I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 371

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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 371
I remembered the 2011 Korean Series quite vividly.
In the 2010 Korean Series, the Samsung Lions had surrendered the championship trophy to the ST Dragons with a devastating 0-4 sweep.
Before the series began, experts had predicted it would be a close contest—both Samjeon and ST possessed comparable skill levels and similar playing styles.
Yet across all four games held in Daegu and Incheon, Samjeon suffered consecutive defeats.
They hadn’t won a single game!
Whenever I recalled the 2010 Korean Series, I would jolt awake from sleep and hurl curses toward Incheon.
That’s why the Samsung Lions’ resolve as they prepared for professional baseball in 2011 was extraordinary.
They clinched first place in the regular season and waited comfortably in Daegu for the Korean Series.
And just as the saying goes—enemies meet on a single-log bridge—the third-place ST Dragons defeated the second-place Lotte Giants to advance to the Korean Series.
At that moment, I was prepared to employ any means necessary to avenge the 2010 Korean Series.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung gently set down the baseball bat.
“Representative Jeon, for that marketing to succeed, we’ll need to predict Samjeon’s winning percentage….”
“Don’t worry, Chairman.”
[I already know the outcome, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung.]
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung crossed his arms.
“Representative Jeon, of course if Tae-guk becomes Samjeon’s good luck charm as you say, there’s nothing more we could ask for. But it would be helpful if you could explain your plan for making that happen.”
“First, given how Tae-guk looks today, what if we build a friendly image by enjoying chicken and beer from the VIP seats? After all, hasn’t Samjeon maintained a rather aristocratic conglomerate image?”
“That’s true….”
[It’s not just true—it’s absolutely correct, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung!]
When people thought of Samjeon Group, they associated it with the aristocratic conglomerate image stemming from Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s cold demeanor.
The Chairman himself had deliberately cultivated this aristocratic image to emphasize that the Jeon family differed from ordinary people. But times were changing now.
Through various social media platforms, conglomerates had begun exposing their private lives and engaging in dialogue with the public.
“As for Tae-guk, frankly speaking, he lacks the charisma you possess, Chairman.”
I felt Jeon Tae-guk’s gaze glancing toward me at those words.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung nodded.
“It’s difficult to possess charisma like mine….”
[In my previous life, I wondered whose narcissism I’d inherited, but it turns out I resembled Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung.]
I continued.
“If he can’t match your charisma, Chairman, then perhaps it would be better to establish an image of an approachable conglomerate heir in the public’s mind. Tae-guk has been known through the media in various ways, but most of those impressions have been negative.”
The villain role in Donald Trumpet’s “The Intern.”
On top of that, there were incidents like the nude exposure scandal involving a female idol trainee—Jeon Tae-guk’s image was essentially that of Samjeon’s chaotic heir.
“To shed that image, I believe an approachable approach would suit him better than charisma.”
“By approachable, you don’t mean the kind of thing other companies do—going to markets and eating with ordinary people, right?”
“I’m thinking of finding Tae-guk’s approachability through his shortcomings.”
“Shortcomings?”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s brow furrowed.
It seemed as though he was asking whether I dared to portray someone from the Jeon family as lacking.
“Chairman, shortcomings aren’t necessarily bad. For people to feel affinity toward Tae-guk, who was born into the Jeon family and raised without wanting for anything, he needs to display some imperfection.”
“For example?”
“It’s like on a day like today, wearing comfortable athletic clothes and sitting in the VIP section eating chicken while watching a baseball game. Sometimes cheering, sometimes getting so absorbed in the chicken that I forget to cheer for a moment. That kind of image.”
“Approach with a comfortable image?”
“Yes, Chairman. People feel a sense of kinship when they see wealthy people dropping chicken just like them, chugging beer foam with their mouths… in those moments, they feel a connection.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung nodded slightly.
“That makes sense.”
“Let me handle Tae-guk today, Chairman.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung immediately looked at Jeon Tae-guk.
“Tae-guk, remember that your image can’t get any worse in the public eye.”
