I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 64

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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 64
“Mom, I’m going to study at Jung-woo’s house after school.”
I said this to Mother while slinging my backpack over my shoulder.
“Sung-guk, if you keep going to Jung-woo’s house every day, his mother might start to dislike you. I should probably call her. Do you have Jung-woo’s Mother’s phone number?”
[There’s no one who dislikes me.]
In fact, Jung-woo’s Mother was thrilled because Jung-woo, who had always resisted private tutoring, now studied diligently and read books well whenever I was around.
Since nothing in this world was free, I taught Jung-woo arithmetic and spelling in return.
I quickly stuffed my brick-heavy laptop into my bag and bolted toward the entrance.
“I’m heading to school.”
“Sung-guk, make sure you bring that phone number.”
“Yes!”
I answered quickly and headed off to school.
Thanks to Jung-woo, school had become slightly less tedious.
Or rather, to be precise, school was still boring and the teachers still frustrating, but running around the playground with Jung-woo was exhilarating.
I realized anew what it meant to have a friend.
In my previous life, I’d enjoyed physical exercise, but this time around I’d had no such opportunity. During breaks, I burned off my excess energy with Jung-woo through boxing and running.
Then I’d head to Jung-woo’s spacious, cozy house and study on my laptop to fill in the gaps.
When Jung-woo had his English tutoring sessions, I enjoyed chatting with the instructor to pass the time.
Oliver, who came to tutor Jung-woo in English, had dropped out of an American university but boasted that he made more money in Korea than he ever did in America, since anyone who spoke English well could find work here.
Of course, Jung-woo just blinked whenever we had such conversations.
I never neglected to keep watch, always ready to report Oliver if he did anything strange or possessed drugs.
“Jung-woo seems to have a poor head for learning. His English isn’t improving.”
Oliver said this to me in English.
[Ungrateful wretch. How can someone be this stupid?]
I quickly took a sip of water and replied in English.
“Oliver, people learn English because they can’t speak it. If Jung-woo were already fluent, you’d have no reason to earn money from him. And another thing, Oliver.”
“Uh….”
Oliver looked slightly deflated.
“Oliver, do you speak Korean well?”
“Well… I’m an English instructor.”
“You’re an English instructor, but you live in Korea without being able to speak Korean, so you’re hardly in a position to mock us for learning English while living in Korea.”
I spoke sharply.
“I’m sorry….”
“Oliver, I’m a genius, so I speak English well. Jung-woo is an ordinary child. So from now on, don’t disrespect him and teach him properly. I’ll be watching. His mother pays you, and she trusts me very much.”
“Understood.”
Oliver glanced at me nervously and began teaching Jung-woo again.
Jung-woo was simply a bit slow, but he wasn’t unintelligent.
With Oliver’s renewed attention, Jung-woo also showed more interest in English today.
* * *
After Oliver left, Jung-woo’s Mother brought out all sorts of snacks.
It wasn’t as lavish as my days in the conglomerate, but for a middle-class household, this was certainly a splendid snack.
[Where should I start?]
As I leaned forward, Jung-woo grinned and handed me a piece of chocolate.
“Sung-guk. This. This is really delicious.”
What Jung-woo offered was chocolate sold only at Samjeon Hotel.
[What’s this about? This guy…]
I decided to test Jung-woo once.
“Jung-woo, can I really eat this?”
“Yeah. This is the most delicious one.”
“But there’s only one. You eat it.”
“No way. You’re my friend.”
My heart swelled.
[What is this guy…]
In that moment, my chest trembled.
I never thought I’d hear the word “friend” in this lifetime. The classmates I met at Samjeon Kindergarten had such clear hierarchies of interest from childhood.
The parents’ rank immediately determined the rank among friends. As someone born with a dirt spoon, I was at the very bottom of that pyramid.
I gripped the chocolate Jung-woo handed me tightly. Then I looked up at him.
“Jung-woo.”
“Yeah, Sung-guk.”
“From now on, don’t give your heart so freely just because you like someone.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever likes more always ends up losing.”
“Losing? What do you mean by that?”
“Hmm… losing means you lose more.”
Jung-woo smiled brightly at my words.
“That’s okay.”
“What’s okay about it?”
