The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 208

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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 208

Chapter 208. A Fateful Encounter in Hangzhou (1)

At my words, Jihyeon’s speech faltered.
“W-what do you mean? Accept bribes?”
“Then on what grounds are you claiming the seal on the contract I provided is forged?”
“That is….”
Jihyeon hesitated, unable to formulate a response.
“His Imperial Majesty has a particular aversion to bribery. In fact, those who attempted to bribe palace officials during the previous silk procurement competition faced considerable hardship.”
“….”
“I’ve heard the interrogation process was quite brutal.”
At those words, Jihyeon’s complexion drained of all color.
Now, shall I drive the final nail home?
“Well, if it’s difficult for you to speak, you needn’t bother. In any case, I’ll soon be entering the Imperial Palace to file my report. At that time, I’ll have to initiate an investigation into Jihyeon….”
“P-please, spare my life!”
Before I could finish speaking, Jihyeon threw himself prostrate on the ground.
Then, clutching at my legs, he spoke with desperate urgency.
“I was blinded by greed and accepted money I should never have taken!”
Tsk, tsk. He should have confessed long ago.
“Please, I beg you, spare me just this once!”
I deliberately paused for a moment before speaking.
“Since I must report this matter regardless, there’s no avoiding it reaching His Imperial Majesty’s ears.”
“Ah….”
“However, I can show you a way to save your life.”
Jihyeon gazed at me with pleading eyes, and I smiled faintly as I spoke.
“First, properly verify whether that contract is genuine or forged. And….”
“Yes, yes. Of course. What else must I do?”
“Use the money you received as bribes to purchase grain and send it to the Imperial Palace. Then you may preserve both your life and your honor.”
“Must I really do that…?”
“Then you shouldn’t have accepted the bribes in the first place.”
“….”
“It would be wise to remember this.”
“I understand.”
Jihyeon nodded, though his expression betrayed hesitation.
Indeed, a man greedy enough to accept bribes would find it difficult to surrender his entire fortune so readily.
But wasn’t his life worth the price?
What meaning would money hold once he was dead?
If he suddenly contributes a substantial amount of grain, the Emperor would surely suspect something is amiss.
If he follows my proposal, I will petition His Majesty for leniency on his behalf.
If he liquidates his entire fortune, the Emperor will overlook the matter.
Whatever decision Jihyeon makes is no concern of mine.
I’ve shown him the path to survival, but executing it is his responsibility.
All I need is to have the contract I found authenticated as genuine.
.
.
.
A short while later,
I returned to the Yangyang Martial School.
I headed directly to Yeom Chief Manager’s office and requested that Ha Pyo-doo be summoned.
Soon, the three of us gathered in the office.
“Pardon me, but what is the occasion for this meeting?”
At Yeom Chief Manager’s question, I withdrew the authentic contract from my possession and placed it upon the table.
“As I suspected, the genuine contract was indeed hidden away.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The genuine contract, you say?”
“Read it for yourselves.”
As I extended the document, both men tilted their heads in confusion before beginning to read the authentic contract.
“…!”
“…!”
Their eyes widened, and a profound silence fell over the room.
“No, surely not.”
“This cannot be….”
They were so astonished they could scarcely form coherent words.
“I was equally shocked.”
The two men finally managed to speak.
“I was completely unaware of this matter.”
“Indeed, and it appears the Palace Master was also ignorant of it. Had he known, he would surely have mentioned it.”
That would be the case. Had my Master known of this, his face would not have worn such a troubled expression.
