The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 28

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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 28

Chapter 28. More Than Expected (5)

The workshop was quite spacious, which made sense given that I needed to produce a thousand dolls here.
“Does the workshop suit your liking?”
At my question, she nodded with a bewildered expression.
“Is this really where I’ll be working?”
“Yes. To be precise, that room over there, but yes.”
“Even that is more than enough for me.”
“Then let us begin crafting the doll’s garments in earnest.”
“Yes.”
I produced the doll I had arranged through Palgap.
“This is the doll.”
As I wound the doll’s mechanism and released it, the doll began dancing of its own accord.
“My goodness!”
She gasped in astonishment.
“The doll is—!”
“Yes, it dances. This is precisely the item our Trading Company will be offering.”
“So you’re saying I need to make clothes for this doll?”
“That is correct.”
“Then what sort of fabric should I—”
“Please follow me.”
I led her toward the Eunhae Fabric Shop.
Since the Eunhae Fabric Shop was nearby, the journey did not take long.
As I entered, receiving greetings from the staff, I spoke to her.
“We plan to sell each doll for ten silver taels, so the garments must be befitting of that price.”
“Then silk would be necessary.”
“Indeed.”
I gestured expansively with my arm.
“You may choose any silk you wish.”
I had already received Father’s permission for this last evening.
Hong Geum-so, observing the various silks of different colors and textures displayed in the Eunhae Fabric Shop, asked timidly.
“Truly, I may choose anything?”
“Yes.”
Despite my affirmation, she only gazed at the silks with her eyes, hesitant to touch them.
Silk is indeed quite expensive.
Most bolts cost eight silver taels or more.
That’s why she was hesitant.
I asked her a question.
“Is there something that catches your eye?”
“…That one.”
I strode forward, pulled out the silk she had pointed to, and spread it before her.
“Is there anything else you like?”
“That one too….”
Whoosh!
I laid that one out in front of her as well.
“What else catches your fancy?”
“Um, that one there?”
Once I took the initiative to spread out the silks, she finally seemed to relax and began examining them in earnest.
Watching her eyes sparkle as she inspected this silk and that, it seemed unlikely she would choose any within a short time.
“Palgap.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I’m heading to work now. Once the lady has selected her silks, move them to the workshop and begin the work. And make sure to gather whatever materials she needs.”
Palgap nodded at my words.
“Don’t worry yourself, Young Master. I’ll handle everything.”
Palgap was someone I could trust.
I excused myself to Hong Geum-so and headed to Jaegyeong Pavilion for work.
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.
Today too, work at Jaegyeong Pavilion kept me frantically busy.
As sales of the wooden figurines became tangible, expenses began mounting, and Yu Chief Manager sighed as these new tasks were added to his workload.
Yet he voiced no complaints.
After all, if the increased revenue eased his burden as Internal Chief Manager responsible for the Eunhae Trading Company’s finances, he would have less reason to sigh.

