Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 80

80. At the Geumsan Hotel Banquet Hall (1)

Cheongil Group headquarters, Chairman’s office.

Han Cheong-ho shouted into the phone.

“No, why are you suddenly blocking the loan? You clearly confirmed it back then! What’s the reason for suddenly changing your mind?”

-I’m sorry. Our bank has also been severely affected by this oil shock…

“So, you’re saying you’ll take all the money you can get and then wipe your mouth clean now?”

-I’ll return that money. I’m already getting sick from taking that money.

“Hey! Now… Hey! Choi Sang-soo!”

The call was abruptly cut off.

Han Cheong-ho slammed the phone down in anger.

“What on earth is going on! All the banks are blocking loans and demanding the repayment of principal!”

Cheongil’s oil supply is currently blocked.

They are pulling money from other affiliates and putting it into Cheongil Oil Refinery and Cheongil Petrochemical.

Otherwise, they would have gone bankrupt long ago.

At that moment, Secretary Park entered the chairman’s office.

“Chairman, Jangsu Bank is also flooding us with calls demanding repayment.”

“I know! I know without you telling me!”

“I heard there was some kind of instruction from above.”

“Shut up! I can see how things are turning out without you telling me!”

Han Cheong-ho nervously picked up the phone.

He made several calls to Chief Secretary Kim Jeong-rim, but she didn’t answer.

She’s making excuses that she’s busy.

“I need to meet Choi Mu-ryong.”

Reluctantly, Han Cheong-ho hurried to prepare to go out.

* * *

Tae-soo’s steps were light as he headed home.

Today, he’s also carrying gifts in both hands.

“I’m home.”

“Oh, who is this? Tae-soo, you’re here.”

“Tae-soo!”

His parents came running out, delighted.

Tae-soo picked up his mother and twirled her around.

“How have you been?”

“We’ve been fine. Tae-soo, you’ve lost weight again.”

“I haven’t lost weight. I’m the same.”

“I can’t have that. Let’s eat. I need to fatten up my son before he leaves.”

His mother is always talking about food.

A parent’s heart always wants to feed their children delicious things.

How could Tae-soo not know that feeling?

“This is a gift.”

“Why do you keep buying things like this? Just come empty-handed. That way, your steps home will be lighter.”

“My heart feels lighter when my hands are heavier.”

Han-soo quietly comes outside.

“Hyung [older brother], you’re here?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t stand outside in the cold, come inside and talk. The heated floor is warm.”

“Let’s do that.”

Gangwon-do in December is incredibly cold.

Tae-soo enters the house.

Han-soo yielded the warmest spot on the floor to Tae-soo.

“The construction is finished, so you must have received the settlement. You said you’d make a lot of money with oil, how much did you make?”

“100 million barrels.”

“Pfft!”

Han-soo spat out the honey water he was drinking.

His eyes widened as he looked at Tae-soo.

“T-Then how much is that all together?”

“Calculate it yourself. You’re good at that.”

“Wow… No matter how well I’ve managed money, I’m nothing compared to you.”

Han-soo makes a resentful face.

Tae-soo smiled.

“I heard you’re running the investment company pretty well? How much did you make?”

“Tch, never mind. I just made some.”

“It’s amazing that your assets have increased by 15% in six months without any losses.”

Knowing that the stock prices of oil companies were plummeting due to the oil shock, there was no way Han-soo would lose money.

He recovered all the investment funds before the Middle East war broke out in October.

“Money makes money. It’s not because I’m good.”

“Money can make money, but not just anyone can make money. Do you think it’s easy to take other people’s money? You did well, Han-soo.”

Jang Mal-dong’s weapon sales money flows into Han-soo’s investment company.

This time, Tae-soo’s oil sales money will also flow into Han-soo’s investment company.

“The investment company’s funds will increase quite a bit since you’re selling oil.”

“Wow, 100 million barrels of oil in this market is really huge.”

“Now, think of it as laundering and returning Jang Mal-dong’s money appropriately, and run the company with the money I give you. Don’t feel too pressured, even if it fails.”

“How much are you going to give me?”

