The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 277

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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 277

Chapter 277. An Unexpected Guest (1)

At last, the main headquarters of the Eunhae Trading Company came into view.
Yeo Eung-am Warrior, who had been following on horseback behind us, spoke to Myeong-jong Warrior and Chang-un Warrior.
“That’s our Eunhae Trading Company’s main headquarters.”
“Is that so?”
“That place, you say?”
They responded with startled exclamations.
“It’s far larger than I expected.”
The two warriors said they had heard of our trading company before, but from their reaction, it seemed they had only heard the name in passing.
No wonder they were so astonished upon seeing the main headquarters.
“Of course it’s large! It’s the second-greatest trading company in Hubei Province!”
We are second for now, but soon we will become the premier trading company of Hubei.
With such hopeful resolve, I passed through the main gate of the headquarters.
“Whoa!”
The coachman brought the horse to a halt.
Palgap quickly descended from the carriage and unfolded the mounting step.
As I stepped down from the carriage, all the family members came out to welcome us.
“Did you have a safe journey?”
At Grandfather’s gentle inquiry, my parents and I bowed respectfully.
“Yes, Grandfather. We have returned safely.”
“We have returned safely, Father.”
Grandson has returned, Grandfather.”
“I’m relieved that all of you are safe.”
After greeting Grandfather, I turned my gaze to the side. Elder Brother Jin-ho and both sisters-in-law appeared to be in good health.
Currently, Elder Brother Jung-ho is in Beijing overseeing the establishment of the Beijing Branch.
Once I depart for Beijing, Elder Brother Jung-ho will return to the main headquarters.
The establishment of the Beijing Branch was such an important matter that one of the Small Guild Masters had to be present there at all times.
After completing our greetings, my parents and Grandfather went inside.
Fortunately, Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon had not forgotten my face. The moment they saw me, they burst into delighted laughter.
Palgap muttered something upon witnessing this, but….
Seeing Elder Brother’s Wife alone like that made me feel somewhat apologetic. I should hurry to Beijing and switch places with Elder Brother Jung-ho.
“Hey, how was it?”
At Elder Brother Jin-ho’s question, I tilted my head in confusion.
“How was what?”
“You’re asking because you don’t know? The Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament, of course. Ah… I wish I could have seen it too.”
I felt a twinge of guilt seeing what looked like a dejected puppy’s expression.
But thinking about it, I was glad I had gone.
Unlike my previous life, this was the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament that Mother had watched. In such circumstances, Eun Jin-ho would have been unable to watch the tournament because he was busy fetching bone ash and lime powder, just as in my previous life.
If something had happened to Mother….
The thought alone was horrifying.
But now that it hasn’t happened, it doesn’t matter.
I answered with a slight smile.
“It was good. Oh, Sister Hyang-ok also competed this time.”
“Hyang-ok did?”
“She came with the Ami Sect disciples. So she made it to the main tournament’s third round or something like that.”
“Wow, that’s impressive?”
“When you see her next time, don’t say things like congratulations.”
“Why?”
“She’s frustrated because she was eliminated.”
“Eek!”
Eun Jin-ho, knowing Sister Hyang-ok’s temperament, flinched.
“Thanks for telling me. So what were the results?”
“Oh, this time the champion was Peng Kang-un from the Hebei Peng Clan, and the runner-up was Jegal Yu-ah.”
“Really? The young lady of the Jegal Family is the runner-up?”
Eun Jin-ho was more surprised that the young lady of the Jegal Family had become runner-up than by the news that Peng Kang-un from the Hebei Peng Clan had won.
Eun Jin-ho knew it too.
The martial prowess of the Jegal Family had not received much attention.
“But who are these unfamiliar faces behind you?”
I introduced the two warriors to my brother.
“They’re going to be part of my guard unit. They’re martial artists from the Huashan Sect and the Jongnam Sect, and due to certain circumstances, I’ve decided to keep them with me.”
“I see.”
I introduced Eun Jin-ho to them.
“This is my second elder brother.”
“I’m Eun Jin-ho.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Myeong-jong.”
“I’m Chang-un. Pleased to meet you.”
Eun Jin-ho exchanged greetings and then patted my shoulder.
“You must be tired. Go rest.”
“Okay.”
I headed to my separate residence with everyone. Now that I had six guards, it would be difficult for all of us to stay in the separate residence.
It seemed I would need to build a separate structure next to the residence, just as I had in my previous life.

