Chapter 64: A One-Billion Won Errand

Chairman Cha fell silent for a moment.

"Chairman, may I ask why you haven't pressed me about the identity of the anonymous benefactor, or questioned whether they're trustworthy?"

It was because Secretary Kim's question carried weight.

“I don’t know who the anonymous benefactor is, but you do. You’re not someone who would accept anything that might harm me or Taesung.”

“Chairman…”

“I’m sure you’ve already verified their identity and capabilities, right? That’s good enough for me.”

Chairman Cha gave a broad grin.

“Does that answer your question?”

“Will you really be all right with this? I intend to keep my lips sealed.”

“Then do so.”

Chairman Cha nodded briskly.

“To be honest, I’m curious about who they are too. Sometimes, I’m tempted to badger you until you tell me who that mysterious benefactor is.”

“Then why not…?”

“No reason to cut open the goose that lays golden eggs, is there?”

Chairman Cha knocked back his drink in one gulp.

“You and that anonymous benefactor must have your reasons. There’s no need for me to poke around and sow distrust.”

“Hmmm.”

“That benefactor is clearly showing goodwill toward Taesung right now. That’s enough for me.”

“But this is invisible goodwill. Aren’t you worried their intentions are suspicious, or that it might cause trouble later?”

“Why should I worry? It’s the anonymous benefactor making a losing deal, not Taesung.”

Chairman Cha laughed.

“It’s not as if I begged on my knees for help, wrote a contract, put up collateral, or signed a promissory note, right?”

Secretary Kim swallowed back the words rising in his throat—‘But Chairman, you did sign a promissory note…’

“Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. Even if someone tries to demand something from me, it’ll be hard. I’ll just play dumb. There’s no evidence, is there?”

Secretary Kim also bit his tongue on, ‘But Chairman, you already transferred even your stocks…’

“Right now, all the benefit is one-sidedly going to our Taesung. How could I not call them a benefactor? I can’t even tell if they’re a pushover or a magnanimous person.”

Secretary Kim swallowed yet another thought: ‘If anyone’s being played for a fool, it’s probably you, Chairman…’

“We owe that benefactor so much. Always, at the most critical moments, we received the help we needed.”

Chairman Cha thumped his own chest.

“I, Cha Taesung, am not such an ungrateful man! Please tell them that I’ll always be in their debt and that I’ll definitely repay it someday.”

“Yes, I’ll relay your message.”

Secretary Kim nodded.

Then, suddenly, he fumbled in his pocket and took out a blank sheet of paper and a Montblanc fountain pen.

He slid them smoothly in front of Chairman Cha.

“That person prefers documents over words. Why not put it in writing while we’re at it?”

“What, you want me to voluntarily write a pledge that wasn’t even asked for?”

“A heartfelt thank-you letter is better than words alone, don’t you think?”

“Oh, a thank-you letter.”

Only then did Chairman Cha’s expression brighten.

“Yes, that’s a good idea. If you receive gratitude, you should give something in return; repeated favors should at least be met with a sign of sincerity.”

Chairman Cha took the Montblanc fountain pen and hastily scribbled out a thank-you letter.

“There, take it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hm, Secretary Kim, you’re the one collecting thank-you letters? That’s not really your style, is it? Did the anonymous benefactor ask you to get it?”

“Not at all. This is simply my own sincerity—a tailored service, if you will.”

Secretary Kim carefully folded the letter, worried it might get creased.

Chairman Cha watched this in silence, then suddenly grumbled.

“Secretary Kim, you just made me suspicious for a moment. Tell me honestly: are you on the benefactor’s side or mine?”

“Is it okay if I switch sides?”

“Not a chance! Not while I’m alive! We promised to stick together until the very end! Be loyal!”

The firmer Chairman Cha’s declaration, the deeper Secretary Kim’s smile became.

“Wait, what’s with you? Why do you keep smiling and not answering? Don’t tell me you’re actually thinking of switching?”

“In fact, I did receive a recruitment offer today.”

“What?!”

“But I flatly refused. I, Kim Young-geol, am not an ungrateful man. I could never repay the Chairman’s kindness even with my life.”

“Well done! That’s the Kim Young-geol I know! In that case, have a drink!”

