Chapter 10: A Change of Heart

Now it’s time to give this rich old man the joy of a twist.

I turned to my mother, who wore a serene smile, and spoke.

“And Mother?”

“Yes?”

“When I grow up I want to be the president of a big company, just like Grandfather.”

With that single sentence, the expressions of the two people changed drastically.

Chairman Jin, whose lips had been trembling, broke into a wide grin like a Hahoe mask, while Mother couldn’t hide her surprise, as if she hadn’t expected this at all.

“Hahaha! You can’t deny blood ties, after all. Sometimes it skips a generation, but it always comes back. Yes, indeed.”

Mother remained silent at Grandfather’s hearty laughter. Though young, she must have felt a pang of sympathy, realizing her son was trying to mediate the tension between the two adults.

“What do you say now, ‘Emiya’? You can’t argue now, can you? Our Do-jun also dreams of becoming a manager. Hahaha!”

Suddenly Mother’s eyes widened, and seeing her reaction Grandfather stopped laughing and closed his mouth, seemingly flustered.

An awkward silence hung in the air.

Unable to bear the awkwardness, Mother stood up abruptly from the sofa.

“Father, may I get you another cup of tea?”

“Ah… Yes. Bring it to Do-jun’s room. I have a few things to discuss with my grandson.”

“Yes.”

As Mother went to the kitchen, Grandfather took my hand and led me to the second floor.

I pondered the cause of this sudden change in atmosphere.

Could it be?

Was it because of the word ‘Emiya’?

Was it the first time he addressed her with a normal daughter-in-law’s title instead of ‘you’?

I didn’t want to believe it, but the start of that awkwardness couldn’t be attributed to anything other than the way he addressed her.

“You teachers can go now. Please take good care of our Do-jun.”

As the tutors bowed repeatedly and left the room, Grandfather scanned my room once and sat me down on the edge of the bed.

“Do-jun.”

“Yes, Grandfather?”

“Do you remember what you said a few days ago?”

“Huh? What…?”

“About the three friends.”

“Ah! The three powerful friends?”

“Yes, that’s the story.”

Of course, I remember. That’s probably why he came to see me today.

Now I brought up the story of ‘One Roh, Two Kims’ who will run the most exciting presidential race.

“I sent gifts to those three friends, just as you suggested. To stay on good terms, you see.”

“Ah, did you?”

He’s already handed over the slush fund? He acts incredibly fast.

“But things are getting a bit strange. Starting from today, in fact.”

He couldn’t have predicted the government’s unilateral declaration of surrender, so it’s hard to foresee the swirling political situation.

“Hmm… It’s like the second and third-place are joining forces to beat the first-place.”

After a brief pause, Grandfather began to explain in a way that was easy for me to understand.

“Are they fighting?”

“Yes. It would be nice if all three could get along, but they’ve started fighting. So I’m in a dilemma. Now I have to choose just one.”

“But Grandfather?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Are those three people you mentioned trying to become president?”

“Yes. They all want to be the class president.”

“Then if the second and third-place join forces and win, do they become the class president and vice president?”

“No. In this nation, there’s no vice president. Only the president.”

“Oh, then the first-place will win.”

As I easily predicted the outcome, Chairman Jin’s eyes widened.

I wonder how seriously this old man will take my words?

“What? Why, why do you think so?”

“There’s no vice president, so why would the second and third-place join forces? Only one of them can be president.”

“They won’t join forces?”

“Of course not. The third-place isn’t that far behind the second, so why would they help without gaining anything? The tenth, twentieth… or even the last place might help the first, but the third-place would never help.”

The second and third-place, YS and DJ, have spent their entire lives in politics. They survived the harsh oppression of the military dictatorship and finally, the long-awaited spring has arrived.

Considering their age, this spring is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Also, one shouldn’t underestimate a human’s desire for power. The modifier ‘comrades in struggle’ that followed them all their lives is weightless in the face of ambition.

Chairman Jin is someone who can fully grasp these facts.

However, when he firmly believes that the two Kims will join forces, it’s easy to overlook these facts.

If either of the two, who are respected leaders of the democratization movement and charismatic politicians, ran as the opposition candidate, they could beat Roh Tae-woo, the ruling party candidate.

Both of them have already expressed their willingness to yield. DJ stated in 1986, “I will not run in the next presidential election,” and Kim Young-sam also said, “If I am pardoned and my rights are restored, I will do everything in my power to make Kim Dae-jung president.”

Most citizens believed in the goodwill and reason of the two. Unification was only a matter of time, and no one doubted it.

But if the possibility of the two turning against each other is considered, Chairman Jin, who knows the true nature of humans better than anyone, wouldn’t miss this fact.

“The two gentlemen turning their backs on each other…”

There’s no need to explain the future in detail.

Another perspective, and doubt.

