Chapter 361
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 361
Chapter 361. Baekyeom Trading Company (2)
“If it were me, I would sell the Yookbo tea from Gwangseo Province. Not only does it have a mild flavor with almost no bitterness, but it is also said to be effective in reducing fever.”
“That's right.”
“Daewook is a hot country, so treating fevers is quite important. Therefore, we can sell it at a high price and use the money to buy food.”
“Food?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“The Captain told me about trade with Daewook, so I thought about it carefully. I thought about what we want to gain from trade right now.”
He continued.
“It is food. We are currently suffering from a famine, so we are having a lot of trouble securing food. And that will probably be something that needs to be done on a national level.”
“Why do you think it needs to be done on a national level?”
“With a famine affecting the entire country, how can a few ships bring enough grain to solve the problem? Moreover, even if Daewook has abundant grain, wouldn't it require negotiations between the two countries to export such a large amount?”
“...I see.”
“However, from the perspective of an empire in a position of power, it would be a matter of pride to engage in direct trade. They will likely hire a trading company to conduct indirect trade. I believe that the Captain is anticipating this and making preparations.”
Hearing this answer, Eun-gil-sang exclaimed without thinking.
“You pass!”
* * *
After delivering the letter to the Baekyeom Trading Company, he stopped by the inn on his way back, picked up his mother, and returned to the Cheongsan Inn.
“You're back?”
Lieutenant Yoo Dae-ik greeted him.
“Where's my father?”
“He's still in his room.”
Are they still talking?
I checked the energy above me for a moment. I could sense my father and Yong-eung-wan.
It was good news that their conversation was taking a long time.
Then I heard the door open, and the two men came down the stairs.
I quickly clasped my hands together and reported.
“I'm back, Father.”
“Yes, you've done well.”
My father's expression was bright. So?
“Seoho.”
“Yes?”
“You chose well.”
Ah! I passed!
“Thank you, Father.”
“What are you thanking me for? I'm the one who should be thanking you.”
My father laughed heartily and said to Yong-eung-wan.
“You can select the sailors and bring them here. I will prepare a room for you here.”
“Thank you.”
“Don't thank me. You deserve such treatment. Captain Yong.”
Saying that, he patted Yong Eung-wan, or rather Captain Yong, on the shoulder, seeming quite pleased.
After all, Captain Yong was one of the talented individuals I had written down as soon as I returned.
There was no way my father wouldn't notice him.
He approached me and bowed his head.
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
“I gave you the opportunity, but it was you who seized it, Captain Yong.”
“Captain... I'm a little embarrassed by that title.”
.
.
.
Today is the day of the meeting of the 100 Trading Companies.
With Pal-gap's help, I changed into colorful and luxurious clothes.
When I went downstairs, my father was waiting for me.
“I'm sorry I'm late.”
“No, your mother isn't ready yet.”
“I see.”
It always takes longer for women to get ready.
It's not like we don't have time.
“Seo Woo-musa told me that Lady Hong Geum-so is pregnant.”
“Yes, I heard the report.”
So you knew.
Then you should have told me.
“Father, I'm disappointed.”
“...I'm sorry. I didn't think of that.”
“I'm really disappointed.”
My father turned his head away and cleared his throat.
“I understand. Next time something like this happens, be sure to tell me.”
“Yes, I will. And Father...”
“What? What else?”
“When you go back to Hubei, I'm thinking of going back too.”
“Hubei?”
“Yes. I don't have anything to do in Beijing anymore. And I have something to discuss with Gong Mi.”
My father nodded.
“I understand. Do as you wish.”
“And about Captain Yong yesterday. What did you like about him?”
“Ah... that?”
His father smiled.
“You'll find out when you become Clan Head.”
“But I don't want to become Clan Head.”
“Then you'll never know.”
As he was talking with his father, his mother came down from upstairs.
“Oh! I'm sorry I'm late.”
“It's all right. Hehe.”
My mother looked beautiful after finishing her preparations.
