Chapter 63
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 63
Chapter 63. To Beijing (1)
The sun was setting.
And finally, in the distance, the main building of the Eunhae Trading Company came into view.
“We're finally home!”
Pal-gap asked me.
“Are you that happy?”
“Of course I am. It's home.”
My butt was numb from riding a horse. It felt like I had calluses.
And the road from Sichuan to Hubei was so rough.
In my previous life, it was one of the five places I hated going to the most.
“By the way, it's just as hot here.”
“Still, it's bearable compared to Sichuan.”
Pal-gap's words prompted Yoo-eung-am to respond. Lee Pil, who was standing next to him, chimed in.
“This heat is nothing. I once visited Yunnan in southern Sichuan, and it was indescribable.”
Yes, Yunnan...
Yunnan is also one of the places I dislike visiting.
“I guess so.”
As we were talking and approaching the main building, I saw someone running toward us from a distance.
He looked very familiar...
“Huh?”
It was my father.
I quickly got off my horse, and Pal-gap and the two warriors followed suit.
“Father, I'm back…”
Before I could even finish my greeting, my father asked me.
“What on earth is going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Salt! Salt! Someone came from the imperial palace this morning. They said you were selected as a salt retailer for Hubei Province and that you must come to Beijing immediately.”
I smiled at his words.
“That's great.”
“This is no time for idle talk. What on earth happened in Sichuan? What happened to make the captain of the trading company write a letter saying that you raised your son well...”
Oh no, my father is about to pass out.
“Calm down, Father.”
“How can I calm down...”
“Of course you can't calm down, but this is good news for the trading company, isn't it?”
“A celebration! Yes! A big celebration!”
“But how unfair would it be if you passed away without enjoying such a celebration?”
“...Stop cursing, you brat.”
“That's why I'm telling you to calm down.”
I smiled and pulled my father's hand.
“Let's go inside, Father.”
A moment later
After washing off the dust and tidying myself up, I headed to the dining room.
My family had heard that I was coming and had prepared a meal and were waiting for me.
When I entered the dining room, I saw my family sitting at the table, chatting happily.
All eyes were on me, and I greeted them with a clasped hands greeting.
“My younger brother and I have returned safely from Sichuan.”
Everyone welcomed me warmly, and only then did I realize that I had returned home.
After a pleasant dinner and a cup of tea, my father, my older brother, and I headed for Eunwol Hall.
The other officials were gathered there.
They were discussing the recent events.
By the way, it's been a long time. Is it almost two months since we last saw each other?
I was startled when I saw Chief Administrator Yu.
He had been fine when I was there, but now he looked tired and exhausted.
Seeing this, I felt a sense of guilt for some reason.
But I had something to say.
My father had told me to go, and Chief Administrator Yu had given me permission.
Everyone greeted me warmly.
“Young master, you're here?”
“Yes, I had a good trip.”
After exchanging greetings, we sat down. My father looked at everyone and said,
“As you all know, a new salt distribution law has recently been announced.”
Everyone in the conference room nodded at my father's words.
“As a result, each province has selected a trading company to be in charge of salt retail, and our Eunhae Trading Company has been selected as the salt retail trading company for Hubei Province.”
“I am honored.”
“It is thanks to everyone's efforts.”
My father looked at me and said,
“By the way, what exactly happened in Sichuan? Please explain in detail.”
No one had heard the details, so they all listened intently to my story.
“What happened in Sichuan! Now I understand why Captain Jin sent me that letter.”
“You saved the life of the captain of the Yeonpyeong Trading Company!”
“I didn't know he was the new captain of the Yeonpyeong Trading Company.”
“It was a secret mission ordered by His Majesty the Emperor. It's no wonder you didn't know.”
“Actually, we did discuss it, but we didn't expect the salt merchant.”
I made up a story.
I couldn't tell them that I already knew.
Then, Sang-yu-gak's secretary asked my father, “According to the letter from the imperial court, you must come to the capital by the end of this month. When do you plan to leave?”
“According to the message from His Majesty the Emperor delivered by the person who came from the Imperial Palace, you must arrive in Beijing by the end of this month. So, I was wondering when you plan to depart?”
“Considering the distance to Beijing, we must depart within five days.”
“Then, I will make the preparations.”
The chief administrator of Seungpunggak and the chief administrator of Go also nodded in agreement with Yeon Gakju's words.
“Understood.”
“We understand.”
Then my father called me.
“And Seo-ho.”
“Yes, Father.”
“You must go too.”
“...Me too?”
My father nodded in response to my question.
“But I just got home today and haven't fully recovered from my trip. And I also have duties as Chief Administrator Yu's assistant.”
I've been back from Sichuan for less than a day, and now I have to go to Beijing in five days?
I was tired.
Assisting Chief Administrator Yu was not an easy job, but at least I had regular meal and rest times.
But if I have to go to Beijing in five days... it will be difficult to get any rest.
Even if I don't go, my father and Sang-yu-gakju will take care of everything.
They are capable people.
However, Chief Administrator Yu sighed at my words.
What is it?
He should have quickly agreed with me and taken me to his office, right?
As I was wondering about this,
my father called me with a serious expression.
“Seoho.”
“Yes, Father.”
“It can't be helped. It is the emperor's order.”
Ah...
I have to go.
Damn it.
This was a little different from what I expected. I thought only my father and my eldest brother would be going.
“And.”
My father took something out of his pocket and handed it to me.
“Take this.”
It was a white jade badge with silver lettering.
[Eunhae Trading Company, Captain Eun Seo-ho]
There was no way I wouldn't recognize it.
It was the badge I received when I officially became a sub-captain after completing five years of practical training.
In the Eunhae Trading Company, not only the eldest son became a sub-captain.
