Chapter 14 (2/2): A Fivefold Bargain and a Family Stamp

“VIPs?”

“Yes. There are celebrities, chaebols—people who are all prominent in their respective fields.”

“How did the rumors spread among those people…?”

“First, among the wives, there’s a rumor that the cucumbers grown at Goseong Ice Valley Farm are extremely effective for dieting. And specifically, the nagaimo…”

For some reason, at this point, President Han Yu-jin started stuttering, her face turning red.

“I-It… it’s rumored to be good for… stamina.”

“Ah.”

You can’t pass that up.

By the way, the nagaimo was a crop my father looked after with special care.

‘He has a secret garden just for himself.’

Of course, even I found it difficult to go in and out of there.

He also raised snakes in the greenhouse there.

He said that if used correctly, even poison can become medicine.

‘Ah. Thinking about it makes me crave some nagaimo juice.’

Perhaps because the weather was so hot, my mouth watered instantly.

Regardless of ‘stamina,’ the first thing that comes to mind when one’s body feels sluggish is a cold glass of nagaimo juice.

The texture against the lips is soft.

The moment it lingers on the tip of the tongue, a subtle sweetness spreads.

It’s not sticky like honey, nor is it sharp like raw juice.

The refreshing feeling, as if lightly frozen savory soy milk had melted, was a bonus.

‘The taste as it goes down the throat is especially exquisite.’

The moment it flowed smoothly down the esophagus, a coolness blossomed from within.

The stomach, which had been churning from the heat, would quickly settle, and thirst was washed away like water.

“These are the specific terms we would like to propose.”

As President Han Yu-jin spoke, Manager Yi Do-gyeong quickly handed over a prepared contract.

“First, the pop-up zone we are preparing this time has a completely different operational method than existing ones. Rather than general consignment sales, we plan to proceed with a direct purchase method for the entire quantity.”

“Then, what if dead stock occurs after the direct purchase?”

When I pierced straight to the core, President Han Yu-jin nodded with an impressed expression.

“The headquarters will handle the recovery of any unsold inventory, and the farm will not be required to bear any risk whatsoever.”

“Those are good terms. What about the unit price?”

“It will vary by product, but to match the ‘premium’ name, we promise to guarantee at least double the existing wholesale price.”

“Are there separate incentives?”

“Of course. The specific targets will be negotiated after our working team checks the production volume of Ice Valley Farm. If the targets are exceeded, a 10% additional incentive will be applied to the following month’s unit price. If seasonal targets are exceeded, we plan to provide a separate year-end performance bonus.”

The base price was already good, but there were even separate incentives.

On top of that, there was no burden regarding inventory.

‘Though it’s impossible for our crops to become dead stock.’

This could be considered a sort of free insurance.

“And from here on is the most important part.”

Immediately after, Manager Yi Do-gyeong subtly pushed forward another document.

A title written in bold letters on the cover caught my eye.

[ Goseong Ice Valley Farm – Brand Development Planning Proposal ]

“As I mentioned before, we don’t consider this project as a simple supply of agricultural products. We plan to create a ‘Goseong Ice Valley’ brand and give that section an independent identity. To this end, our MD team will handle everything from packaging and storytelling to marketing, while the farm only needs to focus on cultivation.”

Manager Yi Do-gyeong’s explanation didn’t stop there.

“And if this project is successful, we plan to expand the sections to Sekyeong Department Stores nationwide starting next year. Naturally, with even higher unit prices and incentives.”

No matter how good the terms were, it was only natural to play hard to get once.

“Hmm……”

As I ‘pretended’ to be lost in deep thought for a moment.

“You could try the contract for a short term of three months first, and if you are satisfied, you can sign an additional contract. As for the contract fee, we can promise an advance payment of 20 million won immediately.”

“But you see.”

Having organized my thoughts, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Fundamentally, this is a kind of premium strategy, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then……”

After trailing off for a moment, I thought about our farm.

‘In the end, even within our farm, the quality that would satisfy VIPs is limited.’

If it wasn’t the crops selected by the snowflakes, it would be meaningless.

In other words.

“Could we revise the numbers a bit?”

“……What?”

