Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 217

217. 61st. The Great Repercussions (3)

Having returned to New York and completed preparations, I arrived at the accident site with Park Tae-jin, Ko Seung-ju, Shin Ho-jin, Seon Hae-cheol, and the rest of the Standard Capital employees, along with the New York representatives from the Haedong Group, and… the GK Group’s American branch employees, led by Oh Hyun-seok.

“Volunteers?”

“Yes. We all live here in America, earning money. So, we wanted to help in any way we could.”

A rescue worker, seeing the nearly one hundred men, including myself, fully equipped and standing there, along with the relief supplies unloading from several trucks behind us and the wireless internet relay vehicle being set up, grabbed my hand.

“Thank you so much! I’ll tell you your assigned areas and tasks now! Hey!”

This volunteer work is the perfect opportunity to put Haedong Group, GK Group, and Standard Capital in the good graces of the American people. I won’t waste it.

***

It’s been a month since we started volunteering in the rescue efforts.

Having been trained by the rescue workers, we were, without fail, busy clearing debris and helping to transport the injured, doing our best to manage the accident site.

“I wonder if everyone’s going to be okay.”

Oh Hyun-seok sighed at my worry while we were taking a break.

“It feels like just yesterday we were seeing them in the same building… It’s horrifying.”

“Before coming, I told only those who really wanted to come, so they have to bear it to some extent, but it really is terrible. Even today, some of the Standard Capital employees were vomiting and making a fuss.”

Shin Ho-jin, who was drinking water next to Seon Hae-cheol, nodded in agreement, also wearing a bitter expression in his dust-covered state.

“Representative Seon is right, Chairman Lee. Some of our American branch employees fainted after seeing the bodies of the deceased and were taken to the hospital.”

Managing the accident site is exhausting not only physically but also mentally. How many people can endure seeing corpses with only parts of their bodies remaining?

“It seems like a good thing the rescue workers are only having the female employees take care of the injured.”

“Tae-jin is right, Seong-min. If the female employees had seen the bodies of the deceased, they would have had heart attacks on the spot.”

“That’s probably true. It’s a lot for the men to handle too…”

Nodding as I looked at the bitter expressions of Park Tae-jin and Ko Seung-ju, I asked about the most important thing to change the mood.

“Ah! How is the Aqua Wave performing?”

Shin Ho-jin, who had been blinking for a moment, quickly replied.

“Aside from the fact that we only released a small quantity and that it’s a bit large, it’s been easy to process documents on-site. They say it’s good that they can handle on-site photography all at once.”

‘Just as I expected.’

To be precise, the Aqua Wave is like a tablet PC. If you want to emphasize portability, a smartphone, which is more than half the size, is perfect, so I nodded with a calm expression.

“We can expect the market reaction to be about this much. We can release the Aqua Wave smartphone in June of next year.”

Having confirmed the reaction to the Aqua Wave through this volunteer rescue activity, I finished my break and returned to the site, where I had to face the reporters while clearing debris.

“Are you Lee Seong-min?”

“Yes, I am Lee Seong-min.”

“I’m Hersh Franklin from News Corp.”

“I’m Jonathan Anderson from CNN.”

Numerous reporters flocked to me, and Hersh Franklin asked the question as their representative.

“You triggered the donations and relief efforts from Koreans and Korean-Americans for this disaster. What motivated you to step forward?”

News Corp is a leading conservative media outlet in the Anglo-American world. In response to Hersh Franklin’s question, I cleared my throat and opened my mouth.

“Korea was able to achieve both economic growth, represented by the Miracle on the Han River [referring to South Korea’s rapid economic growth after the Korean War], and political growth, namely the achievement of democracy, through the help of the United States. I couldn’t turn a blind eye to the tragedy of our invaluable ally, so I stepped forward to help in any small way I could.”

“I see. However, I heard that you are not an American citizen with American citizenship, and more than that, you are the third-generation owner of Haedong Group, a large Korean corporation. Did you have any other intentions?”

It sounded like a threat, warning me that it wouldn’t be fun if I had come to volunteer with shallow intentions, but I continued to answer with a calm expression.

“Haedong Group, as well as the Haedong Heavy Industries Group, which has been separated, are earning a lot of foreign currency in the American market. It may be much less than what we have earned, but I cannot deny that we are showing at least a token of our sincerity to the United States, which opened the market for us. However.”

I paused for a moment and looked at Hersh Franklin before launching a counterattack.

“I think it’s wrong of you to suspect other intentions in a place where people are hurt and people have died. As you can see, our Haedong Group, including myself, and the employees of Standard Capital, where I work, are covered in dust and sweating to save even one more person if possible. But you, reporter… you’re not sweating a single drop?”

“M-Mr. Lee?”

Hersh Franklin, his face flushed red, glared at me, but I still had something to say.

