Max-Level Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 72

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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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72. An Extraordinary Choice

 

President Shim of Taeseong Chemical said.

 

“My second duty is… I’m sorry, but for security reasons, I ask for your understanding that I cannot reveal it here.”

 

Well, President Shim not only made a pinky promise with me about maintaining secrecy, but also finished signing and sealing a written agreement.

 

“Because it’s about laying the groundwork for a grand plan for Taeseong’s other future.”

 

He’ll just be handling the preliminary work for acquiring Yukong.

 

Taeseong doesn’t have an oil refinery company.

 

“What I can confidently say is that it’s a much bigger and grander plan than reclaiming Taeseong Chemical.”

 

Since we’ll probably need to borrow loans from Saudi Arabia.

 

“The only thing I can say is that it’s a matter that will have ripple effects throughout this country’s finance and industry. That’s all.”

 

I guess he’s saying this because I’m planning to money launder with Geomul Bank and devour it all.

 

Why is he making it sound so grandiose?

 

But the more the subsidiary executives heard President Shim’s grandiose words, the more curious they became, almost going crazy.

 

“So what exactly is this work?”

 

“What is this thing that will change Taeseong’s future and transform this country’s finance and industry?”

 

“If it’s bigger than the 30 billion won Taeseong Chemical, how many billions worth of business is it?”

 

But shamelessly, President Shim consistently played dumb.

 

“I said it’s classified for security reasons. You’ll know the results when you see them.”

 

President Shim bowed politely.

 

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for Taeseong’s future. I’m overwhelmed that such an esteemed person would trust and employ me greatly. I will do my best not to disappoint you.”

 

No, he’s just a figurehead president of an investment company.

 

A tiny company with only me, President Shim, Yoo Jong-tae, and Taeseong Group Security Guards as available personnel.

 

But the more President Shim spoke, the bigger the ripple effects grew.

 

Everyone was dying of curiosity about which subsidiary President Shim would work for and what he would do.

 

The same was true for Taeseong’s direct family members.

 

‘He’s a clever person. He’s shutting their mouths by firmly stating he’s been assigned important work, so Taeseong’s direct family won’t bother him with recruitment wars.’

 

I like it.

 

Moreover, President Shim’s behavior has another advantage.

 

Whatever happens,

 

-I already told you. Taeseong’s future, grand strategic planning, confidential for security reasons. Please understand.

 

By saying this, he can dodge any question like a magic sword.

 

So Father and Grandfather can’t help but show their bewildered expressions.

 

“Chairman, Young Master. I will take responsibility for this matter and definitely complete it. Please wait until then.”

 

With those words, President Shim sat back down in his seat.

 

So Grandfather had no choice but to burst into hearty laughter.

 

He couldn’t very well demand to know what on earth President Shim was talking about in this setting.

 

“Good. How could I not know President Shim’s heart for Taeseong? I’ll trust and wait.”

 

He’s thinking he can ask about it later!

 

President Shim of Taeseong Chemical began eating his Rice Cake Soup again.

 

But the bomb-like topic President Shim had dropped stirred up Taeseong’s Subsidiary Executives.

 

Everyone put their Rice Cake Soup aside and was busy discussing the topic President Shim had thrown out.

 

“Just how does he plan to reclaim Taeseong Chemical?”

 

“What could this grand plan that President Shim is preparing be? Don’t you have any guesses?”

 

“We’ll have to watch his future moves closely. To think it’s something requiring such security that the Chairman approved it and even Young Master Seong-jun is keeping quiet about it.”

 

There was much whispering.

 

Ironically, the only ones eating their Rice Cake Soup peacefully and diligently were the Taeseong Chemical executives and President Shim.

 

They already had words like ‘Middle East foreign currency earning!’ and ‘triumphant return!’ or ‘promotion instead of demotion!’ embedded in their minds.

 

‘Great! I succeeded in diverting the attacks that would have been directed at my Parents because of Taeseong Chemical elsewhere.’

 

Secretary Kim and President Shim sent meaningful glances my way, but I decided to pretend not to notice.

 

“Wow, this Rice Cake Soup is incredibly delicious.”

 

If I could age one year with each bowl of Rice Cake Soup, I feel like I could devour ten bowls, no, twenty bowls right now.

 

I’m only eight years old now.

 

The road ahead is long and there’s much to do.

 

‘First Taeseong Chemical. Then Yukong.’

 

If I take one step at a time, I’ll be able to reach where I want to go.

 

After all, even a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.

