The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 27

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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 27

Chapter 27. More Than Expected (4)

Based on my experience, that’s absolutely not the case.
People possessed a collecting instinct, and it mattered little whether they were poor or wealthy.
And the collecting obsessions of the wealthy exceeded all imagination.
“In other words, there are countless ways to utilize these mechanical dolls.”
Just the ideas swirling in my mind right now number in the dozens.
Yu Chief Manager, who had been clicking his abacus, spoke.
“If we handle this well, it could become quite a lucrative income stream for the company.”
“Exactly. And that’s precisely what needs to happen.”
Yeon Gak-ju said with a smile.
“Remarkable—to think of all this so thoroughly. The future of our Eunhae Trading Company shines brightly indeed.”
He gazed at me with gleaming eyes, though for some reason that gaze felt slightly burdensome.
I deliberately avoided his stare and spoke.
“Father.”
“What is it now?”
“Would it be acceptable if I found the master craftsman to create the garments for the dolls?”
“…?”
Seeing Father’s expression of doubt, I continued.
“I once glimpsed a master craftsman who creates garments with remarkable elegance and harmony.”
Father, having gained trust from everything I’d proposed thus far, readily granted his permission.
“And please find a master craftsman capable of crafting the dolls themselves, Father.”

* * *

After Eun Seo-ho left the pavilion.
Those remaining at Eun-wol Pavilion marveled at the sight of him presenting his opinions with such confidence.
“Truly, Young Master Seo-ho possesses a natural talent for commerce. At merely fifteen years old, and yet he already thinks with such depth.”
“I felt it during the secret accord with Jang Chae-ju last time, but now I’m certain—he is no ordinary youth.”
“How fortunate the Merchant Guild Leader must be, to have such a son.”
At those words, Eun Gil-sang laughed heartily.
“He surpasses even my expectations.”
He continued.
“In truth, I myself was astonished. I never imagined my youngest harbored such thoughts.”
“Had it not been for Young Master, we would have faced disaster. We nearly offended the sensibilities of the Po Jeong Sa Dae-in.”
Everyone nodded at Go External Chief Manager’s words. Then Jeok Gak-ju, who had remained silent until now, spoke.
“A thought has suddenly occurred to me.”
Meeting the gazes now fixed upon him, Jeok Gak-ju continued.
“I find myself curious to see how far Young Master Seo-ho can ascend. And if I may indulge a personal wish, I hope that destination becomes the greatest trading company in The Realm.”

* * *

Evening had fallen.
Having labored diligently at Jaegyeong Pavilion all day, I departed immediately upon finishing, bringing Palgap and two Guard Warriors with me to the marketplace.
As Father had permitted, I sought to find a Master Craftsman capable of creating garments both stylish and harmonious in design.

In my previous life, there were those who had enabled the Eunhae Fabric Shop—my first responsibility—to become the finest fabric shop in Hubei.
The Bamboo Forest Weaver Woman, who supplied exquisite silk.
And the Skilled Seamstress, who crafted remarkably elegant garments from that silk.
Her needlework was so extraordinary that she earned the epithet Cheon Ui-mu-bong—Seamless Heavenly Raiment.
Now I journeyed to meet her once more.
Winter’s brevity meant the marketplace streets had already darkened as the sun descended.
Lanterns began to flicker to life throughout the surroundings.
“Young Master, where are we headed?”
“I have business in the shop district.”
“Ah, I see.”
Palgap nodded and directed his steps southward.
I tilted my head in confusion and questioned him.
“Palgap, where are you going?”
“Pardon? You mentioned having business in the shop district, so I assumed we were heading to South Street…”
“No. That’s not it.”
The central marketplace district of Chongyang County was divided into three main areas: East Street, West Street, and South Street.
East Street, where relatively affordable shops clustered together.
West Street, brimming with establishments of pleasure like the Blue Pavilion and Red Pavilion.
South Street, where the finest shops were situated.
Of course, North Street existed as well, but since that’s where the County Office was located, there were hardly any shops there.
I spoke to Palgap.
“We’re going to East Street instead.”
Palgap looked puzzled, but he soon followed my lead and headed toward East Street, arriving at a fabric shop before long.
Compared to the Eunhae Fabric Shop that I had managed, this was a considerably smaller establishment.
“Welcome.”
The shop owner greeted me.
Of course, he didn’t recognize my face.
I didn’t go around announcing myself as the son of the Eunhae Trading Company’s master, and there was no reason for someone like me to visit a place like this.
“Is there something you’re looking for?”
The owner, having assessed my clothing, continued cautiously.
“I apologize, but our shop is small, and I’m afraid we may not have anything worthy of your discerning eye.”
The owner’s expression betrayed his worry that I might cause trouble.
It was true—people of high status rarely came to places like this.
I felt like my mere presence made me seem like a troublemaker, but there was nothing I could do about it.
I had a reason to be here.
I looked around the shop.
The fabric here was certainly of lower quality.
This wasn’t a condemnation of the place.
It was simply unavoidable.
There were hardly any shops on East Street that stocked expensive, high-quality fabric.
If someone wanted fine fabric, they would go to South Street, not come here.
So the shop carried what customers with modest means wanted to buy.
Ah, there it is!
I soon found what I was looking for.
Several garments hanging in the fabric shop.
Fabric shops didn’t just sell bolts of cloth. They also provided labor for garment making.
They served as intermediaries for women who did piecework sewing.
The clothes hanging nearby were samples showcasing the craftsmanship of those women.
This was precisely why I had come here.
The woman known as Cheon Ui-mu-bong had been one of those piecework seamstresses, working through this shop’s intermediaries.
I pointed to one of the garments and spoke.
“That dress looks quite fine.”
“Yes, you have a keen eye. It was made by a woman renowned in this area for her excellent craftsmanship.”
“I see. I’d like to commission her to make a dress for my mother. Can you arrange it?”
“O-of course I can arrange it for you. Please wait a moment.”
The shop owner sent someone away, and I gazed at the dress, my thoughts drifting to my past life.

