An Advertising Genius Falls into the Joseon Era - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 57
“Ha… ha…”
“Huff…”
Ragged breathing echoed from all around.
The procession had been moving since early dawn, stretching on for hours now.
Then, beyond the hill that had tormented Ha-yun on the first day, a familiar building began to come into view.
“Ooh!”
The sight drew involuntary cheers from the crowd.
“It’s Mansan!”
“We’re back at last!”
The trees had been verdant when they’d set out.
Now the mountainside clung to nothing but withering leaves, barely holding on.
Three months had passed since their departure.
“Heave!”
“Just a bit more and we’re done!”
“It’s nothing from here!”
With the finish line in sight, energy returned from nowhere.
Normally they might have stopped to rest at this point, but no one so much as mentioned it.
Instead, everyone quickened their pace, eager to arrive as soon as possible.
“Welcome back.”
“You’ve all worked hard.”
As they reached Mansan’s entrance, people who’d been alerted in advance had come out to receive them, standing in a long line to greet the trading party.
“Here’s some cool barley tea. Have a good long drink.”
“Much obliged.”
One of the porters set down his load and gulped the barley tea. Clear marks from carrying the bundle were etched across his shoulders.
“Ah, I feel alive again.”
“Hand over the luggage here. We’ll carry the rest.”
“Thank you.”
A worker who casually accepted the bundles suddenly started in surprise.
“My goodness! What is all this?”
The weight of the bundle was extraordinary.
Looking more closely, he saw that it was packed full of gleaming silver.
And the carts following behind were equally laden with silver.
More than anyone had ever seen before.
“How can there be this much silver?”
“It seems far more than usual?”
“Did you earn all this from trading?”
“Ah, well, you see…”
The porter wiped his sweat and cast a sidelong glance at Ha-yun.
Though his body was utterly exhausted, his eyes shone with a brightness unlike any he’d shown before—as if he’d brought news of a military victory.
“Our manager here sold ginseng for forty taels a piece.”
“Ginseng?”
“Forty taels?”
Everyone had thought themselves fortunate just to receive fair market value.
The fact that Ha-yun had disposed of the ginseng at a price ten taels higher than the usual rate shocked them all.
In response to their amazement, the porter launched into his story with evident enthusiasm.
“That’s not even the best part. She bought up all the ginseng those merchants had and sold nearly double the quantity. It’s practically as if we sold two years’ worth of ginseng.”
“What?”
“They bought that much ginseng at forty taels?”
“And more importantly—would the Qing merchants actually accept such terms?”
This was Mansan’s greatest profit since the incident where Im Sang-ok had burned the ginseng.
True, they might have sold the ginseng for an even higher price back then, but the burning had meant that the actual volume sold was meager.
But Ha-yun had sold nearly double that quantity at a comparable price, leaving everyone astonished.
Unable to contain their curiosity, the crowd bombarded them with questions.
“What in the world happened there? Tell us the story.”
“How on earth was such a thing even possible?”
“Don’t ask.”
The porter took a moment to wet his throat before continuing.
“So much happened that I could talk about it all day and still not cover everything.”
Then he began to recount one brief anecdote.
“Those sneaking cowards suddenly drew their blades and tried to rob us of our ginseng, can you believe it?”
“What?”
“But who’s our leader? None other than Im Ha-sung the Chief, naturally.”
The Porter’s face gleamed with pride as he gazed at Ha-yun.
“Even with a blade pressed right up to his throat, not a single blink—and instead he orders us to dump all the ginseng in the water if things go south. That’s the kind of man we’re talking about.”
“Ha ha!”
“A true commander, no question about it.”
All eyes turned toward Ha-yun.
Before the journey had even begun, in truth, doubt had gnawed at everyone’s hearts.
It was only natural for anxiety to run deep—this was the first trade expedition without Im Sang-ok.
But the new Chief had pulled off the trade magnificently.
And at great personal risk.
Perhaps that was why.
Something in Ha-yun’s bearing as she sat upon her horse seemed different now—a dignity that had not been there before.
