Chapter 51: This Is How You Handle False Rumors (1)
In a certain village in Sichuan Province,
the Dan Clan Merchant Group had set up shop.
They primarily made and sold decorative dolls.
The dolls they crafted were quite beautiful and had earned recognition for their artistic value.
As a result, high-ranking officials and wealthy folks adorned their display cases with Dan Clan dolls.
But recently, the Dan Clan's revenue had plummeted.
The culprit was the Ja-mu dolls newly released by the Eunhae Merchant Group, based in Hubei Province.
These were limited-edition dolls, only a thousand units, and remarkably, they danced on their own.
Moreover, the clothes on the dolls were so stunningly beautiful that courtesans started a trend of making similar outfits to wear.
Curious about just what kind of dolls they were, the Dan Clan managed to get their hands on one of the Seo-si Ja-mu dolls.
Even to their own eyes, it was astonishing.
When they wound the wheel on the back, it really danced.
And the colors of its clothes were vibrant yet not overdone, perfectly harmonious.
It was a craftsmanship so enviable it sparked greed.
That wasn't all.
The doll's face was sculpted so lifelike it almost seemed like a real person.
Greed took hold, and they ordered replicas—but the response was "impossible."
So they summoned a craftsman themselves.
"You can't replicate it?"
"Yes, that's right. Whoever made this doll, their skill is that of a master artisan."
The craftsman shook his head.
"Honestly, we could mimic everything else. But this mechanism linking the wheels for synchronized movement is the core, and no material we've tried works."
"Is that so?"
He consulted other craftsmen, but they all threw up their hands.
In the process, the doll broke.
They'd disassembled and reassembled it endlessly for study, so it was inevitable.
'Come to think of it, they said if you bring the product warranty, they'll repair it for free?'
Thinking it was worth a shot, he took the warranty and the broken doll back to the shop where he'd bought it.
Exactly half a month later, he received a perfectly restored Ja-mu doll.
Seeing it, the head of the Dan Clan Merchant Group felt a chill of fear.
Technology impossible to imitate.
Aesthetically superior design.
And flawless after-sales service.
At this rate, the Dan Clan's doll business would be devoured by the Eunhae Merchant Group.
He couldn't let that happen.
He had to find some way.
Lately, I'd been in high spirits.
Especially yesterday—I'd been in an exceptionally good mood.
Because I'd received the revenue report from Pal-in Pharmacy.
Pal-in Pharmacy settled accounts every half month, twice a month total.
That's when my share gets calculated.
And yesterday's net profit—and my cut—exceeded my expectations.
The pharmacy was booming.
These days, physicians were even posting ads at Pal-in Pharmacy to promote themselves.
So the pharmacy had set up a dedicated bulletin board for their promotional flyers, and customers picked their doctors from there.
Actually, that was my idea.
It fosters mutual support, keeping the physicians from throwing their weight around.
Word had spread, drawing customers from other counties.
My goal was Pal-in Pharmacies across the Central Plains.
Fewer people suffering from minor ailments, and me raking in the cash.
How perfect is that?
The steadily accumulating wealth would become a major force later on.
Speaking of which, sales of the new Ja-mu dolls should be starting soon.
This batch followed the Seo-si doll with the Cho-seon doll.
Diaochan, the Shame of the Moon who captivated both Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo.
Even I had to admit the doll mimicking her beauty was gorgeous.
Ja-mu dolls, alongside Pal-in Pharmacy, were set to provide steady revenue.
So I needed to put more effort into them.
Complacency was the enemy. The moment you settle, profits turn to losses.
That was a hard truth I'd learned in my previous life.
I wonder if Father is on his way back now?
He'd gone to pay respects to the Hubei Regional Commander's office, bringing Cho-seon dolls.
He was due back the day before yesterday, but still no sign.
What's going on?
Then I sensed someone's presence.
It's Deputy Jo Yeong-yeong.
Her voice soon followed.
"Deputy Jo Yeong-yeong reporting."
Chief Steward Yu nodded, and I replied.
"Come in."
She entered, gave a light salute, and got straight to business.
"The Chairman has returned. He's calling an immediate meeting. You need to head to Eunwol Pavilion."
"Got it."
At Chief Steward Yu's words, she turned to me.
"Young Master Eun Seo-ho must come as well."
"......Me too?"
A short while later,
I arrived at Eunwol Pavilion with Chief Steward Yu.
The other pavilion chiefs were already there, including Jeong Ho hyung, who'd just become a branch chief.
With his promotion, he now qualified to attend Eunwol Pavilion meetings officially.
"You're here. Take your seats. Seo-ho, you too."
At Father's words, we sat quickly. His expression was grave.
"Everyone's assembled. I called this meeting because of some disturbing rumors circulating."
"Rumors, sir?"
At Jeong Ho hyung's question, Father continued.
"When I met the Regional Commander this time, he mentioned the 'rumors about the Ja-mu dolls.' I looked into them, which delayed my return."
"......"
I could guess why I'd been summoned here.
I was the employer of the Ja-mu doll creator and deeply involved in the project.
"The rumor is that human souls are trapped inside the Ja-mu dolls."
