Chapter 634
Chapter 634
Chapter 634. A New Business (1)
At the Silver Moon Pavilion meeting I attended when I went to Hubei Province last time, the proposal for Brother Jeong-ho to reside permanently at the Beijing branch was passed.
In the Eunhae Trading Company, every direct descendant of the Trading Company Leader is called a Young Master until the Trading Company Leader emerges from that generation.
It is one of the ways we differ from other trading companies.
This means that the Trading Company Leader will be decided through fair competition from equal positions.
It was also a warning not to let down one’s guard until the very last moment.
Running a trading company is more merciless than one might think.
Because in order to survive fierce competition and avoid falling victim to sinister schemes, one has to take the other party’s flesh first.
If I do not eat first, I will only be eaten.
Since the other party is also a Young Master, it means to stay sharp because you can be replaced at any time.
Lastly, it was also to prepare for the worst.
Because even if a Young Master suddenly dies or goes missing, there will be other Young Masters, so the succession structure will not collapse.
Originally, just like in Father’s generation, the next Trading Company Leader among us three brothers should have been decided through competition.
But with Brother Jin-ho and me implicitly giving up the competition for Trading Company Leader, Brother Jeong-ho has naturally become fixed as the next Trading Company Leader.
That was also why the proposal for Brother Jeong-ho to reside permanently in Beijing passed smoothly at the Silver Moon Pavilion meeting.
“Palgap.” (MC)
“Yes. Did you call?” (Palgap)
“Brother Jeong-ho is coming this time.” (MC)
At my words, Palgap brightened and asked.
“He is finally coming?” (Palgap)
“Yes.” (MC)
Beside me, Lady Seo-hyang asked.
“Then is his entire family coming with him?” (Seo-hyang)
“Yes. That is right.” (MC)
When Brother Jeong-ho comes this time, my eldest sister-in-law and their two children will come with him as well.
Beijing is the imperial capital of the Empire, and the place where the greatest number of high officials and nobles are gathered.
And in order to operate a trading company in the Empire, we must not have a bad relationship with them.
It is good if the relationship is good, and at the very least, we must not be obstructed.
The reason I suggested that Brother Jeong-ho’s family reside in Beijing was precisely so that Brother Jeong-ho could build connections with them.
If the Eunhae Trading Company were still a moderately large trading company ranked around fiftieth as before, it would not matter.
But now that we have become a giant trading company ranked above twentieth, and since we are aiming to become the greatest trading company under heaven, we need to build good relationships with the high officials and nobles of Beijing as well.
That said, we must not become too close, because if they commit a grave crime like treason, we could be swept up with them.
Here, Sister-in-law’s role is important.
Because there are matters among wives where men cannot step forward.
That is why Brother Jeong-ho is not coming alone, but Sister-in-law is coming with him as well.
And since they cannot leave their still-young children behind, Geonhyeok and Boyeon are coming too.
“Palgap. Prepare the company residence where Brother Jeong-ho’s family will stay as I told you before.” (MC)
“Understood.” (Palgap)
Near the Beijing branch, there were company residences made from houses we had purchased last time.
Some were being used as lodging for employees, and some had been prepared as places where our family would stay.
Company housing is a kind of employee welfare.
Because land prices and housing prices are expensive in Beijing, the housing cost burden on employees is quite large.
Of course, it is not as though there are no places where one can live while paying money every month, but the price is quite high.
Employees with little seniority have to spend more than half their monthly salary on housing costs, and if that happens, problems may arise later.
Because if another trading company or force tries to coax them with money, there is a high possibility they will be won over.
If we ease their housing burden, the possibility of betrayal goes down, and their loyalty toward the trading company rises.
Also, since everyone lives gathered together, there is the advantage that they can monitor one another.
It was the same place Brother Jeong-ho had used when he stayed in Beijing last time, so it would not be bad for him to stay there with his family.
At that moment, Lady Seo-hyang called to me.
“Um, Young Master.” (Seo-hyang)
“Yes. Please speak.” (MC)
“I think it would be good to prepare warm fur clothes for the family of the First Young Master who will come this time.” (Seo-hyang)
“Fur clothes? Would Brother Jeong-ho not have prepared those already?” (MC)
But Lady Seo-hyang smiled and shook her head.
That meant she had seen something in the future related to this.
“Hubei Province is warmer than here, so they may not have prepared clothes suited for this place. And in the case of young children, if the weather suddenly changes, they may fall ill.” (Seo-hyang)
“Ah! I see.” (MC)
Lady Seo-hyang was worried about Geonhyeok and Boyeon.
Brother Jeong-ho and my eldest sister-in-law are adults, and they have also trained in martial arts to some degree.
Especially my eldest sister-in-law, who is a fairly skilled martial artist, so she would not suffer from such cold.
But the children are different.
“Thank you for the advice.” (MC)
“I am glad I was of help.” (Seo-hyang)
I immediately called Palgap and ordered him to prepare fur clothes for Geonhyeok and Boyeon.
Before I knew it, February had come.
Brother Jeong-ho’s family arrived at the Beijing branch.