“Because I like you, I’m willing to lose more. I like it when you eat. I’ll have this instead.”
Jung-woo picked up a plain cracker.
I froze.
I had never imagined living a life where I would lose.
During my conglomerate days, I always struggled to live a life where I never lost.
It was the same with friends and women.
[Is this what friendship is…]
My chest swelled with emotion.
Jung-woo looked at me, then took the chocolate from his hand, unwrapped it, and pushed it into my mouth.
“Go ahead and eat.”
“…Okay.”
I swallowed the chocolate. It was delicious.
As I ate the chocolate, Jung-woo looked at me and smiled brightly.
[Jung-woo—this guy seems like someone I could keep around for the long haul.]
He was certainly on a different level from the kids I’d met at Samjeon Kindergarten.
Just then, the door opened and Jung-woo’s Mother poked her head in.
“Sung-guk, you’re staying for dinner, right?”
“Yes!”
I thrust my hand up eagerly.
“I’ve prepared something delicious.”
[Oh no, Mother told me to get her phone number….]
I quickly stood and walked over to Jung-woo’s Mother.
“My mother asked me to get your phone number so she could apologize and thank you every time.”
“My goodness, Sung-guk, you speak so clearly and precisely! I’m the one who should be grateful that you and Jung-woo play together.”
Jung-woo’s Mother stroked my head.
[Sigh, in this life, every adult I meet can’t resist patting my head.]
Already resigned to my fate, I let her.
Jung-woo’s Mother quickly wrote down her phone number and handed it to me.
“Give this to your mother. I’m so grateful that you’ve become Jung-woo’s friend. He’s introverted, so he’s never brought a friend home before.”
“Mom, stop! You’re embarrassing me.”
Jung-woo quickly nestled into his mother’s embrace and pouted affectionately.
“Sung-guk, come visit our house often. I’ll make you lots of delicious food.”
“Yes!”
I raised my right hand high.
* * *
I burst loudly through the classroom door.
My behavior was indistinguishable from that of any other eight-year-old boy.
But Jung-woo’s seat was empty.
Jung-woo always arrived before me and sat down early.
[That’s strange. Is he sick….]
Worry stirred in my chest.
The bell rang and the Homeroom Teacher entered, but Jung-woo still hadn’t arrived. I raised my hand and asked the teacher.
“Teacher, didn’t Jung-woo come to school?”
“Well… Jung-woo has suddenly transferred to another school.”
What was this situation?
I couldn’t comprehend it.
We’d said goodbye on Saturday and promised to see each other Monday….
There hadn’t been a single word about transferring until then.
The Homeroom Teacher came to my side and patted my shoulder.
“You were close with Jung-woo, weren’t you?”
“Yes….”
I answered weakly.
School without Jung-woo was hell.
The girls surrounded me again and asked me all sorts of questions, but I had no desire to answer any of them.
I kept my mouth shut throughout the entire class and said nothing.
The moment class ended, I slung my bag with the brick-sized notebook over my shoulder and rushed to Jung-woo’s House.
That’s when I saw a moving truck backing out of Jung-woo’s House.
It was definitely Jung-woo’s family.
Jung-woo’s furniture, Jung-woo’s appliances—everything being moved was from their home.
I lingered around the moving truck.
Then I saw Jung-woo coming down from the first floor, holding his mother’s hand.
Jung-woo’s Mother was wearing sunglasses that covered more than half her face. Usually, the Iron Lady wore sunglasses to hide cosmetic surgery or treatment marks on her face.
[Does Jung-woo’s Mother have something to hide too?]
Just then, Jung-woo spotted me and ran over.
“Sung-guk!”
“Jung-woo, why didn’t you come to school today?”
“Sung-guk, I’m transferring schools.”
“You didn’t say anything on Saturday either.”
“Well….”
Jung-woo’s Mother approached and patted my head.
“Sung-guk, it was decided so suddenly that Jung-woo didn’t have a chance to tell you.”
“Jung-woo, where are you moving to? Is it far?”
“Well….”
Jung-woo’s Mother seemed to find it difficult to speak.
That’s when Jung-woo’s Father emerged with an urgent expression.
Jung-woo’s Father ran a small trading company, as I’d heard.
