The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 71

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 71

On a secluded street in Chang’an, a small flag was raised above a tiny stall.

Manhyang Express.

Next to the rather grand lettering was an impressively crude drawing of a dragon.

“Ugh, what is this grimy thing supposed to be?”

Juhwa grabbed the end of the flag and shook it.

“I made it all night long.”

“The young miss made it herself. No wonder it’s so radiant.”

Juhwa changed her attitude as easily as flipping her palm.

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

Shin Ah puffed out her cheeks.

The escort warrior position, the branch office—everything was temporary. So she couldn’t hang an official flag, and that flag was made as a last resort.

‘Grandfather didn’t say I couldn’t use the name.’

Hyeokho had given Shin Ah apprentice escort warrior qualifications with several conditional clauses.

First, lose qualifications the moment she tarnishes Manhyang Express’s name.

Second, no escort missions outside of Seomsu.

Third, no support whatsoever that Manhyang Express escort warriors could receive.

‘Isn’t that just telling me not to go on escort missions at all?’

Hyeokho seemed quite displeased with Shin Ah going on escort missions.

Shin Ah recalled what her grandfather had said when giving her the apprentice escort warrior qualifications.

‘How long have you been home and you already want to leave? A child whose body isn’t even fully recovered yet… health is what matters most.’

Hyeokho was more worried about Shin Ah’s health than the possibility of her causing trouble for Manhyang Express’s reputation by running around as an escort warrior.

That’s why he attached all those conditions. So that Shin Ah would quickly become disappointed and return home.

‘But what can I do, Grandfather? I’m going to make it big.’

Shin Ah, full of hope, properly unfurled the flag and dusted off the small stall. Mugyeol, Chilseon, and even Juhwa joined in.

“It’s tilted to the left there. First impressions are important. Let’s get it straight.”

“Should we put some stones under the legs?”

“That would be good. I’ll go pick up some stones.”

“Hey, Mugyeol. Aren’t you holding the stall straight?”

The back alley of Chang’an was bustling with noise.

.

.

.

Two hours later.

As if the earlier bustle had been a dream, the back alley was nothing but quiet.

Shin Ah slumped over the creaking desk. With her cheek pressed against the hard wooden surface, she muttered.

“Why are there only flies buzzing around?”

“Should I catch them?”

Mugyeol, who had been guarding behind Shin Ah like a military dog, asked.

For the past few days, Mugyeol had begun training his eyesight. The eyesight training stemmed from Chifung’s teaching that seeing well was the beginning of swordsmanship.

Amazingly, Mugyeol’s eyesight improved day by day. Now, tracking the movements of flying flies was nothing at all.

Honestly, compared to Chifung’s speed—never knowing when or where he might thrust his sword—the flies’ movements were like slugs.

“Mugyeol, that’s not what I meant.”

Mugyeol, who had quietly approached thinking he could help, became dejected.

Shin Ah’s expression wasn’t much different.

She had put up flyers advertising next-day express delivery and raised the Manhyang Express flag, but people showed no interest.

Even though she had set up in a secluded spot, this was Chang’an. There were quite a few people passing by here too.

So she thought at least one person would show interest, but far from interest, no one even picked a fight.

Now she could only rely on Juhwa.

A little while ago, Juhwa, tired of waiting for customers, had left the alley saying she would go find clients directly.

‘It should be about time for her to return.’

Shin Ah stretched her neck and peered around the corner.

As if on cue, Juhwa appeared.

But she wasn’t alone?

“Walk faster! You little rat, who exactly is your master?”

Rough-looking men were bullying Juhwa.

“Let go of this! Don’t push me! I said I’ll go on my own. Don’t touch my body!”

The mantis-like man sneered at Juhwa and roughly shoved her back.

Shin Ah’s eyes turned cold.

“Those bastards are touching who now? Uncle Chilseon, do you know those guys?”

Chilseon’s expression was dark when she turned to look.

“They’re scum who prey on Chang’an merchants. They run errands for trading companies and extort money from small taverns and restaurants under the pretext of protection fees.”

“They’re not even worth calling Dark Path—just thugs. But why did they come with Juhwa?”

It wasn’t really a question seeking an answer. That was something she could ask those bastards directly.

