Even More Than Expected (5)
The workshop was a fairly spacious room, and that made sense—they had to produce a thousand dolls here.
"Do you like the workshop?"
At my question, she nodded with a dazed expression.
"Is this really... where I'll be working?"
"Yes. To be precise, that room over there."
"That's more than enough."
"Then let's get started on making clothes for the dolls in earnest."
"Yes."
I pulled out a doll I'd had Palgap store for me.
"This is the doll."
When I wound the wheel on the doll and let go, it began dancing on its own.
"Oh my!"
She cried out in surprise.
"Th-the doll!"
"Yes, it dances. This is the product our merchant group will be putting out."
"So... I have to make clothes for these dolls?"
"That's right."
"Then what fabric should we use..."
"Follow me."
I headed to the Eunhae Fabric Shop with her.
It was nearby, so it didn't take long to get there.
As I entered amid the employees' greetings, I said to her,
"We're planning to sell each doll for ten nyang of silver, so the clothes have to match that price."
"Then we'll need silk."
"Exactly."
I spread my arms wide.
"Choose any silk you like."
I'd already gotten permission from Father the evening before.
Mrs. Hong Geum-so timidly asked as she gazed at the array of silks in various colors and textures on display at the Eunhae Fabric Shop.
"C-can I really pick any of them?"
"Yes."
Even with my firm affirmation, she only looked with her eyes, hesitant to touch them.
Silk was quite expensive, after all.
Most bolts cost eight nyang of silver or more.
So she was probably hesitating for that reason.
I asked her,
"Is there anything you like?"
"...That one."
I strode over, pulled out the silk she'd pointed to, and spread it out in front of her.
"Anything else you like?"
"That one too..."
Whoosh!
I spread that one out as well.
"What else catches your eye?"
"Th-that one?"
Once I took the initiative and laid out the silks, she seemed to relax and began examining them in earnest.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked from one silk to another—it didn't seem like she'd pick one quickly.
"Palgap."
"Yes, Young Master."
"I'm heading to work, so tell her to move the silks she picks to the workshop and start working. And make sure she has everything she needs."
Palgap nodded at my words.
"Don't worry. Go ahead to work. I'll handle everything."
I could trust Palgap with it.
I excused myself to Mrs. Hong Geum-so and headed to the accounting office.
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.
.
Today, too, work at the accounting office was nonstop.
As sales of the dancing dolls took shape and expenses started piling up, Chief Yu let out a sigh.
But he didn't voice any complaints.
Because when income increased as a result, he'd have fewer reasons to sigh as the chief accountant responsible for the merchant group's finances.
"Then I'll be heading out."
"See you tomorrow."
I went straight to the workshop after clocking out.
"Hey! Seo-ho."
I turned at the voice calling me.
"Oh? Father. What brings you here?"
"I found a craftsman to make the dolls' bodies. I figured you'd head straight to the workshop, so I'm on my way there myself."
"I see."
I smiled awkwardly.
"Truth be told, I was heading there to see the doll clothes being made."
"I see. I told them to bring the craftsman to the workshop, so let's go together."
"Yes."
I went to the workshop with Father.
"Greetings to the Chairman and Young Master."
The guards standing watch out front quickly clasped their hands in salute.
We entered, and I called out loudly,
"Ma'am, the Chairman is here."
At my shout, there was a bustle from inside, and Mrs. Hong Geum-so rushed out in a fluster.
"You've arrived?"
"Yes, we came to see how the doll clothes are coming along."
"I've finished one already. But... will this really do?"
She led us to the back of the workshop, and our jaws dropped.
I turned to look at Father.
He wore the same expression as me.
Mrs. Hong Geum-so's true talent wasn't sewing, or matching fabric colors, or making clothes look stylish.
Now I understood.
Her real gift was making clothes for dolls.
"Well, I'll be!"
Father could only marvel.
Unsure if it was praise or criticism, Mrs. Hong Geum-so fidgeted anxiously.
"Where do you find these amazing talents?"
At Father's question, I smiled and replied,
"They just caught my eye."
"Haha."
Father cleared his throat awkwardly and looked at Mrs. Hong Geum-so.
"What exquisite, beautiful workmanship!"
"Th-thank you."
"I was honestly worried when Seo-ho said he'd brought the seamstress himself, but seeing your skill puts my mind at ease. This venture has a very bright future."
"Y-you flatter me."
"We'll count on you going forward."
"Yes. I'll give it my all."
At that moment, Deputy Im Man arrived at the workshop with several men in tow.
Father had three deputies, and Im Man was the second.
The third was Deputy Jo Yeong-yeong.
"Oh! The craftsmen are here."
I grinned inwardly at the sight of them. Just as I'd expected—artisans from the Eunhae Merchant Group.
I even knew one of them.
His name was Bo Gwang.
He had the talent to sculpt doll faces so lifelike they resembled real people.
Father couldn't possibly be unaware of that craftsman's skill.
That's why I'd only asked permission for the seamstress.
And now, the best artisans for making dancing dolls had gathered.
Honestly, I'd wanted to ask Master's wife for the silk, but the timing wasn't right yet.
