I’d Rather Live as a Villain

78 And so, June was beginning.

“Wouldn’t it be better in many ways for me to arrange the meeting myself?”

“You, personally? No, there’s no need for that.”

“If it’s a meeting necessitated by need, then surely you don’t need to go to such lengths either?”

My wife kept giving me reasons why I needed to strive harder.

It was because, from some point on, the president of distribution, a position fitting of her stature, had been established in her, who I thought would always be bold and fiery.

To safely lead the way and conduct the ceremonies as I had before, I too needed to possess the skills that matched hers.

There is a control company currently distributing the ＜Tomhas＞ brand in Korea, known as ＜Sewon ENC＞.

Before we officially extract Tomhas products as ETC goods to put into Black Bean from our corporation, I told my wife that I would like to meet with their representative.

Sewon ENC, from the perspective of Daeyoung Department Store, is a relatively small distributor, considering that among the brands they handle, Tomhas is the most recognized and crucial in terms of sales.

Our corporation proposed to Sewon ENC to share the biggest brand they have in the Korean market.

Of course, the distribution channels we each focus on are entirely different.

We plan to lay out Tomhas products exclusively as ETC goods in the distribution FP division’s Black Bean.

Therefore, the condition we could offer them was a promise to aggressively promote the brand recognition of Tomhas, which they have the license for, in Daeyoung’s commerce and distribution.

In fact, Tomhas has excellent product strength. It’s a brand with a definite position in the market for insulated bottles and tumblers, although the items themselves are not mainstream.

Deputy Manager Son Jae-kyu succeeded in persuading them, and with their agreement, he went directly to Italy and produced good results with Tomhas. However, I couldn’t help but doubt if this was the right move.

With the electronic vice president Kang Young-jin’s movement, the succession race had entered a serious phase.

I had to be meticulous in every single detail.

I wondered if my strategies for my wife and distribution might inadvertently create unfavorable results or weaknesses for her and the distribution side.

Kang Moon-jung is a person whose moral standards are set higher than anyone else’s.

Because she is famous, because she is perceived as the sole legitimate successor of Daeyoung.

I had to be proactive and tidy up any loose ends, in case Sewon ENC might later make an unexpected remark about the Tomhas deal, or in case an odd story might be concocted somewhere it shouldn’t.

That’s why I brought it up to my wife.

Sewon ENC has decided to take a very big risk because of us, because of the proposal we threw at them.

I felt it was only right that I meet them in person to exchange greetings, not just leave it to Deputy Manager Son, who is in charge of the project.

“Even if we make promises and greetings, wouldn’t it be more appropriate for our distribution to do it directly, not the corporation? That’s what I think, what about you?”

“There’s nothing wrong. There’s nothing wrong, but for you to personally…”

“Like you said, if they’re willing to take such a risk with their main brand and join us in this venture, then it’s only right that I personally arrange a meeting and treat them properly.”

In this situation, I had no reason to be thankful to my wife, but the fact that I felt such gratitude was truly reassuring and appreciated.

“The sales from Daeyoung Department Store’s Tomhas line are something I can check on. Is it possible for me to also review the sales coming through other department stores?”

“That would be in Assistant Manager Sohn’s possession. When I go to work tomorrow, I’ll have him prepare it.”

“Right. I hadn’t thought of that company at all.”

My wife, as if chastising herself for her narrow perspective that had failed to consider such an important matter until I brought it up, grimaced and clicked her tongue.

“Just as you said, from their point of view, it might be an adventure that stakes the company’s very survival. Before making such an offer, we should have approached them with a promise of at least some basic safety measures in place.”

“Basic safety measures?”

“Ah… yes, that’s right.”

“What is?”

“The more I work on this business, the harder it gets. It doesn’t become easier with familiarity; instead, the more I learn, the more things there are to take care of, the more things that need attention—it feels like it’s constantly doubling.”

“Maybe that means you’re growing? Your perspective is continuously expanding. That’s how it seems to me. I can see it.”

With those words of encouragement, my wife candidly confessed her feelings to me.

“Being born as the granddaughter of my grandfather, the daughter of my father, that’s why I can be Kang Moon-jung. If not for that, with such a narrow perspective, how could I possibly lead Daeyoung Distribution?”

