The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 76

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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 76

Chapter 76. The Old Man Beneath the Moon (3)

There existed an academy known as the Rehabilitation Specialist Academy.
It was said that those who entered would emerge as entirely new people within a few years.
Among those reborn there, I knew several personally.
Whenever they spoke of the academy, they would shudder, yet seeing the results, the effectiveness was remarkable.
From what I recalled, that academy was still operating at present.
Before Wei Chief Manager died of his chronic illness, it seemed I should have that scoundrel admitted to that academy as soon as possible.

Jegal Family’s Grand Elder spoke to Yu Chief Manager.
“The situation appears to be concluded, so shall we depart and share poetry?”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
“And Seo-ho, Small Merchant Guild Leader. Tell that young lady that I will visit her later.”
Indeed, he was a man who never spoke empty words.
.
.
.
My ceremony as Small Merchant Guild Leader had concluded.
The ceremony was finished, but the banquet was not yet over.
Since the journey here and back was so arduous, the festivities continued uninterrupted.
That evening, Father and Jin Jin-hak Sect Master met and conversed.
And the following morning at breakfast.
Father made an announcement to the family.
“Eun Jung-ho’s wedding will take place five days from now.”
“…Pardon?”
I asked in surprise.
“Five days from now?”
“Since both parties have reached marriageable age, it seemed unwise to delay the union further.”
Indeed, Eun Jung-ho was now twenty years old.
It was hardly too early for marriage.
“And since those who came for Seo-ho’s Small Merchant Guild Leader ceremony would find it troublesome to return for the wedding, I thought it best to combine them.”
The Central Plains were vast.
Those from nearby regions would manage well enough, but those from distant lands would find it difficult to return.
Travel time was one concern, but security required warriors to accompany them as well.
If a household lacked its own warriors, they had to request assistance from the Pyoguk.
Thus, the expenses were considerable.
In other words, since we’ve already decided to marry, we’ll do it now while the guests are here at the Eunhae Trading Company.
I was simply taken aback by how much faster it was than I’d anticipated.
“But five days from now? Can marriage preparations really be completed in just five days?”
Grandfather answered Eun Jung-ho’s question.
“It’s not impossible. We haven’t even cleared away the items we prepared for Seo-ho’s Small Merchant Guild Leader announcement ceremony.”
“With just a little adjustment, marriage preparations are nothing.”
From Grandfather’s and Mother’s responses, I could tell that the three of them had already finished discussing this marriage.
“So Eun Jung-ho, what do you think?”
At that question, Eun Jung-ho answered with a flushed face.
“I’m pleased it’s so soon.”
We all laughed heartily at his answer.
“Then we’ll proceed accordingly.”
“Yes.”
From that day on, preparations for Eun Jung-ho’s marriage began.

After breakfast, I moved about busily.
I had to attend the Eun-wol Pavilion meeting.
Before this, as Gong Mil’s employer, I had only attended meetings related to the Jamu Doll Company.
And since those meetings were usually irregular, the times I attended varied.
But the Eun-wol Pavilion meetings are originally held every morning.
Now that I’ve officially become a Small Merchant Guild Leader, I attend the morning meetings every day as well.
Shortly after, upon arriving at the Eun-wol Pavilion, I looked up at the building.
Something felt different about this moment.
Unlike my previous life, what I felt seeing this building then and what I feel now were different.
Back then, there was the joy of being recognized and the thrill of a new beginning, but what I feel now is resolve.
The resolve to prevent the downfall of the Eunhae Trading Company that I experienced, the resolve to establish it as the Greatest Merchant Guild Under Heaven.
I closed my eyes and renewed that resolve within myself, then opened them again.
Then I stepped forward into the Eun-wol Pavilion.

