The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 182

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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 182

Chapter 182. Hwari Ship Shop (1)

I spoke first.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve heard rumors before. They say the shop manager of a thriving establishment gets driven out, and the shop owner continues the business as if nothing happened.”
“Yes, it’s truly despicable.”
Father clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“But the problem is we can’t impose legal sanctions. Of course, there’s a moral issue involved, but would someone doing such things care about that?”
He had a point.
Father sighed and spoke.
“We can’t very well pay ten times the market price for it, so we’ll have to abandon that location.”
“Is there no other way?”
“I’ll have to think about it.”
But a thought suddenly occurred to me.
No matter how much of a shop owner he is, compared to the Eunhae Trading Company, he’s merely a single proprietor—yet he makes such unreasonable demands of us?
Our trading company now ranks forty-ninth among the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World.
We’re moral people, so we don’t resort to such methods, but if we were dealing with a less scrupulous trading company, who knows what might happen to us.
The common trait Father mentioned about those who disregard moral concerns is that they bow completely to the strong while being arrogant toward the weak.
“Father, something seems odd about this.”
Everyone’s attention turned to me, and I calmly expressed my thoughts.
Father and the others all nodded in agreement.
“You’re right, it is strange.”
“Exactly. Even though we’ve never engaged in such underhanded tactics, many people now fear us simply by the name Eunhae Trading Company alone. Yet he dares to pull something like this…”
“It seems we need to investigate this matter.”
At Yeon Gak-ju’s words, Father nodded and looked at me.
Hmm?
Surely not?
But my ominous premonition proved accurate.
“Go and look into it.”
“Pardon?”
“You seem most suited for the task.”
At Father’s words, everyone else nodded in agreement.
Wait, I’m busy too!
Just as I was about to protest, I hesitated. Come to think of it, I was the least occupied among them.
And so I found myself heading toward Dongjeong Lake in Hunan Province.
.
.
.
Dongjeong Lake.
The largest lake in the Central Plains, renowned for the Yueyang Tower and the autumn moon reflected upon its waters.
The scenery was so breathtaking that those who appreciated the finer things in life considered it a lifelong aspiration to ascend the Yueyang Tower at least once and compose poetry.
In any case, this place was also where merchants like us engaged in fierce competition.
“So that must be our Merchant Guild’s shop over there.”
“It would appear so, sir.”
Given the immense size of Dongjeong Lake, there were two primary methods to properly view it.
One could ascend a tall pavilion, or one could take a boat.
There was also the option of traveling around the lake by carriage or palanquin, but time constraints made that impractical.
Consequently, these two industries were extremely popular in the vicinity of Dongjeong Lake, and competition was fierce.
The shop under our Merchant Guild that was now facing eviction was one that owned boats, and it was somewhat special compared to others.
The place was still bustling with people, who stood in line waiting their turn.
Observing this, I recalled the explanation I had heard from Yeon Gak-ju.

“The shop manager of Hwari Ship Shop is a man named Kang Seung. He possesses considerable talent, and he has a gift for quickly discerning what people desire. Thus, he devised a method of taking a large boat around Dongjeong Lake for those whose purses were not particularly full, and through this, he achieved business success.”
“I see. But I have one question.”
“Please, ask away.”
“If the location was so favorable, wouldn’t it have been better to purchase the shop beforehand? Why has it remained a rental property until now?”
“There are circumstances. All available funds were exhausted in purchasing the large boat, leaving no capital to buy the shop itself.”
“Ah, so that was the situation.”
Now I understood.
Even acquiring a large boat at a shop like this, rather than at the Main Headquarters, must have been quite a strain, so purchasing the shop itself would have been impossible.
“We have not yet repaid all the funds borrowed to purchase the boat.”
In such circumstances, securing additional financing would have been difficult. Equity concerns would have been raised.

