Chapter 273: The Transferred Shares
by xennovelEveryone wondered why they used his mother’s name, but Executive Director Woo Byung-joon, who knew our family affairs inside out, smacked his forehead and burst into laughter.
“Haha… Oh boy… What should I say? If Madam finds out, she might foam at the mouth and collapse… Heh heh.”
“If that happens, nothing could be better.”
Executive Director Woo Byung-joon, sensing the sincerity in my words, quickly suppressed his laughter.
“My apologies. It was such an ingenious move that I couldn’t help myself….”
“No need to apologize. It’s fine.”
Those who could guess the subject of our conversation busily shuffled papers, pretending not to see or hear.
To clear the heavy air in the room, I turned to Cheon Sang-pil.
“The promised funds are being processed now. You’ll be notified as soon as it’s complete, so there’s no need to worry. Just handle your work well tomorrow.”
Watching him nod, I opened the stock status file.
By tomorrow morning, Grandmother would be penniless.
* * *
“So, your aunt is struggling not to get kicked out.”
Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi, looking around the hotel restaurant, strode in and sat down with a satisfied expression.
“What do you mean?”
“The hotel. It’s been a while since I’ve been here, and it’s changed a lot. It looks much more sophisticated and modern. The staff’s expressions are good too. It’s improved.”
“I’ve heard the department store sales are also on the rise. It seems my aunt has great potential.”
“And you played no part in that?”
He might have some suspicions, but it’s just guesswork anyway. There’s no need for a serious answer.
“Well, I have money invested in Miracle, but it’s indirectly. My role is just… using it often and boosting sales, maybe?”
“Your acting is natural too… Good. Heh heh.”
After I drank a glass of water, the food arrived. Since it was Korean cuisine, many side dishes were laid out, but my uncle barely touched his chopsticks.
After a short meal, he asked,
“What do you really want?”
“I’ve already told my second uncle everything. Didn’t you hear it?”
“That you hate seeing your grandmother’s face?”
He’s remarkably good at simplifying matters. Condensing it all into one sentence.
“You could say that.”
“Actually, our mother was a bit much. She was out to get your sister-in-law, and it carried over to you… It even made me frown sometimes.”
What’s the reason for this flattery? Does he still think I don’t know about the nominee stocks?
“So, you understand me then.”
“Of course. That’s why I, as the eldest of this family, intend to settle this cleanly.”
“Tell me.”
“As you wish, I’ll make sure your mother never sets foot on Korean soil again. She’ll live the rest of her life in exile abroad. Of course, if she becomes too weak to move, we’ll have to take care of her. She’ll be in the hospital anyway, right?”
“There are many good hospitals abroad.”
“What?”
His gently smiling face instantly contorted.
“This brat, you’re pushing it! You little rascal! Is that something to say? No matter how much you hate her, is abandoning her to die abroad acceptable?”
“Uncle, you asked what I wanted, so I told you my honest feelings. Isn’t she the grandmother who tried to run her grandson over with a truck? No matter how much you hate your grandson, is that acceptable?”
The people in this family fall silent when the truck story is mentioned. Grandfather was there then too.
“Uncle, just say what you need to say. It seems my opinion isn’t important anyway.”
He glared at me, took a long drink of water, and said,
“Your mother will continue to live abroad. But I can’t just let her live in actual exile. I plan to provide enough money so she won’t be uncomfortable. This is something you can’t stop.”
I have no intention of stopping the son from showing filial piety in Korea’s wealthiest family.
“This is what you want, right? So, take back what you leaked to the opposition party. You know it’s not good for our Soonyang name to be tossed around in the news, right?”
“Is that all?”
“You have that Cheon Sang-pil with you, right? I heard he knows a lot about your mother’s mistakes. Don’t think about using him and keep his mouth shut. I’ll take care of the art foundation so there are no loose ends.”
He didn’t even mention the nominee stocks, which means he either thinks I don’t know about them or that they’re not my concern.
When I didn’t say anything, he elaborately explained how his ideas were the best way for everyone.
I just listened to him. I couldn’t be happier that he’s wasting time chattering like this.
What kind of expression will he make when he finds out I’m finishing this in a flash, within a single day?
After excitedly rambling for a while, he stopped and took his cell phone out of his inside pocket.
“Just a moment.”
He opened the vibrating flip phone.
“What is it?”
The urgent voice of the person on the other end, difficult to understand, leaked out.
“What?”
He was so surprised he knocked over his chair as he jumped up.
My uncle started glaring at me without taking the call off the hook. Did he notice the stock movements in Myeong-dong?
He must have people planted everywhere as his eyes and ears.
“You, you…!”
His hand holding the still-connected phone trembled.
“They’re saying a large number of our Soonyang shares are being traded right now. Is this your doing?”
It’s not polite to remain seated when an elder is standing. I slowly got up and said,
“I don’t know what you said to Attorney Cheon Sang-pil, Uncle, but he asked for my help. So, I got him out… But he suddenly wants to sell his shares? I have a habit of buying blue-chip stocks… so I offered a bit more than the market price.”
“Was your target the shares from the start?”
“That’s a bonus. I’ve told you repeatedly what I want, haven’t I?”
“You!”
“I plan to keep leaking information to the opposition party.”
