Chapter 362
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 362
Chapter 362. Baekyeom Trading Company (3)
When he looked up, he saw a familiar face.
It was Ho-kyung, the grandson of the head of the Eunhae Trading Company, who was hosting this banquet.
“Of course. Please have a seat.”
With a clatter, he sat down.
He was known to be quite clever.
He was known to be quite intelligent.
Due to some issues in the middle, the Baekyeom Trading Company's position weakened a little, but when Ho-kyung became the head of the company, it rose in rank again and competed with our Eunhae Trading Company for the position of one of the three greatest trading companies in the world.
Come to think of it, the head of the Hojo Trading Company was very fond of Ho-kyung.
He even said, “Thanks to him, I can rest in peace.”
But why is he sitting here? There are other empty seats.
Then Han Baek-geon, the junior captain, smiled and said,
“I think you like this seat.”
“Oh, yes.”
He nodded and replied.
“There are many people here I would like to get to know.”
Everything is fine, but why are you looking at me while saying that?
The meaning behind his gaze was clear.
He wanted to become friends with me.
He was known for being smart, so wanting to be friends with him meant that it would be beneficial for me.
I was very proud that our trading company had grown so much.
Ah, I am so happy.
But I must not rest on my laurels.
The position of the world's best trading company in the future belongs to our company.
“Excuse me.”
Well-dressed waiters began to place plates of food on the table.
Dumplings made with fish meat.
Spicy stir-fried clams and mild stir-fried clams.
Sea cucumber and shrimp dishes.
Duck dishes and grilled chicken dishes.
And spicy chicken stew.
“Huh? Isn't this seoshil?”
“It's in season now.”
Seoshil is a type of shellfish that is eaten from late autumn to early spring.
In addition, about ten other dishes filled the table.
“Please eat.”
“I'll enjoy it.”
I picked up my chopsticks and went for the spicy chicken stew first.
It reminded me of the chicken stew I had at Geumgyeru last time.
Let's give it a try.
I took a bite of the chicken stew.
Hmm...?
It's not bad, but it tastes ordinary.
The chicken stew at Geumgyeru was really delicious.
I should take my parents there the day after tomorrow.
With that thought in mind, I picked up my chopsticks and tried another dish.
“It's a shame we can't serve alcohol due to the prohibition.”
Hanbaek-geon, the captain, responded to Young Master Ho-kyung's words.
“I've heard a lot about the famous wines of Shandong. They are made with the clear water of Mount Nosa, and I hear that they have a deep aroma and clear the head the more you drink them.”
“That's right.”
Ho-kyung Gong-ja nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Please stop by sometime. When the prohibition on alcohol is lifted, I will treat you properly.”
The meal lasted quite a long time.
The purpose of today's gathering was not only to engage in conversation and strengthen friendships, but also to exchange information.
In that sense, it was a very fruitful time.
The stories I heard from members of various trading companies with different main products were quite interesting.
Before they knew it, lunch was over and it was almost the end of the afternoon (3:00-5:00 p.m.).
“Hahaha!”
Loud laughter could be heard from where the captains were gathered.
“Today, I will show you our trading company's ironworks!”
He knew who it was.
It was the captain of the Baekyeom Trading Company, Ho-shin.
Ho-kyung smiled awkwardly and said,
“Your grandfather seems to be in a good mood.”
Then he muttered,
“This is disrupting the atmosphere of the ironworks...”
I looked around, but it was such a quiet voice that I seemed to be the only one who heard it.
Thanks to that, I learned that
Ho-kyung Mister was a man with a clear mind.
He cherished the Iron Workshop more than anything else.
He knew.
He knew that the Iron Workshop was the place where Baekyeom Trading Company was founded, and that it was the essence of Baekyeom Trading Company.
That must be why he was able to restore Baekyeom Trading Company, which had been shaken in the past, to normal operations.
“Come on! Those who are curious about the Iron Workshop, follow me! Hahaha!”
Someone responded to his words.
“Does that mean today's banquet is over?”
“Huh? Oh, yes!”
He went to where the drum was and struck it.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
With that, the Baekje Trading Company meeting came to an end, and I looked down at my waist.
The silver plate was still shining brightly.
I will use it well.
I smiled and quickly put it in my pocket.
“Let's go!”
“I'm sorry, but I have to go now. My assistant has something urgent to do...”
“I'm sorry. I guess I got a little carried away. If anyone has urgent business, you may go ahead.”
“Then I'll be going...”
Hearing this, the other captains bowed and left.
That was understandable, as they were all busy people.
They had to return to their residences to work or meet with other people.
Furthermore, I knew that when the Australian captain was in a good mood, he liked to show off his ironworks, which meant that most of the captains had seen it many times before.
My father approached me and asked, “Seoho, what are you going to do?”
I had to go, of course.
When we were visiting the ironworks, someone from the martial arts guild might cause trouble.
When we visit the ironworks, there is a high possibility that someone sent by the Martial Alliance will cause trouble.
Other than times like this, outsiders are not allowed to enter the ironworks.
“I want to go and see it once.”
“All right. Then go and take a good look around. Oh, and while you're there, leave your outer garments with Pal-gap. They're quite distracting.”
A moment later
Several trading company leaders, most of the junior leaders, and the Mister followed behind the leader of the Australian Trading Company.
The leader of the Namgung Trading Company left, saying he had something urgent to do.
He probably didn't want to be involved because the person he bribed would carry out the plan.
He didn't want to be suspected in any way.
Ho-kyung and his father followed closely behind the captain of the Australian Trading Company.
The captain was leaving, so his son and grandson had no choice but to follow.
Ho-kyung gave his servant an order, and the servant hurried off somewhere.
He was definitely going to the ironworks.
He didn't even have to strain his ears to know that.
