The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 226

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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 226

Chapter 226. Jin-ho’s Wedding Banquet (1)

“Welcome home.”
“It’s been so long! Jin-ho!”
The moment I arrived at the house, Jin-ho greeted me warmly.
However, unlike usual, he appeared remarkably well-groomed, which struck me as rather peculiar.
“What’s this, brother? You usually don’t even bother combing your hair.”
“Hmm, when did I ever do that?”
Playing innocent, are we?
I’d wager if I asked ten people, all ten would agree with me.
I understood perfectly why my brother had suddenly begun paying attention to his appearance. The power of love is truly formidable!
“How is Ha Young Lady doing?”
At my question, Jin-ho’s expression grew bashful.
“Of course she’s well.”
Thank goodness. Ha Su-min must remain in good health.
Otherwise, Jin-ho would grow old as a perpetual bachelor, consumed by melancholy.

I made my way to the office.
“Father, I have returned safely.”
“Good, I’m relieved to hear you’ve returned without incident.”
Father nodded and examined me with his eyes, as if verifying that I was truly unharmed.
I assure you, I’m perfectly fine.
I’m not the sort to go about getting injured wherever I go.
“Yes, your absence was longer than expected.”
“That’s why I missed seeing everyone’s faces and came straight back.”
“Haha.”
Father chuckled lightly.
“I’ve heard from Gwak Pyo-du about your journey. He told me what you went there to accomplish. It’s remarkable that you realized that vision.”
At Father’s praise, I scratched my cheek sheepishly.
“It was an act that saved many lives.”
“I’m not quite so magnanimous. It was simply a matter for our trading company.”
“True, if the Yangtze River were to flood, our company would suffer considerable losses as well. Still, the fact remains that your actions will save countless lives.”
I laughed awkwardly.
“Yes. You must be exhausted, so go rest now.”
“Father, there is something I wished to discuss with you.”
“What is it?”
“I would like to proceed with Jin-ho’s wedding in April.”
“Is this because of the famine you mentioned before?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Indeed, if the famine worsens, people won’t have the leisure to visit, and an alcohol ban could even be imposed.”
Father’s insight was truly remarkable. No wonder he has guided the Eunhae Trading Company to such heights.
“I shall consult with Ha Young Lady’s father about this matter.”
“Yes.”
I recalled something I had forgotten to mention.
“And I have purchased some cotton fields this time.”
“Cotton fields?”
“Yes. I also acquired three shops.”
At my words, Father chuckled warmly.
“You’re expanding quite prudently. But since there’s been no report of the company’s funds being expended, it seems you purchased these with your own money rather than the company’s?”
“That’s correct. However, since I lack the time to manage them myself, I was thinking of entrusting them to the company.”
I had informed him about the cotton fields and shops, but I said nothing of the other matters.
Those were my secret reserves, after all.
After discussing various matters with Father, I made my way to Mun Gok Hall, my personal residence.
I needed to bathe and refresh myself first.

Palgap had prepared warm bathwater in advance, and I was able to wash in the warmth for the first time in a while.
After dressing properly, I paid my respects to the elders in order, and finally made my way to Jin-ho’s Separate Residence.
“Welcome.”
“Have you been well all this time?”
“Of course.”
Elder Brother’s Wife greeted me warmly with a smile.
“How are Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon?”
“I’ll have the nursemaids bring them. They’re walking quite well now and speaking quite fluently.”
“Is that so?”
Soon two nursemaids arrived with the children and set them down on the floor.
“Hello. Have you been well?”
“Ah….”
“Uh….”
For a moment, I wondered if Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon had forgotten me and found me unfamiliar.
But my concern was unfounded.
The two children laughed brightly and came toddling toward me.
Seeing this, Elder Brother’s Wife nodded approvingly.
“So you two recognize good looks when you see them.”
“Haha.”
I laughed awkwardly. I’m sure it was just my imagination that Palgap seemed to be cursing me with his eyes from beside me.
.
.
.
Several days had passed.
During that time, I found myself consumed with clearing the backlog of accumulated tasks.
Meanwhile, Father and Mother had begun preparations for Jin-ho’s wedding.
The first step in arranging a grand celebration was sending invitations to those dwelling far away.
This allowed guests sufficient time to prepare for their journey and arrive on schedule.
.
.
.
Nearly a fortnight had elapsed since I returned from completing the [River Upstream Ice Removal Operation].
The calendar had turned to early April.
I felt profound satisfaction from having cleared the ice from the Yellow River and Yangtze River upstream regions.
In my previous life, I had instinctively grown tense during the flooding season, yet this time we passed through safely as well.
Though water levels rose temporarily, there were scarcely any areas that suffered inundation.
Since spring had arrived, rainfall had become increasingly sparse.
Clear signs of drought were emerging.
Still, thanks to the ice I had strategically distributed across various locations, we could endure somewhat longer.

