After finishing their meal, Chen Yangji and the others returned to the conference room on the second floor; they still had other matters to discuss today.
"Dad, the presidential election is coming up soon. Who exactly should we give our campaign funds to?" The eldest son, Chen Yongji, asked.
"What are your thoughts?" Chen Yangji didn't answer directly, instead asking for his children's opinions.
"It's definitely candidate Kim Young-sam and candidate Kim Dae-jung. Their cooperation is unbreakable; that candidate Roh Tae-woo won't stand a chance," the third daughter, Chen Huarong, said confidently.
"Then which one of them should we choose?" Chen Yangji was not satisfied with his daughter's answer. There was only one throne, and two candidates could ascend to it. How to choose was a very tricky problem.
"It's definitely candidate Kim Dae-jung! He's well-loved and has higher approval ratings!" Chen Dongji said.
"Pfft—! Second Brother, you clearly don't understand politics! The campaign funds shouldn't go to Kim Dae-jung; they should go to candidate Kim Young-sam instead!" Chen Huarong scoffed, "Because his image is clear-cut in love and hate. When two sides declare war, the one that doesn't cause public resentment is highly likely to win!"
"Third Sister, you don't support candidate Kim Dae-jung because of Son-in-law Choi, right? Son-in-law Choi comes from the Prosecutor system, so candidate Kim Dae-jung opposed his party nomination, didn't he?" Chen Dongji showed no mercy to his third sister's sophistry, directly exposing her little scheme.
"Why bring up my husband? I'm worried about the future of Sunyang Group!" Chen Huarong, whose calculations had been revealed, continued to argue.
"You're so noisy! All of you, get out! I need to think about it! Chief Secretary Li, send someone to investigate the current approval ratings and see who is worthy of receiving my support funds," Chen Yangji said, somewhat impatiently.
"Understood, I'll go do it right away!"
...The group left the conference room, somewhat displeased. Just as they reached the door, they found Chen Daojun sitting on the sofa, flipping through a newspaper. "You little brat, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see Grandpa. I have a birthday present for him," Chen Daojun said calmly.
"Oh, really? You little kid has a gift for Grandpa too? What did you prepare? It's not some shabby thing, is it?" Chen Dongji felt a strange displeasure towards this little nephew who had previously embarrassed him, and he constantly looked for opportunities to pick a fight.
"My gift is worth at least 100 billion korean won!" Chen Daojun announced a figure that astonished everyone.
"Hahaha! You little kid, aren't you bragging? Your gift is worth 100 billion? Do you think we'll believe that?" Chen Dongji laughed. He was already displeased with Fourth Brother Chen Runji, and now his son was actively courting disaster again. It seemed he would soon be expelled again.
Eldest Brother Chen Yongji and Third Sister Chen Huarong stood by without speaking, but they also wore expressions of enjoying the show.
"The newspaper says the election is coming soon. The family hasn't decided which candidate to give the campaign funds to, right? As long as we bet correctly, when the new leader takes office, Sunyang Group will develop rapidly in the coming years, and Sunyang Group's value will significantly increase! That value far exceeds 100 billion, doesn't it?... And I know who to give the campaign funds to!" Chen Daojun explained his gift and its inherent value.
Everyone present was shocked. They hadn't expected that this young boy in front of them would know such things, and even brazenly claim to know who to choose. This... could it be possible?
Seeing this, Chief Secretary Li informed Chen Yangji, who was still in the conference room. However, Chen Yangji, still fuming, had no leisure to see this inconspicuous little grandson.
Seeing this, Chen Daojun had no choice but to ask Chief Secretary Li to relay to Chen Yangji that the campaign funds should be given to candidate Roh Tae-woo, who would win the election. He then respectfully bowed and went downstairs.
"I knew this kid was talking nonsense! Everyone said the cooperation between the two Kims was unbreakable; how could it be candidate Roh Tae-woo's turn?" Chen Dongji couldn't help but complain.
"Hmph, he probably heard it from his father, Runji," Chen Huarong agreed with a nod. ...A moment later, a secretary rushed up from downstairs and anxiously reported, "Chief Secretary Li, we just received news that there's been a major change in the election. It's already being broadcast on the news."
Everyone was stunned by this news. Could it be that something already set in stone could still fall apart?
Everyone stared at the news being broadcast on TV: "The unified negotiation between Democratic Party Chairman Kim Young-sam and Advisor Kim Dae-jung has broken down today. Advisor Kim announced his refusal of the party's nomination proposal, thus confirming that the two Kims will run concurrently..."
"Secretary Kim, quickly go and call that kid Daojun back!"
"Yes!"
..."Daojun, how did you know the two Kims' unification would break down?" Chen Yangji looked at his little grandson with suspicion. He hadn't expected such a sudden change so close to the election, and this little grandson seemed to have anticipated it.
Chen Daojun looked at the scrutinizing gaze and quickly realized that the other party was testing him, to see if he had a master guiding him from behind, which was why he had said that candidate Roh Tae-woo would win the election.
"When classmates compete for class president, the first and second place won't give way just because they have a relationship with each other. Instead, they'll fight fiercely for the position of class president. And the third place, who originally had no hope, will seize the opportunity and win the position of class president. It's like an ancient saying from Yanxia Country: 'When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits,'" Chen Daojun spoke eloquently, using the example of classmates competing for class president to metaphorically describe this election.
"When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits? Daojun, you even know ancient sayings from China?" Chen Yangji was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected this inconspicuous little grandson to know so much, and to analyze it so logically. He truly was smart!
"Dad told me to read more books, read more newspapers, and when I encounter problems, to find a way to solve them myself and not trouble Grandpa and Grandma. If there's anything, I can find Eldest Uncle; he's a kind and good uncle who will help us!"
Chen Daojun's answer greatly surprised Chen Yangji, as well as Chen Yongji, Chen Dongji, and Chen Huarong and his wife, who were listening nearby. Especially Chen Yongji, he hadn't expected this half-brother, the fourth child, to have such a high opinion of him. And listening to Chen Daojun, it was clear that the fourth child and his wife had no interest in Sunyang Group, and in their eyes, he, the eldest brother, was the owner of Sunyang Group. It made perfect sense to come to him with problems! Second Brother Chen Dongji and Third Sister Chen Huarong's expressions were not so good.
Chen Yangji was quite satisfied with his little grandson's answer, nodding almost imperceptibly. Then he asked another question, "You just said that when the first and second place fight for class president, the third place benefits. There's also a proverb called 'the fish in the pond suffer.' So how do these fish in the pond overcome this disaster and gain the fisherman's profit?"