The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 253

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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 253

Chapter 253. His Circumstances (2)

The Academy Master’s expression grew troubled as he examined the document.
“No! That’s a withdrawal notice, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
“I told him to wait while I considered other options… So this means he’s also giving up on the provincial examination…”
“It appears so. He has already expressed his intention to withdraw from this examination multiple times.”
What in the world was happening?
Eun Jung-ho asked the Academy Master.
“Could you explain what this is about?”
The Academy Master hesitated, but unable to withstand our gaze, he began his explanation.
“Man-suk Scholar is one of the exceptional students our Apricot Flower Academy has produced. He’s from Hebei.”
“Ah, now that you mention it, I remember. Isn’t he one of the beneficiaries of our Eunhae Trading Company’s scholarship program?”
“That’s correct.”
“I heard he was planning to take the provincial examination after becoming an exceptional student.”
“That is also true.”
He released a heavy sigh.
“But now he says he’s abandoning the examination.”
“I heard that just now, but I don’t understand. What happened?”
Of course, even if he didn’t take the examination this time, as long as he maintained his status as an exceptional student, he could attempt it again.
However, the provincial examination wasn’t held every year—it occurred only once every three or four years.
Missing this opportunity meant an agonizingly long wait until the next chance.
Moreover, he had been diligently preparing and studying for the examination all this time, and now he was abandoning it.
With only two weeks remaining before the examination?
“What on earth is the reason?”
“That is…”
The one who answered my question was the Teacher who had announced Man-suk Scholar’s withdrawal.
“He must support his younger siblings.”
“…?”
According to his explanation, Man-suk Scholar was the eldest son of eight siblings.
Recently, misfortune had befallen him—his father had died in an accident.
His mother had already passed away from illness six years prior.
While they were gradually repaying the debts incurred from his mother’s medical care, his father’s accidental death meant the family home was inevitably sold and fell into the hands of loan sharks.
Though the loan shark apparently had some conscience, as he didn’t harm the siblings and only seized the house.
Nevertheless, the suddenly homeless siblings were now living under the roof of their uncle.
“Yet thanks to the Eunhae Trading Company’s scholarship program, he was able to continue his studies and become an exceptional student.”
“Then shouldn’t we look even more carefully at the provincial examination? If he passes and becomes an Imperial Official, he could support his siblings even without great wealth.”
“I share that view. And Man-suk Scholar thought the same way, which is why he devoted himself so earnestly to his studies.”
The Academy Master continued gravely.
“Moreover, he is a scholar with an exceptionally high chance of passing this provincial examination. He is a scholar who knows the method to pass.”
“Then why….”
“Suddenly, a letter arrived from his uncle who had been caring for his siblings. It said he could no longer look after them.”
“What was the reason?”
“I don’t know either. Man-suk Scholar didn’t tell me that much….”
He continued.
“But the fact that Man-suk Scholar, who was so desperate about the provincial examination, abandoned it and returned to his hometown suggests something quite urgent must have happened.”
The benefits of the merit scholarship system extended only to passing the provincial examination.
Passing the provincial examination alone was enough to become a lower-ranking Imperial Official.
I thought I understood what Man-suk Scholar must be thinking.
Surely he planned to work as a lower-ranking Imperial Official and support his siblings.
To be honest, I could have simply let this matter pass after hearing about it.
Man-suk Scholar wasn’t the only one unable to take the examination due to unforeseen circumstances.
But it didn’t feel right to ignore it.
I rose from my seat and spoke.
“Eun Jung-ho, you can read Father’s letters alone, can’t you?”
Then I asked the man who claimed to be Man-suk Scholar’s teacher.
“Where is Man-suk Scholar’s home?”
.
.
.
His hometown was a small coastal village in Hebei, I was told.
I immediately told Palgap.
“Palgap, let’s prepare to go out.”
“How many days will we be away this time?”
“Who knows? But it shouldn’t be too long.”
“Understood.”
Less than half an hour after I spoke to Palgap, the preparations were complete.
“Oh! You prepared incredibly fast?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I keep everything ready so we can depart whenever you give the word.”
The Guard Warriors nodded at Palgap’s words.
