Chapter 670
Chapter 670
Chapter 670. Yeochoon Inn (3)
I looked over there.
A man was throwing a fit.
“No! Did I make some unreasonable demand? I only said I wanted to hold your hand once, so why are you making such a fuss?” (Disruptive Guest)
“Guest, this is not a brothel, and I am not a courtesan.” (Female Waiter)
“You’re acting awfully precious. You bitch!” (Disruptive Guest)
Crash!
“Hrk!”
“G-get out of the way!”
They say there are scumbags everywhere, and sure enough…….
As if harassing a female waiter were not enough, he had even damaged property and caused harm to other guests.
Just how would this inn deal with that obnoxious guest?
It was then.
“Guest, you must not behave like this here.” (Proprietor)
Five or six people in blue tunics entered and surrounded him.
They were martial artists.
For a moment, he looked frightened, but soon raised his voice.
“W-what? I’m a guest here!” (Disruptive Guest)
At that moment, one man stepped forward from among them.
“I am the proprietor of this Yeochoon Inn Kaifeng branch.” (Proprietor)
“You’re the proprietor? Just how did you train your staff?” (Disruptive Guest)
Hearing that, I gave a faint laugh.
How is it that people like him always say the exact same thing? Do they get trained somewhere?
But the proprietor said without batting an eye.
“I believe there is nothing lacking in our inn’s staff training. After all, we are even serving guests of such low class as yourself, are we not?” (Proprietor)
“What? Low class?” (Disruptive Guest)
“Surely, if one is an educated person, one ought to know how to distinguish time and place.” (Proprietor)
At that, the man shouted in anger.
“Do you know who I am, to spout such insolent words at me!” (Disruptive Guest)
“Are you not the second son of the Hwangseo Yun Clan of Kaifeng?” (Proprietor)
“You know that and you’re still doing this to me? You must not be afraid of the consequences.” (Disruptive Guest)
“More than your threats, Young Master, I fear failing to satisfy the guests who came today.” (Proprietor)
Wow!
I could not help admiring his spirit.
The Hwangseo Yun Clan was a family that had held official posts in the imperial palace for generations, and possessed quite a bit of power here in Kaifeng.
That was why that man was acting that way.
In any case, Young Master Mun Ju-seong really had an eye for people.
To think such an upright person was the proprietor.
He held something out to the obnoxious guest.
“What’s this now?” (Yun Clan Young Master)
“It is an invoice for compensation for the fixtures you broke today and for the damage caused by obstruction of business.” (Proprietor)
“Oh, is it?” (Yun Clan Young Master)
With a face full of ridicule, he tore the paper to shreds and scattered it at the proprietor.
But the proprietor did not even blink at that insult.
“It is all right if you tear it up. We have already sent an identical copy to the Hwangseo Yun Clan residence.” (Proprietor)
“……What?” (Yun Clan Young Master)
“Should we not receive compensation for today’s damages?” (Proprietor)
He continued.
“And I intend to make today’s incident known publicly.” (Proprietor)
“Hah, do whatever you like! Do you think that’ll make me apologize or something?” (Yun Clan Young Master)
“It is all right if you do not apologize. However, I heard that your honored father is about to be promoted. These days, I hear His Majesty the Emperor conducts investigations and inspections in every direction before officials are promoted, so I wonder what will happen if today’s incident causes your honored father’s promotion to fall through.” (Proprietor)
At those words, Young Master Yun’s face began to turn deathly pale.
That was certainly a fatal blow.
If his father were eliminated from promotion because of him, he did not know for sure, but at least one of his legs would be broken.
And from now on, even if he did things like this, they would no longer clean up after him.
“T-that’s…….” (Yun Clan Young Master)
He lowered his head.
“I-I apologize. I was wrong.” (Yun Clan Young Master)
“Why are you apologizing? What you must do, guest, is simply leave like this.” (Proprietor)
Then he said to the martial artists.
“The guest is leaving. Please escort him.” (Proprietor)
“Yes!” (Martial Artists)
The martial artists led Young Master Yun outside.
Then, to the guests who had been watching the scene with tense faces, he spoke with a smiling face.
“I apologize for the brief inconvenience. Someone who was not a guest was mixed in among our guests. As an apology, today’s dinner will be provided free of charge.” (Proprietor)
He continued.
“If any of you feel uneasy about staying at our inn, we will help you move to another inn. And if anyone’s clothes were soiled, we will assist with the laundering.” (Proprietor)
However, no one said they would move to another inn.
The waiters gathered in perfect order and cleaned up the dining hall, and before long, the interior was spotless.
Something suddenly occurred to me, so I called the proprietor.
“Proprietor.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Yes, please speak.” (Proprietor)
“What you said to that Young Master of the Yun Clan—do you intend to do it exactly as you said?” (Eun Seo-ho)
At that, the proprietor smiled coldly.
“Of course. Does everything not require an example?” (Proprietor)
Ah…… so he meant he was going to carry it out.
“Will that be all right? The Hwangseo Yun Clan might bear a grudge against Yeochoon Inn because of this.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“It will be all right. Once a family is at the level of the Hwangseo Yun Clan, they cannot help caring about the family’s honor.” (Proprietor)
“Ah…….” (Eun Seo-ho)
Indeed, there was reason in his words.
The more prestigious a family was, the more important face and honor became to them.
Of course, I did not know why a place like that was leaving such a scoundrel alone.
Perhaps they had thought this much would not matter, or perhaps there were internal circumstances.
But if, after their son caused a scene, they retaliated because that place threw him out, the story would change.
They would be branded as a petty family.
Rather than that, they would likely let it pass quietly and give that young master a severe scolding.
In any case, I really want this proprietor.
“Why are you looking at me that way?” (Proprietor)
Perhaps noticing my gaze, he asked, and I shook my head.
“It’s nothing.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I sent him away and finished the meal with my group.
The food was delicious.
I did not know whether it was because Kaifeng was an ancient capital and bustling city, or because geographically, ingredients from all over the empire gathered here, but it was quite delicious.
I went up to my room and lay down on the bed.
Perhaps because the blanket was soft and smelled of sunlight, I slept very deeply.
The next day.
After getting up, I circulated my qi and regulated my breathing in the room, did some simple training, then went down to the first floor for a meal.
The waiter assigned to me, who had greeted me on the first day, bowed.
“Did you sleep well?” (Waiter)
“Yes. It was a very comfortable night.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Thank you. Will you have breakfast?” (Waiter)
“Yes.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Then I will reserve a seat for you.” (Waiter)
“By the way, does the main branch of Yeochoon Inn also serve guests in the same manner as here?” (Eun Seo-ho)
At my question, he nodded.
“Yes. I am simply doing as I was trained at the main branch.” (Waiter)
“I see.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I felt I could understand how much research Young Master Mun Ju-seong must have done to standardize customer service in this way.
Even if he was a lucky person, such success could not be achieved simply through luck alone.
“And this Kaifeng branch is the first branch expanded beyond the branches in Shaanxi. So we are only grateful that everyone likes it.” (Waiter)
“I like the service very much.” (Eun Seo-ho)
As I said that, one phrase suddenly caught my attention.
Branches in Shaanxi?
I asked him.
“Are there branches in Shaanxi besides the main branch?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Yes. In Shaanxi, there are ten more branches besides the main branch.” (Waiter)
“…….” (Eun Seo-ho)
Wow, he was even more remarkable than I thought.
A little while later.
I came down to the first floor for my meal and sat in the seat reserved in advance, waiting for the food I had ordered.
At that moment, the waiters who saw someone entering through the door welcomed him.
“Welcome.” (Waiters)
“It has been a long time.” (Waiters)
When I raised my head, it was Young Master Mun Ju-seong.
With a smiling face, he approached me.
“How was it?” (Mun Ju-seong)
At those words, I saw the nearby waiters grow tense.
He had revealed that I was an undercover guest.
“It was very good.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“That is a relief. Were there any areas for improvement?” (Mun Ju-seong)
“I could not find any. That is how excellent a system of service you have created, and it seems you have applied it well.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Thank you for the praise.” (Mun Ju-seong)
“If it remains unchanged like this, it will truly become a good place.” (Eun Seo-ho)
At my words, the faces of the proprietor and waiters brightened.
Young Master Mun Ju-seong encouraged the inn’s people, and even gave them a bonus, telling them to have a company dinner.
Then he left the inn with me, and we exchanged conversation.
“You are not staying the night?” (Eun Seo-ho)
At my question, he nodded.
“For me to stay there would be a burden to everyone.” (Mun Ju-seong)
“Well, I suppose so.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“But the proprietor here was truly impressive for his spirit. Where on earth did you find such a talent?” (Eun Seo-ho)
At my question, he answered.
“He was someone who worked at our main branch, and he seemed upright and possessed good judgment, so I entrusted him with the position of proprietor here. Hearing you say that, Young Company Head, it seems I saw the person correctly.” (Mun Ju-seong)
Having said that, Young Master Mun Ju-seong continued.
“Ah, and even if you praise him like that, I will not give him to you.” (Mun Ju-seong)
“Ahem, when did I ever say I wanted him?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Are your eyes not already saying so?” (Mun Ju-seong)
“Oh dear, I was found out.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I put on an embarrassed expression.
“Then allow me to ask just one thing.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“What is it?” (Mun Ju-seong)
“The waiters were extremely well trained. The separation between the guest room department and the service department and such may also be reasons for the inn’s prosperity, but in my view, the fundamental reason for that prosperity seems to be that the waiters’ training is well done.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I continued.
“So, how did you train them?” (Eun Seo-ho)
At that, after thinking for a moment, he answered.
“There is nothing special. However, a waiter working at a branch must work at the main branch for one year. And Elder Yu Geon and Elder Yeon Ga-hwa are in charge of their training.” (Mun Ju-seong)
“Ah…….” (Eun Seo-ho)
I gave a bitter smile and nodded.
The Gentle Sword Emperor Yu Geon, and Padu Grandmother Yeon Ga-hwa.
The two of them were masters who had reached the Transformation Realm and the Transcendent Peak, respectively.
If one worked while receiving the oppressive presence of people like that, one would not be flustered by most things.
And since there were examples in the main branch and Young Master Mun, if they taught by showing those examples, there was no way the staff could fail at their work.
Also, rude guests and those who tried to flaunt their power would be quietly dealt with by the two elders.
As expected, the power of the two elders had been significant.
“And there is one thing I realized. It is that there is only one chance to turn a guest into a regular. That is why I emphasize this in training.” (Mun Ju-seong)
He was right.
Ordinary people usually never return to a shop if they go once and dislike it.
But how should we graft that onto our Eunhae Trading Company?
Should I call Noona Hyang-ok and have her conduct the training?
But I soon gave up on that idea.
That was too risky.
If things went wrong, she might end up killing people while trying to train them.
It was when we were heading to the ferry dock while talking like that.
“…….” (Mun Ju-seong)
Suddenly, Young Master Mun Ju-seong stopped walking.
What is it?
When I raised my head and followed his gaze, there was a person.
He was someone I also recognized.
He was the head of the Deukhaeng Trading Company, and Young Master Mun Ju-seong’s father.
What business did he have coming all the way here?
When he saw us, he approached us. I greeted him first.
“I am Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Trading Company. I greet the head of the Deukhaeng Trading Company.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“It is good to meet you. But what brings you here?” (Deukhaeng Trading Company Head)
“I sent a merchant ship for trade with foreign countries, so I came to inspect it and am now on my way back to Beijing.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“I see.” (Deukhaeng Trading Company Head)
The head of the Deukhaeng Trading Company turned his head and looked at Young Master Mun Ju-seong.
The relationship between the two was truly delicate.
They were father and son connected by blood, but the father had cast his son aside and told him not to think of him as a father, and the son had left the house on his own.
“I greet you, Company Head.” (Mun Ju-seong)
At that moment, Young Master Mun Ju-seong opened his mouth. It was an extremely official appearance, treating him not as a father but as a company head.
“It has been a long time.” (Deukhaeng Trading Company Head)
What passed through the eyes of the head of the Deukhaeng Trading Company was regret.
In that regret, I sensed not sorrow, but bitterness.
Come to think of it, over the past few years, the Deukhaeng Trading Company’s influence had been gradually declining.
Its ranking, which had been around the middle of the Hundred Great Trading Companies, had fallen to the lower-middle ranks.
As if something that brought good fortune had disappeared.
The head of the Deukhaeng Trading Company had probably only now realized that the symbol of that fortune was Young Master Mun Ju-seong.
The proof was Young Master Mun Ju-seong’s inn business.
“Come home now.” (Deukhaeng Trading Company Head)
“It was you who cast me out, Company Head. Do you not remember?” (Mun Ju-seong)
He continued, putting force into his words.
“You repeatedly said that someone as unlucky as me would only eat away at the company’s fortune.” (Mun Ju-seong)
“…….” (Deukhaeng Trading Company Head)
“Do you know what I went through in that household because of that? Of course you would not. You had not the slightest interest in unlucky me.” (Mun Ju-seong)
The head of the Deukhaeng Trading Company turned his head away.
He seems ashamed even by his own standards. But Young Master Mun Ju-seong’s words continued without pause.
“That house was hell to me. And I am happy now that I have left it.” (Mun Ju-seong)
“…….” (Deukhaeng Trading Company Head)
“How could I not know why you are telling me to return, Company Head? Now that I seem lucky, you must be telling me to return because you want to use that luck.” (Mun Ju-seong)
Young Master Mun Ju-seong spoke firmly.
“But I will not return. And that is your fortune, Company Head. So watch from now on. Watch the fortune of the one you drove out.” (Mun Ju-seong)
Young Master Mun Ju-seong caught his breath and continued.
“Then I will take my leave now. May you live a long and healthy life.” (Mun Ju-seong)
Leaving those words behind, Young Master Mun Ju-seong passed by the company head.
Is it my imagination that those words sounded like he was telling him to live long and watch in regret as he succeeded?
The figure of the company head, merely letting out a deep sigh and unable to say anything more.
Perhaps he was paying the price for his arrogance in judging a person’s fortune too hastily.
Well, it had nothing more to do with me.
I also gave my greetings and followed Young Master Mun Ju-seong.
Looking at his face, he seemed relieved.