I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 392

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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 392
Attorney Kim Sung-taek rushed to Samjeon Hotel the moment he arrived at Jeju Airport on the first flight to Jeju.
“It’s been a while, CEO Jeon.”
Attorney Kim Sung-taek offered his characteristic gentle smile.
“Here’s the contract you requested. It seems we’ll need to register the trademark, and we can finalize the agreement with the restaurant owner regarding the transfer of trade secrets and trademarks.”
I examined the contract that Attorney Kim Sung-taek presented.
It contained everything I had roughly agreed upon with the owner of Galmaegizip.
“Attorney Kim, I think we need to add one more clause.”
“What would that be?”
“As a condition for the owner of Galmaegizip to transfer the trademark and trade secrets, we should set a ten-year non-compete period during which he cannot work for any other business besides Uncle Won’s Bossam and Galmaegizip.”
When selling a company to another party, it was common practice to include a non-compete clause for the same industry.
“Ah, I forgot about that. I’ve seen that done quite often lately. I’ll add it right away and bring it back.”
Father, who had been reviewing the contract, stared at me intently.
“Sung-guk, you do things like this almost every day, don’t you?”
“Not every day, Father….”
“Your father truly cannot even imagine the things you’re doing. Sung-guk, please understand even if your father falls short in many ways.”
“What are you saying, Father? You and Mother are always the best to us!”
[Father, I mean this sincerely.]
There was no one who worked as hard as Father to protect the family.
And one of the reasons I could have come this far in this lifetime was also “family.”
[I learned all of this from Father.]
* * *
As I presented the contract, the owner of Galmaegizip looked bewildered, examining it again and again.
“I… you’re acquiring a restaurant that’s barely surviving, and on top of that, you’re guaranteeing my employment… is it really okay to pay this much money just for some trade secrets that aren’t even worth calling secrets and the use of a trademark?”
“Owner, this is all something you’ve worked hard to build over the years.”
“What hard work? Everyone in the food business goes through this level of hardship.”
The owner looked at the contract again with bewildered eyes.
The amount we offered for acquiring the trademark and trade secrets was three hundred million won.
And it included employment security for the owner.
“My goodness, after living a long life, a day like this finally comes.”
The owner took a deep breath and finally signed the contract.
And at the same time, Father also signed the contract.
Attorney Kim Sung-taek quickly gathered up the contracts.
“It’s not often that both parties are this satisfied with a contract. Congratulations.”
Then he looked at me.
“CEO Jeon, I heard you’d let me taste the meat here since it’s so delicious?”
“Of course.”
The owner, hearing Attorney Kim Sung-taek’s words, headed toward the kitchen and called out.
“Attorney, please wait just a moment. The meat is especially good today.”
“Grilled black pork in the morning… I’m looking forward to it.”
Kim Sung-taek’s gaze naturally drifted toward the refrigerator. It was as if he could see the soju calling to him.
“Lawyer Kim, the pig farm owner will be arriving soon. Once we finish that business, let’s have a drink together.”
“Chairman Jeon is remarkably thorough, I hear. So you’re securing an exclusive contract with that pig farm?”
“Yes. For now, I’m planning to establish an exclusive contract.”
Since I had no operational experience with pig farms, I decided to pursue an exclusive contract first rather than a direct purchase.
“Here comes the meat!”
The owner of Galmaegizip brought out the black pork.
Father had already put on an apron and was helping the owner.
“Please sit down, owner. Today, as the proprietor of this establishment, I’ll treat our distinguished guests with special care.”
“Since I’ll be running this restaurant from now on, I need to learn everything from you. Just put me to work.”
Father’s philosophy about food was uncompromising.
I cannot serve customers anything I don’t know how to make.
* * *
Jeju Airport was bustling with people.
Among them were our family, Jeon Tae-guk, and Sam and Adam.
“Sung-guk, since Dad will be staying in Jeju for a while longer, you understand that looking after the family in Seoul is your responsibility, right?”
[I understand. It’s the duty of the eldest son.]
I nodded.
Father had decided to stay in Jeju a few more days to learn the secrets of Galmaegizip’s operations and to complete the acquisition of the restaurant.
“Dad, you’re only staying a few more days—isn’t this a bit too solemn?”
“This is the first time I’ve left your mother alone like this.”
That was true.
Since I was born into this family, Mother had never been alone.
“I understand. I’ll call Mom every day. Dad, don’t worry too much. Min-guk is here, and Ji-hee is here too.”
“Sung-guk, what Dad means is that he’d like you to stay at your mother’s home while Dad is away.”
[Wait! You’re telling me to go to Mom’s place now and suffer under Min-guk and Ji-hee’s pestering, and listen to Mom’s nagging? Dad, I’m twenty-two now.]
I shrugged.
“Dad, let’s focus on the business for now. We can discuss the rest with Mom on the flight.”
“Alright… Dad will definitely make it back before Min-guk’s graduation ceremony. I have to attend our Min-guk’s graduation.”
“Dad! You can’t come empty-handed to the graduation!”
Min-guk waved his hands cheerfully.
[I really wonder when that kid will grow up….]
I reassured Father.
“Dad, don’t worry about Seoul. I’ll take good care of things.”
“Alright… Sung-guk. Dad trusts only you.”
And so our family said goodbye to Father for the first time and headed back to Seoul.
* * *
During the mere hour-long flight to Seoul, Mother said nothing.
“Mom, don’t worry too much about Dad.”
“Sung-guk… This is the first time for Mom. Being apart from your father like this.”
When I think about it, Mother had never spent time apart from Father.
They grew up in the same orphanage, and after leaving, they dated and married immediately.
I squeezed Mother’s hand tightly.
Father’s request weighed on my mind.
“Mother, should I stay home while Father is away?”
