A Genius Speaks with Money

Chapter 35

The day of my birthday.

The owner family of Taeseong Group gathered at a high-end Hanok restaurant in Hannam-dong, where the old tiled roof and spacious yard were impressive.

This was a traditional Korean restaurant that Chairman Lim Man-seok frequently visited.

It was a place famous for its clean table setting, where even a single seasoning or side dish required a lot of effort.

Chairman Lim visited this place whenever it was a pleasant day for the family.

In the room placed along the wooden floor, the family members were sitting around a wide solid wood table.

Chairman Lim Man-seok and Mrs. Yoon Myeong-sook were sitting at the head of the table, and on the right side, Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung and his wife, along with their son, I, Lim Hyunjun, took our seats.

On the opposite side were President Lim Do-hyun, his wife Shin Seo-yoon, and their son Lim Hyun-woo.

In the seats facing Chairman Lim Man-seok, the eldest daughter Lim Hye-seon, her husband Jeong Tae-jun, and Jeong Seo-yeon were also together.

The gathering to celebrate my birthday was quiet yet dull.Still, it was understandable as the place, which previously would have been filled with Chairman Lim Man-seok'

s roaring scolding, was quiet now.

I, Lim Hyunjun, played a part in that credit.

Mrs. Yoon Myeong-sook opened her mouth first to relax the atmosphere.

“Since it is Hyunjun'

s birthday, thank you everyone for taking the time while being busy. These days, everyone is so busy that it is difficult to face each other while looking at faces like this. Perhaps because of that, this kind of time is very precious.”

The son-in-law Jeong Tae-jun said playfully while holding a glass.

“Of course, Mother-in-law. How long has it been since we all gathered like this. Thanks to that, I also left work early today.”

My aunt Shin Seo-yoon laughed lightly.

At that time, Jeong Seo-yeon secretly fiddled with her cell phone, peeked at the atmosphere, and then quietly put it down.

Kang Ji-yeon smiled quietly seeing that appearance.

In her eyes, Jeong Seo-yeon looked very pretty no matter what she did.

It was because since she only had a son, she was subtly envious of a house with a daughter.

At that moment, the door opened and dishes began to be placed cleanly on the table one by one.

Following perilla seed soup, braised fresh ginseng, soy-marinated abalone, lotus leaf rice, and seasoned handmade tofu, Cheonggukjang contained in a large earthenware pot was served last.

A savory smell spread throughout the room.

In an instant, the faces of several family members grimaced.

Shin Seo-yoon, who could not hold back, said while shuddering.

“Why Cheonggukjang today….”

Jeong Seo-yeon also wrinkled her nose slightly.

Jeong Tae-jun was the same.

However, Chairman Lim Man-seok liked it very much.

“It seems Hyunjun'

s appetite is the same as mine. Since the Cheonggukjang in this house has a very good taste, I specially ordered it.”

After saying that, Chairman Lim peeked at me, Lim Hyunjun.

“Hyunjun, since it is your birthday, eat a lot.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

I, Lim Hyunjun, put a lot of Cheonggukjang on top of my rice while wearing a bright expression as if I were in a good mood.

After mixing it with the fluffy white rice and taking a bite, I was truly happy for the first time in a long time.

Mrs. Kang Ji-yeon ate her food without a word while looking at her son'

s appearance with satisfaction.

On the other hand, President Lim Do-hyun skipped the Cheonggukjang without a word and picked up braised fresh ginseng and put it in his mouth.

Lim Hyun-woo was keeping his mouth shut tight with a grimacing face.

Discomfort was clearly evident in his expression.

There were only two people who ate Cheonggukjang deliciously in this place.

It was I, Lim Hyunjun, and Chairman Lim Man-seok.

Among them, Chairman Lim Man-seok blurted out words mixed with admiration.

“Mmm, this is the taste. These days, a house that does it like this is rare.”

I, Lim Hyunjun, also agreed with those words.

At this level, the smell was not strong and it was fermented very well.

The moment I put it in my mouth, a savory yet deep taste spread.

While the two of us were eating deliciously.

Suddenly, Chairman Lim Man-seok lifted his head.

The second daughter-in-law, Shin Seo-yoon, was drinking water with her face severely grimaced, and Jeong Tae-jun was eating other side dishes without even touching the Cheonggukjang side.

