The Parachute Hire is Too Competent Chapter 24 : Delicious Meals (1)

Delicious als (1)

The cafeteria at Next Planet was always crowded.

"It's tasty here again today."

"I'd say this is one of our company's best perks."

The employees finished their als with satisfied faces.

Choi Hyena, Kim Junho, Lee Yunjung, and I decided to eat at the cafeteria together.

Today's nu was soybean paste stew and mackerel set al. As I scooped the white rice with my spoon, I said,

"The rice here is delicious to start with. When you make this amount in bulk, it's usually sticky and mushy, but not here."

Lee Yunjung looked troubled.

"Um... I've actually gained weight since I started working here. The cafeteria food is just too good."

Choi Hyena patted her on the back.

"Yunjung, it's fine if you gain so more weight. You're still too thin."

"Unni, you're thin too."

"Well, I'm close to 30 now... so I really put in a lot of effort. When I first joined here, I also gained weight because the cafeteria food was so delicious."

"So you went through the sa thing, unni."

At our headquarters, which was Next Global, the cafeteria's quality was very high as well.

Ga companies tend to pay a lot of attention to their cafeterias.

Maybe because of that, it's not an exaggeration to say Next Planet's cafeteria receives a perfect score from employees in terms of satisfaction. Kim Junho spoke up.

"It's not just the taste, but the fact that it feels like a ho-cooked al is a huge benefit too."

I nodded.

For people living alone, a cafeteria like this is probably like rain in a drought.

Honestly, I'm also reaping huge benefits myself.

At the center of Next Planet is the emblematic 'Battle Fire Base' building.

It's a replica of the military base featured in Battle Fire.

"We're thinking of completely revamping the food court in the basent of Battle Fire Base."

The food court has a total of six restaurants: pork cutlet, a Chinese place, Korean set als, and so on... Based on the reviews:

[Next Planet's food court is honestly terrible. I ca to the the park, and my mood was totally ruined.]

[I'm not expecting high quality since it's cheap, but if they're charging at least 12,000 won per nu item just because it's an amusent park, what is this taste? Where's the conscience?]

[It's not just the taste, but the hygiene... does anyone even manage this place?]

Disastrous.

I couldn't find a single positive review, no matter how hard I looked.

The other restaurants outside the food court had the sa issues...

Anyway, I knew all the food court restaurants were ones the vice CEO had brought in through personal connections.

That usually leads to problems, and in Next Planet's structure, there was no chance for those places to improve.

"I'm thinking of ending contracts with all the food court restaurants and replacing them with sothing like the cafeteria..."

Choi Hyena's eyes widened.

"Don't tell ... Director, is that why you brought us here...?"

"I want to transfer the cafeteria's head chef to the food court."

"Ah..."

Kim Junho said gravely,

"As you probably expect, in-house opinion will be unfavorable. It's almost like declaring you'll get rid of the popular cafeteria... Is this a move to make at a ti when you don't have much support among the staff? Sotis, not playing a move you don't have to is the courageous thing."

He mid placing a go stone on the board.

"Sorry... I spoke out of turn."

"No, not at all. Not making an unnecessary move—that's a persuasive argunt."

Choi Hyena also sounded lukewarm.

"To be honest, I myself want to wield a knife at the food court right now, just like you, director."

"Hyena... I don't want to go as far as wielding a knife."

"Because we got rid of the seniors' discount promotion, a lot of people don't see you in a good light, director."

The seniors' discount promotion would only last until the end of May.

"No matter how much we try to tilt public opinion by blaming the previous team leader and executive VP of marketing, people aren't fools. For now, the justifications are clear enough that no one speaks out, but that's all."

She was right.

"Director, and repurposing the restaurant will incur extra costs, too. And knowing you, you'll probably set the new food court's prices below 10,000 won per person, right?"

"You know well. I'm planning to bring it down to 8,000 won."

"Then the new food court won't be profitable. On top of that, there'll be a cannibalization effect, lowering sales at other restaurants, and the deficit could get even larger."

"Expect a lot of pushback because of that."

"Right..."

Next Planet had a policy of compensating restaurants or shops if their sales didn't reach a certain threshold.

"We can resolve this if visitor numbers go up. The new food court will have 80 four-person tables and 20 two-person tables. No plans to add more."

"That's enough to seat about 1,000 people a day. Since other restaurants are so bad, patrons will flock to the food court... Even though visitor numbers have gone up a bit lately, it's still only around 700 a day. When the senior discount ends, it'll drop to about 500..."

"Which ans the recruit promotion will have to boost daily visitors by at least 500. Only if daily visitors exceed 1,000 can we claim to have solved the deficit."

