The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 102

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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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The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company – Chapter 102

Chapter 102. Manjol Physician (3)

My question drew a hearty laugh from him.
“Kahahaha!”
Manjol Physician burst into laughter, and only then did he turn to show me his face.
“You’re no ordinary fellow.”
“I hear that often.”
“Indeed, far better than those other rotten characters.”
He rose from his seat as he spoke.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’ve come merely to pay your respects?”
“That as well, but I’ve come primarily to discuss how best to utilize the relief supplies I’ve brought.”
I continued.
“You seem better suited than anyone to advise on this matter.”
“That’s true enough.”
Pride in his own expertise shone through in his response.
“The patients’ stomachs and intestines are currently filled with excessive heat, preventing proper digestion. Cold qi also prevents digestion, but heat does the same, you see.”
“I understand.”
“Do you have meat and vegetables as well?”
“We’ve brought everything.”
“Grind the rice, cut the meat and vegetables into the smallest pieces possible, then prepare a thin congee and let it cool. Ensure adults consume at least two ladles daily, and children one ladle.”
“Understood.”
“Did you bring medicinal herbs?”
“Medicinal herbs are what our trading company specializes in.”
“Thorough preparation indeed. Do you have herbs effective against heat syndromes?”
“Yes.”
“Give those to me then.”
“Understood.”
Manjol Physician studied me for a moment, then asked.
“So, what troubles you? Your expression suggests you have questions for me.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Since you’ve caught my interest, I’ll hear you out. What is it you wish to know?”
This was my opportunity.
He’d invited me to ask directly, so I should seize it.
“How can we prevent this epidemic from spreading any further?”
“Hm?”
“I hope this epidemic ends here. That’s why I’m asking how we can prevent it from spreading further.”
“You’re not asking because you don’t know the method yourself….”
He fell silent for a moment, lost in thought, before continuing.
“Truth be told, this is the first epidemic of its kind I’ve encountered, but I’m not without knowledge of how to treat it. The symptoms may vary, but the root cause remains the same.”
“When you say the root cause is the same?”
“What they’re suffering from is a fever illness, so we must reduce the fever.”
Manjol Physician continued.
“The problem is that we currently lack sufficient medicinal herbs to bring down the fever.”
“If you tell me what medicinal herbs are needed, I’ll send someone to procure them.”
At my words, Manjol Physician listed the names of the herbs, and I wrote them down.
I could have memorized them after hearing them once, but that might appear insincere.
As I wrote down the herb names, I began to understand why the epidemic had persisted through winter.
Most of the herbs he was requesting were harvested during winter.
It was now the ninth month—the time when most of the herbs harvested last year would have been depleted.
Come to think of it, our own inventory was probably running dangerously low as well.
Manjol Physician continued speaking.
“Actually, the best remedy would be a spirit herb.”
“Spirit herb? You mean a spirit herb?”
“A spirit herb infused with yin energy. If we had Snowsoul Grass among them, that would be ideal.”
“There are many other spirit herbs with yin energy, so why do you specifically mention Snowsoul Grass?”
“One of Snowsoul Grass’s properties is the restoration of the digestive organs. It can heal the organs damaged by excessive heat symptoms, accelerating the treatment effect significantly.”
“I see.”
“If we had just two plants with roots intact, it would be more than enough to cure everyone here.”
Manjol Physician let out a sigh.
“But how could we possibly obtain something that only grows in deep winter, buried under snow?”
Actually, we could.
But I didn’t let that show.
Among the items I had traded for with Jang Dae-su, the Stronghold Master of Odongsan, was Snowsoul Grass. And the quantity had been substantial.
Moreover, compared to other spirit herbs, it didn’t sell well, so our remaining inventory was quite considerable.
“I see. Understood.”
I immediately sent a letter to Father through a messenger.
Now I had to get back to work.
We were desperately short-handed.
Boiling porridge with the rice, meat, and vegetables we’d brought, then distributing it by going door to door—it was no simple task.
At first, I had thought perhaps someone of my standing didn’t need to do this.
But now that I was here, I realized how wrong that thinking had been.
We needed every available hand, and there was no way I could step back now.

