Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 3

Mining Tycoon and Construction Conglomerate – Episode 3 (3/230)

3. The Meaning of 100,000 Won (2)

“Kang Tae-soo, what are you suddenly talking about?”

His younger brother, Han-soo, always called Tae-soo by his full name like that.

They used to be such affectionate brothers, but due to Tae-soo’s mistake, he had become twisted like that at some point.

‘It’s all my fault that Han-soo is like that. I should have corrected it properly, but I was too busy avoiding and turning a blind eye.’

Tae-soo closed his eyes.

The past came to mind.

When Tae-soo was young, he used to hold the hand of his younger brother, Han-soo, and go out to play.

But back then, he was so obsessed with the allure of money that he neglected his brother and left him behind.

At the time, he was young and couldn’t control himself when he sensed an opportunity to make money.

Han-soo, who was lost that way, was found in the marketplace some time later after the whole family searched for him.

Han-soo said that his brother had abandoned him.

That’s how it started.

Han-soo looked at Tae-soo as if he were his enemy.

He growled at him, calling him Kang Tae-soo like a stranger in every word.

Tae-soo avoided Han-soo every time he saw him out of guilt.

That further worsened their brotherly relationship, leading to the present.

‘Han-soo remained like that until he died. I don’t know how much I regretted it after Han-soo died. This time, I will correct it. Our twisted brotherly relationship.’

He would approach one step at a time.

To rebuild the brotherly relationship they had in the past.

Tae-soo hardened his resolve.

“Why Kang Tae-soo? You should call me ‘hyung’ [older brother, a term of respect].”

It was the first time.

That Tae-soo, who always avoided him first, was scolding his younger brother.

That he was trying to fix their strained relationship.

“You have to act like a ‘hyung’ to be treated like one.”

“Call me ‘hyung’ from now on. I’ll make you do it.”

Han-soo glares blatantly.

That appearance was so familiar that it hurt his heart even more.

Because he had left Han-soo, who was hurt, without comforting him even after becoming a ‘hyung’.

Han-soo, who was young, must still be raising his thorns like a hedgehog.

‘I need to resolve the promissory note issue first.’

Tae-soo raised his head.

“Why aren’t you going? Lead the way.”

“What are you trying to do now?”

“We’re going to resolve Father’s debt. Before you get screwed by getting involved with loan sharks.”

Tae-soo shook the promissory note.

“You should read this promissory note too. That bastard Oh Chun-shik put all the responsibility on Father as a joint guarantor.”

“What?”

Han-soo quickly snatched the promissory note.

As he read it carefully, it was visible that he was getting angry.

“This, this, this is ridiculous! This is a scam! What kind of nonsense is this!”

“That’s why I’m saying let’s go quickly. Before things get bigger.”

Tae-soo took the promissory note back and put it in his pocket.

Then he added a word.

“Distinguish the importance of things first. What’s important right now?”

Han-soo closes his mouth.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you leading the way?”

“Follow me.”

Han-soo runs with a cold look on his face.

“Trying to look cool.”

For some reason, Tae-soo also grits his teeth and runs.

“Is this a full sprint?”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

Tae-soo passed Han-soo.

It doesn’t seem like a misunderstanding?

Han-soo also gritted his teeth and ran.

Pow pow pow.

Dust billowed behind the two brothers.

* * *

The mother was in the house Tae-soo and Kang Han-soo left.

The mother gently stroked the money in her skirt.

Only a few thousand-won bills [Korean currency, approximately $1 USD each].

Most of it was 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD] filled with coins.

“Our son’s money, how can I use it because it’s so precious.”

100,000 won received as compensation for the demolition of the shanty house.

100,000 won that the eldest son gave.

“It’s all the same 100,000 won, but how can it compare to the money our son has saved up.”

Not using, not wearing, not eating.

It must have been money that he had worked hard to save for several years.

To think that I’ve been looking down on him until now without knowing that.

“If I had this money, I would have bought something delicious to eat.”

I can’t bring myself to touch this money.

But we’re in a situation where we’re about to be kicked out on the street right now.

“I have to do as Tae-soo says. According to our eldest son’s wishes.”

I feel energized.

The mother carefully wrapped her skirt.

To think that 100,000 won feels so heavy.

“When I see things like this, my son is better than my husband.”

A happy smile spread across her tearful eyes.

Why didn’t I know that my eldest son was so reliable until now?

“Our Tae-soo, I thought he was naive, but now I see that he has a big heart.”

The corners of her mouth keep going up.

Tae-soo is also a son.

He’s also the eldest son.

How can I not want to believe it?

“Even if it’s a bluff, it’s good. A man should have big dreams. It’s a relief that he doesn’t resemble his father, who is like a small bowl [lacking ambition]. Yes, he should be like that.”

I was happy just to hear those words.

