Chapter 107: Rejecting the In-law Factions
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 107: Rejecting the In-law Factions
Geum Taesan was in a foul mood.
He wasn't the only one.
The heads of the Un, Jeok, and Gam families, as well as the leader of the Iwol Merchant Group, were all equally displeased.
If there was a shortage of manpower to run the businesses, wouldn't a true family member sell them to their in-laws at a bargain price rather than putting them up for auction?
From their perspective—considering themselves one and the same with the Tang Clan—the Tang Clan Head’s behavior was utterly distasteful.
"I have no idea what my son-in-law is thinking!"
"My thoughts exactly. What on earth is he thinking, handing over businesses that have been managed for decades to total strangers?"
"Tsk, tsk. It seems our son-in-law has buried himself so deep in martial arts that he has no idea how the world works. If he had just handed them over to his wives' families, wouldn't we have looked after them until the Tang Clan was rebuilt?"
They each spat out a word of grievance, subtly belittling the Tang Clan Head.
Their dissatisfaction was reaching a breaking point.
The minimum auction prices set by the Clan Head far exceeded what they had expected, making it impossible for them to even place a bid.
In the first place, they had come under the pretext of being in-law families to act as regents for the Tang Clan, not to actually buy businesses.
"The Pungwolru has been sold to the owner of the Gowon Merchant Guild. Please visit the Jaegyeong Pavilion later to settle the payment, and we will prepare the transfer documents immediately."
"Ahem, thank you."
The owner of the Gowon Merchant Guild, who had won the bid for Pungwolru, wore a satisfied smile.
Pungwolru was a popular spot for those who enjoyed the arts, as it sat right by a lake. Though the price was slightly higher than the market rate, he would surely recoup his investment within a few years.
"About half of the properties have been settled. Since it is late, the next auction will resume tomorrow afternoon. Those participating in the auction will be escorted to the external guest accommodations, so please wait a moment."
Sun-woo continued speaking as he scanned the crowd.
The auction was even more successful than expected.
Only half of it was over, yet they had already secured a substantial profit.
This is incredible.
Sun-woo was genuinely impressed by the amount of money they had raked in today.
The person who had first suggested the auction was Geum Jeok-hwa.
As the daughter of the head of Mangeum Bank, she saw right through the minds of the business figures and had written a script to create the perfect atmosphere.
Her script was flawless, leading the auction to a successful conclusion.
Setting a minimum price to prevent collusion and stoking competition—this was exactly why one needed smart people around.
If Sun-woo had been alone, he could never have set the stage like this.
Thanks to the reasonable minimum prices, the bidders didn't feel too burdened, and the Tang Clan gained the opportunity to sell at fair value rather than at a loss.
Sun-woo instructed the servants to guide the participants to their lodgings and then headed outside.
Tang Seo-yoon followed close behind him.
Her face was also quite flushed, likely from the success of the first round of the auction.
"Are you that happy?" Sun-woo asked with a smirk.
"I'm satisfied," she replied curtly.
Those two words were enough to gauge her mood. Seeing her in high spirits made Sun-woo feel good as well. After all, if the Tang Clan prospered, it was good for him too.
Sun-woo and Tang Seo-yoon quickened their pace. They needed to report the results to the Great Matriarch and the Third Madam.
It was then.
Tatap.
"Hey there! Son-in-law!"
The sound of hurried footsteps came from behind, accompanied by a familiar male voice.
Thud.
"Huff... huff... Goodness, you walk far too fast."
The man grabbed Sun-woo’s shoulder, gasping for breath.
Sun-woo turned his head to identify the voice. It was the head of Mangeum Bank and the father of the Third Madam, Geum Jeok-hwa.
It was Geum Taesan.
"Shouldn't we clear the air between us?"
Geum Taesan suggested with a broad grin.
*
Sun-woo moved to the inner guest room along with Geum Taesan and the other heads of the in-law families.
Unlike the large outer guest rooms, the inner guest room was sized to accommodate only a small number of people. However, everything from the chairs to the decorative tables boasted a level of luxury where nothing was short of magnificent.
The heads of the in-law families entered the room with very satisfied expressions.
Yes, it should be at least this much.
They should have given us the inner guest room from the start, hmph!
The son-in-law only knows martial arts; he’s clueless about the ways of the world.
If we don't step up and help, he's going to face a major disaster.
The family heads harbored significant resentment toward the Tang Clan’s recent conduct.
First, they were insulted by being placed in the outer guest rooms despite being in-laws. Second, the clan had auctioned off businesses without a single word of consultation with them.
As in-laws, they weren't strangers, so how could they be put in the outer guest rooms like commoners? It was a blow to their status.
And selling businesses through an auction? How could he do something so improper when strong in-law families were standing right behind him? If he had just trusted them and handed the businesses over, wouldn't they have managed them properly on his behalf?
Half of the businesses had already vanished through the auction. They had to stop it. Right now.
This fool, who knew nothing but martial arts, clearly didn't understand the profit these businesses generated. Building a business, expanding a network, and creating distribution channels required immense effort. And yet, he was selling such vital assets to outsiders.
After taking their seats, the family heads began to glance around surreptitiously, gauging the right time to speak up.
"I've asked them to bring some wine and snacks for now," Sun-woo said, looking around at the hesitating elders.
To be honest, he had no desire to stay in this uncomfortable setting for long. His plan was to get them drunk quickly and then make his escape.
That brat.
Sun-woo cursed inwardly at Tang Seo-yoon, who had abandoned him. If she was going to slip away, she should have taken him with her. Then again, staying with a bunch of old men he wasn't even close to was a special kind of torture.
Creak.
Just then, the door opened, and several servants entered carrying wine bottles and side dishes.
"The wine is served."
After finishing their task, the servants quickly set the table and hurried back out.
"Hahaha! The wine is already here. Come, son-in-law, take a cup from me first."
Geum Taesan picked up a bottle and approached Sun-woo.
Glug, glug.
He tilted the bottle and began to fill Sun-woo’s cup. The wine didn't stop until it was right on the verge of overflowing.
Look at this guy.
Sun-woo almost laughed at Geum Taesan’s behavior. It was obvious he intended to get him drunk.
"You should all have a drink as well, fathers-in-law."
Sun-woo snatched the bottle and filled Geum Taesan’s cup. Naturally, he filled it until it was about to spill over. Then he walked around and filled the cups of every other family head.
I'm not getting drunk alone.
"I'm in a very good mood today. Let's all drain our cups in one go."
"Hahaha! As expected of the hero of the Tang Clan! What are you all doing? Raise your glasses!"
Geum Taesan responded boisterously to Sun-woo’s hearty reaction.
Gulp.
Soon, everyone in the inner guest room began emptying their glasses. One cup, two cups, three... as time passed, the frequency of clinking glasses increased.
Before long, numerous empty bottles lay scattered around them. Everyone’s face was flushed red, showing they were all quite tipsy.
Geum Taesan stole a glance at the Tang Clan Head. Even for a martial artist, unless they used internal energy to dispel the alcohol poisoning, their tolerance was generally the same as anyone else's. Under equal conditions, the Clan Head’s tolerance was bound to be weaker than theirs, as they drank wine like water.
The Clan Head’s face was heavily flushed, suggesting he hadn't dispelled the alcohol. Geum Taesan cheered inwardly. He was certain the boy was sufficiently drunk.
"By the way, son-in-law, I was quite hurt today," Geum Taesan said in a low, suggestive voice.
"What was so hurtful?" Sun-woo replied, his face bright red. To anyone watching, he looked completely wasted.
"I mean, your father-in-law is here, yet you put us in the outer guest rooms instead of the inner ones? Many people must have laughed at us!" Geum Taesan said, putting on a feigned expression of disappointment.
"Indeed, it was a total disgrace!"
"He's right. Are we strangers? We are one family!"
"I didn't say anything at the time, but I was also very hurt today. For the head of a prestigious family, it was a bit of a clumsy judgment."
"It's not just us; your own reputation will suffer. Who would like a man who doesn't even treat his own people properly?"
Following Geum Taesan’s lead, the other family heads began to raise their voices, taking turns to reprimand Sun-woo. It started subtly, but it quickly turned into a full-blown lecture.
With the other heads providing backup, Geum Taesan felt as if he had gained an army of ten thousand.
Good.
"And while we're on the subject, aren't we one family? If managing the businesses is too difficult, you should have left them to us! Why sell them off to outsiders?!"
Geum Taesan began to scold Sun-woo with a look of intense anger. He was finally letting out his true intentions.
"Exactly. If you had handed them to us, we would have managed them well and returned them when the Tang Clan was back on its feet. Why take such a difficult path?"
"Son-in-law, you've made a massive mistake. You've already given away half of your established businesses."
"Don't lose something bigger by chasing immediate cash."
The family heads added their own comments after every word Geum Taesan spoke, providing "support fire" in their own way.
"It's not too late. Son-in-law, consider the half you've already lost as gone, but leave the rest to us. We'll keep them safe until the Tang Clan is rebuilt."
Geum Taesan spoke in a solemn tone. Of course, they had absolutely no intention of returning the businesses. Why would they give back such lucrative assets?
But since the Tang Clan’s revival seemed impossible, it was an easy promise to make. And even if the clan did rebuild, it would be so far in the future that they would likely be dead by then. That was why they could throw around such empty promises so freely.
Do these bastards think I'm a pushover?
Hearing Geum Taesan’s words, Sun-woo cursed inwardly. These men were no better than thieves. From the sound of it, they intended to swallow the businesses without paying a single cent.
They say you can't trust anyone in this world, and they were right. To think even his in-laws were only thinking of stabbing him in the back. Even Ga Jin-myeong, who had at least offered a fair price for the weapon distribution rights, seemed like a gentleman compared to them.
Tang Seo-yoon had been right. She said these people were no different from the vultures in the outer guest rooms.
Their sticky, greasy desires seemed to coil around Sun-woo’s body, making him feel physically revolted.
"I refuse."
Sun-woo expressed his rejection. He had zero intention of doing anything that would benefit these people.
"Haha, son-in-law, it seems you didn't understand me. Let me explain again. You see..."
"I understood you perfectly, Father-in-law. However, I've decided that selling the businesses is better than entrusting them to someone else."
Sun-woo drew a firm line. A common trait of stubborn old men who won't listen is that they repeat themselves over and over, assuming the other person just didn't understand them. It’s a stubbornness born from the arrogant assumption that if the other person only understood, they would surely agree.
This had to be cut off decisively. He couldn't leave even a sliver of hope.
"..."
At Sun-woo’s blunt refusal, Geum Taesan was momentarily speechless. Soon, a surge of rage began to boil within him.
Was he not the father-in-law? Even if the boy had bowed down and begged for forgiveness, it wouldn't have been enough, yet here he was, delivering a flat rejection that embarrassed everyone present. It was unthinkable.
"Now see here, son-in-law! How dare you cut off an elder while he is speaking!"
He started by getting angry. Generally, dealing with someone younger wasn't difficult. You just had to crush them with age. This was a land that valued Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, and Wisdom. If he shouted and brought up his seniority, the boy wouldn't be able to say a word.
The other family heads, sharing the same thought, began to chime in.
"Tsk, tsk. Look here, son-in-law. I didn't take you for such a cold-hearted man!"
"How can the master of a prestigious clan interrupt his father-in-law?"
"When an elder speaks, you should listen quietly, and even if you think he's wrong, you should answer with 'Yes, I understand'!"
"You've really changed. You weren't like this before."
Sun-woo let the reprimands coming from all sides flow in one ear and out the other. It was all useless chatter.
"Now, listen to me one more time. Business is..."
Geum Taesan grabbed Sun-woo again and tried to continue his lecture.
Sun-woo thought for a moment. He wondered how Tang Seo-yoon would have reacted if she were here.
It didn't take long to reach a conclusion.
"Stop bullshitting."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
In an instant, the faces of the heated family heads went cold at Sun-woo’s single remark. A sudden silence descended upon the room.
"Wha... what did you just say?!"
Geum Taesan stammered, asking again. He must have misheard. Surely, he had misheard. How could a son-in-law use such vulgar language as "bullshitting" toward his father-in-law? It was impossible.
"I said you're full of shit, Head of the Geum Family."
Contrary to their hopes, Sun-woo spat out the scathing insult and continued. The shocked family heads all stared at him in unison.
What on earth was he saying? Calling his father-in-law's words "bullshit"—what kind of etiquette was this?
"If you spout that kind of nonsense one more time, I'm going to beat you like a dog."
Sun-woo looked at them calmly and spoke in a biting tone.
"Does anyone here particularly want to be treated like a dog?"
At his words, the family heads' mouths fell wide open.