"......Pardon?"
I blurted out involuntarily.
It was something that hadn't happened in my previous life, so I was caught off guard.
No, more than that—what did souls even mean?
Out of nowhere.
"Human souls? There's no such thing."
"Exactly, there isn't."
Father nodded and went on.
"But the rumor was spreading, confirmed through the Hao Clan."
"Where has it spread?"
At my question, Father unrolled a map and pointed out regions as he explained.
This... it's everywhere?
No matter how I thought about it, something was off.
Rumors usually start in one place and spread. They don't pop up simultaneously in multiple spots like this.
Which meant deliberate sabotage.
Yeon Pavilion Chief caught on immediately.
"Some bastard must be sore because the Ja-mu dolls are selling so well."
"That's my thinking too."
"But Chairman."
Yeon Pavilion Chief continued.
"We anticipated interference from other merchant groups and had them under surveillance, but there was no unusual activity."
Jeong Ho hyung chimed in.
"Means they moved very discreetly."
Se-pung Pavilion Chief Jeok Byeong-cheol, who'd been listening quietly, spoke up.
"More like our surveillance net got breached."
"I agree."
Chief Steward Yu added,
"More urgently, we need to assess the potential impact and prepare countermeasures."
"That's exactly why I called this meeting."
We dove into countermeasures.
This rumor was clearly intentional. We had to prepare for the worst.
Refunds pouring in for all sold Ja-mu dolls, the imperial court ordering an investigation—disaster.
The business would collapse.
No way I'd let that happen.
After all the hell I'd gone through for this!
A thought struck me.
If I'd known in advance, I could've countered effectively.
Merchant groups usually commission the Hao Clan or Beggar Clan for info after incidents.
But that's reactive, for damage control.
You can't gather intel preemptively without an event.
To collect merchant-related info everywhere for prevention, you need your own private intel network. And that intel generates more profit.
But it's not easy. Requires massive funds.
Only the Ten Great Merchant Groups could afford it.
In the future I knew, once Eunhae had financial leeway, they ran their own network. It laid the foundation to become one of the Three Greats.
I desperately wanted that network now.
But we didn't have the spare cash yet.
Once my pockets fatten up more, maybe?
Anyway, the meeting ended with several countermeasures decided.
But without knowing the rumor's damage yet, it wasn't fully resolved.
Three days later,
I learned anew how easily people fall for rumors.
Of the thousand Cho-seon dolls, only 230 had sold.
......
......
I was out in the streets.
More precisely, sitting in Old Man Gwi-myeong's sundries shop, and he clicked his tongue at me.
"Why do you park yourself here every damn day?"
"Well......"
I grinned sheepishly.
"It's comfy here."
"First guy in my life who's ever said my side is comfy."
He grumbled but didn't chase me off.
"So, what's up?"
"Huh?"
"What's with that look? Got troubles?"
I don't usually show emotions on my face. It's from growing up in a merchant family, the training and habits it instilled.
But the old man saw right through me.
His reputation as Old Man Gwi-myeong was well-earned.
"Truth is......"
I explained everything, and he smirked.
"People are suckers for rumors. Got a plan?"
"Not really. This hit out of nowhere; I'm kinda dazed."
"Tsk tsk......"
He clicked his tongue at my words.
"You're a mystery. Sometimes you seem like a battle-hardened merchant, others just a regular kid."
"Hahaha."
Nothing to say to that.
Probably because I'd lived thirty-nine years before dying.
"And right now, to my eyes, you're just a plain fifteen-year-old kid."
I turned to the mirror, checking my reflection.
Fifteen on the outside, thirty-nine who'd eyed the world's top merchant group on the inside.
Something hit me like a smack to the back of the head.
Me, losing my cool over mere sabotage like this!
The shock was bigger because it hadn't happened in my previous life.
Jin-gyeon Merchant Group had sold Ja-mu dolls without interference.
But no business escapes rivals' checks.
Just like Pal-in Pharmacy's early pushback.
Jin-gyeon Chairman must've faced it too. And knowing him, he'd retaliated harshly.
Assassination or raids, maybe......
In this life, since I took the Ja-mu doll business, rivals' tactics adapted to me.
Part of the game, I suppose.
Though this one's pretty vicious.
Means they rate our group's strength highly?
Thanks, I guess.
Then Old Man Gwi-myeong looked at me and grinned.
"Now a battle-hardened merchant sits before me again."
I saluted him.
"Thanks to you, Elder, I've realized something crucial. My gratitude."
"What'd I do? Anyway, same question: got a countermeasure?"
"Yes, Elder."
I grinned back.
"Fight rumor with rumor."
"Yi yi zhi yi?"
"Something like that."
No one would dare attack Ja-mu dolls again.
I stood and headed back to the group. Time to assess and respond.
Then a group of kids caught my eye.
Chattering noisily as they passed, I stopped in my tracks.
"That's it!"
"Huh? What suddenly, young master?"
I smirked at Palgap's question.
"Just had a brilliant idea."
And it was one I'd used in my previous life.
I still didn't know who'd orchestrated this,
but
you're dead meat, you bastard.