I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 51

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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 51
“Sung-guk, what did you just say?”
[Do I really have to repeat myself?]
I walked straight to the dining table and sat down, alternating my gaze between Mother’s and Father’s astonished faces.
“Father, Mother. I’m going to buy that commercial building.”
“Sung-guk….”
I couldn’t give them an opening.
While Father was still stunned, I pressed on immediately.
“Father, I have over 500 million won in my account. I’m planning to start investing with that money.”
“Investing?”
“Yes!”
“Sung-guk, you don’t seem to realize how dire things are in our country right now. Stock prices have hit rock bottom, and everyone’s dumping their properties. And you want to invest now?”
“Father. Crisis is opportunity.”
I clenched both my fists tightly.
Mother and Father would need to be reborn to understand what I was saying.
But truly, the IMF crisis was the last great upheaval in South Korea’s history—a time of both crisis and opportunity. An era of transformation where existing wealth and order collapsed, and new wealth and order emerged!
“Sung-guk, you can’t buy real estate.”
“Father, I can if I do it through a proxy.”
[Father, really… I’m Jeon Sung-guk. Did you think I wouldn’t have looked into something like this?]
The Samjeon Electronics stock account I’d received as an exclusive model for Samjeon Electronics was already registered in my name, so I could invest whenever I wanted.
I had waited and waited for this ominous time when everyone thought the bottom had been reached, yet whispers spread that there was still a basement below.
Real estate purchases by minors were possible through a proxy. Of course, I could have gifted 100 million won to Father. But financial transactions needed to be meticulous, even between parent and child.
This was an investment for my stable future.
Though Mother held a stake and worked at SKJ Entertainment, as Lim Sun-mi aged, advertising, film, and drama opportunities were dwindling. Song Hye-sun seemed to be preparing to transfer to another agency as stock prices rose. That meant SKJ’s income couldn’t be guaranteed going forward.
Moreover, Father’s Bossam Restaurant served ordinary people. To survive the household economic crisis where families cut dining out first, we needed to eliminate the structure of paying monthly rent.
“Sung-guk, I understand your intentions, but this is an adult matter.”
“Father, I’m turning eight soon. It’s time I joined in adult conversations.”
I answered firmly.
Mother quickly grasped my determination.
“Honey, since Sung-guk is buying it with his own money, why don’t we put the commercial building in Sung-guk’s name? Then you won’t feel guilty about it.”
“So-young… but still….”
“If you feel guilty, pay Sung-guk monthly rent.”
[I don’t need that pittance, Father.]
“What should we do…. So-young, let’s just buy the commercial building with our money.”
“Honey, Sung-guk starts elementary school next year and Min-guk is in kindergarten. Pouring all 100 million won into a commercial building seems a bit much.”
[That’s exactly why I’m buying it, Father!]
I stood up from my seat and went back to the laptop.
Mother and Father are good people, of course. But they’re just ordinary citizens. They’re living this well now only because they have a son like me. Without me, they’d probably still be happily living together in that small one-room apartment in Suyu.
I opened a file on the laptop and began writing out my plans for the future.
I was turning eight soon.
The IMF foreign exchange crisis deepens its grip.
I couldn’t simply stand idle during this critical moment just because I was young.
To Father and Mother.
Father and Mother, I am grateful for raising Jeon Sung-guk all these years.
Over the past seven years, I have studied South Korea’s economy extensively, and through child acting, I have ruthlessly accumulated 570 million won in my savings account.
The IMF foreign exchange crisis is a pivotal moment that will reshape the foundation of South Korea’s economy.
While everyone suffers, it may become an opportunity for the fortunate few who are unaffected.
I intend to take the 570 million won I’ve accumulated through child acting and invest in real estate and stocks.
Before that, in case I squander all this money, I plan to purchase Father’s Bossam Restaurant commercial space for 100 million won.
Even if I become destitute, Mother and Father must maintain stable livelihoods and continue raising me.
Mother and Father, please believe in me and support me.
Your eldest son, Jeon Sung-guk, respectfully submits this.
Written words seemed more effective than my still-clumsy speech.
I struggled to lift the heavy laptop.
[This blasted brick. Next time, I’m definitely buying Apple stock.]
I went to Mother and Father and showed them the screen.
“Mother, Father, this is it.”
Mother and Father stared at the laptop screen with serious expressions.
Of course, both wore bewildered faces. It was expected.
I crossed my arms and waited for one of them to speak first.
Father smiled faintly.
“Sung-guk, I understand your thinking, and Mother and I aren’t dismissing you. We saved your money so you could study whatever you want. So use it for your education, and I’ll handle the restaurant myself.”
“Honey, sometimes Sung-guk understands economics better than we do.”
“That’s true, but….”
Father nodded slightly.
“What if we buy the shop the way Sung-guk suggests? If we buy it without a loan, even if the economy gets worse, we’ll be able to endure much more easily. The real estate agent said he could go down to 90 million, so let’s do that. Just as Sung-guk said, maybe what’s a crisis for everyone could be an opportunity for us. The Commercial Building Owner is selling because of loan debt, so we’re not doing anything wrong either….”
[That’s my Mother!]
I gave a thumbs up.
Father was sincere about cooking, but Mother was far superior in business acumen.
She was also the one who quickly grasped my thoughts.
[Father, just focus on cooking. I’ll handle the rest.]
I patted Father’s back.
“This rascal Sung-guk seems to like the idea. Alright, So-young. Let’s secure the commercial space this opportunity and I’ll work harder at selling bossam.”
