Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 156

156. 45th. New Year’s Day, Warm Yet Cold (3)

How long had it been? Jang Ho-geon’s groaning subsided.

“I understand. I’ll discuss it with Chief Lee and let you know. Let’s stop talking about work. You should go back with Ha-yeon and get some rest. Aren’t you supposed to be enjoying your honeymoon? Haha.”

Seeing Jang Ho-geon smiling and offering well wishes, he seemed pleased. I also smiled back at Jang Ho-geon.

“Understood, Father-in-law.”

I left the study with Jang Ho-geon and went down to the first floor. Jang Ha-yeon looked at us with a slightly sulky expression and said,

“What were you two talking about that was so interesting you stayed up there so long, Father?”

“Sorry, my dear daughter. I was just giving my son-in-law some advice on how to work hard, and I lost track of time, haha.”

At Jang Ho-geon’s hearty laughter, Jang Ha-yeon’s expression softened, and she chuckled.

“Oh, Father. Sung-min has already proven what an excellent manager he is.”

When Jang Ha-yeon took my side, Jang Ho-geon exclaimed with a stern expression.

“Oh, you’re already taking your husband’s side? A businessman’s life never ends until it ends, Ha-yeon. You must constantly explore and strive endlessly, mustn’t you? Now, go home for today.”

“Okay, Father.”

“I’ll see you again next time, Father-in-law.”

We said our goodbyes to Jang Ho-geon in front of the main door, opened it, and stepped outside.

“What were you talking about with Father that was so interesting?”

“This and that? Department stores are also in the real estate business, but they also have to capture people’s hearts…”

As Jang Ho-geon began to elaborate on the ‘essence and philosophy of the business’ that he had repeatedly emphasized to executives in his past life, Jang Ha-yeon sighed lightly.

“Oh, Father. I could have told you that.”

“Father-in-law thinks of me as more than just a son-in-law, so he told me directly, haha.”

“I suppose so, heehee.”

As we walked through the garden, laughing pleasantly, we encountered one familiar face and one unfamiliar face.

“What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean, what are we doing here? It’s New Year’s Day; shouldn’t we pay our respects to Father?”

Jang Su-yeon launched a preemptive strike, and Jang Ha-yeon countered. As the two women’s gazes clashed in the air, both I and the thug-like guy next to Jang Su-yeon could only offer awkward smiles.

‘That must be Park Nam-joon.’

I never thought I would actually see Park Nam-joon, whom I had only heard about.

In my past life, he was a psychopath who had his children beat his wife, driving her to suicide, but in this life, he was destined to be completely controlled by Jang Su-yeon. I internally mocked Park Nam-joon’s future and quickly stopped Jang Ha-yeon.

“Stop it. It’s New Year’s Day.”

“You stop it too. She’s still your older sister…”

Only after Park Nam-joon and I intervened did Jang Ha-yeon and Jang Su-yeon’s glares gradually soften. I stepped forward and extended my hand to Park Nam-joon.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Park Nam-joon. I’m Lee Sung-min, Director of Standard Capital and Strategic Consultant for Haedong Group.”

As my introduction ended, Park Nam-joon raised his eyebrows and slightly pouted his lower lip. Jang Ha-yeon’s face hardened at his openly dismissive expression.

Park Nam-joon opened his mouth, unfazed.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Lee Sung-min. I’m Park Nam-joon, a partner lawyer at Mujin Law Firm.”

‘Just because his wife is a *chaebol* [family-owned conglomerate] does he think he’s a *chaebol* too? He’s just living off being a lackey for the *chaebols*, yet he’s acting so arrogant?’

Mujin Law Firm may be one of the two major law firms in this country, but compared to Minwoo Law Firm, it’s like a sewer rat. Aren’t they just brokers for foreign capital and even represent Japanese war criminal companies?

I suppressed the fire rising within me, gave Park Nam-joon a cold smile, and then squeezed the hand he offered with all my might. Taste the hand that was trained by Park Tae-jin!

“Agh!”

Park Nam-joon screamed and lowered his body at the sudden pressure. I didn’t release his hand and looked down at his distorted face, raising my eyebrows with an indifferent expression.

“Oh, I guess my handshake was too enthusiastic. I have a habit of squeezing hands hard when I’m happy to see someone, haha.”

I laughed, making excuses, and then released Park Nam-joon’s hand. Jang Su-yeon glared at me and Jang Ha-yeon with a flushed face, and Jang Ha-yeon’s face was so red as she tried to hold back her laughter that it looked like it would explode.

“Get some tonic for your brother-in-law, honey. But… I guess your husband doesn’t need any tonic? I’ll be going now, heehee.”

Jang Ha-yeon mocked Jang Su-yeon, linked arms with me, and I gave Jang Su-yeon a light bow with a smile full of mockery before heading down to the underground garage. But…

‘I really hope she’s not serious about not getting me any tonic?’