“Haha, that’s right.”
This time, Yeo Eung-am Warrior, who was resting due to injury, was left behind, and another person was added to our party.
A scholar named Yun Byeok, who was from the same region.
“Won’t you be busy preparing for the provincial examination? Is it alright for you to accompany us?”
“There’s no need to worry about that. The provincial examination tests one’s usual abilities, after all.”
“That may be true, but….”
“By the way, I really wanted to thank the Eunhae Trading Company.”
What was this sudden comment about?
“Actually, Man-suk and I are alumni from the same academy. And since my instructor wrote me a letter of recommendation, I was able to enter the Apricot Flower Academy. However… honestly, studying at the Apricot Flower Academy requires a lot of money.”
“That’s true.”
“So Man-suk was about to give up on entering the Apricot Flower Academy, but he became a beneficiary of the Eunhae Trading Company’s scholarship program. That’s why I’m grateful. That fellow really studied hard. Among us, his nickname was ‘the Diligent One.'”
It meant he studied so hard that all his classmates marveled at his dedication.
Yun Byeok Scholar continued speaking.
“Anyway, Man-suk’s Uncle must have his own circumstances. He was the one who volunteered to take care of those children from the beginning.”
“Is that so?”
Honestly, even if it was only a few months, taking care of seven children was no easy task.
And knowing that Man-suk would pass the provincial examination in just a little while, he still sent such a letter.
If he waited a few months, couldn’t he wait just a few more weeks?
A few weeks more and he could become a relative of a central Imperial Official?
After the carriage had run for about an hour.
“My lord.”
I heard Seo-woo Warrior’s voice and opened the window.
“Yes, what is it?”
“There’s someone walking ahead. From the appearance of wearing the Apricot Flower Academy uniform, it’s quite likely to be Man-suk Scholar.”
At those words, I leaned my face out the window.
Indeed, someone in a blue scholar’s robe was walking weakly.
When I told Yun Byeok Scholar to look, he leaned his head out that window.
“That diligent bastard… it’s him.”
His voice was filled with moisture.
Man-suk Scholar had submitted his withdrawal letter and left the academy at most a few hours before I arrived.
And unless one possessed exceptional lightness martial arts, horses and carriages were naturally faster than people.
Still, I caught up faster than expected.
“Whoa!”
Soon the carriage came to a stop.
I opened the carriage door and looked outside.
“Man-suk Scholar?”
“Who are you?”
Wariness was evident in his expression.
“Hey! You damned fool!”
Then Yun Byeok Scholar leaned his head out of the carriage and shouted, causing Man-suk Scholar to panic.
“What? Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be studying for the exam?”
“You just submitted your withdrawal letter, and you think I can study? You wretched bastard!”
“That’s… there are circumstances…”
“No matter what, that’s not right! How could you…”
Sensing this would go on endlessly, I gently stopped Yun Byeok Scholar and spoke softly.
“Get in. Let’s go to your hometown together.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“There’s no need to be modest. And I heard this was urgent….”
At my words, he hesitated slightly before nodding.
“Then I’ll accept your kindness.”
Man-suk Student climbed into the carriage, and it set off once more.
“….”
Silence filled the carriage for a moment, and I broke it first.
“So, what’s the reason you’re giving up the provincial examination?”
“….”
“I understand you don’t wish to speak of it. But as one who has provided the merit scholarship system to Man-suk Student, I believe I have the right to know to some extent.”
His eyes widened at my words.
“Oh, you’re from the Eunhae Trading Company?”
“To be precise, I’m the Third Small Guild Master.”
“I apologize! I failed to recognize you!”
The carriage I was riding in was not one belonging to the Eunhae Trading Company, but an ordinary carriage.
So it was understandable that he hadn’t noticed.
“Then, could you tell me what happened?”
“Well….”
He scratched the back of his neck and let out a sigh.
“My uncle… gambled and ended up losing the family fortune….”
“….”
His face flushed with shame.
I could only click my tongue inwardly.
Gambling truly is a problem.
“Friends encouraged him to play just one round… and he won ten times his money, or so he says.”
The rest of the story is predictable.
