Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 227

Mining Tycoon and Construction Conglomerate – Episode 227

227. The Sun Under Heaven (1)

The chairman’s conference room on the 27th floor of the Sun Group headquarters.

After all the heads of the affiliates had left, only Taesu and Kim Woojin remained in the conference room.

There was a reason why only Kim Woojin was left behind.

Taesu read Kim Woojin’s personnel evaluation documents and said,

“I heard you’ve secured quite a few construction orders, not only in Saudi Arabia but also in neighboring Middle Eastern countries.”

“Of course, I was just doing my job.”

“The Great Man-Made River in Libya, the Bahrain Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard, the Kuwait International Airport, the Iraq Expressway. Just picking out the major ones, it seems to be at least $2 billion.”

$2 billion is a significant sum, comparable to the South Korean government’s annual budget in the 1970s.

It’s twice as much as the Jubail Industrial Port construction that Taesu won in Saudi Arabia.

‘In my past life, Kim Woojin had outstanding sociability. He was a genius in sales.’

He had a natural talent, especially for packaging and promotion.

So, he was able to win projects based on his close relationships with leaders from various countries.

‘In my past life, Kim Woojin was the biggest beneficiary of the Middle East construction boom. He quickly rose to become the fourth-largest conglomerate.’

He demonstrated his talent to the fullest this time as well.

“The overseas sales department had the best performance in the group last year.”

“I just tried to seize the opportunity when it came. I wanted to return home quickly.”

“It’s a performance worthy of a triumphant return.”

“There was another reason why I had to hurry back. To be honest, I wanted revenge.”

Taesu quietly closed the documents.

He stared at Kim Woojin silently for a moment.

“Revenge?”

“I heard the Chairman took care of things thoroughly.”

Kim Woojin dreamed of making a comeback every day, fueled by a burning determination.

He relentlessly pursued success.

But he was one step too late.

So, Kim Woojin smiled.

“I was just thinking of taking down Cheongil, but you thoroughly devoured it. You’re definitely better than me. Amazing.”

He had a hunch.

“Is Daewoon Construction the holding company of the Daewoon Group?”

“Yes, that’s right. But even as a group, it was a small company that couldn’t even rank in the top 300.”

Kim Woojin had to hand over Daewoon Construction to Han Cheongho as if it were being taken away.

When Han Cheongho used Park Jeonghwan’s power to mobilize the banks to block Taesu and Kim Woojin’s loans, Taesu endured, but Kim Woojin couldn’t.

“Han Cheongho handed over Daewoon Construction to Chomyeong Bank.”

“What? Wasn’t it merged into Cheongil Construction?”

He couldn’t understand.

“If Han Cheongho didn’t covet the sound Daewoon Construction, then why…!”

“To appease the anger of the president of Chomyeong Bank. He gave it as a gift.”

“That bastard! Son of a bitch!”

Chomyeong Bank’s president, Choi Muryong, used Samwon Construction as a slush fund [an account used for illicit or unofficial purposes].

Samwon Construction incurred Park Jeonghwan’s wrath for causing problems in the Saudi construction project.

At that time, Han Cheongho turned a blind eye to Samwon Construction, and Choi Muryong, who was about to lose Samwon Construction, was furious.

A long-standing alliance was about to break.

“He bankrupted the Daewoon Group for such a reason? He sacrificed it as a scapegoat to give a plausible gift? Chomyeong Bank took over Daewoon Construction?”

He was burning with anger.

“Do you still want to get it back?”

“Yes, I want to get it back. No matter what!”

“Good. Then take this.”

Taesu threw a stack of documents in front of Kim Woojin.

As Kim Woojin flipped through the documents, his expression hardened.

“This, this is…!”

“It’s Choi Muryong’s exclusive ledger of corruption.”

Choi Muryong of Chomyeong Bank and Han Cheongho of Cheongil were in the same boat.

When Han Cheongho was openly bribing high-ranking officials, Choi Muryong was acting as a fixer behind the scenes.

That’s how Han Cheongho became the chairman of the Cheongil Group, ranked 13th in the business world, and Choi Muryong went from being the best private moneylender in Gangbuk [a district in Seoul] to a respectable bank president.

