We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 29

What is Power? (1)

Day 3 of construction.

Today is the day for pouring concrete.

We were really down to the last process.

Wiiiing.

“Come in quickly, quickly!”

Once this job is done, I need to move busily to Busan, Daegu, and Daejeon.

Since I had to clean the exteriors of buildings in each city, it was necessary to do a preliminary survey. And in the meantime, there is something I need to do at home.

That’s Sua’s first birthday party.

Because the family was struggling, Sua’s first birthday party was skipped.

I talked a lot with Sujeong because we understood each other, but that didn’t mean I didn’t love Sua.

Rather, Sua is the child who pains my heart. There was a time when she couldn’t even drink formula properly when she was supposed to be eating well.

Perhaps because of that, I received a doctor’s opinion that her development was slightly slower than other children, and my wife shed tears a while ago.

If my wife, who doesn’t usually show her emotions in any situation, even showed tears, it must have meant that her feelings for Sua were overwhelming.

‘Although it’s late, I’m glad I can at least have a birthday party like this. This time, I have to set the table so full that it breaks.’

A lot of things have happened in the meantime, and it was hard to remember each one, but I decided to be satisfied with the fact that I could move forward to the future.

That’s enough.

I was briefly lost in thought when the ready-mixed concrete driver spoke in a rough voice.

“Is it true that this won’t collapse?”

“Yes. It won’t collapse. We reinforced it firmly.”

“I heard that this tunnel is a place where people get killed.”

Samcheok is the border between Gyeongsang-do and Gangwon-do. Because of that, there were people who used the Gyeongsang-do dialect and people who used the Gangwon-do dialect.

I guess you could say it’s a characteristic of the region where each province is adjacent.

The ready-mixed concrete driver came in with doubts and worries, so I actually had to give him extra money because of this.

This is because ready-mixed concrete drivers were reluctant to come to the Samcheok Tunnel because it was said to be haunted by ghosts.

“Come in quickly! We have to pour in 30 loads today.”

A lot of reinforcement goes into it.

This alone is not enough to withstand the load of the tunnel. What I do is just to make the ground withstand to some extent during the construction period, and after that, experts are brought in to reinforce it more firmly.

Anyway, my role ends when I pour the concrete.

Wiiiing!

There were many twists and turns, but the pouring began.

Ready-mixed concrete trucks were lined up. There were drivers from Samcheok, Donghae, and Gangneung, which was a bit far away. This was because the notoriety of the Samcheok Tunnel had spread so widely.

Lee Seo-gyeong clicked her tongue as she watched the scene.

“The media is the problem.”

“Did the media attack it?”

“Yes. It’s called the haunted tunnel.”

“So that’s why the drivers are like that?”

“Anyway, you’re amazing. You’re meeting the quota even though there are such rumors.”

“It’s the power of money.”

At first, I called for 1.2 times the existing price, and then 1.5 times. Only after sending a photo that the tunnel was safely reinforced with steel could I secure that amount.

If I didn’t have money, even this would have been a considerable burden.

The pouring continues all morning.

Some NK employees watched the historic moment.

“Why aren’t those guys leaving?”

I clearly received a written oath from Chairman Yoon. That means the story is over.

Chairman Yoon respected my power. He was aware of the fact that he was an irresistible force, and a kind of agreement was reached.

Lee Seo-gyeong also says it as if she doesn’t like it very much.

“We have to take out the equipment those people brought and process the documents. The equipment has been taken out for two days. Now we have to settle the accounts.”

Those bastards were completely destroyed by me.

A force of 150 people was destroyed on the spot, and they stormed the headquarters and even destroyed the main force. It wasn’t just Choi Bae-dal [a famous Korean martial artist] breaking into the dojang [martial arts studio], but breaking every bone in their bodies. Because of that, there was a slight fear in their eyes. They watch out of curiosity, but they can’t come this way recklessly.

That’s enough.

Clap clap!

I clapped my hands.

“Next car, come in!”

The pouring was over around lunchtime.

The reason why we were able to pour 30 loads in the morning was because three cars came in at once and poured out the concrete.

After pouring concrete 10 times like that, the process is finally over.

Since we used special cement with the strongest hardness, if we reinforce it well here, it will last for more than 100 years.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

Lee Seo-gyeong came up and applauded like a sea lion.

I lightly bent my back to show respect.

“You’re welcome. I wouldn’t have been able to receive this request if it wasn’t for the manager. I am always grateful.”

“What have I done?”

“More than that, are you free tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

“I’m going to have Sua’s first birthday party.”

“Wow! Congratulations!”

Suddenly, Lee Seo-gyeong’s body bounced.

Anyway, she’s a weirdo.

That ice witch-like image wasn’t bad either, but after being with me, I realized that her true self seems to be missing a screw somewhere.

Well, that’s Lee Seo-gyeong’s charm in her own way.

“Slurp! Then I can see your two daughters tomorrow?”

“Ah, please don’t drool so disgustingly.”

“How can I help it when it’s so good?”

“Come on. Keep up your image.”

“Does the president have any image left to keep?”

“Ah, how can a person be like this?”

I can’t help but shake my head.

