The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 612

—————
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 612

Chapter 612. While Heading to Beijing (4)

I soothed Palgap.
“Are you upset?”
“No, I’m not upset.”
He was definitely upset.
“Palgap, do you know your eyebrows droop when you’re upset?”
“Hmph.”
“Who do you serve?”
“Why, of course, I serve Young Master Eun Seo-ho.”
“Then wouldn’t being the best to me be enough?”
“Am I truly the best to you, Young Master?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself!”
“Is that truly so?”
“Of course.”
After coaxing Palgap with such flattery, he finally brightened and entered my room to pack.
Now I had to prepare my own belongings.
I turned to look at my Second Sister-in-law.
“Phew… that was close.”
“Hehe.”
Watching me, my Second Sister-in-law laughed.
“But what brings you here? I was planning to visit you myself.”
“I thought it best to come in person.”
My Second Sister-in-law withdrew a letter from her sleeve and handed it to me.
“Please deliver this to him.”
“Is it for Yeon?”
“Trying to pry into private matters between spouses! You’re quite mischievous.”
“Ahem, I’ll deliver it.”
Embarrassed by my own jest, I accepted the letter and tucked it into my sleeve.
I’d made a joke and lost on the exchange.
“Then I’ll take my leave now.”
“Yes, do take care.”
My Second Sister-in-law left the separate pavilion carrying Hong Ryeo.
Watching her departing figure, I suddenly felt how difficult it must be to carry a child while moving about.
A baby is heavier than one might expect.
Holding a child for long periods places considerable strain on the arms and back.
The larger a child grows, the greater the burden becomes.
Well, is there no good solution?
.
.
.
Before departing for Beijing, there was something I needed to do here.
It was to meet with Gong Mil before leaving.
Right after lunch, I headed to Gong Mil’s Research Laboratory.
Inside, Gong Mil was absorbed in his research.
When I first brought him here, he was only ten years old, but now he was nineteen.
He had become a sturdy man.
In just a few more months, he would reach adulthood.
Knowing his gaunt appearance from my previous life, his current form filled me with emotion.
I quietly turned to leave.
“Oh? Are you leaving already?”
Looking to the side, I saw Gong Rae standing there.
Gong Rae had also become fourteen years old and was developing the bearing of a young lady, and her face was beginning to show the beauty I recognized.
“Older brother would be delighted to see the Small Guild Master.”
“I didn’t want to disturb his research.”
I was well aware of what Gong Mil was currently researching.
He must be developing medical instruments to be unveiled at the Manhang Medical Instruments, a subsidiary business of the Eunhae Trading Company.
After the Martial Arts Grand Conference ended, Father returned to the company and, after in-depth discussions at the Eun Wol Pavilion, decided to formally launch a business under the name “Manhang Medical Instruments,” or so I heard.
The name Manhang Medical Instruments carries the meaning that everyone should be happy.
It is a place that manufactures and sells items to help those with physical limitations enjoy happy lives.
Thus, they decided to showcase items such as the wheeled chair, and the chest plate I had designed for Elder Brother Jin-ho.
Ah… wait.
A wheeled chair?
It is a wheeled chair made for those who cannot walk.
But a baby also cannot walk, can they?
Then…
“Gong Rae, could I borrow some brush, ink, and paper for a moment?”
“Of course.”
A good idea suddenly came to mind, and I borrowed writing materials from Gong Rae to jot down my thoughts on this matter.
“Could you pass this to Gong Mil when he takes a break?”
“Yes.”
Gong Rae accepted it and tucked it into her sleeve.
Looking at her writing materials, the brush was quite worn.
It meant she had been using the brush quite frequently.
“Have you decided what you’ll do going forward?”
“Hmm… I’m still not quite sure.”
Gong Mil and Gong Rae came into my care at a young age. Because of this, I wanted to take responsibility for their futures as well.
It meant I wished to help them live lives where they could pursue what they truly desired, on their own terms.
Gong Mil’s path forward was essentially already determined, but Gong Rae’s was not.
At five years old, she was brilliant enough to have mastered the Thousand Character Classic on her own, yet fate had made her a Gisaeng.
But that life was not long-lived either.
She perished caught up in the bloodshed that erupted at the pleasure house.
So in my previous life, I could never know what she truly wished to do.
In this life, I wanted to help her live entirely as she desired.
“Whatever you choose to do, I will support you. So try what you wish to attempt, and think about your future from there.”
.
.
.
After speaking with Gong Mil and Gong Rae, I returned to the Separate Pavilion and prepared for departure.
I had never intended to stay long—this was merely a brief stop on my way to Beijing.
And my work wouldn’t be complete until I reported to the Emperor.
There were no shortage of those who resented the favor the Emperor showed me.
I shouldn’t needlessly give them ammunition.
Thanks to Ju Gang Ma, I had saved time and could afford this detour, but I couldn’t linger any longer.
Still, it felt good to be home.
After gathering all my belongings, I stepped outside and wandered through the Merchant Guild grounds.
“Taking a stroll, are you?”
“Father.”
When I looked up, I realized I had somehow arrived at the back garden.
“It’s a pleasant day for a walk.”
In Beijing, this would be considered cold, but here it was merely cool.
Though truthfully, the cold mattered little to me.
“Will you walk with me?”
“I would be honored.”
I walked through the back garden alongside Father.
The Guard Warriors quietly maintained their distance.
“You must have endured much hardship on your journey to Haenam Island this time.”
“It was not particularly difficult.”
“You remain unchanged. To others, it was no easy matter. That such abuses went undetected for so long means they had built their defenses quite thoroughly. To resolve such problems, one must be prepared to stake one’s life.”
Father exhaled a long sigh.
“I wanted to stop you, but knowing you would go regardless, I refrained. Still, I worried greatly.”
I answered Father’s words with some embarrassment.
“I apologize, Father.”
What else could I say?
It was indeed my fault for causing him worry.
“According to what I heard through the Intelligence Unit… you traveled with a beautiful lady this time.”
“….”
Father turned to look at me.
“You did this to protect Gwak Vice-Manager during this journey, didn’t you?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“However, regardless of your intentions, once we reach the provinces below, most people will believe you’ve married her, and they’ll consider Gwak Vice-Manager your wife. How do you plan to explain this?”
“That is….”
“Think carefully. If you deny it later, you’ll only tarnish Gwak Vice-Manager’s honor.”
Father continued speaking.
“My son has been seeing the Emperor frequently, and it seems his courage has grown boundless. What do you think the Provincial Governor will do about this?”
“Well, that is….”
I stammered in response to Father’s rebuke.
“The Provincial Governor already knows about it.”
“What?”
“Before coming here, I met with the Provincial Governor and his wife. And he mentioned this matter at that time.”
Father’s expression grew grave.
“What did he say?”
“He said nothing. He simply… smiled and suggested we have a meal together.”

