Chapter 306: Broken to Pieces
by xennovel“It must’ve been Grandfather’s birthday. He gave me a toy horse but older brother Kang-joon snatched it away. He wouldn’t let me ride it.”
“Ah… I remember. Kang-joon got hurt that day didn’t he?”
“Yeah. I pushed him off the horse he was riding. He broke his leg.”
“You pushed him?”
“I did. Anyway when Grandfather asked me why I did it, I told him. I really did it because I hated Kang-joon but I knew I’d get in more trouble if I told the truth.”
“So you made up that story about breaking something you can’t have?”
“Yeah. He liked it didn’t he? Haha.”
Jin Kyung-jun knows this isn’t just a story about childhood memories.
I made an excuse but he needs to use it differently.
“Blackmailing Father… I’ve really become a good-for-nothing son. I haven’t upset him since I got married….”
There’s something more important I don’t know. Reading his mood, I asked carefully.
“But… do you have something to blackmail him with?”
“We’re a family that’s lived under one roof. We’ve buried and covered up things for each other.”
“You’re not going to tell me are you?”
“Why would I hand a knife to a robber? Who would that benefit?”
Jin Kyung-jun chuckled. He seems more relaxed now.
“And don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not on your side. I might go head-to-head with my brother and tear him apart, but I won’t do anything that benefits you. Maybe I’ll join forces with Young-joon and wring your neck instead….”
“Family ties are strong. Brothers from the same womb huh?”
“Shall we stop here? It seems like we’re done with productive conversation. If we keep talking we’ll just end up saying nasty things like last time we spoke on the phone.”
Did they say the second son was quick-witted? Jin Young-jun is much more composed and calm.
“But Hyung-nim. Can I ask you just one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you really have to side with your brother? Wouldn’t it be better to go with whoever’s more profitable?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Think about it. If Young-joon takes Electronics and Corporation, you’ll just get a few subsidiaries and end up as a subcontractor. Do you think he’ll let you have any say in the group? Our greedy eldest brother of the family?”
“What’s different about our family’s greedy youngest?”
“Look at Tae-joon. He’s still the CFO of Construction and Heavy Industries. Isn’t he better off than you, selling phones across the ocean in Australia?”
“You little…!”
He glared at me but couldn’t bring himself to scoff. He must’ve realized that if we weren’t brothers, it’d be better to side with me.
But the blood ties are different.
“At least I’m considering giving a subsidiary president position to any family member who sides with me.”
“Stop with the sweet talk.”
“It’s true. Do you know what makes me different from Young-joon?”
“…….”
He waited for my next words silently. Maybe he’s wavering a little?
“Whether it’s Kyung-joon or Tae-joon, if they’re capable enough I could even give them the Chairman’s seat of Soonyang Electronics. To me, whether it’s president or chairman, it’s just one of many positions in the group.”
“Now you’re acting like the owner of Soonyang Group? I can’t believe it….”
I stared straight at him as I spoke.
“No matter how big the room is there’s only one chair for the owner. Everyone else has to sit on the sofas. The chair is mine and I’ll share the sofas. I won’t kick anyone out of the room like Young-joon.”
“Is that because you’re generous?”
“No. It’s confidence. I’m confident I can protect the chair.”
Jin Kyung-jun bit his lip and stood up.
“I heard you bragging. I’ll be watching to see when you take that chair.”
“Since I’m already bragging, can I add one more thing?”
Jin Kyung-jun glared at me once then nodded.
“When you fight remember two things: your opponent’s desires and fears. Figure those out and stick a carrot and a knife right into them. You can’t win a fight with just a knife.”
Jin Kyung-jun mulled over my words for a while then smiled faintly.
“Thanks for the advice but that doesn’t mean I’ll be on your side.”
* * *
It’s been a while since the family gathered but the awkward atmosphere at the dinner table didn’t fade.
Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi looked at his two sons with satisfaction, but Jin Young-jun looked uncomfortable, not knowing the intentions of his suddenly appearing younger brother. His wife Hong So-young even showed blatant hostility.
“I’m so envious of you, sister-in-law. New York, Paris, London… and now Sydney…. How nice is it to live in such picturesque cities away from stuffy Seoul?”
She spoke with a smile but her gaze was sharp.
Jin Kyung-jun smiled at his sister-in-law.
“If you’re so envious why hesitate? Just go wherever you want. We have local offices all over the world and if there isn’t one we can make one. Shall we open a Soonyang branch in Hawaii? If Hyung-soo-nim wants it I’m sure Hyung-nim will go too.”
Jin Young-jun slammed his chopsticks on the table.
“Hey! What’s with that way of talking to your sister-in-law?”
“What did I do? She said she wants to live abroad. What’s so hard about that?”
“That’s not what I meant! Your tone, your tone! You’re smirking and being sarcastic aren’t you?”
“Stop it. What’s with this ill-mannered behavior at the dinner table?”
When Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi barked, his two sons shut their mouths.
“I know Kyung-joon has something to say since he returned so suddenly without any notice. But let’s have a pleasant meal since the family’s gathered after a long time. We’ll talk about your business later.”
Jin Kyung-jun nodded lightly and said.
“But where’s Mother? She wasn’t answering her phone….”
Everyone’s expressions turned grave. Jin Kyung-jun instantly guessed what had happened.
She hasn’t been home for a while again.
Since he’s had someone tailing her, only Father would know where she is and what she’s doing.
