I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 372

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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 372
Dennis followed Ji-hee’s guidance toward Daechi-dong.
Ji-hee spoke English well for her age, and Dennis sensed immediately upon meeting her that she was remarkably intelligent.
Ji-hee explained to Dennis in English the entire route to Daechi-dong, and she also described the busy Korean people he encountered on the subway.
“Korean people are incredibly busy. Everyone’s preoccupied rushing to work or school.”
“Ji-hee, you really resemble your older brother so much. How do you speak English so flawlessly?”
“My brother told me from childhood that English was essential for living, so he even sent me to language programs.”
“That’s so like your brother.”
Dennis sat on the subway, observing the people of Seoul.
He began to understand why Sung-guk had insisted he take the subway.
Seoul’s subway was more dynamic than anywhere else.
Vendors hawking their wares.
Passengers engaged in silent battles over a single seat.
Exhausted commuters sleeping fitfully.
And small groups of people gathered together, heading somewhere—everything about it fascinated him.
Dennis suddenly turned to Ji-hee, who sat beside him reading a book in stolen moments of time, and asked her a question.
“Ji-hee, what exactly is Daechi-dong?”
“It’s a place overflowing with hagwons—private academies that provide supplementary education for children trying to enter prestigious universities or their universities of choice.”
“Hmm… so in every country, students study fiercely to get into good universities.”
Dennis nodded in agreement.
In the United States too, getting into Harvard required truly grueling effort.
An announcement came that the subway would soon arrive at Daechi Station.
And students in school uniforms who had been sitting and studying suddenly rose from their seats in unison.
‘So this is Daechi-dong….’
Dennis could feel the intensity of Daechi-dong firsthand, beginning right there on the subway.
* * *
Adam and Sam stared at me with somewhat tense expressions.
Finally, the basic framework of TikTok had materialized.
An SNS platform faithful to the concept I’d described—one where users upload short videos!
That was precisely what TikTok was.
But a barrier of reality existed.
Adam began his explanation, tension evident in his voice.
“Sung-guk, the biggest problem with this SNS is the current specifications of mobile phones. While household computers with current specifications have no problem displaying short videos, mobile phones simply aren’t powerful enough yet.”
It was 2011, so this was entirely understandable.
Only time could resolve this issue.
“Adam, Sam… we’re doing well, so don’t worry too much. As you both know, mobile phone development happens faster than we expect.”
I reassured both Adam and Sam, patting their shoulders.
“Do you two happen to be free tomorrow evening?”
“Tomorrow? Why, Sung-guk?”
“The Korean Series Game 3 is being held in Incheon tomorrow. You two have worked so hard—how about we watch some baseball and eat chicken together?”
I was certain that Jeon Tae-guk would inevitably ask to come along, so I planned to send Adam and Sam in my place.
“That time works great for me.”
“Me too, Sung-guk!”
“Got it. I’ll let William know. You two have worked hard all this time. Take this opportunity to rest a bit, then we’ll start working again.”
Adam and Sam debated with excited faces what kind of chicken they would eat at the baseball stadium tomorrow.
“Chicken has to be seasoned, Sam.”
“Adam, fried is the foundation of chicken!”
Just then, a message arrived on my phone.
Who could it be?
– Student Jeon Sung-guk, your Kim Ju-young’s Elite Math Class that you registered for today begins in 30 minutes.
Wait!
Kim Ju-young’s Elite Math Class?
There was no reason I should be receiving this….
In that instant, one person flashed through my mind.
Could it be….
I quickly called Ji-hee. She answered the phone shortly, as usual.
“Jeon Ji-hee, I just received a strange message.”
– A message about registering for Kim Ju-young’s class?
“Ji-hee… why did that come to me?”
– Because you studied in the United States, so you probably don’t understand the reality of Korea’s private education system well.
[So why do I have to experience it myself, Jeon Ji-hee!]
– You’re always saying “back when I studied in the United States” while Min-guk and I nag you about it. This is your chance to experience Korea’s educational reality firsthand. By the way, I charged it to your credit card. If you don’t attend the class, I’m leaving Dennis in Daechi-dong and going!
Click.
The call ended.
I rubbed my temples with my fingers.
Ever since coming to Korea, I had been responsible for Ji-hee’s studies.
Ji-hee’s academic performance ranked in the top 0.0001% of South Korea, but what I wanted wasn’t just the top percentage of the country.
It seemed Ji-hee had been stressed because of that.
I let out a low sigh.
[I said all that for their own good….]
The position of the eldest son in Korea was truly burdensome.
* * *
Click.
I quietly opened the back door and entered.
Dennis and Ji-hee came into view behind me.
As I entered, Dennis greeted me warmly.
“Sung-guk, welcome. I’m so glad you came.”
[That’s not exactly why I’m here, Dennis.]
I looked at Ji-hee.
Ji-hee neatly handed me the math textbook.
“Older brother, this class only uses our own custom materials.”
“Jeon Ji-hee, don’t you have anything to say to your older brother?”
“I was simply curious about your skills from studying in the United States. You always say that being in the top 1% of South Korea is meaningless. By comparing myself to you, I thought I could gauge where I actually stand.”
Seeing Ji-hee’s smug attitude, I realized blood truly ran thicker than water.
Dennis chuckled beside me.
“Sung-guk, you two look alike, but your personalities are really similar too.”
“Dennis, Ji-hee is the least talented in our family!”
Ji-hee narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
“Older brother, I’m listening.”
“Jeon Ji-hee, beat me once. Then I won’t say another word about your appearance.”
“Deal!”
Just then, the front door opened and a gaunt-faced woman with slicked-back hair entered.
