Chapter 14: When Oranges Become Bitter Oranges

Park Jin-hyuk sat in his chair, gazing at the large window.

Somehow, he had gotten involved in DS Construction’s restructuring, and now that he was here, he couldn’t help but recall the restructuring during Yujeonggeol’s time.

‘Bastards. They used restructuring as an excuse to fire me, didn’t they?’

The target of his anger had changed, but the reason remained the same.

A company that claimed to be in trouble and let go of him, a sales employee.

The pitiful gazes cast his way as he left the company.

He could tolerate those looks.

After all, someday, they too would find themselves in the same situation.

What really made him angry were the big shots who managed to keep their positions.

The executives who, under the pretext of “sharing the pain,” slashed their own salaries (he doubted whether that had even happened) but clung to their seats.

If they had packed up and left together, they might have truly shared responsibility for the company’s misfortune. But instead, they clung tenaciously to their posts, throwing only the helpless lower ranks overboard. That infuriated him.

Park Jin-hyuk did not want to witness such a sight at DS Construction.

“Is the kill list for the executives finished?”

“The first round is done.”

Kim Jin, the head of the Management Analysis Team, placed a document on Park Jin-hyuk’s desk.

The document contained the personnel evaluation reports for DS Construction’s executives.

As Park Jin-hyuk glanced through the papers, Hisoo Hyun spoke up.

“Director, we still have to follow procedures, so let’s convene a board meeting.”

“Yes, of course. Dismissing the CEO requires it, after all. Convene the board, and issue a notice that the main agenda will be the dismissal of the CEO and the restructuring of DS Construction. Also, make sure to mention that all outside events for board members are canceled and attendance is mandatory. The sooner, the better. Let’s set the meeting for this evening.”

“Isn’t that a bit soon? Some people might be out of the office.”

“If someone’s out of the office even though they know we’re coming—what more is there to see? They should’ve canceled their appointments and stayed to see what happens. Those people can be dealt with immediately. And the sooner we call the meeting, the better, isn’t it? Let’s move quickly. We’ll also conduct interviews with the executives before the board meeting. Let’s just get everything done today, while the iron’s hot.”

“All at once?”

At Park Jin-hyuk’s words, Hisoo Hyun and the other team leaders exchanged puzzled looks.

Seeing them like that, Park Jin-hyuk smiled.

“I already have a picture in my head of how this will play out. Don’t worry about what I mean by ‘all at once.’”

“Yes, understood. But, Director, may I ask—how many executives do you plan to let go?”

“I might get rid of everyone, or keep everyone. It all depends on these eyes of mine.”

Park Jin-hyuk spoke as he pointed to his own eyes with his finger.

Hisoo Hyun watched him closely, as if trying to discern what kind of vision such a young man—just twenty-eight—could possibly possess.

But Park Jin-hyuk accepted his gaze with utter composure.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, sir. I’m just worried about the backlash if we let too many people go at once.”

“If we let too many people go… Vice President, didn’t you say we’re an occupying army? What’s the first thing an occupying army does? Purge, of course. All the useless ones must be cut, even if that means everyone.”

Hearing Park Jin-hyuk coolly mention a total purge, the team leaders couldn’t hide their shock.

Only Hisoo Hyun looked back at him with an unflinching expression.

“Director, did you receive any particular indication from the Chairman?”

“Indication? Ah, rather than an indication, I asked for one thing.”

“What was that?”

“Absolute trust and full authority over the restructuring.”

“And the Chairman accepted that?”

“If he hadn’t, would I be sitting here? Don’t you agree, Vice President Hyun?”

At Park Jin-hyuk’s smile, Hisoo Hyun nodded.

“Understood. Then, let’s prepare and report—”

“No need to report. Just schedule it and move forward. Let’s see them all here. This office is perfect for it. And… Secretaries? I know you’ll be busy, but please coordinate with headquarters and follow up on the preparations for the executive interviews.”

The president’s secretarial staff, who had entered with Park Dong-hyuk, stood silently against the wall, breaking into a cold sweat.

