The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 63

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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 Eunhae Trading Company – Chapter 63

Chapter 63. Journey to Beijing (1)

The sun was setting in a gentle, lingering descent toward the horizon.
And there, finally visible in the distance, stood the Main Headquarters of the Eunhae Trading Company.
“I’m finally home!”
Palgap asked in response to my words.
“You seem quite pleased, sir?”
“Of course I am. It’s home, after all.”
My backside ached from the long ride, as though calluses had formed directly into my flesh. The journey between Sichuan and Hubei was grueling beyond measure.
Even in my previous life, it ranked among the five most dreaded trading routes I had ever traveled.
“Still, the heat here is just as oppressive, isn’t it?”
“It’s more bearable than Sichuan, at least.”
Yeo Eung-am Warrior spoke in response to Palgap’s comment, and Lee Pil Warrior picked up the thread beside him.
“This heat is nothing compared to what I’ve endured. I once traveled to Yunnan, south of Sichuan, and it was absolutely unbearable.”
Yes, Yunnan… another trading route I despised.
“That must have been quite an ordeal.”
As we conversed and drew closer to the Main Headquarters, I spotted someone riding toward us from the distance.
A figure whose face was all too familiar…
“Hm?”
It was Father.
I quickly dismounted, and Palgap and the two warriors followed suit immediately.
“Father, I have returned from—”
Before I could finish my greeting, Father asked me urgently.
“What on earth is going on?”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“Salt! Salt! This morning, someone came from the Imperial Palace. They said you’ve been selected as the salt retailer for Hubei Province and ordered you to come to Beijing immediately.”
I couldn’t help but smile at this news.
“Ah, that’s wonderful.”
“This is no time for idle pleasantries! What happened in Sichuan? What could have possibly occurred for Jin Woo-rim to send a letter praising how well I’ve raised my son?”
My father looked as though he might burst from the tension.
“Please calm yourself, Father.”
“How can I possibly calm down now?”
“Though I understand you cannot, surely this is cause for celebration for the Company?”
“Celebration! Yes! A tremendous celebration!”
Father’s expression shifted dramatically, his earlier agitation giving way to unbridled joy.
The news of my appointment had transformed his entire demeanor in an instant.
“But if you were to pass away without enjoying such good fortune, how unjust that would be.”
“…You speak ill omens, you wretch.”
“That’s precisely why you should calm yourself.”
I smiled and tugged Father’s hand along.
“Come inside, Father.”

A short while later,
I washed away the dust and made my way to the Dining Hall in presentable condition.
Word of my arrival had reached the family, and they had prepared food and were waiting.
Upon entering the Dining Hall, I saw my family seated around the table, conversing warmly amongst themselves.
All eyes turned toward me, and I bowed respectfully in greeting.
“Grandfather, Father, and Uncle—I have safely returned after completing my business in Sichuan.”
Everyone welcomed me warmly, and only then did it truly feel like I had come home.

