Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 46

46. The Hot Night in the Desert (1)

Tae-soo took out a document from his pocket.

It was a copy of a portion of an unofficial document sent from the Saudi Arabian royal family to Park Jung-hwan.

He had grilled Kim Jung-rim to get it, saying he needed to know the details.

[This project is directly requested by the Saudi Arabian royal family.]

[What?]

For them, the Saudi royal family held special significance.

The tribe’s brave warriors had helped the first king establish the nation and currently served as elite bodyguards for the king and royal family.

For that reason, despite being a minority tribe, they wielded considerable influence within the Saudi royal family and became a strong support base for them.

[Are you sure the King sent this?]

[Check it yourself. Is there anyone who can recognize the royal seal?]

[Of course, we can recognize the royal seal.]

The Bedouin chief examined the document Tae-soo presented and closed his eyes.

[The royal seal is genuine. Judging from the content, he speaks the truth.]

The Bedouins were astonished.

[Are you really offering so much for honor?]

[If what he says is true, all he wants is the completion of the road construction… That’s remarkable.]

Just for road construction.

To come all the way here at the call of the Saudi royal family.

‘Water is a gift, a well is a favor, and road construction is the honor of the homeland…’

To dedicate oneself to honor is not an easy thing to do.

[Everything you said was true. I apologize for doubting you. It was so unbelievable that I couldn’t readily believe it.]

[I understand.]

The misunderstanding was resolved.

The Bedouins looked at Tae-soo with subtle admiration and respect.

They remembered that he hadn’t even frowned when they had misunderstood and cornered him.

The more they thought about it, the more impressive Tae-soo’s calm demeanor seemed.

They thought that if there were a respected great warrior in the desert, it would be someone like him.

[I accept your intention to bestow favor for the honor of your homeland. I am truly ashamed and sorry in many ways. It’s all my fault for being narrow-minded.]

[It’s alright. Thank you for understanding.]

Tae-soo felt a little sorry for them.

He couldn’t help but understand why the Bedouins were acting this way.

They were people who had fought to the death over a single well due to drought.

‘Originally, rescued wild animals are wary of people. Would these people be any different?’

Bringing a tanker full of water was something that could only happen in a dream.

Moreover, would they have ever received an offer to build wells and waterways, even in their dreams?

It was hard to believe.

‘Even the country didn’t build roads and waterways for them. It must have been very difficult to endure the drought.’

It must have been a lonely struggle for survival.

‘Take what you can get, and give what you can give. Receive laborers in exchange for water. Receive a limestone mine and a cement factory in exchange for wells and waterways.’

This was a good deal for both Tae-soo and the Bedouins.

‘I get to monopolize the limestone mine and cement factory and make a fortune. The Bedouins get water and jobs. It’s all about living well together.’

That wasn’t all.

‘If I can complete this road construction properly, I can receive a huge amount of money. 8.75 million dollars, which is 70% of 12.5 million dollars. I’ll use that money to buy oil and multiply its value four times. I’ll earn funds for apartment construction.’

Opportunities don’t come every day.

‘I need to seize the opportunity and make money. And in the meantime, wouldn’t it be nice to coexist with those in need?’

Get what you deserve and share what you can.

That’s how he wanted to live.

That’s why.

Tae-soo turned to the Bedouins and spoke honestly.

[Drought is a natural disaster. You have struggled and endured to survive this natural disaster. Would you have fought if you wanted to?]

They were all people who had been forced into the battlefield.

[The Saudi royal family must have been helpless as well. Other desert tribes would have been in the same situation.]

It wasn’t a fight that anyone could come and stop.

Because they couldn’t solve the problem.

The entire country was suffering from drought, so everyone was having trouble finding water.

[But now the situation has changed. I came here from afar with a tanker full of water. There is enough water for both tribes to eat their fill and last for months.]

The tanker had arrived.

With that water, they could all overcome this crisis together.

[It was a sword that you had to wield because of water. So, let’s all put it down now.]

The Bedouins glanced at each other.

They had been at war for months over water, and many had died and been injured.

To overcome the desperate situation, they had to endure the damage.

They remembered their dead friends, brothers, and siblings.

[Will you continue to wield your swords because of futile hatred, even though the problem has been solved? What good is it if all your family and colleagues, who could rejoice together when the rainy season comes, are dead?]

The Bedouins imagined it.

Themselves looking at the well they had fought for with their lives in the rain.

Themselves abandoned alone in the desert, with everyone dead.

[Isn’t the sword you wielded to try to survive somehow?]

The strength kept draining from the hand holding the sword.

[Let’s put down the hatred. For the children, for the wives, for the parents, for the future to be with the survivors.]

Everyone became solemn and said nothing.

Occasionally, a low sigh could be heard from somewhere.

It was then.

Brrr.

The car that had headed to the port earlier was returning.

As soon as the car stopped, the Bedouins jumped out.

They shouted loudly, their faces flushed with excitement.

[It’s water!]

[The tanker was full of water!]

[He was right!]

[It was an enormous amount. I don’t think we have to worry about water anymore!]

