Chapter 207
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 207
Chapter 207. Yangyang Martial Arts Academy (6)
A wealthy family located near Seoho.
The family grew rapidly in the previous generation and became so wealthy that they were well known in the neighborhood.
However, their son, Sung-joon, was not satisfied with that and wanted to become even wealthier.
This was because, although he owned a considerable amount of land, he was only considered to be of average wealth among the rich people in the area.
Most of the wealthiest people in the West Lake area were tavern owners or landlords.
Therefore, Sung-joon, the chairman, also decided to build a tavern.
He wanted to become the richest man in the West Lake area by building a tavern.
Fortunately, there was a suitable piece of land near West Lake.
Although the land was a little far from Seoho, that disadvantage would disappear if he built a tall building.
The reason why the Seong family had never run a tavern before was because of the policy of the previous chairman.
He left a message to Seong Jang-ju to that effect.
“Joon-ah, if you want our family to continue for a long time, don't get involved in entertainment businesses, whether it be a tavern or anything else.”
“What? Why?”
“Our family is not capable of handling such a business.”
But he wanted to tell his late father.
That his father was wrong.
That the castle was capable of handling such a business and should have started it.
It was not too late, even now.
He wanted to succeed in the tavern business and become a son his father could be proud of.
Of course, he would also make a fortune and become the richest man in Hangzhou.
So, five years after inheriting the family business, he decided to start a tavern.
There was a martial arts academy on the tavern's property where his father had allowed a martial arts master to stay for over ten years.
It didn't matter.
If the owner of the land told him to leave, he had to leave, right?
It was too cold to move, but that was none of his concern.
“Besides, giving them three months' notice is quite generous. Hmm!”
Just then, the chief administrator came to him and reported, “Chairman, I have discussed it with the builders, and they say it will cost about 30 nyang to demolish the buildings on that site.”
"What? 30 nyang?
“Really?”
Come to think of it, there was no reason for him to pay that money.
Shouldn't the person who built the building there pay for the demolition costs?
Moreover, there was nothing else in the contract except that he would pay five taels of silver every year in exchange for renting the land.
Besides, he had said he would buy the land, so it didn't seem like he didn't have the money.
The principal of the Yangyang Martial Arts Academy protested, but he ignored the objection.
What could he do? He was the owner of the land.
For a moment, his father's words came to mind.
“Always treat the Yangyang Martial Arts Academy with respect. They saved my life and saved our family...”
He shook his head and forgot about it.
“They saved my father, who is already dead, and it has nothing to do with me. By the way, I heard that there are guests there.”
He looked around to see if they were there, but there was no report.
They were just playing with the children.
“I guess they came to help them move.”
He decided not to worry about the guests anymore.
*
A few days passed, and I didn't feel any eyes watching me.
It was time to take action.
I took my bodyguards and left the martial arts academy.
Looking at the map and comparing it with my memory, I headed for the place where I thought the seal was stamped.
I had spent months wandering around this area in my previous life and had even made a map, so I was very familiar with the geography.
However, since this was my first time here, I had deliberately brought the map with me.
“Liege, you seem to know the geography of this area very well.”
“I've looked at this map so many times that it's easy to find.”
“Still, it's amazing that you know your way around better than us.”
I chuckled at Seo Woo's words.
I'm glad I brought the map.
Even if I have a good sense of direction and memory, it would look strange if I found the place so easily without looking at the map.
“Come to our Baekmiro!”
“Hey, handsome Orabeoni~. We'll take good care of you.”
Seeing the courtesans eagerly soliciting customers, Pal-gap quickly stuck to me.
“Why?”
“I feel like I need to protect you.”
“It's okay. Do you think I'm the type of person who would fall for them?”
“I guess you're right.”
The laughter of courtesans and customers could be heard everywhere, mixed with the sounds of drunken revelers shouting and the music playing in the background.
The scent of perfume and incense from the courtesans, as well as the smell of alcohol and snacks, filled the air.
As they passed through the densely packed taverns, Seoho came into view, surrounded by over a hundred red lanterns lighting up the area.
The lanterns were lit by street vendors selling various snacks, and it was already cold, so the vendors looked like they were having a hard time.
Boats with lanterns lit up were coming and going on Seoho, which had not yet frozen over.
There is an unofficial name for Seoho among the people.
The place with no night.
That must be because it is always crowded with people, day and night.
In other words, it is a place where people spend money freely.
The chairman of the tavern must also be building the tavern in hopes of making money.
Although the Yangyang Martial Arts Academy is a little far from the West Lake, if he builds tall buildings and charges slightly lower prices, he will be able to make a profit.
However, it will take a long time to recover the investment, and he will not be able to make as much money as he thinks.
Furthermore, it is a big problem that a prohibition on alcohol will be imposed soon after the tavern is built.
I don't intend to acquire the famous Taoist temple or tavern here right now.
Even if I said, “Give this place to me!” right now, they would just say, “What?” and ignore my offer.
I think the right time would be about two years from now.
Even if I made extensive preparations in advance and advised the emperor, I cannot prevent a famine.
Even if a civil uprising breaks out, it will be small and there won't be many deaths, but a prohibition on alcohol will probably be imposed.
That's how severe the famine is.
With that in mind, I glanced at my bodyguards.
They were slightly flushed from the blatant advances of the courtesans, but they didn't even glance at them.
I chose my bodyguards well.
After walking for about a quarter of an hour, we arrived in front of an old pavilion.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes, this must be it.”
I replied and took a closer look at the pavilion.
It was relatively small, but it was a pavilion that enshrined Okryong and Geum-bong, two immortals from the legend of Seoho.
In ancient times, two immortals named Okryong and Geum-bong discovered white jade near the Milky Way, where immortals lived, and spent decades carving it into a piece of silk.
