"Well, that was because…" The manager, who was put on the spot, was unable to find a plausible excuse. He was so concerned with claiming the refund that he hadn't thought about what the president had pointed out.
At that moment, Hyunwoo came forward to answer, saying, "Well, I supported assistant manager Kim Yonggu."
"Supported him?"
"Actually, I heard about this from the customs while I was hopping around to cut costs. Though I obtained the refund tip, the customs office gave our company that valuable information on it. So, I thought that I shouldn't take the credit for myself alone and asked Yonggu to take the initiative."
"So, you made it up that Yonggu took the initiative on this?"
"I didn't make it up. I visited the customs office at Yonggu's direction. In that respect, the biggest credit goes to him in my opinion."
Hyunwoo took Yonggu's side at the end. Though he hated Yonggu, there was nothing he could get by bad-mouthing about him.
"Anyway, the conclusion is you and Yonggu were involved together, right?"
"Yes, you're right."
The president looked at him.
In fact, Park Daebong, the president, was born in a poor worker's family. In other words, he went from rags to riches. He went through all kinds of ups and downs to make Aurm what it is today, and he had met a variety of people. Such an experience gave him a discerning eye. Just one look at one's behavior made him judge a man and figure out his or her capabilities and character. Park was making the same judgment right now now.
To him, it wasn't important whether Yonggu was greedy or the team manager backed him up. What mattered to him was Hyunwoo's credit was taken away just because he got newly hired. Nonetheless, Hyunwoo was defending both of them, something commendable to him.
Hyunwoo was wise about that. It would have been rather petty for him to tell the president on them, thinking to himself 'Kiss my chuddies!' Rather, he could get something bigger if he tried to defend them.
Park pretended not to notice it. He felt that the purchasing team's atmosphere would be good even if he took the trouble of improving it.
Looking at Hyunwoo, Park asked scathingly,
"Why can't I find any trace of self-reflection in you? Don't you think you have to say 'sorry?'
"I'm sorry, sir."
Hyunwoo offered his apologies, but he only did it superficially. It looked like a phony apology per the president's request because he wasn't wrong.
Because of Hyunwoo's attitude, the team manager got more and more nervous. If he could have his way, he would've struck Hyunwoo's neck to force him to lower his head.
An interesting expression appeared on the president's face, and he asked, "What are you sorry about?"
"I'm sorry to report this kind of stuff."
"Is that all?"
"I don't know about other stuff."
The team manager gasped at this answer. He thought that Hyunwoo had given up everything. In his mind, as a new hire, Hyunwoo made a huge mistake, and he thought that he was certain to be fired for that. That's why he was showing a devil-may-care attitude toward the president.
However, Hyunwoo's mindset was different from the team manager's. Everything that Hyunwoo said was genuine.
Why should he be sorry about this? Hyunwoo thought this was something the president should praise him about. Though it ended up like this, it was obvious that he ran around to get the information more actively than anybody else. Also, it wasn't Hyunwoo's fault that the refund was collected. In fact, the president must not have realized that Aurum was out of the category of small and medium-sized companies.
The president was staring at Hyunwoo, and he then reviewed the report again.
"When is the deadline for returning the refund?"
"There is no particular deadline, but they will charge additional fees if we fail to return the refunds within three months."
"Then there is no interest within three months?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hummmm.. We have some time then. The reason for the collection is Aurum is no longer a small or medium-sized company, right?"
"Yes, sir. Our company was a small and medium-sized company until two years ago, but it is no longer under that category because we took over Hansup."
The president nodded his head and then returned the report to Hyunwoo.
"Too bad. Though I recognize your efforts, you failed to bring about the outcome. As you know, it is the outcome, not the process, that matters to the company. Let me take back the award money. Still, because your efforts produced 1.6 million won, let me recognize 200,000 won as award money. Any complaints?"
Hyunwoo felt the team manager let out a sigh of relief. The president's recognition of the award money meant that his focus was more on praise than rebuking. Anyway, that was the best result the team manager could think of in this situation.
"No, sir."
"Let me recognize the promotion because there should be rewards for effort."
Now, the manager's face brightened. It looked like he had come back to heaven from hell.
However, there was a problem.
The president asked the manager, "By the way, who do you think should be given the promotion? Do you still support assistant manager Kim Yonggu? Or is it appropriate to change the promotion beneficiary from Kim to Hyunwoo?"
The team manager's shoulders, which were straight up a moment ago, shrank again.