“Then I shall take my leave for the day.”
“I shall see you tomorrow.”
The moment I clocked out, I made my way toward the workshop.
“Ah! Seo-ho.”
At the sound of someone calling me, I turned my head.
“Father? What brings you all the way here?”
“I found a master craftsman skilled in woodwork to create the dolls. I thought you’d head straight to the doll workshop, so I’m on my way there as well.”
“I see.”
I smiled sheepishly.
“Truth be told, I was heading there to watch the doll clothing being made.”
“Is that so? Since I’ve instructed the craftsman to come to the workshop, let’s go together.”
“Yes.”
I proceeded to the workshop alongside Father.
“We greet the Merchant Guild Leader and Young Master.”
The warriors standing guard at the workshop entrance quickly bowed with proper courtesy.
We stepped inside, and I called out loudly.
“Madam, the Merchant Guild Leader has arrived.”
At my announcement, Hong Geum-so hurried out with a flurry of activity from within.
“You’ve come?”
“Yes, I was curious to see how the doll clothing was progressing.”
“I’ve completed it, but I’m uncertain whether it will truly suffice…”
She guided us deeper into the workshop, and we both stood frozen, our mouths agape.
I turned to look at Father.
His expression mirrored my own exactly.
Hong Geum-so’s true talent was not needlework, nor the arrangement of fabric colors, nor the creation of stylish garments.
Only now did I understand.
Hong Geum-so’s true gift was crafting clothing for dolls.
“My word!”
Father could only marvel in astonishment.
Yet Hong Geum-so, uncertain whether his amazement was praise or criticism, stood anxiously fidgeting.
“Where on earth do you keep finding such exceptional talents?”
I answered Father’s question with a smile.
“I simply saw them when they appeared before my eyes.”
“Hehehehe.”
Father chuckled and gazed upon Hong Geum-so.
“Truly exquisite and beautiful craftsmanship!”
“Th-thank you.”
“I was honestly worried when Seo-ho said he would personally bring someone to sew the doll clothing, but seeing your skill, my concerns have vanished entirely. This venture’s future is exceedingly bright.”
“Y-you are too kind.”
“Then I look forward to your continued efforts.”
“Yes. I will do my utmost.”
At that moment, Im Man, one of Father’s deputies, approached the workshop with several men.
Father has a total of three deputies, and Im Man is the second one.
The third deputy is Jo Young-young.
“Ah! The master craftsmen have arrived.”
Upon seeing those men, I smiled inwardly. As expected, they were master craftsmen belonging to the Eun Hae Trading Company.
I recognized one of them.
His name is Bo Gwang.
He possessed the talent of crafting puppet faces to resemble real human faces.
There was no way Father could be ignorant of this master craftsman’s skill, which I myself knew well.
That is why I sought Father’s approval only regarding the master craftsman who would sew the puppet’s garments.
Thus, the finest master craftsmen for creating the jade-faced puppets had gathered.
To be honest, I had wanted to request silk from my Master’s wife, but the time was not yet right.
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.
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Today, I was working as an assistant in Yu Chief Manager’s office at the Jaegyeong Pavilion.
Sales of red paper for hong bao envelopes to hold new year money, peach wood plaques inscribed with spring greetings, and other items were surging dramatically.
The Spring Festival was indeed approaching.
In truth, such widely celebrated occasions were the finest opportunities to earn wealth.
People opened their purses readily in the festive atmosphere.
The Eun Hae Trading Company could not afford to miss such an opportunity.
However!
For that very reason, we would not release the jade-faced puppets during the Spring Festival.
There would certainly be those who purchased impulsively and later regretted it, which could diminish the value of the jade-faced puppets.
The jade-faced puppets were not to be bought on impulse, but rather with a sincere and earnest desire.
Thus, as Father had said, I had to wait until rumors spread through Hubei Province via Pojeongsa and those who desired them emerged.
Even rice requires proper steaming to cook well.
Therefore, I prioritized crafting the puppets to bring to Pojeongsa.

“Young Master, I would appreciate your assistance with this as well.”
“Ah, of course.”
“Please verify whether there are any errors in the calculations.”
I accepted the documents from Yu Chief Manager and began working through the calculations with an abacus.
But this…
These were expenditure records for the shop purchased and construction costs to sell the wooden figurines.
Seeing the amounts, I let out a silent laugh internally.
The scale was far larger than I had anticipated.
It was, quite literally, wholehearted support.
Since I was Gong Mil’s employer and the one who had initiated this undertaking, I felt a sudden weight of responsibility.
The mandatory practical training period before becoming a sub-leader of the Eunhae Trading Company was a total of five years.
I could now understand again why three of those years were spent at Jaegyeong Pavilion.
By observing the company’s income and expenditures, I could see at a glance how the entire operation functioned.
Even I, who had been praised for my intelligence, required more than a year before I could grasp the flow so comprehensively.
In truth, the heart of the Eunhae Trading Company was Sangyu Division, which handled all merchandise and transactions, but through a year of practical experience there, I came to understand something profound.
Commerce could not be learned from books alone.
Direct experience was the key.
That is why, after grasping the overall picture for a year, I was entrusted with a shop to accumulate practical experience.
Sefung Division was something one would naturally come to understand through working within the company anyway.
Then an item caught my eye.
It was an entry for travel expenses to and from Hubei Provincial Capital.
This was because Father and Yeon Gak-ju had personally traveled to the capital to deliver the wooden figurines that Pojeongsa had requested.

