Chapter 703
Chapter 703
Chapter 703. Northern Sea Branch Office (3)
At Master’s words, I was momentarily flustered.
Thinking about it, that was true, but……
“For some reason, it feels embarrassing. And it is not yet a marriage as Young Master either.” (I)
“Everything is embarrassing at first. But if you keep calling her that, you become used to it.” (Master)
“Is that advice from experience?” (I)
At my question, Master nodded.
“Yes. A title is also that person’s identity. If Young Palace Lord continues to call her Vice Officer Kwak, Miss Kwak Seohyang will remain a vice officer. You are not marrying her because you need a vice officer, are you?” (Master)
“Of course not!” (I)
“Then I hope you remember my advice. And since today is the end of the sixth month, there are not even four months left until the wedding.” (Master)
“That…… is true.” (I)
“At that time, I intend not to take on work if possible. Could a master fail to attend his disciple’s wedding?” (Master)
He spoke calmly, but at the heart contained in those words from Master, something in my chest grew moved.
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After returning to the Eunha Trading Company’s main headquarters, I moved busily.
Because there was a lot I had to do.
Among them, the most urgent matters were making an ice warehouse at the main headquarters and transporting and selling the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s silk.
We continued discussions about this until late at night.
The next day, the Agency Head of the Changin Escort Agency visited after receiving an official request.
Because the two matters were things that could not proceed without the help of the escort agency.
“Changin Escort Agency’s Agency Head Yu Seong greets the Head of the Trading Company.” (Yu Seong)
“Welcome. Thank you for making your way here.” (Father)
“You are too kind.” (Yu Seong)
“Please sit here.” (Father)
After even the Agency Head attended like that, the meeting began in earnest.
“Our Eunha Trading Company intends to include the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s silk among the products of the fabric shop, along with the ice business.” (Father)
“I see.” (Yu Seong)
The Agency Head nodded with an expression as though hearing it for the first time.
Because I had asked him to keep the conversation we had when we met before a secret.
“I understand the ice business, but the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s silk?” (Yu Seong)
“It is silk dyed with a dye discovered by the Northern Sea Ice Palace. And this is the sample.” (Father)
When Father pointed at a long box on the table, Pavilion Lord Yeon of Sangyu Pavilion personally opened the lid and showed the silk inside.
At this, the Agency Head was startled.
Enough that one could tell he was truly surprised.
“This is the first time I have seen such beautiful silk. But if it is the Northern Sea, it is an extremely distant and dangerous place. Then what are you thinking for the escort fee?” (Yu Seong)
“That is why I called you, Agency Head. Because it is a matter we must discuss in depth from now on.” (Father)
After thinking for a moment, the Agency Head said.
“In that case, I think it would be better to establish a branch office of the Changin Escort Agency in the Northern Sea.” (Yu Seong)
“You mean to establish a branch office in the Northern Sea?” (Father)
“Yes. As we transported the Northern Sea’s animal hides, we came to know that place to a certain extent.” (Yu Seong)
He is rather skilled at lying.
Since they were people who had lived in the Northern Sea from the start, he must originally have known the Northern Sea well.
But this was a secret, so it was a truth that could not be spoken rashly.
“The Northern Sea is a place everyone unanimously calls fickle. If the Northern Sea’s work increases like this, I think it would be better to establish a branch office in order to safely transport those goods.” (Yu Seong)
“That is reasonable, but establishing a branch office cannot be an easy matter…….” (Father)
“That is why I would like to receive the Eunha Trading Company’s help. Since you already have a branch in the Northern Sea, you must have experience with that.” (Yu Seong)
At the Agency Head’s words, Father nodded readily.
“Of course we should help you. Is the Changin Escort Agency not a cooperative partner inseparable from our Eunha Trading Company?” (Father)
“Thank you for saying so.” (Yu Seong)
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Like that, the meeting concluded smoothly.
It was decided that I would personally be involved with the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s silk.
Because the Palace Lord had promised to set aside thirty percent of the profit for me in exchange for my taking charge of that work.
At this rate, I should be able to return to Beijing within a few days.
Thinking that, I headed to Gong Mil’s workshop.
Gong Mil’s age was now nineteen.
He had become a fully grown young man, but they said he still practically lived in his workshop.
It was fortunate that I had said he must absolutely eat at least two meals a day and take walks for half a double-hour each in the morning and afternoon. If not, he would surely have become gaunt and unhealthy like in my previous life.
But I saw a child loitering in front of Gong Mil’s workshop.
Was he about twelve?
Who is that?
Without hearing the sound of my party and me approaching, he seemed to be watching something.
Curious about what he was watching, I went closer, and Gong Mil was absorbed in making something inside.
“What is so interesting?” (I)
At my question, that child answered.
“Isn’t it fascinating how extraordinary things are made by Craftsman Gong’s hands?” (Child)
“Is that so?” (I)
At that moment, as if he had heard our voices, Gong Mil raised his head, saw me, and cried out happily.
