“Have you placed anyone by Uncle’s side, Aunt?”
“What? What do you mean by ‘anyone’?”
She was neglecting her husband too much. She had people watching over her brothers, monitoring their every move—though they were likely being watched in return—but she hadn’t placed anyone to keep an eye on her husband.
“I thought you might have turned one of the mayor’s aides or secretaries into your own person. Aren’t they people he’s had with him since his days as a lawmaker?”
“Oh…”
Aunt had assumed her husband posed no threat to her. Now, she was paying the price for her complacency. Including me, damn it.
“Mr. Jin, there are bound to be changes around Mayor Choi. For the first time this year, Seoul’s annual budget has exceeded 10 trillion won. With that kind of money at stake, it’s bound to attract flies, don’t you think?”
In twenty years, it might triple. Whether now or twenty years from now, life doesn’t change much, except for the rising taxes.
“So, you’re saying there’s someone whispering in my husband’s ear?”
“That’s a strong possibility.”
Aunt found it hard to agree with Oh Se-hyun’s opinion. Naturally.
Who but a madman would encourage someone to fight the prosecution? Uncle’s current actions were clearly his own choice.
I watched Aunt and Oh Se-hyun exchange opinions, but their conversation barely registered with me.
Who could it be?
If he’s ignoring his wife, who is both a financial source and crucial for the presidential election, then it’s not just a fly but an eagle that’s latched onto him.
Until I figure out who it is, nagging him is pointless.
“Aunt.”
“Yes?”
The two stopped their conversation and turned their attention to me.
“Is there anyone among Uncle’s close aides that you could sway? Anyone come to mind?”
“Well, I haven’t really paid attention…”
“Send some people to find out. Uncle values educational background and connections in the prosecution, so look for someone who doesn’t fit that mold.”
Aunt nodded, quickly grasping my point.
“And stop nagging him. It seems like he’s finally exploding after holding it in for so long. No one can stop him now.”
“Holding it in? What do you mean?”
Whether they’re daughters of wealthy families or ordinary people, wives often think they endure and tolerate much more than their husbands in a marriage.
Just as I was about to speak, Oh Se-hyun, unable to hold back, spoke up.
“Mr. Jin, a man living with his in-laws can’t even straighten his shoulders. Mayor Choi was a lawyer, but he lived like an unemployed man without taking on any cases. His family lived off the Sunyang Group’s support. Whatever you said, he lived nodding his head, hiding his pride.”
He spoke as if it were his own story, but it didn’t seem to resonate. Realizing further discussion was futile, Oh Se-hyun just sighed.
It was time to end the discussion with Aunt. Clearly, things were out of control.
Until we knew who was behind Uncle’s reckless behavior, all we could do was watch.
“How could something like this happen?”
Oh Se-hyun clicked his tongue in disbelief, while I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“What on earth happened overnight?”
Even after laying out all the major newspapers on the table for comparison, my eyes weren’t deceiving me.
Led by the Hanseong Ilbo, every newspaper was praising Mayor Choi Chang-je’s courage.
They lauded his bravery in exposing the speculative activities of his in-laws, something that required immense resolve beyond the reach of ordinary people, to the point of making the reader feel embarrassed.
There were also cautious calls for a prosecutorial investigation.
Despite the lack of any illegal circumstances, the newspapers were thoroughly siding with the Seoul mayor, enough to provoke the prosecution.
“Hey, could your grandfather have had a hand in this?”
“There’s no way.”
He’s not one to easily retract his words.
But even the Hanseong Ilbo was singing Uncle’s praises! It didn’t make sense.
If yesterday’s attack was just a taste, today should have been the time for a full-scale offensive, right?
“Uncle, it seems like our uncle-in-law has found himself a significant sponsor.”
The media only bows to politicians when pressured by power or money.
Since the position of Seoul mayor isn’t one that would intimidate major media outlets, it must be money.
“A sponsor?”
“Yes, a massive sponsor capable of promising ad saturation in all the major dailies.”
“Let’s see…”
A sponsor with this level of financial power would fall into one of two categories.
A conglomerate, or a construction mogul.
Real estate sales make up the bulk of newspaper ads. Major conglomerates fill the front pages with ads for new products, while real estate ads fill every nook and cranny.
For the Seoul mayor, changing land use is a piece of cake, isn’t it?
“Right. With a solid backer, he doesn’t even listen to his wife. The man has broken free from living with his in-laws.”
I tossed the newspapers aside.
I wasn’t angry at Uncle’s recklessness. I was angry at my own narrow-mindedness for thinking I could make him president and a reliable partner.
How long has he been in office, and he’s already out looking for sponsors!
Oh Se-hyun silently watched my seething form.
He must have realized, too, that things had reached a point of no return.
“I’m sorry, Uncle. For showing you this side of me.”
“No, it’s the same for both of us. We misjudged him.”
“We should be content with securing the DMC. Who knows what kind of trouble we’ll get into if we stick with Uncle-in-law.”
“I agree. A man who only chases after people who suit his taste is hopeless. Whoever the sponsor is, he’ll end up being used by them.”
