RR 10
[010] A Big Change 2.
Now, it was time to give this wealthy old man the joy of a twist.
I opened my mouth toward my mother, who wore a faint smile.
“And Mother,”
“Yes?”
“When I grow up, I want to be the president of a big company, just like Grandfather.”
With those words, the expressions of the two adults completely reversed.
Chairman Jin’s trembling lips curved into a wide, Hahoe mask-like smile, while Mother couldn’t hide her utterly bewildered expression, as if she hadn’t expected it at all.
“Oh, ha, ha. Indeed, blood will tell. It often skips a generation, too. Ah, yes, it’s true.”
At Grandfather’s hearty laugh, Mother remained silent. Though young, she must have felt a pang of sadness, realizing her suddenly mature son was trying to mend the argument between the two adults.
“What do you say, my dear? You have nothing to say now, do you? Our Do-jun dreams of being a manager, too, doesn’t he? Hahaha.”
In an instant, Mother’s eyes widened like lanterns, and Grandfather, seeing her reaction, also stopped laughing and fell silent, seemingly flustered.
An awkward silence hung in the air for a while.
Unable to bear the awkwardness, Mother suddenly stood up from the sofa.
“Father, would you like another cup of tea?”
“Th… that’s right. Ah, bring it to Do-jun’s room. I have a little more to talk about with my grandson…”
“Yes.”
As Mother went to the kitchen, Grandfather took my hand and led me up to the second floor.
I pondered the reason for this sudden shift in atmosphere.
Could it be?
Was it because of the word “emiya” (my dear, a somewhat intimate way of addressing a daughter-in-law)?
Could he have called her by a normal daughter-in-law’s title for the first time instead of “you”?
I wanted to believe it wasn’t, but I couldn’t find any other origin for the awkwardness besides the address.
“You teachers can leave now. Please take good care of our Do-jun.”
As the tutors bowed repeatedly and left the room, Grandfather glanced around my room and sat me down on the edge of the bed.
“Do-jun.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“Do you remember what you said a few days ago?”
“Yes? What…?”
“The story of the three friends, you know.”
“Ah! The three powerful friends?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
Of course, I remembered. It was probably the reason he came to see me today.
He then brought up the topic of the “Il-No-Yang-Kim” (one Roh, two Kims), who were about to embark on the most thrilling presidential race.
“I sent gifts to those three friends, just as you suggested. To get close to them.”
“Oh, you did?”
Did that mean he had already handed over slush funds? He was an incredibly fast man when it came to action.
“But things are unfolding strangely. Starting today, in fact.”
Since the government’s unilateral declaration of surrender was unexpected, it would be difficult to predict the swirling political situation.
“Hmm… the second and third place are trying to unite to beat the first place.”
After a brief pause, Grandfather began to explain in a way that my young mind could easily understand.
“Are they fighting?”
“Yes. It would be good if the three of them got along, but they’ve started to quarrel. That’s why I’m in a difficult position. I have to choose just one now.”
“But Grandfather,”
“Yes, tell me.”
“Are those three people you just mentioned trying to become president?”
“Yes. They each want to be the class president.”
“Then if the second and third place team up and win, do they become the president and vice president?”
“No. There’s no vice president in the country. Only a president.”
“Aw, then the first place will win, won’t they?”
Chairman Jin’s eyes widened as I predicted the outcome so easily.
How seriously would this old man take my words?
“What? Why, why do you think that?”
“Why would the second and third place team up when there’s no vice president? Only one of them can be the president.”
“They won’t team up?”
“Of course not. The third place isn’t that far behind the second place, so there’s no way they’d just help without gaining anything. The 10th place, 20th place… no, even the last place might help the first place, but the third place would never help.”
YS and DJ, the second and third place, had rolled around in the political arena their entire lives. They had barely survived the immense persecution of the military dictatorship and finally, the spring they had waited for had arrived.
Considering their age, it was a spring they would be hard-pressed to see again.
Also, one shouldn’t underestimate human desire for power. The label “comrades in struggle” that had followed them their entire lives was infinitely light in the face of ambition for power.
Chairman Jin was fully capable of discerning such facts.
However, when he firmly believed that both Kims would unite, it was easy to overlook these facts.
If either of the two respected leaders of the democracy movement and charismatic politicians of unprecedented caliber ran as an opposition candidate, they would likely surpass Roh Tae-woo, the ruling party candidate.
The two had already expressed their willingness to concede, almost competitively. DJ had stated in 1986, “I will not run in the next presidential election,” and Kim Young-sam also said, “If a pardon and reinstatement are granted, I will dedicate all my efforts to making Mr. Kim Dae-jung president.”
Most citizens believed in their good intentions and judgment. Unification was only a matter of time; no one doubted the political situation.
However, if the possibility of the two standing in opposition was opened, Chairman Jin, who knew the true nature of humans better than anyone, would not miss this fact.
“The two gentlemen turning their backs on each other…”
There was no need to speak of the future in verbose and detailed terms.
A different perspective, and doubt.
Wasn’t he a person who would understand enough if just this seed was sown?
He thought deeply for a while, then stroked my head.
“How intelligent you are, my child.”
Grandfather’s expression was one of complete satisfaction..
