The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 138

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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 138

Chapter 138. You Reap What You Sow (8)

That night.
I composed a letter to my father. Then I called out to the creature that had made a nest in my sleeve.
“Geumryeong.”
“Chirp?”
“It’s a letter for Father. I’m counting on you.”
“Chirp…”
“Yes, I understand.”
I withdrew a silver coin from my pocket and offered it. Geumryeong snatched it deftly with its beak.
Then swallowed it whole.
“Now that you’ve eaten, let’s get to work.”
“Chirp chirp!”
Delighted by the silver coin, Geumryeong extended its tail.
I fastened the letter securely to that tail, and Geumryeong shot through the window faster than an arrow.

The next morning, I received Father’s reply.

[So it has come to this. Then we must proceed with the second plan.]

The second plan.
It was to make the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild a branch of the Eunhae Trading Company.
However, we would not change the guild’s name, nor would its role differ from before.
In other words, outwardly it would remain one of Guizhou’s medicinal herb trading companies competing with the Namho Trading Company.

[As I mentioned beforehand, I shall send Song Sik as the new Merchant Leader.]

Song Sik was someone I could trust.
A seasoned veteran in medicinal herb trading, he was both remarkably composed and skilled at leading people.

[And when you return, bring Jo San-i’s family with you. I have already prepared a place for them here.]

Father has arranged positions at the Merchant Guild for my Paternal Uncle and Ji-seo Elder Brother.
Father truly has a kind heart.
Though from my perspective, it seems he’s doing this with Grandfather in mind.
I folded the letter and tucked it into my robes.
It was time to head to breakfast.
.
.
.
Jin-ho Elder Brother and I ate breakfast together.
Until yesterday, I had shared warm, lively meals with my Paternal Uncle’s family, but today they requested to eat separately, so I agreed.
Eating together like this, just the two of us, felt rather pleasant.
After finishing his meal, Jin-ho Elder Brother called out to me with concern.
“By the way, Seo-ho.”
“What is it?”
“Do you think Paternal Uncle will be alright?”
“You’re worried?”
At my question, Jin-ho Elder Brother nodded.
“Still… he’s our Paternal Uncle. I’m not even sure if he’s eaten. Given his nature, I suspect he’s just brooding without touching his food.”
Well, he likely has no appetite.
If he did, that would be strange.
After all, he’s essentially lost the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild to me with his eyes wide open.
“Shouldn’t you go check on him?”
“I was already planning to.”
“Is that so?”
It’s not about checking whether he’s eaten.
Rather, he still seems unable to grasp reality, so I thought I’d give him a moment to truly comprehend his situation.
.
.
.
Crash!
“What? Work for the Eunhae Trading Company? And as a mere low-ranking employee, not even as Haeng-su?”
My Paternal Uncle slammed his fist on the table and shouted.
But I had anticipated such a reaction, so I maintained a composed expression.
After finishing breakfast, I had come to my Paternal Uncle’s quarters and requested a conversation.
He refused to see me, but I pushed open the door and entered regardless.
Then I suggested that he accompany me when I departed for the Eunhae Trading Company and that he take employment there.
This is precisely where we stand now.
I offered a gentle smile.
But the words that came from my lips were anything but gentle.
“How do you plan to support yourself?”
“What?”
“You’ve already squandered your personal fortune for the guild, haven’t you? Do you have anything left to sell?”
“….”
My Paternal Uncle fell silent like a fool at my words.
The investigation had long since concluded.
Right now, my Paternal Uncle was nothing but a pauper.
To put it bluntly, if I told him to leave, he’d end up on the streets.
My Paternal Uncle had signed the contract believing he could reclaim his position as guild leader if he repaid the amount Eunhae Trading Company had invested.
But since he had no money to repay the investment, he had no choice but to hand over the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild.
So he reclaimed his position as guild leader, but what good did that do?
The Mi Gwa Merchant Guild had already been transferred away.
“And Eunhae Trading Company will be sending a new guild leader here. You’ll need to vacate this place, so where do you intend to go?”
“….”
“You’ll need money to secure even a single room, so do you have a place of employment lined up?”
My Paternal Uncle opened his mouth with a displeased expression.
“Still, I was originally a guild leader, and now suddenly I’m supposed to be a lowly employee….”
“As you well know, our Eunhae Trading Company treats people according to their abilities. So do your best. Who knows? You might become the guild leader of this place.”
Of course, from my perspective, that possibility was virtually nonexistent, but there was no harm in offering hope.
.
.
.
Half a month later.
Song Sik, the Deputy Officer, arrived at the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild.
“This Song Sik pays his respects to the two Small Guild Leaders.”
I greeted him with a smile at his words.
“You must have had a difficult journey.”
“Not at all. It is you two Small Guild Leaders who have worked hard here. You’ve done truly remarkable work. Everyone at the Eun Wol Pavilion was delighted to hear of your accomplishments here.”
“Is that so? Haha.”
“Then would you permit me to proceed to the Guild Leader’s Office?”
“Already? You must be exhausted from your journey. Why don’t you rest today?”
“I cannot. The task I received from the Guild Leader is too important—I doubt I could rest properly even if I tried.”
“Very well then. But please, don’t overexert yourself.”
“Have no fear. I still have the stamina to stand against the Green Forest Bandits without flinching.”
“Haha.”
Song Sik, the Deputy Officer, originally came from the Eunpung Corps.
But Grandfather, having glimpsed his exceptional talent for commerce, had suggested he pursue the path of a merchant rather than a martial artist, and from that point on, he had steadily climbed the ranks to become Deputy Officer.
Thanks to Father sending such a reliable person as the new guild leader to the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild, I could now return to Eunhae Trading Company with peace of mind.
“Then let us proceed to the Guild Leader’s Office. I have much to explain.”
Upon arriving at the Guild Leader’s Office, I explained the situation to Song Sik in detail.
Of course, I omitted the fact that the Namho Trading Company had agreed to send me thirty percent of the profits.
That money filled my own pockets, and there’s no benefit in others knowing about it.
.
.
.
When I departed for Guizhou to resolve the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild’s affairs, it was the warm month of May, but by the time I arrived at Hubei Province where the Eunhae Trading Company Headquarters stood, it had already become the sweltering month of August.
Upon arriving at the headquarters, word had been sent ahead, and my family came out to greet me.
Since not only Jin-ho and I came, but also my Paternal Uncle’s family, they had come to welcome us.
“I pay my respects, Uncle.”
My Paternal Uncle greeted my Grandfather, and my Grandfather received him warmly.
I exchanged greetings with my family and then headed toward Hyunpung.
After three months away on business, there was a considerable amount of work piled up.
I needed to report this matter to my Father, but it seemed this wasn’t the right moment for it.
Since I had already given him a rough account through Geum Ryung-i, there was no urgency.

