The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 36

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company – Chapter 36

Chapter 36. The Outcome of the Outing (1)

That afternoon.
After leaving work, I made my way to the miscellaneous goods shop on West Street.
The Old Man greeted me warmly upon seeing my arrival.
“Greetings, sir.”
“Who is this? My benefactor, no less!”
“Benefactor? What do you mean?”
“Thanks to you inviting me to that banquet, I was able to capture that wretched scoundrel. You are surely my benefactor.”
“I merely invited you to the banquet, sir. And thanks to your intervention, we were able to apprehend the criminal who was attempting to flee. If anything, you are my benefactor.”
The Old Man chuckled warmly at my words.
“It seems we shall reach no conclusion this way. Shall we simply call each other benefactors?”
“I would prefer that.”
At that moment, the Old Man addressed the Guard Warrior beside me.
“You there.”
“Ah! Yes!”
“What is your name?”
Having learned that the Old Man’s true identity was the esteemed Ghost Face Broker of the Martial Arts World, the Guard Warrior quickly cupped his fist in salute and answered.
“Yeo Eung-am, sir.”
“Very well, Warrior Yeo. Our conversation lacks proper refreshments. Take this money and procure some tea and snacks for us.”
Yeo Eung-am glanced toward me, and I nodded in affirmation.
“Please do so. The Old Master is a formidable expert—surely nothing troublesome would occur in his presence.”
“Understood.”
“Have Palgap accompany you as well. It would be burdensome to carry everything alone.”
“Yes, understood.”
Palgap and Yeo Eung-am departed the shop, and I watched the Old Man with heightened alertness.
There had to be a reason for sending them both away.
Perhaps he intended to discuss matters they should not hear.
The Old Man’s lips parted.
“Was it you who orchestrated the Black Wine Gang Leader’s downfall?”
So this was the conversation he wished to have.
Certainty gleamed in the Old Man’s eyes.
Offering clumsy excuses here would be amateurish. Besides, the Old Man before me was not one to speak carelessly.
In my previous life, I had been ignorant of his true identity as the Ghost Face Broker.
I smiled lightly and responded to his question.
“How did you discern this?”
“The inner energy I sense from you carries a cold nature. And near where the Black Wine Gang Leader was hanging, I also felt traces of cold-natured inner energy.”
“Surely I’m not the only one who has mastered ice-based techniques?”
“That’s true. But the decisive factor is that you didn’t kill him. And you even converted the gold and silver treasures you took from him into silver coins and distributed them.”
“….”
“How many people in Chongyang County right now possess that much silver?”
“I’m only fifteen years old—how could I possibly have accumulated so much silver?”
“Isn’t the Craftsman of Wooden Puppets employed by you?”
“….”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
Recovering myself, I let out a hollow laugh and asked.
“How did you come to know that?”
“West Street is a place where all manner of rumors from the world flow in.”
He has no intention of explaining further.
In any case, if he knows this much, there’s nothing more I can say.
“Moreover, seeing that you showed no greed despite witnessing such enormous wealth—that’s what convinced me. You reminded me of the young man who once purchased goods from me.”
I straightened my clothing and bowed respectfully with cupped fists.
“I’ve heard that you prevented the Government Authority from seizing the wealth I distributed to them. I am truly grateful.”
“That’s enough. I simply disliked the idea of the Government Authority taking the wealth.”
“Haha.”
“Since we cannot fully compensate them for all the harm they suffered, I believe your approach was the best solution.”
“I share that view. There is no method that satisfies everyone.”
The Old Man nodded at my words.
“You speak truly. There is no method that satisfies everyone. And to realize that at your age!”
I bowed again with cupped fists.
“I am also grateful that you mobilized the Government Forces to swiftly apprehend those behind the assassin who targeted my elder brother’s life.”
“That was only because their crimes warranted the mobilization of Government Forces without incident.”
“Still, gratitude must be expressed when it is due.”
The Old Man laughed at my words.
“If you say so, then I accept your gratitude.”
The Old Man gestured to the chair before him and spoke.
“Do sit down. My neck aches from looking up at you.”
“Yes.”
I sat without hesitation.
“Ah, actually, my attendant knows about what I’ve done.”
“Is that so?”
“It was revealed by chance. Haha.”
Just then, Palgap and the Guard Warrior returned with refreshments.
“I shall partake gratefully.”
We sipped the refreshments and exchanged various conversations. Though they were merely trivial matters, the Old Man’s insight was truly remarkable.
“Do you intend to continue operating this Miscellaneous Goods Shop, sir?”
“I’m already troubled enough. There’s the matter of junior colleagues who will come seeking me out one after another… and that Inspector will likely visit as well.”
“Pardon? The Inspector, sir?”
“Ah, that fellow used to work under me. He made great achievements and rose rapidly, eventually becoming the Inspector of Hubei Province, or so I heard.”
“I see…”
But the Inspector who told me about the Old Man is a different person from the current Inspector, isn’t he?
“Do you have quite a few junior colleagues in such high positions, sir?”
“It may sound like boasting, but yes, quite a few. Some in the military, some in the Geumui Guard, and some among my classmates.”
Gulp!
An Inspector holds judicial authority over an entire province.
And that wasn’t enough—he also had juniors in the Geumui Guard and among his classmates!
Now I could see it clearly: this old gentleman was truly a man of great influence!
An extraordinary master, renowned and with an extensive network.
Moreover, he was retired with plenty of time on his hands.
There was no way I could let such talent slip away.
A man like this absolutely had to become an advisor to the Trading Company!
From the Trading Company’s perspective, the most critical concern was the Government Authority.
If the Government Authority became our backing, it would be reassuring, but if they began to obstruct us, it would become unbearable.
That’s why we inevitably had to grease many palms with the Government Authority.
So if the Old Man from the Miscellaneous Goods Shop became an advisor to the Eunhae Trading Company, he would become our greatest shield.
I had to find some way to persuade him to accept the position of advisor.
Suddenly, I realized I didn’t know the Old Man’s name.
“Pardon me, sir. I should have asked this first, but I’m only now getting around to it.”
“What is it?”
“May I ask your name, sir?”
“It’s been a long time since anyone asked me my name.”
The Old Man smiled and answered.
“My name is Hwangbo Hui.”
The way he revealed his name suggested he held me in considerable favor.
And to think he was from the Hwangbo Family!
I would need to cultivate an even closer relationship with him going forward.
* * *

