Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 40

40. Three Cushion Shot in One Go (2)

At Jang Mal-dong’s house, a big shot in Myeongdong.

Jang Mal-dong, a wiry 70-year-old, sat on a silk cushion, fanning himself.

“Kang Tae-soo is here?”

Jang Mal-dong nodded, gently waving his fan.

“Of course, he should be. He wouldn’t be a man if he didn’t rush over after getting such a good opportunity.”

Jang Mal-dong glanced at the man in the Hanbok [traditional Korean clothing].

The man’s eyes sparkled as soon as he heard that Tae-soo was coming.

Jang Mal-dong smiled contentedly and nodded.

“Tell that madman to come in. I want to hear his answer to my letter quickly.”

A moment later, the door opened with a soft sliding sound.

Tae-soo smiled at Jang Mal-dong.

“It’s been a while, Elder. First of all, congratulations on establishing the bank.”

“Don’t mention it. Come and sit down… oh, you’re already down.”

Tae-soo was already sitting cross-legged on the floor.

His uninhibited and confident attitude remained unchanged.

“Thanks to your gift, Elder, things went smoothly. Thank you so much.”

He was referring to the 10,000 *pyeong* [approximately 8.26 acres] of land in Daechi-dong.

And lending Song Jin-gu.

Tae-soo bowed politely.

Jang Mal-dong turned his head away.

“Consider it repayment for removing the knife that was pointed at my throat, thanks to you.”

He was referring to the tip-off that Choi Mu-ryong was establishing a bank.

Jang Mal-dong, realizing that information had leaked to Choi Mu-ryong, carried out a bloody purge.

Jang Mal-dong chuckled.

“I heard you’re leaving for the Middle East soon? That’s why I hurried. Did you receive what I sent?”

“Are you talking about this?”

Tae-soo took out a document from his pocket.

It was the very document Jang Mal-dong had sent.

Tae-soo placed it on Jang Mal-dong’s low table with a thud.

“You sent me something strange.”

Tae-soo was indifferent.

“What’s the rush? Do you think I’m going to be stuck in the Middle East for thousands of years?”

*Why does everyone treat me like they won’t see me for 10 years?*

*Why don’t you believe me when I say I’ll be back soon?*

“I heard that Samwon Construction is also running away from the construction site with their tails between their legs. It’s not something that will be finished overnight.”

“Your information is very fast.”

“I’m an information merchant, after all. How did you manage to coax Park Jung-hwan? That tough guy, so easily… you have amazing skills.”

“I was definitely too complacent. If I had known this would happen, I would have caught a plane to the Middle East from Pohang right away.”

“Come on! You’re joking.”

“I’m serious.”

*I’m serious.*

*Everyone is so impatient and making a fuss because I’m going to the Middle East.*

Jang Mal-dong scrutinized Tae-soo with a glint in his eyes.

“First, I want to hear your answer to the letter I sent.”

“I respectfully decline.”

Tae-soo tapped the document Jang Mal-dong had sent.

Jang Mal-dong had sent a letter to Tae-soo, or rather, to Tae-soo’s parents.

It was a marriage proposal.

“What is all this all of a sudden?”

“It’s exactly as it’s written. What else could it be?”

“Am I asking because I’m illiterate? I’m asking about your intentions.”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know? Of course, it’s to form a good relationship.”

“A good relationship, you say. Fine, let’s form an alliance. I want that too.”

Jang Mal-dong clapped his hands with excitement.

“That’s right! That’s why I sent that letter, to form a strong marriage alliance. Alliances have always been marriage alliances. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s a bit difficult. Let’s just have an alliance without the marriage. Even if it’s just an alliance, isn’t it too sudden?”

Jang Mal-dong smiled with a troubled expression.

“Who wants to do this? It’s just that the date of your departure to the Middle East was set so suddenly.”

*Of course, I plan to return quickly.*

*But still, this is not right.*

“If you’re in such a hurry, marry her off to another good family.”

“No way! We wouldn’t have sent a marriage proposal in the first place if it wasn’t you.”

Jang Mal-dong said subtly.