Just planting this seed is enough for him to understand.

After a moment of deep thought, he stroked my head.

“How can you be so bright, my child?”

Grandfather’s expression was one of complete satisfaction.

***

“Father did?”

“Yes. He’s talking with Do-jun right now.”

“It can’t be just to check on his studies.”

“Well…”

As his wife carefully recounted the day’s events, Jin Yun-ki clenched his teeth.

“What does a ten-year-old know? He just said that to read Grandfather’s mood. Is that kid’s perceptiveness ordinary?”

“Just let it go today. Let’s just go along with Father’s mood.”

Feeling a bit different, Jin Yun-ki tilted his head as he looked at his wife.

“What is it? You’re acting 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 addressed her for the first time since her marriage. ‘Emiya’—

Her pride wouldn’t allow her to admit that it almost brought tears to her eyes.

“Anyway, don’t say anything unnecessary today. Please.”

At his wife’s earnest অনুরোধ, Jin Yun-ki nodded.

Jin Yun-ki waited for his father, who was engrossed with his grandson, to come down.

Although he and his wife were ignored, he was quite fond of Do-jun, the youngest. But his recent behavior went beyond fondness.

According to his wife, he even intends to raise him to participate in the group’s management. Moreover, he was surprised to hear that he had even promised him shares.

Chairman Jin gave shares to his children and grandchildren when they turned twenty. He gave more if he was pleased, and stopped if he was disappointed.

Jin Yun-ki hadn’t received a single share. He didn’t think he ever would.

For him, the promise to give shares if he raised Do-jun well was undoubtedly a huge change.

Just then, a sound broke Jin Yun-ki’s thoughts.

“Are you here?”

“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 signaled to my father with his eyes.

“I need to see you for a moment.”

Jin Yun-ki looked back and forth between his son and his father before stepping out into the garden.

Chairman Jin’s secretaries bowed upon seeing the two.

“We’re going to the headquarters, so prepare to leave. Prepare for a meeting of the presidents. Ah, only the core subsidiaries.”

At the mention of a presidents’ meeting, the secretaries moved quickly.

Jin Yun-ki stood blankly, avoiding his father’s gaze.

“You may not know, but Do-jun is no ordinary child. He takes after me.”

“I haven’t noticed. Why do you say that?”

He had not forgotten his wife’s request, so he didn’t ask argumentatively but as politely as possible.

“He’s possessive and quick to judge. His insight, in particular, is remarkable. It’s beyond that of a child. He’s a natural.”

“Do-jun is possessive? You must be mistaken. Unlike a typical second son, he always yields to his older brother. He’s mature, but he’s not greedy.”

“That just proves how lacking you are. You can’t even tell what kind of child he is even though you’re right beside him. You’re hopeless.”

It was a statement that would normally make Jin Yun-ki bristle, but he held back.

Today he decided to listen to his wife.

“Are you perhaps considering him for group management?”

“That depends on Do-jun’s ability. I’m only giving him an opportunity.”

“Isn’t he still a child? Isn’t it too hasty to judge when we don’t know how he’ll change?”

“Do-jun said his future dream is to be a president. Of course, he might grow up to be a spoiled third-generation chaebol. That’s why I’m telling you to watch him closely and raise him well.”

There’s no need to refute the textbook advice of raising a child well.

Jin Yun-ki simply nodded.

“Send him to me once a week. I don’t want to miss the fun of watching him grow.”

Chairman Jin’s expression softened as Jin Yun-ki, who was always defiant and lukewarm, showed a polite attitude.

“I’m leaving now.”

Chairman Jin patted his son’s shoulder once and headed for the headquarters.

***

The presidents’ meeting.

Chairman Jin of the Soonyang Group rarely attended regular meetings of the presidents.

The eldest son, Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi, presided over the meetings, and Chairman Jin was only briefed on the results.

The 66-year-old Chairman Jin was empowering his 46-year-old eldest son to hand over the group.

It was the same situation as when King Taejong stepped down as a retired king and King Sejong took over the throne and took charge of state affairs.

Just as King Taejong did not hand over military power, Chairman Jin did not hand over the group’s personnel rights, which was also the same.

Chairman Jin’s attendance at the presidents’ meeting meant that an extremely important agenda would be discussed.

At this time, the Soonyang Group had 48 affiliates with annual sales of 24 trillion won, and it was hard to imagine what it would look like 30 years later.

Of course, it remains the largest company in Korea.

Chairman Jin Yang-cheol silently watched as the twenty or so presidents of key affiliates whispered to each other.

They each have their own information networks.

These are people whose alumni are spread across all walks of life, and they have many acquaintances from their long lives. They would have absorbed all kinds of information, and they must compile that information to reach a final conclusion.

Of course, that decision was solely Chairman Jin’s to make.