A Chairman Who Has No Regrets - Chapter 59



Only Krnovel

I wanted to help out more at the store, but today wasn’t the day. I got a call from David last night.

“Mom- I’m going out.”

“Okay, study hard.”

Pick, it makes me laugh.

I wonder if there is anything I can study if I go to a talent training center.

Well, they say there are things to learn from even a three-year-old, I guess it depends on how you think about it.

I went outside, neatly ignoring the few stares from the broadcasting station people wondering where I was going.

“Oh! You’re number one hyung.”

Chang-Hyeon, whom I had seen a few hours ago, greets me holding a bundle in both hands.

“Did you come to bring this?”

The little girl, Miyoung, shook her head repeatedly.

“I ran out of charcoal, so I stopped by on my way to cut wood!”

“Where are you going to get the tree?”

“Over there, that’s Bul-am Mountain.”

It turns out that the tree was the one that the children used every day in place of pencils and crayons in the area where the screens were installed.

I thought that in some households they used firewood instead of briquettes or gas, but I never thought that they burned the wood they brought themselves.

“You take care of what you need yourself, without asking the adults?”

“I’m good at that tree! If you hold it like this and give it a crack, you can easily break it!”

My head naturally nods as I listen to the words of Chang-Hyeon, who pretends to break a branch.

I wonder if the kid knows that if he doesn’t do anything, he won’t get anywhere. I hope some of the people in the shantytown feel the same way when they see this kid.

Even for a three year old.

Because there is something to learn.

There is no end to learning.

The power of action to get what you need. Children are showing us through their own example that if you do nothing, you can’t get anything done.

“I should learn how to chop wood later. From Changhyun.”

“Yes! I’ll tell you later!”

How much would it cost to chop wood with those bracken hands?

Well, isn’t it fortunate that it’s winter?

There will be a lot of dry branches lying around, so there will be no need to do anything like chopping them.

Those guys are amazing.

It’s the exact opposite direction, so why did you come here? I can just stop by tomorrow and get it.

“But isn’t Bul-am Mountain the opposite of here?”

Faces expecting something from what I say.

I couldn’t find any sign of wariness in the children, perhaps because they thought they had become quite close to me.

“Thanks to you, tomorrow will be easy.”

Did my words sound like a compliment?

The older children, Mi-kyung, Mi-young, and Chang-hyeon, laugh bashfully.

With those little feet and hands, you must have walked all the way here on this cold day, so it wouldn’t be difficult to give you a little compliment.

I could have received it myself, but I thought of my mother’s face, smiling happily at the sight of them.

“My brother is busy right now, so can you please tell my mother directly?”

“Yes! You can do it.”

Chang-Hyeon answers cheerfully.

I patted the boy’s head once, and he smiled brightly, held the bundle in both hands, and went through the open door.

“Oh my- Changhyun is here-”

I can’t help but smile at the sound of my mother’s voice welcoming me. She moves to the side to allow Mi-kyung and Mi-young to enter, and the children also hurriedly go inside.

“Oh my, all the sisters came too?”

I glanced back and saw that my mother had bent down to be at the children’s eye level.

“It’s cold, what did you bring here?”

The joy flowing on the mother’s face must have been visible to the younger sister’s eyes. The older sister was also looking at Chang-Hyeon’s children with a rather pleased face.

If those kids were no longer the kids of Sanggye-dong.

What will mother do?

You must be very sad.

Should I worry?

“mom.”

“Uh- son.”

My mother’s voice got a higher tone, perhaps because of the children.

“I’ll be back.”

“Okay, have a go.”

“Take care on your way-”

“Bye, hyung-”

“goodbye.”

I can’t help but smile at the greetings from Mikyung, Changhyun, and Miyoung.

“Okay – see you tomorrow.”

Leaving my mother’s delighted face behind me.

On the way to school.

I’m lost in thought again.

The Sanggye-dong that my mother loves is the Sanggye-dong where Chang-hyeon, Mi-gyeong, and Mi-yeong are.

Only by protecting Sanggye-dong can mother’s wish come true.

“It would be easier if it had money.”

Unfortunately, I knew that it wasn’t something that could be done with money. I wish it could be done with money, but it’s a never-ending problem.

I don’t have a hobby of pouring water into a bottomless pit, so I should do something other than that.

I have to take action.

Like Chang-Hyeon, who says he will climb a mountain on this cold winter day for what he needs.

Daughter.

As soon as you open the glass door.

“The assistant instructor is here?”

“Yes, is Instructor David inside?”

“Yes, come in.”

“yes-”

“Shall I prepare some tea for you?”