***

Around the time the battle of nerves between the Lee Sung-min-Jang Ha-yeon couple and the Jang Su-yeon-Park Nam-joon couple in the garden ended in a complete victory for the Lee Sung-min-Jang Ha-yeon couple, Jang Ho-geon was on the phone with Lee Soo-han in his study.

“…How is he?”

[He’s more than qualified to be the Chairman’s son-in-law, haha.]

“I thought so too, haha.”

Jang Ho-geon’s face filled with satisfaction at Lee Soo-han’s hearty laughter from the receiver. The eldest son-in-law had come up with the exact same plan they had devised, hadn’t he?

[Still… are you sure? It’s a business you’ve been pushing for a long time…]

Jang Ho-geon’s expression turned resolute at Lee Soo-han’s trailing voice.

“It’s a waste of effort, but no matter how hard we try to save Shinseong Motors, it’s like fondling a dead child’s balls. The Ado Motors merger failed, so we have no choice but to cut off what needs to be cut off.”

Jang Ho-geon no longer had any lingering attachments to the automotive business that he had cherished so much.

No, he had attachments, but he had to cut it off. He couldn’t allow the electronic and distribution arms of Shinseong Group to collapse in succession due to the 3 trillion won in bad debt that had surged due to the automotive business.

[Still, we’ve structured the governance around Shinseong Corporation and Shinseong Life Insurance, and we’re even pushing for Shinseong Life Insurance to go public, so the automotive business will still fetch a good price in the end. Don’t be disheartened, Chairman.]

Jang Ho-geon wore a bitter smile at Lee Soo-han’s consolation.

“I understand. If we hold the bonds, how much of my sister and Ho-min’s shares can we acquire?”

[If we join hands with the bank presidents and pressure them, we can acquire up to 20 percent in total, hehe.]

Jang Ho-geon said to Lee Soo-han, who was laughing sinisterly.

“It’s quite amazing. It’s as if he could see right through us; the numbers are spot on.”

Jang Ho-geon couldn’t show it in front of his young son-in-law, but he was chilled by the plan Lee Sung-min had presented.

It had only been a few days since he and Lee Soo-han had discussed taking 20 percent of Shinseong Life Insurance shares from Jang Ho-min and Jang Ho-kyung, and then putting up his own 20 percent of shares under his real name…

[It must be a coincidence. The requirements for a major shareholder excluding the owner are 5 percent, so I think Director Lee must have thought he should leave that much behind.]

“That could be true.”

Jang Ho-geon nodded, humming lightly at Lee Soo-han’s interpretation.

“Start tomorrow. Meet with the bank presidents and tell them to squeeze my sister and Ho-min dry, hahaha.”

Even as he laughed, Jang Ho-geon couldn’t shake his unease about Lee Sung-min.

***

The next morning.

Unlike usual, I went to the main house in Samcheong-dong with Jang Ha-yeon for a meal.

“Seeing our new daughter-in-law’s face makes this old man feel like he’s flying, euhehe.”

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

Throughout the meal, the smile never left my grandfather’s face. Lee Myung-jin, Go Seung-ju, Park Tae-jin, and Seon Hae-cheol, who were also eating with us, were also smiling.

After the meal, my grandfather said.

“New daughter-in-law, I’m sorry, but would it be alright if I talked to your husband for a bit before you leave?”

“Yes?”

“He’s been out and about for the past few days. I’m curious to know if he’s getting along well with the vice presidents, euhehe.”

Jang Ha-yeon blinked and smiled as she looked at her grandfather, who was chuckling.

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“Thank you, hehe.”

After the meal, we sent Jang Ha-yeon, Go Seung-ju, and Lee Myung-jin away and went up to the study. My grandfather sat at his desk and looked at me, who was sitting on the sofa, and asked.

“What’s the reason you called late last night to see me?”

“Father-in-law said he would like Haedong Motors to take over Shinseong Corporation’s automotive business division. So…”

As I recounted the stories I had shared with Jang Ho-geon in his study without leaving anything out, the corners of my grandfather’s mouth twisted.

“That’s quite the bait your father-in-law is using, hehe. What do you two think?”

At my grandfather’s question, Seon Hae-cheol took a moment to drink his tea, organize his thoughts, and then opened his mouth.

“They won’t be able to resist taking it. Shinseong Corporation’s automotive business division has increased its debt by 3 trillion won while building the Busan plant. Considering the financial costs, they’re selling each car at a loss of millions of won, so they’ll want to get rid of it as soon as possible.”

As Seon Hae-cheol inferred, Shinseong Corporation’s automotive business division was losing more money the more cars they sold. So, they had to cut it off somehow in order for Shinseong Corporation to survive.

“What does Director Park think?”

Park Tae-jin, who had been promoted to Managing Director of Haedong Group’s General Strategy Division this year, looked at his grandfather and said.