Having reached a consensus, we brushed it off. Uncle-in-law was no longer our ally.
President Jin clicked his tongue inwardly as he looked at the people with their heads bowed, curious about how his father would deal with these fools running around causing trouble.
Chairman Jin called out to his grandson, who was sitting farthest away with his head down.
“Young-jun.”
“Yes.”
“How much money did you lose?”
“Well, it’s not much.”
“How much!”
“Just over 60 billion won.”
Jin Young-jun’s voice shrank at his grandfather’s shout.
“It’s not much, but you can’t handle it, can you?”
With his head bowed, Jin Young-jun remained silent, like a mute who had eaten honey.
He could only wonder how long his time of reflection would last and where his exile would be. He hoped it would be somewhere in Europe or America.
“Dong-ki.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Find an apartment in Geoje Island. There are some company-owned houses by Sunyang Heavy Industries, right?”
“Yes.”
“Re-wallpaper and re-floor the apartment today. Fill it with the necessary appliances. Your eldest nephew will be staying there from tomorrow, so take special care.”
“Grandfather…”
Jin Young-jun urgently called out to Chairman Jin, but when Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki’s sharp gaze pierced him, he closed his mouth again.
“What’s the position of the warehouse manager at the shipyard?”
“Manager.”
Jin Dong-ki quickly answered the sudden question. He didn’t know the rank of the warehouse manager, but from tomorrow, it would be manager, no matter what.
“Make him a business card.”
“Yes.”
Chairman Jin looked at his eldest grandson again and spoke.
“What are you doing, grandson? Go pack your things quickly.”
Jin Young-jun looked at his father with pleading eyes, but Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki gritted his teeth and shouted.
“Get out! Go down to Geoje Island and don’t move until further instructions!”
Confirming that there was no one to save him, Jin Young-jun left with his head hanging low.
“Dong-ki.”
“Yes.”
“You give the special instructions your brother mentioned. Bring him back when you think he’s become a decent human being. And the eldest son.”
“Yes.”
Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki was engulfed in fear that his son’s life might effectively end today.
“Your son caused this mess, so you clean it up. There might be a prosecutorial investigation. If any evidence of embezzlement or breach of trust surfaces, Young-jun will go to prison. If you don’t want your son to serve time, you must handle this perfectly.”
”…Yes.”
Chairman Jin let out a long sigh. One matter was settled.
“Seo-yoon.”
“Yes, yes.”
Startled, Jin Seo-yoon looked up, her eyes fixed on Chairman Jin’s lips, anxious about what decision would be made.
“Divorce Choi.”
Chairman Jin’s bombshell statement left all his children speechless.
Especially Jin Seo-yoon, who could only open and close her mouth, unable to utter a word.
“That man wants to shed the label of being a Sunyang son-in-law, so let’s grant his wish. Wouldn’t everything be resolved if you divorced him?”
“Father, how could you say that…? Are you okay with me carrying the label of a divorcee?”
Just as tears were about to well up from a deep-seated sense of betrayal, Chairman Jin’s bombshell declarations continued.
“If you divorce, I’ll give you the department store, hotel, condo, and golf course in your name. I’ll completely separate them from the group so no one can take them away. How about it?”
“Father!”
This time, the two sons shouted. They were more concerned about the lucrative subsidiaries with strong cash flow being separated than their sister’s divorce.
“I won’t force you. I don’t want to be a father who pushes his daughter to divorce. The choice is yours, Seo-yoon.”
The study was filled with a cold chill.
“I’ve been thinking wrong all this time. I tried to bring in capable people to entrust Sunyang to, but… not anymore. It’s better to get rid of the incompetent ones. From now on, anyone who causes trouble or makes mistakes will be sent to the island. To set foot in Seoul again, they’ll have to be erased from the family register.”
Everyone swallowed nervously. It was as if the race for succession had officially begun. Was it because of his age? He must have decided it couldn’t be postponed any longer.
From now on, even the smallest mistake could mean being left behind.
“America?”
“Yes. I probably won’t be back this year. There’s a lot I need to do.”
My father and Oh Se-hyun turned their surprised gazes toward me.
“I’ll visit Sang-jun and Mom, and I’ll also learn a bit from Miracle in America.”
Seeing my expression, Oh Se-hyun gave my father a meaningful look. It seemed he thought a break might do me some good, to clear my complicated thoughts.
But my father missed Oh Se-hyun’s signal.
“What do you have to do in America? You’ve got plenty on your plate here.”
“Uncle can handle it. Right, Uncle?”
“Yes, leave DMC to me. I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly.”
Oh Se-hyun nudged my father in the ribs and nodded. Only then did my oblivious father nod along.
I do want a bit of a break.
But an article in today’s paper shook me.
It was a translated interview with an American, none other than Bill Gates.
The interviewer asked Bill Gates what he feared most, and he replied:
“Right now, it’s the young kids tinkering away in some shabby garage.”
Both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs started in garages.
I need to find the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. Fortunately, it’s easier than finding a needle in a haystack in Seoul.
At least I know the names of the companies and people.