The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 79

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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 79

And there was another reason why Shin Ah was so confident.

“Why do we have to deliver food ingredients every day?”

“Well… because we need fresh ingredients?”

“Exactly. That’s what we need to focus on. If we can keep food ingredients fresh for longer, we won’t need to deliver them as often.”

Everyone nodded their heads.

This was Shin Ah’s plan.

Deliver ingredients as fresh as possible.

If they delivered fresh ingredients, naturally the storage period for the food ingredients would increase, and if they could use for three days what was meant for two days, the number of deliveries would also decrease.

“But then the trading company’s profits would decrease. Same for us.”

Juhwa pointed out accurately.

“Juhwa, there’s a saying about being penny-wise and pound-foolish. If you get caught up in small immediate gains, you tend to miss the big picture.”

Shin Ah planned to grow Geumwa Trading Company to the level of a major merchant guild. To do that, Geumwa Trading Company had to regain the trust it had lost from merchants.

The first step was supplying fresh ingredients.

She had already obtained the consent of Yuhyeon, the head of Geumwa Trading Company, regarding this matter.

“Let’s say that’s true. What about delivering goods to large inns? They use five guan worth of food ingredients per day.”

“We’ll have to work a bit harder for that. We’re planning to deliver twenty guan worth per day.”

“What? Then all the food ingredients will spoil. Large inns and establishments have separate underground storage for food ingredients, but there must be limits.”

“You’re right, Juhwa. That’s why I’m thinking of making a wooden box that can preserve food ingredients for a long time.”

“…Does such a thing exist?”

Juhwa looked at Shin Ah with suspicious eyes.

Shin Ah intended to use magic.

But how could she explain this to Juhwa?

Sensing Shin Ah’s troubled expression, Mugyeol intervened and looked Juhwa up and down. His eyes showed that he was quite annoyed with Juhwa for not trusting Shin Ah.

“Miss can do anything.”

“I trust our Escort Warrior too! I only asked because it’s something that’s never existed before! Escort Warrior, I trust you too. You know my heart, right?”

Juhwa flared up.

“I trust her more.”

Mugyeol and Juhwa bickered over something trivial.

Thanks to Mugyeol, Shin Ah escaped from the crisis of having to explain something difficult to reveal.

“It seems like the Escort Warrior hasn’t finished speaking yet, so both of you be quiet.”

It was Chilseon who calmed down Mugyeol and Juhwa.

“I’m done explaining though?”

“Ah…”

“Is it difficult? We reduce three deliveries to one, so the amount we deliver per day is reduced to one-third. The four of us can handle that much.”

It seemed like a very abbreviated explanation, but since they didn’t know what was missing, they couldn’t ask questions.

But why didn’t they feel worried?

Chilseon also felt unconditional trust in Shin Ah.

However, there was one thing that bothered him.

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to have more Escort Warriors?”

The principle for Manhyang Express’s Escort Warriors was to work six days and rest one day.

After returning from long-distance escort missions, they calculated the days worked and made sure to give proper rest.

This was a policy for the individual Escort Warriors, but in the long term, it was also beneficial for the agency.

If Escort Warriors got injured due to accumulated fatigue, it would directly result in losses for the agency.

This principle had to be maintained even at the Chang’an Temporary Branch. As long as they had hung up the Manhyang Express flag that Shin Ah had crudely drawn.

“Just wait. Soon people will be flocking to our branch office wanting to work.”

Mugyeol and Juhwa simultaneously widened their eyes.

And for once, they both had the same thought.

‘I don’t like that idea…’

* * *

Tomorrow was the day Shin Ah would go on her first escort mission.

It was embarrassing to even call it an escort mission since it was just neighborhood delivery level, but perhaps she was nervous.

The lamp in Shin Ah’s quarters at Biwongak was still burning brightly even though it was late at night.

“Miss, aren’t you going to sleep?”

Danmi, who had been heading to her own quarters, came back and peeked in.

Shin Ah was slumped over at her desk.

Once bitten, twice shy – having seen Shin Ah collapse multiple times, Danmi’s heart dropped.

“Ah, Miss!”

Danmi rushed over in a panic.

However, Shin Ah was just sleeping normally. Startled, Danmi lost strength in her legs and slumped down while grabbing the edge of the desk.

Under the desk, there were many papers scattered with strange drawings on them.

“What is all this?”

Just then, Shin Ah, who was gripping a brush tightly and using those papers as a pillow, talked in her sleep.

“Hehe… packages… freeze… refrigerator…”

Shin Ah giggled.

What kind of dream was she having?

Danmi looked at Shin Ah while patting her chest in relief.

‘Well, whatever dream it is, as long as Miss is happy.’

Danmi smiled gently, put out the light, and quietly left.

* * *

At Yuwon Pavilion, So Baekrim’s family gathered together after a long time.

Baekrim, Mihee, Mando and Ilbi, and even Dang Jugong were all together.

