The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 89

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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 89

Chapter 89. For My Aunt (1)

Yu So-ak closed the book.
“That concludes today’s lesson.”
“Thank you for your instruction.”
“Thank you for your instruction.”
Before Yu So-ak sat two young men, their posture impeccable and attentive.
Though calling them young men seemed generous—their faces still bore the softness of youth.
They were Gwak Hyung-jin and Seok Il-song respectively.
Both stood on the threshold of adulthood, their coming-of-age ceremonies looming near.
Two years prior, they had met at the occasion of Eun Seo-ho’s investiture as Small Merchant Guild Leader, and had since begun their studies together under Yu So-ak.
They were fierce rivals, locked in relentless competition, yet also the closest of friends.
Through their mutual refinement and encouragement, they now studied the Book of Documents at an age approaching fifteen—a remarkable achievement.
It was nothing short of extraordinary progress.

When Seok Il-song began working at the Merchant Guild, Gwak Hyung-jin, inspired by his friend’s example, declared his own intention to do the same.
Go Il-pyeong, the External Chief Manager and commander of the Eunpung Corps, wasted no time in claiming the talented youth for himself.

“Ah! I see you’ve trained in martial arts. Your father is Gwak Pyo-du, you say? Learning family martial techniques, are you? And already studying the Analects? Sharp mind you have. Perfect! I have considerable work that needs handling. Could you lend me your assistance?”
“I shall do my utmost.”

Go Il-pyeong had been in need of capable deputy officers, truth be told.
Yet those he had brought from the Jaegyeong Pavilion had all proven unable to endure the demands, returning to their posts one after another.
Working alongside martial artists of considerable skill proved far too demanding for them.
But Gwak Hyung-jin possessed both intelligence and an unshakeable composure in the presence of warriors—such talent was not something Go Il-pyeong would ever allow to slip away.
Gwak Hyung-jin flourished like a fish returned to water.
Under Yu So-ak’s continued guidance, his document-writing skills grew more refined with each passing day.
And the Eunpung Corps’s chronic problem—the failure to deliver necessary documents on schedule—was finally resolved.
Whenever paperwork that should have been submitted went missing, he would rush forth with the persistence of a hunting dog to demand its completion.

“You said you’d give me the list of warriors standing guard tomorrow by this morning. Why haven’t you given it to me?”
“Ah, I said I would.”
“Give it to me right now!”
“Ah, this brat, you’re really pushing it.”
“Yes, I’m a brat, and I’m not leaving until you give it to me.”
“Ah, seriously….”

Gwak Hyung-jin was learning the family martial arts: the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art and the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique.
He was studying the same martial arts as Eun Seo-ho.
Though his inner energy was less and his achievements lower than Eun Seo-ho’s.
But the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art was a divine technique modeled after the harshness of the winter sea.
Its power was overwhelming for ordinary warriors to bear.
Moreover, Gwak Hyung-jin had grown up feeling his father’s presence, so he was unintimidated by the warriors’ aura.
Consequently, the Eunpung Corps warriors, who had always caused trouble to other departments by delaying paperwork, now processed their documents immediately because of Gwak Hyung-jin.
Thus work was handled swiftly, and both External Chief Manager Go Il-pyeong and Eunpung Corps Deputy Commander Yun Chung-jin were satisfied.

“I brought in talent well. Hehehehe.”

Thus Seok Il-song was growing into a recognized talent at Jaegyeong Pavilion, and Gwak Hyung-jin at the Eunpung Corps.

