I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 289

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

Chapter 289
Secretary Yang stared at Jeon Tae-guk with a stern expression.
It was the same look that Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung gave Jeon Tae-guk.
“Secretary Yang, why are you looking at me like that?”
Jeon Tae-guk was slightly flustered by this unprecedented situation.
“Young Master, are you asking me to handle the FaceNote matter for you?”
“Well… yes. Secretary Yang, isn’t that obvious?”
“Young Master, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung instructed me to tell you to maintain a clear distinction between public and private matters.”
“Secretary Yang, what do you mean? I understand the need to separate public and private, but… what does that have to do with my request?”
Jeon Tae-guk still didn’t grasp what Secretary Yang was implying.
“Young Master, while you are the successor to Samjeon Group, aren’t you also an employee of FaceNote?”
“That’s right.”
“Since this work pertains to you as a FaceNote employee, I believe you should handle it yourself.”
In that instant, Jeon Tae-guk’s face went pale.
“Secretary Yang! Are you telling me to figure this out on my own?! That’s absurd! How am I supposed to know about South Korean real estate? Samjeon could just lease me an empty office.”
“Young Master, you are an adult now. You should handle such matters yourself. And aren’t you now an employee of FaceNote, independent from Samjeon?”
“Secretary Yang, I made a big show of telling Sung-guk I’d look into it through you…. When Father hired me, he must have known something like this would come up, right?”
Jeon Tae-guk was gradually revealing his true colors.
“Of course. However, he instructed you to maintain that distinction between public and private, and to never engage in anything that would result in a loss.”
“Secretary Yang, how is helping me a loss?”
“Young Master, you are the successor to Samjeon Group.”
“Of course I am. I’m an only son. My younger sister is incompetent, and—”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Secretary Yang, why are you being so strange today?”
“What I’m saying is that ‘successor’ also means you haven’t inherited yet.”
“….”
In that moment, Jeon Tae-guk was left speechless.
“Six months is both a short and long time. It may well be the only period in your life when you work outside the family. I hope you demonstrate your true capabilities during that time.”
Secretary Yang turned away coldly and left.
Jeon Tae-guk sank into his seat with a vacant expression.
* * *
Late that evening, Jeon Tae-guk summoned me to the bar at Samjeon Hotel.
Jeon Tae-guk sat alone in a corner, sipping wine with a melancholic air.
“Hyung… what’s this about all of a sudden?”
“Just… never mind. To commemorate working with our CEO, a subordinate wanted to buy his boss a drink. I’m still richer anyway.”
[That will change in a few years, Jeon Tae-guk.]
Jeon Tae-guk poured wine into an empty glass and offered it to me.
“Sung-guk, try this wine. It’s expensive and delicious.”
[I know well enough….]
I took a sip of the expensive, exquisite wine after a long time.
From the look on Jeon Tae-guk’s face, it seemed something had gone wrong with Secretary Yang.
[Hmm… this is becoming useless….]
I took a sip of wine, careful not to show my thoughts.
“Hyung… did something happen?”
“Well… no, it’s fine. I’ll figure it out myself. Just give me some time.”
It was already clear from his words that a problem had arisen and he needed time to resolve it. But he seemed too embarrassed to admit it openly.
“Hyung… when it comes to work, nothing ever gets resolved in one go. So please be patient with yourself.”
“But… you always seem to solve things so easily every time.”
Jeon Tae-guk spoke with a tone of frustration.
“Hyung… I’ve also failed many times and worked hard before achieving results. Of course, it might look easy to others, but that’s how it is.”
I drank my wine.
I searched for words that might help the discouraged Jeon Tae-guk.
The fact that Secretary Yang had refused Jeon Tae-guk’s request meant that Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung was behind it.
If Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung had told Secretary Yang not to help Jeon Tae-guk….
[Hmm… but that’s probably not all there is to it….]
I set down my wine glass and looked at Jeon Tae-guk.
“Hyung… this is advice I’m giving you as the representative of FaceNote.”
“Yeah… go ahead. I need comfort more than advice, though.”
“When something doesn’t come easily to me, I think about what the other person really wants.”
“What they want?”
Jeon Tae-guk’s eyes brightened.
“For example, there was a famous investor in the United States who had a son. I observed how that son obtained everything he wanted far too easily. Yet the father himself had shed blood and tears to build this wealth.”
“Can’t you just let your son live an easy life? Just because the father suffered, does the son have to suffer too?”
“Of course the father doesn’t wish suffering upon his son. But if he becomes too accustomed to obtaining everything so easily, the father worries his son might never learn how to truly earn things. There’s a saying in the Talmud—if you truly love your child, don’t give him fish; teach him how to catch fish….”
Clap—Jeon Tae-guk clapped his hands together.
“That’s it! Father wants me to enter your company and learn to catch fish myself.”
[A dog at a village school—now he understands one thing out of every ten I say.]
“Sung-guk, I’m going to see Father tomorrow.”
[And then?]
“And I’m going to tell Father: Father, since you didn’t teach me how to catch fish… help me catch one this time. Just this once.”
I pressed my forehead.
Had hiring Jeon Tae-guk at FaceNote really been the right decision?
Deep doubt began to set in.
* * *
After putting the thoroughly drunk Jeon Tae-guk to bed in the Suite Room, I entered my home late at night.
As I carefully closed the front door, Mother was still awake, waiting for me.
“Sung-guk, why are you so late?”
“I was discussing work with Tae-guk hyung. Mother, were you waiting for me?”
“How could I sleep when my son hasn’t come home? Did you drink again?”
“Not much.”
Mother went straight to the kitchen at my words and brought me a glass of honey water.
“Drink this and get some sleep. Otherwise, your stomach will be upset tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
I quickly drained the honey water she offered in one gulp.
Mother stroked my back as if I were still a child.