“Thank you, Young Master. Bringing supplies to such a harsh place….”
“Please, think nothing of it.”
“How could I ever repay such kindness?”
“Simply purchase plenty of goods from the Eunhae Trading Company later.”
“I shall do exactly that.”
“Then you must recover quickly. Please, eat.”

Similar exchanges unfolded at every stop.
Of course, disputes over the rations did arise.

“I saw it! You gave that household more!”
“We are distributing standard portions.”
“Don’t give me that! Their son works for the Eunhae Trading Company, doesn’t he? Why would he come here with us if not to receive preferential treatment?”
“That’s right! That’s it!”
“That’s not how people should behave!”

As the situation unfolded exactly as I had anticipated, the employees who accompanied me exhaled wearily.
And they looked toward me.
Their eyes held the gleam of regarding a remarkable figure, though it felt somewhat burdensome.
First, I needed to quell this commotion.
If such incidents repeated, it could escalate to bloodshed.
“You said we gave that household more, correct?”
“Yes, indeed!”
“What did we give them more of?”
“They ladled out more porridge!”
“When did you witness this? In fact, I warned my employees before arriving here. I told them anyone engaging in such behavior would be dismissed.”
Of course, it was a lie.
“I cannot unjustly dismiss someone, so I require testimony. Please explain in detail when, where, who, and how this occurred.”
As I extended my hand, Palgap quickly produced paper and a brush.
I placed the paper on a writing board and picked up the brush, speaking.
“I am ready to record. So, when was this?”
At my questioning, he hesitated.
Exactly as I expected.
The marketplace dweller’s claim was a fabrication.
Out of an abundance of caution, I had ensured that every distribution to each household was recorded with precision.
And by comparing the ledgers publicly each day, there was no opportunity for dishonesty.
Seeing this, Palgap had asked, “If you intended to do this, why frighten us so at the beginning?”
Though there were hidden intentions beneath the surface, in such circumstances it was crucial to demonstrate respect for the other party.
“Why do you not speak?”
“I, well….”
“If an employee made a mistake, you said you’d take responsibility and dismiss them. So why are you acting like this? Please, speak up.”
“Ah, no, surely not over something like that….”
That was when it happened.
“Did this household’s son really do that?”
“I doubt it.”
“Earlier, I saw his mother ask for a bit more, and he flatly refused her.”
“Even I thought it was cold-hearted.”
At those words, I turned my head to look at the man who’d started the quarrel. The moment everyone else looked at him too, he let out an awkward cough.
“I, I must have misunderstood.”
“Is that so?”
Now it was time to take a firmer stance.
I needed to establish discipline now so such incidents wouldn’t recur in the future.
“I understand. Then we’ll consider this matter closed. However, if in the future you slander our Trading Company’s employees with baseless accusations….”
I swept my gaze across everyone.
“You’ll discover that my temperament is quite unpleasant.”