“Neither the shares nor your mother will go your way. No matter how much you act up, a few calls from me will quiet things down. You’re a hundred years too early to stand against me.”
“Let’s assume that’s true. But everything so far is just the prologue. If the opposition party stops, I’ll move the prosecution. If you block that too, it’ll blow up in the US. If the Korean Consulate General is involved in smuggling, isn’t that a diplomatic issue? If you block the US too… Grandmother will return to Korea.”
“You’ve gone completely mad. What? The US?”
“I’m quite looking forward to seeing how you’ll take back the shares. I can roughly imagine the scenario….”
I want to show him that nothing is easy.
“Does a movie ever get released according to the screenplay? The production company’s influence, the director’s revisions, the actor’s whims. Many times, it’s released in theaters with completely different content than the screenplay. You only know the movie after the final cut.”
My uncle chuckled. He still seemed full of confidence.
“Stop acting up and accept my offer. It’s not too late.”
“I apologize. I’m saying things that might give you indigestion, let alone help you digest your breakfast. I appreciate the offer, but I’ll pass. I’m just going to go with my gut.”
Oops, Uncle hasn’t hung up yet.
Whoever it is, they must have heard our entire conversation and are panicking.
They must have received a lot of money to monitor the stock prices… Since it failed, they’ll have to spit it all back out.
* * *
“The beneficial ownership transfer is complete. All of it has been transferred to the Chief of Staff’s mother’s name.”
Vice President Jang Do-hyung handed over a thick bundle of documents.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
I said to Cheon Sang-pil, who had a relieved expression.
“You’ve checked your account, right?”
“Yes. I received the down payment.”
He doesn’t seem satisfied with $100 million. This man is not destined for an ordinary life.
“You will definitely receive the remaining balance.”
I extended my hand to him.
“Now, meet your family, rest, and decide where you want to settle down. We’ll take care of everything until the end.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Chief of Staff Jin Do-jun.”
As Cheon Sang-pil bowed to me, Executive Director Woo Byung-joon said.
“Shall we depart now? Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi’s people will be stationed at Incheon and Gimpo International Airports. Mr. Cheon Sang-pil will take a ferry from Busan Port to Japan and then catch a flight to Bali from there.”
“Is he going to be smuggled out?”
Fear flickered across Cheon Sang-pil’s face, and Executive Director Woo Byung-joon burst into laughter.
“You watch too many movies. There are many passenger ships going to Japan. It takes three hours to get to Fukuoka. Just make sure you have your passport. Haha.”
After confirming Cheon Sang-pil’s departure to Busan, I headed to my parents’ house.
The most difficult part of this is still ahead.
It felt like returning to my hometown after a long time. My mother was busy preparing dinner, and my busy father also came home early.
“You didn’t come all this way just to see your parents. What’s wrong?”
“I came for both. Do you think I’m such an unfilial son that I wouldn’t even say hello?”
“You book a restaurant first if you want to see our faces. You don’t like seeing your mother working in the kitchen.”
My father pointed to my mother bustling in the kitchen.
“That’s right. But today, I’ll eat at home. If I talk about it outside, the restaurant might get noisy.”
“What is it this time? What kind of trouble did you cause?”
“I’ll tell you after dinner.”
After the dinner prepared by my mother, I sat down with my parents in the living room.
“Alright, what’s the story?”
I started by telling them about Grandmother’s art transactions. My father’s face hardened when he learned that the Soonyang Art Foundation was completely ruined.
“So, you’re saying she sold all the paintings and bought group shares?”
“Yes. She’s been steadily buying them for a long time. That includes unlisted shares too. She also secretly bought the shares that Grandfather distributed to the founding members, so their value is considerable.”
I couldn’t bring myself to say that I had set a trap.
“Those shares are all under borrowed names, right?”
“Yes.”
My father seemed to have already guessed what I was about to say.
“And you somehow managed to take possession of those shares?”
“That’s right. How did you know?”
“If those shares had gone into your uncle’s hands, he wouldn’t bother reporting it to us.”
My father said calmly, as if it were nothing.
“Are you telling me to prepare for my brothers yelling at me?”
“Yes. Mother needs to be mentally prepared this time too.”
My mother’s eyes widened.
“Me?”
“Yes. All of Grandmother’s nominee stocks have been transferred to your name, Mother. The exact percentage needs to be confirmed with Chairman Lee Hak-jae, but it should be more than 3% of the group’s controlling stake.”
“M-Mother’s shares to m-my name?”
“Yes.”
The group shares, and especially the fact that they were her mother-in-law’s shares, must have been a much bigger shock than the numbers. My mother stuttered but still managed to speak.
My father was too shocked to do anything but gape.
“Isn’t it natural for the daughter-in-law who has suffered the most to inherit them? Mother, you are more than qualified.”
My mother quickly snapped out of her shock. She didn’t seem burdened by the shares or worried about attacks from relatives at all.
“Do-jun.”
“Yes.”
Having regained her composure, my mother’s voice was calm.
“I endured the humiliation and contempt I faced after marrying into this family thanks to your father.”
My father, his heart aching at her words, held her hand tightly.
“But today, you’ve completely erased those memories. I’ve never felt this refreshed before. Thank you, son.”
My father and I were speechless at my mother’s unexpected words.