 

* * *

 

‘The scale of chaebol families!’

 

Grandfather lined up his grandsons and granddaughters and bestowed New Year’s money upon them.

 

This was an amount that deserved the word “bestowed.”

 

‘What? A million won each as New Year’s money for kids?’

 

In this era, a Minister’s monthly salary was 250,000 won, and the Prime Minister’s monthly salary was 350,000 won.

 

Instead, Grandfather gave each child a bundle of crisp new 10,000 won bills while asking them one by one about their plans for the year.

 

“I’m going to buy a violin.”

 

“I want a game console and comic books!”

 

“I need to buy record albums.”

 

As kids usually are, they all seemed excited about spending their allowance.

 

It became my turn.

 

“I’m going to contribute it to the hospital bills of young patients at Taeseong Hospital.”

 

The statement that Uncle Cheol-gu had written on rough paper was weighing on my mind.

 

Uncle had been investigating the connection between the deceased Kim Gwang-pil from Woo-gwang Construction and Taeseong right up until he was dragged away by the KCIA.

 

The most likely suspect he had found was a Taeseong Chemical worker, whose sick daughter my age was hospitalized at Taeseong Hospital.

 

I was planning to visit Taeseong Hospital soon to meet that child and the Taeseong Chemical worker.

 

“You want to make a donation? What are the selection criteria? Drawing lots?”

 

“If possible, I’d like to help families among Taeseong employees who have become very financially difficult due to hospital bills.”

 

It’s not like I’m naturally an angel who makes donations a way of life.

 

But I couldn’t reveal my real purpose either.

 

There’s no way to explain it, is there?

 

So I decided to borrow and use Grandfather’s words appropriately.

 

“Because Taeseong is one family.”

 

“Excellent. Yes, that’s how it should be!”

 

Grandfather patted my head.

 

‘Huh?’

 

When giving New Year’s money to my cousin brothers and female cousins, he had never once patted their heads like this.

 

So naturally, not only the cousins but even Taeseong’s executives began to pay attention to me.

 

“How you earn money is important, but how you spend it is even more important.”

 

Grandfather smiled warmly and patted my head.

 

“Why do you think this grandfather spent a fortune to introduce medical insurance to Taeseong? You understood that intention. Well done.”

 

In this era, before nationwide medical insurance was implemented, it was a time when medical insurance was being pilot-tested, divided into workplace, regional, civil service, and private school employee categories.

 

This was why the daughter of the Taeseong Chemical worker was hospitalized at Taeseong Hospital instead of Woo-gwang Hospital.

 

“Take this.”

 

Grandfather took out another bundle of crisp new 10,000 won bills and placed it on top.

 

“If you’re going to take care of a family hospitalized at Taeseong Hospital, this grandfather should lend a hand too.”

 

“Thank you, Grandfather!”

 

“And this isn’t New Year’s money, it’s allowance. It’s a reward for using your heart so beautifully, so use this to buy snacks for Cha Jeong-hyeok.”

 

Wait, what kind of snack money is a 100,000 won cashier’s check?

 

He really is generous, I tell you.

 

“Thank you, Grandfather!”

 

Two million won should easily cover not only the overdue hospital bills but even surgery costs, right?

 

“Director Song, I’ll visit Taeseong Hospital with this soon. That’s okay, right?”

 

“Oh my, of course. Just contact me in advance using the business card I gave you. I’ll be waiting.”

 

Director Song of Taeseong Hospital, who had been eating rice cake soup, also stood up abruptly to express his gratitude.

 

Grandfather burst into hearty laughter.

 

“You already got Director Song’s business card? You set your intention in advance and made a different choice from others. Yes, at eight years old, you should be at this level! Hahaha!”

 

My cousin brothers and female cousins looked back and forth between me, Grandfather, and the bundle of two million won.

 

Their ages were all double digits.

 

They quietly slipped away to the back with their New Year’s money.

 

The subsidiary executives watching us smiled warmly.

 

“The young master is planning something good. Then I’ll also participate in a small way.”

 

“I’ll also add a little, though it’s modest.”

 

Several of Taeseong’s executives readily opened their wallets.

 

I smiled brightly.

 

“Taeseong Hospital Director Song, would it be alright to write down the names and amounts of those who just did good deeds and hang it in Taeseong Hospital Corridor?”

 

“Of course. Aren’t they all people who worked hard to help Taeseong Family patients? I’ll hang it in Taeseong Hospital Main Entrance Lobby.”

