Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 45

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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45. Investor

Cha Seong-jun let out a hollow laugh.

“I brought in so many construction contracts from the Middle East, so how is the construction company’s financial state in this condition?”

The more he looked into Taeseong Construction’s account books, the more astounded he became.

“Just how were they running this company? Did Father just sit back and watch this mess?”

It was so absurd that Cha Seong-jun slammed the account book shut.

Instead, he picked up the telephone.

-Hello?

“Father, this is Seong-jun. I’m calling about Taeseong Construction’s available funds issue. Do you have a moment to talk?”

-Since that Yoon-seong fellow was in charge, I expected there would be losses. How serious is it for your voice to sound this grave?

“At this rate, even if we win the Subway Line 2 construction contract, we won’t be able to complete it.”

-What? It’s that bad?

“There’s another problem. The estimated construction cost for Subway Line 2 is about 180 billion won. Even if the government pays the full construction fee, we’re looking at losses.”

Chairman Cha’s sigh came through the telephone.

-Right, we’ll have to shoulder at least 30 billion won in losses. But the substitute land will be ours.

Substitute land refers to land that project implementers acquire and execute or sell to cover construction costs arising from urban development projects.

-We’ll have to sell that to cover the insufficient construction expenses.

But substitute land is paid for later.

Usually, land prices start skyrocketing after subway stations are built and buildings noticeably increase in the area.

So even if they sold the substitute land, it would be difficult to get the full value.

-Still, everyone will be rushing in with bloodshot eyes to win the Subway Line 2 construction contract.

“Yes, because they’ll make a fortune if they secure land near subway stations in advance and then sell it off.”

-The losses can be covered from there and then some.

“Father, I’m thinking of selling that information to secure construction funds.”

-Hmm. That won’t be easy.

“People have clearly witnessed land prices skyrocket in areas where Subway Line 1 stations were built. High-ranking officials in political circles would be interested in securing clean slush funds without consequences.”

-That’s something to discuss only after our Taeseong wins the Subway Line 2 construction contract. In subway construction bid evaluations, they also consider the construction company’s available funds as important.

“That’s exactly why this has become an urgent problem that needs immediate resolution.”

Cha Seong-jun forcibly swallowed a sigh.

“I think I’ll have no choice but to liquidate my personal assets and put them into Taeseong Construction.”

-How much could your personal assets possibly amount to?

“Did you forget? I traveled every corner of the nation building hotels and resorts, and constructing roads. Back then, I made quite a tidy profit by buying up surrounding land in advance and reselling it.”

-Even so, that’s nowhere near enough. Should I introduce you to some bank presidents?

“Father should use the banking sector. I know that to acquire Taeseong Chemical, even pulling all the funds from our affiliated companies and maxing out bank loans would be difficult.”

Chairman Cha let out a quiet sigh.

-What are you planning to do? Let’s say you dispose of your personal assets. Then what about the remaining money?

“I’ll probably have to borrow from private loans.”

Chairman Cha’s sigh flowed through the telephone.

In life, there’s nothing more frustrating and overwhelming than money problems.

That’s the same when running a large company.

-Oh right. President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction called earlier. He said he’ll deposit the balance payment into Taeseong Construction’s bank passbook by tomorrow, so hurry up and hand over the land deed.

“What?”

-The Suseo-dong apartment site. You sold that land to President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction, that terminal paranoid patient, and got a fair price for it.

It meant an unexpected large sum of money was coming into Taeseong Construction’s bank passbook.

-Well done. What exactly did you do? President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction isn’t such an easy pushover. This is the first time I’ve seen him in such a hurry.

“······.”

Father, I’m the one who wants to ask.

What exactly is going on here?

I’ve never sold anything called the Suseo-dong apartment site to President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction.

-Seong-jun, forget about borrowing from private loans. I’ll try to arrange the money.

“You will, Father? How do you plan to do that?”

-I can give up acquiring Taeseong Chemical.

* * *

After stopping by Taeseong Department Store and arriving at our house in Hannam-dong, evening had already come.

“I’m back.”

“Oh my, my precious brat!”

“Grandfather!”

“Yes, grandfather is here!”

