Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 123

123. 36th. Rampant Behind-the-Scenes Maneuvering (3)

Myeong Se-ho apologized, unaware that Lee Dae-soo was using him to let Shinseong and Taehyun destroy each other.

He snapped his head up at Lee Dae-soo’s sinister laughter.

“What do you mean, Hyung-nim [term of respect for an older brother or male friend]?”

“You know Standard Capital, right?”

“Of course. They’re the ones who started the deal with you, and your eldest grandson works there, doesn’t he?”

Lee Dae-soo nodded, watching the vitality return to Myeong Se-ho’s eyes.

“You know them well. The head of the Korean branch there is Seon Hae-cheol, someone I raised like my own son.”

“Yes?”

Myeong Se-ho felt a jolt as if he’d been electrocuted. Wasn’t this implying that Lee Dae-soo and Standard Capital had a special relationship?

Perhaps it was Lee Dae-soo’s slush fund, as doubt seeped into Myeong Se-ho’s face. Seeing that face, Lee Dae-soo waved his hand.

“It’s not my company. We just traded because our interests aligned. If it were my money bag, would there be any reason to reveal the company? And…”

Lee Dae-soo looked straight into Myeong Se-ho’s eyes and said,

“Is that what’s important right now, my friend? What is important?”

Myeong Se-ho shook his head at Lee Dae-soo’s scolding voice.

Now wasn’t the time to argue about whose company Standard Capital was. What was more important was whether that company would take over Ado Motors, bypassing the Taehyun Group.

“Y-yes, Hyung-nim! You’re absolutely right!”

Others might criticize a member of a chaebol [large South Korean business conglomerate] owner’s family for such a pathetic display, but within the Taehyun Group, the ‘rest of the Myeong family members’—excluding Myeong Jin-ho and his children—were merely servants.

However.

Even those ‘remaining Myeong family members’ had given everything for the Taehyun Group, so they wanted to secure their own fortune. Whether commoners or chaebols, only the size of their greed differed; the greed itself was the same, wasn’t it? Wanting to have as much as one had worked for was human nature.

“Don’t stay on the floor like that; sit on the sofa. It’s uncomfortable to look at you.”

Lee Dae-soo sat Myeong Se-ho on the sofa and said to him,

“Which do you dislike more: Standard Capital taking over Ado Motors, or Jin-ho Hyung-nim’s eldest son smoothly swallowing Taehyun Motors?”

“That, that is…”

Seeing Myeong Se-ho hesitate, Lee Dae-soo said quietly,

“I’ll overturn the table you can’t eat from. Just make sure to take what you can.”

“Hyung-nim?”

Myeong Se-ho shuddered, unable to bear the creeping goosebumps. It was the devil’s whisper, wasn’t it?

“Standard Capital will also throw themselves into it with all their might. But if things don’t go their way, Jin-ho Hyung-nim will take Ado Motors. Even if there’s a monopoly issue, they can’t beat Taehyun with just cars.”

Myeong Se-ho nodded at Lee Dae-soo’s continuing quiet voice. Even if Shinseong jumped in, it was impossible to surpass Taehyun Motors’ stronghold.

“So, what do you want me to do?”

“Didn’t I say it before? Just take what you can and overturn Jin-ho Hyung-nim’s table.”

Lee Dae-soo said, looking at Myeong Se-ho,

“If the situation gets bad, hand over the Taehyun Motors shares that you and your son hold to Jin-ho Hyung-nim’s eldest son.”

“Hyung-nim!”

“Listen to the end, Chairman Myeong. In exchange for those shares, ask for Taehyun Development, Taehyun Oil, Taehyun Petrochemical, and Taehyun Cement. And also, the land bought for building apartments in the Yongsan Station development.”

Myeong Se-ho, who had flared up at the mention of handing over the shares, fell into contemplation after hearing Lee Dae-soo’s full answer. Weren’t those all companies with good cash flow?

“If you keep trying to protect Taehyun Motors, which you can’t protect with your own strength, you and your son will be kicked out of that family as paupers. And that’s while being pointed at by the public.”

“Even so…”

“You’ll be the first among your siblings to separate from the family, so there’s justification. If you take everything you can and leave, wouldn’t your eldest brother also be greatly damaged?”

Lee Dae-soo’s words were correct. If he took only what Lee Dae-soo had mentioned and left, the cost of separating the business would be hundreds of billions of won in cash alone, and trillions of won when including bonds.

If that happened, even if Myeong Jin-ho and Myeong Seon-gu swallowed Taehyun Motors, the possibility of them also taking Ado Motors would be significantly reduced.

“Then, will you help me, Hyung-nim?”

“If you do as I say, what can’t I help with? You know better than anyone that there are no empty words in this room, right?”

