Chapter 10: Changing Times (2)

It was a changing era.

It was also a flourishing era.

The 63 Building, a symbol of skyscrapers, was built, and the middle class was gradually increasing. Companies were excessively investing, increasing their debts, and there were lines of companies trying to scout university graduates.

It was… a boom.

Chairman Yu Seongpil was also no exception. The major companies in Korea, which were running like mad bulls, would only stop and start building their core competency after the financial crisis hit.

‘But not now.’

In any case, it was thanks to this over-investment that South Korea, which was a backward country, was able to become a developing country, and then a developed country.

“…The yen was too cheap. Exports went up tremendously, and American companies were complaining.”

The fact that the value of the yen is low means that you can exchange a lot of yen with a small amount of dollars. In other words, even a very expensive item in Japan would become cheaper if it goes to the United States.

That is, exports would go well.

“That’s right. The United States had too much of a current account deficit. There’s no way they would just let it go. They were trying to catch up to the point that they were threatening the United States, who had nothing to be afraid of except for the Soviet Union. That arrogant United States… No, no country in the world would just let that go.”

“That’s right. It’s an unprecedented event in the first place. Threatening the United States with only economic power without any diplomatic or military background… Hmm. Then, our country would be much more advantageous, comparatively.”

Kim Haeik naturally assumed a future in which the United States would adjust its exchange rate. As a skilled economic bureaucrat, he could easily imagine that future.

“Then exports will also increase, and we also have a lot of foreign currency debt, so we’ll benefit, right? Hayeon, is that what you thought?”

I nodded.

“Thanks to that, the stock price will also go up a lot. The land price will also rise, but I don’t like real estate speculation.”

Chairman Yu Seongpil has been urging me to tell him why I was buying stock these days, so it’s perfect. Anyway, just because I won a few times in speculative gambling, it’s not like I’m good at it…

“You’ve been making a lot of money these days, though, haven’t you? I was scolded about that. They asked if I was leaking information to a young child.”

Senior Secretary Kim Haeik tilted his head. That was natural, because from his perspective, Yu Hayeon was a genius who had fallen from the sky.

Besides, I’m not particularly moral, so there was no reason for me to be against speculation, so he must have been wondering why I disliked it.

“Honestly, it’s just that I’m lucky. I’m not a god, and I can be wrong sometimes.”

The more the future twists, the more limited the future knowledge I can use for speculation. But, other people who can only see the results expect me to have some great insight.

But, I really don’t have that.

To put it coldly, it’s just a house of cards that is only fancy without a foundation, a game of a con artist without a foundation.

I need a more proper means of growth, a means of power. Only then will I live a safe and happy life.

“That’s true. They say that luck is the most important thing in business. You just don’t like uncertain speculation where luck is involved a lot, right?”

“That’s right. My grandfather always said that people with bad luck should look for jobs where they don’t need luck. Honestly, I don’t believe in luck because it’s a superstition… But…”

But then again, my existence itself is a superstition, so I can’t help but feel a little suspicious. Anyway, after reincarnating, the old me, who was a faithful materialist, disappeared somewhere.

“Hmm. To be more honest, it’s also for my image protection? That’s right. I can’t fail even once. There are a lot of people who like to see the fall of a genius.”

As always, I answered with a mixture of half-truths and half-lies. It’s not a complete lie, but the truth is that I dislike speculation because there’s a limit to my resources.

“Anyway, you’re really thorough.”

Senior Secretary Kim Haeik clicked his tongue and stared blankly at the snowy street.

A strange concern lingered on the wrinkled face of the middle-aged man.

“Now, I’m starting to wonder how this country will turn out. I thought I knew the economy well, but I don’t know anything about technological development…”

Was a changing era a bit scary for a middle-aged man? I decided to comfort him with a joking tone.

“Don’t worry. You’ll probably retire soon by that time anyway. You should live a long life while watching your grandchildren.”

“Haha, thanks for saying that. Is it your era, a young person now?”

“Well, it’s not really my concern. Whatever I do right now…”

-It’s just a sandcastle that will collapse when the financial crisis comes.

“I’m still young. Hehet. It’s still a long time before the stage is set for me to jump in.”

I swallowed my words and smiled brightly.

***

-Slide.

A sleek black sedan drove up to the entrance of the elementary school. It was a flashy car that was obviously expensive.

-Wow, a foreign car.

