Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 49

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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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49. President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction’s Goodwill

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction looked around at the people.

 

He caught sight of quite a number of people sending discontented glances, swept up in President Kim of Wookwang Construction’s agitation.

 

“Let’s recall the purpose of Year-End Night. Would His Excellency prefer to hear that a lot of donations were collected, or that someone caused a disturbance and got kicked out?”

 

The Year-End Night event was held by the Korea Employers Federation according to the Blue House’s wishes.

 

The purpose was to empty the pockets of the wealthy to help underprivileged neighbors during the year-end holidays.

 

If not for that, who would willingly open their own pockets and throw away real money?

 

“As you all know, we’ll record the list of donors and amounts to report upward. I’ll leave it to each person’s imagination what kind of reason I’ll write next to the name with 0 won in donations.”

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction glared at President Kim of Wookwang Construction.

 

“If you keep causing discord and making a commotion like this, I’ll have you forcibly ejected from this place. President Kim, this is a warning.”

 

The face of the Wookwang Construction president turned red and blue.

 

Master clicked his tongue.

 

“What bullshit, what bullshit. That insignificant thing is making such a disgusting fuss over something insignificant.”

 

Grandfather laughed heartily and gladly welcomed the investors.

 

“Come this way. If you gentlemen are willing to help Taeseong, we should naturally accept your investment with a welcoming heart. I’ll treat you to a generous drink with gratitude. Secretary Kim!”

 

“Yes, Chairman.”

 

“Take the investors and have them write up the Investment Agreement first.”

 

“Yes, understood. Then would you come this way?”

 

Secretary Kim escorted the four big shots.

 

Then people swarmed around Secretary Kim.

 

“I’m also thinking of investing a bit in Taeseong Construction.”

 

“How much do I need to invest to receive substitute land?”

 

“If I become a fellow investor, even if I can’t get substitute land, will you tell me where the Subway Station will be built?”

 

Secretary Kim looked back.

 

The presidents of Taeseong Group Subsidiaries tactfully rushed over immediately.

 

Attracting investment funds to Taeseong Construction was the most important top priority above all else.

 

“Come this way.”

 

“We at Taeseong always welcome investors.”

 

“I will do my best to prove through results that you won’t regret investing in Taeseong Construction.”

 

Grandfather burst into hearty laughter as he shook hands with high-ranking officials and politicians.

 

Father, who had been announced as the new president of Taeseong Construction, was equally busy.

 

He looked overwhelmed, surrounded by people and engaged in conversations.

 

The Wookwang Construction President, left standing alone in the hall, gritted his teeth.

 

“Hah…!”

 

Taeseong Construction had just solved their only weakness – the funding shortage problem.

 

He probably never expected that the huge hole he had created by manipulating the former Taeseong Construction president would be filled so easily.

 

As if struck by a sense of crisis, the Wookwang Construction President grimaced like someone who had just drunk a bowl of sewage.

 

“Damn it!”

 

The Wookwang Construction President left the hall, fuming with anger.

 

“Just you wait!”

 

Each step the Wookwang Construction President took was filled with obvious rage.

 

But no one paid him any attention.

 

Not a single person even bothered to say goodbye.

 

“Now it’ll finally be quiet.”

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction chuckled.

 

“How unfortunate. President Kim of Wookwang Construction’s donation: 0 won. I wonder what I should write as the reason.”

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction had warned him beforehand.

 

That he would record the donation amount next to each name along with the reason and submit it upstairs.

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction took out his notebook and scribbled roughly with his fountain pen.

 

【Caused a scene and snuck away in embarrassment.】

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction put his notebook and fountain pen back into his suit pocket with a satisfied expression.

 

“Clearly, the Year-End Night is supposed to be a charity bazaar and support association to help underprivileged neighbors, but instead of collecting bazaar donations, only investment funds for Taeseong Construction were collected in abundance. Quite impressive skills, I must say.”

 

The person President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction was focusing on was none other than our Father.

 

“Cha Seong-jun, was it. I heard he was chosen as the new president of Taeseong Construction. So the one who sent Yoo Jong-tae to me and handed over the Suseo-dong Apartment Site was the youngest of Taeseong Group.”

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction’s eyes were filled with goodwill.

 

“If it’s about Subway Line 2 construction, I think there’s something I can help with.”

