Still, I Will Live As The Son-In-Law Of A Conglomerate [EN]: Chapter 51

51. 16th. An Uncomfortable Alliance (3)

Meanwhile, in Chairman Jang’s office, Jang Ho-gun and Lee Soo-han were sitting on the sofa, drinking coffee.

“I didn’t expect Chairman Lee to set up this meeting.”

“I was surprised too. He’s a good man to be close with, but his father caused such a mess that it’s awkward.”

Jang Ho-gun resented his deceased father. Wasn’t it because his father had betrayed Lee Dae-soo, who they had been dealing with for generations, by freezing the 8.3 loan [referring to a specific financial policy or agreement], that the automobile business partnership he had promised his friend fell through?

The marriage agreement was going well thanks to the two children, so there were no worries, but he still regretted not being able to do the automobile business that had been their dream, and it was overwhelming to do alone.

Jang Ho-gun, biting his lip, sighed. He didn’t want to recall the twisted past, but he had to clean up the mess after putting a spoke in the wheel at the four-party meeting, just like his father had done.

“Who do you think we should send?”

“I’d like to send Director Park Tae-gon.”

“Park Tae-gon, Park Tae-gon, Park Tae-gon…”

Jang Ho-gun’s eyes lit up as he repeated the name.

“The friend you mentioned before?”

“Yes. I brought him in during the personnel changes in the second half of the year, and he’s been taking good care of the group’s finances. I think it would be good to broaden his horizons with this opportunity, Chairman.”

Afterward, Lee Soo-han reported to Jang Ho-gun about how Park Tae-gon had refined the manual for managing petty supplies that were being overused in each factory and improved the regulations for various expense expenditures.

“That’s enough to use him as a pillar of our group. I’ll talk to him, so take care of it.”

Lee Soo-han’s expression brightened at Jang Ho-gun’s acceptance. Was it because he felt completely forgiven for the mistake he had made before?

“Thank you, Chairman.”

“Good work.”

After answering, Lee Soo-han returned to the Shinseong Group headquarters and immediately called for Park Tae-gon.

[Director Park Tae-gon has arrived, Chief.]

“Tell him to come in.”

As Lee Soo-han took his hand off the intercom button, the door opened and a man wearing square glasses entered.

Tidily groomed hair.

A square jaw as angular as the glasses he wore.

A friendly expression and disciplined demeanor.

Park Tae-gon, who possessed all of these qualities, bowed to Lee Soo-han.

“You called for me, Chief.”

“Have a cup of tea first.”

Park Tae-gon sat down and drank the coffee brought by the new secretary.

“How do you like your new workplace?”

“To be honest, I was very surprised. I never thought someone like me would get into the secretary’s office…”

Park Tae-gon’s trailing words were sincere.

His parents had thrown a village party just because he, a graduate of a commercial high school’s night class and a local university, had joined Shinseong Group, and they had thrown another party when they heard that he had become an executive in the secretary’s office.

Lee Soo-han smiled at Park Tae-gon.

“I’m also from a commercial high school like you. I went to university with a scholarship given by the former chairman.”

Lee Soo-han continued, watching Park Tae-gon nod.

“Shinseong doesn’t care about background. Just keep going the way you’ve been going, haha.”

“The way I’ve been going…?”

Lee Soo-han took a light breath and said as Park Tae-gon blinked.

“I looked into you because of the nature of the secretary’s office. You tutored in college, took care of your siblings’ lunches and tuition, and passed the CPA [Certified Public Accountant] exam while in school…”

Park Tae-gon’s hair stood on end as he listened to Lee Soo-han rattle off his personal history. Didn’t he know his life better than he did?

“When you work with money, it’s easy to get your hands dirty, but you didn’t take a penny. It would be reassuring if someone like you helped the Chairman and me, haha.”

“Thank you, Chief. I will work hard.”

Park Tae-gon had been stripped bare, but he was struggling to suppress the smile that threatened to break across his face. Was it because of the thrill of being recognized by the group’s top two figures?

Park Tae-gon quickly lowered his flushed face, and Lee Soo-han looked at him with a satisfied expression.

“So, I have something to ask… I need you to go on a business trip.”

“A business trip?”

“To Tokyo. Specifically, to Triumph Capital’s Japanese branch.”

“Triumph Capital’s Japanese branch…?”

Park Tae-gon paused for a moment, and something flashed through his mind.

Wasn’t it just recently that they had urgently raised $200 million to acquire Triumph Capital’s headquarters’ convertible bonds? The secretary’s office, including himself, had been working hard to make it look like they had been preparing for it for a long time, so he knew the weight of the matter and couldn’t close his mouth even when he looked at Lee Soo-han.

“I want you to go. Watch it from beginning to end, protect our share, and pave the way for our juniors.”

“C, Chief?”

Park Tae-gon had a sense of what Lee Soo-han was saying.