* * *

The carriage gradually slowed its pace.
“We have arrived, Merchant Guild Leader, Yeon Gak-ju.”
At the Guard Warrior’s words, the carriage door opened, and Eun Gil-sang and Yeon Da-mi descended.
They had arrived at Hubei Provincial Capital.
The capital was the closest major city to the Eunhae Trading Company’s headquarters and served as their primary area of operations.
Consequently, their largest branch was located there.
Eun Gil-sang spoke to his second deputy, Im Man.
“Deputy Im, go and request an audience with Pojeongsa.”
“Understood.”
Then Eun Gil-sang ordered the wooden figurines to be kept under strict guard before heading directly to the marketplace in the capital.
A newly purchased shop for selling the wooden figurines was located there.
The storefront was concealed by a red canvas awning.
In fact, this had been Eun Seo-ho’s suggestion.

“Father, what if we hung a red cloth barrier in front of the shop while it’s being renovated?”
“A barrier? Wouldn’t that obstruct the construction work?”
“Of course, there are such drawbacks. However, by doing so, we can capture the attention of passersby. You see, people’s curiosity reaches its peak toward what they cannot see at all, far more than toward what they can see completely.”

In other words, by obscuring it with cloth and making people wonder what it was for, I aimed to create a promotional effect.
The red cloth was not tightly woven but loosely woven, so the interior was dimly visible.
Since it wasn’t completely visible, every passerby showed curiosity.
With the barrier in place, there was an unexpected benefit as well.
Dust didn’t scatter to the neighboring shops, so no complaints came in about it.
Eun Gil-sang entered beneath the cloth canopy and encountered the employee who was overseeing the construction.
“Welcome! Merchant Guild Leader!”
“Ah! You’re working hard, I see.”
He was the shop manager who would take charge of the store selling Jamu figurines this time.
And he was someone who had worked for a long time under the shop manager who operated the General Store in the Provincial Capital.
He had been promoted to shop manager this time on recommendation.
“This is a project the Guild is pursuing with great ambition, so I’m counting on you.”
“How could there be any doubt? I will devote my full sincerity to this task.”
“If there are any difficulties, do tell me.”
While Eun Gil-sang was conversing with the shop manager of the store that would sell Jamu figurines, his deputy Im Man came running, gasping for breath.
“Huff, huff… Merchant Guild Leader.”
“What is the matter?”
“You must go at once. Pojeongsa is calling for you.”
“Is that so? Very well.”
Eun Gil-sang rose from his seat and chuckled softly.
‘My, how urgent this is.’
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.
.
Shortly after, Eun Gil-sang and Yeon Da-mi faced Pojeongsa.
“You’ve gone to considerable trouble coming all this way.”
“Not at all. To meet with you—what hardship could compare to that?”
“Hehehehe, this fellow is gilding my face!”
Pojeongsa laughed heartily while stroking his beard.
“So, what was your reason for wanting to see me?”
“Yes, I have come to express my gratitude for the kindness you have shown our Guild.”
I had brought the Jamu figurine that Pojeongsa had requested, but I would never utter the word “request” itself.
That was crucial in dealings—or rather, meetings—with high officials.
It had to be framed not as something a superior had asked for, but as a sincere offering given of my own accord out of reverence for the superior’s grace.
“There was no need to do such a thing… ahem.”
Eun Gil-sang glanced at Yeon Da-mi, and she opened the specially crafted box for Jamu figurines that had been placed beside her.
“Oh!”
Pojeongsa’s eyes widened as the puppet was revealed.
“It’s breathtakingly beautiful!”
This mechanical doll was a collaborative masterpiece created by Eunhae Trading Company’s finest woodworker and Hong Geum-so, whose exceptional craftsmanship had earned her the title of Cheon Ui-mu-bong, along with Gong Mil.
It overflowed with such vitality that one could swear it was alive, and it was extraordinarily beautiful.

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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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