The Former Chaebol Heir Excels as President

Chapter 36: Election Campaign (2)

Kim Bu-seong, having entered the traditional market, furrowed his brows deeply.

Fish heads and rotting vegetables were strewn across the floor.

He turned to the secretary beside him and said,

“Secretary Jang, did the research center release the poll results?”

“We received them just now. The gap widened to 10%. It’ll only grow further. Even if Kang Cheonmyeong is a successful businessman, he’s a rookie in politics, isn’t he?”

“They must think I’m a joke if they dared to send that guy into my constituency! Pathetic fools.”

Kim Bu-seong twisted his lips in disbelief.

“No need to worry about it at all. Let’s go.”

“I’ll crush him thoroughly.”

Ignoring the elderly vendors spread out on the ground, Kim Bu-seong stopped in front of a side dish store.

A very insincere expression.

“Hello. Is business going well?”

“There are no customers. Please, let us make a living.”

“It’ll get better. Don’t worry.”

“Look at the market. I’m telling you, there are no customers.”

“There’ll be many soon. You just have to wait.”

Kim Bu-seong answered half-heartedly and followed Secretary Jang into a fruit store.

The female owner came out, smiling brightly, and grabbed Kim Bu-seong’s hand.

“Oh my, Assemblyman! You came all the way here despite being so busy.”

“Hahaha. I have to look after the people’s livelihood.”

“Thank you for always caring about our market vendors. Please get elected again and roll out policies for the common folk.”

“Aren’t I your servant? I work hard. Hohoho.”

With an exaggerated laugh, Kim Bu-seong tightly held the woman’s hand.

A prepared camera was rolling next to him.

Secretary Jang guided him.

“Assemblyman, you need to move over that way now.”

“Let’s go.”

Kim Bu-seong stopped in front of a snack shop.

“Ma’am, just one serving of tteokbokki, please.”

“Oh my! Assemblyman, you’re here. Your face looks even more radiant.”

“This tteokbokki is the best, I’m telling you.”

“Of course. In this market, our shop’s the best. Hohoho.”

It was clearly an over-the-top act.

Whether it was the cheering woman or Kim Bu-seong flashing a friendly smile.

“Back in university, I used to order 500 won worth of tteokbokki and just drink the fish cake broth. I really had it tough back then.”

Kim Bu-seong popped a piece of tteokbokki into his mouth.

Click— Click—

As the camera flashes went off, Kim Bu-seong also put a piece of fish cake in his mouth.

Click— Click—

Kim Bu-seong gave a thumbs up.

“It really is delicious. Brings back memories.”

“You must get elected again this time. Please fight for us.”

“Of course. I’ll get it done.”

“I believe in you, Assemblyman.”

She gave a thumbs up.

A photo that always shows up in the media during general elections.

The fruit shop lady and the snack shop ajumma were practically models.

“Assemblyman, you need to head to the Merchants’ Association now.”

“Let’s go. Sell a lot.”

“Good luck, Assemblyman!”

Kim Bu-seong waved his hand and walked on.

In front of the building housing the Merchants’ Association office, Kim Bu-seong spat on the ground.

“It’s exhausting eating tasteless food like that.”

“We got the photo for the media, so you don’t have to eat anymore.”

“Cancel the afternoon schedule.”

“You should go to the produce market. There are a lot of customers there, so word spreads quickly.”

“I don’t like the smell there. I’m ahead by 10%, no need to go. Cancel it!”

“Understood.”

Upon entering the second-floor office, the Merchants’ Association president, who had been waiting, bowed his head.

“Thank you for coming.”

“Of course I had to come. Did many people show up?”

“Haha. I put in some effort this time.”

“You truly are the president.”

Kim Bu-seong spoke softly to the president of the Merchants’ Association.

“Once the election is over, I’ll take care of the parking lot issue.”

It was a secret deal between the two.

A confidential promise to purchase the land owned by the president for use as a parking lot.

About twenty merchants greeted Kim Bu-seong.

“Ladies and gentlemen, my top priority this time is the modernization of traditional markets. Consumers are favoring large supermarkets and department stores because they find markets dirty. I will expand the parking lot and carry out a renovation project so customers can come in comfortably.”

“See? Assemblyman Kim Bu-seong really does think of us.”

The president of the Merchants’ Association clapped his hands, encouraging a response. As the applause died down, a man raised his voice.

“Didn’t you make the same pledge during the last election? Just look at the market now. The stench from the trash is driving customers away. Stop coming during elections to beg for votes and show us some real acti—ugh...”

The middle-aged woman beside the man covered his mouth.

“President Jeong, don’t say useless things. He’ll take care of it once he becomes a four-term lawmaker.”

“President Jeong isn’t wrong! Has anything changed since four years ago? We need trust before we can give you our votes!”

As a younger man joined in, the flustered president of the Merchants’ Association stepped in to mediate.

“State affairs aren’t so easy! Our assemblyman did his best, but it didn’t happen because of opposition party resistance! Once he becomes a four-term assemblyman, he’ll have more power. It’ll definitely get done.”

“Be reasonable! Does a three-term ruling party assemblyman not have that much power? He just doesn’t care!”

“Why’s a young man like you in such a rush? If you wait, the assemblyman will take care of it all.”

“Isn’t going in and coming out of the restroom completely different?”

Secretary Jang stepped in to mediate.

“Let’s quiet down for a moment and listen to the assemblyman.”

“It’s good to hear different opinions. It’s not that I didn’t try. If getting the budget was easy, don’t you think I would have done it? I admit I lost out to senior lawmakers in the party. But if I win a fourth term, I’ll have power. Trust me. That’s how we can revive the traditional market.”

