Even More Than Expected (6)

Eun Gil-sang cupped his fists and said,

"In truth, the item you obtained previously through Pavilion Master Song had to be sent in a somewhat deficient state due to the urgency. This Eun humbly begs forgiveness for my sin."

"Nonsense! Thanks to it, I was able to save face with my wife—how could I blame you for that?"

"I am grateful for your understanding."

Eun Gil-sang bowed deeply once more before continuing.

"This is the highest-grade automaton doll. The activation method is the same as you know."

At those words, Po Jeong-sa immediately turned the handle to wind the wheel.

As he released the wheel, the doll began to move.

"Oh! Ohhh!"

Perhaps due to the clothes on the automaton doll, its sleeves fluttered, making it look even more beautiful.

The doll stopped moving after a short while.

Eun Gil-sang spoke again with proper decorum.

"And though these are one grade lower, we have prepared ten that appear identical on the surface. I hope they prove useful to you, my lord."

There was a reason for preparing one top-grade doll and ten that were one grade lower but visually indistinguishable.

People are beings driven by desire.

It's natural to want something better, so he gave Po Jeong-sa the very best.

But this would surely be used for oiling palms—should it become known that he possessed something superior, it could lead to awkwardness.

That resentment might unnecessarily fall upon the Eunhae Merchant Group.

To prevent that, they had prepared accordingly.

"You truly know my heart. Hahaha!"

"I am at a loss for words."

Eun Gil-sang cupped his fists and bowed his head, then looked up and said,

"I must humbly report that our merchant group has produced exactly one thousand automaton dolls. To be precise, one thousand eleven. And each doll has a small number engraved on its back."

"Truly just that many?"

"Yes. Making the dolls is no easy task, so we decided on that number."

"I suppose so."

"Moreover, the automaton dolls we produce are not limited to this one. Dolls embodying various stories will be made, and we shall visit you each time."

Po Jeong-sa burst into delighted laughter at Eun Gil-sang's words.

"Then I shall possess every automaton doll containing all those stories."

"Your joy brings me joy as well, my lord."

"And at what price do you plan to sell these?"

"Ten nyang of silver each."

Po Jeong-sa nodded at that.

It was expensive for a single doll, but not a significant sum for someone of his upper-class status.

"A fair price."

Eun Gil-sang took a piece of paper from the box. It was a palm-sized sheet made of fairly thick paper.

"What is that?"

"This is the product warranty certificate. It signifies that this automaton doll was properly crafted and sold by the Eunhae Merchant Group."

"So, it proves authenticity."

"Precisely. And with this certificate, you may visit any of our stores for free repairs at any time."

"It would sting if it broke by accident—fortunate indeed."

A smile lingered on Po Jeong-sa's lips as he, Eun Gil-sang, and Yeon Da-mi exchanged various stories before taking their leave.

In the carriage heading back to the Eunhae Merchant Group branch.

Yeon Da-mi chuckled softly.

"Did you see his face earlier? Quite the sight."

"I was surprised at first myself—how much more so for him?"

"Still, he's pleased, so that's a relief. My intuition tells me it'll go well."

"I feel the same."

Suddenly, Eun Gil-sang's eyes sharpened.

"What of the surveillance on the other merchant groups?"

"It's underway."

"Good."

The biggest obstacle when a merchant group launches a new product is none other than rival merchant groups.

If they engaged in sabotage, nothing could be more headache-inducing.

"They seem to be watching for now."

"As expected. They haven't grasped the potential yet."

"Even so, thanks to currying favor with Lord Po Jeong-sa, we can worry less about pressure from the bureaucracy."

"Still, don't let your guard down—keep watching closely."

"Of course."

Eun Gil-sang gazed at the street lined with other merchant groups, his eyes gleaming darkly.

Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠if he was a good and soft-hearted man, he was still a merchant.

And before that, a father to one.

This meant Eun Gil-sang was no pushover.

'If someone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tries to throw dirt on the product my youngest son poured his heart into, I won't sit idly by.'

It was morning.

I woke earlier than usual.

Because I'd had nightmares again last night.

They had lasted far longer than I'd imagined, but I was still grateful.

They kept my resolve to become the world's greatest merchant group from fading.

Spring had arrived in earnest before I knew it.

A month and a half had flown by since the Spring Festival.

Come to think of it, yesterday was the opening day of the store in Hubei Province's capital—and the debut of the automaton dolls.

Father had said the upper class's interest in them was red-hot.

Still, it would probably take about half a month to sell out.

After finishing my training, I headed to the dining hall for breakfast.

The family's faces were bright today as well, calming my somewhat restless heart.

.

.

.

Lunch came and went, and afternoon arrived.

In Chief Steward Yu's office, only the sounds of turning pages and brush strokes filled the air.

Now, Chief Steward Yu had learned to work me relentlessly until quitting time.

Thud thud thud!

Suddenly, the sound of someone running approached.

"Chief Steward! The Group Leader summons you!"

The door flew open, and Deputy Jo Yeong-yeong burst in with a flushed face.

"The automaton dolls—they're all, all sold out!"

"……!"

What?

We started selling yesterday, and they're already gone?

It seemed my expectations had been surpassed spectacularly.

Hubei Province's capital.

The red cloth veiling the front of the store, located slightly off the main thoroughfare, was pulled away.

The store's signboard gleamed with elegant gold lettering.

It felt different from ordinary shops.