“Except for the money to acquire Cheongil Oil Refinery. Invest the remaining money as you see fit.”

“Cheongil Oil Refinery?”

Han-soo’s mouth dropped open.

“You’re acquiring Cheongil Oil Refinery of Cheongil Group? You are?”

“Yeah.”

“And you still have money left to invest in me?”

“Maybe?”

Because I’m going to take over Cheongil Oil Refinery at a bargain price after it goes bankrupt.

I plan to take care of the substance after Han Cheong-ho goes bankrupt with tears of blood.

The brother’s shoulders rise at the younger brother’s respectful gaze.

“Hyung, the stock prices aren’t looking good because of this oil crisis. Not just in the US, but in Europe, Japan, and even Korea.”

The world is reeling from the oil shock that started in the Middle East.

It is natural that the US investment company established by Han-soo will also follow that trend.

“Companies were making profits based on oil. But as oil prices soared, management deteriorated. Stock prices plummeted. As a result, there’s no suitable place to invest.”

I understand Han-soo’s concerns.

But there are other areas to invest in besides oil-related businesses.

“Han-soo, shift your perspective. See if there are any places that aren’t affected by this situation, or if there are any new investment opportunities. It’s something you should always keep in mind when running an investment company.”

“I’ve been looking into agriculture and other things instead of manufacturing, but I can’t find anything suitable.”

He seems to have been working hard to figure it out.

“I’ve been looking at venture companies instead of manufacturing, but…”.

He’s already looking that far?

“The foundation is still too weak to invest in yet. It seems like it will take quite a while to settle down. I’m not satisfied with waiting that long.”

That was why Han-soo was worried.

‘Should I give him a hint?’

There is another area where Han-soo’s insight can shine and where investment returns can be quite high.

“How about investing in movies?”

“Movies?”

Han-soo’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t even considered it.

“Certainly, movies wouldn’t be affected by the oil crisis.”

“Moreover, as income levels rise and the economy develops, people are increasingly turning to the cultural industry.”

“That’s good. Should I seriously look into it?”

Investors don’t make movies.

The film crew, including the director, makes the film, and the investment distribution company supplies the film.

Investors recover their investment from the film’s profits.

As Han-soo said, it’s also a place where money makes money.

“If you find a good movie, you can make a lot of profit at once. On the other hand, it’s easy to fail, so approach it carefully.”

Movies require insight.

If you make it well, it will be a worldwide hit, and if the results are poor, you won’t even recover your investment.

There are so many investors who have gone bankrupt and so many investors who have hit the jackpot.

‘Steven Max’s story is also famous.’

He founded a company that made computers directly and sold a computer called Peach 1.

He succeeded with this, but the major shareholders of Peach kicked Steven Max out.

Max, who dreamed of making a comeback, acquired a film company called Pix and created an animation called Toy Store using computer technology, which became a huge hit.

With that money, he reacquired Peach, the company that kicked him out, and became chairman again.

“Hyung, should I invest in Korean movies? Or Hollywood movies?”

“Whatever you want. Let’s take our time to find out and decide.”

The good thing about regressing is times like this.

‘I know roughly which movies will succeed and which will fail, so I’ll stop him if he tries to invest in a really weird place.’

He won’t lose a lot of money.

Probably.

Unless Han-soo does things his own way.

So Tae-soo added a word.

“If you find a good movie scenario, tell me. Let’s pick it together. Two pairs of eyes are better than one.”

“Okay, I will.”

* * *

Jongno, Cho Myeong Bank, Bank President’s office.

Han Cheong-ho came to meet Choi Mu-ryong.

“What brings you here? I haven’t heard the news that our kids have been released yet.”

“I’m working behind the scenes right now. So let’s save Cheongil Oil Refinery first.”

Choi Mu-ryong snorted.

“I guess the people you’re working behind the scenes with are the bank presidents. Do you think I’m blind and deaf?”

“Then you know why I came.”

“I told you, I don’t have any money.”

“Mu-ryong, are you going to be petty between you and me? Are you going to break up with me over something like this?”

Choi Mu-ryong smiles sinisterly.

