Chapter 97: Flavors of Life (1) – PART 2
The second auction for the vacant lot in Gangdong District failed as expected. Gun-Ho was keeping an eye on the land while waiting for the right moment to purchase it at a low price.
Manager Kang suggested Gun-Ho to participate in the third auction for the land. After having Manager Kang’s report on the vacant lot, Gun-Ho asked him while looking at the calendar.
“What’s the starting price for the third auction?”
“The price was 3.6 billion won at the second auction, so it will drop to 2.88 billion won for the third try of the auction.”
“Do you think I should offer 3 billion won?”
“Well, since the land is held in tenancy in common and the property interest for sale at the auction is only for 50% of the full property interest, it is possible that you would be the only one bidding on the land. If that happens, I guess we can offer the same amount as the starting price.”
“Let’s go to the Seoul Eastern District Court together at the third auction day.”
“Okay, I will.”
“And, sir…”
“Yes?”
“You mentioned last time that you would participate in the auction with our company name instead of your name individually.”
“Oh, you are concerned about the bid deposit. I will transfer 300 million won to the business bank account.”
“300 million won should be enough since a bid deposit is 10% of the offer price.”
“Manager Kang, prepare the company’s certificate of a registered seal.”
“Okay.”
Gun-Ho received a call from the branch manager of the stockbroking firm.
“Hello, President Goo. How have you been? This is the branch manager of the stock brokerage company.”
“Oh, hi. How are you?”
“Is it a good time to talk?”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
“I’m calling to recommend you the stock of Samsung Electronics. That stock seems to be not moving much lately, but the price will surely increase soon in the future because the semiconductor business is still booming.”
“Samsung stock is a large-cap stock that moves so slowly… What about the stocks of pharmaceutical companies?”
“Pharmaceutical company stocks are often manipulated by some groups of little people, so I don’t recommend it to a big gentle player like you. Haha.”
“Hmm, Samsung Electronics…”
“You won’t regret it. You will be able to smile after about three months once you buy their stock.”
“Okay. Their price per share is about 2,400,000 won. I will buy 1,000 shares then.”
“Thank you, sir. By the way, why don’t you join me in playing golf in the field?”
“Thank you for asking, but I am not good at playing golf. Have a wonderful day.”
Gun-Ho purchased 2,000 shares of Samsung Electronics stock, instead of 1,000 shares.
“I am investing about 5 billion won in this stock. Assuming its stock price increases by only 1% after three months, how much will I make? Haha. It’s still about 50 million won.”
Gun-Ho transferred the 90 million won to his sister’s bank account, that he made from stock investment earlier.
“Sister? I just sent you 90 million won to your account. Have your husband buy the truck.”
“You did already? Thank you, Gun-Ho. Thank you. Don’t worry about mom and dad. I will take good care of them.”
Gun-Ho hung up the phone before she would start crying.
Gun-Ho decided to learn to play golf, so he could expand his social network through it.
“There were so many people who enjoy playing golf and they become closer to each other by playing it together. The branch manager of the stock brokerage company and Attorney Kim from Kim&Jeong, they all play golf. I think I should know how to play it.”
Gun-Ho remembered that he saw a comprehensive sports center at the Yangjae four-way intersection; its name was ‘Sportime.’ Sportime was popular among the middle-aged ladies living in the Gangnam area because they provided a hot spring bath to its members.
“How much do they charge for a membership?”
Gun-Ho called Sportime.
“Sportime? I’m interested in buying a golf membership. How much is it?”
“If you buy a comprehensive membership, you can use all the facilities we provide in our sports center.”
“What types of facilities do you have then?”
“We, of course, have an indoor practice facility for golf, and we have a fitness center, swimming pool, and facilities for bowling and table-tennis. We also offer yoga and dance classes.”
“How much is it?”
“Is it for an individual membership or business membership?”
“I’d like to know the price for both.”
“Are you going to take a gold membership?”
“Huh? Umm, how much is that?”
“For a business membership, it’s 250 million won and for an individual membership, it’s 83 million won.”
Gun-Ho was astonished by its ridiculously high membership prices.
“Hmm, I see. I will stop by the center soon.”
Gun-Ho grumbled after getting off the phone with the sports center.
