Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 10

10. Getting a Promissory Note from a Loan Shark (3)

Hansu approached with a stiff expression.

“Are you okay? What happened? What went on inside—no, never mind. As long as you’re alright.”

He was worried, like a proper older brother.

Taesu patted his younger brother on the shoulder.

“Let’s go home. You’ll miss curfew.”

“That information you mentioned…”

“Shh, knowing it will only get you hurt. Hurry up, Awl.”

“…”

Taesu strode out of the gate first.

Hansu turned to follow.

“Hey, Crazy.”

Song Jingu, who had been leaning against the stone wall, glared.

“How dare you use my name to come all the way here?”

“I know, right? Maybe I should have used Jang Mal-dong’s name instead?”

Gritting his teeth.

“Crazy, you better consider yourself lucky today. If I see you again, you’re dead meat.”

“I’m sure the old man told you not to touch me, right?”

Song Jingu visibly flinched.

“You cocky bastard, watch your back at night.”

“I’m going to be very busy from now on. See you around.”

Taesu passed Song Jingu and went outside.

How far had he walked?

He sold information, but there wasn’t even a money envelope, let alone a bag of cash.

Hansu was deep in thought.

“I guess I need to find another investor? Who should I go to?”

“Why are you looking for another investor? Isn’t 20 million won enough?”

“I couldn’t borrow a single penny.”

“Well, I *didn’t not* borrow a single penny.”

Taesu nodded emphatically.

Hansu was dumbfounded.

“Are you bragging about that now…”

“Okay, as promised, I’ve solved the money problem.”

*Flap.*

A promissory note appeared before Hansu’s eyes.

-Amount: 20 million won.

-Creditor: Kang Taesu.

-Debtor: Jang Mal-dong.

Hansu snatched the promissory note from Taesu’s hand and read it over and over again.

His eyes grew wider with each line.

He still couldn’t believe it.

“You actually got a promissory note from a loan shark?”

“I told you to trust me, *hyung* [older brother or respected male figure].”

“And for a whopping 20 million won?”

“How about that? Now all the mine problems are solved, right? All that’s left is to make a fortune.”

Hansu couldn’t take his eyes off the promissory note.

It was a promissory note for a whopping 20 million won [approximately $15,000 USD, a significant sum].

Even the debtor was Jang Mal-dong, a big shot in the Korean loan shark industry.

The red stamp next to Jang Mal-dong’s name made it seem incredibly surreal.

He rubbed his eyes and looked again, but he still couldn’t believe it.

“This is unbelievable. Something that defies common sense has happened.”

“Hansu, you don’t need to understand everything. Just look at the result. That’s all that matters.”

“The result? This promissory note?”

Hansu laughed in disbelief.

“You actually got a promissory note from a loan shark, you crazy guy.”

“Do you suddenly think I’m cool, *hyung*?”

“I just think you’re crazy.”

“What did you call your *hyung*? Keep your promise. *Hyung*, and use honorifics.”

“Ugh!”

Taesu grinned mischievously.

“Hansu, just you wait. You’ll see me collecting from the loan shark with this promissory note.”

Hansu had already seen Taesu take the mine rights certificate from Oh Chun-shik with a promissory note.

He naturally imagined his brother collecting from Jang Mal-dong.

A chuckle escaped him, but Hansu soon hardened his expression.

“Be careful. You might end up buried in a mountain somewhere if you try to collect from a loan shark.”

“*Hyungnim* [a more formal term for older brother, used with respect], use honorifics.”

“Loan sharks are much more ruthless than you, no, than *Hyungnim* thinks. They’re persistent, too.”

“Puhuh! What’s with your speech, your tone?”

Taesu burst out laughing at Hansu’s strange honorifics.

Hansu’s face flushed.

Still, he turned away and said everything he wanted to say in that haughty voice.

“Kang Tae—no, *Hyungnim*, you’re really going to die if you keep this up.”

“We’ll see about that.”

In ten days, the loan shark industry would be turned upside down.

“Ha—Kang—*Hyungnim*, let’s just take it easy. I’m getting nervous just watching.”

“Puhaha! Can’t you do something about those honorifics?”

“I’m, I’m trying.”

His manly pride was ruined.

Hansu’s expression was as crumpled as his pride.

“That’s enough. Everything will be fine, so you just worry about your honorifics.”

“Damn it.”

*Kihikihik* [sound of suppressed laughter].

Hansu hung his head at Taesu’s laughter.

‘He actually won the bet. Is there any other crazy bastard in the world who gets a promissory note from a loan shark? And he’s going to collect on it? Amazing. I can’t even imagine it.’

He had seen many people while working as a fixer, but Taesu was by far the best.

‘Wait, amazing? Unimaginable? The best? Kang Taesu is the best person I’ve ever seen?’

Hansu’s mind went blank as if he had been hit with a blunt weapon.

Taesu’s back, walking far ahead, seemed huge.

