Mining And Construction Tycoon [EN]: Chapter 9

Mining Tycoon and Construction Conglomerate – Episode 9 (9/230)

9. The Man Who Gets a Promissory Note from a Loan Shark (2)

Jang Mal-dong, a big shot in the Myeongdong loan shark scene.

He had been buying and selling information to support the independence movement since the Japanese colonial era.

That became his main business, leading him to where he is today.

Therefore, the fact that he bought and sold information was a top secret.

Tae-soo only found out about it much later, after becoming the chief secretary of the Cheongil Group.

“You rascal! Who is playing tricks behind your back?”

What backer?

But what can I do?

If you have nothing, you have to bluff.

‘But I know the future. Jang Mal-dong will really go bankrupt in two weeks.’

What could be a more certain backer than the future?

“You’re an information merchant, how can you not know that?”

“Huh-”

How many times has Jang Mal-dong been speechless today?

‘It’s a checkmate. That brat has the handle, and Jang Mal-dong has the blade. It’s a fight he can’t win.’

The man in the hanbok [traditional Korean clothing] raised the corner of his mouth.

‘Oh, Jang Mal-dong is getting beaten badly today. Thanks to the brat, I got a good show. Hahaha.’

Jang Mal-dong shouted at Song Jin-gu and Kang Han-soo.

“Everyone get out! I have something to say in private!”

The situation is unusual.

Han-soo looked at Tae-soo and shook his head.

“If you take loan sharks lightly, you’ll die without anyone knowing.”

“I know.”

“Don’t do anything unnecessary and let’s just go back.”

“It’s already a tiger to ride [a Korean idiom meaning ‘once you start something dangerous, it’s hard to stop’].”

“It’s dangerous.”

Tae-soo doesn’t look back.

“Stay out. It won’t take long.”

“This isn’t the time to be stubborn. I’ll take care of the investment problem. It’ll take some time, but-”

Clack.

Jang Mal-dong was angry and struck the small table with his fan.

“What are you dawdling about! Can’t you get out! Do I have to drag you out by force?”

The man in the hanbok stood in front of Kang Han-soo.

Han-soo was forced out of the room.

Clack.

The paper door closed.

Now, only Kang Tae-soo and Jang Mal-dong were left in this large room.

Jang Mal-dong’s glare was fierce.

“Are you trying to play with me, Jang Mal-dong?”

Snake-like eyes turned to Tae-soo.

The pressure unique to loan sharks is suffocating.

But Tae-soo’s eyes also held venom.

“So, are you going to buy it or not?”

“Do you think you can threaten me, Jang Mal-dong, and get away with it?”

“Is it prepaid or postpaid?”

Tae-soo didn’t back down.

“For postpaid, you’ll have to write a promissory note.”

“What?”

“I don’t take promissory bills. It’s unconditionally lump sum, cash.”

Jang Mal-dong glared at Tae-soo as if he would kill him.

Tae-soo glanced at the calendar and clock.

“If you’re not buying, that’s fine. Then I’ll be on my way.”

“Sit down!”

As Tae-soo tried to get up, Jang Mal-dong bit his lip.

“I can’t trust your words. What could possibly make a loan shark lose all his assets?”

“What can I do? If the top tells me to do it, I’ll get thoroughly screwed.”

Tae-soo’s finger pointed to the sky, no, the ceiling.

Jang Mal-dong trembled, holding his fan.

‘The top? Is Park Jung-hwan up to something again?’

Tae-soo nodded slightly.

“If you don’t think it’ll happen, you can just ignore it. But that’s not the case, so you’re still talking to me, aren’t you?”

Thud.

Jang Mal-dong trembled.

He was angry.

But he couldn’t afford not to listen if Park Jung-hwan’s actions could cost him all his assets.

Jang Mal-dong, an information merchant, knew better than anyone how important top-secret information was.

