Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 7
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
07. This is Service (2)
In the past, I never even glanced at lottery tickets. I had never bought one either.
My life had been too harsh to live believing in heaven-sent luck.
‘Huh?’
Compared to what I had bought, it was quite faint, but there was definitely another lottery ticket with a golden shimmer.
“I’ll buy one more. That one!”
And so I bought two housing lottery tickets with golden light swirling around them.
“Jeong-hyeok!”
Mother came hurrying after me in a fluster.
I stuffed the lottery tickets into my pocket and bought a bag of chocolate from the street vendor stall next door.
“Jeong-hyeok, you really scared Mother. Suddenly getting out of the car… mmph?”
I popped a piece of chocolate into Mother’s mouth.
Mother ended up eating the chocolate without realizing it.
Her scolding disappeared and a sweet fragrance wafted through the air.
“I was so, so hungry.”
Mother’s expression softened at such a childlike answer.
Mother patted my head.
“Good job.”
“Mother, you’re hungry too, right?”
I put another piece of chocolate into Mother’s mouth.
Mother smiled brightly.
When we mother and son returned to the jeep hand in hand like that,
“Hey, kid. Why did you suddenly… gulp!”
I shoved a handful of chocolate into Uncle Cheol-gu’s mouth as he was preparing to unleash a scolding bombardment.
Uncle had to grimace and chew reluctantly.
As if someone who drinks black coffee would like the sweetness of chocolate.
“Uncle, this is a bonus.”
If you receive something, it’s only right that you should give something back in return.
“This is service.”
I whispered quietly in Uncle Cheol-gu’s ear and slipped a housing lottery ticket into his pocket.
It was a lottery ticket with a plain gold border, clearly different from mine that was brilliantly shining with golden light.
“Use it for pocket money.”
“Well, I’ll be?”
Uncle Cheol-gu checked the housing lottery ticket and laughed in amazement.
He must have realized that my real purpose wasn’t the chocolate.
“You cunning little rascal, really…!”
But this time Uncle Cheol-gu couldn’t stretch my cheeks.
I had already loaded my mouth full of chocolate and finished preparing for battle.
What would happen if I fired saliva-covered chocolate continuously inside an expensive jeep?
Go ahead and try if you dare!
No one would be able to stop me!
* * *
On the way home, I thought carefully.
‘It must be because land prices near Guro Station are skyrocketing due to the successful development of Subway Line 1, so they decided on forced eviction, right?’
Guro Station began operating as a regular station with the opening of the Seoul Metropolitan Area subway in 1974.
Since then, it grew rapidly with the city and established itself as a major transfer station for the Seoul Metropolitan Area rapid transit, serving as the junction of the Gyeongbu Line and Gyeongin Line.
It became a transportation hub significant enough to house the Guro Vehicle Depot.
Moreover, due to the abundance of industrial complexes, shanty houses for factory workers sprang up like mushrooms after rain.
‘Besides, the Asian Games will soon be held in Korea. The government is currently working frantically to beautify the urban landscape.’
When the U.S. President visited Korea in 1966, the slums of Namsan were caught on TV screens.
Government officials began urban landscape beautification, saying it was embarrassing to show foreigners.
Urban redevelopment in Seoul began in earnest, and they accelerated the demolition of unauthorized slums.
‘On top of that, with the Gangnam development and apartment sales boom exploding in the 1970s, Wookwang Construction stepped in. Building and selling apartments here would be profitable.’
The military government promoted urban development projects centered on Gangnam development in the 1970s.
To induce population migration, they moved major government agencies including the Supreme Court and Prosecutor’s Office to Gangnam.
They also promoted the relocation of prestigious high schools called Gangnam District 8.
Thus, Gangnam development was successful.
Apartments sold as fast as they were built, to the extent that new terms like Apartment Lady and premium were coined.
People witnessed the phenomenon of skyrocketing apartment prices and land values, and construction companies turned their eyes to places they could redevelop with little money – namely slums and poor neighborhoods.
‘When that happens, people from the slums will be driven out onto the streets.’
In the 1970s, 32% of Seoul’s housing consisted of shanty houses.
‘With such meager compensation, there’s nowhere to go. Look how much housing prices have risen these days.’
With the success of Gangnam development, a real estate frenzy began to sweep across all of Seoul.
Jamsil land that cost 400 won per pyeong in the 1970s would approach 400,000 won in the late 1980s.
In just over ten years, it would jump by an incredible 1,000 times.
‘People who were forcibly evicted in the 70s and 80s had their temporary shanty houses demolished too, so they actually dug tunnels and lived underground.’
I glanced down at my pocket.
The housing lottery ticket I bought earlier was still emitting a golden glow.
“We’re here. Let’s get out.”
We had arrived in front of our home.
