Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 34

34. 11th. A Modest Start (2)

A few days later.

“Is this the right place?”

“Yes, young master. You have 30 minutes until your appointment.”

Stepping out of the car, I looked around the serene garden and walked with Park Tae-jin along the stone path toward the traditional Korean building.

“Where is the Mugunghwa Room? We are with the Koh Seung-ju party.”

“I will guide you. Mr. Park Tae-jin, they have prepared a table for you in the Maehwa Room next to the Mugunghwa Room, so they have asked me to escort you there.”

After listening to the formally dressed male employee’s guidance, Park Tae-jin said to me,

“Do your best, young master.”

“Thank you.”

Following the employee, I parted ways with Park Tae-jin in front of the Maehwa Room and took off my shoes in front of the Mugunghwa Room next door.

Gulp.

I don’t know why I’m so nervous when my core is that of an old man. It’s not even a formal meeting, so why am I swallowing dry saliva as if it’s a big deal?

Opening the door, I widened my eyes.

“Welcome, Sung-min. You’re not late?”

“…Director Koh?”

This can’t be.

I came earlier than the appointment time to relax, but Koh Seung-ju was already here.

Blinking, I also received a greeting from the familiar-faced man across from Koh Seung-ju.

“You’re early. Nice to meet you, Mr. Sung-min.”

It was Director Lee Soo-han.

The main contributor to the Shinsung Group’s reunification.

Even I had a hard time keeping up with him, and he was such a strict workaholic that he played the role of a superior even to me, who was the son-in-law of the Jang family.

However.

After Jang Ho-gun collapsed from a stroke, he resigned after a power struggle with the Hwang family, who put Jang Yong-jae and Jang Su-yeon forward.

The Hwang family tried to extract ‘important secrets that only he knew’ from the nominee stocks managed by Lee Soo-han, but they let him go for fear of mutual destruction, and I didn’t even know those secrets.

Anyway, out of a strange sense of camaraderie and sympathy for being discarded after being used, I smiled and shook the hand he offered.

“I’m Lee Sung-min. You’re Director Lee Soo-han, right?”

Perhaps because I recognized him right away, Lee Soo-han couldn’t hide his surprise and said,

“Oh… it seems you’re thoroughly prepared, haha.”

Even if Lee Soo-han laughs heartily, it’s just a business smile, so you should never be fooled. Isn’t he a cold-blooded man with a thousand snakes in his belly?

“Thank you, Director.”

I also gave a business greeting and sat next to Koh Seung-ju, exchanging light eye contact with Jang Ha-yeon, who was sitting next to Lee Soo-han.

Soon, the Korean course meal brought by the staff was laid out on the table, and Jang Ha-yeon and I, who were quietly eating, put down our chopsticks when we saw Koh Seung-ju and Lee Soo-han put theirs down.

“This time, our Shinsung Group and Haedong Group will be partnering on a small project. The condition is that the two of you will be consulting for Haedong Department Store.”

Is this the position of the superior? Lee Soo-han’s words were imbued with the prestige of the Shinsung Group. Even though they separated the affiliates, Shinsung is still competing with Taehyun for the top spot in the business world, isn’t it?

Listening to that unpleasant tone, I wanted to say something back, but business is business. I smiled at Lee Soo-han.

“Thank you, Director. I’m truly grateful that you’re giving me, who has little social experience, such a generous tuition fee.”

“Ahaha… don’t feel pressured, Mr. Sung-min. Department Head Jang also needs to refine his sense of distribution if he wants to do business in the hotel duty-free shop, so work well together, haha.”

Even if he awkwardly laughs off my subtle jab, Lee Soo-han is in the palm of my hand. How horrified would he be if he knew that all the contracts he would be working on came from my head?

Jang Ha-yeon looked at me from next to Lee Soo-han and gave me a knowing smile. It seemed that Jang Ha-yeon also liked that I had scratched the insides of the rigid Lee Soo-han, who was so strict about public and private matters.

The subtle tension that flowed between Lee Soo-han and me disappeared as Koh Seung-ju spoke.

“Both of you can start working from tomorrow. I heard that Department Head Jang will be staying at the Goryeo Hotel, and we will cover all the expenses.”

“Hyeo… I mean, Director?”

Lee Soo-han was so surprised by the generous offer that he almost made a slip of the tongue. Is Koh Seung-ju also retaliating for the debt he owed last time? Hehe.

Koh Seung-ju didn’t even glance at me and said to Lee Soo-han,

“I think we need to talk about the details. Both of you will have a hard time starting tomorrow, so I’ll let you go now.”

“Yes… Department Head Jang, go with Mr. Sung-min.”

To see the mighty Lee Soo-han being swayed by someone else… I’ll live to see the day.

***

“What are you talking about, Sung-min? Why is your family paying for my accommodation?”

I came out to the garden outside the restaurant and said calmly to Jang Ha-yeon’s flustered voice.

“You’re going to use your own money anyway, even if we give it to you. Or were you not going to?”

