I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 507

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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 507
The night had grown late.
I couldn’t sleep, absorbed in analyzing the financial status of Don Julio, the tequila company.
When I checked the time, it was already past 2 a.m.
[Maybe I’ll grab a cup of coffee….]
I stretched languidly and quietly opened my door.
Just then, a low cough echoed from the darkness, and I heard Father calling out to me.
“Sung-guk?”
“Yeah, Father. Did I wake you?”
“No, I couldn’t sleep anyway. I was just tossing and turning.”
Father rose quietly and turned on the living room light.
Min-guk was asleep in the study, while Ji-hee and Mother were resting in the guest room.
“Father, I was thinking of having some coffee. What would you like?”
“I think I’ll have a beer. Sung-guk, won’t coffee keep you awake at this hour?”
“You’re right… I’ll have a beer too, then.”
I went to the refrigerator and pulled out two beers, handing one to Father.
Father grasped the cold can and smiled softly.
“When I was your age, I never imagined I’d be drinking beer with my son on American soil like this….”
Father’s future must have seemed bleak when he was in his twenties.
[Father, it’s all thanks to having such a capable son.]
I shrugged with a slight smile.
Father took a sip of his beer and looked at me seriously.
“Sung-guk, do you work this late every night?”
“Not every night… Today I just had some research I needed to look into.”
“Ji-hee calls your mother sometimes and mentions it. She says you only think about work….”
To survive in this ruthless Silicon Valley, work was all that mattered. But Father couldn’t possibly understand that reality.
“Ji-hee’s still young. She doesn’t understand yet.”
“That’s true. Ji-hee is still young. Min-guk at least started as a trainee and has plenty of social experience, but Ji-hee honestly hasn’t struggled like you two. She’s coasted on her intelligence alone.”
[Exactly what I’ve been saying!]
Father truly understood Ji-hee well.
“Still, don’t be too hard on her. Ji-hee thinks about you a lot. She keeps calling your mother, nagging her to tell you to stop working so much and take better care of your health.”
Ji-hee?
That was somewhat unexpected.
I took a sip of my beer.
“Sung-guk, everyone worries about you. I do. Your mother does. Min-guk and Ji-hee do too….”
“Father, don’t worry too much. I eat well and exercise regularly.”
“But seeing you since coming to America, you seem to work far too much. You worked all evening after dinner today, didn’t you?”
“Father, for most people, work is just labor. But for me, it’s different.”
Father’s eyes widened.
“Then what is it?”
“When work becomes the driving force of life, when I have a goal, I feel more alive.”
Father smiled bitterly.
“I felt the same way when I worked at the Bossam Restaurant. Back when you were little, before you started school, I worked so hard because I wanted to move to a bigger home for our Sung-guk. It felt like truly living….”
“I guess I take after you, Father.”
At those words, Father’s expression softened into a warm smile.
“Sung-guk, once you achieve a certain level of success, it’s important to look around at what you’ve gained. I watched you and your brother grow up quite a bit… but looking back now, I wish I’d spent more time with you both. I think about that often. Especially with you….”
“Father, I was abroad studying, so that’s why.”
“I know. But… that time in life only comes once. Sung-guk, you won’t always be in your twenties. I just hope you understand that and don’t devote yourself entirely to work. I wish you’d meet people and enjoy life, like other people your age do.”
Father took another sip of beer and yawned, looking drowsy.
“I’ve talked too much. Sung-guk, I’m going to bed.”
“Okay….”
I turned off the lights in the Living Room and went to my room.
Father was right—your twenties only come once.
Time that has passed never returns.
[Don’t worry, Father. I had plenty of fun in my previous life, so it’s fine.]
I quickly opened my laptop again.
And I sent a message to Daniel.
– Daniel, book a flight to Mexico City for next week as soon as you see this message.
* * *
At the Airport, Mother’s eyes grew red.
“Sung-guk, take care of yourself… you know that, right?”
Mother and Father still worried about my health.
“Hyung, can you give me some spending money? I want to buy some perfume at the duty-free shop.”
Min-guk, as always, was only thinking about how to get money out of me.
I shook my head and answered firmly.
“Min-guk, you earn a decent amount yourself. Buy it with your own money.”
“Really… there’s no opening. No opening at all….”
Min-guk grumbled.
“Min-guk, stop bothering your brother.”
“When did I ever bother him…. Ugh….”
Mother scolded Min-guk a little and patted my back.
“Sung-guk, don’t worry about us. Go ahead and check in.”
“Okay. I’ll call when I arrive.”
“Yes, do that….”
Mother, Father, and Min-guk went through the Airport gate.
I took a moment to catch my breath and checked the time.
My parents’ flight departs in two hours, and mine departs in four hours.
I saw Daniel running toward me from a distance, breathless. He was carrying two suitcases.
“Sir, here are your suitcases. You’re heading straight to Mexico City, correct?”
“Hmm… we can’t run into my parents, so let’s have some coffee here and head in about two hours.”
“Yes, sir. But why did you hide the trip to Mexico City? You’re going for work anyway.”
“My parents think I work too much.”
“That’s actually true, though.”
Daniel wiped the sweat from his forehead as he answered.
“Even if it’s true, I’m worried they’ll disapprove if I tell them I’m expanding the business again.”
“Should I call this filial piety…?”
“That’s my style of filial piety.”
* * *
The moment we landed in Mexico City, Daniel and I headed straight for the hotel.
“Sir, this is my first time in South America. I’ve heard that you absolutely shouldn’t drink water without a lid here.”