“Welcome.”
Jeok Byeong-chul Officer from Sefung Hall, who had arrived at Eun-wol Pavilion first and was waiting, greeted me.
“Ah, Officer Jeok. You arrived early.”
“Congratulations on becoming a Small Merchant Guild Leader.”
“Thank you.”
“Has the ambition you revealed not changed?”
“Pardon?”
“You told me before that you would make the Eunhae Trading Company into the Greatest Merchant Guild Under Heaven.”
Ah, he’s referring to what I said back then.
Jeok Byeong-chul Officer asked again.
“That ambition hasn’t changed, has it?”
“You still remember it.”
“Growing old has only sharpened my memory.”
“That is both my ambition and my resolve. Would it change so easily?”
“I see.”
“And you haven’t forgotten the promise you made back then, have you?”
Back then, Jeok Byeong-chul Officer had promised to answer any one question I asked.
At my words, Jeok Byeong-chul Officer smiled broadly.
“You have a good memory as well, Small Guild Leader.”
“I’ve always had a sharp memory.”
“Of course I remember. And I’m looking forward to it—what question you’ll ask to delight me.”
“Haha.”
“By the way, you played the role of the Old Man Beneath the Moon quite well.”
“Ah…”
He truly is Jeok Byeong-chul Officer.
“You did well.”
Well… I was praised.
I didn’t expect this.
Just then, Go Il-pyeong External Chief Manager entered Eun-wol Pavilion.
“Haha! What were you discussing so merrily?”
He’s brimming with energy this morning.
“Ah! External Chief Manager, you’ve arrived?”
“The External Chief Manager is here. We were just having a pleasant conversation.”
After him, the others entered one by one and took their seats.
The table at Eun-wol Pavilion is a white round table.
With Father at the center, Eun Jung-ho sat to his right, and I sat beside him.
To Father’s left sat the Internal Chief Manager, External Chief Manager, and Yeon Gak-ju and Jeok Byeong-chul Officer.
“First, the date for Eun Jung-ho’s wedding has been set.”
“Ah! So you’re finally getting married!”
“It was truly a touching proposal that moved us all to tears.”
In fact, when Eun Jung-ho made his proposal, everyone present here witnessed it.
It was only natural.
After all, it was an event involving Eun Jung-ho, who would become both a Small Merchant Guild Leader and a Merchant Guild Leader.
“I am embarrassed.”
Eun Jung-ho’s face flushed red, and seeing this, Yeon Gak-ju laughed softly.
“Our Eun Jung-ho, Small Merchant Guild Leader, I thought you lacked such boldness, but you’ve surprised me.”
“Hahahaha.”
She was genuinely enjoying teasing Eun Jung-ho.
At that moment, the External Chief Manager spoke.
“However, I did not expect Jin Miss’s martial prowess to be so exceptional. To think she has already reached the threshold of first-rate mastery.”
“And as a poor martial artist with no special support, no less.”
Everyone present acknowledged Jin So-mi Miss’s martial abilities.
They all understood it.
That the exceptional martial skills of successors from prestigious families and the Nine Great Sects were due to the various resources they received.
To reiterate, becoming a first-rate warrior required talent.
Thus, no matter how hard an ordinary person worked, they would remain second-rate their entire lives.
But with exceptional talent, one could dramatically reduce the time needed to accumulate inner energy.
Add to that the various elixirs and peerless secret techniques available here, and that period could be shortened further and further.
However, merely possessing abundant inner energy did not make one strong.
What mattered was enlightenment.
A second-rate warrior with enlightenment crushing a first-rate warrior without it was not unusual.
In other words, one could only become a powerful martial artist by balancing inner energy with enlightenment.
In any case, Jin Miss possessed exceptional talent in both aspects.
That is why the Jegal Family’s Grand Elder readily agreed to become her patron.
In my past life, Jin Miss—or rather, my sister-in-law—never set down her sword even after marriage.
By the time I died, she had already reached the pinnacle of mastery.
That is why I found it regrettable.
If only she had consumed elixirs at a younger age.
If only she had been given an environment where she could train in swordsmanship without worry.
Then, before my death, my sister-in-law would have transcended the pinnacle and reached the realm beyond—the supreme mastery.
She might have even glimpsed the Transcendent Realm.
Had that been the case, she would not have fallen so helplessly to the Murim Alliance.
In any case, my brother Eun Jung-ho would never again have to suffer defeat at anyone’s hands.
“I am not one to judge Jin Miss, but the very fact that she has concealed such skill speaks volumes of her character.”
The External Chief Manager held my sister-in-law in high regard.
In my past life too, the External Chief Manager had been her supporter.
“Then let us discuss the preparations for Eun Jung-ho’s marriage. First, regarding Yeon Gak-ju….”
Thus we discussed the marriage preparations, and there turned out to be far less to prepare than expected.
