Chapter 37
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 37
Chapter 37. The Result of the Outing (2)
After eating dinner and resting for a while, I headed to Eunryongjeon, where my father was.
The bodyguard told him I was there, and after a while, I went inside.
“You're here. Have a seat.”
I sat down in front of the tea table in one corner of the office. My father brewed the tea himself and placed it in front of me.
“Thank you.”
As I drank the tea my father had given me, I smiled to myself.
It was a familiar tea.
With a sweet fruity aroma and a sweet floral fragrance lingering in my mouth, this tea...
“How is it?”
“It's very good.”
“It's Anji Tieguanyin from Fujian Province.”
Tieguanyin, which retains its flavor and aroma even after being brewed seven times, is best when harvested in the spring.
However, tea harvested in the fall also has a nice aroma and is called Chuxiangcha.
In other words, it is an expensive and high-quality tea.
Only tea grown in Anji County is recognized as authentic Tieguanyin, so the quantity is limited.
That's why it's so hard to get.
“The local governor is working hard to get a direct shipment of this tea.”
Tea is one of our Trading Company's main products, but we get Anji Tieguanyin through a middleman.
As a result, we couldn't make much profit and had no choice but to suffer the tyranny of the middlemen.
So, the head of the Yeon family is working hard to get direct delivery, but it was when I became a special apprentice at Seungpungak that we started receiving direct deliveries of this tea.
We need to resolve this issue quickly.
It's not pleasant to suffer unnecessary losses.
I put down my teacup and said.
“I'm sure there will be good news soon.”
“I really hope so.”
Smiling, my father put down his teacup and asked me.
“What are your plans for your special vacation?”
“That day...”
I've been lying in bed all day, thinking about it.
But I felt a little uncomfortable answering that.
My father and my older brother, who had just become a captain, didn't get special leave.
“I'm going to study some things I'm lacking in.”
“I see.”
My father nodded and asked again after a moment.
“In that case, may I ask you a personal favor?”
“I'm all ears.”
“I would like you to take Chief Administrator Yu out for a trip during this special vacation.”
“...What?”
I tried hard to understand the true meaning of my father's words. But I couldn't figure it out at all.
His words were so unexpected.
“Um, do you mean an outing like the ones I know?”
“What else is there to do outside other than eating, drinking, and having fun?”
My father continued.
“Actually, Chief Administrator Yoo was going to cancel his special leave. But I insisted, so he had no choice but to use his own leave and get approval.”
Only then did I understand why Chief Administrator Yu had been looking so gloomy and sighing heavily while revising the approval documents earlier that day.
“But Chief Administrator Yu is the kind of person who works even at home.”
I nodded in agreement.
Chief Administrator Yu was that kind of person who was devoted to his work.
It was as if he would die if he didn't work.
“It just so happens that Chief Administrator Yoo's vacation and your vacation are on the same dates. So, I thought you could help him so that he can rest well...”
“You mean I should keep an eye on him.”
My father nodded at my words.
Suddenly, I remembered my father's face from my previous life.
I remembered how he cried bitterly at the funeral of Chief Administrator Yu, who had died from overwork.
“I understand, Father. I will do as you say.”
“Thank you.”
If sacrificing a little of my rest could ease my father's grief, then it would be enough.
Chief Administrator Yu must die only of old age.
* * *
Clatter, clatter
The sound of a carriage could be heard regularly.
The carriage carrying Chief Administrator Yu and me was heading to a valley about half an hour away from Eunhae Trading Company for an outing.
The main purpose of this outing was to drink tea and have a meal at a pavilion there.
However, Chief Administrator Yu's face had been gloomy since we left.
Perhaps because of this, Chief Administrator Yu's attendant, who was sitting next to him, was fidgeting restlessly.
Oh, I feel sorry for him.
If this continued, I felt like I would end up pulling his hair.
“Chief Administrator Yu.”
“Why are you calling me, young master?”
“Do you need to use the restroom?”
“...What?”
Chief Administrator Yoo looked confused by my question.
“You've been looking like a puppy that needs to go to the bathroom since earlier.”
“Hm, hm.”
“Or is it that you don't like my father's order to accompany me on this outing?”
“...”
“Is it going with me that you don't like, or is it the outing itself?”
My question caused the atmosphere in the carriage to quickly turn cold.
Chief Administrator Yu's attendant looked as if he was about to faint.
Come to think of it, Chief Administrator Yu's attendant had always been a bit weak.
But I had a reason for doing this.
It was so that Chief Administrator Yu could truly enjoy the outing.
If things continued like this, nothing would get done.
I would rather go to Jaegyeonggak and work.
Chief Administrator Yu sighed at my blunt question.
“Why would I not want to accompany you?”
“Then you don't like going on outings.”
“That's right.”
Chief Administrator Yoo nodded and spoke passionately.
“With all the paperwork piling up, how can you go on an outing at a time like this!”
“Then who is handling that work?”
“The deputy chief administrator is handling it.”
“Then there's no problem, is there?”
“But there are many things that I must handle personally.”
“Your father will take care of those things. I believe that is why you were sent on this outing, isn't that right?”
“....”
“Now that you are here, please don't frown so much and make your attendant uncomfortable.”
“Ah....”
Only then did Chief Administrator Yu turn to his attendant and scratch his ear, looking at his thoughtful face.
“I'm sorry.”
“It's okay. Hahaha.”
Chief Administrator Yu seemed to have changed his mind to some extent, but I decided to drive the point home one more time.
“Honestly, isn't it true that Chief Administrator Yu's frown won't change the situation?”
“...”