My warning seemed to take effect, and there were no more such controversies after that. Later, the employee and his family came to thank me.
.
.
.
Several days passed like that.
While I was preparing porridge for distribution, a Government Forces soldier came running to me.
“Someone from the Trading Company has arrived.”
“Ah, is that so?”
I immediately headed toward the entrance. With goods piled high in front, the employee called out to me from a distance.
He was doing his best to avoid contact.
“These are the supplies you requested.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s also a letter from the Stronghold Master among them.”
“Please tell Father I’m in good health.”
“Understood. All of you, take care of yourselves!”
We began carrying the goods inside one by one.
Among them, what captured my attention was something contained in a large wooden box.
I opened the box.
Inside were three well-preserved Soulbound Candles.
At that moment, Geumryeong, who had been nestled in my sleeve, poked her head out and drooled at the sight of the Soulbound Candles.
I quickly lifted Geumryeong before her saliva could drip onto the candles.
“These aren’t yours.”
“Kuu….”
Does this creature eat yin-infused spirit herbs too?
Didn’t Master say that Geumryeong eats money?
I pulled out a silver coin from my pocket and held it out.
“This won’t do. Eat this instead.”
In an instant, Geumryeong’s eyes gleamed, and the creature lapped up the silver coin from my hand.
So it really does prefer money above all else.
I picked up the box containing the Soulbound Incense and spoke to Palgap and the two Guards.
“Let’s head to Manjol Physician.”
“Understood.”
.
.
.
Today, Manjol Physician was also busily attending to patients.
“Elder, I’ve arrived.”
“You have?”
After seeing me a few times now, he spoke to me with ease.
“Yes. I’ve brought the medicinal herbs you mentioned before.”
“Just set them over there.”
At his words, I smiled and spoke.
“I think you should examine this one yourself, Elder.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll understand once you see it.”
Manjol Physician accepted the box I offered and placed it on the wooden floor.
And the moment he opened the lid.
“….”
“Elder?”
“….”
“Are you alright, Elder?”
“….”
“Is something troubling you, Elder?”
“I’ve shown myself to be unseemly, but isn’t this a bit too much? Soulbound Incense—to bring this much of it!”
“We had some in our Trading Company’s warehouse, so I took a portion.”
“Only you could speak of such a thing so casually.”
“So with this, we can prevent the plague?”
“Of course. But….”
“What is it?”
“This doesn’t seem to be free either, does it?”
At Manjol Physician’s question, I grinned broadly.
“That’s correct.”
“Then what is the price?”
“Simply say that the Eunhae Trading Company is the greatest, and that will be sufficient.”
“Then may I speak of this Soul-Binding Herb?”
“It would be better if you mentioned it subtly rather than openly—perhaps by saying the Eunhae Trading Company provided a miraculous remedy, something along those lines.”
At my words, he chuckled softly.
“Well, it costs nothing. Very well.”
He then barked orders at the physicians around him.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you making medicine? Fill those cauldrons with water and bring them to a rolling boil!”
“Yes, sir!”
And he ensured no one else touched the Soul-Binding Herb, handling it himself with meticulous care.
Fortunately, everything worked out.
Father had granted my request.
I recalled the contents of his letter.

[You rascal, aren’t you taking far too much? But since I know you’ll bring back even more, I’m sending it. Take care of yourself and don’t overexert.]

Though his tone was gruff, I could feel his genuine concern beneath every word.

The medicine was distributed throughout Uichang the moment it was prepared, and the plague began to subside steadily.
As a bonus, the Eunhae Trading Company’s reputation spread across all of Uichang—exactly as I had anticipated.
Confirming that the plague was diminishing at such a rapid pace, I finally allowed myself to breathe easier.
Just then, Palgap returned from somewhere and approached me with a grin.
“Young Master, did you know?”
“Know what?”
“I went down to the Marketplace Street earlier, and everyone was singing the praises of the Benevolent Chivalrous Beauty.”
“The Benevolent Chivalrous Beauty? Who’s that?”
My mood soured suddenly.
I had worked so hard—why was someone else receiving praise instead of the Eunhae Trading Company?
My reaction seemed to amuse Palgap greatly, for he doubled over with laughter.
“Goodness, our Young Master! You truly don’t know.”
“Know what?”
“The Benevolent Chivalrous Beauty—a beautiful man with righteous chivalry. Who do you think that refers to?”
“…Who?”
Judging by Palgap’s reaction….
“Surely not me?”
At my question, Palgap nodded.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Truly?”
“Yes.”
It was only natural that the Eunhae Trading Company’s reputation would rise, but why was my name—which I had never intended to promote—becoming renowned as well?
What is this Seonhyeop Mirang?
Why are both Guard Warriors nodding at those words?
Just then, a commotion erupted from outside. Palgap said he would check what was happening and stepped out, returning moments later.
“Sir… the Hyungmun Sect is looking for Manjol Physician.”

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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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