“No – I’ll be leaving soon today.”

Crunch.

As I opened the classroom door and went in, Choi Tae-woong and David looked at me and smiled.

There are a lot of smiling faces these days.

Are these people having an easy life?

“It’s only been a few days, Assistant Instructor.”

“yes.”

When I briefly responded to Choi Tae-woong’s greeting, David smiled and said.

“Are you eating?”

“Yes, as you can see, it’s alive.”

“Yeah, yeah, he’s still the same. It seems like he’s been eating well.”

“Well, thanks for worrying about me.”

Katabuta without saying a word.

Choi Tae-woong took out a yellow envelope from his bosom.

“Scholarship quiz?”

Choi Tae-woong nodded in response. I lifted the envelope, and it was quite heavy.

“There are a lot?”

I thought it was roughly a hundred dollars, but it seemed like it was more than that.

“Thanks to you, I got some benefit.”

I glance at David and he explains for me.

“There’s a video lecture business, right?”

“yes.”

“We decided to leave distribution to the Gyeongseon side.”

I nodded my head roughly.

When I asked them to make jjamjjamppong, they seemed to be doing well on their own. Choi Tae-woong must have studied only how to make money his whole life, so it’s not hard to understand. He must have smelled the money.

“How much is it?”

Choi Tae-woong raises the corners of his mouth.

“I put in two hundred. My friend said that David himself gave it to him. Of course, that’s one hundred.”

There was more than I thought.

Twice, to be exact.

I can imagine Taesu’s surprise when he receives the money.

“Hey, he’s laughing now that he got the money.”

Well, I did.

Does this damn money make me laugh now and in the past, or does it make me laugh because there are more uses for this money?

I had another worry when I thought about giving up on investing in the plan I had in mind, but it turned out to be a good thing because the seed money increased.

I thought it would be possible if my income increased through video and book sales.

Not bad.

Because we can work together on investment and settlement.

“What’s the matter? If you don’t have anything else, I’ll get up.”

David asks, laughing at my words.

“Hey, aren’t you interested in our business?”

Since when has it been us?

“You two can figure it out on your own.”

“Anyway, that’s it.”

As I was about to stand up, Choi Tae-woong stopped me and asked me a question.

“The 86 Asian Games are just around the corner, but you don’t have any intention of talking about it yet?”

I sat back down on the sofa.

“There was a construction company in the primary as well?”

Choi Tae-woong tilted his head and then nodded obediently.

“Right?”

“Was it a half moon? You must have had some fun there.”

“I guess you study a lot about business?”

“You can find out just by reading the newspaper.”

“Isn’t that right? Gyeongseon is not a company that attracts attention… So why construction all of a sudden?”

David’s eyes light up when the topic of construction comes up.

A mountain shaped like a building that was bought by a construction company.

My stocks are doing well, I don’t know because I’m not really interested. It’s not time to hit the jackpot yet.

It’s the buying point.

“Just then, a good idea occurred to me.”

Choi Tae-woong shows interest again at the words, “good idea.”

“is it so?”

I don’t feel like talking yet.

Because we don’t have the trust between us to understand each other even if we speak rudely.

And that trust probably doesn’t exist even among the people of Sanggye-dong.

“It’s February.”

“Next month?”

“Yes, you know about the general election, right?”

“You know? They’re making a fuss because I pulled it forward.”

“I live in Busan.”

Choi Tae-woong tilts his head.

“How could that be? Public opinion can be swayed by its will… Hmm, hmm.”

Choi Tae-woong, who is sparing with his words.

I guess the republic that even makes birds fall is also afraid of the conglomerates.

I shrugged.

“And, the Imperial Group.”

“yes.”

“The base is Busan, right?”

Choi Tae-woong blinking his eyes.

I gave a hint.

Although it is fragmentary.

Now it was up to him to figure out how to eat it. And this was also the bait.

I think there will be a place where Gyeongseon Construction can be used. Just like children move to find trees themselves, I also plan to move myself.

There is still time.

Slowly and steadily.

Little by little, without even realizing it.

As the saying goes, “Sinabro.”

Then it would definitely be possible.

Sanggye-dong.

Mother’s wish.

“I’m going.”

Choi Tae-woong was lost in thought, and David shook his head. Since neither of them caught me, I just left.

**

The place where the whole class left.

Choi Tae-woong remains silent for a long time.

“Hey, hey, what are you thinking about for so long? It’s so desolate and lonely.”

Choi Tae-woong asked David in a calm voice.

“Hey, how’s he doing?”

“what?”

“Do you know that Gyeongseon Construction made a lot of profit in Ansan Banwol? Are you interested in Gyeongseon?”

