I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 40

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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 40
Min-guk’s first appearance came roughly halfway through the drama.
A wealthy female lead falls into financial hardship, and the male lead suspects the child isn’t his own, but the female lead denies it.
The male lead helps the female lead selflessly, but then becomes shocked at how much the child resembles him. Meanwhile, the casino boss’s daughter whom the male lead married cannot bear children….
I stayed awake until 10 p.m., absorbed in reading this melodramatic script.
It was well past my usual bedtime. I was beginning to understand why people watched melodramas.
I checked the screenwriter’s name on the script. I’d overheard that this was a weekend drama hastily produced when a popular writer’s weekend series fell through, written by a newcomer.
[Lim Sung-ju? Could this be that drama—the one that started the melodrama craze?]
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and looked at the title again.
【Final Love】
In my previous life, I’d been too busy studying to watch weekend dramas, but a faint memory of this one surfaced.
Set in the 1980s, Samjeon Electronics had even sponsored vintage appliances for the production to match the era.
It would become a legendary drama in South Korean television history, surpassing 60 percent viewership.
* * *
Even at kindergarten, I was curious about Min-guk’s audition results.
Thomas, noticing my unusual dazed state, asked with concern.
“Sung-guk, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Thomas. I just have a lot on my mind today.”
“Everyone has days like that.”
Jeon Mi-jin, overhearing our conversation, casually offered me the largest slice of cake or handed me candy from the Samjeon Hotel bakery she’d brought from home.
“Cheer up, Sung-guk.”
“Mi-jin.”
“Yes?”
“When are you going to the United States?”
I was genuinely dying to know.
She’d supposedly moved up her study abroad plans, but apparently it hadn’t happened yet.
She was a character I hadn’t particularly liked in my previous life either, but seeing her six days a week in this life was testing my patience in unexpected ways.
[If only she weren’t the Samjeon Group Chairman’s daughter….]
“Sung-guk, are you worried you’ll miss me when I go to the United States?”
[Her self-centeredness hasn’t changed one bit.]
But in this life, I am thoroughly subordinate.
There was nothing to gain from antagonizing Jeon Mi-jin, who held all the power.
“Yes.”
“Sung-guk, if you miss me, come to the United States.”
[Sigh, this airhead. Our family can’t afford to visit the United States whenever we please.]
I kept my mouth shut and simply nodded.
* * *
The moment I stepped off the school bus, I bolted toward home.
I couldn’t even spare the time to wait for the elevator.
I was far too curious about Min-guk’s audition results.
[He wouldn’t have made a mistake, would he?]
I had meticulously analyzed the script and drilled Min-guk on the exact tone and expressions he needed to deliver during the audition.
“Mom!”
I shouted the moment I reached the front door.
The door swung open, and Mother greeted me with a radiant smile.
“Sung-guk, why are you in such a rush?”
“Min-guk. Min-guk.”
“You’re curious about Min-guk’s audition results.”
“Yes!”
Mother chuckled softly.
“What do you think happened?”
[Mom, I’m not in the mood for twenty questions right now!]
I grabbed the hem of her skirt and shook it frantically.
Just then, Min-guk came toddling over from behind, munching on a banana.
“Hyung!”
“Min-guk!”
“Anyone watching would think we’d been separated and just reunited as brothers.”
I flashed Min-guk a look demanding he tell me the results immediately.
“Hyung! I got it!”
“Mom, really?”
“Yes. The Director loved Min-guk’s face and, more importantly, praised his acting tremendously. He couldn’t believe how Min-guk understood the emotional nuances of the script when he can’t even read yet. And when he heard Min-guk was your brother, he was absolutely thrilled.”
I finally felt the weight lift from my shoulders. I slipped off my sneakers.
Min-guk toddled over and took my hand.
“Hyung, did I do good?”
“Min-guk did great.”
I ruffled his hair affectionately.
At last, this kid was finally earning his keep in this household.
