Chapter 84
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 84
Chapter 84. Shaanxi Scorpion (7)
They did not budge even after I explained.
“You can live off the money you have saved.”
“You must have saved that money for something. Anyway, I cannot accept it.”
It was certainly a tempting offer to give us black tea for free.
But then, the people in front of me would surely struggle to make ends meet for a year.
They said it would be fine because they had saved money, but there was no guarantee that something unexpected would not happen that required a large sum of money.
“But if we don't accept your offer, we will lose face.”
My two sons were also adamant.
“Then let's do this.”
I made them a new offer.
“We will accept the price at which you sell the amount we need to the middlemen.”
I quickly added.
“That alone will be a great help to us.”
Eom Hang-soo nodded in agreement.
I said to the old man's two sons.
“That is what we ask of you.”
When I bowed my head, they reluctantly nodded.
“All right. We will do so.”
“How much did you sell it to the middlemen?”
I couldn't believe my ears when I heard the price the old man's son told me.
“What?”
At that price, we could buy twice the amount we had expected.
These thieves.
How much did they take from us?
At that moment, I realized that this was our chance.
It so happened that three trading companies in the area were about to join the Eunhae Trading Company.
And no matter how many contracts you have, the first one to make a deal is the winner.
“How much can you produce?”
“We can produce up to 5,000 kilograms.”
The production volume was higher than expected.
“Then would you like to deal directly with us? We will pay you more than the amount you just mentioned.”
They said without hesitation.
“We have to discuss this with our father, but he will gladly accept.”
“We would be very happy to do business with a reputable company like yours.”
With that, they left.
But why did I feel someone staring at me earlier?
When I turned my head, I saw a group of women standing next to the inn.
There were not only courtesans but also ordinary women.
“What should we do? He's so handsome.”
“Ah...”
“He's really handsome.”
Why are even the old ladies looking at me like that?
I should refrain from going out for a while.
.
.
.
The next day.
The old man's son said he would sign a contract with Eunhae Trading Company.
The broker who had been negotiating with them decided not to argue anymore.
“The elder was a great help to our trading company. What can we say when Eunhae Trading Company is signing a contract to save such a person? And since they caught the evil energy that ravaged Shaanxi Province, we will gladly step aside.”
Is this what they call “what goes around comes around”?
Good things keep happening.
A few days passed.
Nok-il, who was handed over to the special investigator, was sentenced to death by Senior Brother and beheaded.
This was because the investigation revealed that he had killed innocent people.
Compared to those who were skinned alive in the past, his death was relatively peaceful.
And unlike my past life, countless people who would have died because of him are now alive and well.
Of course, this may change much of the future I know.
But I have no regrets.
If I can prevent the blood and tears of countless merchants and the sacrifice of the courtesans who were toyed with, then I must do so.
My father sent a reply via courier.
“I am glad you caught the impostor and received compensation. I would like to meet with the captains of the three trading companies.”
I said to Um Hyangsu.
“Is the carriage ready?”
“Yes, it is ready.”
“Then, go to the main office with the captains of the three trading companies tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. My father wants to see the three of you.”
“I understand, but what about His Majesty?”
I replied to his question.
“I have something to do here.”
Originally, while Um Hyung-soo and his party were trading tea, I had planned to visit the trading company and accomplish my original purpose.
And how convenient it would be to return with them!
However, the Shaanxi merchants cheated our trading company, and things went awry.
“By the way, Team Leader Yoon.”
“Yes.”
“Can you leave two of the warriors behind?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.”
I stood up and said.
“Then, may I choose the warriors who will stay here?”
“Yes, please do.”
I left the room with Team Leader Yoon Ji-sim.
Yoon gathered the warriors, and I looked them over.
Hmm...
Those two are standing at the back. How fortunate.
I pointed at them and said,
“The two warriors at the back will stay.”
“Yes, sir.”
Thus, Bae Cheol and Go Ju-sang, who had betrayed me in my past life, ended up staying here with me.
.
.
.
The Trading Company led by Eom Hang-soo decided to leave tomorrow.
I went out to the courtyard behind the inn and gazed at the moon.
Because of the women crowding the inn, I could only come out at night.
Now that I was near the inn, I had no bodyguards, only Pal-gap by my side.
“I would like you to cover your face as much as possible when you go out.”
“Why?”
“It's fine to throw fruit at people, but I'm worried that you'll end up like Gan Sal-wi-gae.”
Cheokga-yeong refers to an anecdote in which a handsome man appeared and women threw fruit at him to get his attention, filling his cart.
Gansal-wigae refers to an anecdote in which a man named Wigae, who was as handsome as jade, appeared and women gathered around him like clouds, surprising him and eventually causing his death.
“I'm not that timid. By the way, can you write?”
“I also learned some writing from my father.”
After all, Pal-gap's father is the deputy head of the Eunhae Trading Company. And he wouldn't have chosen just anyone to be my attendant.
Before I was reborn, I was told that I was handsome, but I wasn't this handsome.
Is it because my Hyunryongseong body type took root early?
Or is it because I absorbed the inner arts of Cheongbingsaem with the help of Hyunryong and underwent a body reformation?
Especially recently, as my martial arts skills have improved, I seem to hear compliments about my good looks more often.
Whatever the case, it's an unfamiliar experience.
By the way, how mysterious is the Tae-Eum Byeong-Hae Shin-Gong mental technique?
It prevents practitioners from falling victim to evil arts and even breaks the evil arts cast on others.
