Golden Spoon Investment Portfolio - Chapter 488

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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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488. I will treat you as Xiong Di, not Lao Peng You.

Liu Shangfu seemed pleased as he took a sip of the ssanghwa tea brought by the Female Server dressed in a refined modernized hanbok.

“The aroma is quite distinctive.”
“It’s a traditional Korean tea called ssanghwa tea, made with herbal ingredients like ginseng, jujubes, cinnamon, and ginger.”
“I thought I detected a strong herbal fragrance.”
“It’s effective at preventing colds and restoring vitality, so it’s commonly enjoyed during winter months like these.”
“I see. The nuts floating on top are somewhat unfamiliar, but there’s a subtle sweetness that makes it quite pleasant.”

With that, Liu Shangfu brought the teacup back to his lips.
Just then, Female Servers knocked and entered, setting the table with dinnerware and presenting cold appetizers alongside a thick pumpkin porridge.

“Please, enjoy.”
“Yes.”

Liu Shangfu responded and picked up his spoon.
After lightly finishing the small bowl of pumpkin porridge and cold appetizers, grilled abalone infused with smoky fragrance and water-based raw fish soon appeared.
The edible gold leaf thinly scattered over the fresh seafood caught the eye with its luminous brilliance.
True to his preference for golden hues, Liu Shangfu let out an exclamation of admiration, and Seok-won spoke with a smile.

“I prepared this hoping that today’s gathering would be remembered as a time as precious as gold.”
“I see.”

Liu Shangfu wore a satisfied expression and gave a thumbs up.

“This is the most meaningful and joyful time since arriving in Korea.”
“Then I’m relieved.”

Thus the two continued their meal, exchanging light conversation in a harmonious atmosphere.
The conversation never ceased—from the main course of Korean beef grilling and lamb soup to the final dessert of rice cakes and fruit.
After cleansing his palate with sikhye, Seok-won subtly turned his head and glanced at Liu Shangfu’s attendant standing by the doorway with Han Ji-sung.

“I have something quiet to discuss with the Deputy Minister, so please step outside for a moment.”

When Seok-won deliberately spoke in English, Han Ji-sung immediately bowed his head.

“Yes.”

Liu Shangfu, sensing that he wanted to speak privately, gestured to his own attendant with a nod of his chin.
Liu Shangfu’s attendant then bowed slightly and left the room with Han Ji-sung, clearing the space.
With only the two of them remaining, a brief silence fell.
I gazed at Liu Shangfu across from me and opened my mouth in a somewhat subdued voice.

“I believe we’ve become old friends—laofengyou—who can truly share our hearts with each other. What do you think, Deputy Secretary?”
“Of course, I think the same way.”

Liu Shangfu nodded with a decidedly serious demeanor.

“The truth is, I arranged this meeting today because there’s something I need to quietly inform you about.”
“What is it?”

Liu Shangfu, sensing that something important was coming, asked with his eyes gleaming.
I met his gaze steadily and began to speak in a measured tone.

“You must know Chairman Zhang Daming of the Haian Group.”
“Of course.”

It would have been strange not to know him—a man who rose from rural origins, climbing from the bottom to become the wealthiest magnate in Fujian Province, a living embodiment of self-made success.

“Soon, a special investigation team will come down from Beijing to conduct a massive purge.”
“…!”

At the ominous word “purge,” Liu Shangfu’s face froze solid.
He then leaned forward and asked in a strained voice.

“What do you mean by that?”

Watching Liu Shangfu with his eyes wide open, I spoke calmly.

“Since 1991, he’s allegedly smuggled everything from automobiles and cigarettes to petroleum and electronics, evading nearly two billion dollars in taxes.”

Liu Shangfu’s pupils trembled violently, as if a bomb had detonated in his mind.

“You’re saying… Chairman Zhang Daming really did such things?”

Seok-won nodded firmly even as disbelief flickered across my face and my words stumbled.

“Not only that, but he built a separate seven-story crimson building in downtown Fuzhou equipped with every conceivable entertainment facility—spas, private rooms where he could enjoy drinks with women—where he entertained Fujian Province officials, high-ranking Communist Party cadres, and military generals, while passing along massive bribes.”
“Hmm.”

