The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 66

The Thrifty Chaebol – Third Christmas 05

***

For lunch, Jung Hyun-woo chose a braised codfish stew restaurant. He settled into a worn chair and poured himself a glass of water.

“I didn’t expect you to pick a place like this, Do-ryeon-nim [a respectful title for a young master or son of a wealthy family],” Choi Kyung-min said.

Jung Hyun-woo kept his eyes fixed on the water glass, raising his tone slightly. “Did you think I’d go to a sashimi restaurant or a beef specialty place?”

“Not those exactly, but I thought you might choose a Korean set menu restaurant.”

This wasn’t America; it was Korea. And here, Jung Hyun-woo was a third-generation chaebol [a wealthy business conglomerate family, similar to a dynasty]. Who would believe that a third-generation chaebol educated in the U.S. would pick a braised codfish stew restaurant?

“Since I’m in Korea, I just want to eat something I can only have here, even if it’s just one meal.”

He continued, “Back in the 1980s, unlike LA or New York, it was hard to find Korean food in Boston.”

“I understand what you mean,” Choi Kyung-min replied.

Jung Hyun-woo picked up his spoon and chopsticks, then asked, “Secretary Choi, what’s with the branch office in Daejeon…? Did you get on someone’s bad side?”

Choi Kyung-min had never imagined Jung Hyun-woo would come to see him in person. “Got on someone’s bad side? Do-ryeon-nim, I was promoted to section chief.”

Jung Hyun-woo took a sip of water and raised his tone. “Promoted?”

“The branch employees are all part of the same Daeun Group.”

Within Daeun Group, his rank had increased, so he called it a promotion. Of course, Jung Hyun-woo wasn’t one to accept that. “But it’s far from a success.”

Choi Kyung-min closed his eyes briefly, attempting to compose himself.

Seeing this, Jung Hyun-woo lowered his voice. “I didn’t come here to make fun of you.”

Choi Kyung-min responded with his eyes still closed. “I know.”

Jung Hyun-woo wasn’t the type to tease or look down on others.

*Do-ryeon-nim… He was sharp at first, but his edge has dulled over time,* Choi Kyung-min thought.

He thought that Sera might have influenced Jung Hyun-woo’s dulling edge. *He not only followed her like a 친누나 [close female friend or like an older sister], but he completely changed after meeting her.*

The braised codfish stew began to bubble.

“I heard the regular 인사 [personnel reshuffle] for 1984 is over,” Jung Hyun-woo said.

“I became a branch manager thanks to the regular 인사,” Choi Kyung-min replied.

“Are you satisfied?”

“It sounds like you’re testing me.”

Jung Hyun-woo didn’t deny it. “That’s right.”

“Do-ryeon-nim.”

“We need someone who can stay in Korea.”

Choi Kyung-min sighed softly. “Hoo… Why me?”

Jung Hyun-woo looked at him and replied, “Because I can trust you.”

“Trust me?”

“You’re someone I can trust now.”

Choi Kyung-min tilted his head slightly. *Was I someone he couldn’t trust before?*

As if seeing through his question, Jung Hyun-woo said, “When I first saw you, I thought you were a spy sent by someone in Korea.”

Since he had come from the drug rehabilitation center, it was natural to have someone watching him.

“Did you think I was on Director Hong’s line?”

“Even if you weren’t Director Hong, I thought you were on someone’s line.”

The braised codfish stew was boiling, but Choi Kyung-min couldn’t pick up his spoon.

“Seeing me like this, you must think I’m not on anyone’s line.”

Jung Hyun-woo raised his tone. “Secretary Choi, are you offended?”

“No. I think it’s a cold reality.”

Jung Hyun-woo picked up the ladle first. “A cold reality. I think a harsh reality would be more fitting.”

He ladled the braised codfish stew into a bowl.

Meanwhile, Choi Kyung-min lowered his gaze. *I thought the relationship between us was over.*

He wanted to rise through his own power instead of getting caught up in the chaebol family’s 싸움 [fight or power struggle]. However, Daeun Group didn’t give him the chance to show his abilities.

Jung Hyun-woo put the bowl down and asked, “Secretary Choi, are you feeling unwell?”

Choi Kyung-min shifted his gaze to the table and replied, “No. It’s just a bit…”

“You have a lot on your mind?”

“It’s been a while since I met you, Do-ryeon-nim. To be honest, it would be a lie if I said I wasn’t thinking about this and that.”

Jung Hyun-woo smiled at his answer. “Come to think of it, it’s been a year.”

He had left America just before Christmas the year before last, so it seemed like a year and ten days.

“It’s all about me. How have you been, Do-ryeon-nim?”

All he knew about Jung Hyun-woo was that he had been accepted into MIT.

“I went to school and then took a leave of absence.”

Choi Kyung-min’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”

Jung Hyun-woo replied in a calm voice. “I started a business.”

