Chapter 74 - Hit a Jackpot with Four Major Rivers Project (2) – PART 1
Gun-Ho made his decision.
He transferred his 1.1 billion won from his Kookmin Bank account to his stock account.
“I now see the other player’s cards.”
Gun-Ho started purchasing EE-HWA Construction stocks from 10 AM that day.
“Its stock price was 900 won and now it is over 1,000 won. Only God knows whether the price reached its peak or would increase more. I have six more months until the presidential election. I bet it will keep going up until then.”
Gun-Ho had been sitting in front of the computer monitor and purchasing stocks. Around 3 PM, Gun-Ho verified his stock account to see how many shares he now had and how much their market values were.
“EE-HWA Construction 300 million won, and Samok-Jeong Company 50 million won. Let’s stop right here for today.”
Gun-Ho calculated how much he could earn if he would sell his shares now.
“The stock price hasn’t increased and the selling will incur 1,200,000 won for stock trading fees. So the net result will be -1,200,000 won. It’s not bad.”
Gun-Ho spent 350 million won today in purchasing stocks. If he would sell these stocks, he would have to pay trading fees of 1.2 million won, so it would be a loss for him.
“Hmm, I didn’t have breakfast and lunch today.”
The next day, Gun-Ho skipped his lunch again and logged into the stock trading website and placed offers to buy the same stocks.
“The stock candlestick is showing that the stock price has declined. The loss from the amount I invested yesterday is over 5 million won. I will do ‘averaging down’ to bring down the average cost.”
Gun-Ho invested 400 million won more in stocks that day.
Gun-Ho took a break on the third day.
The stock market became slow.
“I saw you at the library earlier, but I was not sure if it was really you. You gained some weight but you didn’t change much. What do you do?”
“Nothing. I’m unemployed. What do you do?”
“I used to work in an office, but now I am studying for an exam to get a level-7 government job.”
“Really? Why did you quit your job?”
“Whew, I couldn’t see my future with that job. I think a government job is the best in this country. I used to work in a quality assurance department in a mid-size company. I had to work till late at night all the time and couldn’t see myself growing there.”
“I see. The level-7 exam is hard to pass, right? Why don’t you try the level-9 exam instead?”
“I am actually preparing for both.”
“You should have started earlier. It’s kind of late to start at our age.”
“I know, but if I can get a government job then it’s still good. The problem is that it’s not easy to pass the exam. It’s really stressful. Haha.”
“You will be fine. You went to Kookmin University, didn’t you? I think you will pass.”
“Thank you for saying that. Why do you stay unemployed? I thought I heard you were working somewhere.”
“I had a business in China and came back to Korea not long ago. I am still thinking about what I want to do.”
“Oh, I see. Give me your number. I still live in Bucheon. Here is my number.”
“Thank you. Call me once you pass the exam!”
Gun-Ho gazed at Min-Hyeok’s back blankly.
“I hope he can pass the exam. If I remember correctly, his father is a bus driver. I guess he is trying so hard to get out of the inherited poverty. Going for the government job exam is maybe the right choice for him. People say that if you pass the level-9 government job exam you can be proud of yourself, and if you pass the level-7, then your family will be proud of you. Haha.”
Gun-Ho let out a sigh and smiled bitterly.
Gun-Ho continued walking in the square.
“What if MB is not elected?”
Gun-Ho shook his head thinking he would be elected for sure.
“What if MB dies of an accident? I read from some book that when one of our former presidents, Syngman Rhee was a presidential candidate, the two opposing presidential candidates—Dr. Byeong-Wook Jo and Dr. Ik-Hee Shin died unexpectedly while running for president.”
Gun-Ho found himself staggering at the thought of the possibility of MB’s sudden death.
“I need more training in controlling my mind. It has been only a week since I bought the stocks, and I am already feeling anxious.”
Gun-Ho couldn’t concentrate on books at the library because he was distracted by all sorts of what-if thoughts.
“I can’t go on like this. Let’s go on a trip abroad. I will go to Japan.”