I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 288

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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 288
Secretary Yang smiled warmly.
It seemed he understood what I was thinking.
“Sung-guk, I’ll look into it right away. I believe the company still has some properties available. However… Sung-guk, you should discuss the move with your parents first. I’m concerned about potential issues with Min-guk’s and Ji-hee’s schooling.”
“You’re right, I hadn’t considered that. I’ll discuss it with my parents first.”
Secretary Yang was correct—I hadn’t thought about the school situation.
Min-guk was fine since he attended an arts high school as a trainee, but Ji-hee’s elementary school was something to carefully consider.
It was worth exploring the possibility of transferring her to a private elementary school.
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk interjected.
“Sung-guk, I strongly recommend your parents live in the same apartment complex!”
“Brother, don’t go thinking you can freeload meals at our place every day. Father is busy, and Mother is busy too.”
“I know… but you’ll still give me home-cooked meals when I get homesick occasionally, right?”
“Your home is in Hannam-dong, Brother.”
“Technically, that’s Aunt’s cooking, not home cooking. Speaking of which, Aunt was really good at cooking… Secretary Yang, is Aunt still in Hannam-dong?”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Ask my mother if Aunt can cook for us here while we’re staying. Mother’s hardly ever in Korea anyway.”
“I’ll do that.”
There was certainly no downside to staying close to Samjeon Group in South Korea.
In one day, my accommodation was settled. And I even had Aunt to handle meals.
I stretched languidly.
I’d spent some time here in my previous life, but I never expected to be back like this…
Life was truly a series of endless surprises.
* * *
I explained my moving plans during a family meeting.
“This is Samjeon Palace, where I’ll be staying with Brother Tae-guk for the next six months. It’s directly connected to Dogok Station on Line 3, and the transportation is excellent. The Yangjae Stream is nearby, making it perfect for walks, and you have nature that’s rare to find in Seoul right at your doorstep.”
Looking at Father’s eyes, he seemed worried about the price.
“Sung-guk… isn’t that an extremely expensive apartment? It’s been on the news and everything.”
“Father, Mother, I don’t think it’s a burden at all.”
“Sung-guk, that place is so expensive… even selling our house wouldn’t come close.”
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk raised his hand.
Jeon Tae-guk now even had a seat at the family meeting table.
“Father, don’t worry about that. The company that built this is Samjeon, after all. Initially, the presale prices were so high and the mixed-use development concept was so unfamiliar that Samjeon had difficulty with sales and ended up purchasing several units. They’ve been renting them to Samjeon executives, but they haven’t been particularly meaningful, so Secretary Yang and I already discussed selling one of those properties to Sung-guk at the original presale price.”
I looked at Father with a bright expression.
“Father, what do you think?”
“Well… the thing is, this apartment was something you received after signing an exclusive model contract with Samjeon. Taking another Samjeon Construction apartment feels like we’re being shameless.”
[Father, you don’t need to worry about shame when receiving things from conglomerates. These conglomerates have grown by sucking dry the shallow pockets of ordinary people, and they’ll continue to do so…]
But I continued my explanation with the brightest smile I could muster.
To convince my conscientious father, I needed solid reasoning.
“Father, apartment prices are dropping dramatically these days. Samjeon Palace is dropping even faster because it’s a mixed-use complex… so getting it at the presale price isn’t really a huge benefit for us. The reason I chose this place is that Samjeon Palace was originally built for Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung to live in, so it was constructed with tremendous care and attention.”
“Sung-guk, how do you know that?”
Jeon Tae-guk stared at me with wide eyes.
“I saw it in the news.”
Then I continued speaking.
“When the high presale price controversy erupted, the luxury apartment image strengthened, and Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung couldn’t actually live there due to image concerns. But there aren’t many houses in Seoul built as solidly in such a prime location as this one. Dad.”
The initial presale price per unit at Samjeon Palace was 9 million won.
It was an unimaginable price by today’s standards, but back then it was caught up in the high presale price controversy and even faced unsold units.
It was one of my sore spots in my previous life.
But precisely because of the high presale price controversy, Samjeon Palace was one of the projects that Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung and I had poured our hearts into in my previous life.
I’m sure Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung devoted himself to it in this life as well.
My true wish was for my family to live in such a sturdy house.
Dad was gradually being persuaded by my words.
“Sung-guk, I’ll grant you that about Min-guk, but I’m concerned about Ji-hee’s school. If we move there, it’ll be too far from her current elementary school.”
“Dad, that’s exactly why I’m saying this… I’d like Ji-hee to attend a private elementary school that matches her level now.”
At those words, Ji-hee’s eyes sparkled.
She wasn’t quite at my level, but Ji-hee was definitely gifted. Unlike Min-guk, who was just naturally smart, she had genuine interest in studying.
Ji-hee lifted Huin-dung-i’s front paws up from her arms.
“Dad! Ji-hee wants to study more! I want to do better!”
[Just as I expected, Ji-hee never disappoints her older brother. Unlike someone else….]
Min-guk paid no attention to the family meeting, sitting in the corner of the sofa intently texting someone on his phone.
It was probably Su-jin.
[Right, you just keep quiet—that’s how you help.]
Mother seemed to agree with my opinion as well.
“Honey, Ji-hee’s academy curriculum is already too advanced anyway… and at school there’s such a big gap between her and the other children that her teacher even suggested considering an international school for middle school.”
“Hmm… but….”
Of course, I understood Dad’s concern.
His lifelong worry about not wanting to raise the children as anything special!
“Dad, both Min-guk and I are already growing up in special ways. But we’re not causing any major trouble and we’re paving our own paths well. If Ji-hee’s homeroom teacher is saying this, then Ji-hee is a special child too. Dad… I hope you’ll stop denying that and accept it now.”