Jin Kyung-jun briefly regretted bringing it up but then thought it was a good thing. His older brother and sister-in-law, whom he didn’t particularly want to talk to, had shut their mouths. Even his father just picked up and put down his spoon without a word.
He felt bad for his father who had wanted a harmonious dinner but for him, the uncomfortable time flew by.
After dinner, Jin Kyung-jun had a private meeting with his father in the study. His older brother Jin Young-jun was itching to join in but his statement about wanting to talk alone with his father after a long time prevailed.
“So, what brought this on?”
“I’ll get straight to the point. I want to return to headquarters now.”
As if he had already guessed his son’s thoughts, Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi nodded without a word.
“Of course. You’ve been abroad for over five years now. It’s time for you to come back. I’ll prepare a position for you soon.”
“Father.”
“Yes.”
“Please tell me when that ‘soon’ will be.”
“Oh, you. Why are you in such a hurry? Our Soonyang Electronics’ smartphone business has just started. Just hang in there for one more year until it’s settled. It won’t take more than a year no matter what.”
At the mention of ‘one year’ Jin Kyung-jun felt a surge of anger.
Doesn’t that mean he’ll call me back after finishing the entire group succession process? He even felt a sense of betrayal toward his father.
“I’d like to return within a month.”
“Kyung-joon. Don’t be so hasty. It’s not that simple….”
“Father. I’m not a little kid anymore. Do you think I don’t know why you’re saying one year? Doesn’t it mean it’ll take one year to hand everything over to Young-joon?”
“Kyung-joon!”
“What? Are you worried that the two remaining companies will fall apart if you split them so you’re giving them all to him?”
“You brat, all of it? Even without Electronics and Corporation there are over twenty subsidiaries. What do you mean all of it?”
“Those twenty-plus subsidiaries are controlled by Corporation and Electronics aren’t they? And…. Ha—!”
Jin Kyung-jun sighed, exasperated by his father’s words.
“The two main ones account for 80%. Even if you combine all the rest they won’t even be half of Electronics.”
That doesn’t mean he’s giving all the rest to me. Like Jin Do-jun said, I’ll just end up with a few subcontracting factories.
“So? What is it that you want?”
Soonyang Electronics alone ranks within the top 10 in the business world. Even if you combine several mid-sized chaebol groups they can’t match up to Soonyang Electronics.
What I really want is Soonyang Electronics but I’m not unaware of my situation. He was already compromising with himself.
“Young-joon gets Electronics, I get Corporation…. Is that too much greed?”
When Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi heard his son’s expected words, he felt a surge of anger at the thought he didn’t want to recall.
“Your grandfather split this and that, and look at the mess it is now. There’s a fable that says you can’t break a bundle of arrows but you can break them one by one. What happened to Soonyang Group because your grandfather couldn’t learn that simple lesson even kids know?”
Jin Kyung-jun fully understood his father’s feelings. He had lived his whole life thinking all of Soonyang was his, so it’s understandable that he’d be furious holding a group that’s been cut in half.
But he shouldn’t be blaming Grandfather for that. It’s his own fault for losing the fight. Now he just wants to give up on the war and run away.
“You and your brother need to join forces to protect and grow Soonyang as it is now. Use Electronics’ capital and Corporation’s strength to grow it more than twofold. Then your share will grow too.”
Jin Kyung-jun’s eyes widened as he listened to his father’s long-winded explanation.
Join forces?
He’s not even giving me a few so-so subsidiaries. It sounded like he wants me to work under my brother.
“Ah, Father. Surely…?”
“What now?”
“Are you saying you’re giving all the subsidiaries to him? You can’t be serious?”
Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi couldn’t answer. His true intentions had already slipped out and his son had read them.
“Kyung-joon. Listen to your father.”
I didn’t want to hear it. Whether it was realistic or logical it would only imprint the fact that I won’t become Soonyang’s owner.
“I’m looking at Daewoo Motors as a model. In ten years we can reclaim our position as number one in the business world. Then your share will be incomparably bigger than just Corporation.”
Jin Kyung-jun covered his ears and stood up.
“Father. Please reconsider. If Grandfather had given you all of Soonyang, would you have split it with your uncles? Would you have given the department store to your aunt?”
“Kyung-joon.”
“That’s why Grandfather split it. So all his children could live well. Do you think Young-joon has less greed than you? Grow it and then split it?”
Jin Kyung-jun shook his head.
“If you give everything to him I’ll just end up living as an ordinary rich person. My children will fall even further to become ordinary middle class.”
“You brat, how can you say that? Do you think I’d let that happen to you?”
“Father.”
Jin Kyung-jun glared at his father and said.
“You had an older brother didn’t you? Do you know how his descendants are living now?”
Jin Young-gi wanted to avoid his son’s question.
His son was predicting his own future through family history.
“I don’t want to disappear like that.”
With those final words, Jin Kyung-jun turned around.
“Kyung-joon!”
“I wanted to sleep in my old room after a long time but I guess that won’t be possible. I’ll head to the company tomorrow. Please think it over again and give me your answer.”
As he left the study, Jin Young-jun stood there, blocking his way. It was obvious he had heard everything since they had raised their voices.
The smile on his lips was proof of that.
Hearing from Father’s own mouth that everything would be given to the eldest son, he must be struggling to contain his laughter.
Seeing his brother’s smile, Jin Kyung-jun recalled Jin Do-jun’s words.
If you can’t have it, break it.
He felt like he fully understood what kind of feeling those words came from now.
*