Chapter 502
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 502
Chapter 502. The Critic Murder Case (1)
The next morning.
The Captain of the Trading Company visited the Beijing branch.
It was to finalize the details of this week's liquor tasting and write the report.
“Oh, that reminds me, there was the test for the qualifications of the guests invited by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Yes. About a third of the people didn't notice the fake ones we put in.”
So they were deemed unqualified, and their evaluations were excluded from this evaluation.
Therefore, the results this time are based on the opinions of about 70 people.
“They cannot be invited to the next evaluation meeting.”
“Of course.”
Fortunately, the list did not include the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Court.
This meant that the Grand Secretary had one more reason to legally visit Beijing the following year.
The only thing I can do for Miss Xixiang is to let her see her father often.
I want to go to Guizhou Province someday and let her see her mother, but it's not easy.
We discussed the matter and finally wrote a report to be submitted to the emperor.
The result was already known, but we had to submit an official report through the crown prince.
That way, the relevant departments could also proceed with their work.
“But, Captain.”
“What is it?”
“Are you really satisfied with this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do we say that dried persimmons look more appetizing when they are shiny, or that something is the icing on the cake? Doesn't that mean that appearance is important?”
“You're right.”
“Appearance is that important in sales. This is trade with a foreign country, so how can you sell it in ordinary bottles?”
The captain of the trading company tilted his head, still not understanding.
“Ordinary... bottles?”
“Yes. I don't like that very much. I think we need bottles that allow people to know what kind of liquor is inside just by looking at them. Therefore, with the approval of His Majesty the Emperor, I am looking for a way to manufacture such bottles.”
I continued.
“Furthermore, if the bottles themselves are treated as works of art, the value of the liquor will increase significantly.”
“That makes sense.”
Only then did Captain Ko seem to understand what I was saying and nodded.
“In that case, people will buy the wine just to decorate or display the bottle.”
As expected of Captain Ko.
He even thought of something I hadn't mentioned.
“I'm afraid my knowledge of sake is lacking, so it's difficult for me to come up with a design that would bring out the flavor of the sake to the fullest. Also, even if the design is beautiful, it would be difficult to distribute if it's not practical. But unlike me, you are a professional in the sake industry, so you would know better, wouldn't you?”
The corner of Captain Ko's mouth turned upward.
Good, he's coming around.
“So, if you have time, would you like to work with me on this?”
I quickly added.
“I have received a generous budget from His Majesty the Emperor for this project.”
“How much?”
When he heard the amount I told him, the captain's eyes widened and he asked again.
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“I also called the captain of the Kangso Trading Company in Gangso.”
“Oh! I've heard of the Kangso Trading Company. They produce high-quality ceramics.”
“That's right. They are also our business partner.”
The captain nodded at my words.
“With preparations like this, how can I not help? Moreover, some of the sake to be traded with foreign countries this time is produced by our trading company.”
“Then will you help us?”
“All right. I will help you.”
Hearing his answer, I clenched my fist under the table.
Great!
He agreed!
Now that I could naturally hand over the work, I could focus on the poetry contest.
The head of the Trading Company was staying at an inn, but I asked if I could move to the Beijing branch.
Most of the Taoists who had come for the liquor tasting would be leaving tomorrow, so there was plenty of room for me to stay.
Captain Go readily agreed to my request and said he would come two days later.
We had to tidy up our quarters, and Captain Go also needed to prepare for the move.
“See you in two days, then.”
“Thank you very much.”
After seeing off the captain, I returned to my office, where Miss Seo Hyang was busy with paperwork.
“Did you have a good talk with the captain?”
“Yes. He said he would come in two days.”
I apologized to her.
“I'm sorry.”
“What do you mean?”
“I'm sorry you had to stay inside and couldn't go out.”
“It's okay. I enjoy my work, so I don't feel bored or anything.”
She enjoys her work...
But I couldn't help but flinch.
Come to think of it, there were more than a few times when I found my work interesting.
“Why do you look like that?”
“Nothing.”
At that moment, Miss Seo looked around and confirmed that we were alone, then smiled and said.
“By the way, you're getting married this fall, aren't you?”
“Yes?”
“Palm print.”
“Did you see it?”
She nodded in response to my question.
“The marriage is happening sooner than expected. Did he look happy?”
“Yes, very much so.”
Her answer made me smile.
After all, I had heard that the daughter of the Minister of War was beautiful, and she came from a distinguished family.
If Seo Hyang-soo said so, she must have been very impressed.
I'll tease her about it later.
As I was thinking that, I heard Pal-gap's voice from outside.
“Young Master, the master craftsman of the Palm print is here to see you.”
They say even tigers come when you call them.
When I told him to come in, Master Eung-joon entered my study, clasped his hands together, and said, “Captain, your father wishes to see you.”
A moment later, I was standing in front of the Seon-gu residence in Beijing.
The name of the family, Seon-gu, was said to have been given by the emperor a long time ago.
It meant to always seek what is good, and through this, I could understand the family tradition.
It means to always seek goodness. Through this, I was able to understand the family tradition.
I could feel this family tradition even from the master craftsman and my older brother, Mister Yong-man.
As for Mister Yong-sang...
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
Unlike before, I entered the gate with confidence. I sat down in the reception room and was served tea and snacks, and after a short while, the door opened.
The person who entered was a man as tall as my eldest brother, Arhat Fis.
That must be the commander of the Guizhou Provincial Military Command.
I stood up and bowed with clasped hands.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, the captain of the Eunhae Trading Company, and I have come to see you.”
“You are the father of Yeong-gu.”
Not mentioning his official position first was indicative of his character.
He is a man of honor.
“I called you here to thank you for taking care of my son, Gu-jin. I wanted to visit you myself, but I thought it would be awkward coming from my position, as I am under the scrutiny of my superiors.”
