Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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29. You certainly know how to propose a deal to me. Impressive.

Before my father could introduce him, I immediately recognized who the middle-aged man with neatly combed hair and dignified bearing was.
It was impossible not to know him—he was the Deputy Prime Minister for Economics who had decided on and signed the agreement for International Monetary Fund support, the greatest national crisis and humiliation Korea had faced since the Korean War.
The shock of it all was still vivid in my memory: Choi Jin-woo, then Deputy Prime Minister, signing the agreement with the IMF Managing Director, his face dark and somber as he delivered a statement before the cameras while the entire nation watched.

‘Back then, I really thought Korea was going to collapse.’

The image of Deputy Prime Minister Choi Jin-woo bowing his head heavily before the live broadcast cameras reflected the precarious state Korea had been in, teetering on the brink of national default.

‘In a way, Choi Jin-woo must have felt incredibly wronged and frustrated too.’

With less than a month before the International Monetary Fund crisis hit, he had been appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy, forced to endure endless criticism and shame while negotiating the grueling terms with the IMF. He must have deeply regretted accepting the President’s offer.
Though he had managed to conclude negotiations with the IMF and navigate Korea through the brink of default, the stigma of being labeled the architect of the IMF crisis had followed him relentlessly.

‘Of course, he continued his career afterward, even being elected Governor of Gyeonggi Province, but that was all.’

Though he remained in politics, after serving as Governor of Gyeonggi Province, he was sidelined and pushed to the margins, never returning to the mainstream.
For someone with Choi Jin-woo’s political ambitions, the decision to accept the Deputy Prime Minister position must have been a deeply regrettable mistake.

‘But did this man hold a professional CEO position before becoming Deputy Prime Minister?’

No matter how hard I tried to recall, I had no such memory.

‘It seems like my future got twisted because of me again.’

If I hadn’t won that massive Powerball jackpot and made substantial profits in pound sterling, Park Tae-hong would never have thought to acquire a Securities Company in the first place—it was a plausible deduction.

‘Could it be that because of this, when the International Monetary Fund crisis hit, the negotiations fell apart and Korea ended up declaring a moratorium like Russia did?’

A moratorium meant that a nation or local government unilaterally suspended payment of debts borrowed from abroad when repayment became difficult.
In short, it was the state defaulting and essentially surrendering to its creditors.
Unlike Korea, which received International Monetary Fund bailout and graduated as a model student in a short period, several countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore had declared moratoriums.

‘Among them, Indonesia received International Monetary Fund support but failed to escape the crisis, ultimately declaring a moratorium.’

Whether the International Monetary Fund or a moratorium was the better choice remained a contentious topic for years to come.
This was because the suffering that the government, corporations, and citizens had to endure under the International Monetary Fund regime was so immense and agonizing.
Unlike the International Monetary Fund, which everyone overcame and conquered through united effort despite not knowing the answer, a moratorium was uncharted territory, making the variables of what outcome might emerge far too numerous.
Park Tae-hong’s words pulled me from my tangled thoughts.

“Why are you standing there like a fool instead of sitting down?”
“Ah. Yes.”

I forced a composed expression and took the empty seat across from Choi Jin-woo.
Just then, a light knock sounded, and Jung Yun-kyung entered in a neat two-piece skirt suit and asked.

“Shall I bring fresh tea?”

Park Tae-hong glanced at his wristwatch while seated.

“Hmm, that’s fine. What I’ve already had is sufficient.”

Empty teacups already sat before Park Tae-hong and Choi Jin-woo.

“It’s nearly lunchtime, so let’s continue our discussion over a meal.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”

Jung Yun-kyung, catching the exchange between the two men, responded with quick wit.

“Then I’ll have a car prepared downstairs.”
“Please do.”

Jung Yun-kyung bowed and quietly withdrew.

“I’ve made a reservation at a regular sushi place we frequent. How does that sound?”
“For lunch, something light isn’t a bad idea.”
“They say they have grouper that was caught fresh this morning in Jeju Island and air-shipped here. Let’s try that. It should be absolutely delicious.”
“Since you’re recommending it personally, I have high expectations. The firm, chewy texture with its natural sweetness is exquisite, isn’t it? And when you dip it in soy sauce with just a touch of wasabi, there’s nothing better, or so I’ve heard.”
“Ah, so President Choi truly understands the art of sashimi. Do you fish as a hobby, perhaps?”
“Ha ha, I’ve only tried it a few times as a pastime.”

Park Tae-hong laughed at Choi Jin-woo’s unexpected refinement and rose to his feet.

“Then let’s go have a meal. Seok-won, you come along too.”
“Yes.”

Choi Jin-woo and Seok-won rose from their seats and followed Park Tae-hong.