“Prosecutor General Kim Chayeol will help you.”

Kim Woojin clenched the stack of documents tightly.

“I will engrave in my bones the favor of returning the Daewoon Group to me.”

A new goal for revenge was born.

Kim Woojin’s eyes blazed with passion again.

“Chairman, why are you doing me such a favor?”

“I have a clear sense of reward and punishment.”

Taesu shook Kim Woojin’s documents in his hand.

“It’s a performance worth $2 billion, so I can’t help but commend you.”

“The favors you’ve shown me so far have been more than enough.”

He was freed from being a fugitive, his debts were paid off, he was given work, and his abilities were recognized.

“I will definitely get Daewoon Construction back. But unlike what you might expect, I have no intention of becoming independent.”

“Are you saying that someone who has built a conglomerate on his own in the past doesn’t want to be independent?”

“I know very well because I’ve built a conglomerate on my own in the past.”

Kim Woojin smiled.

“I don’t have the confidence to grow a conglomerate like the Sun Group, and I don’t think I can compete with you and win.”

“You don’t have to be modest. Aren’t you someone with big dreams?”

“It’s not modesty, it’s the truth. The only person I’ve ever admired is you, Chairman.”

Kim Woojin bowed 90 degrees.

“I will serve you to the end. From now on, I will grow my dreams in the Sun Group.”

Kim Woojin, who straightened his back, said in a confident voice.

“I will definitely bring down Chomyeong Bank and take back the Daewoon Group with my own hands. I plan to merge it into Sun Construction. I will take responsibility for overseas construction.”

He was satisfied.

Kim Woojin passed Taesu’s test.

“Please wait for me to return with the spoils of victory.”

Kim Woojin would surely bring down Chomyeong Bank in a spectacular fashion.

Taesu nodded.

‘Even the loan sharks who tormented my family for a long time in my past life are being dealt with like this.’

In his past life, the Taesu family’s misfortune began with a single promissory note [a written promise to pay a specific sum of money at a future date].

He was tricked by his father’s friend into promising joint surety [guaranteeing someone else’s debt], and he lived being chased by loan sharks.

In his past life, Taesu served Han Cheongho as a benefactor who saved his family from the pit of debt.

Hanil Kwon told him in the VIP ward of Cheongil Hospital.

-The loan shark who killed your father and sold off your family was Choi Muryong. Hehehe.

There was one thing Taesu overlooked in his past life.

Han Cheongho and Choi Muryong were in the same boat.

Who was the loan shark who buried Taesu’s father in the mountains after pressing him for debt?

How on earth did Han Cheongho manage to retrieve Taesu’s father’s body?

‘Choi Muryong, you’ve been living comfortably in Han Cheongho’s shadow until now, so now you have to pay for your sins.’

That’s why he targeted Chomyeong Bank during the First World Oil Crisis.

‘Han Cheongho might have saved you as a rescue ship back then, but now no one will be able to save you.’

It’s a time for revenge that he couldn’t repay in his past life.

* * *

Chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa.

Camera flashes poured down intensely.

An Jeongwoo’s presidential inauguration was held magnificently amidst the public’s interest.

“This concludes the inauguration ceremony of the 9th President.”

Amidst enthusiastic cheers, An Jeongwoo came down from the platform.

He approached Taesu, who was attending in the front row, and patted him on the shoulder.

“Thanks to you, I get to stand in this position. Thank you. I’ll repay you as a sign of gratitude.”

“What is it?”

“Now that you’ve acquired Cheongil Shipping, shouldn’t you build a shipyard too?”

It was tempting.

But there was another reason why he was making this offer as soon as the presidential inauguration was over.

“Let’s go to the banquet hall together. We can talk more on the way.”

“What are you plotting?”

“Plotting? I just mean that we should get along well like family in the future.”

An Jeongwoo put An Sojeong next to Taesu and smiled meaningfully.

An Sojeong’s face turned red and she was embarrassed, and Taesu chuckled in vain.

An Jeongwoo was doing what Jang Maldong used to enjoy doing.