I was summoned by my Father that evening while I was handling the accumulated work at Hyunpung.
As I followed Cho Young-young, I felt a sense of confusion.
The place she was leading me to was not my Father’s office, but my Grandfather’s quarters.
In my Grandfather’s quarters, there was a pavilion arranged in the garden.
My Grandfather and Father were seated there.
“You called for me?”
“Yes, come here.”
I bowed to my Grandfather and took a seat beside my Father.
A maidservant placed tea before me.
I waited calmly for my Grandfather to speak.
“I have heard everything from your father about what you accomplished in Guizhou. So there is one thing I wish to ask you.”
“Grandfather, I am listening.”
“How did you manage to bring the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild into the hands of the Eunhae Trading Company?”
I answered without hesitation.
“At first, I had no such intention. But as I dealt with my Paternal Uncle and Ji-seo Elder Brother, I became increasingly certain.”
I paused briefly before continuing.
“It was clear that one day the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild would fall into the hands of another merchant company. So I took action beforehand.”
I smiled faintly.
“Before the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild, which Small Grandfather had built through blood and sweat, could be handed over to someone else.”
My Grandfather, who had been observing me for a moment, spoke.
“Thank you.”
“…!”
I was startled by my Grandfather’s words.
I had not expected him to thank me so suddenly.
“I know you did this for my sake.”
I scratched behind my ear.
I did so because if the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild were to fall into another merchant company’s hands or collapse, the Eunhae Trading Company would suffer losses.
But my concern for Grandfather weighed even more heavily.
If the merchant guild founded by Grandfather’s younger brother were to pass into the hands of that strict man, Grandfather would be deeply grieved.
Grandfather smiled wryly and spoke.
“In truth, this was something I should have done myself. But knowing my nephew’s shortcomings, my heart grew weak and I could not make the decision. So I am both sorry and grateful, and that is the way of it.”
Grandfather took a sip of tea and continued.
“There is one more thing I wish to ask.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“I instructed you to give Jo San-i and Ji-seo the position of Haeng-su, yet why did you decide to give them positions as ordinary staff members instead?”
At those words, I lifted my head and looked at Grandfather as I spoke.
“Grandfather, do you truly believe that my Paternal Uncle and Elder Brother Ji-seo possess the qualities to be a Haeng-su?”
“…Ahem.”
Grandfather cleared his throat and drank his tea, while Father beside him wore an awkward expression.
.
.
.
On the way back to the Silver Dragon Hall with Father.
“That last question was rather harsh.”
At Father’s words, I let out a soft laugh.
“Do you truly think so?”
“Of course not. People do not change so easily.”
Before Grandfather was chosen as the successor, Small Grandfather and my Paternal Uncle also lived here together.
Father seemed to still remember those days.
“My uncle was truly remarkable. His pride was a problem, but his talent for commerce was extraordinary. However, Jo San-i, on the other hand….”
Father chose his words carefully, but I could sense what he wished to say.
“In any case, what sort of work do you think we should assign him?”
“Father, what is the busiest and most grueling work in our Eunhae Trading Company?”
“Hmm?”
“I believe it would be best to assign him to such a place, so that his pride, arrogance, and youthful impetuousness might be tempered.”
Father pondered for a moment at my words, then nodded.
“I think the same. And as you say, there is indeed a place in our company that is the most difficult and demanding. A place where the intensity of labor leaves no time for youthful outbursts, and where pride and arrogance are shattered to pieces by the ability and sharp tongue of those who lead it.”
“Does such a place exist in our company?”
At my question, Father nodded.
“It does.”
“Where is it?”
“Hyun Pung Country.”
….
.
.
.
Should I call it fortunate?
My Paternal Uncle and Ji-seo Elder Brother were assigned to work at a medicinal herb trading company rather than the Hyun Pung Bureau.
As the saying goes, even a small fish is better than nothing—it would have been wasteful to let their knowledge of medicinal herbs rot away.

