Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Investor

Cha Seong-jun made a hollow laugh.

“I brought in so many construction orders in the Middle East, how is the construction company’s financial state in this shape?”

The more he looked into Taeseong Construction’s ledger, the more he was dumbfounded.

“How on earth were they operating the company? Did Father leave this sight alone?”

Too absurd, Cha Seong-jun covered the ledger with a thud.

Instead, he picked up the phone.

-Hello?

“Father, it’s Seong-jun. I called about the Taeseong Construction holding funds problem. Can we talk for a moment?”

-Since that Yun-seong guy was in charge, there would have been a deficit. How serious is it that the voice is this serious?

“At this rate, even if we win the Subway Line 2 construction, we can’t complete it.”

-What? That much?

“There’s another problem. The expected construction amount for Subway Line 2 is about 180 billion. Even if the government pays all the construction payment, a deficit is expected.”

Chairman Cha’s sigh came over the phone.

-Yes, we have to shoulder at least 30 billion in deficit. Instead, the reserve land will be our share.

Reserve land refers to the land that the project implementer acquires and executes or sells to cover the construction costs arising from urban development projects.

-Have to sell that and cover the insufficient construction expenses.

But reserve land is post-payment.

Usually, after the subway station enters and buildings stand out a lot, land prices begin to skyrocket.

So even if selling the reserve land, it will be difficult to receive the full proper price.

-Still, everyone will run with eyes red trying to win the Subway Line 2 construction.

“Yes, because if you preoccupy land near the subway station in advance and sell it, you’ll make a fortune.”

-The deficit will be covered there and still remain.

“Father, I’m thinking of securing construction funds by selling that information.”

-Umm. It won’t be easy.

“People have definitely witnessed the land prices in areas where Subway Line 1 stations entered skyrocketing. High-ranking figures from the political and business worlds are worth eyeing to secure clean slush funds, right?”

-That’s a matter to discuss only after our Taeseong wins the Subway Line 2 construction. In the subway construction bidding review, the construction company’s holding funds status is also viewed importantly.

“So it became an urgent problem that has to be resolved immediately.”

Cha Seong-jun forcibly swallowed a sigh.

“It seems I have no choice but to organize my private assets and put them into Taeseong Construction.”

-How much private assets do you have?

“Did you forget? I went around every corner of the country building hotels and resorts, and also paved roads. At that time, I bought surrounding land in advance and resold it in a way that I filled my pocket quite thickly.”

-Even so, it’s far from enough. Shall I introduce bank presidents this time?

“The banking sector is something Father has to use, right? To acquire Taeseong Chemicals, even if pulling all the affiliate holding funds and pulling bank loans fully, it will be difficult, I know.”

Chairman Cha sighed lowly.

-What are you trying to do? Suppose you dispose of your private assets first. Then the remaining money?

“It seems I’ll have to borrow loan sharks.”

Chairman Cha’s sigh flowed over the phone.

In life, there’s no matter as frustrating and bleak as money problems.

That’s the same even when operating a large company.

-By the way. Earlier, President Oh of Hyunmu Construction called. He said he’ll put the balance into the Taeseong Construction account by tomorrow so hand over the land document quickly.

“Yes?”

-The Suseo-dong apartment site. You sold the land well receiving the proper price from that suspicion disease terminal patient President Oh of Hyunmu Construction.

It was words that an unexpected large sum would enter the Taeseong Construction account.

-Well done. What on earth did you do how? President Oh of Hyunmu Construction is not such an easy guy. It’s the first time I’ve seen him rushing like that.

“······.”

Father, I also want to ask.

How on earth did this happen?

I have never sold the Suseo-dong apartment site to President Oh of Hyunmu Construction?

-Seong-jun, stop pulling loan sharks. I’ll prepare the money.

“Father? How do you intend to?”

-Just give up acquiring Taeseong Chemicals.

* * *

After stopping by the Taeseong Department Store and arriving at our house in Hannam-dong, it had already become evening.

“I’m back.”

“Aigo, my precious child!”

“Grandfather!”

“Yes, Grandfather came!”