Not even the chief secretary nor the youngest temp dared to breathe deeply as they watched for cues, until Park Jin-hyuk spoke and they exchanged glances.

At last, the chief secretary recovered and stepped forward, bowing deeply.

“Yes, sir. We’ll make sure everything goes smoothly so there are no disruptions.”

Hearing the chief secretary’s resounding reply, Park Jin-hyuk waved with a smile.

A chief secretary flaunting a fifty-thousand-dollar salary overhead.

To Park Jin-hyuk, he was unnecessary.

“No, Chief Secretary. This doesn’t concern you, so you might as well just go home.”

“…Pardon?”

“You see, while I was sweeping out the president earlier, your dirt came out with his. You know what I mean, right? You took quite a bit yourself, didn’t you? Sometimes a big job leaves some dust on your hands, but really, how much did you take? Not very becoming for a salaryman…”

At Park Jin-hyuk’s words, the chief secretary’s face turned ashen.

He could do nothing but bow and stare at Park Jin-hyuk.

“I’m not the type who gets greedy over small fry caught while reeling in a big fish. Just quietly step aside now, and if, someday, I ask for your help, assist me then and I’ll turn a blind eye to your transgressions. How about it? Don’t you think it’s wise to at least protect what’s in your pocket?”

Seeing a glimmer of hope, the chief secretary nodded vigorously.

“Yes, sir. Please reach out if you need anything. I know a lot about President Park. No, Park Dong-hyuk. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

“Oh, dear. Poor President Park, with so many enemies. Anyway… I won’t be seeing you out, so take care on your way.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much, Director.”

The chief secretary kept bowing, grateful for having his crimes overlooked, and backed out of the office.

The remaining secretaries watched him leave, their expressions a mix of emotions.

Some resented his easy exit, while others were glad to see him go.

After glancing once at them, Park Jin-hyuk turned his gaze to Hisoo Hyun and the other team leaders.

They too wore various expressions.

Especially Hong Myung-jin, standing behind Hisoo Hyun, looked uncomfortable.

“I started early this morning, so I’m tired. I’ll rest for a bit—Vice President Hyun, you and the team leaders take care of the rest.”

“Yes, as you said, we’ll convene the board and prepare for executive interviews right away.”

As Hisoo Hyun gave his reply, the others followed suit and left the office.

The secretaries, relieved to have survived, returned to their desks outside, while Hisoo Hyun and the team leaders headed for the restructuring headquarters set up on the lower floor.

“Vice President, don’t you feel this is unfair?”

Hong Myung-jin, who had looked uneasy the whole time in the president’s office, finally spoke up once only the four of them were left.

When Hisoo Hyun gave no answer, Hong Myung-jin’s voice grew louder.

“Weren’t you the one who prepared all this? How can the head of the restructuring department be changed just a day before your official appointment? That guy was notorious even at headquarters, wasn’t he? Now he parachutes in as director, and he wants to decide the fate of the executives through personal interviews? I can’t believe what’s happening.”

“Won’t this make the restructuring fail? The executive shakeup is the heart of any restructuring, but now he’s deciding it all through interviews—like he’ll keep the loyal and cut the rest. If this goes wrong, we’ll be left holding the bag.”

After Hong Myung-jin spoke, Gwak Seok-ki and Kim Jin chimed in as well.

They were people Hisoo Hyun had watched and brought in since their days as group hires.

He had formed a team with them, handling all the dirty work across affiliates.

They had revived struggling companies and, on Park Jun-man’s orders, scouted acquisition targets to incorporate into the group.

With such favor from Park Jun-man, Hisoo Hyun had rapidly risen through the ranks, and now stood poised to wield real power as head of restructuring.

But less than a week after receiving Park Jun-man’s verbal mandate, he was formally appointed only as deputy head.

And the new head—someone he’d only met a couple times before—was Park Jun-man’s eldest son.

A man with the title of executive director, but who showed no interest in management and led a dissipated life, making it hard to see him as the heir apparent.