The silk had a mysterious power, and wherever its light shone, vegetation grew luxuriantly. Seeing this, the Queen Mother of the West stole the silk.
Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix fought with the Queen Mother of the West, and in the commotion, the silk fell to the ground and became West Lake.
And this is the place marked with the seal of the Chairman.
There must be something here...
I wasn't sure yet, but for some reason, I felt that the real contract was hidden here.
I was about to start searching right away, but I paused for a moment.
Even though it was just a legend, these were the people who created West Lake, so I felt I should at least pay my respects.
I didn't have to bow, but I should at least burn some incense.
I asked Pal-gap to buy some incense, and he quickly returned with it.
I lit the incense and placed it in the incense burner.
The smoke rose upward...
Hm?
The direction the smoke was rising seemed a little strange. Normally, it would rise straight up, but this smoke was bending slightly in a suspicious direction.
The smoke was heading toward the wall on the left side of the hall.
As I turned my head toward it, I suddenly jumped up without thinking.
“Liege?”
“Wait a moment.”
I went to the wall and found a thread sticking out from between the bricks.
Could it be?
Unlike ordinary walls, this wall was made of bricks that had been carefully stacked.
If so...
I carefully pushed the bricks upward.
Squeak.
The bricks slid upward, revealing traces of soil inside.
The thread I had seen was buried in the soil.
This is it!
Bang! Bang!
When I dug out the dirt with the dagger, I saw a thin, long black box. The thread was connected to the box.
“Huh...”
I took a deep breath and calmly took out the box.
There was a rolled-up scroll inside, which I took out and unfolded.
It was a real contract for leasing 500 pyeong of land located in XX, Hangzhou, to Yangyang Martial Arts Academy.
I, Seong-myeong, promise to lease the land to Yangyang Martial Arts Academy permanently in exchange for five nang of silver every year as a reward for saving my life.
If this promise is broken and my descendants order the eviction, the rights to the land will be transferred to Yangyang Martial Arts Academy, and the obligation to pay rent will also be nullified.
There were a few more things written on it.
The back page was a letter to his son, the current chairman.
.
.
.
As I read it, I couldn't help but laugh.
“Hahaha.”
“What's so funny?”
“The previous Chairman Seong seems to have been quite an unusual person.”
The previous Principal of Yangyang Martial Arts Academy must have known about this.
However, I think he died suddenly and was unable to pass this information on.
Then why did he hide it here?
It was probably because Seong Jang-gu knew his son's character too well.
The contents were overwhelmingly unfavorable to Seong Jang-gu.
If he had known about the existence of this contract, he would have tried to destroy it somehow.
Just as Yeonhwa-ru's Ru committed arson to destroy the contract that existed in the Eunhae Trading Company.
Of course, in this life, I stopped him and he failed.
This was also a test for his son. The letter on the back proves it.
In addition, the Chairman left a mark on his seal, fearing that Yang Yang-mu-gwan would suffer in the future if his son ordered him to leave and he did not know about the contract.
By the way, should we call this “small gains and big losses”?
But Yangyang Martial Arts Academy saved the life of the former Chairman? Does the current Chairman not know about this?
If he knows and still did that, he is a truly evil person.
If the current Chairman knew that Yangyang Martial Arts Academy saved his father and his family, but still treated him so cruelly, then even if I took harsh measures, the former Chairman would understand.
If I hadn't found this, Yangyang Martial Arts Academy would have been kicked out of here.
Just like in my previous life.
Of course, now that I'm here, I wouldn't have been put in such a harsh environment like in my previous life.
As I looked at the real contract in my hand, wondering what to do with it, a good idea suddenly came to mind.
I have a very good status given to me by His Majesty the Emperor.
He will understand if I use it.
Before that, I had to make sure that the Chairman knew that Yangyang Martial Arts Academy was his father's benefactor and that of his family.
I had to ask Chun-il.
.
.
.
Two days later.
I stood by the lake with a good view of Seoho.
A beautiful courtesan approached me. Pal-gap saw her and tried to stop her, but I stopped him.
“She's my guest.”
“What?”
“Chun-il.”
“...!”
Pal-gap was startled by my words and widened his eyes, and my guards reacted the same way.
Chun-il's disguises were that good.
“You recognized me. Ho ho ho.”
“You were a waiter before, and now you're a courtesan?”
“It's for a difficult client.”
“Is that why you recognized me?”
Chun-il nodded at my question.
“It wasn't that difficult for me. I already knew about the request. I know that Yangyang Martial Arts Academy saved the life of the former Chairman and is a benefactor of my family.”
“....”
He really is a bad guy.
The next day, I headed to the county office.
I wanted to have the seal on the real contract I had notarized as the seal of the former Chairman of the Yangyang Military Command.
This was necessary to get the notarization that this was the real contract so that things would go smoothly.
However, Jihyeon refused to notarize the seal.
Instead, he tried to frame me as a criminal.
“Isn't this a fake?”
“What?”
“It's a forgery. Where did you get this fake to try to blind me?”
I sighed inwardly.
People never change.
Considering the time and place, Ji-hyun must have been one of those who took bribes and turned a blind eye to alcohol sales in his previous life and was punished severely.
I heard that several officials were also severely punished at that time.
Someone like him must have received a considerable amount of money from the Chairman of the Dao and will continue to do so in the future.
“Hey! Arrest that insolent man immediately!”
“Yes!”
Just as the guards were rushing toward me,
I took out my inspection badge from my pocket and said, "I am an imperial inspector.
“Are you persecuting the emperor's inspector?”
“Inspector?”
Jihyeon approached me with a startled expression, checked my badge, and fell backward in shock.
“Huh!”
“So how much did you extort from him?”