I stepped into my room.
Not a speck of dust in sight—the servants must have cleaned diligently upon hearing of my return.
After so long away, something felt strange about being home.
But it wasn’t an unpleasant strangeness. It felt like encountering something I’d deeply missed.
The conclusion was simple.
There truly is no place like home.
.
.
.
That evening, I sought out Go Il-pyeong.
I needed to request his training for Myeong-jong Warrior and Chang-un Warrior.
“Welcome.”
As I entered the office, Go Il-pyeong greeted me with a hearty smile.
“Hahaha! The hero of the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament, the esteemed Seon Hyeop Mi-rang, graces this humble place! What an honor!”
Not even a day had passed, and already the news had reached Go Il-pyeong’s ears!
Father….
“Please stop teasing me. I’m already burdened and embarrassed as it is.”
“Hahaha! I know you’re not. Rather, I suspect you’re already scheming how to make use of that ‘hero’ title.”
“….”
Damn it, Go Il-pyeong knows me far too well.
“So then, what brings you here?”
“Actually, I’ve taken in two warriors from Luoyang this time.”
I explained the situation to him in detail. Others might not need to know, but Go Il-pyeong had to.
“Ah, so you rescued them just before they were expelled, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
Go Il-pyeong tapped the table thoughtfully for a moment, then nodded.
“Understood. I shall train them well.”
“Thank you. Ah, and I believe three months of training will be necessary. They lack considerable practical experience.”
“Then three months of training it shall be, as you say.”
With that settled, I rose from my seat.
“Small Guild Master.”
Suddenly, Go Il-pyeong clasped his fists and bowed deeply.
I was startled and waved my hand urgently.
“Why do you do this? Please, raise your head.”
“No, sir. I am expressing my gratitude to you. Had the events of the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament caused the Merchant Guild Leader and his wife to suffer a calamity….”
“….”
“I would have failed to repay the debt of kindness I owe.”
Go Il-pyeong continued.
“Therefore, I thank you, Small Guild Master. I shall never forget this grace.”
I never expected to receive gratitude from Go Il-pyeong like this.
It’s a bit embarrassing, but I don’t feel bad about it.
Go Il-pyeong raised his head again and spoke.
“Where are the Two Warriors?”
“Ah, they’re right outside.”
“You’re quick.”
We left Go Il-pyeong’s office.
Standing before it were Jin Yu Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior, accompanied by Myeong-jong Warrior and Chang-un Warrior.
“My name is Go Il-pyeong. I am the External Chief Manager of the Eunhae Trading Company and the Commander of the Eunpung Corps.”
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Myeong-jong.”
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Chang-un.”
They cupped their fists and bowed respectfully.
“Starting tomorrow, you must undergo three months of training with the Eunpung Corps. Only then can you become proper guards for the Eunhae Trading Company’s household. So apply yourselves diligently.”
“Understood.”
“We shall do so.”
Go Il-pyeong nodded.
“I know you must feel sorrowful now, worried about your future. I understand your hearts well. But since things have come to this, give it your all. In time, your names might shake the entire Murim. Just as I earned the title Il-geom Jin-cheon.”
At the mention of Il-geom Jin-cheon, the eyes of the Two Warriors gleamed.
Go Il-pyeong’s title was indeed well-known throughout the Murim.
Now that I thought about it, according to Go Il-pyeong’s words, he had been in a similar situation to the Two Warriors back then.
That must be why Father had not opposed taking in the Two Warriors.
.
.
.
The next day.
After a long time, I performed my morning cultivation in the Separate Residence Courtyard.
Since no word had come that Master had returned, today was personal training.
I reviewed everything I had learned, one technique at a time.
I could not afford to hear Master say my skills had deteriorated.
After finishing my morning training, I washed and headed to the Dining Hall.
“The Great Hero has arrived!”
At the playful voice of Elder Brother Jin-ho, I could only sigh.
“Come on, Brother!”
“What? You are a hero, aren’t you? The Great Hero of the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament! It’s even written here in this book….”
That book was the one Palgap had been reading before—[The Thirty-Sixth Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament: Emerging Heroes].
“How did you even get that?”
“How else? I asked Yun Haengsu for it.”
“How did you even know such a book existed?”
“Of course I knew! I have them from the fifteenth tournament onwards in my library.”
….
“Look, it’s written here boldly: Seon Hyeop Mi-rang, Eun Seo-ho the Great Hero, Baek Jeop Geom-ung, Seo Woo the Great Hero.”
“Ugh!”
My family burst into laughter at the grimace I made, as if I’d just bitten into rotten cabbage.