“Then, next, we have matters to entrust to Seo-ho, who will now formally attend the Eun-wol Pavilion meetings starting today.”
At those words, everyone’s gaze turned toward me.
“Initially, I was thinking of entrusting you with the Eunhae Fabric Shop.”
Everyone nodded at his words.
The Eunhae Fabric Shop….
That was the first task I had taken on in my previous life.
“When Seo-ho visited the fabric shop to have clothes made for the Jamu Dolls, the Shop Manager mentioned… that he was quite skilled?”
At Father’s question, Yeon Gak-ju nodded.
“Yes, he said it was as if Seo-ho had rolled through the fabrics for five years.”
Ah….
It seemed my past experience managing the fabric shop had unconsciously manifested in my actions.
And the Shop Manager, worn down by years at the fabric shop, could not have failed to notice it.
“So taking charge of the fabric shop would be meaningless, and since he’s already overseeing the production of the wind-catching devices….”
“He’s also involved in the production and sales of the Jamu Dolls.”
It was then that the Sefung Officer spoke.
“From what I’ve observed, Small Merchant Guild Leader Seo-ho is like the wind itself.”
“Pardon?”
Me, like the wind?
Why was he suddenly saying such a thing?
“Whenever something arises, you rush forward like a whirlwind and resolve matters with refreshing clarity. Moreover, you bring unexpected gains like a spring breeze, so your manner feels much like the wind itself.”
Everyone nodded at the Sefung Officer’s words.
“Therefore, I, Jeok Byeong-chul, Director of Sefung Hall, have something to propose to the Merchant Guild Leader.”
“What might that be?”
“I would like Small Merchant Guild Leader Seo-ho to take charge of an independent organization.”
At those words, Father fell silent in thought before looking at me.
“Indeed, that might suit Seo-ho better. What do the rest of you think?”
Everyone nodded in agreement at Father’s question.
“It seems Small Merchant Guild Leader Seo-ho has caught your fancy, Director Jeok. Hehe.”
At Yeon Gak-ju’s words, Yu Chief Manager spoke.
“It’s because he possesses such capability.”
“Indeed, that’s true.”
This was praise, wasn’t it? Hearing such direct compliments made me feel utterly mortified.
“Then we are all in agreement. What say you? Can you take charge of and operate an independent organization?”
I answered his question.
“Yes, I can.”
It was not a difficult task for me. Even before returning at fifteen, I had already been managing an independent organization.
“As for what you need… submit the documents yourself. I will provide whatever is necessary based on your request.”
“Understood.”
.
.
.
It had been a chaotic day.
As evening fell, I finally had some time, and I headed to the Separate Quarters where Gong the Potter’s family lived to keep my promise.
Gong Mil and Gong Rae had insisted I come, and I had agreed to visit.
“Young Master! Oh, I should be calling you Small Merchant Guild Leader now!”
At Gong Rae’s words, I let out a soft laugh.
“Just call me whatever feels natural to you.”
“But I must observe proper etiquette—that’s what makes me a good child.”
I gently stroked Gong Rae’s head.
“Where is Gong Mil?”
“He’s in the workshop.”
I led Gong Rae to Gong Mil’s workshop. As always, Gong Mil was absorbed in something at his work table.
Knock, knock.
At the sound of my knocking, Gong Mil looked up, and immediately broke into a broad smile.
“Small Merchant Guild Leader!”
“Still working, I see.”
“Yes, a new design just came to me.”
Gong Mil answered with a radiant smile, then rose from his seat and handed me a box that had been beside him.
“It’s a humble gift.”
“Thank you.”
I could feel the sincerity contained within the box.
“May I open it?”
“Of course.”
I opened the box.
‘What…?’
Inside lay an object I had never seen before.
“What is this…?”
It was a small figurine in the pose of playing a guqin.
“If you turn the base beneath the figurine about ten times and place it on a table, it will work.”
Following Gong Mil’s instructions, I turned the base ten times and set it on the table.
Then something remarkable happened.
Ting, ting-ting, ting.
The figurine slowly rotated while the sound of the guqin being played began to fill the air.
“Ah…”
I was utterly astonished.
Playing the guqin all by itself!
“I’m delighted to see you so surprised, Small Merchant Guild Leader. I’ve named this the Self-Playing Guqin.”
It meant a guqin that played itself.
“How did you ever conceive of such a thing?”
“While listening to Rae sing, the idea suddenly struck me. If there are figurines that dance on their own, I thought I could create one that plays music on its own.”
To create such an intricate device as the Self-Playing Guqin!
Gong Mil was truly a genius.
The value of this black gold is absolutely staggering.
At that moment, Gong Rae grasped my sleeve.
“I have a gift too….”

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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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