"Well, I think Hyunwoo…."
"No sir, I think it is appropriate for Kim Yonggu to be promoted," Hyunwoo said, cutting in their conversation.
The president frowned a bit at his attitude because he was in the middle of talking with the manager. However, he sat silently and listened to him. He felt that Hyunwoo was fully qualified for the right to express his opinion at the moment.
"Tell me the reason."
"You might feel as if you had the refund taken away after you claimed it. It is appropriate that Kim Yonggu should be given rewards."
"That makes sense, but that's not enough."
"If I take away Kim's promotion, the atmosphere of the purchasing team will turn sour. The reason you gave the employees the award is to promote their morale and motivation to work, right? In that respect, it isn't right for me to get promoted instead of Kim," Hyunwoo said.
"Hummmm.. That makes sense. Is that all?"
"I've got one more thing. I'm only a new hire, so what really matters to me is not to be promoted but the attention and support of my colleagues. If I give up a promotion, I think that they will pay several times more attention and love to me than before. That's the bigger reward for me."
Hyunwoo was done talking and closed his lips.
The president was smiling. If all the employees had the same mindset as Hyunwoo's, Aurum would inevitably keep growing in the days ahead.
If that's the case, there should be some bigger rewards for Hyunwoo, something he really wants.
"Okay. I was going to give you a promotion, but because you're determined to give up on it, I won't stop you. Instead, you can just return the award money."
"Yes, sir."
"Go back to work then."
The team manager and Hyunwoo lowered their heads at the same time and then left the office. The president looked at them silently, thinking, Looks like the team manager and the new hire are in reverse roles. Tut, tut.
"Mr Jang Hyunwoo."
Back at the office, the team manager called him. His voice tone was rather rough, so the team members looked at them without saying anything.
"Yes, manager."
The manager stared at him and said, "Don't treat the president like that next time. You should pay respects to your superior."
Hyunwoo was puzzled for a moment.
Did I fail to show respect to the president?
He felt that he hadn't, and he wasn't ashamed of what he had done when he had explained the situation to the president. Still, he answered as he was ordered
"Got it. I'll keep that in mind."
Hyunwoo lowered his head.
Then, the manager tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Oh, I don't want to blame you for that. We're back on good ground at the end of the day. We're lucky. Also, you did a very good job defending Yonggu. He is the central figure of the purchasing team. You should raise up his spirit so that the purchasing team will run smoothly. I'll keep in mind what you did, of course."
"Thanks."
"What happened?" Yonggu asked nervously.
The manager tapped Hyunwoo on the shoulder again and said, "Though you have to return the award money, your promotion will be duly recognized. Hyunwoo said something very good about you. You have to treat him well."
Yongggu looked at Hyunwoo as if he couldn't believe it.
Hyunwoo grinned at him and said,
"Well, what matters is that you did a good job, so things are supposed to work out like this. Congrats, Yonggu!"
"Congrats!!! Treat us please!"
Each of the team members congratulated him with one voice. Though it was regrettable to return the award money, it made them happy that they had avoided the worst situation.
Jang Dukwoo and Yu Nami opened their mouths wide and said,
"The money to be collected is that much? Looks like a big financial loss."
"No way. I can think of the refund as something I didn't claim at all," Hyunwoo said.
Jang nodded at his remarks.
"You're right, sir. Also, you can claim the individual refund later anyway. That way,you could make up for the loss, I think."
"I know that, too. I am calculating the individual refund amount, but the formula is too complicated. I am afraid I can finish it within a day or two."
"Of course. But if you're done with it this time, you will find it easier next time. Also, the amount of the refund is bigger than before, and you can get the president's praise again."
Hyunwoo was shaking his head as if he was wrong.
"Our products mostly rely on domestic material, so the ratio of imports is low. I don't think the amount of the individual refund is that big."
"Oh, I see."
Jang Dukwoo seemed to be well versed in the issue of the refund, too. He instantly understood what Hyunwoo said without any further explanation.
"Sorry, I don't think I helped you a lot today, Hyunwoo."
"Never mind. Your presence just next to me is a big help to me. Everything will work out all right, so don't worry at all," Hyunwoo said.
"Let me think it over when I get back home. There are lots of useful tips as one looks into the trade-related area very carefully. I feel there are a lot Aurum might have missed."
"Thanks!"
Hyunwoo was meeting Jang once or twice per week these days. Because he was accustomed to working at the purchasing team, Hyunwoo would be able to stand on his own feet sooner or later.