For one, warriors armed with weapons stood guard strictly around the premises.

The store was lavishly decorated in reds and golds.

And there were no goods displayed on the stalls.

Only a signboard at the entrance read [Automaton Doll Sales Commence].

Yet people were already lining up, waiting for the opening.

"Brother, where are you from?"

"Zhejiang Province. And you?"

"Anhui Province."

"Looks like you've come on orders from your master."

"Indeed. You too?"

"Yes."

"Hey, same here……."

At that moment, a man standing with a sword at his waist spoke up.

"Everyone in this line must be here on orders to purchase an automaton doll."

"Makes sense. Only those who can casually part with ten nyang of silver would send lackeys rather than stand in line themselves to save face."

"Still, ten nyang for one doll! Why so pricey?"

"Even if it dances after a set time……."

"No matter the cost, it must hold that value for them to order it procured."

About a month ago, a peculiar trend had begun centering around Beijing and Kaifeng.

True upper-class status demanded owning an automaton doll.

That was why, from morning, crowds lined up before the yet-unopened store.

One warrior glanced back briefly, his face registering shock.

"The line's already enormous."

"What do you expect? Limited to one thousand units."

"And restricted to one per household to boot……."

He pointed to the notice posted on the store front.

It had been put up due to the flood of inquiries.

At that moment, several men and women in red robes emerged from the store.

A man with three silver wave patterns embroidered on his robe stepped forward and spoke.

"We apologize for the long wait. I am Seo Ji-pyeong, manager of Hongha Luxury Goods Store—the Eunhae Merchant Group's outlet for our newest, finest exclusive goods."

He bowed after his greeting, and those behind him followed suit.

"We now open for business. However, to ensure a comfortable shopping experience for the first entrants, we will admit five at a time."

Thus began the sales of the automaton dolls, which sold out completely in a single day.

Even with the five-at-a-time limit, it took that long—if unrestricted, they would have been gone within a double hour.

The news swiftly reached the Eunhae Merchant Group's headquarters, and Eun Gil-sang called a meeting.

I was now at Eunwol Pavilion.

Father had summoned Chief Steward Yu and me upon hearing from the messenger that the automaton dolls had sold out.

Everyone gathered there wore excited expressions.

Naturally so.

It had been a venture we'd hoped would succeed but without certainty.

Yet it sold out on opening day.

"First, this achievement ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is thanks to everyone's efforts. I express my gratitude to all."

All bowed lightly at Father's words.

Yu So-ak spoke.

"Profits from this automaton doll sale amount to seven thousand nyang of silver. This is after deducting store purchase, materials, labor, and miscellaneous costs."

"Impressive."

"From this, subtracting the forty percent due to the artisan employer per contract……."

"Leaves two thousand eight hundred nyang."

"Heh……."

Everyone blinked at Pavilion Master Yeon's words.

They'd sold just a thousand dolls, yet the margins were better than expected.

Chief Steward Yu looked at me admiringly.

"Young master, you've earned two thousand eight hundred nyang."

"It's not all mine."

I smiled and replied,

"Forty percent goes to the artisan."

"Then the rest……?"

"That's personal."

Chief Steward Yu probed gently.

"No thought of investing in the Eunhae Merchant Group?"

Hm?

Not a bad idea.

But right now, I had something to save diligently for.

So I brushed it off with a smile.

Then Outer Chief Steward Go spoke.

"If we're making this much, we should have produced ten thousand to sell."

"That could work, but we're not selling automaton dolls just this once, are we?"

"True."

"It might just breed fatigue."

Father asked me,

"So, when do you plan to release the story-embedded automaton dolls you mentioned? You said it'd encourage the rich to collect them, but if interest wanes, it won't work."

Everyone turned to me curiously at Father's question.

I grinned and answered,

"Just as you say, Father. I'm thinking for the Dragon Boat Festival. By then, interest shouldn't have faded."

"Four months or so…… That should be fine."

Father nodded.

"We'll reconvene on automaton dolls later. As for Seo-ho……."

He paused to look at me before continuing.

"Well, your presence changes little. Ahem. As everyone knows, next month marks my eldest son's twentieth birthday."

Come to think of it, next month was when Jeong Ho hyung officially became a sub-leader!

Wait…….

As a thought surfaced, Father's words continued.

"I plan to formally grant him sub-leader status. What do you think?"

Pavilion Master Yeon said,

"Having completed all practical courses with excellent results, Young Master Jeong Ho deserves it."

Outer Chief Steward Go laughed heartily.

"Our Jeong Ho becoming official sub-leader! We'll be in good hands. Hahaha."

"Most reassuring."

Since late last year, when Pavilion Master Yeon declared Jeong Ho hyung's practical training complete, he had qualified as sub-leader.

Thus, his birthday would mark his official ascension.

Father and the pavilion masters chatted amiably about Jeong Ho hyung's sub-leader announcement ceremony, laughing warmly.

But I couldn't laugh.

I recalled a major incident at the Eunhae Merchant Group that day—and the greatest regret of Jeong Ho hyung's life.

He regretted it so deeply that whenever drunk, he'd speak of 'that incident.'

Despite every reason to envy or resent my talents, he never did.

On the contrary, he'd even offered to yield the group leader position.

I didn't want to see such a brother regret again.

I clenched my fist under the table, vowing.

To ensure Jeong Ho hyung had no cause for regret. Absolutely.