The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 495

—————
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 495

Chapter 495. The Liquor Tasting Competition (5)

The Crown Prince I had known until now was never this shrewd and calculating.
If I had to describe it, he was a man of leisure, the kind who didn’t need to scheme—someone born to abundance….
Had he learned this from me in the meantime?
Anyway, nationwide scale….
Unlike the liquor tasting competition where the participants are liquor craftsmen, the poetry competition draws an enormous number of participants.
Which means the work is that much more grueling.
Sigh, there won’t be a moment’s rest.

We withdrew from the Emperor’s presence and began serious discussions.
First, we needed to post announcements throughout the empire.
But we couldn’t delay selecting and inviting the judges either.
.
.
.
A few days later.
I was sprawled across the wooden table in my office.
“Um, are you alright?”
Seo Hyang asked with a worried expression.
“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”
“You seem to be pushing yourself too hard.”
“Still, I’m sleeping on schedule.”
If I excluded my sleeping hours, the Guard Warriors would come fetch my Master again.
So I’m getting at least two hours of sleep.
“That’s a relief. But by any chance, is your father coming to Beijing this time?”
Ah, she’s seen the future.
Right now, Gal Hyun Deputy is away on an errand elsewhere, so only Seo Hyang and I are in the office.
That’s why she asked about that matter.
“Yes. There’s no one in Guizhou with as refined a palate for liquor as he has.”
I sat up as I spoke.
“So I’ve just sent him an invitation to be a judge for the liquor tasting competition.”
“I see.”
With that reply, she wore an excited expression.
She must have seen the scene of meeting Father as well, so further explanation is unnecessary.

* * *

Magistrate Dong Hui of Guizhou had arrived in Beijing and made his way to his residence.
This time, he had come bearing the Emperor’s sacred decree to evaluate spirits at the liquor tasting competition.
Though summoned by imperial command, he welcomed this call with genuine enthusiasm.
First, it was an opportunity to taste and critique a diverse array of spirits he loved.
It had been three years since the liquor prohibition edict had prevented him from touching a drop.
Such anticipation filled him at the prospect of sampling so many varieties.
Second, he would see his daughter.
His daughter, officially deceased, now lived under Eun Seo-ho’s protection.
He had been somewhat troubled by her working as his deputy, fearing she might suffer, but he had relented when she expressed her desire and he learned it would help her avoid public scrutiny.
He smiled.
Truthfully, the prospect of seeing his daughter stirred his heart far more than the promise of tasting fine spirits.
Yet a problem had arisen.
“Father.”
He turned at the voice calling from behind him.
It was his eldest son, Dong Hyuk-su.
An unexpected traveling companion had appeared.
He currently served as a martial official, holding the position of Deputy Commander at Zhongtianhu Lake in Guizhou.
A rank-nine official post.
For his age, it was quite a prestigious position.
Unlike his father, he had taken leave and come to Beijing.
“I intend to visit an old friend this afternoon.”
“Ah, you’re quite something yourself.”
“He’s not just any old friend—he’s my childhood companion. Surely I must support him when he appears before the Emperor, mustn’t I?”
His eldest son, Dong Hyuk-su, had a childhood friend. He too had entered imperial service as a martial official, but finding it unsuited to his nature, he had suddenly resigned and returned to his hometown.
And the profession he had chosen was liquor distillery.
He seemed to possess genuine talent for it. The spirits Dong Hyuk-su had brought back from visits to his friend’s home rivaled any renowned vintage in quality.
This time, with support from the merchant guild backing his friend, the spirits had been submitted to the liquor tasting competition.
Thus Dong Hyuk-su had taken leave and come to Beijing to cheer him on.
‘Surely that guild isn’t the Eun Hae Trading Company?’
He felt uneasy for some reason.
Though his daughter was not truly dead, even if his eldest son’s fiery temperament had cooled somewhat after her supposed death, it had not disappeared entirely.
He knew this better than anyone.
His eldest son resembled him most of all his children—and he knew himself well.
“Please, just don’t cause any trouble.”
“Have no worries, Father.”

