Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 149

149. Han Kyung-ryun (2)

Jang Seo-yeon smiled brightly.

“I stopped by on my way home. My father keeps bragging about how he’s getting a place just like this for me,” she said.

This has been his go-to drunken rant lately.

-I’ve reserved a 128-pyeong [approximately 4,260 square feet] Taeyang Apartment in your name. It’s incredibly fancy. Perfect for a honeymoon home. Shall we go see it together, Dad?

Kim, the secretary, had been excitedly boasting about it too, so she was curious.

“Would it be alright if I took a quick look?”

“Of course.”

The filming crew and actors were all out for a company dinner anyway.

Click.

Tae-soo turned the lights back on.

Jang Seo-yeon covered her mouth with both hands.

“It feels like I’m visiting a housewarming party. Is this really a set?”

Her eyes sparkled.

“Isn’t this the house that was in the Taeyang Apartment CF [commercial film]?”

“That’s right. We filmed here.”

“And it’s also the male lead’s house in the currently popular drama. How big is this unit?”

“It’s 32 pyeong [approximately 1,067 square feet].”

Jang Seo-yeon looked around, smiling.

“Is this what studios usually look like?”

“It’ll be a bit different. This is the Taeyang Apartment model house.”

“A model house?”

“A sample home. It’s laid out exactly like the Taeyang Apartments. After the drama filming is done, it will be open to the public for free as a Taeyang Apartment sales promotion center.”

Jang Seo-yeon looked at Tae-soo with admiration.

“I’ve never heard of that kind of promotion before.”

Perhaps that was the case.

Promotions using model houses wouldn’t become popular until the 80s.

“If you open it up for free without admission, a lot of people will come to see it. Then they’ll want to sign a contract right away, just like me. ‘Seeing is believing,’ as they say.”

She grasped the core of it at once.

“My father and Secretary Kim have always praised you highly. Chairman Kang has a unique sense for business, they said. It lives up to the reputation.”

“You flatter me.”

Tae-soo let her tour the studio to her heart’s content.

Jang Seo-yeon started with the 32-pyeong unit and moved on to the 48-pyeong [approximately 1,600 square feet] and 64-pyeong [approximately 2,133 square feet] units.

Finally, she stood in front of the 128-pyeong unit’s front door.

“This is the 128-pyeong unit that Chairman Jang contracted for.”

Click.

As the lights turned on, Jang Seo-yeon involuntarily exclaimed.

“Wow…”

She clasped her hands together, delighted.

“It’s so wonderful.”

She walked around the house with excited steps.

“Oh my gosh. It’s better than my house.”

This was the place that Jang Joon-yong, the head of Geumsan Group, had contracted for as soon as he saw it, saying he would give it to his daughter. Lee Geon-hoo, the heir of Samcheong Group, had also reserved a unit with the same interior.

So, Jang Seo-yeon couldn’t help but be won over.

Jang Seo-yeon looked at the kitchen and smiled.

“This is a place that women will fall head over heels for. It’s more luxurious than my kitchen. How can this be?”

A house sells well when it stimulates housewives’ dreams and romance.

“It would be perfect if there was just one more wine cellar here.”

“There’s a separate wine cellar.”

Tae-soo opened a small refrigerator next to the main refrigerator.

“It’s a wine-only refrigerator. A limited edition product that Taeyang Electronics will be releasing this time.”

In the 70s, not only cars but also refrigerators were precious.

Jang Seo-yeon couldn’t close her mouth.

“Not a wine cellar using the basement, but a wine-only refrigerator? I’ve never heard of such a product.”

Of course, she wouldn’t have.

It was a product that would become popular in the 21st century.

Tae-soo subtly introduced the appliances prepared next to the refrigerator.

“Here are the limited edition kimchi refrigerator and freezer that Taeyang Electronics is releasing this time.”

“What do those products do?”

“A refrigerator that can keep kimchi fresh instead of using kimchi pots, and a large freezer that allows for rapid freezing.”

“So, one product only has refrigeration facilities, and the other only has freezing facilities?”

“That’s right.”

“Amazing. Refrigerators haven’t even been widely adopted in every household yet, so I can’t guarantee its commercial viability. But one thing is certain.”

Jang Seo-yeon turned to Tae-soo.

“Taeyang Electronics’ unique technology will definitely make a strong impression.”

This was why Tae-soo deliberately made these products as limited editions.

‘The technology isn’t as advanced as in the 21st century, so it’s not a perfect product yet. But I’m making a few to show off Taeyang Electronics’ technology and ideas.’