“Yes, honey. Tomorrow morning, let’s contact the real estate agent and ask them to adjust the price.”
“But Sung-guk.”
“Yes!”
“Do you really want to invest?”
“Yes!”
I nodded.
Mother and Father seemed troubled by this matter.
Of course, when I was the heir to Samjeon Group, I gave my son around 100 million won and told him to manage it freely. The results were disastrous, but actually moving money and witnessing the consequences firsthand—that was truly invaluable education.
As of 1997, I have 570 million won.
Now I’ll show you exactly how to multiply this money!
* * *
“Wow!”
Father held the commercial building purchase agreement and let out an exclamation of wonder.
Mother, Min-guk, Kim Mi-young, and I all came to the real estate office to witness Father signing the commercial building contract.
It was that significant a moment in our family’s history.
“Mr. Jeon, stop looking at the contract. You need to register the deed right away.”
“Manager Kim—or should I say, Representative Kim. I just can’t believe it.”
“I felt the same way when I signed my first real estate contract. Your family already owns an apartment, and this is your second property.”
“The apartment was thanks to Sung-guk… but this one, we really bought it with money that So-young and I earned through hard work.”
Father handed the contract to Mother.
“So-young, you’ve worked so hard.”
“Honey, this is just the beginning. We need to run the business even better from now on.”
“I know.”
Father scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.
“You never missed a month’s rent and ran the business well, so you’ll strike it big from here on. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. We got a great commercial space thanks to you.”
We exchanged greetings with the Commercial Building Owner who sold the property.
Meanwhile, I kept a firm grip on Min-guk’s hand as he rummaged around the real estate office, and whispered through gritted teeth.
“Min-guk, stay still. I’ll buy you some shrimp-flavored snacks later.”
“Really?”
“Have you ever seen me lie?”
“No. I’ll stay still. Hehe.”
[Such a simple kid.]
It wasn’t difficult to keep Min-guk quiet.
After the Commercial Building Owner left, Father and Mother continued their conversation while handling the deed registration at the real estate office.
“By the way, are there a lot of listings available these days?”
Kim Mi-young joined the conversation.
I immediately perked up my ears.
Kim Mi-young had worked at Samjeon Entertainment and already owned a one-room apartment building in her thirties. Now she had sold that building and was collecting rent from a 24-pyeong apartment in Jamsil and two apartment shopping complexes.
“There are insane amounts of listings these days.”
“Are there many urgent sales?”
“What kind of property are you looking for?”
“You know I own two apartment shopping complexes, right?”
“Of course. The one with the convenience store and the tteokbokki restaurant. Both bring in good monthly rent.”
“I’m looking at commercial building properties that I could buy with a loan while selling those two complexes.”
I mentally replayed the conditions Kim Mi-young had mentioned.
She was asking the real estate agent to look for a commercial building property she could purchase by selling those two complexes and taking out a loan.
In a market where prices plummeted day by day like this, the strategy was to liquidate one’s own listings at a discount while simultaneously pivoting to other discounted properties that had just come on the market.
[Indeed, there’s much about ordinary people’s economics that I don’t understand.]
During my time as heir to the Samjeon Group, I’d never engaged in such petty transactions involving commercial buildings or properties, so Kim Mi-young’s dealings proved quite fascinating.
“What kind of commercial building are you looking for? Loans aren’t easy to come by these days.”
“Something small would be fine. I think I could find a commercial building around the 500 million won range.”
[You can find a commercial building for 500 million won?]
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
My entire fortune: 570 million won. Plus 50 million won worth of Samjeon stock.
I planned to hold the Samjeon stock for at least the next decade.
I tugged at the Real Estate Agent’s sleeve.
“Oh, Sung-guk. What is it?”
“Sir.”
“Yes?”
“If any land comes up in Pangyo, please contact me.”
“What?”
The Real Estate Agent looked at me in surprise.
At the same time, Mother, Father, and Kim Mi-young all turned their attention to me.
“Ha ha. Sung-guk’s father. What is Sung-guk saying?”
“Well… Sung-guk actually understands economics better than we do.”
[That’s right. That’s right.]
“But Pangyo land, of all things…”
“Sir, please do contact me. Pangyo, specifically.”
The Real Estate Agent looked at Father with an awkward expression.
“Owner, please do that. If any land comes up in Pangyo, contact me through him.”
“Sure. I’ll reach out right away. By the way, Representative Kim, you’re talking about a commercial building around 500 million won, correct?”
“Yes. In exchange for selling my two commercial buildings.”
“Understood. There are many urgent sales coming up, so I’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you.”
I gave the Real Estate Agent a deep bow and left the real estate office.
* * *
The door opened and Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung entered.
Jason Lee, who had been sitting with his legs crossed, quickly uncrossed them and stood up from his seat.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung extended his hand first.
“It’s been a while.”
“Congratulations on becoming chairman. You’re handling major matters.”
Jeon Jae-hyung raised an eyebrow slightly.
Jason Lee was a college classmate of my younger brother Jeon Jae-jin who had parachuted into Samjeon Investment Securities. During the foreign exchange crisis, I’d kept him around because it seemed a waste to lose a connection who understood international affairs, but I’d never been fond of him.
Jason Lee, for his part, was well aware that Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung viewed him unfavorably.
“The reason I asked to see you today is this.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung got straight to the point the moment he sat down. That was his way—he never made small talk with people he disliked.
“Jason Lee. What do you think will happen to South Korea’s economy going forward?”
“South Korea will fade into history.”
Jason Lee spoke with calm certainty.

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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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