‘There were no signs of it. No, if it’s Park Jung-hwan, he’ll sneak in and do things without anyone knowing.’

Jang Mal-dong pondered.

‘What should I do? If such a thing were to happen, even by any chance…’

Jang Mal-dong squeezed his eyes shut.

‘No way. I have too much to lose. How much is all my wealth worth!’

Finally, he made up his mind.

“Okay. Spill the information.”

“Is it prepaid or postpaid?”

“What makes you think I’d readily give you money?”

“If it’s postpaid, you have to write a promissory note, though?”

“Ugh!”

He was angry.

He wished he could just grab that annoying brat and beat him up.

Finally, Jang Mal-dong nodded with a long sigh.

“If it’s not proper information, you won’t get a single penny.”

“Good. Let’s write the promissory note.”

Jang Mal-dong felt bitter.

“Huh- Now I’m even getting a promissory note from a loan shark?”

“Then give me the money right now.”

“······.”

Jang Mal-dong gritted his already bad teeth.

In Jang Mal-dong’s life, who had experienced the Japanese colonial period, the Pacific War, and the Korean War, this was the first time he had encountered such a troublemaker.

I swear.

Tae-soo took out a promissory note from his pocket that only needed a signature and seal.

Jang Mal-dong was dumbfounded as he read the pre-written promissory note.

“You already expected this and prepared everything.”

Tae-soo didn’t answer, but Jang Mal-dong had no choice but to close his eyes.

‘It’s a defeat. I, Jang Mal-dong, have been helplessly defeated. I’ve been played by a brat whose blood hasn’t even dried yet.’

Jang Mal-dong signed the promissory note and stamped it.

His eyes flashed with venom.

“That expensive information, let’s hear it now.”

Finally, Tae-soo’s mouth opened.

“On August 2, 1972, at 11:40 PM, President Park Jung-hwan will announce an ‘Emergency Decree Regarding Economic Stabilization and Growth.'”

“Emergency Decree?”

“You can think of it as the ‘August 3rd Private Loan Freeze.'”

“What?”

“As of midnight on August 3rd, private loans will be frozen. Creditors will only be able to receive money if they reveal the source of the funds. The reporting deadline is exactly one week. That’s it.”

“You son of a bitch!”

Thud.

Jang Mal-dong was angry and slammed his fist on the small table.

Thud, thud, thud.

After hitting the table several times, the fan he was holding snapped in half.

The August 3rd Private Loan Freeze.

It was an extreme measure taken by President Park Jung-hwan to absorb the private loan market that was encroaching on the institutional financial system.

As a result, loan sharks were unable to properly recover their money, and underground finance collapsed.

For Jang Mal-dong, one of the biggest players among loan sharks, it was the most valuable information.

But that’s how people are.

Who would want to believe that all their assets would be lost in an instant?

The same was true for Jang Mal-dong.

“That’s ridiculous! Does that sound like something that could happen in a normal country?”

“Is this a normal situation right now?”

Jang Mal-dong stopped hitting the table.

But he shook his head again.

“It’s something that should never happen, and should never be allowed to happen.”

“Cheil Jedang, Cheil Wool Textile, Korea Fertilizer, Keumsan Electronics, Daehyun Construction, Korea Aviation, Hyodo Trading. In the October 1969 survey, they were all classified as insolvent companies.”

He knew that.

How could he not know that news when he was working as an information merchant?

“What does that have to do with private loans?”

“They’re implementing anti-market policies to save companies that are considered too big to fail.”

“What!”

“Isn’t that the characteristic of President Park Jung-hwan’s state-led economic growth policy? They’re taking special measures to improve the financial structure of companies.”

That makes sense.

‘Park Jung-hwan would do that. To save the big companies and grow the banks.’

Jang Mal-dong’s strength drained from him, and he leaned against the wall.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

Jang Mal-dong didn’t move for a long time.

The only sound was the ticking of the clock.