Chairman Cha laughed heartily as he filled Secretary Kim’s glass to the brim.

“I think I finally understand why the President gathers ministers and pours them drinks. This feels great!”

“I’ve also realized why everyone is so happy when the President bestows a celebratory drink. This must be what good liquor tastes like.”

“Bah, I hate those pecking order games. It ruins the taste! Let’s just drink comfortably, the two of us. Cheers!”

Chairman Cha and Secretary Kim clinked their glasses with a sharp ring.

Unlike the frigid air at the President’s drinking table, here a warm breeze seemed to blow.

“Secretary Kim, don’t forget to take that last bottle of deodeok liquor when you leave.”

It was top-grade deodeok liquor.

It was so rare you couldn’t get it in the market, and it was originally meant as a gift for the President.

“I can’t accept it. Didn’t Young Master Jun-hyuk give it to you and you wouldn’t even share it with your own son?”

“Why can’t you take it? I even shared some with the Blue House security staff when I gave advice to my son. Just take it, no more words. You should at least taste it once.”

Chairman Cha pressed the last bottle of deodeok liquor into Secretary Kim’s hands.

“The taste is truly exquisite. Since founding Taesung, I’ve received countless fine spirits, but this deodeok liquor is the best of them all. I guarantee it.”

It was the bottle given to him to soothe his seven-year-old grandson’s wounded heart.

From that moment on, deodeok liquor became the most precious drink in Chairman Cha’s life.

“Very well. Then I should taste it too.”

Secretary Kim promptly opened the bottle.

Drip, drip.

“I’ll only share one glass. I do have that much loyalty.”

“Why share this precious deodeok liquor with me? Save it for yourself.”

“Drinking alone is lonely. It’ll taste better if I share it with you.”

Secretary Kim raised his glass.

“I can’t wait for the day Young Master Jun-hyuk grows up and the three of us can drink together.”

“Me too! Let’s toast to Jun-hyuk, shall we?”

“Gladly.”

Clink.

And so, the two finished the last of the deodeok liquor.

Bang!

The front door burst open.

Chairman Cha’s wife, also Cha Sung-jun’s mother, entered, panting and laughing.

“Phew, made it just in time! I’m still within curfew, right?”

“That’s right, you narrowly avoided a night in the lockup. What’s that on your head?”

“Huh? My head?”

Madam Cha gasped and patted her hair.

There was the crinkle of plastic.

She quickly pulled off the black plastic bag she’d been wearing.

“Oh my goodness! I forgot!”

She smacked her forehead.

“I sold the mine!”

She’d even worn the plastic bag so she wouldn’t forget she’d sold the mine!

Chairman Cha clicked his tongue.

“You said you were going to see our grandson, and you went out to sell a mine?”

“Still, I cleared up all the misunderstandings with our in-laws and finished our future plans.”

“Hm?”

“We came together over a game of Go-Stop and agreed to marry off the kids.”

“In-laws? Go-Stop? What are you talking about? Did you go to Bundang?”

“No? I mean the people living with us in the Hannam-dong mansion—Lee Soo-jin’s mother and brother. The in-law’s cooking was truly amazing!”

Secretary Kim gently corrected her.

“Ma’am, I think you’re mistaken. I understand the in-laws currently live in Bundang.”

“Huh?”

“If you’re talking about the mother and son in Hannam-dong, they must be the landlords from the Guro-dong shantytown. Big and burly—like two brown bears. Am I right?”

“Gasp!”

Madam Cha’s jaw dropped.

“I just finished a rousing session with them, promising to visit the Seonnyeo Shaman on Inwang Mountain to set a wedding date!”

---

Our house in Hannam-dong was a whirlwind of activity from early morning.

My father, Secretary Kim, and all the Taesung Group elites were gathered, racking their brains and working non-stop.

We recalculated the estimates and plans for the Line 2 subway extension project.

On top of that, we had to simultaneously draw up budgets and plans for the expansion of the Gangnam Seoul Express Bus Terminal road and the construction of new shops.

“Don’t let it roll over into next year.”

The President’s order had set a time limit the moment it was given.

“Chief Cho, how many road rollers and excavators do we have? Call Taesung Heavy Equipment right now. Pay extra if you have to, just make sure we have enough.”

“Yes, sir!”

