I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 8

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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 8
While I hastily devoured my baby food, the Short-haired Woman gnawed on a chicken leg.
Mother picked at the dry breast meat beside her, conscious of the landlord’s presence.
The Short-haired Woman extended the remaining leg toward Mother.
“Please eat.”
“Sister, you eat it. I’m fine.”
“Stop torturing yourself with that bland, dry meat. Eat this instead. I’ve had plenty.”
“Thank you.”
Only then did Mother accept the leg.
I stared at the Short-haired Woman while slurping down my baby food straight from the bowl.
If only I had more teeth and better control of my tongue, I would have asked her directly right then and there. My frustration burned silently.
“But sister, why are you being so kind to us?”
[Mother’s more perceptive than I thought. That’s exactly what I wanted to ask!]
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and focused intently on their conversation.
“You remind me of myself.”
“How so, sister?”
“When I was in my early twenties, I had absolutely nothing. I graduated from a women’s commercial high school and got into the Accounting Department at my current company. Back then, there were plenty of graduates like me, but now they’ve all been laid off. I’m the only one left.”
So that’s why she remained a perpetual assistant manager.
Now that I thought about it, aside from Mother and Father, there wasn’t a single university graduate in this household.
Before my regression, studying abroad was as standard as attending university in my family.
I was fluent in English, French, and Japanese, and could hold everyday conversations in German and Chinese.
All my acquaintances and colleagues, while perhaps not quite at my level, had all studied abroad.
The only high school graduates I knew were idols indifferent to academic credentials or artists with exceptional talent.
“Sister, if you don’t mind, may I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“You’ve only worked at a job, but how did you manage to get this house? It’s truly remarkable.”
“Remarkable? I acquired it through an auction.”
“An auction?”
[An auction… I suppose it’s similar to acquiring a failed company…]
The Short-haired Woman continued in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Both my parents passed away early, and I have no siblings. So I thought I needed money at least, and I desperately saved every paycheck to bid at auctions. I started with a basement one-room apartment and worked my way up to here.”
“That’s truly amazing, sister! Could you teach me too? Sung-guk’s father works hard, and once Sung-guk grows up, I want to try various things myself.”
[Hmm, real estate, then.]
I scratched my chin with my short fingers.
Though I wasn’t born with a silver spoon, South Korea required mastery of only two things.
Real estate and stocks.
They were the only way for someone born into poverty to reach the level of a gold-spoon heir.
I perked up my ears.
I’d heard of auctions before, but I’d never needed to buy a house through one. I’d never needed to worry about such things.
But now I was born into a poor family, and if I was to restore our household’s fortunes, I needed to learn everything I could.
“Sung-guk’s family is about to have a second child soon anyway. You should save up quickly and get a house. I’ve heard things here and there, and you can’t underestimate baby models. In fact, if they succeed, there are plenty of opportunities to pursue—from print ads onward. There are baby models out there who earn monthly salaries equivalent to our department head’s annual salary.”
“Wow, that’s a whole new world.”
Mother marveled while holding a chicken leg in one hand.
My instincts had been right after all.
A monthly income of around 500,000 won.
Pennies saved are still just pennies.
I had to step up to lift this impoverished household out of its circumstances.
But why was I so drowsy?
My heavy head kept drooping toward the floor.
Mother quickly picked me up.
“Sung-guk, we need to wash up and sleep….”
[So sleepy. Can’t do anything.]
“Sung-guk, let’s just brush your teeth.”
[Don’t wanna brush. Don’t wanna.]
The Short-haired Woman laughed watching me.
“Sung-guk really seems to understand everything Mother and Father say.”
[Of course… I understand everything. I heard what you said too…. Short-haired… woman. Be careful….]
* * *
The Director called personally to say the commercial would air two weeks after filming.
It would be right before a weekend drama that was approaching nearly 50% viewership ratings.
Mother and I decided to go to Father’s restaurant on the weekend so we could watch the commercial together, since Father couldn’t take time off.
This was my first time visiting Father’s workplace.