Grandfather, who had been smoking a cigarette in the garden, came running over with a goofy grin and swept me up in his arms.

How many times did he spin me around in place with his hands under my armpits?

“Oh my, I’m too dizzy to do any more.”

“Hehehe.”

“You haven’t eaten dinner yet, have you? Your grandmother made a whole bunch of delicious side dishes. Go eat them quickly.”

“Thank you. Grandfather, you should eat with me too.”

“No. Grandfather has something to discuss with your father for a moment.”

I wondered what it was about, and it turned out to be the Taeseong Construction matter.

Grandfather went up to the second floor study.

I wanted to follow him up there too, but since Mother had caught me red-handed, I couldn’t escape.

I had no choice but to obediently sit down for dinner.

“Jeong-hyeok, where on earth were you playing all day today?”

“…I went to meet some neighborhood gang leaders.”

I couldn’t exactly say I had delivered invitations to the big shots of the former era.

“What did you do for fun? Was it interesting?”

“…I just watched some shell games.”

I couldn’t exactly say I had been gambling at a gambling house all this time.

“Kheuk!”

“Kheuk!”

Uncle Cheol-gu and Yoo Jong-tae, who were eating dinner with us, spat out their rice.

Now was the time to eat whatever was given, whether cold or hot rice, and make a quick escape!

I pretended not to notice and moved my chopsticks quickly.

‘Hey, Guardian Spirit!’

[Again?]

The Grim Reaper, who had been peeking at cards all day, looked up with an unusually dark-circled face.

[…Let me rest a bit too.]

‘You can rest after you’re dead.’

[Sob, Vision Sharing!]

* * *

The most noticeable thing in Father’s study was the mountain of documents piled up like a hill on the desk.

Father, who had been buried in his desk processing documents, looked up.

His face had become noticeably haggard from working all day without rest, staying up all night.

“Have you arrived?”

“How hard are you working that you didn’t even notice I came? Are you eating dinner while working?”

“I’m sorry. As you can see, there’s so much work piled up.”

“What do you have to be sorry for? I’m the one who should be sorry. You suffered because of your incompetent uncle.”

Grandfather gently patted Father’s shoulder.

“Even when you work, make sure to eat your meals. All this work is just to make a living anyway.”

“Yes.”

“Come sit here. Your mother made all sorts of things when she heard you were coming.”

Grandfather took out the seven-tier lunch box and placed it on the reception room table.

“At least take a bite to show appreciation for your mother’s sincerity.”

Only then did Father get up from his seat and head to the reception room sofa.

He offered the seat of honor to Grandfather and prepared tea himself.

“I’m sorry, Father. Having to give up Taeseong Chemical that you worked so hard to build because of me. I have no face to show you.”

“Enough. Hundreds of companies are created and disappear every year. Failing at business once is nothing in this field.”

Grandfather quietly looked down at the tea Father had served him.

“Companies can be rebuilt. But once you lose family, it’s hard to get them back.”

It was warm honey tea with steam rising from it.

“When I tried to arrange a solid marriage connection for you, I thought it would be good for my son. I was greedy, wanting you to have at least one more reliable support.”

Grandfather blew on the honey tea and sipped it.

“But even the governor of Pyongyang would be nothing if you don’t want it. What good is a solid in-law family if you don’t want it? I just need you to live well. Everything else is fine.”

“Thank you. I will definitely repay this loss someday.”

“That’s enough too. It’s tiring enough to calculate gains and losses just for company business. Let’s not live so coldly among our family.”

Grandfather smiled broadly.

“I went through the war, you know. Those were hard times. I lost all the foundation I had and came this far starting from nothing. Losing a few companies here is still profitable for me.”

“Father.”

“Whenever I was exhausted and struggling, it was my wife and children who lifted me up. Just looking at their peacefully sleeping faces made my fatigue disappear and gave me the strength to endure another day.”

Grandfather seemed lost in reminiscence, recalling those times.

“You’re also choosing to endure this hardship to protect your wife and children, so how could I not understand that feeling? I may not help others, but I must help you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Taeseong Chemical was prepared as your share from the beginning anyway. If you don’t want it, I have no regrets either. So don’t look so apologetic.”