Wasn’t it his intention to create a Shinseong Group where anyone could come in and succeed if they had the ability? But it was also true that it was burdensome, so he couldn’t answer easily.

Lee Soo-han smiled gently as he looked at him.

“I’ll take responsibility if anything goes wrong. I promise on my position.”

Park Tae-gon, who had been silent for a moment, opened his mouth.

“I understand, Chief. I will definitely do it.”

Lee Soo-han laughed heartily, as if he liked Park Tae-gon’s answer.

“You thought well. Before you go, shall we have some chicken gizzards and soju [Korean distilled spirit] at a street stall? I heard you like that.”

Park Tae-gon’s face turned red. He had even found out about his little hobbies.

***

After confirming that the fundraising was completed, I was walking around the new building of the Haedong Department Store in Yeongdeungpo, arm in arm with someone very precious to me.

“It’s so nice to be here. And to see you, Noona [term of endearment for an older sister or female friend],”

“Me too, heehee.”

Perhaps because Christmas was coming soon, a Christmas tree with dangling decorations was set up in the lobby on the first floor of the new building. Of course, the customers were also enjoying the Christmas atmosphere.

“Dad, can you buy me this? I want to build it together.”

The boy pointed to the Lego box with his hand and begged the man, who had a happy expression on his face…

“I want this. I want to cook delicious food like Mom.”

“Oh, you. Excuse me, how much is this?”

The woman also smiled at her daughter’s cute antics and called an employee to ask about the price of the kitchen set toy. Jang Ha-yeon smiled brightly as she saw the store, which had set up toy samples that boys and girls would like, was crowded with people.

“I think our plan is working?”

Was she happy that the pop-up store she had proposed in the proposal was working, or was she happy to see families enjoying themselves? Jang Ha-yeon’s voice felt warm.

Looking at her, I shrugged my shoulders.

“I don’t know when they’ll increase sales with things like that. When the time comes to buy, I want to buy them everything in the store, one by one.”

I said it as if I had thrown it out carelessly, but Jang Ha-yeon’s eyes were about to drip honey as she looked at me. I was a little tired because of the yen appreciation betting preparations, but I didn’t need Bacchus [Korean energy drink] after meeting her.

After looking around the store, we drank coffee at a cafe in the restaurant area.

“How’s life in America?”

“So-so. When I go to the company, I meet buyers and receive offers, contact the headquarters to find trading partners who can accept the offers, and if I get information, I make reports and upload them… It’s a series of work? It’s hard to make a living, heehee.”

I hadn’t even shown my face at the Haedong Trading New York branch except for the first day because of the currency speculation, but Jang Ha-yeon laughed with a ‘put’ sound as I lied and smiled slyly.

“Did you just find out? There’s no such thing as free money, baby.”

“I’m not a baby? I’m a man?”

I pretended to be angry, but Jang Ha-yeon smiled at my appearance.

“Okay, you. You’re still acting like a child even though you’re a head taller than me.”

In fact, I wanted to be spoiled a little more.

Because I was going to Tokyo to play a ruthless money game that would suck the blood and tears of others, I wanted to forget that guilt even for this moment.

Jang Ha-yeon was looking at me with a happy smile, whether she knew what was on my mind or not. Even if I swallowed all the darkness alone and moved forward, I wanted to make sure that the smile on that woman’s face never disappeared.

But… her face darkened.

“What’s wrong, Seong-min? Are you not feeling well?”

“Ah… it’s nothing. I guess I haven’t adjusted to the time difference yet. I don’t know if Hyung [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend] will be okay.”

Only then did Jang Ha-yeon ask me with a slightly surprised expression.

“Sunbae [term for senior colleague], didn’t he come in? He went to New York with you, right?”

“He’s going to Tokyo this time? On a business trip, I guess?”

Jang Ha-yeon tilted her head as I pretended not to know.

“Sunbae is your guardian, right? Is that okay?”

“Hyung didn’t join the company to be my nanny. I’m getting settled little by little, so I should slowly return to the company.”

It was a good thing that Grandfather and Go Seung-ju had sent Park Tae-jin. From the perspective of the family, it was helping me, but from the company’s perspective, it was a natural return to the company.

Only then did Jang Ha-yeon nod her head after hearing my words.

“I see. It’s been four years since he stayed as a deputy general manager, so he needs to be promoted.”

I felt sorry for Park Tae-jin when I heard that. He was a person who was being watched as the next generation of management within the company, but he had been a deputy general manager for four years because he was taking care of me. If this goes well, Hyung should slowly move up…

I nodded my head and remembered something I had forgotten.

“When are you getting promoted, Noona? It’s already your fourth year as a general manager.”

“Oh, you? I’ve been a general manager since I joined the company, so I’ve been under a lot of pressure.”

Jang Ha-yeon shook her hand as if it were absurd, but the plane was only just running on the runway [idiom for ‘close to happening’].

