The Chairman Who Does It All Himself, Chapter 28
Tak.
When the call ended, Jeong Taeyang snapped the flip phone shut with a crisp click.
“You all heard that, right?”
“....”
“....”
“....”
“....”
“What is this, why is everybody suddenly mute? Han Suyeong is being looked for at Johwa Group. So what are we doing?”
Just imagining what would happen next seemed to send a thrill through Jeong Taeyang, and his voice kept rising with the excitement.
“Um... for now, maybe it’s better to delay the meeting? We need some time to prepare too....”
Gilwoo, who knew exactly what had become of Han Suyeong, stole a glance at me.
“It sounds like they don’t know anything on their side. Wouldn’t it be better to meet them first? We’ve got nothing to lose by hearing them out.”
True to his usual nature and true to his nature as a police officer, Jeong Taeseong, who always kept a clear conscience with himself, urged a direct approach.
“Gilwoo and Taeseong don’t agree. Hah, what’s there to think about? At times like this, you go with the smartest guy’s opinion.”
“Right? Taeseong-hyung seems smart enough, but asking Jaehyun-hyung is the way to go, honestly.”
At Jeong Taeyang’s words, Shin Gilwoo’s face lit up, while Jeong Taeseong’s face crumpled like paper.
“Fine, sorry I’m an idiot. Hey, Joker.”
“Yeah?”
“So what are you going to do?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to me.
“Well... first, let me hear Chairman Jeong Taeyang’s thoughts.”
“Mine? Why do you care what I think?”
“Because it matters.”
“I can be honest?”
“Of course.”
“...I’ve got no idea.”
“I wasn’t asking for a plan. I was asking whether you intend to follow my lead.”
“Is that a request? Or an order, Chairman Do?”
“It’s a suggestion.”
“Hmm... I’ll have to think about that.”
Jeong Taeyang propped his chin on a finger and grinned slowly.
“You’re really your brother’s brother, aren’t you?”
“He’s not wrong, but that still annoys me a little. Little brother from another mother?”
Jeong Taeseong, who had been listening in silence, tossed the plum drink can from the table lightly at Jeong Taeyang and went on.
“Do you still not know Jaehyun? Drink some plum tea and clear your head.”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“Listen carefully, hyung. I’ve spent years in school with that bastard, and what I know is this....”
Jeong Taeseong cut himself off for a moment and looked at Jeong Taeyang with eyes that were different from usual.
“Do Jaehyun’s proposals are best the first time he makes them. Don’t regret it later. Just do what he says. It’s easier that way.”
“Well, damn... if the people’s baton says so, then I guess I should listen. Still, our Chairman Do won’t be putting me to work empty-handed, right?”
“Do you want something?”
“I’m not asking for money or anything... I do have a proposal of my own.”
“Go ahead.”
Clack.
Jeong Taeyang put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it with a Zippo.
“The work’s fine and all, but can we sort out how we address each other first, Chairman Do?”
“How we address each other?”
“Call me hyung.
“....”
“I’m older than you, and a friend’s older brother is supposed to be called hyung, right?”
“....He is your older brother, but your mother’s different....”
At the absurd demand, Jeong Taeseong let out a snort and poured cold water on it.
“Shut it, little brother. If you don’t want your grown ass getting beaten by your hyung.”
“You don’t even work out properly. You sure about that?”
“Enough of that. So what’s it going to be, Chairman Do? If you’re okay with it, I want to speak to you as freely as I would my own brother.”
“I’m fine with that... though I’m not sure whether Chairman Jeong Taeyang is.”
“Hahahaha, good. That’s how a man should be. Why wouldn’t I be fine with it?”
“Then that settles it.”
“Okay. You promised. A man’s word is worth its weight in gold, right?”
“It is.”
“Good. Then how should I handle this? Meet Johwa Group’s Director Cheon Subeom or not?”
“Meet him.”
“Oh, yeah, of course we meet him. And once we meet, what... no, wait a second.”
“Why?”