It seems that was the moment.

The moment I began to genuinely have expectations of my wife, Kang Moon-jung.

“I’ll have to think about that part. When I go to work tomorrow, get that thing you mentioned earlier from Assistant Manager Sohn and send it to me. I’ll study what advantages we can offer through our department store division.”

Until then, it all seemed vague.

Vaguely, I had entered into a contract marriage with this woman.

Vaguely, I had received an advance payment of five billion won as part of the contract marriage.

And vaguely, this woman wanted to lead the next generation of Daeyoung in some way.

But after inviting the CEO of Sewon E&C to the Daeyoung Department Store’s Gangnam main branch and personally hosting the CEO, I began to feel a rising expectation for the next generation of the Daeyoung Group.

Perhaps even I, until then, had not been able to see that far, being too engrossed in the immediate succession competition to consider the next step.

My wife’s growth seemed to be aiding my own growth.

The succession competition was no longer just my wife’s personal goal.

Of course, that’s the biggest part.

But if until now that was the only reason, now it seems to have changed.

It’s not just because my wife wants it, not just because I want to give her what she desires, but as an employee of Daeyoung, I feel a pure anticipation of what kind of future such a leader could paint for the entire group.

My wife, Kang Moon-jung, leading the Daeyoung Group.

I wanted to see it right next to this woman.

If a person like this, if such a person were to take the owner’s seat, I was certain that Daeyoung could safely undergo generational change. I felt a conviction in my heart that perhaps with this change, we could rise even higher than now.

* * *

“Assistant Manager Sohn.”

Daeyoung Department Store’s Gangnam main branch.

My wife arrived at the ＜Tomhas＞ store earlier than the CEO of Sewon ENC.

She came down to the home electronics and electronics floor, where the Tomhas store was located, 20 minutes before the scheduled time. The department store’s business division head and the manager of the Gangnam main branch flanked her, followed by many employees of this branch.

As my wife entered with the division head and the manager, customers who were shopping began to gather around the Tomhas store as if something amusing had caught their attention, and employees from other stores were also busy straightening up their work attitudes with tension.

“Yes, President.”

Suddenly, my wife stood next to Assistant Manager Sohn Jae-gyu.

“Thank you.”

“For what…?”

“This Tomhas deal. I heard you went all the way to Italy to secure the contract.”

“Well, for us in the trading business, it’s more natural and obvious than breathing.”

“From Marco Machine to this Tomhas. As a token of our gratitude for your dedication to our distribution, focusing on mixed items (a common expression among us traders), we in the distribution side will take responsibility and properly launch Black Bean to ensure you receive a substantial bonus.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

My wife and Assistant Manager Sohn Jae-gyu have a deep connection.

When my wife first started her life at Daeyoung in trading, she began as a manager, but it’s true that her understanding and level of work were less than that of a new employee.

If I was the one who took care of her in the Spain-related business, then it was Sohn Jae-gyu, then a manager, who took care of her in the Bulldog sector.

“I’ll invite you through Executive Director Yoon Tae-sik sometime soon.”

“An invitation?”

“I didn’t know, but our home garden is the perfect environment for a barbecue party. I’ve grilled meat there a couple of times with Director Yoon, and I’ll arrange a spot for us soon. Our trading Europe division. Let’s reminisce about the old times and catch up on stories while having a barbecue party there.”

Assistant Manager Sohn confidently agreed to the promise as if it was a casual invitation from my wife.

Assistant Manager Sohn Jae-gyu.

He doesn’t know much.

Kang Moon-jung never makes such promises casually, just for the sake of greeting…

“Is this the model?”

My wife asked Assistant Manager Sohn, touching some of the models displayed in the Tomhas store.

“Yes, the model is the same, but the cover design is completely different.”

“I thought so. The products we’ll put in Black Bean are all matte black; I’ve received the design samples.”

“Yes, that’s correct. Even if the model is the same, at least the cover design should be different to ensure that it doesn’t affect the sales of our main product here at the Tomhas store. After several discussions with Deputy Manager Im Hyung-jun, we’ve decided to place a separate order for a design that retains the brand image of Black Bean.”

