Chapter 122: A Gift for My Mother

My eyes snapped open before I realized it.

“Did you get all these for free?”

“T-that is…”

Grandfather squeezed his eyes shut and shouted.

“Not all of them were free, ahem!”

“So you got them dirt cheap. You asked for stocks, right?”

“How did you know that?”

Grandfather’s eyes grew wide.

“Isn’t it obvious? You have to make sure your subordinates at Wookwang are well-fed, but right now, the media and the people have all their eyes on Wookwang.”

I grinned.

“Wookwang is the ninth-ranked corporation in the business world, after all. If the government were to swoop in and destroy it, what would that look like to everyone?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“The government is waving the banner of eradicating corruption and insisting it’s a clean administration. So, they can’t just strip Wookwang openly and distribute it among their close associates.”

Only then did Grandfather nod obediently.

“You got it right. They asked for stocks.”

“There’s no cleaner or more foolproof way to cover it up and launder money.”

“You clever rascal.”

Grandfather grinned ear to ear and pulled me into a tight hug.

“Where did such a brilliant child come from? This is all Sungjun’s fortune, and Taesung’s, too! Hahaha!”

“Grandpa, I want to take a look at this.”

My eyes were glued to the golden documents Grandfather pulled out.

How could my eyes not be, when that gold shimmered so dazzlingly?

“Go ahead, look all you want.”

“Huh?”

Wookwang Shipbuilding, Wookwang Motors, Wookwang Heavy Equipment, Wookwang Chemicals, Wookwang Hospital, Wookwang Pharmaceuticals, Wookwang Research Institute.

I was startled at the scribbled words, hastily written in fountain pen.

‘Not only are the documents golden, but the letters themselves are an even flashier gold!’

Grandfather patted my head and explained.

“The President wrote it himself.”

No wonder!

‘The President’s handwritten note is practically a certified guarantee. No wonder it shines!’

Suddenly, a question came to mind.

“Grandpa, why are Wookwang Securities and Wookwang Construction missing?”

“His Excellency said to swap those with heavy industry.”

So that’s why the car and heavy equipment divisions are here?

“Aren’t you curious why shipbuilding was first?”

“That’s because you would have asked for shipbuilding first.”

“Heh…”

“Obviously, if you wanted to make it clear you were set on entering the defense industry, you had to mention shipbuilding first and foremost.”

“You must be a fortune teller. Even if you’d gone inside my head, you couldn’t have pinpointed it like that. Ah, my clever one!”

Grandfather scooped me up in his arms again.

“Just as you said, if we’re going to line the pockets of close associates, we have to take a hefty share. But compared to what it’d cost to buy these on the open market, it’s still a steal.”

“How much stock are they giving you?”

“Fifty percent. Only, what’s specified in the contract, they said to just take it.”

“So, chemicals, cars, and heavy equipment are all yours?”

Grandfather couldn’t bring himself to say no and instead let out a groan.

“You’ll make sure I get my share of the other affiliates too, right?”

Again, only a pained sound escaped.

“Well, at least that’s something.”

“What’s so good about it? Are you planning to squeeze your poor old grandfather dry?”

“The 15 billion won in sponsorship. Thanks to that, if anyone tries to sell their stock immediately, we can just buy it back under the table.”

“…”

“If we can buy stock and management rights with money, we have to.”

No matter what, stocks and management rights are what matter in a company.

“We should scoop up those affiliate shares before some random fool snatches them up.”

“Junghyuk, as you know, asking for stocks means…”

“In the end, it’s for money laundering, right?”

I poked my chest with my index finger.

“What did I set up as a front for money laundering?”

“An investment company!”

Bingo.

“Isn’t it perfect? Now even one of Grandpa’s worries is solved.”

“How do you know what worries I have?”

“You told me to leave persuading Taesung’s executives and family members to you, remember?”

Grandfather had promised me last time.

-Take it. The management rights!

-And what about convincing the family and Taesung Group’s executives?

-Leave it to me. Do you really think your grandfather can’t even handle that?

-Thank you, Grandpa.

