» The Youngest Son of Sunyang
[239]Before Winter Ends 5
"I find that rather jarring. My Sunyang? No, it's *our* Sunyang."
As his younger brother's expression turned serious, Jin Younggi's face hardened too.
"Don't nitpick. When Father passes, whose face will be in the media during the funeral period? It'll be mine, the chief mourner. Everyone who watches those broadcasts will see me as the successor. That's what I meant."
Vice Chairman Jin Younggi, sensing an opportunity, began to persuade his brother.
"Let's break down the walls between us for a while. Just support me until we've purged all the leeches clinging to Sunyang. I swear I won't touch your share."
"You mean, by 'support me,' that you'll take the chairman's office once Father passes?"
"Wouldn't I have to? How long can we leave it vacant? The group will be shaken when Father's gone. Someone needs to steady the ship then. And..."
Jin Younggi pulled a stack of papers from his drawer.
"Father gave me these. They're the resignation letters of the affiliate presidents. So we can replace them anytime we need to."
Jin Donggi let out a scoffing laugh as he saw the bundle of resignations.
"Did you think you were the only one who got them? I also received the resignation letters from the presidents of the affiliates I manage. That's Father's intention: for us to manage the group together."
"Exactly! So let's get rid of the leeches together. We'll deal with those old geezers who put on airs about being founding contributors or whatever, then we'll step on Lee Hakjae to create a holding company, and cut off that Dojun and Miracle. Until then, I'll be the overall Chairman of Sunyang Group."
"And after that? You'll just kick me out?"
Jin Younggi pretended not to notice his brother's displeased gaze and continued.
"You'll remain Vice Chairman. I told you I wouldn't touch your share. You can run those affiliates into the ground or turn them into gold, do as you please. And..."
"Is there more you need to say?"
"We're getting older anyway. Our kids are growing up too. Let's part ways when our children are old enough to take over the group. We can just spin off the affiliates completely. Let's end this struggle in our generation, and our children can simply take their respective shares."
Jin Donggi understood what his older brother meant.
Their children would fight just like them. They would fight to seize even a little more. The brotherly relationship, just like theirs, would only last until they became involved in management.
The moment they stepped foot into the company, they would transform from brothers into managers fighting over the position of the company's owner. That fight shouldn't extend to their cousins.
Their children also played a part in why the two men were now fighting with such intensity. They were fighting cautiously, not only to pass on more, but to hand over the entire Sunyang Group intact.
"I agree to eliminating all the pests around us. But I can't accept you remaining chairman after that."
"Hey! If we establish a holding company and gain 55% of the shares, management control will be secure. Besides, I've conceded a lot, haven't I? Still don't trust me?"
Their agreement was to divide the 55% stake 55:45.
Considering that Jin Donggi's current group stake was only 26%, and his older brother's was 36%, Vice Chairman Jin Younggi's claim of having conceded a lot was, in fact, true.
"The longer you sit in the chairman's seat, the more you can increase your holding company stake. I know your ulterior motive is to keep increasing that stake. Because I'd do the same if I were you."
Jin Younggi sighed deeply and fell silent.
For now, he would follow his brother's thinking. And he had to be satisfied with this much.
At the very least, securing the chairman's seat after Father's death was a step forward.
The next step could be established once he was seated as chairman. After all, there would be a clear picture once he became chairman, even if it wasn't visible now.
* * *
The frequency with which my grandfather lost consciousness grew, and the intervals shortened.
Though he had strictly forbidden any surgery, a simple blood vessel dilation treatment was unavoidable.
"You rascals. I've already lived out my full lifespan. How much longer can a knife extend it? There's no need to make a fuss just to live an extra month or two. And I'm tired. Stop it."
Each time he collapsed, Grandfather repeated the same words to the children who rushed to his side.
However, swayed by the doctors' recommendations to do their best and feeling guilty if they did nothing, the children had no choice but to proceed, even defying Grandfather's opposition.
I moved into a hotel near the hospital so I could rush over anytime. Grandfather would call when his children weren't around, and each time, I would sit by his bedside, becoming his conversational companion.
"Southeast Asia's lifespan as a production base seems to be over. Instead, it will grow into an excellent market. You should go there, carrying bundles of gifts, and build strong relationships with the politicians in those countries."
"Rather than that, Grandfather, couldn't you tell me about your dynamic and spectacular memories from the past? Just like a regular grandfather telling old stories."
"Silence. Don't talk nonsense, listen carefully."
It seemed Grandfather would continue to do what he had done his entire life, right until his dying day.
"There's a fellow who served as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs in the last government. I heard he's very worried as he approaches retirement. His dream is to get a golden badge, but his public recognition is low, and he has nothing particular to boast about, so he failed to get nominated in this general election. Take him and use him."
"A diplomatic official?"
"Yes. That fellow traveled only around Southeast Asia since he was young. I heard his connections there are strong. The reason National Assembly members can go to Southeast Asia under the pretext of inspection and just play golf without trouble is all because of him. He prepares the materials and even arranges for them to take a photo with local politicians. He will be useful."
"Understood. Then I'll offer him an executive position at Dae-A Construction and bring him in."
Nodding along and quietly following instructions—that was a grandson's charm.
