Chapter 208
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 208
Chapter 208. A Connection in Hangzhou (1)
Ji-hyun stammered at my words.
“What do you mean? Accept it?”
“Then on what grounds are you saying that the seal on the contract I gave you is fake?”
“That's...”
Jihyun hesitated but couldn't answer.
“His Majesty the Emperor hates bribery. That's why those who bribed the palace servants during the silk delivery competition suffered greatly.”
“...”
“I heard that the interrogation process was quite brutal.”
Jihyun's face turned pale at those words.
Should I drive the point home?
“If you find it difficult to speak, you don't have to. I will have to report to the imperial palace soon anyway. At that time, I will investigate you, Ji-hyun.”
“Please spare my life!”
Before I could finish, Ji-hyun fell flat on his face.
Then he grabbed my legs and said desperately.
“I was blinded by greed and took money that I shouldn't have!”
Tsk, tsk. You should have confessed earlier.
“Please, just let me live!”
I paused for a moment before saying.
“I have to report this incident to the emperor, so there's nothing I can do about what he will hear.”
“Ah…”
“But I will tell you how to save your life.”
Jihyeon looked at me with desperate eyes, and I smiled faintly and said, “First, find out if that contract is real or fake. And…”
“Yes, yes. Of course. And what else should I do?”
“Yes, yes. Of course. What else should I do?”
“Use the money you received as a bribe to buy grain and send it to the palace. Then you can save your life and your honor.”
“Do I really have to do that?”
“Then you shouldn't have accepted the bribe in the first place.”
“....”
“You'd better remember that.”
“I understand.”
Jihyun nodded, but he seemed hesitant.
After all, a greedy person who accepted a bribe like that would not easily give up all his possessions.
But isn't that a small price to pay for his life?
What good is money after you're dead?
If a large amount of grain is suddenly offered, His Majesty will surely notice something is amiss.
If he accepts my offer, I will ask His Majesty for leniency.
If he has given up all his property, His Majesty will surely turn a blind eye.
It is not my concern what decision Jihyun makes.
I have shown him a way to survive, but it is up to him to take action.
All I need is to have the contract I found notarized as authentic.
.
.
.
A short time later
I returned to the Yangyang Martial Arts Academy.
I immediately headed for the office of Principal Yeom and asked him to call Head Escort Ha.
Soon, the two of us gathered in the office.
“Why did you ask me to come here?”
In response to Principal Yeom's question, I took the real contract out of my pocket and placed it on the table.
“Just as I thought. The real contract was hidden here.”
“What?”
“The real contract?”
“Read it.”
When I handed them the paper, they tilted their heads and began to read the real contract.
“...!”
“...!”
Their eyes widened and deep sighs escaped their lips.
“No, no.”
“Oh no...”
They were so shocked that they couldn't even speak properly.
“I'm shocked too.”
The two of them managed to speak.
“I didn't know anything about this.”
“Yes, and I don't think the Palace Head knew either. If he had known, he would have told us.”
That must be it. If Master had known about this, he wouldn't have looked so worried.
“According to the letter on the back, it seems that the former Principal kept this a secret at the request of the former Chairman.”
“Because he passed away suddenly, he couldn't tell me about it.”
“I think so.”
Yeom Principal thought for a moment and then spoke.
“But the problem is not solved yet. The Chairman is likely to refuse to recognize the authenticity of this contract.”
“I have already thought of that. That is why I prepared this.”
I unfolded a scroll and placed it on the table. It was Ji-hyun's notarized statement confirming the authenticity of the contract.
Head Escort Ha was speechless.
“Wow! You are thorough.”
However, Principal Yeom asked me with a puzzled look.
“But how did you get this? As far as I know, Chairman Sung must have already grilled Jihyun…”
“There are ways.”
When I gave a vague answer, Principal Yeom understood what I meant and nodded.
“I see. You are truly amazing. So, this land belongs to the Yangyang Martial Arts Academy.”
“That's right.”
“Then we don't have to move?”
However, I didn't answer his question and continued with a grim smile.
“I have no intention of ending this on good terms. Shouldn't you compensate me for the mental anguish I've suffered because of this?”
“No, it's fine. I'm satisfied.”
Yeom Kwan-ju said with a smile.
“I am satisfied with the fact that we will get this land and that we don't have to move.”
Ha Head Escort added, “That's right. And the Prince will also be satisfied with this.”
“That's right. And the Palace Head will also be satisfied with this.”
I shook my head.
“No. I have no intention of stopping here.”
“That…”
I interrupted Yeom Kwan-ju and continued.
“According to the information I obtained, Sung Jang-ju knows that Yangyang Martial Arts Academy is the benefactor of the previous Chairman and Sung Jang-ju.”
“What?”
“Is that true?”
“Yes. And the late Chairman told his son repeatedly that Yangyang Martial Arts Academy is our family's benefactor, so he should treat them well.”
“....
”Even so, the Chairman tried to kick Yangyang Martial Arts Academy out. I can't forgive the Chairman for that."
Upon hearing the situation, Principal Yeom and Head Escort Ha's faces darkened.
“So, do you need a new building?”
“What?”
“The building looks old.”
Head Escort Ha nodded at my words.
“Well... It's been over ten years since this building was built. And it wasn't built with very good materials.”
“Then prepare to move.”
“What?”
“Move?”
“In order to catch a big fish, you have to wait.”
I found out through Chun-il that the city lord was going to build an eight-story tavern here.
He also said he would build several annexes and a beautiful garden.
That would be a good place for the pillars of the reconstructed Seolpung Palace to grow.
