The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 423

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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 423

Chapter 423. An Old Friend’s Wedding (2)

Yu Seongmun Master tilted his head curiously as he observed the young man’s rigid expression.
“What’s the matter? Is something wrong?”
“That person… why are they here…?”
“It seems you know each other.”
At that moment, a woman carrying a child entered the space where we stood, following behind him.
“Oh!”
She gasped in surprise, then quickly approached me and bowed her head.
“I greet my benefactor.”
“Benefactor?”
Yu Seongmun Master asked, and she responded.
“Yes. You are the benefactor who saved Gyeong-i.”
Yu Seongmun Master and his second brother seemed to recall something as they spoke.
“Lady, could this be the person who saved Gyeong-i at the inn?”
“Was this the person?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The child called Gyeong-i remembered me and reached out his hand toward me with a bright smile.
“Hyung! Hyung!”
It seemed he was calling me “older brother,” wasn’t he?
I’m sorry, little one, but I’m not quite the right age to be called your older brother.
Uncle would be more fitting.
The Sect Master’s second brother clasped his fists toward me.
“Thank you so much for saving my son, Great Hero.”
“Great Hero is too much. I simply had the fortune to help the child through our connection.”
“Words are easy, but how many people could actually do such a thing? I offer my gratitude once more.”
The Sect Master also bowed respectfully toward me.
Meanwhile, the young man called Yu Seok approached me hesitantly.
“I apologize. I failed to greet you properly then, and I don’t think I apologized adequately.”
He bowed deeply and continued.
“I am truly grateful for saving my nephew. And I apologize for my rudeness back then.”
I nodded and replied.
“Please don’t concern yourself. Given the circumstances you didn’t understand, such a misunderstanding was entirely reasonable.”
“I’m truly grateful that you say so.”
This is becoming awkward—everyone’s attention seems focused on me. Yet the true protagonists of today’s celebration should be the Groom and Bride.
I spoke gently.
“I believe that settles my gratitude. Today’s true protagonist is not myself, but my Old Friend, so I hope you’ll understand.”
“Ah, that’s right! Here I am making such a blunder in front of my son-in-law… My apologies.”
At those words, Bok Yun Sub-leader shook his head with a smile.
“Not at all. My Jin-u did do a good deed, after all, didn’t he? And he even saved the life of my Father-in-law’s child! It seems I chose Jin-u well indeed.”
“I appreciate you saying so. Then allow me to finish the introductions.”
The one who had apologized to me was the Sect Master’s Third Son, he said.
“My eldest brother is away on business at the moment.”
“I see.”
Though it seemed there was quite a significant age gap between them?
The Sect Master, noticing my thoughts, spoke.
“My Third Son is a younger brother our parents welcomed in their later years.”
“I understand.”
“And here, Gyeong-i is the child my Second Brother had long awaited.”
After the introductions of the other family members were completed, we moved to a different location.
“Then let us go rest now.”
“Yes.”
In the meantime, I made my way elsewhere, scratching my cheek.
To where the Bride was.
This feeling is rather unsettling.
I understand the explanation for why I see the Bride’s face before Bok Yun Sub-leader does, so that isn’t what troubles me.
It’s simply because of a connection from my previous life.
Back then in Liaoning, I had to conduct business with one of the influential figures of this region.
With a greedy expression, he kept finding fault and refused to pay the transaction fee.
Then a woman who had been sitting near our table approached and spoke.

“I did not take you for such a person. Are you aware that you are bringing shame upon the faces of our people in Liaoning?”
“Gasp! W-why are you here….”
“I would not wish for our people of Liaoning to become known as untrustworthy.”
“I-I am deeply sorry.”
“I shall be watching you.”

She spoke no further, leaving only those words before departing the tea house.
The influential figure ceased his fault-finding and immediately paid me the transaction fee.

“But who was that person?”
“Hah! You lowly merchant! Who was she, you ask? She is the wife of the Second Young Master of Moyong Clan!”