Shin Ah poked Mugyeol’s side hard.

“Mugyeol, get ready.”

Shin Ah stood up.

It looked like there would be a fight before the escort mission, but she had no intention of losing.

* * *

One hour earlier, at Soso Restaurant.

Juhwa entered the restaurant that was as small as its name suggested.

“Auntie, it’s been a while.”

“Oh my, Juhwa! I heard you became a porter. Our little baby came back successful.”

The owner of Soso Restaurant had a connection with Juhwa’s mother.

The connection began when she gave a storage room to someone who was wandering with nowhere to stay with a newborn baby.

Then Juhwa’s mother remarried and moved to her new husband’s house, and the rest was a predictable story.

To escape the harassment of her changed stepfather, Juhwa had wandered Chang’an’s streets from an early age to earn money.

The one who looked after her in various ways back then was also Ga Moyeon, the owner of Soso Restaurant.

‘I always just receive help from Auntie.’

It was shameless, but she had come to ask for help again this time.

‘Still, if what the escort warrior said is true, it would be a great help to Soso Restaurant too.’

A restaurant’s success or failure was unrelated to its size.

If there was just one excellent dish to keep customers coming, it would be packed with visitors.

And as far as Juhwa knew, Ga Moyeon could make such excellent dishes.

It was a steamed dish made with fresh carp and secret seasonings—the killer technique that had allowed her to become independent from working as a kitchen hand at a large inn.

But now she couldn’t serve that dish.

It wasn’t just about the carp. Ga Moyeon had expertise in fish dishes, but getting fresh fish at a small restaurant was like plucking stars from the sky.

All the good fish was bought up by large inns, and even if she managed to get some, delivery was a problem.

Ga Moyeon’s restaurant was always last on the delivery route, and by the time she received fish, it was invariably belly-up.

And what about vegetables?

Due to its location and having no connections to speak of, Soso Restaurant always received only wilted goods.

In fact, what determined a dish’s taste was the freshness of ingredients rather than special cooking methods.

Due to the limitations of being a poor, small restaurant, she could only serve food made with mediocre ingredients, and sales plummeted accordingly.

At one time, she found a way out by selling cheap and in large quantities, but after similar restaurants sprouted up everywhere over time, even that became difficult.

‘If we can supply only fresh ingredients, Soso Restaurant will definitely succeed.’

Juhwa’s eyes suddenly changed.

“Auntie, sit here for a moment.”

Juhwa pulled the middle-aged woman to sit on the wooden bench.

“Hey, our soup isn’t ready yet!”

The mantis-like man shouted loudly, creating a menacing atmosphere.

Then Ga Moyeon bowed deeply and asked for understanding.

“It takes some time to boil. Please wait just a little longer.”

Juhwa’s eyes narrowed.

It was because Ga Moyeon was bowing excessively to the men.

Juhwa raised her eyes and glanced at the men.

“Who are those people?”

“They’re customers, don’t mind them. If you have something to say, say it quickly and go.”

This was also strange.

Normally, Ga Moyeon would have tried to make her eat something more, but telling her to leave quickly?

She seemed to be watching those men’s reactions, but there was no time to question that now.

Shin Ah’s face, who had been stuck at her desk for an hour, flickered before Juhwa’s eyes.

She wanted to quickly bring good news and prove her usefulness.

Juhwa brought up the main reason for visiting Ga Moyeon.

“You know I became a porter, right?”

“Of course. You even joined Manhyang Express! Oh my, how admirable. Oh, how lovely.”

Juhwa avoided Ga Moyeon’s hand that was patting her head.

“Come on, I’m not a child anymore. Anyway, that’s why I’m here, Auntie. Are you thinking of selling fish dishes again?”

Ga Moyeon smiled bitterly.

“What good would it do to think about it? I can’t get any fish.”

“I’ll get them for you. If Auntie just makes a contract with us…”

“I wondered where that smell was coming from, and it was here.”

The mantis-like man cut off Juhwa’s words completely.

“A porter from Manhyang Express? You’re trying to cut off the livelihood of people like us who work day by day to eat day by day? What is this, highway robbery? Huh?”

The man raised his eyebrows and suddenly lifted his hand up.

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