A confident expression, broad shoulders, and firm eyes.

And the drive and guts to boldly pull off things that defied common sense.

‘I’ve been watching him all this time, and I didn’t know my brother’s true self? No, I guess I didn’t try to see it. Like an idiot.’

It was a shock to Hansu, who was proud and capable.

‘Then why did *hyung* act like a thug?’

If he had been the older brother?

Could he have stood by and watched his younger brother act spoiled?

‘Could it be because of me? Is he still holding onto that old thing?’

Hansu’s eyes trembled.

“*Hyungnim*.”

“Huh?”

Taesu looked back.

Hansu was clenching his fists and biting his lip.

“The day you abandoned me at the market, *hyung* acted like a thug after that day. Like he had completely changed.”

It was when he was seven years old.

Hansu had wandered outside for nearly ten days then.

When he was luckily found again, he had closed his heart and treated his brother like an enemy.

It was the most painful memory for the whole family.

Taesu’s expression also hardened.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose. I was so caught up in the smell of money that I just chased after it. I didn’t even realize I had let go of your hand.”

“No, that doesn’t matter anymore. I’m curious why *Hyungnim* deliberately acted like a thug.”

He lost his brother because he was caught up in the smell of money.

His brother returned covered in blood.

That was too much of a shock for young Taesu.

‘When I was young, I couldn’t resist the smell of money. That’s why I often got into trouble. But no one believed me.’

No one could smell the money, and they treated Taesu like a liar.

In the end, Taesu concluded that he was crazy.

The root cause of everything was the smell of money.

After that, Taesu sealed off his ability to smell money.

He lived recklessly, like a thug.

Using his ability for trivial things like gambling, just for fun.

Until Han Cheong-ho recognized Taesu’s talent and properly nurtured him.

“Hansu, I can smell money.”

“Are you talking about that again? You used to say that all the time when you were young. It’s been a while since you said that. Again—”

“But I keep getting caught up in that smell of money and losing my mind. Of course, no one else will believe me. What? There’s a smell coming from money-making opportunities? It sounds funny even to me.”

“…”

“I thought I was crazy. So I ignored this ability for a long time. Like a thug, just living recklessly.”

Hansu also remembered.

When he was young, Taesu said he could smell money, but no one believed him.

Eventually, Taesu stopped talking about it one day.

“What is it like to smell money?”

It was the first time.

Hansu seriously considered Taesu’s ability.

Even in his past life, Hansu never believed in Taesu’s ability.

He never acknowledged his brother until he died.

Taesu was flustered but also a little happy.

“Um, it’s a special feeling. It’s similar to how a shaman foresees the future. Because the smell of money comes from things that make money.”

“That’s quite an absurd ability.”

Hansu nodded.

“Is this *Hyungnim’s* true self?”

“Yeah.”

“Why did you suddenly change your mind?”

“So our family can live happily.”

Hansu recalled what Taesu had said at the mine.

-Let’s not make our parents suffer anymore. Mother was crying.

-I don’t want to see that farce over just 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD] again.

-Trust me, *hyung*.

The question was resolved.

Hansu closed his eyes and opened them.

‘I have to admit it. No, I have no choice but to admit it.’

Hansu nodded.

“You must have suffered a lot.”

Hansu strode away.

Hansu’s ears were bright red.

Taesu chuckled.

“I told you to use honorifics, and you even added ‘*da-na-kka*.’ Ugh, goosebumps. I can’t listen to it.”

Taesu put his arm around Hansu’s shoulder.

“Let’s just end it with ‘*hyung*.’ Comfortably, like other brothers.”

“We even made a bet. Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Stop posing. Honorifics canceled!”

Hansu also chuckled.

“You don’t get many chances to hear me use honorifics. Don’t blame me if you regret it later.”

“Make sure to add ‘*hyung*.'”

“Okay, *hyung*. Let’s go quickly. We’ll miss the bus.”

Hansu ran ahead.

This time, not only his ears but also his neck was red.

Following his brother, he shouted loudly.

“Let’s go together, Hansu!”

Hansu had told Taesu that he was slow and needed to practice running if he wanted to keep up with him.

That Hansu slowed down his pace.

To walk with his brother.

“Huh? Are you suddenly sprinting?”

“It’s your imagination.”

It didn’t seem like his imagination.

He was running almost at Usain Bolt’s level!

*Pa-ba-ba-ba* [onomatopoeia for rapid footsteps].

It was a step back to jump further.

* * *

After Taesu and Hansu returned, Jang Mal-dong declared a state of emergency.

“Everyone, spread out and collect all the debts!”

“Yes!”

“The deadline is ten days! No exceptions! Shake down everyone, from the *chaebols* [large family-owned conglomerates] to the politicians!”

“Yes!”

“Scatter!”

“Yes!”

The Myeongdong loan sharks launched a debt collection operation.

It was an event that would turn South Korea upside down.