Wedding Gift (2)
Bokyeong the young master didn't answer my question. Instead, he grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
"We'll talk about the details once we're inside."
As he dragged me in, one of the gatekeepers approached with a troubled look on his face.
"Young master, I know this is a welcome guest, but we still need to maintain order..."
Not that we were cutting in line already—disgruntled glares were already flying our way.
But Bokyeong the young master declared confidently,
"This is my brother's Jinwoo."
"...!"
At those words, the gatekeepers' expressions changed in an instant. They bowed deeply to me, cupping their fists in respect.
"We greet the sub-branch leader's Jinwoo!"
"Forgive our rudeness. Please, come right in."
Even some of those who'd been shooting me sharp looks just moments ago nodded in approval.
What the hell is a Jinwoo, anyway...?
I made my way inside like that, and Bokyeong the young master escorted me all the way to the inner quarters.
"Isn't this the inner quarters?"
"It is. The inner quarters' residence has been prepared for the Jinwoo."
My first time stepping into the inner quarters.
It was exquisitely furnished for comfort, and the garden was beautiful as well.
My own room even overlooked the garden directly.
"Thank you for granting me such fine quarters."
"No need for thanks. It's only fitting for my brother's Jinwoo."
"Speaking of which—what exactly is a Jinwoo?"
Bokyeong the young master chuckled at my question.
"Ah, it must have been nagging at you."
Finally, I got a proper explanation.
"Jinwoo literally means a 'true friend,' but in our family, it carries more weight. It means someone who will look after your wife and children if anything happens to you."
He continued,
"That includes handling your estate."
"Pardon?"
I blurted out in surprise.
When forming bonds with others—even going beyond old friends to sworn brothers—outsiders still don't touch each other's wealth.
But entrusting your property too...?
For merchants who prized money like their own lives, that was the ultimate trust.
"That's incredible."
"Of course. In our family, you can only choose one Jinwoo for your wedding. We send them a lavish red invitation, and accepting it means you've agreed to become their Jinwoo."
I tilted my head at that.
"A red invitation? Aren't wedding invitations usually red?"
"No. Here in the Yonyeong region, we use subdued yellow ones that don't stand out."
Ah...
Now I remembered.
"As you know, this Yonyeong area is crawling with bandit gangs."
"True enough."
"Right now, some peak experts are keeping them in check, so they don't dare come down this way. But back in the day, it was rough. Weddings were especially bad—bandits would swarm whenever people gathered in one place, causing massive damage."
Makes sense. With everyone congregating to celebrate, they'd make prime targets for bandits.
Still...
"Targeting weddings? That's beyond the pale!"
"If they had any honor, they wouldn't be bandits. Anyway, the biggest giveaway was those red letters. So we switched to a different color to keep it hidden."
"I see."
"The Jinwoo tradition is similar. With bandits and wild beasts everywhere, death could come anytime. It's like an insurance policy for your family."
"Looks like Bokyun the sub-branch leader trusted me more than I thought."
I gave an awkward smile.
"I'd like to pay my respects to the merchant group leader. And greet Bokyun the sub-branch leader too."
"He's meeting with someone else right now. He said to come see you as soon as he's done."
I shook my head.
"If that's the case, just let me know later. As you said, young master—if I'm his Jinwoo, I should act accordingly."
"Understood."
......
But Bokyun the sub-branch leader didn't come until the next day.
I'd planned to give him a piece of my mind—it was supposed to be "after finishing up," not the next day—but...
"Are you all right?"
The words slipped out when I saw his haggard face.
"Ah, yes. I'm fine."
"Is wedding prep always this grueling?"
He gave an awkward laugh at my question.
"Our family tends to go all out. We invite as many people as possible, so..."
Even if it's just a cup of tea per person, that many adds up fast.
"I had over a hundred cups yesterday. Couldn't sleep a wink last night."
Tea was great for staying alert, but too much was a problem.
"Networking is important, but take care of yourself. Getting sick right before the wedding would be a disaster."
"I will."
"That aside, I was shocked. Me, your Jinwoo?"
Bokyun the sub-branch leader flashed another sheepish grin. I read the situation in his expression.
"You kept it from me on purpose."
"Truth be told... yes."
He bowed his head, cupping his fists.
"I didn't tell you ahead of time because I worried you'd feel burdened and skip the wedding. Forgive my rudeness."
"No, no!"
I waved it off.
Damn, how could I chew him out now?
Not that I'd planned to seriously, anyway.
"I was just curious. Why me as your Jinwoo?"
"Because you saved my life, Eun sub-branch leader."
"That was..."
"Don't say it was nothing. It might have been routine for you, but you saved my life."
He went on,
"And back in Nakyang, when I was kidnapped and nearly swapped out—you rushed in first and rescued me."
"That was just what anyone would do."
"I..."
I cut him off.
"Because you're my friend, Bok sub-branch leader."
"......"
He looked speechless for a moment, then smiled.
"You're also capable enough to entrust my family to. Looks like I chose my Jinwoo well. I'll take that as your acceptance."
"I wouldn't want to bring dishonor to my friend by running from his request."
We shared breakfast together.
