The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 416

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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 Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 416

Chapter 416. A New Beginning for Yangyang Martial Hall (2)

His face flushed crimson at my words before he erupted in fury.
“What kind of nonsense is this? And show me proof that this contract is genuine!”
“Didn’t I just tell you? I had it notarized by Ji Hyeon Dae-in.”
“How much did you pay to get such an absurd contract notarized!”
Now his true colors were showing.
The respectful demeanor he’d displayed moments ago had vanished without a trace.
“And what exactly is your relationship with Yangyang Martial Hall that you’d involve yourself in this matter?”
“We have a very special relationship. Surely you haven’t forgotten? Didn’t you already have someone watching me when I was at Yangyang Martial Hall before?”
“….”
“So are you now calling Ji Hyeon Dae-in a corrupt official who accepts bribes?”
“Well, that man readily accepted the bribes I gave him….”
“Ah, so you did give bribes?”
“…!”
He faltered for a moment before turning the tables with shameless audacity.
“Why make such a fuss over that? Everyone who matters already knows about it anyway.”
“So you’re saying you cannot return that land?”
“Hmph! Why should I trust the notarization of some mere Jihyeon!”
“Then whose notarization would you trust?”
“Well, if it were notarized by the Imperial Palace itself, then perhaps I’d consider it.”
At those words, I smiled and withdrew something from my robes.
“I anticipated you might say that, so I brought this.”
I unfolded it carefully and placed it upon the table.
“This is the notarization of Ho Bu Sirang Dae-in.”
“…!”
Silence fell over the reception room of Yangyang Martial Hall at my words.
And the first to react was Yeom Chief Manager.
“Is, is that really from Ho Bu Sirang Dae-in….”
“Yes.”
Sung Jang-ju’s mouth fell open in shock.
Hehehehe.
Quite surprised, aren’t you?
When I had Ji Hyeon notarize these documents, he had expressed his concerns carefully.

“In truth, the Manor Lords of this Hangzhou wield considerable influence as one of the Three Great Families. So I often find myself with no choice but to heed their words. Seong Jang-ju faces the same constraints. Therefore, it would be prudent to obtain certification from someone of higher authority.”

Following Jihyeon’s counsel, I had previously secured the Ho Bu Sirang’s official certification of the contract.
I was wise to heed Jihyeon’s advice.
Ho Bu Sirang was the second-in-command of the Ministry of Taxation.
In terms of certification credibility, he represented nearly the highest standard.
Even Seong Jang-ju dared not attempt further coercion.
Truthfully, I would have preferred to obtain the Minister of Treasury’s certification, but he was far too occupied.
“I would appreciate it if you could settle this matter within five days and return it to me.”
“But, but what of that tavern building? That building was constructed with my own funds!”
“Of course it must be demolished.”
“What?”
“The previous Yangyang Martial Hall’s building was also constructed with Yangyang Martial Hall’s funds. Yet you demolished it without hesitation. What law prevents the demolition of your tavern building, Manor Lord?”
I struck my knee as I spoke.
“Ah! Now that I think of it, you received demolition fees when you tore down the Yangyang Martial Hall, did you not? So either provide those demolition fees, or have Seong Jang-ju handle the cleanup himself.”
When I demolished the Yangyang Martial Hall, I had received thirty silver taels as demolition compensation.
Since a single-story Yangyang Martial Hall cost that much, demolishing an eight-story tavern building would require several times that amount.
Moreover, as a high-rise structure, it would demand considerably more resources.
Seong Jang-ju’s ashen complexion suggested he had already performed these calculations.
“But, but where would I find such a large sum….”
“Why would you lack funds? Seong Jang-ju without money! Even a passing ant would laugh at such a notion.”
Ah, perhaps he truly was without sufficient capital.
That explained why he had come rushing to me so desperately to sell Gahorou.
He likely possessed abundant land, but what he needed immediately was liquid currency.
A truly wealthy man maintains healthy cash flow, yet Seong Jang-ju clearly did not.
“Make your decision quickly. We are pressed for time.”
“That, that… please consider my circumstances.”
“Did you consider the Yangyang Martial Hall’s circumstances? Did you not order them to vacate during that bitter winter?”
At my words, Seong Jang-ju’s lips sealed shut, and his head gradually drooped.
I sipped my tea leisurely, observing his expression.
It seemed the moment to broach the main proposal had arrived.
“What if we proceed this way instead?”
“…?”
“Simply transfer that tavern building to us. Though a year has passed, it remains essentially new construction—surely it would be wasteful to demolish it?”
“That is true.”
“So we shall simply use the building as is.”
“That means you intend to simply seize my tavern building without compensation, does it not?”
“Then you may either provide the demolition fees or handle the demolition yourself.”
Seong Jang-ju pondered briefly before exhaling a weary sigh.
“Very well. I shall do as you suggest.”
“That was a wise decision.”
With those words, Sung Jang-ju left the Yangyang Martial Hall, his retreating figure bearing the weight of a man who had lost everything.
“So it’s all finished now?”
At Yeom Chief Manager’s question, I nodded.
“Yes.”
He would certainly struggle to prevent his tavern building from being taken, but that would be blocked by the arrangements I had already put in place.
“But Small Guild Master, why didn’t you give him that?”
Yeom Chief Manager pointed to several other sheets of paper.
They were letters left by the Previous Estate Lord, Seong Ji-myeong Master, to his son, which had been together with the genuine contract.
I shook my head with a bitter smile.
“Even if I gave these to him now, the words of the Previous Estate Lord written here wouldn’t reach his ears.”
“Then when?”
“The time will come soon enough.”