“There’s an Eastern proverb that says one action is better than a hundred words. I think it would be good if you, reporter, who isn’t sweating a single drop, would join us in sweating, but…”

My answer, which told him to shut up and join us in the rescue operation instead of leisurely looking for something to criticize, made Hersh Franklin’s face flush red. The other reporters looked at him with mocking expressions.

‘Henry and Isaac kept their promise well. 120 percent.’

I only asked them to do interviews with American media reporters, but since such an aggro-seeker was included, I achieved more than expected. After that, I continued to do interviews about the volunteer work before returning to the site with Park Tae-jin, Seon Hae-cheol, Shin Ho-jin, Ko Seung-ju, and Oh Hyun-seok, covered in dust.

***

After Lee Seong-min’s interview was released, Koreans and Korean-Americans residing in the United States began to donate or volunteer for rescue operations one by one. Wasn’t this an opportunity to build ties with Haedong Group or Standard Capital? Whether it was for employment or business.

Although their purposes were different, the donations and volunteer work of Koreans for the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks received attention from major American media outlets, and the articles they covered made their way to the White House.

[Koreans Sharing in America’s Grief.

From the day the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred until today, hundreds of Koreans and Korean-Americans have been volunteering at the New York accident site. Among them, ‘John Seong-min Lee,’ the third-generation owner of Haedong Group, a large Korean corporation, and an executive at Standard Capital, has been coming every day for a month without fail…]

George Walker Bush, the President of the United States, who was looking at the morning newspaper, widened his eyes at the name Standard Capital.

“Standard Capital…?”

He couldn’t forget that it was the place that had pushed over $2 billion in election funds to himself and the Republican Party during the last presidential election. Hadn’t Triumph and Chase Manhattan told him the source of the funding? Under the condition of confidentiality.

Bush immediately took out his cell phone and dialed a number.

“Bush here, Henry.”

[What’s the matter, Mr. President?]

“I saw today’s newspaper, and the background of a friend named John Seong-min Lee from Standard Capital is unusual. Our information says that friend is a key talent at Standard Capital… is that true?”

[Yes. From what I’ve heard, he’s the most watched figure within Standard Capital. Also…]

Bush’s eyes widened as he heard the reason why Lee Seong-min seemed so determined to work at the accident site.

“So that’s what happened. Hmm…”

Even if it was a coincidence, the chaebol [a large Korean business conglomerate] chairman was directly on the scene out of guilt for only saving the lives of his uncle and his acquaintances… As expected of Bush, who was said to be far from a politician but a decent person, he couldn’t hide his admiration.

Bush, who had been quietly exclaiming, composed himself and opened his mouth.

“I heard that people from Standard Capital, Haedong Group, and GK Group are also coming to the accident site. Is that correct?”

[Yes. Both sides are taking turns coming now, but they are not able to work directly, so they are not sparing financial support for managing the accident site, saying they are sorry.]

Bush’s eyes widened as he heard the amount of support funds related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks that Standard Capital, Haedong Group, and GK Group had donated from Henry.

“I’m grateful and sorry. I’d like to invite John Seong-min Lee and other Koreans to the White House soon, but…”

Bush, who trailed off, shook his head vigorously.

“No! I think I should go myself. I’ll go to New York right now.”

[M-Mr. President?]

Bush, not paying attention to Henry’s bewildered voice, put down the receiver and boarded the Marine One helicopter parked at the White House helicopter landing pad.

***

While I, Park Tae-jin, Seon Hae-cheol, Ko Seung-ju, Shin Ho-jin, and Oh Hyun-seok were working hard at the rescue site, we were called to the rescue site command headquarters by a rescue worker.

‘Could it be?’

To meet that George Bush, who was called ‘only good at messing things up’ and ‘the president who showed why America is great in a bad way’… My mouth dropped open, but I quickly composed myself at the aides’ gestures.

“Who is John Seong-min Lee?”

“I am John Seong-min Lee, Mr. President.”

George Bush smiled brightly as he looked at me, who had stepped forward.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Lee. I heard that your company, Haedong Electronics’ Aqua Wave, played a big role in managing this situation. Is that true?”

“Yes… While doing rescue work, there were many things that had to be delivered to the site, so I urgently set up a wireless internet relay vehicle to exchange photos and documents with the command headquarters in real-time.”

The Aqua Wave is not yet an officially released product. It was a last resort because the existing communication network could not be used, but Bush smiled.

“I see. As the President of the great United States of America, on behalf of the United States, I sincerely thank you for your thoughtful and generous consideration.”

I was about to extend my hand after seeing George Bush’s outstretched hand, but I stopped when I saw my hand, which was covered in dust and had blood clotting from the scratches caused by clearing debris.

“Why are you stopping the handshake?”

“My hand is too…”

While I was trailing off, George Bush grabbed my hand.

“This hand is the noblest hand. Isn’t it proof that the person in the highest place has dedicated himself in the lowest place?”

I had heard that he was a decent person in private, but to hear these words from George Bush… I was utterly amazed.

