The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 301
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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 301
Chapter 301. The Seok House Wedding Banquet (2)
I marveled inwardly at the chirping sounds of Geumryeong echoing in my mind.
It seemed her abilities were growing stronger by the day.
That must mean she’d consumed quite a bit of silver.
– Chirp! Chirp chirp! Chirp!
I had a sense of what Geumryeong was trying to say.
She could find it.
“I’ll go search for the teacup.”
I made a show of heading out to find the teacup, moving toward a place where no one else was around, and quietly withdrew Geumryeong from my sleeve.
“So you’re saying you can find that teacup?”
“Chirp!”
“How?”
At my question, Geumryeong wore an expression of quiet confidence before suddenly vanishing in an instant.
Jin Yu Warrior marveled at the speed.
“No martial technique could ever be that fast.”
“I agree completely.”
And shortly after.
Geumryeong reappeared before me, her tail swishing back and forth.
“You found it?”
“Chirp!”
Perhaps because the teacup was made of gold—in any case, this creature had an extraordinary talent for recognizing anything valuable.
“Show me the way.”
Geumryeong slipped back into my sleeve and pointed in one direction with her tail.
We moved in that direction.
As I began to move, Seok Chu-gil Official and several family members started following behind me.
Soon, the place Geumryeong led us to was….
“…?”
The back garden.
And what Geumryeong’s tail was pointing to was unmistakably the pond in the back garden.
“….”
Was the teacup hidden inside that frozen pond?
Sigh.
I exhaled deeply and concentrated my inner force into my fist, then struck down toward the pond.
Crack—!
Just as I was about to break through the ice and reach inside, Yeo Eung-am Warrior stopped me.
“My lord, we shall handle this.”
“You mean to say the teacup is in there?”
Lee Pil Warrior then broke through the ice and began searching inside the pond.
However, befitting a family estate of considerable standing, the pond was quite expansive.
Searching through all of this would prove rather taxing….
I angled my body away from the others’ view and called out to Geumryeong.
“Geumryeong.”
“Squeak?”
“You need to find it to the very end.”
“Squeak….”
“You don’t like the cold? You’re a creature that originally lives in frozen places anyway. What’s with the complaints?”
“Squeak… is?”
“Fine. I’ll give you one more silver coin, so hurry and find it.”
At the promise of an additional silver coin, Geumryeong perked up and quickly dove into the pond.
Moments later, Lee Pil Warrior flinched and withdrew his hand.
“Th-this….”
In that hand was the very teacup I had seen in the painting.
“F-f-found it!”
“Hurrah!”
Everyone cheered, and in that moment, Geumryeong returned unnoticed and slipped into my sleeve.
“Hey! You need to dry off first!”
Palgap quickly approached and withdrew a handkerchief, wiping away the water clinging to Geumryeong’s body.
Since it was evening and there weren’t many people about, we managed to conclude the matter without revealing Geumryeong’s existence.
Well, in any case, well done.
Upon hearing the news that the teacup had been found, Seok House Master rushed toward me, bowing repeatedly.
“Thank you so much for finding the teacup. I was truly worried that my daughter’s wedding would be ruined because of this.”
“I’m relieved we found the teacup.”
“But how did you know the teacup was there?”
I smiled and answered his question.
I couldn’t very well tell him that Geumryeong had found it.
“Despite mobilizing many people to search, it remained unfound. This suggested to me that the location must be somewhere plainly visible yet overlooked—such as atop the roof or beneath the ground.”
“I see.”
“And I heard the teacup disappeared less than two hours ago. That means someone hastily stole and hid it under pressure.”
I had ruled out the possibility of a professional thief from the start.
There were far more valuable treasures about; there was no reason to steal only the teacup.
“Throwing it onto the roof carries considerable risk. If retrieval became necessary, it would be difficult to recover, and one couldn’t hide it in a precise location. So I considered burying it. However, with the ground frozen, digging would be arduous and concealing the traces would be equally difficult.”
I gestured toward the pond.
“Then the pond occurred to me. At this time of year, one could make a small hole in the ice, place the teacup inside, and the traces would be barely visible. After some time, that section would freeze over again.”
“Precisely! That makes sense!”
“However, such frozen surfaces have the characteristic of being uneven. I noticed such marks, so I searched the pond, and fortunately, we found it.”
