Things got incredibly busy. The rumors about Changjo Resources had spread like wildfire within the industrial complex.
As a result, whenever I drove through the complex, I constantly heard requests from companies to come and give them quotes, but I only had one body, and the complex was too vast. Still, wasn't this an opportunity?
I contacted the wholesalers who handled various materials, the ones I got the contact information from the previous owner. I negotiated prices and signed supply contracts.
There were over 300 companies in the industrial complex, generating a wide variety of waste. I wanted to handle it all, but I could only be in one place at a time.
Ultimately, I decided to focus on collecting from factories that primarily produced scrap metal, aluminum, and copper, which had relatively good margins and high prices.
"The tables have turned completely."
President Cha, who had initially proposed that I handle waste paper while he took the high-margin waste, couldn't recover his tarnished image. Ironically, he started collecting the waste paper I couldn't handle because I was too busy.
Of course, Changjo Resources also scrambled to offer better prices than mine, but it was too late.
It was a matter of pride. For companies with hundreds of millions or even billions of won in sales, whether they paid for waste disposal or sold it for money didn't make much of a difference.
"Whew, it's overflowing."
I had initially set my quotes with a 70% profit margin. In two weeks, I had secured contracts with over 50 companies, mainly targeting metal-related businesses. The average volume was 500 kg.
There weren't many companies like Samhwa Metal that produced only aluminum and had waste that could be directly delivered. Most of them had a mix of scrap metal, aluminum, and other non-ferrous metals.
I had collected almost 25 tons, but only 15 tons could be directly delivered to the wholesalers. The remaining 10 tons required sorting.
"I need to process this to make real money. If I can just extract 10% of non-ferrous metals from this, I'll earn more than double."
But I didn't have time. I was already struggling to collect from all the companies, so I couldn't afford to do the sorting myself.
"Should I sell it all at a low price, or should I hire someone to do the sorting?"
I considered my options, but ultimately decided to sell everything at a low price.
I had to pay the companies for the waste, and I was running low on cash. I also believed that maintaining a consistent relationship with the current companies was crucial before I could fully establish myself.
After two weeks, my net profit was 2.5 million won. It was just the first transaction, and considering I had hastily delivered everything without processing, it was a great result. I stepped on the gas pedal with a happy heart.
Winter arrived in 1994. It had been four months since I opened Chunha Resources in Ansan Industrial Complex. Many things had changed in those four months.
Three and a half months ago, I had hired three employees and instructed them to handle the sorting process, instead of just buying and reselling the waste.
It seemed like things were finally falling into place. I would go out and collect the waste, separate what needed processing from what didn't, and my employees would sort the materials that required processing.
It was a cycle of collecting, sorting, delivering, and repeating, and my monthly net income had exceeded 10 million won.
This was the result I achieved in just six months since deciding to start a junkyard.
A brand-new 5-ton truck with a grapple was parked in front of my yard.
Every time I went to collect, I had to manually load and unload everything. The grapple truck was a game-changer.
I could just drive up, grab the materials with the grapple, and load them onto the truck.
My business was sailing smoothly, money was piling up, and just looking at the piles of scrap in my yard made me feel content.
"I worked so hard in construction and only earned 16 million won… No, that's not right. I also earned money driving the owner's truck, so it's less than 16 million won."
I had recently bought the 5-ton grapple truck, but until recently, I had over 20 million won in my bank account.
I had land for my company, a 1-ton truck, and a 5-ton grapple truck. Adding the value of the scrap in my yard that was being sorted, my assets seemed to be over 50 million won.
"Ansan Industrial Complex seems stable now. Should I start targeting other areas?"
I said that, but I couldn't leave my post just yet.
I could have an employee handle the driving and collecting, but who knew what could happen while I was away?
Due to the nature of scrap, it was measured by weight, so even if someone stole 10 kg from the pile in my yard, it wouldn't be noticeable.
In the case of copper, 10 kg could be sold to a local junkyard for 20,000 won.
I was anxious. I needed someone trustworthy. Someone reliable who would allow me to leave without worry.
"First, I'll pass on family."
My father was still working, my mother couldn't possibly do this kind of work, and my younger sister was in middle school. The only one left was my older brother.
"Tsk, I should avoid that guy."
I'll pass on my brother too. Family is out. Then, it had to be…
"Maru. Kim Maru."
