Special Request (1)
The weather had turned genuinely hot, ushering in the seventh lunar month.
In the meeting room of the temporary quarters, the small fans whirred away without pause.
Gathered there were representatives from merchant groups across the empire, all entrusted with selling these devices.
"The demand for the handheld fans is overwhelming. We need to ramp up supply."
"Exactly. People have been lining up for three days straight."
"We need a plan."
And so, I found myself sweating bullets over an unexpected hurdle.
The culprit? None other than the brand-new handheld fans we'd just introduced.
Dubbed "handheld fans" for their portability, they were so popular that supply couldn't keep up with demand.
But we couldn't just flood the market recklessly—demand would inevitably taper off over time, leaving us to eat the losses. Striking the right balance was key.
Previously, the core components had been crafted solely by Master Gongmil, but this time we'd brought in a few more trusted artisans.
We'd selected only those unlikely to betray us, allowing us to increase production beyond before—and yet here we were.
The meeting wrapped up, and I returned to my office.
Tension easing at last, I slumped over the desk for a breather.
But no such luck.
"Excuse me, coming in."
It was the voice of Yeo Chang's deputy.
"Come on in."
He entered the office and, spotting me sprawled across the desk, remarked,
"Even when things go well, it's exhausting? Feels a bit off, doesn't it?"
I chuckled and straightened up at his words.
"Still, struggling because things are going well beats struggling because they're not. The alternative... yeah, I'd rather skip that."
"Fair point."
"Here for approval?"
"Yes."
I reviewed the documents and stamped them.
"Hot out there, huh?"
"It's summer."
Ah, complaining about the heat.
"Yet strangely, your office feels cool inside."
I had no choice—it came from cultivating an extreme yin martial art.
After Yeo Chang's deputy left, I was resuming work when—
"Young master, Branch Manager Eun is here."
"Send him in."
The door opened, and Eun Branch Manager entered.
"You've arrived?"
"Yes, Young Master. The Beijing branch is finally complete."
"Wonderful news."
I rose from my seat.
"Let's go see it right away."
A short while later.
We arrived at the Beijing branch.
It was a splendid new building on the site I'd personally selected.
"What a magnificent structure!"
Palgap's words drew nods from the other escorts. All six had insisted on tagging along when they heard we were inspecting the new Beijing branch building.
"Allow me to give you a tour."
"Please do."
Eun Branch Manager's face beamed with pride.
He'd been managing shops in Beijing until now, but stepping up as the official branch manager? It made sense he'd feel that way.
Truth be told, headquarters had suggested appointing someone else as Beijing branch manager.
But I'd insisted on Eun Branch Manager.
I knew his capabilities all too well.
He could lead a branch, sure—but what I'd zeroed in on was his unshakeable tenacity, pushing forward no matter what.
In my previous life, he'd been the one to steady the faltering Beijing branch after our first appointee failed spectacularly. Right here before me stood that very Eun Cheong-in.
"Let's start with the warehouse."
"Understood. The heart of any merchant hall is the warehouse, after all."
The Beijing branch mirrored headquarters in layout—which meant it had a grand warehouse.
Don't mistake that for unrestricted cart access, though.
Security was paramount; every cart in or out underwent strict inspections.
Especially here in Beijing.
One slip, and the whole merchant group could crumble.
"Impressive."
"I think so too."
From the warehouse, we toured the branch: dorms and mess halls for clerks and laborers, barracks and training grounds for the warriors, baths, offices, and more.
It was like my mental blueprint brought to life—I was genuinely moved.
"Whoa! Your new office is so refreshing, young master!"
My office within the main building was equally comfortable.
"The staff must love it."
"They're itching to move in already."
But we couldn't yet.
We needed the Board of Works' completion inspection first.
"Contact the Board of Works and request the inspection."
"Right away."
* * *
Among the imperial palace's Six Boards, the Board of Works handled construction matters.
Buildings, roads—all fell under their purview.
Yet these weren't flashy duties, so it drew less attention than the other boards.
The officials there didn't mind.
Less scrutiny meant petty corruption flew under the radar.
"A completion inspection request just came in."
"Oh? Where from?"
"A building by the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Big players like that? Plenty of juice to squeeze."
"But they've never called on us before."
"That's the issue."
It bruised their egos.
Building something that size in Beijing? They should've come crawling first.
A little grease for the wheels, a jingle in the pockets—then they'd process things smoothly.
But Eunhae had skipped every "step."
"What now?"
"If a fine building sits unused, they're sweating bullets, right?"
"Wise, sir."
"That said, they've got that Eun Seo-ho as sub-branch chief."
Eun Seo-ho's run-in with the Board of Rites was infamous.
The junior official was pointing that out.
But his senior brushed it off.