As I was observing Hwari Ship Shop for a moment, it happened.
“Ahem! Is the shop owner Kang here?”
A group rushed toward Hwari Ship Shop seeking the proprietor, and shortly after, a middle-aged man emerged and approached them.
“Greetings, Cheon Dae-in.”
“Well, I came to check if you were preparing to vacate this place, but I see no signs of it whatsoever.”
“…Please do not worry.”
“Hmph. Make sure you clear out by the promised deadline. That is all.”
The man called Kang Shop Owner trembled as he watched the middle-aged man’s retreating figure.
So that middle-aged man is the owner of this building.
I recalled the information I had received from the Information Bureau, which I had newly established before coming here.

His name was Cheon Deuk-yeo.
A man who owned some twenty shops near Dongjeong Lake.
I summoned the Yeo Eung-am Warrior.
“Warrior Yeo.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“That man standing in the middle is someone named Cheon Deuk-yeo. Please keep watch to see if anyone tries to make contact with him.”
“Understood.”
“And Palgap.”
“Yes, young master.”
“Tell Kang Shop Owner that I’ll visit him tonight.”
“Very well.”

* * *

Cheon Deuk-yeo’s family had prospered for generations by collecting rent from the shops near Dongjeong Lake.
As a man of some local standing, he wanted for nothing and lived a leisurely life.
One day, one of his frequent companions broached a delicate subject.
“Say, isn’t the shop where Hwari Ship Shop is located yours?”
“That’s right.”
“You certainly have a generous heart.”
“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”
“Look at how much money that Hwari Ship Shop brings in. Are you truly satisfied with just collecting the rent?”
“What else can I do? Is Hwari Ship Shop just any shop? Doesn’t it belong to the Eunhae Trading Company?”
“Hmph.”
His friend continued.
“Still, isn’t it a trading company based in Hubei Province? As the saying goes, distance weakens the heart. This is Hunan Province—surely they won’t pay such close attention to a place so far away?”
“….”
His friend glanced around before leaning in close and whispering.
“In fact, the Daegun Trading Company wants that place.”
“The Daegun Trading Company?”
The Daegun Trading Company was a merchant guild based in Hunan Province and was also one of the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World.
“If you play your cards right, this could be an opportunity to earn far more than what you’re making now.”
Cheon Deuk-yeo, who had been silent for a moment, spoke to his friend.
“Did the Daegun Trading Company send you?”
“Ah, you’ve caught me.”
“You!”
“But this is something that benefits you, so I accepted the task of persuading you. If it would harm my old friend, I would never have agreed to it.”
“….”
“So think it over carefully.”
Two days later, Cheon Deuk-yeo visited the Daegun Trading Company with his friend.
In exchange for their cooperation, what was promised to him was forty percent of the total profits.
Since this was a far superior condition to his current arrangement, he accepted the proposal with satisfaction.

Cheon Deuk-yeo finished urging the Hwari Ship Shop and returned, lost in pleasant dreams.
In just ten more days, he would be able to earn considerably more money.
An attendant approached him.
“Master, someone from the Daegun Trading Company has come to see you.”
“Show them in.”
“Yes, sir.”