“Starting the day after tomorrow, you two have your vacation.”
“Yes.”
“That’s correct.”
The Eunhae Trading Company had two official vacations.
The Boknal vacation given during the hottest days, and the Winter Solstice vacation given in winter.
The Boknal vacation allowed three consecutive days off, chosen from the first, second, or final Boknal period.
Gwak Hyung-jin and Seok Il-song had chosen to take their vacation during this final Boknal period.
“During your vacation, there are no lessons, so enjoy your time off completely.”
“Yes.”
“I shall do so.”
“So, what are you planning to do during your vacation?”
“That is….”
“I’m not quite sure.”
They soon realized an important fact.
They had received three days of vacation, but they had no idea what to do with it.
“Think about it for a while.”
“Yes.”
They bade farewell to Yu So-ak and left the Separate Pavilion where he stayed.
Yu So-ak was residing in the Separate Pavilion within the Eunhae Trading Company.
“Let’s go. I’ll see you to the Eunpung Corps.”
“Yes.”
Since Seok Il-song was staying at Yu So-ak’s separate pavilion, I could have gone to Jaegyeong Pavilion with Yu So-ak later.
But I chose to escort Gwak Hyung-jin to Eunpung Corps first, then head to Jaegyeong Pavilion.
“By the way, what do we actually do during our real vacation?”
“Well….”
Then they spotted a familiar figure standing ahead.
It was Eun Seo-ho.
To both of them, Eun Seo-ho was their benefactor.
He had saved Gwak Hyung-jin, who nearly died in the Bamboo Forest near home.
He had rescued Seok Il-song, who had been wandering about as a beggar.
Because of this, the meaning of Eun Seo-ho as a person held special significance for both of them.
‘I heard he caught that swindler called the Shaanxi Scorpion this time.’
‘And brought three Shaanxi merchant organizations under his command?’
‘He truly is remarkable!’
‘No wonder Father speaks so highly of Lord Eun Seo-ho.’
They quickly greeted him.
“Good day to you.”
“Good day to you.”
Eun Seo-ho warmly returned their greeting.
“Hello. Coming back from your studies, I see.”
“Yes.”
“That’s correct.”
Because Eun Seo-ho was such a person, they asked him about their current concern.
“Lord, if I may ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“We’ve been granted a vacation.”
“I see. So your vacation starts the day after tomorrow? I’m envious.”
I could feel that he genuinely envied them.
“But what did you want to ask?”
“Lord, how do you spend your vacation?”
At that question, Eun Seo-ho laughed and replied.
“I don’t have vacations.”
“Pardon?”
For a moment, they were taken aback.
“Ever since I became a Small Merchant Guild Leader, vacations have ceased to exist for me.”
“….”
“Even in summer, I could officially take a day or two off, but work keeps me too busy to even manage that.”
“…”
“Still, if things weren’t so hectic, I could unofficially carve out a day or two.”
From what they could see, Eun Seo-ho was extremely busy.
I wondered if there were even any days that could be spared for rest.
Even the vacation time we had went unused because of how busy things were.
Gwak Hyung-jin broached the subject.
“Well, actually, we’re not sure what we should do during our vacation.”
Seok Il-song continued.
“What would be good to do?”
At that question, Eun Seo-ho smiled and replied.
“First, have fun.”
“Sir?”
“Go out to the Marketplace Street and see what goods are there, watch some street performers. As you play around like that, you’ll naturally think of what you want to do.”

* * *

I watched Gwak Hyung-jin and Seok Il-song disappear into the distance.
Vacation, huh….
Ah, I’m envious.
Because the schedule in Shaanxi Province had stretched on, my official two days of rest had slipped away.
There was simply too much accumulated work to enjoy a vacation.
I smacked my lips briefly before quickening my pace.
Father had summoned me.

“You called for me?”
Father pointed me toward the low table.
“Sit.”
“Yes, Father.”
The way he invited me to sit at the table suggested this conversation would be lengthy.
A maidservant brought tea.
“Seo-ho.”
“Yes, Father.”
“You’ll need to visit your Aunt.”
“…Yes?”
Father handed me a letter in response to my questioning tone.
“Your cousin passed the provincial examination, it seems.”
“….”
I accepted the letter and read it.
The contents indicated that my cousin had passed the provincial examination—specifically the provincial-level exam—and that a celebration banquet was being held for this achievement.
The examination system required first passing the county, prefectural, and provincial tests to qualify.
Passing here granted one the status of Scholar.
Then all the Scholars from the province gathered to take another exam, and passing this provincial exam elevated one to the rank of Recommended Man.
Becoming a Recommended Man meant one could be appointed to a lower official position, but to become a central government official, one ultimately had to pass the metropolitan and palace examinations.
My cousin had passed the provincial examination.
It was certainly cause for celebration.
Passing the provincial examination was genuinely difficult.
The imperial examination was the final stage where merit determined which official position one would receive.
That was where the top scholar was decided.
“So listen—you’ll go to Beijing in my stead and attend to your grandfather. As you know, both Jung-ho and Jin-ho are away on business.”
“I….”
“You know you have to go to Beijing anyway. You’ve just returned from the Wuyi Merchant Guild in Shaanxi Province—surely you don’t intend to skip your report?”
“….”
Father was right.
When conducting an inspection, I had to file an inspection report and submit my findings within a month.
I had planned to go at the end of this month….
“When should I depart, Father?”
“You must leave by the day after tomorrow at the latest.”
“I understand.”
My aunt had married into a merchant family in Beijing.
So when I visited Beijing before, I had seen my aunt’s family.
“Make your preparations.”
“…Yes.”