Parents who came from nothing—orphans, the definition of poverty.
The past five years as the eldest in this family had been nothing short of a trial by fire.
Father had finally transitioned from being a kitchen assistant at a bossam restaurant to running his own establishment, while Mother leveraged her accounting experience to manage the household finances and oversee SKJ, the agency to which I, Min-guk, and Lim Sun-mi belonged. She was, alongside Kim Mi-young, the practical owner.
As for me—well, where do I even begin?
Right after I turned one, I sparked a nationwide trend with a single phrase—”Dad!”—and became the leading baby model in the industry.
Then came “Five Men and a Baby Basket” with the group Just, which elevated me to the status of a national baby. After becoming an exclusive model for Samjeon, I had already accumulated over 300 million won in seed money.
I’d worried whether Min-guk, who I thought was a rival but turned out to be just a brother who idolized me, would even be worth his salt. But under my expert guidance, he successfully stepped into the child acting industry.
Moreover, with a role in a weekend drama that would go on to achieve the highest viewership ratings in South Korean history, he was guaranteed steady paychecks for at least the next six months.
[You’ve worked so hard, Jeon Sung-guk.]
I felt genuinely proud of myself.
I never imagined that building the foundation for a family with nothing would be this grueling—far more so than leading the Samjeon Group as its chairman.
Tap. Tap.
What was that?
Min-guk was sucking on my finger. It was his way of showing affection these days.
“Big brother, I love you.”
“Sigh…”
I exhaled deeply and clenched my teeth.
[Just for today, I’ll endure this. Min-guk, you’ll have your own struggles ahead when you start earning your living, so prepare yourself mentally.]
Nod.
Min-guk nodded his head.
[At least he responds well.]
Giggle. Giggle.
He was good at laughing too.
Duller than me, less handsome, but with such an earnest personality, it seemed he wouldn’t face much difficulty navigating society in the future.
“Sung-guk, Min-guk worked hard today too, so should we order Chinese food for dinner?”
“Mom!”
“What is it, Sung-guk?”
“I want jjajangmyeon.”
I couldn’t give up on jjajangmyeon!
* * *
Secretary Yang prepared the study abroad plan for Tae-guk and Mi-jin into documents and presented them to Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s expression was dissatisfied.
“Chairman, what seems to be the problem?”
“Is Tae-guk still struggling with English? How many years have I invested in his education, and he’s still at this level?”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s tone grew sharper.
As someone who had never settled for anything less than first place, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung was perpetually dissatisfied with Tae-guk’s grades.
“He’s still only an elementary school student. We’ve ensured there will be no problems with his entry into boarding school next year.”
“Whose head did this boy inherit?”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung sighed in frustration.
“I’ve arranged for Mi-jin and him to visit the United States in two weeks for a preliminary survey. They’ll stay for two weeks, select schools they like, and then return to Korea to proceed with the schedule.”
“Is there any way to send Sung-guk along on this survey as well?”
“Sung-guk too?”
Secretary Yang was slightly taken aback.
Sung-guk’s family had already declined the study abroad opportunity.
“Even if they declined studying abroad, couldn’t we offer him this kind of overseas exploration opportunity? And…”
He didn’t finish the thought.
There was a hope that perhaps if Sung-guk went abroad, his mind might change.
“Everyone talks about going global these days. Exposing children to foreign countries from an early age is one approach…”
“As it happens, the overseas exploration program that Samjeon Kindergarten was planning for this summer was cancelled, which was unfortunate. If we frame it as a special class overseas exploration, Sung-guk’s family should be able to participate without resistance.”
“We’ll cover the costs, and I think it would be good for you to accompany them directly this time. Keep a close eye on Tae-guk’s school situation as well…”
“Don’t worry, Chairman.”
Don’t worry…
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s vision darkened.
How could he have earned this position? The successor, Jeon Tae-guk, showed his colors from the very beginning.
