The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 420

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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 420

Chapter 420. A Wedding Gift (2)

Bok Young Gongja didn’t answer my question and instead pulled me by the hand.
“Let’s discuss the details once we’re inside.”
As I was being dragged in by Bok Young Gongja, a Gate Keeper approached with an awkward expression.
“Young Master, I understand this is someone you welcome, but we must maintain order….”
Since we were about to cut in line, I could feel the sting of disapproving glances.
But Bok Young Gongja spoke with confidence.
“This person is my elder brother’s Jin-u.”
“…!”
At those words, the Gate Keepers’ expressions shifted instantly, and they bowed deeply toward me with clasped fists.
“We greet the Jin-u of the Small Merchant Guild Leader!”
“We apologize for our rudeness. Please, come right in.”
And several of those who had just been casting sharp glances at me nodded respectfully.
What exactly was this Jin-u that commanded such respect?
I entered, and Bok Young Gongja led me to the Inner Quarters.
“Isn’t this the Inner Quarters?”
“Indeed. The Jin-u is given quarters within the Inner Quarters.”
My first time entering the Inner Quarters.
It was furnished with remarkable comfort, and the garden was equally beautiful.
My quarters were positioned with a clear view of that very garden.
“I’m grateful for such fine quarters.”
“Please, think nothing of it. It’s only natural treatment for my elder brother’s Jin-u.”
“Speaking of Jin-u—what exactly does that mean?”
Bok Young Gongja smiled at my question.
“Ah, you must have been quite curious about that.”
Only then did I receive a proper explanation.
“Jin-u literally means a true and faithful friend, but in our family, it carries deeper significance. It refers to someone who will care for one’s wife and children should anything happen to you.”
He continued.
“This even includes entrusting one’s wealth.”
“Pardon?”
I was taken aback and asked for clarification.
When forming bonds with others, even sworn brothers transcending old friendships cannot touch each other’s assets, as they remain outsiders. Yet to entrust one’s wealth….
To merchants who regard money as their very lifeblood, this signified the ultimate trust.
“That’s quite extraordinary, then.”
“That was quite impressive.”
“Of course. When our family arranges a marriage, we select only one Jin-u. We send an ornate red invitation and consider acceptance of that invitation as consent to serve as Jin-u.”
I tilted my head at those words.
“A red invitation? Aren’t invitations normally red?”
“No. In the Liaoning Region, we typically use yellow, which doesn’t draw much attention.”
Ah….
Now I remembered.
“As you know, this Liaoning area has many bandits operating here.”
“That’s true.”
“Now, several masters are pressuring them, so they don’t dare venture down here, but in the past, it was quite difficult. Especially during occasions like weddings, when people gather in one place, the bandits would swarm in and cause great damage.”
Indeed, when people gathered in one place for celebration, the bandits would naturally make it their primary target.
Still, even so….
“Targeting wedding ceremonies! How dishonorable!”
“Would there be honor among bandits? In any case, the main reason the bandits learned of marriages was the red letters. So to conceal this, we changed the color of the invitations.”
“I see.”
“The concept of Jin-u follows a similar logic. Since one could die at any moment because of bandits and beasts, you can think of it as a kind of arrangement for the sake of one’s wife and children.”
“This is surprising. I was being trusted by Bok Yun Sub-leader more than I thought.”
I laughed awkwardly.
“I would like to pay my respects to the Merchant Guild Leader. And I should also greet Bok Yun Sub-leader.”
“He is currently meeting with someone else. Once the conversation ends, he said to come see him right away….”
I shook my head.
“If that’s the case, please inform me later. As the Gongja said, if I am to be Jin-u, I should act accordingly.”
“Understood.”
.
.
.
However, Bok Yun Sub-leader came to find me the next day.
While it meant I should finish my business first, the next day seemed a bit excessive, and I was about to say something about it.
“Are you well?”
Seeing him appear with a haggard expression, I found myself saying this.
“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”
“Is wedding preparation really this exhausting?”
At my question, he laughed awkwardly.
“Our family is simply like that. We end up inviting as many people as possible….”
No matter how brief a cup of tea is, when the number of guests is large, it inevitably consumes enormous amounts of time.
“Yesterday I drank over a hundred cups of tea. After that, I couldn’t sleep at night.”
