The Fisherman's Gain
Do you know what a biosimilar is? The dictionary definition refers to a generic drug recognized as equivalent in efficacy, effect, and safety to an existing patented pharmaceutical whose patent has expired. Famous companies in Korea include Celltrion and Samsung Biologics. Why am I explaining this? Because I wanted to give one to Miju as a gift. That's a story for later, and it's because of Director Jo's management advice. "What a waste." "It's a waste." Those words stuck in my mind. So while wondering where to use it, and with talks of legalizing the organization, I looked into it and learned about this industry. When I said I wanted to invest in this business, Director Jo said he'd look into it. I've thrown out the business plan, so the subordinates will probably put it together. Then, as usual, I played around. Today is a day off from classes. No, it's midterm exams. My schedule for today ends with going for just 30 minutes to take the test. Studying? Why bother when I don't even need the credits? I just wrote down what I remembered from class. But I think I got most of it right. The professor for Introduction to Trade Studies was really likable. His questions were profound. It felt like seeing the monk from our Donghaksa Temple. I should visit and pay my respects sometime; maybe during break.
'Write about what you think trade is' — he posed the question in a single sentence. I felt like I'd written an entire thesis. There was just so much to say. And throughout the exam period, I managed the community and the organization. Checking if the kids were growing well, if there were any problems. They were growing fast. So was our organization's bank balance. There was something novel in the community posts.
Cherry blossoms scattered in April. I was in Japan, where I'd taken my first overseas trip. With whom? Who else but Nakamura. He hadn't forgotten the suggestion to see the flowers in Tokyo and invited me. This guy doesn't move easily, so he must have something to say. While moving around together we saw the flowers, visited Tokyo's largest temple, and saw the bell. We also did an onsen at a ryokan a little outside the city. It was heaven. I should come here with Miju next time. After finishing the onsen soak, we sat at a sashimi restaurant with a full-course spread and started talking. Now we're getting to the main point.
"I hear Koreans like live sashimi. You eat a lot of it."
"Yes, thank you."
The sashimi tasted good, probably because the knife was sharp.
"Have you perhaps heard of Hong Kong's National Security Law?"
Suddenly? I don't know much, but I understand it's a law China made after taking over Hong Kong to crack down on the Hong Kong kids...
"I don't know much about it."
I answered honestly. No need to pretend to know.
At that, he began explaining.
"Hong Kong's National Security Law is a bill the Chinese government created to tame Hong Kong."
"It's a law that allows punishment of up to life imprisonment for four crimes: secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign forces."
?? While I was sitting there with question marks over my head wondering why he was bringing this up, he chuckled and started talking.
"An order came down from the China line."
"They'd like GB to help out a bit."
So this was the main point. Currently Hong Kong elects its leader by vote, but they say the current elected leader isn't to their liking. Who? The Chinese government. So what are they going to do? Bring down the hammer. And they want to replace him with a pro-China figure and turn Hong Kong into one China. Yeah, I get that, but what does that have to do with Nakamura? So I circled back and asked if it wasn't related. He laughed. "Wouldn't it be enough for us to just watch the ritual and eat the rice cake?" What kind of Zen riddle is that? When I asked again because I didn't understand, he said isn't this the situation where you use the proverb "the fisherman gains"? I wanted to tell him the next part of the story was more like "when whales fight, the shrimp's back bursts" than the fisherman's gain.
The order quantity was 120kg of premium-grade marijuana within three months, plus 12kg of OEM product. And payment in yuan. Mister... people are going to die over this. I was terrified by the scale of the continent. Since it wasn't a scale I could decide alone, I called an emergency executive meeting.
'Let's give it a try.' —Hamo-hamo(37.0)
'As long as we get the raw materials quickly. And it's about time we put the brakes on BS and the Sleeping Series. They've gone out way too much over the past three months.' —Hamo-hamo(37.0)
The conversation moved in the direction of approval. We also decided that Executive Sun's sales division would take a short break. The next day, while eating breakfast, I signaled my approval to Nakamura. Then I asked for a little more time due to a shortage of raw materials. He smiled and replied, "It's already prepared. You should be able to receive it next week."
This guy knew I'd say yes. We proceeded with price negotiations. He already knew the domestic market price and quoted at the level I distribute. I said okay. OEM at the previously agreed price. I thought the scale would get a discount, but fortunately it didn't. Thank you. I negotiated boldly after taking off the service fee. He'd already shown a lot of consideration, so it felt shameless to ask for a lower price. 150 million yuan. The largest transaction in history.
That afternoon I took a flight back to Korea. Then I checked the organization's production network. First, the urgent Haman Factory. I contacted Yeoni and told her to stop BS and the Sleeping Series and switch to the OEM order. She looked puzzled. She understood, though. It must have seemed strange to stop something that was going well. When I told her about the OEM volume, she got excited. She said she'd prepare right away. I also contacted Ali and urgently requested securing the auxiliary material volume. He said he'd handle the delivery, and the security team was happy to finally have work after a long time. Ali must have needed the money badly because he arranged it the very next day and told me to come get it. Is the chemical industry in off-season? Why does our organization always like it when we give them work? I also asked Manager Blueandgreen to check the marijuana inventory. A few hours later a report came up saying stock was insufficient. Last week the LA trader guy took a big chunk. If I'd known this would happen I wouldn't have sold it. When I asked if it was impossible, the report said with current stock it would be difficult, but if we placed an urgent order it should be possible next month. However, they assumed that if the logistics division sent out orders now it might be tough, so I told them not to send anything out. Among them, I said I'd personally ask the biggest one, the Cider guy, for understanding. I contacted the Cider guy right away and asked for understanding that it would be difficult until next month due to circumstances, and he coolly said it was fine. He must have some stock. Instead, I sent him a root of wild ginseng. That evening I notified Nakamura of the delivery schedule, saying it would be ready next month.
150,000,000 yuan has been deposited from Nakamura.
A few days later I received the deposit. As the personnel authority for the logistics division, I issued a personnel order. Vacation order. Of course, with paid leave and vacation pay provided. 'Executive Sun, why don't you take another vacation? You've worked hard.' —GB(38.1) After two big deals the temperature had risen. 'Yes, I heard from the director. I was a bit tired too, so I'll go rest.' —powersun(36.8) Executive Sun is human too, huh? We pushed team leaders who were at deputy level and gave each team ten million won in vacation pay. Depending on team member preferences, they could go together or split it individually. I warned them not to let only the deputies take it. Department heads at the manager level each received ten million won. I gave it to the deputies personally so they could use it alone. I told them not to drag their subordinates along just to look generous. For Executive Sun I said to use it however he wanted. If the executive isn't there, work doesn't run, so this level of treatment is necessary.