You Reap What You Sow (8)

That night.

I wrote a letter to my father. Then I called out to the little guy who had made a nest in my sleeve.

"Gold Spirit."

"Kkwi?"

"This is a letter for Father. I'm counting on you."

"Kk...wi."

"Yeah, I got it."

I pulled a silver coin from my pouch and handed it over. Gold Spirit snatched it up with its mouth in a flash.

And swallowed it down.

"Now that you've eaten, time to work."

"Kkwi-kkwi!"

Seeming pleased after devouring the silver, Gold Spirit stuck out its tail.

I tied the letter securely to its tail, and it shot out the window faster than an arrow.

The next morning, I received Father's reply.

The second plan.

It involved making the Mi-gwa Merchant Group a branch of the Eunhae Merchant Group.

But we wouldn't change the name, and its role would remain the same.

In other words, on the surface, it would just be one of the herb brokerage firms in Gui-jou competing with the Nam-ho Merchant Group.

I could trust Acting Manager Song Sik.

He was a veteran in the herb trade, serious and good at leading people.

He was even preparing spots in the merchant group for Uncle and Ji-seo hyung.

Father really was a good man.

Though I suspected it was mostly out of consideration for Grandfather.

I folded the letter and tucked it into my bosom.

It was time for breakfast.

.

.

.

Jin-ho hyung and I ate together.

Up until yesterday, we'd shared a lively breakfast with Uncle's family, laughing and chatting. But today, they wanted to eat separately, so I let them.

Eating just the two of us like this felt pretty nice too.

As we finished, Jin-ho hyung called out to me with a worried look.

"By the way, Seo-ho."

"Yeah?"

"Is Uncle okay?"

"Worried?"

Jin-ho hyung nodded at my question.

"I mean... it's Uncle. I don't even know if he's eaten. With his personality, he's probably sulking without touching a bite."

Well, he probably had no appetite.

If he did, that would be weird.

He'd basically handed over the Mi-gwa Merchant Group to me with his eyes wide open.

"Shouldn't we go check on Uncle?"

"I was planning to anyway."

"Really?"

It wasn't about making sure he'd eaten.

I just figured he still hadn't fully grasped reality, so it was time for a reality check.

.

.

.

Bam!

"What? Work for the Eunhae Merchant Group? And not as a manager, but as a lowly clerk?!"

Uncle slammed his fist on the table and shouted.

But I'd expected as much, so I kept a calm expression.

After breakfast, I'd come to his quarters and requested a talk.

He'd refused to see me, but I'd barged in anyway.

Then I suggested he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and his family accompany me back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to Eunhae and take jobs there.

That was the situation.

I gave him a gentle smile.

But my words weren't gentle at all.

"What are you planning to live on?"

"What?"

"You've already burned through your family fortune for the merchant group, right? Got anything left to sell?"

"......"

Uncle went silent as a clam at my words.

The investigation had wrapped up long ago.

Right now, Uncle was flat broke.

If I told him to get out, he'd be out on the streets.

He'd signed the contract promising to reclaim his branch leader position by repaying Eunhae's investment.

But with no money to do so, he'd had no choice but to hand over Mi-gwa.

Sure, he'd gotten his title back—but what good was that when the merchant group itself was gone?

"Besides, Eunhae will be sending a new branch leader here soon. You'll have to vacate the premises. Where do you plan to go?"

"......"

"Even renting a single room takes money. Got a job lined up?"

Uncle's face soured as he spoke up.

"I was the branch leader. Suddenly starting as a clerk... "

"As you know, Eunhae treats people according to their abilities. So work hard. Who knows? You might end up leading here someday."

Of course, I didn't think that was likely, but a little hope never hurt.

.

.

.

Half a month later.

Acting Manager Song Sik arrived at Mi-gwa.

"This Song Sik pays his respects to the two young branch leaders."

I smiled and welcomed him.

"You must be tired from the journey."

"Not at all. The two young leaders have been the ones suffering here. You did excellent work—everyone back at Eun-wol Pavilion is thrilled about your achievements."

"Is that so? Haha."

"Might I have permission to head to the branch leader's office?"

"Already? Rest up first—you've had a long trip."

"No, the mission the branch leader gave me weighs heavy. I doubt I'd rest properly anyway."

"Do as you must. Just don't overdo it."

"Don't worry. I can still tangle with bandits without breaking a sweat."

"Hahaha."

Song Sik had originally come from the Silver Wind Division.

But Grandfather had spotted his merchant talent and suggested the path of trade over martial arts. He'd climbed steadily to acting manager since then.

Thanks to Father sending such a reliable man as the new branch leader, I could finally head back to Eunhae with peace of mind.

"Let's go to the office then. There's a lot to tell you."

In the branch leader's office, I briefed Song Sik on the full situation.

Of course, I left out the part about Nam-ho sending me thirty percent of their profits.

That was money for my pockets—no need for anyone else to know.

.

.

.

When I'd left for Gui-jou Castle to sort out Mi-gwa, it had been the warm fifth month. By the time I arrived back in Hubei Province at the Eunhae main branch, it was already the sweltering eighth month.