Grandfather who was smoking one cigarette in the garden smiled broadly and ran over and lifted me up.

How many times did he put his hands under the armpits and spin in place?

“Aigo, I’m dizzy so I can’t anymore.”

“Hehehe.”

“You haven’t eaten dinner yet, right? Your grandmother made a lot of delicious side dishes. Go quickly and eat.”

“Thank you. Grandfather eat together too.”

“No. Grandfather has something to briefly discuss with your Dad.”

I wondered what the business was, it was the Taeseong Construction problem.

Grandfather went up to the second-floor study.

I wanted to follow up too in my thoughts, but since I was caught by Mother, I couldn’t even run away.

I had no choice but to quietly receive the meal table.

“Jeong-hyeok, where on earth did you play all day today?”

“······I met the alley leaders.”

I can’t even say that I delivered invitations to the previous era’s big shots.

“What did you play? Was it fun?”

“······Just watched shell game and came.”

I can’t even say that I gambled at the gambling den until now.

“Khuheup!”

“Kheup!”

Uncle Cheol-gu and Yu Jong-tae who received the meal table together sprayed rice.

Now is the time to eat as given without distinguishing cold rice or hot rice and flee!

I pretended not to know and moved the chopsticks quickly.

‘Hey, guardian deity!’

[Again?]

The underworld messenger who stole cards all day today lifted a face with particularly deep dark circles.

[······Let me rest a bit too.]

‘Resting is not late even after dying.’

[Uheuk, field of view sharing!]

* * *

The most eye-catching thing in Father’s study was the mountain of documents piled like a mountain on the desk.

Father was processing documents almost burying his body in the desk and lifted his head.

It was a face that had become quite haggard from working all day without rest staying up all night.

“You’ve come?”

“How hard are you working that you don’t even know I came? Are you working while eating dinner?”

“Sorry. As you see, matters are piled up a lot.”

“What do you have to be sorry for? I’m more sorry. You suffered because of the incompetent uncle.”

Grandfather lightly patted Father’s shoulder.

“Even when working, do it while eating meals. This is all work to live.”

“Yes.”

“Sit here. Your Mom made a lot of this and that since you came.”

Grandfather took out a 7-tier lunch box and placed it on the reception room table.

“Even looking at your Mom’s sincerity, try just one bite.”

Only then did Father stand up from his seat and head to the reception room sofa.

He gave the upper seat to Grandfather and prepared tea himself.

“Sorry, Father. Because of me, having to give up Taeseong Chemicals that you carefully grew. I have no face.”

“Enough. Every year hundreds of companies arise and disappear again. Ruining a business once is not even a matter in this field.”

Grandfather quietly looked down at the tea that Father offered.

“A company can be made again. But family is hard to obtain again once lost.”

It was warm honey tea with steam rising.

“The reason I tried to form a solid marriage connection was also thinking it would be a good matter for my child. It was greed that it would be good if there was even one more reliable hill.”

Grandfather blew on the honey tea and drank with a slurp.

“But even the Pyongyang governor, if he dislikes it, that’s it. What’s the use of a solid in-law when you dislike it. I just need you to live well. Other things are all fine.”

“Thank you. Someday I will definitely repay this loss.”

“That’s also enough. Being tired while calculating gains and losses is sufficient with just company matters. Let’s not live so harshly between our family.”

Grandfather grinned.

“I experienced war, right? It was a hard time. Lost all the foundations I had, started with bare hands and came up to here. Even if losing a few companies here, for me it’s a remaining business.”

“Father.”

“What raised me whenever I was tired and hard were the wife and children. Just looking at the faces sleeping soundly, the fatigue goes away and the strength to endure tomorrow surges.”

Grandfather seemed immersed in recollection recalling those times.

“You’re also volunteering for this hardship to protect your wife and child, why wouldn’t I know that feeling. Even if others don’t, I have to help you.”

“Sorry.”

“Taeseong Chemicals was also prepared as your share from the beginning if you think about it. If you dislike it, I also have no lingering. So no need to make such a sorry face.”

Grandfather downed the honey water in one gulp and put down the teacup.