“Chief Administrator Yu's behavior makes me feel very uncomfortable.”
Chief Administrator Yu looked as if he had realized something. Then he clasped his hands together.
Huh? Why is he doing that all of a sudden?
Chief Administrator Yu spoke seriously.
“I'm sorry. I didn't realize that my behavior was making many people uncomfortable.”
What?
“I'll be more careful in the future.”
“Yes. I look forward to working with you.”
I was a little taken aback by the sudden change, but I let it slide.
Come to think of it, Chief Administrator Yu wasn't very sociable.
Still, he was very capable, had his father's trust, and was treated with consideration by the other chief administrators, so he got along without any major problems.
However, judging from Chief Administrator Yu's recent remarks, I thought I understood something.
He hadn't learned how to get along with people.
Was this what they called a capable fool?
Rather than preventing Chief Administrator Yu from working himself to death, it seems more important to teach him social skills.
That would prevent unnecessary conflicts and improve my working environment.
But first, I need to do something about his stiff expression.
“Then try to imitate me.”
“What?”
“Come on.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Smooth out the wrinkles between your eyebrows and laugh.”
“Ha ha ha?”
“Yes. Just laugh like that.”
This person... Has he never laughed sincerely before? It's so awkward.
Still, you can't expect to learn everything at once. It'll get better with practice.
.
.
.
A moment later
We arrived at our destination.
“Wow! This is a great place!”
Pal-gap shouted excitedly.
Thanks to the rain that had fallen a short while ago, water was flowing in the valley, and the mountains were covered in light green.
Pink and yellow flowers blooming here and there added to the beauty of the scene.
Chief administrator Yu's attendant prepared a place for us, and Pal-gap served the food.
Meanwhile, the Eunpungdae warriors, led by team leader Gu Jiseong, kept watch over the surroundings.
“You must be hungry after coming all this way. Please eat.”
“We will.”
At that moment, I spread my hands to stop Chief Administrator Yoo from eating.
“...?”
He looked at me as if to ask why, and I said to him, "Everyone is hungry right now.
“Everyone is hungry right now. That is, if they are human.”
“You are stating the obvious.”
“Those warriors are human too. They must be hungry.”
“They are not children. They know how to feed themselves.”
“That is true. However, a kind word can go a long way.”
With that, I approached Gu Ji-seong.
“Please have dinner with your team members.”
Team leader Gu Ji-seong seemed slightly taken aback by my words and hesitated.
“It's fine. We mustn't let our guard down, but there's no need to go this far.”
“In that case... I understand. Thank you for your consideration, young master.”
Team leader Gu Ji-seong motioned to the Ijo warriors and had a place set for us to eat.
In the meantime, I sat back down and said to Chief Administrator Yu.
“There is a big difference between saying something like that and not saying anything. And from what I've heard, in some places, you can't eat unless the owner gives you permission.”
“....”
“Then let's eat.”
The food that Pal-gap had prepared was very plentiful.
They had prepared the food with great enthusiasm when they heard we were going out.
What?
They even prepared alcohol.
I couldn't help but laugh and asked Pal-gap.
“What is this alcohol?”
“Come on, young master! You can't go on an outing without alcohol. We'll enjoy the scenery and have a drink.”
I was a little taken aback.
“The servants can't drink alcohol.”
I didn't know about other places, but the servants who assisted the members of the Eunhae Trading Company were strictly forbidden from drinking alcohol.
The only time they were allowed to drink was once a month at a banquet held by the head of the Seungpunggak.
“Of course I know! You brought it for you to drink.”
I appreciated his thoughtfulness, but I had to stay away from alcohol.
It didn't agree with my constitution.
Then Chief Administrator Yu said,
“It's been a long time since I've had a drink.”
“Really?”
At that, Pal-gap quickly prepared a cup, and I poured alcohol into Chief Administrator Yu's cup.
After a glass or two, Chief Administrator Yu became increasingly flushed and smiled more and more.
Huh? What's going on?
Could it be that my advice was overshadowed by the alcohol?
This is why they say that moderate drinking is good for you.
Of course, excessive drinking is poison.
Then Chief Administrator Yu suddenly began to recite a poem.
Even I, who am not very knowledgeable about poetry, found it beautiful.
But I've heard this poem before.
After thinking about it for a while, I remembered.
In my previous life, when I went to the capital, I came across an anthology of poems written by a famous writer, and it sold like hotcakes.
The writer was a high-ranking official, but after retiring from his post, he collected the poems he had written and published them in an anthology.
The poem that Chief Administrator Yu had just recited was from that anthology.
That was more than ten years in the future, so how did Chief Administrator Yu know it by heart?
“That is a beautiful poem. It makes me feel good just listening to it.”
“Thank you. Drinking sake surrounded by nature like this, I was reminded of a poem I wrote a long time ago, so I recited it, even though my skills are poor.”
“I see.”
What?
You wrote that poem?
“Have you ever recited this poem in front of anyone else?”
“I'm not the type of person who recites poetry in front of others.”
Chief Administrator Yoo smiled wryly and shook his head, but then he seemed to realize something and said
“Come to think of it, there is one person.”
He looked as if he was trying to remember something.
“I recited this poem in front of my superior when I first entered the court.”
“Do you remember his name?”
It couldn't be Choo Il-gong, could it?
“He was Choo Il-gong, who was the head of the National Academy at the time...”
"...
I didn't think so, but is it true?
It seemed that my fears were true.
Choo Il-gong's collection of poems had the date each poem was written written next to it, and the date was much later than today.
Then that guy lied and said that the poem written by Chief Administrator Yoo was his own.