» The Youngest Son of Sunyang
The Youngest Son of a Chaebol Family - Chapter 229
[229] Unfinished Business 4
"Are you aiming for your grandfather's position too?"
"Well, rather than 'aiming,' I'd say I merely hope to one day sit in that position."
"One day? And when will that 'one day' be?"
"I don't know either. But I have a very strong advantage, so I can afford to be patient."
"Advantage? Are you talking about your age?"
"Yes. Whether it's ten years from now or twenty, if I prepare slowly, won't it eventually be possible?"
"You're as cunning as your brother, alright. *Euh-heo-heo*."
The old man chuckled and spoke to my grandfather.
"Ten years, my foot! Your face is practically itching to sit in the Sunyang Group chairman's office tomorrow."
His tone was as if he could see right through me.
Yet, he wasn't always perfectly accurate, so he was definitely neither a fortune-teller nor a face-reader.
Why had my grandfather insisted on meeting this old man?
"Dojun."
"Yes."
My grandfather blinked once.
"I have something to discuss with this cantankerous old man, would you mind waiting outside?"
"Yes, Grandfather."
My knees were already aching from kneeling, so it was good timing.
I quietly rose, bowed my head, and stepped outside.
* * *
"Brother. You didn't just come to show off your grandson, did you? What is it?"
"I came to ask a favor regarding that boy."
The old man's expression hardened abruptly.
"Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
"They say I've used it enough. Now it's too broken to even fix and use again. Doesn't seem like much time is left."
Chairman Jin poked his left chest with a finger.
"Brother!"
"Don't make a fuss."
Chairman Jin quietly picked up his teacup.
"I have no intention of delaying my departure. I've lived enough, and I have no regrets."
The old man could only bite his lip, unable to say a word.
"You, living here with clean air and clear water, eating only good things, will surely be fine for another ten years, won't you? During that time, just look after that boy."
The two old men couldn't meet each other's eyes until their teacups were empty.
Finally, the old man spoke.
"Is that boy inheriting the group?"
"Why ask when you already know? The capable one will take it."
"Your cantankerous spite hasn't gone anywhere. How can he fight when you've only given your grandson a mere 10%? And among those ruthless bastards who have no blood or tears!"
"Not 10%. I gave him more. No... it's more accurate to say he took more."
"Took what?"
"My shares. *Euh-heo-heo*."
"What are you talking about now? Can't you speak so I can understand easily?"
"He took Sunyang Motors, and this time, he took Sunyang Card. You've heard of them, haven't you? Miracle Investment and HW Group, formerly Ajin Group."
"Yes. What does that have to do with anything?"
"Those two companies belong to that boy."
"What? What kind of...?"
"I don't know the exact process either. Anyway, I just gave him a little patch of pasture, and he used it as capital to build this much. By visible scale alone, it's one of Korea's top 20 groups, and the money invested in America, I can't even count. Of course, it's true I added some shares when I handed over Sunyang Motors. But everything that boy has, he built with his own strength."
As Chairman Jin's explanation concluded, the old man's lips curled upwards.
"Brother, you truly cherish that boy, don't you?"
"It's the truth, I tell you!"
"Nonsense! With Younggi and Donggi glaring with such intensity, you just set up a company for him, plain as day, and poured everything into it through the back door. Your favoritism is excessive. Isn't this going too far?"
Chairman Jin chuckled at the old man's reaction.
"You don't believe it, do you? I didn't either. He came with a handful of dollars and demanded the car when he was twenty. You should have seen my face then..."
Chairman Jin calmly, yet in detail, recounted everything that had happened, from his grandson's childhood to the current year when he took Sunyang Card.
As the old man listened to Chairman Jin's story, he displayed a myriad of expressions. There were times he frowned, times he gasped in admiration, but mostly, he just listened blankly.
When Chairman Jin's long story concluded, the old man exclaimed.
"Bring some more tea in here. A full pot!"
As the full teapot was brought in again, the old man closed his mouth once more and gulped down the tea as if it were water.
"If he's that sharp, there's no need for me to look after him. Honestly, among your sons, Donggi is somewhat capable, but he's nowhere near that boy. If you just leave him be, he'll gobble up everything..."
"I'm uneasy about the time it would take to just 'leave him be.' If that boy were thirty, I wouldn't have this concern."
"Why? Are you worried your sons will gobble him up before he grows any bigger?"
Chairman Jin couldn't answer easily and drank his tea.
"Just help him. For exactly ten years."
Chairman Jin cut straight to the chase, answering after a long pause, and the old man scrutinized him.
Only the image of a visibly frail old man awaiting death, and a grandfather worrying about his grandson, was visible. Not a single trace of the business titan who once wielded immense power over the nation could be seen.
The old man let out a long sigh and slowly opened his mouth.
"I'll look after him, depending on how he conducts himself. But if he ever tries to act like some half-baked chaebol, I won't let him anywhere near my home."
Only after hearing the old man's firm answer did Chairman Jin's hardened face visibly relax.
"My sister-in-law said she'd feed us, is the table not set yet? I've digested breakfast already. Bring out the meal."
"Practicing crossing the Yellow Springs, yet your appetite is as strong as ever."
"Doesn't my sister-in-law make a phenomenal beef soup with rice? Thinking about it suddenly makes me hungry."
"Oh dear, what can be done? This morning's breakfast is *sirakguk*. *Heh-heh*."
* * *
Perhaps due to the successive breakfasts, my grandfather fell asleep as soon as he got into the car. I was dying of curiosity about who that old man was, but I had to wait until he woke up.
