relevant report,
the manager said.
He was filled with confidence when he presented it to the president.
However, the president cast a wary look at him, giving the impression that they were making the same mistake as before. He kept asking questions to verify that it wasn’t a mistake this time.
Suddenly, the manager was at a loss for words. He or Younggu couldn’t answer because of their limited knowledge of the refund regulation. Though he stayed with Hyunwoo and the manager for very long in the president’s office, he didn’t have a chance to talk.
Hyunwoo explained calmly and confidently, and he spoke decisively enough to gain the president’s trust.
I verified this with the customs officer.

Only then did the president smile.

The conclusion is we only have to obtain the certificates on raw material supply from the suppliers for the refunds, right?
the president said.

Yes, sir,
the manager said quickly as if to interrupt Hyunwoo.

Hummmm… what else do I need to know here?
the president asked.
When he asked, the manager looked at Hyunwoo, who shook his head without any hesitation.

No more, sir,
Hyunwoo said confidently, whose conclusive tone suggested he was in the manager’s shoes.
Then, the president looked at Yonggu.

Why did you come here, assistant manager Kim?


Well…
answered Yonggu with a blank expression.

I don’t think you came here merely to show your presence before me. Didn’t you come here to say something to me?
the president asked.
At this moment, Yonggu blushed with embarrassment.
Actually, he had no reason to come here. If he had to find one reason, he was greedy for the award money. To get ahead in the world, one was supposed to show one’s face often for good things, but one should try to avoid something bad as much as one could.
Then, Hyunwoo fortunately answered on behalf of Yonggu,

Actually I asked him to come with me. I just wanted to seek his help if I couldn’t answer your questions.

The president alternately looked at Hyunwoo and Yonggu, though he had some doubt about Hyunwoo’s remarks. He didn’t go to the trouble of asking specifically, though.

Got it. By the way, is it okay for us to not ask the customs broker about this job? Can you guys at the purchasing team deal with this without any problem?


Yes, sir. We’re going to use this occasion to learn a lot. Just trust us.


Okay, then. Let me trust you. Go ahead. I think I have to recalculate the award money after we receive the refund. Let me increase the award money and give a promotion, too.

At the president’s remarks, the manager and Yonggu’s faces brightened, but they got rigid the moment he asked the manager,
By the way, who is the recipient of the award money this time? Are you going to support Kim Yonggu this time?

The president’s glance was cast toward the team manager.
Yonggu also looked at him. Though he didn’t say any single word since he came into the president’s office, his glittering eyes toward the manager were full of greed.
However, the manager avoided his eyes this time, and he answered without any hesitation,

Obviously Jang Hyunwoo is the recipient, sir.


I think so.

Returning the paper, the president tapped Hyunwoo on the shoulder and said,

Nice job. Just compile the necessary documents to obtain the certificates from the suppliers. Also, let me caution you about something. You don’t share someone’s award money with others, do you?


What did you say, sir? Sharing the money?


Don’t take away the money from the new hire because he or she is weak. I am not giving the money for that purpose, right?


Hahaha, how could I do such a thing?


Well, I heard something about it. I hear you guys divided the award money among yourselves.


Well, that was…


Never mind. Let bygones be bygones. I don’t want to take issue with what happened already. I want to prevent the same practice from happening again, so take good care of it, manager!


Yes, sir!

With the manager walking ahead, Hyunwoo and Yonggu went out of the office.
The manager tapped Hyunwoo on the shoulder and said,

Nice job, man. I just feel secure thanks to you.


Thanks, manager.

This time, he tapped Yonggu on the shoulder and said,
Why are you so crestfallen? I don’t want to believe that you’re greedy about the award money.


No, sir. How could I?


Okay, this time the credit goes to Hyunwoo by all means. You got a promotion anyway, didn’t you? And if we can slash the customs brokerage fee, let me give you the credit. Let me promise you that.

Yongggu didn’t reply at all. The manager’s remarks were far from comforting him.
As for the customs clearance fee, it was only 4 million won per year. However, the amount of cost cutting through the refund was as much as 56 million won, and it would be possible to claim a refund of almost 30 million per year.
There was a huge difference between the two cost cutting measures.
Yonggu had it all taken away by Hyunwoo.
‘It’s my credit. Ah… it should be mine.’

Hey, Hyunwoo, go to the library and check out these files.


Yes, sir.


On the way there, can you give this file to assistant manager Koh Younghan?


Sure.


We have to sort out the stock in Storage #2. Can you check them out because we have to bring in some new stocks in two hours.