* * *

It was just a few days before the Liquor Tasting Competition.
The Liquor Craftsmen sponsored by our Eun Hae Trading Company had arrived in Beijing.
We had given them an entire building from the Beijing Branch to stay in.
Since it had been built quite expansively from the start, the building still had plenty of space.
Those who arrived today were coming from Hubei Province.
And the ones who escorted them here were Jin-ho and the Changin Escort Agency.
“Elder Brother, you’ve arrived?”
“Yes. But what’s this? Aren’t you happier to see me?”
“Are you a guest, Elder Brother?”
At my question, Jin-ho flinched.
“W-well, it’s not quite like that….”
“Then why are you upset?”
“Tsk, if you say it like that, what does that make me?”
I let out a soft laugh watching Jin-ho like that.
Then I approached the Pyo-du and Sang Manager of the Changin Escort Agency to greet them.
For the Liquor Tasting Competition, we had to bring liquor and various tools and materials, so we also had to hire Cart Laborers.
The Pyo-du was Mak Chung Pyo-du, whom I had seen before.
“You must have had a difficult journey.”
“You’re too kind to say such things.”
“The road wasn’t particularly arduous.”
“I’m relieved to hear there were no problems. I ask for your continued assistance with the escort here in Beijing and on the return journey.”
“Of course.”
What our Trading Company had commissioned included escort to the Beijing Branch, escort during the stay, and escort on the return journey.
The reason we requested escort even in Beijing was because the profits tied to the Liquor Tasting Competition were quite substantial.
There could be sabotage attempts against the Liquor Craftsmen, after all.
Finally, I turned to the Liquor Craftsmen.
“You must have had a difficult journey coming all this way.”
“Not at all. We came comfortably thanks to you.”
“Then please rest and recover, and do your very best at the competition.”
“Yes.”
“And please pay special attention to the storage of the liquor and materials you’ve brought. If anything goes wrong, wouldn’t all our efforts be for nothing?”
“Understood.”
“Especially where the liquor and materials are kept—someone must always be standing guard. And you must rope off the area so that no one, no matter how familiar their face, is allowed to enter.”
I continued.
“You must be wondering why I’m being so strict about security.”
“….”
They didn’t answer, but it was written all over their faces.
Why such excessive caution?
I wiped all trace of amusement from my face and spoke.
“In matters where great profits are at stake, the things people are capable of doing exceed your imagination. If someone took your own blood relatives hostage and demanded you ruin the liquor, could you refuse?”
Gulp.
Someone’s nervous swallow echoed through the silence.
Now they understood this was no jest.
“And if we were to offer hundreds or thousands of silver taels, could you refuse such an offer?”
“….”
“Of course, our Merchant Guild will provide protection, but we cannot control internal matters. Since I’ve made this clear, I trust you’ll conduct yourselves appropriately.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Then go rest. The servants and handmaidens will show you to your quarters.”
They dispersed.
I turned to Jin-ho and spoke.
“You should rest too.”
“Y-yes.”
Jin-ho nodded, though his expression seemed tense for some reason.
“Why the sudden tension? Are you nervous after so long away from Beijing?”
“No, that’s not it….”
“Then what?”
“You scared me.”
“What are you talking about? I’m scary?”
At my retort, Jin-ho let out a deep sigh.
“You’re usually grinning like an idiot, but when you suddenly dropped that smile entirely… it was genuinely terrifying.”
“Coward!”
I laughed lightly and gave Jin-ho’s back a hearty pat.
“Oof! Hey, that hurts!”
“Would your cute little brother actually devour you?”
At my words, Jin-ho chuckled softly.
“Well, I suppose not. Then I’ll go rest.”
“Mm.”
I confirmed Jin-ho had gone far enough before asking Palgap.
“Was I really that frightening just now?”
“Have you been ignoring everything I’ve said all this time?”
“But if I didn’t spell it out like that, they wouldn’t take it seriously.”
Most people fail to truly grasp a message unless it’s properly impressed upon them.
Otherwise they quickly forget and grow complacent.
I unconsciously slipped my hand into my sleeve and stroked Geumryeong.
I felt the creature trembling.
Hey, if even you’re scared of me, I’ll get hurt.

The Liquor Craftsmen sponsored by our Eun Hae Trading Company were not limited to Hubei Province alone.
They existed throughout the entire Empire.
And naturally, aside from Hubei Province, Hangzhou was where the greatest concentration of Liquor Craftsmen could be found.
From there too, the Pyoguk commissioned by us had escorted them here.
“It has been quite some time.”
“Indeed.”
Among those who had come, there were quite a few familiar faces. This made sense, as among the Taverns I had taken over, quite a number independently produced their own liquor.
Among them were those who brewed Woljurok.
“Did you come in person, Luzu?”
Hong Mae, the Luzu of Woljurok, smiled gracefully at me and spoke.
“Of course. This is a historic day when we present Woljurok’s liquor to the Emperor himself—I had to come personally.”
“I am all the more grateful for it.”
I issued the same warning to them that I had given to the Liquor Craftsmen who had come from Hubei Province earlier.
At this, Hong Mae smiled and spoke.
“I understand what you mean. But do not worry. Having spent time in the Pleasure District, I have experienced plenty of dirty, petty, and irritating schemes. The same goes for those who came with me.”
“You make a fair point.”
In that case, there was no need to worry further about those from Hangzhou.
They would handle themselves well.
Preventing such schemes might become problematic if I intervened too heavily, but they would manage to exercise restraint appropriately.