Shortly after, Song Sik sent a report.
The Mi Gwa Merchant Guild and Namho Trading Company had both withdrawn from their medicinal herb price competition.
And they began receiving normal medicinal herb prices once again.
After a period of turbulence, the medicinal herb market in Guizhou had quietly settled down as if that commotion had never occurred.
Now the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild would gradually begin to see profits.
In my previous life, when the Eunhae Trading Company established a branch in Guizhou, it required an astronomical sum of money.
But this time, it cost less than a tenth of what was spent back then.
Yet I had acquired not only the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild but the Namho Trading Company as well.
A satisfying achievement.
.
.
.
Time flowed on, and before long, autumn had arrived in earnest.
An Eun Wol Pavilion conference.
Father spoke to us.
“A letter has arrived from Song Sik. The Mi Gwa Merchant Guild has finally emerged from deficit.”
“Now it truly fulfills its role as our Guizhou branch.”
“Indeed.”
“Our Eunhae Trading Company’s influence has grown considerably. With this, we should easily reach at least the top fifty by the winter solstice.”
“I share that hope. Speaking of which, the date for this Baekdae Trading Company Alliance gathering has been announced.”
“Is that so? When?”
“Early October.”
“That’s coming up soon.”
At Yeon Gak-ju’s words, Father nodded.
“So this time, I intend to go with Seo-ho.”
I asked Father in return.
“Pardon? Me, sir?”
“As you know, your sister-in-law has become pregnant, hasn’t she?”
My Elder Brother’s Wife had indeed become pregnant.
It was a child born nearly three years after their marriage, so the family was overjoyed.
“It’s not fitting for the child’s father to be away at such a time. And since Jin-ho went last time, I intend to go with you this time.”
“Understood. But where is the location?”
“I hadn’t mentioned that. This gathering will be held in Luoyang.”
….
In that moment, I tensed.
Luoyang was where the Murim Alliance was located.

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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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