The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 210

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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 210

Chapter 210. Fate in Hangzhou (3)

It was time to return to the Eunhae Trading Company.
I needed to review the New Year’s plans I had set and begin implementing them.
“Senior Brother, are you going home?”
“When will you come again?”
The children clutched at my robes with reluctant faces, whimpering softly.
Having played with them so diligently, they had grown attached.
“Does parting with me sadden you so much?”
“Yes.”
The children nodded at my question.
“I’m sad too. But your Senior Brother must work hard so he can buy you many delicious things.”
I smiled gently and made a promise.
“I’ll come again next time.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I meant it sincerely.
Since I would have work to do in Hangzhou regardless, I would have to return anyway.
I should give each of them a gift before I leave.
Honestly, even with support from the Changin Escort Agency and the Northern Sea Ice Palace, raising children required considerable expense.
Since I had received full authority from my Master, I had both the duty and right to inspect the Yangyang Martial School’s finances.
When I examined the ledgers, I could only marvel.
It was clear the household had been managed with meticulous care and remarkable efficiency.
It had to be that way.
The finances were extremely tight.
Ensuring the children never went hungry was the priority, so they could barely afford snacks once or twice a year.
That’s why they participated so eagerly when I promised to give them tanghulu as a reward during our play before.
Ah, so that’s why Chief Manager Yeom was chosen by the Previous Chief Manager.
Someone capable of managing a household with such frugal care.
If the forces that destroyed the Snowwind Palace learned of the Yangyang Martial School’s existence, this place could not remain safe.
In other words, it was time to keep a low profile, so he appointed someone suitable as the School Master.
“And is there anything you need? Before I leave, I can buy whatever seems necessary.”
“Something we need?”
“Yes.”
“Can we ask for anything?”
“Tell me. If it seems necessary, I’ll buy it. Otherwise, it’s rejected.”
“I’ll think about it for a moment.”
Then the children scampered off into the distance and huddled together, whispering among themselves.
They thought they were speaking in hushed tones, but honestly, I could hear every word they said with perfect clarity.
The Martial Hall wasn’t that spacious, after all.
But… something about what the children were discussing seemed odd.
Usually they’d ask for toys or food, so why were they talking about that…
After a moment, once their conference had concluded, the child who seemed to be their representative spoke to me.
“We’ve decided. Please buy us paper as a gift.”
“…Paper?”
“Yes. We want to write letters to our senior brothers working at the Pyo Bureau and to our mother at the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
Paper itself wasn’t difficult to obtain, but quality paper suitable for correspondence was expensive.
For writing, the surface had to be smooth, and to prevent the ink from bleeding, it needed to be thick.
Now that I thought about it, I’d occasionally noticed characters written in the courtyard—that must have been why.
They’d been practicing their writing on the dirt ground because they had no paper.
Born as the youngest son of the Baekdae Trading Company and having lived comfortably my entire life, I hadn’t given it much thought.
That they practiced writing on the dirt ground for lack of paper, and couldn’t send letters home.
Having been entrusted by my Ancestor with the reconstruction of Snowwind Palace, I felt somewhat embarrassed that I hadn’t paid closer attention to such details.
“Understood. I’ll buy plenty.”
“Thank you!”
But that was something I should naturally have been attending to, so I couldn’t call it a gift.
“Is there anything else?”
“Um…”
They had the expression of people who hadn’t thought of anything.
“Then think about it once more until tomorrow morning. I’m going to meet with the School Master for a bit.”
After saying that to the children, I headed toward the School Master’s office.
“Please, come in.”
As I entered, Yeom Chief Manager was working with intense focus.
With nearly two hundred people to relocate, there was inevitably much to prepare.
And plenty of administrative matters to handle as well.
“You seem busy.”
“Haha. Quite so. Would you mind waiting just a moment?”
“Should I come back later?”
“No, no. Just a moment will suffice.”
I sat down in front of him, and he quickly finished his documents before approaching me.
“What brings you here?”
“I’m planning to return to Hubei in a day or two.”
“You’re leaving already?”
“Yes, with the new year, there’s quite a bit I need to attend to.”
“I imagine you have many responsibilities.”
Yeom Chief Manager nodded in understanding.
“That’s why I wanted to give gifts to the children and the disciples here, but they said they needed paper.”
“Pardon?”
“They want to write letters.”
“Ah….”
Yeom Chief Manager nodded with a sympathetic expression.
“It’s unfortunate. As you know, paper is quite expensive….”
“So I intend to buy paper for the children. But I wanted to ask—is there anything else they might need?”
I had sought out the School Master to see if there were other things the children required.
“Since I don’t know what they need, I wanted to ask what would be most helpful for the children….”
Yeom Chief Manager spoke up before I could finish.
“Then please give each child a set of clothes!”
“Clothes… you say?”
“Yes. The children don’t have proper winter clothing. It’s not that they have nothing, but this winter seems like it will be terribly cold.”
He laughed awkwardly, as if realizing he’d overstepped.
Fabric was quite expensive, after all.
And he added further words.
“Ah, I fear I’ve made an unreasonable request. Instead, perhaps we could keep the fire burning warmer….”

