The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 134

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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 134

Chapter 134. As You Sow, So Shall You Reap (4)

My words made my Paternal Uncle bristle.
“What? You want me to cede the position of Merchant Leader? What are you talking about?”
It was the reaction I had anticipated, so I regarded my uncle calmly.
“Didn’t you just ask what I meant by that?”
“How much is the current deficit, Uncle?”
My question made my uncle flinch.
“Can you cover the entire deficit with just one thousand silver taels?”
“….”
My uncle could not answer.
He knew better than anyone that it was impossible.
“In truth, I arrived in Guizhou far earlier than this. Even though the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild is distinctly separate from the Eunhae Trading Company, you are still blood kin, are you not? That is why Father instructed me to investigate what situation had befallen you.”
I continued.
“I am already well aware of the current circumstances. So there is no need to strain your pride before me.”
“….”
A moment of silence fell between us.
“Hehehehe.”
Then laughter spilled from my uncle’s lips.
“So that’s it? You came knowing everything? Then what? Are you saying the Eunhae Trading Company will absorb the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild?”
Since I had asked him to cede the position of Merchant Leader, my uncle could only think that way.
But,
“Why would you think we intend to absorb this place?”
“What?”
“It seems you are laboring under a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding? Then why are you asking me to cede the position of Merchant Leader?”
“As the saying goes: when the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold.”
It means that without lips, the teeth grow sensitive to the cold.
“If the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild is the lips, then the Eunhae Trading Company is the teeth. If the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild were to collapse—”
“Collapse? What do you mean by collapse?”
My words made my uncle bristle once more.
“Uncle, face reality. From what I can see, the accumulated deficit has easily surpassed thirty thousand silver taels.”
“….”
“In any case, if the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild collapses, the Eunhae Trading Company will inevitably suffer losses. We receive medicinal herbs from Guizhou through this place, after all.”
I continued.
“If the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild collapses, the Namho Trading Company will become the premier broker in Guizhou, and when that happens, they will certainly not maintain current prices.”
“….”
“They’ll certainly raise prices significantly. That’s why the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild cannot be allowed to collapse.”
I paused to collect myself before continuing.
“So if you entrust me with the position of Merchant Leader for six months, I intend to revive this Mi Gwa Merchant Guild.”
“You truly have no interest in my trading company?”
Ah, why is this Paternal Uncle so suspicious?
I sighed inwardly and pressed further.
“Paternal Uncle, do you truly believe the Eunhae Trading Company would gain anything from consuming the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild? Wouldn’t it be far better to establish an entirely new trading company instead?”
“….”
My Paternal Uncle offered no response.
I knew his pride would never allow him to consent to a merger, so there was no point in wasting effort on that front.
But why expend such considerable funds to save the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild?
Because it all benefits the Eunhae Trading Company.
“This proposal is also made for my Grandfather, who cares for his nephew. While Grandfather still draws breath, shouldn’t I hold my head high and visit him with dignity?”
My Paternal Uncle flinched and exhaled deeply.
My Paternal Uncle’s greatest weakness, if I had to name one, was Grandfather.
To him, Grandfather was like a father, and from what I understood, when my younger Grandfather passed from illness, he entrusted his own son to Grandfather’s care.
Thus Grandfather relinquished the position of Eunhae Trading Company Master to Father and remained here for roughly five years, serving as guardian.
In my previous life, when I heard news of my Paternal Uncle’s suicide, Grandfather grieved deeply.
My Paternal Uncle deliberated at length upon hearing my words.
No matter how one turned it over, only one conclusion was possible.
“How exactly… do you intend to save this Mi Gwa Merchant Guild?”
“That is a trade secret.”
“What if the situation worsens within six months?”
“That will not happen, but should it come to pass…”
I withdrew three additional promissory notes from my pocket and placed them upon the table.
Three notes worth ten thousand silver taels each.
“I offer these to you.”
“…!”
My Paternal Uncle’s eyes widened.
I continued.
“Therefore, Paternal Uncle must also set a condition. Should I restore the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild’s finances and turn them profitable within six months, what then?”
“In that case…”
My Paternal Uncle, who had been contemplating, spoke.
“Beyond the merger of the Mi Gwa and Eunhae Trading Companies and relinquishing the position of Merchant Leader, I shall grant you one thing you desire.”
“Does that mean you accept our conditions?”
“Ah…”
I smiled broadly and continued.
“Then from today forward, I am Acting Merchant Leader.”
.
.
.
The next day.