Lee Dae-soo asked back, looking at Myeong Se-ho without a hint of wavering. Even if he didn’t tell the ‘truth behind the scenes,’ he didn’t lie, so there was no hesitation in Lee Dae-soo’s eyes.

Myeong Se-ho, who had been contemplating, nodded.

“I understand, Hyung-nim. No matter what happens, you must acquire Ado Motors.”

“I understand. If Standard has a hard time on its own, I’ll even sell the underwear I’m wearing to jump into the Ado Motors acquisition. But if you don’t step up first, my words will be nullified. Understand?”

“Don’t worry. If I can’t have it, I’ll destroy it and come out.”

Lee Dae-soo and Myeong Se-ho looked at each other and firmly shook the hands they extended.

***

“Yes, Grandfather. Yes. …I understand. Once the acquisition bidding policy is decided, we will also move. Yes.”

Seon Hae-cheol released the breath he had been holding as he put down the receiver.

“How did it go?”

“It went well. He even wrote up a contract with Chairman Myeong Se-ho and stamped it? If it becomes difficult for us to acquire Ado Motors…”

Seon Hae-cheol sighed lightly as he was informed that Myeong Se-ho had even created a contract and stamped it, according to the scenario 짜n [Korean slang for ‘planned’ or ‘schemed’] by his grandfather and them.

“It seems the Chairman has a lot of pent-up feelings. 100 billion won back then is almost several trillion won now, so how could he not…”

When they were 짜nning the Ado Motors acquisition scenario, Seon Hae-cheol had heard from his grandfather that the money their family had lost due to the 8.3 loan freeze was 100 billion won back then. Back then, a bag of ramen was 20 won, so it was no different from losing several trillion won, as Seon Hae-cheol said.

Nevertheless, their family received permission to establish Haedong Merchant Bank instead of a commercial bank as compensation, and Haedong Corporation and Haedong Merchant Bank remained unlisted, so it was something to grind their teeth over.

Calming the anger that surged up for a moment, he said calmly to Seon Hae-cheol,

“A gentleman’s revenge is not too late even after 10 years. It’s a revenge that’s been brewing for over 20 years, so he has to do at least that much.”

Whether it’s Shinseong or Taehyun, even if it’s not clean money, they’re the ones who used our family’s precious money like it was their own pocket money.

Shinseong, Taehyun… This time, I asked Grandfather to handle the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, but from now on, I will directly stab them in the back.

***

Even as Lee Seong-min and Lee Dae-soo were biding their time, time flowed quickly.

Even in that rapidly flowing time, large and small companies collapsed one after another, but Shinseong Group’s Jang Ho-geon and Taehyun Group’s Myeong Jin-ho and Myeong Seon-gu were sharply at odds over Ado Motors.

“How much did you receive?”

“1.4 trillion won, Chairman.”

Jang Ho-geon’s expression soured at Lee Soo-han’s report.

Money that would have been over 1.5 trillion won if it hadn’t been converted to won was reduced to 1.4 trillion won after deducting exchange fees and taxes?

He couldn’t bear the situation of losing money when he needed to increase it even by a penny to acquire Ado Motors. Jang Ho-geon couldn’t bear the bubbling anger and slammed his desk.

“They give extra points for paying in won! Is that even 말이 되는 소리 [Does that even make sense]?!”

Jang Ho-geon felt like his insides were twisting. Restricting the exchange to commercial banks, and all the commercial banks applying the same exchange rate and fees as if they had colluded, taking over a trillion won!

“The government and the Blue House [South Korean equivalent of the White House] ordered it. As much as public funds are being injected on a large scale, the chaebols must also show some sacrifice… I’m sorry, Chairman.”

“So, it’s not a dead power yet… Those 찢어죽일 놈들 [bastards I want to tear apart and kill].”

Jang Ho-geon sighed, looking at Lee Soo-han, who was bowing his head. Jang Ho-geon, who had only enjoyed the sweet taste of 관치금융 [government-controlled finance] except for the financial real-name system, was not used to the bitter taste he was seeing this time.

“And… I’ve also found out who’s behind it.”

“Who is it?”

Seeing Jang Ho-geon’s eyes, which were sharply 날 [sharp/keen], Lee Soo-han said cautiously,

“…It’s the Taehyun Group.”

“What? Taehyun?”

Jang Ho-geon’s face turned red as he looked at Lee Soo-han, who couldn’t answer in words and bowed his head.

“That 망할 영감 [damn old man]… Where did he get such a trick…!”

It was infuriating the more he thought about it. To mobilize the political and business circles and even the creditors to cut down even a penny more of the 1.7 billion dollars they held!