That’s how I came to know her identity, and I thought that someday I would repay her kindness.
But at that time, I was unable to repay that debt.
Not long after, I heard that she had taken her own life, and only when the Yuseong Sect was destroyed three years later did I learn that she was the Yuseongmun Master’s Eldest Daughter.
The Maidservant who guided me spoke.
“Young Lady, Bok Yun Sub-leader’s Jin-u has arrived.”
“Please, come in.”
A voice carrying the same firmness I had heard in my previous life.
The door opened, and I stepped inside.
A Woman sat before the table.
Her face was far brighter and more radiant than when I had seen her in my previous life.
I bowed respectfully with a cupped-fist salute.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Jin-u of Bok Yun Sub-leader, and Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company.”
“I am In Jung-yeon, Eldest Daughter of the Yuseongmun Master.”
In Jung-yeon.
Yes, that was her name.
The Maidservant brought tea and poured it into both our cups.
The Jin-u was not merely to see the bride’s face and leave, but to converse until an entire pot of tea had been consumed.
This custom, unique to Bok Yun Sub-leader’s family, was called Jin-u, though it seemed that most families in Liaoning had similar traditions.
The names and their specific roles differed slightly from one another.
Right now, Bok Yun Sub-leader would be conversing with In Jung-yeon’s Jin-u on the bride’s side.
The bride’s Jin-u had a role similar to that of the groom’s side.
If the groom seemed unsuitable, the bride would be prevented from entering the Bridal Chamber.
If the groom’s Jin-u deemed him unfit, the ceremony could even be halted.
I hoped the conversation with the bride’s Jin-u would go well.
With such thoughts, I sipped my tea.
“The tea has a pleasant, nutty aroma.”
“It’s made with roasted barley.”
“Ah, that explains the rich flavor.”
I set down my cup and began to speak.
“My Old Friend has a respectable bearing and is meticulous in his work, but he has a somewhat bear-like nature. So he may inadvertently disappoint his wife, but I hope you will understand with a generous heart.”
At my words, she tilted her head.
“Do you have no questions for me? You speak as though you’ve already made your decision.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
I smiled.
Though our meeting in my previous life was brief, through that encounter I had confirmed that she was a good person.
As long as there are no character flaws, other matters can be resolved as life unfolds.
Marriage is when two people from different circumstances become one family.
Do all aspects of such two people align perfectly?
That never happens.
Even siblings born under the same parents and raised in the same environment struggle with it.
However, without further explanation, she might misunderstand that I was being careless.
“I am already aware of the Lady’s background. The Merchant Guild takes gathering information far more seriously than you might think. If I may be candid, the same diligence was applied to this marriage arrangement.”
“I suppose so.”
“I hope you won’t take offense. I ask that you accept it as evidence of my sincerity in approaching a choice that will shape the rest of my life.”
I continued.
“And the same must be true for the Lady as well.”
At my words, she smiled softly and nodded.
“That’s right. We also made considerable effort to understand our partner.”
“I trust my Old Friend’s judgment. And now that I’m here, I can confirm that his discernment is truly exceptional.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
We laughed together.
“But tell me—what will you do about the sword?”
“Pardon?”
“You’re not planning to abandon it, surely?”
At my question, her pupils wavered slightly. My suspicion was correct.
“There’s no helping it. To properly fulfill my role as the mistress of this household, I’ll have little time to practice with the blade.”
I shook my head and offered counsel.
“Never, I implore you, abandon the sword. Merchant families face sudden crises as unpredictably as martial clans. I would not wish for you to regret laying down your weapon in such moments.”
She pondered my words for a moment, then nodded.
“I will heed your advice.”
Now for the main matter.
“Should any difficulty arise, please do not hesitate to seek my aid. I will gladly assist you.”
“Is it because you are the trusted friend of Bok Yun Sub-leader?”
Of course that was part of it, but I also harbored a desire to repay the debt of gratitude I owed her from my previous life.
One might argue that by saving Bok Yun Sub-leader, I had already repaid my debt to her by altering her fate.
But that was then, and this is now.
In any case, I could not answer truthfully, so I simply nodded.
“Yes, that is so.”
“Bok Yun Sub-leader is truly fortunate to have such a steadfast friend. And a hero of the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament at that!”
“You know of me as well?”
At my question, she nodded.
“Yes. I heard it from Father, but I also saw it in a book he obtained in Luoyang.”
“A book?”
As if to resolve my confusion, she rose from her seat and retrieved a volume.
“This one.”