I summoned everyone from the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild.
The people regarded me with faces full of questions.
“It is a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Eun Seo-ho. I serve as the Small Merchant Guild Leader of the Eunhae Trading Company and as the Lord of Hyun Pung Country. Those of you who are informed will know that the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild Master is my Paternal Uncle.”
I continued.
“And as of today, I have been entrusted with the position of Merchant Guild Leader of this Mi Gwa Merchant Guild for the next six months.”
“…!”
The people’s expressions shifted to shock.
“You all understand better than anyone that the current situation of the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild is not favorable.”
“….”
“So why do you think I have been entrusted with the position of Merchant Guild Leader in such circumstances?”
I smiled broadly and spoke.
“It is to attempt to save this Mi Gwa Merchant Guild.”
The people’s eyes were filled with doubt.
Doubt as to whether this merchant guild—which was failing, or perhaps had already failed—could truly be saved.
The employees understand better than anyone how difficult the guild’s situation truly is.
So it made sense they could not believe my words.
“Does it seem impossible? But it is possible. Of course, there is one thing absolutely necessary for this. That is your cooperation and support.”
I took a breath and continued.
“Until now, this Mi Gwa Merchant Guild has been your workplace and your livelihood. Moreover, with the money earned from this Mi Gwa Merchant Guild, you have supported your parents, raised your children, and sent them off to marriage. So now, I believe you must repay that debt of gratitude.”
The people nodded their heads.
“We cannot simply stand by and watch the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild collapse as it is, can we?”
“Yes, that’s right. We cannot let it fall like this. It would be shameful.”
“Of course! A person must recognize kindness.”
“Exactly!”
The Mi Gwa Merchant Guild was also founded by my younger Grandfather, who learned his trade at the Eunhae Trading Company.
Because of this, the welfare provided to employees was excellent, and that unity had held the employees together during the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild’s crisis.
This is why one must treat people well from the beginning.
Though I had moved their hearts this way, soon enough practical problems would rear their heads.
So it was important to resolve those practical problems.
“Therefore, as a token of my promise to save the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild without fail, I will distribute the overdue wages today.”
“R, really?”
“You’re really giving us our wages?”
I nodded.
When I heard the full story from my Paternal Uncle, he said the reason he had requested a loan from the Eunhae Trading Company was to pay the guild members’ wages.
He said they had been unable to pay wages for three months already.
In such circumstances, it was only natural that the people’s support surged upon hearing that overdue wages would be distributed.
“The work I will undertake over the next six months is something you cannot understand with common sense. People will say the acting Merchant Guild Leader has gone mad at least ten times a day. So I am telling you this.”
I let out a sly smile.
“There’s no need for you to understand the details. Simply follow my instructions, and in six months’ time, the Migwa Trading Company will overcome its current difficulties and become a source of pride for all of you.”
After finishing my words, I looked toward my Paternal Uncle.
“A word from you, if you please.”
My Paternal Uncle cleared his throat and stepped forward at my words.
“Ahem, ahem. Very well then. For the next six months, consider Eun Seo-ho here as the acting Merchant Guild Leader and show him proper respect.”
I addressed everyone present.
“Is there anyone here who doesn’t wish to work for the Migwa Trading Company?”
“….”
“If there is, please tell me by today. I will settle your severance pay accordingly. But remember this—once you leave, I will never take you back.”
I smiled sharply.
“Now then, let’s begin our work!”
.
.
.
After instructing the workers of the trading company, I made my way toward my Paternal Uncle.
My Paternal Uncle was currently in the Inner Compound.
He had said he would seclude himself there for the next six months.
“Seo-ho.”
At the sound of my name, I turned to see my cousin standing there looking at me.
His name was Eun Ji-seo.
He was currently the Small Merchant Guild Leader of the Migwa Trading Company.
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
“Can you really… truly save this trading company?”
Eun Ji-seo’s eyes were filled with concern.
“I intend to try.”
“But why would you go to such lengths?”
“For profit.”
“Profit?”
“Isn’t that why merchants move—to gain profit?”
“…I see. Very well.”
Eun Ji-seo walked away with heavy steps. From his direction, he was heading to his quarters.
“Elder Brother, where are you going?”
“To my quarters. Father has entrusted the position of Merchant Guild Leader to you for now, so what more could I do at the trading company?”
“And so?”
“So I have nothing to do, and I intend to read books in my quarters.”
“Elder Brother, what I asked for was an acting Merchant Guild Leader, not an acting Small Merchant Guild Leader. You should be working. What are you trying to shirk?”
“What?”
“First, wait for me in the Merchant Leader’s Office. And please tell my Paternal Uncle to come to the office as well.”

