The seed money was more than just a small fortune.
“Chairman, whose name is on this land?”
“Whose do you think? It’s Do-jun’s. Why? Worried about the gift tax?”
“Seeing your expression, Chairman, I feel relieved. Haha.”
“Hey! It’s not like it’s a huge amount! It’s a gift for my youngest grandson, not something to worry about taxes over.”
His face was beaming with satisfaction.
It wasn’t just the joy of making a hundredfold profit. It was the look of someone who had discovered a hidden treasure.
Lee Hak-jae thought this event would bring about a significant change in the chairman’s mindset.
Sharp judgment, bold initiative, diverse perspectives, and groundbreaking ideas… these are the qualities of an excellent manager.
But finding such qualities in a 12-year-old like Do-jun is nearly impossible. At best, you might glimpse some potential.
What Chairman Jin was certain about was that his young grandson possessed an extraordinary weapon: luck.
All he did was point at a spot on a map of the metropolitan area. The result was a profit over a hundredfold, something that could only be explained by luck.
Skill and effort can’t surpass or defeat innate fortune.
“So, what do you plan to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“If it’s a confirmed new city area, there’ll be compensation for the land. If it’s the surrounding area, it’ll become prime real estate…”
“That money belongs to Do-jun. I can’t just take it back.”
“I’m not saying to take it back, but shouldn’t you invest it? It could become a significant asset for Do-jun in the future.”
“Me? Why should I? The kid made it a hundredfold in just a year. He’s far better than me.”
Chairman Jin waved his hand dismissively.
“Then…?”
Could he really be thinking of leaving such a large sum in the hands of a child?
Lee Hak-jae was at a loss for words.
“Let’s just teach him the basics and see how far his luck can take him.”
Quick with numbers, Lee Hak-jae had already done the math. The land compensation alone would be at least 16 billion, possibly over 20 billion.
That’s equivalent to the annual salary of 4,000 new college graduates.
Of course, to Chairman Jin, it might not be a huge sum. But even so, it’s too large an amount to simply toss away to test his grandson’s luck.
Does he expect as much as the size of this money?
On April 27, 1989, anyone with a bit of spare cash rushed to Bundang and Ilsan.
The government’s announcement of new cities was like revealing a treasure map. It was just a matter of who would claim it first, as it was clear that land prices would skyrocket, and the only question was how high they would go.
The land designated for new city development would be fully compensated by the state, but the surrounding areas had no limit. No one knew how high the prices would climb.
Despite the landowners’ dissatisfaction over compensation sparking collective protests, it was settled between a minimum of 110,000 won and a maximum of 700,000 won.
Lee Hak-jae, the chief secretary, handled the land on behalf of the chairman’s grandson.
And then, with a bankbook full of a hefty sum, he visited Jin Yoon-gi’s home.
“Yoon-gi, it’s been a while.”
“Hyung, what brings you all the way here…?”
“What’s this? You don’t seem too happy to see me.”
Lee Hak-jae shook hands with Jin Yoon-gi, maintaining his smile.
He was the only one in the family who called him “hyung.” Jin Yoon-gi’s siblings treated him like a servant.
He was the one Lee felt most attached to and pitied.
“You’re here, Chief?”
“Your beauty is as radiant as ever, sister-in-law.”
Lee Hak-jae offered a casual greeting, stopping her as she was about to leave after setting down the coffee.
“Please, sister-in-law, have a seat. I have something to discuss.”
The seriousness in Lee Hak-jae’s demeanor made the couple tense up a bit.
“It’s about Do-jun.”
Their eyes widened at the mention of their son’s name. Before they could react further, Lee quickly continued.
“It’s good news, so don’t be alarmed.”
After reassuring them, he explained the situation with the ranch in detail, which only seemed to shock them more.
“What? Fourteen billion? My goodness! How did this happen…?”
Jin Yoon-gi was too stunned to speak, while his wife seemed more bewildered than surprised.
Well, surprise and bewilderment often look similar, so Lee didn’t pay it much mind.
She must have known they were selling the land when she handed over the documents to the chairman’s secretary, but she couldn’t have imagined it would amount to such a fortune.
“It’s compensation for 60,000 pyeong. There’s still 20,000 pyeong left, which should rise to about 10 billion. We plan to sell that land later.”
Their eyes widened even more.
“Anyway, the chairman is quite pleased that the ranch he gifted with a light heart has turned into such a massive fortune.”
“Hyung, what does Father say?”
“He says it’s Do-jun’s money, so he’ll leave it to Do-jun.”
“Does that make sense? He’s only in fifth grade! How can you entrust such a large sum to a child? Just take it back.”
“Honey.”
His wife gently held his wrist, trying to calm him.
Lee was inwardly surprised. She was always a quiet presence, never showing much interest. Seeing her seem greedy for money was unexpected.
“Why are you so serious? Can’t we just put it in the bank? That’s all a kid can do anyway.”
