Chapter 72: A Distinct Choice

Tae Sung Chemical President Shim spoke.

“My second task... I’m sorry, but due to security reasons, I can’t reveal it here. I hope you’ll understand.”

Of course, President Shim had not only pinky-sworn secrecy with me, but had also signed and stamped a written oath.

“It’s because it’s the groundwork for a grand strategy for another future of Tae Sung.”

All I’d be doing was laying the foundation for the acquisition of Yugong.

Tae Sung didn’t have a refinery company.

“What I can confidently say is that it’s a far bigger and more ambitious plan than reclaiming Tae Sung Chemical.”

I’d probably have to borrow funds from Saudi Arabia.

“It’s something that will have a ripple effect on the whole nation’s finance and industry. That’s all.”

Maybe he’s saying this because I’m planning to launder money through a major bank and gulp it down.

Why make it sound so grand?

But the more President Shim spoke in such grandiose terms, the more the affiliate executives were driven mad with curiosity.

“So what exactly is this about?”

“What is this thing that’s going to change Tae Sung’s future and the nation’s finance and industry?”

“If it’s bigger than the 30 billion won Tae Sung Chemical, how much is it worth?”

Yet President Shim shamelessly played dumb.

“I told you it’s a security secret. You’ll find out in due time.”

President Shim bowed politely.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for Tae Sung’s future. I am honored to be entrusted with such a great responsibility by someone so esteemed. I’ll do my best not to disappoint you.”

Come on, he’s just a figurehead president at an investment company.

The only people we could mobilize were just me, President Shim, Yoo Jong-tae, and a few Tae Sung Group security guards—such a tiny company.

But the more President Shim spoke, the greater the ripple effect.

Everyone was dying to know which affiliate President Shim would join and what work he’d do.

That went for the direct family of Tae Sung as well.

‘He’s a clever man. He’s firmly declared he’s handling something important so the Tae Sung family won’t bother him with a recruitment war.’

I like it.

Plus, this action of President Shim has another advantage.

Whatever happens,

—I told you. Tae Sung’s future, groundwork for a grand plan, a security secret. Please understand.

By saying this, he could dodge any question like a get-out-of-jail-free card.

No wonder Father and Grandfather couldn’t hide their puzzled expressions.

“Chairman, Young Master. I’ll take full responsibility and see this through. Please wait until then.”

With those words, President Shim sat back down.

So Grandfather couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

He couldn’t even press President Shim for an explanation here.

“Very well. How could I not know Shim’s heart for Tae Sung? I’ll trust and wait.”

He figures he can just ask later!

Tae Sung Chemical’s President Shim started eating his tteokguk again.

But thanks to the bomb-like topic President Shim had dropped, all the affiliate executives were buzzing.

Everyone was too busy talking about what President Shim had tossed out to focus on their tteokguk.

“How does he plan to reclaim Tae Sung Chemical?”

“What exactly is the grand plan President Shim’s preparing? Any guesses?”

“We’ll have to watch his next moves. If the Chairman approved it, and even Young Master Sung-jun gave tacit consent, it must require some serious confidentiality.”

Whispers abounded.

Ironically, the only ones calmly eating their tteokguk were the Tae Sung Chemical executives and President Shim.

That’s because words like ‘earning foreign currency in the Middle East!’, ‘returning in glory!’, or ‘a promotion instead of demotion!’ were already branded in their minds.

‘Good! I’ve succeeded in redirecting the attacks aimed at my parents because of Tae Sung Chemical.’

Secretary Kim and President Shim sent me meaningful glances, but I decided to play dumb.

“Wow, this tteokguk is so delicious.”

If eating a bowl of tteokguk added a year to your age, I feel like I could eat ten bowls—no, twenty—right now.

I’m only eight years old.

There’s a long way to go and much to do.

‘First, Tae Sung Chemical. Next, Yugong.’

If I keep moving step by step, I’ll reach where I want to go.

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

---

‘So this is the scale of a chaebol family!’

Grandfather lined up his grandsons and granddaughters and handed out New Year’s money.

The word ‘hand out’ was appropriate for the amount.

‘Seriously, giving a million won as New Year’s money to kids?’

At this time, a minister’s monthly salary was 250,000 won, and the prime minister’s was 350,000 won.

Instead, Grandfather handed out thick bundles of crisp new ten-thousand-won bills and asked each child about their plans for the year.

“I’m going to buy a violin.”

“I want an arcade machine and comic books!”

“I have to buy a record.”

As kids usually do, everyone seemed excited at the thought of spending their pocket money.

My turn came.

“I’ll use it to help cover the medical bills of young patients at Tae Sung Hospital.”

I couldn’t shake the testimony Uncle Chul-gu had written on scrap paper.

Just before being dragged away by the KCIA, he’d been digging into the connection between the late Kim Gwang-pil of Woo Kwang Construction and Tae Sung.

The main suspect he’d uncovered was a Tae Sung Chemical worker, and his sick daughter, the same age as me, was hospitalized at Tae Sung Hospital.

I was planning to visit that girl and the Tae Sung Chemical worker at the hospital soon.

“You’ll donate it? How will you choose? By lottery?”

“If possible, I’d like to help families of Tae Sung employees whose circumstances have gotten especially hard because of hospital bills.”

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

But I can’t reveal my real purpose either.

How do I explain this?

So I decided to borrow Grandfather’s words.

“Tae Sung is one family, after all.”

“Excellent. That’s how it should be!”

Grandfather patted my head.

‘Huh?’

Not once had he done this while giving my cousins their New Year’s money.

So not only my cousins, but even the Tae Sung executives started paying attention to me.