And for him, with his recent tea overload, we had eunja instead.
It was eunja with dried apples, giving off a subtle apple scent—pretty good, actually.
Mixing in other fruits could work too. Tangerines, plums, peaches... or even lychees from the south.
This could make a solid product.
Tea was indispensable to imperial citizens.
But during pregnancy, it was bad for the fetus, so women abstained until birth—and apparently, that was torture.
Pregnant cravings often ran sour and sweet.
If I nail this, it'll sell like hotcakes.
As my mind wandered, a voice called from outside—Bokyun the sub-branch leader's guard.
"The merchant group leader and his wife have arrived."
The doors opened, and in came the Bok merchant group leader and his wife.
"Greetings to the merchant group leader and madam."
"You've had a long journey—well done. If I'd known you arrived yesterday, I'd have come sooner, but he told us not to."
"Yes. It was late, and it wouldn't be right to push other guests aside for me."
I smiled.
"I'm Bokyun the sub-branch leader's Jinwoo. From what I hear, it's practically family... and you don't treat family like guests."
The merchant group leader and his wife beamed warmly.
"You're right."
"Eun sub-branch leader as our Yun's Jinwoo—such a relief."
We chatted amiably like that until the merchant group leader, his wife, and the sub-branch leader left for their schedules.
Now I can finally relax?
Wrong.
Being Jinwoo turned out to be a bigger deal than I'd imagined.
Bok sub-branch leader's maid came to see me.
"Greetings, Eun sub-branch leader. I'm Somyeong, the sub-branch leader's maid."
"Yes, I'm Eun Seo-ho, sub-branch leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"First, thank you sincerely for becoming our sub-branch leader's Jinwoo. We look forward to working with you."
"Ah, sure."
"Now, allow me to explain your duties as Jinwoo."
She laid it all out in detail.
"From the moment the sub-branch leader leaves to fetch the bride from her family home, the Jinwoo oversees everything about the wedding."
"Everything?"
"Exactly. From guest lists and seating arrangements to the wedding attire and menu—everything."
"And if something's off?"
"Just give the order for replacements or changes, and it'll be done immediately."
"How much authority do I have?"
"In a major crisis, you can even request the merchant group leader's approval to halt the wedding."
Whoa...
The power was insane.
This was basically standing in for Bokyun the sub-branch leader himself.
"That's some serious authority."
"And before the wedding rites, you'll see the bride's face before the groom does."
"What?"
That one actually startled me.
The groom didn't see the bride's face until the bridal chamber.
Until then, she wore a red veil.
Not seeing her face beforehand was an unwritten rule.
But the Jinwoo gets a preview...?
"Why does someone else get to see her first?"
"To check that the bride and groom are a suitable match with no issues."
"...Don't they already know each other's faces?"
"A third party's eyes can be more objective sometimes."
So it prevented scams like fake brides too.
Made sense for someone on the cusp of family and friend.
And it showed that level of trust.
"Got it."
"Then, we'll need to measure you for your attire."
"Attire?"
"The special robes for the Jinwoo to wear on the wedding day."
The maids came in and took my measurements.
No idea why their faces were so flushed.
Somyeong the maid guided me around to inspect the wedding preparations.
She explained the groom would fetch the bride from her home, and the ceremony would be at the Gwangjun Merchant Group—her family's place was too small.
As I toured the sites, someone came rushing up, pale as a ghost.
What happened?
"Merchant group leader! Urgent report!"
The Bok merchant group leader emerged at once.
"What is it?"
"We need to speak inside..."
Clearly not for guests' ears.
The merchant group leader headed to the inner quarters, and I followed—now that I was Bok sub-branch leader's Jinwoo, I had access.
My room was there anyway.
Once inside, the merchant group leader asked again,
"All right, what is it?"
"The prime horses we were taming for the imperial palace delivery—they escaped."
"What?"
The merchant group leader nearly toppled over in shock.
I caught him just in time.
Snap!
"Are you okay?"
"Ah, thank you."
Bokyun the sub-branch leader came running, having heard the news.
"Father! Pant... huff. I heard the palace delivery horses escaped."
"Yes, I just got the report."
"This is bad."
I asked the messenger,
"How many prime horses for the palace?"
"Uh..."
He hesitated, unsure if he should tell me.
"He's Yun's Jinwoo."
The merchant group leader's words prompted an immediate answer.
"A total of 120, with 40 escaped. We barely contained the rest—they're too swift..."
Horses bolting happened sometimes.
They must have precautions, yet...
Prime horses fetched top prices.
A decent mount cost four silver taels—not even silver nyang. Primes ran eight.
Palace-grade? Priceless.
But beyond the loss, these were for the palace.
Failing delivery on time...
No wonder everyone's faces darkened.
"We're sending pursuit teams now, but..."
If someone stole them, it might be salvageable.
The real horror was beasts getting them first.
No amount of money compensated dead horses for non-merchants.
This, right before the wedding!
"Assemble more pursuit teams and send them out as soon as they're ready!"
"Yes, sir!"
"And keep this quiet."
"Understood."
At that moment, I stepped forward.
"Merchant group leader, I'll join the pursuit team."