The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 479
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
The Youngest Son of the Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 479
Chapter 479. A True Misunderstanding (2)
After finishing my conversation with Grandfather, I headed back toward Father’s office.
On the way, Palgap called out to me.
“Young Master.”
“What is it?”
“Work is important, but perhaps you should rest a bit first. I worry you might damage your health at this rate.”
I shook my head firmly at Palgap’s words.
“I can’t do that. The harder I work, the more profit our Merchant Guild can gain. That’s how we grow faster.”
“I understand that, sir.”
Palgap then released a long sigh.
“Ah, when I mentioned you had arrived, Young Master Geon-hyuk and Young Miss Bo-yeon were so excited about giving you birthday gifts. They’ll be quite disappointed.”
At those words, I stopped walking without thinking.
“What? What did you just say? Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon are waiting for me?”
Palgap nodded at my question.
“Yes. When I was escorting the Yun Kang Manor Lord and the Young Master to their guest quarters earlier, I met the young master and young miss.”
“They’ve grown a lot?”
“Unrecognizably so. Young Master Geon-hyuk resembles his mother greatly, and Young Miss Bo-yeon looks just like your elder brother.”
Hearing that made me want to see them even more.
“Ugh…”
But right now, I had to go work.
Then Seo-woo Warrior spoke.
“I believe one reason you work so diligently is for your family’s happiness.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“However, you yourself are also part of that family. If something were to happen to you, your family would not be happy.”
“Ah…”
His words struck me like a blow to the back of my head.
“That’s true.”
I released a sigh.
“And just as Seo-woo Warrior says, I move busily hoping my family will live happily, yet somehow I have even less time to spend with them.”
Seo-woo Warrior nodded at my words.
“This is the first time I’m telling you, but my father was also a Warrior. When I was young, even as he left for work, he would turn back to look at me countless times before departing.”
He continued.
“I understand that feeling now that I’ve become a father myself. You must earn money to support your family, yet the more you do so, the less time you have with them. It’s a paradox, truly.”
It is.
A real paradox indeed.
Hearing Seo-woo Warrior’s words, I suddenly remembered the emotions I felt watching Father in my childhood.
Father was always busy, so there were few moments we could spend together.
I once thought that when I grew up and could help Father with his work, perhaps we could spend more time together then.
But the reality now is that I spend even less time with Father than I did back then.
“I wish someone could give me a clear answer about this situation.”
Palgap responded to my complaint.
“If you have time to grumble like that, it would be better to get moving soon.”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you heading to Georyangdang right now? The young master must be waiting for you eagerly, and if you’re late, he might say ‘I hate my youngest uncle!’ and refuse to even show his face—what will you do then?”
Ah… imagining Palgap’s words, my heart suddenly sank.
“…Let’s go.”
Right, I need to take a breather and rest even at times like this.
But I can’t help but give up on spending much time with my family.
Still, I shouldn’t overexert myself.
Just as Seo-woo Warrior said, if something happened to me, my family would be devastated.
How could I already forget how much my family worried during those sickly years when I couldn’t walk properly without a cane!
Eun Seo-ho, you foolish bastard!
Georyangdang is Eun Jung-ho’s separate residence.
As I entered Georyangdang, two small children came rushing toward me.
“Uncle!”
“Little uncle!”
The two children who hugged me are Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon.
Just as Palgap said, Geon-hyuk resembles Elder Brother’s Wife greatly, and Bo-yeon resembles Eun Jung-ho.
I sat in the courtyard while holding both children.
“My goodness! You’ve grown so much!”
“Yes! I’ve grown a lot.”
“Bo-yeon has grown a lot too!”
“That’s right, you’ve both grown so much!”
I smiled and gently stroked both their heads.
“I’ve missed you during this time, Uncle.”
Geon-hyuk spoke with considerable composure.
“Didn’t you miss us, Uncle?”
“How could that be! I missed you so much.”
“But I understand. They said Little Uncle does very important work. When I grow up, I will also become someone who does great things like Little Uncle.”
“Yes, you’ll become exactly that.”
I nodded with a pleased expression. Then Bo-yeon spoke.
