The fake Ho Pil incident was more or less resolved, but everything wasn’t over yet.
A matchmaking date with Miss Zhuge. Even if we reached a successful agreement about a contract relationship, a formal meeting was necessary.
When someone came to set a date for the Man Geum Battlefield, we chose the earliest day. Did they expect me to postpone it? The person from the battlefield looked surprised when I took the initiative.
If they knew the reality, they would think they were played.
I am the Black-haired Barbarian. No matter how well I do, I’m just a bookstore owner and novelist. On the other hand, the opponent is a young lady with no thoughts of marriage, the youngest daughter of the prestigious Zhuge family from Hubei Province.
While Man Geum-jeon may think that the contract relationship is progressing well, nothing will happen between us.
“Why are you so dressed up?”
As soon as I left the room, dressed nicely for the meeting with Miss Zhuge, Im Ha-yeon welcomed me with a pout.
Whoa, did you wait right in front of the door?
“It’s better than looking easy.”
In a formal setting, you have to dress up. I believed I could come comfortably, but it was enough to be the odd one out when I was a child.
“…Will you be back soon?”
Im Ha-yeon scanned me from top to bottom, still in her pouty voice.
“I don’t know. It’s my first time at an event like this.”
You should have known better if you had gone on a blind date before.
“…”
“I’m sorry for leaving my duties unattended.”
I manage a tavern. It’s fine for me to step away, but if Im Ha-yeon leaves, it will create significant issues since her workload is enormous.
“…You’re not doing this because you want to, right?”
When I spoke gently, Im Ha-yeon replied in a slightly softer tone. So she wasn’t too pleased about leaving her work behind.
But thinking about it, it’s unavoidable. This is an opportunity.
“While I’m away, please organize the report on the Nine Black Qi Hands, check the inventory of dishes and ingredients, and if you find time, go to Jeon Gil-san’s shop to see if this guy is inflating sales, and contact those Joseon kids I set up…”
“Aren’t you asking for too much while you’re away?”
“Haha! You caught me?”
I touched my forehead and smiled pleasantly.
“Sigh… Just make sure to come back quickly.”
Im Ha-yeon sighed quietly at my smile as if she was helpless. It was just a joke, but would she really do it? I should be grateful.
“Then I’ll be off.”
“Wait a second.”
“Yeah?”
“Look at my face.”
I already saw it. As I showed a bewildered expression, Im Ha-yeon closed the distance and came up to me.
“Why are you suddenly coming closer?”
“Don’t mind it, just look at my face properly.”
But I can’t help but notice.
Ignoring my discomfort, Im Ha-yeon stood on her tiptoes and leaned in closer.
If we were lovers, this would be a distance where a kiss could happen if I tilted my head down. Im Ha-yeon must have realized this too, as she tilted her head slightly to look up at me.
What’s going on? Is there something on my face?
I stared closely at her face. For some reason, her lips looked extra red today. Being this close, I could also smell a pleasant fragrance. Ah ha.
“Did you put on makeup?”
“Hmm…”
I heard a satisfied little hum. Was that the answer?
Is she showing off her makeup skills? She was pretty even without it. I usually try not to think about it, but she really is a breathtakingly beautiful woman, fitting for a martial arts romance.
But why isn’t she stepping back after I guessed correctly?
Im Ha-yeon seemed like she wanted to hear more, looking at me with a strangely expectant gaze.
What was she expecting me to say? As I observed her face, I noticed something unusual that I hadn’t before.
“Im Ha-yeon.”
When I called her in a gentle voice, her eyes flickered slightly.
“….”
“Have you not been sleeping well lately?”
Those dark circles under her eyes are quite noticeable.
“Sigh… It’s all because of you…”
Im Ha-yeon sighed dramatically.
“Really?”
Have I made her work too much?
“That’s enough! If you’ve etched my face in your memory, you can go now.”
Im Ha-yeon grabbed my shoulder from behind and pushed me toward the exit as if that was the end.
What just happened?
——————
“Master Kang Yoon-ho, lunch is served!”
The matchmaking location wasn’t a pavilion with beautiful scenery and clear air or a tower with a wide view of the Yangtze River; it was the mansion of Man Geum-jeon.