I chuckled.
So, we are moving to help the city lord make a “mistake.”
The more effort Chairman Sung puts into the tavern, the better it is for us.
Instead, there won't be any space for a training ground in that building, so we'll have to buy some land next door to use as a training ground.
I am Senior Brother, after all.
I am willing to make that sacrifice for the children.
However, this will take about a year.
I can't stay here forever, so I need someone to take over my duties.
Should I leave the work here to Pal-gap?
He looks like a bear, but he's actually very quick-witted and sharp when he needs to be.
But without Pal-gap, I won't have anyone to assist me.
There is still time, so I should focus on other things for now.
* *
To be honest, compared to other lakes in the Central Plains, West Lake is not that big.
However, the scenery is spectacular, so many people come to enjoy it.
A cloth shop on a street in Hangzhou.
The shop was busy as usual today.
“This is the new silk we just brought in. The dyeing is very well done. There isn't a single stain.”
“Oh my! How beautiful...”
“If you wear this indigo skirt with gold embroidery and a scarlet jacket, how stunning you will look!”
“That's right.”
“Men passing by won't be able to resist looking at you.”
“I'll take it.”
The main customers of the fabric store near Seoho were women from the taverns, and for them, Eun Deok Fabric Store was quite famous.
The store did not have a long history.
Only four years ago, a man named Wi Joon-deok bought the existing store and opened a fabric store.
At first, it was much smaller than it is now, but in just four years, it has more than doubled in size.
After the rush of customers had passed, Yoo Joon-deok left the store for a moment.
“I'll be right back.”
“Yes, please go ahead, Elder Hyeongsu.”
Yoo Joon-deok smiled and waved his hand.
“Hehe, I'm not a Hyeongsu anymore.”
“But it's become a habit…”
“Well, I've been calling you that for over ten years…” “I'll be back.”
“Yes.”
Wi Joon-deok left the fabric store and walked down the street.
“How quickly time has passed!”
Just four years ago, his life was like a candle in the wind.
As the head clerk of the Dong Trading Company, he was traveling with the second son of the Dong Trading Company's owner when he received the devastating news that the Dong Trading Company had been destroyed.
The Dong Trading Company's owner had been caught trying to assassinate the owner of the Jinwoo Trading Company, and the angry emperor had ordered the destruction of the Dong Trading Company.
However, despite his advice to hide and plan for the future, Dong Woo-yeok, the second son of the Dong Trading Company, ended up committing the crime.
He used a thunderbolt to attack the Eunhae Trading Company, which was on its way to Beijing on the emperor's orders.
And
he met Eun Seo-ho, who was hiding in the forest.
It may have been his whim that gave him a chance.
But he kept his promise.
Since then, there has been no pursuit by the government army.
Thanks to that, he survived and made it here.
After thinking about what to do next, he opened a fabric store.
To be honest, he had spent his entire life dealing with cloth, so he had no idea what else to do.
He named his cloth shop Eun Deok, which means “grace.”
This was to express his gratitude to Eun Seo-ho.
It was thanks to Eun Seo-ho that he was alive.
There was no particular reason why he settled in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.
He had been based in Jiangsu Province, so he came to Zhejiang, which was similar.
“Hmm...”
Wei Zhunde walked slowly down the street.
To anyone watching, it looked like he was just walking around with nothing to do, but this was actually part of his efforts for his shop.
He wanted to quickly notice subtle changes in fashion.
So, once every two or three days, he would walk around the downtown area, observing the clothes and changes in the people around him.
As he was walking around, he heard a familiar voice.
It was a clear voice that caught his ear.
When he turned his head in that direction, he saw a young man wearing a red robe.
He was a handsome young man with a strange charm.
Even though four years had passed, Wi Joon-deok recognized him as soon as he saw his face.
“Aren't you Captain Eun Seo-ho?”
* *
It was nice to look at Seo-ho from the third floor.
My bodyguards were sitting at the table next to me, enjoying tea.
However, they were not the reason I was here.
“How have you been?”
“Yes, I've been well.”
“Thank you for keeping your promise.”
“I made a promise, so I had to keep it.”
The middle-aged man in front of me was a member of the Dong Trading Company who had previously attempted to kill Jin Woo-rim, the captain of the Trading Company.
I gave him a chance back then, but he seems to be doing better than I expected.
His clothes and facial expression seemed generous and relaxed.
“Come to think of it, I haven't introduced myself. You probably don't know my name.”
I smiled awkwardly and waited for him to speak.
“My name is Wi Joon-deok. I run a fabric store near Seoho.”
“I see.”
We exchanged small talk.
Most of the conversation was about Mr. Wi, and as I listened to him, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Mr. Wi must have given Dong-woo his best advice. It was just that Dong-woo didn't accept it.
That made me feel grateful to Dong-woo.
Thanks to him, a talented person survived, and we were able to meet and form a connection.
It was partly thanks to my hard work, but without a start, there would be no progress.
“By the way, what brings you to Seoho?”
“I'm here on business.”
“I see. May I ask what kind of business?”
“I'm sorry, it's a business secret.”
“I see.”
He seemed to have a keen sense of business without crossing the line.
He was definitely a man with talent.
And he had a favorable impression of me, which was a bonus.
Even if it is inhumane to judge people based on their feelings, the business world is ruthless.
And while money itself has no emotions, the people who handle it do.
It's perfect timing—I needed someone capable and trustworthy.
I lowered my voice.
“From what I've seen, you're not the type to be satisfied with small things. So, have you ever considered trying your hand at something bigger?”