After sharing a harmonious evening meal and tea, Father, Elder Brother, and I made our way to the Eun-wol Pavilion.
The officers had gathered there.
It was to discuss the recent matter.
It had been quite some time since I’d seen them. Was it nearly two months?
Upon seeing Yu Chief Manager, I flinched momentarily.
He had been fine before I left, but in the interim, his complexion had grown haggard with exhaustion.
Seeing this, I felt an inexplicable pang of guilt.
Yet I had my own justifications.
Father had instructed me to go, and Yu Chief Manager had granted his permission as well.
Everyone greeted me warmly.
“Young Master, you’ve arrived?”
“Yes, I’ve returned safely.”
After exchanging greetings, we took our seats. Father addressed everyone present.
“As everyone here knows, the new Salt Distribution Ordinance has recently been promulgated.”
At Father’s words, those in the meeting chamber nodded in acknowledgment.
“As a result, each province has selected a single merchant guild to oversee salt retail, and our Eunhae Trading Company has been chosen as the exclusive salt retail merchant for Hubei Province.”
“We are deeply grateful.”
“Grateful? This is the fruit of everyone’s efforts.”
Father looked toward me and spoke.
“But what exactly transpired in Sichuan? Give us a detailed account.”
Since most had not heard the full details, everyone leaned in to listen to my explanation.
“Such events occurred in Sichuan! Now I understand why the Jin Merchant Lord sent me that letter.”
“To have even saved the life of the Yeompyeong Merchant Guild Leader!”
“I was unaware that he had become the new leader of the Yeompyeong Merchant Guild.”
“It was a matter His Majesty the Emperor conducted in secret. It’s no wonder you didn’t know.”
“We did exchange various conversations, but I had not anticipated the salt retail appointment.”
I forced a casual smile.
I couldn’t very well tell him I’d known in advance.
At that moment, Yeon Dami Officer from Sangyu Division asked my father a question.
“According to the Imperial decree delivered by the envoy from the Imperial Palace, we must arrive in Beijing by the end of this month. With that in mind, when are you planning to depart?”
“Considering the journey to Beijing, we’ll need to leave within five days.”
“Then we shall prepare accordingly.”
At Yeon Officer’s words, the Sefung Officer and Go External Chief Manager both nodded.
“Understood.”
“We shall proceed with that understanding.”
Then Father called out to me.
“And Seo-ho.”
“Yes, Father.”
“You must go as well.”
“…Me too, sir?”
At my question, Father nodded.
“But I only returned home today, and I haven’t fully recovered from my travels yet. Moreover, I have duties as Yu Chief Manager’s assistant.”
Not even a day had passed since returning from Sichuan, and now I had to reach Beijing within five days?
I was exhausted.
Assisting Yu Chief Manager wasn’t easy work either, but at least meal times and rest periods were strictly maintained.
But to reach Beijing in just five days… it would be difficult to rest properly along the way.
Even without me, Father and the Sangyu Director would handle everything competently.
They were capable people, after all.
Yet at my words, Yu Chief Manager let out a sigh.
What was that about?
Shouldn’t he be quickly agreeing and dragging me off to his office?
As I stood there bewildered,
Father called to me with a serious expression.
“Seo-ho.”
“Yes, Father.”
“There’s no choice. It is the Emperor’s command.”
Ah….
I have to go.
Damn it.
This was different from my expectations. I thought only Father and Elder Brother would be going.
“And.”
Father withdrew something from his sleeve and handed it to me.
“Take this.”
It was a white jade tablet inscribed with characters in silver inlay.

[Eun Seo-ho, Small Merchant Guild Leader of the Eunhae Trading Company]

There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize this.
It’s the credential badge I received when I officially became a Small Merchant Guild Leader after completing five years of practical training.
At the Eunhae Trading Company, only the eldest son didn’t become a Small Merchant Guild Leader.
All of the House Master’s children became Small Merchant Guild Leaders upon completing their practical training, and from that point forward, they entered into competition to become the official Merchant Guild Leader.
My father himself won that competition and became the Merchant Guild Leader.
Those Small Merchant Guild Leaders who didn’t become Merchant Guild Leaders either found work suited to them or pioneered new trade routes to become Branch Managers.
In my previous life, there was no such competition among my brothers and me.
My elder brother said he would yield the Merchant Guild Leader position to me, but I refused the offer.
The role of Merchant Guild Leader wasn’t suited to me.
So naturally, Elder Brother Jung-ho became the Merchant Guild Leader, and my second brother Jin-ho became the Director of the Eunpung Corps.
The position I held was Officer of the Jeji Section.
That place served as the advisory division to the Merchant Guild Leader.
Anyway, that’s something that hasn’t happened yet….
What matters now is why Father is giving this to me.
“Father, this is…?”
“Do you need an explanation?”
“Of course! I haven’t even been in the practical training program for a full year yet.”
“I’m giving it to you because you’re worthy of it.”
“But the other Officers haven’t yet….”
“The Officers have already approved this, so I’m giving it to you, am I not?”
In other words, the Officers of the Jaegyeong Pavilion, Sefung Division, and Sangyu Division had declared that I passed their assessment of my practical abilities.
“But… I haven’t even started the practical training at Sangyu Division and Sefung Division yet.”
Officer Yeon laughed at my words.
“Young Master, we have always been watching you. And goodness, what a ruckus you’ve caused.”
“Ah….”
Now that I think about it, I’ve done quite a lot of things.
“We’ve decided that the practical training at Sangyu Division would be a waste of time for someone like you, Young Master. This isn’t my arbitrary judgment—it’s the consensus of the senior staff at Sangyu Division.”
“….”
“You’re so skilled, as if you’ve been doing merchant work for over a decade. We were worried we’d only embarrass ourselves trying to teach you. Hehehehe.”
Officer Jeok nodded at her laughter.
“I share that sentiment.”
Finally, Yu Chief Manager spoke.
“I wanted to keep you around for a few more years… or rather, I wanted to keep you by my side, but I think keeping you any longer would be a waste of time, just as Officer Yeon says.”
Didn’t he just say he wanted to work me to the bone?
Regardless, even Yu Chief Manager agrees.
“But if I become a Small Merchant Guild Leader first, my brother Jin-ho will be upset.”
“Jin-ho has agreed to this as well.”
“What? Brother Jin-ho agreed to this?”
“After all, he said he has no interest in becoming a Merchant Guild Leader, so he wanted to boast about having the youngest Small Merchant Guild Leader in the family’s history.”
“Ah….”
Yes, that’s the kind of person Eun Jung-ho is.
“And there’s a reason I’m giving this to you now. You need to go to Beijing with me, and the title of Small Merchant Guild Leader should be more than sufficient for you to introduce yourself confidently in front of others.”
In other words, Father wanted me to become more confident when I went to Beijing and spoke with people.
“I’m not ashamed of you for being an apprentice. You are my proud son and a talented member of the Eunhae Trading Company in your own right.”
“I understand your heart, Father.”
Father smiled warmly and nodded.
“We should hold your inauguration ceremony as Small Merchant Guild Leader, but since we must depart for Beijing within five days, we’ll hold your ceremony after we return from Beijing.”
“That’s fine with me.”
Before the inauguration ceremony, even with the title of Small Merchant Guild Leader, I couldn’t exercise the authority of that position within the company.
I didn’t mind either way.
“So Father, myself, and Eun Jung-ho will all go together? Honestly, this is a good opportunity.”
Father answered my question.
“You’re right, it is a good opportunity. But Eun Jung-ho said he won’t go with us.”
“What?”
I asked Eun Jung-ho directly.
“Why not? This is truly a good opportunity.”
“Both Father and you, the new Small Merchant Guild Leader, would be away at the same time? That doesn’t make sense.”
“But….”
“While Father and you are gone, someone needs to hold down the fort.”