After both a drinking table for the adults and a tea table for the children were fully prepared, Dang Jugong lifted a gourd bottle and filled Baekrim’s cup.

“I hear Biwongak is in a festive mood these days.”

Baekrim, who was receiving the bottle from Dang Jugong, hesitated.

“Shin Ah, was it? Since your niece is so clever, you must feel reassured as the pavilion master.”

It wouldn’t be a mistake to hear this praise as criticism.

“Uncle-in-law, that Shin Ah thing is nothing special. She seems to be starting ventures relying only on a few petty tricks, but from what I’ve looked into, it seems like it’ll collapse on its own soon.”

Mando said.

“Do you really think so? Isn’t that just your wishful thinking?”

Dang Jugong’s snake-like eyes looked Mando up and down.

Though he was called uncle, Mando could count on his fingers the times he had seen Dang Jugong. So it was natural to feel awkward.

But whenever he faced Dang Jugong, he felt something beyond the distance one could feel between merely unfamiliar people.

Somehow his liver and gall bladder felt chilled.

“Mando, your uncle is waiting. Hurry up and answer.”

Dang Mihee gently scolded Mando.

Mando tensed the corners of his mouth. Sweat formed on his palms.

His position at the agency these days was terrible.

Hyeokho subtly praised Shin Ah, who had made a contract with Geumwa Trading Company.

They said Shin Ah’s name came up several times in meetings with only the leadership.

Moreover, they said she had refused when they offered to send quite a few Escort Warriors.

That also led to praise for Shin Ah.

They said directly laying each foundation stone of the agency resembled the past him.

Baekrim, who had been at that meeting, was furious to the top of his head and grabbed Mando like catching a mouse to scold him.

If he couldn’t bring in contracts like Shin Ah, he should go out and at least pick up a sword.

But going to Bogukgak wasn’t appealing either, since there was a terrifying person there too.

That was Cheonrim.

Ever since Cheonrim became the instructor in charge of Bogukgak, Mando’s cultivation had become a hundred times more difficult.

Wearing sand bags on his ankles and wrists, swinging his sword hundreds of times, and practicing the same footwork techniques over and over again was both boring and exhausting.

So Mando was currently avoiding Bogukgak under the excuse of studying literature.

This was possible because the Escort Agency was originally a place that provided opportunities but never forced anyone.

In any case, Mando’s life had become difficult both inside and out lately.

All of this was because of So Shin Ah.

‘If only she hadn’t acted all high and mighty calling herself an apprentice Escort Warrior!’

So Shin Ah absolutely had to fail. Mando was determined to prevent Shin Ah’s delivery by any means necessary.

That’s why he had been listening carefully to news from the Chang’an Temporary Branch, and from how things were going, it looked like she would fail soon even without his interference.

“I found out through the porters exactly what Geumwa Trading Company commissioned Shin Ah to do. The types and quantities of food ingredients to transport are considerable. There are over 50 delivery locations too.”

Mando twisted his lips in a sneer.

“One Escort Warrior and three porters could never handle it. If they’re lucky, they might manage for a day or two. Of course, I could do it for three or four days longer than that. But doing that every day? It’s impossible no matter how you look at it.”

Honestly, he thought it would be impossible even if the Lord of the Escort Agency stepped in.

Mando’s nostrils flared as he anticipated Shin Ah’s spectacular failure.

“Mando has investigated very thoroughly indeed.”

I thought he was just lounging around at home every day, but he had porters conduct an investigation.

Oh my, how diligent our son is.

Baekrim was quite satisfied with Mando’s response. However, Dang Jugong was not impressed.

What Mando was saying was utterly predictable.

Though he didn’t know much about the child called Shin Ah, he instinctively felt that the child wouldn’t have hastily signed a contract out of mere greed without calculating the consequences.

“What if she succeeds?”

“Th… that’s impossible.”

Mando gave a pointless answer.

“There’s nothing in this world that absolutely cannot happen.”

“Ahem.”

When Dang Jugong showed signs of scolding his son, Baekrim coughed uncomfortably.

‘The more you cherish a child, the more you shouldn’t spare the rod.’

Dang Jugong clicked his tongue inwardly and tilted his wine cup. His disappointment in both Baekrim and Mando was evident.

Mando gulped nervously.

Now that he heard it, he suddenly felt afraid. There was such a thing as a slim chance.

What if Shin Ah actually succeeded?

‘That can’t happen!’

Mando jumped up from his seat. The tea cup shook noisily.

Dang Mihee’s sharp gaze flew toward Mando for his sudden commotion.

“Ah, Father, Mother, Uncle! I, I just remembered some urgent studying I need to do. Please allow me to withdraw first.”

Mando talking about studying – no one believed it, but nobody stopped him either.

After bowing deeply, Mando kept poking Ilbi’s side.

‘Let’s go.’

Ilbi, who had been sitting there like a sack of barley the whole time, followed him out.

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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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