I left Father’s office.
I would have to meet my cousin….
Honestly, meeting my cousin was somewhat awkward for me.
True to form for a scholar, whenever we met he would drone on endlessly about Confucius and Mencius and other tedious matters.
When I went to Beijing alone before, he was deep in his studies, so I managed to slip away and visit only my aunt before returning.
But this time I was going formally to meet my cousin.
Spending some time together was a matter of propriety.
Unless I was terribly busy, I had to sit with him for at least two hours.
This would be torture.
Honestly, I disliked all this talk of Confucius and such. That’s why I thought Yu Chief Manager and Gwak Hyung-jin and Seok Il-song, who studied under him, were remarkable.
Wait.
Now that I think about it, didn’t Gwak Hyung-jin and Seok Il-song have three days of leave starting the day after tomorrow?
I turned around and headed back to Father’s office.
“Father, I have something to ask of you.”
.
.
.
I obtained Father’s permission to bring Gwak Hyung-jin and Seok Il-song with me to Beijing.
The pretext was broadening the horizons of these future talents of the Eunhae Trading Company.
Besides, my grandfather would need some companionship.

That afternoon.
When I informed Seok Il-song and Gwak Hyung-jin about the trip to Beijing, they were absolutely delighted.
“You’re going to Beijing?”
“Truly?”
Their superiors, Yu Inner Chief Manager and Go External Chief Manager, couldn’t bring themselves to say no in the face of such enthusiasm.
Yes, that was exactly what I was counting on.
Besides, since neither of them had been assigned any particularly critical duties yet, I could spare them for about a month.
.
.
.
The next morning.
The moment I finished my breathing exercises, Master appeared.
“Good morning.”
“Master, you’ve arrived?”
“Then let us begin today’s training.”
From today onward, I would begin learning the eighth form of the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique.
The name of the eighth move was One Point Suspended Ice.
It meant a single icicle.
“You concentrate all your force on a single point to strike. It is a technique of killing with one blow.”
“That will require considerable concentration.”
“Your observation is correct.”
I wondered how long this form would take to master.
Just hearing the description, it seemed like it would demand considerable time.
Today’s training was nonetheless a meaningful session.
Though I did find myself silently cursing Master’s name more than once.
“We shall conclude today’s training here.”
“Thank you for your instruction.”
Master looked at me and spoke.
“Hyung-jin seemed quite excited. He mentioned going to Beijing.”
“Ah….”
Then, suddenly, Master bowed deeply to me and clasped his fists in salute.
“W-what, Master?”
I was startled by his unexpected gesture.
“Please look after our Hyung-jin well.”
“….”
It was the figure of a father bowing his head for the sake of his son.
I too bowed respectfully in return.
“Yes, I shall return safely with him.”
.
.
.
After breakfast, I headed toward Cha-jang.
That was where we had decided to depart from.
Upon arriving at Cha-jang, everything was already perfectly prepared.
Just then, I heard someone rushing over hurriedly. Turning my head, I saw Gwak Hyung-jin and Seok Il-song.
“I apologize for being late.”
“I apologize.”
“It’s fine. You’re not late.”
Grandfather hadn’t arrived yet, so we weren’t late.
But those two were carrying quite a lot of things bundled up.
“What did you bring so much for?”
“Clothes and… snacks to eat along the way, things like that.”
“…?”
“The Internal Chief Manager prepared them for us.”
Yu Chief Manager had truly become a father figure to Seok Il-song.
I looked at Gwak Hyung-jin.
He too carried no small burden of luggage.
He scratched his cheek as he answered.
“Mother prepared….”
“I see.”
Just then, Grandfather emerged. He was dressed handsomely for this rare outing.
We divided ourselves among the carriages.
Grandfather rode in the same carriage as those two, while I rode with Palgap and Yeochang’s Deputy.
There were some matters I needed to attend to along the way.
“Then let us depart.”
“Yes.”
At Grandfather’s words, we set out while being seen off by our family members.
Gwak Hyung-jin and Seok Il-song greatly enjoyed traveling with Grandfather.
They seemed to be hearing quite useful stories.
So I told them to listen intently and commit those words to memory.
They were precious teachings that money could not buy.
.
.
.
Several days later, we arrived in Beijing.
The journey to Beijing was not particularly arduous.
The roads were well-maintained throughout.
Thanks to the message we sent ahead announcing our imminent arrival, my Aunt, Uncle, Seon-il Elder Brother, and Seon-mi came out early to greet us.

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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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