* * *

Sung Jang-ju had returned home.
“How did it go?”
The one who had waited most eagerly for his return was the Internal Chief Manager.
But he could not hear the answer he desired.
“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Why did Father leave such a contract! Damn it!”
“Sir?”
“The land and building where Gahorou stands—they are no longer ours.”
“Then did Eun Seo-ho, the Small Guild Master, agree to take it over?”
“Ha! If that were the case, would I have this expression?”
At those words, the Internal Chief Manager flinched.
His face was indeed the very picture of a man who had lost everything.
“Father left a contract regarding the land of the Yangyang Martial Hall. Haha.”
Sung Jang-ju laughed as if bewildered and explained the whole situation.
It was something the Internal Chief Manager needed to know as well.
“Is that what happened? Sigh….”
The Internal Chief Manager sighed briefly, then after a moment of contemplation, opened his mouth.
“Did you say that Ho Bu Sirang had the contract notarized?”
“That’s right.”
“Then file an appeal.”
“An appeal?”
“Yes. From what I understand, when something unreasonable occurs, if you file an appeal through the County Office, they will review it again, so there is a possibility of obtaining relief.”
“Oh! That’s an excellent idea! Go to the County Office at once.”
With brightened expression, Sung Jang-ju hurried to the County Office and met with the magistrate.
“I am aware of that matter. I myself notarized that contract as genuine.”
“Is it really genuine?”
“Yes.”
“How much did that bastard give you to act like this?”
“Tsk! Mind your words. How dare you speak of him that way!”
“Him?”
Jihyeon seemed flustered and changed the subject.
“Ahem, in any case, I cannot understand why the Manor Lord would come out here like this. There’s a contract right in front of us—why are you making such unreasonable demands?”
“If you keep acting like this, you’ll have to return everything I’ve given you so far.”
“Ugh!”
At those words, Jihyeon’s expression grew troubled. And with good reason—he had accepted quite a bit over the years.
Though since becoming entangled with Eun Seo-ho, he hadn’t accepted anything at all.
But suddenly, something churned inside him.
The other man was merely a Manor Lord, while he was a County Official appointed by the Emperor himself.
“Are you threatening me?”
“Threatening… yes, I suppose I am.”
“Well, though I did accept some bribes, would I alone perish?”
“…”
Sung Jang-ju found himself at a loss for words.
Bribery was a crime that punished not only the recipient but the giver as well.
“There is nothing more to discuss. You may leave.”
At that dismissal, Sung Jang-ju had no choice but to exit the County Office.
“Damn it!”
Grinding his teeth, Sung Jang-ju glanced back at the County Office and pondered.
‘I’ll need to seek help from the other Manor Lords. Even if he acts so boldly, once the other Manor Lords join forces, he won’t be able to refuse submitting a memorial as I wish.’
Sung Jang-ju spoke to his attendant.
“Let us go to the Ma Family Manor.”
“Yes.”
As Sung Jang-ju headed toward the Ma Family Manor, a sudden thought made him stop in his tracks.

“For ten years, you agreed to give us one-tenth of the business profits. The condition was only one—to protect the Yangyang Martial Hall!”

Given how special the relationship between Eun Seo-ho and the Yangyang Martial Hall was, such a condition seemed reasonable enough.
But somehow, it felt as though Eun Seo-ho had seen something more and set the condition with that in mind.
‘Could it be that he anticipated this and recruited the Manor Lords in such a manner?’
Cold sweat dripped down Sung Jang-ju’s back.
And at the same time, his father’s dying wish came to mind.