Finally, I had the opportunity to see Father’s economic situation and circumstances at a glance.
Mother, holding her swollen belly and stopping to rest several times, came to a halt in front of a small restaurant in the Downtown Area near our home.
【Uncle Won’s Bossam】
[Sigh…. The name and….]
A sigh escaped involuntarily.
As Mother opened the door and stepped inside, the size of the restaurant became immediately apparent.
It was a small establishment with only eight tables. The Kitchen was at the very back.
Whether it was meant to evoke a traditional Korean house aesthetic, the ceiling had exposed wooden beams. Crude decorative items filled the shop.
[Sigh….]
I exhaled another sigh.
This restaurant seemed to have no future whatsoever.
A Middle-aged Man who was clearing a table greeted us.
“Sung-guk’s mother is here.”
“Restaurant Owner, how have you been?”
“Ah, so this is the blessed child Sung-guk.”
Father poked his head out from inside the Kitchen.
“So-young, you came?”
“Yes, honey.”
[Father!]
I raised my hand and waved.
This man was the head of the household responsible for my baby food and diapers—something along those lines.
“Sung-guk, Father will leave soon, so wait a moment. So-young, sit in the empty spot in front of the TV.”
“Okay.”
Mother sat down in the empty spot in front of the TV.
The Restaurant Owner, having dried his hands, hurried over and gently stroked my forehead.
“Jeon Sung-guk is always bragging about him. The real thing is a hundred times prettier than the photos.”
[Of course it is.]
As I grinned, the Restaurant Owner quickly got up and headed toward the refrigerator.
“Sung-guk can’t eat bossam yet, so I bought some bananas.”
“He already had his baby food. You didn’t need to go to that trouble.”
“Without Jeon Sung-guk, our restaurant wouldn’t run. He’s the one who suggested we transform from a tavern into a bossam specialty restaurant because our bossam was so delicious. That’s why business has finally picked up.”
I looked back at Father working in the kitchen.
Now that I thought about it, the restaurant’s interior didn’t look like a typical bossam place.
Traditional Korean-style decor with an antique feel. Crude paintings and trinkets scattered throughout.
It had the atmosphere of a tavern where poor commoners drank makgeolli in TV dramas.
The Restaurant Owner continued speaking with an excited tone.
“Even though customers said our bossam was delicious, I never thought to stake everything on just that. But Jeon Sung-guk strongly insisted we make bossam the main menu, keep only a few side dishes, and streamline everything else—saying it would increase profits and speed up table turnover. After we made the change, business has really taken off.”
The Restaurant Owner peeled a banana and handed it to me.
Mother quickly cut it into small pieces and fed it into my mouth.
“Sung-guk, eat slowly.”
[I can’t eat fast anyway with only two front teeth just coming in.]
I bit off pieces of banana with my two newly sprouted front teeth.
Customers streamed in one after another.
“Owner, go take care of them.”
“Then let’s watch together when the commercial starts.”
The Restaurant Owner quickly greeted the customers, and Mother and I waited for the commercial while watching TV.
A savory aroma drifted from the kitchen.
Sniff, sniff.
[That smells delicious.]
Drool unconsciously trickled from the corner of my mouth.
[Jeon Sung-guk, what’s wrong with you? How undignified.]
Suddenly, the banana seemed trivial.
Mother looked at me and picked me up.
“Sung-guk, don’t you like the banana?”
[Bossam!]
I pointed toward the kitchen with my finger.
“Huh? You want bossam?”
I nodded.
I nodded my heavy head with determination.
At the same time, Father emerged carrying a bowl heaped with perfectly cooked pork.
“Honey, Sung-guk is asking for some bossam.”
“Since Sung-guk just turned one, I thought tender lean meat would be fine, so I boiled some for him.”
[That’s my Father for you!]
I laughed brightly and clapped my palms together excitedly.
The Restaurant Owner beamed at me with a broad smile.
“He looks so much like his mother and father—such a handsome boy. Sung-guk, when you make it big later, you’ll be the model for our bossam restaurant, right?”
