Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 172

172. 49th. People Whose Job Is Marriage (1)

Henry, who had been chuckling, heartily emptied his cognac glass and set it down.

“By the way, do you have any news for me?”

“What news are you referring to?”

At the sudden question, I blinked, and Henry frowned slightly.

“Oh, dear, do you really have no news to share? I heard from Claire that you’re getting married soon. Weren’t you planning to tell me?”

“Ah…”

I sighed softly and quickly bowed my head to Henry.

“I apologize, Henry.”

“It’s alright. If it weren’t for today’s matter, I might have missed your wedding anyway, haha.”

Fortunately, Henry didn’t seem genuinely upset. Our true relationship was something that, at least, Koreans shouldn’t know about, right?

Thankfully, thanks to President Kim’s conversation with Henry, we could meet freely in public, which was a stroke of luck.

“We plan to hold it at the Korea Hotel Gangnam branch in a week. Please understand that I couldn’t take care of you beforehand, haha.”

Even while working busily, Jang Ha-yeon and I had been diligently preparing for the wedding. Using Sun Hae-cheol and Claire’s wedding as a reference, we measured our body sizes, chose our desired patterns, and sent them to Tom Ford to have our formal wear tailored, making thorough preparations.

“Oh, really? Then, our jointly acquiring and reselling a bank will be your wedding gift, haha.”

Come to think of it, Henry was right. The profit from the bank’s acquisition and resale would be enormous, making it a super-special wedding gift for Jang Ha-yeon and me.

“That’s true, haha.”

“And… I will meet Marco tomorrow.”

“Grandfather?”

“I want to visit that Boseong [a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, known for its green tea fields] place in the spring, so shouldn’t I start building official ties from now on? Haha. Instead of this, I should call Marco first.”

Seeing Henry pick up the phone while chuckling, I was speechless. It was hard to believe the memory of a man past his sixtieth birthday, considering it was a story from years ago.

***

The next morning.

Sitting at the dining table, Jang Ho-geon took a spoonful of soup and put down his spoon.

“As you all saw yesterday, Son-in-law Lee interpreted for that Henry Royce. I want to hear what you all think.”

At the homework Jang Ho-geon threw out, Jang Yong-jae was the first to speak.

“I think it was just because of his background, Father. Son-in-law Lee must have understood the flow of the American economy through Standard Capital, right? Naturally, he would have known the investment flow of Triumph Capital to some extent and answered appropriately.”

Jang Ho-geon’s expression hardened at Jang Yong-jae’s reply, ‘If I had a background like Standard Capital, I could have answered well enough.’

“Min-jae, Soo-yeon, Son-in-law Park, do you think so too?”

“…”

All three were speechless. What meaning were they supposed to find in the fact that a member of a chaebol [a large South Korean business conglomerate] family, one of the next successors of the Haedong Group, acted as an interpreter for the owner of a giant American investment company?

“Are you only focusing on Son-in-law Lee because his story came up? How can the people who will lead Shinseong have such narrow perspectives…”

Jang Ho-geon looked around at those sitting at the table and clicked his tongue deeply. Jang Yong-jae clenched his fist tightly under the table but didn’t reveal his emotions on his face as he spoke.

“I apologize, Father. Please tell us what you think.”

“The President wouldn’t have called Son-in-law Lee if he only wanted to use him as an interpreter. Why was Son-in-law Lee called to that position?”

Jang Yong-jae’s eyes widened at the question Jang Ho-geon had laid out.

“Are you saying the President called him to connect the two of them?”

Jang Ho-geon nodded, his hardened expression softening at Jang Yong-jae’s answer.

“I can’t accept that, Father. Even if Haedong Group has a lot of cash, it’s only a temporary exchange rate profit. Our business itself is more profitable, isn’t it?”

Jang Yong-jae never imagined that his guess would be the answer. What was so great about Haedong Group, which had only made a fortune through money games, that the President would try to connect his acquaintance with Lee Seong-min?

“Haedong has entered more than five business sectors in the past year alone. Except for automobiles, steel, and petrochemicals, they may be mediocre, but when combined with Haedong’s financial power, they are businesses that cannot be ignored!”

Jang Ho-geon, who started with a sigh and ended with a roar, sighed again.

“Still, if Haedong Group wants to continue growing those businesses, it will need more money than it currently holds. Why don’t you understand that if Triumph is attached to such Haedong, foreign investment will increase?”

