What? Are you sure? Hyunwoos eyes widened . He was so surprised that he shouted out of the blue before he realized it . Yes, the products pa.s.sed our tests . In my opinion, our products compare favorably with the j.a.panese products . Mr . Sangtaek Kwon said our products with their current quality are compet.i.tive enough in any market around the world, said Sungji Na, the president of N&C Vietnam . Even Mr . Kwon said that? Hyunwoo felt that if Sangtaek agreed, then there was no question about the quality of the products that Sungji mentioned . Sangtaeks a.n.a.lysis meant that the N&C products were of the same grade as the j.a.panese products even if they could not surpa.s.s them . Hyunwoo wanted to shout in joy, and he had no reason to suppress his feeling because he was outside the office . Hooray! Let me s.h.i.+p the samples by air within three days, said Sungji . Got it . As soon as he came to the office the next day, Hyunwoo informed Youngsu, the manager of the news about N&Cs new products . It was good news to Youngsu . Really? Are you sure they can pa.s.s our new quality standard? asked Youngsu . Yes . I think the dream team played a big role . How wonderful! When will they deliver the samples? They will be delivered before the end of this week . Great . Let me report to the president, so he can order the research team to prepare the tests . Youngsu rushed to the presidents office as if he couldnt waste even a second which made Hyunwoo excited all the more . Then, someone called Hyunwoos cell phone . It was his mother . Suddenly, Hyunwoos heart sank because it was extremely rare she would call him casually at this time . His fathers face came to his mind . Hyunwoo picked up the phone immediately thinking that something bad had happened to his family . Yes, mom . This is Hyunwoo . I have no idea whats going on now, son! Her tone was rather high, suggesting she was pretty much excited about something . Hyunwoos face turned pale momentarily, Whats the matter? Is there anything wrong? Where is Dad right now? Dad? He is at home, I presume, said she in a tone that asked why he was mentioning his father . If that was the case, then he had no reason to worry about his father which was good . When Hyunwoo breathed out a sigh of relief, she continued, What is Kisan Industry? And where is Kyongguk Factory? Kisan Industry? Kyongguk Factory? They were not that strange to Hyunwoo . Both of them were located in Ansan . Though Hyunwoo had no direct ties with them, he went there lots of times while doing chauffeur service . Why would his mother mention these firms? Do you have any ties with the presidents of those firms? No, mom . Why? Well, I got a call from them asking me to prepare breakfast for their employees . They want me to prepare soybean, rice b.a.l.l.s or kimbap (seaweed ball) the way I do for Aurum . I had as many as six calls from factories today . Really? Six factories? Hyunwoo just felt dumbfounded at the thought of the multiple orders . a.s.suming that each of the six firms had at least 50 employees, it would 300 meals in total . As for Kasan Industry, it was a rather big factory with at least 150 workers . If half of the workers wanted breakfast, his mother would have to prepare breakfast for over 300 people with Aurum employees included . What time would she have to get up in the morning to prepare breakfast for such a huge crowd? Even though the muscular Hyunmin had started working for her, such a big order would be pretty tough for both of them to prepare . Hyunwoo was afraid that she would overwork because of the meager income, but she didnt think that way . Her high tone suggested that she was not worried but excited as if she was saying, I feel we might be rich sooner or later . Actually Hyunwoo wanted to tell her like that they were already very rich, and if he sold his stocks in N&C Vietnam, he could make several billion won . Instead, he got suspicious . How did they get her phone number and call her? Oh, I see! Suddenly, someones face came to his mind . The only company that gave others tips about supplying breakfast was Aurum . Obviously, neither Suji Min nor Youngsu Park were responsible for it because this kind of business could not be done quickly by an ordinary employee . Hyunwoo remembered that he had been called to the presidents office and felt something strange about President Parks actions at the time . President Park did it! After the call, Hyunwoo was troubled because he had to figure out how he could lessen his mothers burden . As soon as he was done with work, he headed home and discussed matter of breakfast supply with her . In fact, Hyunwoo didnt have to worry about it . His mother said that Hyunmin gave her a simple solution . Two boys from the House of Happiness have offered to help us . Really? They would have to get up very early in the morning to help you . Well, Ive decided to give them 600,000 won per month for their work . As were not busy on weekends, theyll be paid 30,000 won per day . Theyre making good money as high school boys, arent they? Good job! I feel very relieved to hear that, Mom . You dont have to worry about me, son, just take care of your health . Working all the time, day and night, like that will ruin your health Ill keep that in mind, Mom . It was three days later when the new product samples of N&C were delivered to Aurum . The research team put aside their main job and tested the quality of the samples . The tests were a great success . There was not a single one that failed the test in terms of the quality requirement . The manager of the research team even said that the samples exceeded the new quality standards in every respect . Daebong gave the order immediately, Keep using the existing casters of E65 Series but replace them with the new N&C products starting with the K65 Series . That accounted for about sixty-five percent of all parts used by Aurum . The purchasing team moved quickly to replace the casters, but things didnt work out as they had hoped because the large difference between Aurum and N&Cs unit price was still a problem, . Hyunwoo scratched his head, I heard they wouldnt accept our unit price . Theyre asking for more because theyve invested a lot in improving the quality of the parts . Youngsu was a bit surprised that Aurum increased the unit price . Based on the C65F Series, Aurum imported existing parts for 320 won a piece . They offered 370 won for the new part which was a little over a fifteen percent increase, but Aurum wanted more . How much more do they want? They want at least 420 won per piece . Parks jaws dropped at the new price . If thats what they want, there is little difference between their unit price and that of domestic parts . Hyunwoo nodded his head and said, Right . Some are cheaper and others are more expensive in the domestic market, but there is no other company than Castor that can compete with N&C products . In terms of the quality, what theyre asking for is not that high . This time Youngsu looked at Yonggu and asked,What do you think, Yonggu? Do you think their demand for the higher unit price is justified? Hyunwoo checked Yonggus countenance . Yonggu virtually had the final say when it came to determining the unit price . If he okayed it, Youngsu would report it directly to the president, but if he rejected it, Hyunwoo would have to wage a difficult persuasion war with them . Yonggu considered his answer carefully . He checked the test results of the N&C parts as well as the same parts produced by other companies and said, cautiously, Comparing the quality only, I think N&C products are cheap, but we have to take into account the efforts we made for the creation of the dream team . We took the lead in pioneering the N&C products in Vietnam . In that respect, I think we have to meet halfway on the unit price . Youngsu hummed, You mean we have to lower the unit price even though we can raise the selling price, right? . Yes, sir . Then, what do you think is the right price baseline? If I could have my way, Id like to lower it below 400 won, but it seems a bit difficult . As they have improved the quality, they could find any buyer other than us . I think we have to negotiate 400 won as the Maginot line . I wonder if the president will approve it, though . We have no choice . As things stand now, N&C has the upper hand . Were in a situation where we have to beg them to sell their products to us . Youngsu seemed to be troubled by Yonggus remarks a bit but soon nodded his head . Okay, then . You are responsible for negotiating with them on the unit price, Yonggu . Lower it to 400 won without any condition, and dont drag it too long . It was rather challenging demand, but Youngsu had to get it done to prove his performance to the president . Got it, Manager Park . Listening to Yonggu and Youngsus conversation, Hyunwoo felt a bit guilty because he felt like a spy, but there was nothing he could do . He felt that guilt was misplaced so long as he made good use of his position toward mutual benefits rather than abusing it for his own interests . The perfect scenario was for Hyunwoo to pose as a mediator between N&C and Aurum, so that he could get them to sign a contract for the price that Aurum wanted, but it was a question of whether or not Yonggu could a.s.sign that task to him . How can I talk to him on this? Can I just ask him to have me negotiate with N&C? Hyunwoo had been thinking about it when Yonggu called him, How about coffee? Hyunwoo checked his countenance a bit . He was going to ask Yonggu to go out for coffee . Hyunwoo stood up quickly from his seat, Sounds good . Both went up to the rooftop because it was perfect for a quiet conversation . There were some other employees there, but it was large enough that they could talk comfortably without being overheard . Hyunwoo waited for Yonggu to bring up the topic first . Yonggu opened his mouth, Please help me, dude . Try to persuade Mr . Dohyun Kim . Hyunwoo smiled brightly at that . After all, Yonggu was on the same page with him . Hyunwoo nodded without any hesitation, Sure, will do . Dont worry . Let me persuade Kim to accept the unit price at 400 won without any conditions . If you feel its hard, let me know . Ill ask the old guard to do me a favor . Got it . Can I get his reply this week? Yonggu smiled in satisfaction, Of course . Im sorry to say this, but let me turn in the report . Manager Park asked me to do this, so I just feel awkward if you do it . I would like to give a strong impression to the president on this occasion . Please understand me . Hyunwoo felt grateful that Yonggu asked a favor like that of him . It meant that Yonggu thought they were pretty close . Of course, man . Were friends, arent we? Thanks! I think Im lucky to have a good friend like you . After he left the office that evening Hyunwoo called Vietnam . He had to be very careful in the office all the time so that he wouldnt mention the commission fees of N&C Korea in the middle of his conversation with Sungji Na . Hyunwoo felt comfortable talking to Sungji about the unit price . In terms of the value, I know the new product is not worth 420 won but more than 500 won, but could you make it 400 won in consideration of my situation right now? Instead, I wont receive any commission the products you supply to Aurum . The original products price was only 340 won per unit, and the new product to replace it was 70 won more expensive, but most of the upcharge was a technology transfer fee that went to the dream team who worked on it . Without the transfer fee, the price was a bit over 300 won per unit; thus, if the new product was priced at 420 won per unit, it would mostly be a mostly value added product . However, without the commission fees that N&C Korea was supposed to take, N&C Vietnam would actually make more than 420 won per piece . After he asked for Sangtaek and Dohyuks opinion, Sunji agreed without any hesitation, Got it, but I expect that youll raise the unit price for other new dealers . Of course . I guarantee that I will get more than 450 won from other dealers by all means . Let me send you a contract . After he hung up the phone, Hyunwoo clenched his fist . He felt as if he crossed a big mountain, but he could not be satisfied with that . He had to seize the golden opportunity to promote the new products . He worked through the night to draft a press release and submitted it to manager Park . Manager, this is a draft press release on the new product . Park reviewed it . It was a press release about the dream teams work on the caster, and Dohyun was the central player . The content was something like this: