YSEM Chapter 20
Recruit the Master Craftsman (3)
by BlossomTLThe Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant GroupI barely managed to suppress the urge to let my blood boil over, and proceeded to be introduced to his family.
There were four members in total.
The father, mother, the boy, and his younger sister.
The man, whose surname was Gong, was named Du-i, while the siblings were called Gong Mil and Gong Nae.
“When my wife was pregnant with our son, she dreamt of a jar full of honey, so we named him Gong Mil[1]. As for our daughter, she picked a handful of wild chrysanthemum flowers, so we named her Gong Nae[2].”
“I see. They’re all lovely names.”
The father of the siblings was a potter by trade.
The Gong family expressed their gratitude to me and my companions, and brought out their cherished tea.
“We shall partake gratefully.”
“Thank you.”
At that moment, I caught sight of the boy, Gong Mil, playing with his sister in the yard.
“Look at this, look!”
“Wow! That’s amazing! Big brother, you’re incredible!”
In the boy’s hands was a toy cart that appeared to be handmade.
However, that cart moved on its own.
I was astonished once more.
‘That… that’s a self-propelled cart?’
Although its shape was rather crude, the basic framework was what I knew.
The self-propelled cart was a toy that had gained immense popularity among wealthy children in the past.
And he had already created it at this point.
Noticing my gaze, Potter Gong remarked, “My son has a knack for crafting such intricate things.”
“To be able to make something like this at such a young age, he truly has extraordinary skill.”
“It’s admirable, but that talent doesn’t translate into money. Seeing him tinkering with those things every day drives me crazy.”
“What do you mean by that?”
At my retort, Potter Gong looked at me, and I spoke emphatically, “It can make money. In fact, I am the son of the Eunhae Merchant Group’s merchant group leader. That’s why I can assure you, if you sell the devices your son creates, you can earn a fortune.”
“I know that too.”
Potter Gong smiled bitterly.
“But it’s the merchant who makes the money, not the craftsman who creates the goods, isn’t that so?”
“…”
At that moment, I was at a loss for words.
“Craftsmen are merely exploited. As they say, the bear performs the tricks, but it’s the ringmaster who earns the money.”
“…”
He wasn’t wrong.
“While working as a potter, I have witnessed many such cases. That’s why I don’t want my son to suffer such exploitation.”
Potter Gong’s eyes were filled with concern for his son.
Knowing that, despite such worries and concerns, Gong Mil would be ruthlessly exploited and eventually die from overwork, my heart felt heavy.
Moreover, if I were to back down now, fate would once again play a cruel trick on Potter Gong’s family.
I didn’t want to regret it again.
After contemplating for a moment, I came up with an idea and spoke, “Then, may I make a proposal?”
“A proposal, you say?”
“Out of the monthly salary you currently receive, what percentage do you think comes from the profit earned by selling the pottery you create?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but it’s definitely less than ten percent.”
“Then, if I were to offer you forty percent of the revenue, would you allow your son to work for our merchant group?”
“Pardon?”
“Of course, we can further allocate the profits based on his contribution later on, but…”
I trailed off and looked at Potter Gong.
His eyes held suspicion, wondering why I would go to such lengths.
I realized that I couldn’t persuade him with mere words.
Judging by their living conditions, they weren’t particularly well-off.
Yet, the fact that they sent their child to school reflected their desire for him not to live a life of exploitation.
That must be why the Hazelnut Oak Merchant Group had resorted to such despicable means to get their hands on Gong Mil.
I felt the need to approach him more sincerely.
However, to have such a conversation, I needed the bodyguards by my side to leave.
“Excuse me, but…”
I addressed the bodyguards, “Could you please go and buy some snacks for the children?”
At my words, they nodded. “Understood.”
They nodded and stepped outside the gate. However, I sensed it through my perception.
Only one of them had actually left.
The other one remained nearby.
He had understood my intention to have them give us some privacy and had left, but their primary duty was to guard me.
Therefore, they were preparing for any potential situation.
Still, at this distance, they wouldn’t be able to overhear our conversation.
“To be honest, I already know of that child’s talent.”
“Pardon?”
“I actually saw the child in a dream. That’s why I was startled earlier. I saw the child I had dreamt of in real life.”
“…”
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
I smiled and continued, “Even if you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do about it. I have no evidence, so I can’t plead with you to believe me. Hahaha.”
“…”
“That’s why I came here to meet that child. But I was in a predicament because I couldn’t find the house where the child lived. I only remembered that it was a house with paulownia trees, so I was wandering around the village, checking each house with paulownia trees one by one.”
I grinned.
“However, it just so happened that the thief I caught had targeted your money pouch, Potter Gong. And you led us to this place.”
“…”
“I believe it’s destiny. Don’t you think so?”
“…”
After a long silence, Potter Gong spoke heavily, “So, what exactly happened in your dream that made you go to such lengths?”
He continued, “I’m aware of Eunhae Merchant Group. It’s a fairly large merchant group that frequently conducts business with the place I work at. For a distinguished young master like you to go to such lengths… I’m curious about what transpired in your dream.”
“…Someone discovered the child’s talent. But it caught the attention of an unscrupulous merchant group.”
Potter Gong looked at me, and I didn’t avoid his gaze.
“That merchant group kidnapped the child’s parents and blackmailed the child. From that moment on, the child’s life became a series of exploitation. Shedding tears of blood, forgoing sleep and meals, the child developed new devices, and eventually…”
I smiled bitterly and continued, “Died from overwork.”
“…!”
“In my dream, the child cried out as if wailing, begging me to save him and his family.”
“…”
“Is this really just a simple dream? No. Seeing that child’s talent, I realized that it was a dream with a high possibility of coming true.”
Although I called it a dream, it was something that had actually happened.
“I may be young, but even I recognized his talent. Do you think others would fail to notice it?”
“…”
“It may sound absurd for someone from a merchant group to say this, but there are quite a few people who would do anything for money.”
“Then, what about the Eunhae Merchant Group you belong to? Is Eunhae Merchant Group also a place that would do anything for money?”
To that question, I answered, “The purpose of a merchant group is money. However, our Eunhae Merchant Group is relatively conscientious. It has been a long-standing principle passed down through generations to value people, and I also share that belief. That’s why I proposed the condition of forty percent of the revenue. I thought I should receive at least that much compensation to avoid being called a thief. Hahaha.”
“Is that truly the only reason?”
“And there’s also the reason that with his talent, we can earn a substantial amount of money.”
I smiled and said, “After all, I’m also a merchant.”
“…”
“Please consider it. I plan to return to Geulpi in a couple of days, and I’d like you to come with me then.”
“I understand. I’ll think about it.”
At that moment, the bodyguards returned.
In their hands were snacks that children would enjoy.
“Here they are.”
“Good work.”
I expressed my gratitude to the bodyguards and brought the snacks to the two children.
“Children, do you like shaved ice and candy?”
“Wow! Shaved ice!”
“And there’s candy too!”
As expected of children. They excitedly held a shaved ice in one hand and candy in the other.
Watching the two children, I smiled.
Seeing them like this, the sense of indebtedness I felt towards the master craftsman I had failed to save back then transformed into a subtle, different emotion.
What that emotion was, I wasn’t quite sure myself.
.
.
.
The sun had set.
Geumseon Market was illuminated by lanterns, creating a spectacular sight.
Leaving Potter Gong’s house, I strolled around Geumseon Market.
Although I had seen it during the day, the market’s appearance under the glow of the lanterns was quite different.
However, I soon turned back.
“Are you returning to the inn now?” Palgap asked.
I shook my head. “No, there’s somewhere I need to go.”
No matter how much I thought about it, something didn’t feel right.
***
In the village next to Geumseon Village, there was a merchant group.
Hazelnut Oak Merchant Group.
It wasn’t a large merchant group, but it had a considerable reputation in Geumseon Market when it came to pottery trade.
In the merchant group leader’s office…
The leader, seated in front of his desk, had an unpleasant expression on his face.
A man was bowing before him.
“I heard you failed.”
“I deeply apologize. It was truly an unfortunate coincidence that a passerby caught him.”
“Unfortunate, you say…”
“Yes, it was because of a water gourd dropped by Eunhae Merchant Group’s third son, who was here for trade…”
“Ha!”
“So, you failed because of that?”
“I apologize. But please don’t worry too much. I’ve instructed them to keep it under wraps, so there’s no chance of our identities being exposed.”
“That’s good, at least.”
The merchant group leader nodded in understanding and tapped on the armrest, asking, “Did you find out why that youngest son of Eunhae Merchant Group came all the way here?”
“Well… We had someone tail him all day, but he just ate and looked around the village.”
“Hmm… Was it simply to gain experience in convoys?”
“That seems likely. He’s just a fifteen-year-old greenhorn, after all.”
“I heard he visited Potter Gong’s house?”
“Potter Gong insisted on serving him tea, saying he couldn’t just let him leave.”
“I see. Anyway, there must be no failure next time.”
“Of course. You can rest assured. I will make sure Potter Gong signs the self-sale contract.”
A self-sale contract.
In other words, it meant a contract selling oneself into slavery.
“He doesn’t deserve any pity, not knowing the favor we’ve done by allowing him to work until now and daring to try and switch to another merchant group. Hahaha.”
***
The day had dawned.
“Are you awake?”
“Yes. I’ll be doing my morning cultivation, so please keep watch.”
“Understood.”
After finishing my morning cultivation, I felt my mind clearing up a bit.
Whenever I practiced the Yin Ice Spirit Technique, which accumulated yin energy within my body, I experienced a refreshing sensation in my head after the morning cultivation.
Perhaps that was why I hardly broke a sweat.
“I’ve brought water for you to wash up.”
“Thank you.”
I washed my face with the water Palgap had brought, put on my clothes, and headed downstairs to the first floor.
I needed to have breakfast.
When I arrived, Master and Squad Leader Jeong-chung were already seated at the dining table, engaged in conversation.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thanks to you, I slept well.”
We exchanged brief morning greetings, and I took a seat at the table. Soon, the merchant group members began to arrive one by one, greeting us and taking their seats.
“What’s the schedule for today?”
In response to my question, Ji Myeong-cheon from the Chamber of Commerce Circulation answered, “We plan to head to the clearing next to Geumseon Market at sasi (09:00-11:00) to trade our goods. We have exchanged letters with the other merchant group to meet there.”
Squad Leader Jeong-chung added, “And we’ll depart early in the morning two days from now. The merchant group leader mentioned he had some business to take care of.”
At his words, the two members from the Chamber of Commerce Circulation nodded.
“I see.”
Beside me, Im Gyeong-bin from the Chamber of Wealth Management said, “Young Master, you can just focus on recording today’s trade as you have learned, without feeling burdened.”
“I might make mistakes, so please keep an eye on me.”
“Don’t worry. I will also review it thoroughly.”
After finishing my meal, I returned to my room.
I gazed out the window, looking at Geumseon Village.
I felt somewhat at a loss, not knowing whether Potter Gong would accept my proposal.
Of course, the child’s own wishes were the most important, but he was still a minor.
Parental permission was necessary for things to proceed.
Shortly after, our group headed to the clearing next to Geumseon Market, carrying silk on our carts.
This clearing was created for large-scale trades.
I had been here a few times before, and it remained unchanged from then to now.
After we arrived and waited for about a quarter of an hour, a group of people arrived from afar, pulling their carts.