“Jun, if you wish for the Sung Family Estate to endure for a long time, do not involve yourself in entertainment businesses, whether taverns or anything else. Our family does not have the capacity to handle such enterprises.”

Now I understood.
Why my father had left me such a will.
Long ago, he had already foreseen that the Manor Lords of Seo-ho would be unable to maintain their enterprises and would have to hand them over to someone else.
He had hoped that the Sung Family Estate would not fall into such difficult circumstances.
So when he said, “You do not possess the capability to manage such enterprises,” he truly meant, “Our family does not possess the capability to manage such enterprises.”
‘Ah, Father….’
Only then did Sung Jang-ju feel regret.
But now there was nothing he could do.

* * *

The next day.
I headed to Yangyang Martial Hall from morning and discussed the transfer with Yeom Chief Manager.
While we were in discussion, a disciple from the hall came to inform me of a visitor.
“A visitor?”
“Yes. Sung Jang-ju has arrived.”
What could this be about?
I tilted my head in puzzlement and instructed them to show him to the reception room.
Since our relationship was not particularly warm, I dispensed with lengthy pleasantries.
“We meet again so soon after yesterday. What brings you here?”
At Yeom Chief Manager’s words, Sung Jang-ju rose from his seat and bowed to him.
“I owe you an apology for all this time.”
“Pardon?”
His action caught me off guard, and I was momentarily flustered.
“I have been consumed by my own stubbornness and harbored desires I had no right to pursue. In doing so, I committed acts against Yangyang Martial Hall that should never have been done. My father told me that Yangyang Martial Hall is our family’s benefactor and that I should treat you well.”
“….”
I composed myself and met Sung Jang-ju’s gaze.
Somehow his eyes appeared clear.
“I am a man with no rightful claim to that land. I lost it through my own mistakes—who am I to blame?”
There was even a note of melancholy in his voice.
“Therefore, I will formally recognize that land as belonging to Yangyang Martial Hall. And I will relinquish all rights to the building as well. It may seem shameless to say this, but I ask that you regard the building as a token of my apology for my wrongs.”
I studied him carefully.
“You have made a grave decision. To be honest, this will be no small loss for you—are you certain?”
“I am not certain. It pains me greatly. But what can I do? The milk has already been spilled.”
Ah, he truly regrets his mistakes from the heart.
“My late father instructed me never to involve myself in the entertainment business. Yet in the end, I did. So I have decided to regard this as punishment for not heeding my father’s will—as filial impiety.”
He continued.
“In any case, I will settle the tavern within four days. However, may I sell the furnishings inside? I need to do this to give the employees some money as compensation, and I seek your understanding.”
“Of course you may do so.”
What matters is the building itself, not the furnishings.
To be honest, the furnishings inside Gahorou were designed for tavern operations, far too ornate and utterly useless for a martial hall.
“Thank you.”
Sung Jang-ju rose from his seat as he spoke.
I knew this was the moment to hand over the letter his father had left for him.
“Manor Lord.”
“Is there more to say?”
“In truth, we found one more item at the location where the Previous Estate Lord’s original contract was kept.”
I extended an envelope before him.
“The envelope itself didn’t exist originally, but I placed the letter inside one for easier preservation.”
“Why reveal this only now?”
“I believed that by now, you wouldn’t tear this letter to pieces. It’s your departed father’s precious final wishes. It deserves to be treated with care.”
At my words, Sung Jang-ju smiled bitterly.
He too understood that my words held truth.
“Thank you.”
Sung Jang-ju bowed to me and departed from Yangyang Martial Hall.

* * *

Upon returning to his residence, Sung Jang-ju exhaled deeply.
With all his thoughts finally organized, something felt lighter within him.
He withdrew from his breast the letter he had received from Eun Seo-ho.
The very first sentence of that letter filled him with shame.

[My son Jun. When you read this letter, you have likely disregarded my words and acted on your own whims, only to face grave trouble.]

Each word was a lecture, a reproach.
Every phrase pierced his heart, causing him pain.
‘As Eun Seo-ho, the Small Guild Master, said—had I been my former self, I would have torn this letter to shreds.’

[Finally, if you have resolved never to take my words lightly again, I grant you a chance to live righteously once more. Seek the stone turtle statue in the center of the Back Garden Pond.]

He tilted his head in confusion and rose, making his way toward the back garden.
The pond in the back garden was waist-deep, shallow enough for him to wade through alone.
He could have sent servants or attendants, but honoring his father’s wishes, he entered the pond himself.
He located the stone turtle statue in the center and lifted it with a sudden heave.
“Gasp!”
The moment he glimpsed what lay hidden beneath, his breath caught in astonishment.

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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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