At that moment, Mother’s gaze turned cold.
“Sung-guk….”
[Mother’s expression and tone are unusual.]
“Yes, Mother.”
“Sung-guk, I’m going to pass on your nagging.”
My face froze in an instant.
“Mother, when did I ever nag you?”
“Sung-guk, whenever you come home, you hound Min-guk about his diet. You keep pestering Ji-hee about studying. You lecture Huin-dung-i. And then you come into the kitchen where I am and launch into endless nagging.”
[Mother, when did I ever do that?]
Ji-hee, hearing this, murmured while turning a page of her book.
“Older brother does nag quite a bit.”
“Brother doesn’t realize it, but his nagging is pretty intense.”
Min-guk chimed in as well.
Mother released my hand with a snap.
“Sung-guk, how are you so exactly like your father?”
What?
“Your father comes home and grumbles and nags endlessly. Blood truly cannot be deceived.”
[Mother, didn’t you love Father?]
“Sung-guk, while your father is away, Mother wants to relax a bit. So don’t worry about it—just focus on your own work.”
So this is what they call emotional whiplash.
Suddenly, I felt a kinship with Father.
[Father, I miss… you….]
Just then, Ji-hee, watching me, shook her head.
“Older brother, don’t be so hurt. There’s a saying about karma—you reap what you sow.”
“Jeon Ji-hee….”
Mother called Ji-hee in a serious voice.
“Ji-hee, stop acting so superior. Your older brother is a hundred times better than you.”
“Sigh, really… people everywhere say I’m so accomplished, but at home I can’t even act superior.”
“Jeon Ji-hee, you act superior everywhere else. Here, I’m completely insignificant.”
Min-guk chimed in from the side.
Is this what heartache feels like?
I took a sip of coffee with a melancholy heart.
“Sung-guk, do you think Mother went too far?”
Mother looked at me warmly.
[Tsk, Mother. Are you giving me the poison and then the cure?]
“Sung-guk, listen to what your mother is saying. You shouldn’t worry so much about the family anymore. You need some time for yourself. And if you spend that time dating, that would be even better.”
[Teacher Lee of Samcheong-dong said my romantic life would be pitch black until I sent off all my younger siblings!]
I exhaled a deep sigh, my mood growing heavier.
Mother patted my back.
“Sung-guk, you and your father nag because you’re both worried about the family. Sung-guk, I want you to worry a little less about them now… and to have more time for yourself. That’s why we say these things.”
[Mother, is that really the reason? You’re not tired of me, are you?]
I stared at her intently.
“Sung-guk, you understand, right?”
“Yes.”
I nodded, my heart still somewhat heavy.
I understood my mother’s feelings, yet I didn’t understand them at all.
In my previous life, being apart from family had felt comfortable, but in this life, I couldn’t fathom why it felt different.
Perhaps I’d become addicted to this family….
* * *
As I unpacked my luggage after arriving at the Hannam-dong house, my silence didn’t escape Jeon Tae-guk’s notice.
“Sung-guk, are you alright?”
“Yes, hyung….”
“Sung-guk, I heard on the plane earlier… are you upset because Mother said you don’t have to come home?”
“Hyung, I’m not that petty.”
Jeon Tae-guk shrugged.
“Sung-guk, don’t take Mother’s words to heart. At least you’re not treated like a traitor at home. When I go to the main house in Hannam-dong, Mother always says I’m the one who’ll sell out the country.”
I left Jeon Tae-guk’s words behind and entered my room.
I’d only been away for two nights and three days, yet it felt like I’d been gone for ages.
Just then, my phone rang.
It was Dennis Chazelle.
After filming the music video for Sevens, the group Min-guk belonged to, Dennis had rushed straight back to the United States. It was to film the short movie “Whip.”
With the budget I’d provided, Dennis had filmed the “Whip” short in just one day, and recently he’d mentioned submitting it to some film festival.
When I answered, Dennis Chazelle’s trembling voice came through the phone.
– S-Sung-guk….
“Dennis, what’s wrong?”
– S-Sung-guk… I told you before that I was submitting the “Whip” short to a film festival.
“Yeah, what was the name of that festival again?”
– Sunderland Film Festival.
“Right. Did it go in okay?”
– Um… and listen. Sung-guk, something miraculous just happened.
Dennis paused to catch his breath.
“What on earth happened, Dennis?”
– Steven Spielberg saw my film!
Steven Spielberg?
Steven Spielberg was practically a living legend in Hollywood cinema.
From the alien film 【ETT】, which had achieved a massive hit, to the 【Indiana Johnson】 series—through countless movies, he was the very person who had planted dreams and hope in people’s hearts.
“Dennis, calm down… What is Steven Spielberg saying?”
– It’s just… my film is so fascinating, so entertaining… and so fresh!!! He’s been lavishing me with so much praise that my hands are trembling right now.
[I really do have an eye for talent….]
Now it was time for Dennis Chazelle’s history to begin.
– Sung-guk, I told Steven Spielberg that I wanted to make this film as a feature. And he asked if he could invest in it.
[Hmm… Steven Spielberg wants to get a piece of my investment film….]
“So what did you say?”
– Well, I told him that Jeon Sung-guk, the founder of FaceNote, is actually my Harvard classmate, and that he’s already committed to full funding. Then he asked me to introduce him to you right away.
“To me?”
– Yeah! He said he’s been incredibly interested in you anyway. So I told him you’re currently serving in the military in South Korea. And he said he’d come to South Korea himself to meet you.
I shrugged my shoulders.
The wound I’d received from Mother was healing completely.
[That’s right—the only way to forget pain is to lose yourself in work!]
I quickly answered Dennis.
“Dennis, tell Steve. Tell him I’ll be waiting for him here in South Korea!”

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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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