Sure, let me go and check them quickly

Though he was close to achieving a great service by saving the budget, Hyunwoo was still called for constantly. That made it impossible for him to focus on mastering the certificate on material supplies and opening the files related to the refund.
The way the team members had him running various errands clearly showed that they weren’t concerned with reducing the budget. Maybe they didn’t seem to indicate any interest because it wasn’t their main work, or they might be thinking that the new hire wanted to overtake them in terms of performance without any warning. If that’s not the case, there was no reason for them to call for Hyunwoo all the time instead of Min Suji and Oh Sangho. In particular, nobody dared to have Oh run on small errands because they all knew that he was strongly backed up by Ms. Park Minhye, the president’s daughter.
The only member in the office who was concerned about Hyunwoo was Min Suji.

Let me go and bring back the files. Let me go to the sales team, too,
Min said.
Whenever she said so, however, Kim Yonggu wouldn’t let her have her way.

Can you check this out, Min?
Yonggu asked.

Ah, yes, sir.

Min gestured toward Hyunwoo that she was sorry, for she knew that it was her job to take care of material management assistance.
Yet, she never went even close to the warehouses. Accordingly, it was entirely Hyunwoo’s job to take care of material management.
Hyunwoo grinned at her as if she didn’t have to feel sorry, and he stood up from his seat.
At that moment, the team manager, who was sitting quietly at his desk, said,

Mr Oh, what are you doing right now? Are you busy at the moment?


Well I’m sorting out the statistics for last year.


It’s not that urgent. Because Hyunwoo is currently taking care of the president’s special order, you have to take on his other jobs. Also, you guys had better refrain from giving Hyunwoo any small errands if you can,
the team manager said.

I’m alright, sir. I can do it later in the evening…
Hyunwoo said.
Raising his hand, the manager interrupted him and asked the team members again,

Why are you guys not replying? Min Suji and Oh Sangho are here to help you guys. You have to help each other in a situation like this. Right?


Got it, sir,
the team members reluctantly answered.
Thanks to his help, Hyunwoo could do his main work during office hours.
However, he felt twice the burden, for he had to repay the manager’s consideration. Though he was confident, he had to take care of the certificate assignment as fast and accurately as possible. Accordingly, he couldn’t stop doing the research on the certificate-related topic even after the official working hours.

May I help you?
Suji asked when other team members left the office.

I’m alright. Why don’t you leave?


Well, there aren’t any soap operas to watch even if I go back home.


Really? Do you know something about the refund or the certificate on material supplies?


I know something about the refund, but did you say the certificate on material supplies? I’ve never heard about it. I can study about it little by little from now on.

Min dragged her seat closer to him.

Thanks, Suji. I feel relieved because I have an expert like you beside me.


No, I’m not an expert.

Min reviewed the relevant regulations with Hyunwoo.
Fortunately for Hyunwoo, the regulation on the certificate on material supplies was much simpler than expected. There was little difference between it and the refund. The documents necessary to obtain the certificate were the contract paper, the receipt of materials, and the certificate on tax payment.
However, the problem was that the application for the certificate was only possible through Unipass. That meant all the suppliers had to join Unipass and fill out the necessary forms. That wasn’t something a new hire like Hyunwoo could carry out. He at least needed the team manager’s intervention.
Hyunwoo wrote down all the important points to report to the team manager. However, the team manager cast a puzzled look at Hyunwoo and asked,

Why are you reporting this to me? What should I do?


Please persuade the presidents of the suppliers on this.


You want me to call them one by one for this, right?


Yes, it’s rather challenging for me to do so…

The team manager could figure out what he wanted, but it wasn’t in his element to do so.

In other words, you want me to force them to do so with my rank, right?


What I mean is you can persuade them to recognize how much this certificate case is important to us…


Well, I’m a bit disappointed. You’re causing trouble for me if you ask a favor of me without giving it a try by yourself first. If you can’t do it, just ask your superiors in the office. If you want to take all the credit by yourself out of greed and then things go wrong, that will be a big loss for you.

Hyunwoo had a different opinion, of course. Even if Aurum was in a domineering position and the suppliers were in a weak position, this certificate case wasn’t something Aurum could ask for without giving something in return. Also, he thought it would be more appropriate for a ranking employee, not a new hire like him, to ask for such a request. As for asking for favor of other team members, Hyunwoo had no problem at all about it. However, the problem was how to get the owners of the suppliers in motion to issue the certificates. He couldn’t argue with the manager because it would give him the impression that he was challenging him.
At that moment, Yonggu interrupted quickly, seizing the opportunity,
Hey, Hyunwoo. Why are you driving the team manager into a difficult position? If this is something you alone get the award money for, don’t you think that you should have to come up with the solution by yourself? Can you take away your promotion and give it to the manager?