I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 35

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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 35
“Could you elaborate a bit more?”
The Iron Lady steadied her racing heart and asked.
Cho Sung-won began speaking about Sung-guk’s piano playing with a dreamy expression on his face.
“I first played piano when I was five years old too. When I sat in front of the piano and looked at the keys, I was just so happy. Every time I pressed a key, I couldn’t help but smile. I saw that same expression on Sung-guk’s face.”
Cho Sung-won didn’t mention the details.
The fact that Sung-guk’s fingers were longer and more flexible than other children his age.
Or that when he’d tested him earlier by playing a scale first, the boy had immediately replicated it—revealing perfect pitch.
Such observations would only wound a mother whose child was learning music, whether as a hobby or special talent.
The Iron Lady nodded slightly.
“Thank you for telling me. You must be busy with the recital next week, and I appreciate the lessons.”
“I’m the one who should be grateful for your continued support.”
Cho Sung-won was himself one of the talented individuals sponsored by Samjeon Group.
The Iron Lady paused for a moment, then looked at Cho Sung-won’s face again.
“Forgive me, but do you know of a teacher who could instruct a child like Sung-guk?”
Cho Sung-won looked at the Iron Lady with a puzzled expression.
“Why would you ask that…?”
“Well, Sung-guk is actually a child we sponsor at Samjeon Group. If he has talent, I’d like to nurture it in that direction.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to recommend my childhood piano teacher. Thanks to her, I never lost my interest in piano and was able to build a solid foundation.”
“I’ll look into it.”
The Iron Lady exchanged pleasantries with Cho Sung-won and headed toward her car with a light heart.
If the boy Sung-guk had talent in piano, all she needed to do was cultivate it.
If that happened, Sung-guk would simply become a famous pianist, and Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung would no longer harbor any lingering attachment to him.
* * *
“I love curry. I love Mommy.”
I picked up my spoon and did a little shoulder dance as I looked at the curry Mother had made for me.
[Sigh, I never thought I’d come to love this cheap-tasting curry.]
In my past life, I could never have imagined this. But the curry Mother made was the second most delicious thing in this world, right after the jjajangmyeon from Samjeon Hotel.
“Sung-guk, eat slowly.”
“I’ll eat well!”
I said grace and quickly shoved the curry into my mouth.
[It really is delicious.]
My shoulders danced on their own.
Just then, the house phone rang loudly.
Mother quickly dried her wet hands and answered.
“Secretary Yang, how have you been?”
[What’s Secretary Yang calling about?]
“You want to discuss Sung-guk’s future path? Yes. Next Monday is when my husband’s restaurant is closed. I understand.”
Mother hung up and tilted her head in confusion.
“Sung-guk, did something happen at kindergarten?”
[Hmm….]
I shook my head first.
But there was one thing from what happened at the kindergarten that I understood clearly.
Meeting Cho Sung-won. And the Iron Lady watching it all unfold.
I could begin to guess what the Iron Lady was thinking.
[Could she possibly be planning to turn me into a pianist?]
If anyone could do it, the Iron Lady could.
She wasn’t a warm mother, but she took care of anything that might obstruct her child’s future.
“Sung-guk, let me hang the laundry for a moment. You can watch Min-guk, right?”
“Sure. Mom, come back soon.”
“Mom will give you a banana when she comes back.”
“Okay!”
After eating, I watched Min-guk spinning around in circles in the living room.
He hadn’t read a single line of a book, showed no interest in the news, and all he did was eat, poop, and play.
I looked at Min-guk with pity.
[What are you going to become when you grow up? No matter how much money your older brother makes, you need to earn money too. A healthy person can’t just play around. Got it?]
“Hehe.”
Min-guk came over to me, pushed his face close, and rubbed his cheek against mine.
Whenever I nagged, this kid would come to me and push his face at me like this these days.
[Get away. While I’m being nice about it.]
“Hehe.”