When he included this as sponsorship, the screenwriter went crazy and revised the script.

He said he would make it a proper spectacle this time.

“It will also be broadcast as an episode in the drama.”

“I’m already looking forward to what people will think when they see this.”

Jang Seo-yeon smiled brightly.

“Maybe people won’t say that apartments are useless because there’s no place to bury kimchi pots [traditional Korean earthenware used for fermenting kimchi]?”

He didn’t expect that far.

The national income was still only about $5,000.

The reality was that they lacked the economic power to purchase such appliances.

But what about wealthy homes?

“If I live in this apartment, I’ll have to fill it with the same products. A wine cellar, a kimchi refrigerator, and a freezer. I want them so badly.”

Jang Joon-yong and Lee Geon-hoo were men, so they weren’t very interested in kitchen appliances.

But Jang Seo-yeon was the first to covet the kitchen appliances.

“I can only admire how you came up with the idea to equip these products.”

“Taeyang Electronics is producing refrigerators. It’s a product that applies that technology. It’s just a slightly different modification of the idea.”

All of them were products that applied the technology of making refrigerators.

Jang Seo-yeon nodded.

“Geon-hoo oppa [older brother/close male friend] said he learned a thing or two about innovation from Chairman Kang.”

They had that conversation when they had lunch together at the Samcheong Hotel.

“Seeing this, I understand why Geon-hoo oppa thinks so highly of you.”

* * *

Tae-soo and Jang Seo-yeon sat on the chairs in the reception room of the 128-pyeong unit.

Tae-soo said, boiling water with a coffee pot.

“You probably didn’t just come to see the house, so is there something else you need?”

“How did you know?”

Jang Seo-yeon’s eyes widened.

‘If not, there’s no way she’d be sitting in the reception room chair.’

She wanted a conversation, so she naturally sat in the reception room chair.

“I’m out of coffee, so I only have tea, but is that alright?”

“I like tea.”

Tae-soo took out a teapot and brewed tea.

Jang Seo-yeon took the teacup Tae-soo handed her and took a sip.

She was startled.

“You brew tea really well. It’s top-notch.”

“You flatter me.”

It was a skill he had painstakingly learned in his previous life to become Cheongil’s secretary.

Tae-soo sat across from her in the reception room chair.

Jang Seo-yeon was momentarily mesmerized by Tae-soo’s appearance as he held the teacup and took a sip.

“The tea will get cold.”

“Ah…”

Jang Seo-yeon came to her senses at Tae-soo’s words.

Her face was slightly flushed.

Jang Seo-yeon changed the subject.

“Your tea ceremony skills are quite high. Did you learn how to drink tea separately?”

“A little.”

“My father and Secretary Kim praised you. They said you know how to drink properly, and it was true.”

“That’s probably not tea. It’s alcohol.”

“Alcohol?”

Jang Seo-yeon crossed her slender legs.

Her figure was honed by dance, and her long limbs made her a refreshing beauty, so she naturally caught the eye.

“Come to think of it, do you remember the promise we made to have a drink together last time?”

He remembered.

“How about we have a drink today? There’s something important I want to talk about. It doesn’t seem like a story to share over tea.”

“What a pity. I gave my wallet away, saying I’d pay for the company dinner today.”

“I’d be sad if you turned me down like this.”

Jang Seo-yeon smiled as she drank her tea.

“Are you just going to stand by and let Chairman Han breathe again?”

Oh dear.

If it was a story involving Han Cheong-ho, he couldn’t help but listen.

“What kind of alcohol do you like?”

“Cocktails.”

“Alright. Let’s go get cocktails.”

Jang Seo-yeon smiled brightly.

“I heard that the bartender at the Geumsan Hotel makes good cocktails. Did you know?”

Lee Geon-hoo of Samcheong knew good restaurants, so he took her to the Samcheong Hotel restaurant.

Jang Seo-yeon of Geumsan was trying to take him straight to the Geumsan Hotel bar to have cocktails.

Jang Seo-yeon cleared her throat and sipped her tea.

“…So, do you not like it?”

“No, I don’t dislike it.”

Tae-soo smiled.

“Let’s go.”

Jang Seo-yeon stared blankly at Tae-soo.

She didn’t move, still holding her teacup.

Tae-soo got up and held out his hand to her.

“Let’s get up.”

“…Ah, yes…”

Jang Seo-yeon carefully took Tae-soo’s hand.