Choi Hyena nodded. It was a practical, major problem. There was no way to solve it short term.

Lee Yunjung suddenly raised her hand.

"I'd personally love it if we had a new food court. I've been to all the other restaurants since I joined... Honestly, they're really bad. I was a student not long ago. I ca all this way on a tight budget, and it would be so depressing if the food was gross."

I shared her view.

I'd thought it would be impossible to bring in inexpensive, delicious restaurants, so I'd simply given up.

Even my obsession with Yunjung's strawberry waffle was an attempt to make killer content out of a snack.

But who knew our cafeteria was this amazing?

For the first ti, our opinions were really split. Ultimately, the decision was up to .

"I agree with Yunjung. No matter how amazing we are, there's so things out of our reach—like accommodation costs."

Unlike the others, Choi Hyena imdiately caught on.

"Yeah... If the recruit promo works, there will be more people coming as groups, like for a two-day, one-night trip... Then the vendors will raise their accommodation prices."

"I want to reduce that burden."

Everyone nodded.

"Our goal isn't just to have people visit Next Planet once. We want them to love their ti here, make beautiful mories, and co back again. We need to et at least the minimum conditions to make that happen."

Kim Junho nodded.

"I agree, director. There are big risks, but... let's move forward."

Lee Yunjung brightened the mood with a radiant smile.

"Are we eting the head chef right now? We need her agreent for this to happen, after all. I've been so curious about who makes these amazing als. Thank you for including ."

So we went to et the head chef. She was a woman who looked about sixty. She had a very kindly impression.

"Oh my, the most talked-about people in the company have co to see ."

Her voice held no hostility.

"We really enjoy your food in the cafeteria."

"Thank you for the complint. I'll have to make sure my als help keep you shining as director."

The chef's na was Kim Minhye, with over 30 years of cooking experience.

Not from a luxury hotel or famous restaurant, but from cooking school lunches at elentary and middle schools.

"I'm not a celebrity chef, but I've been invited to appear on 'Heavenly Chef'."

"Wow..."

Everyone couldn't help but exclaim.

'Heavenly Chef' was a recently aired cooking program where renowned chefs and less famous but skilled chefs competed.

It had been a huge hit.

Our chef's skills might be even better than I expected.

"Why didn't you appear?"

"Oh! I'm just happy when people enjoy the als I make. That kind of program feels like too much pressure. I'm not the type who cares about fa or ambition."

I see. I should focus my pitch on making tasty food for people. I shared the idea of the new food court with the chef.

"Yes, I'll do it."

She accepted the proposal without any hesitation.

"It's just... I wish Next Planet would thrive. The restaurant reviews are so bad..."

A lot of emotion flickered across her face.

"I always thought, if I ever got the chance, my last duty as a chef would be to make people say 'Next Planet's food is great'."

Of course, her salary would be increased, and she'd get lots of support.

"I was encouraged by our cute strawberry waffle fairy, too."

"Eek! That's... such an honor..."

Yunjung blushed.

"I really like the director's intentions, too. Let's serve delicious, hot als to young people who co from far away with little money. That's why I accepted, even knowing it'll be hard. Please take care of from now on."

We went to the The Park Operations Division.

We needed to discuss things with the F&B team that oversaw food and beverage.

They said they'd fully support us.

That was probably thanks to a directive from Director Oh Kang-il, telling them to cooperate with for the ti being.

For now, at least for the new food court, I didn't need to worry too much about Oh Kang-il's approval.

Staff for the new food court would be hired mainly from Nonsan citizens, prioritizing older applicants for full-ti positions.

Of course, the chef promised to thoroughly verify skills and sincerity.

So there was no need to feel guilty about cutting senior citizens from the park staff.

But the new food court was too big and beyond my authority for the Reform Division to push alone, so I sent the proposal to the vice CEO and executive VP.

How much resistance would I face now...

Yet—within just a day, their replies ca.

"They said to go ahead? What? This isn't like them at all..."

It was a mystery.

***

Choi Younghoon, Next Planet's vice CEO, ca to the office for the first ti in a while.

He'd soon be leaving for a eting with local bigwigs.

'What kind of entertainnt will they treat to today...?'

As he daydread happily, soone entered the vice CEO's office. It was Executive VP Kim Sangho.

He greeted Choi Younghoon formally.

"Hyung, you're looking better by the day."

"That's all thanks to you, worrying about company managent."

"By the way, did you see the new food court proposal from Lee Hyunmin?"

"Yeah. Full of energy for soone so young."

