The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 38

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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 38

Chapter 38. The Results of the Outing (3)

I decided to take a chance and ask.
“Hearing your poetry, Chief Manager, makes the scenery seem even more beautiful. Might I hear another verse?”
Perhaps due to the wine, Yu Chief Manager did not refuse.
“Then I shall recite another piece.”
Caught up in the moment, Yu Chief Manager did not merely recite one poem—he recited several in succession.
And,
they were all poems I recognized.
To be precise, they were poems that a man named Chu Il-gong had boldly claimed as his own in a published collection.
The collection contained nearly fifty poems in total.
Among them were poems that had received praise from critics of that era.
All those acclaimed poems were the very ones Yu Chief Manager had just recited.
In other words….
That bastard Chu Il-gong is nothing but a pure fraud.
He stole our Yu Chief Manager’s poetry and perpetrated a swindle by claiming it as his own?
I asked Yu Chief Manager, who was sipping wine from his cup.
“To think you kept such magnificent verses to yourself! That’s truly unfair.”
“Haha. You flatter me with such praise for these humble lines! I’m embarrassed.”
“Why have you not showcased such remarkable talent?”
“Well….”
Yu Chief Manager sighed.
“I simply had no time to compose poetry.”
I see….
“And whenever I composed poetry, memories from the past would surface. I believe you are aware that I once served in the Royal Court before returning to my hometown.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
“To forget what happened then, I threw myself entirely into work.”
Now I understood why Yu Chief Manager had been so devoted to his duties.
“I fear I may have troubled you with my selfish desire to hear more of your poetry.”
Yu Chief Manager waved his hand at my words.
“Not at all. It feels wonderful to recite poetry again after so long. In truth, composing verse was my only hobby.”
He smiled, genuinely pleased.
It was not the laughter of drunkenness, but a true smile that emanated from his heart.
“I once wished to become famous for my poetry. But Chu Senior told me I had no talent for it and should abandon the pursuit. He said it would only bring me shame….”
Damn it! That bastard….
“And caught up in various tribulations, I began to question whether this path was right for me. Then I came to know the Merchant Guild Leader, and thus began my work at the guild.”
In that instant, my mind began racing furiously.
I hadn’t known it then, but now that I understood these poems were Yu Chief Manager’s work, I couldn’t bear to let a forgery gain renown.
Yu Chief Manager was being manipulated into abandoning his dreams!
The man was truly despicable.
I could postpone dealing with him for later, but I needed to act swiftly to publish a collection under Yu Chief Manager’s name.
If this Chu Il-gong fellow later published a collection claiming these poems were his own creation, Yu Chief Manager might well die of rage.
I couldn’t allow that.
“Hearing your story, Chief Manager, something suddenly occurred to me—what if we compiled a poetry collection?”
“A poetry collection?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“We’ve journeyed together. It wouldn’t be amiss to leave behind something worth commemorating.”
“A poetry collection, you say… I see. That’s not a bad idea.”
Yu Chief Manager hesitated for a moment.
“But my poems are hardly worthy of praise.”
“Did you compose those poems to boast, Chief Manager?”
“No… I didn’t.”
“Then what’s the problem? If I say they’re good and you say they’re good, then they’re good.”
At my words, Yu Chief Manager nodded readily.
“You’re right. Poetry expresses the heart of the present moment, after all.”
“Then recite them for me. I’ll transcribe them.”
“I’m grateful for your help.”
And so our gathering, unlike its beginning, concluded in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

I had completed Father’s task.
Now I simply needed to publish the collection.
Of course, I hadn’t obtained Yu Chief Manager’s permission for publication—he’d only agreed to creating the collection itself, and he would certainly refuse the actual publication.
If that happened, these beautiful poems would be stolen from their true author, and I couldn’t allow such an injustice.
Well, if the outcome is good, he’ll understand eventually.