“Give us a definite answer. We can’t keep waiting.”

“I’ll push for it as soon as the National Assembly opens. Only I can do this.”

“Don’t you remember saying the same thing four years ago? Do you think we’re idiots?”

As the young man raised his voice, the president of the Merchants’ Association rushed over and covered his mouth.

Secretary Jang approached Kim Bu-seong.

“Assemblyman, let’s call it a day. I’ll return and explain things again.”

“Handle it well.”

“Yes.”

Kim Bu-seong deeply bowed to the merchants.

“Today’s not the time for discussion, so I’ll return later and present support plans. Thank you for your words today. I’ll always accept criticism with humility.”

Kim Bu-seong and Secretary Jang hurried down the stairs like they were fleeing.

Once he confirmed no one was around, Kim Bu-seong lashed out.

“Why do these lowlifes always beg for something? Come back later and toss them a pack of snacks or something.”

“I’ll do that.”

“They don’t even know their place but sure have loud mouths.”

As Secretary Jang opened the front door, Kim Bu-seong brushed off his suit and walked out.

“Hello.”

A voice filled with confidence.

Kim Bu-seong furrowed his brows the moment he saw him.

Spread out at the market entrance.

Two grandmothers were selling perilla leaves, lettuce, sweet potatoes, garlic, peppers, and more on cloths laid out on the ground.

I crouched in front of them.

“Hello. The sweet potatoes are very fresh—must be newly harvested. Did you just pick these perilla leaves too?”

“How much will you buy?”

“Business must be tough these days, right?”

“Living is hell. How much would you like?”

I bought a bit from both grandmothers.

There was nothing I could really do for them.

Street vendors sold with the understanding of the surrounding shop owners, but it was clearly illegal. Still, I couldn’t provide them with stores, nor could I buy their goods every day.

Suddenly, I thought of the grandmother who vanished during the Olympics. Was the old lady who sold scrubbers atop the overpass still alive?

“Candidate, we should go now. It’s time to meet with the Merchants’ Association members.”

“Sell well and stay healthy.”

I bowed my head and walked further into the market.

Volunteers handed out prepared pamphlets to the merchants.

I followed behind and greeted them.

“Hello. I’m Kang Cheonmyeong, running in this election. The pamphlet includes plans to revitalize the traditional market, so please read it even if you’re busy. If you have time, you can come to the Merchants’ Association office to hear more.”

Was it desperation?

The merchants didn’t throw the pamphlet away but skimmed through it.

The rice cake shop ajumma approached me.

“Representative Kang, I saw the news about your business success. Please, help revive our traditional market.”

“I’ll definitely be of help.”

“It’s really hard to make ends meet every day. We need a solution.”

“Please read the pamphlet and come by if you have time. I’ll explain thoroughly.”

“What time is it happening?”

“If you come in 20 minutes, that’ll be perfect.”

Behind the ajumma’s desperate face, a sharp voice rang out.

“Every election, you beg for votes, and then what? After it’s over, what do you even do? You politicians are all swindlers!”

Was he drunk?

The middle-aged man’s face was flushed red, and he looked ready to get violent at any moment.

A staffer stepped in to block him.

“Sir, a young candidate has come this time. Please, give him a chance.”

“They’re all the same. Do you think we haven’t been fooled by you people a dozen times? You filthy bastards! Ptooey!”

“Staffer, please step aside for a moment.”

I gently pushed the staffer’s shoulder aside and stood in front of the middle-aged man.

“Sir, may I speak with you briefly?”

“What’s there to talk about? I’m not giving you my vote, so get lost right now!”

The middle-aged man carried significant hostility.

What could have made him this angry?

Even if I couldn’t resolve it, listening to him was important.

“You don’t have to give me your vote. If there’s anything in your words that I can help with, I’ll do my best. I promise you, regardless of whether I get elected.”

“Mr. Nam, they say this man’s company has the highest employee satisfaction. That must mean he listened to his employees—so hear him out.”

The rice cake shop ajumma gently persuaded him.

“Better to talk to a stray dog in the neighborhood. No matter what you say to people like this, they’re all the same!”

The man glared at me and walked into the chicken shop.

The rice cake shop ajumma wore an awkward expression.

“He’s not usually like this, but he’s dealing with personal issues too. Please understand.”

“Not at all. It’s the fault of politics for failing to earn trust. I’ll reflect deeply on it as well.”

“What time did you say? For the explanation.”

“If you come in 20 minutes, that’ll be good.”

The staffer answered for me.

I bowed my head and walked toward the Merchants’ Association office.

After being showered with insults, the mood had subdued.

Still, the seasoned staffer handed out pamphlets to the merchants and briefly explained the direction for revitalizing the traditional market.

Depending on the disposition of the supporters, we received both curses and encouragement as we arrived in front of the Merchants’ Association office in the center of the market.

The staffer asked,

“Candidate, since you’ve done many presentations before, you’ll be fine, right?”

“Don’t expect too much. But I won’t disappoint either.”

I was confident in giving presentations.

In both my past and present life, I’d done business presentations hundreds of times.

“Let’s go.”

Just as I entered the entrance, I ran into Kim Bu-seong coming out.

“Hello.”

I bowed deeply in courtesy. But he seemed to have no intention of reciprocating.

“Well, well. Why would someone capable walk straight into a dead zone? Turns out you’re not as smart as I thought. Does this constituency look easy to you?”

“There’s a saying that the mouths of many can melt iron, and that accumulated slander can melt even bones. Assemblyman, it seems you’ve done politics wrong.”

His face twisted.