Later, when I examined the pond, there were indeed traces of what had happened.
“In any case, I’m relieved we found it. This must surely be Heaven, moved by Seok House Master’s devotion to his daughter, working through me to recover the teacup.”
“Of course, we must give thanks to Heaven. Still, from our family’s perspective, it’s undeniable that Eun Small Merchant Leader is our benefactor.”
Seok House Master bowed respectfully.
“I will not forget this kindness.”
“There is no kindness to speak of. It’s nothing.”
“Truly, you are Seon Hyeop Mi-rang.”
Ugh!
I still couldn’t get used to that epithet.
I sighed inwardly and offered my advice.
“Just to be safe, it would be best if Seok House Master kept the teacup with him throughout the wedding ceremony.”
“I shall do so.”
With that, Seok House Master carefully placed the freshly cleaned teacup into his own bosom and headed toward the wedding ceremony venue.
“Instructor.”
As I turned around, Seok Chu-gil Official bowed to me in gratitude.
“Thank you so much for finding the teacup. I will never forget this kindness.”
Hmm, was it my imagination, or had the intensity in his eyes grown stronger than before?
Finally, the wedding ceremony proceeded, and Seok House Master withdrew the teacup he had been carefully keeping in his bosom.
Tea was poured into the teacup, and the groom drank half while the bride drank the remaining half.
The tea plant symbolizes integrity and an unchanging heart. It also signifies the blessings of children and represents treating each other with propriety.
Because of such meaning, they share the tea together.
With the wedding proceeding safely like this, the Seok House’s fortunes would not decline as they had in my previous life.
Since the groom’s family was quite influential, if the marriage continued smoothly, there was great potential for further prosperity.
It was favorable to us, so there was nothing to complain about.
Still, though we found the teacup, the culprit has yet to be caught, so this matter is not completely resolved.
Where and how should I find the culprit…
As I watched the ceremony with such thoughts, I felt goosebumps rise across my entire body.
This is… killing intent?
I quickly sent a telepathic message to the Guard Warriors.
– Killing intent!
At my message, the Guard Warriors flinched, then began scanning their surroundings cautiously.
But the killing intent I sensed was not from around me.
Then where was it coming from?
“Our sister is truly beautiful, isn’t she?”
At Seok Chu-gil Official’s words, I turned my head to look at the bride. She was certainly beautiful, but…
Oh no!
The killing intent was coming not from around me, but from the bride’s direction.
The bride couldn’t possibly be emitting killing intent, so it must be one of the two women assisting her.
Then, the young woman on the left withdrew a short blade from her bosom.
And then she tried to stab the Bride in the throat.
“Kaaaagh!”
“Good heavens!”
Those who witnessed it cried out in shock.
Thwack—!
A hidden blade embedded itself in the woman’s hand, and her dagger clattered to the ground.
It was the handiwork of Lee Pil Warrior.
And I swiftly rushed forward to subdue her.
“….”
Everyone’s faces went blank at this unprecedented calamity that had erupted so suddenly.
Only the subdued woman shrieked like a demon.
“Let go! Release me! I am The Husband’s true bride! The Husband! Why do you abandon me?”
At this, all eyes turned to the Groom, and he waved his hands in panic.
“I, I do not know that woman.”
Meanwhile, the Bride trembled, uncertain what to do.
“How, how could you do this to me….”
Then Seok House Master, having regained his senses, shouted.
“How outrageous! Bind that wench at once!”
“Yes!”
Warriors rushed over and bound the woman I had subdued.
Seok House Master approached me and sighed heavily.
“Phew, I apologize. Once again, I have received your aid.”
“I am untroubled. And fortunately, no one was harmed.”
Saying so, I watched the woman being dragged away by the Warriors.
“That woman is…?”
“A Maidservant from the Main House. But why on earth….”
Seok House Master trailed off, and the Groom approached to speak.
“Father-in-law, I truly do not know that woman.”
“….”
“I am truly wronged.”
Then, having barely composed herself, the Bride approached.
“I… I trust you, The Husband.”
At those words, tears welled in the Groom’s eyes, and he grasped the Bride’s hand.
“Thank you for trusting me, Lady.”
The Bride spoke to her father, Seok House Master.
“Father, I trust The Husband. He is a man of honor. Therefore, he would never commit an act that would destroy his own honor.”
She knelt before him.
