“Do-jun.”
“Yes, Grandfather?”
“Do you think this old man is truly awful?”
“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
“Instead of stopping my children from fighting, I egg them on. And when my grandson is in a tough spot, I find it amusing.”
“Well… you do have a point there. Haha.”
Though he spoke seriously, I couldn’t help but take it as a joke. I wanted to avoid making things heavier.
“It seems you’ve figured out the meaning behind your trip to Gunsan, given that you’re not hiding your intentions.”
“Yes. It’s clear that both Uncle and Aunt are trying to drag me into their schemes.”
“The one who fights and wins gets the prize. I’ve never seen anyone who just takes what’s given to them and manages to keep it. Do you know how many companies have disappeared in the fifty years since liberation? It’s because they got things for free.”
“I suppose you’re wondering if I’ll join the fight.”
Grandfather’s eyes twinkled as he spoke.
“No, I’m wondering how much more I should give you. You’ve been in the fray for a long time now.”
At this point, I needed to clarify things. He’s meticulous with calculations, so he can’t get this wrong.
“Grandfather, what do you mean by giving me more? I haven’t received anything.”
“What? You cheeky rascal! Have you already forgotten the 17% stake I added when you took over Sunyang Motors?”
“No, that was interest for the emergency loan I gave you. It was literally dollar interest, wasn’t it?”
Grandfather blinked for a moment before bursting out.
“You little thief! What nonsense is this? Haha.”
“And Grandfather, there’s something you must never forget.”
“There’s more?”
“Yes. I saved your life during that accident.”
“Look at this kid. Acting like a hero when he was perfectly fine during the accident!”
His pleased smile faded quickly, and he lowered his voice again.
“Do-jun.”
“Yes?”
“They say you give an extra rice cake to the one who cries.”
Why is he suddenly saying something so random?
“When I look at you compared to my lacking children, I think, ‘Our Do-jun will do well even if I give him less.’ If I give equally, my children won’t even have a chance to compete with my grandson. That’s what I think.”
I understand Grandfather’s feelings.
Blood ties are a formidable bond.
Though I met my relatives by crossing a bridge, my uncles met them within the same fence.
I understand the pride that makes him wrap it up in terms of ability rather than admitting it’s because of familial affection.
“Then starting tomorrow, I’ll start crying and showing my shortcomings. But until today, I’ll play the role of the competent grandson.”
“How?”
“Do as you wish, Grandfather. Isn’t Sunyang Group yours?”
His love for Sunyang Group surpasses even that for his children. That’s the heart I can rely on.
“This is going to backfire spectacularly.”
“The editorials are even more chilling. Every word is like a dagger. Uncle must be in a panic right now.”
Oh Se-hyun tossed the newspaper onto the table.
“Why did they have to overdo it? This could even blow back on the DMC.”
“Exactly. They’re highlighting the DMC as a hotbed of corruption, leaving out the land speculation. The weak point is that it’s a private contract, not a bidding process.”
“Hey! Are you just going to watch the fire from across the river? Shouldn’t we stop Hanseong Ilbo? Today it’s just them, but by tomorrow, every paper will pick it up.”
“What can I do? If you’re thinking of involving Grandfather, forget it. He made it clear he wouldn’t get involved.”
“Isn’t this going to derail the DMC?”
Oh Se-hyun looked worried.
“That won’t happen. Sunyang Construction has at least a 30% stake in the project. Grandfather won’t just sit by. He might watch Uncle get beaten, but if the business is threatened, Hanseong Ilbo will be in trouble.”
“That’s a relief.”
While Oh Se-hyun’s worries eased, mine remained.
What should I do about Uncle?
A man who seemed to follow his wife’s orders, showing an unpredictable side. Who knew he’d act like this just days after taking office?
Did Grandfather know about Uncle’s reckless nature? Is that why he was so against him entering politics?
I need to meet Aunt first.
A wife is best suited to tame a reckless husband.
“Uncle, how about meeting Aunt before Uncle causes more trouble?”
“Yeah, I can’t stand this anxiety. Let’s make sure he stays quiet until the DMC is on track.”
Just as we were about to grab our bags and leave, the door burst open.
“Oh Se-hyun! You bastard! What kind of trick are you pulling?”
The person shouting, panting heavily at the door, was none other than Kang Mu-seong.
“What are you on about? And watch your language. Bastard?”
“Why did you take my office? I came to work, and it’s under construction. What are you doing without telling me?”
“Oh, that? We have a parachute coming in. A former vice minister who’ll be a great help to our business. We had to give him a room with a view. What else could we do? There’s no space.”
“What? You bastards… You think I don’t know? I haven’t been paid in months, my car’s gone, and now my office? Are you trying to kick me out?”
While Kang Mu-seong was fuming, Oh Se-hyun chuckled, remaining calm.
“You’ve got it right. With that kind of insight, why not just resign and stay home?”
“Hey!”
“What? Watch your mouth before you say something you’ll regret.”
As Oh Se-hyun turned the tables, Kang Mu-seong’s fists trembled with rage.
