Episode 190
“See? I told you I could do it.”
Another family meeting at Chairman Wang’s mansion. Wang Hao was taking all the credit for the technology I had provided.
“Hahaha, I’m so happy.” Chairman Wang’s face beamed with pride. “Both Jin-hee and Hao are doing so well.” Hao was his nickname for Wang Hao, used when he was pleased with him. “I’m so proud to have such capable children.”
“I went straight to Saseong and observed the researchers,” Wang Hao boasted. “I thought long and hard about who to target and what methods to use! And then I found my target! That’s what Father meant by a manager’s ability to seize opportunities!” He embellished his story dramatically, and his father clapped his hands in approval. “That’s right! My eldest son is finally showing some promise!”
“I persuaded him easily, and that’s how my secret operation began.”
I scoffed inwardly, listening to his bragging. ‘He’s full of hot air.’ All his attempts had failed. He had even been caught and was now taking credit for the technology I had given him.
The technologies I had given him seemed promising, but they were all failed projects, discarded by Daehoo Electronics after countless attempts and massive losses. They were worthless, money pits. There might be some value in them, considering the technological gap between Korea and China, but they would ultimately drain Haixin Group’s research budget without any tangible results.
Wang Jin-hee, who had been informed of this in advance, chuckled next to me. “Hohoho, you’ve achieved a great feat, older brother.”
“That’s right! You just stole some home appliance technology from MG, but I acquired core telecommunications technology! There’s no comparison.” He was so confident because the technologies they had acquired were completely different, making direct comparisons difficult.
“What does it matter? As long as it benefits the group. Right, Father?”
“That’s right. Why are you siblings competing? You both did well. As promised, Wang Hao will be promoted to managing director, and Jin-hee to deputy director.”
Everyone was smiling, except for one person: Wang Chen, the second son, who hadn’t achieved anything.
“Father, are you promoting him without even verifying the technology?”
Wang Hao frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Jin-hee’s project is already showing results, so that’s understandable. But yours hasn’t been verified yet. And why is Saseong so quiet?” The two brothers usually got along, but they were ultimately rivals. They had been receiving equal treatment and support, so there hadn’t been any overt conflict. But with Wang Hao trying to pull ahead, Wang Chen was now on guard. He was more wary of his brother, his immediate rival, than his younger sister, a potential threat.
“If their technology was stolen, Saseong would be making a much bigger fuss than MG. But there’s been no news. All we’ve heard is that they caught an industrial spy.”
Wang Hao retorted angrily, “You’re suspecting me? That’s because my operation was flawless! Jin-hee got caught, but I was so discreet that Saseong doesn’t even know their technology was stolen!”
“I find that hard to believe. Saseong’s security isn’t that lax.”
Chairman Wang intervened as the tension between the two brothers escalated. “Enough! Wang Chen, you should be congratulating your brother, not questioning him!”
“But Father, what if the technology is useless? Will you demote him? No, you won’t!” He was so adamant because the entire project had been conducted in secret. If one of the two potential successors was suddenly promoted, the other employees, unaware of the project, would assume that Wang Chen had lost favor.
“You have to verify the technology before promoting him. Such arbitrary decisions are not good for a large company like ours.” He added a seemingly rational justification, and Chairman Wang, after a moment of thought, nodded. “You have a point. We’ll postpone the promotion until the technology is verified.”
Wang Hao protested. “Father, you don’t trust me?”
“It’s not about trust, it’s about justifying the promotion to the others. I can’t promote you without any tangible results. We’ll announce your promotion as a reward for your contribution to the technology development once it’s verified.”
“But…”
“Do you have no confidence in the technology? Can’t you wait a few months?”
He hesitated and then glanced at me. I smiled and nodded slightly, giving him a silent reassurance. He regained his confidence and said in a strong voice, “Fine, I can wait. I’m confident!”
His father, pleased by his confidence, smiled and said, “Good. Everything is going so well lately. Enough business talk. Let’s eat and drink!”
After a few drinks, Wang Jin-hee and I went out to the garden for a walk. “The war begins when Wang Hao finds out the truth.”
She smiled. “Of course, he’s made a good start, hasn’t he? Boasting about his achievement. Hoho.” It was the opening salvo.