Jeong Seo-yeon was the same.

Lim Do-hyun did not show much, but he was showing his dislike in his own way.

On top of that, Lim Hyun-woo had put down his spoon entirely and was glaring at the table with his arms crossed.

Lim Man-seok, who was quietly watching that scene, suddenly put down his spoon with a thud.

“What is so unsatisfactory!”

The room was shrouded in silence in an instant at the voice like a roaring scolding.

Everyone was startled and lifted their heads.

“Sitting in front of food and grimacing your faces! What is smelly that you cannot even endure that much! With this, how do you plan to lead a company!”

Shin Seo-yoon flinched her shoulders and bowed her head deeply.

Jeong Tae-jun opened his mouth while pretending to laugh jovially.

“Oh no, Father-in-law. It is just because we are not used to it. Isn'

t it a food that is not often eaten these days.”

Lim Man-seok said without even giving a glance.

“Where did it say the world rolls according to one'

s taste? As you live, there are times when you have to eat even things that do not suit your taste.”

After Chairman Lim Man-seok'

s words ended, air as cold as a sheet of ice flowed in the room.

Not a single person was able to pick up their spoon first.

At that time, there was a person who quietly put down his spoon.

It was Lim Hyunjun.

I spoke while holding up my rice bowl slightly to make it visible without a word.

“Grandfather, may I eat one more bowl of rice?”

Lim Man-seok'

s lips formed an arc.

His gaze turned toward my empty bowl, Lim Hyunjun'

s.

A rice bowl emptied cleanly without leaving a single grain of rice.

Even the Cheonggukjang was completely empty.

I, Lim Hyunjun, continued speaking with a smile that was not excessive.

“Because the Cheonggukjang is so delicious. This house has sticky and fluffy rice, so it really goes well with the Cheonggukjang. I had no appetite at all lately, but today it goes down very smoothly.”

Lim Man-seok could not hide his smile.

He turned his head to look toward the doorway and raised his voice.

Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo, who was waiting outside, entered.

“Cheol-woo, tell them to bring one more bowl of rice.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

At those words, Kang Cheol-woo replied shortly and went outside.

Soon, a new bowl of warm white rice was placed.

I, Lim Hyunjun, bowed my head as if to thank him and began to eat Cheonggukjang again.

At that appearance, Kang Ji-yeon lightly stroked her son'

s back with a satisfied face.

Mrs. Yoon Myeong-sook also nodded her head repeatedly as if her grandson, who ate well, was just commendable.

Watching that, Lim Hyun-woo felt that I, Lim Hyunjun, was very offensive.

In Lim Hyun-woo'

s view, it appeared that I was making all sorts of efforts to look good to the grandfather.

So, he thought it was very detestable.

The meal ended like that, and the employees quietly cleared the empty plates.

Handmade Yakgwa and quince tea prepared on one side of the table were soon set.

The quiet atmosphere of the tiled house and the subtle scent of tea harmonized.

Chairman Lim Man-seok took a sip of tea without a word.

Mrs. Yoon Myeong-sook lifted her hand and called me, Lim Hyunjun.

“Now it is time to give gifts slowly. Hyunjun, come here.”

I, Lim Hyunjun, quietly stood up from my seat and walked to my grandmother'

s side.

The eyes of the family members turned toward me.

I stood by my grandmother'

s side with my hands politely gathered and bowed my waist lightly.

Mrs. Yoon Myeong-sook took an envelope out of her handbag and gave it to me.

I received it politely with both hands.

“It is a book gift certificate. Happy birthday, Hyunjun.”

“Yes, I will use it gratefully. Coincidentally, there was a book I wanted to buy, so I should buy it with this.”

“Is that so? That worked out well.”

In fact, Mrs. Yoon Myeong-sook had always lived a frugal life.

Unlike the grandmothers of other chaebol families, she used to give book gift certificates to her children every birthday, telling them to read books.

That was based on the thought that knowledge always remains in the head rather than flashy luxury items or expensive gifts.

While being extremely stingy with other things, she was not like that when buying books for the children as they grew up.

Since I, Lim Hyunjun, also knew that character well, the gift felt warm.

Next, Lim Hye-seon took out a small gift box.

“Auntie also picked this while thinking of Hyunjun. For a student who studies, there is nothing better than writing instruments, is there.”