One day while operating the Eunhae Fabric Shop,
I stepped out briefly on business and encountered a sudden downpour.
With no choice, I took shelter under the eaves of a nearby fabric shop.
Before I could protest, Palgap rushed off, saying he would bring the carriage.
While waiting there, I discovered a garment in the fabric shop and marveled at it.
The needlework was truly exceptional.
At that time, I had been pondering what to create and sell with the high-quality silks accumulating in the shop, so her needlework caught my eye.
The moment I met her through the fabric shop owner, I proposed that she join the Merchant Guild.
She looked at me with desperate eyes and answered.

“I need money. If you pay me well enough, I’ll join the Merchant Guild without hesitation.”

I paid her generously and drew up a contract, and she did not disappoint me.
Her true talent was not needlework.
Her real gift was arranging fabric colors appropriately and creating garments that flattered the wearer’s figure with elegant grace.
She was remarkably fond of money, yet simultaneously frugal.
Curious about why she desired money so intensely, I secretly ordered Palgap to investigate, and soon discovered the reason.
She had a sickly husband, and the medical expenses were staggering.
I carefully inquired about her family circumstances, and she revealed to me the nature of her husband’s illness.
The illness she described was no ordinary ailment.
He had suffered Rotting Blood Palm from a Black Blade Warrior, and his internal organs were decaying throughout his body.
Fortunately, Black Flute Physician, who had cured my own illness, was still staying with our Merchant Guild at that time.
So I asked him to examine her husband.
But after examining her husband, Black Flute Physician shook his head gravely.

“It’s already too late. The malevolent qi has already invaded his marrow. That he has survived this long is truly miraculous. He has at most a month left before his breath ceases. Had proper medicine been administered five or six years ago, he could have recovered.”

And true to Black Flute Physician’s words, a fortnight later, her husband passed away.

There are several reasons why I have come to meet her now.
The greatest reason is the need to adorn the mechanical doll beautifully.
Since it is an expensive doll, it must possess aesthetic qualities.
And thanks to her considerable help in my previous life, the Eunhae Fabric Shop became the finest fabric shop in Hubei.
And there was another reason, but….
In any case, now I intend to help her in return.

A moment later,
a young seamstress entered the shop.
She was gaunt and frail, matching exactly the image I held in my memory.
“I heard someone wishes to commission clothing?”
The fabric shop owner responded to her inquiry.
“That customer over there is looking for you.”
She approached me cautiously.
“Did you sew this garment?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Your needlework is impressive. I’d like to commission you to make clothing for my mother. Is that possible?”
“Of course.”
“Then come with me.”
At my words, she followed without much hesitation—after all, taking measurements was necessary for tailoring garments.
A moment later,
she gazed at me with a bewildered expression.
“This place… where are we?”
And no wonder—before her eyes stood not an ordinary residence, but the main gate of the Eunhae Trading Company.
“This is my home.”
“That is to say… I mean…”
I smiled and spoke to her.
“Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Eun Seo-ho. I am the youngest son of the Eunhae Merchant Guild Master.”
“Pardon?”
She started in surprise, then hastily bowed her head.
“Oh! You’re the young master of the Eunhae Trading Company! I apologize if I said anything disrespectful…”
“There was nothing of the sort. Rather, I should apologize. The truth is, what I said about commissioning clothing for my mother was a lie.”
I continued.
“I have a separate request that requires discretion, which is why I spoke that way. So, would you have a moment to discuss it?”
She hesitated with a perplexed expression before nodding, and we stepped inside.

The Eunhae Trading Company maintained several reception chambers for welcoming guests.
The number of visitors arriving each day was considerable.
Upon entering one of these chambers, I dismissed the Guard Warriors and offered her a seat.
“You must be anxious, not knowing what I intend to ask of you.”
At my words, she nodded slightly.
“I’ll speak plainly. I’ve invited you here because I require your particular skills.”
“My skills….”
“I observed the garments you crafted yourself at the fabric shop earlier. Your stitching is remarkably precise and delicate.”
“Ah….”
“In truth, our Trading Company intends to introduce dolls as a new product line.”
“Dolls, you say? Could it be….”
“Yes. I would like you to create clothing for the dolls.”
At my proposal, she nodded.
“I agree. I need money. If you pay well enough, I’ll sign any contract.”
Her words were no different from what I had heard in my previous life, and I smiled faintly.
“Then let us draw up a contract.”
I presented her with a contract I had prepared in advance.
“Allow me to explain the terms.”
“No, thank you. I’ll read it myself.”
I was aware she could read, but I had offered out of courtesy, given this was our first meeting.
She read through the contract slowly, then suddenly her eyes widened as she asked.
“You’re offering this much?”
“Yes.”
“Why… are you offering so much?”
I explained calmly to her astonishment.
“This sum includes compensation for your discretion. You must remain silent regarding the dolls our Trading Company will unveil. And that is no trivial matter.”
“….”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll sign the contract.”
After a brief moment of consideration, she inscribed her name on the contract and affixed her seal.
I recovered one of the two copies and observed the name written at the bottom.
Hong Geum-so.
That was her name.

The following day.
As promised, she sought me out a quarter hour before the Hour of the Serpent.
“First, I shall guide you to the workshop where you will labor.”
The workshop where Hong Geum-so would work was situated near Gong Mil’s own workshop.

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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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