“Okay. If you’re that desperate for money, I’ll lend it to you. But…”

“But?”

“I lost Samwon Construction thanks to you, so you should take care of construction for me.”

Han Cheong-ho’s eyes narrow.

“Are you saying you want Cheongil Construction now?”

“You said you need money to save Cheongil Oil Refinery. Give me Cheongil Construction.”

“Are you really going to do this?”

“Cheongil Oil Refinery or Cheongil Construction. That is the question.”

Choi Mu-ryong laughs.

“I’ll give you plenty of time to think about it. I’m busy, so I’ll be going now.”

Han Cheong-ho shut his mouth tightly.

This time, Choi Mu-ryong passed Han Cheong-ho and left the bank president’s office.

“Oh, and close the door gently. You’re not going to pay for the door.”

With a hateful smile.

* * *

December 1973. Geumsan Shipbuilding Division changed its name to Geumsan Shipbuilding Heavy Industries.

The Geumsan Shipyard was completed in Ulsan.

It was Geumsan Jang Jun-yong’s ambitious ambition to change the landscape of the Korean heavy industry.

This event, held at the Geumsan Hotel banquet hall, was crowded with celebrities from all walks of life.

Everyone wished Geumsan unlimited development in the future.

Tae-soo also arrived at the Geumsan Hotel to participate in this event.

“I’m late.”

He hurried from Gangwon-do, but the accumulated snow was the problem.

In December in Gangwon-do, it often snowed or the roads became icy.

For this reason, he could not make it in time for the commemorative event.

The event was already over, and the after-party celebration continued late into the night.

Tae-soo checked his attire and increased his walking speed.

“Thank you for attending the Geumsan Shipbuilding Heavy Industries celebration party. Do you have an invitation card?”

At the entrance to the banquet hall, there was a waiter in charge of access control.

This was to prevent all sorts of people from gathering and becoming chaotic.

“Here.”

Tae-soo handed over the invitation card.

The waiter compares and confirms written on the invitation card with the list of names.

“Please enter.”

Tae-soo entered the banquet hall.

Reporters from each newspaper and broadcasting company should have come, but I can’t see any reporters.

It seems that the Geumsan Shipbuilding Heavy Industries commemorative event is over and they have returned.

‘But none of the important figures from the company are visible.’

The people left in the hall are those who were not invited upstairs.

Most of them are entertainers, cultural artists, and social figures to brighten the place.

There are a few politicians, but they are not very famous.

The important people must have gone upstairs to mingle with each other.

Tae-soo grabbed an employee carrying drinks.

“I would like to personally congratulate the chairman of Geumsan, but did he go upstairs?”

To meet Jang Jun-yong of Geumsan, it is faster to be guided by an employee than to search each hall on each floor yourself.

“Ah, yes, that’s right. After the commemorative event ended, it continued as a celebration party, and he went upstairs with the others.”

As expected.

“But you need an invitation card to go upstairs.”

“I’m Kang Tae-soo from Taeyang Construction.”

Tae-soo showed his invitation card.

“I’ll guide you. Please follow me.”

“Thank you.”

Tae-soo followed the employee out of the main hall and went up to the 3rd floor.

But it’s strange.

‘The people on the 3rd floor are too young. Most of them are my age.’

The employee bowed and greeted.

“Have a good time.”

It seems that the employee has made some kind of mistake.

I clearly said that I would like to personally congratulate the chairman of Geumsan, but he brought me to a gathering of his children.

‘I guess he thought I was young and came to meet the children of the same age.’

Logically, it would be natural.

Who would think that Tae-soo, who is only 25 years old, would meet with the heads of the group?

It would be common to see that they are attending the banquet because they are friends with their children.

‘Everyone might come out to personally congratulate the chairman, saying they will make a good impression this time. I guess there was an instruction to guide them appropriately because it’s annoying.’

But what would Tae-soo do to mingle with the youngsters and build friendships?

Tae-soo turned around without regret.

Then someone said to Tae-soo.

“I haven’t seen your face before. Where did you come from?”

It was a voice that Tae-soo knew very well.