Chapter 610
Chapter 610
Chapter 610. Since I’m Going to Beijing Anyway (2)
For now, I came out of the secret vault.
It was because the quantity and variety of treasures were so great that I needed to write them down on paper.
But Miss Seohyang was inside the guest room.
“Ah, you must have gone into the secret vault and come back out.” (Miss Seohyang)
“Hahaha, yes.” (I)
I scratched behind my ear and nodded.
“There are this and that to organize, you see.” (I)
Because she possessed the Ice Crystal Eye, she could see hidden things, and so she could also see the door to the secret vault.
“Anyway, it really is fascinating.” (Miss Seohyang)
Saying that, she tapped the door to the secret vault.
Huh?
My eyes widened at the sight.
She could touch the door to the secret vault?
Even if I told others there was a door here, not only could they not see it, but even if they put their hands toward it, they would pass right through the door as if it were smoke.
“Vice Officer Kwak, can you perhaps open the door to the secret vault too?” (I)
“I’ll try.” (Miss Seohyang)
She reached out and pulled the handle.
Srrrk.
“Yes. It opens just fine.” (Miss Seohyang)
“……!” (I)
The fact that she could open the door meant that she could enter the secret vault as well.
At that moment, I found hope.
I had thought I had no choice but to organize all that by myself without being able to budge.
“Vice Officer Kwak. Please help me a bit.” (I)
“Yes?” (Miss Seohyang)
“For now, you just need to take writing brush, inkstone, paper, and ink and enter the secret vault.” (I)
Like that, I went back into the secret vault together with Miss Seohyang.
“Oh my! So this place looked like this.” (Miss Seohyang)
She looked around everywhere with a face full of curiosity.
“It really is a warehouse. A fairly large warehouse.” (Miss Seohyang)
“That’s right.” (I)
Looking at the treasures piled like a mountain in the middle of the warehouse, she asked.
“Are these perhaps the things that need to be organized?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Yes.” (I)
“……There was a reason you asked me for help.” (Miss Seohyang)
Rolling up her sleeves, she said.
“Since we have to do it anyway! Let’s get it over with quickly!” (Miss Seohyang)
Looking at her burning with enthusiasm, I quietly smiled.
It was because I trusted that she would keep this secret vault’s secret.
Since I was the one holding her lifeline, she could not betray me.
Also, the Ice Crystal Eye she possessed would influence her to live properly.
But putting all such things aside, the greatest reason was that I wanted to trust her.
Looking back on my past life, in truth, I had agonized a great deal over something called trust.
Because even when I gave my trust with all sincerity, there were not a few cases where the other person betrayed that trust.
So I was hurt, and I looked for the problem in myself.
But now I know.
That it was not my problem, but that individual’s problem.
No matter how much I try and pay attention, those who will betray will betray.
Because that was painful, I had been so focused only on those who betrayed me that I had failed to properly look back on those who had never betrayed me to the end.
I must be different in this life.
“Young Master, what are you doing?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Ah! I was briefly thinking about how we should organize it. The thinking is over, so let’s move now.” (I)
Like that, we began organizing.
First, we started with all sorts of objects, and it was done in the way where, when I told her the name, she wrote it down on paper and recorded the number of the bookshelf where the object was placed.
After we finished organizing the objects, we organized the valuable items, and lastly, we organized the gold ingots and money.
Each gold ingot was weighed one by one.
It would be nice if all the gold ingots had the same weight, but in truth, there were many cases where they did not.
There were also quite a few cases of poor-quality mischief where a little of the gold ingot had been shaved off.
The 괴 in gold ingot means a lump.
It is because the shape is round.
So normally, they are called gold yuanbao.
Usually, gold yuanbao are made in units of ten nyang. Because even that much has an extremely high value.
But right now, in this place, there were heaps of fifty-nyang gold yuanbao.
It meant these gold yuanbao were closer to being for the accumulation of wealth rather than being actually used.
In other words, it meant that even if I swallowed these gold yuanbao whole, there would be no issue at all.
“You look to be in a good mood.” (Miss Seohyang)
At Miss Seohyang’s words, I nodded.
“Of course. Is there anyone in the world who dislikes gold?” (I)
I picked up three gold yuanbao and stacked them in the shape of the character 品, then asked.
“What character does this look like to you?” (I)
“Since three golds are stacked…… it’s the character 鑫, meaning joy.” (Miss Seohyang)
I looked into her eyes.
Though there was no way she did not know the value of the treasures piled like a mountain, no greed was visible in her eyes.
“It seems you do not covet the things in here, Vice Officer Kwak.” (I)
“Why would I covet what is not mine?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Oh my! A wise answer to a foolish question.” (I)
Pop.
At that moment, Geumryeong poked her head out from the place where the gold and silver coins were piled.
An expression that looked extremely happy.
It seemed she liked swimming among precious things.
Seeing that, Miss Seohyang said.