The family was waiting when I got to headquarters, having gotten word.

Not just me and Jin-ho hyung—Uncle's family had come along too, so they'd turned out to greet us all.

"Greetings, Uncle."

Uncle bowed to Grandfather, who welcomed him warmly.

I exchanged greetings with the family and headed to Hyun-pung Pavilion.

Three months on assignment meant a mountain of backlog.

I needed to report to Father on this trip, but it didn't look urgent.

I'd already given him the gist via Gold Spirit.

Father summoned me that evening, after dinner while I was catching up on work at Hyun-pung Pavilion.

Trailing Vice Officer Jo Young-young, I sensed something off.

She wasn't taking me to Father's office, but to Grandfather's quarters.

Grandfather's place had a pavilion in the garden.

That's where Grandfather and Father sat waiting.

"You called for me?"

"Yes, come sit."

I paid my respects to Grandfather and took a seat beside Father.

A maid set tea before me.

I waited calmly for Grandfather to speak.

"I've heard all about what you did in Gui-jou from your father. Which brings me to one question."

"Grandson listens intently."

"How did you bring Mi-gwa under Eunhae's control?"

I answered without hesitation.

"I didn't plan it at first. But after dealing with Uncle and Ji-seo hyung, I grew certain."

I paused for breath and continued.

"That Mi-gwa would eventually fall to some other merchant group. So I acted first."

I grinned.

"Before Great-Uncle's blood-and-sweat creation fell into some bastard's hands."

Grandfather regarded me for a moment before speaking.

"Thank you."

"......!"

His words caught me off guard.

I hadn't expected such direct gratitude.

"I know you did it for my sake."

I scratched my ear.

Mi-gwa going under or collapsing would hurt Eunhae financially, sure.

But doing it for Grandfather had weighed heavier.

His brother's merchant group in some thug's hands? It would break his heart.

Grandfather smiled wryly.

"It was my duty, really. But knowing my nephew's failings, my heart softened, and I couldn't bring myself to decide. That's how things dragged on. So I'm sorry... and grateful."

He sipped his tea and continued.

"One more thing I want to ask."

"Yes, please."

"I told you to give Jo San-i and Ji-seo manager positions. Why settle for lowly clerk roles?"

I met Grandfather's eyes and said,

"Do you think Uncle and Ji-seo hyung have what it takes to be managers?"

"......Ahem."

Grandfather cleared his throat awkwardly and sipped his tea. Father looked uncomfortable beside him.

.

.

.

On the way back to Eun-ryong Hall with Father.

"That last question was a bit harsh."

I chuckled at his words.

"You really think that?"

"Of course not. People don't change that easily."

Before Grandfather was named heir, Great-Uncle and Uncle had lived here too.

Father still remembered those days.

"My uncle was truly remarkable. His pride was the issue, but his business acumen was exceptional. Uncle Jo San-i, on the other hand..."

Father trailed off, but I got the gist.

"Anyway, what kind of work do you think we should give them?"

"Father, what's the busiest, toughest job in all of Eunhae?"

"Hm?"

"Best to assign them there—to temper their pride, arrogance, and hot blood."

Father ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thought for a moment and nodded.

"I agree. And as you said, there's a place that's grueling and nonstop. The intense labor leaves no room for outbursts, and the leader's skills and sharp tongue will ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shatter any pride or arrogance."

"Such a place exists in our merchant group?"

Father nodded at my question.

"It does."

"Where?"

"Hyun-pung Pavilion."

"......"

.

.

.

Luckily—or not?

Uncle and Ji-seo hyung ended up in the herb division, not Hyun-pung Pavilion.

A rotten fish was still a fish; it would be a waste to let their herb knowledge go stale.

A while later, Acting Manager Song Sik sent a report.

There'd been some chaos for a while, but Gui-jou's herb market soon settled as if the uproar had never happened.

Mi-gwa would start turning profits before long.

In my previous life, setting up an Eunhae branch in Gui-jou had cost a fortune.

This time, it was less than a tenth of that.

And we'd gained not just Mi-gwa, but influence over Nam-ho too.

A satisfying outcome.

.

.

.

Time passed, and full autumn arrived.

At the Eun-wol Pavilion meeting.

Father addressed us.

"A letter from Acting Manager Song Sik. Mi-gwa has finally broken even."

"Now it can truly serve as our Gui-jou branch."

"Indeed."

"Eunhae's influence has grown stronger. We should rank in the top fifty this year, at least."

"That's what I'm hoping for. Speaking of which, the date for the Hundred Great Merchant Groups gathering has been set."

"Already? When?"

"Early tenth month."

"Soon."

Father nodded at the division leaders' words.

"So this time, I'll be going with Seo-ho."

I blinked at Father.

"Me? Me?"

"You know your sister-in-law is expecting again, right?"

Sister-in-law was pregnant this time.

The first child in nearly three years of marriage—the whole family had been overjoyed.

"Not good for the father to be away at a time like this. Jin-ho went last time, so it'll be you and me."

"Understood. Where's it being held?"

"I didn't mention? Luoyang."

"......"

I tensed up instantly.

Luoyang—home of the Murim Alliance.