Time flowed swiftly.
Eun Gil-sang, Master of the Eunhae Trading Company, gazed out the window.
Spring had fully arrived, its warmth unmistakable in the air.
A new wooden puppet had been released to market.
This latest creation was a puppet of Xishi, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China.
Which meant three more puppets would follow, and countless collectors would scramble to acquire them all.
“That boy truly… has a gift for commerce.”
Eun Gil-sang smiled with satisfaction as he reviewed the sales report for the Xishi wooden puppet.
Sold out in a single day, just as before.
Eun Gil-sang still remembered words his grandfather, long departed, had once spoken.

“Gil-sang, a Great Merchant must possess three qualities.”
“Three qualities?”
“Yes. The eye to recognize profitable goods, and the audacity to act upon that vision.”
“But you said three qualities.”
“Indeed. There is one more, the most crucial.”
“What is it?”
“Fortune itself.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Fortune must favor you. That is why they say a Great Merchant is born of Heaven.”
“That seems unfair. It means no matter how hard one works, without fortune’s blessing, one remains merely an ordinary merchant.”
“Is that what you believe?”
“Yes.”
“Suppose fortune aligned perfectly and good luck came your way. But you were not in a position to seize it—what then?”
“That would be even more unfortunate.”
“Precisely. Effort exists for one purpose: to fish fortune from the waters. With diligence, you may yet catch that fortune when it passes. But without effort, fortune will never come to you at all.”
“I understand now.”
“Gil-sang, I was fortunate—Heaven aligned for me, and I built the Eunhae Trading Company to this height. But whether fortune will find you in your time, I cannot say.”
“Only Heaven knows such things?”
“Yes, as you say, only Heaven knows. Still, I hope you will never cease your efforts. If that diligence becomes the foundation upon which your son catches fortune, then you will be a worthy Merchant Guild Leader.”

