The Unusual Salesman (2)

"An easy solution? What is that?" Yoon-gi curled his index finger and thumb together. "You just have to pay them more money than they could ever refuse. It’s a very simple principle."

However, Choi Cheol-kyu’s expression remained skeptical. "I don't know... It’s hard to believe that those kinds of reporters haven't been swayed by money before..."

Yoon-gi shook his head again. "That’s only because they were never offered 'enough' money. Think about it carefully. Do you really think the military regime ever paid those reporters a proper amount? They probably just threatened them or tossed them some pocket change."

"Hmm, that’s true, I suppose. But would reporters who didn't even buckle under the military’s threats really give in to money? No matter how much it is?"

"Don't worry. There are many ways to give money."

Choi Cheol-kyu’s curiosity only deepened, but Yoon-gi didn't immediately reveal his methods.

Sales. To the average person, this term is usually associated with mobile phones, cars, or insurance, but in reality, those aren't true sales positions. A sales job is fundamentally about expanding a company's client base. While sellers of phones, cars, or insurance try to maximize profit on a single transaction because they’ll never see the customer again, a professional sales role is different. The goal is to maintain a long-term relationship with the company, and for that, the salesperson themselves must be charming.

In short, that is what happens when a good salesperson quits. Especially in B2B transactions, where people are deeply intertwined, "entertainment" is inevitable. Reducing the costs associated with this entertainment is also part of a salesperson's job. No matter how much money you pour into it, if the employee is rude, it will have zero effect.

Choi Deok-bae was witnessing a truly rare interview scene: a massive company dinner. The staff of YK Department Store had rented out a spacious vacant lot and were throwing a festival-like outdoor party. There were barbecue grills placed all over the lot, and meat and alcohol were provided in unlimited quantities upon request. The meat wasn't cheap stuff, either; it was pork and beef slaughtered just days ago, contracted directly from a farm for this festival. There were even tubs filled to the brim with ice and alcohol.

Because employees were allowed to bring their families, the number of people at the party exceeded a thousand. Of course, given that most of the workers at the YK Department Store site were laborers, many were single, so the number of family members wasn't as high as one might expect, but it was still a massive crowd.

"President Ryu, thank you so much! Once this department store is finished, if you build another one, I’ll definitely come to work there!"

At the words of a laborer in his 40s who was quite tipsy, Ryu Geun-tae quickly approached, picked up a paper cup, and poured him a beer.

"Please do. I’ll be waiting."

"Whoa, does that mean you're building a second branch?"

Ryu Geun-tae offered an enigmatic smile instead of an answer, but the laborers, seemingly taking the second branch as a foregone conclusion, cheered and raised their glasses in return.

"Ah, beer after work is the most refreshing thing ever. The cold beer hitting a body that’s been baking in the sun at the construction site all day!"

"Man, our President Ryu really knows what it’s like to be a laborer! While you're at it, popsicles are nice, but could you give us some beer after work too?"

"I’d love to, but if an accident happens, we’d have to stop construction. Please bear with me on that."

At Ryu Geun-tae’s feigned pitiful tone, the laborers burst ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into laughter and returned to their respective drinking circles. The same went for the regular employees of YK Department Store. From the staff at the construction office to those working under Ryu Geun-tae or Choi Cheol-kyu, everyone was mingling and drinking together. It was something impossible at a typical construction site. But because the YK Department Store site had a very high retention rate for laborers and kept detailed records of their identities, such a gathering was possible.

Of course, some passersby stopped to ask what was going on, but they weren't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠turned away harshly. Even if they were kept separate from the main group, they were still treated to plenty of food and drink. At first, people asked what kind of place this was, then they asked who the boss was and offered praise, and finally, they began to sing the praises of YK Department Store.

"You really have to give it to our Chairman for his generosity."

Pike, who was tearing into a massive beef steak while wearing work gloves, said with pure happiness, and Aaron, who was gnawing on a roasted chicken leg next to him, nodded.

"I think so too. At first, I was disappointed because the salary wasn't that high, but with the constant bonuses and the housing provided, I’m actually saving more money than when I worked in the States."

"Same here. I send money to my mom, and lately, I get letters every day. I never used to get letters, but after I sent money from my first paycheck, they started arriving a few days later."

"Man, I’m jealous. I send money too, but she doesn't write letters. Should I ask her to write one?"

