Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 19

19. Recruiting Talent (4)

Taesu’s proposal was unexpected.

Holjjuk-i quietly looked at Taesu.

“Taesu, you and me?”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t just jump into partnerships.”

Taesu grinned.

“Holjjuk-a, let’s work together. Partnership is fine, anything is good.”

“Are you drunk?”

“Don’t you like it?”

Holjjuk-i silently drank his liquor.

“Let me think about it.”

It was an uncharacteristic answer from Holjjuk-i.

Holjjuk-i was the guy who stuck with Taesu until the end, even when Taesu was being chased by loan sharks and after he joined Cheongil Group.

“Acting pricey for a Holjjuk-i.”

Taesu got quite drunk for the first time in a while.

He came to throw out the molybdenum bait and unexpectedly landed a school construction contract.

Things were working out better than he had hoped, so he felt relaxed.

And Holjjuk-i was in front of him.

There was no reason not to get drunk.

But for some reason, the liquor tasted bitter to Holjjuk-i.

‘Taesu will be fine without me now. He’s got guts, and he’s doing a pretty good job. I was surprised.’

It felt like a child who needed a lot of care had suddenly grown up.

Holjjuk-i felt a little sad about that.

‘He shook the Japanese guy who even President Park couldn’t touch, and he didn’t bow down to President Park even after seeing the charisma he had commanding that huge construction site.’

He was amazing.

He was so amazing that he felt distant.

‘And what about the negotiation? There wasn’t even room for me to step in. He seemed like an even bigger shot than President Park. It’s hard for a guy like me to even call him a friend.’

Holjjuk-i sipped his drink with a bitter taste.

‘I talked to a man named Park Cheol-wan about real estate on equal terms. Even though it was the same Korean language, I couldn’t understand it at all. Taesu has been studying for a long time.’

Was that why?

After discovering Taesu’s true worth, he felt strange.

‘I feel like I’ve been left behind. Like I’ve been abandoned.’

It felt like Taesu had grown up and gone far away.

He should be congratulating him as a friend, but he felt lonely and desolate.

Taesu looked big.

Big enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the big shots.

“Holjjuk-a, is something bothering you?”

“I’m not as naive as Park Cheol-wan, so I’m going to carefully consider and weigh things. To suit my level.”

“Is there a place with better conditions than me? Still, let’s work together. We have loyalty.”

Taesu filled Holjjuk-i’s glass.

Gurgle, gurgle.

“Holjjuk-a.”

“Yeah.”

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For staying by my side until the end.”

“You’re being sentimental.”

Holjjuk-i smiled and raised his glass.

“I was running only looking ahead. To succeed, to repay the favor, I ran like a runaway train with broken brakes. Then I crashed. The end.”

Han Il-gwon cut me off.

My life.

“Crash? Why are you suddenly saying such unlucky things?”

“It’s just a metaphor.”

The face of Han Il-gwon, who listed in detail how he killed my family and sneered, comes to mind.

Taesu said with a resentful expression.

“I have a debt to repay. I was so wronged and angry that I felt like my internal organs were being torn apart.”

Holjjuk-i stopped drinking.

Looking into Taesu’s eyes, he realized it was real.

Thump.

Holjjuk-i slammed the glass down roughly.

He had a more angry look than Taesu.

“Is it about Miyeon?”

“No.”

“Then who is it? Who is that son of a bitch?”

“There is someone.”

He couldn’t bring himself to say Han Il-gwon.

Taesu closed his mouth.

But he was so angry that blood slightly showed between his tightly closed lips.

Holjjuk-i, who saw that, also froze.

“Who is it? What happened?”

Holjjuk-i rolled up his sleeves and got angry.

“Just tell me. I’ll beat that bastard half to death.”

He was grateful just for the words.

Taesu shook his head.

“I’m going to take revenge myself. More than what I suffered. I’m going to crush him mercilessly.”

Taesu clenched his fist tightly.

Holjjuk-i nodded at the determined look.

“If you need help, tell me anytime. I’ll lend a hand.”

What a loyal guy.

That’s why I can’t abandon you, Holjjuk-a.

Thank you so much for staying by my side until the end, my friend.

Taesu looked at Holjjuk-i with affectionate eyes.

“Holjjuk-a, I never doubted that we would be together until we die, you know?”

“You’re stating the obvious.”

Taesu liked that Holjjuk-i.

“This time, I’m not going to run like a runaway train, but I’m going to hold hands with you and go slowly.”

“You’re disgusting, you bastard.”

