I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 183

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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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Chapter 183
The moment I stepped into the restaurant, the familiar aroma of Father’s bossam enveloped me.
The customers scattered throughout the establishment glanced at me with curious expressions.
[Was I really this famous in South Korea?]
I’d been known as a child for “Five Men and a Baby Basket,” but since then, I’d only appeared occasionally in the social pages.
[Ah, right—Ashley Holmes called me a man of mystique, so I’ve been appearing on Korean broadcasts lately….]
I shrugged and casually brushed back the hair falling across my forehead.
At that moment, a customer who’d been nursing a glass of soju suddenly rose from his seat and approached me with an eager expression.
“My goodness… to meet someone so famous here….”
[I’m fairly well-known, after all.]
Just as I reached out to shake the man’s hand—
Whoosh—
What was this?
The customer brushed past me even faster than Min-guk and Ji-hee had yesterday, and firmly grasped Jeon Tae-guk’s hand instead.
“You’re the son of the Samjeon Group Chairman, aren’t you?”
“Ha ha, that’s right. I’m Jeon Tae-guk, the only son of the Samjeon Group. It’s nice to meet you.”
Jeon Tae-guk wore an unusually kind smile.
I stared blankly at Jeon Tae-guk and the crowd gathering around him.
Min-guk tugged my suspended hand down and whispered.
“Hyung, I saw. Lower your hand.”
“I was just trying to point at Tae-guk hyung with my hand….”
My excuse was pathetic.
“Hyung, the more you talk, the worse it gets.”
Min-guk had caught on too.
I simply closed my mouth.
Meanwhile, people gathered around Jeon Tae-guk.
They all spoke about the Samjeon Group in nearly unqualified praise.
“My son works at Samjeon Electronics. He got a job right after graduating from university, and he’s been a tremendous help to our family.”
“I see.”
Jeon Tae-guk patted the man’s hand while smiling with unusual benevolence.
“I worked in production at Samjeon Electronics for thirty years. During that time, I saw my son and daughter get married. All of this is thanks to Samjeon. Wow, to meet such an esteemed person in person—it’s truly an honor.”
There wasn’t a single person in South Korea who didn’t know the Samjeon Group.
If you traced the family tree far enough, there was almost certainly someone living off Samjeon’s wealth.
The Samjeon Group’s influence was undeniable.
In a way, the Samjeon Group was perhaps a company built by diligent, intelligent South Korean citizens working hard.
I smiled bitterly.
In my previous life, wherever I went, people would ask for my handshake just as they were doing now with Jeon Tae-guk, and they’d tell me how well they were living thanks to Samjeon.
Now all of that had become Jeon Tae-guk’s burden.
“By the way, is this restaurant really so good that even the wealthy come here?”
When I heard someone’s voice from somewhere, Jeon Tae-guk called out.
“What’s clear is that by my standards, this restaurant’s bossam tastes better than Samjeon Hotel Korean Restaurant’s.”
* * *
Min-guk and I sat at the table, staring intently at Jeon Tae-guk.
Jeon Tae-guk shook hands with everyone in the restaurant before finally taking his seat.
Father soon brought out the bossam.
“Tae-guk, thank you so much. Thanks to you, the restaurant’s going to get amazing publicity.”
“Oh, don’t mention it.”
“Enjoy as much bossam as you’d like today. It’s on me.”
“As the son of Samjeon Group, I should naturally pay for my meal, sir. I’ll just accept your kindness.”
Jeon Tae-guk’s shoulders were held high with pride.
“Brother… but are you okay with what you said earlier?”
“That this place tastes better than Samjeon Hotel Korean Restaurant?”
“Yes.”
“It’s the truth anyway. Who’s going to hear about it?”
Jeon Tae-guk was already devouring the bossam.
Then, Jeon Tae-guk tilted his head in confusion.
“Tae-guk, what’s wrong?”
“Sir, the taste is similar to usual, but it’s subtly different. It still tastes good today, but what’s different about it?”
“Wow, you really do have a keen palate, Tae-guk.”
I paused mid-bite of bossam.
[I was a chaebol in my past life too… I’ve sampled Michelin restaurants across the entire world… What difference could there be?]
But thinking back, it had already been well over fifteen years since my previous life as a chaebol.
They say mountains change in ten years, so perhaps the palate of Jeon Sung-guk the chaebol from my past life was gradually fading away….
With a slightly melancholic thought, I put another piece of Father’s bossam into my mouth.