[I’ll have to pass on being a bossam restaurant model, Restaurant Owner. It doesn’t suit my dignity.]
“Of course, Restaurant Owner. I won’t even charge you then.”
[There’s no such thing as free in my life, Father.]
The Restaurant Owner quickly finished serving the other tables and seated Father in a chair.
“It’s my son’s first commercial—we have to watch it together.”
Just then, other customers who had overheard our conversation asked.
“Who did a commercial?”
“This little guy just filmed a Samjeon Electronics commercial. He’s the son of our restaurant manager. Isn’t he adorable?”
The Restaurant Owner quickly added an explanation.
“Then we’ll take our time and eat while watching the commercial.”
“Is that alright?”
“Just bring us some drinks instead. We need to make a toast.”
“I’ll treat all our customers to a bottle of soju on the house today!”
The bossam restaurant owner retrieved soju from the refrigerator and brought it to the tables.
Father quickly rolled up his sleeves and helped.
Then one customer called out.
“Don’t block the TV—you two sit down quickly!”
Father removed his hygiene cap and sat in front of Mother.
My commercial would air in five minutes.
“Restaurant Owner, come sit with us. We should watch it together.”
“Of course.”
The Restaurant Owner retrieved soju from the refrigerator and took his seat.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the television, brimming with anticipation.
“Watching it like this with you feels so good. Our Sung-guk will look beautiful on screen, won’t he?”
“I’m dying of curiosity. I couldn’t focus on work all day, I’m telling you.”
Slurp. Slurp.
I was already sucking on the tender, succulent bossam meat Father had boiled.
Even my palate, which had sampled the finest meat dishes prepared by South Korea’s greatest chefs, found this flavor quite exceptional.
[Father, I’m not exaggerating—you really do have a talent for cooking.]
“Why is our Sung-guk babbling so much while looking at Father?”
“Honey, the drama is starting. It should be coming up soon.”
Everyone’s gaze in the restaurant turned toward the television.
Mother and Father gripped my hand tightly, waiting for the commercial as if they were anticipating the World Cup finals.
I could feel both their hands growing damp with sweat.
Finally, Lim Sun-mi appeared on the television holding a laundry basket. The familiar scene unfolded, and then—my voice came through!
– Father?
A brief silence fell over the restaurant.
Father and Mother stared at me with tears of joy streaming down their faces as I sucked on the boiled pork.
[Getting emotional over something like this.]
I shrugged my shoulders.
The Restaurant Owner ruffled my hair enthusiastically.
“Oh my, how adorable! Our Sung-guk looks even prettier on television!”
[Annoying, but since he’s Father’s boss and therefore my boss too, I’ll smile a little.]
Giggle, giggle.
“You look even cuter when you smile. I think I need to replace my washing machine with that drum model too.”
“Your parents have such good looks that this kid will definitely turn heads when he grows up.”
“He’ll have plenty of girls chasing after him.”
The other customers in the restaurant chimed in as well.
“This is great luck. Can you wrap up some boiled pork for me? I need to bring it home for my son who’s studying.”
Orders started pouring in.
The Restaurant Owner quickly stood up.
“Ji-sung, I’ll watch the kitchen for a bit. Finish eating and come back.”
“No, it’s fine. I just wanted to say hello to Sung-guk and then I’ll head out.”
Father lifted me into his arms and patted my back.
“Our Sung-guk did so well. So well.”
[I’m Jeon Sung-guk.]
“I know, I know. You worked so hard. Father should buy you a gift. What would you like?”
[A gift?]
For someone who had just passed their first birthday, there wasn’t much I needed.
At most, just some baby food filled with abalone and beef.
Still, the prospect of receiving a gift excited me slightly.
Before my regression, the gifts given to me were like this.
Renting out an entire amusement park for my tenth birthday party.
A penthouse in Gangnam’s most expensive residential complex as a college entrance gift.
A credit card with unlimited spending.
Cars and watches were given so frequently that they hardly felt like gifts anymore.
So then, what gift could these poor Mother and Father give me?
Can I really look forward to this?

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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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