“According to the letter on the back page, the Previous Chief Manager appears to have kept this secret at the request of the Previous Sung Jang-ju.”
“His sudden passing prevented him from informing me of this matter.”
“That appears to be the case.”
Yeom Chief Manager pondered for a moment before speaking.
“However, the problem is not yet resolved. Sung Jang-ju will likely refuse to acknowledge this contract as genuine.”
“I have already considered that possibility, which is why I prepared this.”
I unrolled a scroll and placed it upon the table—Jihyeon’s official authentication that the contract is genuine.
Ha Pyo-doo let out a low whistle.
“Impressive. You have been quite thorough.”
However, Yeom Chief Manager asked me with a puzzled expression.
“But how did you obtain this? As far as I know, Sung Jang-ju should have already eliminated Ji Hyeon….”
“There are always ways.”
When I answered evasively, Yeom Chief Manager understood my meaning and nodded.
“I see. In any case, you are truly remarkable. At any rate, so this land belongs to the Yangyang Martial School.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then we don’t need to relocate?”
But I didn’t answer that question, instead laughing coldly as I continued.
“I have no intention of ending this pleasantly. Shouldn’t I demand compensation for the mental anguish I’ve suffered because of this matter?”
“No, I am satisfied.”
Yeom Chief Manager spoke with a smile.
“Simply having this land and not needing to relocate is enough for my satisfaction.”
Ha Pyo-doo also chimed in.
“That’s right. And the Palace Master will be satisfied with this as well.”
I shook my head.
“No. I have no intention of stopping here.”
“That….”
Cutting off Yeom Chief Manager’s words, I continued.
“According to the information I’ve obtained, Sung Jang-ju knows that the Yangyang Martial School is a benefactor to both the Previous Estate Lord and the Sung Family Estate.”
“What?”
“Is that truly the case?”
“It is. And the late Previous Sung Jang-ju repeatedly told his son that the Yangyang Martial School is a benefactor to our family and should be treated with respect.”
“….”
“Yet Sung Jang-ju attempted to drive out the Yangyang Martial School. I cannot overlook such ingratitude from him.”
The faces of Yeom Chief Manager and Ha Pyo-doo darkened as they heard the circumstances.
“So, do you not need a new building?”
“What?”
“The building appears rather worn.”
At my words, Ha Pyo-doo nodded.
“Well… it’s been over ten years since this building was constructed. And it wasn’t built with particularly fine materials either.”
“Then prepare for relocation.”
“What?”
“Relocation, you say?”
“To catch a great fish, one must know how to wait.”
Through Chun-il, I learned that Sung Jang-ju plans to construct an eight-story tavern building on this land.
And he also intends to build several separate quarters and even create a beautiful garden.
That would serve as an excellent place for the pillars of the reconstructed Seolpung Palace to flourish.
I smiled faintly.
So our relocation is merely helping Sung Jang-ju labor under a ‘misconception.’
The more effort Sung Jang-ju invests in the tavern building, the less loss it brings to us.
Since that building wouldn’t have a suitable space for a training ground, I’ll need to purchase the adjacent land and develop it into one.
After all, I’m a Senior Brother, am I not?
I can gladly make such a contribution for the children.
However, this undertaking will require roughly a year to complete.
Since I cannot remain here indefinitely, I need someone to oversee the work in my absence.
Should I entrust this responsibility to Palgap?
Though his appearance resembles a bear, he possesses keen instincts and moves with remarkable swiftness when the situation demands it.
Yet without Palgap, I would lack someone to assist me properly.
There is still time, so for now I must focus on other matters.

