Chapter 79: News from Chicago

Thursday, June 24, 1920, Morning

From the very morning, the atmosphere in the office was different from usual.

On the surface, it seemed calm, but beneath that surface, a faint tension flowed like a river.

The truck that had left New York yesterday was scheduled to arrive in Chicago by this evening.

The first Chicago delivery upon which the fate of La Choy Foods depended.

Everyone knew its importance, so more employees than usual arrived early for work.

“Sir, would you like a cup of coffee?”

Mary asked.

She too said she had come in thirty minutes earlier than usual.

“Yes, please. Make it very strong.”

Lee Jun-hyuk gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Chicago.

City of gangsters and of opportunity.

Would Al Capone keep his promise?

He would.

Lee Jun-hyuk was certain.

Capone, though a villain, was a man who regarded faithfulness in business as dear as his own life.

“The drivers have sent a telegram from the midway stop.”

Robert entered the office as he spoke.

In his hand was a telegram sheet, the handwriting hurriedly scrawled.

“They say they’ve passed through Pennsylvania without any trouble. No issues with the tires or the engine.”

“That’s a relief.”

Lee Jun-hyuk sipped his hot coffee and spread out the documents.

Already, another order for 2,000 cans had come in from Chicago.

He would have to revise the July production plan from scratch.

At that moment, a call came in from Thomas Green, who had gone to the Bank on outside business.

“Mr. Lee, it’s Thomas. I just checked at the Bank, and the stock prices have gone up again. The total Portfolio return has exceeded 8%.”

“8%?”

“Yes, especially RCA has surged 12% compared to last week. Just in one day.”

Not even a week, and 8%. Six million dollars had become six million four hundred eighty thousand overnight. With such explosive growth, it wasn’t a dream for the assets to double by year’s end.

“And Branch Manager Wilson hinted at something else.”

Thomas lowered his voice.

“Yesterday and today, RCA trading volume soared. Several huge buy orders came in…”

It looked like William Vanderbilt and the board members of American Sugar Trading had started to make serious moves.

At 11 a.m., Yu Ilhan returned from the Brooklyn factory.

Sweat beaded on his face.

At the end of June, the Brooklyn factory was probably like a giant steam bath, with the heat from the canning boiler.

“As of today, we’ve officially started the Two-Shift System. The workers are still unfamiliar, but they’ll get used to it soon.”

“How’s the response?”

“They’re all pleased. Overtime Pay is quite generous. With a basic daily wage of $3 and a night Overtime Pay of $1.5, they’re earning $4.5 a day. Everyone’s so happy with the money, they barely notice the hard work.”

Yu Ilhan opened his notebook, showing the workers’ hours and output written in his neat handwriting.

“That’s only fair. Those who work hard deserve proper compensation.”

Lunchtime arrived.

Today, they decided to dine together at a nearby Italian restaurant.

“If the Chicago delivery succeeds, will you give us a special Bonus next month, sir?”

Mary asked jokingly, but her eyes were very serious.

“Of course. You all worked so hard.”

“Wow! How much?”

Elizabeth Brown, listening from nearby, immediately took interest. Whenever the talk turned to money, everyone perked up their ears.

“I’ll give as much as the size of our success.”

Lee Jun-hyuk replied with a meaningful smile.

The restaurant was crowded for lunch, but fortunately, they’d made a reservation and were seated right away.

“La Choy making it all the way to Chicago… Just three months ago, I never could have imagined this,”

Robert said emotionally.

As one of La Choy’s founding members, he seemed as proud as if it were his own achievement.

“This is only the beginning. After Chicago comes Detroit, and then the entire Midwest.”

Lee Jun-hyuk said as he picked up his fork.

“Then eventually, we’ll conquer the whole country!”

Yu Ilhan, excited, raised his voice.

People at neighboring tables looked over, but he didn’t care at all.

In the afternoon, a call came from Vanderbilt.

“Mr. Lee! That RCA information you gave, truly remarkable! Thanks to you, I’m going to see some wonderful profits.”

“I’m glad I could help.”

“George and Frank Gould are both extremely satisfied. Thanks to you, everyone’s about to make a lot of money, and they’d like to give you a proper reception at the Club someday.”

“I’ll let you know when it’s time to sell. Until then, keep holding. But when the time comes, you must sell.”

“Understood. I’ll trust only you.”

It was a lie.

There was no chance they’d invest solely on his word. They must have run it by an analysis team, or checked it through various channels.

At 3 p.m., this time a call came from Chicago.

It was Al Capone.

“Mr. Lee? This is Al. I heard the truck is arriving this evening. My people are fully prepared and waiting, so don’t worry.”

“Thank you, Mr. Capone.”

“La Choy canned goods, I think the people in Chicago will love them. There are already rumors going around, calling it ‘The Miracle Food from New York’.”

Capone’s voice carried a businesslike anticipation.

6 p.m.

Though work hours were over, no one in the office showed any sign of leaving.

Everyone was anxiously awaiting news from Chicago. A strange tension hung in the office.

6:30 p.m.

Chicago is an hour behind New York, so it was 5:30 p.m. there. The truck should have arrived at the designated spot by now…

7 p.m. sharp.

Finally, the long-awaited telephone rang.

All eyes in the office turned to the phone.

Lee Jun-hyuk slowly picked up the receiver.

“Hello?”

“Boss! It’s us! We’ve just arrived safely in Chicago!”