.
.
.
Today, too, I was working as Chief Yu's assistant in the accounting office.
Sales were surging on items like red envelopes for yaesujeon New Year's money, peach wood plaques for spring greetings, and the like.
Spring Festival was indeed coming.
Truthfully, events everyone celebrated like this were the best opportunities to make money.
People opened their wallets easily in the festive mood.
The Eunhae Merchant Group couldn't miss out.
But!
That's exactly why they weren't releasing the dancing dolls for Spring Festival.
There would surely be impulse buyers who'd regret it later, and that could devalue the dolls.
Dancing dolls shouldn't be bought on a whim—they had to be something people desperately wanted.
So, as Father said, they had to wait until rumors spread through the provincial treasury and demand built up.
Even rice needs time to steam properly.
That's why they prioritized making dolls for the treasury.
"Young Master, could you handle this too?"
"Ah, sure."
"Check if the calculations are correct."
I took the documents from Chief Yu and worked the abacus.
But this...
These were expense reports for the shops bought to sell the dancing dolls.
I let out a hollow chuckle inside at the amounts.
The scale was bigger than I'd imagined.
It was full-scale support.
As the one who'd sparked this through the granary—and its employer—it hit me with a sudden weight.
Before becoming a branch chief at the Eunhae Merchant Group, you had to go through five years of practical training.
I was rediscovering why three of those years were spent at the accounting office.
Looking at the income and expenses showed exactly how the merchant group operated at a glance.
Even I, who'd always been called clever, had taken over a year to grasp the flow at a glance.
Actually, the heart of the Eunhae Merchant Group was the sales division, handling all goods and deals, but after a year there, I'd realized something.
Merchant work couldn't be learned from books.
Hands-on experience was key.
That's why, after a year getting the big picture, they assigned you to a shop to build experience.
The logistics division you'd pick up naturally while working inside the group anyway.
Then an item caught my eye.
Travel expenses to and from the provincial capital.
Father and Yeon branch leader had gone there themselves with the dancing dolls requested by the treasury.
* * *
The carriage gradually slowed.
"We've arrived, Chairman, Yeon branch leader."
At the guard's words, the carriage door opened, and Eun Gil-sang and Yeon Da-mi stepped out.
They'd reached the provincial capital of Hubei Province.
It was the nearest major city to the Eunhae Merchant Group's head branch and their main area of operations.
Hence, their largest branch was there.
Eun Gil-sang said to his second deputy, Im Man,
"Deputy Im, go request a meeting with the treasury lord."
"Understood."
Then Eun Gil-sang ordered the dancing dolls strictly guarded and headed straight to the district's marketplace.
There was a newly acquired shop to sell the dancing dolls.
The shopfront was covered by a red canopy.
This was actually Eun Seo-ho's idea.
"Father, when setting up the shop, what if we put up a red cloth barrier in front?"
"A barrier? Won't that get in the way of construction?"
"Of course it has that downside. But it could draw the attention of passersby. People get maximally curious about what's completely hidden rather than fully visible."
So, by covering it with cloth to pique curiosity about its purpose, they'd get free publicity.
The red cloth was loosely woven, so the inside was faintly visible.
But not fully, so every passerby showed curiosity.
And unexpectedly, the barrier had another benefit.
No dust flew to neighboring shops, so no complaints.
Eun Gil-sang entered under the canopy and met the employee overseeing the construction.
"Welcome! Chairman!"
"Ah! Good work."
He was the shopkeeper assigned to sell the dancing dolls.
He'd worked for years under the manager of the capital's curio shop.
Recommended and promoted to shopkeeper this time.
"This is a project the merchant group is pushing ambitiously, so we're counting on you."
"Of course. I'll handle it with utmost dedication."
"Any difficulties, let me know."
As Eun Gil-sang talked with the shopkeeper, Deputy Im Man came running, panting.
"Huff, huff... Chairman."
"What is it?"
"You need to go right now. The treasury lord summons you."
"Is that so? Alright."
Eun Gil-sang stood with a smirk.
Well, isn't he in a hurry.
.
.
.
A short while later, Eun Gil-sang and Yeon Da-mi met the treasury lord.
"You've had a hard journey here."
"Not at all. How could meeting you be any hardship?"
"Hahaha, you're gilding my face!"
The treasury lord stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
"So, what brings you to see me?"
"Yes, this humble merchant came to express our gratitude for the grace you've shown our group."
He'd brought the dancing dolls at the treasury lord's request, but he never used the word "request."
That was key in dealings—or rather, meetings—with high officials.
It wasn't fulfilling a superior's request; it was a voluntary tribute out of deep appreciation for their benevolence.
"You didn't have to... Ahem."
Eun Gil-sang glanced at Yeon Da-mi, who opened the specially made box for the dancing doll beside her.
"Oh!"
The treasury lord's eyes widened at the revealed doll.
"How can it be this beautiful!"
It was a dancing doll crafted by the Eunhae Merchant Group's top woodworker, the incomparable Mrs. Hong Geum-so in needlework, and the granary crew.
So lifelike it could pass for alive, and utterly exquisite.