While they recovered from their journey, I too moved about busily.
Arranging the tasting venue and organizing the seating—all of it fell to me and the Qingshui Trading Company.
Amid all this, there was one task I absolutely had to accomplish.

“Vice-Manager Gwak, are all the preparations complete?”
At my question, Seo Hyang nodded.
She wore clothes that were even neater and more refined than usual.
Today was the day we would meet with the Guizhou Provincial Governor.
The location was a pavilion on the outskirts of Beijing—an excellent place for discreet meetings.
It was also a place the Guizhou Provincial Governor had recommended previously.
We headed there at once.
Guards were stationed around the area, and a middle-aged man stood in the pavilion.
As I approached, the Guard Captain who recognized me bowed his head.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes.”
“Please ascend to the pavilion. He awaits you.”
“Thank you.”
The Guard Captain’s gaze shifted to Seo Hyang standing behind me. The distant look in his eyes confirmed he had recognized her.
But his silence meant he understood there were circumstances at play.
I left Palgap and the guards behind, ascending the pavilion with only Seo Hyang.
“So-sang and Eun Seo-ho pay our respects, sir.”
“It’s been a while.”
“You remain as vigorous as ever.”
“As I should be. I’ve been paying special attention to my health lately.”
After exchanging greetings, he gazed at Seo Hyang standing behind me.
She smiled as she looked at her father.
The two of them simply gazed at each other in silence for a long moment.
Finally, it was the Provincial Governor who spoke first.
“You look… quite healthy.”
“Yes.”
Indeed, Seo Hyang had been learning martial arts lately to perfectly portray Vice-Manager Gwak.
Her martial talent proved greater than expected.
She must have inherited some of her father’s gifts.
Thanks to this, she was no longer the sickly girl from before—now she appeared robust and vibrant.
The Provincial Governor seemed deeply moved by this transformation.
“Your mother would be overjoyed to see you so healthy. Are you still working as a vice-manager these days?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not too taxing?”
“Every day brings me joy.”
“If you’re content, that’s all that matters.”
The Provincial Governor smiled warmly, then glanced at me with a subtle look.
A warning not to overwork her, clearly.
Hmm… I felt a pang of guilt.
Well, I suppose it’s time we took our leave.
I cannot spend too much time here.
If someone becomes suspicious, it would be troublesome.
Moreover, while I am overseeing this tasting competition, the liquor craftsmen sponsored by the Eun Hae Trading Company are also submitting entries.
Additionally, the Provincial Inspector is an invited guest.
As such, I could be suspected of bias.
I considered meeting after the competition concluded, but since I cannot predict what might happen, I decided to meet beforehand.
“Then we shall take our leave.”
“We shall meet again.”
“Yes.”
“Ah! Actually, my Elder Son came along this time as well.”
His Elder Son?
Seo Hyang’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You mean Hyuk-su?”
“Yes. He came to cheer on his childhood friend… So… please be careful.”
“Yes.”

After parting with the Provincial Inspector, we returned to the Beijing Branch.
Then we headed toward where the liquor craftsmen had gathered.
Since this was the day before the liquor tasting competition, I needed to conduct a preliminary inspection as the sponsor.
“Small Guild Master, you have arrived?”
“Yes, are the preparations proceeding well?”
“Of course.”
As I exchanged greetings with them and observed their readiness, a group of people approached from ahead.
“Ah….”
Seo Hyang beside me stiffened, then quickly hid behind me.
“Why are you doing that?”
“It is my Elder Brother.”
As the distance closed, I could see that the Provincial Inspector’s Elder Son was among the group.
“Ah! Small Guild Master!”
Beside him was the liquor craftsman sponsored by our Eun Hae Trading Company.
He was the one recommended by Jeok Byeong-chul Officer, a liquor craftsman who brewed white dew wine in the mountains north of Chongyang County.
But why were these two together?
“I have someone I would like to introduce to you.”
He approached me with a bright smile, bringing Seo Hyang’s Elder Brother along.
Faced with this sudden turn of events, I could only break into a cold sweat.
Wait, wait… just a moment.
Um, excuse me… just a moment.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————