“My thoughts are no different from my brother’s. More than anything, Shinseong Corporation is the holding company for Shinseong Group’s electronics and distribution arms. Even if it’s at a loss, Chairman Jang Ho-geon will cut off Shinseong Corporation’s automotive business division to prevent the poison from spreading to the entire distribution and electronics arms.”

Is it true that rank makes the person? Park Tae-jin’s bigger picture was also correct. If Shinseong Corporation’s automotive business division was left as it was, the 3 trillion won in bad debt that had increased due to the automotive business would cause the distribution and electronics arms controlled by Jang Ho-geon to wither.

‘Originally, Jang Ho-geon would have gambled on acquiring Ado Motors. After that fell through, he desperately tried to liquidate the automotive business. If this is the butterfly effect, then it’s a butterfly effect.’

What had changed was the speed of the changes in Shinseong Life Insurance’s shareholding structure.

Jang Ho-min and Jang Ho-kyung both held Shinseong Life Insurance through their affiliates, and Jang Ho-geon also held 50 percent under his real name and nominee accounts, so it was low on the priority list for attack even in a civil war.

But.

Now, as history was being twisted by me, it seemed that Jang Ho-geon had decided to liquidate Shinseong Motors much faster. If so, then I just had to take steps to match Jang Ho-geon.

“Whenever your father-in-law throws away the shares, we can just pick them up, hehe.”

I heard my grandfather’s sinister laughter in my ears as I organized my thoughts internally. I quickly snapped out of it and replied to my grandfather.

“That’s right, Grandfather. Starting with those shares, I will acquire the shares of Jang Ho-kyung and Jang Ho-min as well.”

To acquire Jang Ho-min and Jang Ho-kyung’s Shinseong Life Insurance shares meant to acquire the companies of the two people who held those Shinseong Life Insurance shares. My grandfather chuckled as he looked at me.

“Hehe, the Jangs have taken in the wrong son-in-law. They’ve taken in a son-in-law who will devour the family, euhehe.”

After chuckling, my grandfather finished talking about Shinseong Life Insurance shares and asked something else.

“Then, what are you thinking of doing with the automotive business? If what you proposed to your father-in-law comes to fruition, will you acquire it?”

“If Father-in-law clears the debt, there’s no reason not to acquire it. Once the debt is cleared, making a profit will be instantaneous.”

Following my lead, Seon Hae-cheol also looked at his grandfather and opened his mouth.

“The effect of debt forgiveness has been proven with Haedong Motors, Chairman. We are steadily accumulating cash by selling off the affiliated subsidiaries under Haedong Motors to the heavy industry sector.”

“I also think we should acquire it, Chairman. No matter what anyone says, the automotive industry is a place where you compete on scale. Furthermore, I’ve heard that the Busan plant is small in scale, but its productivity is good compared to its size thanks to the introduction of new equipment.”

As Park Tae-jin joined in and called for the acquisition, my grandfather nodded.

“I understand. Myung-jin also said to leave the automotive business to Chairman Geum, so Sung-min, you should tell Chairman Geum when the time comes.”

Unlike my grandfather, who gave the order calmly, I was speechless.

The automotive business eats up hundreds of billions of won without batting an eye, whether it’s developing new cars or building factories. Even so, the chances of success are uncertain, so if you make a bad investment, you either have to withdraw at a loss like Jang Ho-geon or ruin the entire group like Miryong Group, but he’s going to entrust such an automotive business to me?

“Grandfather?”

To me, who was a little surprised, my grandfather said with a gentle smile.

“I’m entrusting it to you because I believe that with your skills, you’ll make Haedong Motors the best car company in this country, at least. More than anything, wasn’t it also what your late father wanted? The dream of making cars that roam every corner of the world.”

More than showing his belief in me, the words that he would entrust my late father’s dream to me made my heart flutter.

“Ch, Chairman?”

Amidst Seon Hae-cheol and Park Tae-jin calling out in trembling voices, my grandfather said calmly.

“Back then, this old man wasn’t confident in a big business like the automotive business. I had my feet in both sunny and shady lands in a mediocre way.”

Shame was cast over my grandfather’s face. It was already amazing that he had weathered the harsh years with his feet in those two places… I felt a lump in my throat as I looked at my grandfather.

After a moment of silence, my grandfather took a breath as if to shake off his resentment and said.

“But now that I know that Sung-min is the pillar that firmly supports our family, what is there to fear? If the conditions are right and we don’t do it, I won’t have the face to see our eldest son and daughter-in-law who went ahead. Yes, that’s right.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at my grandfather, who was wearing a warm smile. I couldn’t be more grateful that my grandfather had understood my father’s dream, even belatedly.

“So, even if you meet Chairman Geum, speak with your chest puffed out. Think of it as meeting him on my behalf. Do you understand? Hehe.”

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

After paying my respects, I raised my head and looked at my grandfather. It was the first time that my grandfather’s smile looked so relieved today.