Even his English, which he’d been taught early on, barely reached average.
One could never sit in this chair without exceptional ability.
* * *
“Mom, look at this.”
I handed Mother the notice the kindergarten had distributed.
Mother read through it, her expression shifting to mild surprise.
“Sung-guk, this is about an overseas exploration trip to the United States?”
“Yes!”
[Mom, read the bottom part carefully. It’s free.]
Mother read through the notice again more carefully, this time with a puzzled look.
“But… Samjeon Group is covering all the expenses….”
[Right. A few of our kids are going anyway, so how much could it cost.]
“Should we really accept this?”
The poor worry first about the strings attached to kindness. Because kindness always comes with a price. Of course, even the wealthy think that way. And I could roughly guess what Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung was planning.
Through this opportunity, he likely hoped I would open my eyes to the world abroad and reconsider the overseas studies I had refused.
“Sung-guk, let me call your teacher about this.”
“Okay!”
I sat down and spooned sweet strawberry yogurt into my mouth.
What was fortunate as our living situation improved was that my snacks were becoming more varied.
Of course, it couldn’t compare to my previous life, but I could now eat bananas and strawberry yogurt. I had jjajangmyeon about twice a month, and we ate out often when Mother was busy.
[This must be what happiness is, right?]
When I had enjoyed everything without restraint, I had never once thought of such things as precious.
After finishing her call with the teacher, Mother looked at me with concern.
“Sung-guk, but… you don’t have a passport.”
[What did you say!]
This was truly something I hadn’t anticipated. I had never lived a life without a passport.
“We need to go to a photo studio tomorrow to get your passport photo taken. Even then, it’ll take time….”
[Call Secretary Yang right away and ask him to expedite the passport. I haven’t been on a plane in five years, and I really want to fly now!]
“But I’m not sure if a passport can be issued that quickly.”
I set down my strawberry yogurt spoon with a dejected expression.
“Mom! I want to go to America.”
“Mom will consult with Secretary Yang about this.”
[That’s right!]
Mother always had good sense.
* * *
There was nothing that couldn’t be done under the Samjeon Group name.
The passport, which normally took about a week, came through in just a few days.
Since Incheon Airport hadn’t opened yet, we headed to Gimpo Airport. Returning to the modest-sized Gimpo Airport after so long stirred unusual emotions in me.
Mother, Father, and even Min-guk came to see me off—the whole family came to bid me farewell.
I gripped the handle of my suitcase tightly as I walked forward, my head bowed slightly—not from fatigue, but from sheer embarrassment.
“Sung-guk, let Father pull that for you.”
[Dad, it’s just a trip to the United States. Does the entire household really need to mobilize like this? Isn’t that a bit much?]
I shook my head, but Father insisted on dragging the suitcase anyway, stubborn as ever.
“Sung-guk, as soon as you arrive in the United States, you need to ask Secretary Yang to let us know you made it safely. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Sung-guk, you must never leave Secretary Yang’s side. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Sung-guk, if you feel even slightly unwell, you must tell Secretary Yang immediately. Do you understand?”
“Yes, yes.”
Father was drowning in worry.
The moment we arrived at the airport, Min-guk burst into tears he’d been holding back all this time.
“Hyung. Don’t go.”
“Min-guk, your hyung will be back soon.”
“Really?”
“After just ten nights of sleep, I’ll be home.”
“Ten nights?”
I spread my palm wide open.
“Ten nights.”
“Hyung!”
No matter how much I tried to convince him, Min-guk refused to let go, clinging to me desperately.
[Anyone watching would think we were emigrating for good. Min-guk, please let go.]
What made it even more embarrassing was that no other family in the advanced class was like ours.
Everyone else was casually greeting their mothers or fathers who’d come to see them off, chatting about wanting to visit Disneyland or Universal Studios again.
We were the only family where everyone had shown up, clinging and crying as if I were leaving forever, not just taking a short trip abroad.

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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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