Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: A Deal Struck
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A whopping four thousand nyang in silver—an investment proposal.
Disbelief clouded Chu Yong-wol's face.
"Four thousand nyang in silver..."
Chu Yong-wol picked up her teacup and took a sip.
"The tea is truly excellent, Young Master."
Yang-hui chuckled softly as he watched her.
The sudden mention of the tea's taste.
Judging by the quality of the tea served to a guest, she was subtly implying that the Baek Clan Manor didn't seem to have ample finances.
'Well, the Baek Clan Manor does look pretty rundown on the surface.'
It was a vast estate passed down from their ancestors, but with no funds for maintenance, everything beyond the minimal living spaces had been left to neglect.
Some buildings even looked like abandoned ruins from the outside.
But.
"Here's the advance payment first."
Yang-hui pulled a box filled with gold coins from under the couch and set it down.
"Two thousand nyang in silver."
"......"
As Chu Yong-wol silently recoiled in shock at the sight of a child casually producing such a fortune,
Yang-hui continued.
"In any case, from here on, we should discuss this with the clan head."
He called a servant to summon Baek Mu-ryang. But when Baek Mu-ryang arrived shortly after, he wasn't alone.
"Hui, may this mother listen in as well?"
"Of course. In fact, it's what I hoped for."
Jeong In-hwa was the only daughter of a renowned retired scholar in the area.
She might not know martial arts, but when it came to literature, she had the sharpest insight in the Baek Clan Manor.
"Father, what do you think about investing our spare funds of four thousand nyang in Chu Yong-wol's Baek Book Merchant Group?"
"Hm. Four thousand nyang, you say?"
"Yes."
"I've been wondering where to put it..."
It was money plundered from the Blue Serpent Gang's secret stash. Considering the Blue Serpent Gang's watchful eyes, using the funds within Blackeye County could cause problems.
In times like these, the best option was to send the money far away for investment.
And if possible, to a promising venture.
In that regard, Namchang's Baek Book Merchant Group was the perfect fit.
"Hm. What do you think, dear wife?"
"Having read Hui's writing, I believe it's more than worthy of investment."
"I see. Still, for a matter like this, the opinion of someone with business acumen carries more weight. What say you, Miss Chu?"
"I too believe Young Master Hui's work will elevate our Baek Book Merchant Group to new heights."
"Is that so? Then we'll invest."
"Pardon?"
Embarrassment flickered across Chu Yong-wol's face.
"We're grateful for your trust, but..."
"What's wrong, Miss Chu?"
"Even as an investment, entrusting such a large sum to a stranger isn't something to decide lightly..."
Chu Yong-wol hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"It's a bit awkward to say this with the young master present, but isn't this ultimately a child's decision?"
It was true that four thousand nyang in silver was far too much to risk on a single word from a young boy.
But.
Baek Mu-ryang and Jeong In-hwa replied in unison.
"It's Hui who made this happen, after all."
"We can trust his decisions."
The couple, perfectly in sync, spoke the same words at once and exchanged smiles.
Watching them, Yang-hui wore a pleased expression.
'The fruits of consistently proving myself trustworthy over the past month.'
And indeed, Yang-hui had built a considerable position within the Baek Clan over that time.
How could he not? On his very first day, he'd sent the Crimson Gang packing with nothing but his three-inch tongue.
That alone was astonishing for an eight-year-old, but on the second day, he'd raided the Blue Serpent Gang's secret stash and brought back a fortune of five thousand nyang.
On top of that, he'd mastered the Baek Clan's true martial arts—the Heaven-Covering Sword and Principle Harmony Six Unions Art—on day one, albeit shallowly.
Before long, a belief had taken root in the Baek Clan Manor: whatever Great Young Master Baek Yang-hui did, it was worth watching and waiting on.
"Hui, your father trusts your judgment. If you're certain, feel free to invest the full amount. However... we agreed on four parts of the profits for the literary side, correct?"
"Yes."
Baek Mu-ryang fixed Chu Yong-wol with a steady gaze.
His father's smile faded, replaced by the dignity of the clan head.
"Miss Chu, my wife is the daughter of a famed scholar. She knows well how much authors typically receive when publishing ordinary books."
In an instant, Chu Yong-wol spotted a chance for extra gain and bowed with a smile.
"Usually one part. Please consider it our Baek Book Merchant Group's praise and admiration for Young Master Hui's talent. We'll draw up the contract for four parts, then."
Baek Mu-ryang cut her off sharply.
"Mm, no, that's not right. Even annotated copies only fetch one part, yet you offer four. Hmm."
In that moment, Chu Yong-wol realized Baek Mu-ryang wasn't mentioning four parts out of gratitude.
But it was already too late.
"One part for the author. Three parts for the basic costs of producing the book. And six parts for the merchant who covers production and handles sales. That's the standard split, as I understand it. Am I wrong anywhere, my dear?"
Jeong In-hwa smiled faintly.
"You have it exactly right, dear."
"So Miss Chu takes six parts—acknowledging talent while pocketing the same profit as usual."
Scholars and students rarely concerned themselves with fine financial details, nor did they care to.
Chu Yong-wol hadn't expected the scholar's daughter to know profit ratios down to the last detail, and she felt flustered.
'And it's not even true!'
"Clan Head, what you mentioned isn't profit—it's costs that—"
Once again, Baek Mu-ryang interrupted her.
"Costs. Yes, costs. And we're even investing four thousand nyang to cover the production expenses. Yet still only four parts. Hmm, four parts..."
Only then did Chu Yong-wol grasp Baek Mu-ryang's intent.
"...I apologize to the Baek Clan Head. You've shown such generosity with this substantial investment, yet as a merchant's daughter, I failed to show proper integrity."
