Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 24

24. Mine Acquisition (4)

Jang Mal-dong grinned slyly.

“You mean Daeyang Tungsten and Daeyang Cement?”

“That’s right.”

Tae-soo didn’t hide his intentions, and Jang Mal-dong quickly calculated.

“Let’s see. As you know, these are quite solid and profitable, so 20 million won won’t be nearly enough.”

“Normally, that would be the case.”

Tae-soo chuckled.

“But they won’t sell easily, will they? Everyone’s short on cash because they can’t borrow money.”

That was true.

However, Jang Mal-dong grinned slyly again.

“It’s not like I’m in a hurry to dispose of them, so there’s no reason not to wait. No problem.”

“If the mine and cement factory stop operating, the cost to restart them will be considerable.”

“Thanks to you, my pockets are deep, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“If that’s what you want.”

Tae-soo nodded.

“If you don’t want to sell, there’s nothing I can do. Then give me the 20 million won written on the IOU [I Owe You].”

Jang Mal-dong blinked.

“Didn’t you come because of Daeyang Tungsten and Daeyang Cement?”

“Well, I came for that too.”

“Then why aren’t you trying to persuade me?”

“You mean crawling on my knees and rambling on like you told me to do before? Kowtowing [kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground in deep respect] like other big companies?”

“······.”

‘Tsk. That’s what I wanted, but…’

‘Looking at what this guy’s doing, it’s impossible.’

‘He doesn’t do anything the way I want him to, ugh!’

“What’s wrong with trying! Who knows? This Jang Mal-dong might fall for it.”

Tae-soo took out the IOU from his pocket and waved it.

“I came to get the money, why should I do that? You know that.”

“······.”

Well, debt collectors don’t crawl on their knees and try to persuade people.

Jang Mal-dong was speechless again.

The man in the hanbok [traditional Korean clothing] couldn’t hide his smile.

‘He’s really something. He’s playing Jang Mal-dong like a fiddle.’

Jang Mal-dong turned his head sharply.

“This Jang Mal-dong was going to pretend not to know, but that’s a shame!”

“Is it because of the favor you mentioned before?”

“Yes! You damn bastard!”

Tae-soo chuckled.

“If you give it to me, I’ll gladly accept it. What should I do? Crawl on my knees? Ramble on? Kowtow?”

“Enough! Forget it!”

Jang Mal-dong slammed the documents related to Daeyang Tungsten and Daeyang Cement on the low table.

He had taken them out of the safe in advance because Tae-soo was coming.

“Take them.”

Tae-soo had a strange expression for a moment as he looked at the documents on the table.

‘I was going to wear him down with a quarrel like last time and then take them at a bargain price. This is unexpected.’

Honestly, Daeyang Tungsten and Daeyang Cement were such profitable companies that it would have been difficult to get them for only 20 million won.

That’s why Tae-soo deliberately came in the middle of the night, gauging the time when Jang Mal-dong would be the most exhausted.

He aimed for the moment when Jang Mal-dong’s energy would be completely drained after being tense for ten days, waiting for the debt freeze to be confirmed.

‘I came prepared for a tough fight this time. I even prepared something to blackmail him with.’

But Jang Mal-dong readily handed them over without much fuss.

Seeing that he had only kept those ownership certificates, he must have been planning to give them away from the start.

‘I didn’t know that, and I acted stiff for no reason.’

Tae-soo straightened his posture and bowed politely.

“Thank you for your kindness, Elder.”

Kindness for kindness.

Tae-soo’s head remained lowered for a long time.

The man in the hanbok, seeing this, tried hard to hide the slight upturn of his lips.

‘A decent young man. I really like him.’

The man in the hanbok secretly nodded to Jang Mal-dong.

Jang Mal-dong confirmed it and unfolded his fan with a snap.

“Okay. Give me the IOU.”

Tae-soo handed the IOU to Jang Mal-dong.

“Elder, Choi Moo-ryong of Jongno is now trying to go legit.”

“Choi Moo-ryong?”

“He’s going to establish a bank.”

“What? A bank?”

Holding the IOU, Jang Mal-dong stopped and looked at Tae-soo.

Tae-soo was certain.

“Why would President Park Jung-hwan declare an emergency decree and freeze private loans?”

President Park Jung-hwan had two reasons for implementing the August 3rd Debt Freeze.

First, to reduce corporate debt and improve financial structure.