* * *

Park Tae-hong had brought his party to one of Seoul’s most prestigious Japanese restaurants.
The chef was a renowned master craftsman, and naturally, the freshness and quality of the ingredients were first-rate.
After finishing a satisfying meal some time later, Park Tae-hong emerged from the restaurant with the manager seeing him off at the entrance, his expression radiating contentment as he turned to Choi Jin-woo.

“See you again later.”
“Yes. Please take care on your way.”

Park Tae-hong gave a small nod and climbed into the rear seat of the car that his attendant had opened for him.

“Then I’ll see you next time.”

Choi Jin-woo asked with a smiling face in response to Seok-won’s greeting.

“You graduate next year, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I look forward to meeting again once you’ve finished your studies.”

Seok-won offered a faint smile and bowed his head slightly.

“Thank you. Then I’ll be on my way.”
“Go ahead.”

As Seok-won boarded the rear seat following Park Tae-hong, the waiting attendant closed the car door.
Then, after offering a slight bow to Choi Jin-woo, he quickly climbed into the front passenger seat.
The large sedan started its engine and glided smoothly out of the parking lot before turning onto a wide avenue.
Since it was midday, the road was relatively quiet, and Kim Hyung-gi, who held the steering wheel, glanced at Park Tae-hong in the rear seat through the rearview mirror and asked.

“Chairman, where shall I take you?”
“I’ve had a few drinks with the meal, and I’m feeling a bit of a buzz. Listen.”

The attendant in the front passenger seat quickly turned his body around and responded.

“Yes, Chairman.”
“You don’t have anything particularly important scheduled for this afternoon, do you?”
“No, sir.”
“Then you should cancel everything and head home. I need to rest.”

With that, Park Tae-hong leaned back against the seat, closed his eyes, and stretched out.
Seok-won, sitting beside him, had plenty to say about his father’s condition, but since they weren’t alone, he held his tongue.

The large sedan traveled along Gangbyeon Daero for quite some time before arriving at Hannam-dong, where it came to a gentle stop in front of the main residence.

“Father, we’re home.”

When Seok-won gently shook him awake, Park Tae-hong, who had fallen completely asleep, opened his eyes with a tired expression.

“Ah, yes.”

Seok-won, who had exited first through the car door opened by the attendant, helped Park Tae-hong out of the vehicle.

“Ha, you rascal. I’m not that drunk.”
“Really? You can walk on your own then?”
“I came home because I didn’t want the staff to see me like this, but I could still handle three or four bottles of liquor without breaking a sweat.”

Seok-won responded halfheartedly to Park Tae-hong’s boasting about his drinking capacity.

“Of course, sir. Still, just to be safe, I’ll escort you to the entrance.”

Seok-won took hold of one of Park Tae-hong’s arms and supported him.

“No, really, I’m fine.”

Though Park Tae-hong kept protesting, he didn’t pull his hand away—apparently he didn’t mind his son’s concern.
As the two entered the house, Jo Deok-rye, who had come to the entrance with the Gunsan Housekeeper, clicked her tongue with an exasperated expression.

“Day drinking? Did you have a lot?”
“Just a few glasses of sake, that’s all.”
“Whether it’s sake or soju, what’s the difference? You’ll complain about heartburn later. Shall I make you some honey tea?”
“That sounds good.”

Park Tae-hong patted my shoulder as if to say well done, then headed into the master bedroom.
Jo Deok-rye remarked with some relief at the way he walked straight without any sign of stumbling.

“It doesn’t seem like he drank that much after all.”
“He only had a little with lunch as an accompaniment. It’s not enough to get him drunk, so please don’t worry.”
“Still, I told him to stop drinking while taking the medicinal tonic, yet he does this anyway. What good is bringing him something beneficial to eat if he’s going to drink and undo all of it?”

Jo Deok-rye shook her head and belatedly turned to look at me.

“In any case, you should head upstairs and get some rest now.”
“Yes.”

I answered briefly and climbed the stairs to my room on the second floor.

* * *

That day, since Park Tae-hong was home, we had dinner a bit earlier than usual.
After Park Tae-hong finished eating and headed toward his study, I seized the opportunity for conversation and followed him, knocking on the door.

“Father.”
“What is it?”

As I entered, Park Tae-hong looked up from the documents he was reviewing at his mahogany study desk.

“There’s something I’d like to discuss with you. Do you have a moment?”

At my rather serious tone, Park Tae-hong studied my face for a moment, then set down the documents in his hand and gestured toward the sofa.

“Of course. There’s nothing wrong with that. Have a seat over there.”

As I sat on the right side of the sofa, Park Tae-hong rose from his desk, walked around it, and naturally took the seat of honor.

“Is this about what you said to President Choi during lunch today?”
“Yes.”

I spoke with a serious expression as his gaze fell upon me.

“When we spoke last time, I clearly told you I was planning to establish and operate my own investment firm.”
“You did.”

When I readily admitted it, Seok-won’s expression grew even more incredulous.