* * *

Eun Gil-sang headed toward his office, tilting his head in puzzlement.
The words his youngest son had spoken.

“He said nothing. He simply… smiled and suggested we have a meal together.”

I couldn’t understand what he meant.
Though the Eun Hae Trading Company had grown rapidly in recent years, its history was long.
Through my connections with other merchant guild members, I had come to know about the Guizhou Provincial Governor as well.
Guizhou was, after all, a region the Eun Hae Trading Company had to pay attention to.
Magistrate Dong Hui of Guizhou.
He was currently very well-behaved, but before his marriage, he had quite the reputation.
It was a famous anecdote how he fought with ruffians who lorded it over Guizhou despite knowing nothing of martial arts, ultimately driving them out of the province.
Due to that fiery temperament and tenacity, he earned the epithet “Fire Hound of Guizhou.”
Moreover, because his fists were said to be quite fierce, he was also called the “Fire Fist of Guizhou.”
Then, by fate, he met a certain woman, and to win her heart, he began studying and even passed the highest civil service examination.
Given such a man, it was no wonder Eun Gil-sang was worried.
The Dong Hui I knew would have thrown a punch at Eun Seo-ho’s face without hesitation.
‘But he laughed?’
When I had visited the Beijing Branch previously, the Guizhou Provincial Governor had come to call.
And when Eun Seo-ho returned after speaking with the Provincial Governor, he told me:

“Well, we just discussed various matters. And… he asked to marry Seo Hyang.”

I had nearly spit out my tea in shock.
It was something I had never anticipated.
So I asked my youngest son about it:

“First, let’s think about this simply. Does Seo Hyang appear to you as a woman?”