Second, to grow banks instead of the underground financial market.

Tae-soo nodded.

“Now that the President has drawn his sword, it’s going to be difficult to continue the private loan business. Choi Moo-ryong won’t be able to stop playing with money. In that case?”

Jang Mal-dong agreed.

“Yes, to continue playing with money, he’ll have to establish a bank. Choi Moo-ryong-. Hmm.”

Tae-soo put the ownership certificates for Daeyang Limestone and Daeyang Cement into his pocket.

Jang Mal-dong subtly asked.

“Young man, why didn’t you get an IOU for this information?”

“Kindness is repaid with kindness, isn’t it?”

Tae-soo tapped the ownership certificates in his pocket.

‘He repaid kindness with kindness? This is a lovable crazy guy?’

Jang Mal-dong laughed loudly and waved his hand.

“Okay, get out of here!”

“Thank you, Elder. I’ll see you often in the future.”

At Tae-soo’s words, Jang Mal-dong trembled.

“Often? No way! What are you doing not getting out of here!”

Jang Mal-dong started to get angry, saying he was looking for coarse salt [used in Korean traditions to ward off bad luck].

Tae-soo chuckled and left Jang Mal-dong’s room.

‘In my past life, Jang Mal-dong went bankrupt due to the August 3rd Debt Freeze. Establishing a bank was impossible. What choice will Jang Mal-dong make in this life?’

Even though he didn’t recover all the private loans, Jang Mal-dong is undoubtedly the best private moneylender in Korea!

His current capital alone is superior to Choi Moo-ryong.

If Choi Moo-ryong can establish a bank, why can’t Jang Mal-dong?

‘Cho Myung Bank, which is closely linked to the Cheongil Group. How far can Jang Mal-dong keep Choi Moo-ryong in check?’

Tae-soo was curious about that.

The reason he sold the information about the August 3rd Debt Freeze to Jang Mal-dong was also largely related to checking the Cheongil Group.

The power of Cho Myung Bank was very significant in Cheongil Group’s rise to become a conglomerate.

“Tae-soo!”

As Tae-soo left the room, Skinny, who had been waiting outside, ran over.

“How did it go?”

“It went well.”

Tae-soo shook the mine and factory ownership certificates.

Skinny’s mouth dropped open.

“Really? You got all that for 20 million won?”

“I was lucky.”

“No way! This is a gold mine that you have to pay at least twice, no, three times as much for!”

“I received a favor.”

Tae-soo glanced at Jang Mal-dong’s tightly closed door.

‘Jang Mal-dong has better credit than I heard.’

Things worked out easier than expected.

‘To think that a limestone mine and a cement factory would come along for only 20 million won.’

It was a jackpot to anyone!

Unbelievable luck!

Moreover, a profitable mine next door!

Molybdenum refining facilities, miners, transportation and heavy equipment, accommodation and staff facilities all at once!

‘All the problems related to the molybdenum mine have been solved.’

Now all that’s left is to mine molybdenum!

A fortune was shimmering before his eyes.

* * *

A mine owner sitting in a corner of the cement factory.

He was covering his head with both hands, lost in despair.

‘If I had held out for just two more days, I wouldn’t have had my mine and factory taken away. Even the heavens are heartless.’

Now he understood.

Why the private moneylenders had barged in even though the promised deadline hadn’t passed yet.

Why they had forced him to stamp the documents without even giving him a chance to speak.

‘These bastards were in such a hurry because the IOU would become a worthless piece of paper.’

The mine owner closed his eyes.

His mouth tasted bitter as he thought about how the result would have been different if he had held out for a few more days.

‘Did they know back then? They said they would set fire to the factory right away, and they would turn the entire mining village into a sea of fire. I had no choice but to give in to that threat.’

He had regrets, but no regrets.

Because he had managed to protect the mining village and cement factory that he cherished.

It was just that the mine owner himself had lost everything.

‘I just need to leave this place. If they meet a good owner, our employees won’t suffer and will be able to educate their children. I can’t do anything about that.’

The mine owner got up and dusted off his buttocks.

Cement powder scattered everywhere.

Step by step.

A handsome, cold-looking man stood in front of the mine owner.

It was Han-soo, who had stayed here at Tae-soo’s request.

“You were here.”

The mine owner’s face was mottled because the swelling and bruises hadn’t gone down yet.