“And if possible, I’d like to add one condition as well.”

***

The sun had completely set by the time I arrived home.

Normally, it was the time my parents would have already gone to sleep.

However, today at least was an exception.

“Gwanma! Gwanpa!”

“Oh my, our Seol!”

My father picked up Seol with a bright smile.

“Did Seol miss Grandma?”

“A lot! A lot!”

“Hohohoho.”

My mother also kept stroking Seol’s back.

“Seol. You have to greet Grandma and Grandpa properly.”

“Hewwo!”

At my words, Seol, who had been set down on the floor, quickly gave a polite greeting with her hands on her belly.

At that moment.

“……Hm?”

Somehow.

I felt a very intense gaze from behind me.

“She-She’s so cute.”

Through the crack of the open door, Min Ha-ru was peekng at Seol while covering her mouth.

‘I guess our Seol is cute even in the eyes of a celebrity.’

My shoulders naturally rose with a sense of pride.

Since it was a family reunion, she seemed to be staying out of the way for now.

I could already clearly see how that young lady would act in the near future.

“More importantly, I have something to tell you.”

First, I took Seol into the room and began explaining the contents of the contract.

“……At least double the existing price? And they’ll take on the inventory too? Where on earth is there a contract like that?”

My mother was instantly shocked.

Indeed, anyone who heard this would have such a reaction.

“Are those guys idiots?”

However, it seemed to have the opposite effect on my father.

He immediately became suspicious.

“Isn’t it a scam?”

“You’re the one who sent me to check on things like that.”

“That’s right. I’m sure our Seo-jun handled everything perfectly.”

As expected, Mom is on her son’s side.

“Big corporations are nothing special either. Seeing how they give everything to a guy who’s spent his whole life digging through law books.”

“It just means they think that highly of our crops.”

“Do you think the merchants in our country are pushovers? Even if they like something, they pretend they don’t; even if they’re happy, they pretend they’re disappointed—scoundrels who always try to rip you off, aren’t they?”

That was true, but this was a comment coming from my father because he didn’t know about the effects of the snowflakes.

‘It really seems like they are only visible to me.’

If he knew about those miraculous effects?

Knowing my father’s personality, he might have shouted at me for only getting that much.

That was why I had pushed back on those good terms.

“You haven’t signed it yet, have you?”

“That’s right, Seo-jun. Your father is right about this. No matter how good the terms are, you must be cautious with contracts.”

What obvious things to say.

“You and Mother are the ones who have to sign it. I’m just a legal representative.”

“As expected of our son. You’re sharp, just like someone I know.”

My mother smiled proudly.

“And, there’s one more thing you should know.”

“Hmm?”

“That was the proposal I received, but I revised the numbers and terms a bit.”

“I thought so. There’s no reason for them to give you such good terms without any catch.”

I’m already looking forward to my father’s reaction, which is about to flip.

“First, we’ve decided that the timing and quantity of the supply will be entirely up to us.”

A crazy condition that didn’t even specify a ‘delivery deadline.’

Combined with the rarity that stimulates the purchasing desire of the wealthy.

There was a separate reason why these conditions were important.

Why?

Because the snowflakes I’ve seen so far……

‘They don’t even recommend crops that don’t meet their standards.’

Once, because there wasn’t enough material, I picked a crop that looked decent and showed it to a snowflake.

Then.

*Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake.*

The snowflake very firmly.

And fiercely, without stopping, shook its head.

“I changed the unit price to at least five times the existing price. Also, I added an option where we can terminate the contract and switch to somewhere else at any time if we receive a better offer. Instead, I added a safety net so the department store can adjust if the supply volume is too high.”

Of course, the last condition was as good as non-existent.

Looking at the quantity the snowflakes picked on a daily average, it was extremely small.

“…….”

As soon as I finished speaking, the expressions of my parents, who had been preaching about ‘cautious contracts,’ began to change at a rapid pace.

“……Hold on. Where did I leave my stamp?”

“Hurry and find it. Before the sucker who’s coming gets away.”

“You help me look too! Leave the sleeping Seol alone!”

“Give Seol to me. I’ll make sure she’s tucked in properly.”