“Now that I think about it, there is something you and Geumryeong have in common, Young Master.” (Miss Seohyang)
“Yes?” (I)
“You both like money.” (Miss Seohyang)
At those words, I looked at Geumryeong, and Geumryeong looked at me.
“…….” (I)
“Kui?” (Geumryeong)
Thanks to Miss Seohyang, we were able to organize the secret vault faster than expected.
By the time we came out after organizing it like that, it was already the third watch.
“You worked hard today.” (I)
“Not at all.” (Miss Seohyang)
“Then let’s hurry and sleep. We are meeting the Lord Provincial Commissioner tomorrow, so if your face looks haggard, I will be scolded.” (I)
At my words, Geumryeong, who had returned inside my sleeve, sent a telepathic message.
Kui? Ku? (Geumryeong)
You knew that and still worked Miss like that?
Ahem, don’t hit me where it hurts.
The only beings who can enter the secret vault are me, Miss Seohyang, and you, you see. Then should you have done the organizing? (I)
Kui? (Geumryeong)
Then you would have to organize without even getting to eat delicious money…… would that be all right? (I)
I could feel Geumryeong’s tail trembling.
Suddenly, Geumryeong came out from inside my sleeve and respectfully offered the silver coin she had been holding in her mouth to Miss Seohyang with both hands.
“Ku, kui…….” (Geumryeong)
“Hmm? What could this mean?” (Miss Seohyang)
She tilted her head, not knowing why, and I gave a faint laugh as I conveyed the reason.
“She says she looks forward to your help from now on as well.” (I)
“Yes?” (Miss Seohyang)
Anyway, were my words really that shocking?
For Geumryeong to give a silver coin to Miss Seohyang!
She had never even given me a single copper coin.
.
.
.
Day broke.
I spent the day with qi circulation breathing, training, and handling work, and before I knew it, evening had come.
Tonight, we had promised to meet the Lord Provincial Commissioner and his wife at Yuhwa Tavern, so I should start heading there.
How could I make the two of them wait?
“Are you ready?” (I)
“Yes.” (Miss Seohyang)
Her eyes had reddened. She must have already seen herself meeting her parents.
“Let’s go.” (I)
My party and I headed to Yuhwa Tavern.
Yuhwa Tavern was one of the fairly famous taverns in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province.
Guizhou Province is a humid place, so it has many rivers, and among those rivers, a rather beautiful one passes through Guiyang.
Because spring flowers are reflected in it in spring, and autumn foliage in autumn, making it seem as though flowers are flowing, the locals call it the Yuhwa River.
The inn we were heading to was located beside that Yuhwa River, so it used the name Yuhwa Inn.
Also, because right beside it was a place where the Yuhwa River dropped and flowed sharply like a waterfall, it was not easy for anyone to eavesdrop on conversations inside the inn.
So it was also a place perfectly suited for having secret conversations.
“Welcome.” (Waiter)
The inn’s waiter greeted us.
“We made a reservation for the sixth floor.” (Palgap)
Palgap spoke while holding out the reservation plaque, and after checking it, the waiter guided us.
“Please come this way.” (Waiter)
We went up to the sixth floor.
Climbing the stairs all the way to the sixth floor was fairly difficult, but it was worth enduring that much hardship.
“This is the place.” (Waiter)
The sight of the river and waterfall from the sixth floor was truly magnificent.
This was also why I had chosen this place.
Because the scenery of this place that I had seen in my past life was still impossible to forget.
Right now, it was the twelfth month.
In most regions, the autumn leaves would have all fallen by this time, but here in Guizhou Province, the autumn foliage still remained.
A landscape so beautiful one could lose one’s soul while looking at it.
But my guards paid no mind to that and began thoroughly inspecting the surroundings.
As expected, they were well trained.
“Shall we serve the meal as you ordered it previously?” (Waiter)
At the waiter’s question, I nodded.
“Do that. And……” (I)
I gave him extra money and made a request.
“I would like you to keep what happens here today secret.” (I)
But he did not accept that money.
“You do not need to do that. The pride of our inn is our thorough keeping of secrets.” (Waiter)
I like that.
“However, I would appreciate it if you told me what I should answer if others ask.” (Waiter)
“If anyone asks about me, please tell them this. Say that it seemed a meeting was arranged to discuss business in Guizhou Province, and that, from what you heard in passing, it seemed we were trying to expand the scale of the Guizhou branch.” (I)
“Understood.” (Waiter)
I placed the money in his hand.
“And with this, please have some tea with the people of the inn.” (I)
When I went that far in saying it, he did not refuse either.
“Thank you.” (Waiter)
The matter I mentioned, expanding the Guizhou Province branch, was not a lie.
The Eunha Trading Company did have a branch in Guizhou Province as well.
This region’s territory is useful for medicinal herbs, and a tea called Midamchwia is also quite famous.
