Chapter 298
Chapter 298
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 298
Chapter Title: 92. Cottage Industry (2)
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— ...The day before?
"Yeah. The day right before the vote."
'...Uh, ...uh-huh.' The voice on the other end of the line soon quieted down.
Three candidates. And the other two had already announced their pledges, making withdrawal impossible. What meaning was there in handing out bribes first when they had already done so?
Yoo Ji-tae could sense the kid's little brain spinning furiously.
— ...Hmm. If it were me... ...I'd probably vote for someone else.
"Why."
— ...Because... ...I've already eaten the hamburger.
Exactly.
As expected, the kid's mind was turning within the logic of capital.
Winter's judgment was correct.
People are always cunning. Once they've taken a small gain, they move for a bigger one. This doesn't change even for children. If anything, kids are more honest about their desires.
If individuals show such tendencies, groups are even more so.
Yoo Ji-tae thought for a moment.
He had never taught Winter this method before.
But her mind was already made up. After pondering, he spoke.
"If you just give them the hamburger, sure."
— ...Then what?
"It can't end there. What comes after is the important part."
What candidates offer while grasping voters' hands isn't mere body warmth.
They offer anticipation.
There's a candidate 'me' who rolls up their sleeves and comes to this humble place to shake your hands.
Campaigning is a desperate plea: even after election, I'll continue to look after you, so expect it.
"If they get a taste beforehand, the items in your pledge will feel much closer. More than unseen chicken or pizza."
— ...Yeah.
"Don't just stop at the pledge. Make them anticipate what comes after that too. If you do just that, your chances of winning will skyrocket."
For example, give them another one after you're elected.
— ...Hmm. Then... ...make hamburgers twice?
"That wouldn't be easy, right?"
— ...Yeah... ...There's a thousand students in the whole school.
"Exactly. Even once would be incredibly tough. And the more you think it's difficult, the more other candidates and voting students will know it too. They might even think it's too hard to pull off."
— ...Yeah. Huh? ...Yeah?
"Right? You work hard, but making food for a thousand people twice isn't easy. Inevitably, you might not deliver the second time. Isn't that so?"
Realizing the dangerous implication in Yoo Ji-tae's words, Winter let out a '...Ah.'
"Got it?"
— ...Uh-huh.
This was the key. Close the distance early to bring rewards near. Amplify anticipation. Then seize the voters' votes.
Build up that anticipation. Winning chances rise. Then what? Do you have to deliver on it?
...No. There's no need.
To be precise, post-election doesn't matter. If the goal is election, it's already achieved.
"Is your goal becoming student council president? Or getting elected as student council president?"
— ...Getting elected.
"Because of the one million won scholarship?"
Hee-hee...
After hesitating, an awkward laugh followed.
Yoo Ji-tae carefully chose his words before speaking.
"Winter. If it were me, that's what I would do."
Right now, Yoo Ji-tae was teaching the child a form of deception and falsehood. It was absolutely not suitable as what an adult should recommend to a child.
But as guidance from protector to protected, it was fitting.
Because Winter wouldn't remain a child forever.
"You have to seize what's necessary, no matter the means."
The day he made her room and installed the tank. Yoo Ji-tae began seeing Winter as a respectable 'person.'
Right after hearing from the kids about Winter's circumstances, he realized she must become an adult who could stand alone.
Someday.
Perhaps soon.
Returning to Ascalifa, Winter would have to be independent without parents.
Raised only on pretty, nice things—in Yoo Ji-tae's greenhouse, outside her world, blizzards already raged.
Fittingly named as such.
"But that doesn't mean this way is right. Someone might curse you for it. You might feel guilty thinking it's wrong. So choose what sits well with your heart."
— ...Hmm.
"No need to feel burdened. Choose anything. Worst case, back out. Just withdraw your candidacy. Right?"
— ...Yeah, yeah.
Soon, a voice calling Winter from the receiver. '...Ah, be right back.' She fumbled, said goodbye to Yoo Ji-tae, and hung up hastily.
What choice would Winter make?
Whatever it was, Yoo Ji-tae would respect it and support accordingly.
A few hours later.
He waited in front of Lair Public Elementary School.
Spotting him from afar while walking home with friends, Winter came running.
Arms outstretched after so long—he scooped her up.
Her blue hair touched his chest. Winter leaned in.
"How'd it go."
"......"
At his question, Winter looked up at his face. Her smile was awkward. The small hand gripping his shirt hem was awkward too.
"Decided not to?"
"...Yeah."
Winter nodded.
"...Just gonna make the hamburgers."
By Yoo Ji-tae's standards, it was a shame. But even if realistically the best method, it wasn't necessarily the answer.
Respecting as a person meant respecting differing thoughts. And Winter decided her way.
Winter was always a pragmatic dragon, but looking back, she also shunned bad things. Like when she once said she wanted to be a 'good person' to him.
"Yeah. Good thinking."
And he respected Winter's thinking.
Then, giggling Winter said this.
"...If it was ten million won, I would've done it."
"For real?"
"...Who sticks a million won up their nose?"
The next day. A call from the elementary school.
— Shouldn't money calling votes be minimized at least? As a teacher, that's my thought too.
