I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 476

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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 476
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung was receiving a report from Secretary Yang about E-Samjeon’s current status.
“Lee Kyung-soo, an investment specialist originally famous in Yeouido, has agreed to join E-Samjeon as his final position.”
“Did you confirm the contract?”
“Yes, Chairman. The contract is finalized. One of the conditions was that he requested permission to hold a concurrent position managing a YouTube channel.”
“It seems CEO Jeon Sung-guk had some influence there.”
“Of course there were such factors, but I heard that Executive Director Jeon Tae-guk took an active role in recruiting Lee Kyung-soo. Since Lee Kyung-soo is quite particular, he wanted a one-on-one meeting with Executive Director Jeon Tae-guk rather than the HR manager, so the interview was conducted that way.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung listened quietly to Secretary Yang’s account.
Though it was true that Secretary Yang was favorable toward Jeon Tae-guk—blood runs thicker than water, as they say—he wasn’t the type to speak nonsense. Especially not about work matters.
“Chairman, it seems that Executive Director Jeon Tae-guk’s decision to personally restructure E-Samjeon this time was truly a masterstroke. While results haven’t materialized yet, the industry is giving encouraging reviews of how Executive Director Jeon Tae-guk is directly involved in personnel recruitment and how the company is starting from a small office in Pangyo, showing genuine commitment.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung felt somewhat reassured by Secretary Yang’s words.
“It seems Tae-guk is finally getting his act together.”
“I believe it would be good to begin planning for what comes after E-Samjeon now.”
What came after E-Samjeon was the succession of the Samjeon Group. The time to pass the throne was drawing near.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung nodded slowly. He felt somewhat more at ease now.
* * *
– South Korea’s Alpha1, belonging to Alpha, wins the League World Championship!
– The legend Fate’s rise begins.
– Alpha, the company to which Alpha1 belongs, is known to be operated by CEO Jeon Sung-guk….
– TikTok advertisements flooded the entire League World Championship. Interest in TikTok skyrockets!
Alpha1’s victory at the League World Championship was inevitable.
After all, Alpha1 had Fate on their roster….
And my prediction proved accurate.
Throughout the League World Championship, I ran advertisements for TikTok constantly, stimulating people’s curiosity.
Moreover, as the newly formed Alpha1 won the League World Championship, interest in TikTok grew even more.
Developers like Sam and Adam were working overtime as if it were routine. Of course, I was also working overtime alongside them.
After dinner this evening, we were preparing for another night of work.
It was already well past mid-December 2013.
Just then, the view outside the window began turning white.
“Sung-guk, it looks like it’s snowing.”
Adam suddenly spoke in a sentimental tone.
Then all the developers began looking out the window.
“Wow, this is the most snow we’ve had all year….”
“To experience snow like this at the company… I haven’t seen my girlfriend’s face in over ten days.”
“I’ve only been seeing my son sleep for over ten days.”
Sighs mixed with complaints could be heard.
I gazed out the window for a moment.
There wasn’t much left of 2013’s final month now.
I rolled my stiff shoulders briefly.
Then I looked at my team members standing blankly, gazing out the window.
“How about we all leave early today? It’s been a while since we’ve seen our families.”
My team members stared at me with blank expressions for a moment.
Then one of them spoke up.
“CEO, there’s breaking news. The roads nearby are all closed due to sudden heavy snowfall. We’d have to walk home… I think I’ll just work late. It seems better to sleep here at the office tonight.”
“Me too! If we leave now, we’ll be stuck on the roads all night, CEO.”
I felt a bit embarrassed. I was trying to be considerate, but it seemed the sudden snowstorm had made the roads impassable.
“Then let’s buy plenty of food before the shops close. Think of it as a company workshop—just tell me what you’d like to eat.”
Sam and Adam jumped up eagerly.
“Sung-guk, we’ll run down to the chicken place on the first floor before it closes!”
And with that, they burst out of the office like madmen.
“Sam, Adam! Take the company card!”
“We’ll settle up later!”
The office erupted in laughter at Sam and Adam’s enthusiasm.
Just then, one of the developers spoke up.
“CEO, your home is close by, isn’t it? Even with the snowfall blocking the roads, you should be able to walk there. Go get some rest.”
“So everyone else gets to eat chicken except me?”
“That’s not it… I was just thinking about you, CEO.”
“I appreciate that. I’ll stay here tonight too. It’s been a while since I’ve had chicken. Everyone, don’t overwork yourselves today. Once the roads clear up, head home at your own pace. The company will cover all transportation costs.”
“Yes!!!”
The employees gazed out the window with relaxed expressions for the first time in a while.
Though snow continued to fall outside, their spirits seemed lighter than ever.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
My phone on the table vibrated loudly.
Mark’s name appeared on the caller ID.
I quickly answered.
“Mark, what’s going on?”
– Sung-guk, I have a favor to ask you…
“A favor? What is it?”
– Well… Mi-mi is pregnant with our second child.
“Really? Congratulations, Mark!!! But what’s the favor?”
– Sung-guk, if it’s a boy this time, can I use your name?
Mark was making the same request he’d made the first time.
If my memory serves me right, Mark Zuckerberg ends up having three daughters in a row.
I smiled brightly.
“Mark, of course. I’m really hoping it’s a boy this time!”
– Sung-guk, I don’t mind whether it’s a boy or girl. But if it’s a boy, I wanted to make sure I had your permission first…
“When is the baby due?”
– Six weeks from now, so it’s still a while away.