"Oh, by the way, how is that 'truckload of money' thing, that presidential election slush fund issue, progressing?"
"We can't avoid investigation either. But it seems they intend to make LG Group a scapegoat and end it there. Isn't it only LG Group being talked about day after day?"
"How much did they say LG contributed?"
"They estimated 15 billion won."
"Really?"
"Yes. But their method was too clumsy, leaving traces everywhere."
LG Group had a special room for its financial management team within its headquarters building, built with fireproof walls. It was commonly called the "vault room" and was a space where 16 billion won in cash lay dormant, prepared for the inheritance and gifts of specially related shareholders.
Director Kang, who was in charge of this fund, had financial management team employees transfer 15 billion won of the 16 billion in cash into boxes after work hours. These boxes were then moved via the emergency elevator from the vault room to a waiting box truck in the B2 parking lot.
There were a total of 63 money boxes: 62 boxes each containing 240 million won, and one box containing 120 million won.
The box truck arrived at the Gyeongbu Expressway southbound 'Meeting Square' parking lot, and the keys—a keychain with the vehicle keys and cargo compartment keys—were handed over to the lawyer who was the campaign's fund manager.
However, the box truck could not enter the narrow underground parking lot of the opposition party headquarters.
They moved the box truck to the Han River embankment and then staged a farce, hastily renting two minibuses, dividing and loading the money boxes into them, and then transporting them back to the party headquarters.
Other large corporations also delivered funds, from billions to tens of billions, but most divided the money into smaller amounts and delivered it multiple times using vans or passenger cars. No one used such a reckless method.
It was the first time in the "black history" of illegal presidential campaign funds that the infamous "truckload of cash" incident truly came into existence.
"Hahaha. Only those who have eaten meat know how to eat it properly."
Grandfather burst into laughter, treating it as nothing unusual.
It wasn't something that could spread widely anyway. Wasn't it a presidential election?
One director-level person in charge of this matter would stand trial, and once public interest faded, they would quietly be released on bail. The world doesn't change easily.
"Dojun."
"Yes."
"Are there any vacant positions in your company?"
"Well. I haven't done executive restructuring like my uncles, so there probably aren't many."
"No. Not Sunyang Financial Group. I'm talking about *your* company."
"Ah, HW Group, you mean? It's probably the same there, but I'd have to check. I don't get heavily involved in personnel matters."
"Not executive-level positions. There are quite a few presidents or executives who will have to step down after I die, and they're worried about their inadequate children. I was wondering if you could take care of those lacking children for them."
"If they're people Grandfather feels the need to care for to that extent, then I should create positions, even if there aren't any."
I answered with a smile as if it were nothing, but a corner of my heart ached.
He was revisiting the past and resolving anything that weighed on his mind. It seemed as if he was struggling with all his might not to leave any regrets before he passed away.
"Shall I make a list of everyone you're indebted to? Don't worry, I'll repay them many times over, generously."
Instantly grasping my meaning, Grandfather smiled brightly.
"Even though he's my own grandchild, his intuition is sickeningly quick, hahaha."
This, upon reflection, was truly exquisite.
From then on, Grandfather abandoned his thoughts about the future of Sunyang Group.
During our time spent just the two of us, he would trace his memories, looking at the names written in the Black Ledger he had given me and Sunyang Group's past personnel records.
Among them, he would recall people he was indebted to, and he would burst out in anger, pointing out people he still needed to exploit further, saying he hadn't recouped his original investment.
As he embarked on this journey into the past rather than the future, Grandfather's expression brightened considerably, and the time he spent reminiscing grew longer. It was a period of enjoyment rather than worry.
Sadly, Grandfather grew weaker and weaker, so clearly that I could feel time running out more and more.
The time he spent sleeping became increasingly longer, and his waking hours grew shorter. When he lost consciousness, it took a very long time for him to wake up again, and the doctors had to remain in a state of extreme tension, monitoring his room 24 hours a day.
Still, it was fortunate that when he was awake, his mind was clearer than ever.
He remembered even the smallest details from the past clearly, and he precisely recalled the names of his 13 grandchildren, whom he always used to confuse, as well as their ages.
Grandfather pulled out all his memories, and we completed a densely written list.
"Your shoulders will be heavy, my boy. To take care of all those people."
"How can I take care of all of them? Isn't it true that most of them can be settled by just giving them wads of cash as a token of goodwill?"
"Yes. Then settle those who can be settled with that much."
Grandfather gazed at me silently with a satisfied expression, then spoke unexpected words.
"Would you call your mother for me? Quietly."
"What? Mother?"
"Yes. I have many sins committed against your mother. I can't ask you to pay for my sins, can I? The last person I need to settle things with is your mother. And I must do it myself. You understand, don't you?"
When had it begun? When had Grandfather started feeling sorry towards Mother?
Since I gained Grandfather's favor, he had never mistreated Mother or humiliated her. He merely recognized her as one of his daughters-in-law, only showing the demeanor of a stern father-in-law.
By now, Mother's resentment must have all disappeared.... Insisting on a moment of forgiveness wasn't for Mother, but for Grandfather.
"Yes. I will bring her tomorrow."