In the box, there was a writing instrument with my name, Lim Hyunjun, engraved on it.

Seeing that it was not a brand commonly seen, it exuded a very expensive feeling.

I bowed my head toward my aunt and greeted her.

“Thank you, Auntie. I do an immense amount of note-taking. It was exactly what I needed.”

“Yes, it'

s a relief.”

Next, Jeong Tae-jun took out a box where the luxurious packaging was prominent.

He spoke while slightly shaking the box in his hand as if showing off somewhat.

“It is a watch. Since I chose it together with Seo-yeon. You will like the design. This is very expensive.”

To me, the cousin sister Jeong Seo-yeon winked one eye and smiled slightly.

I bowed my head respectfully.

“Thank you, Uncle. And Seo-yeon Noona. I will use it gratefully.”

Next, Shin Seo-yoon slid an envelope to me without a word.

Inside it, a high-value department store gift certificate was contained.

“Buy something if there is something you need. It was prepared together with your uncle.”

“Thank you, Aunt. Thank you also, Uncle.”

Lim Do-hyun, who was sitting in the seat next to her, was still only fiddling with his teacup without a word.

Even at that appearance, I, Lim Hyunjun, maintained my politeness until the end.

Happy times flowed as the gifts were handed over one by one like that.

I did not forget to give thanks for all the gifts.

The family members watched that appearance with satisfied faces.

And finally, it was when only one person remained.

Everyone'

s gaze naturally turned toward the person sitting at the head of the table.

Chairman Lim Man-seok took a sip of quince tea and then slowly opened his mouth.

“Since everyone has given gifts. Now only I am left.”

At those words, everyone laughed.

Lim Man-seok slowly took a notebook out of his pocket and opened it.

Then, he picked up the fountain pen he usually carried and began to write something.

When he finished writing, he tore the paper.

After that, he called Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo, who was waiting outside.

Soon, Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo entered.

Lim Man-seok gave the paper he just wrote to Kang Cheol-woo and said.

“Make sure to hand it over at this spot right now.”

Kang Cheol-woo opened the tablet he had and started the work immediately.

Jeong Tae-jun only looked at the teacup in his hand while keeping his lips tight.

Shin Seo-yoon quietly clenched her fist under the table.

Among them, only Lim Hyun-woo was looking around without knowing what was going on.

A moment later, Kang Cheol-woo spoke as he turned off the tablet he was holding.

“I have completed the processing.”

Lim Man-seok nodded his head and turned his gaze toward me, Lim Hyunjun.

“Hyunjun, from now on, you are a shareholder with a 1% stake in Taeseong Electronics.”

At those words, the room froze instantaneously.

My eyes, Lim Hyunjun'

s, became extremely large.

“Grandfather….”

“Since it is a gift that your grandfather is giving, accept it without saying a word.”

In that word, the momentum that he would not allow any more talk was also included.

After I, Lim Hyunjun, swallowed a short breath, I cautiously stood up from my seat.

I bowed my waist toward my grandfather with my hands gathered.

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

Lim Man-seok nodded his head.

At that time, there was a person who opened his mouth quietly.

It was the second son, President Lim Do-hyun.

“If you are going to hand over the stake, you should do the same for Hyun-woo. Is that not what is fair?”

Silence flowed.

Everyone'

s gaze turned toward Lim Do-hyun at once.

Shin Seo-yoon took a small breath at her husband'

s words.

Lim Hyun-woo tilted his head while still not understanding what those words meant.

Lim Man-seok put down his glass and slowly opened his mouth.

“Fair? Do you think I gave the stake to play a fair family game at this spot right now?”

Lim Do-hyun'

s face stiffened in an instant.

Lim Man-seok continued his words.

“I am a person who has entrusted work to a fellow who does work well. Isn'

t it natural to give it to the fellow who has potential. Fair in a chaebol family? Such words are only used when parents give snacks to children.”

At those words, Lim Hye-seon'

s lips also trembled finely.

Jeong Tae-jun avoided the gaze with effort.

Among them, Lim Man-seok continued his words.

“If your child had that much quality, I would have given it.”

Lim Do-hyun'

s expression chilled coldly.

“Father, your judgment is not always correct. Hyun-woo is still young. And Hyunjun is young as well.”

Lim Man-seok countered as if driving the point home.

“It is said that a tree that will grow well can be recognized from its seed leaf.”