TOIGC 16

Chapter 16 …

$1,500 in Starting Capital (1)

“There’s my boy!”

Even in his sixties, Brigadier General Colson effortlessly lifted his grandson into the air, his massive frame matching his strength. If a grizzly bear were to suddenly appear on the open plains, it would probably look something like this. Looking at Brigadier General Colson, his rugged, wild charm made it nearly impossible to imagine that Park Yeonji had inherited his genes. After all, he bore a bullet graze across his right cheek and a jagged scar on his hand that looked as though it had been ripped open by a bayonet.

“When did you arrive?” “Well, with my retirement coming up in a few years, my schedule has finally freed up a bit. So I came to give you all a surprise.” “A energetic guy like you is retiring already?”

Brigadier General Colson burst into a hearty laugh at Choi Gihyeon’s comment.

“Bwahaha! Calling it retirement just means leaving the military. I’ll take a short breather until I reach mandatory retirement age, then head straight to work at Northrop.” “You’re going to Northrop?” “That’s right.”

At this point in time, Northrop had not yet merged with Grumman, though this was something neither Yoongi nor Choi Deokbae knew anything about.

“Anyway, I’m glad you came. Yoongi was actually just saying how much he missed you.” “Is that so?”

As his maternal grandfather turned his gaze toward him, Yoongi nodded vigorously.

“I wish both you and Grandfather could live together with us in Korea.”

Hearing those words, Brigadier General Colson smacked his lips wistfully.

“I’d love to do that too, kiddo, but the country won’t let me go just yet.” “Because you’re an amazing man, Grandfather!” “Bwahaha! Hearing that from you means more to me than hearing it from anyone else in the world. Anyway, looks like you were playing catch—mind if I join in?”

Brigadier General Colson tossed off his military jacket. The American aides trailing behind him caught the airborne jacket as natural as breathing and stepped back, standing respectfully at attention. A general officer of brigadier rank could hardly travel without an escort detail. However, the security detail quietly kept their distance so as not to disturb Brigadier General Colson’s mood, and Yoongi’s family enjoyed their harmonious afternoon as if there were nothing unusual about it at all. Park Yeonji, in particular, kept to herself, but a quiet smile never left her face at the sight of her father as she watched the three generations play catch.

“Well, since my father is here, I should show off my skills for a change.”

While the three generations were engrossed in playing catch, the savory aroma of soybean paste stew began drifting out from the kitchen.

Thick, juicy steaks grilled from fresh cuts of beef rarely seen in Korea. Beside them, a rich soybean paste stew packed with generous ingredients, made using savory paste sourced directly from a prestigious family line. Though other dishes filled the table, these two were undeniably the centerpiece of today’s meal. The steaks, each practically the size of an adult’s face, were enough to make anyone’s mouth water just looking at them. Brigadier General Colson couldn’t stop showering praise as he enjoyed the soybean paste stew alongside his steak like a side soup.

“Having a meal cooked by my daughter for the first time in a while really pumps me full of energy!”

Brigadier General Colson spoke remarkably fluent Korean. Fourteen years ago, he had deeply loved his wife, who had passed away after suffering from the lingering aftermath of the Korean War. Although that tragedy fourteen years ago had nearly made him a man of few words, Brigadier General Colson had grown talkative once more after Yoongi was born, fully recovering his somewhat rusty Korean.

“Speaking of which, how are things on P’s end these days? With all the frequent protests popping up, I imagine America’s mood isn’t great.”

At Choi Gihyeon’s question during the meal, Colson responded with a somewhat cautious expression.

“The intelligence community is keeping a close eye on things, but given the Soviet Union, they don’t seem inclined to make a move. For now, staying the course seems to be fine.”