At Jang Ho-geon’s question, which was close to scolding, Jang Yong-jae, Jang Min-jae, Jang Soo-yeon, and Park Nam-joon couldn’t raise their heads.

The President’s plan to boost the domestic economy by linking Haedong Group and Triumph Capital was hidden in yesterday’s conversation! Why hadn’t they noticed?

“It’s a problem that you haven’t realized it because of a lack of learning, but it’s an even bigger problem if you’re content with giving up shares in Standard Capital and filling up with dollars. Do you understand what I mean?”

All the children lowered their heads and gritted their teeth. How much more did they have to do to please their father?

“I’ll stop nagging here. Everyone, eat your meal.”

Jang Ho-geon, who thought they had understood enough, picked up his spoon. As always, the dining table in this house was filled with a Siberian chill.

After finishing his meal, Jang Ho-geon went into the master bedroom, and Hwang Na-yeon glared at Jang Ho-geon.

“Did you have to talk about that from the morning?”

“About what?”

“Yesterday’s matter. Do you want to torment our children so much with stories about children who aren’t even related by blood?”

Jang Ho-geon looked at Hwang Na-yeon, who was glaring at him with sharp eyes, with cold eyes.

“Do you know that your brothers tried to play around with the Pyeongtaek [a city in South Korea] land a few years ago?”

“Yo, honey?”

Hwang Na-yeon’s face turned pale.

Wasn’t it true that her husband and Lee Soo-han had completely cleaned up the people she and her family had planted in the Pyeongtaek land speculation case, but neither her husband, herself, nor her family had shown any reaction and had tacitly moved on?

“Shall we trace back the family tree from that point? The things my brothers-in-law stole from what I had to take care of for my people?”

Hwang Na-yeon closed her eyes tightly at Jang Ho-geon’s fierce voice. With her husband’s one word, the sales of her family’s Joonguk Ilbo [a South Korean newspaper] would plummet in no time. In the worst case, the children’s inheritance of the Shinseong Group could be overturned.

“If you put up such resistance at the children’s wedding in a few days, I won’t stand still. Behave yourself.”

Jang Ho-geon put on his coat after giving his final warning, grabbed his bag, and left the room. Hwang Na-yeon stood there like a stone statue, only glaring at the door Jang Ho-geon had closed.

***

Early in the morning, Henry quietly entered Samcheong-dong [a ward in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea] and had tea with Grandfather.

“This is a truly charming residence, Marco. Unlike my house in America, it blends with nature and has a great atmosphere, haha.”

“My late father established the site and steadily expanded it, so it has become this large, haha.”

Perhaps because they met on Korean soil, Grandfather and Henry were leisurely enjoying their morning tea time, not hiding their newfound feelings. I also took a sip of tea and listened to their conversation.

“It’s not just because he’s my grandson, but there’s no one as cunning as this guy. I didn’t know he would be able to tell the President in front of us that if we also know how to distinguish between public and private matters, we should be allowed to inherit.”

“I was also surprised by Johnny’s boldness. To bring up such a story in front of the President of a country… He’s truly Marco’s eldest grandson, haha.”

As expected, Grandfather and Henry accurately saw through the meaning of what I had said to the President at yesterday’s meeting. Wouldn’t it be controversial if only venture companies were guaranteed management rights?

“No, Grandfather. When the President asked about cases where management rights are transferred unfairly, I don’t know how hard I tried not to look surprised.”

“Still, didn’t you only talk about the most useless corporate card and keep your mouth shut? You didn’t turn other groups into enemies, and you showed the public a non-chaebol appearance, so no tightrope walker is better than you, hehe.”

Grandfather chuckled as he looked at me, who was joking, and Henry laughed and said to me.

“There’s no businessman as vicious as Johnny. Johnny doesn’t have to be so frugal because he has solid personal assets, but other group owners are different, haha.”

As Henry said, not only me but also my family members have ample personal assets other than stocks, and we have finished more than two-thirds of the inheritance work without any complaints. There was no reason to be frugal like other chaebols to save even a penny because of inheritance tax.

“I agree. There’s no one as cruel as this guy, haha.”

Grandfather and Henry, who were laughing at each other, took a sip of tea and continued their conversation.

“Anyway, thanks to President Kim, there are no more obstacles for me and Johnny to meet. Isn’t that right, Marco?”

