Chapter 172: Family Gatherings and Business Deals

“It’s getting harder for our family to even get together on New Year’s Day.”

“Work takes priority over family now. You gain one thing, you lose another. It’s the same for you, Yoon-ki.”

“To be offering New Year’s greetings to my older brother in the office instead of at home…”

The brothers, with coffee and cheesecake instead of tteokguk before them, exchanged a bitter smile.

“Yoon-ki, I apologize, but me coming to your office with coffee and cheesecake isn’t for New Year’s greetings. I’m here for work. If it weren’t for work, who knows when we’d see each other.”

“I should be the one apologizing. It’s customary for subordinates to visit their superiors during holidays. I’ve spent the entire first day just receiving greetings, as you can see…”

Jin Yun-ki gestured to the mountain of paperwork with a shrug.

“I don’t know how you feel, but I like seeing you like this. What does it matter if brothers can’t meet often because they’re busy? Meeting for work isn’t bad either.”

“Shall we talk about that work then? You’re the incredibly busy vice-chairman, after all. Heh.”

Jin Yun-ki put a piece of the cake his older brother brought into his mouth.

“Do you talk with Do-jun often these days?”

“Is that work perhaps about Do-jun?”

“Yes.”

A wrinkle formed on Jin Yun-ki’s forehead.

“Don’t think about using me as a messenger. I won’t interfere until Do-jun asks me for help.”

“I’m not asking you to relay my words. Do-jun might have something he wants to tell me. I want you to pass that on.”

“Do-jun does?”

“Yes. Word around the group is that Do-jun is having a tough time.”

“What?”

“Haven’t you considered that Father might have forced the company on Do-jun?”

Jin Yun-ki’s wrinkled forehead smoothed out. Now, he even showed a smile.

“Even you’ve noticed now, haven’t you? Do-jun’s ambition is enormous. Isn’t it? Someone like that overwhelmed by the company? No way.”

“Just because he’s ambitious doesn’t mean he wants everything unnecessary. Do-jun wanted Soonyang Group’s shares, not the company itself. Having to see those old geezers in the company every day is a pain. It’s hard for me too.”

It was a hard point to argue against.

Getting a company handed to you for free is easy and enjoyable, but managing it isn’t.

“Do-jun said that? That he’s having a hard time?”

“Well, go confirm it. I only heard it through a few people.”

“If he is, are you going to take it?”

“I don’t know if you remember, but you once said you’d sell it for a high price for Do-jun’s sake. I’m willing to keep that promise.”

Jin Dong-ki spoke in a calm and gentle voice, not agitated in the slightest.

“How high are you going to buy it for?”

“We’ll have to discuss the price once we see the merchandise.”

“I’ll check it out. I hope you’re not just testing me. If you are, I’ll exclude you from future negotiations.”

“I hesitated a lot before bringing this up. I didn’t want to be seen as someone eyeing what my nephew has. So, don’t be too harsh. I’m bringing this up because I really need the financial affiliates.”

The heavy industries affiliate deals with large sums of money, so liquidity issues occasionally arise. Financial companies like banks are a welcome downpour during droughts.

“Alright. A business deal without impure motives. I’ll think of it that way.”

Jin Dong-ki, having finished his business, picked up a piece of cake and smiled.

“Brothers meeting for work isn’t bad, huh? Heh.”

“Grabbing a soju after work wouldn’t be bad either, right?”

Jin Yun-ki also smiled brightly at his older brother.

* * *

“My uncle came to see you?”

“Yes. He came to see me. Is something going on?”

Is Vice-chairman Jin Dong-ki the more eager one?

Or is he trying to confirm things himself because he doesn’t believe what he heard?

As expected, he’s more cautious.

But….

No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t seem like he’s using even Father.

“Something is, but just pretend you don’t know. I can handle it.”

“Didn’t we promise that you’d tell me if you were having difficulties?”

“It’s not a difficulty. It seems my uncle has something he wants to confirm.”

“He said otherwise. He said there are rumors within the group that you’re having a hard time.”

“How often are rumors true? This place is full of all sorts of rumors, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

Father studied my expression intently before showing a slight smile.

“It seems you wanted the rumors to spread. Understood. I’ll pretend I don’t know.”

Executive Director Jang Do-hyung needs to handle this matter cleanly.

It’s about selling the high-quality asset, Soonyang Card, for cheap.

If he fumbles even this easy task, it’s proof he’s not qualified to head Soonyang Financial Group.

* * *

“You’re giving away the card company?”

“Yes. Instead, what would be beneficial for HW Group to acquire?”

“Soonyang Electronics.”

Oh Se-hyun didn’t hesitate for even a second.

“Uncle. Surely you’re joking?”

“That’s the only thing that would benefit HW.”

“We’re giving away the card company and getting that in return? Is our uncle an idiot? To give away the electronics company?”

“And you, giving away the card company? Aren’t you an idiot?”

Giving away a company that generates enormous fees and interest is also a foolish move. At this point in time.

“Will you stop nagging me at that point?”

“What else can I do? I have to trust you again.”

Oh Se-hyun didn’t say anything more, only letting out a short sigh.

“If you’ve made offers to both sides, start a bidding war. Sell it to whoever offers even ten thousand won more.”

“I was hoping to secure a whole company, but I guess there’s no rush?”

“If there’s something we need, it’s better to build it ourselves. How about Soonyang Group shares instead?”

It’s what I want most, but anyone who isn’t a fool wouldn’t accept it.