“Why don’t you just close your eyes and do it? An incredibly beautiful woman with many talents will be bringing all of Jang Mal-dong’s wealth. How about it? Isn’t it fun just imagining it?”

Jang Mal-dong smiled mischievously.

*I want you so much that I can’t see anyone else. If you just take one look at our daughter, you’ll fall head over heels. Hehehe.*

Jang Mal-dong gently waved his fan.

His snake-like eyes relentlessly scanned Tae-soo.

“I don’t need it. I’m not going to live off her face. I’ll find my own woman.”

“Aish, you’re so stubborn. Before that, let me ask you one thing. How far do you plan to go, starting from the bottom?”

*Of course, to surpass Cheongil Group and become the best in Korea.*

*I actually made Cheongil Group like that.*

“Why are you curious about that?”

“If you’re satisfied with the mine and plan to make a moderate living, then that’s fine. Then I won’t send a marriage proposal either. But that’s not it, is it?”

Jang Mal-dong smiled slyly.

“You’re planning to surpass Cheongil Group and become the best in Korea, aren’t you? Are you going to tell me that Jang Mal-dong is wrong?”

Jang Mal-dong smiled.

“Don’t even think about deceiving Jang Mal-dong’s eyes. I know who you’re targeting by looking at what you’re doing. How could I not know?”

*Are you trying to probe me? Should I poke you to see if you know properly?*

Tae-soo also smiled nonchalantly.

“Did you jump to conclusions because of the molybdenum supply?”

“Your actions have been like that so far. If you gather past information, you can see what will happen in the future.”

“What do you see at the end of that?”

“Ambition.”

*You don’t know properly. Well, that’s understandable. You don’t know why I hold a grudge against Han Cheong-ho.*

Tae-soo chuckled.

*If Jang Mal-dong doesn’t know, then Han Cheong-ho, who is one step behind in background checks, won’t have a clue at all.*

*I hope Han Cheong-ho keeps wandering.*

*I hope he keeps suspecting, searching, worrying, and suffering.*

“Why don’t you know that we can be your shadow?”

“No thanks. Do I get married to get my in-laws’ shadow?”

Tae-soo said.

“I was prepared to walk a difficult path from the beginning. If there’s no shade, I’ll just have to make it myself.”

“······.”

Jang Mal-dong was momentarily speechless.

That’s because Tae-soo was really doing that.

Jang Mal-dong nodded.

“Yeah, you’re good at making your own shade. But how long can you borrow someone else’s shade to catch your breath?”

Jang Mal-dong narrowed his eyes and smiled.

“Let’s go the easy way. Is there any need to go the hard way? You only need to set one goal.”

Tae-soo could see right through him.

*You want to use me to carry out your plans. Do you think I’m an easy kid to fool?*

Jang Mal-dong is someone who plots things in the shadows.

Now that he has established a bank and come into the light, there must be various restrictions.

*His hidden foundations are about to be exposed, so he must be desperate.*

In short, he wants to use Tae-soo to launder his identity, funds, and business.

*I’m busy enough with my own path, I don’t have time to clean up after others. Shall we start slowly?*

If that’s how it is, there’s no helping it.

Tae-soo smiled playfully.

“Elder, here are my marriage and future plans. Would you like to hear them?”

“Alright! Let’s hear them!”

Jang Mal-dong listened with delight.

Tae-soo said.

“First, to get your help, I’ll get married without asking any questions.”

“That’s right!”

“Of course, there’s no love or loyalty between us. So how do you think I’ll treat your precious daughter?”

“Of course, you should treat her with respect and cherish her!”

“I’ll hit her, use her, eat her up, throw her away, roll her around, torment her, vent my anger on her, neglect her, lock her up, insult her, and swear at her.”

“······.”

Jang Mal-dong’s mouth dropped open.

Tae-soo was serious.

“I’ll have this woman and that woman by my side, enjoy everything, play all I want, and spend the wealth you give me lavishly. I’ll take full advantage of my in-laws’ shadow.”

“······.”

“I have a hostage, after all. I’ll be happy with your help, and your precious daughter will be very happy to meet me. Don’t you think so?”