“Even if you’re the chairman’s daughter, you graduated at the top of your class from Seoul National University’s business administration department, right? The paintings you choose sell well, and the hotel’s event sales have increased, so shouldn’t you get a director’s nameplate?”

“I didn’t do it alone. It was possible because the hotel staff helped me. I’m still young, so I can go up later.”

Jang Ha-yeon tried to deny it, but the plane was only just running on the runway [idiom for ‘close to happening’]. She will be promoted to director in the first half of next year. Because I had said enough to be recognized by Jang Ho-gun in my previous life, and I received a director’s nameplate as a gift around that time.

What has been added is that I have played the role of a key man on the Shinseong Group side in transactions between Haedong Group and Shinseong Group several times due to me. It was a mutually satisfactory transaction, so it would be possible to skip the director position and be promoted to managing director.

Jang Ha-yeon glanced at me for a moment and opened her mouth.

“Seong-min, I have something to ask you, is that okay?”

“What is it?”

“My father told me to buy Shinseong Electronics convertible bonds. He told me to sell all the money I have, if possible… What do you think?”

“What?”

My voice rose in surprise. Telling her to buy Shinseong Electronics convertible bonds meant that he was going to put Jang Ha-yeon’s money into the yen appreciation betting? I opened my mouth, seeing her flustered.

“How much is the conversion price?”

“60,000 won per share. My father is putting in 40 billion won from his personal assets, and Yong-jae, Soo-yeon, and Min-jae are taking out loans to put in 10 billion won each.”

A terrible person.

It’s actually a loss compared to the current stock price of 56,000 won per share. There’s no reason to waste money when the bargain sale isn’t far away. After organizing my thoughts, I said to Jang Ha-yeon.

“Let’s give up on this one.”

“But it’s Shinseong Electronics stock…”

“What if Noona has the stock? Do you think the Chosun Ilbo [major South Korean newspaper] side will leave you alone? What will happen to Uncle’s position?”

Jang Ha-yeon’s eyes widened. She must have remembered Jang Ho-gun and Chosun Ilbo’s power game inside the company.

“So, no matter what happens this time, never touch it. Instead, leave it to Haedong Securities.”

Jang Ha-yeon stared at me blankly and then sighed.

“…Okay. I should trust the fund manager’s words.”

I couldn’t let Jang Ha-yeon waste her precious money on useless things. She may be upset right now, but later she will see me as the incarnation of Midas [legendary king who could turn anything to gold].

Anyway, who will come as the Shinseong Group observer? If he’s coming, I wish that person would come… It’s impossible because he’s probably working in the accounting department of Shinseong Corning right now.

I don’t know when I’ll meet him again, but if I meet him again, and if we become close again, I want to be a friend who can open up and talk over chicken gizzards and soju at a street stall with him.

I suddenly wanted chicken gizzards and soju when I thought of him. I should eat with Jang Ha-yeon today and soothe my mood.

***

The night before departure.

“Oh, I didn’t know there was a place like this.”

Lee Soo-han was sitting on a plastic chair, eating chicken gizzards deliciously. He was impressed as he put the finely chopped Cheongyang peppers [Korean chili peppers] and garlic, which were stir-fried with the chicken gizzards, into his mouth.

“I didn’t know someone like you, Chief, would like this kind of food, haha.”

Park Tae-gon, who was sitting across from Lee Soo-han and looking at him, was smiling on the outside but his stomach was churning on the inside. The head of the Shinseong Group’s secretary’s office and chicken gizzards with soju at a shabby street stall?

Lee Soo-han smiled brightly even as he saw Park Tae-gon’s awkward smile.

“When I was a rookie, I used to drink with my colleagues, seniors, and juniors at street stalls. We used to talk badly about stuffy superiors and ruthlessly criticize incompetent juniors… We didn’t need snacks, haha.”

Lee Soo-han was enjoying the feeling of those days for the first time in a long time. With that feeling, Lee Soo-han raised his glass of soju.

“Let’s have a drink.”

“Yes.”

The two emptied their glasses, which lightly collided, in one gulp. The spicy taste of the 25-degree soju spread on the tongue and spread a tingling sensation past the esophagus to the stomach.

“Keuh, it’s been a while since I’ve had soju at a street stall. I’m sad that there’s no one to drink with as I go higher and higher… Heehee.”

Lee Soo-han let out a bitter smile. Isn’t it the fate of a salaryman that the number of people to be with decreases as they struggle to survive in their work life and go higher?

Park Tae-gon, smiling as he looked at Lee Soo-han, picked up the bottle of alcohol.

“Please accept another glass of my alcohol, Chief. I hope to serve you often in the future.”

“That would be nice. I hope we can have another drink here after you come back from Tokyo.”

It may have been an presumptuous remark, but Lee Soo-han received the soju from Park Tae-gon with a pleasant smile.