Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 298

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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298. Everyone needs to get their passports made starting tomorrow.

“Handle this matter as is.”
“Understood.”

After returning the approval stamp, I leaned back in my chair and observed Manager Choi Ho-geun standing before the desk.

“By the way, have you finished converting all the operating funds to dollars as I instructed?”

Manager Choi Ho-geun, receiving my gaze, answered while holding the approval stamp in one hand.

“Yes. I was actually planning to report on this, but with Director Um’s assistance, we completed the currency exchange yesterday afternoon.”
“How much did we get?”
“With the recent rise in exchange rates, the conversion came to 294.43 million dollars.”

Upon hearing the figure, I nodded slightly.

“We’ve grown the operating funds considerably.”
“It’s thanks to the substantial profits from the three stocks you selected. Without that, the amount wouldn’t have increased this much.”

Manager Choi Ho-geun smiled and deflected the credit back to me.
It wasn’t entirely inaccurate—even Korean Mobile Telecommunications, the lowest-performing of the three stocks, had risen 50%, and in the case of S-One, we had sold stocks purchased at 42,000 won for 236,000 won, yielding a remarkable 550% return.
The returns were so exceptional that they defied description, yet I responded as though it were unremarkable.

“This wasn’t accomplished by me alone—it’s a result of the collective effort of you and the team members.”

Of course, the profits included additional gains from my team’s separate trading activities, but compared to the money I had earned in one stroke, those gains were embarrassingly modest.
Yet at my words acknowledging this as a shared achievement, Manager Choi Ho-geun was deeply moved.

“You must have been quite confused when I suddenly ordered you to liquidate all individual trading positions.”
“To be honest, I was puzzled at first, but after seeing the market struggle and continue to decline shortly thereafter, I was impressed by how perfectly you timed it.”

Indeed, the stock market, which had continued rising despite the disappointment of the new telecommunications operator selection announcement, had peaked upon the government’s announcement and had been declining ever since.

“Considering the yen’s depreciation has worsened export conditions and DRAM prices—one of our key products—continue to fall, the market will struggle to recover for some time.”
“I share that assessment.”

Watching Manager Choi Ho-geun’s worried expression, I spoke.

“In times like these, it’s often wise to observe the market and wait for the next upswing cycle.”
“That’s absolutely right.”

Manager Choi Ho-geun nodded in agreement, then added with a touch of humor.

“It’s quite remarkable, though. Listening to you speak, I sometimes feel as though I’m conversing with a seasoned veteran who’s spent decades navigating the Yeouido financial district.”

My composure, so at odds with my age, was enough to earn even Manager Choi Ho-geun’s admiration.

“Ha. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I offered an awkward smile, inwardly caught off guard.

“By the way, do you have a passport?”

As I smoothly changed the subject, Manager Choi Ho-geun responded with a slightly puzzled expression at the sudden question.

“Yes, I do.”

Following the 1988 Seoul Olympics, overseas travel had been fully liberalized, and as Korea’s economic standing rose, a boom in foreign travel ensued—many people were visiting Southeast Asia, which was both nearby and affordable.

‘No wonder the newspapers and broadcasts cite the surge in overseas travel as one of the reasons for the current account deficit.’

I dismissed the fleeting thought and looked toward Manager Choi Ho-geun.

“That’s fortunate. I’m planning a long-term business trip to the United States soon, and I’m thinking of bringing the Fund Management Department staff along.”

Manager Choi Ho-geun’s eyes widened at this completely unexpected announcement.

“You mean all of our department members?”
“That’s right. I mentioned before that I personally operate a separate fund management firm in New York.”
“Yes.”

Manager Choi Ho-geun nodded.

“Since you’ve exceeded your performance targets, I’d like to offer this as a reward—a chance for you all to see firsthand how Wall Street, the center of global finance, truly operates.”

For a securities trader, Wall Street was a dream and ultimate goal, so Manager Choi couldn’t hide his racing heart and flushed face.

“If the entire department leaves, we won’t be able to conduct any business during that time.”

Even as he spoke with a hint of concern in his voice, Seok-won shrugged his shoulders.

“We’ve already closed out all our positions, so there’s nothing particularly pressing to handle.”
“That may be true, but…”

In fact, it wasn’t just a lack of work—under Seok-won’s orders, they’d even suspended personal trading, so everyone was simply sitting at their desks with nothing to do.
At first, the team members had cheered about the lack of work and the freedom it brought, but that enthusiasm lasted only a day or two before everyone began to feel restless and desperate.