"That was the Board of Rites being idiots. Flashy bribes draw eyes. Obviously."
"True."
"We can squeeze legally, though."
He grinned.
"Drag our feet with excuses—they'll get the hint."
* * *
Five days passed since the Beijing branch's completion.
As I handled daily tasks and prepped for the move, Eun Branch Manager visited.
"From your face, it's not good news."
He sighed at my words.
"No. Five days gone, and still nothing from the Board of Works."
"As expected?"
"Seems so."
From what I knew, their inspections took three days at most.
No word after five? They wanted a taste—rice cake crumbs, as it were.
I could oblige.
But handing it over now, when trouble brewed from the ninth to tenth month? Only a fool would.
Waiting idly till then wasted too much time.
I grabbed my prepared item and stood.
"To the Board of Works."
.
.
.
A moment later,
I headed to the palace with Eun Branch Manager and sent word to the Board of Works.
Soon, a clerk came for us.
"Are Eun Seo-ho, sub-branch chief of Eunhae Merchant Group, and Eun Cheong-in, branch manager, here?"
"Yes, present."
"Follow me."
Luckily, no long wait. Lessons from the Board of Rites, no doubt.
We entered the Board of Works building.
In the reception room, we waited briefly before an official arrived.
"Here for the completion inspection?"
"Yes."
He flipped through papers.
"Which building?"
"One built by Eunhae Merchant Group. Location..."
"Ah, here it is."
He addressed the documents, not us.
"Applied five days ago."
"Correct. When can we expect the inspection?"
"Our schedule's backed up. You'll need to wait longer."
"Until when?"
"Sorry. Too much backlog for a firm date."
Damn these bastards.
My neck twinged.
"Then I'll be going."
He turned to leave, done with us.
No choice. Time to use His Majesty's gift.
"One moment."
"Pardon? More business?"
I handed over the scroll without a word. He took it, head tilted.
"What's this?"
"Unroll it."
He did.
And... one, two, three.
Before I finished counting, his face drained pale.
The scroll from the Emperor.
It decreed priority handling for Eunhae Merchant Group matters, sealed with the imperial jade stamp.
"Th-this is..."
"A document bearing His Majesty's decree."
"Gasp!"
He dropped to his knees in obeisance.
Seeing it felt good.
"Please process it swiftly."
"Y-yes, sir."
I took it back.
No limits on uses.
Worth the trip to Gansu Province.
.
.
.
That afternoon.
Board officials arrived and inspected the Beijing branch.
They issued the pass certificate on the spot.
The officials would grind their teeth, but the certificate was already in my hands.
"Thank you for your efforts."
"Ahem..."
They left with sour faces.
I turned to Eun Branch Manager.
"Branch Manager."
"Yes."
"Time to move in."
"Understood."
Large buildings usually merited housewarming feasts, but times were tough.
Last year, maybe—but now? Worse.
"Regrettable, but no housewarming."
"Agreed. Bad timing."
"Father said skip it too. We'll start operations immediately."
"Very well."
"How's it feel, official Beijing branch manager?"
He grinned happily.
"The best!"
We moved over three days.
Plenty to pack and sort.
"Good work, everyone."
The escort warriors replied,
"No trouble. We're part of Eunhae—we step up."
Heavy loads for the move? My high-level escorts made it easy.
"I'll pay daily wages for today."
"Not necessary."
"No refusals. I hate hiring outsiders for this."
They accepted at my insistence.
I distributed the pay and entered my office.
New building, a bit unfamiliar—but I'd adjust.
I pulled out brush and ink, penning a letter to Father: safe move-in complete.
Handed it to the Golden Decree messenger—for a silver tael, of course.
Speaking of—time to invite Aunt and Uncle. Can't ignore them so close by.
I ticked off my tasks one by one.
No major issues; smooth sailing in Beijing.
Two days later.
Aunt and Uncle visited the Beijing branch.
Answering my invitation.
"Welcome."
"Impressive from outside— even better inside."
"Thank you."
Aunt gazed around with fresh emotion.
The layout mirrored headquarters, after all.
I personally showed them around.
After a pleasant time, they departed.
As I turned to work, Palgap announced a visitor.
A guest?
No appointments. Who?
"Who is it?"
"Well, it's the Governor of Guizhou Province."
"What?"
The Governor—a province's top administrator. Immense power.
Why visit personally? And Guizhou's Governor, to me?
"Escort him to the reception room."
"Already done."
I straightened my robes and hurried over.
A middle-aged man sat, flanked by a guard.
"Sub-branch Chief Eun Seo-ho greets the Governor."
"Pleased to meet you."
Urgent business—he cut straight to it as I sat.
"I've come with a request."
"Pardon?"
"Procure snow for me."