After finishing our meal, I attended the Eun Wol Pavilion meeting for the first time in a while.
As expected, today’s discussion centered on my becoming a hero of the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament.
“You didn’t even participate in the tournament, yet you’ve become a hero!”
“This is an event that will be remembered throughout the history of the Murim.”
“Indeed.”
Sigh… they’re teasing me with complete sincerity.
“Speaking of which, I heard the Sichuan Inspector’s Eldest Daughter advanced to the finals and achieved excellent results. Shouldn’t we send her congratulations?”
“That’s a good point. Jeok Gak-ju.”
At my father’s words, Jeok Byeong-cheol Officer bowed his head.
“Yes, I will send the congratulatory message.”
“Then let us begin the meeting.”
The first to speak was Yu So-ak, the Internal Chief Manager.
“This year’s harvest appears to be quite unusual. As the Third Small Guild Master mentioned… a poor harvest is expected.”
It was now mid-October.
The harvest season was nearly complete.
“Is that so?”
“Of course, in our case, we have accumulated considerable grain stores, so we need not worry for several years. However, this will cause consumer sentiment to contract.”
The Sangyu Director nodded at the Internal Chief Manager’s words.
“As the Internal Chief Manager says, if consumer sentiment contracts, next year’s growth for our merchant guild will be nearly impossible.”
When poor harvests cause consumer sentiment to shrink, people simply won’t open their purses.
“Then what countermeasures do we have?”
At my father’s question, the Sangyu Director spoke.
“We have no choice but to target the wealthy. Even in a poor harvest, landowners will have enough to eat.”
“That’s true.”
I raised my hand.
“I have a suggestion.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“First, I think we should replenish the courtesans at the Yeonhwa Pavilion that our merchant guild owns.”
“Courtesans?”
“Yes. Whenever a poor harvest becomes severe, isn’t there always something the state issues? A ban on alcohol.”
“Ah!”
“So we must ensure people can still enjoy entertainment without alcohol.”
“I see.”
At that moment, Elder Brother Jin-ho murmured.
“Hmm, so we can’t drink alcohol? That’s unfortunate.”
“What? Didn’t you quit drinking?”
“I just cut back.”
“Don’t worry. Once the liquor ban ends, I’ll make sure you can taste every spirit in the entire Empire.”
“Hmm?”
I continued.
“This liquor ban will likely last quite some time. So, who do you think will suffer the most?”
“The distillers?”
“I’d like to gather the distillers who go out of business under the Eunhae Trading Company. We’re not planning to operate for just three or four years, after all.”
My father’s eyes lit up at my words.
“You mean to prepare for after the famine passes?”
“Exactly. We must invest beforehand if we’re to expect a bright future, don’t you think?”
The reason I argued this way had multiple layers—the one I’d just stated was part of it, but the real reason lay elsewhere.
As the famine dragged on, the Imperial Palace commanded merchants to trade with foreign nations and purchase grain.
And what the foreigners loved most was the Empire’s diverse spirits.
However, by that time, countless distilleries had already closed, and the distillers had scattered in all directions, causing considerable difficulties.
In the midst of this, the Baekcheon Trading Company took the lead in trading the spirits of the martial arts families and earned quite handsomely.
Thanks to that, they climbed to this position among the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World.
Thinking of the liquor ban, the taverns of Hangzhou came to mind.
I also remembered Sung Jun, the Manor Lord of the Sung Family Estate, who drove out the Yangyang Martial School and built a tavern in its place.
Now that I thought about it, the construction speed of the tavern he was building seemed to be progressing sluggishly.
That meant he was short on funds.
I should make time to visit Hangzhou once.
As these thoughts crossed my mind, a sigh escaped me.
There was so much to do, but first I had to complete the Beijing Branch.
“You’re right.”
Father nodded.
“And to be honest, it’s because of your counsel that we can discuss matters so leisurely. Without your advice, we would have been equally troubled by our tight finances.”
Everyone nodded at Father’s words.
Thus, the meeting concluded with the decision to establish and execute plans according to my proposal.
“By the way, tomorrow is your birthday.”
That’s right.
November held my birthday, and after this birthday passed, I would turn twenty-one.
“Is there anything you’d like?”
At that question, I paused briefly to consider, then nodded.
“Yes, Father. There is something I wish for.”

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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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