‘Well, Jung Deputy Manager is the exception.’

Jung Hwan-yeop, who had always enjoyed shirking work, seemed to be having the time of his life these days.
With him humming tunes and grinning as he walked around, I’d had more than one impulse to smack the back of his head.

‘That’s right. The president was correct.’

Since we’d decided to stay out of the market for a while anyway, going to the United States was far better than simply wasting time.
More than better—it was an opportunity I absolutely couldn’t let slip away.
Even though overseas travel had become more convenient, crossing the Pacific to reach the United States was no simple feat, and above all, the prospect of witnessing Wall Street traders in action with my own eyes, of feeling the pulse of that world firsthand, set my heart racing.

‘And it’s company money, not my own savings. I absolutely cannot miss this.’

It certainly wasn’t because I found the sight of Jung Hwan-yeop loafing around so distasteful.
Manager Choi lowered his head slightly and gladly accepted Seok-won’s proposal.

“Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity.”

Seok-won smiled and replied.

“I see it as a reward for your dedicated hard work. And if team members who’ve experienced Wall Street return with broadened perspectives, that benefits the company as well, doesn’t it?”
“I’ll make sure to learn something new, anything at all that I can bring back.”
“Though it’s called a training program, it’s also meant as a reward vacation. Don’t push yourself too hard—just think of it as a leisurely sightseeing trip.”
“Still, we’re spending considerable money to go all the way to the United States, so we should bring back something worthwhile, shouldn’t we?”

Though I had no intention of forcing the matter, how productive the time in New York would be depended entirely on each person’s mindset and capabilities, so I said nothing more.

“How long are you planning to stay in the United States?”

Manager Choi asked with an eager expression.

“Well, I won’t know for certain until I get there, but I’m planning to stay for about a month initially.”
“Then we….”

Manager Choi’s voice trailed off slightly at the prospect of a longer stay than expected.

“There may be some changes along the way, but plan on staying for at least a month.”
“A whole month?”

Seok-won paused, his hand dropping from his chin, and spoke apologetically upon seeing the surprised expression.

“Ah, Manager Choi, with a family to consider, it must be difficult to be away from home for such an extended period.”
“No, not at all! I’m actually pleased!”
“…?”

Seok-won raised an eyebrow at the sight of Manager Choi waving both hands frantically.

“Ahem.”

Manager Choi cleared his throat briefly with an embarrassed expression, then quickly added more.

“I feel bad toward my family, but since this is part of company business, they’ll understand.”

Manager Choi gazed at him with desperate eyes, as if terrified of being left behind.

“Ah, I see.”

Having once tried to build a family before my regression, I quickly understood why he wore such an expression.
I read the earnest longing in Manager Choi’s heart and nodded with a slight smile.

“The company will apply for visas collectively, so keep that in mind and prepare the necessary documents. First, tell the department members to get their passports issued.”
“Yes, understood!”

Manager Choi answered with a bright face, his voice more energetic than ever.

Shortly after leaving the president’s office, Manager Choi Ho-geun’s steps were remarkably light as he returned to his desk with an approval stamp in hand.
The thought of spending a month away from home, indulging in complete freedom, brought an unbidden smile to my face and a whistle escaped my lips.

“Heh heh.”

As Manager Choi Ho-geun entered the office with that smile, his eyes fell upon Jung Hwan-yeop, who was predictably shirking his duties as usual.
Seeing him sitting in his chair with his shoes completely removed, feet dangling in striped slippers while playing minesweeper on his computer, it was impossible to tell whether this was a company office or that man’s living room.
Under normal circumstances, I would have immediately furrowed my brow, struck him on the back of the head with the approval stamp, and launched into a tirade of complaints—but not today.
Approaching from behind, Manager Choi Ho-geun bent at the waist and rested the arm holding the approval stamp against Jung Hwan-yeop’s shoulder.

“Having fun?”
“Eek!”

Jung Hwan-yeop gasped and quickly moved his mouse to close the game window.

“M-Manager!”

Jung Hwan-yeop stammered out a panicked excuse.

“I-I wasn’t slacking off! I was really working hard until just a moment ago, and I just played one quick round to clear my head!”

From the look of it, it was clearly more than one round, but Manager Choi Ho-geun responded with uncharacteristic leniency.

“We’ve organized all the positions and there’s nothing urgent to do right now anyway. When else would we get a chance to take it easy if not now?”
“Really, sir? Thank you for understanding… Huh?”