The security seems tighter than the last few times I came here. It seems Zhuge Hyang is quite the expert in evasion, so they likely chose the mansion to prevent any mishaps.
By the way, a matchmaking date, huh.
Marriage, engagement, matchmaking… it feels like time is moving backward for Kang Yoon-ho.
“The young lady Zhuge Hyang is still in her room.”
“Should I head to the prepared place?”
“You both need to greet Master Man Geum-jeon first, so I’ll escort you.”
Since this is a matchmaking event rather than a simple blind date, it must be polite to greet the elderly matchmakers.
“Miss! Young lady Hyang!”
As I arrived in front of Zhuge Hyang’s room, I could hear the bustling voices of attendants.
“Young lady?! Are you hiding in a box again?!”
“We’ve removed all the boxes! Why do you like to hide in such a corner?!”
“No! Why are you so quick when using a box? Stop hiding!”
“I’m just embarrassed!”
Moments ago, the voice I had heard couple of days ago rang as the door opened, but instead of a person, a single box burst out.
“Block her!”
“I’ll handle this.”
I said to the guards trying to contain the chaos and approached the disoriented box.
“Make way.”
“Miss Zhuge.”
When I called her, the box suddenly froze.
“Huh? Is that your voice?”
“Let’s go see Master Man Geum-jeon together.”
Why is she trying to escape even though we agreed on a contract relationship?
“Uh, I… I rode it down that day.”
Was she embarrassed because of the tumble?
Seems like Zhuge Hyang becomes shameless during events but feels embarrassed afterward, as if kicking herself under the blanket at home.
If that’s the case, that’s understandable.
“I’m a merchant, not a martial artist. If I think about it, it was nice to see a genuine side of the young lady.”
A positive mindset should resolve it.
“I thought it was embarrassing!”
“Not at all! So, can you open the box?”
“….”
When there was no answer, Zhuge Hyang cautiously approached the box from within and opened it.
“Wow.”
I involuntarily gasped in admiration.
Inside the box was a gift that couldn’t have been packed more perfectly. A girl with a slightly sad face carefully looked up at me, almost like a small animal waiting for its owner’s touch.
Dressed elaborately with makeup impeccably done, she looked stunning. I had thought about how pretty she was when I saw Im Ha-yeon before we left, but it turns out a beauty shines even brighter when she dresses up.
“Haha. You’re almost unrecognizable.”
“Ah! Is that so? No, I, um, ah!”
Zhuge Hyang looked flustered after seeing my reaction and leapt on top of the box like a pirate captain whose toy sword had been struck down.
With the momentum of a wooden box bouncing on a knife like a sea captain’s toy; it was prodigious.
Following that, she performed three graceful mid-air spins before landing.
“Ohhhh!”
Impressive! I clapped without realizing it.
“Ahhh…”
Zhuge Hyang, shy from my applause, scratched her head and smiled.
“Well, let’s go see Master Man Geum-jeon.”
The guards cleared their throats awkwardly before leading us.
————–
Following them, we entered the chamber where Man Geum-jeon resided.
“Father!!!”
What’s going on?
As we entered where Man Geum-jeon was, I noticed a very angry-looking Man Geum-jeon and Im Ha-yeon’s mother kneeling in the garden. Man Geum-jeon’s daughter stood there.
“How could you voice out your father’s name?! Ah! You’re here!”
“Sir, this is…”
Why is that woman here?
“You two! This is the humiliation you’ve caused me that day!”
Does she forget all about her remarks on the barbarians? Well, if she had thought about her own faults, she wouldn’t have plotted this with her son.
“You girls should be bashing your heads in to apologize and yet you’re blaming me!”
Man Geum-jeon unleashed his fury upon his daughter, as if he had found the right day to express his displeasure.
“Father! It’s a misunderstanding!”
“A misunderstanding? That Im Ha-yeon kid doesn’t even come when summoned because of this incident!”
“It’s not unusual for someone who drinks to not come home for days. After all, it happened last week. He’ll crawl back in at some point.”
“I tested him to do business, and he ends up drinking?!”
Man Geum-jeon seemed to be losing his marbles, as he tugged at his hair and let out a deep sigh.
“No! That’s not it, Father. That’s not it!”
This was getting more intense.