“Yes, Father….”
Jeon Tae-guk nodded with a bewildered expression.
Soon Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung left, and Jeon Tae-guk grabbed my arm.
“Sung-guk, I’m grateful you saved me from getting hit by Father… but do I really have to do this?”
“Brother, getting so absorbed in chicken that you miss your cheering cues. Chugging overflowing beer foam. That’s just your normal self anyway.”
“I suppose that’s true….”
“People will love a chaebol who acts like them. That’s the point. You’re the heir to Samjeon, but your usual behavior is exactly like ours.”
“Will it work?”
[It’ll definitely work!]
“Brother, let’s give it a try.”
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk’s eyes narrowed.
“Sung-guk… I’m curious about one last thing. Why are you really helping me? You never help without a reason.”
“I’ll be honest. It’s gratitude for telling Dennis about your heartbreak without filter, and also… I think of it as your severance pay.”
“Severance pay?”
“You worked hard at FaceNote’s Asia branch and Alpha, after all.”
“It’s also a way of saying let’s stay on good terms going forward, right?”
“Yes, brother. Running a business in South Korea, there’s nothing good about turning your back on Samjeon.”
Simply having the heir to Samjeon in my hands was the most reassuring thing in South Korea.
And I was grateful that Samjeon’s heir was Jeon Tae-guk.
If I were my former self, I wouldn’t have needed this kind of help from others.
My former self was perfect, after all.
I shrugged my shoulders once.
Then I looked at Secretary Park Sung-hee, who was waiting.
“Secretary Park, could you prepare a Samsung Lions jacket and cap?”
“Should I bring one for you too, Sung-guk?”
“I’ll just wear my usual clothes. It’ll stand out more if only brother wears it that way.”
“Understood.”
I called out to Secretary Park Sung-hee as she was about to leave.
“Oh, Secretary Park. Please prepare the most popular chicken at the Daegu stadium, and after the first inning ends, have the beer vendor naturally come by our section. Make sure the cameras catch us at that moment too.”
I looked at Jeon Tae-guk.
“Brother, do you have a thousand won bill?”
“A thousand won bill? Why would I have something like that….”
“To buy beer, you need small bills too. Park Secretary, could you prepare some ten-thousand-won and one-thousand-won notes? My brother will take the money out of his wallet and pay directly.”
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk pulled out his wallet and showed it to me.
Anyone could see it was a luxury brand wallet with a clearly visible logo.
“Sung-guk, should I switch to a cheaper brand wallet?”
“Brother, don’t overdo it. People understand that the heir to Samjeon carries a luxury wallet.”
“Ah, I see….”
I looked my brother over from head to toe.
“Brother, keep the Samjeon uniform, the watch, and the wallet as luxury items. That way, the public will actually enjoy seeing them.”
“That’s not difficult.”
* * *
The third inning ended.
The Samsung Lions and ST Dragons were locked in a tense 0-0 match.
An anxious Jeon Tae-guk called for the beer vendor again as soon as the third inning finished.
“Brother, drink slowly.”
“This is only my second glass.”
Jeon Tae-guk pulled out a one-thousand-won note from his luxury wallet as I’d instructed and paid for the beer. When the foam began to overflow, he quickly brought the cup to his lips.
This was something I’d told him to do, but it was also his natural habit.
“Sung-guk, have a drink too.”
I took the beer glass he offered me.
In my previous life, I loved sitting in these outdoor seats watching the Samsung Lions play.
[So this is what it’s like to experience such moments again….]
Lost in sentiment, I drank the beer in one long gulp and wiped the foam from my lips with the back of my hand.
At that moment, cheers erupted throughout the stadium.
What was happening?
While I was bewildered, my image appeared on the scoreboard.
I smiled sheepishly and took another sip of beer for no particular reason.
“Sung-guk, you’re getting more attention than me.”
“Brother, that’s unavoidable.”
Our whispered conversation was also being captured on the scoreboard.
Each time, screams from women echoed throughout the stadium.
I took another satisfied sip of beer.
