“How come?”

“Well, the tax rate of importing red peppers is not necessarily 270%. You can enjoy a 50% rate with a recommendation. In fact, 50% is big, but because the price of red peppers importers pay in China is only 3 to 4 dollars per one kilogram, they only pay less than 2,000 won in import taxes. So, if he talked about huge profits with that tax rate, he just bragged.”

Hyunwoo was quite surprised.

Hearing Hwasik’s explanation, Hyunwoo realized that they could import red peppers from China with the tax rate of less than 50%. The target of such tax benefits was frozen red pepper.

Hyunwoo let out a sigh. He thought Hyongsun had changed from what he was like in high school, but he wasn’t at all.

Hope he is not conspiring against me.

***

“I don’t have any reason to see you.”

Yonggu told the other party over the phone in a chilly voice. Hyunwoo was watching him quietly from nearby.

Given Yonggu’s harsh reaction, Hyunwoo immediately realized it was a call from Minhye.

After Yonggu quit abruptly, she called him almost every day to earnestly entreat him to come back.

In fact, she had no other choice. Hyunwoo, who played a crucial role in helping Space Design establish itself in the initial days, left some time ago, and now Yonggu, regarded as the core of its sales department, also quit. Space Design was in a messy situation because of Yonggu’s sudden resignation.

Yonggu’s resignation was not simply the issue of Space Design. Daebong Park, Minhye’s father and CEO of Aurum, made an aggressive investment in Space Design because of its great potential growth. If Space Design collapses, there is a high possibility that Aurum would also collapse.

Besides, Minhye and Yonggu were on a much more intimate relationship than thought.

But Yonggu suddenly gave her up because of her openly dating Hyongsun.

But Yonggu was not moved at all. He knew this was a golden opportunity to end his relationship with her, but Minhye more aggressively tried to win over his mind.

“I’m in Ansan right now. Let’s have dinner together. I really want to say something to you,” she said.

“Why don’t you tell me over the phone?”

“Actually, it’s about our wedding.”

Momentarily Yonggu’s eyes opened wide. That’s what he had been waiting to hear from her lips.

“Okay. Let me come to your place right now.”

After the call, he stood up abruptly.

Hyunwoo thumbed up to cheer him up.

Yonggu headed for her place, and Hyunwoo went to the office of Ani & Funny.

When Hyunwoo entered the office, Kyungsu briefed him about his daily work anxiously.

“There are too many animated story suggestions coming in. It is hard to review them all.”

Hearing his explanation, the Tuti & Angelina corner of Story Mecca was receiving more than 50 stories per day, but there were more than 300 stories in backlog as it took too much time to review them.

Thanks to the overflowing stories from outside, the students were turning out one production per week. As there were a total of 21 teams, they were churning out 21 productions every week.

Hyunwoo chose only the top four out of the group and had the managers revise them before sending them to the Vietnamese branch of Ani & Funny.

Anyway, the stories sent from outside were like the treasure of Ani & Funny. He couldn’t ask the readers of Tuti & Angelica to reduce their story contributions just because they were sending too many of them.

After he thought about the matter momentarily, Hyunwoo came up with a solution.

“Let’s divide the forms into two. Limit the summary of the story to one-page of A4 paper, and the main story to 5-10 papers. That will save a lot of reviewing time.”

Kyongsu thought it was a good idea.

“Great. Let me post it on the bulletin right away.”

Several days later, some students visited the Ani & Funny office. Given their gloomy expression and glaring eyes, it looked as if they came to pick a fight with Ani & Funny.

In fact, these were the same students who kept coming every week despite the fact that the office of Ani & Funny was packed with the existing students.

Usually, they came in groups of two or three or five at most, but today over 30 students came in droves.

“Who are you?” asked Hyunwoo.

One of them came forward with a serious look, but said in a polite tone, “We came here to receive the opportunity to learn here.”

“Opportunity?”

“As a matter of fact, I think I am competent enough. And my passion for animation is stronger than anybody else, but every time you selected the teams, I was not chosen. Am I so incompetent? I would like to receive a fair evaluation of my skills here. And if it’s possible, I would love to work and learn here.”

Other students said the same thing. Hearing their explanation, Hyunwoo realized they shared this kind of conversation on the internet cafe and picked today to make a petition.

Their enthusiasm was very strong. As long as Ani & Funny accepted them, they were determined to quit school and stake their all on animation.

Hyunwoo felt their determination was commendable. As a matter of fact, some of the students of Ani & Funny already lost their passion, which influenced other students negatively.

He wanted to use this occasion to clear the atmosphere.

He called the existing students, and some of them already sensed they would get axed.

“As you remember, I told you that those who were not making good progress or who lost passion should leave this place, right?”

They didn’t answer. Though they remembered Hyunwoo’s warning clearly, that was really scary.

“Why can’t you reply? Did you take my warning lightly? Yongju, don’t you remember?

With a surprise, Youngju stammered, “Oh…Yeah, I remember it.”

Nodding his head, Hyunwoo continued, “As you know, there are so many students who want to learn here. I can’t discriminate against them because they came after you.”

The students kept silent when he was ready to announce something.

“Now let me keep my promise. We have evaluated your performances several times so far. I’m going to make six of you pack your stuff and go home and accept six new students. Is there anybody opposed to my decision?”

It was quiet. All of them waited for his announcement, with their heads lowered.

Some of them were already shedding tears. They were ranked at the bottom every time.

Hyunwoo was not swayed by compassion.

“You don’t have to feel sad because I’m not expelling you forever. If Ani & Funny grows bigger than now, let me give you another chance. So, keep working hard. But if you don’t make any progress, you will be denied the chance.”

Hyunwoo’s announcement didn’t comfort them. They just felt sad about the fact that they had to leave Ani & Funny.

“Let me choose the six students who have to leave after consulting with the managers. Just stand by.”

And then he discussed with the managers on the selection of the students.

But the final decision was not easy as some of the six students were so close to Hyunwoo.

“Ooops, there are as many as four from the Anifan animation club. But this is beyond my control. I’ve not made the decision based on any prejudice,” said Hyunwoo.

Hyunwoo announced the six ill-fated students. They were four from Anifan and two who came with Heejung.

Fortunately, all of them were attending schools in the vicinity of Ansan.

Hyunwoo notified the six of his decision in person.

“I am so sorry. I wish I had created the atmosphere so that you guys could work harder. You might have made lots of more progress if I had done so.”

The six students shed a sea of tears. They kept shedding tears as they couldn’t ask for another chance.

“Don’t feel too discouraged. You’ll get the chance once more. Work hard to seize the chance, okay? Take this, by the way.”

Hyunwoo handed each of the six students an envelope containing a gift.

When they opened it, there was a bankbook. The bankbook was opened in the name of the students, with 500,000 won deposited per each on a monthly basis.

Those students who commuted from Ansan were wired 500,000 every month, while those who quit school to attend Ani & Funny one million won per month.

As soon as he gave them the bankbooks, Hyunwoo went upstairs heartlessly. He couldn’t stand watching them hesitating to leave.

Upstairs, Hyunwoo pressed on the managers to select the new candidates to fill their vacancies. It looked as if he could soothe his empty feelings.

“Please test the candidates. You can select six out of them and make an evaluation form on them so that the students here can check it out to form their own team.”