Man Geum-jeon severely reprimanded them for the Tang Family’s incident, while Im Ha-yeon’s mother kept mumbling incoherently about excuses, further igniting Man Geum-jeon’s anger.
“Today is the end of the test I administered to your son. Hand over the voucher and get out!”
“That’s impossible! …Alright! I did use Hyang a bit to my advantage. I admit that I should apologize for that. But it’s not like it’s that black-haired barbarian’s fault. Things like this happen in business frequently, don’t they?”
“I asked your son to run a business! Did I ask him to show his colluding abilities?!”
“Urgh! Well, isn’t it a crime to sell books in Wuhan and not in Yichang? Well, it’s under your control but in other cities, it’s already sold under the radar. Even you, the Tea Bookstore is ours now!”
“I haven’t confiscated the Tea Bookstore yet! Even if that’s true, how is that yours?! Do you think you can still claim to be my son after decades of marriage?”
“Father.”
“I don’t want to hear it! I understand why you keep asking for help after your husband passed away! I’m cutting off all support to you! Your son’s test ends today!”
“Father! Father!!!”
Man Geum-jeon turned away without watching as Im Ha-yeon’s mother was dragged out. His face clearly displayed anger and disappointment.
——————
“I can’t believe I witnessed that.”
“Once again, greetings, elder.”
I politely bowed to the elder once more.
Witnessing something ridiculous was an understatement. They intentionally brought me here to show me this. It was important for Zhuge Hyang to see this clearly so that there wouldn’t be major issues upon returning home.
Thanks to this, it was quite enjoyable to see them get a good scolding.
“You both have been through a lot.”
“It truly was to the point of losing sleep.”
I replied a bit curtly to Man Geum-jeon.
“Hmm.”
Man Geum-jeon stared intensely at me. So what? I came here to resolve this incident and to attend the matchmaking.
Isn’t this enough expression of anger?
“Ah, um, I…”
Man Geum-jeon seemed to know the personality of his granddaughter and nodded a couple of times with concern before he finally spoke up.
“Since today is meant for the young ones to enjoy their time together, I’ll get to the point. Your granddaughter’s matter concerning the Man Geum Library. They purchased a seemingly impressive building on the main street attempting to mimic the Tea Bookstore.”
I’ve seen it. It was a nice bookstore located in a good area.
Of course, it seemed they struggled to fill it entirely under the current contract, as it was essentially just a bookstore selling the “Rise of the Tang Family.”
Man Geum-jeon suddenly looked at me closely while he was talking.
Why is he looking at me?
Come to think of it, why bring up the bookstore now? Oh? Could it be?
‘If Heo Song fails the test, what happens to that bookstore?’
No way. Is he going to offer me the bookstore as compensation for this incident?
Impersonation incident, along with the illegal selling of the Tang Family’s work. Did Master Man Geum-jeon forget about his friendship with Baekga and decide to apologize by giving me a bookstore in Wuhan?
Could I set up a second Tea Bookstore branch now?
“I’ll return the bookstore……. Hyang, I’ll give it to you.”
That was just a dream.
“M-me?”
“I’ll also say sorry to your aunt and make sure to decorate the bookstore nicely. Consider it my belated New Year’s gift.”
Suddenly, I wanted to be his grandson.
Some people are risking their lives just to keep a single bookstore, while others receive it as a gift.
“And Master Kang Yoon-ho… Hmm. You seem a bit disappointed.”
I didn’t show any signs, did I?
Man Geum-jeon laughed, seemingly aware of my thoughts, stroking his beard.
“I’m just curious about how you’re going to respond to what my granddaughter’s done.”
I’m not expecting anything.
While there was a flicker of excitement, this world has no copyrights. Still, Man Geum-jeon’s kindness lies in not allowing the illegal sales of the Tang Family’s work in Wuhan.
The impersonation incident may be significant, but he wouldn’t just give away a building like that. That’s something even the richest wouldn’t dare do.
If he said he’d give me something, he would bring up the Tea Bookstore or possibly offer me more money to expand my business.
“As a father and a grandfather, I have no intention of ignoring this matter. As a form of compensation for you… how about the management rights?”
“Excuse me?”
“The management rights to the bookstore. Will you run the Tea Bookstore with my granddaughter in Wuhan?”