“It’s unreasonably expensive. I don’t have money to spend there. Well, I do have money and I can get their membership if I want, but I don’t want to spend my money there.”
Gun-Ho decided to go somewhere less pricey than Sportime. He bought a three-month membership at the golf indoor facility inside the Education Community Center building. It was a bit far to drive but it was okay.
After spending his mornings at his office, Gun-Ho started going to the indoor practice facility for golf in his Land Rover. He already purchased a set of golf clubs, golf gloves, and golf shoes. Gun-Ho requested a private lesson from a golf coach. The coach who would teach Gun-Ho was a female in her 20s. Gun-Ho was told that the coach had once been a pro golfer. She certainly had a pro golfer’s strong arms and physique.
“Is this your first time, sir?”
“Yes, this is my very first time.”
“What have you done so far without learning to play golf?”
“I was busy making a living…”
The female coach smiled with her white teeth upon responding to what Gun-Ho was saying. She then opened Gun-Ho’s golf bag and pulled out one club from the center of the various clubs in the bag.
“Let’s start with this 7-iron.”
“Okay.”
“Spread your legs shoulder width and relax your wrists.”
For the next several days, Gun-Ho practiced golf swing diligently with his 7-iron. However, he didn’t see any improvement. He kept missing the golf ball whenever he swung. The coach tried to improve Gun-Ho’s posture.
“Don’t take your eyes off the ball and move your waist only before hitting the ball. Relax your wrists!”
Gun-Ho hit the golf ball while trying to keep the right posture as the coach instructed.
However, the ball went less than 80 yards.
“Look at how I hit the ball and see the difference between your posture and mine.”
The lady coach hit the ball with her hair blowing; her swing was beautiful.
The golf ball that the coach hit flew and reached to the point more than 150 yards far.
“Whoa. That was nice!”
Gun-Ho kept practicing while trying to listen carefully to the coach’s instruction and put a lot of efforts to make a nice swing just like the coach did. However, it didn’t happen.
“F*ck! I guess I just don’t have an aptitude for golf.”
Gun-Ho decided to visit China after ending this ridiculous golf lesson.
Gun-Ho called Professor Wang. The phone kept ringing but no one answered it. Maybe professor Wang was in a lecture. After one hour or so, Gun-Ho received a call from Professor Wang.
“President Goo? I’m sorry that I missed your call. I was in the middle of a lecture.”
“I’m coming to China to see the industrial complex in Kunshan City. When do you have time?”
“This week is not good, but I am good next week from Wednesday. Come, friend.”
“Okay, I will arrive at Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport next Wednesday then. You don’t have to come to pick me up at the airport.”
“Sounds good. Call me when you get here.”
“Okay, I will see you then.”
Gun-Ho arrived at Incheon International Airport.
“How come there are so many people here? It’s like a traditional market.”
The airports in Korea had become busier and busier every year and now it became so crowded, which was different from the time when Gun-Ho had gone to China for the first time.
Gun-Ho arrived at the Xiaoshan Airport in Hangzhou City. It was a newly constructed airport.
“I can smell China in the air already.”
Gun-Ho gave a call to Professor Wang in a taxi. Professor Wang picked up the phone and he sounded sleepy.
“Hey, it’s me. Are you at the university? Or home?”
“I’m home right now. Did you arrive? I can get ready quickly. Where are you?”
“Come to Shangri-La Hotel. I will be at the café inside the hotel. Let’s have lunch together.”
When Gun-Ho arrived at the café in Shangri-La Hotel, Professor Wang was already there waving his hand at Gun-Ho.
“Hey, over here!”
“How did you get here so early?”
“I just arrived.”
“You want to go have lunch?”
“Well, it’s a bit early for lunch. Let’s have a cup of tea here for now.”
They had tea while listening to a live saxophone play. The saxophone player was an old gentleman. He was playing an old pop song with his saxophone.
“Nothing much is in the Jinxi Industrial Park right now. They are still in the process of completing 3-Flow work.”
“They have a floor plan, right?”
“Yeah, they do have a floor plan for the industrial park. I just talked with Deputy Mayor Li on the phone. He will be at the Business Hotel in Kunshan City tomorrow at 11 AM waiting for us in the lobby. The president of Jinxi Construction Company will join us there as well.”