The Taste That Even the General Secretary Fell For (2)
"Light is coming? What do you mean?"
"I had already been producing Slavs-men at my own factories in Korea. Given the current conditions in the Soviet Union, it was impossible to establish additional factories anywhere other than Chernobyl, so I was preparing for a worst-case scenario."
"Oh, I see!"
In truth, if he wanted to nitpick, there were parts he could have criticized, but since the immediate shortage of Slavs-men was the biggest problem, Gorbachev was simply delighted.
"I've had the factories running at full capacity for quite some time, so there shouldn't be any major concerns about supply for a while. At the very least, things won't be as overheated as they are now."
"That is a relief. I’ve been receiving reports quite frequently about fights breaking out between those who managed to buy Slavs-men and those who didn't."
"This is all thanks to the Soviet authorities doing their utmost to help. Watching the videos on TV, the General Secretary and the members of the Politburo seemed so approachable."
At Yoon-gi’s attitude of offering natural, feigned praise, Gorbachev blushed slightly, as if embarrassed.
"Truly, thanks to YK and Chairman Choi Yoon-gi, I was able to put out a fire. In fact, I was in real danger because of this meteorite impact."
Yoon-gi had gained enough of Gorbachev’s trust that the man was willing to bring up such deeply personal matters.
'Seriously, the difference in difficulty between starting from scratch and starting with name recognition is huge. In my past life, just approaching JSD was incredibly difficult, but now, approaching a titan of the Soviet Union like Gorbachev doesn't feel that hard at all. Man, you really have to live a long time to see it all.'
Of course, depending on the person, there could be opponents even more difficult than JSD, but at least that was how Yoon-gi felt right now.
"Still, it must be because you have such keen insight, General Secretary, that things are working out so well. Oh, and this is a new product of sorts."
"A new product?"
Gorbachev’s eyes lit up.
"It’s not something that comes standard with the cup noodles, but I’ve prepared it with the idea that it tastes great when eaten together. It’s a sausage."
"Oh, you eat it with sausage?"
"You can get enough carbohydrates, salt, and fat from Slavs-men, but it’s difficult to get protein. So, I prepared this. It’s a sausage made from pigs that had relatively low marketability, but since we’ve lowered the price, it will be a product that doesn't burden the people."
"Pigs with low marketability?"
"Yes, and that is why I need your help once again, General Secretary."
"Again?"
Yoon-gi nodded with a wicked smile toward the somewhat flustered Gorbachev.
"Yes!"
On the screen, Gorbachev was shown opening a YK Sausage and chewing it down.
"To have cup noodle supplies coming in from Vladivostok in the east, and sausage supplies from the European side in the west. This is absolutely fantastic."
A smile hung on the face of Gorbachev, who was dining with Yoon-gi in his office. Today’s meal was Slavs-men and YK Sausage. Gorbachev was truly hooked on Slavs-men.
"If it weren't for work hours, I would have eaten this with vodka. It’s a real shame."
"You are the number one man of the great Soviet Union; wouldn't it be fine to have a drink at a time like this?"
At Yoon-gi’s softly smiling words, Gorbachev shook his head.
"I have confirmed one thing through this incident. It is important to carry out reforms to make the Soviet Union a better place to live, but the fact that managing my own image is also extremely important."
As Yoon-gi nodded and listened intently, Gorbachev continued.
"As I mentioned before, before Slavs-men were sold, my situation was quite precarious. It wouldn't have been strange if I had been dismissed at any moment. However, after becoming the advertising model for Slavs-men and seeing them go on sale, my approval rating rose significantly. It means that the manipulated approval ratings released to the public are no longer necessary."
'The birth of a Putin prequel, I see.'
Yoon-gi responded to Gorbachev’s words with a smile, thinking of Putin. Putin was the person who best understood how important one’s image to the public was among many dictators. He was a master of image-making who would mercilessly eliminate anyone with political influence who criticized him, but would pretend to be magnanimous when ordinary people cursed him. Gorbachev had finally realized why image-making was important.
"You could be called the most reform-minded politician in the Soviet Union, General Secretary. In fact, just seeing that you decided to allow the entry of private enterprises like this shows how reform-minded you are."
"More than that, I think I am lucky."
"Luck, you say?"
Gorbachev nodded.
"What if YK hadn't approached us with the idea of entering the Soviet Union? And what if YK hadn't been active as they are now? I would have collapsed just like that. It’s not that my ability is outstanding; I am just lucky."
Gorbachev’s humble behavior pleased Yoon-gi.
"I feel embarrassed because it sounds like you are praising me."
Gorbachev nodded toward the feignedly shy Yoon-gi.
"I am indeed praising you. In fact, YK has no flaws to pick at right now. Looking at the reports coming up through the working-level staff, they are operating so well that I wonder if they are really a private company. However, since we are currently receiving resources rather than paying money, it must be difficult to handle those resources."
