The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 370

—————
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 370

Chapter 370. Young-young’s Garden (2)

At my words, Father spat out his tea.
Thanks to my quick dodge, I managed to avoid the misfortune of tea spraying across my face.
“Are you alright?”
I offered him a handkerchief and asked, and Father accepted it, wiped his mouth, and spoke.
“I’m fine. So… you’re saying the Provincial Inspector asked you to marry Seo Hyang?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“…”
Father fell silent for a moment, simply looking at me.
When you look at me like that, it’s embarrassing, Father.
“So, what do you intend to do?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself.”
I sipped my tea and let out a sigh.
“To be honest, I’m aware that I’m of marriageable age. But I still want to work for the development of the Trading Company.”
To be precise, I need to push forward for my revenge.
And as I’ve said before, I didn’t want to drag an innocent woman into my vendetta.
“Hmm…”
Father looked at me thoughtfully for a moment, then spoke.
“First, let’s think about this simply.”
“Yes.”
“Does Seo Hyang seem like a woman to you?”
“…”
At those words, I was momentarily at a loss for speech.
What?
The answer “No, she doesn’t!” should have come out immediately, so why isn’t it coming?
Seeing my reaction, Father chuckled softly.
“It seems you have feelings for Seo Hyang too, so why are you hesitating?”
I barely managed to respond.
“I think I need to consider this a bit more.”
.
.
.
After leaving Father’s office, I scratched behind my ear.
It seemed the Provincial Inspector would likely return to Guizhou Province after hearing that answer.
“Sigh…”
“Why are you heaving such a heavy sigh?”
I jumped at the sudden voice.
“Ugh!”
“Why are you so startled?”
Turning my head, I found Palgap standing beside me. I hadn’t sensed his presence at all.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“I came with you, sir.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
I laughed awkwardly.
“You must have waited quite a while.”
“It’s no trouble, sir.”
So he had waited quite a while. I felt a pang of guilt.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Palgap and I headed toward my quarters. Since we were within the Beijing Branch, I had dismissed the guards.
“Palgap.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You must have heard my conversation with Father while standing there.”
“I heard nothing, sir.”
Palgap shook his head in response.
In truth, even if he had heard, that was the proper answer for a servant to give.
From what I knew, servants were taught to answer precisely that way during their training.
It was also a way to protect oneself.
After all, there were those who would eliminate a servant to silence them.
I chuckled softly.
There was no way Palgap hadn’t heard that conversation.
“What do you think would happen if I married Seo Hyang?”
“You seem to have much on your mind, sir.”
“Just…”
“But sir, why haven’t you considered the most important thing?”
“The most important thing?”
“Gwak Vice-Manager’s wishes, sir.”
“…!”
His words struck me like a blow to the back of my head.
“Ah…”
That’s right.
Since marriage is not something one does alone, the other person’s wishes matter greatly.
Yet here I was, worrying about this without once considering Seo Hyang’s own desires. I truly am…
I looked at Palgap.
“Why are you looking at me that way?”
“Thank you for that. You’re reliable as always, Palgap.”
“I do my best, sir.”
I let out a quiet chuckle.