Come to think of it, she told me that she was called the most beautiful woman in Gansu when she was young.
I suddenly wondered what it was about my father that made her decide to marry him.
With that thought in mind, we headed for Ihwa-ru.
When we arrived, we were shown inside by the waiters.
“Please put these on over your clothes.”
Once again, I received a familiar silver plate.
It was a tool for entertainment that was indispensable at the Baekdae Trading Company meetings.
After each of us attached the silver plates to our waists, we went up to the second floor, where those who had arrived before us welcomed us.
Most of them were old acquaintances, so there were few people my father had to introduce me to.
After greeting the captains who had newly joined the Trading Company and were attending the meeting, the three of us split up.
My mother went to the third floor where the captains' wives were, my father went to where the captains were, and I went to where the captains' sons were.
When I approached them, they pretended to know me.
“Captain Eun Seo-ho!”
“Welcome!”
“Captain Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Trading Company has come again.”
“It seems that the successor has been decided.”
I waved my hand at those words.
What are you talking about? You're saying something terrible!
I decided to make it clear here and now.
“A successor has been decided, but that successor is not me.”
“Then? Ah! Captain Jeong-ho?”
Hyung-nim Jin-ho isn't even a candidate.
I smiled bitterly and nodded.
“Yes. My older brother will take over the Trading Company.”
“Aren't you disappointed? Captain Eun Seo-ho contributed greatly to the growth of Eunhae Trading Company.”
“Not at all. I'm not disappointed at all.”
When I said firmly, they nodded and changed the subject.
“By the way, Songga Trading Company has been pushed out of the top 100 trading companies.”
“That's right.”
“No matter how difficult it was, selling illegal alcohol! That was so stupid and dangerous!”
“To be honest, I didn't like that place.”
“They were one of the top 100 trading companies like us! It was ridiculous.”
“Well, they got what they deserved.”
The topic of conversation now was the Songga Trading Company.
It used to be around the 70th place, but the problem was that their main business was brothels.
The prohibition on alcohol began to shake their brothel business, so they came up with the idea of selling illegal alcohol.
To be honest, I didn't like Songga Trading Company very much either.
The captain of the trading company was a former loan shark. He took young women who were brought to him in lieu of debt and turned them into prostitutes, eventually opening his own brothel.
That's one of the reasons I didn't like Songga Trading Company, but the biggest reason was that they grew their business through cruel and dirty means.
In order to secure prostitutes, they deliberately lent money to families with young girls and then prevented them from repaying the loans.
They were practically forced into prostitution.
Anyway, when the prohibition on alcohol led to a decline in customers, they secretly brewed moonshine and provided it to some of their regular customers.
Eventually, they were caught, and all hell broke loose.
I heard that one of the prostitutes working at the brothel reported them to the inspector.
Violating the prohibition on alcohol is a serious crime, so the head of the trading company was sentenced to death.
That was the end of the Song Trading Company.
The trading companies below them moved up one rank, and the company that was ranked 100th became one of the 100 leading trading companies.
I looked up and saw a man standing in front of a pillar over there.
He was the captain of the Mudo Trading Company, which had just become one of the 100 trading companies in the country.
It was famous for dealing in ceramics.
At that moment, a group of young men passed by him. For a moment, I saw smiles flit across their faces.
Then
Slap!
One of them spilled the tea he was holding onto his clothes.
“Oh no! I'm sorry.”
“It's okay.”
That was intentional. It was definitely intentional.
There was a kind of faction among the young masters who were present, and those who deliberately spilled tea on the captain of the Mudo Trading Company were of a low class.
As far as I remember, they were friends with the captain of the Song Trading Company, who had recently fallen from power.
I don't know if they hated him because he had fallen from power and joined the Baekdae Trading Company, or if they wanted revenge, or if they were just looking for fun.
At the time, I heard about what happened from my brother, Jung-ho. He tried to stop them several times, but it was useless.
They bullied the captain of the Mudo Trading Company quite viciously, and he was unable to protest properly.