“Young Master! Young Master!”
While I was handling affairs in Hyunpung, Palgap came rushing toward me in urgent haste.
“What is it?”
“You must go outside at once, sir!”
“Hmm?”
“Someone has arrived from the Imperial Palace!”
From the Imperial Palace?
I rose swiftly from my seat and made my way to the courtyard of the merchant guild.
An Imperial Official stood confidently in the courtyard.
Until now, most officials who visited had received me in the Guest Reception Room.
For him to wait for me so openly, with people coming and going all around….
Could it be?
I approached him and offered a respectful greeting.
“Are you seeking the Small Merchant?”
“Are you Eun Seo-ho, the Small Guild Master?”
“I am.”
“Receive the Imperial Decree of His Majesty the Emperor.”
At those words, I quickly adjusted my robes and knelt before him.
The official unfurled a golden scroll with a flourish.
It contained words of commendation for my contribution in preventing a catastrophic flood by removing ice from the river upstream.
“…Therefore, to Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master, We bestow one hundred stone of rice as a reward.”
For some reason, to my ears it sounded like the Emperor was saying, “I’ve saved your face, so continue working hard from now on.”
Ah, I’m not particularly pleased about it.
But I can’t refuse a hundred stones of rice.
“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s benevolence.”
The Imperial Official handed me a scroll, and I accepted it respectfully.
As I rose from my seat, the official’s expression softened and he spoke.
“I’ve heard much about you from the Great Heroes of the Geumui Guard. Truly, the name Seon Hyeop Mi-rang suits you perfectly.”
“You are too kind. I am unworthy of such praise.”
“In fact, the Great Heroes submitted a petition to His Majesty. They argued that since you also rendered considerable service in this matter, you deserved a reward as well.”
Ah…
They could have simply swallowed the credit themselves, but they’re good people.
In any case, that means others received rewards too.
“The ones who actually suffered the most were the Ice Masters and the laborers. Did they receive rewards as well?”
“Of course. They all received rewards of five to ten stones of grain.”
“I’m relieved to hear that.”
“Haha! Even in this situation, you concern yourself with the Ice Masters and laborers! The title Seon Hyeop Mi-rang is truly well-deserved.”
“You flatter me too much.”
I laughed awkwardly and offered him tea before he left, but he said he had much to attend to and departed at once.
“Sigh…”
I exhaled deeply.
The way people looked at me felt intensely warm.
It was slightly embarrassing.
I wondered how much His Majesty must have laughed while bestowing these rewards.
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The next day, I headed to West Street with an invitation in hand.
I needed to deliver the invitation to the General Store Elder.
The old man was sitting in front of his shop, basking in the spring sun, and when he saw me, he rose to his feet.
“I heard the Emperor gilded your face yesterday.”
As direct as always, I see.
“Yes, he did.”
“So how do you feel about it?”
At his question, I smiled and took a seat.
“Quite pleased. He gave me a hundred stones of rice as a reward.”
“Hmm? Your priorities seem a bit different?”
“Well, of course. I am a merchant. And for a merchant, money is honor itself.”
“That’s true enough.”
I handed the invitation to the old man, who chuckled warmly.
“My Second Brother is getting married this time.”
“You mean that Jin-ho fellow who wields the spear so well?”
“Yes.”
“He seems to be moving rather quickly. I heard the discussion between them only just began.”
“Since the marriage is happening regardless, why delay? Best to settle it swiftly.”
The Old Man picked up the invitation as he spoke.
“That’s sound reasoning. Very well. I shall make certain to attend.”
“Thank you.”
The Old Man studied me intently for a moment, then rose from his seat. He disappeared into the General Store and returned carrying an elongated box.
“Take this.”
“Pardon? What is this?”
“Surely you didn’t think the Emperor would reward you with merely a hundred stones of rice? He’s not so stingy. You saved tens of thousands of lives through your efforts.”
“Even so, I didn’t accomplish it alone. I merely provided the opening thread, and it was others who completed the tapestry.”
The Old Man chuckled softly.
“Let me speak plainly. What do you think concerns the Emperor most these days?”
“….”
“Jackals circling, hungry to seize his power for themselves.”
Ah….
With those words, the larger picture suddenly crystallized.