* * *

Truthfully, compared to other lakes throughout the Central Plains, West Lake is not particularly vast.
However, its scenery is so breathtaking that countless visitors come to admire its beauty.
A fabric shop on the streets of Hangzhou.
Business flourished there as always.
“This is the new silk we’ve just received. The dyeing is exceptionally fine. Not a single blemish.”
“My, how exquisite…”
“If you were to embroider this indigo skirt with golden thread and pair it with a crimson jacket, how stunning you would appear?”
“Yes, indeed you would be.”
“The men passing by wouldn’t be able to simply walk past you.”
“I’ll take it.”
The primary clientele of the fabric shop near West Lake were the women from the taverns, and for them, the Eun-deok Fabric Shop had become quite renowned.
This establishment was not particularly old.
Merely four years prior, a man named Wi Jun-deok, the current proprietor, had acquired the existing shop and opened it as a fabric store.
Though it began far smaller than it is now, it had grown more than tenfold in just four years.
After the rush of customers had passed, Wi Jun-deok stepped outside the shop.
“I’ll be out for a moment.”
“Yes, please take your time, Haeng-su.”
Wi Jun-deok smiled and waved his hand dismissively.
“Ah, there’s no need to call me that anymore.”
“But it’s become such a habit…”
“True, I’ve been called that for over a decade now… Well, I’ll be back soon.”
“Yes.”
Wi Jun-deok left the fabric shop and walked down the street.
“How swiftly the years have passed!”
Just four years ago, his life had been as precarious as a candle flame before the wind.
While serving as Haeng-su of the Dong Merchant Guild and conducting business with the Second Son of the Dong Merchant Guild Leader, he received the shocking news that the Dong Merchant Guild had been utterly destroyed.
The Dong Merchant Guild Leader had been discovered attempting to assassinate the Jin Woo-rim Merchant Guild Leader, and by the Emperor’s wrathful decree, the guild was annihilated.
Yet despite his counsel to go into hiding and await better days, the Dong Merchant Guild Leader’s Second Son, Dong Woo-yeok, ultimately committed the deed anyway.
He had used the Explosive Thunder Bomb to obstruct the Eunhae Trading Company’s convoy as they traveled to Beijing under the Emperor’s orders.
And then,
that person he had encountered in the forest where he had been hiding—Eun Seo-ho.
Perhaps it had been mere whim that he offered me a chance.
But he kept his word.
Truly, there had been no pursuit from government forces since that day.
Thanks to him, I had survived and managed to reach this place.
Uncertain about what to do next, I opened a fabric shop.
Honestly, I had spent my entire life dealing with fabrics, so the prospect of doing something else now left me feeling adrift.
And I named the fabric shop Eun-deok.
A name meaning “received grace.”
My survival was entirely due to the kindness Eun Seo-ho had shown me.
There was no particular reason for settling in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.
Since I had operated in Jiangsu Province before, I simply came to Zhejiang, which was similar in nature.

“Hmm….”
Wi Jun-deok walked slowly down the street.
To any observer, it might have appeared as though I were merely strolling aimlessly, but this too was one of my efforts for the shop.
It was to quickly discern the subtly shifting trends.
Thus, every few days I would walk through the bustling districts like this, observing the clothing and changes in the people around me.
As I wandered thus, a familiar voice reached my ears.
A clear, crystalline voice that resonated pleasantly.
When I turned my head toward the sound, I saw a young man wearing a crimson long robe.
A young nobleman with an enigmatic charm.
Despite four years having passed, Wi Jun-deok recognized his face immediately.
“Are you not Eun Seo-ho, the Small Merchant Guild Leader?”

* * *

From the third floor of the Tea House, gazing down at West Lake, the view was indeed magnificent.
At the table beside me, Palgap and the Guards were enjoying their tea.
But the reason I was here had nothing to do with them—it was the person sitting across from me.
“I trust you have been well?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Thank you for keeping your promise back then.”
“A promise made must be kept.”
The middle-aged man before me was Haeng-su, who had once worked for the Dong Merchant Guild and attempted to assassinate the Jin Woo-rim Merchant Guild Leader.
I had given him a chance back then, and it seemed he was living far better than I had anticipated.
His clothing and the expression on his face conveyed comfort and ease.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve been remiss in introducing myself. You likely don’t know my name.”
I smiled awkwardly and waited for him to continue.
“My name is Wi Jun-deok, and I operate a fabric shop near West Lake here.”
“I see.”
We exchanged various pleasantries.
The conversation was dominated largely by Wi Jun-deok’s account, and as I listened, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
Surely Wi Jun-deok had offered Dong Woo-yeok his best counsel. It was simply that Dong Woo-yeok had refused to heed it.
For that reason, I found myself grateful to Dong Woo-yeok.
Because of him, a capable talent had survived, and through this twist of fate, we were able to meet again.
While my own efforts played a part, without a beginning, there can be no continuation.
“But what brings you to West Lake on business?”
“Ah, I came here for business matters.”
“I see. Might I ask what that business is?”
“My apologies. It’s a business secret.”
“Of course, it would be.”
He maintained proper boundaries while still demonstrating keen merchant’s instincts.
Clearly, this was a man of genuine talent.
And the fact that he held me in favor was all the better.
Though it might seem inhuman to calculate a person’s sentiments, the merchant world is ruthless.
Money itself has no feelings, but those who handle it are creatures of emotion.
As it happened, I needed someone capable and trustworthy. This was fortuitous.
I lowered my voice and spoke.
“From what I’ve observed, you don’t seem like the sort of man to be satisfied with small waters. So I must ask—would you have any interest in navigating greater waters?”

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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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