“The money invested isn’t that much if you think about it. So consider it a good experience at a cheap price and that’s it. Discard the lingering of the past, and from now prepare the future.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Year-end night. We’ll meet U-gwang there. I’m thinking of making a grand declaration of war.”

“Declaration of war?”

“Anyway, a broken marriage. At this year-end night, I’ll introduce my daughter-in-law and grandson, and cleanly settle with U-gwang. I have no intention of raising my precious grandson as an illegitimate child, a dirty bastard.”

Grandfather looked refreshed.

“You also show it proudly in front of ten thousand people. Who the people you chose are, what Taeseong’s status is. I’ll firmly put strength into this subway construction.”

“Thank you.”

“You’ll have to draw people’s eyes as flashily as possible. If you don’t want to see your wife and child being finger-pointed.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Good. Let’s show only the hope and possibility that Taeseong Construction will create there.”

“I’ll implant the conviction that if it’s Taeseong, we’ll definitely win this subway construction.”

“Good. Originally, stocks are also invested looking at the future. If the matter seems to succeed, money and people naturally follow. People follow the trend. If our Taeseong makes the trend, that’s it.”

Grandfather put one piece of bulgogi on Father’s lunch box rice.

“After the year-end night ends, let’s comfortably have New Year’s morning meal among family. Have to introduce your wife and child to the family. Wouldn’t it be regrettable if only the family doesn’t know.”

“Yes, I’ll do so.”

Grandfather nodded.

“So you don’t mind other matters and just prepare the subway construction well. Driving U-gwang in is what I’ll do.”

He already circulated the threatening notes that move public opinion.

“The fund problem is the same. Loan sharks I’ll also handle······.”

It was then.

Ding dong! Ding dong ding dong!

Secretary Kim walked into the study without hesitation.

“Chairman, Young Master. I brought money.”

The Taeseong Group security guards put down the safe torn whole and the heavy travel bags.

Thud!

“About 3 billion won in cash.”

“3 billion?”

“All in cash too?”

If 3 billion won, how many Gangnam apartments is that.

It seems they went around the houses written on the IOU and thoroughly cleaned the money in the safes.

Secretary Kim said.

“The investor says he’ll invest about 5 billion in Taeseong Construction.”

“Investor?”

Grandfather and Father stood up abruptly at the same time.

“Tell me in detail how this happened!”

“What are the investment conditions? Who is the investor?”

Secretary Kim smiled gently.

“Sorry. The investor wishes to keep his mouth shut. But he said at the year-end night, other investors can also be confirmed.”

“At the year-end night? There are other investors too?”

“Yes. Since an investor with such a large hand appeared, Taeseong Construction’s fund shortage problem will be resolved to some extent.”

“Good! Then I have to make the board bigger.”

Grandfather clenched both fists tightly.

“Secretary Kim, bring the Federation of Korean Industries phone directory!”

“Yes, understood.”

“Also the high-ranking public officials’ phone directory!”

“Yes.”

“Also to President Oh of Hyunmu Construction······.”

“The investor said it’s a matter that received permission in advance from the Hyunmu Hotel owner.”

“Is that so?”

Color returned to Grandfather’s expression.

“That’s good! How is the matter resolving so smoothly. It seems like the sky is helping us.”

* * *

I cut off the field of view sharing with the underworld messenger.

‘Investor.’

That one word that Secretary Kim chose stabbed into my chest.

‘Anonymous investor. A sponsor who can decide the investment conditions. A rights holder who can exercise force if something happens.’

Not bad?

Because of the age of seven, hands and feet were bound so I couldn’t move at all, it was too frustrating.

I had to use a proxy even for obtaining one invitation, even for jumping into the gambling board once.

-To not leave a flaw on Taeseong’s name.

-So that the seven-year-old kid doesn’t stand out.

Receiving help from Yu Jong-tae or Uncle Cheol-gu is only once or twice.

I was annoyed thinking I can’t do this every time.

‘If I establish an investment company?’

I paced in the room for a long time.

As the night deepened, the worry deepened more.

In that way, the year-end night came.