Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 39

39. 12th. As Expected, Unexpectedly (5)

“It’s a backwater now, but it’s big enough to build a whole city. Those Chinese bastards are getting bigger, so it’s good to expand Pyeongtaek Port and build industrial complexes.”

As Grandfather gave a positive response in a low tone, Lee Myung-jin also spoke up.

“In addition to integrating urban and rural areas, the Asan Bay area development plan is scheduled to be announced around September, making it a valuable long-term investment, Father. First, we buy the land, establish an agricultural corporation, and invest in agricultural machinery made by heavy industries…”

I was quite surprised by Lee Myung-jin’s seamless briefing. Did he realize the value of the land in Pyeongtaek, so he was rattling off such things so fluently?

In some ways, it was only natural. Weren’t all the nominee lands that Haedong Construction and other affiliates had purchased last year sites for new cities? This wouldn’t be the first time this had happened.

When Lee Myung-jin finished proposing his detailed plan, Grandfather took a marker from the pencil holder on his desk and drew large circles around ‘Yulpo-ri’ and ‘Yeoyeom-ri.’

“We’ll buy this land first. We’ll take the land the Hwang family will buy later.”

Hearing Grandfather’s decision, my whole body tingled.

Unlike Danghyeon-ri, which the Hwang family would buy, Yulpo-ri and Yeoyeom-ri were the first areas to be developed in Godeok New Town. I never thought he would pinpoint those prime locations.

Grandfather chuckled as he saw me flinch.

“Which land would you buy if you were you?”

“Pardon?”

“Your uncle also had a good eye for land, so he made a lot of money for the company. Now, let’s see your insight. I’ve already picked Godeok-myeon, so you pick another place.”

There was some land left that could be profitable, but if I picked it right away, everyone would think it was strange, so I asked Grandfather for some time.

“Give me some time, Grandfather. I will choose carefully.”

“Alright. It’s your first investment, so think carefully until the end of the year.”

Perhaps it wasn’t a pressing matter, as Grandfather readily nodded. Was he planning to watch the cries of despair from the *Joguk Ilbo* [a newspaper] first?

***

The next day evening.

In a room at the same traditional Korean restaurant I had visited before, Go Hyung-man wore a distorted expression and emptied his porcelain cup.

Clack!

“Did you see Shinseong Group release the contract this afternoon? Haedong Group will hardly give us any advertisements now!”

“······.”

While Go Hyung-man raised his voice, Hwang Hyun-seong had nothing to say, even if he had ten mouths. The plan he had confidently instigated had turned to garbage, leaving him feeling like he had sand in his mouth.

Go Hyung-man glared at Hwang Hyun-seong, who couldn’t say anything, and shouted.

“Enough! I’ll take all 15 billion won. If you don’t like it, I’ll hand it all over to Chairman Jang and tell him the truth!”

“P-President Go!”

Hwang Hyun-seong urgently called out to him, but Go Hyung-man stormed out of the room.

“Y-you···!”

Hwang Hyun-seong glared at the door and gritted his teeth before throwing the porcelain cup.

Crash!

The porcelain cup shattered against the wall, scattering in all directions.

“Eaaa-!”

Hwang Hyun-seong shouted, pounding the floor with his fists while sitting down, but there was no clever solution. Even if Haedong Group gave him advertisements later, he had been caught, so the 15 billion won was gone forever.

With the hard-earned 15 billion won about to disappear without a trace, there was only one way to make up for the loss.

Turning on his phone, he shouted into the receiver as soon as he got a signal.

“How much per *pyeong* [a Korean unit of area, approximately 3.3 square meters] did you say? Fifteen? Alright. I’ll try to negotiate, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll call you back.”

Hwang Hyun-seong sighed after hanging up.

Until now, he had only bought land around the factory, but this time, he couldn’t afford to be picky. To fill the 15 billion won slush fund and turn it into a profit, he had to get his hands on the factory construction site that his brother-in-law was planning to buy, as his younger sibling had told him.

