I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 192

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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 192
A Seaside Restaurant.
The vast ocean stretched before us, the sound of waves filling the air. It was a place so captivating in atmosphere alone that one felt overwhelmed by its charm.
And there I sat now, just Jeon Tae-guk and myself.
Moreover, Jeon Tae-guk was impeccably dressed in a brand-new Gucci suit.
“Hyung, I told you to dress comfortably.”
Jeon Tae-guk sighed deeply as he adjusted the collar of his new Gucci suit.
“Sigh… Sung-guk, Charlie Jobs isn’t going to die, is he?”
“Charlie Jobs won’t die that easily.”
It was true.
Charlie Jobs would die in 2011, so we still had four years.
Unable to resist Jeon Tae-guk’s insistence, we arrived at the reserved restaurant a full hour early, and that’s when a call came from Charlie Jobs’s secretary.
The message was that Charlie Jobs had suddenly taken a turn for the worse due to recent overwork and was being rushed to the hospital.
The secretary apologized profusely and said they’d reschedule as soon as Charlie Jobs was released from the hospital.
Of course, Jeon Tae-guk was deeply disappointed.
I myself wasn’t thrilled about sitting alone with Jeon Tae-guk in this restaurant with such a magnificent view.
“Sung-guk, sometimes you seem so cold. Aren’t you worried about Charlie Jobs?”
“Of course I am. Naturally I am. But no one can know the future, can they?”
I myself couldn’t predict what would happen beyond ten years from now.
“Sung-guk, anyway, let’s just order something. I’m starving to death.”
But this was a vegan restaurant that Charlie Jobs loved.
We reluctantly selected a few items from the menu.
Most of the descriptions read something like carrot rapé salad made with fresh organic carrots.
Jeon Tae-guk closed the menu with a listless expression.
“Sung-guk, South Korea’s been in an uproar over the presidential election too. Father seems to be pulling various strings… what do you think about it?”
“I’m not sure either. I’m not interested in politics anyway.”
“You say you’re not interested in politics, so why did you connect Dick Powell and Barack Obama?”
“They’re both FaceNote users. It was a matter of user management.”
[Jeon Tae-guk, I move only for my own interests.]
Just then, our ordered dishes arrived.
It was truly a carrot graveyard that made one’s appetite plummet at first sight.
I deliberately lifted a carrot with my fork.
Of course, in my previous life, I’d eaten only organic vegetables as I aged and took care of my health, but now I was a vigorous teenager.
Jeon Tae-guk poked at his carrots with his fork a few times, then set it down and just drank beer.
“By the way, hyung. You’re going to Ye-jung’s wedding, right?”
“I received an invitation, so I have to go. Father’s busy with a business trip, and Mother’s busy preparing for some exhibition, so she told me to go in her place.”
Jeon Tae-guk wiped his mouth with a napkin, looking like he couldn’t eat anymore.
“This won’t do. Sung-guk, this doesn’t seem like food for humans. Let’s go get chicken.”
“Chicken?”
“Don’t you like it?”
“Hyung, where in South Korea can you find someone who dislikes chicken! Let’s go now!”
For once, I was in complete agreement with Jeon Tae-guk.
* * *
Presidential Secretary Office.
The Secretary Director and his staff were scrutinizing a photograph that had appeared on Barack Obama’s FaceNote.
“The VIP wants us to identify this man?”
The Secretary Director pointed at Sung-guk in the photograph.
“That’s Dick Powell, isn’t it, Director?”
Park Secretary, the senior advisor, answered first.
The Secretary Director regarded Park Secretary with a look of exasperation.
“My finger was pointing elsewhere, Park Secretary. Do you think anyone here doesn’t know Dick Powell or Barack Obama? I’m talking about this young man here. Who exactly is he? Find out.”
“But… this man is incredibly handsome. Is he Korean?”
“Yes. He’s Korean, and male. Now do you have enough information?”