I was excited for a moment because he said that.

“When our Tae-soo comes back later, I have to feed him some hot hangover soup first. He seemed to have drunk a lot, I should have fed him before sending him.”

The mother hurried into the kitchen.

The smell of hangover soup is starting to waft out.

Before I knew it, I could even hear her humming softly.

“I felt like I had lost everything a little while ago, but people’s hearts are so fickle.”

For some reason, I feel like I’ve gained the whole world.

* * *

A magnificent two-story Western-style house with a yard is visible.

“It’s here.”

“We, the creditors, are about to be kicked out on the street, but the debtor lives in a nice house.”

Living in such a rich house, what did he pick up to borrow 100,000 won and pass on the guarantee?

I’m angry.

Ungrateful bastard!

“Let’s take a look at the face of that nobleman.”

“I agree.”

Because of that 100,000 won, the house was turned upside down.

“But there are many people who came first.”

People were gathered around the Western-style house, murmuring.

People who were peeking around the gate asked.

“Did you come to get money too?”

“You too?”

Nod nod.

There was a reason why Oh Chun-shik ran away from this nice house.

He had borrowed money from more than one or two people.

‘If I’m late, I won’t even be able to get a spoon [get anything].’

In times like these, getting money first is the best.

As Tae-soo tried to enter the gate, the people who came first grabbed his sleeve and stopped him.

“Don’t go in, stay here. Thugs are causing trouble inside right now.”

“I’m too scared to go in.”

“Everyone was kicked out after being beaten with clubs.”

“They’re very vicious. They just beat people up without asking.”

Could it be that the loan sharks have already arrived?

Sparks flew from Tae-soo’s eyes.

‘Joint guarantee! Father’s murder! Burial in the mountains!’

Just thinking about the loan sharks still makes my teeth grind.

At that time, a loud scream was heard from inside.

“Stop it! Please stop! You’re going to kill someone!”

It was Father’s voice.

“Hey, hey, people. Don’t hit him!”

Han-soo and Tae-soo’s eyes met as Han-soo looked back this way.

Tae-soo ran into the house one step ahead of Han-soo.

The house was a mess.

“Ah! Stop! It hurts, please stop!”

Men with fierce faces were surrounding and beating one person.

In other words, ganging up.

Fortunately, the person being ganged up on was not Father.

Father was holding onto one of the loan sharks and pleading.

“Oh my, someone’s going to die like this. Please stop.”

“Hey, mister! Move aside when I tell you to.”

Father stood in front of his friend, who was being beaten.

“Hey, Chun-shik said he would give you the money, didn’t he?”

“Give me that money right now. You don’t have it? Isn’t that frustrating?”

Oh Chun-shik, who was being beaten, cried out.

“Ask that friend! He’s the guarantor, so he’ll definitely give you the money.”

“Chun-shik! Guarantor? What are you talking about?”

Father stood blankly in surprise.

But whether he did or not, Oh Chun-shik was busy clinging to the men.

“I’ll definitely return it with a lot of interest. If I can just mine the mine properly…”

“What if I can’t wait?”

Thud.

“Damn it! Don’t use private loans, or pay them back on time.”

Thud thud thud.

“Didn’t you know how scary private loans are? Did we look like pushovers?”

“Ah, no! That friend will pay it back until the mine is running properly, right?”

“Who? This mister?”

“Isn’t that why joint guarantees are so reliable?”

At his friend’s words, Father could only cry out bitterly, “Chun-shik!”

The men glanced at such a father.

But how much money did Oh Chun-shik borrow?

Looking at his clothes, it seemed like he didn’t have enough money to pay back the debt, let alone eat and die, let alone a joint guarantee.

In the end, the beating started again.

Father closed his eyes tightly and then gritted his teeth again and clung to the loan shark’s waist.

“Stop it! Money is a sin, but what sin have people committed.”

“People without money are sinners. Won’t you let go of this?”

“I’ll let go if you say you’ll stop hitting him.”

“Hey, damn it. I’ll just whack this!”

The loan shark swung his club with all his might.

‘Oh no!’

Father closed his eyes tightly.

Someone jumped in front of him and grabbed the loan shark’s wrist.

“Tae-soo!”

Father shouted as he saw his son’s back blocking him.

“Han-soo, take Father away.”

“Father, this way.”

Han-soo hurriedly pulled Father away.

The loan shark, whose wrist was grabbed, glared at Tae-soo.

“Damn it, who are you?”

“Creditor.”

Shudder.

Tae-soo and the loan shark faced off with the club between them.

“Let’s be careful who we hit.”

“What did you say?”

“This side is the creditor, that side is the debtor. Why are you grabbing the wrong person?”

Loan shark Song Jin-gu frowned.

His already fierce impression became even more violent.

“Loosen up your eyes a little. You must have a lot of strength left.”