He might get caught, but he thought it would be okay. If he had been caught, he wouldn’t have been able to dream of the past few years of financial investments, so he would be able to get through this safely as well.

***

Some time later.

Waking up early in the morning, Jang Ho-geon went outside to get some fresh air and brought in today’s *Dongyang Ilbo* [a newspaper] newspaper that had fallen in front of the door.

[We apologize to the people and Haedong Group, Shinseong Group.]

“The ending credits are starting to roll.”

Smiling as he looked at today’s newspaper, Jang Ho-geon erased his smile as he entered the house and went into the shower room.

After finishing his shower, he dressed as usual and came out to eat. Everyone must have seen the newspaper in the living room, as they were only glancing at him and quietly moving their spoons.

After finishing his meal and leaving the house, he arrived at the Seonguiwon office, called Lee Soo-han, and signed the documents on the approval board.

As he was reviewing the fourth document, he heard the sound of the intercom.

“What is it?”

[Chief Lee Soo-han has arrived, Chairman.]

“Tell him to come in.”

Jang Ho-geon took his hand off the intercom button and stood up to greet Lee Soo-han.

“Did you sleep well, Chairman?”

“A little. Come, sit down.”

Sitting down, Jang Ho-geon and Lee Soo-han took a sip of the coffee that the employee had brought in and caught their breath.

“How is the work going?”

“Yes. I will report on the Godeok-myeon real estate matter first. We received a call from the people we put forward, saying that Chairman Hwang Hyun-seong’s side is showing interest.”

“What is their intention to buy?”

“They offered 150,000 won per *pyeong*. What should we do?”

Lee Soo-han asked cautiously, implying that this would be enough to inflict damage, but Jang Ho-geon’s thoughts were different.

“Raise it to 200,000 won by the end of the year.”

“Are you sure?”

Lee Soo-han worried once more, but Jang Ho-geon had no intention of changing his mind.

“I know my in-laws’ greed well. They were making such a fuss about chasing after Haedong Group’s private loan funds until last year. They eventually gave up, but even I was fed up with it.”

Lee Soo-han nodded at Jang Ho-geon’s words.

He also knew about the Hwang family’s greed. He had asked about it because it overlapped with Jang Ho-geon’s family affairs, but since his intention was clear, there was no reason not to push forward.

“Understood, Chairman.”

“That matter aside… How is the audit going?”

“Yes. We started by reorganizing the secretary’s office and then formed a group audit team to proceed. I have summarized the current progress.”

“Hmm…”

Jang Ho-geon gnashed his teeth as he looked at the documents he received from Lee Soo-han. The rats contaminated by his in-laws were more densely spread within the group than expected.

Clack.

He opened his mouth, placing the closed documents on the table as if throwing them.

“Clean them all out.”

“Yes. They are even *털고* [rummaging through] corporate card meal receipts, so they won’t be able to withstand it without submitting their resignations. Even those who endure will be sent to the lowest 영업점 [sales branch] branches or service centers to rot for the rest of their lives.”

Lee Soo-han, who was continuing his report, was also of one mind with Jang Ho-geon. He had thoroughly *갈아엎은* [overhauled] the secretary’s office from the first day of the audit, so he was enthusiastically performing a *칼춤* [sword dance] of *숙청* [purge] throughout the entire group.

“They may *스며들* [seep in] again, but it will be difficult to *복구* [recover]. Conversely, the people we have *심은* [planted] will continue to increase.”

“I understand. Good work.”

“Yes.”

Lee Soo-han, who was about to get up and cross the door, stopped.

“There is something I have not told you, Chairman.”

“Speak.”

“I found a *쓸 만한* [useful] friend at Shinseong Corning.”

“A *쓸 만한* [useful] friend?”

Jang Ho-geon’s eyebrows twitched, and Lee Soo-han straightened his expression. His expression even looked determined.