Carriages and carts entered the yard of the Beijing branch.
They were the carriage Brother Jeong-ho’s family rode in and their luggage. And for their escort, warriors of the Silver Wind Unit and people from the Changin Escort Agency had also accompanied them.
“Welcome. Brother. You must have had a hard time coming all this way. Sister-in-law, you must also have had a hard time.” (MC)
“It has been a long time.” (Jeong-ho)
“You look healthy.” (MC)
I lowered my head and greeted Geonhyeok and Boyeon as well.
“Was it hard coming here?” (MC)
“No, Uncle.” (Geonhyeok)
“It was nice because it felt like traveling with Mother and Father.” (Boyeon)
But contrary to their words, they were shivering.
“It seems the children are a little cold.” (MC)
“We did prepare fur clothes, but…… it seems Beijing is colder for the children than I thought.” (Jeong-ho)
“That would be so. Palgap!” (MC)
“Yes!” (Palgap)
Palgap immediately brought the fur clothes, and I put those fur clothes on Geonhyeok and Boyeon.
Perhaps because the clothes were quite thick, the children wearing them looked like balls made of fur.
……Cute.
“Oh my! You even prepared clothes for Geonhyeok and Boyeon?” (Sister-in-law)
“Yes. Children are more vulnerable to heat and cold than adults, after all.” (MC)
“Thank you.” (Sister-in-law)
Following Sister-in-law, Brother Jeong-ho also expressed his thanks.
“Thank you. You truly are attentive.” (Jeong-ho)
“Thank Deputy Officer Gwak, not me.” (MC)
At my words, the gazes of Brother Jeong-ho and his wife turned toward Deputy Officer Gwak.
“Thank you.” (Jeong-ho)
“Thank you.” (Sister-in-law)
“Please do not mention it. I am simply glad I could be of help.” (Seo-hyang)
With a pleased face, I said to everyone.
“Then let us go in and have a cup of warm tea.” (MC)
While Palgap guided the Silver Wind Unit warriors and the people of Changin Escort Agency to places where they could rest, I headed to the company residence together with Brother Jeong-ho’s family.
“You remember the place where you stayed in Beijing before, right, Brother? You can use that place as your quarters.” (MC)
“That place is not bad. But wait…….” (Jeong-ho)
Brother Jeong-ho turned to me and asked.
“Did you perhaps build that place so large because you anticipated even this?” (Jeong-ho)
“To some degree?” (MC)
I answered with a smile.
“Let us hurry inside. I have warmed the place with braziers inside.” (MC)
That evening, I ate dinner together with Brother Jeong-ho’s family.
After dinner, Sister-in-law said she had to put the children to sleep and headed to the room first.
They had a nanny, but she still tried to spend as much time with the children as possible.
A nanny…….
“Why are you making that expression?” (Jeong-ho)
“I suddenly thought of my nanny.” (MC)
“Why are you thinking of that woman?” (Jeong-ho)
At my words, Brother Jeong-ho frowned and showed displeasure.
In truth, my nanny was not preserved as a very good memory for me.
When I was ten, my nanny died.
It was suicide.
Because it was discovered that while working as my nanny, she had been passing the trading company’s information to a rival trading company.
And that was the first betrayal I suffered.
Because of that incident, I think I carried guilt. I thought that if I had done better, she would not have betrayed me and the trading company.
That was why I had obsessed over people’s trust.
That was how shocking it had been.
But after returning against death, I realized how truly foolish that thought had been.
If I had returned not to when I was fifteen, but to when I was ten…… what would I have said to her?
I smiled bitterly and asked Brother Jeong-ho.
“You are watching Geonhyeok and Boyeon’s nanny properly, right?” (MC)
“Of course. Since that incident, Father has been paying a great deal of attention to it.” (Jeong-ho)
Brother Jeong-ho continued.
“By the way, how often do you eat alone or drink tea alone with Deputy Officer Gwak, whom you are going to marry?” (Jeong-ho)
“Hm? Why do you ask?” (MC)
“I am telling you to spend a lot of time with Deputy Officer Gwak.” (Jeong-ho)
“I think we spend plenty of time together…… Since we are almost always together in the office.” (MC)
“Aigo! You little brat!” (Jeong-ho)
Brother Jeong-ho beat his chest as though his frustration had burst.
“That is work! When you and Deputy Officer Gwak are in the office, is there anything you talk about beyond, ‘Please approve this. Please review this. Proceed as is. This needs some improvement’?” (Jeong-ho)
“……That is true.” (MC)
We do talk about other things besides that, but they are mostly related to work.
“What I mean is, have a lot of time for private conversations. Lady Seo-hyang will also be active in her own way from now on, so then the only time you can spend privately together will be at night.” (Jeong-ho)
“At night…… you mean.” (MC)
Why is it suddenly getting hot? Is the fire in the brazier too strong?
“Do you know when Lady Seo-hyang’s birthday is?” (Jeong-ho)
“……!” (MC)
“Her favorite flower? Her favorite color? Her favorite scent? Her favorite food? Conversely, do you know what foods she dislikes?” (Jeong-ho)
“…….” (MC)
I was left speechless.