“I’m going to look around for good things, stop by rest stops in the middle and buy delicious things. I’m going to have fun together like that.”

Taesu looked straight at Holjjuk-i.

“So let’s go together, Holjjuk-a.”

“I don’t think I’ll be of much help.”

Holjjuk-i’s fist under the table was clenched tightly.

Taesu didn’t know that and smiled brightly.

“What are you talking about, I would have collapsed a long time ago without you.”

“No, you would have done well without me.”

If it was about success, that was true.

His ability to smell money was still there, and the huge organization called Cheongil Group became Taesu’s hands and feet.

But that was it.

“I was very lonely. It was hard and tiring to fight alone. There was no one. No one to cry and laugh with me.”

“Fighting alone? I was always by your side.”

“That’s why. I like the fact that you are with me now. Do you know that just being together gives me strength?”

Holjjuk-i closed his eyes.

“Taesu, I’m very lacking. I’m not good at anything except drinking. Are you saying you need someone like me?”

“Yes.”

Taesu nodded.

“Let’s go together, Holjjuk-a.”

What should I say?

Should I promise to always be together?

Holjjuk-i lowered his head.

“If you’re with a lousy friend, it will only be an obstacle to your future. Like a three-legged race, you have to run with people who are similar to you. I’ll just hold onto your ankles.”

Ha ha ha, Taesu laughed loudly.

As if saying it was nonsense.

“Holjjuk-a. A three-legged race is a race where people who can coordinate with each other run together. 100-meter sprint speed doesn’t mean anything.”

Taesu put his hand on Holjjuk-i’s shoulder.

“I need someone who can be trusted more than someone who is capable.”

“······.”

“I can entrust my work to anyone based on their ability, but I can’t entrust my back to just anyone, regardless of their ability. It has to be you.”

“······.”

Holjjuk-i couldn’t avoid Taesu’s eyes.

“Holjjuk-a, will you help me? Will you protect my back?”

“Damn it.”

Holjjuk-i scratched his head.

His heart is beating too fast.

I can’t calm down.

He drank a bottle of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] on the table like water.

“Kkeuek-!”

Thump.

Holjjuk-i laughed loudly.

He’s saying this much, how can I not give in!

“Okay, I’ll protect your back!”

“Thank you.”

He felt refreshed.

Holjjuk-i suddenly felt embarrassed.

‘I understand why Park Cheol-wan’s face turned red.’

Holjjuk-i clicked his tongue inwardly at the sight of the small man constantly blushing.

But now his own face is burning, isn’t it funny?

‘Damn it, you bastard. To coax me like this. I’m not naive enough to fall for this sweet talk. It’s like I’m possessed by something.’

The sadness is gone, but why is embarrassment filling its place instead?

Holjjuk-i tried to turn his eyes away.

Just then, three or four young women were drinking at the table over there.

That’s it!

“Oh, make that for me too.”

“What?”

“What you made for Park Cheol-wan.”

“A business card?”

Taesu tilted his head.

He coveted that crude business card? Why?

“Hehehe, business cards are the best for seducing women. Print me one with an impressive title.”

“······.”

That’s how the night in Pohang deepened.

* * *

Monday, July 31, 1972, 10:00 AM.

Pohang Steel President’s Office.

Knock knock knock.

“Come in.”

Park Tae-jong, who was reading the approval documents, was puzzled.

He was even more so when he recognized the person who opened the door and came in.

It was Taesu and Holjjuk-i.

“Did you come to get the down payment? The employee who went to the bank hasn’t arrived yet.”

“We came for that and something else.”

“Hmm?”

Park Tae-jong put down the approval documents.

“What’s going on? Is there something else?”

“I missed one important thing when I saw you last time.”

“Important thing? What did you leave behind? Come and get it.”

“Thank you. I didn’t know you would give it to me so readily. I’ll take it.”

“Why are you bringing this up? But what are you going to take?”

“Your son.”

“What?”

Park Tae-jong was dumbfounded.

He couldn’t understand what nonsense he was talking about.

He would understand if it was his daughter, but his son!

Step by step.

The person following Taesu.

A small physique, a neat suit, round silver-rimmed glasses.

A man smiling shyly but bravely.

It was definitely his son, Park Cheol-wan.

“Why did you come here? What’s going on?”

“That important thing I mentioned earlier. I forgot to introduce him.”

Taesu smiled and placed Park Cheol-wan in front of him.

“This is Park Cheol-wan, the vice president in charge of construction, who will build the school commissioned by Pohang Steel at Taeyang Construction.”

Park Tae-jong’s head turned sharply towards his son.