I smiled warmly at his consideration.
Yeom Chief Manager truly was a good man.
“I understand.”
.
.
.
In the late afternoon, I sought out Wi Jun-deok Shop Owner.
“Small Guild Master! What brings you here? You could have simply summoned me.”
“I simply felt like taking a walk.”
“That happens from time to time.”
“I plan to return to the Main Headquarters in a couple of days. So I came to ask you for a favor.”
“Yes, please speak.”
I asked him to purchase clothes for the children, paper, and wooden swords needed for martial training.
“Use this money for the purchases. Since I plan to return in a few months, let me know if anything is lacking at that time.”
He counted the money I gave him and shook his head.
“Lacking? Not at all—there’s more than enough!”
“Please consult with the Yangyang Martial School Master regarding the details.”
“Understood.”
It was reassuring to have someone I could trust with matters while I was away.
“Ah, have you heard about that?”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“Among the properties I showed you before, there was a building belonging to a small sect, wasn’t there?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right. I remember now.”
“He says he won’t sell the building. He intends to stay here.”
“Is that so?”
Should I call that fortunate?
In truth, when I spoke with Wi Shop Owner about the situation there, I sensed movement beyond the wall.
So I deliberately spoke loudly enough for him to hear….
In any case, I’m relieved his mind has changed.
“But what do you think caused that sect’s influence to wane?”
“Reputation.”
“Reputation, you say…. Do you mean their name and standing?”
“Precisely. For decades, no renowned master has emerged from their ranks, so the sect’s fortunes have inevitably declined.”
Wi Shop Owner clicked his tongue.
“Truth be told, I know something of that sect, and it troubles me. Among the three disciples remaining, there is a promising one—talented enough to distinguish himself at the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament—but the sect may not survive until then.”
For Wi Shop Owner to speak thus, this martial artist must possess considerable talent.
“If Bo Jong-sam were to achieve outstanding results at the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament….”
In that moment, I tilted my head.
Jong-sam? Where have I heard that name before?
“His name is Jong-sam?”
“Bo Jong-sam. That sect apparently has no naming convention based on generation.”
Bo Jong-sam? Ah! Now I remember!
He was the leader of one of the organizations that opposed the Murim Alliance.
His martial prowess was formidable enough to cause the Murim Alliance considerable trouble.
So he hailed from this place.
“If he’s so talented, why does he remain in such a small sect?”
“The Sect Master tried to send Bo Jong-sam to a larger sect. But he refused adamantly. He said he would never leave the Sect Master.”
“There must be some reason behind that.”
“Yes. To Bo Jong-sam, the Sect Master is like a father.”
According to his account, about ten years ago the Sect Master brought a young child to the sect.
From what I understand, the child was alone in a devastated farming village.
I see.
Now I understand why Bo Jong-sam came to oppose the Murim Alliance.
As I suspected, the Murim Alliance merely dangled the bait of “the Murim Alliance’s aid” to exploit them.
Only later did Bo Jong-sam realize this deception and turn against the Murim Alliance.
If that’s the case, this is worth my investment.
After all, I’d be earning the gratitude of a martial artist destined for future renown.
“Thank you for the valuable information. It’s quite a touching story. In that case, I’d like to provide some sponsorship to help the Martial School survive.”
“Truly, sir?”
“Yes. Isn’t that why you brought up this sect in the first place?”
“Haha. I see I cannot hide anything from the Small Guild Master.”
“I understand you spoke for my sake.”
I brought up the matter because I thought Wi Shop Owner would be helpful to me.
After all, I still lacked the influence to operate openly in this place.
“Would you mind releasing my leg?”
“Of course.”