-But for safety, I won’t allow you to stand at the forefront. Exercise management rights through your investment company.

I wrapped my arms around Grandpa’s arm and smiled brightly.

“Just as promised, I’ll exercise management rights through the investment company. How’s that? Perfect, right?”

Grandfather’s mouth fell open, as if at a loss for words.

Then he let out a low, awkward chuckle.

“Yes, it’s perfect. It fits together so well there’s nothing left to add. Go ahead, take everything your way.”

Then, suddenly, he turned to me in surprise.

“Junghyuk, did you already foresee all of this back then?”

Honestly, I was planning to go after Wookwang Securities and Wookwang Construction, not expecting to get the car and heavy equipment divisions.

But as an eight-year-old, I did rack my brain on how I could exercise shares and management rights, and that was the method I came up with.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

Startled by sudden applause behind us, I turned to see Secretary Kim nodding with admiration.

“As expected, Young Master, you had a plan all along!”

Maybe it was Secretary Kim’s confident look.

Grandfather slapped his knee.

“So it was like that! I knew it! Of course! Hahaha!”

Only Chief Go looked bewildered, dropping the car keys he was holding.

“Are you all really being serious?”

“Of course.”

“That goes without saying!”

Chief Go shook his head as if he just couldn’t understand.

Regardless.

I whispered quietly in Grandpa’s ear.

“Grandpa, just like we agreed, I plan to give Taesung Chemicals to my mom as part of her dowry.”

“Yes, yes! It’s your share, Junghyuk, do as you like. Should I arrange the transfer?”

“That means, if you treat my mom coldly, or if she marries someone other than Taesung, Taesung Chemicals will end up in another family’s hands.”

“What did you say?”

Grandfather’s face turned serious.

“What are you talking about?”

“What choice do I have when you haven’t kept your promise?”

“When have I ever broken a promise? I’m even handing over all these shares to you!”

“Did you forget? When we exchanged the three torn pages from Wookwang Construction’s bribe ledger, I had conditions.”

“So I brought your father back from the Middle East, and I even gave you a written note instead of Taesung Construction shares, didn’t I?”

“And what about apologizing to my mom and permitting their marriage?”

“…”

Grandfather cleared his throat.

“The family registry is already sorted out. Besides, I also publicly acknowledged you and your mom as Sungjun’s wife and son at the year-end party.”

“And what about trying to give Mom an envelope of money to split her from Dad? Are you going to pretend that never happened?”

That was Grandma’s doing.

“And pretending not to know you tried to give her an apartment and a building so she’d leave me and remarry?”

That was Grandpa.

“Is sorting out the family registry all that matters? Emotional wounds fester if left alone, you know. They can last a lifetime.”

No wonder my aunts were always looking for faults with sharp eyes.

Did he think I’d forget how they tried to humiliate Mom at the New Year’s gathering with all of Taesung’s executives present?

“Grandma didn’t even show her face for tteokguk on New Year’s Day! She’s openly ignoring Mom.”

“No, that’s because—”

“And you never explained or asked Mom for her understanding, did you?”

“Ahem!”

“And forget a formal meeting between the families, you haven’t even dropped by her family’s house once. Don’t you think that’s too much, calling her your daughter-in-law?”

Grandfather picked me up in his arms.

“You’re right, I should apologize! I will!”

With a resolute stride, he marched toward the front door.

“A formal meeting, the wedding, even paying my respects to the in-laws! Of course I’ll do it! That’s only right! Hmm-hmm!”

---

“Daughter-in-law, I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”

“Pfft!”

Mother, sitting on the living room sofa drinking coffee, spat it out.

That’s because the moment we came home, Grandfather immediately bent at a ninety-degree angle and shouted.

“I said terrible things to you! I was wrong to try to get you to leave Junghyuk and remarry by handing you real estate.”

“Father?”

“And it was my fault that I finished the family registry business without even meeting your family!”

“Please, just scold me for committing an unpardonable sin!”

Mother, shocked, immediately dropped to her knees.

She must have been sorting photo albums, as even the Polaroids scattered across the floor.

“What… what did I do so wrong for this?”