* * *

Late into the night.
Now that the boat’s lanterns that had brilliantly illuminated Dongjeong Lake had vanished, a loneliness seemed to settle over the water.
Indeed, at this hour, even those who had been drinking heavily in the taverns were heading home to rest.
I entered the Hwari Ship Shop.
I had heard he lodged and lived at the shop, so he should still be here at this hour.
A small lantern burned on the table, and a man sat lost in thought.
It was Kang Seung, the shop manager I had seen earlier.
He showed no surprise upon seeing me and rose from his seat, clasping his fist in salute.
“I greet the Small Guild Master.”
Though I held the position of Lord in Hyun Pung Country within the trading company, my official title was Small Guild Master.
“We are meeting for the first time, yet how did you know I am the Small Guild Master?”
“Your bearing speaks of leisure and confidence, and your clothing is of fine quality. This place is where those with relatively lighter purses tend to come. And seeing that you paid no attention to the price signs, I gathered your purpose was not to book passage.”
“I see.”
Just as Yeon Gak-ju had said, his eye for detail was keen and his intuition sharp.
I smiled inwardly with satisfaction and introduced myself formally.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“I am Kang Seung, manager of the Hwari Ship Shop.”
He offered me a seat.
Once seated, I spoke directly to the point.
“My father, the Merchant Guild Leader, has ordered me to investigate this matter.”
“Investigate? In what sense?”
“I believe other forces are involved in this affair.”
“Then you’re saying someone is backing Cheon Deuk-yeo?”
At that moment, Palgap approached me and whispered softly.
“Ah, so the Daegun Trading Company is behind this, I hear.”
“…!”
Kang’s eyes widened once more.
The influence and power of the Daegun Trading Company in this region were greater than one might have expected.
Though the Daegun Trading Company is smaller than our Eunhae Trading Company, there’s a vast difference between having an established foothold in a region and not having one.
“I heard the Daegun Trading Company recently purchased a large vessel.”
“…!”
His pupils dilated, but soon his fists clenched and trembled visibly.
“I suspected as much….”
He exhaled deeply before speaking.
“Then, then I have no choice but to abandon this venture.”
“Why would you abandon this business?”
“Pardon?”
“You haven’t even repaid the funds the Eunhae Trading Company extended to you for purchasing the vessel. Do you truly believe we would permit you to simply withdraw?”
“….”
“You must continue working until every last coin is repaid.”
“I wish to do so as well. But….”
“Is there some law requiring you to operate from this location?”
“Well, no, but….”
“Now that I think about it, this shop is rather cramped.”
I chuckled softly.
“What do you say to relocating and expanding?”
Though bewildered, he answered with composure.
“I have indeed considered moving the shop elsewhere. But I’ve been unable to secure another location….”
“So you’ve already given this matter thought.”
“Of course. If I called myself a merchant and failed to consider alternatives, I’d be unworthy of the name. But if the Daegun Trading Company is the obstacle, then the situation becomes all the more troublesome.”
“Regarding the shop location, worry not. I shall handle the arrangements—you need only prepare for the move.”

* * *

The next day,
I began touring the vacant shops.
“Oh, you seem quite fond of this location.”
The Shop Broker responded to my words.
“An excellent choice, sir.”
“I’ll purchase this shop.”
“Purchase, not lease… you mean to buy it?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“Oh, no! Of course not. It’s just that the market price here is rather steep….”
“It’s a building beside Dongjeong Lake. I came knowing full well it would be expensive. So what’s the price?”
In response to my question, the Shop Broker quoted the amount.
“….”
What a rotten price!
It was far more expensive than what I had anticipated.
But it didn’t matter.
That price would become a fatal fang that made this transaction irreversible.
“I’ll purchase it at that price. Now let’s draw up the contract.”
“Yes.”
We promptly drafted the contract.
“Ah, and I’d like one more clause added to the contract.”
“What sort of clause?”
“A clause stating that to void this contract, one must pay one hundred times the shop’s purchase price as compensation.”
“What? Why would you need that?”
“The truth is, I once purchased a shop only to be suddenly evicted when the original owner’s son decided he needed to run the business.”
“How outrageous!”
“So I’m taking precautions, just in case.”
“I understand. I’ll add that clause as well.”

Thus, I completed the process of purchasing the shop.
“Palgap, bring the owner of Hwari Ship Shop here.”
“Understood, sir.”
.
.
.
Shortly after, Kang Shop Owner from Hwari Ship Shop arrived at the shop I had purchased.
“How is this place?”
“Pardon?”
“This is the shop I’ve purchased. And it will be where Hwari Ship Shop relocates and expands.”
At my words, Kang Shop Owner was so astonished that he could only blink his eyes repeatedly.
Only after a long moment did he finally find his voice.
“This, this, you mean this place?”
“Yes.”
“This spacious place?”
“Yes.”
Well, it certainly is quite spacious.
Compared to the current Hwari Ship Shop, it’s nearly four or five times larger.
Kang Shop Owner finally seemed to compose himself and asked me.
“You wouldn’t simply give something like this without expecting something in return. What is it that you ask of me?”
“Safety.”
“Pardon?”
“From what I’ve learned, you place considerable emphasis on safety when taking passengers aboard your boats. I hear you’ve even faced criticism for it.”
“That’s true enough.”
“I ask that you continue to operate with that same dedication to safety—even more so than now.”
There is a reason I emphasize safety so strongly to him.
Because an accident will occur before long.

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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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