< For the Music Genius - Episode 008 >
I only studied violin for a month or two.
That too, in a very distant past that I can’t even remember.
It’s a short time to even fully master the posture, let alone the sheet music.
Me like that,
You play the violin?
No, I just followed my heart.
Jiying.
The bow made contact with the string by itself.
At that moment.
The left finger on the string began to move quickly. It was a series of thrilling melodies, as if gliding over an ice rink. Son Yu-ha got goosebumps every time his fingers changed positions. How many times had he repeated the performance? He couldn’t feel the pressure or relaxation of his fingers at all. It seemed as if he was moving unconsciously, as if he was infinitely smooth.
At that moment, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons was flowing out of Kang Hyun’s head.
I couldn’t read music.
Jiying.
The melody that flows out of the natural bow is just music that resonates in my head.
The melody that had been thrillingly fast as if gliding over an ice rink began to gallop. As if a bitter cold storm was about to blow in, the bow and strings were making a cold sound. How long had it galloped? When the surroundings were finally covered in ice.
The melody changes.
Cantabile (softly, like singing)!
It was different from Son Yu-ha’s Four Seasons. It was also completely different from Kang Hye-jeong’s performance. Kang Hyun was completing his own winter at this very moment. As if the queen of the ice forest was singing an aria, the beautiful melody and technique resonated throughout the mansion.
More and more.
It gets faster. The bow and strings meet without rest, creating a melody. Son Yu-ha tightly clasped his small hands and became the only audience member. Even though he was young, Son Yu-ha intuitively knew that he was witnessing an incredible spectacle. It was a midsummer day, but his melody was turning everything around him into winter.
The Queen of the Ice Forest, the aria pouring out of the violin became more and more intense.
Rich tone, technique, emotion, how can I explain it all?
Let the bow and strings shout out their final aria.
Jiying.
Winter is over.
* * *
“Hyun-ah, how was the grandfather you met today?”
On the way back to Ichon-dong, my grandfather asked me. If he had asked me what I thought of Chairman Wang of Jeil Group, I would have had nothing to say. Isn’t he already a legendary figure who has left his mark on the economic history of the Republic of Korea? However, it would be different if I looked at it from the perspective of a young child.
“His eyes were deep.”
“It was deep?”
Grandfather asked curiously. He didn’t seem to know that he would say something like this. The first generation of Korean conglomerates had one thing in common: they all had an excellent eye for people. It was a virtue that a founder had to have, but it was impossible to raise the economy of Korea, which was like a barren wasteland, by himself. In particular, Chairman Wang of Jeil Group was particularly like that.
-When I looked into my father’s eyes, I felt like I could read his mind.
This is a phrase from the autobiography of President Son Il-sun. When I was a scholarship student at Jeil Group, I read the autobiography and thought that Son Il-sun was telling exaggerated lies to idolize his father. However, today, when I met Chairman Wang, who was only known as a legend, in person, I realized that Son Il-sun’s words were not lies.
Chairman Wang’s eyes were smiling, but the hidden gaze inside was always reading the other person. It was like a habit that had become ingrained in his body.
“Then what does this old man’s gaze look like?”
Grandpa asked with a smile. What should I say?
“Grandpa is warm.”
Even though he is a son, Chairman Wang has created a society that is thoroughly based on ability. As a businessman who defected from North Korea to South Korea, he understands the world of the survival of the fittest. On the other hand, my grandfather was born as an only child in a wealthy family and still has a clear sense of the value of primogeniture. As evidence of this, his great-uncle, who had no ability in his past life, took over the company.
“Student Kang-Hyeon, we still have some time before dinner. Should I bring out a snack?”
The housekeeper asked me. It seems that the housekeeper is very concerned because there aren’t many cases where a young grandson like me stays in the mansion. I politely told her that it was okay and went into the room. There was still urgent business left.
Slap.
I sat down at my mother’s bedside and recalled the events that had happened at the mansion in Pyeongchang-dong.
“What happened?”
A questioning gaze was directed at both palms.
Palms that are still white, without even calluses.
But the violin performance seen in the Pyeongchang-dong mansion was not something that could be easily done. It felt like moving the bow and strumming the strings, and reciting the melody from memory rather than playing while remembering the score. The bowing that was played with eyes closed was not acting. At that moment, winter really came along with the melody. It was as if I had become one with the violin. I could even feel my own breathing.
“Can we do it again?”
Kang Hyun’s gaze turned to his mother’s violin case.
“Teacher, please play.”
Park Seon-yeong, a graduate of the music department of Korea University, is dying. She was about to study abroad at a prestigious music school. The trouble started when she received a private tutoring offer from a wealthy family. It was not about professionally studying music for college entrance exams, but about her hobby as a social person. Furthermore, the student she was tutoring was only 11 years old.
But.
“Hurry up.”
