Building the Cultivation Facility (4)
The next morning.
I went to the municipal waterworks office with my parents.
"Oh, I didn't know a place like this existed," my father said, looking around.
"Yes. I found out about it while doing some research for this project," I replied.
Every city had a place like this.
Usually, they only conduct periodic tests at designated locations, but they also offer individual testing upon request from citizens.
Of course, they charge a fairly hefty fee for it.
"It's over there," I said, pointing toward the counter.
We walked up to the desk and submitted a one-liter bottle of water.
It was the water we had purified using the test facility.
"The testing fee is 248,600 won. The results will be out in a week," the clerk said.
"Here you go," my father said, handing over his card.
My father paid the fee, and we walked outside.
"Whew, a whole week... I'm so nervous," my father muttered.
"Why? Are you worried the results won't be good?" my mother asked.
"Well, yes."
"Don't worry, honey. I'm sure it'll get a Grade 1 or whatever they call it."
Even though my mother reassured him, my father still looked anxious.
"Of course, that would be great, but..."
"We're just doing this to be absolutely sure. Right, Hyunwoo?"
"Yes, that's right," I agreed.
In truth, the outcome of this test was already a foregone conclusion.
I had only submitted it to rule out the microscopic margin of error.
Since the water had already turned so crystal clear, it was safe to assume the purification process had worked perfectly.
Hearing that, my father finally seemed to relax a bit.
"Hmm! I suppose so. Indeed, it would be stranger if the water was still dirty after becoming that clean."
"Then I guess your job situation is as good as resolved," my mother said.
Originally, my father was slated to be reassigned to a different department.
He had been operating and managing the pH adjustment facilities, but with the introduction of new equipment, he was scheduled to be transferred to a completely unrelated department.
It was essentially a demotion.
"Yes! Exactly! If the system Hyunwoo built works this well, there's no reason for our company to buy those expensive German products. We can save a lot of money."
My father's response was slightly off from what my mother had intended.
Instead of worrying about his own position, he was relieved that the company would save money.
I can understand why he feels that way.
It was the company he had worked at ever since I was a child.
It had been nearly twenty years.
For better or worse, the salary from this company had fed our family all this time.
It was impossible for him not to feel attached to it.
And he has pride in his work, too.
In his own way, my father took pride in what he did.
To outsiders, his job might look like a simple, unimportant machine maintenance role.
But he didn't want to leave it behind to do something else.
From my mother's perspective, however, it was just frustrating.
"No, I don't mean that. Why do you care so much about a company that doesn't even treat its employees right?"
"Then what do you mean?"
"You won't have to transfer departments. If they adopt the system Hyunwoo made, there's no reason to move you."
Only then did my father understand her point and nod.
"Ah, I see. And you said this equipment isn't very hard to learn, right?"
"Yes. It will get a bit more complex later when we add a few more control units, but you'll pick it up in no time, Dad."
The two of them looked at each other and whispered.
"Then your salary won't be cut either."
"We'll be able to support Hyunwoo when he goes to college."
"That's wonderful."
"What a relief."
They both nodded gently, expressions filled with satisfaction.
"But Mom, Dad, that's not the only thing we're getting out of this," I said.
"Hmm?"
"What else?"
"Money. If Dad's company adopts this system, we're going to make a fortune."
"Ah!"
"Oh, right!"
Yet, they still looked slightly bewildered by the prospect.
"How much did you say it was? Hundreds of millions of won?"
"I can't even picture it..."
It was only natural.
They had never dealt with that kind of money in their entire lives.
"I shouldn't have brought it up. You don't have to worry about it yet. We need the test results first anyway."
"Right."
"I hope this week goes by quickly."
Time flew by after that.
One day, two days, three days...
A week passed, and it was now a peaceful Saturday morning.
I was lying in bed when my phone buzzed.
Bzzzt!
It was a text message from the waterworks office where we had requested the test last week.
"It's here!"
Let's check it.
Just then.
Patter, patter.
I heard hurried footsteps approaching from outside.
My father poked his head through the cracked door.
"Did the results come in?"
"Ah, yes."
"How did it go?"
"I haven't looked yet."
"What are you waiting for? Let's see it."
For some reason, my father seemed far more excited than I was.
He hurried over to my side, prompting me to quickly click the link to the results.
There was a lot of data, but this was the core of it.
Grade 1b.
It wasn't Grade 1a, the absolute highest purity, but it was clean enough to drink.
That was why it was marked as suitable for drinking.
"Ohhh!"
Seeing the results, my father's face lit up.