Min-guk just giggled with his baby lisp.
[I’m really worried about this kid’s future, I am.]
“Sigh…”
I was already feeling anxious about Min-guk’s future.
Would this kid even grow up to be a decent person?
Whether or not he knew my heavy heart, Min-guk hugged me and giggled away.
“Hehe. Like you.”
[I don’t really like you. You’re not my rival anymore—you’re a burden on my life, a burden.]
I looked down at Min-guk with drooping shoulders.
“Min-gu. Do you like your older brother?”
“Yeah!”
“Why?”
“Because you’re my older brother.”
My heart swelled.
In this life, my heart seemed to be broken. It swelled at such trivial words.
[Alright, I’ll give you a hug. Come here.]
Min-guk hugged me tightly.
A soft baby powder scent wafted up from Min-guk’s body.
[Ah, I should probably plan out this kid’s future too.]
I stared at Min-guk with a stern expression.
“Jeon Min-guk, you need to listen carefully to what I say. Understand?”
“Yes!”
Min-guk broke into a bright smile.
[Hmm… I’d forgotten while he’s been going to kindergarten, but this kid is actually quite cute. Not as much as me, of course, but with a face like that, he could do anything.]
His smile was rather endearing, and though he was duller than me, he understood instructions well. For child models and actors, that was nearly everything that mattered.
“Sung-guk, you two were playing so well together. Mom will get you a banana right away.”
“Mom!”
I called out to stop her.
“What is it, Sung-guk?”
“Min-guk. Let Min-guk do child acting.”
“What did you say?”
Mother looked at me in surprise.
“Min-guk’s good at acting. He smiles well.”
“Well, Min-guk does have that quality….”
“Sung-guk, is that really your own idea?”
Of course it was my idea, but if I said so directly, Mother would be harder to convince.
“Min-guk said so.”
“Min-guk did?”
“Yes.”
I nodded firmly.
Mother placed her hands on Min-guk’s shoulders and made eye contact with him.
“Min-guk, do you want to be a child model?”
“Yes!”
Min-guk answered loudly.
In truth, I had told him earlier that if he always said yes to Mother, she would give up her spot next to her for him to sleep.
That night, I woke up hugging my pillow.
Mother and Father, who had been lying down to sleep, stared at me oddly.
“Sung-guk, can’t you sleep?”
Father approached to pick me up.
I took a step back.
“Sung-guk, what’s wrong?”
“Father, I want to sleep alone.”
“Suddenly? Right now?”
“Yes!”
I looked down at Min-guk, who had already claimed the spot next to Mother.
Though it was a promise made with a three-year-old, a promise is a promise.
“From today on, I’ll sleep in my own room.”
I spoke each word clearly and walked toward my room, where only a desk sat empty.
Mother and Father followed in surprise.
“Sung-guk, are you really going to be okay sleeping alone?”
“Yes!”
I heard Mother and Father conferring behind me.
“So-young, let’s lay out the blanket first. We’ll leave the door open a bit. If he gets scared while sleeping, he can come to us.”
“Why is he suddenly like this?”
“Did something happen during the day?”
“No….”
I stood alone in the dim room.
The light switch was beyond my reach.
But I wasn’t scared at all.
In my past life, I had my own room shortly after turning one.
[I need to get used to this darkness too.]
I hugged the pillow tightly, feeling the loneliness wash over me.
Click.
The light came on immediately.
Mother and Father came with a blanket and tucked me in.
Mother looked down at me with concern once more.
“Sung-guk, are you really going to be able to sleep alone?”
“….”
Instead of speaking, I nodded solemnly.
[Whether you’re a boy or a girl, you have to keep your promises, Mother.]
I clutched the pillow tightly.
Mother and Father hugged me in turn, then left with the door slightly ajar.
“Sung-guk, if you’re scared, come to our room.”
I shook my head.
[That won’t happen anymore.]
Soon the light went out.