[The Thirty-Sixth Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament: Rising Heroes]

The moment I saw that title, I choked without thinking.
“Cough, cough!”
“Oh! Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”
I sipped my tea and barely managed to suppress the coughing fit.
“Is there perhaps another question you’d like to ask?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“I feel a bit sorry now. My Jin-u wrote down over a hundred questions he wanted to ask…”
“Ah…”
.
.
.
I finished my conversation with In Sister and turned toward Bok Yun Sub-leader.
“Good heavens…”
He was slumped over the table.
“Are you well?”
At my question, he barely lifted his head and spoke.
“That was exhausting.”
Ah… he wasn’t fine after all.
Well, answering over a hundred questions would certainly have worked up quite a sweat.
“So, what do you think?”
At that question, I let out a soft laugh.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I was simply impressed anew by Bok Sub-leader’s discerning eye.”
“Ah…”
His face brightened.

That day, once all preparations were complete, the Bride emerged.
Unlike when I had seen her earlier, she now wore a crimson veil.
The Bride’s party had also finished preparing for their departure.
Normally, the wedding ceremony would be held here and we would depart the next day, but since we had decided to hold the ceremony at the Gwangjun Trading Company instead.
The Bride boarded the carriage, and our entire party set out for the Gwangjun Trading Company.
Ordinarily, musicians would lead the procession with festive music, but here we traveled in complete silence.
And the warriors of the Gwangjun Trading Company and the disciples of the Yuseong Sect surrounded us on all sides.
After traveling for quite some time, we finally arrived at the Gwangjun Trading Company.
“The Bride has arrived!”
“Waaaaah!”
The crowd erupted in loud cheers as the wedding ceremony of the two began in earnest.
.
.
.
The night grew deep.
After the wedding ceremony concluded, the Groom and Bride entered the Bridal Chamber. It seemed Bok Sub-leader was pleased, for Jin-u, the Bride’s father, permitted the Bride to enter the Bridal Chamber.

Several days passed after that.
Though Bok Yun Sub-leader’s wedding had ended, I had not yet returned to Beijing.
I had to accompany In Sister, who was now Bok Yun Sub-leader’s wife, on her visit to her family home for the bride’s return visit ceremony.
That was the extent of my role as Jin-u in this place.
And today was the day we would conduct that bride’s return visit ceremony.
After breakfast, all preparations were complete for our journey to Bok Yun Sub-leader’s bride’s family home.
Bok Yun Sub-leader’s wife seemed eager to ride a horse, but due to her attire, she had no choice but to board the carriage.
When we arrived at the Yuseong Sect, the Sect Master and his wife welcomed us warmly.
“Welcome. You have come well.”
“I offer my respects to my Father-in-law and Mother-in-law.”
“Young Lady, I offer my respects to my parents.”
We then entered, and the servants began unloading luggage from the carriages.
“What are all these belongings?”
Bok Yun Sub-leader answered that question.
“These are humble gifts sent by our parents. Please do not refuse them.”
“Please convey my thanks to your parents for their thoughtfulness.”

I unpacked my belongings and formally began the bride-visiting ceremony.
The primary purpose of the bride-visiting ceremony was to offer proper greetings to my wife’s family.
I presented gifts and paid my respects to Bok Yun Sub-leader’s Grandmother-in-law and each of her relatives one by one.
Once the greetings were complete, evening had fallen, and the banquet commenced.
It was a banquet for the bride’s family guests who had been unable to attend the wedding ceremony.
The Bride had excused herself to spend time with her close friends.
Thus, only Bok Yun Sub-leader was present at the banquet, which was entirely natural.
There was no reason for the Bride to attend a late-night banquet.
It was then that an Attendant called for me.
“Sir, the Sect Master requests your presence.”
The Sect Master? What could this be about?
I rose from my seat and made my way to where the Sect Master awaited.
“The Sect Master is in the back garden.”
“I see.”
As I entered the back garden, I spotted two figures standing in the pavilion.
One must be the Sect Master, but was there a Mysterious Guest present?
Though the distance was considerable, my inner cultivation was quite profound and my senses acute, allowing me to hear their conversation.

“…Have you given thought to my proposal?”
“Did I not tell you before? I refuse.”
“You will come to regret this.”
“Even if I should harbor regrets, I cannot abandon the Main House’s critical juncture.”

What? What does this mean?

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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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