“This time it’s different, Chairman. Park Tae-gon is a friend who informed us of internal *비리* [corruption] when we were *진행할* [conducting] the audit. He is also capable and did not take a single penny of *뒷돈* [kickbacks]. His internal *평판* [reputation] is also good.”

Jang Ho-geon raised the corners of his mouth after listening to Lee Soo-han’s story.

“Interesting. There is no one in the accounting department who doesn’t *챙길떡고물* [take a share of the spoils].”

“Yes. He is a *상고* [commercial high school] graduate who obtained a *회계사* [certified public accountant] license while attending a *지방대* [local university]. After ROTC *임관* [commissioning], he served as a *경리장교* [finance officer]. I met with his *상급 지휘관* [superior officer] at the time, and they said he was meticulous in his work.”

Jang Ho-geon, who had even more *인재욕심* [desire for talent] than his father, was intrigued. He could understand why Lee Soo-han had recommended him despite what had happened last time just by hearing about his *경력사항* [career history].

“Check his *일가 친인척* [family relatives] as well, just in case.”

“Yes. I was planning to *추진* [proceed] if I received the Chairman’s approval.”

Jang Ho-geon nodded after hearing Lee Soo-han’s answer, which was filled with conviction even amidst the tension.

“Alright. Put him in the secretary’s office as soon as he is *검증* [verified]. What is his *직급* [rank], that friend?”

Lee Soo-han said with a lighter expression, as if Jang Ho-geon’s instructions sounded like *재신임* [reappointment] for him.

“He is a *부장 1호봉* [Department Head, Level 1].”

“Promote him to *이사* [Director]. Bring him in during the group *인사* [personnel changes] when the audit is over.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Before Lee Soo-han left, Jang Ho-geon asked. His face also seemed to have something he wanted to ask.

“How is the department store *컨설팅 진행* [consulting progressing]?”

“I heard from Chief Go Seung-ju that the final results are expected to be released by today.”

Jang Ho-geon stroked his chin after hearing Lee Soo-han’s answer. His face was a mixture of worry and anticipation.

“Good results must come out…”

“Don’t worry, Chairman. You know Ha-yeon’s *실력* [skill], don’t you?”

Jang Ho-geon nodded. Wasn’t Jang Ha-yeon the one who had increased the sales of the Goryeo Hotel by 5 percent just by fixing the guest room interior? As Lee Soo-han said, he might be worrying too much. But…

“Meet Chief Go and tell him. If he reflects Ha-yeon’s *컨설팅* [consulting], I will buy 20 billion won worth of Haedong Department Store gift certificates by the end of the year. Tell him I will buy more if the department store’s performance improves.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Jang Ho-geon could not hide that he was a *부모* [parent] before he was a businessman.

***

After receiving a call from Go Seung-ju, I entered the Samcheong-dong residence with Jang Ha-yeon. As if to announce that it would soon be June, the trees standing in the garden were thickly covered with green foliage.

“To think there was such a house in Seoul…”

I retorted *심드렁하게* [indifferently] as I saw Jang Ha-yeon admiring the scenery after getting out of the car.

“Seeing you like that makes me worried, Noona [older sister or female friend]. You’ll have to get used to it from now on.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you see me often, you’ll have more opportunities to come here, right? Isn’t that so?”

Jang Ha-yeon’s face turned red as I winked one eye.

“T-that’s…”

“There’s no time to be doing that. You have to get used to the person who lives in this house, too. Right?”

I asked, turning around, and Park Tae-jin smiled brightly behind us.

“That’s right. It’s more important to get used to the person who uses this residence, hehe.”

“*선배님*, Senior…”

“Let’s go, *후배님들*, Juniors. Our *선배님들*, Seniors, are waiting for you.”

Jang Ha-yeon was surprised by Park Tae-jin’s words.

“Two people? I know that the Chairman graduated from our department when the Department of Commerce was *상학과* [Department of Commerce]… Could it be?”

Jang Ha-yeon didn’t seem to want it, but the answer that came from Park Tae-jin’s mouth dashed her expectations.

“Yes. Chief Go Seung-ju will also be present at today’s meeting.”

