Chapter 13: The Stakes Grow Larger

The next day at 5 a.m.

Lee Jun-hyuk was already awake and ready.

He had a feeling today would be an important day.

“Seyoon, you’re up early.”

Jose appeared.

He looked like he hadn’t slept well either.

Dark circles under his eyes were deep, but his expression was much brighter than yesterday.

“People are already gathering.”

“Already?”

Jun-hyuk went outside and saw it was true.

More than twenty people had gathered at the entrance to the farm.

They seemed to be workers from Sanchez Farm who had come after hearing what Martha said yesterday.

“We came looking for work!”

A man stepped forward.

“I worked at Sanchez Farm but haven’t been paid my wages for three months.”

“That’s right! Why not us too!”

Others shouted in agreement.

Jun-hyuk raised his hand to quiet them.

“Everyone is welcome. But first, there’s something I need to make clear.”

The crowd fell silent.

“There are rules at this farm. If you work diligently, you will receive fair compensation. But if you slack off or talk back, you will be sent away immediately.”

“Understood!”

“And from today, we’re starting a new system.”

Jun-hyuk spoke loudly.

“Luncheon Provision! Everyone who works here will be provided lunch for free!”

Murmurs broke out.

They looked incredulous.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. But you have to work hard in return.”

“Of course!”

Hope lit up their faces.

“Jose, please start registering these people.”

“Yes!”

At that moment, the sound of hooves came again.

This time it was a carriage.

Carlos had returned from the village with supplies.

The carriage was full of farm tools and food.

“New shovels!”

“We have hoes too!”

The workers cheered.

After working with broken tools, the new equipment was a blessing.

By 8 o’clock, the farm was bustling.

Over fifty workers had started working in their assigned sections.

They moved actively with the new tools, and songs could be heard everywhere.

“Señor!”

Miguel ran up.

“The eastern section is cleaned up. We can start preparing for the harvest now.”

“Good. But…?”

Jun-hyuk looked around.

“Isn’t it too quiet?”

“What do you mean?”

At that moment—

“Hey! Hey!”

Ramon, who was watching the fields, shouted.

“Carriages are coming! Many of them!”

A line of five carriages appeared over the hill.

“Who are they?”

As they got closer, Jun-hyuk recognized them.

It was Sanchez.

Along with other Spanish-descended farm owners.

Of course, Fernandez was there, as well as some unfamiliar faces.

The carriages stopped in front of the farm.

Sanchez got off.

Dressed in a black suit and carrying a cane, he tried to look imposing, but his face was pale.

“Mr. Lee,”

anger was evident in his voice.

“I think we need to have a talk.”

“What is this about?”

Jun-hyuk asked calmly.

“I heard you’re stealing workers from my farm.”

“I only hired people looking for jobs.”

“They are my people!”

Sanchez slammed his cane into the ground.

“They’re families who have worked here for three generations!”

“But you haven’t paid wages for three months?”

Jun-hyuk’s sharp retort flushed Sanchez’s face red.

The gathered workers started whispering.

“That’s just a temporary cash flow problem.”

“Temporary…”

Jun-hyuk stepped forward.

“You said you couldn’t get a bank loan?”

Sanchez’s face went pale.

“How is that possible?”

“Is there any secret in this small town?”

Jun-hyuk said nonchalantly.

Other farm owners started to stir.

They looked at each other suspiciously, trying to figure out who leaked the information.

“So?”

Sanchez gritted his teeth.

“So you do this to ruin us?”

“Aren’t you already ruining yourself?”

Jun-hyuk said coldly.

“If you treated your workers fairly, none of this would happen.”

“How dare you!”

“Also, I have one proposal for you.”

Jun-hyuk looked at Sanchez.

“How about selling me your farm?”

For a moment, silence fell.

“What?”

“I’ll buy it. One thousand dollars.”

Sanchez’s eyes went wide.

“You’re crazy! You expect me to accept that price as is?”

“That was then, this is now.”

Jun-hyuk shrugged.

“At that time, this farm was going under. But now, it’s different. On the contrary, your farm is struggling.”

“You insolent Oriental!”

Fernandez stepped forward.

“How dare you! Mr. Sanchez is the landlord of this region!”

“A landlord who can’t even pay his workers’ wages?”

Jun-hyuk’s words sparked laughter among the workers.

“That’s right! Is that what a landlord is supposed to be?”

Someone shouted.

“Are we machines? To work and not get paid?”

More voices joined in.

Sanchez and the farm owners retreated in shock.

“Quiet!”

Sanchez shouted, but it was useless.

The atmosphere had completely tilted toward Jun-hyuk.

Then another carriage arrived.

“This one has a mark from Cuba Branch Bank.”

Sanchez’s face grew even paler.

A middle-aged bank employee stepped down.

“Mr. Sanchez, there you are.”

“Now is a bad time…”

“I’m sorry, but we can’t delay any longer. If you don’t repay by today, we will have no choice but to foreclose the farm.”

“All right! Go away!”

Sanchez hurriedly sent the bank employee away.

But everyone had already heard.

Foreclosure.

The fact that Sanchez Farm was on the brink of being seized.

“Still, will you refuse my thousand-dollar offer?”

Jun-hyuk asked again.

“If it’s foreclosed, you won’t get a cent.”

Sanchez looked at Jun-hyuk with eyes full of hatred.

But he had no reply.

That was reality.

“Look, Sanchez.”

Another farm owner spoke cautiously.

“Maybe you should accept…”

“Shut up!”

Sanchez snapped.

“You’re all the same! How long do you think you can hold on?”