Gorbachev had instantly grasped the difficulty YK was currently facing. It was the disposal of resources. If YK tried to dispose of the resources received from the Soviet Union in the international market, they would 100 percent draw the ire of the United States. Gorbachev knew this, but because of the Soviet Union’s current situation, he had asked for help, and YK had accepted that burden. As a result, the eyes with which Gorbachev looked at Yoon-gi were not those of a simple business partner, but those of a 'dear friend.' The look of a friend that transcends an age gap of over 30 years.
"Thank you for your concern. However, you really don't need to worry about the resources we are currently receiving. We will have a use for them soon."
At Yoon-gi’s words, Gorbachev shook his head.
"I know very well that you are just saying that out of courtesy. That is why I intend to grant YK special privileges."
"Are you saying you will grant even more privileges on top of the ones you have already given?"
Gorbachev suddenly looked around and gestured for everyone to leave. It was an extremely dangerous situation, remaining one-on-one with someone who had deep ties to the enemy, the United States. However, Gorbachev accepted this situation without hesitation.
"It’s dangerous."
Yoon-gi advised him, but Gorbachev sent everyone out as he originally intended.
"Chairman Choi Yoon-gi."
"Yes, General Secretary."
"I still have to persuade the Politburo, but I have decided."
"On what?"
"The Soviet Union must become a capitalist country."
If this had reached other people’s ears, who knows what would have happened. A statement a full five years ahead of its time. The Soviet Union was supposed to collapse in '91, but the foundation for that statement was being laid in 1986.
"If you say that to others, you will really be in big trouble."
"That is why I am only saying it in front of you, Chairman Choi. But I am serious. Communism only leads to a society where everyone is poor. I have realized that the growth engine of human existence lies in 'discrimination'."
"Why is that?"
"You know, don't you?"
Yoon-gi deliberately didn't answer. It was better to let the person who spoke continue speaking than to give a half-hearted answer, as it helped in grasping their intentions. And true to that intent, Gorbachev continued.
"Our Soviet people who worked at YK’s factory construction sites all exuded satisfaction. And Slavs-men, developed by YK, brought quality food to the Soviet people."
Cup noodles aren't exactly healthy food, but it was true that they were certainly of higher quality than the food the Soviet people had been experiencing until now.
"If humans were altruistic beings, everyone would work hard for the sake of others. But... humans must be selfish beings after all. Communism is an ideology that can never be achieved as long as its subject is human."
If it became known externally that the number one man of the Soviet Union had said such a thing, it would truly be an emergency. However, Yoon-gi had no intention of leaking this to the outside world from the start. Because even if he did, there was no evidence, and he had no intention of becoming an enemy of Gorbachev.
"I will gradually implement reformist policies in the Soviet Union. To the point where it is similar to capitalism. However, I will not easily open the doors to other foreign companies."
"Does that mean...?"
Yoon-gi spoke cautiously, deliberately trailing off.
"Yes. I want YK to exert its influence across the entire Soviet industry. Of course, I and others will monitor whether YK is acting to the detriment of the Soviet Union, but as long as you pursue profit within 'reasonable' bounds, I will fully support you."
"If you say reasonable, what level would that be?"
"It will be much higher than it is now."
In short, it was a request for YK to become a private company that acts as if it were a Soviet state-owned enterprise in both the secondary and tertiary industries. Yoon-gi had absolutely no reason to refuse.
"Are you saying I should use the current resources for that work?"
"That is correct. It will be much cheaper than buying from other countries' businesses. Instead, please promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
"If YK is truly here for the long term and not to exploit the Soviet people, please at least improve the lives of the Soviet people. That is the one thing I wish for."
No one knows if Gorbachev was such a person in original history. However, Gorbachev of this period had come to show such behavior by meeting Yoon-gi.
'It’s clearly different from original history, but looking at it from a different perspective, it’s the same situation. The true mainstream of history is so difficult to understand, yet it touches the heart.'
Yoon-gi felt the mainstream of history for a very short moment. Clearly, in original history, the Soviet Union becomes capitalist. And in this history, too, the Soviet Union was racing toward capitalism. The only difference was that Yoon-gi had become the center of it.
"I cannot say that I will promise you."
At Yoon-gi’s words, Gorbachev looked at him without answering. So this time, Yoon-gi continued.
"I will simply walk the path of a manager that I pursue in the Soviet Union. So, General Secretary, please watch over me, and if the path I walk does not align with the ideals of the Soviet Union, please cut me off decisively. A three-legged race only has meaning if two people run together."
A smile spread across Gorbachev’s lips. Although it was not confirmed in words, their hearts were already connected. As the atmosphere grew quite warm, Yoon-gi began to bring up a strictly personal story.
"Oh, right. General Secretary, I have one personal question and one request, would that be okay?"
"Yes? Ah, please go ahead."
"As far as I know, I heard that the Soviet spacecraft this time was too small to be used for the meteorite destruction operation, is that correct?"