“A business, you say?”

“I had been preparing for it for a while.”

Choi Kyung-min lowered his raised eyebrows and said, “Then you must have started it with Ms. Hilton.”

“Secretary Choi, you’re quick on the uptake.”

“Well… I’ve been with you for over a year. I’m not someone who wouldn’t notice that much.”

Choi Kyung-min didn’t know exactly what Jung Hyun-woo was doing, but he knew that whatever he was doing, it was with Sera.

“Do-ryeon-nim, is it okay?”

He knew that Chairman Jung Woo-sun had high expectations for Jung Hyun-woo. *The chairman might be shocked just by the fact that he took a leave of absence from MIT.*

Jung Hyun-woo replied in a bright voice. “It’s fine.”

Choi Kyung-min sighed briefly. “Hoo, you’ve definitely changed.”

“Wasn’t I like this before?”

Choi Kyung-min nodded slowly. “When you first came out of the center, you seemed neither here nor there.”

He vividly remembered the day Jung Hyun-woo first came out of the center.

“I might have been.”

Jung Hyun-woo held out the ladle to him. “I’ll ask again. Secretary Choi, will you take my hand?”

He had been rejected by Choi Kyung-min before.

Instead of taking the ladle, Choi Kyung-min asked him, “Do-ryeon-nim, can I ask you something first?”

Jung Hyun-woo shrugged slightly. “You can ask as many as you want. I’ve cleared my schedule completely today.”

“Am I truly necessary for you, Do-ryeon-nim?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”

“Can I ask why?”

“I’ll say it again. Because I can trust you.”

Because he could trust him. It was the same reason as before.

Not satisfied with that, Choi Kyung-min asked again. “Is trust that important?”

Jung Hyun-woo’s voice lowered. “What would happen if there was an enemy instead of an ally next to a general going to war?”

A general going to war. Jung Hyun-woo’s words were heavy.

“It seems you have no intention of just stepping down.”

“Do you think I’m someone who would lower the flag before even starting?”

Choi Kyung-min shook his head. “No.”

If he had to describe Jung Hyun-woo in one word, it would be a daring child.

“Even if you can’t immediately take over your grandfather’s position, you won’t give up all the rights of Daeun Group to your uncles.”

Many people in Daeun Group said that the person who would succeed Chairman Jung Woo-sun was Executive Director Jung Min-seok.

Jung Hyun-woo didn’t deny it either. *There’s too little time to narrow the gap with my uncles.*

Chairman Jung Woo-sun was already in his late seventies. Even if he lived a long life, it would be another 10 years. If he wanted to surpass Executive Director Jung Min-seok, he had to gain not only Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s favor but also control of the group within 10 years. It was objectively difficult.

*The best thing to do is to secure as many rights and interests as possible while 할아버지 [grandfather] is still alive.*

For the next chairman position, he wanted to build up his strength.

“How far are you looking, Do-ryeon-nim?”

Jung Hyun-woo raised his voice slightly instead. “Grab the ladle.”

Thanks to Choi Kyung-min changing the subject, he had been holding the ladle.

“I’m sorry.”

As Choi Kyung-min took the ladle, Jung Hyun-woo answered the previous question. “The goal is the highest position for now.”

Aiming for the position of chairman of Daeun Group.

“It won’t be easy.”

“Is there anyone who thinks that position is easy?”

“…”

Jung Hyun-woo picked up his spoon and said, “Secretary Choi, how about becoming the chief of the secretary office at Daeun Electronics?”

Choi Kyung-min stopped the ladle at his question. “Chief of the secretary office?”

“It might not be the group’s secretary office, but it’ll be better than now.”

“But…”

Jung Hyun-woo cut off his question. “Half of Daeun Electronics’ shares are mine. When I return to Korea, I’ll take over Daeun Electronics first.”

Choi Kyung-min couldn’t help but be surprised that Jung Hyun-woo owned half of Daeun Electronics’ shares. *Does he have the strength to fight his uncles?*

Of course, Daeun Electronics wasn’t a core affiliate of Daeun Group.

Choi Kyung-min put down the ladle and asked, “What do you want me to do until you come back?”

This question meant he had made a decision. *I can’t do much as a branch manager. Now that it’s come to this, there’s only one choice.*

Jung Hyun-woo knew that he had accepted his offer and smiled as he replied. “Gather news about Korea and Daeun Group.”

“Will just news like that do?”

“No. You’ll have to gather more than that.”

Jung Hyun-woo handed him a thick envelope. “What’s this?”

“Operating funds. When you have time, go up to Seoul and meet your 동기 [classmates or peers]. It doesn’t have to be great information. Things like the atmosphere or rumors within Daeun Group are fine too. I want you to meet as many people as possible and gather news.”

Choi Kyung-min checked the contents of the envelope Jung Hyun-woo handed him and was shocked. “This is…”

“The 10,000 dollars I mentioned before.”