“So he thought he’d win that much again next time and kept throwing money at it, until he lost not only his initial stake but everything he owned?”
“H-how did you know?”
“Winning on the first hand is what’s called a beginner’s luck. It’s purely luck, not skill.”
I continued.
“Luck is just luck. And there’s a high chance he entered a rigged game designed to lure in unsuspecting people.”
“Even so! To do this to someone supporting seven nephews and nieces….”
“That’s precisely why people with hearts of stone open such rigged games.”
“….”
“In any case, the first winner is one who never sets foot in a gambling house at all, the second winner is one who leaves immediately after winning on the first hand, and the third winner is one who comes to their senses and leaves after losing.”
I smiled bitterly.
“But usually, people can’t leave the gambling house because they remember the money they lost, or they think they’ll win it back if they keep playing, or they can’t forget that thrilling excitement that makes their heart race.”
I paused for a moment before asking Man-suk Student.
“So what is your uncle doing now?”
“He’s going to work on a boat, they say. Fortunately, he only lost the family fortune….”
Should I be grateful that I didn’t give up everything and take my own life?
But what crime did those family members and nephews commit….
Now that I think about it, the A-seung Officer from Jae-gyeong Pavilion comes to mind.
He too had accumulated massive debts from gambling, and that’s why he was ordered to set fire to Jae-gyeong Pavilion.
Is gambling the problem? Or is it the person who gambles that’s the problem?
.
.
.
Two days later.
We arrived at Man-suk’s Hometown.
But… the situation was a complete mess.
“You can’t do that! That’s Mother’s keepsake!”
“Let go!”
“Aaah!”
“Mom!”
“Aunt….”
“Oh no, oh no….”
Several Debt Collectors were stripping the house bare of its furnishings.
Beside them, the woman called Aunt was collapsed on the ground, wailing in grief, while several children around her were crying.
But the Debt Collectors paid no mind to such a sight, methodically loading anything of value onto their cart.
“How can people be like this?”
“If you’re going to resent someone, resent your husband who gambled away the family fortune! Why are you taking it out on us?”
“….”
I couldn’t bear to watch any longer.
I approached them and spoke.
“Wait just a moment, would you?”
“And who are you….”
They started to respond irritably, but stopped short when they saw my clothes.
I was wearing garments that clearly looked expensive at a glance.
It was worth the effort I’d put into dressing carefully today.
“Ahem, who might you be?”
“I’m from the Eunhae Trading Company. It seems this house is on the market….”
“Hehe, well, yes, it is.”
“So, how much for this house?”
“Pardon?”
“This house and all its furnishings. I’ll buy it. How much?”
At my words, they exchanged glances before speaking.
“Please, wait just a moment.”
One of them dashed off somewhere, and I spoke to the Debt Collectors.
“Since putting everything back would just be unnecessary trouble anyway, why don’t you rest for now?”
About an hour later.
A man came rushing over.
Though his face was rough and weathered, the gleam in his eyes unmistakably marked him as the Money Master of this gambling house.
He approached me with an obsequious smile and bowed his head.
“Hehe, I’m Byeon Mo, sir. You wish to purchase this establishment?”
“Indeed. How much for this house and its furnishings? Or rather, precisely—how much debt does the owner owe?”
“That would be… one hundred silver taels including interest, sir.”
“….”
He’d accumulated quite the sum.
I withdrew a promissory note for one hundred silver taels from my pocket.
“Will this suffice?”
“Ah! Yes!”
As he reached for it, I pulled the note forward slightly and spoke.
“Let’s draw up a contract first.”
“Y-yes, of course. Hehe.”
Once the contract was finalized, I gave the Debt Collectors additional coin with instructions to restore the house to its original state.
Within two hours, the ransacked house had been completely restored.
Man-suk Student, who had been quietly observing the entire affair, let out a long sigh and asked me.
“It seems you’re not helping me without expecting something in return. What is it that you desire from me?”
“What could I possibly want? I’ve heard you’re quite intelligent, after all….”
After a moment’s contemplation, he immediately prostrated himself before me.
“I, Man-suk, pledge my loyalty to the Small Guild Master.”
The correct answer.
There was no real need for him to kneel quite so deeply….

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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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