I left Lee Seo-gyeong behind and packed my bags. H Construction will take care of removing the formwork, so this is the end of my work.

Step by step.

There were many people on the scene, but there was one person who stood out.

He was Ahn Seong-cheol, the security chief of NK Group, and he was in a position similar to that of a gangster’s action leader.

He was Chairman Yoon’s right-hand man and the person who was completely destroyed by me a while ago.

He walked limping.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Whoa, whoa, calm down. I didn’t come to fight.”

Ahn Seong-cheol was sweating.

He knew through experience that if I moved, at least a bone would be broken. So he must be careful.

“Do you have anything to say?”

“I’ve been in this industry for 20 years, but I’ve never seen anyone who fights as well as you, President. And those employees… I would believe it even if they were the elite of the Triads [Chinese organized crime syndicates]. Why would I want to be at odds with someone like that?”

“So?”

“The chairman told me to ask you to have a meal sometime.”

“Hahaha! Why would I eat with someone who tried to kill me?”

“That was when I didn’t know your skills. If it’s a business story, we might be able to form an alliance? I saw your company’s amazing scientific power.”

“An alliance?”

“We also have a lot of difficult construction projects that we can’t talk about. I want to get your help at that time.”

Ahn Seong-cheol said with a smile.

This gangster bastard looks even more ferocious when he smiles.

There was a big knife scar on his cheek, and he was a brutal-looking guy who approached me with flattery. This is the irony.

“Hmm.”

“Doesn’t money even bring ghosts around? We started as a gangster group, but now we are legitimate businessmen. We are about to be listed on the KOSPI [Korea Composite Stock Price Index], so there is nothing wrong with cooperating with us.”

“Well, I can cooperate as long as you don’t kidnap people.”

“Only thugs do that kind of thing. Piggy Dad loan sharking? I saw it on the news, and if it had caught my eye, I would have just drowned him and cut him into pieces.”

He revealed his brutality.

He says that organ trafficking and human trafficking are not things that traditional gangsters do. And he emphasized that most of them now pay taxes and do business above the surface.

I can work with anyone as long as they give me a lot of money.

“I am associated with the H Group. Are you sure you’re not burdened?”

“What does it matter since you’re the final subcontractor? Yesterday’s enemy becomes today’s friend in this industry. We also switched to the S Group line, but if the interests are right, we can work with the H Group again.”

“It’s like politics. It’s not even international relations.”

“It’s similar.”

He emphasized money.

I just said that I would consider it positively.

Vroom!

President Lee Yu-seong and his employees disappear.

Ahn Seong-cheol felt his muscles tighten from smiling.

“Ugh. It’s hard to laugh after a long time.”

“Hyungnim [term for older brother or respected male figure]. Why is the chairman interested in that kind of guy?”

Paak!

“Keuk!”

Ahn Seong-cheol hit the gangster’s head.

“You ignorant bastard. That guy destroyed our headquarters. In terms of skill alone, he has surpassed the national level.”

“Ugh. Is that the only reason?”

“Is that the only reason? It’s because of his technology.”

Ahn Seong-cheol clicked his tongue.

All the executives of the company are like this.

Now, I had to hear the sound of a decent businessman, but Ahn Seong-cheol’s insides were burning because he was trying to do business with guys who used to handle knives.

“Hey, you, study a little. Did you take the GED [General Educational Development test] this time?”

“Heh. What would an ignorant guy like me do?”

Paak!

“Ack! Why do you keep hitting me!”

“Hey, you ignorant bastard! These days, gangsters need to graduate from college to be successful. Sigh. I’m so pathetic that you’re my right-hand man.”

“What’s the point of a gangster being good at using a knife?”

“Study. That’s the way to live.”

Ahn Seong-cheol turned around.

“Seongnim [term of respect]! Let’s go together!”

On the way to Seoul.

My steps are light as I return after finishing work.

Although I have to go around the country cleaning the exterior walls of buildings after my daughter’s first birthday party tomorrow, my shoulders are raised by the fact that I can do something for Sua.

Lee Seo-gyeong, who had been deep in thought, opened her mouth.

“This industry is truly amazing.”

“What is it?”

“Until a few days ago, they were trying to kill people, but now they’re cooperating.”

“It’s because I have power and technology.”

“Pardon?”

“You can define both as power. So, this world is structured in such a way that you can’t survive without power. Whether it’s money, connections, or skills. You have to have at least one. Otherwise, you’ll be ignored.”

“Wow… that’s a great saying.”

Lee Seo-gyeong shook her head.

She was also working for a company and became an executive, so she could be said to have entered the business world.

If you stay in the business world for a long time, you will realize that there are no eternal enemies or friends. Also, the logic they move on is profit, and profit can be produced with the things mentioned above.

“In other words, you must have power.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Ah, well, this is just my dog poop philosophy, so you don’t have to pay too much attention to it.”

“What do you mean? I was thinking that too. This world is a kingdom of the powerful. I believe that if you keep that in mind and live, you will have good results.”

In the old days, the ancient kings made even the most absurd philosophy into truth.

Lee Seo-gyeong and I were realizing such logic of power.