[Capital of 1,500 Dollars (2)]
“Ho, so you dropped out of Harvard and founded a small company?” Brigadier General Colson, seemingly intrigued, held the sketchbook himself and began reading the thick collection of clipped articles. Since there were more than just one or two, he had to flip through the pages, but he carefully scrutinized every single one, curious about what kind of articles his grandson had been collecting.
“That’s the first time you’ve seen those, Grandpa.”
“Oh… is that so?”
“Yes. Honestly, I was a bit embarrassed. It felt like a strange hobby. But I felt like I had to show you, so I brought them.”
No one dislikes receiving special treatment from someone they cherish. With a warm expression, Brigadier General Colson turned his attention back to the conversation with his grandson.
“Looking at these, it seems like these guys are in the computer business. Are you interested in this field as well?”
As of 1977, fewer than 400 computers had been introduced in South Korea. This was the era when mid-to-large-sized computers were just beginning to be adopted in places like Seoul City or KAIST for research calculations or grading middle school exams.
“Yes.”
“Why is that?”
Because he was still serving in the U.S. military, Brigadier General Colson knew more about computers than the average person. He was curious about how his grandson had become interested.
“I was reading English newspapers to study the language, and I happened to see an article about someone who dropped out of Harvard to start a company.”
“Ah, this article here, right?” As Brigadier General Colson pointed to a spot in the sketchbook, Yoon-gi nodded.
“Yes. As far as I know, Harvard is the most prestigious university in the world, but he started a company without graduating. I found that so fascinating, so I looked into what a computer actually was.”
“And? How was it?”
Yoon-gi flapped his hands like a goose, acting all excited.
“It was truly amazing. It was shocking to learn that something could finish a calculation in an instant that would take a human an entire day.”
“That’s true. That’s why the U.S. military uses computers quite a lot, too.”
“In my opinion, computers will be used in more and more places soon. They’re expensive right now, but if the price drops due to technological advancement, wouldn’t they be used everywhere?”
“Hmm, that certainly could be the case.” Brigadier General Colson thought of the Altair computer and agreed it sounded plausible. Even in the 50s, the U.S. used enterprise and research computers like the PDP-10, and many viewed mass production as impossible. But with the release of the Altair, the U.S. had taken a step forward toward the concept of a ‘home computer.’ Even if it only had 4 kilobytes of memory and, compared to modern times, didn’t even have a monitor.
“That’s why I wanted to get a head start on this ‘computer’ thing. I learned it while studying management—if I invest early, I figured it would be easier to procure the goods later.”
“That’s also true. But why this company in particular? There are solid companies like MITS or IBM, aren’t there?”
“Would companies like that even deal with a kid like me?”
At his grandson’s incredibly realistic yet childlike expression, Brigadier General Colson burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! That’s right. You’re right. No matter how much I introduce you, they wouldn’t approach you with sincerity. And it’s hard for me to step in, too. If I were retired, maybe, but right now, people might say a soldier is putting pressure on civilians.”
“Exactly. Even if you could invest your spare money for me, Grandpa, you wouldn’t be able to force companies like IBM or MITS to move.”
The clever grandson continued his explanation.
“Besides, I think these people have staked their lives on this.”
“Staked their lives?”
“Yes. To drop out of Harvard means they’re betting their entire lives on this business. Wouldn’t people like that be the ones to achieve something? The money I’m investing won’t be a burden on our family, so I think these people are the most appropriate for me to meet.”
In reality, Bill Gates had taken a leave of absence, not a permanent dropout, to have a backup plan. However, this fact wasn’t widely known, and it was hard for Yoon-gi, who got his information through English newspapers, to know that. The only information Yoon-gi had was that Microsoft was incredibly famous before his regression, and that he had coincidentally found a children’s comic book about Bill Gates’ life in one of the labor breakrooms he used to frequent. This ‘judgment based on coincidence’ was the biggest reason he chose to challenge Microsoft over other ‘blue-chip stocks.’
“I’ve heard from your father-in-law, so I know what kind of life you’re living. I can’t lose to that guy, either. I’ll tell my subordinates to arrange a meeting.”
“Thank you, Grandpa!” When the mature boy even kissed his cheek, Brigadier General Colson’s expression melted completely.
Clatter, clatter! The sound of the meal cart echoed through the first-class cabin, and beautiful stewardesses began asking the passengers if they were ready to eat.
“Would you like to dine?”
The stewardess looked like she had stepped out of a 70s black-and-white film. She looked at Brigadier General Colson and was surprised by his rugged charm, then looked at Yoon-gi and was surprised a second time by his cuteness.
‘I guess I’m popular even in foreign countries now?’
Suddenly, Yoon-gi heard Choi Deok-bae’s tutting in his ear.
‘Would you like to try the in-flight meal?’
For a moment, joy flickered on Choi Deok-bae’s face, but he soon looked sullen.
‘Can I perform a memorial service via Wi-Fi?’
‘I mean, can I bow in the bathroom? What’s the maximum distance for a bow?’
The staff pushing the meal carts included not just stewardesses, but chefs as well. Unlike modern airplanes, planes back then were truly the exclusive domain of the upper class.
“Grandpa, I’ll eat after I go to the bathroom for a moment.”
“Yes, yes, go ahead.”
One minute after Yoon-gi went to the bathroom, Choi Deok-bae excitedly picked up a fork and knife and began carving the lobster. The world’s first ‘Wi-Fi memorial service’ took place in 1977.
