Gun-Ho went back to his office. President Song was out of office; he was attending a meeting hosted by GH Mobile’s new client home appliance manufacturing company for its vendors. Also, the accounting director was out to meet with the tax accountant. When Gun-Ho was sitting in his office by himself, Secretary Hee-Jeong Park came in and said, “Sir, GH Logistics’ workers are here.”
“GH Logistics?”
Two people entered the office and gave a 90-degree bow to Gun-Ho. They were the GH Logistics’ manager and accounting staff. They look, of course, familiar since he saw them whenever he visited GH Logistics.
“Oh, why are you all here?”
“We had an interview with Mr. General Affairs Director.”
“Oh, I see. So, are you two joining GH Mobile?”
“Yes, sir. Mr. General Affairs Director approved our job transfer here. We just need to prepare some paperwork.”
“That’s very good to hear.”
“Mr. President Moon told us that we would be transferred to GH Mobile once he receives the rest of the sales proceeds of GH Logistics’ property.”
“What position are you two assigned to?”
“I will be working as a team lead in the production site 1.”
“I will work in the production site 2 with general office work.”
“That’s good. I hope you two enjoy working with us here.”
Gun-Ho extended his hand for a handshake.
“I knew GH Mobile is a big company, but it’s huge with so many workers here. I won’t disappoint you, sir. I will do my best.”
The two people left the office after giving another 90-degree bow to Gun-Ho.
The brief meeting with the current GH Logistics’ workers reminded Gun-Ho of his business in China. Gun-Ho made a call to President Runsheng Yan— the president of the intercity bus terminal in Antang City.
“Wei, Ni hao, Mr. President Yan?”
“Mr. President Goo? Hi. It has been a while since I talked with you last time. I was actually going to give you a call since July is almost over.”
“We are still working on finishing up things here. I think we can send our man there around the middle of next month.”
“Sounds good. Please do what suits your needs. By the way, you are sending Mr. President Moon here, right?”
“That’s right.”
“I just want to know beforehand. I’m so glad that I will be working with someone I already know.”
It was August.
It had been five months already since Gun-Ho and Young-Eun married to each other, but there was no sign of a baby yet. Gun-Ho didn’t really pay attention to having a baby since he had been so busy with his work. However, his parents were different.
“Gun-Ho, you have no good news for us yet?”
“No, mom. We will have a baby when the time comes. Don’t worry about it, mom.”
It was not just his parents who seemed to be concerned about it. The students from Advanced Center for Administrative Development at Seoul National University asked Gun-Ho about it as well.
“Mr. Class Manager, it has been a while since we attended your wedding. Any good news yet?”
“No. It will happen when it’s meant to happen. I’m not concerned.”
“You gotta do it right before dawn.”
“Huh? Do what?”
“You know, the thing that you have to do in order to have a baby.”
All the students around Gun-Ho laughed out loud.
After hearing that tip, Gun-Ho actually tried it right before dawn the next day.
Gun-Ho started groping Young-Eun who was still sleeping. When she barely woke up, Gun-Ho said to her, “I was told that we have to do it right before dawn!”
“That’s a misbelief. Get your hands off me. I’m too sleepy for that.”
“We have to try. It has to be done right before dawn.”
“There is no scientific proof for it. It’s just a BS. I’m a medical doctor. You can trust me on this. Those people, who told you that, know nothing about it.”
“Oh, it’s almost dawn. Let’s do it!”
“Oh my. You are pressing too hard against me!”
Gun-Ho received a call from Jae-Sik Moon. He stated that he received the middle payment of the sales price.
“How much did they send?”
“They sent me 2 billion won.”
“4.3 billion won more to go then.”
“That’s correct since we received 200 million won when we signed the sales and purchase agreement.”
“Do you remember the loan from a local bank in Seonghwan City that we took out when we purchased the heavy equipment? It was 720 million won.”
“Of course, I remember that.”
“Let’s pay off that loan first with the sales proceeds, so we don’t have to pay for the interest any longer.”
“Okay, I will do that right away.”
“Also, make some time for me either today or tomorrow. I want to have soju with you.”
“Soju? All of a sudden? What’s the occasion?”
“I just want to have time alone with you as friends before you leave for China, like old days. Let’s have soju and pork belly.”
“Sounds great. Let’s do that today then. Where do you want to meet?”
“I won’t bring my car. I will take the subway. Since just two of us will meet, let’s meet halfway like Suwon Station. What do you think?”
“Suwon Station? It’s not far at all from where I am in Seonghwan City, but it’s a bit far from where you are, President Goo. Let’s meet at Jeongja Station in Bundang District instead. It takes only 30 minutes from that station to Dogok Station where your home in TowerPalace is located.”
“Sounds good. I will stop by home then to change into more comfortable clothes before I meet you.”
“I will leave at 4:30 from here. Since other workers are all here, I can leave a bit earlier than usual. I will see you there around 6 pm then.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
Gun-Ho and Jae-Sik Moon met at Jeongja Station.
“Once you start living in China, you will miss soju and pork belly. Let’s have them as much as we can today.”
“Sounds good!”
The two men went to an old restaurant and started having soju along with pork belly dish. They made a wrap of pork belly with lettuce.
“This is very nice. I feel so good today.”
“I know. It feels good. I will definitely miss this once I go to China. Soju is my favorite liquor. It’s the best.”
The two men finished the first bottle of soju. When they opened the second bottle of soju, Gun-Ho asked Jae-Sik, “Hey, I wanted to ask you this. Where is your father living now?”
“My dad? Gosh. My dad’s life is so sad. I hated my dad when I was in high school. I thought that he was financially incompetent and that I had to suffer because of it. But now I think of it since I’m a grown man now. My dad must have a hard life, and I shouldn’t blame him for it.”
“Is your father living in the countryside right now?”
“He is working in a hog farm in Hongcheon Town. I don’t often talk about my dad, but for some reason, I’m talking about him today…”
“Your father is old. I guess it’s time for him to retire and take a rest.”
“I think so, but my dad is a person with a bad credit score. He has to make a monthly payment for his debts to the court.”
“How much is it?”
“It’s around 400,000 won. He must pay that amount on a monthly basis.”
“If he wants to pay the entire debt, how much would that be?”
“He visited me in Incheon City last month. He said at that time he still had 16 million won of debt left.”
Jae-Sik smiled bitterly and drank his soju.
“16 million won is not much. Let’s pay it off for him.”
“It seems that he can’t do that. He has to make a monthly payment as it was set in the beginning.”
“Hmm, I see. Actually, that makes sense. If he could pay it all at once, that shows that he has money to do so. And since he has money, the court might ask him to pay the amount forgiven earlier.”
“I really don’t talk about my dad. I don’t know why I’m talking about him today. Maybe it’s liquor talking.”
“What about your mom? Is she still in Juan Town?”
“No, she couldn’t even afford to keep that basement unit in Juan Town. She had to move to the area close to East Incheon Station. There is an old area in Hwapyeong Town, which would desperately need to be redeveloped. She leased a basement unit there, and she is living by herself. I’m sorry that you have to listen to my not-so-pleasant family stories.”