“To weather such danger and then sell the ginseng at double the price… truly worthy of you, Chief.”
Someone interjected smoothly into the conversation.
“Hold on there. It ought to be High Chief now, not just Chief. Who else could have sealed a deal like this?”
“Is that so? Ha ha ha.”
No one disputed the claim.
Not the laborers who hauled the common load.
Not the Chiefs who had joined far before Ha-yun.
Not even Song Do-hyeon, riding beside her now.
They all recognized Ha-yun as their High Chief, tacitly and without reservation.
Then it came.
“You’ve all come a long way. Much labor, much hardship.”
The inner door swung open, and Im Sang-ok stepped into view.
“Sir.”
Ha-yun and Song Do-hyeon scrambled down from their horses and bowed their heads. Im Sang-ok regarded the two of them with eyes full of satisfaction.
“I’ve heard. You completed the ginseng trade excellently?”
Ha-yun kept her head lowered, her voice touched with modesty.
“Each of us merely fulfilled our duties. The success belongs to all.”
“The weight of it must have pressed heavy on you… thank you.”
Ha-yun lifted her eyes to meet Im Sang-ok’s gaze.
In times past, she might have thought nothing of it.
But now, knowing the weight of his name and its story, his smile struck her as bitter and aching.
Ha-yun, who had lost her father young.
Im Sang-ok, who had lost his son too soon.
Though their bond had begun as a lie, something true now flowed between them—as if blood itself had mingled.
‘Sir….’
For a long moment, the two stood in silence, eyes meeting.
Then Im Sang-ok spoke first.
“You must all be exhausted. Go inside and rest. I’ll hear the full account tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
The moment Im Sang-ok gave his order, the trading expedition held a brief dismissal ceremony.
Yun Jeop-jang delivered the summary as concisely as possible.
“The trading party will receive commendations in recognition of your past efforts. Rest well until the next orders come.”
“Thank you.”
The moment the ceremony ended, the weary expedition scattered in all directions. Three months of arduous travel had come to a close.
“Ah, finally it’s over…….”
Ha-yun released a long, deep sigh.
Though she had maintained a composed facade, the weight of leading the trade had pressed upon her shoulders without cease, leaving her sleepless night after night.
Then it happened.
Slap!
Someone struck Ha-yun’s back hard from behind.
“Agh!”
Ha-yun yelped in surprise, jumping forward.
“Over? What do you mean over? This is just the beginning.”
The one who had struck her back was none other than Han Seong-deok.
“How have you been?”
Han Seong-deok looked down at Ha-yun with an expression of warm contentment.
“You’ve gone and stirred up quite the mess again, haven’t you?”
“Ow, ow… Who are you trying to kill?”
Im Ha-yun rubbed her back with genuine exasperation written across her face.
Yet Han Seong-deok only laughed more heartily at the sight.
“Ha ha ha! A true warrior who wouldn’t blink an eye standing before a blade’s edge, and here you are complaining over a little thing like this.”
“Are those two things supposed to be the same?”
Im Ha-yun shot him a glare, eyes blazing.
The two of them stared at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter at the same time.
“Pfft.”
“Ha ha ha!”
She wouldn’t have understood this before.
This crude banter and jesting.
The way men expressed friendship.
Then Han Seong-deok made a gesture as though raising something to his lips and spoke.
“A day like this calls for a drink, doesn’t it?”
“Ugh, not again?”
An old nightmare resurfaced.
She’d sooner take another blow to the back than share a drink with him.
“How can we just let a job this big pass without celebration? You always toast yourself on days like this, don’t you?”
“Well, about that…”
Im Ha-yun cast a quick glance at Song Do-hyeon.
No matter how burdensome a drinking occasion might be, things changed entirely if the Dark Knight was there.
Even without him drinking in her stead, his mere presence made her heart feel at ease.
Somewhere along the way, Song Do-hyeon had become such a person to her.
“I’m going in first.”
But before she could even ask his opinion, Song Do-hyeon had already turned to leave.