“Jung-woo. Get in the car with your mother, quickly.”
“Jung-woo, I’m saying goodbye to my friend right now.”
Jung-woo’s Mother spoke in a sharp voice. Through the gaps in her sunglasses, I could see her eyes were swollen like those of someone who had cried hard.
“Jung-woo, say goodbye quickly. We don’t have time. If we delay, those men will come again.”
Jung-woo’s Mother patted Jung-woo’s shoulder with an expression of resignation.
“Jung-woo, let’s say goodbye quickly. You don’t want to see those men again, do you?”
“No.”
Jung-woo nodded and suddenly embraced me.
“Sung-guk, thank you for everything.”
“What are you talking about? I should be thanking you.”
I meant every word.
It was a short time, but he was the only friend I’d played with at school, and I’d studied comfortably at his house many times. But for this happiness to shatter like this….
Looking at the state of this household, it seemed like his father’s business had failed and they were fleeing.
Jung-woo’s Father just kept smoking cigarettes in the back, while Jung-woo’s Mother endlessly wiped away the tears flowing beneath her sunglasses.
[It must be even harder when you fall from comfort….]
I was worried about Jung-woo, my first friend in this life.
Jung-woo held out a notebook and pen with reddened eyes.
“Sung-guk, write down your home phone number. I’ll call you after we move.”
I quickly wrote down my home phone number and added something else.
“Jung-woo, if you forget the phone number, you know my father’s business name, right?”
“Yeah. Won Uncle’s Bossam.”
“Call there.”
“Okay, I got it, Sung-guk.”
Jung-woo’s Father, who had finished his cigarette, shouted.
“Let’s go.”
Jung-woo’s Mother urged him along as well.
“Jung-woo, let’s go.”
Jung-woo finally burst into tears, and I felt a little sad too.
“Sung-guk, goodbye. I’ll definitely call you.”
Jung-woo might never call again. Perhaps this was my first friend in this life, and also my last.
I quickly went over to Jung-woo and whispered in his ear.
“Jung-woo, if you ever want to rebuild your family’s fortune, contact me no matter what.”
Jung-woo looked at me with a bewildered expression, then nodded vigorously.
“Choi Jung-woo, Dad’s leaving!”
“Dad, let’s go together.”
Only then did Jung-woo get into the car.
Jung-woo’s Father’s car quickly left the apartment complex, and the moving truck followed behind it.
Jung-woo’s car disappeared from my sight.
And my first friend in this life disappeared.
* * *
Father, returning home from work, saw me lying listlessly on the bed and asked Mother with concern.
“Why does Sung-guk seem so down today?”
“You know Sung-guk’s friend? Jung-woo transferred schools today.”
“Suddenly?”
“Apparently, Jung-woo’s Father’s business went bad. Debt collectors came on Sunday and caused quite a commotion.”
“So they moved in an instant?”
“Yes. That’s why Sung-guk is so heartbroken.”
I heard the entire conversation with open eyes.
I never expected to have a friend in this life, let alone a peer my own age.
Everyone showed interest in me, but there was no friend I could truly enjoy being with.
Jung-woo was lacking and childish like other children his age, but playing together was still enjoyable. I played with toy cars and Lego to match his interests, and studying together at his house was nice too.
I tossed and turned on the bed.
On top of that, parting suddenly with the first friend I had opened my heart to made my heart even heavier.
“Min-guk, don’t come in.”
[I’m not in the mood to play with Min-guk today.]
I heard the sound of Min-guk opening the door and approaching footsteps.
Min-guk crawled onto the bed and hugged me tightly from behind.
“Brother, are you sad?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“My friend disappeared.”
“But you have Min-guk. Min-guk won’t disappear.”
[A lie. When you grow up and meet a woman, you’ll all leave my side too.]
In that moment, tears came pouring out.
“Sob. Sob. Sob.”
I buried my face in the pillow and began to cry.
Mother and Father came over and held me tight.
“Sung-guk, don’t cry.”
But the tears wouldn’t stop.
I wept even more bitterly.
“Waaah. Waaah.”
“Sung-guk, that’s right. Cry. Let it all out. You’re parting with your friend—of course you’re heartbroken.”
Father patted my back gently.
And so I bid farewell to my first friend in life.

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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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