Kim Sangho grimaced.

"He's like a wild animal that doesn't know where it can or cannot step. I'll handle the food court proposal and have it rejected myself, hyung."

"No, let it proceed."

"What?"

Choi Younghoon looked completely relaxed. Kim Sangho couldn't fathom his intentions.

"Isn't it risky to let Hyunmin get even more backing, even if he's still a rookie?"

"My brother, you're missing the details."

"Oh! I must have missed sothing. I'm no match for your insight, hyung."

"The marketing promotion team mbers quitting wasn't exactly Hyunmin's doing, but every move he's made unsettles the staff. Why? Because next ti, it could be them forced out."

"Right..."

"And now he's ssing with the cafeteria. Do you know how many people think the cafeteria is the best company perk? And for the sake of the park efficiency, at that!"

Kim Sangho mulled it over, but there was sothing he didn't get.

"He never ntioned 'efficiency' as his reasoning...."

"You fra it that way."

"Oh..."

"And then, more people will get laid off—the original food court workers, for example."

Kim Sangho nodded. Choi Younghoon got up and stretched.

"Oh my back... Let's just spread so rumors for this one. Say the Reform Division was so insistent we had to approve it."

"Yes, I'll do that."

"Then the employees themselves will want to get rid of Hyunmin. They'll see him as the one destroying their peaceful lives, taking away everything they had. You know how it is—people are all the sa. All they care about is their own safety. Selfish, every last one."

"You're incredible as always, hyung."

"Kuhaha!"

Choi Younghoon laughed heartily.

"ssing with the cafeteria, of all places... If he'd chosen sothing else, he might not face such furious resistance. It's a symbol, after all. So, what are your plans for today?"

"I don't have anything scheduled."

"There's an entertainnt event tonight. Join ."

"Of course! If it's your command, I'll gladly follow."

***

I never expected this.

As soon as the rumors about the cafeteria overhaul spread—before anything was even finalized—more than 100 posts appeared on the anonymous intranet board within a day.

[Reform Division, know your limits. ssing with the cafeteria?]

[Get rid of the cafeteria, and what's next? Will you cut salaries too?]

[The cafeteria is what makes work life bearable. And you're going to take that away?]

[It's obvious—this is what happens when a young exec joins. They have no clue about the everyday staff's struggles or happiness.]

I had not expected such fierce resistance.

We'd proposed outsourcing the cafeteria for 1,000 won less per al than now, but the backlash wouldn't cool down—it got even stronger.

At first, honestly, I was angry. Wasn't this a decision for the company's future? Why wouldn't they support it?

I read all the posts.

Even the comnts.

That's when I realized what I'd missed.

It wasn't just the vice CEO's and executive VP's political maneuvers causing the resistance.

It also wasn't just selfishness, wanting only to protect their own interests.

It was hurt feelings.

The staff felt slighted, that I was ramming things through for "the good of the company," not even considering their emotions.

Choi Hyena and Kim Junho were just as taken aback.

"We really didn't expect the pushback to be this severe."

"That's right. We didn't see this coming."

"No, it's my fault for pushing it. But I've learned a lesson. To now on, when we work, I'll take care to recognize hurt feelings first."

Maybe they thought I wasn't too discouraged—their faces lightened up just a bit. Choi Hyena said carefully,

"Maybe... this ti we should cancel the whole plan..."

"No."

Maybe it was because I rarely overrode everyone's opinion, but I spoke firmly, and everyone's eyes went wide.

"If we back down now, every ti we bring up an idea like this, the vice CEO's faction will pull the sa move. 'Did you consider internal opinion? Because of the Reform Division, we all suffered last ti,' and they'll just use it to stall for ti."

Everyone seed to agree.

"I'm sorry to all of you. You're already overworked and it'll only get worse from here. But this is a problem we have to solve."

Choi Hyena shook her head, saying,

"I figured sothing like this would happen, working under you, director. The path to unification was never supposed to be easy anyway."

Kim Junho clenched his fist.

"This is the ti to unite. I can even do overnight shifts at the office."

Lee Yunjung brought her hands to her hips and spoke with more conviction than usual.

"I don't know how much I can help... but just give a job and I'll do it."

I was sincerely grateful to them. At that mont, an unexpected visitor ca to our office.

It was the head chef. I unconsciously bit my lip.

If the chef said she wouldn't take charge of the new food court because of the pressure, then everything would be for nothing.

Please... don't let it be that!

"Director, I think I have a way to resolve this situation."

Huh? Did I survive this?

I'd been trying to act tough, but sweat was rolling down my back the whole ti.