“Uncle! Is your title really Seon Hyeop Mi-rang?”
“Cough!”
At that question, I choked without meaning to.
I’ve heard it said more than once, but I never expected to hear it from Bo-yeon herself….
Have I already failed?
Why are tears coming to my eyes?
Palgap spoke excitedly from beside me.
“That’s right, Young Miss! Young Master Eun Seo-ho’s name is Seon Hyeop Mi-rang, and countless people have received his grace. His praises have reached even the heavens!”
“Wow!”
The eyes of Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon, gazing at me, sparkled with wonder.
“I, I’m going to become a hero like Uncle too someday!”
“Yes, Bo-yeon will surely become a heroine.”
A heroine—the term refers to a woman of exceptional virtue, drawing from the traditional headdress worn by women.
“Actually, I wanted to marry a husband like Uncle, but Father said there’s no man like Uncle in this entire Empire, so I gave up.”
Palgap nodded at those words.
What… does that mean? Why is he nodding?
No, more importantly, Elder Brother Jung-ho… what exactly did you tell Bo-yeon?
If I become a father, I could just prevent Bo-yeon’s marriage….
Could it be he deliberately stopped it?
Looking at my brother’s track record, it’s not entirely impossible….
Just then, Elder Brother’s Wife appeared with a gentle laugh.
“Children really do say the strangest things.”
“Oh, Elder Brother’s Wife!”
“It’s been such a long time since you’ve visited.”
At those words, I scratched my cheek.
“I apologize for my long absence.”
“Don’t mention it. Everyone in the world knows how busy you are, Young Master.”
Elder Brother’s Wife spoke to the children.
“Children, we should give you the gifts we prepared.”
“Yes!”
The two rascals quickly scampered into the Separate Pavilion.
I rose from my seat, and Palgap hastily brushed the dust from my clothes.
“The children are quite lively, aren’t they?”
“Sigh, they’re so lively it’s become a problem.”
I laughed at Elder Brother’s Wife’s words.
“I believe it’s also a problem if children don’t play and run about.”
“That’s true enough.”
“But if I recall correctly, Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon’s birthday should be around this time….”
“That’s right. They were born in the twelfth month.”
Ah… could it be….
“Their birthday just passed, so they’re six years old now.”
….
The two children’s birthday is in early December.
Their birthday has already passed.
It seems I’ve been living in such a daze that I even forgot Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon’s birthdays.
I really need to reflect on that.
“I’m sorry about this. I wasn’t able to prepare a birthday gift.”
“Please prepare something special when they turn ten.”
“Yes, I understand.”
At our Eun Hae Trading Company, we place great importance on birthdays in years that are multiples of ten, like ten and twenty.
“When that time comes, please give me a hint about what they might need. Anyway, they’ve just turned six, but they seem quite intelligent.”
At that compliment, Elder Brother’s Wife laughed with a touch of embarrassment.
After all, no one dislikes hearing their own children praised.
“It seems they take after their father.”
“I’ve heard from Father that you were also intelligent from a young age.”
“My, Father really does….”
Just then, Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon came out carrying something.
Paper?
Both of them were holding sheets of paper.
“It’s a gift.”
“Mine is a gift too!”
I accepted them and unfolded the papers.
“Our writing teacher told us to compose poetry while thinking of someone we admire.”
Poetry already!
Of course, composing poetry is quite an important matter for those who have studied the classics.
So once children reach a certain level of literacy, they begin training in poetry composition.
That way, when the time comes to compose poetry later, they won’t be embarrassed.
But this means they’ve already mastered enough characters to compose poetry?
And naturally, there aren’t many six-year-olds capable of composing poetry.
Poetry isn’t something you can compose simply by learning to read and write.
This is truly remarkable.
“You’ve already mastered your characters?”
“Father said that to become like Uncle, I need to study writing diligently.”
“So I’m studying writing hard.”
“That’s admirable.”
It’s somewhat embarrassing, but….
Ah, that Eun Jung-ho!
It’s good that you inspired them to study, but what exactly did you tell them!
I grumbled inwardly while reading the poetry the two children had given me.