Dad pondered for a moment, then opened his mouth as if he’d made a decision.
“Hmm… alright! This father surrenders completely now. Our children are really smart and talented. They’re nothing to be ashamed of anywhere! I’ll step up this time so our Ji-hee can study in an even better environment!”
“Father, that’s truly a wonderful decision! I’ve already looked into whether there are any openings at the Young Sung Foundation, which our Samjeon Group operates.”
Jeon Tae-guk welcomed the news enthusiastically as if it were his own matter.
“Tae-guk, you don’t need to go to such lengths.”
“Father, I just need you to feed me your boswam for life.”
[What’s this? Surely he’s not asking to eat for free for life? The heir to Samjeon?]
Jeon Tae-guk waved his hand with a smile.
“Father, of course it’s not free. Everything tastes better when you pay its proper price, doesn’t it? But! When I order boswam, you have to give me the most delicious cuts. That’s all I ask for, sir.”
“Tae-guk, that’s only natural. How much have you helped our family all this time!”
“Father! Thank you!”
Jeon Tae-guk embraced Dad.
[Anyone watching would think these two were father and son. Of course, looking at their faces would reveal otherwise….]
At that moment, someone licked my hand repeatedly.
Looking down, I saw that Huin-dung-i had somehow started licking my hand.
[Huin-dung-i, I brought you here because of Ji-hee and Min-guk, but I’m not the kind of man who easily gives his heart to just any animal.]
Lick, lick. Grin—
As if reading my thoughts, Huin-dung-i flashed a killer smile at me.
I steeled my resolve.
[I’m not an easy man, Huin-dung-i.]
Then Huin-dung-i let out a small bark at me.
“Woof. Woof.”
“Oppa, what did you do to our Huin-dung-i?”
At the same time, everyone’s gaze turned toward me.
I began backing away slowly.
[But why am I suddenly backing away?]
“Everyone’s misunderstanding. I didn’t do anything to Huin-dung-i. He just licked my fingers, so I looked at him—that’s all.”
Mother and everyone else called out to me in sharp voices.
“Sung-guk!”
“Hyung!”
“Oppa!”
Ji-hee picked up Huin-dung-i and even glared at me.
“Oppa, if you treat our Huin-dung-i coldly, I’ll punish you!”
“I didn’t do that!”
“Tsk, tsk. That’s so like Jeon Sung-guk.”
With Jeon Tae-guk joining in as well, I waved my hands dismissively and headed toward my room.
For some reason, my heart felt a bit lonely.
[So the youngest arrives, and the eldest gets the cold shoulder.]
It seemed I needed to find a way to win Huin-dung-i over soon.
* * *
Incheon International Airport.
Mark stood at the airport with a visibly tense expression. His hands were trembling so much from the nervousness.
“Sung-guk… do you think I can do well going alone?”
“Mark, there were plenty of times when I was busy and couldn’t leave the company. And every time, you led FaceNote better than anyone else.”
“That was different because you were nearby somewhere, and you never took such a long leave like this.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll keep having video conferences… and if something really urgent comes up, I’ll get on a plane right away.”
“Really? You have to promise.”
“Should we pinky swear?”
Just as Mark was about to extend his pinky finger, Lim Mi-mi grabbed him by the nape of his neck.
“Chairman, I’ll keep a close eye on Mark. Let’s get the Asia branch set up well and come back.”
“Don’t worry. We have the first employee of our Korean branch here, after all.”
I pushed Jeon Tae-guk forward.
Then Mark let out an even deeper sigh.
“Sung-guk… are you really sure about this?”
“Mark, don’t worry. My older brother Tae-guk has some influence here in Korea.”
“Mark, Sung-guk’s right. I’m the heir to Samjeon. Don’t worry and just go to the United States to protect FaceNote!”
Mark, reluctant and unenthusiastic, finally relented to Lim Mi-mi’s persistent urging and turned to leave.
I called out from behind him.
“Trust only Lim Mi-mi.”
“Restaurant Owner, then Mi-mi and I will be going! Please head inside!”
“Sung-guk… I’ll contact you as soon as I arrive in the United States….”
I gestured for Mark to go inside quickly.
Mark walked into the airport with tears nearly streaming down his face.
I watched Mark’s retreating figure for a long time.
[Mark, this is how you grow up….]
* * *
I handed Jeon Tae-guk the contract.
“Brother, your official title is General Manager of FaceNote Korea. The title sounds impressive, but you should think of it as doing a bit of everything.”
“Sung-guk… you know, this is the first time I’ve ever had a real job.”
Jeon Tae-guk was overwhelmed with emotion without even signing the contract.
“Brother, read the contract carefully and sign it. I based the salary on United States standards. It won’t be too much or too little.”
“I don’t know much about American standards, but people really work for just this much money.”
[That’s far more than the average salary in the United States! And in Korea, it’s in the top 10% of salaries!]
In any case, Jeon Tae-guk signed the contract.
[Hmm… now Jeon Tae-guk is in the palm of my hand too.]
I smiled subtly.
“Brother, we need to start work now.”
“The pen ink on the contract hasn’t even dried yet, and you want me to work right away?”
“That’s what a contract means. That’s why I told you to read it carefully before signing.”
“Right. What should we start with? Brother, we need an office to use until we rent a formal one. Do you know any suitable places?”
“I’ll ask Secretary Yang. He’ll know well.”
I crossed my arms and concealed my joy as much as possible.
The fact that Jeon Tae-guk had taken on our company’s work meant that Samjeon would handle all the behind-the-scenes arrangements.

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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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