The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 395

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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 395

Chapter 395. There Was a Reason (2)

I tilted my head at the sight before me.
Unlike other accessories, necklaces are typically worn one at a time around the neck, not multiple at once.
And even as a gift, wouldn’t one usually purchase just a single piece?
Could it be that he intended to give one not only to my Aunt, but also to Seon-mi?
Well, that was certainly possible.
Though she was currently abroad following her husband, she didn’t avoid Beijing entirely.
Perhaps he was buying these in advance, uncertain when Seon-mi might visit.
With that thought, I turned to Seo Hyang.
“Is there anything here that catches your eye?”
“Pardon?”
“You don’t have a single proper accessory to your name. If Dae-in finds out later, she’ll scold you for neglecting you.”
“Surely not. She’s not that kind of person.”
She was wrong.
Dae-in was more than capable of such reproach.
Besides, she had already given me generous funds under the guise of protective expenses.
I browsed through the accessories and picked up a coral hair ornament, holding it up to her head to see how it looked.
“Yes, it suits you beautifully.”
I smiled softly and spoke.
“If nothing else appeals to you, how about this one?”
“…It’s lovely.”
Seo Hyang nodded, her face flushed crimson.
Well, seeing how much she liked it—her face reddening to such a degree—it seemed I had made a good choice in purchasing it for her.

Two days later.
I visited my Aunt’s Residence with Seo Hyang.
“My goodness! Come in, dear!”
My Aunt welcomed us warmly on her own.
“It seems Uncle is quite busy these days.”
“A guest just arrived a moment ago. And Seon-il is still at work.”
“I see. It appears we’ve come at an inconvenient time.”
“Don’t worry about such things. Come inside.”
We made our way to the Guest Reception Room.
Now that I thought about it, the necklace around my Aunt’s neck was unmistakably one that Seon-il Elder Brother had purchased before.
I asked my Aunt without letting on.
“That’s a necklace I haven’t seen before. Did you receive it as a gift?”
“Oh? You noticed?”
My Aunt spoke with a smile.
“Seon-il gave it to me this morning. Isn’t it lovely?”
“Yes, it suits you beautifully.”
Coming here with Seo Hyang for my Aunt’s sake had been the right decision.
They seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely as they conversed, clearly getting along well.
Thanks to that, I didn’t have to worry about what to say, which I appreciated.
With guests who aren’t family, words flow easily whether they’re men or women, but strangely, when it comes to family, I find myself uncertain about what to say.
Perhaps it’s because I cannot afford to show anything but sincerity to my family.
“Aunt, I’m afraid I must take my leave now.”
“Of course. I’ve kept you too long. Thank you for coming to celebrate my birthday despite your busy schedule.”
“It’s only natural that I should celebrate with you.”
As we left my Aunt’s house and were returning, Seo Hyang spoke.
“She seems like such a wonderful person.”
“Pardon?”
“I noticed how considerate she was toward me during our conversation.”
I nodded.
“Yes, my Aunt is truly a good person.”
My Aunt’s only concern was singular.
It was that Seon-il Elder Brother refused to marry.
Now that I thought about it, even in my previous life, he never married until the day I died.
I wondered what the reason could possibly be.
.
.
.
Several days passed.
While I was handling matters in my Office, Palgap entered.
“Young Master.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Someone from the Imperial Palace has arrived.”
If I knew the person, Palgap would have told me who it was, but since he didn’t, it seemed like a stranger had come.
In that case, I could guess what this was about.
They must have sent someone to select a merchant guild to undertake trade with foreign nations.
I spoke to Seo Hyang.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Since Seo Hyang was my deputy officer, she had to accompany me on such official matters.
In case anyone might recognize her face, she always wore a veil whenever she had to meet others.
She took the veil that hung on the wall and followed me.

