I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 326

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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 326
“Sung-guk, why do you look like that?”
Jeon Tae-guk gazed at my face with concern.
“My military enlistment notice came.”
“What? But you’re doing alternative military service at a designated company, not regular service.”
“William, I still have to complete basic training.”
Jeon Tae-guk, who had been completely exempted from military service due to a herniated disc, couldn’t possibly know much about it.
“But Sung-guk, I remember hearing stories about how back in the day, girls would wear their rubber shoes backwards when their boyfriends went to the military… Surely Emma won’t do that during the few weeks of basic training, right?”
“William, you sound like you’re hoping she will.”
“That’s not what I meant….”
“William, let’s start recruiting for TikTok before I go to training. That way we can begin development right after I’m discharged!”
“Yeah, got it!”
* * *
“Sung-guk, I had Samjeon’s HR team work overtime and narrowed down the candidates to about ten new graduates and ten experienced professionals for interviews. Honestly, their specs are so strong that we could hire any of them.”
Jeon Tae-guk handed me a stack of twenty résumés.
True to his word, they all had impressive qualifications, and their analyses of the future of social media that I had outlined were quite solid.
I carefully reviewed the résumés once more.
“But Sung-guk… how many of these people are you actually going to hire?”
“If the interviews go well and there are no major character concerns, all of them.”
“All of them?”
“Yes. We need both experienced professionals and new graduates. Especially for the development team.”
“I suppose so, but… do you really have a clear idea of what you want to develop?”
“Of course.”
[Jeon Tae-guk, it’s me, Jeon Sung-guk!]
I knew exactly what I wanted.
“William, please set up the interview dates. Let’s get started right away.”
“Yeah… I should call Park Secretary and have him arrange it….”
Jeon Tae-guk turned to leave but suddenly stopped and looked at me.
“Sung-guk, what do you think about hiring Park Secretary for our company?”
“William, are you just trying to get him to handle all the annoying work?”
“Sung-guk… do you really think Park Secretary is the type to complain about me giving him tedious tasks?”
“Either way, Park Secretary would prefer staying on Samjeon’s payroll. The benefits are much better there than at a startup.”
“That’s true… Oh, speaking of which, should I ask Father to give us some Samjeon Hotel vouchers or something like that as a company benefit?”
“William….”
I called out to Jeon Tae-guk in a measured tone.
“Why are you calling me like that? You’re making me nervous.”
“Ideas that good should be implemented right away.”
“Really?”
“Yes. From now on, I’m just a salaried president who wants to enjoy the benefits of both Samjeon and Hyojin Group.”
“Got it!”
After Jeon Tae-guk left, I posted an update about my situation on FaceNote.
– December 24, 2010. Reporting to Military Training Center. I intend to fulfill my national defense duty as a young man of South Korea!
Countless comments began flooding in beneath the post.
– Oh my, South Korea requires military service? So all young men have to go to the military?
– What about Emma!!!?
The moment I posted, Mark called.
– Sung-guk, what are you talking about? Weren’t you supposed to work at the company instead of going to the military?
“Mark, I have to complete the Military Training Center.”
– You’re going this soon?
“The FaceNote headquarters is running well under your leadership anyway. And the training center is only four weeks. After that, I’ll just resume normal company operations. You don’t need to worry about FaceNote’s Asia branch or YouTube operations. Just think of it as a long vacation.”
– Sung-guk!!! That’s not the point. How can you only think about yourself like this?
Mark was upset.
“Mark, why are you angry?”
– I’m your closest friend, right?
“Yes, you are.”
– Anyway, Sung-guk, just wait and see.
Click.
The call ended.
What did he mean by “wait and see”?
I shrugged and returned to reviewing resumes. One applicant in particular caught my eye.
His name was Han Myung-seok.
He was a person with an impressive resume—a Seoul National University graduate with experience working at Google headquarters.
Of course, there was nothing preventing someone like this from applying to my startup.
But our experienced hire salaries weren’t particularly high.
Since we were a new company, salaries were around industry average, though our performance-based incentive structure was much more favorable.
Why would someone with such impressive credentials apply to a company like ours?
I quickly grabbed my phone.
And called Sergey Brin.
Soon I heard Sergey Brin’s familiar, languid voice.
– Sung-guk, it’s been a while. I heard the news just now.
“I’m just going to the Military Training Center.”
– Still, the military is the military. But what’s going on today?
“I was wondering if you could investigate someone for me.”
– I’m Russian, but not all Russians are spies, Sung-guk.
Sergey Brin delivered a joke as dry as Siberia and chuckled quietly to himself.
“Sergey, someone whose previous employer was Google applied to a new company I’m starting in Korea.”
– Why is that a problem? If it’s a company you’re starting, I’d want to invest in it too.
“Investors might think that way, but employees are different.”
– Ah, right. Your company’s work intensity is famous.
“Google has a great work environment and pays well. But it’s strange that someone like this suddenly applied to our company.”
– I understand what you mean. What’s your name?
“Han Myung-seok. Since there aren’t many Koreans, you should be able to find information quickly, right?”
– Anyway, you’re still impatient as ever. Sung-guk, take care of yourself in the military… I’ll investigate and send you the results soon.
“Thank you, Sergey.”
– Think of it as repayment for saving the dying YouTube. Of course, my slice got smaller.
Sergey left me with a pointed remark before hanging up.
I scanned through Han Myung-seok’s resume again.
He’d left Google a month ago.
It was right when the news broke that I was establishing a new SNS development company with backing from Samjeon and Hyojin Group.
* * *
– Emma Watson arrives in Korea ahead of schedule in secret!
– CEO Jeon Sung-guk picks up his girlfriend!
– The two head straight to Uncle Won’s Bossam’s main branch, personally operated by Jeon Sung-guk’s father!
As I read the articles streaming in real-time, Emma Watson smiled softly.
“Sung-guk, I never dreamed people in Korea would be this interested in me.”
“Did you see all those cameras at the airport? I have no idea how they found out.”
“Me neither… I really came in quietly… By the way, I looked up what bossam is online that your father makes. It looked really delicious.”
“It’s well-boiled pork, so it shouldn’t be a burden for you to eat. Oh, Emma… you know I’m entering the Military Training Center on December 24th, right?”
“Yeah. Sung-guk… but… I might not be able to make it that day. I have the Wizard’s Tale tour.”
“That’s okay. I’ll be out after just four weeks of training….”
“Sung-guk, then should we meet in Hawaii right after those four weeks?”
“Well….”
I paused for a moment.
Emma probably couldn’t even imagine what the South Korean military was like.
“Emma, even after I finish training, I’ll still be running the company the same way.”
“Yeah.”
“But… my status will change. Before, I was a free person, but now I’ll be fulfilling my military service through alternative service at a military-designated company. In other words, it’s not the military itself, but I’ll have military status while working at the company.”
“What’s the difference?”
Emma’s round eyes widened even more.
“It means it will be difficult for me to travel abroad as freely as before.”
“Sung-guk… what do you mean? I really don’t understand. The country restricts international travel?”
Emma looked at me with some surprise.
“From now on, I need government permission to go abroad. I can go, but there’s a complicated procedure in between.”
“I see….”
Emma nodded in understanding, then squeezed my hand tightly.
“Sung-guk, I’ll visit Korea often.”
“Thank you for understanding, Emma.”
* * *
“H-hello!”
Father greeted Emma with an awkward smile spread across his face.
Emma had been reciting Korean greetings the entire way over, committing them to memory.
“Father. Hello.”
“Emma, you speak Korean?”
Of course she didn’t.
Emma looked at me, flustered.
“Dad, Emma practiced Korean greetings the whole way here just to greet you. That’s all she knows.”
“Ah, I see. Her pronunciation is so good… and since everyone says she’s as smart as my Sung-guk, I thought she actually spoke Korean.”
Father smiled sheepishly and gestured toward a seat.
“Sung-guk, sit over there. Since today is special, I closed the restaurant a bit early to prepare.”
“Dad, won’t that affect business?”
