God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 192
"Have the results been announced?"
As soon as I arrived at work, I asked Jo I-ruk, who nodded and replied.
"Yes. Would you like to see them directly?"
"Let me have a look."
I personally opened the document Jo I-ruk handed to me.
The first page had this written in large letters:
「Dispute Regarding False Information Provision by the Food Service Division」
To explain what this means: The Fair Trade Commission directly investigated whether Chu Jong-wook's claims were true or not.
'They caused all that trouble. The results came out faster than expected?'
I thought it would only come out after the new year.
Perhaps it's because we cooperated well, or maybe they wanted to resolve this dispute quickly to save face for the Fair Trade Commission.
Either way, it wasn't bad for us.
Flip, flip.
I skipped several pages. The middle content was all similar.
"The applicant is accused of causing confusion by providing the respondent with estimated sales and average monthly profits based on false information..."
It was predictable without even reading.
Here, the 'applicant' refers to us, <The Song>, who directly requested mediation from the Fair Trade Commission. Conversely, the respondent would be Chu Jong-wook.
What's important is the conclusion. Only when I reached the very last page did I hold my breath and slowly scan its contents.
「● Mediation Result
The applicant and the respondent have agreed to the mediator's intervention on the following terms: 'The respondent acknowledges spreading false information and will offer a sincere apology, pay an agreed settlement amount, and mutually terminate this contract agreement.'」
'It's done.'
I inwardly rejoiced. How much effort it took for this one sentence.
'It's clearly stated that false information was spread.'
This is why, when the Fair Trade Commission pressured us to reach an agreement, we insisted that it couldn't happen without this 'sincere apology and acknowledgment'.
"Ah. That's a relief."
Although it was the expected outcome, confirming it with my own eyes brought a new sense of accomplishment.
"And CEO, congratulations."
"Come on, there's nothing to congratulate. It was just an unnecessary dispute. I knew it would end like this."
"No, not about that."
Not about that?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Jo I-ruk handed over another file.
"?"
Strange. The Fair Trade Commission matter was all I had dealt with. Puzzled, I opened the file. As soon as I read the words at the top, my eyes widened.
"......!"
Fair Trade Agreement Franchise Sector Implementation Evaluation.
This long, unfamiliar phrase that took my breath away just by saying it aloud, what did it mean?
It was a survey conducted annually by the Fair Trade Commission, primarily to monitor if there were any unreasonable demands or conditions between the headquarters and franchisees.
'They select and commend exemplary institutions to set an example for others.'
While this doesn't fundamentally change the inherent power dynamic, it at least serves to put the brakes on headquarters taking excessive profits or blatantly abusing their authority.
I was aware of the existence of this survey, but why was he congratulating me while handing this over?
I hurriedly turned the pages.
「● Evaluation Items and Key Achievements
...」
The evaluation criteria were quite diverse. Whether various systems were introduced for the initial stabilization of franchises, whether autonomous holidays were implemented during holidays and special occasions, and so on.
<The Song>'s survey results followed in succession.
Unlike other franchise headquarters, <The Song> was particularly attentive to the convenience of franchisees.
'It's natural that we can't sustain for long if we get tired.'
While being strict about hygiene and food quality, we tried to be as accommodating as possible for reasons such as poor sales or health deterioration.
'After all, the food business is a people business.'
Without franchisees, there would be no franchise headquarters.
It's to our benefit if franchisees stay long and do business together.
Occasionally, there are those who think it's more profitable to squeeze people dry. But that's like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, only seeing what's right in front of them.
Rustle.
As I turned more pages, the last sentence read:
「...Therefore, <The Song> has faithfully adhered to fair contract implementation and mutual trust-based management policies between the franchisor and franchisees, thereby achieving the highest evaluation.」
Just as I finished reading the last period, Jo I-ruk spoke again.
"Congratulations. I heard the Fair Trade Commission is giving a commendation."
Right. There was a commendation too.
'No. How badly are other places running their businesses?'
In fact, I didn't think <The Song> would get a good evaluation because even our surprise inspections could be seen as potential abuse of power.
Even considering that, if they're giving us the 'highest' evaluation... I couldn't fathom how much worse the others must be.
"I heard the main criterion for this evaluation was 'mutual growth'. Whether the franchisor and franchisees are moving in a direction where they succeed together. They focused a lot on that aspect."
"If that's the case, I was confident."
It aligns with my management philosophy after all.
"Wow....... The timing is impeccable. The investigation results along with the official Fair Trade Commission evaluation coming out together."
We were lucky.
I smiled and said,
"This will paint a nice picture."
I searched for a familiar name on my phone.
Reporter Kang Yu-ha.
This person should be able to cook up this delicious material well.
⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱
-Fair Trade Commission Investigation Results, <The Song> Power Abuse Allegations 'Groundless'... Instead Receives Highest Commendation
-Song Woo-yeon's <The Song>, Clears Power Abuse Allegations and Receives Highest Fair Trade Agreement Evaluation
-Fair Trade Commission Dismisses <The Song> Power Abuse Controversy... Selected as Top Fair Trade Agreement Company
Swish. I scrolled down further to check the article's comments.
→Can't.trust.the.Fair Trade Commission.either.Arrest.them.all.Must.investigate.It's.a.fixed.game.
→The young people of our country are truly the pillars of the future. Whenever I saw her on TV, I thought she was kind-hearted and nice. As expected~~thumbs up!
→I support you.
→What? So the franchisee who was making a fuss about power abuse was just a complete liar? Let's not live life like that.
With a now familiar gesture, I looked for other reactions as well.
[Wow lol lol lol Song12syu's neutral gear got destroyed]
After all that fuss about power abuse
They end up receiving the highest commendation from the Fair Trade Commission lol lol lol
Those who were falsely accusing must all be keeping their mouths shut now, feels satisfying
→I know right lol lol lol I dislike blind supporters but blind haters are really the worst lol
→Songsyu thoroughly crushed the haters
→Honestly, it was obvious this would happen when they voluntarily reported to the Fair Trade Commission, how else could they voluntarily report unless they were crazy?
→→They just gritted their teeth and pretended not to know lol lol lol
[Song Sook's Recent News.news]
(Article attached)
Received commendation from Fair Trade Commission
→Extremely likeable
→Huh, wasn't there a power abuse controversy last time lol lol
→→That's why it was a lie
→→→Are you stupid or just pretending to be? It's clearly brought here for people like you to see
[Even if the Fair Trade Commission results came out like this, don't we still not know the real inside story?]
(GIF of Song Woo-yeon giving a thumbs up)
To the Song haters who came running
You can slap your own head with that hand
→lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
→GIF selection lol lol lol
[Results of the investigation into Song Woo-yeon's recent power abuse controversy are out]
(Article attached)
Investigation results show no misconduct
→I knew this would happen lol lol lol lol lol It's a fact that when you criticize, it only makes them more successful
→If you go to the previous controversy posts, many people deleted their comments and ran away
→→Those guys are probably deleting their comments and pretending they weren't involved, while cursing at the malicious commenters here
→→Expert on malicious commenters, I agree
'The reaction isn't bad.'
Maybe it's because the outcome was already set from the moment we voluntarily reported to the Fair Trade Commission. It's just being used as a way to double-check the malicious commenters once more.
In any case, it didn't matter as long as this result spread widely.
Thanks to this, those who were talking about power abuse controversies and whatnot were instead getting beaten down in the comments and had gone into hiding. The comment section should be clean for a while.
Just as I was thinking that.
Ring ring-
My phone rang with a familiar number.
It was PD Kim Hui-seong.
"Hello?"
-Ah, Chef Song~ Did you see the article about the Fair Trade Commission?
"You saw it. I was about to contact you actually."
The reason this Fair Trade Commission investigation was important was solely because of this. <Song Woo-yeon's Alley Secrets> was currently being filmed under my name.
Unless this controversy was clearly resolved, it was certain that this program would also be affected.
-I believed in Chef Song. But you know, things in this world don't always go as we think, right? So I had a bit of a 'what if~' feeling. Thanks to this, I can breathe a sigh of relief.
"You're too kind. I'm the one who should be grateful. For agreeing to work together despite this risk."
-Ahahahaha!
Kim Hui-seong burst out laughing and then continued.
-Chef Song, I guarantee you this. After our broadcast airs, you'll be flooded with appearance requests. You might need to consider getting a separate manager.
"Pardon?"
What an exaggeration.
Of course, I know Kim Hui-seong's programs are big hits, but isn't my role just that of a cooking mentor?
'Even if it explodes, won't it just be some requests from cooking shows or mukbang at most?'
Cooking is a rather limited item after all.
But as if seeing through my thoughts, Kim Hui-seong added:
-You're the kind of guest any PD would covet, Chef.
"Me?"
-You create perfect broadcasting angles on your own~ I feel like I'm getting a free ride, you know?
He says this while producing amazing footage. The edited version I glimpsed earlier was so captivating that even I, who knew all the content, was mesmerized.
-Oh right. I almost forgot the main point.
"The main point? Wasn't the Fair Trade Commission thing the main point?"
-That was just the introduction~
I couldn't guess what he was going to say. As I tilted my head in confusion, an excited voice came through the phone.
-Our <Alley Secrets> got an emergency scheduling. It looks like it'll air this winter instead of next spring.
"Pardon?"
This winter... when there's not even two days left.