That night.
I informed Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, who had come to the Beijing Branch to oversee my Imperial Palace martial arts training, that I would be returning to Hubei Province.
I didn’t particularly ask him to relay the message to the Emperor.
He would inform the Emperor regardless of whether I asked him to or not.
Still, this is exhausting.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster marveled at how quickly I was acquiring Imperial Palace martial arts, but learning martial techniques was never easy.
As I trudged toward my quarters, completely drained, I noticed the light was on in my office.
Who could that be?
I changed direction and headed toward my office, and soon I could discern who was inside.
I could sense Seo Hyang’s presence.
It was already quite late in the evening….
I quietly opened the office door.
Seo Hyang was intently studying documents.
Beside her lay a stack of already-processed papers.
She was absorbed in her work with complete seriousness.
Seeing her like that, my face suddenly grew hot without my realizing it.
Why am I like this?
This is really strange.
Just then, a cold breeze entered through the crack of the door I had opened, and she lifted her head.
Our eyes met directly.
“Oh! Small Guild Master, you’ve arrived.”
She quickly rose from her seat. I entered the office naturally and asked, “It’s quite late—are you still working?”
“It’s quite late—are you still working?”
“I’m simply fulfilling my duty so that you can handle matters without any complications tomorrow morning, sir.”
“Even diligence can be excessive.”
“I’m not sure that resonates coming from you, sir, when you sleep only two hours a day.”
“….”
I was at a loss for words.
What she said was true.
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat and spoke.
“That’s only possible because I’ve cultivated martial arts. But you haven’t. So you must sleep at least three hours a day.”
I continued with a smile.
“If word reaches my father’s ears that you’ve collapsed from overwork, I’m truly finished.”
At this, Seo Hyang laughed brightly.
“I don’t work to that extent. But I do appreciate that you’re concerned about me.”
I let out a small chuckle as well.
“Young Lady….”
“Yes?”
“I wanted to ask you….”
I had meant to ask what she thought about marrying me.
But the moment I saw her face, my lips simply wouldn’t move.
Why? I wasn’t usually such a coward.
Yet this felt like a different matter entirely from mere courage.
I worried she would be flustered by my proposal, and if she refused, our relationship going forward would be complicated as well.
Ah, my head was spinning.
In the end, I changed the subject.
“Are you comfortable spending time with me?”
At my question, she nodded.
“Yes, of course.”
“That’s a relief. At least for the next several years, I won’t have to worry about being scolded by the Provincial Inspector.”
At my words, she laughed brightly again.
“You won’t have to worry about that in the future either.”
Seeing her radiant smile, my face suddenly flushed hot, and blood rushed to my heart.
Come to think of it, this wasn’t the first time I’d felt this way.
When I had gone to Guizhou Province on the Provincial Inspector’s request to retrieve the eyes.
At that breathtakingly beautiful smile of hers, I had found myself lost in her gaze for a long moment without even realizing it.
I shook my head slightly.
I could not ask such a beautiful, kind-hearted, and talented woman to walk the thorny path that I walk.
I decided that I would meet with the Provincial Inspector tomorrow and refuse his proposal.

The next morning.
I sent word requesting a meeting with the Provincial Inspector and received his reply.

* * *

Magistrate Dong Hui, seated across from Eun Seo-ho in the guest reception room, posed his question.
“Well then, what brings you here?”
“I’ve come to give you my answer regarding the proposal you made some time ago.”
“And what have you decided?”
“I must respectfully decline.”
“You’re declining?”
He was taken aback. He had never imagined his daughter would be refused.
Simultaneously, anger surged within him.
Yet as he recalled Eun Seo-ho’s conduct thus far and the kindness he had shown, he suppressed his fury.
“May I ask your reasons?”
“The path I must walk forward is quite a difficult one.”
“Of course I understand. Pursuing the Greatest Under Heaven Trading Company would certainly be a grueling endeavor.”
“True, the Greatest Under Heaven Trading Company is indeed my goal. However, I also harbor personal objectives that are difficult to speak of.”
I continued.
“I cannot bear to drag your esteemed daughter down such a treacherous path. I wish for the Young Lady to walk through a garden of flowers, not a path of thorns.”
The Magistrate, who had been frowning as he studied Eun Seo-ho, suddenly perceived something he had overlooked.
It was that whenever Eun Seo-ho spoke of his daughter, his cheeks flushed with particular warmth and his eyes gleamed with unmistakable brightness.
In other words, his words were sincere.
This realization satisfied his heart.
“I see. I’m grateful that you hold my daughter in such regard.”
“I apologize. And though I sense your concerns, there is no need to worry. The Young Lady is already my trusted subordinate. And I never abandon those who belong to me.”
Somehow, those words brought him considerable solace.
Thus he decided to take a step back.
‘Whether you know it or not, in my experience, matters of the heart between men and women never unfold exactly as one intends.’
So this was one step back for the sake of two steps forward.