“Thank you, Mr. President.”

“Mr. Park, Mr. Ko, Mr. Seon, Mr. Shin, and Mr. Oh, you have worked hard as well. I would like to express my gratitude to Korea, the United States of America’s ally, for your sincere dedication.”

Bush, who called out the names of Park Tae-jin, Ko Seung-ju, Seon Hae-cheol, Shin Ho-jin, and Oh Hyun-seok one by one, even if it was just by their last names, shook hands with them amid the flashes of reporters and cameramen, along with words of gratitude.

“I will never forget the friendship that you, Standard Capital, Haedong Group, and GK Group have shown to the United States of America so far. I promise as the President of the great United States of America.”

It was hard to dismiss it as mere political rhetoric; I could feel a firm will in George Bush’s eyes. There was nothing wrong with it, so I took George Bush’s outstretched hand again with both hands.

“Thank you, Mr. President.”

###

“This can’t be…”

Hersh Franklin, who was taking pictures at the scene and writing down the conversation between the two in his notebook, couldn’t move his pen. That arrogant yellow monkey not only volunteered for over a month but also received encouragement from the President of the United States?

This shock and astonishment were shared not only by Hersh Franklin but also by major American media outlets and the New York correspondents of Korean news agencies.

‘Oh my…’

Among those Korean news agency correspondents was Jo Young-ran, who had her engagement ceremony with Lee Seong-mun and promised to work as an American correspondent only until this year. After finishing her coverage, she quickly left the command headquarters tent and took out her cell phone.

“Honey! It’s me, Young-ran!”

[What’s wrong, Young-ran? Calling me at this hour.]

“My brother-in-law…!”

Jo Young-ran, who told the story from beginning to end about meeting George Bush, who visited the site with Park Tae-jin, Ko Seung-ju, Seon Hae-cheol, and Oh Hyun-seok, heard Lee Seong-mun’s voice in her ear.

[Really?]

“I’m telling you, it’s real! Tell Father and Grandfather right away!”

It was a joyous occasion for her future in-laws, whom she would have to marry into next year. Jo Young-ran was anxious because it was the perfect opportunity to score points.

***

“Okay, I got it, Young-ran!”

Lee Seong-mun, who had finished talking to his fiancée on the other side of the world, immediately called his father, and Lee Myung-jin, who heard the news from his eldest son about his future daughter-in-law, immediately drove to the main house in Samcheong-dong.

“Father-!”

Lee Myung-jin, who ran from the parking lot to the main building, shouted for his father in front of the front door until his voice cracked, then bent over and gasped for breath. Soon after, the head butler and Lee Dae-soo rushed over.

“What’s wrong, Father?”

“Seong-min…! Seong-min…!”

Lee Dae-soo’s eyes widened as he saw his son unable to catch his breath.

“Did something happen?”

Lee Myung-jin, who barely caught his breath, said to Lee Dae-soo, whose eyes were shaking in case something unfortunate had happened to his eldest grandson while he was helping at the accident site.

“He, he met George Bush!”

“Wh, what? George Bush… you mean he met the President of the United States?”

Lee Myung-jin nodded vigorously as he looked at Lee Dae-soo, whose eyes had widened.

“Yes! That’s…!”

Lee Dae-soo, who heard the detailed story from his second grandson through his son, shouted.

“You scared me to death, you rascal! I thought something had happened to our eldest grandson, hahaha!”

Lee Myung-jin gave an embarrassed smile at Lee Dae-soo’s scolding, which started with a scolding and ended with a hearty laugh.

“Oh, Father! Isn’t this a great occasion for our family? I had to come and tell you in person, haha!”

“You’re right, Chairman! It’s a great occasion, hahaha!”

Even the head butler joined in, and Lee Dae-soo nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Yes! It’s a great occasion for this family! Hahaha!”

Lee Dae-soo’s lips curled up as he laughed heartily for a long time. A mischievous smile was spreading across Lee Dae-soo’s face, as if he had come up with something fun to play.

“Our eldest grandson’s in-laws must be turned upside down, hahaha.”

Lee Seong-min’s good fortune is bad news for the Jang family, who are like enemies. Lee Dae-soo, who was chuckling, began to wonder what the atmosphere was like in the Jang family.

***

Sure enough, at the Jang Ho-geon residence in Hannam-dong, Hwang Na-yeon, who was talking to Hwang Hyun-seong, the chairman of the Joguk Ilbo, in the kitchen in her pajamas, was startled.

“Wh, what did you say?”

[It’s true, I’m telling you! That bastard, along with Park Tae-jin, Ko Seung-ju, Seon Hae-cheol, Shin Ho-jin, and even GK Marine’s Oh Hyun-seok…!]

He shook hands with George Bush and even received encouragement… Hwang Na-yeon couldn’t believe it.

“No way…”

Behind Hwang Na-yeon, who was muttering with a bewildered expression, another person’s shadow was appearing from the kitchen entrance.