Empire of the Ring

Youngho smiled as he watched Gerhardt humming to himself as he drove. Gerhardt finally looked relieved after the public opinion turned to their favor.

“Gerhardt, what’s making you so happy?”

Even though Gerhardt was facing forward, Youngho could guess how his face looked like.

“Boss, you know how I was going to be the director of the farm development and the plan had to stop because of the public criticism, but now you turned around the public opinion, so why wouldn’t I be happy? I get to be the director again.”

“You know, this might not be over yet, public opinions are like waves in the ocean.”

“Boss, there’s no one who’d stop us now.”

Gerhardt felt like dancing because the image of Chunho Merchant had gotten better ever since the farm accident.

“I know most of Azerbaijani people are innocent, but I just can’t trust entrepreneurs of Baku.”

“I am disappointed too. Rich people with great businesses can’t just leave you alone, I’m sorry boss.”

Gerhardt was bitter in the heart since Azerbaijanis like himself continuously disturbed Youngho’s business exhausting every means even if it’s terror and trickery.

“The director told me to take good care of you. He pressured me and Karajan to tell about you and your business for information. We felt a little uncomfortable, and I told him not to call again. He’s the same as other businessmen in Baku.”

Youngho had been waiting for Gerhardt to tell him about the director.

He knew that a tender and simple person like Gerhardt would admit to him. Gerhardt was a loyal person who would not betray him, who generously gave and treated him well. Youngho considered Gerhardt and Karajan’s personalities when hiring them, and it was finally paying off.

Hiding what was on his mind, Youngho opened his mouth.

“The director’s position must have made him doubt people especially foreigners. I don’t mind it that much.”

“Nobody would like it if they were being watched or spied on. Karajan also told him that she won’t see him again if he acts like that again.”

Knowing about Karajan’s personality, Youngho could imagine her being spiteful. From now on, she would not even eat with the director, her cousin, he thought.

“Well, once I start trusting someone, I will trust him until the end. I knew you and Karajan would reject to answer the director if he asked uncomfortable questions.”

Gerhardt’s face looked as if he was touched by Youngho’s words. He was a simple guy anyway.

Fatima who was sitting in the back seat with her little siblings, only understood half of their conversation because they talked in English. She knew that Youngho had to deal with some troubles recently, but now that everything seemed to calm down, the siblings were on their way to visit the farm for the first time.

Fatima was sorry for bother Youngho because Zeynep stubbornly asked to take her to the farm. She wanted to help on Youngho’s work too but it was beyond her ability, she did not even speak English well. Youngho never expressed any discomfort to their presence, so Fatima was thankful and sorry at the same time.

The farm’s management offices were already built and now the workers were working on the grape storage, where the accident occurred. The construction company had explained that they were working under pressure in order to finish it before the winter. However, the actual reason was the company’s safety frigidity.

Even though Youngho had bought 400,000 grape plants in total, the workers already finished planting all of them with the help of the government’s support. Now they were working on setting up the fencing, because the size of the farm site was more than 42 million sq. ft., it was a formidable task to do. Because there was a river flowing at the edge of the farm and a forest on the other side, and they reduced the work boundary. The forest did not have many trees but it was still called a forest in Baku with their dry climate.

If it was not for CIA’s information expense, a million, Youngho would have only 500 acres of farming site, but now all of the money was invested in here for twice of the land size. It cost 300 million won to buy the seedlings and farm equipment and another 300 million won for the fencing, sprinklers, installation of grape supports, and employee wages.

On top of the money cost, he would use 800 million won for the construction of other units and facilities. This meant he would use almost all of the money he made in Baku and from the CIA. He somewhat regretted making the business too big but he decided it was a necessary decision to become a steady entrepreneur in Baku and make it in the mainstream society.

Luckily, he did not have to buy filtered water for plants because the underground water at his farm site was proven to be clean after examination. It was unexpected because usually tap water in Azerbaijan was calcic and undrinkable. This was a comfort to Youngho, who did not have to spend more money for water.

***

Fatima and the siblings could not close their mouths at the humongous size of the farm site.

They were overwhelmed by the number of grape plants planted in consistent distance with each other. The leaves of the first planted plants were already turning green that they refreshed onlookers’ eye sights.

A moment later, the siblings exclaimed as they stepped in the management office building. Considering that Youngho would frequently come and stay there, he ordered to make detailed inner structures and decorations, and the siblings seemed to love it. There was a fireplace on one side and it was creating a homely environment.

“Oppa, Can we stay here tonight?”

Zeynep asked Youngho after looking around the whole building. The place was not yet finished but they had food for workers in the storage. The only problem was that they did not have any bed or sleeping bags. As Youngho was taking some time before answering her, Gerhardt suggested that he would go and buy the sleeping bags for them, saying he would come back in an hour.

Around the management building was still under construction, but the siblings loved the place as if it was their house. Fatima, who thought that Youngho ran a small business, was surprised by his large scale farm. She had been feeling sorry for him taking care of her and her siblings, but now she was relieved a little bit thinking that she did not have to worry for him.

Fatima’s siblings got used to living the full life and enjoyed it, especially Zeynep who has gotten lively after she recovered from her illness. She was born weak and frequently got sick since young. However, after she put on the ring, she was more active and lively than her peers. Today, Zeynep was again embarrassing Fatima by nagging at Youngho. Although Fatima was sometimes annoyed by Zeynep’s restless activities, but she was happy to see her little sister well.

Gerhardt returned from downtown with more than everything they needed to stay there for the night. He wanted to treat them nice because he had access to the farm development budget. Since Youngho assigned him as the director for the farm development, Gerhardt could use the budget freely without any permission. Youngho had told him to just submit expense report each term.

Youngho and Gerhardt now became closer like good friends. It was because Youngho was generous to his employee in the beginning but now they also trusted each other. They could tell each other their hearts open mindedly. Gerhardt even trusted Youngho more after he bought him a Beretta pistol worrying about any potential terrors like the one in the past from other porcelain goods businessmen. He thought that Youngho cared for his safety.

Now it was getting darker. The works had left the farm site and all there was left was silence.