Chapter 506: Juyoung Hong (33) |
As someone who prided himself on having a more keen political sense than anybody else, Chaesan knew it was a terrible idea to cause any trouble to the Myongjin Group.
So he felt it was best to look submissive to Myongjin for now.
But it was in this situation that his grandson picked a fight with the Myongjin Group chairman's son, so it was natural that he scolded his grandson Cholmin.
"Just go and see Juyoung and apologize to him right now!"
"What did you say, Grandpa? How can I apologize to such a bastard? He has been called an asshole until recently!"
Cholmin exclaimed, surprised by his grandpa's admonition.
But Chaesan said without blinking an eye, "If you won't apologize to him, get out of this house right now! I'm going to live without you!"
"..."
Kyongyoung knew well that his grandfather was not the type of man who talked empty words. Logically, he had to be serious about what he just said.
But he relented, and replied politely, "Sure, Grandpa. I'll apologize to him."
As soon as he heard that, Chaesan let him go immediately.
Then he said, "Come in."
Something like a passage appeared from a crack on the wall, then somebody came out from it.
The man approached Chaesan and knelt down.
As this scene was familiar to him, Chaesan opened his mouth casually.
"I'm sure Kyongyoung won't apologize to Juyoung. He will think it's unfair, so try to arrange a meeting between me and Juyoung sooner or later."
"Yes, sir."
Then the man went back to the secret passage from where he emerged.
After that, Chaesan put a cigarette in his mouth and stayed there for a while.
He muttered, "Maybe this is a good opportunity."
These days, the Myongjin Group was doing business so well that he thought he could not find any opportunity to cultivate a good relationship with them. So he thought that if he could cultivate a good relationship with Myongjin this time, he could capitalize on it to make a fortune.
"Well, I think I have to tame Kyongyoung's rough behavior for the time being."
He knew his grandson's nasty personality so well because he was a carbon copy of himself. That's why he doted on his grandson Kyongyoung among his other grandchildren.
In the Myongjin Group chairman's office the next day.
"Chairman, President Chongji Oh of the Federation of Korean Industries asked to meet you at 3pm today."
When the secretary said that, Chairman Hong put down the documents he was reviewing, then opened his mouth softly.
"Today?"
"Yes,sir."
"Anything else?"
"No, sir."
"Hmm…tell him I can meet him!"
"Yes, Chairman!"
The Federation of Korean Industries was a mere figurehead organization.
Chairman Hong was also a member of this organization, paying the annual fee that any regular member had to pay.
But there was nothing he did as a member because its membership was open to any businessmen, and it had no particular influence as an interest group.
What's worse, it was reduced to a mere group of companies around the country.
In the past, it had a remarkable power because of its unique situation.
The owners of the companies had no choice but to unite in order to protect themselves and their companies from the greedy politicians who treated them merely as a means for money.
What about now? In fact, their fates had reversed.
As someone said, politicians had their term limits, but the families of business conglomerates could survive for three generations even if they went bankrupt.
That's why the current Federation of Korean Industries was merely a political cover for their member companies.
Anyway, Chairman Hong focused on what he had been doing, for he had to meet lots of people for business.
Right before 3pm, Director Sok was briefed by the chairman secretary's office that Chongki Oh, the President of the Federation of Korean Industries, would visit Chairman Hong. So he was busy preparing to greet him when President Oh appeared at the lobby of the Myongjin Headquarters, accompanied by somebody. Of course, it was common that a personal assistant or a bodyguard accompanied Mr. Oh, but the man next to him was someone that Director Sok had known for a long time.
He was Chaesan Lee, a giant of the underground economy and a big influencer on the private loan market.
So Director Sok gave the secretary's office an order right away.
"Tell them that the elevator directly connected to the chairman's room is under renovation, then hold President Oh's entourage for a moment."
"Yes!"
"Got it!"
Those who belonged to the chairman's secretariat immediately carried out his order without questioning it.
At Chairman Hong's office a little later.
"So, you mean President Oh is coming here with Chaesan Lee now?"
"Yes."
"Hmm..."
Chairman Hong groaned a bit at Director's Sok's briefing.
Director Sok said, "Yesterday, Juyoung asked me to give him some more detailed information about Chaesan Lee."
"Why?"
"When I checked it out, I learned that he had a scuffle with a student named Kyongyoung Lee, Chaesan's adored grandson. I heard Kyounyoung was carried to the nursing office unconscious afterward."
"Do you mean he is coming to see me because of his grandson's matter?"
"I think he's come here for some other reasons. As you know, he is very well connected, and very greedy. So I guess he must be itching to see you because the Myongjin Group is thriving these days."
"Greedy?"
Chairman Hong thought Chaesan Lee was here to satisfy his greed.
Then he asked, "How did you take care of Juyoung's request?"
"Well, I'm investigating Chaesan Lee. I'm going to finish it within a week and get back to him."
"Alright, good."
"Then what are you going to do with Chaesan Lee?"
"Let him in. I'm curious about what he wants to say to me."
"Got it."
Chairman Hong was curious as he said that because he could not figure out how powerful his younger son was. There must be some reason why Juyoung asked for such information.
'Do I have to watch what he is doing then?'
Thinking about his son for a moment, he waited for Chaesan Lee to come in with President Oh.
At the Myongjin Group Chairman's Office a little later.
"Long time no see, President Oh!"
"Nice to see you again, Chairman Hong! It's so hard to see your face these days! You didn't come to the general meeting last time."
"Sorry. I'm so busy…"
"Hahaha! I understand. Who doesn't know that you're so busy these days?"
President Oh was in his 90s, so Chairman Hong used honorific language because he was even older than his father.
Osan Heavy Industries, where President Oh was serving as its honorary chairman, was a medium-sized company compared to Myongjin, but Chairman Hong respected him as an elder.
Anyway, they conversed amicably amid a genial atmosphere.
Then President Oh opened his mouth, pointing to the man next to him.
"Chairman Hong, this gentleman here is…"
But he didn't have to introduce him completely because Chairman Hong interrupted him. "Oh, isn't he Chairman Chaesan Lee?"
"Hahaha, you already know about him!"
"Well, if you are doing business, it's natural that you will come to know about him."
"Hahaha, that's right. All the businessmen in Korea must know Chairman Chaesan Lee."
President Oh burst into laughter when he heard that Chairman Sangman Hong already knew about him.