Chapitre 4: Child Prodigy?
"Five hundred billion?"
Was this seven-year-old Jin Do-jun out of his mind?
Do-jun's mother rose immediately, a look of panic on her face. Her usually quiet and well-behaved son was acting so unpredictably. Laughter rippled through the gathering, and the eldest grandson, Jin Seong-jun, laughed heartily, taunting, "Big idiot! Now you've really ruined your family's goodwill with Grandpa!"
Jin Yang-cheol narrowed his eyes. "You know, Do-jun, what I despise most are those who put on a show to impress the upper class. I also hate employees who boast beyond their means. You've already made a scene today. Don't go too far."
The head of the Jin family had seen it all before—ambitious, mediocre men trying to stand out, willing to say or do anything to catch the attention of the powerful. He thought, "My grandson, Jin Yang-cheol, will never stoop to such behavior."
Do-jun held his tongue but felt a twinge of defiance. This old man, Jin Yang-cheol, was truly domineering and suspicious, a bit like the historical figure Cao Cao. But he needed the initial capital for his own plans and knew he had to act boldly.
Yang-cheol was a businessman through and through, only concerned with returns. To gain his support, Do-jun had to propose an opportunity with a huge return. He couldn't afford to be shy or pretend to be an innocent child, like other time-travelers might. In a powerful family like this, one needed to show their value early on to be taken seriously.
"Grandfather, I know the family is currently facing an important decision," Do-jun began. "I'm referring to the political donation for this year's presidential election. There's less than a week before the election announcement, and the family has yet to decide which candidate to support."
"The right choice will yield enormous returns for the family's business in the years to come. Five hundred billion isn't excessive under these circumstances."
Five hundred billion won, according to the exchange rate of the time (around 800:1), was about 600-700 million US dollars. A successful investment in the presidential election would secure powerful connections, making this a sound business strategy.
The room grew tense. The Jins were no strangers to the links between chaebol families and politics. Major presidential candidates often sought the backing of conglomerates like Soonyang, as a single campaign required hundreds of millions in funding. Everyone was taken aback, however, that Jin Do-jun—a child who should still be watching cartoons—could talk about politics with such insight.
"My suggestion is to invest in Candidate Roh Tae-woo. He has the best chance of becoming the next president," Do-jun continued confidently.
Having lived through it once before, he knew that in the 1987 election, Roh Tae-woo would unexpectedly triumph over the "Three Kims" (Kim Young-sam, Kim Jong-pil, and Kim Dae-jung), who each represented strong opposition factions. As a transmigrator, he shouldn't have known this history—but thanks to Korean dramas and movies, he was well-acquainted with South Korea's political and business history.
"Candidate Roh Tae-woo?" Do-jun's uncle, Jin Young-ki, looked startled. There wasn't even time to question how a seven-year-old could grasp these things because this topic truly was of vital importance to the family.
"How could that be? Roh has the lowest public support of all," argued Young-ki. "If we're to choose, we should side with one of the Three Kims!"
Young-ki turned to Yang-cheol with frustration. "Father, please put a stop to this nonsense and send him out!"
Yang-cheol simply narrowed his eyes, standing with his hands clasped behind his back. But instead of reacting in anger, he focused intently on Do-jun. "Tell me your reasoning."
Do-jun nodded.
"First, the three opposition candidates are vying for the same position. This will inevitably fracture their coalition. With them fighting each other, Roh Tae-woo stands to gain significantly from the divided vote."
"Second, two of the Three Kims were in prison not long ago and were only released through Roh's amnesty. The vote split may be a way of repaying Roh's mercy."
"Third, social and class tensions in our country are rising. Candidate Roh's moderate policies are precisely what's needed to address the country's issues. This isn't just about Candidate Roh wanting to win—it's about the nation needing a moderate leader right now."
"He will be elected."
Three reasons—concise but powerfully compelling.
The room was stunned. The eldest son, Young-ki, felt like he was seeing his young nephew for the first time. He had spoken with terms like "opposition unity," "class contradictions," and "moderates," words few even among adults truly understood, and here was a seven-year-old explaining them with ease.
Do-jun's analysis was so precise it left everyone wondering. Could it be that the underdog candidate, Roh, really did have the best chance?
Even Yang-cheol looked deep in thought. Jin Do-jun's reasoning aligned almost exactly with his own, and only from his years of experience and high position did he have the ability to see what lay ahead. That this child could do the same, at only seven years old, was astonishing.
"Could it be that our Jin family has produced a prodigy?"
A wave of realization and admiration swept over him.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone