Chapter 635
Chapter 635
Chapter 635. A New Business (2)
The reason Son Mun was startled was because there were medicinal herbs inside that sack.
Of course, he would not have been so surprised if they had been ordinary medicinal herbs, but the herbs inside were not ordinary.
They were Suppression Herbs, medicinal herbs absolutely necessary for his son.
They were medicinal herbs with the efficacy of suppressing poison qi, and since they were relatively rare, their price was quite high.
The reason his son had come to need such expensive herbs was a congenital problem.
When handling raw stones, there were times when poisonous chemicals had to be used, and his wife had mistaken one of those chemicals for something else and ended up drinking it.
Her condition had been so critical that it would not have been strange if she had died on the spot, but his wife had endured to the end in order to give birth to the child.
In the end, she did give birth to the child, but that poison qi had affected the child as well.
“The poison qi that entered the mother’s body remains in the child’s body. It will continue to gnaw away at the child’s body.” (Physician)
“Then what must I do! What must I do to save our Yoonseok?” (Son Mun)
“It is not that there is no method. You can use a medicinal herb called Suppression Herb, but its price is rather high.” (Physician)
“Is money the problem right now? He is my only son. I am telling you, he is the only son my dead wife left behind!” (Son Mun)
“I understand. Then I will do my best. Fortunately, it does not seem to be to the extent that he will need to use that herb for his whole life, and it seems he only has to hold out until he reaches adulthood.” (Physician)
And so, he had poured all the money he earned into obtaining Suppression Herbs, but that alone was not enough.
So he endured while eating little by little into the money he had saved, but he had almost reached his limit.
By signing a contract with the Eunhae Trading Company, he had put out the urgent fire, but now there was nowhere else for more money to come from.
That was why he had been conflicted by the temptation of those trying to buy him off.
‘Why in the world is this here?’ (Son Mun)
With that question in mind, he looked inside the sack and found a single note.
He carefully took out that note and read it.
[Thank you for signing a contract with our Eunhae Trading Company. We heard that you needed these Suppression Herbs for your son’s treatment. We will provide you with Suppression Herbs, so we hope you will devote yourself to the Eunhae Trading Company’s jewelry business. - Eun Seoho.]
“…….” (Son Mun)
Cold sweat flowed down Son Mun’s back as he read it.
“Brother Son! What are you doing?” (Craftsman)
“Aren’t you leaving work?” (Craftsman)
“Ah, there is something I need to tidy up for a moment. You all go on ahead.” (Son Mun)
He struggled to manage his expression and sent the fellow craftsmen away first, then read the note again.
In his eyes, the contents of the note appeared differently.
[Do not look down on the Eunhae Trading Company. We already know everything about you and everything you do. If you remain loyal to the Eunhae Trading Company, we will save your son’s life, but if you betray us, neither you nor your son will have a life. So choose.]
He bit his lip and burned the note.
— — —
I waited for the guest who would come while handling work alone in my office.
Craftsman Son Mun, one of the craftsmen who made jewelry.
His skill with his hands was considerable.
He was a craftsman capable of making tremendous items that even I would admire, items that would not be lacking even if they were called works of art.
If he had not betrayed the Eunhae Trading Company, the Eunhae Trading Company’s jewelry business would have grown rapidly.
If that had happened, the Eunhae Trading Company would have been able to rise higher even faster.
That was how painful Craftsman Son Mun’s betrayal had been.
The Eunhae Trading Company’s intelligence unit, after learning that information about the jewelry business field had been leaked, eventually found the culprit and also learned the reason he had done it.
It was because of his sick son.
Because that reason was pitiable and his talent was too valuable to waste, we tried to forgive him and work with him, but we could not.
He was murdered by the people who had bought him off.
I could not hide my grief when even his son was murdered along with him.
Our Eunhae Trading Company was a trading company specializing in medicinal materials.
So it would have been good if he had spoken honestly and asked for help…….
But that would not have been easy.
His situation may have been so urgent that his vision had narrowed, or he may have thought he had no shame to ask.
So this time, I reached out to him first.
But at the same time, this was also a warning.
A warning that I knew his situation, so he should judge wisely.
The reason I moved in advance like this under the pretext of an inspection was simple.
It was because I knew the reason Brother Jeongho had jumped into this jewelry business.
It was to solidify his position as the next Trading Company Leader.
Since Brother Jinho and I had already expressed our intention not to become the Trading Company Leader, it was practically a settled fact that Brother Jeongho would become the next Trading Company Leader.
But Brother Jeongho himself did not want to become the Trading Company Leader solely on the basis of his achievements so far.
There was also his desire to prove his own ability to the trading company’s retainers and employees.
Since Brother Jeongho had stepped forward so enthusiastically for this matter, as his younger brother, I had to help him with all my might.
“My liege. Craftsman Son Mun has come.” (Seowoo)
Martial Artist Seowoo’s voice was heard from outside.
Fortunately, he came before it was too late.
I spoke toward the outside.
“Come in.” (Eun Seoho)
The door opened and Craftsman Son Mun entered. Then he prostrated himself flat before me.
“This lowly one greets the Young Company Leader.” (Son Mun)
“Lowly? I know how beautiful the things created by Craftsman Son’s hands are, so why would you say such a thing?” (Eun Seoho)
I personally helped him up.
“Please rise.” (Eun Seoho)
“No! I have committed a grave sin.” (Son Mun)
He continued speaking, unable to lift his head.
“I dared to try to betray the Eunhae Trading Company.” (Son Mun)
“So, did you hand over information about our trading company?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is not so, but…….” (Son Mun)
“Then you have not committed a sin, so why are you doing this?” (Eun Seoho)
I tapped my head with my index finger and said,
“Who could say anything about something you merely think about inside this head? The problem is when it is actually put into action, is it not?” (Eun Seoho)
Even so, Craftsman Son Mun could not easily raise his head.
“I do not wish to speak while looking at the crown of someone’s head. So please stop and rise.” (Eun Seoho)
He hesitated, then only barely raised his head.
I helped him up and seated him in the chair in front of the tea table.
“My eldest brother also knows about this matter. My eldest brother is truly gentle and overflowing with virtue, but at his core, he is a merchant. When he is frightening, he is truly frightening.” (Eun Seoho)
“…….” (Son Mun)
“As I just said, because he is a person overflowing with virtue, he gives one chance. And this was the chance I was giving you under my eldest brother’s instruction.” (Eun Seoho)
Of course, that was a lie.
Brother Jeongho knew absolutely nothing about this matter.
That was why he had been so deeply disheartened in my previous life.
“I am glad you made such a wise choice.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Craftsman Son Mun placed the Suppression Herbs on the table with trembling hands and said,
“You gave me something this precious, so how could I…….” (Son Mun)
I looked at it and said,
“I heard your son is ill.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is so.” (Son Mun)
He let out a sigh and opened his mouth.
It was a story I already knew, but I listened to him as if I were hearing it for the first time.
Thanks to that, I also learned a few pieces of information I had not known.
One of them was that once he became an adult, he would no longer need to take Suppression Herbs.
I remembered that when the Son Mun father and son died in my previous life, the son had been a few years away from reaching adulthood.
Sigh…….
He only had to hold out a little longer.
I said to him,
“Our Eunhae Trading Company is a trading company specializing in medicinal herbs. If you needed medicinal herbs, why did you not tell us? We sell them to employees at a special low price.” (Eun Seoho)
“……There is such a benefit?” (Son Mun)
“There should certainly be a booklet about the benefits provided by our trading company…… Did you not read it?” (Eun Seoho)
Craftsman Son Mun scratched his head.
“We cannot personally take care of every employee welfare benefit for you. If you do not claim them yourself, it is your own loss.” (Eun Seoho)
“I will keep that in mind.” (Son Mun)
“In any case, my eldest brother and I value Craftsman Son Mun highly. Therefore, we will provide Suppression Herbs until your son reaches adulthood.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Craftsman Son Mun’s eyes grew wide.
“Thank you! Truly, thank you!” (Son Mun)
“But it is not free.” (Eun Seoho)
“I did not expect that either. With what shame could I receive something so expensive for free?” (Son Mun)
“That is a desirable attitude.” (Eun Seoho)
I grinned and held out one contract.
It was a lifetime contract.
I could not allow such a tremendous talent to finish his contract and sign with another place.
The Suppression Herbs were a kind of bait to keep Craftsman Son Mun tied to the Eunhae Trading Company for life.
“What do you think?” (Eun Seoho)
“There is nothing to agonize over. I will sign the contract at once.” (Son Mun)
Craftsman Son Mun could not refuse the bait I had held out.
After Craftsman Son Mun left, I carefully stored the contract he had signed and sealed.
With this, in Brother Jeongho’s jewelry business, we would not hear anyone say that the jewelry was not pretty.
Then now, I should deal with the person who approached Craftsman Son Mun.
Craftsman Son Mun confessed that there was someone who had sent him a letter and attempted to persuade him.
But he said he did not know who they were.
Of course. They were not fools either, so they would not reveal their identities so hastily.
Craftsman Son Mun said that the letter had contained instructions to come to a designated place at the appointed time if he intended to accept the deal.
However, I know the culprit.
“Palgap!” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes! Did you call for me?” (Palgap)
“Could you call Martial Artist Yeo Eungam for me?” (Eun Seoho)
— — —
In the middle of the night, when the surroundings were dark.
A man licked his lips with his tongue as he stared straight ahead.
What he was watching was the entrance of the Eunhae Trading Company.
Soon the door opened and someone came out.
‘That man must be Son Mun.’ (Hwang Gon)
His eyes shone.
The reason he was doing such a despicable thing was none other than his family’s business.
He was Hwang Gon, the second son of the Hwang Trading Company’s leader, and a source of concern had arisen for the Hwang Trading Company.
It was that the rapidly growing Eunhae Trading Company had jumped into Beijing’s jewelry business.
If they got involved, the Hwang Trading Company’s position would narrow, and its profits would plummet as well.
That was why they had to hinder the Eunhae Trading Company’s jewelry business by any means.
So he had stepped forward.
“Father! Please leave it to me!” (Hwang Gon)
Having stepped forward so boldly, he discovered that the core of the Eunhae Trading Company’s jewelry business was the craftsmen they had brought in this time.
And among those craftsmen, he also identified the craftsman who had a sick son, and using that son as bait, he attempted to persuade the craftsman.
That target was Son Mun.
Even after seeing the target come out, Hwang Gon did not step forward immediately and carefully examined the area behind him.
He had an extremely cautious personality.
He examined the surroundings for quite a while, but there was no one tailing Son Mun.
‘Now we can go to the meeting place.’ (Hwang Gon)
The meeting place was beneath a tree nearby.
It was a place he had deliberately marked by tying three white cloths to the tree.
There, Craftsman Son Mun was standing with an anxious expression.
Soon, he approached him while accompanied by his escort martial artist. Then, after telling the escort to stand some distance away, he went up to Craftsman Son Mun.
“You came as promised.” (Hwang Gon)
“…….” (Son Mun)
“Are you the one who sent me the letter?” (Son Mun)
“That is correct.” (Hwang Gon)
“If I cooperate with you, what can I receive?” (Son Mun)
Hwang Gon grinned.
“I will give you money. With that money, you will not lack what you need to buy the medicinal materials.” (Hwang Gon)
“…….” (Son Mun)
“What do you think?” (Hwang Gon)
“Then what is it that I must cooperate with you on?” (Son Mun)
“I heard that the Eunhae Trading Company is starting a jewelry business this time. Those ×× bastards, they should just do well at the business they were already doing. Why the hell are they butting into someone else’s business and making a fuss?” (Hwang Gon)
“…….” (Son Mun)
“In any case, all you have to do is tell me everything you know about that side’s jewelry business.” (Hwang Gon)
“Is that truly all?” (Son Mun)
“Of course.” (Hwang Gon)
“…….” (Son Mun)
“Why are you hesitating?” (Hwang Gon)
“It is just that, since this is a betrayal of the one who employed me…….” (Son Mun)
“Is your son’s life not several times more important than that trifling guilt? Do you think those Eunhae Trading Company bastards would care whether your son dies or not?” (Hwang Gon)
“…….” (Son Mun)
“This is the down payment.” (Hwang Gon)
Hwang Gon handed him a pouch, and Son Mun received it.
“So try spilling what you know.” (Hwang Gon)
“Very well.” (Son Mun)
He nodded.
“First of all, the Eunhae Trading Company’s jewelry business will achieve great success.” (Son Mun)
“I know that too! That is why it makes me furious!” (Hwang Gon)
“If you dislike falling behind, then would it not be enough to make an effort to create jewelry as outstanding as the Eunhae Trading Company’s? If you spend the money that should be used to discover craftsmen and study the shapes of jewelry on entertainment instead, would that be failing because of the Eunhae Trading Company? You would be failing because of your own lack of effort.” (Son Mun)
“Th, that is…….” (Hwang Gon)
Hwang Gon was left speechless.
Because it was true that the Hwang Trading Company had obtained profit from an unexpected success, and with that money had indulged in entertainment, been eroded by that pleasure, and grown negligent in its efforts.
But…… he suddenly felt something was strange.
He realized that Son Mun was not giving him information, but reprimanding him.
He flew into a rage.
“Did I say I wanted to hear that sort of nonsense right now? Hand over the information! The information! You are not trying to cheat me out of my money right now, are you? Do you think I will leave your son alone…….” (Hwang Gon)
He could not continue speaking.
Because someone leaped down from the tree under which they were standing.
Tak.
“Y, you are!” (Hwang Gon)
An exceptionally handsome man.
On the streets of Beijing, there was no one who did not know who he was.
“Eun Seoho, Young Company Leader! H, how are you here?” (Hwang Gon)
“Here and now, what are you discussing with a person of our Eunhae Trading Company?” (Eun Seoho)
“You came at just the right time!” (Hwang Gon)
He hurriedly fabricated his words. After all, there was no evidence.
“This Craftsman Son Mun stole our trading company’s technique, so when I threatened him, he tried to smooth it over by giving me this money…… Do you think I will just let that pass?” (Hwang Gon)
“Is that so? Specifically, what technique did he steal?” (Eun Seoho)
“Th, that is…….” (Hwang Gon)
“But that is strange. If there is any technique this man could steal, it would be martial arts, so does your trading company have martial arts that are that outstanding?” (Eun Seoho)
“What kind of wordplay is that! What I meant was the technique of a craftsman who handles raw stones!” (Hwang Gon)
“A craftsman, you say? Oh dear! Do your eyes not see well?” (Eun Seoho)
“What are you talking about?” (Hwang Gon)
“Look closely. Does this man still look like Craftsman Son Mun to you?” (Eun Seoho)