Jung Hwan-yeop blinked with a bewildered expression.
He had expected another stern rebuke about how a manager should set an example for his subordinates instead of whatever he was doing, but this unexpected response left him speechless.
The other employees were equally surprised, and Hong Jae-hee, who was dressed in a navy two-piece suit with a brooch pinned at her chest, leaned toward Yu Seok-hyun and whispered in a low voice.

“Why is Manager acting like that?”
“I know. He’s not the type to overlook Jung’s slacking right in front of his eyes.”

Both wore puzzled expressions, finding it strange.
Jung Hwan-yeop seemed to share the same thought, as he suddenly sprang from his chair and reached out to place his hand on Manager Choi Ho-geun’s forehead.

“Manager, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
“What?”
“Did you eat something bad… or maybe hit your head hard?”

Manager Choi Ho-geun swatted Jung Hwan-yeop’s hand away from the approval stamp with a frown.

“What are you talking about?”
“You’re acting differently than usual, sir. They say when a person suddenly changes, it’s time for them to go!”
“Go where, you fool!”

Manager Choi Ho-geun raised his eyebrows and glared at him with displeasure.

“This guy’s trying to send away a perfectly fine person. I’m going to give you a real beating. A real one.”

Jung Hwan-yeop’s face relaxed with relief as he brushed his chest.

“Now you’re acting like our real manager again. Why were you pretending to be such a lenient boss anyway?”
“This is ridiculous!”

Manager Choi Ho-geun struck Jung Hwan-yeop’s shoulder with the approval stamp in his hand.

“Ow! That hurts!”
“It’s supposed to hurt, you bastard!”

After bickering with Jung Hwan-yeop as usual, Manager Choi Ho-geun turned to survey his subordinates and clapped his hands.

“Alright, everyone pay attention for a moment!”

“Who here doesn’t have a passport? Raise your hands.”

“Anyone without a passport, raise your hand.”

Hong Jae-hee and Yu Seok-hyun raised their hands slightly.

“Me.”
“I don’t have one either.”

Jung Hwan-yeop couldn’t help but jump in like a magpie.

“Why are you suddenly asking about passports, sir?”

Manager Choi Ho-geun’s brow furrowed momentarily before he sighed and muttered.

“Sigh. I suppose I have to put up with it on a good day like this.”

Jung Hwan-yeop’s curiosity only grew at that reaction, and he tilted his head inquisitively, pressing for answers.

“But why are you acting like this? You suddenly start asking about passports—of course I’m curious.”
“Do you have a passport?”
“Of course not.”

At his confident reply, Manager Choi Ho-geun’s expression grew even more troubled.

“Never mind those guys—but you, what have you been doing all this time without getting a single passport?”
“There’s been no reason to go abroad, so why would I spend good money on one?”

He couldn’t argue with that logic, so Manager Choi Ho-geun smacked his lips and glanced around at his subordinates.

“Anyway, everyone needs to get a passport starting tomorrow.”
“Yes?”
“All of a sudden?”

Taking advantage of the murmuring, Jung Hwan-yeop quickly asked.

“Why passports? Are we going abroad as a group or something?”

Manager Choi Ho-geun brushed away Jung Hwan-yeop’s persistently pressing face and nodded.

“That’s right. Depending on circumstances, it could run longer, but for now you’re all going on a month-long training program to New York with the President.”

The moment he finished speaking, everyone’s faces lit up with astonishment and they began chattering excitedly.

“Wow, New York!”
“Really? My goodness. We’re actually going to America!”

Jung Hwan-yeop’s eyes widened in disbelief as he asked again.

“You mean the real New York in America—not the New York Hope near the office—right?”
“Yes. The President is sending you all as a reward vacation since you’ve all worked hard. Be grateful.”

Once the employees realized it wasn’t a joke but the truth, they all beamed with joy.

“New York! This is my first time traveling abroad!”
“Mine too.”
“Taking a vacation to New York, no less.”
“Wow. Our president really is generous with his spending!”

While everyone else was beside themselves with excitement, Jung Hwan-yeop wore a grave expression.

“Manager, there’s a very serious problem.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing but nonsense.”
“No, sir. This is genuinely important.”
“Fine, fine. What is it?”

Jung Hwan-yeop rested his chin in his hand and spoke in a hushed tone.

“How on earth are we supposed to find good restaurants in New York?”
“….”
“Travel is all about the food, after all. And I absolutely must have kimchi once a day. Without it, the rich food just won’t go down.”

Manager Choi Ho-geun genuinely pondered whether he should throttle this fool or let it slide.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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