In fact, tea was favored precisely because it could keep one awake, but excess of anything becomes problematic.
“Building relationships with others is important, but still, please take care of your health. If your body suffers before the wedding, it would be a serious matter.”
“Understood.”
“By the way, I was surprised. Me, as Jin-u?”
At my words, Bok Yun Sub-leader smiled sheepishly again. From that smile, I understood the situation.
“You deliberately didn’t mention it.”
“That’s… true.”
He bowed his head and clasped his fists in apology.
“I thought that if I explained beforehand, the Small Guild Master might feel burdened and decline to attend my wedding. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“No, that’s not it!”
I waved my hand.
How could I possibly reprimand him when he put it that way?
Though truthfully, I had no intention of scolding him anyway.
“I was simply curious. Why did you choose me as Bok Yun’s sworn brother?”
“Because you saved my life, didn’t you, Small Guild Master?”
“That was…”
“Please don’t say it was something obvious. It may have been obvious to you, but you saved my life.”
He continued.
“Moreover, when I was kidnapped in Luoyang and switched with an imposter, weren’t you the first to rush to my aid?”
“That was also something I had to do.”
“That’s because…”
I interrupted him and spoke.
“Bok Yun is my old friend.”
“…”
He wore an expression of being at a loss for words, but soon smiled and replied.
“Also, you’re someone capable enough to entrust my family with. It seems I chose my sworn brother well. Then I’ll take it that you’ve accepted my request to become my sworn brother.”
“I don’t wish to bring such dishonor upon my old friend—that his sworn brother fled.”
We shared breakfast together.
And for him, who had been overindulging in tea lately, I prepared a fruit drink.
It was a fruit drink made with dried apples, and the subtle apple fragrance made it quite pleasant.
I wonder if mixing other fruits with this would work? Tangerines, plums, or peaches might be nice, and lychee—that fruit which grows only in the southern regions—could work too.
Should I try developing this as a product?
Tea is an inseparable part of life for the people of the Empire.
But I’ve heard that when women become pregnant, drinking tea is said to be harmful to the fetus, so they abstain from tea until the child is born, which apparently proves more difficult than expected.
And when pregnant, women often crave sour things.
If I make this properly, it could become an excellent product.
As I continued these thoughts, I heard the voice of Bok Yun’s guard from outside.
“The Merchant Guild Leader and his wife have arrived.”
The door opened and Bok Chief Merchant and his wife entered.
“I greet the Merchant Guild Leader and his wife.”
“Yes, you’ve had a long journey. Had I known you arrived yesterday, I would have come sooner, but I hear you asked them not to tell me?”
“Yes, that’s correct. It was late, and it wouldn’t be proper to set aside other guests just to visit me.”
I smiled as I spoke.
“I am Bok Yun’s sworn brother. From what I hear, we’re almost like family—but if we treat family as guests, then we’re no longer family.”
At my words, Bok Chief Merchant and his wife wore warm smiles.
“You’re absolutely right.”
“How reassuring it is that Eun Small Merchant Leader is Jin-u to our Yun-i.”
We continued our conversation in that warm atmosphere, and the Merchant Guild Leader, his wife, and the Small Merchant Leader excused themselves to attend to their schedules.
Now I thought I might finally rest at leisure.
But this was merely my delusion.
The position of Jin-u proved far more significant than I had anticipated.
A maidservant of Bok Small Merchant Leader came to visit me.
“I greet you, Eun Small Merchant Leader. I am So-myeong, maidservant to Bok Small Merchant Leader.”
“Yes, I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Merchant Leader of the Eun Hae Trading Company.”
“First, I sincerely thank you for becoming the Jin-u to our Small Merchant Leader. And I ask for your continued support.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Then allow me to explain what duties the Jin-u will undertake.”
She explained everything to me in detail.
“The Jin-u must oversee all matters of the wedding from the moment the Small Merchant Leader goes to the Bride’s Family Home to fetch the bride.”
“Pardon?”
“Literally, everything. From the guest list to the seating arrangements at the banquet, and even the wedding garments and cuisine.”
“And if something seems amiss?”
“You may issue replacements or instructions, which will be carried out immediately.”
“What extent of authority do I possess?”
“Should a serious matter arise, you may even halt the wedding upon receiving the Merchant Guild Leader’s approval.”