***
Excited by the in-flight meal experience, Choi Deok-bae was floating around Yoon-gi. But Yoon-gi wasn’t listening to a word Choi Deok-bae said, letting it go in one ear and out the other.
“Whoa…”
A scene you could never see in Korea. The July cornfields embroidered in green, stretching endlessly beyond the horizon, were a grand spectacle in themselves. A field so vast and deep that the word ‘stranded’ felt appropriate—as if you would get lost if you started walking forward and night fell.
Seeing that sight, Yoon-gi’s mental horizon expanded even further.
‘The world is truly this wide…’
Even when he lived in modern Korea, he had wandered all over the country. He had followed construction sites wherever they were. But the world he saw then and the world he saw now felt completely different.
Squeeze!
‘That’s right. Korea’s top company isn’t the issue.’
Seeing his grandson seemingly having an epiphany, Brigadier General Colson smiled, stood behind him, and placed both hands on his shoulders.
“This is Indiana in July. It’s all green—or do you say ‘lush’ in Korea? But try to imagine one more thing.”
“What kind of imagination?”
“Imagine that the corn kernels wrapped inside the green husks are all out in the open. What color would this scenery look like then?”
In an instant, Yoon-gi imagined a world shining entirely in gold. The golden sight of millions, tens of millions of yellow corn kernels gathered together, emitting light.
Feeling his grandson’s body flinch, Colson wore a satisfied expression.
“Farmers don’t see corn during harvest season; they see gold. If you want to follow in that guy’s footsteps, you have to see the world as gold. You are his bloodline, but you are also the only bloodline of mine left in this world.”
At Brigadier General Colson’s words—which didn’t sound like a soldier’s, but like a wealthy man’s—Yoon-gi nodded and turned around to hug his grandfather.
“Alright, then shall we go meet the people you want to see?”
Lifting his grandson onto his shoulders, Colson began to move toward his second appointment, escorted by his men.
***
Microsoft. Founded in 1975. Capital of 1,500 dollars. As of 1977, the dollar exchange rate was 484 won, so Bill Gates had founded Microsoft with 726,000 won. That’s a little less than 6 million won in today’s Korean currency. However, with just that 6 million won, Bill Gates achieved 100,000 dollars in revenue immediately in 1976. That’s a performance nearly 60 times the capital. Furthermore, in 1978, as he won the lawsuit against MITS, revenue jumped to 1 million dollars again. That was why Yoon-gi thought now, in 1977, was the ‘last chance to invest in Microsoft for maximum profit.’
‘There might be Steve Jobs’ Apple or other companies, but most of the companies I know are founded later. Besides, I don’t know them as well as I know Microsoft.’
Rather than a company he knew nothing about, he chose one he was familiar with. Even so, Yoon-gi felt sweat forming on his palms.
“Should I just do as you say?”
At Ryu Geun-tae’s words, Yoon-gi nodded. The reason Yoon-gi brought Ryu Geun-tae along was to use him when they entered the practical stage. Originally, he had planned to get help if he got stuck on words during the conversation, but since his maternal grandfather, Brigadier General Colson, had rolled up his sleeves to help, he judged it better to rely on him for that part.
“Don’t be nervous. Can’t you just think of it as a field trip?”
At Brigadier General Colson’s words, Yoon-gi nodded with an awkward smile. A moment later, the office door opened, and a new person appeared—not the two Microsoft employees who had been with them until now.
A face with square-rimmed glasses and a vertically oval shape. A smile on his lips that looked slightly awkward. At the same time, eyes that looked strangely tired. Above all, his plaid shirt made anyone think ‘engineering major’ at a glance.
‘So it was true that he doesn’t shower much.’
The damp, rat-like smell that wafted in as soon as Bill Gates entered the office was proof enough, but Yoon-gi was the only one in the office who didn’t distort his expression. Instead, he ran toward Bill Gates and held out his sketchbook.
“Woooooah!”
Bill Gates, who had been looking puzzled at the Asian boy running toward him while shouting, widened his eyes after seeing the contents of the sketchbook.
“Where did you say this kid was from?”
To Bill Gates’ whisper, the employee whispered back.
“Korea. It’s a country next to Japan. It’s similar to Japan, but its economic level is far behind.”
Bill Gates didn’t really know what the situation was, having only attended this meeting at the request of a mentor who had taught him while he was at Harvard. So, after sitting Yoon-gi in the chair across from the table, he sat down himself and asked Brigadier General Colson.
“I heard you were looking for me. I am Bill Gates, the representative of this company, Microsoft.”
“Ah, nice to meet you. I am Brigadier General Colson, serving in the U.S. Forces in Korea. My grandson really wanted to see you, so I had to ask people around me to set up an appointment. It would be faster to talk to my grandson than to me.”
At Brigadier General Colson’s gentle smile, Bill Gates relaxed a little, thinking it wasn’t a serious matter at all. Of course, he didn’t yet know why a U.S. Brigadier General from Korea had brought a boy who seemed to be his fan.
“May I ask what brings a little friend from the East all the way here to see me?”
A little fan from the East who had brought a sketchbook filled with clippings of articles about himself and Microsoft. Because of that, Bill Gates’ expression was very gentle.
“I want to invest my pocket money in this company. Because I love computers so much!”
The words of a ten-year-old child. As if reminded of his own childhood, Bill Gates chuckled and replied.
“Investing in a company isn’t as easy as you might think. But if our friend wants to invest, I’ll accept it personally. How much do you want to invest?”
“700,000 dollars!”
Silence fell over the office in an instant.