When my grandfather, who had enjoyed a deep sleep for nearly two hours, finally opened his eyes, I subtly inquired about the old man's identity.
"His name is Byeonghae Ju. He was a primary contributor to Sunyang Group."
Byeonghae Ju? He was someone I didn't remember. For my grandfather to call him a primary contributor, he must have at least served as president of a major affiliate, yet his name was unfamiliar.
"When was he involved with Sunyang Group?"
"It was more than just being 'involved.' I met him after the war when we started a textile factory in Daegu. Did we have technology? Did we have machines? That old man was the one who went to Japan to buy used machinery and even brought back Japanese technicians to operate them."
To that extent, he wasn't just a primary contributor; he was practically a founding contributor.
"He was truly an amazing friend. If I made a plan, he pushed it through. Even when I hesitated, lacking conviction, he'd say, 'Let's just start and see,' and put it into action. He was incredibly sharp. If he had stayed with me, he might have taken the chairman's seat long ago."
"Why is such a person living like this? Since when...?"
Honestly, my first thought was that my grandfather might have driven him out.
As the group grew, Byeonghae Ju's position would have steadily increased, and he might have demanded to share in the fruits of that growth. My grandfather was not the type to accept such a demand.
But my conjecture was wrong.
"It's been over twenty years, so it's a long time. He's the man who spat at me and turned his back when you were very young."
What did that mean? Turned his back?
My grandfather frowned for a moment, as if recalling that instant. How painful must that memory be?
"It was when the new military regime seized power and wielded its swords and guns. Military regimes are always like that. They try to seize control of the wealthy first."
Wasn't Sunyang the very company that aligned itself well with that regime and prospered?
"Everyone, wary of the situation, gave money when asked and didn't hesitate for a moment to plant stakes first if told to build a factory in a specific region."
"Then did he resist the new military regime?"
"No. How could he? That friend Byeonghae Ju was a businessman to the bone. His mindset was that as long as he extracted more profit than the money he gave to the regime, it was enough."
"Then regardless of the circumstances of that era..."
"No. You're right. Do you perhaps know of a company called Dongmyeong Group?"
How could I not know?
Wasn't it the company that was overwhelmingly number one in business rankings until the mid-70s?
Yet, as soon as the new military regime came into power, it was absurdly expropriated in the guise of 'national donation' and vanished without a trace.
"Yes. I've vaguely heard of it."
"Byeonghae Ju was very close with Chairman Kang of that Dongmyeong Group. He followed him around, calling him 'Brother, Brother,' and received a lot of help. Thanks to that, I also got some help."
Whatever the cause, a rival company had vanished. Was there a reason for the two of them to part ways because of that?
"The entire business community prostrated themselves. Not a single person stepped forward. It was obvious that getting involved to help Chairman Kang would only lead to becoming a second 'donated' company."
Even twenty years ago, power could destroy a company. It was proof that companies weren't as large back then. But now it's impossible. The scale of major corporate groups has grown so enormous that the government can no longer control them.
"Did Byeonghae Ju perhaps launch a campaign to save him?"
"No. No matter how close, you can't go down with them, can you? That friend Byeonghae also said to lie low, quiet as a mouse. He said that if he took care of Chairman Kang's old age later, he would have done his duty enough not to earn reproach."
"Then why...?"
My grandfather offered a bitter smile and continued.
"I, however, didn't stay still. I immediately started aligning myself with the new military regime. Corporate 'donations' aren't cash, are they? If the government holds a company in its hands, what would it use it for?"
I understood what he meant at once. Indeed, my grandfather was not one to miss such an opportunity.
"Of Dongmyeong Group's six subsidiaries—Dongmyeong Industrial, Dongmyeong Heavy Industries, Dongmyeong Development, Dongmyeong Foods... I took four of them almost for free. By acquiring them, Sunyang's heavy industries division grew tremendously."
As expected. That's how it happened.
Now, a hazy but clear picture formed in my mind.
"When Byeonghae found out, he was furious, fuming with rage. He said, 'Even if business ethics fall to the ground, shouldn't human decency be upheld?' And 'How could you commit an act that kills Chairman Kang twice over?'... I had truly never seen him that angry before. It was also the last time he ever got angry at me."
I could understand why Byeonghae Ju flared up like that.
It was like a close friend, as if waiting, cheaply bidding on and taking my house when it went up for auction. It would be difficult to escape criticism.
"So, has he been living like that ever since?"
"Yes."
"Considering you parted ways on bad terms, your relationship seemed no less close than brothers."
"Oh, don't even talk about it. For about five years, no cold shoulder was colder than that. But as he too grew old, what could be done? He softened up, missing the past and craving human connection. It's been a long time since we've been like friends, like brothers."
Then only one question remained.
Why had I absolutely had to pay my respects to that old man?
"From now on, even if I'm not here, think of it as dealing with me and visit him often."
"Yes. I will treat him like a great-uncle."
"Good, and if you have any difficulties, ask for his help and advice. Unless it's an ordinary matter, he will give you an answer."
"He must be a wise man, then."
"And he is sagacious. That's why I discuss all the minute details of group affairs and seek that old man's opinion, isn't it?"
He was another Chief of Staff Lee Hakjae.
However, there were also aspects where he fell short of Chief Lee. I wanted to ascertain the extent of that difference.
"Are there many people in the group who remember him?"
My grandfather's eyes gleamed as he smiled.
"Many. All the influential figures in the group learned their trade under that friend. They'll undoubtedly go to greet him with gift baskets during holidays, won't they? If circumstances don't permit, they'll at least call."
Is that so?
If an retired old man still wielded influence, what would be so difficult about acting playfully like a dear grandson?