Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 67
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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67. Aunt’s Heart
Just when I thought hearts might be coming out of Aunt’s eyes, I could hear the Luxury Department Staff quietly whispering among themselves.
“Oh my, he’s the President’s nephew.”
“Was there such a young child among her nephews?”
“No wonder that Little Customer was buying everything so generously and recklessly. There was a reason.”
Everyone was watching this way.
They had been on edge, wondering which Luxury Goods Section I would head to next.
Aunt’s eyes instantly changed as she whirled around, her bob cut swaying.
“Everyone seems quite idle, don’t they? I’m confused whether this is Market Street or a Department Store.”
Her voice was sharp and crisp.
“Executive Director Kim, just how are you training the Staff Members? Of all places, Luxury Department Staff are discussing a customer’s identity right in front of them?”
“I apologize. I will put more thorough effort into staff training from now on!”
The middle-aged Man called Executive Director Kim broke out in cold sweat, and the Luxury Department Staff who had been quietly gossiping turned pale.
Their future of being worked to the bone as punishment for running their mouths carelessly was now confirmed.
“A Department Store’s sales come from quality Property, and a Department Store’s reputation comes from quality service. I’ve repeatedly said that the Luxury Goods Section especially must serve customers with the Republic of Korea’s finest service.”
“I will correct this!”
“Everyone gathered here, including those who spoke up, write incident reports and receive pay cuts.”
Only after the disciplinary measures were announced did the Luxury Department Staff bow and shout.
“We’re sorry, President!”
“We’ll make sure this never happens again!”
Aunt spoke curtly.
“I can clearly see how Taeseong has been treating VIP customers until now. You’ve been working with the attitude of apologizing after making mistakes, haven’t you?”
“We’re sorry!”
“Does apologizing fix everything? Does that restore the customer’s hurt feelings? Then I could fire all the Staff Members and just apologize saying I’m sorry to wrap things up neatly!”
Her voice was crisp and sharp, and her diction was incredibly good too.
She was the type whose every word stuck in your ears like arrows.
I could see where the talk about her being prickly and having a difficult personality came from.
“Are you going to abandon your Sales Counters and keep standing here watching? Can’t you return immediately? You really want to get fired, is that it?”
The luxury department staff disappeared in an instant like a swarm of cockroaches scattering.
Aunt glared at the backs of the luxury department staff running away with her arms crossed.
“They deserve to hear that there’s a reason why Taeseong Department Store is in last place. This is all my fault for not managing the staff properly, so who else can I blame? Ha!”
Her voice was dripping with irritation.
Aunt’s sharp gaze seemed to melt like chocolate the moment she looked at me.
Was I mistaken?
It was because Aunt’s tone was still cold.
“You’re Seong-jun’s son? Hmph, you can’t deny blood relations – you’re like a fish-shaped pastry compared to when Seong-jun was young.”
“Hello, Aunt.”
“You look cute and even have good manners. Hmph, we should help each other when times are tough, right? Did your mother tell you that?”
It was a grumbling, sharp tone, but strangely I could feel fondness and welcome.
What was this?
Yoo Jong-tae quickly covered my ears with both hands.
‘Aggressive and sharp speech is prone to causing misunderstandings. Aunt is the type who needs a separate translator.’
It seemed like she meant she’d acknowledge me as her nephew because I resembled Father, and she was asking if Mother had tried to help her.
But Yoo Jong-tae moved his eyebrows like caterpillars.
“Hey, why are you here like this? Where did your mother go? Did she go to the restroom?”
How strange indeed.
It sounded like she was worried that I might have been startled being left alone like a lost child in an unfamiliar department store.
“No. Mother is at home helping Father with his work right now.”
“So you came alone?”
Yoo Jong-tae, who had been standing behind me, stepped forward.
“I’m Yoo Jong-tae, I came here accompanying Young Master!”
“Good. Team Leader Yoo, please take our Jeong-hyeok and go back now. Executive Director Kim, refund all the sales that Jeong-hyeok made today.”
“Yes, President. I’ll restore everything to its original state immediately.”
It was clearly a cold attitude. Was it because the look in her eyes watching me was warm?
It sounded like she meant to look out for me so that young me wouldn’t get scolded by my parents for spending money carelessly. Well, this was something.
“Our Young Master just achieved record-breaking sales for Taeseong Department Store. Couldn’t you treat him a bit more kindly and gently?”
