Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 66

66. Raising a Glass with New Colleagues (4)

Tae-soo raised his glass.

“How about we call it a night after this last drink?”

Jang Joon-yong stood up.

Reluctantly, Tae-soo followed suit.

“Last drink? Nonsense. Let’s go all the way. It’s disappointing when a young man bows out early on such a fine day.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m Jang Joon-yong of Geumsan. This is nothing. I despise weak words at a gathering to strengthen resolve.”

“Understood.”

Tae-soo steeled himself.

“While Han Cheong-ho of Cheongil is fixated on the Jubail Industrial Port in Saudi Arabia, Geumsan should brilliantly secure the Bahrain shipyard.”

“Good. If we win the Bahrain shipyard, it will give us a stronger appeal for the Jubail Industrial Port.”

Clink.

Tae-soo and Jang Joon-yong drank simultaneously.

Again, it was straight whiskey without ice.

‘Now I’m going back to Saudi Arabia. My work in Korea is done.’

Once back in Saudi, he would seek out Rahman.

‘Rahman, I’m bringing you a gift. In the name of alliance.’

So that he could firmly establish himself in the Saudi royal family.

‘So, Rahman, you must introduce me to my father [likely referring to a high-ranking member of the royal family].’

‘Khalid, I have quite a few things to discuss with him.’

He felt a sense of urgency.

To catch Han Cheong-ho.

‘One by one, little by little. Prepare the nets on all sides and pull them in at once.’

Thus, Tae-soo was preparing for the Cheongil Oil hunt.

* * *

The bed was plush, and the blanket was soft.

His head felt like it was splitting.

It was because he had drunk too much strong whiskey on an empty stomach.

‘I ended up getting caught and ran at full speed. I’m never drinking with Jang Joon-yong again.’

Jang Joon-yong, filled with poison [meaning he was relentless], kept offering him whiskey.

Straight, no less.

Filling the glass to the brim.

‘Jang Joon-yong and Secretary Kim are both heavy drinkers. I don’t even remember how the drinking session ended.’

While drunk, Jang Joon-yong excitedly scattered golden business cards.

-Take them all, Tae-soo! I’ll give you everything! Use the golden business cards freely! Let’s work together! Let’s run to the end!

Secretary Kim was horrified and picked up the golden business cards one by one.

-These precious cards that aren’t even given out once a year! I get it, so stop scattering them!

Then, he subtly slipped another one of his business cards to Tae-soo.

-I’m not just giving this to you to ask about the Chairman’s schedule.

Kim Hwan earnestly urged him to use it for important matters.

It was as if everyone was desperate to give out their business cards.

He had drunk so much that he couldn’t even open his eyes.

His throat was parched.

“Ugh…”

“Are you thirsty? Would you like some water?”

It was a young woman’s voice.

Tae-soo struggled to lift his heavy eyelids.

It was a woman with a bobbed haircut and skin so white it was almost transparent.

A breathtaking beauty, at that.

“What’s going on…”

“Don’t you remember?”

He vaguely remembered.

As they were parting, their comrades in arms had fallen valiantly in battle [a humorous way of saying they got extremely drunk].

Next to the men staggering from drunkenness, women had attached themselves one by one.

This woman had supported Tae-soo and accompanied him to the hotel room downstairs.

“Drink some water first.”

Tae-soo half-raised himself from the bed.

Thankfully, he was properly dressed.

‘Whew, that was a close call.’

It had been a long time since he had drunk so heavily.

Of course, waking up with a woman while drunk was also an unfamiliar experience.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

Tae-soo received the glass of water the woman offered.

He was so thirsty that he emptied the cup in one gulp.

In many ways, his head was aching.

Tae-soo touched his temple with one hand.

“Does your head hurt a lot?”

“Who are you?”

“I told you my name yesterday, did you forget that too?”

She smiled brightly.

“My name is Jung Yoon-ah.”

“Jung Yoon-ah?”

Tae-soo was taken aback.

‘Could it be the actress Jung Yoon-ah? The movie star Jung Yoon-ah?’

The actress and talent known as the greatest beauty of the 70s.

The actress who debuted in a 1975 film.

A celebrity who was constantly followed by rumors that she came from a bar.

‘She’s really pretty up close.’

It was definitely her.

A flawless beauty, as the nickname “the greatest beauty since the founding of Korea” suggested.

“Now you can remember my name, right? Tae-soo oppa [an honorific term used by younger women to address older men they are close to].”

“Tae-soo oppa?”

“You said you’d call me oppa. Did you forget that too?”

He remembered.

He had given her cab fare, thanking her for helping him to the hotel.

He had just sent her off like that?

“Why didn’t you leave and why are you still here?”

“I didn’t think I could just leave. I was sitting there waiting for you to wake up, and I ended up staying up all night.”

She pointed to the sofa.

He could see the traces of her sitting there.

“What are you worried about?”

“I was wondering if I could just go back like this without anything happening. I was actually very determined when I came here.”

Tae-soo also remembered.

