Chapter 276

Meeting - Part 2 "The money entrusted isn't as much as I expected." As An Suk Soo said, there were some who had deposited a sizable sum, but most of the money was small amounts set aside for emergencies. "You know the circumstances of the Joseon people in Muhyeon. That money is for when they need to see a doctor because they're sick, for their mother's 60th birthday party, or for holiday ceremonies." No matter how frugally one lives, there always comes a time in life when money is essential. What I was looking at was the lifeline of the Joseon people in Muhyeon. "Do you remember all the personal information of the Joseon people listed in the ledger?" "Roughly? And even if I don't, I can ask around and find out." "Then it's worth trying..." My plan seemed feasible. "You're not planning to use that money, are you? If you do it without permission, the backlash will be severe. It might not seem like much to you, but it could lead to violence!" An Suk Soo was startled and spoke to me with alarm. "I've survived a week on just a piece of bread. Don't doubt that I know the value of that money." I would often contemplate whether to eat today and starve tomorrow, or starve today and have a meal tomorrow while handling the hard-earned money. "Then why are you doing this?" "There are things I want to attempt for the future of our hometown association. Would it be alright to borrow the ledger for a moment?" "Go ahead. I need to get back to the kitchen; I'm swamped with orders." I took the ledger and headed back to my office. ------ "You're not planning to invest the money listed in the ledger, are you?" Im Ha Yeon asked me skeptically as she gazed intently at the ledger. "No. The exam only allows us to operate with the receipts and the money made from business. I am well aware that I shouldn't accept investments." Without such restrictions, the heirs taking the test would have squandered their parents' money, and I too would have used the money I earned at Daseok-ori. "You can treat yourself to something nice with windfall money, but you can't invest it in a business. What are you planning to do?" Im Ha Yeon's concern was legitimate. "Expanding a business doesn't always require investment." If the method I thought of worked, I could overcome the financial crisis. "Are you planning to do some money-lending?" Lending at high interest rates to Joseon people? If I did that, I'd be called a loan shark rather than a chairman. "Haha. Of course not. By the way, An Suk Soo's ledger is too disorganized. Whether we can proceed with the plan or not depends on tidying it up. Can you help me organize it neatly?" I handed the ledger to Im Ha Yeon with a sly smile. "You know, you've been subtly passing all sorts of chores on to me lately, don't you?" Im Ha Yeon pouted slightly in displeasure. It was true, so I felt even more guilty. "Well, it might turn out to be unnecessary, so this time I'll... Oh?!" Im Ha Yeon snatched the ledger gracefully, then flashed a beautiful smile that left me at a loss for words. "Give it to me. If it's something you need, I'll do it." ------ "Indeed... If done as you say, it seems possible." After going over the tidy ledger compiled by Im Ha Yeon, I explained my plan to her. "I think so too." The neatly organized ledger contained a list of people to potentially carry out my plan. "But won't Mankum Jeonju pick a fight over this?" He's the same old man who nitpicked even the budget handling of Kiosu-ku. You never know where he might cause trouble, like a sergeant whose leave got canceled. But this time, it's different. "Pick a fight? He won't. I'm using a method approved by Mankum Jeonju." Even the formidable Mankum Jeonju would have no choice but to nod in agreement with my plan this time. "Listening to you makes it seem plausible, but..." Im Ha Yeon looked at me with a worried expression. "Hahaha. Don't worry. The business is already going well. Even if he does nitpick, it will only be to say that I should marry, not just get engaged." I threw out a joke with a light-hearted laugh, confident that there wouldn't be any issues. "What, what did you say?" Why is she glaring so fiercely? "Ahem... If you're so worried, I'll send a letter to Mankum Jeonju." I coughed awkwardly and picked up the brush. "Make sure to let me review it before you send it. Promise." I understand. With Im Ha Yeon scrutinizing the letter beside me to prevent myself from becoming Mankum Jeonju’s grandson-in-law, I meticulously drafted the business plan and sent it to Mankum Jeonju. ********* At Mankum Jeonju's residence. "Have you still not found the culprit?" Mankum Jeonju asked Chongwan while looking at the fish playing in the pond with his hands behind his back. "We have mobilized both officials and martial artists to capture the criminal, but they are still at large." A week had passed since Ho Song was found dead. Despite Mankum Jeonju's extensive efforts to identify the murderer, not a trace had been found. "What about my grandchildren?" "Although the officers conducted a thorough investigation, they could find no evidence of guilt." "What do you think, Chongwan?" "The grandchildren..." Ho Song's body was found in a pleasure district. Despite the heavy foot traffic in the area, no one saw the murder or the body being moved. It's more likely to be a well-planned crime than an impulsive killing. If it was a planned murder, who would have killed Ho Song? Who in Muhyeon would dare risk provoking Mankum Jeonju's wrath to kill his grandson? Chongwan was at a loss for words in the face of Mankum Jeonju’s predicament. "...I didn't build the Mankum empire my whole life just to see my own bloodshed." He thought he had amassed enough to generously share with his children. Who dared to incite such fratricidal conflict? Is this the result of losing his only son? Mankum Jeonju suddenly felt like he had aged in an instant. "Surely they wouldn’t have done such a thing." "I want to believe in those kids, but..." Mankum Jeonju's voice was full of distrust. "Rather than continue the examination, how about discussing the succession issue with Kang Gongja?" Chongwan knew better than anyone where Mankum Jeonju's sentiments leaned. It might be better to cancel the test altogether and solidify the succession. If you still desire the test, then select a few outstanding grandsons to compete again. "If anyone other than