“Hmm….”
I mobilized every sense in my tongue to savor the bossam, but I couldn’t detect any difference at all.
[I’ve been eating nothing but junk food in the United States….]
Then Father smiled warmly and patted my shoulder.
“Sung-guk, don’t be disappointed. The recipe is exactly the same, but only the person who made it today is different. That’s probably why there’s a slight difference in taste.”
“Father, who made it today?”
“You remember Soo-hyun hyung, right?”
“Of course I do.”
Father called out toward the kitchen.
“Soo-hyun, are all the bossam for the customers ready?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Sung-guk, go help Soo-hyun hyung with some work. Soo-hyun hyung is going to be the head chef of our first franchise location. That’s why I’m having him taste-test today.”
“Father, aren’t we the first location? The main branch is Suyu Branch.”
“The Suyu Branch Manager’s health hasn’t been good, so he’s retiring. That’s why we became the main branch.”
It was the first I’d heard of this.
It seemed there had been many changes at Won Uncle’s Bossam while I was away from Korea.
“The Suyu Branch Manager has been worried about his health for a while now, and Father strongly encouraged him to take it easy once he receives his stake in Won Uncle’s Bossam. Let’s go together to pay our respects during the Lunar New Year.”
“Sure!”
I quickly stood up and headed toward the kitchen.
Jeon Soo-hyun was Father’s junior from the orphanage.
On the day Father and I visited the orphanage, he said he wanted to cook like Father, and after graduating high school, he came straight to Father’s bossam restaurant to learn the trade.
I peeked into the kitchen.
“Hyung, is there anything I can help with?”
“You must be tired from coming all the way from the United States. Go sit down. I’ll handle it with the part-timer here.”
Just then, the part-time worker playfully jabbed Soo-hyun in the ribs while laughing.
“Come on, hyung. You’re shaking like an aspen leaf because you’re worried about the evaluation. How are you going to carry the trays?”
Looking closely, Soo-hyun was indeed trembling all over his body.
“Hyung, I’m not tired at all, so don’t worry. Just give me whatever you need.”
“Then… Sung-guk, just place one of these on each customer’s table. Oh, and they don’t need to pay—just ask them to give us their honest opinion on the taste.”
“Got it!”
I rolled up my sleeves and picked up a tray full of sample bossam, heading toward the tables.
As I placed the sample bossam on each table, I relayed Soo-hyun’s message exactly as he had told me.
“This is a sample of our bossam. The head chef who works with my father made this today. Please try it and give us your honest feedback.”
“Oh, nice! It’s free, right?”
“Yes!”
Soon, evaluations came from all around.
“Restaurant Owner, be honest. You haven’t been working in the kitchen and have been slacking off, so you had this guy do everything, right?”
“Is it that identical?”
“How could anyone tell the difference?”
At every table, customers said it was hard to distinguish from Father’s bossam.
“Maybe it’s because I heard the story first before eating. It seems slightly different, but then again, maybe not…”
Of course, some customers had different opinions.
When that happened, Father would ask with a serious expression.
“What’s different about it?”
The customer tilted their head at Father’s question.
“Well… I really can’t quite tell.”
“Customer, does it lack the usual flavor?”
“Both are delicious. Actually, I think the freshly made one tastes better because it’s still warm.”
At the customer’s words, laughter erupted throughout the restaurant.
I quickly approached Soo-hyun, who was waiting anxiously in the kitchen.
“Hyung, the reactions are amazing.”
The part-time worker who had been serving with me also came over and gave a thumbs up.
“Hyung, didn’t I tell you it was delicious? Relax a bit now.”
Just then, Father’s voice called from the dining area.
“Soo-hyun, come out and greet the customers!”
Soo-hyun’s face still looked bewildered.
I quickly grabbed Jeon Soo-hyun’s hand and pulled him along.
“Brother, let’s go!”
“Y-yes….”
Jeon Soo-hyun stepped outside with a bewildered expression and bowed respectfully to the customers.
“This young man has been helping me grow this restaurant all this time. He’s learned everything from the ground up here, and now he’s the head chef at our Gangnam Branch—the first location of Won Uncle’s Bossam. Please stop by whenever you’re in Gangnam. I’ll be visiting regularly myself to maintain our quality standards.”
“Well, look at our former owner succeeding! Opening chain restaurants and everything. Let’s give him a round of applause!”
One customer started clapping, and soon all the patrons in the restaurant joined in.