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction stepped down from the platform and walked through the crowd.

 

* * *

 

‘Great!’

 

I clenched both fists tightly.

 

‘Mother and Child were successfully introduced at the official event, but everyone’s attention was focused not on us but on Taeseong Construction! On subway construction investment and development land!’

 

Rather than prying into other people’s family affairs, it’s human nature to get distracted by the immediate benefits that might fall to oneself.

 

I distributed invitations precisely for this moment and gathered the big shots of the previous era in this place.

 

‘It’s exactly as I pictured it!’

 

Rising excitement and satisfaction that filled my chest surged up.

 

This is why people called me Sillim-dong Ant Hell, and one of the two reasons was…

 

“Cha Jeong-hyeok.”

 

I looked up at Father’s call.

 

Father broke away from the people surrounding him and approached me.

 

It seemed he had brought it from the food court set up on one side of the hall, as colorful finger food was arranged on a large plate.

 

No way, he picked and brought only the foods I like.

 

“Are you hungry?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

I’m busy enough to die trying to get information that the Grim Reaper is flying over.

 

If I wanted to eat, I would have gone to a restaurant in the first place.

 

Is this the time to leisurely eat food when I’m in a place where such high-level information is being exchanged?

 

“Here. I’m not sure if it’ll suit your taste.”

 

“I’ll eat well. Thank you, Father.”

 

I reached out my hand to receive the large plate.

 

Father smiled broadly and took my hand, walking toward a corner of the hall where there were tables and chairs.

 

He placed the food plate on the table, put his hands under my armpits, and lifted me up to sit on the chair.

 

Father sat in the seat next to me and rested his chin on his hand.

 

“Are you perhaps scared?”

 

“No. I’m not scared at all.”

 

“Your legs must have hurt but you didn’t complain, you must have been hungry but you didn’t whine, people must have bumped into you in the crowd but you didn’t fuss.”

 

It’s not like I’ve only been to parties once or twice.

 

It’s not like dealing with people was my first or second time either.

 

There’s no need to make a fuss over something trivial······.

 

Father gently stroked my head.

 

“You endured it well and bravely. Good girl.”

 

It was a gentle and affectionate touch, like stroking a newborn puppy.

 

“If you’re tired, would you like to go to the room and lie down?”

 

“A room?”

 

“I booked a room here at the Hotel. It seems like Father will be running late.”

 

Father held out a Note with the Hotel Room Number written on it.

 

I took the Note.

 

Father had an apologetic expression on his face.

 

“It must feel unfamiliar since it’s your first time here. Are you bored?”

 

“I’m having fun and entertaining myself just fine, so don’t worry.”

 

It really was fun.

 

From profitable Stocks information to the secretive movements of political circles.

 

This place was literally a goldmine of high-quality information.

 

The ridiculous antics of distinguished gentlemen whose names alone were recognizable were also quite entertaining.

 

I smiled broadly.

 

“Go ahead quickly. The Uncles are waiting for Father.”

 

There were many people around Father who were desperate to have a conversation with him.

 

Where would he find the mental energy to spare for me too?

 

Still, thinking that Father was paying attention to me made my chest feel tingly and warm.

 

“Shall we go see something wonderful later?”

 

“Something wonderful?”

 

“I heard they’re having fireworks in the Hyeonmu Hotel Garden. It’ll be very pretty with all the colorful lights.”

 

Fireworks?

 

Did they originally do that kind of thing at the Year-End Night event?

 

“Jeong-hyeok, Father is asking just in case. The Suseo-dong land that Grandfather brought…”

 

I gently tugged at Father’s sleeve.

 

“Father, President Oh over there has been waiting for a while.”

 

“President Oh?”

 

When Father turned around, only then did President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction smile broadly.

 

“Sorry for interrupting the warm time between father and son?”

 

“It’s been a while, President Oh. I was actually about to ask when the fireworks would be, as I was curious.”

 

“That’s scheduled for 9 o’clock. Shall we talk for a moment?”

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction gave a subtle glance.

 

I pushed Father’s back.

 

“Go ahead. I’ll stay here and eat.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Father stood up from his seat.

 

He straightened his clothes and slipped through the crowd.

 

‘Hey, Guardian Spirit!’

 

[Yeah, I’m going.]

 

Swoooosh.