Because, just as my brother said, I realized I did not know Lady Seo-hyang well.
Why had I thought I knew her well?
“Even now, eat together or drink tea together and talk. And at least share with each other what you like and dislike.” (Jeong-ho)
Brother Jeong-ho continued.
“Of course, we are people of the mercantile world, so it is our habit not to give information to the other party…… but even so, she is the partner who will be with you for the rest of your life.” (Jeong-ho)
In a way, Brother Jeong-ho’s words might be steeped in romance for someone from the mercantile world.
Because in my memory, there were quite a few cases where a spouse struck someone in the back.
But I like Brother Jeong-ho for being that way.
So plotting schemes and carrying them out is my role.
And Lady Seo-hyang is someone I want to trust.
“Understood. I will try.” (MC)
“And…….” (Jeong-ho)
Brother Jeong-ho toyed with his teacup, then raised his head.
“This time, I am thinking of starting a new business.” (Jeong-ho)
“A new business?” (MC)
“Yes. I will start a jewelry business.” (Jeong-ho)
“I see.” (MC)
“You are not surprised?” (Jeong-ho)
At Brother Jeong-ho’s question, I gave a small laugh.
“One of the things you pay the most attention to is silk, Brother. Then naturally, handling jewelry that goes well with that silk would be effective, and there is no way you would fail to think of that and let it pass.” (MC)
“Is that so?” (Jeong-ho)
Though I had given him a suitable reason, in my previous life as well, Brother Jeong-ho started the jewelry business around this time.
And it was quite successful.
I felt it before too, when I bought a gift for Sister-in-law, but Brother’s eye and sense are rather good.
Kkui!
Enough for Geumryeong to react like this.
Geumryeong, this fellow, really does react immediately to anything that can make money.
“The reason I am telling you this in advance is because I need your help.” (Jeong-ho)
“What do you need me to help with?” (MC)
“A place to introduce it.” (Jeong-ho)
Brother Jeong-ho’s eyes gleamed.
“We need a place to introduce the Eunhae Trading Company’s jewelry to high officials and nobles or their wives.” (Jeong-ho)
That was indeed right.
Jewelry is a field where if someone leads the fashion, others follow it as is.
Then I should ask for one thing as well.
“Good. In return…….” (MC)
A few days later.
A new workshop was created at the Beijing branch.
It was the core of the jewelry business Brother Jeong-ho was pushing forward this time.
It was a jewelry workshop.
Because jewelry is fundamentally handmade, it is no exaggeration to say that the quality of the raw stone and the skill of the artisan determine everything.
So this time, Brother Jeong-ho brought along several jewelry artisans he had contracted.
The fashion for jewelry almost always begins in Beijing.
Therefore, it is right to proceed with the jewelry business here.
When I arrived at the workshop where jewelry was made, Brother Jeong-ho greeted me.
“You came quickly.” (Jeong-ho)
“Yes.” (MC)
“By the way, asking me to give you a tour of the jewelry workshop! Is this not something I should naturally do, rather than something you should have to ask for?” (Jeong-ho)
“Hahaha. Is that so?” (MC)
“Let us go in.” (Jeong-ho)
Brother Jeong-ho took me inside the workshop.
The artisans were so focused on making jewelry that they did not even know we had entered.
As expected, he is here.
There was a reason I asked Brother for a tour like this. That was…….
* Geumryeong. I have a favor to ask. (MC)
* Kkui? (Geumryeong)
At my call, Geumryeong poked his head out from my sleeve.
But he was not looking at me; his eyes were shining as he watched the precious metals the artisans were finely cutting and trimming.
Even so, he would not eat anything I had not permitted him to eat.
* In that artisan’s pouch……. (MC)
Geumryeong, having received my request, moved like an arrow.
...
Son Moon is an artisan who processes raw stones.
Since it was his family trade, he began processing raw stones even before he was old enough to know better.
In truth, processing raw stones requires quite a bit of capital.
Because buying raw stones and preparing the tools to process them all cost money.
That is why, except for a small minority, most tend to be employed by someone wealthy.
Originally, Son Moon had been included among that minority, but this time, he made an employment contract with the Eunhae Trading Company.
Because he had to prepare the medicine money for his sick son.
And so he came all the way to Beijing.
When he began working at the new workshop in Beijing, someone secretly sent him a letter.
[I want to know about the new business the Eunhae Trading Company is starting. If you want to save your son, cooperate with us.]
He had received a considerable signing bonus from the Eunhae Trading Company, but even that was not enough to cover his son’s medicine, so he was wavering inwardly.
Because he desperately needed the money he would receive in return.
“Huu, today’s work is done!” (Workshop Foreman)
At the words of the workshop foreman, everyone began tidying their places. And when Son Moon also put his tools into his sack to tidy up, he noticed that something was inside the sack.
He took out what was in the sack, and he was so startled that he nearly jumped.
‘Hrk! This is!’ (Son Moon)