“Jaehyun. Your way of talking is a little short, you know...?”
“Didn’t you say you’d speak to me freely like a younger brother?”
“....”
“Heh-heh-heh. As expected from Joker. I knew it.”
“Kik, looks like the commander got one over on you, Chairman Taeyang.”
Wrinkles folded Jeong Taeyang’s brow into a crooked zigzag, and Jeong Taeseong and Shin Gilwoo, not about to miss the moment, hurried to pile on.
“Should I back off if you don’t like it? This is your last chance, so think carefully.”
“...No, it’s not that I don’t like it. Still, this is a little....”
“In private, we’ll be comfortable. In public, we’ll be formal. Whether it’s hyung or Chairman, we’ll adjust depending on the situation.”
“....”
“Good grief, our brother’s got muscle all the way to his brain. He still doesn’t know Do Jaehyun.”
Jeong Taeseong, perhaps frustrated that Jeong Taeyang had clamped his mouth shut, or perhaps simply enjoying the tease, clicked his tongue and jumped back in.
“How many people do you think Do Jaehyun lets speak to him informally? At this rate, it’s a good deal for you. Just do what he says. I told you a second ago, didn’t I? His first proposal is always the best proposal. Have you already forgotten?”
“Grr....”
“Then let’s take it that Taeyang-hyung agrees too. Let’s keep going.”
“...What do I need to do?”
“Today, let’s all have a drink together. Then call him again tomorrow evening or so. And meet with Johwa Group’s contact....”
* * *
The next day.
“I’m leaving.”
“All right, son. Always be careful on the road.”
“Yes, Mother. Don’t worry.”
After breakfast at home for the first time in a while, I stepped outside.
10:30 a.m.
“Welcome, Chairman.”
I went to the Red Dog Faction office in Yeongdeungpo. Today, there was an important event waiting with Red Dog Kim Museong.
“Sit.”
“Yes, Chairman. Bulgom, call the teahouse and have them send over some coffee.”
“Coffee?”
“You haven’t tried it yet, have you? The real purpose of going to a teahouse is something else, but this place is genuinely good.”
“...Representative Kim.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“I’ve been curious about this for a while.”
“Yes.”
“Why do people even order teahouse coffee? It’s 7,000 won a cup, but it tastes like they just dumped in three or four packets of instant coffee, added extra sugar and creamer, and threw in some ice.”
“Haha, Chairman. That’s....”
Kim Museong, the Red Dog, laughed heartily and continued.
“You see the Bulgom standing behind me, right? He’s the only Bulgom here, but among our men, there isn’t a single one smaller than him, even if they’re shorter.”
“Mm.”
“That’s the point.”
“What the hell does size have to do with coffee?”
“When I first joined the Baekho Faction, Hyung-nim Baekho said something like this. It sounds ridiculous even now, honestly.”
Kim Museong had personally brought down the older brother he once served with his own hands. Maybe that was why something complicated flickered across his face for an instant.
“Back in the old days, gangsters had no money and were always hungry, so when new younger members joined up, they’d even feed them dog food to help them bulk up. Then he told me I should count myself lucky and handed me two boxes of instant coffee. He said that from then on, after every meal, and whenever I got thirsty during the day, I should mix two packets into every 500 milliliters of milk instead of water and drink that.”
“Why?”
“So I’d gain weight faster, I guess. The caffeine would keep me from sleeping, and then I’d get hungry at night and keep snacking on whatever I could find, which would help me put on weight... maybe something like that.”
“Good grief... why bother getting fat like that? It’s not like you’re bulking up for muscle, and you don’t even have any.”
“Haha, Chairman. Out of ten gangsters, only about three can really fight well. The rest are all just size and presence. That’s why the older guys like it when a tall, big-bodied man shows up.”
“Why?”
“He looks impressive when you take him around. If you’re going to a wedding or some event, having him drive or just stand in the back is perfect.”
“....”
Knock, knock.
All at once, there was a light tap on the office’s iron door.
“Oppa!”