Han-soo handed something to the mine owner.

“What is this?”

“It’s an egg.”

“An egg?”

“I heard it’s good for reducing swelling.”

“······.”

The mine owner looked back and forth between the cold-looking man with a cold face and the egg in his hand.

The expressionless face of the cold-looking man had no emotion, so it was impossible to know what he was thinking.

The mine owner tried to read people’s minds as a habit, but he ended up chuckling.

‘Habits are scary. Is there any need to figure out what the young man who brought an egg to reduce swelling is up to? I’m already ruined.’

The mine owner took the egg and gently rubbed it on his bruised eyes.

‘Let’s get rid of the lingering feelings. No matter how much I blame myself, it’s all useless now. I should be thinking about how to live in the future.’

Now that he was almost sixty, he thought of it as a slightly earlier retirement than expected.

As he emptied his mind, he felt a little lighter.

“Is it boiled or raw?”

“I’ll boil it for you if you want. Do you like it half-boiled or hard-boiled?”

“······.”

‘No, this young man doesn’t seem to understand jokes.’

Seeing that he was really about to boil the egg right away, the mine owner waved his hand.

“I was just joking. What does it matter if it’s half-boiled, hard-boiled, or raw to reduce swelling?”

“Then why did you ask?”

“Because I used to think that was really important. Half-boiled, hard-boiled, raw. I thought that was my identity. That I had to exist exactly as I was, perfectly suited to my purpose.”

“······.”

“I guess my purpose ends here. I’ll pack my bags and leave as soon as I hear the news.”

New wine should be put in new bottles.

‘I poured my whole life into this place. I didn’t think I would leave like this, but I have to leave.’

He had nowhere to go right away, and he didn’t want to go.

But if the former president was still here, would the new president like that?

He was a president who was leaving for fear that the employees would be affected.

‘Hyung [older brother] told me to hold on to the mine owner and not let him leave. I don’t know how to persuade someone who is so determined. I’m at a loss.’

Han-soo pursed his lips.

The mine owner opened his mouth with a much lighter heart.

“I’m sure you wanted to follow your brother, but thank you for staying and helping me with this and that.”

“No. I didn’t do anything.”

“I heard that you beat up the gangsters and neighborhood bullies who were hanging around here and there? I heard that they were so scared that they never showed their faces again.”

‘I can’t comfort people, but I can do that.’

‘That’s why Hyung left me here.’

‘I wish Hyung would come soon. I’m good at threatening and torturing, but I can’t persuade people with kind words.’

Han-soo pretended not to notice and turned his eyes to the cement factory.

The mine owner also turned his eyes.

“Here, it took me 12 years to build a cement factory after acquiring the limestone mine. On the first day the cement factory started running, the employees and I hugged each other and cried for a long time. We were so happy.”

It was already more than 10 years ago.

But that moment was still vivid in his memory.

“Thanks to the limestone mine and cement factory, I ate well, dressed well, and even sent my children to school and married them off, so this guy is a good son to me.”

“I know. You’ve been running the mine and factory well.”

“Yes, I worked hard. Now I have to let him go. I just hope he meets a good owner.”

That’s when it happened.

An employee came running in a hurry.

“President! He’s finally here! That young man who came last time!”

The mine owner and Han-soo turned around at the same time.

Tae-soo was entering the cement factory.

“Hyung, did things go well?”

“Of course.”

The mine owner swallowed hard.

Tae-soo approached the mine owner and said.

“I acquired the mine and factory all at once. The facilities, employees, equipment, and even the miners are all together.”

“Did you hear who the owner is?”

“It’s me.”

“Y-you?”

“Yes.”

The mine owner’s expression was so strange that it was hard to describe.

Surprise, disappointment, exhaustion, regret, lingering feelings, and relief.

Knowing his heart well, Tae-soo nodded silently.

‘He must have been heartbroken. It’s a workplace he built with his own hands.’

Han-soo’s eyes sparkled with surprise and curiosity.

‘Hyung acquired this place? With only 20 million won?’

The mine owner nodded with a bitter face.

‘That’s a relief. It’s enough if I took care of our family’s livelihood. Shall I go pack my bags now?’

“That’s a relief. I can rest easy now.”

“Where are you going?”

Tae-soo grabbed the mine owner’s hand and smiled.

“Where are you going, abandoning your beloved employees, mine, and factory?”