Is this guy planning to distribute matsutake mushrooms himself now?
It was not entirely impossible.
Being able to supply matsutake mushrooms, which couldn’t be farmed and had to remain unfrozen even out of season, was a massive advantage.
He must have access to a separate pine forest where these mushrooms grew regardless of the season.
This was a suspicion Jeon Seongryeol couldn’t shake.
If the matsutake mushroom supply were to be cut off, all the luxury hotel supply contracts built on trust would collapse.
It was good to entrust the export auction.
But there was no guarantee that someone inexperienced like him would succeed.
What if things didn’t progress properly or a loss occurred?
Was he planning to use that as an excuse to cut off the deal?
“Hmm… President Ha, I pride myself on being well-versed in domestic agricultural distribution, but exports are a different story for me. I’m worried if I can do it properly.”
“But you have to do it. We can’t keep releasing this good stuff only in the domestic market forever. If we sell it to Japan, we could make several times more profit.”
“Is it really purely for profit?”
“Of course, it’s for profit. What else would it be?”
Ha Suyoung looked straight at him and shrugged his shoulders.
“Are you worried that I’m doing this because I’m eyeing the margin you’re taking, President?”
“That, that’s…”
“There’s no need to worry. Even if we incur a small loss when we start exporting, I’ll consider it as gaining experience. You need to become a ‘mushroom distribution expert’ so I can comfortably focus on other things, right?”
“Other things? What do you mean by that?”
Jeon Seongryeol was taken aback.
Was he planning to quit the matsutake mushroom business and do something else?
No, then what about that magical matsutake forest?
“Oh, I’m currently planning some other things. So, in the future, I think I’ll leave the matsutake distribution entirely to you, President. That’s why I’m telling you to gain some experience in exporting to Japan in advance.”
“Leave it entirely to me?”
Jeon Seongryeol was even more confused by the answer, which was completely different from his concerns.
What on earth was this guy thinking?
“Just selling matsutake mushrooms forever won’t make me a building owner in Cheongdam-dong.”
“What do you mean by that? A building owner in Cheongdam-dong?”
“It’s my dream that I’ve decided to achieve in this life. But after doing the math, it seems like I’ll only achieve it when I’m old and about to die. So, I think I need to find another way.”
“Another way?”
Jeon Seongryeol was flustered.
Today, Ha Suyoung seemed like a completely different person.
“Anyway, in the end, you’ll have to take charge of the matsutake distribution, President. You need to build your connections in advance so I can comfortably receive money later.”
Jeon Seongryeol was confused.
Was this a good thing?
“In that regard, please make the export auction to Japan a top priority. I’m counting on you.”
Ha Suyoung said with a smile, and Jeon Seongryeol was left wondering if he was really a necessary connection for him.
“You mentioned earlier that you’re planning something else.”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s still just in the planning stage.”
“Is it a completely different industry?”
“Not for now. Well, someday I’ll have to do several completely different things. From what I’ve experienced, there’s nothing better than octopus-style expansion for growing in size. Of course, I don’t have the seed money yet, so I’m just planning for now.”
Jeon Seongryeol was dumbfounded.
What did he mean by “from what I’ve experienced”?
He was only twenty years old.
“So, what are you planning right now?”
“I’m thinking of trying to grow other mushrooms.”
“Do you think it will be more profitable than matsutake mushrooms?”
“The profit per mushroom would be higher for matsutake mushrooms. But matsutake mushrooms are difficult to scale up. They’re such a high-end ingredient that only wealthy people consume them.”
“That’s true.”
“To make a lot of money, you have to gather money from hard work. You can’t just deal with the upper class. You have to deal with both the upper class and the common people to really make money.”
Jeon Seongryeol found himself nodding vigorously in agreement with Ha Suyoung’s words.
“So, what kind of mushroom are you thinking of growing this time?”
“Golden silk umbrella mushrooms.”[1]
“Golden silk umbrella mushrooms…?”
Jeon Seongryeol’s expression changed subtly.
Although widely used worldwide, it was not a particularly popular variety domestically.
It looked similar to matsutake mushrooms but had a longer stem and a sleek, elongated cap. \
When dried and rehydrated, it had a much chewier texture—even more so than matsutake mushrooms, which was a plus, but it was mainly used in soups.
The problem was that its price was a bit ambiguous.
Common mushrooms like king oyster, shiitake, button, and oyster mushrooms were cheap and could be used without burden.
Matsutake mushrooms were very expensive, but they were popular among wealthy people and sold like hotcakes.
“Will there be any profit in growing that? The production cost won’t match, will it?”
On the other hand, the preference for and cost of golden silk umbrella mushrooms were rather ambiguous.
For example, the average consumer price for 1kg of button mushrooms was 20,000 won.
While golden silk umbrella mushrooms were much more preferred than button mushrooms, their price easily exceeded 100,000 won per kg.
Yet, unlike matsutake mushrooms, they weren’t considered a delicacy among the wealthy.
With a preference that was unusually high but a price too steep for the average consumer, they were in a tricky position.
“Well, the production cost of that mushroom is indeed a problem. It costs too much to cultivate, so it doesn’t sell well despite their popularity.”
“If it were impossible to cultivate, it might sell well even at a high price.”
“Or find another way to cultivate them cheaply.”
“That’s… huh? Are you, by any chance?”
“Oh, I told you, it’s still just in the planning stage.”
Jeon Seongryeol quickly did the math.
Golden silk umbrella mushrooms were undoubtedly a variety with great potential.
Unlike matsutake mushrooms, they had endless possibilities for use in home kitchens, restaurants, and general food ingredients.
If only the production cost could be lowered.
If golden silk umbrella mushrooms could be introduced to the market at a reasonable price, it could dramatically increase its market share in the domestic general mushroom market.
Moreover, golden silk umbrella mushrooms were a favorite ingredient in high-end restaurants.
Thanks to their much lower price than matsutake mushrooms, they could be used without much burden.
Thinking about the profits that could be made through the distribution of golden silk umbrella mushrooms, Jeon Seongryeol’s mouth watered.
Is this guy for real?
He was a young man who supplied 500kg of out-of-season wild matsutake mushrooms alone every month.
Could he know a way to lower the production cost of golden silk umbrella mushrooms as well?
“It’s still in the planning stage. Just planning.”
Galaxy Sacred Tree—no, how do I persuade Father? Should I ask if he doesn’t want a son who’s a building owner in Cheongdam-dong? Being an ancient deity, that probably won’t work, hmm…
* * *
Baekdu Hotel Korean Restaurant.
As a middle-aged man in comfortable semi-casual attire entered alone, the hall manager approached with a smiling face.
“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
“I made a reservation under the name Jeong Seongjin.”
“Ah, Mr. Jeong Seongjin. Your reservation is confirmed. Let me show you to your table.”
Jeong Seongjin was Makimiya’s Korean name.
Makimiya nodded lightly and followed the hall manager.
The staff passing by exchanged smiling glances with him.
It seemed no one recognized him as a well-known real estate tycoon in Japan and the top VIP of the West Sea Hotel.
He preferred it that way.
After briefly looking at the menu, Makimiya looked up at the hall manager and asked,
“I heard that this restaurant has top-grade matsutake mushrooms.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Is there a chef’s recommendation course with matsutake mushrooms in every dish?”
[1] I have no idea what mushroom this is…