The eyes of the children, who were shining, were drawn to it. The male teachers who were passing by were also glancing at it, as if they were more serious than the children.

“Hmm, the school isn’t too bad.”

Originally, Chairman Yu Seongpil wanted to send me to a private school where children from prestigious families went, but I decided to go to a private school that was a little lower in rank on purpose.

It would be a bit tiring if other kids were at the same level as me. Frankly, my looks are very pretty even now, and they will get even better in the future, so I don’t know how the kids who are sensitive to the opposite s*x will react.

Decisively, I don’t need to build connections with children. By the time those kids are able to make their own voices heard in the conglomerate families, I will already be the chairman of a conglomerate.

“Yeah. Okay, open the car door now.”

Then, the black car door slid open, and because the car was so nice, the sound of the door opening was barely audible. For reference, it was a car that I bought from Germany with my own money.

After all, men love cars. Even though I’m a woman now, anyway.

I prepared to get out of the car with my secretary’s escort. Because my legs were short, I jumped down to the ground with a thud.

“Ugh-cha.”

As my face was revealed with the morning sunlight, I put on a natural smile and gave them a refreshing smile. With the exception of being slightly young, everyone could see that I looked like a conglomerate family’s young lady, and exclamations of admiration came from everywhere.

The pure admiration of the children made me even happier.

“I’ll take you there, Miss.”

“Yeah. Just carry my bag.”

-Thud.

I handed my bag to my secretary.

“Yes, Miss.”

Her ponytail, which was tied, was slightly lowered as she bent down, and brushed on one side. She was my personal secretary that I received from my grandfather two years ago.

Her family was very poor, and she was a woman, so she was originally not able to graduate from high school, but she was given the opportunity to attend university with all her tuition paid for, on the condition that she came to the secretary’s office after graduating.

Thanks to that, she listened to me well. It is easy to obtain a competent subordinate, but it is difficult to obtain a competent and loyal one.

A great elite who just graduated from a prestigious university, and a pretty woman was bending down and doing my small tasks.

Yeah, this is power.

Thanks to that, I no longer have to carry things in my hand if I can help it. My secretary carries my bag for me.

Perhaps even if I was born as a woman from the beginning, I wouldn’t have liked designer bags. I probably would have had my secretary or bodyguard carry all of my bags and cell phones for me.

Besides, crossbody bags don’t go well with suits.

“Haa, boring.”

After the entrance ceremony was roughly over, I entered the 1st grade classroom. The chattering children glanced at me, but because they were still pure, they didn’t seem to feel too much distance from me.

Small wooden desks and chairs. I saw them for the first time in a very long time.

“Wait outside for now.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After I sent my secretary outside the classroom, I stretched my legs out and leaned back on the chair.

‘I need to change all the chairs here.’

It’s a little uncomfortable.

***

It’s not like I’ve just been studying for the past year. I’ve also participated in the semiconductor industry led by Yu Seongpil and proven my abilities, and I’ve also become acquainted with a few key researchers.

I particularly made friends with young people. If I were to scout talent later, there is a possibility that older people would have already retired.

It was a bonus that I also prepared a small amount of capital in preparation for the Three Lows boom. Using my previous knowledge of the future, I was able to make money by speculating on land, or by using the information advantage that a conglomerate family’s child had.

…I made money so easily that it made me wonder if it was okay.

‘The difficulty is on another level before the financial crisis.’

It was a time when anyone could become rich if they had basic capital, a quick wit, and a sense for business. Even if I didn’t have knowledge of the future, I would have made some money.

Thanks to that, I could enjoy a small hobby with the money I made. People need to rest sometimes.

“Ah, Miss, you’ve arrived?”

A young man with dark circles under his eyes bowed his head to me. He was holding a game console called a Famicom, but despite his appearance, he is a programmer who is rare in the world today.

“Yeah. I’m here, CEO. And… starting today, I’m a student too, so… I don’t think I’ll be able to come here often.”

Because it was the entrance ceremony, I finished school early and came to visit my company.

That’s right. My company. I bought a game company.

…OH.

Games are fun, aren’t they? In the first place, if my father hadn’t died like that, I would have lived my whole life playing and eating.

I also have a business plan. After the game industry crashed with the Atari shock in 1983, it was this year that Nintendo started to create its legend in the gaming industry.

Mario came out in September this year, and was it Gelda that came out next year?

Honestly, I can’t take it anymore.