 

The Grim Reaper quickly followed behind Father.

 

* * *

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction crossed the Hall.

 

“I heard you’re going to take charge of the Subway Line 2 construction project?”

 

“Yes, that’s how it turned out.”

 

“Good. Then I’ll introduce you to someone.”

 

“An introduction? May I ask who it is?”

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction smiled slyly.

 

“Gu Jae-cheol, Mayor of Seoul City.”

 

Gu Jae-cheol was someone who would serve as Jeju Island Governor, Fisheries Administration Director, Gyeongbuk Governor, and Seoul Mayor before soon rising to become Minister of Interior.

 

He was the person who accelerated Gangnam development through relocating prestigious high schools from Gangbuk to Gangnam, building Seoul Express Bus Terminal, constructing Geumhwa Tunnel, and other projects, earning him the nickname ‘Outlaw of the Wilderness.’

 

Indeed, his greatest achievement could be said to be the Subway Line 2 construction.

 

“You know this too, right? The Seoul Mayor is the decision-maker for Subway Line 2 construction, the one who pays construction costs, and the person responsible for managing and supervising construction sites.”

 

Subway Line 2 is a national project promoted by Seoul City.

 

“How much do you know about Mayor Gu?”

 

“I know he’s an administrative official with an artillery officer background. I heard His Excellency values him highly.”

 

“That’s right. He could be called one of the closest associates who participated in the coup alongside His Excellency. Mayor Gu is showing tremendous interest in the Subway Line 2 construction in particular.”

 

“I heard he’s ambitiously pushing forward with Line 2 construction, saying it must succeed even more than the Subway Line 1 construction.”

 

“For reference, Mayor Gu is very displeased with the Subway Line 2 route plan that former Seoul Mayor Yang Taek-seok had established.”

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction whispered quietly.

 

“Former Mayor Yang designed Line 2 as a route that would start from Gimpo Airport, go through Mokdong, Yeouido, Gongdeok, pass through Euljiro, then turn toward Gangnam at Wangsimni and end at Yangjae-dong.”

 

“That way, it might serve the purpose of connecting Gangnam and Gangbuk following Gangnam development, but it would be difficult to achieve the original goal of passing through major Seoul commercial areas that Subway Line 1 couldn’t reach.”

 

“For exactly that reason, Mayor Gu completely overturned former Mayor Yang’s plan and scrapped it entirely.”

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction’s voice became even lower.

 

“Mayor Gu is advocating the three-core city theory that Seoul City should consist of three downtown areas: Inside Four Gates, Yeongdeungpo, and Gangnam.”

 

The moment I heard the term three-core city theory, something flashed through my mind.

 

‘Come to think of it, Mayor Gu Jae-cheol spontaneously changed the Subway Line 2 route! Into a circular line around Seoul’s downtown with a total length of 48.8km and 43 stations!’

 

Gu Jae-cheol’s anecdote is famous.

 

Perhaps because Gu Jae-cheol was from an artillery officer background, his map reading ability was said to be exceptional.

 

One day, he called only his closest associates – the Urban Planning Bureau Director, Urban Planning Department Chief, Subway Construction Headquarters Director – to the Mayor’s Office and forcibly carried out a top-secret route change plan.

 

In front of people watching, he spread out a Seoul City Map he had prepared in advance and drew out the Subway Line 2 route as if planning military operations.

 

While muttering things like it must pass in front of Guro Industrial Complex, and it must go by Hankook University, and so on.

 

‘It was a rushed plan accomplished in just 30 minutes, but when they actually began construction, surprisingly most of the subway route plan was realized without any major difficult construction.’

 

The only part that changed during construction from Mayor Gu’s plan was that the transfer station with Subway Line 1 became Sindorim Station instead of Yeongdeungpo Station.

 

This was because with the technology of that time, it was impossible to pass underground through an already built station.

 

“Just keep this for reference. When you meet Mayor Gu, it would be even better if you can use this information well. Or not.”

 

It was precious information that would be difficult to obtain even with money.

 

Father stopped walking and looked at President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction.

 

“Thank you for your kindness.”

 

It was a polite greeting.

 

President Oh of Hyeonmu Construction lightly patted Father’s shoulder and smiled.

 

“Weren’t you the one who extended your hand to me first? About the Suseo-dong Apartment Site.”

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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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