“Soo-han.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Who was the one from Taehyun who suggested locking up money with the Hadong Steel Mill construction?”

“It’s President Myeong Seon-gu.”

Hearing Lee Soo-han’s report, Jang Ho-geon gritted his teeth.

“That 곰탱이 [bear]-like guy is good at 구르는 재주 [getting things done]. I want to pull out his 쓸개 [gallbladder] and chew it up!”

Jang Ho-geon ground his tightly closed teeth so hard that the sound echoed to his head. That 무식하게 생긴 곰탱이 [bear-like guy who looks uneducated] using tricks like a 구미호 [nine-tailed fox]!

Jang Ho-geon, who had been breathing roughly, calmed his breathing.

“Giving extra points for won payments is also his trick, right?”

“It’s highly likely. Just the fact that Taehyun Group has locked up its funds in the Hadong Steel Mill construction is enough to make him no less than me or the Chairman…”

Lee Soo-han bit his lip, unable to overcome the anger that spread throughout his body. In his life, wasn’t this humiliation the first since he was 당했던 [humiliated] by Go Seung-ju with the department store consulting case?

He bit so hard that his lip tore and blood flowed out. Blood droplets fell under Lee Soo-han’s bowed head, and Jang Ho-geon flinched at the sight of the blood droplets falling on the floor.

“Calm down, Soo-han. How can my right-hand man easily see blood? Wipe it quickly.”

At Jang Ho-geon’s urging, Lee Soo-han took out a handkerchief from his inner pocket, turned his body to the side, and wiped his lips.

“…I’m sorry, Chairman.”

Seeing Lee Soo-han, who straightened his posture and bowed his head, Jang Ho-geon waved his hand.

“It’s all over. Meet the 신문쟁이 [newspaper reporters] and 방송쟁이 [broadcasting reporters] right now and make them loudly proclaim that if Taehyun Motors acquires Ado Motors, the domestic automobile market will be played in Taehyun Group’s hands. Also, raise the issue of 하청업체 [subcontractor] exploitation.”

하청업체 [subcontractor] exploitation was the same for Shinseong, but it was advantageous for the side that 날리는 선공 [launches the first attack] right now. While Taehyun Group was 방심했다고 [careless] that they had cut down 100 billion won of their money, Jang Ho-geon was planning to 날릴 카운터펀치 [launch a counterpunch].

“I’ve already prepared it, Chairman. If you just give me the 컨펌 [confirmation], I’ll meet with the directors of the broadcasting stations and the editors-in-chief or columnists of the newspapers except for Hanyang Ilbo right now.”

Was it because the fight had started? Flames soared from Lee Soo-han’s eyes. Seeing his eyes, Jang Ho-geon nodded.

“Whether it’s money, alcohol, or women, it’s okay to spend as much as you want. Make them lose their 정신줄 [mind/sanity] and act as our dogs.”

No more behind-the-scenes maneuvering was meaningless. From now on, they had to 치러야 전면전 [wage a full-scale war].

***

I went to work early in the morning and sat on the sofa, looking at the newspapers that the employees had 미리 세팅해 [set up in advance] one by one.

“햐아… They’re having a 신나게 싸움 [really fun fight].”

I shook my head as I put down the last newspaper.

Shinseong and Taehyun had 전부 전세 [leased the entire page] on the newspaper pages, filled with articles that 신나게 씹고 뜯고 맛보고 즐기는 [were thoroughly tearing apart, chewing up, tasting, and enjoying] the other party. How much money did they 퍼부은 [pour] in alcohol, 꽂아준 [give] money, and 붙여준 [attach] women to the 신문쟁이 [newspaper reporters] and 방송쟁이 [broadcasting reporters] from both sides….

Unlike my maternal family, GK Group, which was turning its eyes away from this fight and focusing on debt reduction, someone put their hand on me after I finished 감상 [appreciating] the 소름 끼치는 여론전 [spine-chilling public opinion war] of the two groups.

“흐익 [gasp]!”

Surprised, I 벌떡 일어나 [jumped up] and turned around to see Seon Hae-cheol.

“짜식 [kid], why are you so 놀라고 [surprised]?”

“Ah, Uncle.”

Seon Hae-cheol smiled 피식 [smirkingly] at me, then sat down on the sofa and looked at the newspaper. He laughed 낄낄 [giggled] throughout the newspaper, and he put down the last newspaper.

“They’re doing 지랄 [acting crazy]. Other groups are 죽어나고 [dying] because they don’t have money, but how much did the 장 씨 [Jang family] and 명 씨 [Myeong family] 처바른 [spend] in the newspaper? 쯧쯧 [tsk tsk].”

Seon Hae-cheol shook his head, his face full of 한심 [pity] and 경멸 [contempt]. I asked Seon Hae-cheol.