"Give it a try. You must miss home too."

"I do miss it, but this place isn't bad. There’s still a lot to learn."

"True. And I’m glad I don't have to eat chicken anymore. It’s not that my mom’s chicken is bad, but if you eat it every day, you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠get sick of it."

Pike, who had taken another huge bite of steak, chewed the beef and teased Aaron. "Why are you eating that cheap chicken? Ugh, I feel like throwing up just looking at chicken. Eat some good beef."

"I’m actually sick of beef. Beef is super cheap in South America. So I actually like chicken. I don't understand you, honestly."

Pike and Aaron burst into laughter as they looked at each other.

"By the way, where’s the Chairman?"

At Pike’s question, Aaron looked around. "Didn't he go inside with President Ryu earlier? We’re on the outskirts."

As Aaron said, Yoon-gi was following Ryu Geun-tae, observing the party.

'I’m still searching. I see plenty of people who passed the preliminary round, but it’s hard to find someone who passes the final.'

'The preliminary round is just people who listen to others rather than talking about themselves.'

Sales is essentially the essence of emotional labor. You have to cater to others' whims to boost sales. Most people want to show off, and it’s highly unlikely that someone who only talks about themselves will be liked. In that sense, Yoon-gi was thoroughly filtering out anyone who was "bragging" at the party. On the other hand, he began to remember those who listened to others.

'That’s fine, too. But for sales, someone who listens and makes the other person feel good is better than someone who talks and makes them feel good. The former is more likely to make mistakes. Plus, they’re more likely to be overconfident in their own abilities.'

'Well, both passed the preliminary, though.'

'It’s not just listening; it’s listening in an engaging way. You know what I mean? People who add little interjections while listening. Those are the people perfectly optimized for sales.'

Yoon-gi recalled his days as a laborer. 'Come to think of it, there were so many people back then who only wanted to talk about themselves.'

They were just day laborers at a construction site. Unless they were skilled workers, many of the casual laborers bragged unnecessarily. They’d claim they used to run big businesses before being scammed, or that they used to spend ten million won a day at bars in their prime. Regardless of the truth, such braggarts made others very uncomfortable. It was because their self-esteem was unnecessarily high, which made them aggressive toward others.

'But there were people who got along well with even those types.'

People who didn't just listen, but could actually control such individuals. Yoon-gi wasn't looking to hold a public interview; he was trying to see if there was anyone among the YK staff who fit that mold. The job he wanted them to do wasn't about increasing sales.

If a reporter thinks even just that, it’s a win. Since the employees hired for this sales role would be managing reporters 100 percent, Yoon-gi decided to choose someone who could win others' favor, even from the very bottom of the barrel.

'If they were truly excellent at social maneuvering, they wouldn't have ended up at the bottom. Unless they had special circumstances.'

During the party, which lasted from the afternoon until an hour before curfew, Yoon-gi finally discovered a gem.

"Wow, really?" A young man in his early 20s looked at a man in his late 40s with wide eyes, showering him with exclamations.

"I’m telling you! Let me tell you how many Viet Cong I took down in Vietnam..."

There were others around the man, whose face was flushed from heavy drinking, but the young man was the only one reacting. Of course, it wasn't because the drunk man’s story was actually interesting. It was all because of the young man adding interjections from the side.

"That’s truly amazing. How did you survive there?"

"How did I survive! I held a rifle and went through the jungles of Vietnam... wait, my glass is empty. Min-gwan, pour me a drink."

"Oh, your story was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so interesting that I forgot to pour the drink."

At Son Min-gwan’s words, the man began his story again as if he were even more excited, and Son Min-gwan shouted to the others nearby.

"Brothers, isn't this truly amazing? He managed to make it out of that jungle!"

"Wow, Mr. Kim is really something. I would’ve died if it were me."

"That’s right. Mr. Kim is a true patriot, a real patriot."

Encouraged by everyone’s agreement, Mr. Kim was excited to start his second story, but Son Min-gwan was faster.

"Come to think of it, I heard you almost died right before Liberation, Brother Yong-sik? Could you tell us that story in detail?"

There were countless people waiting next to Son Min-gwan. They were people who had gathered to tell their own stories to him. They were waiting desperately for their turn. Yoon-gi couldn't let this pass, and after the party ended, he gave an order to Ryu Geun-tae.

"You know the person I asked the name of earlier? Make an appointment with him."