Lee thought he understood what Jin Yoon-gi feared. How many lives had he seen ruined by money?
Then, unexpectedly, a voice came from Jin Yoon-gi’s usually calm wife.
“Honey, this might be all Do-jun ever gets. Father dotes on him now, but you know how fickle he can be. He could lose interest at any moment.”
Lee saw the sincerity in her desperate expression. It wasn’t greed but a desire not to lose what might be the last insurance for her child.
Jin Yoon-gi had never won against his wife. This time was no different.
“Of course, it’s a huge sum for Do-jun to grasp.”
This man misunderstands.
He probably thinks I don’t understand the magnitude of the money, seeing me just blinking silently at the bankbook in my hand. But it’s just that I knew this was coming, so I’m calm.
Well…
Logically, how could a 12-year-old grasp the absolute size of such money?
“So, what happens to my ranch?”
The first question should be childlike.
“We have to let it go. The state needs that land. You can move the horses to Jeju Island or set up another ranch elsewhere.”
Just when I was getting into horseback riding… I guess my days of playing the rich kid are over.
I’ve secured the seed money for the next step, so it’s time to end the real estate speculation. I can’t afford to bury money in land and wait leisurely.
“What do you want to do with the money?”
Lee Hak-jae pointed at my bankbook, his eyes full of curiosity. But I couldn’t reveal my plans just to satisfy that curiosity.
“I was told to save it in the bank.”
Isn’t that a childlike answer?
“Yes, keep it in the bank until you’re an adult. Safely.”
The word “safe” loomed ominously.
It sounded like a warning that someone seeking safety and comfort couldn’t become the captain of the Sunyang Group.
The current bank interest rate is a whopping 10%.
With compound interest, it would grow rapidly. Doubling it would be quick. But I’m not foolish enough to be satisfied with just doubling it.
Lee Hak-jae patted my head once and left.
Once his footsteps faded, I looked at the bankbook again.
Fourteen billion!
And there’s more to come. In 30 years, this amount would easily exceed a trillion!
“Heh, heh…”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter. I jumped on the bed like a madman.
I’d seen it countless times in movies and thought, “No matter how happy you are, isn’t that overdoing it?” But this reaction was genuine.
I couldn’t stop bouncing until the bed nearly collapsed.
“Huh-!”
Suddenly, I heard footsteps on the stairs.
I quickly got off the bed and ran to my desk.
I opened a book and pretended to study just as my parents walked in.
“Do-jun, can we talk?”
They were definitely going to bring up the money, and I wasn’t sure how to steer the conversation.
Until I become an adult… or at least until I shed the label of a child, my parents are the only ones who can help with my long-term plans.
I need to ask for their help, but it’s not easy.
“Did Uncle Hak-jae tell you?”
“Yes.”
I held out the bankbook, but my parents didn’t take it.
“What did you say you would do?”
“I told him I’d save it in the bank.”
They seemed relieved. Perhaps they thought they were worrying over nothing. What else could a child do but save?
“For now…”
Their expressions changed at my last words. For now?
“For now?”
“Why? Is there something you want to buy?”
“No. You always buy me what I need, Mom.”
“Then why ‘for now’?”
“Honey, let’s hear Do-jun out. What does he want to do?”
Dad smiled, holding Mom’s hand to reassure her.
When their eyes turned back to me, I smiled and spoke slowly.
“Dad, Mom.”
They were focused on my lips.
“If… no, it’s not an if. What would you do with this money?”
Seeing their more shocked expressions than I expected, I realized I might have made a mistake.
Should I have been more cautious? Or taken more time to understand them?
I was too excited about the money and rushed things.
I just wanted to know what they thought…
Dad looked at me with a stern face for a moment, then left the room without a word.
Seeing this, Mom sighed softly and held my hand tightly.
“Do-jun, your dad’s not angry. He’s just surprised.”
He seemed a bit angry too.
And quite surprised.
I couldn’t find the right words, so I lowered my head slightly. My mother gently patted my back.
We sat in silence for a while.
To break the awkwardness and ease her worries, I decided to speak up first. Besides, there was something I was curious about.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“Um… about what I mentioned last time, did anything happen with that?”
“Hmm? What are you talking about?”
“You know, that new town development in Ilsan?”
The surprised look on her face said it all.
Aha! She must have bought some land.
Well, whatever amount she invested, it would be a nice little nest egg, more than just pocket change. It would be reassuring to have that kind of security.
Whether you’re a man or a woman, having a little weight in your wallet brings peace of mind. If this brightens her face even a little, then it’s all worth it.
“Oh… that? No, I wasn’t really interested, so I just let it go and forgot about it.”
“I see.”
It made sense. She wasn’t the type to casually chat about buying land with her child.
Anyway, my attempt to subtly probe her had failed, so I’d have to try a different approach.
What should I do next?