“I remember making it clear that I refused.”

“I know. I don’t expect that much. Just appear on screen together once. Let’s put on a show.”

He had become a politician before he knew it.

Taesu’s eyes narrowed.

“Just show that you, who have oil, support my pledges. I don’t want anything else. Between allies and family like us who have planned a great undertaking together, you can do that much, right?”

“I made you president, what more do you want from me here?”

“A shipyard and an additional steel mill. Is that enough?”

An Jeongwoo grabbed Taesu’s hand.

“Let’s go. I’ll get rid of all the annoying flies that are sticking to you on this occasion.”

Only then did Taesu move his feet.

Chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa chwa.

Ministers from each department and Blue House officials followed in a line behind An Jeongwoo, Taesu, and An Sojeong.

Camera flashes poured down as if blessing them.

The scene of Taesu and An Jeongwoo moving side by side was broadcast live nationwide.

An Jeongwoo raised Taesu’s hand and laughed loudly.

It was the result An Jeongwoo intended, and the situation Taesu approved.

His daughter An Sojeong guarded his side.

‘President An Jeongwoo and Chairman Kang Taesu are said to have a close relationship.’

‘Could it be that President An Jeongwoo has Kang Taesu in mind as his son-in-law?’

There were plenty of people who were keenly aware of the president’s every move.

Not only political figures but also heads of conglomerates were the same.

Lee Byeongchun, the head of the Samcheong Group, let out a hollow laugh.

‘Kang Taesu, he’s really an amazing guy. To surpass Lee Byeongchun’s head at once.’

To think he would devour the Cheongil Group, where the tiger Han Cheongho was standing firm, in an instant.

Lee Byeongchun had never fallen from the top spot in the business world.

But Kang Taesu appeared in Gyeongryeon [a business association] and lost the top spot in less than a year.

‘But I can’t help but admit it. The skill to make An Jeongwoo, whom I had never heard of, president, and even to have oil in his hands.’

Lee Byeongchun nodded silently.

‘From now on, Samcheong will never be able to surpass Taeyang.’

When the heart is broken, the energy weakens.

Lee Byeongchun, who has been suffering from a worsening illness and coughing lately.

Lee Geonhoo handed his father a handkerchief.

“Father, just watch. Samcheong will always surpass Taeyang someday. I will try harder. The world market is big, and there are many opportunities.”

“That’s right.”

With a satisfied smile, Lee Byeongchun patted his son on the shoulder.

Even when faced with a giant that appeared before his eyes, his son was not intimidated.

He was very pleased and proud of that.

“You and Kang Taesu will create a new era. I’m already looking forward to Samcheong’s future.”

Lee Byeongchun had the face of a father who had everything in the world.

On the other hand, a father with a face as if the world had collapsed was standing next to him.

It was Jang Junyong.

‘Could it be that the reason our Taesu pushed An Jeongwoo as president instead of me… was because of a woman? Then what about our Seoyeon?’

Jang Junyong cried out silently.

Who doesn’t know Jang Junyong’s love for his youngest daughter?

Secretary Kim sighed.

“It’s already a missed bus. It’s better to wait for the next bus. Why don’t you become the next president, Chairman?”

Then that side is the daughter of the former president, and Miss Seoyeon is the daughter of the current president.

Secretary Kim grabbed Jang Junyong’s arm and headed to the banquet hall.

Secretary Kim followed Taesu’s back with bitter eyes.

‘That’s why I nagged you to catch him when he was running the molybdenum mine. Now we’re in a position to ask for favors.’

You should have seized the opportunity when it came.

* * *

The Blue House banquet hall was even more splendid than usual.

It was a party only for political and business figures and ministerial-level officials from each department.

In addition, ambassadors from various countries gathered to celebrate the president’s inauguration.

The Saudi ambassador delivered the royal family’s gifts and letters to An Jeongwoo, then stood in front of Taesu.

[Long time no see, Mr. Kang. This is a separate letter sent by Rahman.]

He opened the letter given by the Saudi ambassador.

It was a letter with Rahman’s elegant handwriting.