We entered the Guest Reception Room and exchanged greetings with the Imperial Official who was being served tea.
“Forgive my tardiness. I am Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“I serve as Jo Ma in the Ministry of Rites.”
So he held the rank of ninth grade?
I couldn’t help but smile at how openly he was being disrespectful despite being a junior official who had only recently entered service.
He even seemed younger than me.
Yes, this was the realistic treatment merchants received.
This was why my Uncle had my Seon-il Elder Brother study the classics.
Since he was operating a merchant guild in Beijing of all places, how much disrespect must he have witnessed.
But after my Seon-il Elder Brother passed the imperial examination and entered service, there were few Imperial Officials who dared be disrespectful to my Uncle.
After all, how could one be disrespectful to the Spring Commander of the same ministry?
Perhaps that’s why the old saying goes: if you’re wronged, rise in status.
I spoke to the official.
“What brings you here?”
“Gather at the Imperial Palace on the fifteenth of this month. We will select the merchant to undertake this trade there.”
“I see. I understand.”
That should have been the extent of his business, but he showed no sign of leaving.
“You should be grateful that it was I who came to deliver this news.”
I’m afraid I’m not in a position to be addressed as ‘you’ by someone of your standing.
“You see, I’ve heard quite a bit about this selection of merchant traders.”
What? What is he talking about?
“Aren’t you curious? The information I possess will determine who passes and who fails.”
Surely he isn’t…
“Are you asking me for a bribe right now?”
A bribe.
In other words, corruption.
“A bribe? How crudely you speak. Tsk tsk, truly, merchants lack all refinement.”
Unable to tolerate his insolence, Seo-woo Warrior stepped forward with dignity.
“Please watch your words.”
“Who do you think you are, butting into our conversation?”
He furrowed his brow, irritation flashing across his face.
Tch, so this is how he reacts when tested.
I composed my expression and spoke to Seo-woo Warrior.
“Apologize.”
“…I beg your pardon.”
Then I turned to the official with measured courtesy.
“Forgive me, but this humble merchant did not catch the distinguished gentleman’s name. Might you share it with me?”
“Hmph, very well. I am Son Se-gil.”
“So you are Official Son. But tell me, do you purchase goods without even examining them?”
“What? What are you saying?”
“As a gentleman of refinement, you would naturally refrain from haggling. But I am a merchant. Thus, I examine goods, assess their value, and decide whether to buy or sell. When you demanded payment from me just now, were you not offering to sell me information?”
“How typical of a lowborn merchant—thinking only in such crude terms. Well, I suppose you may think of it that way.”
“Then surely I must know what this information is before I can offer appropriate compensation?”
“You could hear the information and then haggle down the price, could you not? That is precisely why merchants are deemed base.”
“How could I do such a thing to you? Let us proceed this way. I shall offer an opening sum…”
I placed ten silver taels on the wooden table.
“We shall begin with this.”
Ten silver taels was no small sum for a low-ranking official.
Enough to purchase a modest house.
The eyes of this Son Se-gil gleamed with avarice at the sight of the silver.
“Ahem, well then. Listen well. When selecting merchant traders, the Empire places greatest emphasis on conducting trade in a manner that does not diminish the Empire’s prestige.”
“I see. And what else?”
I added five more silver taels to the pile.
“The Emperor himself and the Ministers of each department will conduct the examination.”
At this, I removed three silver coins.
“What are you doing?”
“Self-evident facts are not information.”
“Damn it!”
Somewhere along the way, control of this negotiation had shifted entirely to me.
To seize control in such dealings, one must accurately discern the other party’s desires.
When that desire is silver, manipulating it skillfully to gain leverage is child’s play.
Son Se-gil squeezed out what he knew in pursuit of more silver, but obtained only two additional taels.
The only genuine information he possessed was what he had mentioned first—the matter of imperial prestige.
Truthfully, even that was hardly valuable intelligence. Was it not obvious that the Empire would concern itself with its own prestige?
That was precisely why the Empire employed merchants rather than conducting trade directly.
Of course, I had never expected him to possess truly useful information.
What could a ninth-rank minor functionary possibly know?
He had merely probed me, hoping to earn some silver from a chance rumor he had overheard.
Thus, Son Se-gil departed the Beijing Branch with fourteen silver taels, beaming with delight.
“Palgap.”
“Yes. You called for me?”
“Sprinkle some salt water in front of the main gate… actually, salt is too precious, so just use salt water.”
“Yes, I shall do so at once!”
I watched Palgap sprinkle salt water before the main gate, then spoke to Seo-woo Warrior.