“What are your 소감 [thoughts]?”

“소감 [thoughts]?”

“The two families are 싸우는 빌려서 신문 [fighting by renting out the newspapers].”

Seon Hae-cheol, who was 매만지던 턱 [stroking his chin], sighed.

“Newspaper articles are 해석하는 반대로 [interpreted in the opposite way]. This 정도 [degree]?”

It was a Seon Hae-cheol-like answer. Seon Hae-cheol said to me, who nodded.

“The article that Shinseong, which is 자동차 꼴등 [last place in automobiles], will properly 건사 [manage] Ado Motors is an article that 지지하는 [supports] Taehyun. Taehyun Motors is ahead of Shinseong Motors in terms of technology, production capacity, and financial power.”

“That’s true.”

Seon Hae-cheol continued to speak, looking at me, who was 심드렁하게 대답 [answering indifferently].

“And the article that if Taehyun Motors acquires Ado Motors, the number of car models will be 적어지고 [reduced] and the price will be 정할 제 맘대로 [set as they please] is an article that 지지하는 [supports] Shinseong.”

“Even if Shinseong acquires Ado Motors and merges its existing automobile business, it will not be able to 넘어서는 [surpass] Taehyun. Right?”

“So, newspaper articles should be 해석해야 반대로 [interpreted in the opposite way], 흐흐 [hehe].”

Seon Hae-cheol, who was 웃던 낮게 [laughing softly], got up from his seat, put water in the electric pot, and returned to the sofa. I asked him something else.

“Then, what will happen to us?”

“It could get better, or it could get worse. Do you know why?”

I raised the corners of my mouth, seeing Seon Hae-cheol’s 웃는 눈매 [smiling eyes].

“It can give the image that it is a foreign company, so it can do 선진 경영 [advanced management], but Shinseong or Taehyun will 떠들 [make noise] that it is 애국 [patriotic] for them to acquire it.”

“That’s right. It’s not for nothing that a 못된 친모 [bad biological mother] is better than a 착한 계모 [kind stepmother]. Aren’t Koreans people who are 경기를 일으키는 [sensitive] if they are 외세 [foreign forces], even after experiencing the colonial era?”

Seon Hae-cheol shrugged his shoulders and got up from his seat, seeing the 김이 올라오는 주전자 [steam rising from the kettle]. He said, putting 홍차 잎 [black tea leaves] in the teapot.

“The atmosphere is 유리한 저쪽에 [advantageous to them], so it’s no use just changing the chips and sitting at the table. The 딜러 [dealers] are all 편 신성 [on Shinseong’s side], Taehyun.”

The table where Ado Motors is 걸린 [at stake] is not an 만만한 도박판 [easy gambling game]. Even if you change the 칩 [chips] of 2 billion dollars to won, aren’t all the 인수입찰 심사단 [acquisition bidding review board], who are the 딜러 [dealers] of this 판 [game], 애완견 [pet dogs] of Shinseong and Taehyun?

“So, we prepared too. Grandfather.”

But behind us is a strong sponsor called ‘Haedong Group’s 2nd Chairman, Lee Dae-soo.’

Grandfather, who has a 넓고 두터운 인맥 [wide and thick network] as much as Myeong Jin-ho and Jang Ho-geon.

The moment we 등판시키는 [bring out] Grandfather at the most 유리한 타이밍 [advantageous timing] for us, the 심사단 [review board] will 밀어줄 [push] us good 패 [cards].

“That’s right. Because we have the Chairman, we can 먹을 [eat/acquire] Ado Motors. But you’re not going to 만족할 [be satisfied] with that, are you?”

“Of course not. Even if it’s a 도박판 설계한 뒤에서 [behind the gambling game design] we, we will 확실히 청구 [definitely charge] the 수수료 [fee] that we 불필요하게 바꾼 칩 [unnecessarily changed chips] to Shinseong, Taehyun, and 심사단 [review board].”

Thanks to Shinseong and Taehyun, the Ado Motors acquisition bidding started faster than history, so Standard Capital’s dollars were changed to won, and we saw a 기회손실 [opportunity loss] of over 1 trillion won. If the foreign exchange crisis starts, won’t we be able to get up to 2,000 won per dollar?

So, the 환전 수수료 [exchange fee] I paid was 당연히 [naturally] much more than 1 trillion. It’s a fact that only I and our group know right now.

I thought about the 수수료 [fee] that I could 뜯어낼 [rip off] from Shinseong and Taehyun, and I held the 찻주전자 [teapot] that Seon Hae-cheol brought and 가득 채웠다 차 [filled it with tea]. Thinking that it was the 수수료 [fee] that I would 뜯어낼 [rip off] from them.