It’s Not About the Money
Upon landing at the Russian airport, Kang Seok-ho couldn't help but mutter to himself.
“This airport makes Gimpo Airport look like a luxury resort….”
“That’s the limitation of communism. Secretary Kang, didn’t you do group projects back in your school days?”
“Hehehe, indeed I did.”
Recalling his younger years, Kang Seok-ho couldn't help but chuckle.
“Since you’re the oldest, you should be the group leader!”
“Oppa, I don’t know anything, can’t I just do the presentation?”
Remembering how he eventually ended up doing the group project like a solo assignment, Kang Seok-ho could fully empathize with why the airport was in such a state.
“I suppose the hotel will be the same?”
“Obviously.”
Yoon-gi and Kang Seok-ho had booked the best hotel in the Soviet Union. When they arrived, the first thing Kang Seok-ho felt was nothing other than ‘laziness.’ It wasn’t that they weren't working; rather, the operation lacked the concept of ‘efficiency’ that stems from a capitalist society. Everything was done at a snail’s pace. It was a situation that would make anyone’s blood boil, but Yoon-gi solved it quite simply. That was, namely:
“Thank you!”
The boisterous response of the bellhops. Compared to the Soviet per capita income, they had received a decent tip, and the bellhops began moving the luggage of Yoon-gi, Kang Seok-ho, and their entourage at incredible speed.
“Money really is everything.”
The way to turn communism into capitalism is, naturally, money.
“But since communism is a rationing system, isn’t it impossible to spend more money than your salary anyway?”
It wasn’t Yoon-gi who answered Kang Seok-ho’s question, but one of the members of the entourage. Among the bodyguards and staff who had followed them to the Soviet Union, a muscular Black man in his early 40s answered with a smile.
“It all flows into the Black Market.”
“The black market?”
“Yes. There isn’t a place on this earth without a black market. There are things they make themselves, and things brought in through smuggling. People use the money they earn beyond their salary to buy things there.”
“But isn’t that dangerous? Won’t the authorities monitor it?”
“The guys doing the monitoring are all strapped for cash too. A bottle of vodka is enough to make most of them turn a blind eye. Of course, those who are too stingy to offer that get crushed if they’re caught.”
“Ho-ho, you know quite a lot about this?”
“I made a pretty decent profit in Mexico when I was serving in the U.S. military.”
Yoon-gi was generally soft-spoken with those around him, so the bodyguards who were familiar with him would often strike up a conversation when the timing was right. This staff member was no different. Thinking his area of expertise had finally come up, he answered excitedly.
“There’s obviously a black market in Mexico, too. Honestly, even though the U.S. military has great support, there are things you just can’t get on base.”
“Ho-ho, people are the same everywhere, after all. Whether the skin is white, black, yellow, or the eyes are blue or black, it’s all the same.”
“That’s true. My thoughts on Asia have changed a lot since I started escorting the Chairman.”
The ‘thoughts on Asia’ the staff member mentioned here referred to racial discrimination. Black people argue for the abolition of racial discrimination, but in reality, the racial discrimination they speak of is ‘discrimination against Black people,’ not ‘racial discrimination’ in general. After all, in the U.S., Asians are positioned below Black people. Of course, not all Black people are racist, but an international student who has been called a ‘yellow monkey’ by Black people would probably be dumbfounded by that sentiment.
“In the end, it means money is important to make our activities in the Soviet Union comfortable.”
“Exactly. If there’s anything you want, just let me know. I’ll get it for you.”
To the staff member who said this with a smirk, half-jokingly, Kang Seok-ho responded with a smile.
“Is the meeting scheduled for 7:00 PM?”
At Yoon-gi’s question, asked after waiting for their conversation to end, Kang Seok-ho nodded.
“That is correct.”
“Then we have about five hours. And everyone hasn’t eaten yet, either.”
Yoon-gi looked at his entourage. While he and Kang Seok-ho had flown first class, the staff had all flown third class, except for the team leaders who were in second class. There was no doubt they had eaten very poor meals. Therefore, Yoon-gi gave them about two hours of free time.
“Take turns eating and resting for two hours. We’ll be looking around the hotel area for about two hours after that.”
Following Yoon-gi’s instructions, the staff began to take turns resting. Regardless of the reason, this was the Soviet Union. Furthermore, Yoon-gi was the grandson-in-law of Guster, a renowned former four-star general in the U.S. military. If the Soviet Union were to detain Yoon-gi? It was a situation where, depending on the circumstances, even a war could break out, so the staff were in a state of extreme tension. Of course, there was the staff member who had been chatting earlier, but that was only to break the rigid atmosphere, not for simple idle banter. It was so intense that before they left, Guster had poured out his worries like a machine gun in a stiff voice.
This was the advantage of not having expanded into the U.S. by establishing a corporation under Jung-ah’s name. It meant they didn’t have to worry as much about the U.S.’s gaze. If they had tried to enter the Soviet Union by establishing a corporation in the U.S., Guster would have suffered in many ways. Investing in the Soviet Union in the current situation was something that would never be heard in a positive light. However, as a Korean, saying he would invest in the Soviet Union was hard for the U.S. to single out and forbid. Depending on the case, it could be seen as diplomatic interference. Of course, they could grumble, but that was about the level Guster could block.
‘The advantage of dual citizenship thanks to Jung-ah is showing here.’
Realizing anew that the difficulty of a task changes depending on where you start, Yoon-gi buried his body in the sofa.
***
Although it was in shifts, the staff who had taken their rest were able to escort Yoon-gi and Kang Seok-ho with much lighter bodies. Of course, half of the personnel remained at the hotel to continue resting. That was how substantial the number of staff who had followed Yoon-gi and Kang Seok-ho was. There were experts on the Soviet Union in case of unforeseen situations, office workers brought from YK, office workers Kang Seok-ho had selected and brought from Shin-sang, and on top of that, the bodyguards. It was four times more personnel than any previous overseas trip.