“Please don’t dwell too much on what happened earlier.”
“I am fine. It is only difficult to bear seeing my lord subjected to such an insult.”
“Well, this much is rather… endearing, wouldn’t you say?”
Yes, it was endearing.
“I feel rather sorry for the merchant.”
Seo Hyang, standing beside me, spoke.
“Pardon?”
At my question, she laughed and continued.
“It seems you won’t simply let this matter rest.”
Seo Hyang had come to understand me far too well.
Instead of answering, I let out a soft chuckle.
I had been wondering how to report this matter to the Emperor, and this worked out perfectly.
I would lay it all bare.
.
.
.
A fortnight had passed.
I headed to the Imperial Palace as I had been forewarned.
In the meantime, I had received full authority from my father regarding this matter.
There was no time to report each detail and seek approval separately.
The reason the application period was short this time was that few merchant guilds were suitable for this announcement.
If we were selecting merchant guilds like those that supplied silk as before, we would have easily allotted a month.
At the Imperial Palace gates, I stated my purpose to the Guard Official and waited. Shortly after, an Eunuch Official approached us.
“Please follow me.”
My party and I followed him into the Imperial Palace. Though calling them a party, there were only two others—Eun Chung-in, the Beijing Branch Manager, and Yeochang’s Vice-Lord.
Looking at the building we were heading toward, it appeared to be the Ministry of Rites.
Of course, foreign trade was handled by the Ministry of Rites. That was also why an official from the Ministry had come to tell me to arrive today.
“Wait here.”
“Yes.”
As I opened the door to the space the Eunuch Official indicated and entered, two merchant guilds were already waiting.
One group appeared to be somewhat older than myself.
The other group consisted of someone I knew.
I approached him and greeted him warmly.
“It is a pleasure to meet you in this manner.”
“Oh! Small Guild Master Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Trading Company!”
He was Ji Seok-mun, Small Guild Master of the Baekbuik Trading Company.
The Baekbuik Trading Company primarily conducted trade with foreign nations, operating several merchant vessels.
Though the company’s scale wasn’t particularly large, it proudly held a place among the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World.
“This is Song Un, Small Guild Master of the Changhae Trading Company.”
“Ah, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“I’m Song Un, Small Guild Master of the Changhae Trading Company.”
After exchanging pleasantries, Ji Seok-mun spoke with evident surprise.
“But foreign trade from the Eunhae Trading Company? And you have ships?”
I nodded in response to his question.
“I’ve recently acquired vessels to expand our gaze toward foreign markets.”
“Remarkable—even amid rapid growth, you don’t settle for complacency but pursue new challenges.”
“Complacency leads to decline. By the way, I don’t believe we met at the Shandong gathering last time….”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Ji Seok-mun nodded.
“Unfortunately, I was away on a distant trading expedition and couldn’t attend. I was in Maraeseo Kingdom.”
Maraeseo Kingdom?
A land situated quite far even from the Empire.
Far more distant than Yong Eung-wan’s Dae-Wol Kingdom.
“It seems you undertook quite a significant mission.”
“I brought the Princess of Maraeseo and her envoys.”
Ah….
This had been quite the talk of Beijing.
Maraeseo had sent a princess to establish a matrimonial alliance with the Imperial Court.
But the problem was that the princess was rather plain in appearance.
Ultimately, the princess failed to form a connection with the Imperial Court and returned home.
While such thoughts occupied my mind, the door to our chamber opened and people from other trading companies entered.
Thus, representatives from six trading companies gathered, and the Imperial Official who entered last addressed us.
“All six companies that submitted applications have assembled. Now I shall explain what you must prepare.”
Someone asked a question then.
“Pardon, but there’s no examination process?”
“There is no examination. All companies gathered here will undertake significant duties for the Imperial Palace.”
Of course.
In a situation where even one company with ships was precious, there was no room for rigorous screening.
Had I believed Son Se-gil’s words as gospel truth, I would have gnashed my teeth at being deceived.
Though he provided flawed information, that could hardly excuse him.
.
.
.
After concluding my meeting with the Imperial Official, I walked through the Imperial Palace contemplating how to deal with Son Se-gil, when I passed by a group of people.
A woman dressed in foreign attire, unmistakably so…
Wait.
I found myself stopping in my tracks.
That necklace the woman had been wearing around her neck…
It looked like one of the necklaces Seon-il Elder Brother had purchased.

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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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