A moment later,
I entered the office with Jin-ho, and there I found my Paternal Uncle and Eun Ji-seo waiting.
“You called for me?”
“Yes, Uncle.”
I took a seat before him and spoke.
“Would you care for some tea?”
“No need.”
I glanced at Eun Ji-seo, and he shook his head as well.
“Then let us proceed directly to the matter at hand. I understand that about three months ago, there were complaints from those claiming the medicinal herbs sold by the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild were defective.”
“Ah, yes, that happened.”
My Paternal Uncle nodded, but as the memory resurfaced, his anger erupted.
“But it makes no sense! The Mi Gwa Merchant Guild may not excel in other things, but our product quality is second to none. What? Defective medicinal herbs? Preposterous! What kind of nonsense is this!”
I listened to him in silence.
After hearing him out for some time, his anger seemed to subside somewhat, and he fell quiet.
“But doesn’t something seem odd to you? Those merchant guilds—they’ve been trading with the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild for quite some time, haven’t they?”
“That’s right. Which is precisely why I’m even more furious!”
“And those guilds? Since they too have traded with us for a long time, a relationship of trust has been established. Would they truly damage that trust over something so trivial?”
“….”
“And it wasn’t just one or two places—it was five or six of them.”
I looked into both their eyes and asked,
“Don’t you find that strange?”
At my words, Eun Ji-seo nodded.
“Indeed, it is strange.”
Only then did my Paternal Uncle seem to realize something was amiss.
“Now that you mention it….”
“So I investigated the matter, and I discovered that the medicinal herbs provided by the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild were truly defective.”
“That, that can’t be!”
My Paternal Uncle leaped to his feet.
“Yet this impossible thing has truly come to pass. How could this have happened?”
I turned to Jin-ho, who sat beside me.
“Brother, I need your help.”
“Understood.”
Jin-ho left the office, and shortly after, he returned with my two Guard Warriors.
Seo-woo Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior.
And the two of them brought a group of people into the office.
“What? Who are these people?”
My Paternal Uncle looked bewildered, his eyes darting between them and me.
“You recognize them, don’t you?”
My Paternal Uncle nodded.
“They’re people who used to work at our guild. And when circumstances became difficult, we let them go three months ago.”
I told them plainly.
“It’s best to speak the truth. After all, I did save your lives.”
The Namho Merchant Leader, unwilling to leave evidence, must have been anxious about what would happen if they had a change of heart and confessed.
Yet the reason he left them untouched for three months was that if they disappeared shortly after beginning work at the Namho Trading Company, it would invite suspicion from all quarters.
But now, thinking it was finally time to silence them, the Namho Merchant Leader made his move.
However, that attempt was thwarted by Seo-woo Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior, whom I had sent.
I had dispatched them to watch over and protect these men precisely because I anticipated such an outcome.
At my words, they fell to their knees and pressed their foreheads to the ground.
“We… we are deeply sorry.”
“We have committed a crime worthy of death.”
“We are truly sorry.”
My Paternal Uncle was bewildered by their sudden apology, unable to comprehend.
“Calm yourselves. What on earth is this about?”
“We… we mixed defective goods into the shipments.”
“…What?”
My Paternal Uncle appeared to receive quite a shock.
And well he might, for he had dismissed all the merchant guilds who came to lodge complaints as swindlers and turned them away at the gate—only to learn that the quality of the goods truly was substandard.

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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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