Chapter 209
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 209
Chapter 209. A Connection in Hangzhou (2)
The shopkeeper, Wei Zhunde, blinked and asked, “What do you mean?”
“What I mean is that I believe you have the ability to play in the big leagues. So, it's a kind of deal.”
I continued.
“The shopkeeper will play in the big leagues, and I will find someone who believes in my work and will take me under their wing.”
“You will be able to play in the big leagues, and I will gain someone I can trust to do my job.”
“Trust and entrust... Do you mean you want me to work under you?”
“That's right.”
"...
There was a moment of silence.
The shopkeeper's face was clearly troubled.
“If you don't want to, you can refuse.”
“I don't really understand why the Captain is making this offer to me. I am already at the twilight of my life, and I am just a shopkeeper running a fabric store here. How can someone like me be of any help?”
“Your experience alone is enough to be of help.”
“In that case... can you give me some time to think about it?”
“Of course.”
It wasn't that urgent to recruit him anyway.
So, let's get some advice on the urgent matters first.
“Shopkeeper, do you know of a building in this area that can accommodate about 200 people? Somewhere with a lot of space.”
I left the martial arts academy because I needed a place to stay until a nice building was built on the site of the Yangyang Martial Arts Academy.
First of all, I had to live somewhere, so it had to be a place with a building already built.
When I told him my requirements, the shopkeeper thought for a moment and then spoke.
“There are about three places that meet your requirements.”
Three places?
“If you have time, would you mind showing me around?”
“Of course.”
We left the temple and followed the shopkeeper's directions.
“First, here we are.”
It was a nearby manor house, and the owner's son had run up gambling debts, so he needed money quickly and had to sell the manor house.
“A manor house means you have a lot of land, right?”
“They sold everything and all that's left is the manor house and the land.”
“...What on earth did the chairman do to let things get this bad?”
“The chairman is a soft-hearted man, and his son is his only child. Whenever he did something wrong and was scolded, he would cry and promise never to do it again... What can you do?”
“....”
Gambling is definitely not a good thing to do.
The second place we headed for was a three-story tavern located far from Seoho.
As soon as I saw it, I knew why this tavern was for sale.
“What a strange place to open a tavern.”
“Yes. It's far from the city and low, so it's impossible to enjoy the scenery of Seoho.”
“That's why it's being sold at a bargain price.”
“That's right.”
There was someone even more foolish than Chairman Sung.
How could he think of building a tavern so far away from West Lake?
If that was the case, he should have built the tallest tavern in the area, not just a three-story building.
“Then let me show you the third property.”
The last one was a building with a large courtyard.
“This place is home to a small sect. The sect has rapidly declined, and now there is only one sect leader and three disciples.”
“Even so, they want to sell this place?”
“Yes, they want to move to another place.”
“That won't be easy...”
It's difficult for trading companies to establish themselves in a new place, but to be honest, martial artist sects are even more difficult than trading companies.
This is because they have their own territories and are very protective of them.
Their territories are their pride.
Even powerful groups find it difficult to move their bases, let alone four people!
“I'm not sure, but I heard that the Martial Alliance will help them.”
“The Martial Alliance?”
“Yes, I heard that if they sell this building, the Martial Alliance will help them find a new place.”
Knowing what the Martial Alliance was, he knew that their help would not really help this sect.
“Is it true that the Martial Alliance will help you? If so, they should just buy this place.”
“Now that you mention it, something does seem strange.”
If they take the money from selling this place to the Martial Alliance, the Martial Alliance will surely take all of it.
That means my hard-earned money will go to the Martial Alliance.
That cannot happen.
In that case, I will have to choose between the first place I saw and the second place I saw.
Even though I will only be staying for a year, I must choose carefully. A year is not a short time.
I will have to discuss it with Principal Yeom and Head Escort Ha.
“Thank you for showing me around today. If I do decide to buy it, I would appreciate your help then as well.”
“Of course.”
“And I'll wait for good news.”
I smiled as I saw the shopkeeper off.
You never know what will happen in this world.
I never thought that the person who showed me mercy and saved my life would be so helpful.
The Dong Trading Company in Jiangsu Province was one of the largest trading companies, and the plain cloth they produced was very popular throughout the Central Plains.
However, it went bankrupt due to the reckless actions of the trading company's owner.
Currently, the place where the plain cloth was made was operating independently, just like in my previous life.
Of course, the support of our Eunhae Trading Company played a big role in enabling them to operate in this way.
As a result, we are now in a very close relationship and are able to purchase plain cloth at a low price.
Anyway, I wasn't a representative of that trading company, but I worked at a representative level.
Moreover, the fact that I was able to establish myself in the fierce city of Hangzhou in just four years means that I am definitely capable.
Since I am familiar with the situation here, I am the perfect person to take care of things on my behalf.
I hope he will consider my proposal positively.
That evening, I met Chun-il again.
This time, he looked completely different.
It was strange how he looked different every time I saw him.
“I heard what you said last time.”
That's right. I asked him to find a place for the Yangyang Martial Arts Academy to move to.
He said he would let me know today, so I came to see him.
“I found three places that meet your requirements. First...”
As I listened to him, I couldn't help but laugh.
The three places Chun-il mentioned were the same ones the shopkeeper had shown me earlier.