“Young Master!” (Gong Mil)
At this, the boy who had been peering inside was startled, turned around, saw me, and quickly bowed his head.
“I-I’m sorry.” (Boy)
“What are you sorry for?” (I)
“Um, that is…….” (Boy)
“You only answered what I asked, did you not? There is nothing to be sorry for.” (I)
By the way, why does this child look so familiar?
At that moment, Gong Mil said with a bitter smile.
“It is you again.” (Gong Mil)
“Is he a child you know?” (I)
At my question, Gong Mil answered.
“Yes. He is Head Merchant Agent Seo’s grandson.” (Gong Mil)
Head Merchant Agent Seo would be the person in charge of all items supplied to Hongha Luxury Shop, which sells Mother-Child Dolls……
Ah! I know who he is!
“The fifth son of Seo Jipyeong, the owner of Hongha Luxury Shop?” (I)
When I turned my head toward that child and asked, the child nodded and answered.
“Yes. That’s right. My name is Seo Yong. It uses the character yong for ‘to be used.’ It means to become someone useful wherever I am.” (Seo Yong)
“That is a good name.” (I)
I know a certain amount about that child.
He too became a merchant agent after succeeding his father.
There was a special memory from my previous life as well.
By the way, if even Gong Mil, who has little interest in his surroundings, knows him, then that means he has been circling around Gong Mil for quite a long time……
I asked Seo Yong.
“Do you also want to make fascinating objects like Craftsman Gong Mil?” (I)
“……Yes. I want to make them.” (Seo Yong)
As he said that, Seo Yong’s eyes were sparkling.
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from behind.
“He has been doing that, asking to be accepted as Orabeoni’s disciple.” (Gong Rae)
When I turned around, it was Gong Rae.
“Gong Rae, you’re here!” (I)
“Yes.” (Gong Rae)
Gong Rae greeted me, then said to Gong Mil.
“Orabeoni. Why not accept him as your disciple already?” (Gong Rae)
At those words, Gong Mil waved his hands.
“What disciple at my age…….” (Gong Mil)
“What does age have to do with it? If you have the will to pass on a skill that is superior to others, can you not take a disciple? Am I wrong? Young Master?” (Gong Rae)
At Gong Rae’s words, I gave a faint laugh.
“You are right.” (I)
Then I looked at Gong Mil and spoke.
“A disciple, you see, is one of the ways for a craftsman to leave himself in the world. Because preserving a craftsman’s techniques and knowledge in full is impossible by any method. It cannot be expressed in writing or in words.” (I)
It was something I had experienced truly often in my previous life.
Things I had found regrettable because a craftsman’s techniques and knowledge were not properly passed on.
“If you were to disappear from the world, I would be sad twice.” (I)
“Why twice?” (Gong Mil)
“Once would be sadness over you, and the other would be sadness over your techniques being lost.” (I)
“…….” (Gong Mil)
“Of course, raising a disciple will not be easy. You may feel as if your time is being stolen. But as the saying teaching and learning grow together goes, I think there will definitely be things you learn while teaching.” (I)
At my words, Gong Mil thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Understood. If Young Master says so, I will take on a disciple.” (Gong Mil)
At this, Seo Yong excitedly punched toward the air.
I said to Seo Yong.
“But in exchange, Yong-ah.” (I)
“Yes?” (Seo Yong)
“Go get your father’s permission. I will go ask him.” (I)
“Yes!” (Seo Yong)
And he ran off excitedly.
Is he that happy?
There was a reason I actively recommended that Seo Yong be accepted as Gong Mil’s disciple.
It was in line with the reason I remembered Seo Yong from my previous life.
In my previous life too, he had been particularly good with his hands.
Not only had he repaired broken shoes, he had even personally carved bowls and spoons for me to use.
He could fix the wheel of a carriage in the blink of an eye as well.
I had asked such a him.
With that level of talent, it would have been good if he had become a craftsman, so why did he become a merchant agent?
He had answered my question confidently.
Because he had not met a craftsman who made his heart beat.
But in this life, because I had brought Gong Mil, Seo Yong had met a craftsman who made his heart beat.
Good.
To think another craftsman has been born like this!
At that moment, Gong Mil spoke.
“I received the message you sent through Rae-ah before, but I was disappointed. You should have seen me before leaving…….” (Gong Mil)
“You were focused on your work, so I did not want to break that concentration.” (I)
“It is all right. Next time, if I am concentrating on something again, please call me comfortably. There was something I wanted to show you before, and I was sorry I could not show it to you.” (Gong Mil)
“Hahaha. Sorry.” (I)
I apologized as I spoke.
“So, what did you want to show me?” (I)
“This.” (Gong Mil)
Gong Mil took something from the shelf and placed it on the table.
It was a bottle made of glass.
“What is this?” (I)
“It is a sealed bottle.” (Gong Mil)
When I tilted my head because I did not understand right away, Gong Mil opened the bottle’s lid and poured water into it.