There was no way the perceptive Yoo Jong-tae wouldn’t understand Aunt’s goodwill.
A stiff and hypersensitive reaction came out, unlike the usual smooth Yoo Jong-tae.
“In terms of VVVIP customer management.”
“I just said we processed a full refund and it wasn’t recorded as sales.”
“I’m disappointed. To reject our Young Master’s goodwill so coldly. Being kind, being gentle – is that so difficult?”
Yoo Jong-tae looked directly at Aunt and spoke.
“Hurt feelings can’t be restored to their original state just with an apology. Please.”
Yoo Jong-tae was still firmly covering my ears.
“If you make our Young Master cry, then I won’t hold back either.”
He was boldly saying he would confront Aunt if it came to that.
I removed Yoo Jong-tae’s hands that were covering my ears.
“Aunt, you don’t need to cancel the Department Store sales.”
“Huh?”
“Year-end sales are the Department Store’s performance, pride, and reputation.”
“…Hey?”
“Right now is when discount events are held the biggest during the year, and when customers open their Wallet the most. Since they’re Christmas Gifts and New Year Gifts I was preparing anyway, I wanted to buy them at Taeseong Department Store.”
I smiled brightly.
“Mother said so. That Taeseong Department Store is the best in Our Country. That it’s the place where you can buy the finest Property in the Republic of Korea. That’s why I came here.”
Aunt’s sharp mouth corners twitched.
I counted on my small fingers like fern leaves.
“Our Mother is happy to receive good Property as Presents, I’m happy to meet the Aunt I wanted to see, and Aunt is happy to improve performance… Does Aunt perhaps dislike that I came here?”
“No, no? Who said they dislike it?”
Aunt turned her head sharply, her bob cut swaying.
What my words meant was one thing.
I would take responsibility and fill the sales gap created by Taeseong’s VIP customers leaving.
Aunt cleared her throat with a hmm, hmm.
“Are you going to keep standing there?”
She was worried that my legs might hurt from walking so much.
“I get it, so no need to spray more spit.”
It means I don’t need to persuade her at length.
“What tea do you like? Cocoa? Job’s Tears Tea? Yuzu Tea?”
It means she doesn’t dislike being with me.
It means she doesn’t want to send away her nephew she just met.
“Ssanghwa Tea. With two eggs floating in it.”
“Your taste isn’t too old-fashioned.”
Does Aunt like Ssanghwa Tea too?
It sounds like she’s saying two eggs in Ssanghwa Tea is the golden ratio.
I really wonder if I’m understanding this correctly.
Sometimes I find it really difficult to run the translator for women’s words.
Is it just me?
* * *
Slurp!
Aunt and I, who had come up to the Taeseong Department Store President’s Office, sat side by side on the sofa drinking Ssanghwa Tea.
The accompanying snack was Puffed Rice.
This was Aunt’s sense.
“There’s something Mother said that I don’t understand. I was planning to ask you when I met you, Aunt. May I ask?”
“What is it?”
“What’s the reason wealthy lady customers come to department stores?”
“Well, it’s because department stores sell expensive and good items.”
“Then people would only flock to places that sell the same items at the cheapest prices, right?”
“Not necessarily. Very wealthy lady customers don’t come to buy Clearance Items, but to show off their dignity and wealth at department stores.”
“I understand.”
I nodded my head.
On the other hand, Aunt tilted her head.
“Doesn’t the saying that selling the same items cheaply isn’t everything sound like nonsense?”
“That’s why I asked you, Aunt. Mother answered like this: Is there a law that says department stores should only sell items? You have to sell services too.”
“Huh?”
“If you want to attract wealthy lady customers, you have to give them a reason to keep coming to the department store, right?”
“What?”
Aunt’s eyes widened.
“Aunt, wealthy ladies like things that obviously show they’ve spent money on them. They spend time and money to buy visible class.”
Aunt closed her mouth and perked up her ears.
“Since ancient times, nothing beats Skin Beauty Care when it comes to attracting wealthy ladies. Care isn’t something you do just once and it’s over. It’s different from items you sell once and that’s it.”
When I said this much, Aunt’s mouth fell wide open.
She realized what I was talking about.
“A reason why VIP customers must frequently visit Taeseong Department Store!”
Exactly!
“People want special service. They need something they can only get at Taeseong Department Store.”
“Special service that other department stores don’t provide! Taeseong’s differentiation!”