* * *

Several days have already passed since we returned to Beijing.
And today is the day we depart for Hubei Province. If we leave any later, the weather could become problematic.
Thanks to diligently handling my affairs, I was able to wrap up the backlog of work and leave.
The staff of Hyun Pung remained in Beijing.
We decided to establish Hyun Pung at the Beijing Branch rather than at the Hubei Province Headquarters.
“Gwak Vice-Manager is going to Hubei too!”
“Ah… well.”
But why are they so reluctant about Seo Hyang going to Hubei Province with me?
“Aren’t you reluctant about returning to Hubei yourself?”
At my question, they flinched, but soon laughed and replied.
“Small Guild Master, Gwak Vice-Manager is the fairy of our Beijing Branch.”
“That’s right. Incomparable.”
I chuckled at how absurd it sounded, but it clearly meant they cherished Seo Hyang deeply.
Indeed, even I could see that Seo Hyang was someone worthy of everyone’s affection.
Thus we departed for Hubei Province.
During my stay in Beijing this time, the Emperor never summoned me once.
That made sense, as he was busy consulting with his Ministers about trade with other nations.
Was I disappointed?
Not at all!
Every time I face the Emperor, it feels like my lifespan is being shaved away by years.

The road to Hubei Province was now familiar to me.
It meant I had traveled it many times.
But for Seo Hyang, for whom this was her first journey, she gazed out through the carriage window with wonder.
“The scenery is truly magnificent. I never knew the landscapes of different regions could vary so much! It’s amazing!”
At her words, I nodded.
“As you say, it is interesting at first. But even that becomes mundane once you see it frequently.”
She asked with a complicated expression.
“Will that day come for me too?”
“If you remain as my Vice-Manager, it will. I travel everywhere without exception.”
“Then I’ll need to build up my stamina diligently to keep up with you, Small Guild Master.”
Seo Hyang spoke to me.
“So, will you teach me martial arts?”
“Martial arts, you say?”
“Yes.”
Before I could even respond, Palgap spoke first.
“Our young master has no problem with that. If our young master says he doesn’t want to, it’s probably just because he finds it bothersome.”
Hey, Palgap, if you say things like that, how can I refuse?
Then I’d become the kind of trash who refuses my Vice-Manager’s request out of laziness.
Sigh.
There’s no helping it.
Now that I think about it, Seo Hyang learning martial arts not only builds her physical strength but also allows her to protect herself—it’s not a bad arrangement at all.
“Understood. We’ll train together every dawn from now on.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled brightly once more.
.
.
.
We traveled diligently, and now we were not far from the Main Headquarters.
However, before we could arrive, the sun set, and we were forced to make camp for the night.
The guards ahead were preparing our camp, while Seo-woo Warrior and Myeong-jong Warrior remained at my side for protection.
I spoke to Seo Hyang.
“Just one more day of travel, and we’ll reach the Eunhae Trading Company’s Main Headquarters.”
“Is that so? I’m looking forward to it.”
“First, I plan to go with you to pay respects to my Master.”
“Of course. But what kind of person is Gwak Master, your Master’s teacher?”
“He’s a very good man. Though he appears gruff, I believe that’s simply how he expresses himself to protect his tender heart.”
“If you say he’s a good person, then he must truly be one.”
“Well, after meeting my Master, we’ll…”
It was while we were discussing future plans in this manner.
Suddenly, Seo Hyang’s gaze became distant.
And across her face flickered… a look of sorrow.
What is this?
What on earth is happening?
Before I could even count to five, her distant gaze sharpened once more.
And her first words were…
“Tell me… who is this woman named Hong Geum-so?”
At those words, Seo-woo Warrior beside me reacted immediately.
“Are you referring to my wife?”
“Ah… so she’s Seo-woo Warrior’s wife. That’s why she seemed so sorrowful…”
Sorrowful?
I questioned her in return.
“Why do you ask?”
But Seo Hyang didn’t answer my question and instead asked something else with a grave expression.
“How many hours would it take if we departed right now to reach Lady Hong Geum-so?”
How many hours?
I had just said we’d arrive tomorrow, and she’s too perceptive not to know that—so there must be another reason for her question.
Seo-woo Warrior asked in a trembling voice.
“Has something happened to my wife…?”
Seo Hyang didn’t answer immediately but looked at me instead.
I nodded, and she opened her mouth to speak.

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