Three hours.
“……Please, save me.”
That was exactly how long it took for Assistant Manager Hwang Young-sik to declare GG. Internally, his pride was wounded.
‘I thought I had decent stamina……’
There was another surprising point. Baek Seo-jun, who looked to be about his age at most, hadn’t shown a single sign of exhaustion yet. Even though he had done at least several dozens more shovelfuls of work.
‘Is it because he’s a farmer?’
In truth, his physique was quite extraordinary. From his broad shoulders to his forearms that looked ready to burst at any moment. But the point where his pride was truly wounded was elsewhere.
“Assistant Manager Hwang. Why is a young man like you so weak?”
“……Department Manager.”
It was the fact that Department Manager Jang Hak-soo, who was more than twelve years older than him, was still going strong.
“Department Manager. Aren’t you tired?”
“I’m still good. Can you really not go on?”
“……This isn’t work fit for a human.”
“After only three hours of work?”
“Only?! Shoveling, watering, spreading gravel, pulling nets — I feel like my back is going to break! I’ve already lost sensation in my wrists!”
Department Manager Jang Hak-soo barely suppressed a laugh.
‘Hearing this slacker whine like this, it really must be hard.’
He felt as if a ten-year-old clog in his chest had finally cleared. Since the man was part of the “royal family,” Jang hadn’t been able to say a single harsh word to him until now. However, setting that aside, Department Manager Jang still had one question remaining.
‘It really is just ordinary manual labor.’
It had only been three hours, but in that time, he hadn’t discovered any farming methods that could be called “special.” Even though the land was this vast, not a single common pest was in sight.
‘I don’t know if it’s just because they’re only sprouts……’
What if he was secretly using strange chemicals?
‘……Then there’s no reason to cling to the contract. If the source of the specialness is something that harms the customers’ health, a problem will bound to occur eventually.’
In any case, if there was no unique farming method belonging only to Eoreumgol Farm, that was a problem in its own right.
‘I should keep watching a little longer.’
Department Manager Jang soon reached a decision.
“Representative Baek. It seems you still have a lot of work left. If it’s alright with you, could we stay nearby for several days and help out with the farming? It’s just our way of doing business, so don’t feel too much pressure……”
Before he could even finish, a reaction erupted from somewhere else.
“No way!”
“……”
“……”
It was because Assistant Manager Hwang Young-sik had screamed at the top of his lungs.
“He says no, apparently?”
At the same time, Department Manager Jang laughed awkwardly.
“……You don’t need to pay any mind to him.”
How did he end up stuck with such a useless burden?
***
Not long after the people from Shinhwa Department Store left.
“……Are they gone?”
Min Ha-ru peeked her head through the gap in the gate.
“Yes. But it seems like they’ll be coming back for a while.”
“Mmm. The Prosecutor must be quite annoyed.”
“I’m actually glad to have more hands, but I’m worried about you and Hye-seo.”
“You don’t have to worry about us at all! Maybe it’s because the air is so fresh and the food is so good, but inspiration has been striking me. I’ve been so busy writing lyrics lately. Sister Hye-seo hasn’t taken a single step out of her room either because she’s busy giving remote work instructions.”
……Hearing that made him worry about something else.
“You aren’t planning on moving in here permanently, are you?”
Min Ha-ru’s eyes instantly turned into rabbit eyes.
“Why is there no answer?”
“……Hehe!”
“The world isn’t so easy that you can just laugh your way through everything, Ha-ru.”
“Hehehe!”
“Shouldn’t you start your career activities soon?”
“I haven’t skipped any meals!”
This was a classic case of an irrelevant answer.
“Oops. Look at me! I forgot I was supposed to help your mother today!”
Shortly after, her head disappeared from the gap in the door.
“Uncle!”
I was about to follow her inside to give her a piece of my mind when I hesitated.
“Sudari! Sudari!”
“……Huh?”
My expression soon turned serious. Seol was repeatedly pointing her adorable little finger toward the greenhouse.
“I hope nothing happened to the pups.”
It was because Seol’s expression looked somewhat urgent. I quickly entered the greenhouse. And then,
*Squeak!*
“……!”
I soon witnessed an amazing sight inside.
“My goodness……”
Wiggling around. The four otter siblings, who couldn’t even properly open their eyes before, were finally opening them.
*Squeak!*
*Squeeak!*
The otter couple discovered us and ran over. Far from being wary, they seemed to welcome us.
*Squeak! Squeak!*
— Want to see our baby? It’s really pretty!
Sudari, with his hands placed firmly on his hips, seemed to be saying exactly that.
*Squeak!*
The mother otter, as always, even picked up a pup in her mouth and brought it over to place it right in front of me.
“Baby Sudari!!!!”
Seol’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the otters. And……
— You can’t go there!
— Come over here! It’s dangerous!
— Ack! You shouldn’t bite your friend!
While the parents were distracted by us, the three other pups remaining in their nest — a wooden box — were being played with by the Snowflakes.
— Ha, please stop licking me! I’m not an ice cream!
‘And to think they once called them dirty weasels.’
A warm smile naturally spread across my lips. Looking at them, it seemed the spirits would become the best uncles in the world.
***
The top floor of Sekyung Department Store.
“Hmm……”
A deep furrow formed between President Han Yu-jin’s brows. She held a one-page report in her hand.
[Strategy Team Summary Report.