All children of the Clan Head became sub-captains after completing their practical training, and from that point on, they competed to become the head of the company.
My father also won that competition and became a Trading Company Head.
The Deputy Captains who did not become Trading Company Heads found jobs that suited them or pioneered new markets and became branch managers.
In my previous life, there was no such competition between my brothers.
My brother offered to give me his position as Trading Company Head, but I refused.
Being a Trading Company Head was not the right job for me.
So, naturally, my older brother Ho became the captain of the trading company, and my second older brother Jin-ho became the captain of the Eunpungdae.
My position was the assistant captain of the Jeji-gak.
That is a position that acts as an aide to the captain of the trading company.
Anyway, that didn't happen...
What's important now is why my father gave me this.
“Father, what is this...?”
“Do you need an explanation?”
“Of course! I haven't even been working for a year yet.”
“You deserve it, so I'm giving it to you.”
“The other Gakjuks haven't...
”The Gakjuks have already given their permission, so I'm giving it to you."
In other words, the heads of the Jaegyeong Hall, Seungpung Hall, and Sangyu Hall had declared that I had passed the practical training.
“But... I haven't even started the practical training at Sangyu Hall and Seungpung Hall yet.”
The head of the Jaegyeong Hall laughed at my words.
“Young master, we have always been watching you. And you have worked so hard.”
“Ah...”
Come to think of it, I did do quite a lot of things.
“That is why we decided that practical training at Sangyugak would be a waste of time for you. This is not my decision, but the decision of the Sangyugak leaders.”
“....”
“You are so skilled, as if you have been working at a trading company for over ten years, that we thought we would only embarrass ourselves by teaching you. Ho ho ho.”
The other administrators nodded in agreement at her laughter.
“I agree.”
Finally, Chief Administrator Yoo spoke.
“I wanted to keep him around for a few more years... I mean, I wanted to keep him close, but I think the other administrators are right that keeping him here any longer would be a waste of time.”
Didn't you just say you wanted to keep him around?
In any case, even Chief Administrator Yoo agreed.
“But if I become the Young Master first, Hyung-nim Jin-ho will be upset.”
“Jin-ho agreed to this as well.”
“What? Hyung-nim Jin-ho agreed?”
“He said he wasn't interested in becoming the head of the Trading Company anyway, and that he wanted to boast about having the youngest Young Master in the history of our family.”
“Ah…”
That's just like Hyung-nim Jin-ho.
“And there's a reason why I'm giving you this now. You have to go to Beijing with me, and with the title of Captain, you'll be able to introduce yourself to people.”
So my father wants me to be more confident when I go to Beijing and talk to people.
"I'm not ashamed of you being an apprentice. You are my proud son and a talented member of the Eunhae Trading Company.“
”I understand your feelings.“
My father smiled happily and nodded.
”You must hold your ceremony to announce your appointment as Captain, but since we must leave for Beijing in five days, your ceremony will have to wait until after we return from Beijing.“
”That's fine."
Before the ceremony to announce my status as Captain, even though I was the Captain, I couldn't exercise my authority as Captain in the Trading Company.
I didn't care.
“Then will my father, Jung-ho, and I go together? Honestly, this is a great opportunity.”
My father replied to my question.
“You're right, this is a great opportunity. But Jung-ho said he wouldn't come with us.”
“What?”
I asked Jung-ho.
“Why? This is a really good opportunity.”
“You want me to leave with my father, the Captain? That doesn't make any sense.”
“But...”
“While you and my father are away, I have to stay and guard the place.”
* * *
That night.
I headed for the annex where Gongmil was staying.
“Young master!”
Gongrae, who was sitting on a bench in the courtyard eating a snack, saw me and ran over.
“I heard you went to Sichuan.”
“I came today. Where is your brother?”
“He's in his studio.”
By dividing the work of making the martial artist figures, Gongmil had some free time.
Thanks to that, Gongmil had time to study other unique items.
When Gongrae and I entered Gongmil's private workshop, he was sitting in front of his workbench, looking at something and thinking.
Then he turned his head slightly and was surprised to see me.
“Ah! Young master!”
“You're working hard again today.”
Gongmil also greeted me and approached me.
“I heard you went to Sichuan. When did you come back?”
“Today.”
“You must be tired...”
“It's okay, it's okay. By the way, how did it turn out with what I asked you before?”
“Oh, you mean that?”
Gongmil quickly brought over some tools from nearby.
Inside a circular frame were three wooden blades. Attached to the back of the blades was a long box.
He had followed my advice and adjusted the shape, and it looked quite nice.
Gongmil smiled and put his hand inside the box and turned the wheel.
Click, click, click
After turning the wheel about ten times and letting go, the wings began to spin around.
I felt the coolness of the wind.
To be honest, I don't feel the heat because of my constitution and martial arts training. But I can feel the pleasantness of the wind.
The “wind machine” was an instrument that entertained many people during the hot summer.
But it seemed a little plain to be called a wind machine.
“I just decided on a name for this device.”
“What did you name it?”
“It makes wind, right? Let's use your surname and mine to name it Eungongpungpunggi (Silver Wind Machine). Isn't that a cool name?”
Gongmil smiled awkwardly at my words.
Huh? What's that strange reaction?
Then Gong-rae said,
“It's ugly...”
“What?”
“The name is ugly.”
“Oh...”
Come to think of it, I'm not very good at naming things.
.
.
.
After some twists and turns, the name of the wind machine was simply decided as “Wind Machine.”
This was because people liked the intuitive idea that it creates wind.
I plan to take this to Beijing.
And I plan to present it to the emperor.
I know what the emperor really wants right now.
So by presenting this, I can get what I want.