“So please, allow the marriage to be consummated.”
At this, the Groom likewise knelt before Seok House Master and spoke.
“Please allow the marriage to be consummated, Father-in-law. I swear I shall never tarnish my honor again.”
Given the gravity of the incident, the Seok House Master could have annulled the marriage by his own decree, which is why the couple was pleading so earnestly.
Moreover, this could become a scandal for the groom.
The Seok House Master deliberated before glancing at me.
I searched my memories and gave a small nod.
In my previous life, that man who would become the groom was someone trustworthy.
Besides, if they loved and trusted each other so deeply, there should be no problem.
“Let it be as you wish, House Master.”
In the end, the Seok House Master nodded.
“Very well, I permit the marriage to proceed.”
“Thank you!”
“Thank you, Father-in-law.”
.
.
.
Even after the groom and bride entered the bridal chamber, the banquet continued.
As I was quietly enjoying the festivities, the Seok House Master approached me.
“Eun Small Merchant Leader.”
“House Master, you’ve come.”
“I am truly grateful that you saved my daughter’s life and made it possible for the marriage to conclude safely.”
“Please speak more freely. Your formality makes me uncomfortable.”
“Then I shall.”
“I’m simply relieved nothing worse came of it.”
The Seok House Master’s expression turned bitter.
“I interrogated that maidservant. Apparently, when she fell while walking in the courtyard, my son-in-law asked if she was alright and handed her his handkerchief.”
“I see….”
“After that, she became infatuated with him.”
So her one-sided love had spiraled into this entire incident?
“Did she also hide that teacup…?”
“Yes, she confessed to doing so.”
In a way, it’s a pitiful situation. Yet the fact remains that she attempted to harm an innocent person—that alone is a crime.
The offense is too grave to overlook out of sympathy, and many witnessed what transpired.
“I shall never forget this kindness.”
With those words, the Seok House Master turned his gaze to Seok Chu-gil Official beside me.
“When do you intend to return to the Academy?”
“I plan to return whenever Seok Chu-gil Official wishes.”
At my words, Seok Chu-gil Official answered immediately.
“I will return tomorrow morning.”
“So soon?”
“Yes.”
Seok Chu-gil Official nodded, then calmly explained his reasons.
“Young Master, I’ve learned much from this experience. I wish to return before things outside the Academy cloud my judgment.”
At her response, Seok House Master’s expression grew moved.
“I never thought Chu-a would say such things!”
“It’s thanks to Jeong In Academy’s education.”
At my answer, Seok House Master nodded with resolve.
“When you leave, I’ll give you one hundred sacks of rice to take with you.”
“Pardon?”
With the current famine, rice prices had risen sharply. In such circumstances, one hundred sacks of rice held considerable value.
“A father’s heart indeed. I entrust Chu-a to your continued care.”
To refuse such kindness would be improper.
“I accept with gratitude. The School Master will be delighted.”
I bowed respectfully with clasped fists.
The next morning.
Seok House Master truly provided one hundred sacks of rice, and arranged for Pyoguk to handle our transport for the journey.
Thanks to this, we were able to return to Jeong In Academy far more comfortably.
Sitting in the carriage, I gazed at Seok Chu-gil Official across from me, lost in thought.
Suddenly, I recalled Seok Il-song, whom Yu Chief Manager was training.
If things proceeded this way, would Seok Chu-gil Official have no future working as a Deputy Officer at Eunhae Trading Company, as I once did?
As long as his family didn’t face hardship, there was no reason for him to come struggle with us at our trading company.
It was then.
“Eun Instructor.”
“…?”
As I tilted my head in confusion, he spoke with a bashful expression.
“I have a question.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“I’ve heard that you are the Small Merchant Guild Leader of Eunhae Trading Company.”
“That’s correct.”
“Then, what must I do to work under you?”
“Pardon?”
It was an unexpected question.
“No matter how much I think about it, to become like you, I must be near you. And I believe the best way to do that is to work under you.”
At those words, I felt embarrassed and turned away, only to meet Palgap’s gaze.
His eyes held a look that seemed to say, ‘What have you done this time?’ and I let out an awkward cough.
“Ahem.”
I was innocent, truly.
In any case, when talent walks through the door of its own accord, there’s no reason to refuse it.
My earlier worry proved unnecessary.
I could hear the sound of talent rolling in.
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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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