Just then, something like a thunderbolt struck my head.

Why am I being so complacent?

Just because it’s a guaranteed win for me, am I forgetting the urgency?

What I really need is the controlling stake in Soonyang Group. Taking one or two affiliates can’t be my only goal, can it?

I need to use the card company as bait to get the controlling stake. I need to think harder and rack my brain for a solution.

“You’re right. I should give away the card company and secure the shares.”

Oh Se-hyun’s eyes widened at my sudden change of words.

“Hey! Do you really think your uncles are idiots? Don’t you know the share structure is already precarious? They won’t give up a single share.”

“No. When cornered, they will release shares. Look at our aunt. She gave up the department store group for eleven hundred billion won.”

“That was a special situation.”

“We need to create that kind of situation. I was being too hasty.”

I need to see who is more greedy.

Whether it’s the eldest son who openly acts like the owner of Soonyang Group, or the composed and cautious second son who believes he’s the only one who can lead Soonyang Group. Time will tell.

Either way, the greedy one will regret it deeply.

* * *

“What? Not an exchange, but a sale?”

“That’s right. Someone told me to sell it to whoever offers even ten thousand won more.”

“The person who said you weren’t in a rush for money was none other than the chief of staff.”

A credit card company is a place that prints money.

Considering its future value, the acquisition funds will be astronomical. No matter how much money Soonyang Group earns, it doesn’t have that kind of cash on hand. The deal itself is more likely to fall through.

“Sticking to something you said once is just foolish stubbornness. Thoughts and plans should be able to change at any time depending on the situation.”

“Exactly how much are you planning to sell it for?”

“Well, you can make that judgment, Executive Director. I’ll follow your decision.”

Jang Do-hyung’s face hardened, wondering if this was another test.

“I’m not asking you to set the selling price. I’m asking you to set the starting bid for the auction.”

“Auction?”

“Yes. I plan to give the two vice-chairmen a little enjoyment. Isn’t an auction a rare thing that stimulates a man’s pride? Moreover, if the auctioneer is a young nephew, their lower bellies will swell with excitement.”

“Are you going to step forward yourself?”

Jang Do-hyung seemed very surprised by my suddenly proactive demeanor.

“I’m graduating soon. As a commemoration to take my first step into society, I want to have a tense battle of wits with the two vice-chairmen. I might even get to see their true colors. Haha.”

I burst into loud laughter in front of Jang Do-hyung, who looked like he was going crazy with curiosity about what I was thinking.

“Now, an auction needs to be lively, don’t you think? Executive Director, please leak it to the press. Say that Soonyang Group is withdrawing from the credit card business, that they will completely spin off Soonyang Card and then sell the company through open bidding.”

Jang Do-hyung was already pale, thinking I was making things too big.

“Why are you so surprised? Don’t you trust me yet? I think I’ve said this before? I never let go of what’s in my hands. I’m just temporarily entrusting it.”

Indeed, even Oh Se-hyun, who has watched me for over ten years, is always on edge. How much more would Jang Do-hyung, who has only observed me for a couple of months, be?

It’s a wonder he hasn’t frothed at the mouth and collapsed.

* * *

『Soonyang Group shows signs of withdrawing from the credit card business. An anonymous source revealed that Soonyang Card will be spun off and put up for public sale. It is unclear what strategy lies behind the withdrawal from the card business, which is even called a goose that lays golden eggs, but the prevailing view in the industry is that Daehyun Group, which has yet to enter the credit card business, will acquire it.』

“This, this crazy bastard…!”

President Lee Min-seop exploded with anger while reading the article in the morning’s business section. In the end, unable to contain his rage, he tore the innocent newspaper to shreds.

“Tell Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki immediately that I need to meet him. Tell him he needs to meet me even if he has to cancel all his schedules. It’s an emergency.”

Lee Min-seop rushed out as soon as he put down the receiver. There was no time to wait for a reply.

When he opened the door to Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki’s office, the room was already full of people.

“President Lee is the last to arrive. And he’s the one involved.”

President Lee Min-seop flinched and bowed as Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki glared at him.

“I, I apologize. I was so surprised by the article that I needed to collect myself….”

“Why are you so surprised? It’s a joke, a joke. Come sit down quickly.”

Only after awkwardly taking a seat did he notice the faces of the others.

Vice-chairman Jin Dong-ki and Chief of Staff Baek Jun-hyuk, President Yang Woo-chan of the Life Insurance company, and President Ko In-kyu of the Securities firm were all sitting with stern expressions.

“Well, everyone has read the newspaper…. Let’s discuss how to handle this.”

Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki started the conversation, but no one opened their mouth.

President Yang Woo-chan only raised a question, not a solution.

“Is this article true? We need to confirm if that reporter bastard just picked up some nonsense….”

“President Yang, your instincts are failing you. We leaked this. The target is also clear. It’s a proposal aimed directly at me and my brother.”

Vice-chairman Jin Dong-ki spoke with a deep frown, as if frustrated.

“A proposal? What do you mean?”

President Yang Woo-chan still hadn’t grasped the situation, his eyes darting around.

“Buy Soonyang Card for a high price. Or we’ll sell it to Daehyun Group…. Do you understand? What our smart nephew is thinking?”

Jin Dong-ki shouted, causing President Yang Woo-chan to lower his head, his face flushed. For that kid to do something like this….

“President Lee Min-seop. What do you think?”

“Yes?”

Lee Min-seop was startled by Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki’s sudden question. Jin Young-ki, seeing his reaction, burst into anger.