“Of course. I was even going to raid your salary account. What are you going to do with all that money piled up?”

Jang Ha-yeon spoke in a sulky voice.

In my past life, she was always thorough in her self-management to avoid even the slightest flaw and didn’t do things like embezzling public funds. Seeing that it seemed to have started from this time, I nodded in agreement and was surprised by the following words.

“I’m going to film myself working at the hotel with a camcorder this time. From early morning to late afternoon. How about it?”

“Sister?”

“Don’t be surprised. You know that my mother hates me.”

It was harsh, but I nodded silently. Wasn’t she the daughter of a rival to my mother-in-law, Hwang Na-yeon, in my past life?

I wondered how much she had suffered, but I decided to think positively. There’s no harm in being thoroughly prepared.

***

After the two left, Lee Soo-han glared at Koh Seung-ju.

“Why is the Haedong Group paying for Department Head Jang’s accommodation? If this is revealed, everything will fall apart!”

“What can I do? That’s what our Chairman wants. I have to do what I’m told.”

Smack!

Lee Soo-han glared at Koh Seung-ju, who was replying indifferently, and poured the water in the cup into the corner of the room and poured Andong soju [a type of Korean distilled liquor] from the ceramic teapot.

“Oh, oh…”

A voice flowed from Koh Seung-ju’s flustered mouth, and Lee Soo-han emptied the bottle of alcohol.

Thud!

“What on earth are you plotting? If this goes wrong, those Hwang bastards will turn our Shinsung into their milking cow!”

“Hey, hey, does it look like me and our Chairman are trying to feed you and Chairman Jang some *엿* [yeot, a Korean taffy-like candy, often used metaphorically to mean ‘trick’ or ‘deceive’]?”

“Hyung!”

“You’re going to make my ears fall off, my friend. Look at this first.”

Lee Soo-han snatched the file that Koh Seung-ju handed over with a nonchalant expression.

“Look at the hidden contracts in the back first and then talk.”

Lee Soo-han listened to Koh Seung-ju’s words and looked at the hidden contracts on the last page. He skimmed through the already agreed-upon contents, but his eyes stopped at a noticeable clause.

“This is…?”

“The Chairman’s family is the Haedong Group, and the Haedong Group is the Chairman’s family. Isn’t it the same whether the Chairman’s personal wealth is paid by the Haedong Group? It’s even legally fixed as the same person.”

Lee Soo-han was speechless, no matter what Koh Seung-ju was saying.

It’s not uncommon for chaebol [large South Korean business conglomerate] owners to consider companies as their own. If there are barking dogs, they can just crush them with money and power. But, the owner is going to use personal assets for company affairs?

Koh Seung-ju said to Lee Soo-han in a dry voice.

“The mousetrap is complete, so you and Chang-ho hyung [older brother/close male friend], Chairman Jang, can set it. Is this what you exchanged with each other?”

Lee Soo-han looked at Koh Seung-ju with a blank expression. Hiding the anxiety that today’s bitter defeat would be a foretaste.

###

Lee Soo-han signed the contract and entered the Sunguiwon [likely refers to a specific location or office]. Of course, he had received permission from Jang Ho-gun before signing the seal.

“You got a good one from Director Koh.”

Sitting on the sofa, Jang Ho-gun clicked his tongue at Lee Soo-han’s hardened face. He had heard it on the phone and was momentarily stunned, so he was clearly wondering how Lee Soo-han, who was in that place, must have felt.

“I’m sorry, Chairman.”

Lee Soo-han bowed his head and handed the file to Jang Ho-gun.

“I’ll keep this. It’ll be perfect as a mousetrap, hehe.”

Jang Ho-gun put the ‘mousetraps’ at the end of the contracts he had checked into his safe and asked Lee Soo-han.

“Who do you suspect the most?”

“I’m concerned about my direct employee. I recommended him to join the company after noticing him during a high school alumni special lecture a few years ago, but he’s been dressing more luxuriously lately. His watch, shoes, and tie… are all expensive brands.”

Jang Ho-gun nodded with a stern expression. Aren’t those items that would make men’s eyes turn?

In addition, Lee Soo-han revealed the most critical information.

“Since some time ago, there have been lands or buildings of the Chairman’s in-laws or their close associates near the land we purchased.”

“What?”

“At first, the scale was small, so we overlooked it, but the scale is getting bigger and bigger, and our executives are becoming more dissatisfied. I’m sorry, Chairman.”

It is a constant among constants for insiders to buy nearby real estate whenever the company builds a factory or buys an office building.

Jang Ho-gun and Lee Soo-han also bought it for the purpose of managing slush funds, and they turned a blind eye to the fact that related executives were moderately involved in preparing for their retirement. However, the scale that Lee Soo-han told them about seemed like the in-laws were determined to get involved.

“These, these things…!”

Thump!

Jang Ho-gun couldn’t contain his anger and slammed his fist on the armrest.

In the inheritance dispute between the three siblings, his in-laws and the Chosun Ilbo [major South Korean newspaper] helped him take the largest share, but they went too far. If he left it any longer, the executives would treat not only him but also his successors as pushovers.