At those words, Eun Seo-ho hesitated, unable to answer easily.
This meant that Eun Seo-ho’s heart was moved as well.
But in the end, he couldn’t give a definitive answer, saying he needed more time to think about it.
After that, with nothing more said, I thought their connection had ended.
‘Was that not the case?’
He turned his steps around.
It seemed he needed to meet with Gwak Vice-Manager after all.
.
.
.
Seo Hyang was packing her belongings and resting in the separate pavilion, preparing to leave tomorrow.
“Gwak Vice-Manager, are you inside?”
At that voice, the maidservant opened the door to reveal Ha Su-min, the wife of Eun Jin-ho.
“Oh my! Sister Su-min!”
They had grown close by chance and had become like sisters to each other.
“Where is Hong Ryeo?”
“I barely got her to sleep before coming out. She was told we’re leaving tomorrow.”
They exchanged various stories with one another.
“Ah! By the way, that pearl hairpin in your hair. Did Seo-ho perhaps give that to you as a gift?”
“How did you know?”
“It’s obvious at a glance.”
Ha Su-min smiled as she spoke.
“So, what does Gwak Vice-Manager’s heart say?”
“I… don’t really know either.”
“You don’t dislike him?”
“That’s not it…”
Then a scene appeared before her eyes.
Eun Seo-ho gazing at her with a somewhat sorrowful expression.
Her heart ached at the sight.
Just then, the maidservant’s voice came from outside.
“The Merchant Guild Leader has arrived.”
Seo Hyang quickly gathered herself, rose from her seat, and bowed respectfully.
“So you were here too.”
“Yes, Father. I stopped by to speak with Gwak Vice-Manager for a moment.”
“Young Lady, I greet the Merchant Guild Leader.”
“You’ve had much trouble because of my son.”
“Not at all. I’m grateful to have seen so much because of him.”
“It hasn’t been difficult working with my son?”
“No. I’m working with joy.”
Eun Gil-sang nodded in acknowledgment.
“Still, don’t overexert yourself. If my son ever pushes you too hard, come tell me directly.”
“There’s no need to worry. He’s not the type to drive those around him to exhaustion. My concern is rather that he pushes himself far too relentlessly.”
“Hmm, yes, he does have that tendency.”
It was then that something caught Eun Gil-sang’s eye—a pearl hairpin adorning Seo Hyang’s hair.
As the leader of the Eun Hae Trading Company, he could recognize its value immediately.
He understood precisely how precious that pearl hairpin truly was.
It was not something one could purchase with the monthly salary of a Deputy Officer.
Nor was it something easily obtained.
‘Now that I think about it, Haenam Island is renowned for its fine pearls.’
He turned to her with a question.
“I heard you visited your parents recently.”
“Yes. It was thanks to the Small Guild Master’s kindness.”
“And that hair ornament—did Seo-ho perhaps give it to you?”
Ha Su-min answered promptly.
“That’s right! Father. Young Master Seo-ho gave it to me as a gift. Doesn’t it suit me well?”
“I see.”
Eun Gil-sang nodded slowly. Now he finally understood the mysterious behavior of the Guizhou Provincial Governor.

* * *

That night.
After paying my respects to Father, I returned to my chamber and lay upon the bed, yet sleep eluded me—my mind too restless.
I had claimed Gwak Vice-Manager as my wife to protect her, but hearing Father’s words, I felt a deep sense of guilt toward her.
Truthfully, Seo Hyang is a remarkable woman.
Far too good for someone like me.
And precisely because of that, I cannot ask her to walk this thorny path alongside me.
Yet why, when I think of her, does my chest feel so unsettled? Why does my heart grow so strangely troubled?
Then I sensed a familiar presence.
I quickly composed myself and stepped outside.
Father was just entering my separate pavilion.
“Forgive me for disturbing your rest.”
“Not at all. In truth, I was reflecting on what you said earlier.”
“Were you?”
“Yes. Upon reflection, I feel I owe Gwak Vice-Manager an apology. I should make amends.”
“Handle that as you see fit. But there is something you should know, which is why I’ve come.”
“Please, speak freely.”
“I once traveled on a trading expedition to Guizhou. There was a village there that practiced a unique funeral custom—they placed the deceased in caves.”
Such a funeral tradition… could it be from Seo Hyang’s hometown?
Thanks to that knowledge, I was able to save Seo Hyang.
“I learned of it by chance, and they told me that gifting ornaments adorned with pearls carries special significance in that region.”
“…What does that mean?”
“It’s a proposal of marriage.”
My eyes widened at Father’s words.
“When a woman wears pearl ornaments received as a gift and presents herself before her parents, it signifies that she has taken a liking to a man. And when the parents see those ornaments and say nothing, it means they approve of the union.”
“….”
I hadn’t known that, but now I understood why the Guizhou Poju Master had suddenly changed his attitude while interrogating me.
“Ah, do you perhaps know of this as well?”
Father continued.
“In that region, there is a custom that if a man proposes marriage and then withdraws his proposal… the bride’s father and elder brothers will hang the groom upside down from a beam for four days and beat him thoroughly.”
Father spoke with a grave expression.
“We must set a date without delay.”

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