The Place the Giant Left Behind 2
My face in the newspaper?
Well, a young man riding with the chairman of the Sunyang Group. The fact that it was his grandson, not his son, was enough to make headlines.
I wanted to ask why he wanted to be exposed like that.
But the car had already stopped, and an employee waiting outside opened the door, so I missed my chance.
Grandfather stepped out of the car, frowning. The smell of spicy beef soup filled the air.
“What a mischievous old man. Serving meat soup to monks who only eat greens. Ha!”
At that moment, Ju Tae-sik, the chairman of Daehyeon Motors, hurried over and bowed deeply.
“Thank you for making the difficult journey, Chairman.”
“I came comfortably by car. It’s fine.”
Grandfather lightly patted Chairman Ju’s back.
“I’ve been meaning to visit since I heard you were unwell, but I had to see you off on your final journey. Let’s go.”
Chairman Ju led the way, and we followed slowly behind him. As we walked, people who recognized Grandfather stood up and bowed.
Inside the grounds, a line of about ten children stood waiting.
These were people from a family I once couldn’t even dare to look at, standing right before my eyes. And the way they looked at me—it was the gaze of recognizing one of their own.
The portrait surrounded by an overwhelming number of flowers, the countless mourners, the endless line of wreaths.
All of this made my previously hunched shoulders straighten.
I watched from a distance as Grandfather lit incense and said his goodbyes.
But as he stood there, unmoving, people began to grow uneasy.
A minute felt like an hour. Other mourners waited outside because of Grandfather, and the bereaved family could only watch him nervously.
After about five minutes, I decided I had to approach him.
“Grandfather….”
”…Hmm? Oh.”
Grandfather moved toward the line of bereaved family members.
“I apologize for the delay. I had much to say to your father, and this was my only chance.”
“No, Chairman. It’s quite alright.”
Ju Tae-sik, the eldest son, bowed repeatedly.
“We’ll prepare the meal.”
At Chairman Ju’s signal, two waiting employees hurried over.
“Chairman, this way, please.”
“Before that… Dojun, introduce yourself.”
Grandfather took my hand and pulled me forward.
“This is my grandson. A filial grandson who keeps me company in my old age.”
It felt like I’d been hit with a hammer.
Was this it?
Bringing me here, opening the car window for the reporters, and introducing me to the Daehyeon Group chairmen.
He was announcing my existence to the world.
The youngest grandson of Sunyang, fresh out of college, personally accompanying the chairman. And the dark horse who quietly inherited Sunyang’s financial sector.
The media would buzz, and the Daehyeon Group chairmen would start paying attention to me. They’d wonder what kind of person I was to have inherited such a valuable part of Sunyang at such a young age.
The more eyes on me, the more power my every move would carry.
Today, at this funeral, I made a grand debut.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to greet them?”
“Oh, yes.”
I bowed to Chairman Ju Young-il’s children.
“My deepest condolences.”
The first to extend a handshake was Chairman Ju Tae-sik.
“So you’re the grandson leading the generational shift.”
“I’m just a guy who dabbles in stocks. Please teach me a lot.”
I thought it was over after the eldest son greeted me. But suddenly, another hand appeared in front of me.
“I’ve heard about you. I’m Ju Kwang-sik.”
Ju Young-il’s sixth son, Ju Kwang-sik.
The one who inherited Daehyeon Investment Securities and the financial subsidiaries. Just like me.
“I’m Jin Dojun.”
His grip was firm, and he didn’t miss the chance to give me a slight smile.
Grandfather took a sip of the spicy beef soup and put down his spoon.
“Have some more, won’t you?”
“I’m fine. I’m not hungry. You should eat well since you’ll be staying here tonight.”
“But still….”
“I said I’m fine. If I get hungry, I’ll have a bowl then.”
I quickly finished my bowl of soup.
“Dojun.”
“Yes.”
“Look at those guys.”
Where Grandfather pointed, Ju Young-il’s children were gathered in small groups, whispering.
“Even though their father passed away, there’s not a hint of sadness, is there?”
“It’s been a few days. They can’t cry all day, can they?”
“What? Just because you shook hands, you’re seeing them in a good light? Those guys are no different from the kings of the Warring States period. They’re debating whether to join forces to grab a bigger piece of the Daehyeon empire.”
“Then is Sunyang Group in the Three Kingdoms period?”
I joked lightly, but Grandfather’s expression remained stern.
“Dojun.”
“Yes.”
“They say that even during war, Westerners put down their guns for the Christmas season, right?”
“Not exactly. It happened only once.”
The Christmas Truce.
On December 24, 1914, during World War I, Britain and Germany agreed to a truce in Ypres, Belgium.
A German soldier sang ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’ from the trenches.
When the British soldiers cheered, the Germans began placing small Christmas trees decorated with candles and lights on the trenches, and someone bravely climbed up with a small candle.
After the Germans finished singing, a German officer came out and shook hands with a British sergeant, establishing the truce.