No matter how I thought about it, Maru was the perfect candidate. Good personality, loyal, the most genuine person I had ever worked with.
"Alright, let's try to persuade Maru."
***
Kim Maru massaged his stiff shoulders as he headed home.
"Another tough day."
In the past, I would have had a drink with Sol after work. He went crazy about starting a junkyard and suddenly moved down to Gyeonggi-do.
He says he's doing well when we talk on the phone sometimes, but I can't be sure. Still, I sometimes envy him for being able to work as he pleases.
It must be different for him, having a family to rely on, unlike me, an orphan with no one.
What if I did something like that and failed? I have nowhere to go back to. I'd be back to wandering from one tiny room to another like when I left the orphanage.
My current goal was to save up enough for a deposit and rent a place without monthly rent payments.
That was the most important thing.
"Hey! Maru, want to have some makgeolli tonight?"
I was startled by the sudden voice.
"Huh? Sol? What are you doing here?"
Sol was leaning against the wall near my house, waving at me.
"I came for a drink. How about makgeolli?"
I chuckled and said,
"Sure, but you're buying."
"I'm telling you again, come work with me. I'll make sure you get paid well."
"You're bringing that up again? It's been a while. Can't we just focus on drinking?"
I poured makgeolli into Maru's glass again and said,
"Why would I hide it from you? I'm telling you, I hit the jackpot. My monthly net income is over 10 million won now."
Maru scoffed and said,
"If you're making that much money, why are you driving a 1-ton truck?"
"Hey, it's still early in my business, so I'm reinvesting everything I earn. I bought a 5-ton grapple truck and even hired three employees."
Maru seemed a little surprised by this.
"Three employees? Can you afford to pay their salaries? By selling trash?"
"This guy doesn't believe me when I say my net profit is 10 million won a month? It's true! I swear, all I see are fools everywhere I look. Companies, factories, restaurants, they're all throwing away money. It's because they don't know any better. Before I opened my junkyard near the industrial complex, there was only one other junkyard, and they were charging for waste disposal and then selling it for a profit. They were making money on both ends, can you believe it? It makes no sense, but it's true! That's why I swooped in and started buying waste, and now I'm making 10 million won a month. Imagine how much the previous junkyard owner was making by monopolizing the business."
After my long speech, I lowered my voice and said seriously,
"I'm telling you this because I really need someone I can trust. This junkyard business, it's a gold mine. Now is the golden age. It's a transition period where the old junkyard owners who were comfortably making tons of money under the licensing system are being challenged by new junkyards due to the switch to the registration system. People aren't entering the market because of the social stigma and lack of information. Now is the time for people like us to swoop in, push out those old geezers who were making easy money, and establish ourselves. Trust me, okay?"
Despite my sincere words, Maru still seemed skeptical.
"But if it's so profitable, wouldn't everyone be jumping in? I haven't heard any such rumors. Honestly, it's hard to believe that you can make money from trash."
I was getting frustrated, but I calmly explained again,
"That's because of the lack of information. No matter how much I try to explain, you won't understand. So, come to my company and work for just one month. Just one month. I never show my employees the purchase and selling prices of the waste, but I'll show you. Let's talk after you experience it yourself. Alright, I'll even give you a good salary. How about 1.5 million won a month? That's enough, right?"
Maru's eyes widened at the mention of the salary. That was the amount he would earn after working construction for a whole month without taking a single day off. I should have mentioned the salary first.
"You'll have Sundays off, and I'll let you work only day shifts on Saturdays. Your main task will be driving the grapple truck and collecting waste from factories. Of course, you'll have to do other odd jobs as well, but I'll give you the title of General Manager."
"Ge… General Manager?"
What kind of title was General Manager in a junkyard with less than five employees? I could even put "Director" on his business card if he wanted.
"Just think of it as working construction for a month and give it a try. I've already established connections with the factories and set the collection dates, so you just have to go and collect the waste. General Manager Kim, let's do this. They say there are three opportunities in life, and I think your first opportunity was meeting me, and your second will be joining my company. Trust me and follow me!"
"…Well…"
Maru hesitated. I really needed him.
The junkyard business was a cash business, and if I hired just anyone, they could run off with the money.
Maru, a trustworthy, reliable, and loyal person, was my best connection.
Unlike employees who came and went, I intended to take care of Maru as my own.
"…I'll give it a try."
"Yes! Good thinking. Let's do this!"