“Actually, I think you’ve done even better. All black. And the cover is matte. The most classic is always the trendiest, isn’t it? It seems to fit the Black Bean image perfectly too.”

While we were discussing this, the representative of Sewon ENC arrived.

A man in his early forties, he maintained a rather youthful sense of fashion.

Surrounded by a crowd at the Tomhas store he was managing, and with onlookers keeping their distance, he seemed to find the gathering quite unusual. Even as he entered the store, he couldn’t stop looking around.

As a store employee greeted him, our group noticed his presence and slowly started moving towards him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. I’m Kang Moon-jung from Daeyoung Distribution.”

I knew why my wife insisted on meeting the representative of Sewon ENC here at the Tomhas store instead of using the main meeting room in Gangnam.

Most brands usually host meetings in the store rather than in a back office meeting room.

But that’s typically only for meetings with department store representatives. For the president, who oversees the entire distribution and is neither a store manager nor a department head, to visit the store is a completely different story.

It must be the best consideration my wife could offer to the representative of Sewon ENC, and the sincerest gesture she could show.

Perhaps it was to express her gratitude in front of all the Tomhas employees and to request a deeper relationship.

“I came a bit early to look around the store and its surroundings. Are you interested in a pop-up store, sir?”

“A pop-up store?”

“I was thinking we could set up a few temporary stands over here.”

My wife gestured towards a specific empty space next to the escalator, then looked at the representative of Sewon ENC and the manager of the Gangnam main branch in turn before continuing.

“From the customers’ perspective, whether they’re going up or coming down, they can’t just pass by that space. In fact, we often put pop-up sections there.”

“However, the cost of running a pop-up section is quite substantial for us.”

The representative of Sewon, though eager, smiled awkwardly, not quite ready to take the plunge.

“Not at all. I’m the one making the request, so why would there be any additional costs?”

The expression from the representative of Sewon was genuine.

He truly didn’t seem to grasp the intention behind President Kang Moon-jung’s proposal.

“Why let that expensive space go to waste when there’s no brand currently in the pop-up? Right, Mr. Manager?”

At that moment, my wife called over the manager of the Gangnam main branch, who quickly stepped to her side.

“Allocate this space to Tomhas for the next month.”

“Yes, President.”

“Just proceed with it as per my instructions, no separate cost processing needed.”

“Yes, I will do that.”

From then on, the representative of Sewon could only blink in surprise.

“Vice President, please show us what you’ve prepared.”

The Vice President of the Department Store Division at Daeyoung Distribution.

Through him, the representative of Sewon, who had received a proposal for new contract terms for the Tomhas stores located in all Daeyoung department store branches, closed and opened his eyes several times, even rubbing them before squinting, meticulously reading through the newly drafted contract from Daeyoung.

“Why this…”

As if he couldn’t believe such an absurd new contract term, and thus being more cautious, the representative’s wife said to him,

“What your company has conceded and cooperated with us is really nothing in comparison.”

“…”

“Turning coincidence into fate is what business is about, and if that fate inevitably comes to an end, then that business, regardless of the outcome, is considered a success.”

Listening to his wife’s continuing words, the Vice President of the Department Store Division was already carefully preparing his business card.

“Fate began with the coincidence called Tomhas, but I will strive to ensure that our precious connection with your company becomes inevitable, Vice President.”

The position of Vice President of the Department Store Division at Daeyoung Distribution.

In military terms, it’s equivalent to a division commander.

A store manager would be a regiment or battalion commander.

If we consider the massive organization of Daeyoung as a national-level military, wouldn’t Daeyoung Distribution correspond to the army?

The President of Distribution, akin to the Chief of Staff of this army, had the division commander-level Vice President personally hand his business card to the representative of Sewon.

“From now on, for all matters related to Tomhas in our Daeyoung department stores, you won’t need to go through the branch managers. You can directly communicate with the Vice President here.”

And then he even got a promise on behalf of the Vice President.

“This person has been of great assistance to our distribution side. Please take special care.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

Six months?

It seems it took about half a year.

Starting from Marco Machine, passing through Shinlong Coffee, and up to Tomhas.

It began when I designed and started producing results for my wife’s distribution to create Daeyoung’s own brand, a competitive brand.

The results had begun to officially emerge.

And so, June was starting.