Hmm….
The authority is truly formidable.
At this level, I am practically equivalent to Bok Yun Sub-leader himself.
“The authority is fearfully extensive.”
“And before the wedding ceremony, you will see the bride’s face before the groom does.”
“Excuse me?”
At this point, I was genuinely startled.
The groom could only see the bride’s face upon entering the bridal chamber.
Until then, the bride wore a red veil.
That the groom could not see the bride’s face until entering the bridal chamber was an unwritten rule.
Yet the Jin-u sees the bride’s face first….
“Why would another person see the bride’s face before the groom?”
“It is to ensure there are no complications between the bride and groom upon their marriage.”
“…But don’t you already know her appearance?”
“A third party’s eye can sometimes be more accurate.”
So it also serves to prevent being deceived into marriage or such matters.
Indeed, it was a role befitting one who stood at the boundary between family and friend.
And it also signified that much trust was being placed in me.
“I understand.”
“Then, since we must have formal robes tailored, I shall take your measurements.”
“Pardon? Ceremonial robes?”
“These are the ceremonial robes you’ll wear on the wedding day. Jin-u will wear special ceremonial robes as well.”
Then the handmaidens entered and took my measurements.
I couldn’t understand why the handmaidens’ faces were flushed as they took the measurements.
Afterward, I was guided by So-myeong and inspected the wedding preparations.
According to her, the groom goes to the bride’s family home to bring back the bride.
And the wedding ceremony will take place at the Gwangjun Trading Company.
Apparently, the bride’s family home is too small for the venue.
As I was looking around here and there, I saw someone rushing over with a troubled expression.
What was the matter?
“Merchant Guild Leader! I have urgent news to report!”
At his words, Bok Chief Merchant soon appeared.
“What is it?”
“That is… I’ll explain once we’re inside.”
It seemed like the kind of matter that couldn’t be discussed in front of so many guests.
Bok Chief Merchant headed to the Inner Quarters, and I followed as well. Since I became Jin-u of Bok Yun Sub-leader, I had been granted access to the Inner Quarters.
Besides, my own quarters were located within the Inner Quarters anyway.
After entering the Inner Quarters, Bok Chief Merchant asked again.
“So, what is it?”
“The thoroughbreds we were training to deliver to the Imperial Palace have escaped.”
“What?”
At those words, Bok Chief Merchant nearly stumbled backward in shock.
Whoosh!
I quickly caught Bok Chief Merchant, preventing him from falling backward in such an undignified manner.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, thank you.”
At that moment, Bok Yun Sub-leader came rushing over, having heard the news.
“Father! Huff… gasp. I heard the thoroughbreds meant for the Imperial Palace have escaped.”
“Yes. I just received the report myself.”
“This is quite serious.”
At those words, I asked the messenger.
“How many thoroughbreds were supposed to be delivered to the Imperial Palace?”
“Pardon? I…”
He hesitated to answer.
He wasn’t sure if he should tell me such information.
“He’s Yun-i’s Jin-u.”
At Bok Chief Merchant’s words, he immediately answered.
“In total, one hundred and twenty horses, but forty of them have escaped. We barely managed to contain the others, but they’re so swift…”
I knew that horses escaping was not an uncommon occurrence.
Given that, they should have been well-prepared for such situations, yet they still escaped…
Premium horses command extraordinarily high prices.
Even a decent horse costs two silver yuan, and those at the premium grade level run about four silver yuan each.
But if these are horses destined for the Imperial Palace, their value becomes immeasurable.
Beyond the financial loss, what truly matters is that these premium horses were meant for delivery to the Imperial Palace.
If we fail to deliver them on time….
At the news that the premium horses had escaped, every face in the room darkened visibly.
“We’ve already dispatched a Pursuit Squad to search for the horses….”
If someone had stolen them, it would almost be a relief. We could find a way to resolve it.
The real problem comes when wild beasts have harmed them.
These aren’t the sort of people who can simply compensate with money for horses already dead.
To have this happen right before the wedding!
“Quickly assemble additional Pursuit Squad members and depart as soon as preparations are complete!”
“Yes!”
“And make sure everyone keeps their mouths shut about this.”
“Understood.”
At that moment, I stepped forward and spoke.
“Merchant Guild Leader, I will join the Pursuit Squad as well.”

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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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