However, soldiers from both sides were court-martialed, and it never happened again after 1915.
“Whether it happened once or twice isn’t the point!”
“Yes.”
“No matter how fierce the Three Kingdoms war is, during my funeral, there should be a truce. Do you understand?”
He leaves me speechless.
To hear such a request here.
It was hard to promise, but I wanted to assure him.
“Yes. During the forty-nine days of mourning, I’ll make sure no loud voices are heard. I’ll keep not only my uncles but also my cousins from uttering a word. Don’t worry too much.”
“It doesn’t seem likely, but I like your boldness. Haha.”
Grandfather’s expression brightened as he continued to watch Chairman Ju’s children.
As if he wanted to imprint their actions and expressions in his mind.
“See, wasn’t I right?”
“Sorry?”
“The fact that their father passed away is already a distant memory. They’re all busy doing business at the funeral, aren’t they? Especially the greedy ones. They’re always busier. Is that the sixth one?”
Grandfather gestured behind me with his chin.
When I turned around, I saw the man who had shaken my hand, Ju Kwang-sik, approaching us.
I quickly stood up and bowed slightly, and he patted my shoulder.
“Is the food not to your taste? It seems you haven’t touched your spoon….”
“It’s fine. A funeral is a place where you can eat your fill whenever you’re hungry, isn’t it?”
Grandfather smiled slightly as he looked up at Ju Kwang-sik.
“Take him. There’s no business with an old man in the back room, but there might be with the one holding the subsidiaries.”
“Please forgive my rudeness.”
Ju Kwang-sik bowed, but Grandfather waved it off.
“No need. There are plenty of people here eager to take my grandson’s place. I won’t be bored.”
As Grandfather said, the mourners at the funeral seemed to be waiting for their chance. I could see them itching to take my seat the moment I left.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Ju Kwang-sik bowed to Grandfather again and turned to me.
“Mr. Jin Dojun, could you spare some time?”
At his polite tone, Grandfather suddenly shouted.
“Hey, don’t you know I was close enough to your father to call him brother? What’s with the ‘Mr.’ for a nephew-like kid?”
“Haha, I guess I’ve suddenly gained an outstanding nephew.”
Ju Kwang-sik scratched his head and looked at me.
“Nephew, shall we have a cup of coffee? I have something important to discuss. It won’t hurt to hear it.”
Grandfather spoke before I could.
“You’re the sixth, right?”
“Yes.”
“You’re just like him. Impatient, can’t put things off. Tsk!”
“Haha, people say I’m the most like him.”
Grandfather shook his head and spoke to me.
“Go on. Listen to what your new uncle has to say. See what nonsense he spouts.”
I quietly followed Ju Kwang-sik.
“Mr. Jin Dojun, don’t mind what the Chairman said. I already see you as a businessman.”
“Not at all. Please feel free. If you don’t mind, may I call you Uncle?”
“Oh, I’d be delighted. You’re as good-natured as you are handsome. Haha.”
Ju Kwang-sik laughed heartily and patted my back.
“So, how did our nephew catch Chairman Jin’s eye and end up with Sunyang’s financial sector at such a young age?”
“Probably because I’m the youngest. My father is the youngest son, so there must have been something special.”
“Passing on what he couldn’t give to his son to his grandson? Hmm….”
It was well-known in the business world that my father had been the family’s scapegoat for a while.
“I can only guess that might be the case.”
“A grandson selling off a company his grandfather worked so hard to pass down? Isn’t that a bit much?”
Wow, that’s blunt and hasty. Revealing his true intentions right from the start.
Now I understand why he called me aside quietly.
The sixth son of the Daehyun Group has caught wind of the Sunyang Card sale and is practically drooling over it, given he doesn’t have a card company of his own.
But does he really have enough cash to make the purchase?
“If you can’t handle it, you’ll end up losing it or having it taken away. I’m acting within my means, and my grandfather didn’t have any objections.”
“Or maybe it was a business he wasn’t too fond of? My late father also had a strong dislike for the card business. For the older generation, it’s often seen as credit trading or usury.”
“That was part of the reason he didn’t oppose the sale.”
“So, any progress?”
What a considerate uncle.
He’s going to such lengths to hand me another card. There’s no reason to refuse a gift.
“Since we’re family, I plan to get a proposal from our two eldest uncles first.”
“Come on, that’s not a sale. That’s just rearranging shares within the family.”
“Getting cash in exchange is a sale. I plan to separate it cleanly and sell it at a high price.”
“Have you got a figure in mind? I did some quick calculations, and it seems like it could be between 1.2 trillion and 1.4 trillion won.”
He’s quick with numbers, as expected from someone who deals with money.
“Who sells at cost? You have to add in the legwork and make a profit.”
“What? Ha ha ha.”
Joo Kwang-sik burst into laughter again.
“My dear nephew, you’re something else, aren’t you? No wonder you’re outpacing everyone else. So, what’s the selling price? Be honest. Since we’re family, a discount would be nice.”
His eyes suddenly gleamed with interest.