If he had truly engaged in smuggling on such a massive scale for nearly a decade—with tax evasion alone reaching two billion dollars—it would have been impossible without powerful backers protecting him from behind the scenes.
Liu Shangfu, instinctively grasping that this was no ordinary matter, found himself exhaling a low groan without meaning to.
Though he didn’t voice it aloud, he too had heard rumors about the building Chairman Zhang Daming operated, the one they called the Palace.
He had even received an invitation from Chairman Zhang Daming once, but something about the way he brazenly flaunted his connections without restraint had left him deeply uneasy, so he’d kept his distance—a decision that now seemed nothing short of providential.
But as Seok-won continued, Liu Shangfu could no longer entertain such thoughts; his heart sank heavily.

“Upon learning of the case, Chairman Zhang Zedong in Beijing flew into a rage and issued direct orders to the Central Party Discipline Inspection Commission to root out and severely punish not only Chairman Zhang Daming but everyone involved—sparing no one, whether from the Party, government, or military.”

At the mention of the Central Party Discipline Inspection Commission—an entity as terrifying as the grim reaper itself—all color drained from Liu Shangfu’s face.
No matter how high his position as Fujian Province’s deputy secretary or how formidable his backing as part of the so-called Princelings—the descendants and heirs of revolutionary elders—one misstep with the Central Party Discipline Inspection Commission meant the end.
Even if Liu Shangfu had no connection whatsoever to Chairman Zhang Daming’s massive smuggling operation and tax evasion, that wouldn’t matter.
Anxious that stray embers might land on him, Liu Shangfu swallowed hard and fidgeted until a sudden thought crossed his mind, prompting him to look up at Seok-won across from him.

“I had no knowledge of this whatsoever. How on earth did you come to know about it?”

Liu Shangfu asked with extreme caution.
Seok-won, having anticipated the question, felt one corner of his mouth twitch inwardly, but outwardly he remained composed and answered in an offhand tone.

“I can’t reveal the name, but I have connections in Beijing.”
“I see.”

Liu Shangfu nodded slightly and asked no further questions.
Anyone possessing information of this caliber would almost certainly be among the top ten power brokers in Beijing itself, and his gaze toward Seok-won grew even more cautious and respectful.
Watching this, Seok-won recalled a conversation he’d had before his regression with Manager Oh, someone he regarded as his true mentor.

“Ah, that hit the spot. Jjajangmyeon really does taste best when you order it from here.”

Manager Oh set down his jjajangmyeon bowl and wiped his mouth with a paper towel while Seok-won, sitting beside him in the cramped Shoe Repair Shop eating jjamppong, replied flatly.

“You didn’t come because the staff wouldn’t join you for lunch, did you?”
“Hey! Who do you think I am? I’m Manager Oh of Yeouido—would I do that?”
“Why not? You’re such a dinosaur, and every time you open your mouth it’s ‘back in my day’ with nothing but old stories.”
“You little punk—”

Manager Oh spoke with an indignant expression.

“The employees adore me so much. They’re always asking me to buy them coffee, showering me with affection.”
“That’s being a sucker….”
“What?”
“Nothing at all.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“Yes, fine. I’ll leave it at that.”

At Seok-won’s indifferent response, Manager Oh’s face turned pouty, and he began to sulk.

“Hey! I bought that, so don’t eat it.”

As he reached to snatch the jjamppong bowl away, Seok-won quickly turned his body and blocked it with his back.

“Come on. You’re not a child, yet you keep doing this.”
“Hmph.”
“Are you upset, Manager?”
“Upset? Not a chance.”
“Hmm. I heard that when men reach middle age, female hormones start flowing and their personalities change… At your age….”
“That’s rich!”

As Manager Oh picked up a chopstick smeared with black bean sauce and made a throwing motion, Seok-won laughed and spoke.

“Haha. Just joking, just joking.”
“You’re getting too big for your britches. I’m going to teach you a lesson.”

