Chapter 3

The money invested through mortgaging the house, initially 100 million, unexpectedly ballooned to 400 million. Stocks that were purchased for 10,000 won per share surged to 40,000 won within a few months, resulting in significant profits. This windfall was enough to recoup all the losses his father had sustained over time. While his mother contemplated pulling out of the investment, and his father agreed to some extent, they found themselves unable to withdraw funds even in light of the substantial gains.

Emphasizing the need to maintain investors' commitment, the vice chairman collected and retained all of their bankbooks, stamps, and certificates. Despite the desire to exit the situation, they felt trapped and entangled, leading to ongoing conflict.

"We should rethink this. We've learned our lesson and regained a substantial amount. Let's convey that we're content with our gains and no longer driven by greed. Continually investing while carrying debt is becoming burdensome."

"Are we any different? We have no choice. If we attempt to leave, they won't allow it. Even the ones below will try to thwart us. Let's wait a bit more. They said they'd let us go when the returns are tenfold, but we're not far from that mark."

"Darling, who achieves tenfold returns? We're at fourfold already. Our friends were astonished when I mentioned our gains to them, as it's fourfold. However, we don't aim to be excessively greedy. Let's reassess the situation. Yes?"

Sighing, Lee Sang-hoon's father responded to his mother's entreaties, "Alright, let's halt now. I'll discuss it again tomorrow. Our son is here, so we'll continue later."

As Lee Sang-hoon observed his parents' exchange, he felt a tinge of discomfort at their preoccupied state but quickly left the room when his father got up and his mother followed suit.

Lee Sang-hoon entered his room, lay on the bed, and stared at the ceiling before eventually turning on his side. Though not yet fully asleep, he chose to lie still and contemplate the situation.

"Come on in."

"Sang Hoon, have you eaten? If you haven't, I can make something for you."

Lying down, Lee Sang-hoon replied, "I don't know. I just want to sleep."

"Alright, then when you wake up, I'll prepare something for you to eat, and you can rest again, okay?"

"Yes, I understand."

As Lee Sang-hoon spoke, he closed his eyes. His mother briefly glanced at him and attempted to initiate a conversation, but he remained unresponsive.

Sang Hoon, mom mentioned that a lot of people are pursuing careers in the civil service after watching the news. How about considering a civil service exam? When I was younger, it didn't seem so appealing, but now it's different. Some of your dad's friends are still youthful. Your dad's classmates, the most persistent among them, couldn't leave the village, but after retirement, they receive a pension until their passing, so it seems like a reasonable option now. Dad alone won't be sufficient for retirement. A stable job is good, but public service might be the way to go."

"Mom, do you know how challenging it is to become a civil servant? I'd like to pursue it too, but how can I do something so demanding? It would take at least a year or two of dedicated study to prepare for the civil service exams, and we can't afford that. I'll handle it myself, so don't worry."

"Sang Hoon, if you say you'll do it, we'll support you. Don't stress about it. Remember what I said, okay?"

"Got it. I'm tired. I need some sleep."

Lee Sang-hoon pulled the blanket over his head and seemed to dismiss the conversation. His mother sighed at his reaction and left, closing the door behind her. 

As he tried to sleep, Lee Sang-hoon's mind was racing. Post-graduation, the future seemed uncertain. He recalled a senior who had made a fortune working at Ohsung Electronics, yet hesitated due to the excessive workload. He renounced the idea of joining a traditional company due to lacking the minimum credits. As he neared thirty, he felt pressured to make a significant impact but was unsure of his capabilities.

Feeling frustrated and restless, Lee Sang-hoon tossed and turned under the blanket. 

***

Lee Sang-hoon overheard a conversation about military service while walking. As a college student, he only had to attend reserve training once a year, an advantage he appreciated. However, he couldn't help but feel disillusioned as he found himself attending training alone, having lost touch with his former comrades.

Suddenly, a senior called out to him, pointing out that they were of the same age and encouraging a relaxed approach to their interaction. Despite feeling taken aback, Lee Sang-hoon agreed to the notion and nodded in acknowledgment.

Lee Sang-hoon, who had been feeling secluded at the reserve training ground, found camaraderie in the senior who had reached out to him. As they spent their time together, other trainees, both juniors and peers, gravitated towards them.

After the monotonous reserve training concluded, those about to depart gathered in front of a convenience store for some beer. Most of them were university students, leaving Lee Sang-hoon as the center of attention being on the cusp of graduation.

Lee Sang-hoon engaged in a conversation with the senior and other juniors, sharing thoughts about their upcoming paths. The topic shifted to the stock market when a junior, while sipping his beer, suggested that Lee Sang-hoon should consider stocks as an investment opportunity.

Intrigued, the senior raised queries about this, as stocks were relatively unfamiliar territory for those studying in the electronics department, unlike their peers in business-oriented fields.

One of the juniors revealed that he had doubled his initial investment in just 10 days by investing in a particular stock called Luho. This sparked a surge of interest and surprise among the group, with Lee Sang-hoon also getting intrigued despite his initial disinterest in the market.

Expressing his astonishment, Lee Sang-hoon was taken aback by the swift and substantial growth in the stock price, something he had not expected.