The Luxuries (1)
“Oppa! Oppa!” The moment Yoon-gi stepped into the foyer after returning from school, his younger sister, Jung-ah, came sprinting toward him and latched onto his leg.
“Aigoo, our Jung-ah.” Yoon-gi looked at his adorable little sister and hoisted her up into his arms.
“Kya-hahaha!” Lifted high above her own height, Jung-ah laughed cheerfully, her tiny hands and slender arms wrapping around her brother’s head. Thanks to her, Yoon-gi was practically blinded.
“Oh, Jung-ah. You’re going to make your brother fall.” As their grandfather, Choi Ki-hyun, appeared and tried to pry Jung-ah away from Yoon-gi, a wail of absolute despair echoed through the living room.
“Waaaaaah!” At the sound of Jung-ah’s wailing, with actual tears streaming down her face, Choi Ki-hyun frantically waved his hands, promising repeatedly that he wouldn't take her away. Only then did Jung-ah stop, as if she hadn't been crying at all, and resumed clinging to Yoon-gi with a bright, beaming smile.
“Jung-ah, let Oppa go wash his hands first.”
“No!” Yoon-gi carefully set his sulking sister down on the sofa and gently stroked her hair.
“I don’t want to touch you with dirty hands, that’s all. Is that okay?”
“Umm... okay!” While Yoon-gi, who had flashed a quick smile at his sister, headed to the bathroom, Choi Ki-hyun approached Jung-ah.
“Our Jung-ah, shall you play with Grandpa while Oppa washes his hands?”
“No! I’m going to play with Oppa!” At Jung-ah’s refusal, which was so firm it felt like a block of iron, Choi Ki-hyun wore a slightly hurt expression.
“Whew... and to think that until last year, she said Grandpa was the best...”
Park Yeon-ji smiled warmly at Choi Ki-hyun, who was clicking his tongue, and handed him a cup of green tea from a tray.
“It’s because you’re often busy and away, Father. Even when Yoon-gi works, he does most of it here at home.”
“That may be true, but... I don’t know if I should be happy that the siblings are close, or sad that my granddaughter is slowly distancing herself from her grandfather.”
“Oh, come now. It’s not that Jung-ah dislikes you. Before Yoon-gi gets home from school, she follows you around everywhere, doesn’t she? She just likes Yoon-gi a little bit more; she definitely doesn’t dislike you. Shall I show you?”
“How?” At the words of Choi Ki-hyun, who was sipping his tea, Park Yeon-ji smiled brightly, leaned over, and stood in front of Jung-ah.
“Jung-ah, how would you feel if Grandpa went to live in another house all by himself?”
Jung-ah, who had been smiling brightly toward the bathroom just a moment ago, saw her lips tremble, and tears began to well up in her eyes. It was truly three seconds before a total meltdown. But Park Yeon-ji, a pro mom, quickly continued.
“Jung-ah, you like Grandpa, right?”
“Yes, I like him!” At Jung-ah’s bright, cheerful answer, Choi Ki-hyun’s mouth began to stretch from ear to ear.
“Then, who do you like more, Grandpa or Oppa?”
“Oppa!” At the answer that didn’t even take a second of hesitation, Choi Ki-hyun clicked his tongue again, and seeing that, Park Yeon-ji burst into a light laugh.
“You see? She doesn’t dislike you at all. She just likes her brother more.”
“I’m glad, but... why does it feel like I’ve lost?”
“Because you did lose.” Yeon-ji’s laughter was no longer that of a shy young bride, but of a mature daughter-in-law.
“You’ve really gained a lot of experience as a daughter-in-law, haven’t you? The old you would never have said something like that... Though, it has been over 15 years since you became part of the family, hasn’t it?”
“Oh, Father. I’ll be forty the day after tomorrow.” Park Yeon-ji, who covered her mouth and laughed, was actually in her late 30s. However, in terms of appearance, she boasted a youthfulness that barely looked past her early 30s.
“Who would believe you’re turning forty? Looking at Colonel Colson, your family is definitely blessed with youthful genes.”
“Oh, Father. You’re incredibly youthful yourself.”
“Our family isn’t just youthful in appearance; we have youthful bodies. It’s not just the face; the body itself is young.”
“Whether it’s the face or the body, isn’t it what matters that we look young?” A daughter-in-law exchanging lighthearted banter with her father-in-law was not a common sight in this era, but it was possible here.
Creak-! As soon as the bathroom door opened and Yoon-gi came out, Jung-ah stood up from the sofa and ran to him again. Yoon-gi hugged her, returned to the sofa, and began playing all sorts of games with her on his lap—the kind of "peek-a-boo" games that were long past the age of four. However, it was certain that both Yoon-gi and Jung-ah were busy laughing as they looked at each other.
“Still, it’s a relief they inherited only the good genes. If they had inherited the bad ones, Jung-ah would have inherited a face like a tough guy, and Yoon-gi would have inherited a face that felt out of place, like a Caucasian.”
“My father and you have accumulated a lot of virtue, so it’s fine. While we’re at it, shall I talk to the baby’s father about a third child?”
“Forget it. You’re not as young as you used to be, Mother; it’ll be hard if you have another.” At her father-in-law’s concern for her health, Park Yeon-ji covered her mouth and laughed. Choi Ki-hyun, who had been watching her for a moment, looked at Yoon-gi and spoke in a slightly puzzled tone.
“When I see how Yoon-gi treats Jung-ah, it’s like looking at myself. Most brothers his age would be distant due to puberty, but seeing him say ‘Aigoo’ every time he looks at her or playing with her like that... he’s exactly like me.”
“That’s naturally because he takes after you, Father.”
“No, I don’t mean he looks like me, I mean he’s like an old man in a child’s body...”
“So, he takes after you, Father.”