“Even Chief Go Seung-ju?”

Jang Ha-yeon asked back in a raised voice, as if she was quite surprised. Wasn’t he one of the top economists from our department and someone even Shinseong Group’s Lee Soo-han found difficult?

“Yes. The Chief is familiar with the group’s affiliates along with the Chairman. CEO Tae Jae-ho has finished the evaluation with the internal *담당자* [person in charge], so you only need to receive the evaluation from the two of them.”

Jang Ha-yeon looked at me with eyes full of *원망* [resentment] after hearing Park Tae-jin’s answer. I grabbed her hand.

“What are you worried about when I’m by your side, Noona? And what about what we prepared?”

“It’ll… be alright, right?”

Jang Ha-yeon asked in a hesitant voice, but I was confident.

She was the one who made hundreds of millions of won by buying and selling paintings worth less than a billion won every year in her past life. Whether it was her aesthetic sense or her ability to foresee trends, I was sure that the department store she had designed would attract people.

“Let’s go. The two of them are waiting.”

“Okay…”

Holding hands, we entered the main building, and the *집사장* [house manager] was right in sight.

“Ahem…”

As the *집사장* [house manager] put his fist to his mouth and cleared his throat, Jang Ha-yeon quickly released her hand from mine.

“I’m sorry, *집사장님* [House Manager].”

“The Chairman and Chief Go are both waiting, *도련님* [Young Master]. Assistant Manager Park, please wait while having a cup of tea.”

The two of us left Park Tae-jin on the first floor and followed the *집사장* [house manager] to the second-floor study.

“Master, *도련님* [Young Master] and Jang Ha-yeon have arrived.”

[Come in.]

As Grandfather’s voice was heard from inside the room, the *집사장* [house manager] opened the door, and the two of us entered the study.

“Hello… How do you do, Chairman.”

“Hello, Grandfather.”

“You worked hard to come here. Sit down. House Manager, bring some refreshments.”

“Yes.”

The *집사장* [house manager] closed the door and went downstairs to bring the refreshments, and Grandfather drank 홍차 [black tea] while sitting at his desk.

“Before we talk about business, there is something I want to ask… How old is Manager Jang?”

Jang Ha-yeon blinked at the sudden question and quickly straightened her expression and opened her mouth.

“I am twenty-six years old, Chairman.”

“You are at a good age. Do you have anything you do separately in your free time?”

“I draw pictures or make *소조* [modeling] in my personal studio.”

“*소조*, so you make it by *붙여서 점토* [attaching clay] or something?”

“Yes. I make it by *붙여서 점토* [attaching clay], and I also make it by pouring *석고 반죽* [plaster mixture] into a *거푸집* [mold].”

In addition, Grandfather asked about Jang Ha-yeon’s favorite food, tea, and alcohol, and had a conversation with her.

Grandfather emptied his teacup after talking for a long time.

“I heard you well, Manager Jang. I hope you get along well with our grandson in the future.”

Jang Ha-yeon’s face turned red as Grandfather said with a gentle smile.

“Thank you, Chairman.”

“Hehe, you are also polite. Let’s stop the *사담* [small talk] here… I have read the proposals submitted by the two of you. It seems like you are trying to change Haedong Department Store from the root.”

“Yes, Chairman. I made it with the hope that Haedong Department Store will lead the consumer culture of Korea in the future.”

Jang Ha-yeon nodded as she answered calmly as if she had been waiting for it.

“It seemed so. But… What will you do if it doesn’t work out as planned?”

My eyes widened at Grandfather’s question. Considering the current competitors, it was filled with ways to overturn the department store industry, so what kind of ridiculous question was that?

When not only I but also Jang Ha-yeon could not hide her shock, Grandfather threw out a new proposal.

“Let’s do this. If the sales of the Yeongdeungpo main store’s new building do not exceed 20 percent of the same time last year for that one month after the opening, Seongmin, you will fill in as much as it doesn’t reach. How about it?”