Quite a few people, young children and elderly alike, were gathered closely together in the landlady’s front yard.
There was only one reason for gathering like this on a Sunday afternoon.
The richest person in our neighborhood, Landlady Grandmother, had a black and white television at her house.
‘They came to watch the housing lottery drawing.’
A slum where forced eviction would soon proceed.
For people with nowhere to go and no money, their only hope was the luck of housing lottery tickets.
The first prize was a whopping 10 million won!
A fortune that could buy a newly built apartment in Gangnam.
“Oh my, Jeong-hyeok’s Mother!”
Seeing us get out of the car, the neighborhood people welcomed us.
“I heard you almost had a big accident yesterday? Are you feeling better?”
“I heard about it. They said you were taken to the hospital because of coal briquette gas?”
“Many people suffer from coal briquette gas aftereffects. Go inside quickly and lie down. We’ll watch Jeong-hyeok for you.”
Mother smiled brightly and expressed her gratitude.
“It’s okay. Thanks to your concern, I’m fine. I’m really grateful for your help with everything yesterday.”
Everyone chimed in noisily with their own comments.
“I heard Jeong-hyeok ran around barefoot saying he’d save his mother?”
“You survived thanks to your son. I don’t know how he’s so reliable.”
“I’m so glad you came back healthy.”
“Come on, everyone applaud to celebrate Jeong-hyeok’s Mother’s safe return!”
The Neighborhood People all clapped in unison.
We smiled awkwardly and kept bowing repeatedly.
And so we were able to return to Our House’s Single Room amid all the commotion.
“Jeong-hyeok, just sit and wait for a moment. Mother will prepare a meal right away.”
My heart was pounding.
Mother’s home cooking after a whole 45 years!
Mother’s cooking that had become so old the memories were even hazy…
“Ugh!”
I had remembered it through the lens of my childish complaints about side dishes.
But I can say this for certain.
My memories had definitely been romanticized over the years.
“Mother, Water!”
Salty! Spicy! Bland! Tasteless! Greasy! Fishy!
What kind of side dishes each assert their own character so uniquely?
What on earth did you do to this food!
“Wow, our son is eating well today. He must have been really hungry.”
Please don’t smile so proudly!
I’ve only forced myself to eat three spoonfuls of rice.
Ah, life…
Crunch crunch. Slurp.
Right, what’s the big deal about filial piety.
When our Mother smiles, that’s what filial piety is.
This isn’t chemical warfare training, so why are tears coming out while I’m eating?
Clatter. Clatter.
I scraped the rice grains stuck to my Rice Bowl with my Spoon and asked.
“Mother, about our Father.”
Mother put down her Chopsticks and Spoon.
She studied my expression for a long while, her face completely stiff.
But I deliberately pretended not to notice.
“You know what? Yesterday Mother was rushed to the Hospital, and you almost died, so why didn’t you contact Father?”
“Cha Jeong-hyeok, Father is…”
The silence is dragging on again.
“Did Father abandon us?”
“It’s not like that.”
Mother gulped down Water in one go and spoke with a sigh.
“Father went to the Middle East to earn a lot of money. He can’t come back because he’s busy laying roads and building structures there.”
Dispatching overseas construction workers due to the Middle East construction boom was something that flourished greatly in the 80s.
Daeun Construction was famous for rising to the ranks of chaebols through overseas construction contracts.
But right now, it’s still a bit early for the Middle East construction boom to be in full swing.
‘She doesn’t want to tell me properly.’
What Chaebol Heir would be laying roads and building structures in the Middle East right now?
If that’s not it… Hmm. There is something I can guess.
“Mother, what’s our Father’s name?”
Before Mother could answer, noisy sounds came from outside.
Kids shouted loudly in the Landlady’s Front Yard.
“Now it’s number 1!”
“Group 1!”
The group selection was finished.
“Get ready~ and shoot!”
The next six digits were determined through Dart Throwing.
“2!”
The kids shouted along in loud voices.
Since the screen was too small for people sitting in the back to see the numbers.
The kids sitting in front were shouting them out loudly.
“4!”
“9!”
Wait!
I pulled out the Housing Lottery Ticket from my pocket.
‘Group 1, 2, 4, 9······.’
Outside, the children continued calling out the remaining numbers.
“Gasp!”
The more they called out, the more my hands trembled.
Something that had never happened once in my entire life was happening.
“Jeong-hyeok?”
How serious must my expression have been for Mother, who had been hanging her head with a grave look, to approach me with curiosity.
Mother also looked down at the Housing Lottery Ticket trembling in my hands.
Soon, Mother made the exact same sound as me.
“Gasp!”
Mother’s and my eyes met in midair.
Her pupils were shaking as if there had been an earthquake.
“F-first place······!”
Prize money: 10 million won!
It was the price of one apartment in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