My uncle is a tough one. I thought he’d let him stay for at least six months, but he kicked him out in just three, even taking away his office.
He’s giving Kang Mu-seong a taste of his own medicine.
I decided to watch this fascinating scene unfold without missing a beat.
“You think I’ll just take this? I have a contract. If I sue, you’ll have to pay penalties. I’ll get five years’ worth of salary and penalties, just wait.”
Kang Mu-seong pulled out a document from his pocket and waved it. He must have come prepared, seeing as he brought the contract.
“Oh, really? Go ahead. You love the law, don’t you? Do you still think the law is on your side?”
“What?”
“Can’t you tell the difference between shit and bean paste? You think I’d kick you out without a plan? With a valid contract?”
Kang Mu-seong seemed to realize we had something to render his contract useless.
“The finance and general affairs managers at Daeah Construction have good memories. They’ve kept meticulous records. They’ve given us several boxes of material. We’re debating whether to hand it over to the prosecution. What do you think?”
Kang Mu-seong’s eyes darted around. He was trying to figure out what was in those boxes, but he couldn’t remember all the misdeeds he’d committed.
Unable to recall, he couldn’t respond.
“The moment you file a lawsuit, the prosecution will start digging into where you got the money for your lawyer. You still owe a lot in fines, right? You claimed you had no money, so the prosecutors will be curious about where you got the funds for a lawsuit.”
Seeing the pale face of someone who treated employees like dogs was somewhat satisfying. I couldn’t keep quiet any longer.
“Sir, if you don’t want to spend your twilight years in prison, quietly submit your resignation and leave. Go play Go at the senior center near your home. If you try anything, we’ll make sure you end up eating spicy beef soup at the prosecutor’s office.”
“You… you little brat…”
I delivered the final blow to Kang Mu-seong, who was glaring at me.
“Listen carefully. I’m the grandson of Jin Yang-cheol. My grandfather cares deeply for his grandson. If he hears that I was insulted, he’ll come running with a stick, so watch your mouth.”
“Jin Yang-cheol?”
“Oh, I seem to have lost my business card. I’m Jin Ga-yo.”
“Jin… Yang… Cheol? Jin Yang-cheol of Sunyang Group?”
Kang Mu-seong’s eyes widened in shock.
“Surely not… Sunyang Group’s Jin Yang-cheol?”
I frowned.
“Watch your language. My grandfather isn’t your friend.”
Leaving the trembling Kang Mu-seong behind, we stood up.
“Uncle, let’s go. It’ll take him a while to write his resignation.”
“Shall we?”
Oh Se-hyun picked up his bag.
We left the office, leaving Kang Mu-seong slumped on the sofa.
“Hey, what’s gotten into you?”
“What do you mean?”
As soon as we stepped outside, Oh Se-hyun spoke in surprise.
“You’ve never flaunted your lineage before. What made you boast about being the chairman’s grandson?”
“I needed to put him in his place. He might back off now because of the evidence we have, but who knows what he’ll plot once he turns around. It’s better to crush any thoughts of challenging us.”
“Sometimes, you don’t take after your father. You’re as tough as your grandfather.”
Oh Se-hyun shook his head in disbelief.
“No, that’s not it. When dealing with someone tough, you have to show them you’re just as tough. You call him a friend, but you really don’t know him.”
Aunt had moved her office from the hotel to the department store. The luxurious image of the hotel wasn’t doing any favors for a politician.
As I opened the office door, I noticed it was decorated just as lavishly as her hotel office had been.
“Honey! What on earth are you doing? Stop this right now. What do you think you’ll gain by fighting the prosecution?”
Aunt was sharply scolding someone over the phone, but she hung up as soon as she saw us.
“Oh, Mr. Oh, you’re here? And Do-jun, you’re doing alright, I hope?”
Seeing Aunt force a smile, I could tell Uncle was up to something again.
“Plenty’s going on, as you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Grandfather. After you left that day, I got an earful from him for hours.”
“You didn’t…?”
“Do you think I’m stupid? I didn’t mention you. I just said it slipped out.”
“Good. You did well.”
Aunt patted my back.
“Please, have a seat. I’m sorry my husband is causing you trouble, Mr. Oh.”
“No need to apologize. What’s done is done; we just need to handle it properly.”
A pretty employee in a department store uniform set down some teacups and left, prompting Oh Se-hyun to speak up.
“I couldn’t help but overhear your call. Is there another issue?”
“Well, it’s just that…”
Oh Se-hyun smiled at Aunt, who was nervously biting her lip.
“Ms. Jin, we’re all in this together. We need to solve these problems as a team.”
“He wants to visit the Central District Prosecutors’ Office. He plans to protest their inadequate investigation. This is going to stir up more trouble.”
“What? Oh no…”
It wasn’t just Oh Se-hyun who was speechless. I was at a loss for words too.
This was practically picking a fight with the prosecution for no reason.
At a time when we should be extending an olive branch, what kind of foolishness is this?
The three of us simultaneously put our hands to our foreheads.