The conversation Choi Gihyeon and Colson were sharing right now was top secret within Samwoo Group. It was a dialogue strictly between the two men who had built Samwoo Group into what it was today, meaning under normal circumstances, no one else would be permitted to join in. However, Choi Cheolho was considered the primary heir by Choi Gihyeon and was a comrade-in-arms in business who had shared Samwoo Group’s ups and downs, while Park Yeonji was Brigadier General Colson’s only daughter. No other adults would dare step foot into this kitchen today—in fact, the staff had been instructed to leave early—making Yoongi the sole exception at the table. Normally, Yoongi would have been asked to step aside to prevent any information leaks, or the two men would have taken their discussion to the study, but no such thing happened. Choi Gihyeon trusted Yoongi’s brilliance, and Colson trusted Choi Gihyeon’s judgment. Excluding Choi Cheolho and Park Yeonji, Yoongi was the first blood relative ever permitted to sit in on their conversations.

‘If they’re saying ‘P’, they must mean that person.’

Working odd jobs, construction sites, and blue-collar gigs over a lifetime meant hearing plenty about modern Korean history. Because of that, Yoongi knew surprisingly well what events occurred during specific periods.

‘The October 26th incident happens in ’79, right?’

The incident where P is shot dead by a PPK, leading to the rise of the new military junta in Korea. However, Yoongi judged that there was neither reason nor room for him to step in at this point.

‘I can’t change the historical flow of the junta taking power, and even if I stop JD, a new JD will just take his place. That’s what America will want, anyway.’

Even though he was born as the eldest grandson of a wealthy family, Yoongi knew better than anyone after living to age ten that he didn’t possess the sheer power to alter major historical shifts.

‘Even if I wanted to warn them about what’s coming, I have no way to convince them. And even if I did convince them, my maternal grandfather isn’t someone who can move the United States government.’

However, there was a separate reason Yoongi reacted to the mention of P just now. It was because of JD. The reason he was currently buying up land around Cheonggyecheon and other areas was indirectly connected to JD’s 3S policy.

‘Learning management has made what I need to do much clearer.’

Judging that their conversation was winding down, Yoongi turned to Brigadier General Colson and casually broke the ice.

“Grandfather, you were born in America, right?” “That’s right. That’s why I’m in the US military, after all. Haha.” “Where in America were you born?” “Ah, did I never tell you?”

When Park Yeonji nodded, Colson let out a hearty laugh and began.

“This grandfather of yours was born in Indiana. A place where you open your eyes in the morning and see cornfields stretching all the way to the horizon.” “Wow… Then did your grandfather farm corn too?” “He did. But I hated corn farming, so I ran away to join the army. The day I said I was enlisting, my father practically threw a fit. You see, he had fought in World War I.” “My great-grandfather did?” “Yeah. Because of his memories from back then, he used to sleep standing next to the window with a gun in hand. Actually, this guy and I have similar habits.”

Choi Gihyeon nodded in agreement.

“True enough. Even now, whenever I hear something like a bugle call, I wake up with a start. You’re the same way, right?” “Spot on. Maybe that’s why I never oversleep. Though I do get startled whenever the military band rehearses nearby.”

Though they were laughing heartily, both of their faces bore a strangely tense edge.

“America… I want to visit again too. I went when I was really little, so I don’t remember it at all.”

Yoongi had indeed been to America a few times when he was very young, and he actually still held those memories. However, it was also true that after entering kindergarten, he hadn’t visited America even once due to his studies. Hearing his words, Brigadier General Colson’s face lit up with delight.

“Then how about going again this time? It just so happens this grandfather of yours has some free time.” “Really?”

When Yoongi spoke with an innocent expression, a look of immense pride washed over Brigadier General Colson’s face.

“Of course. Do you want to leave tomorrow?” “Hehe, it’s tough right now since school is still in session, but I’d love to spend this coming vacation in America.” “That’s a great idea. What about you?”

At Brigadier General Colson’s question, Choi Gihyeon smacked his lips in disappointment.

“If I leave my post for that long, the company will fall into chaos.” “I suppose that’s true. Well then, I’ll be hogging my grandson for this vacation.” “Ugh… Yoongi, do you really have to go to America?” “Yes.” “Ugh!”

Watching his grandson nod without a moment’s hesitation, Choi Gihyeon twiddled his index fingers together with a look of pure regret, realizing he couldn’t stop him.

“My maternal grandfather is my grandfather too, you know.” “Ahem, well, yes, I suppose that’s true. Since you’re going anyway, go have a blast.” “In return, I’ll spend tons of time with you until I leave, Grandfather.” “You really will?” “Of course. Spending time with you is fun, Grandfather.” “Ehehe, see that? That’s my grandson right there.” “…This guy definitely developed a weird kind of PTSD.”