“It really seems true that as you get wealthier, your expenses increase.”
At Yoon-gi’s words, Kang Seok-ho gave a bitter smile.
“We could just walk around without bodyguards, but then we might become targets for criminal organizations.”
“That’s certainly true. That’s why they insisted so much on bringing a lot of people this time.”
Yoon-gi chuckled inwardly, recalling Guster’s words. ‘Actually, it’s not wrong, either.’ Even if the Soviet government had no intention of kidnapping them, someone else might have the intention of kidnapping them. Therefore, Yoon-gi did not go against Guster’s words and followed his advice regarding the escort personnel firmly.
“It feels like hiring a travel agency to go sightseeing.”
“That’s true. But… there really isn’t much to see.”
Yoon-gi nodded as if in agreement with Kang Seok-ho’s bitter reaction. The bitter cold of Russia, which had even frustrated Napoleon. Because of that, not only Yoon-gi but all the staff were wearing very thick clothing.
“By the way, do you know this?”
It was Bill, the Black staff member who had talked about the black market earlier.
“What are you talking about?”
At Yoon-gi’s question, Bill smiled and began his story.
“People who went on a trip to Alaska went out of their lodging at night to see the aurora. What do you think the police said when they saw them?”
“I’m not sure?”
“They told them to always hold onto a utility pole.”
“Why?”
“So that when they freeze to death, it’s easier to put them on a bike and move them.”
For a moment, not only Yoon-gi but even the other staff burst into laughter.
“Bill! Refrain from idle chatter while on duty!”
At the head of the security team’s words, Bill bowed his head with a smile as if to say he would restrain himself, and the conversation returned to being the exclusive property of Yoon-gi and Kang Seok-ho.
“Secretary Kang.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Look around. What do you see?”
It was the sudden intrusion of Choi Deok-bae. In the 2010s in Korea, there is a saying: in Russia, beautiful women dig potatoes, beautiful women work part-time at convenience stores, and beautiful women serve at restaurants.
“You see, the young women are incredibly beautiful, right?”
At Yoon-gi’s words, Choi Deok-bae smiled, thinking Yoon-gi had agreed with him.
“Yes, that is certainly true. They have remarkable appearances.”
However, Yoon-gi hadn't mentioned it to agree with Choi Deok-bae; he had brought it up to say what came next.
“And the young men are quite handsome, too, aren't they?”
“That is certainly true.”
Yoon-gi had firmly attached the adjective ‘young.’ Thus, Yoon-gi’s next words followed.
“Then, look at the older people. Are they beautiful?”
“Hmm… to be honest, no.”
The older men and women walking the streets. They all gave off a rather bloated, flabby impression.
“Russia is cold. That’s why people eat a tremendous amount of fatty food and drink alcohol. That’s the only way they can endure the cold.”
“Ah, then perhaps…?”
As a sharp-witted man, Kang Seok-ho caught on to Yoon-gi’s intention.
“You’re thinking right. We are going to focus on food sales in Russia. At least in the early stages.”
The Soviet Union was a communist country to begin with. Opening a luxury department store like YK Department Store in such a place would never make money. Because most of the citizens were poor. That didn’t mean they could sell technology-related products, either. YK lacked the technical prowess to begin with. Of course, if they mobilized Samwoo or Shin-sang, they could sell electronic products as much as they wanted. But he had given up on that because it could potentially provoke the Soviet government.
Therefore, what Yoon-gi had his eyes on was none other than food-related manufactured goods. It was a decision made because Yoon-gi had already confirmed through reports from the ANSP that the food situation in the Soviet Union was extremely poor.
“But isn’t what the Soviet Union currently allows just for foreigners to invest in their domestic industries? It won’t be easy for us to establish a factory….”
This was the biggest worry Kang Seok-ho had at the moment. Even just a year from now, the Soviet Union would allow private enterprises, allow private companies to set product prices, and lift regulations to allow foreign companies to form joint ventures with Soviet private companies. But Yoon-gi didn’t have that kind of time. Chernobyl was coming in as little as two months. To be precise, April 26, 1986. The Chernobyl incident, one of the reasons for the Soviet Union’s eventual collapse, was not far off.
Choi Deok-bae didn't specifically tell Yoon-gi about his inner thoughts. He had already said it once before, and he didn't want to rain on the parade of Yoon-gi, who was working so hard. In fact, Yoon-gi was currently walking around the hotel area himself, checking the situation in the Soviet Union with his own eyes.
“We have to bump into it. If we wait for the Soviet Union to lift regulations, we’ll have no choice but to stand at the same starting line as everyone else. But if we are the ones to make them lift the regulations, we can be number one. Besides, thanks to our background, we were promised a direct meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev, weren't we?”
YK, effectively the number one company in Korea. Thanks to this business card, Yoon-gi had been promised a meeting with the General Secretary, Mikhail Gorbachev, during this entry.
“We must bet everything on this meeting.”
“Yes, it’s effectively a gamble where we’ve bet everything.”
“Hmm….”
At the sight of Kang Seok-ho becoming tense, Yoon-gi smiled.
“We still have time before the appointment, so shall we have a light meal?”
“Ah, that sounds good to me.”
Since they weren't here for a food tour anyway, Yoon-gi casually entered a nearby public restaurant. It was only natural that everyone’s eyes would be fixed on them when dozens of people suddenly burst into a place where ordinary people were eating their normal meals. Yoon-gi, too, naturally looked at their faces for a very short time. And just then….