“No! You did nothing wrong!”

I couldn’t stand it and rushed over to cling to Grandfather’s leg.

“You’re scaring Mom! Who told you to shout and frighten her like that?”

“No, I wasn’t trying to scare her… Ahem, ahem!”

“Are you really doing this?”

“You’ll understand when you’re my age, in my position!”

Grandfather muttered, “It’s been ages since I apologized like this…”

His neck flushed red as he cleared his throat.

“Daughter-in-law.”

“…”

Mother took a deep breath.

For the first time, Grandfather looked her in the eye and called her ‘daughter-in-law.’

He froze.

His gaze was caught by the albums and notebook scattered at his feet.

, , 

The prenatal diary had spilled open where it fell.

Peeking out was an ultrasound photo.

Without a word, Grandfather crouched down and picked up the diary.









Compared to the few ultrasound pictures, Mother’s diary entries filled the pages.

‘Did this exist?’

It was my first time seeing it too.

In the past, after losing Mom early to coal gas poisoning and returning from her funeral, there hadn’t been anything left in the house.

Dad’s watch and notebook, which had been in Mom’s jewelry box, and even the bankbooks had all been stolen.

‘I didn’t know any photos of me with Mom survived.’

Staring at the picture of Mom holding me as a child, I couldn’t tear my eyes away either.

‘I used to cry because I didn’t even have a single photo.’

I struggled to hold on to the image of Mom’s face, which faded a little more each day in my memory.

I desperately wished, even if just once, to meet her in my dreams.

There was a time when, wandering back alleys with nothing to eat, I dug through a trash can and found bread laced with rat poison.

As I vomited and my mind went hazy, the last thing I remembered as I was dying was Mom’s face, blurred and wet with tears.

“Honey, if you’re free today, would you like to have lunch with me?”

“Yes?”

Mother shot up in surprise.

“J-just a moment! I’ll get lunch ready right away. If I’d known, I would’ve gone shopping…”

“No need. I’ll treat you. Let’s eat out.”

At the sudden suggestion, Mother’s eyes widened.

“I heard you cut off ties with your family when you brought Junghyuk. There was probably no one to take care of your cravings while you were pregnant. I’d like to do that for you today.”

Grandfather let out a deep sigh.

“You must’ve started with nothing, thrown out into the world with only yourself. You probably didn’t even get to eat properly.”

Mother dropped the photo she was holding.

It was the one we three took together, hanging on the Christmas tree.

“In truth, when you first brought Junghyuk to me, I regretted telling you to remarry before anything else. I should have told you first that you worked hard to bear and raise Junghyuk.”

In that photo, our family of three looked like we had the whole world as we smiled together.

“Instead of giving you coffee, I should have made sure you had a good, hearty meal.”

Looking down at the picture, Grandfather spoke quietly.

“Instead of announcing in front of political and business leaders, ‘You are Sungjun’s wife, Junghyuk’s mother, and Taesung’s daughter-in-law,’ I should have gone to see your family first and convinced them to let you marry him.”

Mother covered her mouth with both hands.

“I should have settled past wrongs before sorting out Wookwang’s broken engagement and the Taesung Chemicals shares.”

“F-father.”

“Before asking which elementary school Junghyuk would attend, I should have asked if you ever wanted to go back to university, since you had to quit.”

Grandfather let out a faint sigh.

“I’ve been so foolish. I always shout, ‘Taesung is one family!’ but in reality, I neglected my own. I deserve to be called a bad father-in-law and a bad grandfather.”

Grandfather silently stroked my hair.

In the trembling fingertips, I felt his gratitude and regret.

So I quietly placed my small hand on his wrinkled one.

Pat, pat.

To my little gesture of encouragement, Grandfather responded with a small smile.

His big, rough hand, covering mine, was warm and gentle.

“Soon, I’ll go visit your family myself and ask for forgiveness.”

Grandfather bent over to pick up a Polaroid.

“I’ll have to beg them to entrust their precious daughter to my foolish son.”

His eyes were filled with longing.

“Junghyuk, would you come with me to meet your maternal grandfather?”