Grandfather drained his honey water in one gulp, then set down the teacup.

“The money I invested wasn’t that much when you think about it. So let’s just consider it a good experience bought cheaply. Let’s stop clinging to the past and prepare for the future from now on.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Year-End Night. You’ll meet Woo-gwang there. I’m planning to make a grand declaration of war.”

“Declaration of war?”

“The marriage arrangement is already broken anyway. At this Year-End Night, I’ll introduce my daughter-in-law and grandson, and settle things cleanly with Woo-gwang. I have no intention of raising my precious grandson as an illegitimate child, a dirty bastard.”

Grandfather looked relieved.

“You should also show them proudly in front of everyone. Who the people you chose are, what Taeseong’s status is. I’ll give you strong support for this subway construction project.”

“Thank you.”

“You’ll need to attract people’s attention as spectacularly as possible. Unless you want to see your wife and children being pointed at.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Good. Let’s just show them the hope and possibilities that Taeseong Construction will create.”

“I’ll instill the confidence that Taeseong will definitely win this subway construction project.”

“Good. Originally, stocks are about investing in the future anyway. If it looks like things will work out, money and people naturally follow. People follow trends. We just need Taeseong to create the trend.”

Grandfather placed a piece of bulgogi on top of Father’s lunch box rice.

“After Year-End Night ends, let’s have a peaceful New Year’s morning meal together as a family. I need to introduce your wife and children to the family members. It would be sad if only the family didn’t know about them.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

Grandfather nodded his head.

“So don’t worry about other matters and just focus on preparing well for the subway construction. I’ll handle cornering Woo-gwang.”

The threatening notes to sway public opinion had already been distributed.

“The funding issue is the same. I’ll handle the private loans myself…”

That’s when it happened.

Ding dong! Ding dong ding dong!

Secretary Kim walked into the study without hesitation.

“Chairman, Young Master. I’ve brought the money.”

The Taeseong Group Security Guards set down the safe they had ripped out entirely and heavy travel bags.

Thud!

“About 3 billion won in cash.”

“3 billion?”

“All of it in cash?”

3 billion won – how many Gangnam apartments would that be?

It seemed they had gone around to the Houses listed on the promissory notes and thoroughly cleaned out their safes.

Secretary Kim said.

“An investor says they want to invest about 5 billion in Taeseong Construction.”

“An investor?”

Grandfather and Father both shot up from their seats simultaneously.

“Tell us exactly how this came about!”

“What are the investment conditions? Who is the investor?”

Secretary Kim smiled broadly.

“I’m sorry. The investor wants to keep quiet about it. But they said other investors can be confirmed on Year-End Night.”

“On Year-End Night? There are other investors too?”

“Yes. With such a big-handed investor appearing, Taeseong Construction’s funding shortage problem should be somewhat resolved.”

“Good! Then we need to make the event even bigger.”

Grandfather clenched both fists tightly.

“Secretary Kim, bring me the Korea Employers Federation phone directory!”

“Yes, understood.”

“The high-ranking government officials’ phone directory too!”

“Yes.”

“And to President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction…”

“The investor said they already got permission from the Hyeonmu Hotel Owner.”

“Really?”

Color returned to Grandfather’s expression.

“How wonderful! How can things go so smoothly like this? It’s as if heaven itself is helping us.”

* * *

I cut off the Vision Sharing with the Grim Reaper.

‘Investor.’

That single word Secretary Kim had chosen struck right into my heart.

‘Anonymous investor. A patron who can decide investment conditions. Someone with rights who can even exercise force if necessary.’

Not bad, right?

Being tied down and unable to move freely because of my seven-year-old age was so frustrating.

I had to use proxies for everything – even getting a single invitation or jumping into a gambling den.

-To avoid tarnishing Taeseong’s name.

-To keep my identity as a seven-year-old kid from standing out.

Getting help from Yoo Jong-tae or Uncle Cheol-gu was fine once or twice.

But I was getting annoyed thinking I couldn’t do this every single time.

‘What if I establish an investment company?’

I paced around the room for a long time.

As the night deepened, my thoughts grew deeper too.

And so it became Year-End Night.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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