Rumors were rife within the company that he’d soon be cut from the succession.

Listening quietly, Hisoo Hyun saw that his subordinates’ discontent would only grow, so he finally spoke up to quell it.

“Don’t waste time worrying about that. Why do you think I came here a week early? And didn’t you say yourself that the first round of evaluations was complete? We already have the data. If the director tries to wield his authority as he pleases, we’ll use the data to persuade him. Instead of worrying, get ready for the board meeting and organize the interview schedule.”

Silencing their protests, Hisoo Hyun walked into the restructuring office.

The others followed, looking at him as if they couldn’t fathom his intentions.

Fifty people.

They were handpicked by Hisoo Hyun.

People renowned in their respective affiliates—not only skilled, but with impeccable reputations.

On top of that, Hisoo Hyun had even secured a top domestic law firm, aiming to finish the restructuring and then return to headquarters.

If things went according to plan, he might even land the position of president of an affiliate, or, with luck, head of the Strategic Planning Office reporting directly to the chairman.

‘What’s going on?’

Sitting in the office prepared for the deputy head, Hisoo Hyun pondered.

Park Jin-hyuk was completely different from the rumors.

Moreover, before coming to DS Construction, the words of Oh Seo-young, who had summoned him, only added to his confusion.

‘Why did the madam say that?’

Oh Seo-young had spent an hour telling him to properly assist Park Jin-hyuk.

But to Hisoo Hyun, it didn’t sound like a request from Park Jin-hyuk.

Amid the requests, she had kept lamenting about how Park Jin-hyuk lived, telling all sorts of stories.

Rising from his seat afterward, Hisoo Hyun realized that all he’d learned from Oh Seo-young was how hopeless Park Jin-hyuk was.

Then, as they parted, her final words lingered.

[Do you know the saying “When oranges become bitter oranges (橘化爲枳)”? It really resonates with me. Director—no, Deputy Head. Please think about it.]

That was all she said before leaving.

It was a famous idiom—one even he knew.

In Heonam, oranges grow as oranges, but if transplanted to Hoebok, they become bitter oranges. It originated from the story where Anyoung rebuked Ying Wang for belittling him, saying that a thief from Qi turned criminal only because he lived in Chu.

‘Is she implying that Park is in a different environment now? Why would she say that? What does she hope to gain through me?’

Hisoo Hyun sat back and pondered Oh Seo-young’s words.

*****

“We’ve scheduled interviews for the executives currently at the company first. For those out of the office, we’ve set their times as late as possible to ensure they can attend.”

Park Jin-hyuk sat in his chair as Team Leader Kim Jin of the Management Analysis Team reported.

Barely an hour had passed since he gave the instructions, and Kim Jin was already reporting on the adjusted interview times for each executive.

“Each executive has been allotted ten minutes. Is that all right?”

“Ten minutes? It won’t even take one, really…”

Hearing Park Jin-hyuk say a minute would suffice, Kim Jin wondered what this man really knew, thinking he could interview the executives like this.

Whether or not he sensed Kim Jin’s doubts, Park Jin-hyuk sipped his coffee and spoke.

“Ten minutes makes it seem official, at least—like we really sat down and talked. So, counting in some gaps, we’ll see about five people an hour?”

“Yes, that’s about right. There are twenty-five executives in total, so it should take about five hours.”

“It’s going to be a hectic day. Good work. You should go have lunch downstairs—DS Construction’s cafeteria is incredible. They say nothing beats a worksite canteen, and maybe that’s why the construction company cafeteria is just as good.”

Right after issuing orders to Hisoo Hyun, Park Jin-hyuk had gone down alone to the cafeteria and taken a big bite.

His old sales instincts from the Yujeonggeol days told him to eat whenever he could, or else he’d miss a meal. So, he hurried down, filled his tray with fresh rice and a heap of spicy pork stir-fry, and ate in high spirits.

‘Good thing I ate when I had the chance—would’ve missed my meal otherwise.’

Park Jin-hyuk grinned, pleased with his survival instincts.