“I’m exhausted.”
With those brief words, Song Do-hyeon walked toward the lodgings.
Watching his retreating figure, Im Ha-yun shrugged.
“I suppose so. I think I’ll just rest tonight too.”
Before her words had even finished, Im Ha-yun hurried after Song Do-hyeon.
“Tch, what a shame.”
Han Seong-deok watched the two figures disappear with eyes full of regret.
***
That night.
The trading expedition, having finished their grueling day, had all fallen into deep sleep.
So exhausted were they that not a soul woke even as the sky split open with thunderclaps and lightning tore across the heavens.
Rumble, crack!
Song Do-hyeon’s silhouette at the window was illuminated by the descending lightning.
“…….”
Watching the steady rain, Song Do-hyeon recalled a conversation he’d had with Wi So-gang not long ago.
***
“If you help me with this, I’ll permit the ginseng trade.”
“What kind of work?”
“Nothing difficult about it. In fact, it’s quite easy.”
Wi So-gang smiled with subtle meaning.
“I have a ship bound for Joseon, and I’d like you to help me with the handover of that vessel.”
“You’re sending a ship to Joseon?”
Song Do-hyeon asked, sounding puzzled.
“Couldn’t you handle that directly?”
Trade by ship.
Uncommon though it was, trading companies positioned near the coast sometimes exchanged goods with neighboring countries by vessel.
Still, as much as it was trade, the procedures were indeed complicated.
But not so much that he would need to borrow Song Do-hyeon’s hands.
A company the size of Huksabang would surely have countless connections throughout Joseon.
He wondered why Wi So-gang would ask him to do something they could handle themselves.
Especially while exchanging it for the ginseng trade.
“Ah, well, you see…”
Wi So-gang smiled awkwardly as Song Do-hyeon regarded him with suspicion.
“It’s a matter where I can’t afford to use someone I can’t trust.”
“The renowned Wi So-gang troubled by a matter? What on earth could it be that requires sending?”
“Heh, think on it carefully, and the answer should come to you.”
He could have simply said it outright.
But the way he spoke in circles only deepened my suspicion.
Not through the trading company.
Through this clandestine proposal.
He was seeking someone to take delivery of a ship.
There was only one meaning to this.
“Surely…?”
Song Do-hyeon’s eyes widened as a single possibility dawned on him.
Song Do-hyeon spoke carefully.
“Smuggling?”
A thin smile crossed Wi So-gang’s face.
Instead of answering in words, Wi So-gang’s smile confirmed it.
Song Do-hyeon pressed further.
“You truly intend to smuggle?”
At minimum, forced labor or exile.
Depending on the severity of the contraband, even execution.
Such was the punishment dealt to clandestine merchants in Joseon.
“If you help me with this one matter, I’ll have nothing more to do with ginseng trading.”
Wi So-gang proposed this smuggling scheme.
Or rather, demanded it.
“But should you refuse my request, I’ll not only prevent any ginseng trading—I’ll use every means at my disposal to keep you from ever returning to Joseon.”
“How exactly would you stop us?”
“Oh, there are always ways.”
Wi So-gang murmured with casual indifference.
Yet for all his flat tone, the weight behind his words was undeniably grave.
“For instance, the ferry bound for Joseon might happen to spring a leak… or some unfortunate incident could occur near the border… or perhaps something could befall you tonight itself.”
As Song Do-hyeon listened, his expression grew increasingly rigid.
……
In the sudden heaviness, Wi So-gang awkwardly patted Song Do-hyeon’s shoulder.
“Ah, don’t misunderstand. This is merely a hypothetical—what might happen, if. A hypothetical.”
A threat that bordered on coercion.
“If you accept my proposal, naturally nothing of the sort will occur.”
Having watched Wi So-gang for so many years, I could discern it.
That his words held no falsehood.
When he spoke truth, his face remained expressionless.
Like now.
“So, what will it be, Song Do-hyeon?”
Wi So-gang asked.
His eyes had grown even more vacant and hollow than before.
“Now it all rests in your hands.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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