“By the time the second one is born, I’ll probably be in the States too.”
– So your military service will be over by then?
“By then, probably….”
I gazed out the window.
“Mark, it doesn’t snow there, right?”
– It’s always like that here.
“It’s snowing heavily here right now. I’ll record a video and send it to my second brother.”
– Mi-mi was sick of seeing snow in North Korea, but now she says she misses it. Thanks, Sung-guk.
I hung up and captured the falling snow outside the window on video. Then I sent it to Mark.
For Min-guk.
And for my military service, which wasn’t far away now.
* * *
Thirty chickens.
And countless beer cans.
Adam scratched his head sheepishly.
“The chicken restaurant owner said business was done for the day, so I asked him to fry up all the rest… I didn’t realize it would be thirty pieces.”
“Adam, what will you do when you go back to the United States and miss Korean chicken?”
“That’s my biggest worry too, Sung-guk. I think I’ll miss Korean chicken and grilled pork belly the most… So Sam and I have even talked about opening a Korean-style chicken and grilled pork belly restaurant together.”
“Think about it after you retire.”
“Of course!”
Adam cheerfully tore into a chicken leg.
Just then, Jeon Tae-guk walked in carrying large bags in both hands, as if he’d completely emptied out all the beer from the convenience store on the first floor.
“Everyone’s running low on beer, right?”
“Yes!!!”
Jeon Tae-guk came over to me and handed me a beer can.
“Sung-guk, have one.”
“Brother, did you really clean out the convenience store?”
“How did you know? The owner thought business was ruined today, but he was actually thrilled—said it was a jackpot. I told him I’d be coming down for ramen later, so not to close up. You always want ramen after drinking, right?”
I shook my head with a smile.
We weren’t the only ones isolated by the snow.
The office was packed with not just Alpha employees, but E-Samjeon staff as well, eating chicken and drinking beer.
“Oh, Mark posted on FaceNote that he had his second child. He wrote that if it’s a boy, he’s going to challenge the ‘Sung-guk’ name again?”
“Yeah. He called earlier.”
“Mark got married, already has two kids… I’m jealous.”
“Brother, you should get married too. Doesn’t your family keep telling you to?”
Given Samjeon’s atmosphere, it was strange that they were leaving Jeon Tae-guk alone.
“I don’t know if the family gave up… But Sung-guk, for the first time in my life, work is actually fun.”
[A dog at a village school reciting poetry? Is he really doing this?]
I took a long sip of beer.
“This year we set up E-Samjeon, so next year I’m thinking of getting more aggressive with investments. And Lee Kyung-soo’s YouTube channel seems to be getting some traction.”
Lee Kyung-soo’s YouTube covered not just economic issues but also miscellaneous knowledge, making it easily accessible to the general public.
And surprisingly, Lee Kyung-soo had quite a gift for storytelling.
Jeon Tae-guk drained his beer in one long gulp.
“Sung-guk, remember the old days?”
“What do you mean?”
“When I first interviewed at FaceNote in the United States, I had zero followers on my FaceNote account.”
[Of course I remember.]
My profile picture was even just an ID photo.
“Now I have a ton of followers. Though not as many as you, of course.”
As the heir to Samjeon, Jeon Tae-guk’s FaceNote account was a source of fascination for ordinary people.
It offered a glimpse into the lives of the ultra-wealthy, and for Samjeon employees and job seekers, it was a direct window to communicate with the future heir of Samjeon.
“People seem to be more interested in my personal life than company matters. Who I meet, what I eat, what clothes I like, how I shop—things like that.”
“People are curious about how the wealthy live.”
“So here’s the thing….”
Jeon Tae-guk finished his beer and looked at me.
“Sung-guk, I’m thinking of starting a YouTube channel.”
“What?”
“How the wealthy live. What do you think? Don’t you think people would absolutely love it?”
“Sigh….”
I let out a heavy sigh and took a long drink of my beer. Then I looked at Jeon Tae-guk.
[A dog at a village school—still has a long way to go before becoming human.]
And I crushed the beer can in my hand.
Just then, the office door burst open and the Building Security Guard rushed in with a flushed face.
“Excuse me! Sorry to bother you, but could I ask for some help?”
“What’s the matter?”
“The snow has stopped, and they’re starting to clear the roads. A lot of people abandoned their cars and left, so the front of the building is a complete mess. A snow removal vehicle needs to get through, but those abandoned cars are blocking it. A few of us have been trying to push them aside, but we don’t have enough hands. I was wondering if you could help.”
“We’ll help you!”
The staff members stood up from their desks one by one.
I stood up as well.
“Brother, let’s go help too.”
“Should I have Park Secretary send some people?”
“Brother, traffic just cleared up. It’ll take longer for people to arrive.”
“You’re right….”
Jeon Tae-guk set down his beer can and stood up.
* * *
Abandoned vehicles lined the road in front of Pangyo Techno Valley.
Most were cars caught off guard by the sudden heavy snowfall.
The staff, Jeon Tae-guk, and I began pushing the vehicles blocking traffic toward the sides of the road.
With so many hands helping, the road was cleared quickly, and the snow removal vehicles began circulating.
And before long, the sky began to brighten.
Though we hadn’t worked overtime, the Alpha staff had pulled an all-nighter once again.
I gazed blankly up at the brightening sky for a moment.
It’s almost 2014 now.
And I’ll be turning twenty-three.
By this time next year, I’ll have finished my military service and be spending the end of the year in the United States, I imagine.

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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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