However, an opportunity arose for him.
As the emperor promoted trade with Daewook, the Mudo Trading Company, which specialized in ceramics, grew rapidly.
From that point on, the captain of the Mudo Trading Company could no longer tolerate the bullying.
I found out later that he was just protecting himself.
Their trading company was much weaker than the others.
Then, when the company grew rapidly, he crushed those who had bullied him, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
Of course, this is still in the future.
Right now, he has no choice but to endure the bullying of these bad people.
“The silk used to make the clothes is of poor quality, so the tea stains are soaking in quickly.”
“If they had used high-quality silk, it would have been fine. Hahaha.”
The deputy captain of the Moo Dong Trading Company blushed at their words.
What a bunch of jerks.
I frowned and approached them.
Then I felt everyone's eyes on me.
Was I that famous?
With that thought in mind, I handed the deputy captain of the Moo Dong Trading Company a handkerchief.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes... Thank you.”
I turned my head and said to the group who had just spilled tea.
“Isn't it proper etiquette to sit down when drinking tea? Moving around with a teacup in your hand is frivolous.”
They bit their lips at my words.
I wasn't wrong.
“And you just said that the silk worn by the captain of the Mudo Trading Company is of poor quality... As a member of a trading company that deals in silk, I can tell you that it is not poor quality. Rather, it is the silk worn by you that is of poor quality.”
“What did you say?”
“That silk costs four naga of silver.”
High-grade silk starts at ten silver coins per piece.
“What are you talking about? I paid twelve silver coins for the silk used to make this suit!”
“Oh dear...”
I said with pity.
“You've been cheated. A merchant being cheated... I don't know how to comfort you.”
Those around me tried hard to suppress their laughter at my words.
“You...
In the end, they stormed out of the room.
”Hahahaha!“
”As expected, you can't beat Captain Eun!"
Seeing this, the others burst out laughing. In fact, they also disliked the men who had just left.
Captain Bok-Yoon, who had approached behind me, said,
“Well done.”
Captains Sa-Gang and Han-Baek-Geon also smiled at me.
I formally greeted the captain of the Moo-Dong Trading Company.
“I am Eun Seo-Ho, captain of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“I am Dam Jin, captain of the Moo-Dong Trading Company.”
He clasped his hands together and said,
“I have heard your name many times. Are you not the hero of the Dragon and Phoenix Duel, Sun Hyuk-mi?”
“It is a name I am ashamed of. Please forget it.”
Please forget it.
Not realizing how embarrassed I was, he bowed his head once more.
“And thank you for your help.”
“Don't mention it. I didn't like him either.”
I didn't help Captain Damjin just to know the future and gain his favor.
It was because I felt uncomfortable watching them.
They were typical small-minded people who were weak in front of the strong and strong in front of the weak.
“Come this way. You'll turn into a pillar if you keep standing there.”
Then, starting with Captain Bok-Yoon, I introduced everyone to him.
At that moment, someone climbed onto the platform.
It was a large, elderly man.
He was Ho-shin, the head of the Baekyeom Trading Company.
Perhaps because he was from Shandong, he was very tall.
There is a saying that has existed since ancient times, “Shandong Daehan.” It refers to people from Shandong who are tall and well-built.
“Thank you all for coming. I hope you will enjoy yourselves here today.”
He looked around.
“Now, let's begin the meeting.”
He picked up the drumstick handed to him and struck the drum.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
And so, the meeting of the 100 greatest trading companies in the land began in earnest.
“As you know, alcohol is prohibited due to the recent prohibition. Therefore, we have prepared many delicious dishes. Please take your seats.”
Hearing that, I sat down at a suitable table.
Clatter.
As if they had been waiting, others sat down at the round table where I was sitting.
To my right sat Captain Bok-Yoon, to my left sat Captain Sa-Gang, and next to him sat Captain Han-Baek-Geon and Captain Dam-Jin.
There were six chairs at the table, so there was one seat left.
At that moment, someone approached us and asked,
“May I sit here?”