* * *

That night.
I headed toward the Separate Quarters where Gong Mil stayed.
“Young Master!”
Gong Rae, who had been sitting on a bench in the courtyard eating snacks, spotted me and came scurrying over.
“I heard you went to Sichuan.”
“I got back today. Where’s your brother?”
“He’s in the workshop.”
By dividing up the manufacturing process of the Jamu Dolls, Gong Mil had gained some free time.
Thanks to that, he now had time to research other ingenious devices.
When I entered Gong Mil’s personal workshop with Gong Rae, he was sitting before his work table, examining something intently and pondering over it.
He turned his head slightly, and the moment he saw me, he jumped in surprise.
“Ah! Young Master!”
“Still working hard, I see.”
Gong Mil came forward to greet me warmly.
“I heard you went to Sichuan, but when did you return?”
“Today.”
“You must be exhausted….”
“I’m fine, really. More importantly, how did that device I mentioned before turn out? Did it work well?”
“Ah! You mean that one?”
Gong Mil promptly brought over a device from the side.
Inside a circular frame were three wooden blades, and behind them was a long box attached.
Following my suggestions, he had refined its shape, and it looked quite impressive.
Gong Mil grinned and inserted his hand into the box, turning a wheel.
Click-click-click, click-click-click, click-click-click,
After winding the wheel about ten times and releasing it, the blades began spinning round and round.
I felt the refreshing breeze it produced.
Honestly, due to my constitution and martial arts cultivation, I don’t feel heat. But I can certainly appreciate the comfort of a breeze.
A device that brings joy to many people during the hot summer—the “wind fan.”
Yet somehow, calling it merely a wind fan felt rather plain.
“I’ve just decided on a name for this device.”
“What name did you give it?”
“Since it creates wind, and you made it with me, how about naming it after both our names—the Eun-Gong Wind Fan? Doesn’t that sound impressive?”
At my words, Gong Mil laughed awkwardly.
Hmm, what’s wrong? His reaction seems odd.
Then Gong Rae spoke up.
“It’s terrible….”
“Huh?”
“The name is terrible.”
“Ah….”
Now that I think about it, I really don’t have a talent for naming things.
.
.
.
After much deliberation, the device’s name remained simply the Wind Maker.
The intuitive concept of creating wind had won out in the end.
I intended to take it to Beijing.
And present it to the Emperor.
I knew exactly what the Emperor truly desired at this moment.
By presenting this to him, I could obtain what I wanted in return.

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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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