If they were bearing both the investment costs and risks, the profit split naturally needed adjustment.
Chu Yong-wol had tried to phrase it as benevolence to lock in four parts, but Baek Mu-ryang had seen through it and called her out.
"I understand. The merchant's way is to pursue profit, after all."
Baek Mu-ryang smiled faintly. Chu Yong-wol bowed in propriety.
"Thank you for your understanding."
"Then, what adjusted split shall we settle on? You tell me, Miss Chu."
"......"
Chu Yong-wol swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she spoke.
"Five parts—no, six parts."
"Seven parts."
"......"
"Even eight parts, and any merchant acquaintance of mine wouldn't refuse."
Baek Mu-ryang subtly hinted at his connections in the merchant world.
Chu Yong-wol had no choice.
Four thousand nyang in silver. It more than covered her initial expected outlays.
In other words, the Baek Book Merchant Group could undertake this new venture without any risk.
"Thank you for your mercy. Seven parts it is."
"Good. Let's draw up the contract, Miss Chu."
Yang-hui gazed at Baek Mu-ryang with an expression full of admiration.
'Father is father, after all.'
He'd already been considering the investment and the resulting profit adjustment.
But he lacked the confidence to extract seven parts while showing such consideration and magnanimity.
Yang-hui simply wasn't that type.
'If Father had been there from the start, we might have gained even more.'
* * *
After Chu Yong-wol departed following the contract signing,
Baek Mu-ryang called Yang-hui aside.
"Yang-hui, care for a cup of tea?"
"I'd be honored."
Baek Mu-ryang summoned a maid to bring tea.
Soon after, father and son sat side by side, sipping tea.
"Tea embodies the beauty of patience. Drink it hastily, and you might scald your palate."
"I'll engrave your teaching in my heart and always be mindful."
Yang-hui bowed his head, grasping the underlying meaning.
But seeing this, Baek Mu-ryang let out a soft sigh.
"...Hui."
"Yes, Father."
"I took you in as a son, seeing our bond as fate. Yet you've already accomplished things even I couldn't dream of. Do you know? Forging ties between our clan and a merchant group is one of my deepest wishes."
He knew. His father had always wanted a stable revenue stream for the clan.
Perhaps his adept handling of Chu Yong-wol came from mentally rehearsing this scenario countless times.
"I'll make sure this contract with the Baek Book Merchant Group brings prosperity to our clan."
"Yes, I believe you will. It's only been a month since we became father and son, yet you've earned my trust in such an uncanny way. But."
Baek Mu-ryang organized his thoughts over his tea before continuing.
"Hui, you are a once-in-a-millennium prodigy, a genius. A mere mortal like me, advanced in years, thinks differently from you in many ways. But elders have their role. I see impatience in you."
"......"
Yang-hui fell silent. Baek Mu-ryang had struck the nail on the head.
'Was it that obvious?'
Indeed, Yang-hui was rushing.
Everyone who'd seen his feats so far naturally viewed him as a monstrous talent in martial prowess, literature, and business.
He hurried because his ambitions soared high.
'The world's greatest clan. Even rewinding thirty years, it's a goal that might take a lifetime to half-achieve.'
Moreover... as the Baek Clan grew, the Namgung Clan would become a threat.
In short, to lay all the foundations and eliminate obstacles before his life ended, he had to hurry.
"There's a saying: 'the trend of the times.' Hui, you seem to think becoming my son is like mounting a tiger's back."
"That's not it, Father. I've never once seen becoming part of the Baek Clan as an opportunity."
"I know. But I must ask: with your talents, you could shine anywhere, anytime. Why did you live as a beggar?"
It was true. Even setting aside the miracle of turning back time, Yang-hui had recognized his own genius around this age in his previous life.
Yet he'd continued as a beggar because.
"I had no reason to live."
But in his past life, to a beggar boy who merely existed because he'd been born, his father— the Baek Clan—
had given him a reason to live.
Had made him want to live.
"They say the greatest grace is the grace of life saved. Father, you bestowed that upon me."
"So you're striving to repay that grace?"
"Yes."
"Then in your view, father and son is a relationship where grace received must be repaid in full."
"That's..."
For the first time since regressing, Yang-hui found himself at a loss for words.
"Baek Yang-hui, this is a father's first admonition to his brilliant son: always keep the principles of self-cultivation and family harmony in mind."
"......"
Yang-hui reflected quietly, replaying the conversation.
His father had begun with praise for his talent, pointed out his impatience, and ended by emphasizing the Great Learning's path: self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the state, pacifying the world.
The flow reassembled in his mind.
'Right. My goal of making us the world's greatest clan...'
He'd seen it as his father's dream and the path to greater happiness for his loved ones.
He'd viewed the Baek Clan as his home, Baek Mu-ryang as father, Jeong In-hwa as mother, Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon as siblings.
In other words, if his family didn't see him as family.
If he neglected the fundamentals, the goal itself lost meaning.
'Truly, Father is Father. Even though I surpassed his age in my past life, he's still teaching me.'
Even water hastily gulped could choke you.
The mind of a late-thirties super peak master dwelled within, but the body was a child's, and this was his youth—a chance to correct past regrets.
Swift, but not impatient.
Yes, as the clan taught: cover firmly, advance swiftly and steadfastly.
"I'll engrave your words in my heart and never forget. Thank you for your guidance."
"Good. See that you do."
Baek Mu-ryang felt satisfied.
Though his son seemed to have gained an insight far from what he'd intended, it didn't matter.
What counted was that they saw each other as father and son.
And.
The very next day, a certain man arrived at the Baek Clan Manor—someone who cherished family in his own way, differently from Yang-hui or Baek Mu-ryang.
"Little brother, didn't we still have unfinished business? It's been over a month with no word, so I came myself."