"Yes."
— Also, with the recent upright education culture campaign in Lair, we're managing this more strictly.
Income disparity in Lair was huge. Just look at Tyr Blanc, Kim Ji-in, So Ji-ro.
— So, the meeting decided to allow only one hired cook. Link Watch ID codes for other cooking staff. We need to check relations to students, work hours, labor intensity, etc.
This seemed the school's minimal compromise after deliberation.
"Understood."
No issue.
Meanwhile, Winter faced a new crisis.
"...Help me a bit."
She couldn't do it alone. So Winter approached her sisters for aid.
But Summer's crossed arms were a sight.
"What. For free?"
"...What?"
"Gotta pay labor costs. You think we'd do that crazy shit for nothing?"
"...Help me a little."
"No way. My time's expensive. But I'll give a family discount."
"...How much?"
"Cough it up. Five thousand won per hour."
Labor costs...!
Never considered. Winter looked to Autumn and Spring like they were saviors. Fortunately, they smiled roundly and agreed for free.
Five thousand won per hour.
12 hours would be 60,000 won.
"Oh, wait...! And Winter...! You can't cook in the dorms, right?"
"...Huh? ...Yeah."
"I checked Lair kitchen rental fees?"
"...How much?"
"127,000 won per day...!"
"......"
Facility rental...!
Right. Can't make 1,000 burger sets in the dorms. Facilities needed obviously.
Winter added Summer's 12-hour labor 60,000 won to facility 127,000 won.
Already minimum 187,000 won gone. As Winter sighed.
"Oh. And I looked into..."
"...Ah."
Finally, it arrived.
Winter eyed Spring tensely. An hour ago, she'd asked Spring for ingredient buying advice. Spring was best at cheap buys. And Spring had found the lowest price.
The amount was shocking.
"...Huh? ...H-how much?"
"French fries, cola, buns, lettuce, tomatoes, patty meat, salt, pepper for 1,000 people... total. 1,938,490 won."
"......!?"
This was even at wholesale bulk from producers, piling every telecom discount and card points.
"...O-one, one hun-one million nine hundred thirty-eight thou..."
Winter was stunned.
Apples at 500 or 1,000 won each—living in such a world dulled sense for big numbers.
Feeding a thousand people, no less. How could it be cheap?
No need to add facility or labor now. Already over a million!
"......My, my god."
Winter's face darkened in real time.
So funny, Spring, Summer, Autumn burst laughing.
"Our Winter. Hoisted by her own petard."
"Lured and greedy little punk."
"What now, Winter? Gotta puke up all your earnings so far...!"
Even as sisters teased mercilessly, Winter neared tears.
"...Huuuuhhhng......"
As Winter actually sniffled, sisters laughed louder. Spring couldn't hold back. Summer gasped. Autumn even slid off the sofa, rolling on the floor.
Too cute to bear.
"...I, ...won't do it."
"What?"
"...I'm quitting. ...Not doing it."
This much was expected.
But what followed wasn't. Facing 2 million won loss, Winter bolted.
"...Don't, ...follow me."
"Huh? Winter where..."
"......Gonna, leave home."
Kyahahaha—! Kids exploded laughing again as Winter scurried. Looked ready to really run away. Mid-laugh, clutching belly, Summer yelled.
"Hey. Hey. Janitor! Grab her!"
"Ah, yes!"
At Summer's word, the giggling guardian from the corner dashed, blocking Winter.
"......"
Winter glared with bulging eyes.
"Little miss. Calm down first."
"...Move, jerk."
"Can't run away from home."
Soon, tears welled in those bulging eyes. Glimmering. Flustered guardian flailed.
"I-it's okay, miss. I'm free labor!"
"...Don't, ...need."
"......"
Thud. Felt like lead dropped in head. Hurt guardian froze stiff.
Spotting the gap, Winter dashed for the door again.
Then the door opened on its own.
"......?"
Sniffling Winter looked up at Yoo Ji-tae entering. Huge packaged frozen meat over his shoulder. Nearly a whole butchered pig's worth!
Yoo Ji-tae eyed Spring, Summer, Autumn rolling on the floor curiously.
"What's this. Where you going."
"...Leaving, ...home."
"No time for that."
"......?"
"Got the meat. Autumn didn't tell you? Rented the kitchen. Let's go make 'em."
"...Refund, please."
"What?"
"...No, money."
Having heard the situation from Spring, Yoo Ji-tae said.
"Winter. Some countries have election subsidies."
"...Subsi, dy?"
"Yeah. Government subsidizes party funds. Meaning, I'll cover all your campaign costs."
"...Is that, normal?"
By raw numbers, belly bigger than pig. But Yoo Ji-tae quietly persuaded Winter.
"It's normal."
"...Ah."
"Got it?"
"......"
"You lot, get up. Time to go."
'Yes.' Jokes over anyway. Kids rose.
Yoo Ji-tae opened the door again, stepping out. Sunlight spilled, brightening Winter's face. Worried about her near-tears, Spring peeked—her aggrieved eyes now shone brightly. Winter beamed, slipping on shoes.
That smile outshone the noon sun.