Just then, my mother appeared as well.
"How did it go?"
"We did it! It's Grade 1!"
"Oh! I knew it!"
"What do we do next?"
Both of their eyes locked onto me.
"We need to visit Dad's company."
To be precise, we had to go there and convince the management.
Convince them to install our affordable system instead of the expensive German one.
"Right."
"Of course."
"But convincing them won't be easy at all."
As I'd mentioned before, my product had no track record.
Unless we thoroughly convinced the company, adopting a system like this would look like a massive gamble to them.
"So, Dad, let's get prepared."
"Prepared how?"
"Well... first, leave the task of convincing the management entirely to me."
After all, I was the one who possessed the deep technical knowledge of the system.
On the other hand, my father didn't even fully know how to operate the equipment yet.
"Are you saying you're coming to the company with me?"
"I have to."
"What about school?"
"I'll skip a day. Or at least the morning."
My father thought about it for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. Anything else?"
"Even if it looks like the deal might fall through, please don't try to force it."
"Why? Didn't you build this specifically for my company?"
"Yes. But we hold the upper hand here."
"The upper hand? What do you mean?"
"It means Dad's company doesn't have to be the first one to adopt this system."
Even without my father's company, I had plenty of other potential clients. The new environmental policy was already in effect, meaning companies that only had pH adjustment facilities were forced to install eco-friendly treatment systems.
Meanwhile, we were the only ones who could offer an eco-friendly purification system at such a low price.
"So there's no need to obsess over making a deal with your company."
"Hmm... I suppose you're right."
But even as he agreed, my father still looked somewhat reluctant.
So I added a bit more.
"Of course, working with your company would be ideal."
"Really?"
"Yes. We have a connection through you, Dad. It should make convincing them at least a little easier."
In truth, this was the biggest reason.
The presence of my father, who had worked there for nearly twenty years, would give the management a sense of trust.
But even that has its limits.
That was why I wouldn't obsess over it.
If it didn't work out, I could just pitch it to other companies.
In the worst-case scenario, I could just sell the technology itself.
To an existing wastewater treatment manufacturer, that is.
The overall profit would be smaller, but it would bring in a large sum of cash in the short term.
Still, selling it directly is much better in the long run.
"Shall we go first thing on Monday?"
"Let's do it!"
Monday morning finally arrived.
I got in the car with my father and headed to his workplace.
Vroom—
We arrived at the factory located on the outskirts of the city.
Wondong Paper
We parked in the employee lot and got out.
In one of my hands, I carried the carefully packaged purification system we had built.
"Alright, let's go."
"Yes, sir."
However, our destination today wasn't the factory floor where my father usually worked.
It was...
The headquarters building across the street.
The president's office of Wondong Paper was located on the top floor.
But meeting him won't be easy.
No matter how long my father had worked here, he was just one of hundreds of employees.
Unless we had an appointment, the chances of the president agreeing to a sudden meeting were slim.
Still, we have to try.
With that thought, we stepped into the building.
Step, step.
"Ah, they have a security gate."
"So they do. I didn't know."
There was a security gate inside the lobby.
To go upstairs, you had to scan an employee ID card.
But since my father didn't work in the corporate office, his card wouldn't work.
"Shoot..."
Thus, our plan to just walk up to the president's office and start a conversation was thwarted.
So instead.
"Let's talk to the lady over there," my father suggested.
Reluctantly, we walked over to the female receptionist at the information desk.
"Hello."
"How can I help you?"
"I'm Ji Yonggeon. I work at the factory across the street."
"Yes? And?"
"Well... I'd like to see the president."
"The president? What for?"
Watching from behind, I could tell the receptionist's reaction was lukewarm at best.
It seemed impossible to get to the president through her. I doubted she even had the authority to arrange such a meeting in the first place.
"It's about the new wastewater treatment policy. My son here built something that can replace the required system..."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Ah, no, but..."
"Then I'm afraid that's not possible. And you said you're a factory employee? In that case, you should submit a request through your manager."
"Well... yes, but that would take too long..."
"It won't do any good to keep talking to me. Please make an appointment and come back."
Just as I thought.
I need to find another way.
I scanned the lobby.
Since it was peak morning commute time, a crowd of people was streaming into the building.
Among them...
There had to be at least one high-ranking executive who could connect us to the president.
I couldn't see their titles, so I had to observe carefully. I widened my field of vision and kept my ears open.
Then, I heard it.
"Good morning, Director."
"Oh, yes. Good morning, Assistant Manager Kim."
Found one.