That’s exactly it!
“Wealthy ladies get their hair done at expensive Beauty Salons every morning, right?”
Just look at Aunt’s hair right now.
Even this sleek bob cut would be difficult to maintain without careful management.
She would have had to work on it with a hair dryer every morning.
“Hair can be left to Professional Hairstylists, but what about skin?”
Upper-class Ladies don’t spare money on beauty, whether then or now.
Instead, since they spend big money, they want to receive the best service.
On the other hand, skin care services of this era are utterly crude.
“They can’t ignore their visible skin, and they can’t not wear makeup when meeting people.”
Right now, Dermatology Clinics aren’t widespread, and there’s nothing like professional Skin Care Rooms.
This means even Elite Upper-class Ladies have to buy things like Cold Cream and manage their skin themselves.
Aunt’s voice trembled slightly.
“Don’t tell me you’re suggesting the Department Store provide professional skin care services?”
This is a lady-exclusive sales technique that’s been proven historically.
It’s the Lady Marketing called cosmetics door-to-door sales that rivals the Yakult Lady!
It was an era when cosmetics agencies were rare, so cosmetics were mainly sold through door-to-door sales.
Then in the 80s and 90s, when cosmetics agencies were being established nationwide, they began providing a service called cosmetics massage to attract people.
“Premium cosmetics, with professional masseuses attached, providing premium skin beauty services? Only available at Taeseong Department Store?”
“And we’ll prepare separate account books for each customer and record everything meticulously.”
“Customer-tailored service!”
It’s nice that the conversation flows easily since she catches on right away.
“Then wealthy ladies will have a reason they must come to Taeseong Department Store?”
“Exactly! Originally, skin care needs to be received consistently!”
My purpose is to provide an excuse to draw VIP customers to Taeseong Department Store.
Sales are Aunt’s responsibility.
Aunt clapped her hands together.
“Excellent! Premium Skin Care Shop! We can use the existing cosmetics and rotate the existing staff members!”
That’s not all.
I casually pointed.
“One entire department store floor is completely empty. How about creating rooms there and setting up massage rooms?”
“Then we won’t need a large sum of money to set up a separate massage shop? Great! It’s a place that’s been sitting idle anyway because we couldn’t find stores to move in!”
“Light scented candles and spray perfume to make the ladies feel good.”
“Sell premium functional cosmetics, sell massage services, and if there are scented candles or perfumes they like, sell those together too?”
My business is finished with this much.
I smiled brightly.
“Our Mother said that, but I didn’t really understand what she meant. But Aunt really seems to know well. I’m glad I asked Aunt.”
“Oh my, our pretty one! Our smart one!”
Aunt hugged me tightly.
She rubbed her cheek against mine and laughed happily.
“They said you can’t help your nature, but our Seong-jun absolutely never does such cute things! This must be something you inherited from your mother, no, our sister-in-law, right?”
Aunt picked me up and rocked me back and forth.
“Why didn’t our sister-in-law come directly and only secretly send our little darling? Having you subtly deliver such adorable advice?”
“I don’t know. Our Mother said she doesn’t know anything about this.”
“Huh?”
“Mother said since she hasn’t met Aunt yet, if anyone asks, she doesn’t know anything about this.”
It meant I would hand over all the credit to Aunt.
Aunt couldn’t hold back and burst into loud laughter.
“Oh my, such thoughtfulness too! I like our new sister-in-law! Both her considerate nature and how quick-witted she is.”
Aunt smiled brightly.
“Could you tell Mother that I will never forget this debt?”
Perfect!
“Do you happen to know? Our Father’s business motto is ‘Reward generously!’ And I’m someone who completely agrees with those words.”
Aunt swept her bob cut back and spoke coyly.
“If you receive kindness, you should repay it with kindness. At tomorrow’s dinner. I should show some kindness too, shouldn’t I?”
Yes, this is it!
Those were words that brought a smile to my face.
“I hear the sisters-in-law are seriously plotting because of Taeseong Chemical. Don’t worry. This aunt will definitely cover for you so no one can touch your Mother.”
Mission accomplished!
I got down from the sofa, put my hands together, and bowed deeply.
“Aunt, the tea was delicious. Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“What? Already? But you haven’t even finished all the puffed rice yet… Ahem, hey, do you need anything else by any chance?”
Aunt spoke as if she would give me anything I needed.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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