The Emperor’s greatest enemy was not nature itself, but the ministers who sought to weaken his authority and claim it for themselves.
Now that I thought of it, during those five years of floods and droughts in my previous life, it was the high-ranking officials and local administrators who had truly tormented the common people.
Which meant the Emperor’s power had grown correspondingly weak.
No matter how imposing an Emperor’s authority, he cannot wield power without wealth.
As droughts and floods continued, expenditures mounted while tax revenues dwindled—the Emperor’s authority could only erode.
In any case, because my proposal had prevented such calamity, the Emperor was expressing his personal gratitude to me.
There was no reason to refuse.
“May I open it?”
The Old Man nodded, and I opened the box.
Inside lay white silk, and from the amount wound there, it appeared to be roughly six or seven lengths.
But….
The moment my hand touched the fabric, the inner energy in my dantian began to stir.
I recognized this sensation.
It was the response to Heavenly Silkworm Thread.
The arm guards I wore on both arms contained silk woven from Heavenly Silkworm Thread, after all.
“Do you know what that is?”
A playful smile danced at the corners of the Old Man’s mouth.
“Truly, you’re giving this to me?”
“Yes, that is the true reward.”
But… why specifically Heavenly Silkworm Thread silk?
As that question formed, I furrowed my brow.
Damn. The Emperor already knows my inner energy is yin-aspected.
Silk woven from celestial silkworm thread possesses a tensile strength exceeding that of steel, making it the finest defensive material available.
However, not everyone could use it, for celestial silkworm thread was an artifact imbued with yin energy.
It was acceptable if, like the arm guards I currently wore, leather was layered beneath to prevent direct contact with skin, but ordinarily direct contact proved problematic.
Those who had mastered the Flame Transformation technique would find its potency halved, yet most martial artists could not overcome the yin energy and suffered consequences.
Even ordinary people without martial training could face shortened lifespans due to its influence.
However, celestial silkworm thread proved beneficial in certain cases—wounds inflicted by Flame Transformation techniques, or when the inner force itself was yin-natured.
But how did you discover this?
I asked the Old Man.
“Elder, did you perhaps inform His Imperial Majesty that my inner force is yin-natured?”
“It was not I, boy.”
“Then….”
“Are you asking how His Majesty came to know that you had mastered the Ice Martial Sect and thus bestowed this upon you?”
At his question, I nodded.
“That is….”
The Old Man trailed off for a moment, then chuckled.
“Discover it yourself.”
“Pardon?”
“Hearing it directly from my lips comes at quite a price.”
“….”
I pondered this carefully before exhaling a long sigh. Honestly, there were far too many possibilities.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster might have noticed, or perhaps someone among my circle was the Emperor’s agent.
Indeed, the Emperor was not to be underestimated.
“But there is no price attached to this reward, is there?”
At my question, the Old Man raised his long-stemmed pipe and spoke.
“Would you refuse it if there were a price?”
“That is not the case.”
“Truthfully, the Imperial Palace Vault overflows with treasures beyond this, so why would His Majesty specifically bestow silk woven from celestial silkworm thread?”
“….”
“It means: do not die young. It signifies that His Imperial Majesty values you greatly.”
Yet why did it sound more like “If you die young, I’ll have difficulty finding a replacement, so you must live long for my convenience”?
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.
I returned to the Eunhae Trading Company.
After taking evening meal and resting briefly, Palgap approached me.
“Young Master, someone wishes to meet with you.”
“?”
As I emerged from my chamber, unexpected figures stood in the courtyard.
Bae Cheol Warrior and Go Ju-sang Warrior of the Eun Pung-dae Fourth Squad.
In my past life, they were my guard warriors—and those who had betrayed me.
“What is the meaning of this?”
At my question, they knelt directly before me.
“We beg forgiveness from the Small Merchant Guild Leader.”
“Huh?”
At those unexpected words, the Guard Warriors and Palgap wore expressions of utter bewilderment.
I was equally taken aback.
Why on earth?

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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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