‘If that policy is announced, even by any chance, I’ll really go bankrupt in an instant. The brat is right.’

Cold sweat streamed down Jang Mal-dong’s back.

‘Should I believe it or not? I can’t believe it, and I don’t want to believe it. But what if… Ugh.’

His thoughts were complicated.

“Is that information certain?”

After a long time, Jang Mal-dong opened his mouth.

In that short time, his voice was hoarse.

“Believe it or not. That’s up to you.”

Tae-soo didn’t wait any longer.

He got up from his seat and straightened his clothes.

Jang Mal-dong was in a state of turmoil.

“Do you think you can take that promissory note and get away with it?”

Even in the face of sharp threats, Tae-soo doesn’t lose his composure.

Tae-soo was the chief secretary of the Cheongil Group, which ranked first among Korean conglomerates.

Few people knew Jang Mal-dong’s information as well as Tae-soo.

‘Jang Mal-dong’s credit was well-established. To the point that everyone acknowledged it.’

Without credit, it’s impossible to work as an information merchant.

Jang Mal-dong was a person who had protected that like his life.

Why is Jang Mal-dong making such threats?

Tae-soo easily guessed his intentions.

‘He must have lost face. In addition, he intends to dig up information about my backer.’

So, Tae-soo chose a way to take care of his own interests and Jang Mal-dong’s face at the same time.

“Elder, where do you think this top-secret information came from?”

Tae-soo suddenly became serious and pointed his finger at the sky, no, the ceiling, again.

Naturally, Jang Mal-dong also looked up, following Tae-soo’s finger.

Tae-soo nodded heavily.

“How could I have found out such top-secret information? Something that even you, an information merchant, don’t know.”

“Hmm.”

That’s right.

“Of course, someone above told me to secretly convey it to you.”

Jang Mal-dong, an information merchant, doesn’t know top-secret information that Tae-soo, a regular person, knows?

This was a matter of pride.

But someone in the upper echelons, close to the president, had Tae-soo send information to Jang Mal-dong?

This was something that Jang Mal-dong should be grateful to Tae-soo for.

In addition, the risk of Jang Mal-dong harming Tae-soo was reduced because he was wary of the backer in the upper echelons.

“Who is he?”

“You’ll find out soon. You’re an information merchant, after all.”

“Ugh-”

“Just keep this in mind. Someone who can get this top-secret information in advance wants your promissory note. Then what is this promissory note?”

Tae-soo fluttered the promissory note in front of Jang Mal-dong’s eyes.

“Ugh-”

Eventually, Jang Mal-dong gave up.

“Okay, take it. Get out of here! You disgusting bastard!”

“Then I’ll see you next time.”

As Tae-soo turned his back, Jang Mal-dong’s voice was heard.

“If this is real, I won’t forget your favor.”

“Good.”

How come he doesn’t even say a polite word that it’s okay?

Tae-soo readily accepts the favor.

Jang Mal-dong gritted his teeth with snake-like eyes.

“On the other hand, if this is a lie, you and your family won’t be able to leave even a speck of bone dust on this land.”

Tae-soo chuckles at the terrifying threat.

Even waving his hand goodbye.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the big shot of Myeongdong repays his favors with a happy heart.”

Tae-soo leisurely left Jang Mal-dong’s room.

As he had confidently promised, he even got a promissory note from the loan shark.

Clack.

As Tae-soo closed the door and left, Jang Mal-dong shrank like a deflated balloon.

There was no strength in his mumbling.

“Disgusting bastard, venomous bastard, bold bastard, cheeky bastard.”

Gritting.

I don’t know how many times this old man has gritted his teeth today.

“You’re the first crazy bastard like you in Jang Mal-dong’s life, the first!”

Jang Mal-dong let out a hollow laugh.

“He was a guy with a great backer.”

Do you think I can’t find out who that backer is?

Jang Mal-dong gritted his teeth.

“Where’s the coarse salt?”

First, sprinkle some salt!