* * *

Several days had passed since the outing.
Yu Chief Manager was in his office within the Jae-gyeong Pavilion.
“Hmm….”
As he brooded over some troublesome documents, lunchtime arrived before he knew it.
He rose from his seat.
In truth, previously when lunchtime came, he had paid no mind to whether the pavilion staff ate or not.
But through the outing, he had learned from Eun Seo-ho that this would not do.
He said to Eun Seo-ho.
“It is time for the meal.”
“Yes.”
And as he left the office, he said.
“Please enjoy your meal.”
“Ah… yes.”
“Chief Manager, please enjoy yours as well.”
Those who had been flustered when he first spoke thus had by now grown accustomed to it.
‘Somehow the atmosphere has grown softer too.’
Upon his return after finishing the meal, one of the pavilion staff approached him with a smile.
“Chief Manager, congratulations on the publication of your poetry collection.”
“…A poetry collection?”
“You published a poetry collection, did you not? I was quite surprised when I saw it this time. How is it that each poem is so beautifully crafted!”
“…A poetry collection, you say?”
“Yes? Did you not publish one? It clearly stated in the marketplace that it was by Yu So-ak, Pavilion Leader of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
Yu So-ak answered with a bewildered expression.
“I have never published such a collection.”
He asked the staff member on a whim.
“Could I perhaps see that poetry collection?”
“Ah, yes.”
The staff member quickly brought the collection he had purchased, and Yu So-ak examined it.
“….”
They were truly his poems.
Moreover, they were the verses he had composed in drunken inspiration during this recent outing.
And there was only one person capable of such a deed.
“Young Master….”
Yu So-ak clutched his head.
And he asked the staff member.
“How many copies of these poems have been sold?”
To his question, the staff member answered with a proud expression.
“It is said they are already selling splendidly throughout the entire Central Plains.”
“….”

* * *

I was having lunch in my quarters.
Palgap stood beside me with a worried expression.
“Young Master, what exactly are you trying to do with this?”
“What?”
“You’re publishing Yu Chief Manager’s literary collection without his knowledge!”
“Oh. That? It’s fine. It’s fine.”
“It is not fine!”
At my composed response, Palgap practically jumped out of his skin.
“As you well know, Young Master, Yu Chief Manager holds grudges for quite some time and his character is far from admirable….”
At that moment, I sensed someone approaching through my spiritual awareness.
“Shh!”
“Yes?”
“They say even tigers appear when you speak of them….”
At my words, Palgap gasped and waved his hands frantically.
“Hurry and hide, sir! I’ll hold him off.”
I shook my head at his suggestion.
“It’s already too late. Besides, I’m going to be working alongside Yu Chief Manager in his office anyway.”
“Ah….”
Yu Chief Manager’s voice came from outside.
“Young Master Eun Seo-ho, I heard you were inside. Might I have a word with you?”
It was exactly the reaction I had anticipated.
So I took a sip of tea and rose calmly.
“Yes. Did you call for me?”
“What in the world is the meaning of this?”
In Yu Chief Manager’s hand was a book—the literary collection published under his name this time.
“Ah! My congratulations.”
“What do you mean, what is the meaning of this!”
Yu Chief Manager’s voice rose.
But I remained composed, smiling as I spoke.
“You haven’t abandoned your dream of becoming renowned for your poetry and prose, have you?”
At my words, Yu Chief Manager seemed at a loss, his voice trailing off.
“That is….”
“I apologize, but I felt that without taking matters into my own hands, that dream would remain just a dream for the rest of your life.”
“Still, you should have informed me first.”
“If I had asked, would you have allowed the collection to be published?”
“….”
I smiled and continued.
“Besides, what’s done is done. So accept reality and let it go. It’s not even a blemish—why worry so much about it?”
“I was worried it might be a flaw.”
Yu Chief Manager exhaled a long sigh.
“It’s hardly presentable work, after all.”
That bastard Chu Il-gong is the real problem.
I’ll have to deal with him properly later.
Just how much did he belittle this man to drain his confidence so completely?
“Not at all. Your poetry is the most beautiful I’ve ever encountered, Yu Chief Manager. And I’m certain people will love it. I stake my reputation on that.”