“I am grateful for your consideration.”
Contrary to appearances, he was a deep thinker.
Is this what it takes to become a high-ranking official?
“Let's sit down and talk.”
“Thank you.”
I sat down on a chair, and the Dao Commander sat down in front of me.
“We discussed Gu-jin's marriage, and we have decided to hold the wedding this fall.”
“I am deeply grateful.”
“Thank you. And it is all thanks to you.”
“What?”
“Gu-jin told me that because you were there, he was able to stay on the path he had chosen and focus on making sake. That's why he was able to make such good sake, which helped cure her madness.”
“....”
I smiled awkwardly.
It was embarrassing to hear it directly, but it was true.
I had no intention of denying my contribution.
“And Hyuk-soo said the same thing. He said that thanks to you, he was able to rescue Gu-jin, who had been locked up by his second son.”
Ah, I was wondering where Master Dong-hyuk-soo was.
“He is a Palm print I sponsor. I only did what I had to do.”
I responded modestly and changed the subject.
“By the way, the Minister of War was worried that Yeong-joo took sick leave.”
“Don't worry about that. I explained everything. It was just a little sparring between father and son.”
I tried to suppress a laugh.
It wasn't sparring, but a lecture disguised as sparring.
“I don't have anything to give you. But if you ever need my help, I'll do what I can as long as it doesn't harm your family.”
It was a promise of help from the Dao commander of Guizhou.
This would surely be of great help in the future.
So I had to accept it.
“Your generosity is beyond measure. I will accept it with gratitude.”
After chatting with him, I returned to the Beijing branch.
“By the way,”
On the way back, Pal-gap spoke to me.
“Why?”
“Master Dong-hyuk and Mister Yeong-gu are both martial arts masters, but why is one called ‘Master’ and the other ‘Mister’?”
Huh? Now that you mention it, that's true.
After thinking about it for a moment, I thought I knew the reason.
Master Dong is Miss Seo Hyang's Orabeoni.
That's why I used a respectful term for him without realizing it.
I have to be careful.
If there is someone as sharp as Pal-gap, he could use this as an excuse to discover my secret.
“Pal-gap.”
“Yes?”
“You should have told me that earlier.”
***
It was late at night.
A man was running through an alley in Beijing.
“Huff, huff.”
From his heavy breathing, it was clear that he had run a considerable distance.
His throat was hot, his heart was aching, and his legs were trembling.
However, he couldn't stop. Someone was chasing him.
But the masked man chasing him was following him leisurely.
After a breathless game of cat and mouse that lasted an hour, he finally reached a dead end.
There was a poem written on the wall.
Your poem tore the ground
and even the sky.
Those who blame others
must also consider that they themselves will be blamed,
and
if they kill others with their blame,
they must be prepared to die themselves.
Did you not know this?
You have torn apart the hearts of others
you too will be torn to pieces.
Seeing this, he realized that he had not escaped, but had been driven to where his opponent wanted him to be.
Right here.
And he thought he knew why he had been treated this way.
The masked man said,
“If you value your life, you should have stopped criticizing me.”
“...”
“You don't know who sent me, do you? I'm sure you don't. It must have been more than one or two people you criticized in your poems.”
He wanted to refute, but it was true.
The masked man approached him and drew his sword from his waist.
Swoosh.
The sharp sound had already cut through his mind.
“Please spare my life! If you spare me, I will never write such poems again! I will even give up writing altogether!”
He put his hands together and begged.
Swoosh.
However, the masked man's sword moved, and the man's hands were cut off.
“Aaaah!”
“I prefer to cut the throat cleanly, but I'm sorry, I have to do as it says there.”
***
Ugh!
I stretched and got up from my seat.
After practicing my breathing, I went out to the training ground.
Miss Seo Hyang was already running around the training ground. She's really enthusiastic.
I couldn't neglect my martial arts training either.
Today was the day Jin-ho was taking the people from Hubei back down south.
However, the Palm print master and his group were not included in the group.
This was because they had decided to build a brewery in Beijing and make sake there.
The autumn wedding was important, but there wasn't much time.
Since it is the best sake, we have to work hard to meet the demand.
“Be careful on your way, Hyung-nim.”
“Yes.”
“Give my regards to your family.”
“I will. Take care of yourself.”
“Did you pack the gift for your sister-in-law?”
“Of course.”
After seeing off Jin-ho, I had to get ready for the poetry contest.
But...
Huh?
Why is Master Jin-yeong coming this way?
A moment later
Master Jin-yeong and I sat facing each other in the reception room.
“You seem to be troubled.”
I asked him first because he really looked troubled.
“Yes, I am.”
“What's the matter?”
“Huh...”
Master Jin-yeong didn't answer right away and drank his tea in one gulp.
I quietly followed suit and waited for him to speak.
“There's been a murder.”
“What?”
Murder is a serious crime, but it happens often.
Furthermore, it falls under the jurisdiction of the county office, so why is Master Jin-yeong...
And why is he telling me this?
“The victim came to participate in a poetry contest.”
Ah...
This is something I need to know.
“The victim's name is Na Jeong-soo. He often wrote poems criticizing the poetry of others, so it seems he had many enemies.”
“Critical poems?”
“They were called critical poems, but when you look closely, they were more like condemnations.”
“I see.”
In fact, criticizing poetry is a very difficult thing to do.
Poetry is an expression of the poet's feelings, so criticizing it is tantamount to criticizing the poet's feelings.
He must have been a hot-tempered person.
“But there's a problem.”
What kind of problem could make Master Jin look so serious?
“The prime suspect is one of the sons of the Namgung Clan Head.”
“...”
No wonder you look so serious.