* * *

The VIP room of the Geumsan Hotel bar.

Colorful cocktails, meticulously crafted by the bartender, were served.

Rows of colorful cocktails were lined up in two rows on the table.

“It seems like they’ve brought out every type of cocktail made at the Geumsan Hotel bar.”

“I didn’t know what you’d like. Pick whatever you like. I’ll pay for the drinks today.”

Jang Seo-yeon winked.

“I didn’t even prepare name tags. Shall I call the bartender?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Tae-soo just picked up any cocktail glass.

“It’s not like I can’t drink it just because I don’t know the name of the drink.”

“You’re so cool. I like it.”

Jang Seo-yeon also picked up the same cocktail.

“Do you know Han Kyung-ryun [Federation of Korean Industries]?”

“Isn’t that the Federation of Korean Industries?”

“That’s right. My father is currently the chairman. What I want to say to you is… do you have any idea?”

She smiled playfully.

“A recommendation to join as a new member. Am I right?”

She blinked her doll-like, large eyes repeatedly.

“…That’s right. How did you know?”

“Chairman Jang made the same recommendation before.”

“Ah…”

Jang Seo-yeon said, drinking her cocktail.

“I’m going to recommend you as a new member of Han Kyung-ryun next month. How about it?”

“I heard you need recommendations from five existing members.”

“That’s easy. There are only four groups that received oil supply rights from you. If you add President Park of Pohang Steel, you’ve already filled five people.”

Geumsan, Samcheong, Lucky Seven, Daehan Oil, and Pohang Steel.

These were the people who would raise their hands if Tae-soo joined Han Kyung-ryun.

“If Taeyang Group, with a business ranking of only around 200th, is accepted as a new member of Han Kyung-ryun, there may be internal opposition.”

Han Kyung-ryun was an exclusive group that you couldn’t easily join even if you wanted to.

Han Kyung-ryun members usually had to be in the top 100 conglomerates to join.

Even if it grew much larger by the 21st century, it was currently an interest group made up of a small number of chaebols [large family-owned business conglomerates] in the 70s.

“Do you know why Han Kyung-ryun was created?”

“Han Kyung-ryun was created to represent the interests of the chaebols, but in reality, I understand that it was created by President Park to control the chaebols.”

“That’s right. That’s why they only select and accept companies in the top 100 of the business world. It’s easier to control the market by holding a small number of chaebol companies.”

It was the same context as creating the Oseonghoe, led by Jeon Doo-hwan, to control the military.

Park Jung-hwan created Han Kyung-ryun to control businessmen and control the market.

“In another sense, it means that it’s a powerful organization that the President has to think about controlling. We are one of the pillars supporting the regime.”

What the chaebols held was money.

No matter how much of a dictator Park Jung-hwan was, it was a force he could never ignore.

“To put it bluntly, it’s an organization created to solicit favors from the President. So, everyone will welcome you joining Han Kyung-ryun with open arms.”

The chaebols gather to elect a chairman and collect public funds.

To offer public funds to the regime as bribes and to gain the interests of the chaebols.

“You are special. You can meet the President directly and express your opinions. You are someone who can solicit favors on your own.”

Being able to meet Park Jung-hwan was a power and a force in itself.

And Tae-soo was maintaining a surprisingly good relationship with Park Jung-hwan.

This was something that even companies ranked 100th or 50th in the business world could not do.

“So, who can ignore you? Please join Han Kyung-ryun.”

The status of Taeyang Group has changed.

He had already confirmed it with his own eyes at the Geumsan 30th anniversary event.

Tae-soo drank the cocktail in one gulp and smiled.

“That’s enough reason to persuade others. But it’s not enough to persuade me.”

“That’s why I told you. Chairman Han Cheong-ho.”

Jang Seo-yeon also drank her cocktail in one go.

“Chairman Han is aiming for the next Han Kyung-ryun chairman position and is aggressively recruiting members.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Doesn’t it have anything to do with you? But you must be interested.”

Jang Seo-yeon tapped the table with her finger and smiled.

“That’s why you’re drinking with me now.”

“That’s enough of the preamble. What do you want to say?”

Jang Seo-yeon said with a serious expression.

“It’s the lifeline of Cheongil that my father barely managed to block using the power of Han Kyung-ryun. So, I don’t want Chairman Han Cheong-ho to revive by riding on the back of Han Kyung-ryun.”

What does this mean?

It was an interesting sound.

“I’d like to hear more about that.”