At Brigadier General Colson’s comment as he clicked his tongue, laughter bloomed around the dinner table.

With very little time remaining until summer vacation began, clipping English-language newspapers was added to Yoongi’s daily routine. However, what kind of articles he was pasting into his scrapbook remained a complete mystery to his tutor Ryu Geuntae, his parents Choi Cheolho and Park Yeonji, and even Choi Gihyeon. The reason he gave was simple: ‘Because I’m embarrassed.’ It was a reason that made sense on the surface, so Choi Gihyeon didn’t force his grandson to spill the details either. Thanks to that, Yoongi was able to work on his scrapbooks in peace, but as vacation drew nearer, his anxiety began to grow as well.

‘Is this really enough? No, no matter how much I prepare, it won’t be enough. It’s better to keep preparing right up until vacation starts.’

Eventually, Yoongi asked Ryu Geuntae to bring him not just newspapers, but English-language magazines on economics, finance, and science as well. Thanks to that, the items pasted into his sketchbook expanded beyond simple newspaper clippings to include magazine articles and columns. Then came the night before departure. Yoongi finally fell asleep with a refreshing feeling of relief, a look on his face that said, ‘I gave it my absolute all.’

“It would have been nice if you could come too…”

At Park Yeonji’s regretful tone, Choi Cheolho gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

“With Yoongi gone and Father-in-law away, my father would feel terribly lonely if I left too. At least I should stay behind.” “Let’s take a short trip together when I get back. You really don’t rest enough, and that’s a problem.” “Let’s do that. Anyway, enjoy your rest in America with Yoongi during the vacation.” “Thank you.”

The moment she gave her husband a light kiss on the lips, Park Yeonji suddenly remembered her son was standing right behind them and blushed bright red.

“What’s wrong with a married couple showing affection?”

At her precocious son’s remark, Park Yeonji’s face turned even redder, and she gave him a affectionate, playful tap on the head. Naturally, it didn’t hurt at all, so Yoongi just gave a wide grin, while Park Yeonji practically pushed him along as they got into the car.

“We will be departing now.”

Polite English. The Mercedes sent by Brigadier General Colson had more than enough room to comfortably seat Yoongi, Park Yeonji, and Ryu Geuntae. It was a vehicle that ordinary Koreans wouldn’t be able to ride in, but one accessible under the name of a US Army Brigadier General stationed in Korea. That vehicle was the Mercedes, and thanks to it, the three arrived at the airport in supreme comfort.

“Welcome.” “Grandfather!”

Following Brigadier General Colson, who was waiting at the airport ahead of time, everyone boarded the flight bound for America. Ryu Geuntae headed to business class, while the other three, including Yoongi, made their way to first class. After all, Yoongi was bringing Ryu Geuntae along using his own money, and Choi Gihyeon had explicitly advised that a clear hierarchy needed to be maintained—hence the seating arrangement. Of course, Ryu Geuntae had no complaints whatsoever, and so their pleasant journey to America began smoothly without a hitch.

“What’s the very first thing you want to do once we land in America?”

At Brigadier General Colson’s question, Yoongi delivered a perfect answer.

“I want to visit your hometown, Grandfather. I want to see how you lived when you were little, and smell the nostalgic air from your memories.” “Alright, I’ll let you soak in as much of it as you want.”

Lifting his grandson onto his lap, Brigadier General Colson continued with a subtle expression.

“But that’s not all, is it? This grandfather of yours thinks there must be a specific reason why you suddenly wanted to come to America.” “Ehehe…”

Watching his grandson scratch the back of his head with an awkward laugh, Brigadier General Colson smiled warmly.

“Tell me. I can grant you whatever request you have.”

At his grandfather’s words, Yoongi flipped open the sketchbook he had brought on board and answered.

“I want to meet these people.”

The clipped English article pasted in the sketchbook caught Brigadier General Colson’s eyes.

[The Eccentric Geniuses Who Dropped Out of Harvard to Start a Small Company]