“Yes! I’ll dig into his background thoroughly and report back.”
Park Secretary hurried over to his laptop.
The Secretary Director, who had been watching, furrowed his brow sharply.
“Park Secretary, is this really the time to be on the internet?”
“Director, these days SNS is the best way to investigate someone. If you dig through Twitter and FaceNote, you can find out not just their past, but everything—whether they prefer jjajangmyeon or jjamppong, their personal preferences, everything.”
“Good grief. I don’t even know why I hired you.”
“Director! You hired me because I was the top student admitted to Seoul National University!”
“Anyway, I need to report to the VIP tomorrow morning, so hurry up and get me the information.”
“Yes!”
Park Secretary began typing on his laptop.
* * *
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung was also looking at a photograph.
It was a picture with Dick Powell and Barack Obama, and Jeon Sung-guk between them.
Sung-guk stood between these two symbols of American politics, as if serving as a bridge between them.
Secretary Yang explained the information he had gathered to Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung.
“This man is Mr. Jin, who operates a hamburger restaurant in front of the US Military Base in Korea. Apparently, Dick Powell frequently visited this hamburger restaurant when he was stationed at the base.”
“Are you saying Sung-guk brought this man here himself?”
“Well, that is…”
Secretary Yang already knew the truth.
And he also knew that Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung would erupt in fury if he learned this fact.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung calmly waited for Secretary Yang to continue.
“Secretary Yang, go on.”
“It appears that Young Master Tae-guk assisted with this.”
“Hmm…”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s demeanor was surprisingly composed, contrary to expectations.
Secretary Yang was taken aback by this.
Secretary Yang glanced at Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s expression and quickly continued his explanation.
“Sung-guk initially asked only for the recipe, but I heard that Young Master Tae-guk personally brought the hamburger restaurant owner to meet him.”
“Without conditions, though?”
“No. The condition was that Young Master Tae-guk would be introduced to Charlie Jobs, the CEO of Apple, whom he’s been quite obsessed with lately.”
Jeon Jae-hyung’s expression softened slightly.
It was a stark contrast to his usual demeanor—always tense whenever Jeon Tae-guk’s name came up in recent years.
“How is that brat Tae-guk doing in America these days?”
And now he was asking about his recent situation.
It was rare for him to ask before Secretary Yang could brief him on Jeon Tae-guk’s whereabouts—certainly not recently.
“He’s barely maintaining attendance, sir. His grades are being handled carefully by our Samjeon San Francisco team, so graduation should proceed without issue.”
“Is he still living with Sung-guk?”
“Yes, that’s my understanding.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung fingered a wedding invitation resting on the table.
It was an invitation to the wedding of Ye-jung, the eldest daughter of Chairman Koo Soo-young of Hyojin Group.
“Chairman Koo’s eldest daughter’s wedding is coming up soon, isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir. Saturday, July 28th in New York.”
“Sung-guk will be attending, won’t he?”
“It’s virtually certain. Sung-guk maintains close relations not only with Chairman Koo Soo-young and his wife, but with their daughters as well.”
Tap. Tap.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung tapped the invitation against the desk, lost in thought for a moment, then looked at Secretary Yang.
“Coordinate my schedule to attend Chairman Koo’s eldest daughter’s wedding before and after my Germany business trip.”
“You’ll be attending personally, sir? We had discussed having Tae-guk attend in your place.”
“I received the invitation myself, so I should attend in person. Make the arrangements.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
After Secretary Yang left, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung allowed himself a faint smile.
He’d thought the boy was just playing the fool beside Jeon Sung-guk, but here he was making deals.
As the saying goes, those who dwell near ink become black.
Being beside that sharp one, he was learning everything.
* * *
The Presidential Secretary Office.
Park Secretary sprang from his seat and began gathering his bag.
“Director, I need to go out for some fieldwork regarding research today.”
“Park Secretary, what research?”