* * *
– Captivated by the human side of Jeon Tae-guk, Strategic Planning Team leader at Samjeon!
– Is Team Leader Jeon Tae-guk a victory fairy?! Breaking last year’s curse in the Korean Series, the Samsung Lions’ first win of the Korean Series!
– The moment the runners on first and second base scored at home thanks to the fourth-inning sacrifice by the batter, Strategic Planning Team Leader Jeon Tae-guk spilled his beer but cheered for the run!
A photo of Jeon Tae-guk spilling his beer in shock as the runners crossed home plate and cheering in an awkward posture decorated the sports section of internet articles.
My prediction had been spot on.
Jeon Tae-guk’s approachable image circulated online in various memes.
– Even chaebols can’t escape beer foam.
– A chaebol who pays the beer vendor with a one-thousand-won note. Yet his wallet is still luxury.
– Even billionaires can’t resist chicken legs!
This was the main theme of the posts.
Jeon Tae-guk seemed quite fond of these memes, showing them to me throughout lunch in the company cafeteria.
“Sung-guk, did you see the comments on that scene where you and I are whispering to each other?”
“What did they say?”
“Jeon Sung-guk, Jeon Tae-guk. Your names differ by just one character, but your faces are worlds apart.”
“That’s true.”
Jeon Tae-guk chuckled with delight.
“Sung-guk, I think this is the first time I’ve been more of a hot topic than you.”
– CEO Jeon Sung-guk even doing photo shoots at the baseball stadium!
– At this rate, won’t he be taking beer commercial offers next?
While the issues surrounding me were always about my appearance, this time Jeon Tae-guk’s approachable image had also become a talking point.
“Hyung, keep that image going. Be adequately lacking. But never be more lacking than that.”
“I know. I know. Any more lacking than this and I’d be an idiot.”
[I hope you really do understand, Jeon Tae-guk.]
Jeon Tae-guk quickly finished his meal and stood up.
“Sung-guk, we need to head to the second game. If we’re going to Daegu, we should leave now to make it in time.”
“You want me to come along too?”
“Of course. What’s the fun in watching baseball alone?”
“Sigh….”
Since we would lose in the fourth game to ST Dragons, I had to attend the games in person at least through the third game.
I picked up my tray and stood up from my seat.
* * *
– Jeon Tae-guk, head of Samjeon’s Strategic Planning Team, attends his second game in person. The Samsung Lions deliver consecutive victories!
Public opinion was slowly turning Jeon Tae-guk into Samjeon’s good luck charm.
After two days of rest, the Korean Series Game 3 was held in Incheon.
In the meantime, I had something to do.
“Dennis!”
I called out to Dennis, who was sitting at the kitchen table lost in thought.
“Oh… Sung-guk.”
Dennis answered weakly.
“Dennis, isn’t the script coming together?”
“The conductor character just isn’t clicking….”
“I knew this would happen, so I asked for some help.”
“Help?”
Just then, Ji-hee arrived home.
“Oppa!”
“Ji-hee, this is Dennis. He was my roommate when I was at Harvard, and he’s an aspiring film director.”
“Hello, I’m Jeon Ji-hee, Sung-guk’s younger sister.”
Ji-hee greeted Dennis in fluent English.
Dennis exchanged greetings with Ji-hee, then turned to me with a bewildered expression.
“Sung-guk… wait, your younger brother is helping me create a conductor character?”
“There’s a place called Daechi-dong in South Korea. It’s known as the epicenter of private education. Students there study fiercely to get into what they call prestigious universities. Ji-hee will take you there. She also takes separate math and science classes there herself.”
Dennis’s eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement.
“Sung-guk, we can go right now, can’t we?”
“Of course.”
I handed my credit card to Ji-hee.
“Ji-hee, attend the classes well with Dennis and treat him to some delicious food.”
“Don’t worry, oppa. I registered him for the most intense, most cutthroat classes in Daechi-dong, just like you asked.”
“That’s our Ji-hee—never letting me down.”
I smiled contentedly.

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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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