Daniel scanned his surroundings nervously from inside the taxi heading to the hotel.
Just as South Koreans harbored baseless rumors about travel to China and India, Americans held similar unfounded fears about South America.
“Sir, I think the taxi driver might overcharge us.”
By the time we arrived at the hotel, Daniel was consumed by yet another anxiety.
“Daniel, if the difference isn’t significant, just let it go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Daniel stared at the taxi driver with palpable tension.
As we stopped in front of the hotel, the driver laughed and replied in broken English.
“I won’t overcharge you, so please stop glaring at me like that.”
Both Daniel and I were startled, and true to his word, the driver didn’t overcharge us.
Instead, I handed him a generous tip, and the taxi driver beamed with a warm smile.
“Welcome to Mexico. Have a wonderful trip.”
The taxi driver replied in brief English and dropped us off in front of the hotel.
Daniel wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
“Sir, that was fortunate. We met a good driver.”
“Daniel, from now on, don’t worry so much. The hotel we’re staying at is the finest in Mexico City. Just relax and enjoy yourself.”
“Yes, sir.”
* * *
Daniel finally caught his breath once we entered the hotel.
“Sir, please rest today. Your appointment with the Don Julio Tequila representative is tomorrow at noon in this hotel’s French Restaurant.”
“You’ve worked hard too, Daniel. But Daniel, would you like to go out and eat dinner instead of staying in?”
“Sir… why would you put yourself through such trouble?”
Daniel’s face was etched with concern.
“I think I need to understand Mexico at least somewhat so I can communicate properly with the Don Julio Tequila representative. I don’t want to appear ignorant about Mexico. Should we find a local guide?”
To ease Daniel’s anxiety, it seemed we would indeed need to hire a local guide.
“Sir… I think that would be a good idea. Let me check with the hotel first.”
Daniel headed toward the hotel concierge, his mind burdened with worries.
[Mexico….]
In my previous life, I had visited Mexico frequently due to Samjeon’s local factories.
The stays were never long, and due to the local security situation, I had mostly confined myself to the hotel and the local factories.
But this time, I wanted to explore the area more freely.
Daniel soon came running over.
“The hotel has introduced us to a guide from a trustworthy local company. Sir, we’ve arranged to meet at the lobby at five o’clock.”
“Daniel, why don’t you join us for dinner?”
“Ah, yes….”
But Daniel’s expression wasn’t bright.
“Daniel, don’t worry too much since we’ll have a local guide.”
“Sir, no matter how good the local guide is, you absolutely cannot let your guard down. This is Mexico City, after all.”
I smiled wryly instead of answering.
Daniel’s excessive caution wasn’t entirely a bad thing in an unfamiliar travel destination.
* * *
“Hello, I’m Diego Bella.”
Diego Bella was a tall young man with a handsome face.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard you were Jeon Sung-guk, but I’m really a fan. By the way, we’re the same age. I was born in ’91.”
Diego Bella spoke in English, enunciating each word clearly.
Living my second life, whenever I saw young people my age, they all seemed much younger than me, but to them, I must have appeared to be a peer.
“Diego, it’s nice to meet you. You’re a student?”
“Yes, I’m studying business administration in graduate school. I want to get a job at an American company, but it’s not easy.”
“Daniel and I are visiting Mexico for the first time. Tomorrow I’m meeting with the CEO of Don Julio Tequila, but I haven’t really drunk much tequila before. Could you show us around tonight?”
“Of course. Just follow me.”
Daniel quickly grabbed me as I started following Diego.
“Sir, it’s fine to drink tequila, but you absolutely cannot overdo it. You could end up in serious trouble. There are even rumors that someone went into a bar in Mexico City, got drunk, and woke up missing an organ.”
“Let’s just have a light dinner first, then buy some tequila and drink it in the hotel room.”
“Sounds good!”
Daniel nodded vigorously.
* * *
After sampling a famous taco restaurant, we went to a liquor store and bought several bottles of tequila on Diego’s recommendation.
“Don Julio is known for good quality and is among the most expensive tequilas. Most ordinary people drink lower-grade tequilas rather than Don Julio.”
Diego, true to his Mexican heritage, selected various types of tequila for us. That alone came to over ten bottles.
“Diego, if you’re free this evening, would you like to come to the hotel and drink tequila with us? Daniel and I don’t know much about tequila. It would be great to have a local show us. Of course, I’ll pay you for your time as a guide.”
“No, sir. It’s an honor just to have drinks with you.”
Diego waved his hand dismissively.
“Diego, let’s head to the hotel. My secretary has been on edge since earlier.”
As the sun set, Daniel had been scanning everyone around us with suspicious eyes.
“Mexico City nights can be dangerous, but this area isn’t so risky, so don’t worry. Still, I’ll grab a taxi for us so we can leave right away.”
Diego went ahead and hailed a taxi, and Daniel and I followed.
* * *
Over ten varieties of tequila were lined up in the hotel room.
Diego picked up a bottle of Don Julio tequila and held it out to me.
“Don Julio is a source of pride for Mexicans. But, sir, I’m curious as a business student—why are you meeting with the Don Julio CEO? Is it a collaboration with FaceNote?”
“I’m planning to acquire Don Julio tequila.”
At that moment, Diego’s face went pale. His voice grew heated.
“Sir, please reconsider that. Don Julio is more than just a drink to Mexican people—it’s a matter of national pride. The Mexican people will never forgive it falling into foreign hands.”

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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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