“We won’t have enough workers with just Taesung Construction’s staff. Deputy Lee, call the labor agency.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Manager Kim, how much crushed stone and cement have you secured? We’ll start with the Gangnam Seoul Express Bus Terminal road expansion.”

“Yes, sir!”

Thanks to all this, everyone was so busy they could barely catch their breath.

It wasn’t just the study on the second floor that was bustling.

The kitchen was just as hectic.

“Oh no, the soup’s boiling over! Watch the heat!”

“The bean sprout salad is too bland. Add more salt and drizzle in some sesame oil.”

They were busy preparing food for the workers.

The landlady couldn’t manage alone, so Secretary Kim called in a few more kitchen helpers.

Of course, I was busy too.

“Jun-hyuk, have you trimmed all the heads off the bean sprouts?”

“Yes.”

“And shelled the beans?”

“All done.”

“What about cleaning the anchovies?”

“I’m working on that now.”

That’s why I spent the whole day at the end of the dining table, busy as can be.

Was it a special measure to keep me, a child, from getting bored and bothering my father?

No matter how much I insisted I wouldn’t get in the way, that I was busy too, no one believed me.

How am I supposed to explain this?

“You know you look just like a hamster right now, young master?”

How could I not pout?

Yoo Jong-tae leaned in and whispered, glancing at the kitchen ladies.

“Should I help you clean the anchovies?”

“No thanks. Team Leader Yoo, you’re busy setting up the investment company. Worry about that instead.”

“It’s almost done.”

Fast!

“One in Korea, one in the US. We’re setting up two investment companies, right?”

“Yes. That way, the US headquarters and the Korean investment company can each decide to invest in the other.”

“Just as I thought! Money laundering!”

Yoo Jong-tae caught on immediately.

“Then I suppose I’ll need to visit the US soon.”

“I’ll leave that to you, Team Leader Yoo. I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t worry, young master. I’m Yoo Jong-tae, after all!”

And so, my investment company was starting to take shape.

“Young master, the seed money will come from the personal assets of former Taesung Construction CEO Cha Yoon-sung.”

My grandfather had ousted the former CEO and emptied that household’s safe for me.

But that alone wouldn’t be enough.

‘It’s time to open up the vault in our basement shelter!’

Gold bars, dollars, land deeds, and even art pieces.

If I hadn’t bought this house, it all would’ve ended up in Namsan Leech’s hands.

That guy once used his immense capital to expand his influence without restraint.

‘I’ll use this as my seed money.’

---

I visited the Sogolmae Pawnshop, tucked away in a back alley of Myeong-dong.

Ding-ling.

“Welcome. Well, if it isn’t you!”

“Hello.”

“What brings the youngest grandson of Taesung Group here today?”

My master greeted me with a mischievous smile.

“Let’s see. Are you here as the party who brought the subway station info as promised, as the bank investor, or as a regular pawnshop customer?”

“All three. I’ve got a lot to do today.”

I slid a neatly folded slip of paper beneath the counter bars.

“I’m here to hand over information on seventeen subway stations.”

“Oh, I invested five billion won, and you’re giving me info on seventeen stations?”

He sure perks up whenever something falls into his lap.

I know he invested just the right amount on purpose, hoping to get a little extra.

“That one billion’s a service fee, right?”

“How could you shamelessly expect a billion won worth of service?”

“So I should pay a billion extra? Bah, I’m broke! Sue me!”

I knew this would happen.

“Then just take the info on sixteen stations.”

“Too late. I already have all seventeen—wait, sixteen?”

There was info on only sixteen stations on the slip I’d handed over.

“So two billion is the service, then?”

“How could you shamelessly expect two billion won worth of service!”

“I’m just a kid. What money do I have? Sue me if you want.”

I gave his words right back to him, but my master foamed at the mouth.

If it’s him, he’ll never let it go.

“Wouldn’t it be better to broker the sale and get an extra subway station info? Let’s just call the one billion won your errand fee.”

I fiddled with another neatly folded note, grinning.

“Fine, if you don’t want it, forget it. No need to talk about the other business either. Goodbye.”

I pressed my hands together and bowed deeply.

My master finally threw up his hands.

“Fine! Seventeen stations! I’ll take the one-billion-won errand!”