Having discovered a Craftsman of Wooden Puppets and acquired him, it was clear that Eun Seo-ho didn’t stop there—he was already envisioning ways to earn substantial profits from the venture.
Eun Seo-ho possessed all three qualities essential for a Great Merchant.
“If my mission is to lay the foundation for my children to become true Great Merchants, then so be it.”
That was when it happened.
“Merchant Guild Leader, Yu So-ak Chief Manager has arrived.”
At the Guard Warrior’s words, he turned his head and replied.
“Show him in.”
The door opened and Yu So-ak entered.
He was a talent Eun Gil-sang had discovered during his time in Beijing.
Since joining the Merchant Guild Headquarters, Yu So-ak had been consumed by his work.
Though there was certainly much to do, it seemed as though he deliberately threw himself into labor to forget what had happened in Beijing.
Consequently, he always bore the marks of exhaustion, though lately his complexion had been improving bit by bit.
‘Has he begun to forget what occurred in Beijing? Or is it because Seo-ho is performing so well?’
Either way, it was a welcome development.
I had been concerned about Yu So-ak’s health regardless.
As fatigue accumulated, I feared he might collapse under the strain.
“Well then, what brings you here?”
“The schedule for the special leave granted to the Jaegyeong Pavilion staff has been finalized, and this requires your approval.”
Eun Gil-sang accepted the approval documents Yu So-ak presented.
They concerned the decision to grant the Merchant Guild Headquarters’ employees a day of special leave.
It was compensation for their efforts during the Small Merchant Guild Leader’s public announcement.
“Merchant Guild Leader.”
“Yes?”
“Is Young Master Eun Seo-ho included in this?”
“Surely you didn’t exclude him? Though he holds the status of special apprentice, he is legitimately a member of the Jaegyeong Pavilion staff, is he not?”
“He is… included.”
“Then why do you ask?”
Yu So-ak spoke with a voice tinged with weariness.
“Because without Young Master present, the work becomes unbearably difficult.”
At those words, Eun Gil-sang laughed heartily.
“You, who once claimed you could manage alone, saying such things! Well, I never thought I’d live to see the day. Hahahaha!”
Yu So-ak sighed.
“I never expected this myself. But he truly excels at his work.”
“Do you realize you’re the only one of my sons to have earned such praise from your lips?”
“….”
“That speaks volumes about how impressed you are. Still, I cannot deny Seo-ho his special leave when I’m granting it to Jin-ho as well. Yet the fact that you speak this way suggests….”
Eun Gil-sang narrowed his eyes as he spoke.
“Are you perhaps intending to forfeit your special leave?”
At that question, Yu So-ak continued, averting his gaze from Eun Gil-sang’s scrutiny.
“There is simply too much work to be done….”
“Your winter solstice leave last time, and now again… Wait, you did return that leave back then too.”
“There was so much work to do back then….”
“Do you think that if you collapse, that’s the end of it? If you collapse, who’s supposed to clean up the mess afterward?”
“That would be handled by other capable….”
Yu So-ak trailed off mid-sentence.
He realized that Eun Gil-sang’s question wasn’t one seeking an answer.
“This is an order. I’m refusing to accept the return of this special leave.”
“Y-yes, Merchant Guild Leader.”
“You’re banned from entering Jaegyeong Pavilion! And I won’t permit you to visit your quarters with any other documents either.”
Eun Gil-sang returned the approval documents and spoke.
“So bring them back again with your leave schedule added to them. You said it’s difficult to work without Seo-ho, didn’t you? Then you should rest together with Seo-ho.”
“….”

* * *

Today too, I spent a truly fulfilling day.
The highlight was when Yu Chief Manager came to get approval earlier, looking dejected, and then sighed heavily while revising the approval documents.
Seeing that, I wondered what on earth had happened.
Yu Chief Manager revising approval documents—that was something.
In all the time we’d worked together, that had never happened before.
Despite the busy daily routine, I found myself looking forward to this special leave.
That day, I’d really just lie in my chamber and sleep.
I’d do nothing but rest.
After martial arts training and washing up, I’d lie in my chamber and absolutely not get up.
“Young Master, you’ve arrived?”
Palgap greeted me.
“Yes.”
“What would you like for dinner this evening?”
“Something simple. Just dumplings and cold noodles should be fine.”
“Understood, sir.”
Palgap bowed his head and added a word.
“Ah, the Merchant Guild Leader asked me to relay that he wishes to see you briefly this evening.”
“Father?”
What could this be about?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————