[Is this Kim Ju-young?]
I had searched while rushing to Daechi-dong and discovered that Kim Ju-young’s Elite Math Class was famous as a Spartan-style mathematics course that only the top 0.01% of students in Daechi-dong could attend.
It seemed Dennis and I were able to take this class thanks to our Harvard credentials.
Kim Ju-young took her place at the podium and surveyed the students.
With her commanding presence, the students watched her intently without uttering a sound.
“Hello. I am Kim Ju-young, instructor of Kim Ju-young’s Elite Math Class. As you know, my class breaks down age and grade barriers. It doesn’t mean you’re here simply because you’re a senior. It means that regardless of age, if you have the skills, you can attend my class anytime.”
Kim Ju-young glanced at Ji-hee, the youngest student in the class, then turned her gaze to Dennis and me.
“I heard Harvard graduates applied for this class. So you two are them.”
Dennis and I nodded slightly, and the other students looked at us with curiosity.
“I understand you are auditing students. However, I will not give you any special treatment. Since you’ve entered my class, you must follow my rules. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Yes!”
Dennis and I answered simultaneously.
“Now, before we begin class, I need a commitment from all of you.”
Kim Ju-young surveyed the students again, then spoke slowly.
“From now on, you must trust me completely. Do you understand?”
“Yes!!!”
The students shouted in unison.
“Then, let’s begin class!”
* * *
Exactly two hours of class had ended. The break in between was only ten minutes.
Yet not a single student went to the restroom during the break.
Everyone held onto Kim Ju-young’s custom-made materials and didn’t budge even during the ten-minute break.
Dennis stood up with a dazed expression.
“Sung-guk, this place is really….”
“Impressive, right?”
“Yeah… I feel like my very soul was drained. That instructor is truly remarkable.”
Just then, the Drill Sergeant entered and wrote an announcement on the blackboard.
“Everyone come thirty minutes early tomorrow. We’ll have a quick quiz on what we covered today before class starts.”
Ji-hee stood up from her seat as well.
“Oppa, if I score better than you on tomorrow’s test, you have to stop making comments about my appearance from now on. Got it?”
“Of course.”
A promise was a promise.
* * *
“Sung-guk, the third game is tomorrow. You’re really not coming?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to—I can’t. I have a math test tomorrow.”
“What? You dropped out of Harvard and now you’re suddenly studying? With your credentials, you could probably transfer into Seoul National University… Sung-guk, if I go alone tomorrow, I don’t have confidence I’ll perform as well as last time. When I’m with you, everything just flows naturally.”
Jeon Tae-guk held up a Samsung Lions cheering baton from beside me, pleading.
I stared directly at Jeon Tae-guk.
“Hyung, I’m sending Adam and Sam instead of me tomorrow.”
“Adam and Sam?”
“Yes. I think it’ll work well to have them converse in English while watching the game. A tycoon introducing Korean baseball and chicken to foreigners. What do you think?”
“Sung-guk, you’re a genius, aren’t you?”
[That goes without saying.]
I shrugged my shoulders.
“With Sam and Adam, I’m confident! Sung-guk, pay attention in class!”
Jeon Tae-guk waved his cheering baton and left the room.
And I returned my gaze to the math textbook.
[I’ve really neglected studying all this time….]
Since starting my business ventures, I hadn’t opened a math book.
But the more important thing was—I couldn’t lose to Jeon Ji-hee! No matter that she was my younger sister!
* * *
Thirty minutes before class started.
The Drill Sergeant entered and distributed the test papers.
“You have exactly fifteen minutes. After grading, Kim Ju-young will begin class by going over today’s test problems.”
A palpable tension settled between Ji-hee and me.
Dennis looked at us both with a relaxed expression.
“Don’t be nervous, either of you.”
At that, Ji-hee and I both glared at Dennis simultaneously.
“Dennis, you have to approach even a simple quiz like it’s an important exam.”
The Drill Sergeant noticed this and called us out.
“You Harvard students in the back—quiet down.”
Dennis and I closed our mouths and began solving the problems.
The math problems were at an elite level and challenging, but since they covered yesterday’s material, I worked through them without difficulty.
After exactly fifteen minutes, the Drill Sergeant collected the papers, and precisely fifteen minutes later, Kim Ju-young entered and distributed the graded tests.
“It was just a simple quiz, but a review of yesterday’s lesson. Everyone did well, but there are three idiots in this class.”
At that moment, Dennis’s eyes widened. He leaned over and whispered quietly to me.
“Sung-guk, did the teacher just call the students idiots? Isn’t that defamation of character?”
“Dennis, it looks like the conductor character from your screenplay made an appearance.”
In that moment, Kim Ju-young called out the students’ names.
“Lee Gu-sung, you mediocre student. Kim Sun-young, you mediocre student. And Dennis Chazelle, you mediocre student. I hope the three of you will strive harder from now on. If you don’t want to hear me call you mediocre anymore.”
As his name was called, Dennis’s face went pale.
At the same time, Ji-hee and I waited anxiously for our scores to be announced.
“Only two people scored a perfect 100.”
Ji-hee and I held our breath, waiting for the next words.
“Jeon…Ji-hee.”
Ji-hee turned to look at me and shrugged her shoulders.
“And Jeon Sung-guk. Jeon Sung-guk, your solution demonstrated a remarkably interesting approach, and I found myself in a good mood while grading it. I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.”
I looked at Ji-hee and shrugged my shoulders.
Ji-hee’s expression hardened, as if she were frustrated.
[Jeon Ji-hee, you’ll always be in your older brother’s palm….]

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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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