“My son’s girlfriend—who might become my daughter-in-law someday—has come all this way. This much is the least I can do. I’ll have the bossam ready in just a moment, so go take your seats. Your mother, Min-guk, and Ji-hee should be here soon.”
“Okay.”
I led Emma to the table Father had prepared.
“Bossam tastes best when it’s warm, you know. Dad is preparing fresh bossam for Emma right now.”
“Sung-guk, I’m so excited. My mouth is already watering.”
“By the way, your mother, Min-guk, and Ji-hee are on their way. Emma, if meeting my family feels overwhelming, just let me know.”
“What are you talking about? I’ve been dying to see Ji-hee….”
“More than me?”
“Not quite.”
Emma grabbed my arm and shook it playfully.
Just then, the door opened and Mother, Min-guk, and Ji-hee walked in simultaneously.
The moment Ji-hee saw Emma, she ran over and hugged her.
“Unnie!!!”
“Ji-hee, I missed you so much!”
Ji-hee took Emma’s hand before I could and introduced her to Mother.
“Mom, this is Emma. My oldest brother’s girlfriend. The main character from The Wizard of Harry!”
“I know, sweetie. Mom watched that movie with you too.”
Mother smiled awkwardly, just like Father, and greeted Emma in English.
“H-hello. My name is So-young. I’m Sung-guk’s mother.”
“Sung-guk told me so much about you. Now that I’ve met you and your husband, I understand why Sung-guk is so wonderful.”
Emma answered warmly.
Min-guk, whose ears had perked up at the sound of English, stuck his tongue out and shook his head after hearing Emma’s words.
Ji-hee translated Emma’s words for Mother from beside her.
“Mom, Emma said that because you and Dad look like him, that’s why my oldest brother is so cool. Oh, and she said he talks about you a lot.”
“Really?”
Mother’s face lit up as she took Emma’s hand and pulled her toward the table.
“You’ve come so far. Let’s eat dinner.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
When Emma answered in broken Korean, Mother’s smile stretched from ear to ear.
* * *
– Jeon Sung-guk, the CEO who won over Emma Watson! 【Uncle Won’s Bossam】!
– Sales skyrocket after Emma Watson’s visit!
– The challenge to try 【Uncle Won’s Bossam】 that Emma Watson ate. All 【Uncle Won’s Bossam】 franchises nationwide are beaming with joy thanks to the owner’s well-raised son!
– Jeon Sung-guk has a fortune where money pours out with every step he takes.
– Shamans’ fortunes on Jeon Sung-guk and Emma Watson’s compatibility. A match made in heaven!
– Separation signs observed in Jeon Sung-guk’s fortune at year’s end. Is a red light turning on for his love with Emma Watson?
After Emma visited 【Uncle Won’s Bossam】, which Father operates, sales more than doubled as the year-end approached.
The same was true for all the franchises nationwide.
Emma’s visit itself became free advertising for 【Uncle Won’s Bossam】.
And Emma had already left for Europe because of her tour schedule for 【The Wizard Harry】, unable to stay in Korea for more than a few days.
The void Emma left behind was filled by none other than Mark, Lim Mi-mi, Adam, Sam, and Susan.
Mark, Adam, and Sam were sprawled out in the living room with blankets spread on the floor, sleeping like true Koreans.
I glared at the three sleeping figures while brewing coffee.
Lim Mi-mi, fresh from the shower, approached me with a smile.
“Restaurant Owner, could I have a cup of coffee too?”
“Lim Mi-mi, what exactly is Mark’s purpose for visiting Korea?”
“Mark came with these three guys to see you off to military training. They’ve been up all night for a few weeks. Please don’t hate them too much.”
“For that reason, they seem to be eating better and sleeping better than I am.”
Mark, Adam, and Sam had been checking off Korean dishes starting with 【Uncle Won’s Bossam】 on their first day.
I let out a deep sigh, and that’s when Sergey called.
It seemed to be about the favor I had asked him for earlier.
I quickly answered the phone.
“Sergey, it’s me.”
– Sung-guk, about that Han Myung-seok you asked me about before.
“Yes….”
– He seems to be an industrial spy working for China.

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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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