.
.
.
In the Living Room
“Father?”
“Yes. He’s talking with Do-jun right now.”
“He probably didn’t come to check on his studies.”
“Well…”
Jin Yoon-gi gritted his teeth as his wife carefully recounted the day’s events.
“What does a ten-year-old kid know! He just answered that way to appease Grandfather. Is his quick wit something ordinary?”
“Just let it go for today. Let’s try to keep Father in a good mood.”
Jin Yoon-gi, feeling a slightly different vibe, looked at his wife and tilted his head.
“What is it? You’re acting a bit strange. Did Father say something to you?”
“It’s not that…”
She couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth.
The way her father-in-law had addressed her for the first time since their marriage: “emiya”—
Her pride wouldn’t allow her to say she had almost burst into tears because of it.
“Anyway, don’t say anything unnecessary today. Please.”
At his wife’s earnest plea, Jin Yoon-gi nodded.
Jin Yoon-gi waited for his father, who was completely engrossed with his grandson, to come down.
Although his father didn’t pay much attention to him or his wife, he was quite fond of their youngest, Do-jun. But his recent demeanor went beyond mere fondness.
According to his wife, his father even seemed to intend to raise Do-jun to participate in group management. Moreover, he had even promised shares, which was surprising.
Chairman Jin gradually transferred shares to his children and grandchildren when they turned twenty. The more pleased he was, the more he continued to transfer, and if something disappointing happened, he stopped.
Jin Yoon-gi had not received a single share. He had thought he would never receive any.
For him, the promise of shares if he raised Do-jun well was undoubtedly a massive change.
At that moment, a voice interrupted Jin Yoon-gi’s thoughts.
“Have you come?”
“Ah, yes, Father.”
Chairman Jin was holding Do-jun’s hand tightly.
“Do-jun. Grandfather is leaving now. Study hard…”
“Yes, Grandfather. Goodbye.”
Chairman Jin stroked my head once more and motioned to my father.
“I need to see you for a moment.”
Jin Yoon-gi alternated glances between his son and his father, then walked out to the garden.
Chairman Jin’s secretaries spotted the two and bowed.
“I’m going to the head office, so prepare for departure. Arrange a meeting with the CEOs. Oh, only gather the core subsidiaries.”
At the mention of a CEO meeting, the secretaries moved quickly.
Jin Yoon-gi stood there blankly, avoiding his father’s gaze.
“You may or may not know, but Do-jun is not an ordinary child. He’s exactly like me.”
“I haven’t noticed, why do you say that?”
Not forgetting his wife’s request, he didn’t question defensively but spoke as politely as possible.
“He has strong possessiveness and quick judgment. Especially his insight, it’s truly astonishing. So much so that it can’t be seen as a child’s. He’s a born talent.”
“Do-jun has strong possessiveness? You must have seen him wrong. He’s not like a second son at all; he concedes everything to his older brother. Even if he’s mature, he’s not greedy.”
“That’s proof that you’re lacking. How can you not know what kind of child he is, even though you’ve watched him closely? You’re pathetic…”
It was a provoking remark, but Jin Yoon-gi endured it.
Because he had decided to faithfully listen to his wife today.
“Are you perhaps thinking of group management?”
“That’s Do-jun’s ability; I’m just giving him the opportunity.”
“Isn’t he still a child? We don’t know how he’ll change in the future, so aren’t you being too hasty?”
“Do-jun also said his future dream is to be a president. Of course, as he grows up, he might become a childish third-generation chaebol. So, this is just me nagging you to watch him carefully and raise him well.”
There was no need to refute such textbook advice about raising children well.
Jin Yoon-gi obediently nodded.
“Send him to me once a week from now on. I don’t want to miss the fun of watching him grow.”
As Jin Yoon-gi, who had always been cynical and listless, showed a respectful attitude, Chairman Jin also wore a gentle expression.
“I’ll be leaving now.”
Chairman Jin patted his son’s shoulder once and then headed for the head office.
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.
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CEO Meeting.
Chairman Jin of Sunyang Group rarely attended regular CEO meetings.
His eldest son, Vice Chairman Jin Young-ki, presided over the CEO meetings, and Chairman Jin only received reports on the results.
At 66, Chairman Jin was empowering his 46-year-old eldest son to take over the group.
It was exactly like the situation when King Taejong stepped down as the Retired King and King Sejong inherited the throne, taking responsibility for state affairs.
Just as King Taejong did not hand over military authority, Chairman Jin also did not hand over personnel authority for the group, a similar parallel.
Chairman Jin’s attendance at the CEO meeting meant that an exceptionally important agenda was being discussed.
At this time, Sunyang Group had a total of 48 affiliates, with annual sales of 24 trillion won, and it was hard to imagine its appearance 30 years later.
Of course, the fact that it was the largest company in Korea remained unchanged.
Chairman Jin Yang-cheol silently watched the twenty-odd CEOs of core affiliates whispering to those next to them.
They, too, had their own information networks.
Their alumni were spread across various fields, and they had many acquaintances from their years of living. They would have absorbed all sorts of information and needed to gather it to reach a final conclusion.
Of course, that decision was solely Chairman Jin’s.
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