Jeon Soo-hyun continued bowing with that same bewildered expression.
* * *
After closing, only our table remained in the empty restaurant.
Father pulled out a bottle of soju from the refrigerator and poured a glass for Jeon Soo-hyun.
“Soo-hyun, you’ve worked hard learning the ropes all this time.”
“Not at all. I was able to settle in quickly thanks to you.”
“That’s all because you worked hard. Have a drink tonight… and starting tomorrow, the Lunar New Year holidays begin, so get some proper rest.”
“Thank you so much.”
Jeon Soo-hyun accepted the glass from Father.
Jeon Tae-guk licked his lips beside me.
“Sir, I usually only drink wine or whiskey, but today I’m craving soju.”
“Of course, we should give our Samjeon Group’s young master a drink too. Here you go.”
Father poured a glass for Jeon Tae-guk as well.
As for me, I could only lick my lips in envy.
After a few glasses of soju, Jeon Soo-hyun’s eyes grew misty.
[Wait, isn’t this the same look Father gets when he starts telling his sob stories?]
“Sir, I don’t even know how to thank you enough.”
“Soo-hyun, you did all this through hard work. The Gangnam Branch is our first chain location, so you really need to do well. Don’t disappoint our customers.”
“Yes! I’ll work with all my heart!”
“Don’t overdo it like that. Take care of yourself while you work. I worked hard when I was young, and now in my thirties, there’s not a part of my body that doesn’t ache.”
Hearing that, I felt a strange pang of sympathy for Father.
“Sir, I really want to work hard, meet a wonderful woman like you, and have beautiful children like Sung-guk, Min-guk, and Ji-hee.”
[Sorry, brother, but you probably won’t have a kid like me.]
I crunched away at my bossam.
“That’s right… Soo-hyun, once you get the Gangnam Branch settled, you can start dating too.”
[What? So Soo-hyun was also single?]
“Who would like someone like me with no parents?”
“What are you talking about? I got married and had our Sung-guk.”
“But sir, you’re handsome.”
The drinking session had gradually transformed into a warm gathering where they exchanged words of encouragement.
Even Jeon Tae-guk, who’d been sipping his drink, got caught up in the mood and chimed in.
“I have parents and plenty of money, but I’m still single.”
“Really? Even a chaebol heir is single?”
Jeon Soo-hyun asked in surprise.
“Sung-guk’s father is handsome, isn’t he? It’s not like Sung-guk fell from the sky. He just inherited his looks from his parents. And the head chef is quite presentable too.”
“Tae-guk, your family doesn’t just pick out women for you at home, does it?”
“Sir, I thought the same thing. But that’s something you do when you reach marriageable age. Right now, it’s just… neglect. Sir, do you know that feeling? It’s like having a vast pasture with premium grass planted and maintained… but inside my fence, there’s only me. No one even thinks about crossing the fence.”
Listening to Jeon Tae-guk’s lament, I clenched my teeth and suppressed a laugh.
Father had turned to look at me. He was slightly tipsy as well.
“Sung-guk, that woman this morning…”
“Father, don’t worry. She’s just trying to escape the situation however she can.”
“Sung-guk, that’s not what I’m worried about… In America, people your age date and spend time together all the time, right? Sung-guk, I regret that you’ve missed out on everything you should experience at your age because you’re so focused on studying and working. I wish you could enjoy all those wonderful moments. Every single one of them…”
Father finished his glass of soju.
“Sung-guk, I’ve nagged you a lot all this time… but it’s all because of this. I grew up so hard that while other kids spent time with their parents, I was lonely. I was always worried about how to survive, so I never properly enjoyed my youth. But seeing you only study and work, I felt it was such a waste. You understand your father’s heart, right?”
In truth, I didn’t fully understand.
I had only thought Father was rigid in his ways.
Father tapped his cheeks with his hands and stood up.
“Ah, I think I’m drunk. Sung-guk, let’s go inside with Min-guk. You two keep drinking. Soo-hyun, make sure to lock up the restaurant properly before you leave. Have a good holiday.”
“Yes, sir! Have a wonderful holiday.”
“You have to come eat tteokguk with us on New Year’s Day!”
“Of course!”
“Sir, I’ll come too!”
Jeon Tae-guk answered along with them.
Normally, I would have asked why he wasn’t going home, but today I quietly left the restaurant.
Today was the day I learned Father’s true heart, so I decided to be a little more generous.

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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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