Also, the Eunha Trading Company was sponsoring several of the breweries that made Maotai liquor, a specialty of Guizhou Province.
Because of that, the head of the Guizhou branch had requested that the Guizhou branch be expanded.
Therefore, I had to discuss this matter with the Lord Provincial Commissioner as well.
Because coordinating conflicts related to this was also part of the Lord Provincial Commissioner’s role.
“Please lay out all the food in advance at once.” (I)
“If we do that, the food will cool. Will that be all right?” (Waiter)
“It does not matter.” (I)
“Understood. We will bring everything at once.” (Waiter)
He went down, and soon several waiters came up carrying trays.
On the table where we sat, numerous dishes were laid out, including fried fish, a specialty of Guizhou Province.
Because food spoils quickly here, there are many fried dishes.
Meanwhile, Miss Seohyang was enjoying the scenery outside visible from Yuhwa Pavilion.
“So there was such a place in Guizhou Province.” (Miss Seohyang)
She had a deeply moved expression.
“This kind of place is a first for me.” (Miss Seohyang)
Seeing her happy somehow made me feel proud.
“I am glad you like it.” (I)
This Yuhwa Inn was a fairly expensive place.
Especially the sixth floor, the top floor, was something that would only make my mouth hurt if I tried to describe it.
So before she came of age, no matter how much her orabeoni saved their allowances, it must have been difficult for them to come all the way here.
After she came of age, her orabeoni took government posts and started earning money, but she herself was sick and almost never went outside.
Thinking of that made my heart ache somewhat.
At that moment, I felt a familiar aura approaching.
“Vice Officer Kwak.” (I)
“Yes?” (Miss Seohyang)
“They have arrived.” (I)
Though I had not stated the subject, she realized what I meant and quickly turned her head.
Tears were already welling up in her eyes.
The wife of the Lord Provincial Commissioner, seeing her, was the same.
“Ah!” (Provincial Commissioner’s Wife)
She quickly ran over and embraced Miss Seohyang.
“Hngh…….” (Miss Seohyang)
The two of them sobbed as they held each other tightly.
The eyes of the Lord Provincial Commissioner, watching that sight, also reddened.
“Hngh!” (Palgap)
Palgap, too, seemed to have a prickling nose and kept sniffling. Then he said to me.
“Young Master, do you not feel moved even after seeing that?” (Palgap)
“Well……” (I)
“Your heart has withered.” (Palgap)
At Palgap’s words, I smiled bitterly.
What I felt now was anger rather than being moved.
Anger over why that family had to suffer such a separation while alive.
And if I had not intervened, would they not have been unable to meet forever?
My guards, quick on the uptake, had headed toward the stairs and were preventing others from coming up.
This was why I had told them to lay out the food in advance.
And since I had put a soundproof barrier around this area, the sounds here would not be heard elsewhere.
Like that, for a long while, mother and daughter touched each other’s faces and unburdened all the longing they had stored up.
“You have become much healthier.” (Provincial Commissioner’s Wife)
“Yes, Mother. How have you been, Mother? Are you well?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Of course, do not worry about me.” (Provincial Commissioner’s Wife)
I said to them.
“Please take your seats. Food loses its taste when it cools.” (I)
“Let us do that.” (Provincial Commissioner’s Wife)
“Yes.” (Miss Seohyang)
Like that, we sat around the table and began eating.
As expected of an expensive place, it was delicious even after cooling a little.
While mother and daughter ate facing each other, the Lord Provincial Commissioner said to me.
“I heard there was a major incident in Guangdong Province and Hainan Island this time. I heard you made quite a contribution there?” (Lord Provincial Commissioner)
As expected of the Lord Provincial Commissioner of Guizhou Province.
He already knew about that matter.
Well, since His Highness the Crown Prince had personally come, there was no way the Lord Provincial Commissioner would not know.
Not only was he somewhat connected to the imperial bloodline, he also held quite a high government post.
“Yes. That is correct. But I only made a small contribution.” (I)
Because the fact that I was an inspector could not be spoken of carelessly.
As for the Hainan Island branch official and the head of the Mu Trading Company, well……
They were people who would die soon anyway, and their words would end as hollow cries.
“In Guangdong, I was trying to trade for delicious rice, and on Hainan Island, I merely went to trade for pearls, but I am rather proud that I was of help in resolving the incident.” (I)
The Lord Provincial Commissioner nodded.
“I had already been worried because the rumors about that area were so ominous, so it is fortunate that it was resolved like this.” (Lord Provincial Commissioner)
“I think so as well.” (I)
“By the way, I heard that you were accompanied by a beautiful wife you had kept hidden all this time……” (Lord Provincial Commissioner)
Cough!
At the Provincial Commissioner’s gaze demanding an explanation, my body trembled without me realizing it.
W-well, that, you see.
I was about to say something in excuse, but suddenly the Lord Provincial Commissioner’s eyes curved like crescent moons.
Hm? Why is he suddenly doing that?