The slender body supporting Tae-soo was trembling.

That’s why Tae-soo had given her cab fare and sent her away.

“The director said he would cast me in a movie if I did well this time.”

Tae-soo closed his eyes.

He understood what was going on.

“What kind of director makes you do this with such an excuse?”

“Don’t be angry. It’s my fault. I’ve been regretting it all night.”

She hung her head.

“I just wanted to be a movie star. I wanted to seize the opportunity. I think I was out of my mind for a moment. I’m sorry.”

Tae-soo briefly recalled his memories of her.

‘She was the most beautiful woman, but she was also an actress with a lot of controversy over her bad acting. I heard that she worked hard to get rid of the bad acting label. Five years after her debut, she earned the title of a successful movie star instead of being known for her bad acting.’

So Tae-soo carefully said to her.

“It’s not good to seize an opportunity when you’re not ready. It’s difficult to get rid of a bad acting label once it’s been recognized.”

“But it’s a good opportunity. If I miss this opportunity…”

“Opportunities will come again. And only those who are prepared can seize the opportunity properly.”

Jung Yoon-ah looked at Tae-soo with wide eyes.

Her reaction was like a squirrel, which was cute.

“How about learning acting systematically and then ambitiously challenging yourself? Then, directors would be rushing to send you love calls [offers or requests] without you having to do this kind of thing.”

“Learn acting systematically?”

It was a suggestion she had never thought of.

“I know a great acting teacher.”

Tae-soo had worked at Cheongil Group for a long time, so he knew a lot about the entertainment industry.

He had a lot of experience in casting advertising models and contacting newspapers.

So he knew quite a few acting teachers who had solid acting skills honed through years of theater and who had no scandals.

“A beauty who relies on her face can’t survive long in this industry. An actress who doesn’t have acting as a foundation is used and discarded like a doll. Do you want to be a doll?”

“No. I don’t want that.”

“Then start from the bottom. Solidify the basics. Are you prepared for that?”

“I’ll be prepared.”

“Good. I’ll trust that resolve.”

Tae-soo took a pen and scribbled on a memo pad.

He didn’t know the exact phone number, but he remembered the name of someone who could be an acting teacher and the name of the theater company.

“Thank you.”

Jung Yoon-ah smiled brightly after receiving the memo pad from Tae-soo.

That appearance was like a squirrel again, so Tae-soo firmly instructed her.

“From now on, you must never agree if a strange director tells you to do this kind of thing with the excuse of appearing in a movie. A strange label will follow you for the rest of your life. Is that okay?”

“No, I don’t want that.”

Jung Yoon-ah shook her head.

“It’s my first time too. I’ve been regretting it a lot all night, and I’ve been regretting coming here too. But now that I’ve heard what you said, Tae-soo oppa…”

She smiled shyly.

“I think it was a good thing I came here and met you. I guess the opportunity I seized was you.”

That was a big problem.

Tae-soo waved his hand.

“Stop saying such nonsense and let’s get up quickly. People will misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand? Are you married, oppa?”

“No, I’m not.”

“That’s a relief.”

Jung Yoon-ah said with a smile.

“Tae-soo oppa, I’m going to be the best actress. I’m going to build up my acting skills first and then challenge myself, just like you said. I won’t be swayed by these kinds of favors as opportunities.”

“I’ll support your dream. I hope you become the best actress.”

Tae-soo got up from his seat.

Jung Yoon-ah gently grabbed Tae-soo’s arm.

“But oppa. Can I ask you just one thing?”

“What are you curious about?”

“You’re not married, and we drank together, but why did you just send me away? Even giving me cab fare.”

Jung Yoon-ah fiddled with the cab fare Tae-soo had given her.

“Am I that unappealing to you?”

Tae-soo’s eyes sparkled.

“Really? It wasn’t because I’m not pretty, not charming, and that’s why you rejected me?”

“You are very pretty. You are also charming. But I don’t have a hobby of embracing women who came out against their will.”

Jung Yoon-ah smiled shyly and said.

“I like you very much, oppa.”

She first begged him to tell her his name.

She smiled as she put the cab fare back into Tae-soo’s pocket.

“I won’t take the cab fare. So please don’t tell me to leave and reject me.”

What should he do with this woman?

“Are you asking me to be your sponsor?”

“No, I told you. I’m going to refuse sponsors and favors now. I won’t keep begging you to meet me because you won’t give me your contact information.”

She smiled and swallowed Tae-soo’s lips [kissed him].

“So, I hope you’ll just accept my favor this once.”

The woman’s eyes, looking at Tae-soo, curved beautifully.

“You’re the one who refused the cab fare.”

Tae-soo did not reject her favor.

* * *

The Blue House [the executive office and official residence of the South Korean president] luncheon on May 11, 1973.

Prominent figures from the political and business circles were invited to lunch.

Jang Joon-yong of Geumsan and Han Cheong-ho of Cheongil were also present.

While sharing lunch and various conversations with Park Jung-hwan, the conversation flowed to the ‘Operation to Rescue Kidnapped Koreans.’