Filming for , which investment has been confirmed for, is proceeding smoothly. The story has not deviated much from the initial plan. In particular, the reaction from experts, including critics, has been positive.]
Up to this point, the content was perfect. The problem was…
[……(Omitted) However, a problem has occurred recently regarding the acting skills of Jo Woo-sun, a major supporting actor with a large role in the work.
In the case of other actors, there are no issues following the confirmation of new investment for .
Based on these points, it is expected that some personal problem has occurred with the actor.
Additional matters related to actor Jo Woo-sun will be handled and identified by Strategy Team Three……]
President Han Yu-jin knew the actor Jo Woo-sun well. He was a so-called “top-tier skill” actor and a staple presence who appeared in all sorts of hit movies and dramas. Though he was labeled as a supporting lead, in terms of weight, he was practically a lead actor.
“I should send someone to check on this personally……”
Just as President Han Yu-jin made her decision.
“President!”
Department Manager Lee Do-kyung rushed inside like an arrow.
“P-Please look at this!”
“……What is it?”
Department Manager Lee Do-kyung immediately held out a phone displaying a photo.
“They’re sprouts?”
Looking closely, rows of green sprouts were lined up on a vast, open field.
“This is Eoreumgol Farm!”
“……What!?”
President Han Yu-jin’s pupils shook violently.
“D-Does that mean this is……?”
“Yes! They are Edelweiss sprouts! It’s only the first step, but it seems Representative Baek has finally succeeded in making them sprout!”
“H-How is that possible?”
President Han Yu-jin asked quickly, swallowing hard. And for good reason — how long had it been since they sent the seeds?
“President. The Chairman has arrived.”
A moment later, two more guests entered through the open door.
“G-Grandfather?”
“It seems I’ve arrived at just the right time.”
Chairman Han Seung-ho had overheard the voices inside. In fact, he had come today to give his granddaughter some advice. The proof was Professor Choi Jae-hun by his side, who was cradling various papers and research materials regarding Edelweiss.
“T-The sprouts grew?”
Professor Choi Jae-hun wore an expression as if his eyes were about to pop out from behind his glasses.
“That’s impossible! Such a thing cannot happen!”
Even after taking the phone from Department Manager Lee Do-kyung, Professor Choi Jae-hun reacted with utter disbelief.
“This photo is a fabrication!”
At those words, Chairman Han Seung-ho grinned.
“Why don’t we do this instead? It’s a bit early, but why don’t we all go see the flowers together?”
It was exactly one week since Baek Seo-jun had sown the Edelweiss seeds.
***
As time passed, Department Manager Jang Hak-soo’s face had naturally become tanned from the sun. However, that wasn’t a problem at all.
‘……There’s nothing. There’s nothing at all.’
For the past several days, he had assisted with the farming work while sticking to Baek Seo-jun like a shadow. Even so, he couldn’t discover any special farming methods. They didn’t even use common pesticides.
‘Just what kind of magic did he use?’
Of course, he might have done something while avoiding his gaze. Because of that, he wanted to ask him outright.
‘If I helped this much with the work, you could at least give me a hint, right?’
At the sudden thought, Department Manager Jang quickly shook his head.
‘……No. If I do that, the bond I’ve worked so hard to build will crumble in an instant.’
As expected, the best course of action was to receive at least a small amount of flowers after they bloomed. As long as a sample existed, the company’s experts would analyze it as if through a microscope.
‘On my way back, I’ll take a bit of the soil from here too.’
His conscience pricked him a little, but that much should be fine. While Department Manager Jang was lost in thought……
“I’m grateful for everything you’ve done. Should we contract the next blueberry delivery to Shinhwa Department Store as well? Of course, I won’t be able to give you a very large quantity.”
“!”
Had his hardships finally paid off?
“I-Is that really true?”
“Yes, of course.”
Baek Seo-jun nodded with a smile. Cutting off ties completely just because of hurt feelings was for amateurs. A true master must know how to use their enemies. After all, isn’t there an old saying about giving one more rice cake to the one you hate?
‘I’ll just give them a taste and make them cling to me until they’re desperate.’
*Grasp!*
“Thank you! I will never let you down!”
“Are you really making a contract!?”
Just then, Assistant Manager Hwang Young-sik, who had been resting in the shade while gauging the mood, came running over in a single bound.
“Could you hear my voice from all the way over there?”
“I knew it immediately! I also expected that our Representative would make a wise decision!”
At this moment, Assistant Manager Hwang Young-sik had become a perfect toady.
“Here, I even brought the contract!”
Naturally, it was the contract with “1 billion won advance payment” clearly written on it. Of course, the clauses related to collaboration were written in very small print.
‘Just sign it. Then it’s over.’
While Assistant Manager Hwang Young-sik harbored such a devious heart.
“My goodness……”
“……?”
A group of people arrived at Eoreumgol Farm.
“Professor Choi. It seems the photo wasn’t a fabrication after all?”
“This is……”
One of the group, Professor Choi Jae-hun, spoke haltingly.
“This really makes no sense, Chairman.”
“……”
No further explanation was needed. He must have been extremely flustered to speak so informally to him.
“We should make a contract, right?”
“If you’re asking about commercial value, absolutely! Absolutely, Chairman.”
Watching this reaction, Chairman Han Seung-ho also became curious. Was he not a businessman to the core, after all?
“If so, what should the purchase price be?”
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