Just imagining it was so terrible that Jang Mal-dong’s hands trembled.

“You must be crazy to do such a thing…”

“It’s a marriage to take advantage of my in-laws, so I have to use it to the bone. What’s wrong with that? I can’t undo a marriage that’s already done.”

“You······!”

Tae-soo said with cold eyes.

“Would you like that?”

“Just try it!”

“That’s why I said let’s form an alliance instead of getting married, right? Do you still think the same?”

“Ugh.”

“Shall we get married?”

“Ugh!”

Jang Mal-dong was speechless.

It was then.

“Hahaha.”

The man in the Hanbok laughed loudly.

Jang Mal-dong widened his eyes and turned around.

The man in the Hanbok smiled and said to the flustered Jang Mal-dong.

“How can you push for marriage after hearing such words? Don’t you think so?”

Jang Mal-dong groaned and nodded.

Then he looked at Tae-soo with a regretful look for a long time.

Jang Mal-dong smacked his lips several times and sighed.

“That’s right. Marriage was my greed. Let’s just form an alliance. Ugh.”

“Good.”

*That’s exactly what I wanted!*

*This life is for dating instead of marriage. I have to enjoy the single life in style.*

Tae-soo smiled brightly.

It was a very annoying smile.

“What do you want, Elder? What can I do to help you from the front?”

“Ugh, you already knew.”

Jang Mal-dong pouted and said.

“Because I suddenly came into the light by establishing a bank, the guys who were disguised as loan sharks have nowhere to go. I can’t use those guys as bankers. So I wanted you to······.”

Before he could get stuck with it, Tae-soo quickly said.

“I can easily solve that for you.”

“Huh?”

“I was short on hands anyway.”

*Song Jin-gu was quite useful. Doesn’t that mean you have a lot of guys like that under you?*

That was one of the reasons why Tae-soo came to see Jang Mal-dong.

“How can I send my guys, whom I raised so carefully, to be your hands and feet? No way! Those guys have their own things to do.”

Tae-soo smiled.

“I understand. I wish I could take them and use them, but I won’t be greedy since you have your own circumstances. There’s a way to satisfy both me and you.”

Jang Mal-dong perked up his ears.

“Is there such a way?”

Tae-soo said.

“Let’s set up a security service company.”

“What’s a security service company?”

It might be a somewhat unfamiliar term now.

Because it’s not operated by the private sector, but usually by the government.

But you probably know how it’s used.

“I’m talking about the thugs the government uses for security services. Let’s turn that into a private company.”

“Such a method!”

As soon as Jang Mal-dong heard that, he clapped his knee.

“Security service thugs are perfect for our guys!”

Security service thugs.

They are security service workers dispatched by the state, local governments, demolition teams, or strike breakers for redevelopment projects.

As you can tell from the word, they are security services hired by the government, but they are usually called that because they often use force like gangsters due to the nature of the work.

In the early days of urban redevelopment in the 70s and 80s, the government led the development and demolition projects, and sent a lot of security service thugs in the process.

They were mainly used to demolish illegal shacks, street stalls, and suppress labor movements.

“But are we allowed to establish such a company? It’s usually something the government does······.”

“It’s not like the government has a monopoly on the business, so what’s the problem?”

The first private security service company was established in December 1986.

The demolition business centered on private security service companies began in earnest after the June 29 Declaration in 1987.

It was triggered by the government entrusting redevelopment project disputes to the private sector.

“Then do our guys have to receive work from the government and act as security service thugs?”

“Do you really need to do that? You said you have your own things to do. You’re just putting up a sign. You came into the light, so you needed a plausible sign, so you were trying to put me forward, right?”

“That’s right.”

“If you take away the thugs from security service thugs, it’s just security services. Helping with construction is a security service, helping with chores is a security service, and running errands is a security service.”

“Hmm.”

“There’s also the justification that you’re taking on irregular work and handling it on a case-by-case basis, so it’s perfect for helping you with your work as an independent force. If necessary, you can just have them stand by, right?”

It’s tempting.