“Sweep them all away. The Jang family can never be said to be puppets of another family.”

“Of course, Chairman. I will also mark the guys who stick to Ha-yeon and Sung-min.”

“Do so.”

The wounded pride due to the Haedong Group was no longer important to the two. They had to catch all the rats that were gnawing at the roots of the giant tree called Shinsung with the mousetrap they had handed over.

***

The next day in the afternoon.

The Ado Motors sedan that I and Park Tae-jin were riding in and the BMW 7 Series under my name that Jang Ha-yeon was riding in entered the underground garage of our house.

Getting out of the car, we took the stairs and entered the house. Because Jang Ha-yeon, who was wearing a skirt, went up ahead, I had to go up with my briefcase covering my front.

“It’s still the same. The garage, the living room…”

Jang Ha-yeon looked around the objects in the living room as if she was feeling new emotions after entering this house for the first time in nearly three years. It was like vividly repainting the faded memories as much as she hadn’t been able to come.

She touched the Molteni sofa with her hand and walked to the window, smiling brightly at the sandy field right in front of her.

“That’s still the same too. When we were young, you and I built a toad house there and played…”

“I know. I don’t know who will use it, haha.”

“What… are you talking about?”

“No, well… I’m going to be a dad later, aren’t I? So…”

While I was hesitating, I avoided Jang Ha-yeon’s eyes, which were turning red, and heard Park Tae-jin’s clearing throat behind us.

“Ahem, the two of you are here for work. Young master, let’s go up.”

“Yes, hyung. Give us something to drink and some snacks. Wait a minute, sister.”

Going up to the second floor, I brought a box from the room. When I came down to the first floor, there were three Artistina ceramic glasses filled with orange juice and a plate of cookies on the table. It seemed that they had avoided the fancy Rosenthal tableware because they had come to work.

I gave Park Tae-jin a satisfied smile and approached the sofa and put down the box.

“What is this?”

“It’s good to walk around, but I prepared it because I was worried that my sister’s feet would hurt.”

I said it so that Jang Ha-yeon could hear it well, but it was a measure taken because the schedule was tight.

The boxes placed on the sofa were the data sent by the Standard Capital members after promising a year-end bonus of 10 million dollars in total.

###

After exchanging transaction stories with Jang Ha-yeon, I made an appointment with Seon Hae-cheol and visited his office.

“Luxury goods?”

“Yes, uncle. I’d like some information on the best-selling brands in department stores: clothing, watches, jewelry, cosmetics, furniture, tableware…”

Then, when I told him about the transaction I had with Jang Ha-yeon, Seon Hae-cheol whistled.

“Shinsung gives out 20 billion won [approximately $15 million USD] worth of department store gift certificates to the domestic political and business circles every year. If Haedong Department Store sells half of them and puts them in CMA [Cash Management Account] or MMF [Money Market Fund]…”

“The current interest rate is about 8 percent. That’s about 40 million won [approximately $30,000 USD] a day.”

The money that people pay when they buy gift certificates at department stores is in the department store’s account until the gift certificates are used. The department store puts that money into daily interest payment products and receives money, so department store gift certificates were a lucrative business without anyone knowing.

However, Seon Hae-cheol drew a clear line.

“But there’s no such thing as a free lunch? You know that Claire and her friends have very high fees, right?”

“Of course. I’ll promise a year-end bonus of 10 million dollars. Five people, so 2 million dollars each. The period is half a month. How about it?”

“Okay. Wait a minute.”

Seon Hae-cheol, who was surprised to hear the amount, nodded his head when he heard the period and looked at the clock pointing to noon and made a phone call.

“It’s me, Claire. Have you eaten? Good job. It’s not that, but our owner has something to ask you personally…”

Seon Hae-cheol gave Claire a Korean greeting and told her what I had asked for.

“Really? Okay. Good job.”

“Is it done?”

“It seems that Triumph has data from when they invested in Macy’s department store early last year?”

“Really?”

If you’re lucky, you can pick up money even when you fall, but things were easily resolved.

“Yeah. He says he’s sending it by errand boy, so go to Gimpo Airport at noon tomorrow and hold a welcome card, hehe.”

“I thought it would be difficult… I feel like I owe Claire. I’ll have to repay her later.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I’ll grant you anything as long as it’s not equity or investment money.”

It wasn’t just empty words. Even if it seemed a little stingy, I wanted to repay the debt as much as I could.

Even so, I thought it might seem a little stingy, but Seon Hae-cheol nodded readily.

“Okay. You have to keep that promise?”

“A man’s word is as heavy as a thousand pieces of gold, hehe.”

###

Was she satisfied with the data sent by Standard? Jang Ha-yeon couldn’t stop admiring the data organized by company.

“When did you prepare this?”

“I looked it up myself. How is it?”

I secretly wanted to hear praise, but my expectations were completely off.

Jang Ha-yeon’s face is getting stiffer and stiffer… Did I do something wrong?