Then he closed the lid and asked me.
“What do you think will happen if I hold this upside down?” (Gong Mil)
“What do you mean, what will happen? The water will flow down.” (I)
At my words, Gong Mil smiled and held the bottle upside down.
But…….
“Huh?” (I)
The lid did not fall off, and liquid did not leak out from between the lid either.
I could not help but be shocked.
Usually, bottle stoppers are made from soft wood or crumpled paper.
So if you hold them upside down, the liquid pushes out the stopper, and in the end, the contents spill.
That is why, when something must be stored for a long time, the bottle stopper is completely sealed with beeswax.
Of course, doing that has drawbacks, such as making the bottle difficult to reuse.
“How did you make it?” (I)
“The secret is in this lid.” (Gong Mil)
“The lid?” (I)
“Yes. If you look closely, something is attached here, right?” (Gong Mil)
“Huh? Could this be?” (I)
“Yes.” (Gong Mil)
Gong Mil nodded.
“It is one of the parts that goes into Mother-Child Dolls. The elastic cord made from a fish’s swim bladder. I tried attaching that to the lid like this. When I did this, the contents did not leak even if it was opened and closed several times.” (Gong Mil)
At that explanation, admiration came from me without my realizing it.
“To think you had such an idea! You really are a genius!” (I)
“Hehehe.” (Gong Mil)
At my praise, Gong Mil scratched his head as though embarrassed.
The sealed bottle Gong Mil made could be used in many places.
Especially when containing alcohol, it would be used very valuably.
This is something I must absolutely not miss.
By the way…… since we cannot make this in large quantities ourselves, we will have to cooperate with the Mudong Trading Company.
It would have been good if I had known this earlier.
I should have just called him when I came here last time.
“And the message you delivered to me before.” (Gong Mil)
“Ah! Yes, what happened with that?” (I)
“I made it and put it in the warehouse. Please wait a moment.” (Gong Mil)
After a moment, what Gong Mil brought was a chair with wheels.
It was not a wheeled medical chair, but a chair to use in my office.
Because it was inconvenient to get up from my chair every time to grab something on my desk that was out of reach, I had requested that it be made.
With this, I should be able to reduce the time spent standing up and sitting down.
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Time passed, and the discussions regarding the Eunha Trading Company’s new businesses ended.
And when I headed to Beijing this time, the people of the Changin Escort Agency decided to go together as well.
Before the transport of the silk began in earnest, it was decided that the Changin Escort Agency’s branch office would be established in advance.
As it happened, the weather was summer, so it was perfect for establishing the branch office.
And the builders belonging to the trading company happened not to be busy, so they decided to go together this time as well.
Seo Yong received permission from his father, owner Seo Jipyeong, and became Gong Mil’s disciple starting yesterday.
By the way, it is a shame that Brother Jinho, who went on an escort mission, has not returned yet.
I headed to Brother Jinho’s residence.
“You’re here?” (Second Sister-in-law)
“I greet Sister-in-law.” (I)
Second Sister-in-law was playing with Hongryeo in the yard.
It had now been just over a year since Hongryeo was born, and she walked quite well on her own.
Perhaps because of that, when she saw me, she ran over toddling.
“Owa! Owa!” (Hongryeo)
That must mean she likes it.
I gently held Hongryeo, and Hongryeo smiled brightly as she looked at me.
Mm, if Palgap saw this, he would have said something about a filthy world.
Second Sister-in-law said.
“I heard my father is going to the Northern Sea.” (Second Sister-in-law)
“Yes. I heard he will take charge of the Northern Sea branch office.” (I)
That meant Head Escort Ha Cheol was that capable and trustworthy.
“Please take good care of my father.” (Second Sister-in-law)
“Of course. I will do my utmost.” (I)
After playing with Hongryeo for a while like that and exchanging greetings with Sister-in-law, I returned to the detached quarters.
“You have returned?” (Palgap)
“Yes.” (I)
“What do you plan to do for dinner today?” (Palgap)
“I have no particular appointment.” (I)
“Understood. By the way, it truly is amazing. For that much ice to sell so quickly.” (Palgap)
As Palgap said, all the ice we had brought this time was sold in less than five days.
Because it meant there was that much demand, we decided to begin the ice business.
At that moment, Warrior Seowoo returned.
“Liege, I have returned.” (Warrior Seowoo)
“Did you have a good time with your family?” (I)
“Yes. Thanks to you, it was an enjoyable time.” (Warrior Seowoo)
Since we had come to the Eunha Trading Company’s main headquarters, I had given Warrior Seowoo and Warrior Yeo Eungam two days of vacation by turns.
I also gave vacation to the other guards.
But Warrior Seowoo’s face seemed to have something troubling him.
“Did something happen? Your expression is not good.” (I)
“Ah, that is.” (Warrior Seowoo)
Warrior Seowoo opened his mouth with a complicated expression.
“I think I have discovered my son’s talent.” (Warrior Seowoo)