“It seems that Your Excellency’s image has improved even more with this incident.”

“The public’s reaction to Your Excellency is hot every day [very positive].”

“It’s all thanks to Your Excellency’s bold decision.”

Several people competed to flatter him.

It was to win Park Jung-hwan’s favor.

“Hahaha, why are you making such a fuss about that? If the people are in danger, the country must save them. I just did what was natural.”

Even as he said that, Park Jung-hwan was pleased.

He liked that he seemed to have refreshed his image a bit with this incident, just as Kang Tae-soo had said.

Park Jung-hwan looked back at Jang Joon-yong of Geumsan, who was only sipping tea instead of eating.

“Chairman Jang, you don’t seem to be able to eat anything today. Are you sick somewhere?”

“No. I met a friend who came from afar and spent the night drinking with him. I guess I’m getting old, I have a hangover… hmm.”

He recklessly poured straight whiskey into his stomach.

It was the result of gritting his teeth and running wildly at full speed because he didn’t want to lose to the young man’s spirit.

But Jang Joon-yong couldn’t say that as it was.

Looking at his haggard appearance, Park Jung-hwan smiled mischievously.

“That’s quite a thing. How much did you drink to make Chairman Jang of Geumsan say he has a hangover?”

Park Jung-hwan also knew that Jang Joon-yong was a heavy drinker.

“Shall I tell them to bring you some more honey water?”

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Excellency. I’m fine.”

There was a reason why Park Jung-hwan was showing favor to Jang Joon-yong.

“I received a letter from the Saudi royal family.”

A formal letter had arrived from the Saudi royal family last night.

“Chairman Jang, they praised you. Thanks to you, I’ve saved some face.”

This was because Jang Joon-yong had appropriately raised the face that Samwon Construction had tarnished.

It was thanks to the oil tanker.

“What have I done? But I’m very glad that Your Excellency has saved face.”

The letter detailed how Jang Joon-yong of Geumsan had helped overcome the drought.

Also, most of the letter praised Park Jung-hwan for his quick handling of the matter.

The Saudi royal family thanked Park Jung-hwan for his hard work and hoped to become an even stronger ally in the future.

So Park Jung-hwan was in a good mood throughout.

“Chairman Jang, I heard that you decided to dock the oil tanker at the Saudi port for a few more months and got a pretty good construction project?”

“It hasn’t been confirmed yet. It’s just talk.”

“Give it a try. I heard it’s a large construction project worth nearly a billion dollars.”

“I’ll do my best.”

People’s eyes widened.

‘A large construction project worth a billion dollars?’

‘Half of the South Korean government’s annual budget?’

But there was no way to get involved in the Saudi construction project.

The Saudi royal family’s entry barrier was too high.

Everyone gave up halfway.

On the other hand, Han Cheong-ho clenched his fist tightly.

‘You fools! You don’t even know how things are going and you’re already talking as if you’ve won the construction project. You don’t even know what telegram the Saudi royal family sent me.’

Jang Joon-yong glanced at Han Cheong-ho.

‘Han Cheong-ho, he has a triumphant look on his face, just as I expected. He thinks he’s grabbed a strong lifeline, huh?’

So Jang Joon-yong delivered a decisive blow.

“Your Excellency, I would like to promote this Jubail Industrial Port bid as a joint bid.”

A joint bid?

Everyone’s eyes widened.

Han Cheong-ho’s eyes also widened slightly as it was unexpected.

Park Jung-hwan smiled as if he was interested.

“Chairman Jang, who are you thinking of joining hands with? Is it a Japanese company?”

That would be understandable if it was Japan.

Their capital, technology, and influence overseas are enormous.

If they joined hands with them, they would gain a considerable advantage in the bidding competition.

But Jang Joon-yong shook his head.

“No.”

“Then where? Greece? England? Germany? France? Italy?”

“None of them. Is there any need to leak national wealth overseas?”

“That’s right! Very good!”

Park Jung-hwan liked it very much.

Han Cheong-ho was racking his brain.

‘Could it be that Jang Joon-yong is proposing a joint bid to me right now?’

If it wasn’t Han Cheong-ho, who else would be here?

Han Cheong-ho was the only one here who had a strong connection to the Saudi royal family.

But Han Cheong-ho sneered inwardly.

‘Why should I join hands with you? If you’re thinking of stealing my prey, you’re out of luck.’

Jang Joon-yong looked straight at Han Cheong-ho and said.

“I’m thinking of working with Kang Tae-soo of Taeyang Construction.”

Kang Tae-soo?

Han Cheong-ho frowned.

‘Why is that unlucky bastard’s name coming out here?’

If it hadn’t been for Cha Ki-beom, his name should have disappeared in the Middle East long ago.

Jang Joon-yong looked at Han Cheong-ho with a meaningful smile.

“Geumsan and Taeyang Construction will join hands and make a big mark in Saudi construction history together.”

It was a clear provocation and an outright declaration of war.