“I heard that Sung-guk’s father operates a famous bossam restaurant in Jamsil. I think I need to visit there.”
“Wait, didn’t you just say everything could be resolved online?”
“Some research can be done online, but other things require legwork. I can leave right after my fieldwork, Director, correct?”
“We’re scheduled to report to the VIP tomorrow morning.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll have a perfect report ready by tomorrow morning.”
Park Secretary quickly grabbed his bag and left the secretary’s office.
After Park Secretary left, everyone shook their heads.
“Director, but why does the VIP want us to investigate that man in the photograph?”
“It seems he’ll play an important role in future US relations.”
“Who exactly is that man? And is it really okay to assign such important work to Park Secretary?”
“Park Secretary is an advisor, and he’s not one to overthink things. With our presidential election coming up soon, it’s cleaner to have someone like Park Secretary investigate and report back rather than some clever schemer.”
* * *
‘Won Uncle’s Bossam, huh….’
Park Secretary stood briefly in front of the restaurant with his notebook, surveying the surroundings.
It appeared to be the original location of Won Uncle’s Bossam, which he’d often seen at convenience stores.
‘So he was the son of a hugely successful restaurant.’
Though it was early evening, people continuously streamed in and out of the establishment.
‘At this rate, there won’t even be any seats left.’
Park Secretary quickly tucked away his notebook and pushed open the restaurant door.
“Welcome!”
True to its wildly successful reputation, the employees’ greeting rang out loudly.
“Are you dining alone?”
“Yes.”
Just then, someone called out to Park Secretary.
“Park Secretary, isn’t it?”
Who was that?
Park Secretary turned around to find the National Sentiment Party’s spokesperson seated there, with bossam and soju already laid out on the table.
“Oh… Spokesperson, what brings you here?”
“Heh. Just look around the restaurant.”
Only then did Park Secretary glance around the establishment.
The restaurant was filled with politicians from various parties and secretaries of major figures in politics and business.
“Secretary, since you’re alone, why don’t you join us?”
At that moment, a close secretary from the Democratic Party called out to Park Secretary.
Park Secretary, bewildered, found himself drawn to the Democratic Party secretary’s table and sat down.
“Secretary, what on earth is going on here?”
“Didn’t you come after seeing that photo on Chirp?”
“Well, yes….”
“Everyone’s parties are scrambling behind the scenes right now. The person who served as a bridge between Dick Powell and Barack Obama is Korean. And a child prodigy at that. But do you know what’s even more surprising?”
“What is it?”
The secretary pointed to a faded photograph hanging on one side of the restaurant.
It was a photo taken with the group Just during the broadcast of “Five Men and a Baby Basket.”
“That baby from ‘Five Men and a Baby Basket’ is Jeon Sung-guk.”
“Ah… No wonder he’s incredibly handsome….”
“Park Secretary, didn’t you come after investigating?”
“I did complete it. But I missed this one detail. My parents would always watch that show and wonder how fortunate that baby’s parents must be… and it turns out it was this restaurant.”
* * *
Father called after a long time.
Father rarely called because international calls were expensive—what could this be about?
Is there something wrong at home?
I quickly answered the call.
“Father, what’s the matter?”
– Sung-guk, nothing’s wrong at home… but yesterday the restaurant had an unusual number of visitors.
“Unusual visitors?”
– Yesterday especially, men in suits and ties occupied tables from broad daylight and ordered far more than usual. Two would come in and order bossam, and drinks on top of that.
Father explained what had happened yesterday.
– And when they left, they all handed out business cards.
“Business cards?”
– So I looked at them. They’re all from some political party. Even people from the Presidential Secretary Office came by. Sung-guk, what did you do in America?
[An incident? Father, I’m Jeon Sung-guk.]
I quickly reassured Father.
“Father, with the presidential election coming up, it seems the political world needs me. If those people approach you again…”
– If they approach?
“Tell them to speak directly with me about my affairs. And raise your sales prices.”

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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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