“It’s important how you earn money, but how you use it is even more important.”

Grandfather smiled fondly and patted my head.

“Do you know why I spent so much money to introduce medical insurance to Tae Sung? You’ve understood that purpose. I’m proud of you.”

Back then, nationwide health insurance hadn’t been implemented yet, and only companies, regions, government workers, and private school staff had pilot medical insurance.

That’s why the Tae Sung Chemical worker’s daughter was hospitalized at Tae Sung Hospital, not Woo Kwang Hospital.

“Take this.”

Grandfather took out another thick wad of crisp new ten-thousand-won bills and placed it in my hands.

“If you’re looking out for a family member hospitalized at Tae Sung Hospital, your Grandpa should add a hand.”

“Thank you, Grandfather!”

“And this isn’t New Year’s money but pocket money. I’m giving it because it’s so admirable to use your heart so beautifully—use this to buy some treats, Jeong-hyuk.”

Wait, how is ‘treat money’ a 100,000 won cashier’s check?

His generosity really knows no bounds.

“Thank you, Grandfather!”

Two million won—that would easily cover overdue hospital bills and even surgery costs.

“Director Song, I’ll bring this to Tae Sung Hospital soon. Is that all right?”

“Oh my, of course. Just call ahead using the business card I gave you. I’ll be waiting.”

Director Song of Tae Sung Hospital, who’d been eating tteokguk, shot up and thanked me.

Grandfather roared with laughter.

“You already got Director Song’s card? You set your heart and made a different choice from the rest. That’s how an eight-year-old should be! Hahaha!”

My cousins glanced between me, Grandfather, and the bundle of two million won.

They were all in double digits in age.

They slowly retreated with their New Year’s money.

The affiliate executives watching us smiled approvingly.

“The young master is planning a good deed. Then I’ll chip in a little, too.”

“I’ll add a bit as well, though it’s not much.”

Several Tae Sung executives willingly opened their wallets.

I grinned.

“Director Song of Tae Sung Hospital, can we write down the names and amounts of everyone who just donated and hang them in the hospital hallway?”

“Of course. They’re all helping Tae Sung family’s sick children. I’ll hang it in the main lobby at the hospital entrance.”

I learned this trick at the year-end party.

People with a lot always seek honor.

“If possible, could you make it a big banner for everyone to see?”

“A b-banner? There’s no reason not to, but...”

Director Song looked startled, as if he’d never considered the idea.

But at the mention of advertising with a banner, the affiliate executives all raised their hands.

“I’ll help too, then.”

“I’ll add to the fund.”

“Me too!”

I looked at Director Song of Tae Sung Hospital.

“Please keep good records. Don’t miss anyone, don’t get the amounts wrong, so nobody feels upset after doing a good deed.”

“Y-yes, of course. Haha.”

Tae Sung’s second son, Cha Gi-jun, who’d told me to call him ‘Second Uncle,’ looked at me with a painted-on smile.

“You have a much more interesting knack than Sung-jun.”

My eyes met Second Uncle’s.

A sharp glint flashed in his narrowed eyes.

So I smiled back.

“Are you interested too, Second Uncle?”

If you don’t plan to pay up, then butt out.

“One million won.”

Second Uncle promptly threw in a million won.

It must have been an unexpected expense, and being singled out alone should’ve made him flustered, but he didn’t hesitate at all.

“But you have to play with me later.”

Second Uncle was saying he wanted to buy my time.

His secretary, Yang, stiffened.

“Sir, you can’t. After the meal, you need to head straight to the second-floor study. There’s much to discuss with the affiliate executives.”

“That can wait. Today’s the first day of the year. No need to be so rigid.”

Second Uncle raised his hand to silence Secretary Yang.

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

“Sir!”

“It’d be better if you went to the study alone. If you’re really worried, you can listen for me, too.”

He’s skipping an unofficial affiliate executive meeting to spend time with not my parents, but just me, an eight-year-old?

That’s not a reasonable choice by any means.

---

After the meal, Grandfather spoke.

“Kids to the playroom, adults to the study. Let’s catch up and exchange New Year’s greetings as a family.”

It sounded like an excuse for some information sharing between affiliates.

My eldest uncle and aunt, my parents, aunt, President Shim, Secretary Kim, and Director Ko all headed upstairs.

The basement, on the other hand, belonged to us kids.

‘Whoa, this is a chaebol kid’s playroom!’

How can a playroom be this fancy?

There was a pool table, even a poker table, and the latest arcade machines.

That wasn’t all.

There were plush toys, a mountain of comic books, sofas and carpets for us to roll around on, and huge cushion pillows.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw baskets of snacks and a refrigerator full of all kinds of drinks.

“Uncle!”

“Dad!”

Second Uncle, Cha Gi-jun, came down to the basement playroom.

No attendants in sight.

Instead, he brought a whole box of something.

My cousins and siblings cheered when they saw it.

‘Even when Grandfather handed out a million won, my cousins were unmoved, but now they’re all fired up over this…’

Red magazines, concert tickets, and giant celebrity posters.

There were also piles of record albums featuring the latest pop songs from the US and Europe.

Second Uncle loosened his tie, rolled up his sleeves, and sat down.

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

“Yes!”

My cousins responded with gusto.

Then they rushed Second Uncle, sticking to him.

One took his shoulder, another his arm, one his legs, and so on, each grabbing a spot and giving him a vigorous massage.

Second Uncle lifted the corners of his mouth.

“What, did you stop eating your tteokguk midway? Why are your grips so weak? Don’t you want the magazines? Don’t you need the posters?”