“Oh, really?”

He’s not scared even after seeing this?

Song Jin-gu’s eyes narrowed even more.

“If you’re a loan shark, shouldn’t you just deal with the debtor? Let’s not pick fights in the wrong place.”

“Huh, this bastard is now-”

“Okay, I have business with that debtor over there, so I’ll be going.”

Before he knew it, Tae-soo skillfully released his arm.

It wasn’t the skill of someone who had only dealt with loan sharks once or twice.

“Oh, and let me borrow this for a moment.”

*Thwack*.

Before he could even realize it, he had even taken the club he was holding.

Song Jin-gu frowned.

“This bastard dares to do this to our boss!”

The men nearby glared at him when they saw that.

But unexpectedly, Song Jin-gu raised his hand towards them.

“Leave him alone for a moment. He said he has business with the debtor.”

“Boss, that bastard is being too rude to you.”

“It’s okay. He seems like he’s been rolling around in this industry for quite a while. Strangely familiar.”

That’s because I’ve been suffering from private loan debt from loan sharks for 5 years.

It’s not you guys, but the loan sharks all do similar things.

Step by step.

Tae-soo, holding the club he had taken from Song Jin-gu, approached Oh Chun-shik.

With each step, I could feel an inexplicable force and anger.

‘Oh Chun-shik, my parents died miserably because of you.’

The force was great as Tae-soo glared at Oh Chun-shik.

The loan sharks were pushed back by Tae-soo’s momentum.

“Tae-soo! You’ve come!”

Oh Chun-shik, who was bending over like a shrimp.

He was delighted to see Tae-soo.

“I knew you would come! Our Han-soo has come too! Everyone has come! Please save your uncle quickly!”

“Why would I?”

“Huh?”

Oh Chun-shik tilted his head in confusion.

There was Tae-soo, smiling evilly like a devil.

“I watched you sell our father to the loan sharks, and I watched it well.”

“Th, that’s a misunderstanding-”

“You ate up our house’s compensation money too?”

“Tae, Tae-soo?”

“Your house is really nice? The appliances and furniture are new too. How much does something like this cost?”

“Th, that’s…”

Tae-soo rolled his eyes.

“And I saw the promissory note very, very, very well, you know?”

Tae-soo took out the promissory note from his pocket and shook it in front of Oh Chun-shik’s eyes.

At the same time, the promissory note goes back into his pocket.

The series of processes continued smoothly.

“Promissory note?”

“You wrote it yourself. You wrote it so densely in Chinese characters that it’s hard to understand. Now, take a closer look.”

The promissory note came out and went in as quickly as a frog’s tongue catching a fly this time too.

The loan sharks who saw that were quietly impressed.

‘Oh, promissory note. That’s a high-level skill in this industry.’

‘What is that bastard doing?’

On the other hand, Oh Chun-shik turned pale.

“Oh, it’s a misunderstanding! Tae-soo.”

“Misunderstanding? You can still say it’s a misunderstanding even after seeing this word?”

The promissory note came out of his pocket again whenever he needed it.

As soon as he pointed out the word ‘joint guarantee’ in front of Oh Chun-shik’s eyes, the promissory note returned even faster than it came out.

Oh Chun-shik, who had a guilty conscience, shut his mouth.

“Oh Chun-shik, you know why you’re going to die now, right?”

“Hey! Don’t talk like that to your uncle!”

“What uncle? After doing this to our father?”

Bang!

“Keuk!”

“My mother cried because she said she was going to be kicked out on the street thanks to you.”

Bang!

“My father, who was happy to see the promissory note that his 40-year friend wrote himself, also cried.”

Bang!

“Private loans are the root of ruin! Don’t you know that? You dirty bastard who broke up other people’s families!”

“Tae-soo! If we can just get through this crisis!”

“Shut up! You bastard who deserves to be killed! Why do we have to take care of you! Who are you!”

Tae-soo was so angry that he put more strength into the club.

Oh Chun-shik couldn’t even answer because the beating was so brutal.

“Is the joint guarantee certain?”

“Are you telling us to pay off your private loans instead?”

“Why does our father, who has never seen money, have to be dragged away by loan sharks!”

“You ran away in the middle of the night? In such a nice house! With expensive appliances! Living in luxury!”

“We’re about to be kicked out on the street because of you!”

“Oh Chun-shik, are you even human after doing this?”

The loan sharks who were watching the beating muttered quietly.

“Boss, that guy is not ordinary.”

“A tough guy. He beats him evenly and skillfully.”

Song Jin-gu nodded.

“I haven’t seen him before.”

Song Jin-gu turned his head.

I can see a boy watching everything with cold eyes.

It was Tae-soo’s younger brother, Han-soo.

“I know him as Han-soo, the fixer of Yeongdeungpo [a district in Seoul known for its rough areas].”