It was the excited voice of the driver.

Through the receiver, the bustling noise of Chicago could be heard.

“Mr. Capone’s men are already here, checking the goods! The canned goods are in perfect condition— not a single one is broken or dented!”

“You did well. Truly, thank you for your hard work.”

A genuine sense of relief colored Lee Jun-hyuk’s voice.

The moment he put down the receiver, a thunderous cheer erupted in the office.

Robert shouted “We did it!” and pumped his fist, while Yu Ilhan jumped up from his seat.

Mary and Elizabeth hugged each other with joy.

Even the normally reserved Thomas was grinning like a child.

“The Chicago launch is a huge success!”

As the cheers subsided, Lee Jun-hyuk stood up.

“Everyone, you worked so hard. Now go home and rest.”

One by one, the employees headed out.

The office quieted down.

Lee Jun-hyuk stood by the window and gazed at the night in New York.

Just three months ago, it was something he couldn’t even have imagined.

Then, the phone rang again.

“Hello?”

“Jun-hyuk?”

It was Catherine.

“I heard the Chicago delivery was a success! Congratulations!”

“Thank you. How did you know already?”

“Mrs. Robert called me. She said her husband was so happy, he’s been bragging all over the neighborhood.”

It seemed Robert had boasted to his wife the moment he got home.

“You’ll be busy tomorrow too, won’t you?”

“Probably. If the response from Chicago is good, we’ll have to increase production even more.”

“But tomorrow’s Friday.”

Catherine spoke with a meaningful tone.

“You didn’t forget our promise, right?”

“Of course. 5 p.m., Central Park.”

“Where are we really going this time?”

“That’s still a secret.”

Catherine laughed brightly over the phone.

“Alright. I’ll be waiting, looking prettier than anyone else in the world.”

After hanging up, Lee Jun-hyuk tidied his desk.

He stepped outside.

The evening air at the end of June was warm.

He walked slowly toward the Plaza Hotel.

Chicago expansion, rising stock prices, and next week’s planned trip to Cuba. Everything was proceeding as planned—no, even faster than planned.

As he passed through the hotel lobby, the front desk clerk called out to him.

“Mr. Lee, a letter has arrived from Chicago.”

It was from Al Capone.

He went up to his room and opened the letter.

“Mr. Lee,

The canned goods arrived safely. Seeing their quality, I understand why you succeeded in New York.

The people of Chicago will go crazy for this taste.

Starting tomorrow, I will begin selling them throughout Chicago.

Wishing for our successful partnership.

Al Capone.”

It was a short letter, but Capone’s businesslike confidence was palpable.

Filling the bathtub with hot water, Lee Jun-hyuk soaked in it, letting the fatigue of the day melt away.

He stared up at the ceiling, thinking.

Tomorrow is Friday.

He had an appointment with Catherine.

Where should he take her to give her the best day ever?

Then, a place popped into Lee Jun-hyuk’s mind.

“Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge at sunset must be a magnificent sight.”

***

Friday, June 25, Morning

Early in the morning, the first telegram arrived from Chicago.

“Sir, a telegram from Chicago!”

Robert, excited, handed over the telegram.

“First day sales exceed 500 cans. Explosive response. Article in local paper. Anticipate rush of orders.”

A huge success. Five hundred cans on the very first day.

“We’ll have to massively increase production.”

Yu Ilhan said.

“We might need to consider adopting the Three-Shift System immediately.”

“Discuss it thoroughly with the workers. Don’t push them too hard.”

All morning, the phone rang without a break.

Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh… calls from other cities wanting to sell La Choy canned goods.

News of the Chicago success seemed to have spread throughout the Midwest already.

Lunch time came.

“Boss, when will you give us the promised Bonus?”

Mary asked with a smile.

“On this month’s payday, I’ll make sure you all get a hefty Bonus. Fifty percent of everyone’s monthly salary.”

The staff cheered.

3 p.m.

Lee Jun-hyuk began preparing to leave early.

“Leaving already?”

“Yes, I have a very important appointment.”

“Ah, it’s Friday, isn’t it!”

Robert said, catching on quickly.

It seemed everyone in the office knew now.

He stopped by a florist.

This time, he bought pink roses—meaning the start of love.

4:45 p.m.,

He arrived at the meeting spot in Central Park.

He sat on a bench, waiting for her.

“Jun-hyuk.”

Catherine’s voice reached him.

He turned, and saw her walking through the sunlight in a sky-blue dress.

“You’re early?”

“I just got here.”

Lee Jun-hyuk smiled brightly and offered her the pink roses.

“Wow, they’re beautiful!”

Catherine inhaled the fragrance of the roses, delighted as a girl.

Her smile was more beautiful than any rose.

“So, where are we going today?”

“We’re going to the Brooklyn Bridge.”

“The bridge?”

Catherine looked surprised.

“At sunset, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most beautiful places in the world.”

“Really? I can’t wait!”

They hailed a taxi.

When they arrived at the Brooklyn Bridge, it was 5:30 p.m.

The sun was still high, but slowly leaning westward. As they began walking across the bridge, a cool breeze from the East River greeted them.

In the distance, the Manhattan Skyline was spread out in full view.

“It’s amazing…”

Catherine marveled.

“In the evening, when those buildings start lighting up one by one, it’s even more beautiful.”

They walked slowly along the bridge.

Many people were out, enjoying the romance of a Friday evening.