He must have instructed them to remove everything confidential because the guests were going to visit.
Meanwhile, I felt a little sorry for Captain Ho-shin, who wanted to show off his achievements.
How much contempt must he have suffered in his youth to develop such a habit?
I took my father's advice and gave my outer garment to Pal-gap.
To be honest, even if my father hadn't advised me, I was planning to take off my outer garment before entering.
Then, the others who had been eating with me also took off their outer garments and handed them to the attendants.
“This is the ironworks.”
After walking into the Baekyeom Trading Company for a moment, I saw a black iron door.
“Is that door made of iron?”
Ho-kyung Mister nodded in response to my question.
“You have keen eyesight.”
Wow...
It's amazing that such a large door was made of iron!
It must be a very important place.
“Open the door.”
“Yes!”
When the burly doorkeeper operated the mechanism, the iron door opened.
And we went inside.
However, only those who had been invited could enter.
Therefore, the servants and guards had to stay outside.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
The sound of metal being hammered could be heard from all directions.
The smell of iron and something burning filled our nostrils.
To be honest, the smell of smelting iron is not very pleasant.
Anyway, this place looks very similar to what I saw in my past life.
That's only natural, since I saw this place a little later in my previous life.
The captain of the Australian Trading Company began to guide us.
“This is where iron is smelted. This is where the products are made.”
Making products closest to the door means that they can be transported quickly, and it also means that the important items inside cannot be seen by others.
Some of the captains and Mister's men looked excited, but thanks to Mister Ho-kyung's quick thinking, it would be difficult to see anything confidential.
We went inside.
“Phew, I'm glad I followed the captain and took off my outer clothes.”
The others nodded in agreement with Captain Bok-Yoon's words.
It was understandable. This was a workshop where iron was handled.
No matter how quickly they tidied up, it would be impossible to do so properly.
Everyone had come wearing expensive clothes, and if they got caught, they would lose their clothes.
Three people had already bumped into each other and caused trouble.
In addition, smelting iron requires the use of fire, so even though it was early November, sweat was pouring down their faces.
That was why the blacksmiths working inside were wearing sleeveless clothes.
“It was thanks to my father's advice.”
Of course, I didn't feel the heat, but I had to go and thank my father.
We went deeper and deeper into the building and soon arrived at a place where molten iron was poured into molds to shape it.
The craftsmen took the molds, placed them in boxes, and covered them with fine clay.
They were making molds for pouring molten iron.
They said that you couldn't use just any kind of clay to make the molds.
You had to use very fine, fine sand, which is called sedimentary soil.
This material can be found in large quantities at the point where river water and sea water meet.
That is why Baekyeom Trading Company is located in Shandong, where sedimentary soil is easy to obtain.
Shandong also has abundant iron ore deposits.
Of course, all mines in the empire belong to the state, so Baekyeom Trading Company purchases the iron ore it needs.
“Wow! Is that molten iron?”
“It's so amazing.”
Ho-kyung said to the young captains and Mister, who were watching with wide eyes.
“It looks easy, but pouring molten iron is actually the most difficult and demanding task.”
“Why is that?”
“The weight of the molten iron in that ladle alone is well over 100 kilograms.”
“Huh... It didn't look that heavy.”
“If you try lifting it yourself, you'll gasp in surprise.”
At that moment, I saw the face of one of the men standing there and flinched.
It was the same man I had met at Geumgyeru with Captain Namgung Kang.
According to Jin Yu's information, his name was one of the blacksmiths of Makdu Cheolgibang.
I looked at him closely.
Just then, someone called out to the captain of the Baekyeom Trading Company.
“Captain! Captain!”
“What is it?”
“Someone from the government has come about the mine.”
“Now? They know today is the meeting of the Baekdae Trading Company, don't they?”
“Yes. They said it was urgent and couldn't be avoided.”
He frowned and asked the other members of the Trading Company for their understanding.
“I apologize for the inconvenience. My son will show you the rest. Thank you for your company today.”
“Ah, they are looking for both of you.”
“...?”
For some reason, I felt that the visit from the government official was part of the Martial Alliance's plan.
It was suspicious that they came knowing that it was the day of the Baekdae Trading Company meeting.
Of course, it could have been an urgent matter.
But my intuition told me that it wasn't the case, considering that they were looking for both of them at the same time.
“Grandfather, Father, don't worry. I can show our guests around.”
“Yes, Kyung, you're right. Please take care of them.”
With that, the two left the ironworks, and Ho-kyung showed the guests around.
“This is where we melt iron, and that is where we extract iron from iron ore.”
He pointed to a place that looked like it was almost finished.
“And that area is off-limits.”
“That means there is something confidential inside.”
Ho-kyung shook his head at the words of the Trading Company representative.
“Confidential... Not exactly.”
“Then why is entry prohibited?”
“You may enter if you wish to see it, but it is very dangerous inside.”
“Dangerous?”
“Yes. If you get hit by a blind spark, you could get burned or ruin your clothes. In addition, during the process of burning iron ore, all kinds of impurities burn, causing a lot of soot. The smell is so pungent that it makes your eyes water.”
He continued.
“Is there anyone who still wants to go?”
To be honest, I wanted to go.
The key to working with iron is how well you can smelt it.
Even a blacksmith who is incredibly skilled at working with iron is useless if the iron itself is poor quality.
But I didn't want to stand out here.
And my priority was to observe that Makdu guy.
No one raised their hand.
“All right. Now that we've seen everything, shall we go back?”
He turned around and added some more explanations.
However, I couldn't help but laugh inside at his explanations.
It seemed like he was explaining things kindly, but he was missing the point.
I understood why the Australian Trading Company captain thought highly of him.
Retracing our steps, we arrived back at the place where molten iron was being poured.
That was when it happened.
(To be continued)