Of course, the poetry still didn’t properly follow the rules of meter and form.
But feeling the affection for me contained within those verses, I found myself smiling without realizing it.
I left Georyangdang and headed toward Father’s office.
“Thanks to you, I rested well. I appreciate it, Palgap. Thank you, Seo-woo Warrior.”
“You’re too kind to say such things.”
I spoke to Palgap.
“But didn’t you used to mutter that this is a filthy world where only the handsome are remembered?”
“You remember that?”
“I have a good memory too.”
“Well, it just made me sad, so I gave up on it.”
Looking up at the sky as he said this, his expression reminded me of a bear with drooping ears, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“By the way, the children are quite mature. Their birthday has passed, yet they haven’t pestered anyone for gifts.”
I glanced back.
Elder Brother’s Wife had asked me to take good care of the children on their tenth birthday, but I couldn’t just let it pass.
Not after they’d already received birthday gifts like this.
A short while later.
I arrived at Father’s office.
“I’m here.”
“Yes, I knew you’d come back. To discuss the matter of brewing alcohol, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I see. It seems I didn’t mention it earlier because it will take some time.”
I didn’t answer, but smiled and sat down before the desk.
Father rose from his seat and pulled out several scrolls from the ones inserted beside him, placing them on the desk.
“This is a place where we can start brewing alcohol immediately, and these are places that will require some preparation.”
“I see.”
I examined the documents while organizing my thoughts.
“First, I should start brewing at the place we can use right away and load it onto the ship at the next trade. But this is unfortunate. It would be better if we had more ships…”
At that moment, Father smiled broadly.
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“Sir?”
“I’ve had two more ships built during this time, and they’re currently in the midst of training.”
“Really?”
I was startled by Father’s words.
“So our Merchant Guild will have a total of four ships?”
At my question, Father nodded with pride.
Building ships is not something to be done lightly, as it requires a considerable sum of money.
I was once again impressed by Father’s boldness.
“Strike while the iron is hot.”
“Indeed. Haha.”
I examined the documents Father had prepared. Just as expected of Father.
The current situation was perfectly clear just from looking at the documents.
And perhaps the reason my thoughts became clearer was because I had taken a brief respite while meeting with the children just now.
“Ah, I heard it was Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon’s birthday recently?”
“That’s right.”
Father nodded.
“So Eun Jung-ho said he would return before the two children’s birthday… but it seems he’s running later than expected.”
“Indeed.”
There must be nothing wrong.
Why am I needlessly worried about him arriving so late?
Refocusing my mind, as I continued reading through the documents, something nagged at me.
Hmm, there’s definitely something…
What’s bothering me?
There’s no reason for something to trouble me without cause.
As I continued examining the documents over and over, searching my memory, I realized a single fact.
Among those on this list, there were individuals who had no qualification to manufacture liquor.
I rose from my seat and spoke.
“Father. I intend to inspect those locations tomorrow.”
“Do you really need to do it yourself?”
“This is a matter the Emperor has specially authorized. Moreover, the liquor we produce is a product to be sold in distant foreign lands. Through this, the perception of our Eun Hae Trading Company will be formed—how could I be negligent about it?”
“Hmm, that is true.”
“Therefore, I shall conduct the inspection myself and ensure there are no shortcomings.”
If I don’t properly eliminate the problems this time, there will certainly be issues later.
Our trading company’s reputation could be tarnished, but there’s an even greater problem.
If the Emperor finds fault with me, he might use it as a pretext to manipulate me further.
No, he definitely will. Ugh…
Just thinking about it makes cold sweat drip down.
And through this trade, we’ve laid a foundation of good perception regarding the Eun Hae Trading Company.
I cannot allow that carefully built foundation to crumble because of this. How much money has been invested in this endeavor!
At my words, Father nodded.
“Understood. I shall inform the Master Craftsmen accordingly.”
“No!”
I spoke firmly.
“If word spreads that I’m coming, would that constitute a proper inspection? Therefore, please keep my inspection confidential.”
I continued.
“I shall conduct the inspection, but no one will know of my visit.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————