“I saw it in the newspaper.”

“I’m not saying that because there are no such articles.”

David tilts his head.

“okay?”

“Oh, these days, competition among construction companies is so fierce that they would publish an article like that. It’s not like developing an industrial complex is difficult.”

“Is that so? Then how did he know?”

“Hey, that’s what I’m asking now.”

“Did I even lay down a mat? How would you know?”

“You know, we see each other often.”

David laughs bitterly.

“Didn’t you see me today? Are you going to draw the line and tell me to do whatever I want?”

“Tsk, Busan··· Imperial Group···”

David calls out to Choi Tae-woong, who is trying to think again.

“Hey- hey.”

“why?”

“Aren’t you curious about where he spends that prize money?”

“Huh? Oh, I’m curious.”

“right?”

“He’s not the type of guy who would just hand something over to his parents.”

“Ugh, that’s right.”

Choi Tae-woong frowns again and shakes his head.

“I guess it won’t work.”

David looks at Choi Tae-woong, who suddenly stands up.

“Why? Suddenly?”

“Let’s have class next time.”

“Hey, I’m the instructor and you’re the student.”

“I’m a little worried, so I’m going to go, hyung-”

David sighs as he watches the classroom door close with a bang.

“Ugh- This is a mess for both the teaching assistants and the students. A mess.”

**

The next day at the newsagents.

Taesu greeted me while he was busy organizing the newspapers.

“Are you here?”

“uh.”

The other kids are also busy collecting their share of newspapers.

“Let’s borrow a bike.”

The guy suddenly stops what he’s doing and looks up at me.

“why.”

“Is it useful?”

“no.”

I knew it.

Because I think he treasures that bicycle he inherited from his father.

“Then, you should come too.”

“What is it?”

“Is that not possible either?”

“Ugh.”

The guy who had just tasted something continues to speak.

“It wasn’t allowed, but since I got the prize money yesterday, you’re doing it specially?”

“I see.”

“What time do I have to go by?”

“8 o’clock, my house.”

“okay.”

Hong Tae-soo answers, “Okay,” and quickly rides away on his bike.

It’s a habit now.

I ran along the familiar route, delivered milk and newspapers, and returned home.

“Is it kimchi stew?”

Today, I had kimchi stew, my favorite, for breakfast.

“Mom- please-”

I ignored my little sister’s complaints and inhaled the delicious kimchi stew. Before I knew it, the three mothers and daughters were rushing to work together. I also hurried to get ready so as not to be late for my appointment with Taesu, who would arrive soon.

Thud, thud.

I thought I knew who was knocking on the door.

“I’m going out.”

When I went outside, Taesu was standing there, as expected. He was glancing at the open front door as if he was taking a look at the house I live in.

“Can you show me the house?”

“no.”

“let’s go.”

“uh.”

The place I arrived at by riding my bike was the market. It was a place I should have come with my mother, but it was quite unfortunate that I came first with Taesu.

“Here, why?”

“I have something to buy.”

Ding, ding.

Taesu followed me, dragging an old bicycle, and I walked without hesitation to find a suitable store.

“Boss, how many kilograms is this in one box?”

“5kg each.”

“Please give me your box.”

“yes-”

A merchant who moves quickly at my word.

Taesu tilts his head and asks.

“Hey, don’t restaurants use potatoes?”

“I’m not going there.”

“then?”

“I’m going to eat it.”

“Hey, are you buying enough potatoes in advance to eat for the rest of your life?”

“It’s over.”

The heavy weight of the potatoes was placed on Taesu’s bicycle, and I went deeper into the market.

“Boss, please give me some firewood.”

“how much?”

I pointed to the small, roughly visible pile of firewood and said:

“How much does that weigh?”

“About 3kg?”

“There are five of them.”

Taesu shakes his head as he looks at the piled up firewood.

“Hey, if that’s the case, why don’t you just tell me to bring a cart?”

Well, is it too much weight for the bike? It must be a precious bike to him. I can understand why he is so sensitive. If someone touches something precious to me, I can’t stand it either.

“Would you like some?”

“No- that’s fine, just take me. Just tell me where you’re going.”

Dude, that was the complaint.

I don’t know why.

“Shantytown.”

“uh?”

“I’m going to the shantytown.”

The guy stares blankly at the pile of potatoes and firewood behind his bike.

Then he looks at me again.

“The potatoes were delicious last time.”

Taesu laughs in vain at my words.

Just like Taesu who just noticed it now.

Slowly, without you knowing.

If you infiltrate the shantytown.

As trust builds.

I think it’s possible.