While I’d been making trivial conversation with Kim Museong, it seemed the coffee he’d ordered had arrived.
“Oh, Star, you’re fast.”
“It’s morning, so business is slow. The big sister was wondering why I’d ordered two coffees for once, but it’s because of the handsome oppa here, isn’t it?”
“...Chairman. Hyung-nim Museong, excuse me for a moment.”
At that moment, Bulgom, who had been listening quietly behind Red Dog, bent at the waist to a full ninety degrees, then walked up to the teahouse girl named Star and glared at her hard.
“You little bitch. I’ll let the hand touching slide since it’s your first time, but watch your mouth from now on. How dare you speak so casually to the Chairman?”
“B-Bulgom oppa. T-that....”
“You little brat, even now you ought to be apologizing, and you’re talking back....”
....
I’d forgotten.
This was 1998.
“Bulgom.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Enough.”
“Yes, Chairman. I’m sorry.”
Bulgom bowed at ninety degrees to me once again.
And the moment he lifted his head.
Smack.
“Eek!”
Before I could stop it, Kim Museong’s hand snapped across Bulgom’s cheek, and instead of Bulgom, the teahouse girl let out the scream.
“You damn bastard. The Chairman is right here, and you’re acting like an uneducated punk in front of your hyung?”
Thwack.
Bulgom’s head jerked sideways, and right after that Kim Museong’s shoe slammed deep into his solar plexus.
“Ugh....”
“Representative Kim.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Kim Museong’s hand, which had been about to slap Bulgom again with his other hand, stopped.
“That’s enough. Sit down.”
“Yes.”
“And Bulgom... no, Hyeongtae.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Bulgom Gong Hyeongtae came up to me, bent at the waist, and stretched his neck out so I could slap his cheek easily.
“Straighten your back and raise your head.”
“Yes.”
“Take it.”
I pulled out my wallet, took out cash at random, and handed it to Bulgom. When I counted it mentally, it was roughly three 100,000-won checks and five or six 10,000-won bills.
“....”
Bulgom’s pupils widened at the money in my palm, but maybe because he was watching Kim Museong’s reaction, he didn’t reach for it right away.
“Take it. The Chairman is giving it to you.”
“Thank you, Chairman.”
“And....”
“I-it’s Star, Chairman.”
Meeting my eyes, the teahouse girl answered in a tiny voice, trembling like a mouse in front of a cat.
“How much is it?”
“Pardon?”
“The coffee. How much?”
“Ah... i-it’s 15,000 won.”
“Take it.”
“Um... I don’t have change....”
The girl named Star gripped the 100,000-won check in her hand and rolled her eyes back and forth.
“I was rude just now. That must have startled you.”
“I-it’s fine....”
“I’ll enjoy the coffee. Thanks for the trouble.”
“Huh? Yes....”
“What are you waiting for? Go on.”
Sensing that the woman named Star was about to say something to me, Kim Museong shot her a slight warning glare.
“Y-yes. See you n-next time, oppa.”
Only then did she seem to come back to her senses. Star bowed her head a little, hurriedly opened the door, and left the office.
“Hyeongtae.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“It’s been less than two months since we first met, hasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“I want to know you for a long time. I mean that.”
“....”
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“...Not really, no.”
“What you’ve been doing until now is, in the best case, being a gangster. In the worst case, it’s being a thug.”
“...Yes.”
“You can’t do that anymore. From now on, not just in front of me, but anywhere unless you’re ordered to, don’t use violence. Do you understand now what I meant by saying I want to know you for a long time?”
“Yes, Chairman....”
Bulgom Gong Hyeongtae’s voice trembled slightly.
“Hyeongtae.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
I took a cigarette from my inner pocket and put it in my mouth, and Kim Museong quickly produced a lighter and lit it for me.
“And Representative Kim.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
I’d planned to deal with the financial side of things with Kim Museong today, but it wouldn’t hurt to use the chance to teach Gong Hyeongtae something too.
“Both of you, watch closely and learn while you’re at it. Learn how money is spent.”