Manager Oh clicked his tongue and habitually placed a cigarette between his lips, lighting it.

“Ahh. A cigarette after a meal truly is bliss.”

Then, noticing a newspaper article on the side mentioning that Liu Shangfu had risen to become the national chairman, Manager Oh exhaled smoke and spoke.

“Do you know how Liu Shangfu, who was barely mentioned until now, became China’s number one?”

Just as Seok-won finished his jjamppong and set down the bowl, he answered.

“That’s because a strong candidate fell from grace due to corruption charges, and he ended up becoming Chairman by sheer luck.”
“Of course that played a role, but the position of Chairman of China isn’t some village headman’s seat to be decided so easily.”
“Then was there another reason?”

Manager Oh tapped the cigarette ash into the empty paper cup he’d drained and brought it back to his lips.

“The strong candidate who fell did so because of corruption—that’s the official story anyway. The real reason is different, but that’s what the Chinese people were told. In contrast, Liu Shangfu was gaining considerable internal support by championing anti-corruption efforts and nationalist sentiment against foreign powers. When the Communist Party’s authority was shaken by massive corruption scandals, Liu Shangfu was the perfect figurehead to restore it.”

Seok-won nodded while clearing the dishes.

“Now that you mention it, that makes sense. But was Liu Shangfu really such an upright person?”
“Who knows.”

Manager Oh let out a snort of laughter.

“Whether he’s clean or not, I can’t say. But he’s definitely lucky.”
“Why is that?”
“When Liu Shangfu was serving as Deputy Governor of Fuzhou Province, the Zhang Daming incident erupted—a massive corruption scandal involving high-ranking officials in Fuzhou, Communist Party members, and military personnel. Whether he dodged it skillfully or just got lucky, hundreds of senior officials were arrested in succession and fourteen were executed. Yet Liu Shangfu alone remained untouched by any charges, which became the turning point that made him nationally known as an incorruptible administrator.”
“Such a thing happened.”

Thanks to that conversation back then, I had learned the details of the Zhang Daming incident that changed Liu Shangfu’s fate.
Breaking free from my thoughts and returning to the present, I spoke in a measured tone while observing Liu Shangfu’s Secretary, whose expression had grown complicated.

“There’s a saying that crisis is opportunity, isn’t there.”
“…?”
“When the Central Party Discipline Inspection Commission begins its work, a massive purge will sweep through all of Fujian Province. But if handled well, you could turn this into an opportunity for reversal.”
“What do you mean.”

In response to Liu Shangfu’s Secretary’s question, I lowered my voice slightly.

“During the investigation, as numerous high-ranking officials are revealed to be involved in corruption, if it becomes clear that you alone remained untouched by scandal, wouldn’t you stand out like a crane among chickens.”
“But what if they find it suspicious instead and try to dig until they find something.”

It was natural to feel afraid, since no one in office who wasn’t connected to Chairman Zhang Daming could shake out their robes without dust falling.
Standing before Liu Shangfu’s Secretary, who was growing anxious with a worried expression, I spoke with confidence.

“Given that a massive corruption scandal has shaken the Communist Party’s authority, they’ll need someone to offset public criticism and discontent.”

At that, a glimmer of hope appeared in Liu Shangfu’s Secretary’s eyes.

“So that’s what I need to become.”
“We’ll need to build that foundation starting now. First, once you return home, carefully examine whether there are any connections that could link you to Chairman Zhang Daming, and clean them up preemptively.”
“I understand what you’re saying.”

Liu Shangfu nodded his head.
Then he gazed at Seok-won with eyes brimming with genuine gratitude.

“If I manage to weather this storm as you’ve advised, Chairman Park, you’ll be my savior—my benefactor for life. From this moment forward, I won’t regard you as merely a laofengyou, but as xiongdi.”

Xiongdi—a bond transcending friendship, regarded as family or as one body, the ultimate stage in guanxi relationships.
Having received the answer he desired, Seok-won’s lips curved into a subtle smile.

“Should you ever need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
“Your words alone are reassuring.”

With this exchange, the bond between the two men deepened, becoming more intimate and unbreakable.

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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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