Not only was she talented, but her efforts and tenacity were also great. At the age of 11, her skills were far beyond what you might call a hobby. Nevertheless, this young girl shows no signs of stopping. Park Seon-yeong herself also grew up hearing the sound of a prodigy. When she graduated from music school, she was offered to join a symphony orchestra, but she chose to study abroad to pursue a bigger dream.
“Yuha, are you asking me to play again?”
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Winter, 3rd movement.
Originally, it was still too early to teach the song. However, it was a performance piece that Son Yu-ha wanted and wanted to present.
If she had been a professional music student, I would never have taught her this song. However, as a daughter of a wealthy family and a social person, I taught her this song to broaden her horizons. But why? She kept asking Park Sun-young to play the Four Seasons.
“Okay, I see.”
It was a tutoring position that I didn’t want to miss, even though I had a hard time satisfying this monstrous child. The pay was much higher than the salary of a typical symphony orchestra member. Moreover, the joy of teaching was also great. Park Seon-yeong picked up the violin again.
“how is it?”
This is already the third performance.
But Son Yu-ha’s expression didn’t look at all satisfactory. Park Seon-yeong didn’t understand. He majored in violin, and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is the beginning of modern solo concertos and is a repertoire often used in solo concerts. He had played the piece over a hundred times, so he was confident that he was as good as any other violinist. However, Son Yu-ha’s cheeks still showed no signs of letting up.
“You really brought winter to me, oppa!”
Brother?
What are you talking about?
I know for sure that Son Yu-ha is an only child, right?
The boy’s gaze was still directed at the music score.
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* * *
“Ma’am, I’ll prepare dinner tonight.”
My aunt came to the mansion early in the evening and was making a fuss. The housekeeper’s face was clearly showing her embarrassment. A gentleman who had never even wet his fingers with water, let alone cooked food, was making a fuss about cooking.
“Brother, why is your aunt acting like that all of a sudden?”
“Huh? Huh. I don’t know either······.”
Eugene Seok couldn’t even look at me properly, perhaps because of the previous incident. He was respectful to me as his older brother, but he looked anxious, not knowing when he might change. At that moment, a plate breaking sounded in the kitchen. It must have been my aunt who made a mistake.
‘Tsk.’
I don’t know why, but it’s not a very pleasant sight.
“Father, I made braised ribs today. Please try it.”
Even at dinner, my aunt was sitting right next to my grandfather, farting all sorts of nonsense. This guy wouldn’t do that without a purpose. My grandfather’s expression wasn’t bright. He didn’t usually come by, so it’s unlikely that he’d be happy about my aunt’s sudden visit.
“Ma’am, do you have any crab left?”
My grandfather asked the housekeeper to make the crab I had brought from my mother. The housekeeper brought out the remaining crab in a fancy bowl. My aunt stared at her, frowning, but quickly fixed her expression.
“Father, would you like me to spread some crab meat on you?”
“Okay, I have hands too.”
My grandfather picked up the crab and ate in silence. My aunt also didn’t say anything at the dinner table, perhaps because of my grandfather’s attitude. By the time my grandfather put down his chopsticks.
“Father, who are you thinking of bringing to this banquet?”
banquet?
Grandfather stared at his aunt, reading her intentions.
“Why do you want to know that?”
“No, it’s usually a place where three generations are invited. Since the eldest brother’s children are still young, I thought it would be a good idea to bring Jinseok. You’ve never brought any of your grandchildren to the third generation gatherings…”
A place where three generations are invited?
That’s it.
I inferred something based on the words coming out of my aunt’s mouth. One of the secrets I’ve seen while working at Jeil Group in my past life. A gathering of conglomerates that dominated the 90s. Its nature was similar to the Federation of Korean Industries, but in reality, it was completely different. It was a banquet held by the first generation of conglomerates who created the myth of founding a business.
‘Now that I think about it, there are still some left in this era.’
This meeting became a nominal one after the second generation of the conglomerate took over the management rights. It was revealed that in the case of the first generation of conglomerates, where the founders were very close, a banquet was held once a year, centered around Chairman Wang of Jeil Group. Of course, this is a story that the general public does not know. It was a world that only they lived in.
“Do you know what kind of position that is?”
As you know.
This is the place where the actual successors are revealed. The conglomerates strengthen their friendship and connections among themselves in order to maintain their solid ruling class. That is why it is also a place where only the second and third generations recognized as successors from the conglomerate families can attend. Who would have thought that I would hear the truth about a gathering that I had only heard of as a legend?
“Father, I’m not even a child, so I don’t know.”
“And yet you’re trying to send Jinseok away!”
At the grandfather’s scolding, my aunt was startled and dropped her teacup. Yoo Jin-seok was shaking as if he was about to cry. How could this guy commit fraud and embezzlement later on?
“At this banquet.”
Eugene Seok, this guy is clearly the size of a soybean.
“Hyun-i will attend.”
what?
I raised my head at the sudden voice of my grandfather. While my aunt looked at me with a look of shock, Yoo Jin-seok looked relieved.
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