The farm owners wore uneasy expressions.

It was hard to blame them.

“Mr. Lee,”

Sanchez’s voice trembled.

“I think you’ve won. But…”

He clenched his fists.

“This isn’t over. Cuba is our land. Don’t think an outsider like you can hold out for long.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Jun-hyuk smiled.

Sanchez turned to leave but stopped.

“I’ll send the contract tomorrow.”

His voice shook.

Jun-hyuk did not respond.

He just nodded slightly.

The farm owners started to disperse.

Their steps were heavy.

No one looked at each other.

“Wait.”

Ramon stepped forward.

The young laborer’s eyes sparkled.

“Mr. Lee, can we… can our families work too?”

Jun-hyuk looked at Ramon.

A young man risking his life to work for his children.

The same age, but the weight of life was different.

“Of course.”

“Thank you!”

Ramon’s face brightened.

The other workers were encouraged.

They began raising their hands one after another.

“Me too!”

“My son works well!”

Within moments, dozens had gathered.

Jose stepped forward.

“As per order! I will make the list!”

A seasoned manager with twenty years of experience, he efficiently organized the situation.

Carlos helped by translating.

“Please tell us your name and experience.”

The farm entrance buzzed like a marketplace.

Jun-hyuk quietly observed the scene.

There was hope on their faces.

It had been a long time since he’d seen such expressions.

He thought to himself:

The first goal was achieved.

Farm restoration.

And now securing additional manpower.

It was time to move to the next stage.

“Mr. Lee,”

Jose approached.

The hopeful expression was gone, replaced with eyes full of trust.

“About fifty people have applied. But…”

He lowered his voice.

“Are you really going to hire them all? Isn’t that too much for our farm’s scale…?”

“There’s more than one farm, isn’t there?”

Jun-hyuk smiled quietly.

Jose’s eyes widened.

“Could it be…?”

“Tomorrow, we take over Sanchez’s farm. And that’s not all.”

Jun-hyuk looked toward the village.

The rooftops of other farms were visible in the distance.

Fernandez’s farm was among them.

One, two, three.

There were more than ten.

“It’s going to get very busy, Jose.”

“I understand.”

Jose bowed.

But excitement shone in his eyes.

A premonition that something big was happening.

And the realization that he was at its center.

The sun began to set.

Workers started heading home one by one.

But the farm’s atmosphere remained lively.

“Tonight is a celebration!”

Miguel shouted.

The burly labor leader raised his fist.

“For Mr. Lee!”

Cheers erupted.

Jun-hyuk raised his hand to decline, but it was useless.

Pablo and Ramon had already started preparing.

They caught chickens, brought out liquor, and lit a bonfire.

“Sometimes it’s not bad to enjoy ourselves.”

Jose said beside him.

“For them, today is a special day.”

Jun-hyuk nodded.

Yes, sometimes.

But a part of his heart was cold.

This was only the beginning.

The road ahead was long.

“James Morgan.”

The mentor’s face came to mind.

An old man with heart disease and little time left.

The benefactor who believed in him and invested.

He had to keep his promise to him.

***

Evening.

The farm was in a festive mood.

Workers gathered around the bonfire.

Families joined them.

Children ran about, laughing.

“Toasts!”

Miguel raised his glass.

“To a new beginning!”

“To a new beginning!”

Everyone responded warmly.

Jun-hyuk also raised his glass.

The rum was strong.

His throat burned, but he endured it.

“Mr. Lee,”

Zhen Hao approached.

The son of a Chinese merchant remained respectful.

“You did great today. I didn’t expect Sanchez to kneel so easily.”

“It was just luck.”

“Luck…”

Zhen Hao smiled meaningfully.

“Was it also luck that the bank employee appeared just in time?”

Jun-hyuk didn’t answer.

He only stared into the bonfire.

“Anyway, thank you. Thanks to you, our business will improve a lot.”

Zhen Hao bowed and withdrew.

He was a clever young man.

He knew how to keep a proper distance without digging too deep.

“Musician!”

Someone took out a guitar.

A lively rhythm filled the air.

A uniquely Cuban melody.

The women began dancing the rumba.

One by one, the men joined.

“Mr. Lee, you should join us too!”

Ramon’s wife extended her hand.

There was pure gratitude on the young woman’s face.

“I’m not much of a dancer…”

“Just enjoy it for today!”

Applause broke out around them.

Jun-hyuk couldn’t help but stand.

Though awkward, he surrendered to the atmosphere.

“Well, this isn’t so bad.”

It was more enjoyable than he thought.

It was a pure joy he had never experienced in 2020’s life.

Different from money or success.

It was the warmth between people.

For a moment.

“Excuse me.”

Jose approached quietly.

His expression was serious.

“What is it?”

“I just heard news. Fernandez is gathering troublemakers in the village.”

Jun-hyuk’s gaze turned cold.

The celebration continued.

But his mind was already calculating the next move.

“How many?”

“About twenty.”

“Weapons?”

“Mostly clubs and knives.”

Jun-hyuk nodded.

He had expected this.

Someone like Fernandez wouldn’t sit still.

“Strengthen the security. And…”

Jun-hyuk looked at Jose.

“Select ten reliable men. Tomorrow morning, I have a special task for them.”

“Understood.”

Jose left.

Jun-hyuk looked back at the celebration.

People were still having fun.

“Today, they should enjoy themselves.”

Tomorrow, another fight awaited.

But for today, at least in this moment, he wanted to give them happiness.

Under the starry night sky, the celebration continued late into the night.

And Lee Jun-hyuk knew.

This was the calm before the storm.