“It was a truly strange thing to call it a coincidence. It’s just fortunate that we have more room to maneuver, haha.”

Henry said to Grandfather, who was chuckling and drinking tea.

“As Marco also knows, what I said at yesterday’s meeting is not a lie. Our Triumph considers Haedong Group to be the number one investment destination in the Korean market.”

“I’m grateful that you think so. If we issue bonds in the future, we will let Triumph know first.”

Henry nodded as if satisfied with Grandfather’s answer, took a sip of tea, and put down his glass.

“Thank you, Marco. Still, since this conversation has made it easier for me and Johnny to travel back and forth, I plan to see Johnny’s wedding before I leave. Would that be alright?”

A smile spread across Grandfather’s face at Henry’s polite request.

“That’s the best news I’ve heard. I’m grateful if you could grace the occasion, as that guy will give you a good seat, haha.”

If a big shot like Henry attends my wedding, no one in Korea will take Haedong Group lightly. I smiled as I listened to Grandfather’s cheerful laughter.

***

A few days later.

As March arrived, the Grand Ballroom of the Korea Hotel Gangnam branch was crowded with men and women dressed to the nines.

“Congratulations, Director Lee.”

After greeting the elders of the business world who came as guests, I, who was in the groom’s waiting room, wore an awkward smile at Yoo Hyun-jung and Park Tae-jin’s congratulations.

“Thank you, haha. Are the two of you preparing well for your wedding?”

“Yes. We’ve prepared the wedding gifts and exchanged the betrothal gifts. We’ve also booked the wedding hall, so we just need to set the date and have the ceremony, haha.”

Seeing Park Tae-jin with his arm linked with Yoo Hyun-jung, I couldn’t help but smile.

My heart fluttered when I registered our marriage, but as I was about to have the wedding ceremony, a different kind of fluttering feeling was enveloping my whole body.

If the marriage registration was a legal confirmation that Jang Ha-yeon and I were a couple, the wedding ceremony seemed to be a different feeling because it was a declaration in front of others that we were a couple.

While I was feeling a strange feeling, Sun Hae-cheol and Claire also entered the waiting room.

“Uncle? Claire?”

“Wow, our nephew’s face is bright? Isn’t it?”

“That’s right, Sun. But he’s a little less handsome than you, haha.”

I got up from my seat when I saw Claire covering her lips with her hand and laughing.

“Congratulations, Boss.”

“For what?”

“Oh, I heard you’re pregnant? Hehe.”

Claire blinked and smiled softly.

“Thank you, Johnny. You know what? I’m pregnant with twins.”

“Really? You solved it in one shot, haha.”

Not only me, who was laughing, but also Park Tae-jin greeted Claire.

“I’m late to greet you, Miss Lawrence. Congratulations on your pregnancy, haha.”

“Thank you, Tae-jin. But… who is the person next to you?”

Park Tae-jin smiled at Claire’s question.

“She’s the person I’m going to marry, haha. I was going to let you know with a wedding invitation, but I’m letting you know here, haha.”

“Congratulations, Tae-jin. Nice to meet you, I’m Claire Lawrence.”

When Claire, who had congratulated Park Tae-jin, introduced herself and held out her hand, Yoo Hyun-jung grabbed Claire’s hand with both hands.

“I’m Yoo Hyun-jung. I look forward to working with you.”

Perhaps because she didn’t know who Sun Hae-cheol and Claire were, Yoo Hyun-jung seemed unfamiliar with the two. Sun Hae-cheol smiled at such Yoo Hyun-jung and opened his mouth.

“I’m late to greet you, Sister-in-law. I’m Sun Hae-cheol. Tae-jin and I are like brothers, haha.”

“Ah… Hanrya… No, I’ve heard a lot about you from my brother, Brother-in-law.”

Yoo Hyun-jung, who was speaking with admiration, quickly corrected the word and bowed her head. Sun Hae-cheol stared at Park Tae-jin with narrow eyes, but Park Tae-jin only raised his eyebrows and smiled.

Sun Hae-cheol, who had been playfully fighting for a while, cleared his throat.

“Alright, alright, let’s let the groom wait comfortably and we’ll go talk among ourselves, haha. See you later, nephew. Congratulations again on your wedding.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

The chaotic but pleasant welcoming of guests is now over. All that’s left is not to make mistakes at the ceremony.