* * *

Time flowed swiftly onward.
Reclining in his chair, Yu Chief Manager gazed out the window and sighed.
‘The fifth month is already drawing near.’
The outing with Eun Seo-ho had been in early fourth month—already half a month had passed.
My gaze fell upon the manuscript resting on the wooden table.
[Collection of So-ak’s Poetry]
‘If I was going to publish it, why not choose a more impressive title? How uninspired—Collection of So-ak’s Poetry…’
I felt ashamed and embarrassed that my poetry collection had been released into the world.
The words my senior at court had spoken continued to echo in my ears.

“You have no talent for poetry. You’d do better to bury yourself in the classics. That’s more promising. And never recite your poetry before others. It’s perfectly designed to humiliate you. Take this as advice from your senior—remember it well.”

After that, I never recited poetry again.
But as Eun Seo-ho said, that yearning hadn’t been completely extinguished.
Deep within my heart, that hidden passion burned hotter than the flames of a forge.
I came to realize this thanks to Eun Seo-ho this time.
After all, I had always loved poetry.
In any case, I wanted to recover all my poetry collections.
Yearning is yearning, and shame is shame.
But it was impossible.
Eun Seo-ho hadn’t sold the collection only in Hubei, but throughout the Central Plains.
I couldn’t fathom who had taught him such thoroughness.
I looked at Eun Seo-ho, who was working beside me.
Noticing my gaze, he turned to face me.
“Yes? Is there something you need me to do?”
“It’s nothing.”
The poetry collection had gained word-of-mouth recognition and was selling brilliantly, just as Gak-ju had said when he first told me of its existence.
And lately, everyone I met praised my poetry to me.
Seeing this, I felt something was strange.
If the entire Central Plains wasn’t lying to me, then I truly did have talent for poetry.
Then why had Chu Senior given me such advice back then….
I was confused.
‘It couldn’t be that he did it on purpose….’
Just then, I heard the Guard’s voice from outside the office.
“Internal Chief Manager. Jo Young-young the Deputy has arrived.”
“Ah, let her in.”
The door opened and Jo Young-young the Deputy entered.
“A guest has arrived. They wish to meet with the Internal Chief Manager and the Young Master.”
“I understand, but the Young Master as well?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“Since you are the co-author of the So-ak Poetry Collection. And Internal Chief Manager, congratulations on the publication of the poetry collection.”
“Ah, yes.”

* * *

When I saw that Yu So-ak had mentioned the poetry collection and summoned me as co-author, I had a fairly good idea of what was happening.
The visitor who came this time must have been deeply moved by the poems in the collection and sought us out.
There was no reason not to be moved.
After all, these were poems that moved even someone as emotionally reserved as myself, and they would become extraordinarily famous in the future.
However, the visitor who had come was someone important enough to startle even me.
“They’ve come from the Jegal Family Estate.”
“….”
At Father’s introduction, I was taken aback.
Glancing to the side, I could see that Yu Chief Manager was also visibly flustered.
I quickly composed myself and offered a respectful bow, and only then did Yu Chief Manager do the same.
The man from the Jegal Family Estate spoke with an expressionless face.
“I have been instructed to deliver this directly to the person in question. Thus, I have taken the liberty of bringing it here.”
“That’s quite alright.”
“Then, for confirmation—are you Yu So-ak, the author of the Yu So-ak Poetry Collection?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
He then turned to me and asked.
“And are you Eun Seo-ho, the co-author of the Yu So-ak Poetry Collection?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
I had been added as co-author because it would have been difficult to publish the collection otherwise.
He withdrew a scroll from his robes and handed it over, which Yu Chief Manager received.
He then slowly unrolled it and read its contents.
I examined the text alongside him, and I couldn’t help but cry out in surprise.
“What? An invitation to the Jegal Family Estate?”
“I am not privy to the full details. I have only been instructed to await your acceptance and bring back your response.”

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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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