It was hopeful news.

The Bedouins who heard the words.

[Waaaaaah!]

[Woooooo!]

They cheered with a tremendous roar.

[It’s water!]

[We don’t have to worry about water anymore!]

[We can last until the rainy season comes!]

[We don’t have to fight this terrible fight!]

[The tribal war is over!]

Tae-soo clenched his fist and shouted inwardly.

‘That’s it. The war is over.’

The eyes of the Bedouins looking at Tae-soo were full of goodwill.

As if they were looking at a savior.

As if they were looking at a savior who had come to end the war.

[Waaaaaah!]

[This is a miracle!]

The Bedouins hugged each other and rejoiced.

They had been worried every day, every moment, watching the well dry up.

It had been like that for months.

That’s why their joy was indescribably great.

[Chief, it’s water. The drought is over!]

[We’re alive now. We don’t have to fight over water!]

Tears were welling up in the chief’s old eyes as well.

[I will welcome him as a guest. From now on, I will treat him as a benefactor, as a guest.]

Good.

Very good.

The meaning of a guest to the Bedouins is special.

Moreover, to continue to treat him like a guest in the future is as good as it gets.

[Good. Will the two chiefs consider my intentions together?]

The two chiefs immediately understood Tae-soo’s intentions.

They both nodded at the same time.

[Corrino and Hakonen will reconcile. We invite the benefactor as a guest of both tribes.]

[We will welcome the guest together, so I hope you will share the gifts for welcoming the guest together as well.]

Tae-soo looked around at the Bedouins.

The Bedouins hurriedly paid their respects to the guest.

[The chief’s intention is the tribe’s intention.]

[We want to welcome you as a guest of both tribes.]

Everyone followed the chief and bowed politely.

With one heart and one mind.

The desert warriors who had been standing on either side all took the same posture and paid their respects.

Towards Tae-soo, who was standing in the middle of the road.

Tae-soo also bowed at a 90-degree angle in the Korean style.

[I am truly honored to be welcomed so warmly as a guest. I would like to become a guest of both tribes with a happy heart. Thank you.]

The desert tribes smiled at Tae-soo’s posture, which was different from theirs.

Because they instinctively knew that Tae-soo was responding to them with the etiquette of his homeland.

The warriors who had paid their respects to the guest nodded as if acknowledging Tae-soo.

Tae-soo’s group, who had been watching from a little further away, whistled.

Hol쭉, who was standing next to Tae-soo, turned around.

“What did I tell you? I told you to trust only Tae-soo. Look, he did it so wonderfully.”

Song Chang-joon, who was translating, also raised his thumb slightly with a flushed face.

“It was wonderful. He ended a fight that had been bothering us for months in one shot. I am honored to be here with you.”

Tae-soo straightened his back, which he had been bending for a long time.

Brrr.

Just in time, the jeep that had parted ways at the airport was rushing towards them, kicking up dust.

The jeep truck was full of various foods.

All of them were things that Tae-soo had asked for in advance.

Song Jin-gu shouted with joy.

“The timing is perfect. You nailed it, you bastard. Good job. How did you come so perfectly? Are you a shaman or something?”

“Don’t talk like a shaman. I was watching with a telescope from that hill over there, you bastard.”

Second Secretary Song Chang-joon asked in surprise.

“Was that why you told the next car to come to the meeting place at the airport? How did you think of preparing so much food?”

It’s nothing special.

“People become generous to those who satisfy their three basic desires. Appetite is one of them. Throughout the East and West, conversations over the dining table work best.”

Song Chang-joon also knew.

Isn’t that why the basics of solicitation are meal entertainment, alcohol entertainment, and sexual entertainment?

“I said they were family. If we share a spoonful of rice together, wouldn’t we develop affection even if we didn’t have it before?”

Isn’t that a warm word?

“Once we feed them well, a sense of unity and goodwill will naturally arise. Now that we have solved the water problem, we need to properly discuss the construction.”

Share a meal with people you want to get close to.

I hope that the accumulated grudges will be put down a little while eating together.

[The two tribes have ended their long war and reconciled. A meal together cannot be missed on such a happy day. This is a Korean-style reconciliation, so I hope you will enjoy the meal I have prepared with a happy heart.]

The Bedouins cheered.

Seeing the large amount of food loaded in the back seat of the jeep, even the energy they didn’t have was surging.

[Chief, it’s a huge amount of meat. There’s bread and milk for the kids too.]

[There are also mountains of fresh vegetables and fruits. There seems to be jerky and fish too.]

[It’s enough for the whole tribe to eat and still have leftovers. Women and children will love it.]

In the end, what they wanted to say was one thing.

[We must hold a banquet tonight.]

[Chief, a banquet is a must on a day like this.]

Even the dignified chief had a bright smile on his face.

The fierce desert warriors are now like strong neighborhood brothers.

Tae-soo was very satisfied because he wanted this kind of atmosphere.

‘Reconciliation is nothing special. It’s just about eating together, rejoicing together, and sharing together.’