you and I becomes aware of this, can you guarantee that the same thing won't happen again?" Ho Song's death might be the first, but it might not be the last. Mankum Jeonju looked down at Chongwan with a chilling gaze. "I haven't thought this through. Forgive me." Chongwan bowed his head in apology. "If I intended to apologize to Baekga in the afterlife, I'd do it as much as needed. I'd even take beatings if necessary. But I don't want to become enemies. Find the culprit swiftly. That is the priority." "Yes, I will do my utmost. Also, a letter has arrived for Kang Gongja." "Bring it here." Mankum Jeonju took the letter from Kang Yunho and read it. "Ho ho ho, who knew Kang Yunho had such a knack for money! Chongwan, take a look at this." Mankum Jeonju handed it over to Chongwan with the pride of announcing a son-in-law's name on a register of successful candidates. "This...!" Chongwan's eyes widened as he read Kang Yunho's letter. "One would think he’d be content and take a breather after passing the first test, but he keeps moving tirelessly." Kang Yunho hadn't stopped since the words of Simun Hangju, though Mankum Jeonju knew nothing about it. "He reminds me more and more of you, Jeonju, in your younger days." "Ho ho ho. Who knew he'd come up with such an amusing scheme once restrictions on money were imposed." "He’s walking a tightrope, carefully ensuring he stays within your set limits. What shall I relay to him?" "Since he passed the first test, he ought to be rewarded. Tell him I approve." Mankum Jeonju nodded with a satisfied smile. "I will send word promptly." Mankum Jeonju watched Chongwan leave after bowing once more and then turned back towards the pond in the garden. There is a predator within the pond he doesn't recognize. It’s too early to release the golden carp, painstakingly acquired from the outside, into the carefully maintained pond. "While those other grandchildren are clamoring for more receipts, this boy comes up with something far beyond that." Days filled with endless worries and troubles. Mankum Jeonju chuckled quietly to himself, wondering if the golden carp would one day become the dragon he wished it to be. ************ "As expected, Mankum Jeonju also approved." "Haah... what a relief." Im Ha Yeon exhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling dramatically, as I read the letter sent from Mankum Jeonju. No matter what, she seemed like someone who would rank among the top three of all the women I had ever met. "Now, let's prepare to welcome our guests." With all the preliminary adjustments made, it was now time to put the plan into action. --------------- "So, everyone is here. I thought at least one or two might not show up." In the guesthouse I operate, I had invited those who had a considerable sum saved according to the ledger. "Who could refuse an invitation like this?" "Indeed, Chairman!" "Please enjoy the food before it gets cold." "Thanks for the meal!" When people are full, their hearts are more generous. Once I confirmed they had finished their meals, I ascended a prepared podium. "I’m sure many of you are curious about the reason I invited you here today." Strengthening my voice from the start with a resonance technique to draw everyone’s attention at once. As my voice resonated, everyone in the guesthouse focused on me. "I understand we are the more well-off people among the hometown association's members!" A perceptive Joseonin responded with a hearty laugh, and I nodded in agreement, then scanned the room with a serious demeanor before speaking again. “You all have probably heard about the business I'm running." "The food delivery business? I’ve used it a few times myself." “It's really convenient!” "I've gathered you here to offer you an opportunity to participate in that business." I went straight to the point. “……” The incredulous expressions were followed by a moment of silence within the guesthouse. "Are you seeking permission to use the money listed in An Suk Soo’s ledger?" The perceptive man raised his hand again and asked. "No, it’s not that. I didn't gather you here to get your permission for that." I don't intend to seek your permission. From now on, it's you who will need permission. “Are you hoping for investments? Investments where you share some stake?” “I didn’t bring you here to make myself richer. I gathered you here to make all of you better off." “I still don’t understand.” “To be more specific, I invited you to give you the opportunity to establish branches of my business.” You will join my franchise business. That’s the reason I’ve gathered you. “You mean you're suggesting that we run the food delivery business ourselves? I'm sorry, but none of us sitting here have the money to buy such guesthouse buildings.” “Exactly!” “We know your business is doing well, Chairman, but for us, supporting the jobs you provide is the limit!” They were right. The people I had gathered had saved a considerable sum. However, this money was meant for emergencies, it was not enough to buy an expensive building in Muhyeon. Is the chairman crazy? What nonsensical talk is this? I could read their thoughts from their expressions. That’s fine. Their resistance means their thoughts are focused on the topic I presented. Now was the time to throw them the most tempting bait. “What if I told you that everyone here could buy a guesthouse building?” “……” This time, the silence was not out of incredulity but out of astonishment. "How, how is that possible?" "It is possible with my help." I broadcast confidence through my expressions and words, making it seem as if grasping my hand would make them the owners of a building. "Help? Are you suggesting you'd buy us buildings?" "I have no such intention." If I had that much money, would I have gathered you all here? I shook my head firmly. "Then what..." "What do you mean by having us participate in your business?" Their doubts began to swell. It was time to pitch the first solution of the day. "We Joseon people have a tradition that isn't seen among the Zhongyuan people." "A tradition?" "What could that be?" To fill our bellies. To grow the Joseon Hometown Association in Muhyeon. A method that aligns with Mankum Jeonju’s conditions. And a way to continuously expand my business. "A kye meeting." "Pardon?" "A kye meeting. I, Kang Yunho, as the chairman, will serve as the leader of a branch kye meeting."