“Actually, there are a few more, but they have a bad reputation or something strange about them.”
So the shopkeeper had excluded those strange places and only told him about the three places.
Judging from the fact that he had chosen the right places and introduced them to me in less than a moment after hearing what I said, he was definitely a talented person.
I began to become more and more interested in the shopkeeper.
.
.
.
I told Principal Yeom and Head Escort Ha about the places the shopkeeper had introduced me to today.
“...So, I think one of these two places would be good.”
“Have you already found a place to move to?”
“I thought it would be better to move as soon as possible because it's getting colder.”
“You're right. You're very decisive.”
I smiled awkwardly at Ha's words.
That is one of my strengths.
Once I've made a decision, there's no point in hesitating. I have to act immediately.
“I understand that you are concerned about moving. However, even if we build a new building here, we will have to vacate this place for a while.”
“That's true.”
“But I think it's too much of a waste to buy a new building for that purpose.”
I shook my head firmly at his words.
“It's not a waste at all. We'll be able to recoup the money later.”
The two agreed with my opinion.
My master, the Palace Head, had given me full authority, and neither of them knew as much about real estate as I did.
After some discussion, we decided to purchase the first property we were shown.
First of all, it had a large yard, and since it had been lived in, it was in very good condition.
Of course, the third property we were shown was similar to the first, but we didn't even consider it.
It was connected to the Martial Alliance.
The next morning, I received a letter.
“I would like to meet you again. Please let me know when you are available, and I will arrange a time.”
It was a letter from the shopkeeper.
I wrote a reply to the waiter who brought me the letter and sent it back.
I headed to the place where I was supposed to meet the shopkeeper at 3:00 p.m.
“Ah, you're here!”
The shopkeeper was already sitting quietly in a corner.
“You came early.”
“No, I just arrived.”
We sat facing each other, drank tea, and enjoyed the scenery for a while.
The shopkeeper spoke first.
“I've been thinking about it.”
“Yes.”
He must be referring to my proposal.
“To be honest, I owe my life to Captain Soda. So it is only right that I follow him.”
Did he agree?
“Therefore, I will work under Captain Soda.”
“Really? Thank you very much.”
“Actually, the reason I asked for time to think was to close down my shop.”
I quickly waved my hand.
“There's no need for that.”
“Huh?”
“What I'm asking you to do is something you can do while working here. Of course, I'll pay you separately.”
I explained to the shopkeeper what he had to do, and he immediately nodded.
“I see. I understand.”
“First, there's something you need to do.”
“What is it?”
“I would like to purchase the land and building. The first property you showed me last time caught my eye.”
After pausing to think for a moment, the shop owner said,
“The price they are asking for the land is 700 nyang, but I don't want to offer any less. It's being sold at a bargain price because it's a quick sale. They'll probably be in a tight spot financially after paying off their gambling debts.”
“I don't intend to haggle. Just go ahead with the deal at that price.”
“Understood.”
“By the way, what will happen to the family after you sell the farm?”
“I think they will use the money left after paying off the debt to buy a small house.”
“You said that they will be struggling financially after paying off the debt. Will they have about 100 nyang left?”
“That should be enough.”
It would be very difficult to live on that amount of money.
“Then buy another small house nearby. And let the family of the estate manager live there.”
“What?”
“Honestly, won't they be kicked out of their house? So I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to let them live there for a reasonable rent.”
“You are a kind person, Captain.”
Really?
Am I a good person?
Actually, I have an ulterior motive for doing this.
What I want is a good reputation.
Even though I bought it with my own money, rumors could spread.
I don't want rumors to spread that the Yangyang Martial Arts Academy kicked someone out onto the street.
Besides, the family of the chairman of the martial arts academy were influential people in the area.
“I'm just trying to prevent any bad rumors about the martial arts academy or me from spreading. I'm not a good person.”
“No, you are a good person.”
The process of purchasing the building went smoothly.
The owner of the estate was very grateful that I paid for it immediately.
And when I told them that I would find a place for them to live, they even shed tears.
Seeing their son lose all his property and finally lose his home, the chairman and his wife looked as if they had lost their will to live.
Children are a burden.
I sighed inwardly and asked the Chairman.
“How old is your son?”
“He is twenty-four this year. And my second son is twenty.”
Since he said that his gambling son was his eldest son, he must be twenty-four.
At that age, it is not too late to enter “that academy.”
“Are you interested in an academy that specializes in rehabilitation?”
.
.
.
Five days later.
The move began.
They said they would give us most of the furniture, so we paid an additional 100 nyang and bought it.
“Huh? Are we going to live here now?”
“Yes.”
“Wow, the yard is huge!”
“Wow! The kitchen is huge!”
Fortunately, the new place was close by, so even though it was winter, the move was not too difficult.
The children went back and forth between the new place and the old place to look around.
I said to Principal Yeom.
“If you have any fond memories of the old building, would you like me to dismantle it and rebuild it on another site?”
He quickly shook his head.
He seemed to have realized that I was a man of my word.
“Fond memories? No, not at all. For the sake of the children, a new building is better than an old one.”
“That's true.”
“I can't wait for the new building to be completed on that site. Ha ha ha.”
I was also looking forward to it.
That's why I was happy to pay the demolition costs.
On the day the building was completed, Chairman Seong would lose the building he had ambitiously poured his fortune into.