“Hehehe, I can’t wait to see his face when he realizes it’s worthless.”
I had nothing to worry about, even if he found out.
He wouldn’t reveal that he had asked me for help because of his pride. And even if he told his father, it wouldn’t matter. Few people knew about his request, and the data had no trace of its origin, the Daehoo logos removed. I could easily turn the tables and make him look like a fool.
“He’ll lose his father’s favor. And your achievements will shine even brighter.”
As we were discussing our future plans, a voice called out, “Hey, brother-in-law!”
It was Wang Hao, drunk. He staggered towards us. “Jin-hee, can I borrow your husband for a moment?”
We exchanged glances, and I nodded. She smiled. “My husband is expensive.”
“Come on, we’re family.”
“Hohoho, alright. Take good care of him.”
She returned to the mansion, and he put his arm around my shoulder. “Thanks, brother-in-law. You saved me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Just between us…” He smirked. “Father might be treating us equally, but Haixin Group is mine. I’m the eldest son.”
“Is that so?”
“The eldest son inherits the business. It’s natural. And I realized while working with you that we make a good team.”
I smirked inwardly. ‘He’s delusional.’
“So, if you keep helping me, I’ll take care of Jin-hee and increase our cooperation with Chunha Group. You’ll help me, right?”
I smiled brightly. “Of course. We’re family.”
“That’s right! We’re family! About that money I promised you…” he lowered his voice, “…do you really need it?” So he was planning to keep the money and the technology? “We’re both wealthy, what do we need that small amount for? But everyone needs an emergency fund… I have other uses for it, so can you let it slide this time?” It was a ridiculous excuse, but I smiled. “Well, I did say I wanted it, but it felt awkward asking for money from family. Do as you please.”
“You’re the best, brother-in-law!”
The man who had shouted about marrying his sister off to a Korean had changed his tune now that I was useful to him.
“I appreciate it. You haven’t told anyone, right?”
“Of course not, not even Jin-hee. What about you?”
“Just me and two of my close associates.”
Perfect.
“It’s best if you forget about it completely. I’ve already erased it from my memory.”
“That’s my brother-in-law! Let’s be friends!”
“Likewise.”
The technology I had provided, for which Wang Hao had taken all the credit, was secretly brought into Haixin Electronics’ research lab, and they began working on it.
Impressed by his son’s apparent success, Chairman Wang allocated a substantial budget to the project.
Acquiring technology didn’t mean you could use it immediately. It required adaptation, modification, and testing. It was like acquiring a map to a new territory, not the territory itself. It was still a significant advantage compared to starting from scratch, but it required time and effort.
And the longer it took, the worse it would be for Wang Hao.
A week passed, then a month.
“It’s quiet.”
I chuckled. “I chose technologies that wouldn’t be easily exposed.” They were all failed projects, discarded by Daehoo Electronics after extensive research and development.
Daehoo, a more technologically advanced company than Haixin Group, had deemed them worthless.
Haixin would follow the same path, wasting time and money on these dead-end projects. Blinded by the allure of quick results.
I hummed and called Wang Jin-hee.
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Hello?
“It’s me. How does it feel to be promoted?”
Wang Hao’s promotion had been postponed, but Wang Jin-hee, having achieved concrete results, had been promoted to deputy director.
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It hasn’t been long, so I’m not sure yet. I brought my team with me, so we’ll assess the situation and then make our move. She had used her position as the chairman’s daughter to bring some of her loyal subordinates from Sales Department 5 to Sales Headquarters, claiming they needed her support in the new environment. “How’s the atmosphere these days?”
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The atmosphere…? Oh, you mean my brother?
I nodded. “Yes, is he making any progress at the lab?”
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Hehehe, he’s boasting about how his project will revolutionize Haixin Group, but there have been no results so far. He still seems confident, though.
I chuckled. “Of course, I carefully chose the most promising-looking failures for him. He’ll be struggling for a while.”
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You should call him and offer some encouragement. He must be anxious, despite his confident façade. We have to keep him hooked.
“I was planning to.”
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Good.
I hung up the phone and couldn’t contain my laughter. “He’s clutching at straws, trying to revive a dead project. And it’s not even his project, it’s Daehoo’s discarded trash. This is too funny! Hehehe, what should I say to him?”