“But why did you tell Chairman Choi to keep me by your side and teach me well?”
“I said to think about it until graduation, not that I was granting permission for you to do it.”

Park Tae-hong replied in a slightly subdued voice, and Seok-won’s face hardened even further.

“Father!”

Faced with such strong resistance, Park Tae-hong also grew stern and spoke as if questioning what the problem was.

“You were fortunate to reap substantial profits from pound sterling investments, but there’s no guarantee you’ll achieve the same results next time, is there?”
“What if it’s not luck, but skill?”

In the past, even if I harbored grievances, I would have simply acquiesced and moved on by this point.
But Seok-won did not. I met Park Tae-hong’s gaze directly and refused to yield.

‘Look at this one.’

Park Tae-hong was inwardly startled by this unexpectedly resolute demeanor, yet outwardly betrayed nothing and spoke with gravity.

“Of course, as you say, you may well have a talent for investment. But even so, I cannot grant my permission.”
“Why are you opposed to it?”
“With the capital you possess, you could establish an investment firm without my assistance. And while I cannot yet determine whether it’s luck or skill, I will acknowledge that you show considerable aptitude.”

Park Tae-hong continued speaking as he observed his second son listening with a hardened expression.

“But Wall Street is where the world’s most celebrated investors gather, buying and selling diverse assets in fierce competition. For you to venture into such a ruthless jungle of survival of the fittest with no experience whatsoever, armed only with the meager confidence of a single successful investment, is nothing short of reckless folly.”
“I am well aware that this is not an easy undertaking.”
“Then there is no need for further discussion.”

Park Tae-hong attempted to end the conversation, but Seok-won immediately stiffened his resolve and countered.

“I have learned that attempting something, even if it means failure, is more worthwhile than giving up prematurely out of fear of difficulty and hardship.”

When I invoked the words that Park Yong-joo, the late founder of the Daeheung Group and my grandfather, had habitually spoken, Park Tae-hong clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“And there’s no guarantee that challenging myself now will result in failure.”
“You don’t know if it’s dung or soybean paste until you taste it!”
“It might not be dung—it could be a lump of gold. That’s why I need to test it myself.”

Park Tae-hong’s eyebrows twitched with displeasure, but I remained unflinching.
He had expected that at this point, even with reservations, he would accept my position. Instead, seeing my second son display such unwavering resolve made Park Tae-hong feel both irritated and, grudgingly, proud.

‘Yes, if a man has set his resolve, he must have this kind of stubbornness.’

Until now, he had thought of me as merely an obedient, well-behaved son, but it seemed that in this crucial moment, my true nature was finally revealed.
Yet, contrary to his inner thoughts, Park Tae-hong spoke with a stern expression.

“I’m not saying don’t do it at all. Once you’ve learned the work under President Choi for several years and gained experience, I won’t stop you from doing whatever you wish.”

Given Park Tae-hong’s typically authoritarian nature, even this much was a significant concession.
But I saw things differently.

‘Opportunities to make big money are waiting just around the corner, and I absolutely cannot miss them.’

Beyond that, I knew that in a few years, an enormous tsunami called the International Monetary Fund would come crashing down, so I couldn’t afford to waste precious time idly.
Yet it wasn’t easy to persuade my father, who seemed determined to have me work in Korea.
After deliberating for a long while, I looked at Park Tae-hong, who was waiting quietly for my response, and offered a compromise.

“Very well. I’ll return home after graduation and work as you say.”
“Yes, you’ve thought wisely.”

Park Tae-hong’s expression brightened, but it vanished at what came next.

“However, there’s one condition.”
“A condition?”

Park Tae-hong narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at me.

“Allow me to manage a separate team and independently operate a certain amount of capital.”
“What?”

Ignoring his bewildered gaze, I straightened my shoulders with confidence.

“You may think it’s presumptuous, but learning the work while doing copying is nothing but a waste of time for me. That’s why I want to prove my abilities directly so you can trust me.”

It was nothing short of audacious confidence.
It was almost remarkable where such nerve could possibly come from.
Chairman Park Tae-hong was both astounded and intrigued by his second son’s impudent proposal.

“So you’re asking me to permit the establishment of an investment firm if you prove your capabilities.”
“Yes.”
“And if the results disappoint me?”
“Then I will never speak of an investment firm again and will obey whatever you ask of me.”

This was the best compromise Seok-won could conceive.
Chairman Park Tae-hong, who had remained silent for a moment at his son’s resolute demeanor, slowly nodded his head.

“Very well. But don’t come to me with different excuses later.”
“Should I put it in writing for you?”
“That’s enough. Leave if you have nothing more to say.”

Rising from his seat, Seok-won bowed respectfully and exited the study.
With the study door closed and alone once more, Chairman Park Tae-hong gazed at the spot where his second son had been sitting and let out a wry chuckle.

“That boy. I thought he was still young, but he’s learned to propose deals to me. Quite impressive indeed.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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