In my previous life, I didn't know that this technique could affect others.
That was probably because my level was not high enough.
At that moment, someone approached me.
It was my Master.
“Are you still awake?”
My Master smiled slightly at my question and handed me a gourd.
Come to think of it, there were two gourds.
“Please drink.”
“Yes.”
My Master opened the gourd and took a sip.
Is it alcohol?
Pop.
I opened the bottle Master gave me and took a sip.
Huh? This...
“Is this honey water?”
“Yes.”
“I thought it was alcohol.”
“It's bad for your health to drink alcohol at your age. You should wait until you're over 30.”
“Yes.”
“And you are still on your journey. Alcohol is one of the things you must avoid while traveling.”
As expected, he was thorough in his work.
I sipped the sweet honey water.
“We are leaving tomorrow.”
“I know.”
“Take care of yourself. If anything happens, focus on surviving.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“If you die... it will all be for nothing.”
My master's eyes looked sad as he said that.
.
.
.
The next morning.
The inn was bustling from early morning.
It was the day of departure for the group led by Eom Sam-taek.
By the beginning of the first hour of the morning (7-9 a.m.), they were ready to depart.
They were accompanied by the captains of the Yoo Trading Company, the Baekga Trading Company, and the Im Trading Company.
“We will be on our way now.”
“Take care.”
“Yes.”
After looking at me for a moment, Um Hyeong expressed his gratitude with a clasped hands greeting.
“Thank you very much. Thanks to you, we were able to complete our mission, which was on the verge of failure.”
“No need to thank me.”
I smiled and replied.
“I will accept your gratitude after we return safely to Hubei.”
“I understand.”
We would see each other again when we returned to the headquarters, so the farewell was short.
And with my Master there, the journey would be safe.
“Let's go!”
“Yes!”
At my Master's signal, the Trading Company's procession began to move.
Watching them disappear into the distance, I said to Pal-gap.
“Let's go.”
“Yes, sir.”
When I came out of the inn with my luggage, the courtesans approached me. They were the courtesans who had helped me catch the Shaanxi galley.
“You're leaving.”
“Yes.”
I bowed politely to them. They were just courtesans, but they had been a great help to me.
Thanks to my pleading and semi-threats to Jihyeon, they were fortunately not punished.
They were victims, too, having been manipulated by evil arts.
“Thank you.”
“We thank you.”
A courtesan named Joo-wol asked me.
“Will you come back?”
“I can't promise anything.”
I might stop by on my way back, but I didn't want to give them false hope.
That would be cruel.
But I could give them a smile.
I smiled at them and got on my horse.
“Goodbye.”
We headed for the Shaanxi salt trading company, the Yishang Trading Company.
.
.
.
It didn't take long to reach the Yishang Trading Company.
We arrived after riding for about two days.
However, we did not go straight to the salt trading company.
We had to check whether the salt was being sold at the price offered by the silver trading company and whether it was being sold properly.
The most accurate and quickest way to do this was to go directly to the place where it was being sold.
I made up an excuse, but this was my job.
Since I was already there, I had to make sure everything was in order.
Pal-gap asked around and found out where to buy the writing brush.
“If you walk straight ahead, you'll see it.”
“Really?”
When we headed there, I soon understood why Pal-gap had said that.
There was a long line of people waiting to buy writing brushes.
I tried to join the line, but Pal-gap stopped me.
“You're too conspicuous. Word will spread quickly.”
“Is that so?”
Lee Pil said with a smile.
“I'll go.”
“Oh, will you?”
I gave Lee Pil some money, and he stood behind the people in line.
We decided to sit on the daure in front of us and wait.
Sitting on the daaru and looking at the street, I saw people fanning themselves because of the heat.
Ah...
Come to think of it, I had a fan.
I remembered the items I bought from the old man at the general store.
A fan, a mirror, and a raincoat.
The raincoat was a gift from my older brother, Jeong-ho, when he became captain.
Come to think of it, there was also a fan that came with it.
The reason I remembered it now was because I hadn't had a use for it until now.
I didn't know what else to do with it, but I knew it would be useful to me now.
It was a fan.
It was a white folding fan with an orchid design on it, and it had the ability to hide the face of the person behind it.
In my previous life, a martial artist who had committed a bloody crime used this fan to hide his identity and escape unnoticed.
But now that I have it in my hands, there is no such future.
I waited half an hour.
Lee Pil came over with the writing brush.
“I'm back.”
“Thank you for your hard work. Please sit down.”
“Not at all.”
Lee Pil shook his head and placed the writing brush he had just bought on the table.
“It was sold at the same price as the ones sold at our Eunhae Trading Company.”
“I see.”
I began to examine the writing brush.
Currently, the person who knows the most about writing brushes is Gongmil.
That was natural. It was an item that Gongmil had invented.
I could confidently say that I was the next most knowledgeable person.
I had advised him on what I regretted from my past life, and we had stayed up all night researching to incorporate that into the design.
So the writing brushes currently on the market were a little different from the ones I had experienced in my past life.
The writing brushes in my past life were rushed to market, so they had various problems such as safety issues and instability.
But the writing brushes in front of me now had been improved to address those issues.
I examined the style book slowly and carefully.
I made the style book according to the design provided by Eunhae Trading Company.
However, the most important part is the core component.
That was made and supplied by Eunhae Trading Company.
I sold the style book to other trading companies, but I did not reveal the core component.
There are always spies everywhere.