I lay in the darkness, staring at the ceiling.
I had now passed Mother’s side to my younger brother Min-guk.
Tears streamed down my face without warning, soaking the pillowcase.
[So this is how you become an adult again.]
“Hic—.”
I choked back the sobs threatening to burst out.
* * *
When kindergarten ended on Monday, I spotted Secretary Yang waiting outside.
Since Mother had already told me that Secretary Yang would pick me up, I took his hand without hesitation.
“Sung-guk, how do you like kindergarten?”
Secretary Yang asked in his calm voice.
I gave a brief answer that showed I hadn’t forgotten the kindness the Samjeon Group had shown me.
“It’s fun.”
“Is that so? Have you made many friends?”
“Yes!”
I answered confidently.
[I’ve just become acquainted with the other kids, that’s all.]
Now that I speak foreign languages well and they know I’m smarter than them, they can’t look down on me anymore. But once they become aware of their own social status and wealth, they’ll treat me like yesterday’s leftovers.
Before that happens, I need to raise both my wealth and my social standing.
“Sung-guk, shall we go to Father’s restaurant for dinner?”
“Bossam is delicious.”
I quickly climbed into Secretary Yang’s car.
Secretary Yang’s car was also one of the finest automobiles money could buy.
Ordinary people think of a secretary as someone who handles the chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s petty errands and miscellaneous tasks. But Secretary Yang holds one of the most distinctive positions within Samjeon Group.
His salary was comparable to the CEOs of Samjeon’s subsidiaries, but the privileges granted to Secretary Yang were far more extraordinary.
There was this car, his residence, and countless benefits he could enjoy throughout his life.
Perhaps that’s why Secretary Yang’s absolute obedience was possible.
Secretary Yang offered me an organic banana from the car’s snack supply.
“You like bananas, don’t you, Sung-guk?”
“Thank you.”
I accepted the banana politely.
[An organic banana just like the ones I used to enjoy in my past life.]
I grinned and took a bite. Chopin’s piano composition drifted through the car’s speakers.
[This is Cho Sung-won’s performance….]
“Ah….”
As my expression shifted to surprise, Secretary Yang observed me carefully.
“What’s wrong, Sung-guk?”
“This. This music.”
“Yes. What about this music?”
“Chopin.”
“How do you know this music, Sung-guk?”
Secretary Yang asked calmly.
Only then did I realize that all of this was planned.
He had deliberately played Cho Sung-won’s piano performance to see how sensitive I was to music.
From this moment on, everything was a test.
Or rather, I was one piece of a larger plan to make me into a pianist.
I took a measured breath. I knew my own piano abilities well.
In my past life, I briefly dreamed of becoming a pianist, traveling the world and performing concerts. But my talent fell far short of that ambition.
I could manage to attend any university in Seoul or even study abroad without difficulty, but I lacked the skill to win competitions abroad where family influence held no sway.
This life would likely be no different.
“Mister.”
I called out to Secretary Yang.
“Yes, Sung-guk?”
“I like piano.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But…”
“But?”
A small recorder sat beside Secretary Yang.
“I like studying more than piano. Studying is fun. Hehe.”
“I see…”
Secretary Yang nodded with a benevolent smile.
Before long, Father’s Bossam Restaurant came into view in the distance.
* * *
A table was already set up in one corner of the restaurant.
Father’s bossam and side dishes. Even soju.
I hadn’t seen Kim Mi-young in a while.
This morning on the way to school, I casually mentioned to Mother that I missed seeing Kim Mi-young.
Mother thought it would be nice if Kim Mi-young came along while meeting with Secretary Yang, so she quickly reached out to her.
Mother and Father are good people, and I’ve accumulated some social experience by now, but having Kim Mi-young—someone seasoned in Samjeon’s ways—would give me a better advantage in steering the conversation.
The late Chairman Jeon Ju-shin used to say this often.
“The more people on our side at the negotiation table, the better.”

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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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