 

It was a method I learned at the Year-End Night event.

 

People with a lot seek honor.

 

“While we’re at it, how about making it into a placard so everyone can see it and hanging it up big?”

 

“A, a placard too? There’s nothing wrong with that, but…”

 

Taeseong Hospital Director Song blinked his eyes as if it was a proposal he never thought of.

 

But at the mention of advertising with a placard, the subsidiary executives raised their hands high.

 

“Then I’ll help too.”

 

“I’ll contribute as well.”

 

“Me too!”

 

I looked back at Taeseong Hospital Director Song.

 

“Write it down carefully. So that those doing good deeds don’t feel upset, not missing a single person, and don’t get the amounts wrong.”

 

“Yes, yes. Of course. Hehehe.”

 

Taeseong’s Second Son, Cha Ki-joon, who had told me to call him ‘Second Uncle’, stared at me intently and then smiled as if grinning.

 

“Unlike Seong-jun, you have quite an interesting talent?”

 

My eyes met with Second Uncle’s.

 

A sharp glint flashed between his curved, narrow eyes.

 

So I smiled too.

 

“Are you interested too, Second Uncle?”

 

It was basically telling him to lose interest if he wasn’t planning to pay money.

 

“One million won.”

 

Second Uncle readily threw down one million won.

 

It would be an unexpected expense, and being singled out alone should have been flustering, but there wasn’t even a moment’s hesitation.

 

“But in return, you’re hanging out with me later.”

 

Second Uncle was saying he wanted to buy my time.

 

Secretary Yang, who followed him, hardened his expression.

 

“President, you cannot. Once the meal is over, you must go straight up to the Second Floor Study. There are many things to discuss with the Subsidiary Executives.”

 

“That can be done later without being too late. Today is New Year’s Day. There’s no need to be so rigid about it.”

 

Second Uncle raised his hand to silence Secretary Yang.

 

“Besides, it’s also the first day I’m meeting our nephew.”

 

“President!”

 

“It would be better if you went up to the Second Floor Study alone. If you’re really worried, you can listen carefully to my portion as well and come back.”

 

Refusing an unofficial subsidiary executive meeting to meet me, who’s neither our Father nor Mother, but just an eight-year-old?

 

This is a choice that doesn’t make sense by common standards.

 

* * *

 

After the meal ended, Grandfather spoke.

 

“Kids go to the Playroom, adults gather in the Study. Let’s exchange New Year’s greetings openly among family after such a long time.”

 

It sounds like he’s saying let’s have information exchange between affiliated companies under the guise of New Year’s greetings.

 

Uncle (Elder) and his wife, Parents, as well as Aunt and President Sim, Secretary Kim and Director Go all headed to the second floor.

 

Meanwhile, the basement was for us kids.

 

‘Huh, this is the scale of chaebol kids’ playroom!’

 

What kind of playroom is this fancy?

 

Not only was there a Pool Table, but everything from a Poker Table to the Latest Arcade Machines was equipped.

 

That wasn’t all.

 

Not only were there Dolls and Toys as well as Comic Books in abundance, but Sofas and Carpets, and even large Cushion Pillows were prepared so kids could roll around comfortably.

 

When I saw the baskets filled with kids’ Snacks and the Refrigerator packed with various types of Beverages, I could only laugh.

 

“Youngest Uncle!”

 

“Father!”

 

Cha Ki-joon, who is Second Uncle, came down to the Basement Playroom.

 

There were no Attendants with him.

 

Instead, he brought a whole Paper Box full of something.

 

Seeing that, my Cousin Brothers and Female Cousins cheered with excitement.

 

‘The cousins who were indifferent even when receiving a million won from Grandfather, why are they showing such enthusiastic response to that…’

 

Red magazines, concert tickets, and large celebrity bromide photos.

 

There were also tons of record albums containing the latest pop songs popular in America and Europe.

 

Second Uncle loosened his necktie and sat down in the chair with his sleeves rolled up.

 

“There’s no such thing as free in my dictionary. You all know what you need to do to get these, right?”

 

“Yes!”

 

The cousins answered loudly.

 

Then the cousins rushed over to Second Uncle and clung to him.

 

One massaged Second Uncle’s shoulders, one on each arm, one on each leg, they all clung to him and began massaging earnestly.

 

Second Uncle raised the corners of his mouth.

 

“Did you stop eating rice cake soup midway? Why is your grip so weak? Don’t you want the magazines? Don’t you need the bromide photos?”

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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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