The envelope contained one hundred hundred-dollar bills. *It’s a lot of money that can even buy a house in Daejeon.*

Jung Hyun-woo continued. “I’ll take care of the salary separately.”

“Yes?”

Wasn’t everything included in the 10,000 dollars he had just given him?

“The 10,000 dollars I gave you now is literally operating funds.”

Choi Kyung-min thought it was too much money to use as operating funds.

“There will be a lot left over with 10,000 dollars.”

“Don’t leave any.”

“Do-ryeon-nim.”

“If there’s money left over, send a bribe to your boss. Then you’ll get promoted faster. And use the black market in Jongno or Myeongdong for currency exchange. If you exchange a large amount of money at the bank, they might investigate the source now.”

After finishing his words, Jung Hyun-woo chewed on the flesh of the codfish and savored the taste. *Hmm, not bad.*

However, Choi Kyung-min still couldn’t pick up his spoon. He lowered his gaze and asked, “Do-ryeon-nim, how should I contact you?”

“I’ll call the branch office every Monday morning. If you don’t hear from me around 10 o’clock, you can assume there’s no contact that week.”

Choi Kyung-min nodded. “I understand.”

“Eat. The rice is getting cold.”

The braised codfish stew was boiling in the pot, but the rice was in the bowl.

Only after Jung Hyun-woo pointed it out did Choi Kyung-min scoop the braised codfish stew and place it in front of him.

“I think it’s too good of a condition for me.”

Jung Hyun-woo scooped up rice, put it in his mouth, and chewed it as he said, “I haven’t said how much I’ll pay you yet.”

“With your character, I can tell without hearing the answer.”

“I could make it 1 million won a year.”

Choi Kyung-min took his hand off the spoon and placed both hands on his knees. Then he put strength into his neck and said, “If you give me 1 million won, I’ll take 1 million won, and if you give me 100,000 won, I’ll take 100,000 won.”

Now that he had decided to become Jung Hyun-woo’s man, money wasn’t a big deal. *It’s a decision that will last for 20 years, or maybe even longer.*

If things went well, he could become an executive at Daeun Group.

“Are you okay with that?”

“The salary is already enough.”

It was a lie. Of course, Jung Hyun-woo knew that very well.

*Secretary Choi’s family is poor.*

As a section chief at a large company, it would be enough if he were single, but he had to take care of his parents and three siblings.

*If his family had supported him, he would have gotten married long ago.*

Choi Kyung-min hadn’t even been able to date properly because of his family situation.

He had learned about this fact a few days ago. 성형진 [Seong Hyung-jin, name of a person] reported to him about Choi Kyung-min’s family situation. Thanks to that, he learned everything about Choi Kyung-min’s family and background.

“I’ll give you 5 million a year.”

Five million was slightly more than Choi Kyung-min’s annual salary. He thought carefully when deciding on this amount. *If I give too much from the beginning, the balance of life might be broken.*

Choi Kyung-min bowed his head at the amount of five million. “Do-ryeon-nim, it’s too much.”

“It’s a job that deserves that much.”

“Do-ryeon-nim.”

Jung Hyun-woo said coldly. “Secretary Choi, from now on, I’ll decide the value of people or things. Do you understand?”

Now that the hierarchy has been decided, he was telling him to follow him.

Choi Kyung-min gave up his stubbornness. “I understand.”

Jung Hyun-woo picked up his chopsticks and said, “Secretary Choi, and pay attention to Daeun Electronics too.”

He had said earlier that he owned 50% of Daeun Electronics’ shares. *Daeun Electronics has to be a bridgehead for Daeun Group.*

Choi Kyung-min nodded at his instruction. “I’ll check both the factory and the products at Daeun Electronics.”

Daeun Electronics’ products were being sold along with other products at Daeun 상사 [Daeun Trading Company] branches. In fact, you could tell Daeun Electronics’ status just by looking at this. Even if you didn’t go to 삼정 [Samjeong] Electronics or 대현 [Daehyun] Electronics, 오성 [Ohseong] Electronics alone had 오성 [Ohseong] Electronics branches all over the country. But Daeun Electronics was borrowing one side of Daeun 상사 [Daeun Trading Company] branches.

“Secretary Choi.”

“Yes, Do-ryeon-nim.”

“But don’t move too much. If you move too much, other people might become interested in you.”

Choi Kyung-min nodded. “I understand. I won’t go to the Daeun Electronics factory separately.”

He meant that he would gather information about Daeun Electronics from a distance.

“Secretary Choi, let’s become 귀인 [benefactors] to each other.”

Jung Hyun-woo thought that with Choi Kyung-min’s diligence, he could produce good results.

“Do-ryeon-nim, I’ll do my best.”

Now that he had decided on a path, all that was left was to run vigorously along that path.

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