“Feeling better?”
“Yeah, I’ll wash up and sleep. You should get some rest too, Mom.”
“Alright… Oh, Kim Mi-young wanted to see you.”
[Short-haired Woman?]
“Why does Kim Mi-young want to see me?”
“She just wants to talk about this and that. It’s been a while since she’s seen you. Oh, and Director Kwak has been wanting to see you too.”
Kim Mi-young, the short-haired woman, ran SKJ Entertainment together with Mother.
They had initially operated a management division centered around Lim Sun-mi, but after her retirement, they shifted to producing variety shows and supplying them to broadcasting stations.
Of course, Director Kwak, who recognized my star potential at a glance and cast me in commercials, had played a significant role in that.
Kim Mi-young and Director Kwak had married after a long relationship and were living well together. Mother had continued working even after giving birth to Ji-hee, but as Father’s business expanded, she naturally returned to being a full-time housewife while retaining her company shares.
“Are they doing well?”
“Yes, very well. Director Kwak is starting a film project now. He’ll probably want to talk about that too. Listen and give him some advice.”
“What do I know about films?”
[Of course I know about blockbuster films!]
“Oh, Mom… I think I need to discuss the FaceNote advertisement featuring Kim Yeo-na with Director Kwak.”
“I’ll mention it to him.”
Mother stroked my back once more like I was a child, then patted my rear.
“Now go to sleep. You have work tomorrow.”
“Okay, you get some rest too, Mom.”
I said goodbye to Mother and headed toward my room.
* * *
A dark, narrow hallway….
And at the end of it, a creature was glaring at me.
That creature’s name was Huin-dung-i.
[This guy still hasn’t gone to sleep?]
Huin-dung-i stared at me with sharp, piercing eyes.
[Just because everyone loves you doesn’t mean I have to as well.]
I coolly and haughtily grabbed my door handle.
Just then, Huin-dung-i clamped down on my jeans with his teeth and started pulling.
“Huin-dung-i, let go.”
I shook my leg several times, but Huin-dung-i wouldn’t budge.
[There’s no choice. I’ll have to resort to the final measure.]
I pulled out a dog treat from my pocket and dropped it on the floor.
Huin-dung-i still held my jeans in his mouth, alternating his gaze between the treat and me.
“Huin-dung-i, if you listen well to your big brother from now on, every day will be abundant. But if you don’t… every day will be harsh.”
[If you are truly a member of this family, you should understand my meaning well enough.]
At that moment, Huin-dung-i released my jeans and eagerly snatched up a snack instead.
I calmly opened the door.
Just then, Huin-dung-i’s tail began to wag, and he showed signs of following me into my room.
I raised my index finger and drew a line through the air.
“Huin-dung-i, from now on, don’t bother your older brother. Got it?”
“Whimper—.”
Whether Huin-dung-i understood my words or not, he obediently backed away, still clutching the snack in his mouth.
[Indeed, when it comes to managing the youngest, food is always the answer.]
* * *
Jeon Tae-guk sat hunched over before Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung, then carefully broached the subject.
“Father… you know about the Talmud, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
“There’s a passage in it, you see. So, um… what was it… if a child asks for fish to eat… isn’t it something like that?”
Jeon Tae-guk suddenly scratched his head vigorously.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung waited patiently for Jeon Tae-guk to continue.
“What about fish?”
“Ah, so Father… I need to learn how to catch fish myself, right? For when you’re no longer here.”
At that moment, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s expression darkened.
“Are you already thinking about your father’s death?”
“That’s not it. Really, it’s not. Father… what I’m trying to say is….”
“The Talmudic passage—if you give a man a fish, he eats for a day, but if you teach him how to fish, he eats for a lifetime?”
“Yes, Father. That’s exactly it.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung let out a deep sigh.
“Why bring this up?”
“Father… you told Secretary Yang not to help me, didn’t you? I understand your intention completely, so please help me now. Honestly, until now I’ve only eaten the fish you’ve caught and handed to me. How can I suddenly figure everything out on my own overnight?”
Jeon Tae-guk studied Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s expression carefully.
His hands were empty, and there was nothing on the desk that could cause injury if thrown.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung exhaled sharply and looked at Jeon Tae-guk.
After all, what Jeon Tae-guk said wasn’t wrong.
“Tae-guk, who told you this?”
“I was drinking wine with Sung-guk yesterday and we talked about various things. Sung-guk suggested that this might be what you intended.”
“I see… so I’ve been telling someone who can’t even walk to run. Do you think you can become someone who catches fish over the next six months?”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung decided to place his hopes on his one and only son.
“Father, don’t worry! In six months, I’ll catch so many fish for you! So, you’ll help me with this, right?”
“Very well….”
Had Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung ultimately lost to his son?
* * *
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I knocked and opened the door to the Chairman’s Office.
It was a place I knew all too well.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung sat in his familiar chair, sipping coffee.
Upon seeing me, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung set down his cup and rose from his seat.
“Sung-guk, do you think you can turn my son into someone capable of catching fish in six months?”
“It depends on how well Jeon Tae-guk keeps up with me. But I promise you this—I’ll at least teach him how to cast a fishing rod.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung extended his hand, and I grasped it.
“Excellent. I’ll trust you on this. From now on, Samjeon will provide full support behind the scenes for whatever FaceNote pursues.”
“Thank you, Chairman.”
I shook Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s hand.
For the next six months, I would need to transform Jeon Tae-guk into someone capable of catching fish, and in return, I had secured Samjeon’s unwavering backing.

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