I asked Wi Shop Owner to arrange a schedule for tomorrow and headed toward West Lake.
Before returning, I wanted to treat Palgap and the Guard Warriors to a fine meal.
Tomorrow, after meeting with the Sect Master, I might not have time.
I led my entourage into the tavern I had previously considered.
Cheongpa-ru.
It was quite renowned—one of the few taverns that had survived the great famine five years ago.
Its survival owed partly to the Tavern Master’s skill at accumulating wealth, but more so to the establishment’s high standards.
Truthfully, many taverns differ little from gisaeng houses.
But this place was well-stocked with talented courtesans—true entertainers—and served excellent wine and food.
That was how it had survived even under the drinking prohibition, sustained by the courtesans’ talents and the quality of its cuisine.
In a way, it resembled Yeonhwa House, which the Eunhae Trading Company owned. Yet Yeonhwa House pursued something even greater.
“Welcome.”
The Shop Attendant greeted us.
“Did you have a reservation? If not, I’m afraid we may have difficulty accommodating you.”
Indeed, without a reservation, there wasn’t a single empty seat—the place was that popular.
But there was still a way to dine here without a reservation.
“We would like to use the fifth floor.”
“Ah! Is that so?”
“Is the fifth floor also full?”
“No! Please come this way.”
Naturally, the tavern’s highest floor commanded premium prices.
Few could afford it, so the seats usually remained vacant.
We followed the Shop Attendant up to the fifth floor.
“Wow!”
Palgap gasped in wonder.
“It’s absolutely magnificent!”
“Is it?”
“Yes! It’s truly rewarding to serve a wealthy young master like you!”
I chuckled at his words.
“Then serve me well.”
“Of course, without question.”
As I smiled warmly and glanced at the Guard Warriors, they too wore dazed expressions of admiration for the scenic beauty of West Lake.
It was worthwhile bringing them here.
Some might say that if one had enough money to come to a place like this, they should donate it to the Yangyang Martial School or help those in need.
But if one reasoned that way, there would be no end to it.
And before I concern myself with others, shouldn’t I first look after those by my side?
Of course, such charitable donations and acts of benevolence are necessary.
But before that, taking care of those close to me must come first.
“Will you be ordering?”
At the Shop Attendant’s question, I pulled out silver coins and answered cheerfully.
“Please prepare six servings of the house special.”
“Understood. And for drinks….”
“Just bring tea for everyone.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and….”
I slipped some extra money to the Shop Attendant and made a personal request, to which he bowed his head in acknowledgment.
“Understood.”
My disciples deserved a good meal too.
Shortly after, the dishes began to arrive.
Though the day was chilly, thanks to the braziers placed throughout, Palgap didn’t seem to mind the cold.
We enjoyed our meal while taking in the scenic beauty of West Lake.
Sitting here like this, I found myself thinking of my parents and elder brothers.
Next time, I should bring the family along. Though I’m not sure when I’ll have the time.
.
.
.
After eating our fill and enjoying ourselves, we left the tavern as the sun began to set.
It was approaching the hour when the drinkers would arrive, and that would become quite noisy.
As I headed toward Yangyang Martial School, I suddenly caught a familiar fragrance and tilted my head in curiosity.
Hmm? This orchid scent… it’s familiar somehow.
And I had smelled this fragrance recently—when I met Young Palace Master Bing Haerin of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Could it be?
I followed the scent.
The source of that fragrance led me to where Yangyang Martial School had been located until recently.
Standing before its main gate was a woman with a troubled expression.
A familiar face.
“Could you be Young Palace Master Bing Haerin?”

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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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