“Mother...?”
“Ho ho ho ho.” The pleasant conversation between the grandfather and the mother was, of course, reaching Yoon-gi’s ears. They were talking in the living room, after all. However, Yoon-gi didn’t bother to change his behavior to match the conversation and continued to enjoy playing with Jung-ah for a while.
‘That’s right.’ At Choi Deok-bae’s words, Yoon-gi immediately sent back an affirmative thought.
‘No... you don’t really need to add commentary like that...’
‘Sigh.’ Knowing there was no malice, Yoon-gi just let it slide and smiled as he looked at Jung-ah again.
‘She’s really cute.’ Back when he lived his life in his 40s, he had honestly envied the families he saw moving about with their sons and daughters. The children with their bright smiles looked so truly happy. It was a dream he could never achieve. But now, it was completely different. It would take more time to build a family of his own, but at least he was getting plenty of vicarious satisfaction watching Jung-ah. Yoon-gi was pouring the kind of love a father would give a daughter onto Jung-ah, and naturally, Jung-ah loved him very much. Her grandfather and father poured love on her too, but she couldn’t help but like her brother, who was home overwhelmingly more often, second only to her mother. He was handsome, rich, and treated her well. It seemed unlikely that Yoon-gi would ever hear the words, “Oppa, you’re so annoying,” during Jung-ah’s puberty.
“Oh my, Jung-ah must be sleepy.” As Park Yeon-ji picked up the dozing Jung-ah and carefully carried her into the master bedroom, Choi Ki-hyun and Yoon-gi were naturally left alone in the living room.
“How is business going these days?”
In an instant, the air in the living room shifted.
“Thanks to you and my parents, it’s going very well.” At Yoon-gi’s textbook answer, Choi Ki-hyun gave a bitter smile.
“No, you know that’s not the answer I wanted.” Yoon-gi looked at his grandfather, who was sitting on the armchair that served as the seat of honor, sipping his green tea, with a puzzled expression.
“No, I really did survive because of you and Father. If it weren’t for the two of you, the department store opening would have been delayed by at least five years, wouldn’t it?”
Yoon-gi had calculated the capital needed for the department store construction and his own asset management, and five years was the conclusion he had reached.
“Is that so...?”
“Yes. The original plan was to start construction to open the department store in the second half of next year, but my thinking was too soft. Of course, my life wouldn’t have been ruined even if I had opened the department store a few years later, but your and my parents’ help was significant in allowing me to push forward with the original plan.”
Yoon-gi stood up, bowed at a 90-degree angle, and spoke in a polite tone.
“Thank you. Being born as your grandson is the greatest stroke of luck in my life.”
Even though he was blatantly buttering him up, Choi Ki-hyun found such words from his grandson to be incredibly endearing.
‘Back then, when that brat Cheol-min tried to flatter me, I felt like I was going to break out in hives, but when Yoon-gi does it, I can’t help but grin.’
It was only natural; there was a difference between words spoken from the heart and flattery used to curry favor.
“Then, is it true that there are almost no issues with capital at the moment?”
“Yes. At this point, I don’t think there will be any reason for the brakes to be applied due to capital. Thinking of my uncles, aunts, and their spouses, I must make this business a success.”
“If that is your mindset, then it is a relief.”
In fact, Yoon-gi had already received almost all of Choi Ki-hyun’s liquid assets, including cash, as an early inheritance. Although Choi Ki-hyun boasted absolute power in the family, such preferential treatment could have caused resentment among other family members. However, this resentment was primarily covered up by the massive accident caused by the second uncle, Choi Cheol-min, at the time. Of course, there was a secondary wave of resentment that crept up later, but because the other members also received benefits from Yoon-gi, they changed their direction from being hostile to Yoon-gi to trying to curry his favor, and Yoon-gi also won over their hearts by embracing them. Thanks to this, Choi Ki-hyun could sigh in relief watching his grandson’s actions, and Yoon-gi could also spend his days peacefully amid the active and passive support of the family members.
“It’s always amazing when I look at you, how you manage to find such talented people. Was it Fernandez? I sent someone from the trading company to talk to him, and they said he was truly incredibly competent.”
“That is also mostly thanks to you and my maternal grandfather. If I hadn’t been born with a gold spoon in my mouth, how would I have gotten the opportunity to go to the U.S. and the chance to invest?”
At his grandson’s words, Choi Ki-hyun smiled broadly but shook his head.
“There is no need to be so humble. No matter how you are born with a spoon in your mouth, if you lack the ability, this is an era where you can still ruin the family. You know that from looking at Cheol-min, don’t you?”
Yoon-gi agreed with his grandfather’s words, so he nodded.
“I will keep that in mind.”
From the 2010s onward, the solidification of wealth began. Even if you worked for 20 years as a department head at a major conglomerate, the money you’d have in your hands would be around 2.5 to 3 billion won, and considering the cost of living, it’s impossible for a dirt spoon to become a silver spoon. On the other hand, Yoon-gi had seen countless times in his 40s how children of major conglomerates who had ruined businesses over and over again inherited their companies intact without a single scratch. But now, it was the 1980s. Knowing what his grandfather was thinking when he said this, Yoon-gi nodded sincerely and took his words to heart.
“Now that I think about it, I heard the exterior construction of the department store is almost finished, so the interior construction will begin soon, right? Is that Fernandez you mentioned earlier an expert in that field?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s about time to prepare the brands and goods to be stocked in the department store.”
“Then there will be a lot of meetings to hold, won’t there?”
“Since I can’t decide everything on my own, I think the workload will increase a bit.”
Upon hearing the answer, Choi Ki-hyun nodded and spoke to Yoon-gi in a tone that sounded as if he had made a decision.
“From now on, use my study as your conference room.”