“The money we’ve entrusted isn’t as much as I thought.”
Sure, as Innkeeper Ahn said, some saved a significant amount, but most were just pocket change.
“You know well about the situation of the Joseon people in Wuhan. It’s for emergencies like needing a doctor when sick, celebrating my mother’s sixtieth birthday, or preparing the ancestral rites during holidays.”
No matter how little one has, there inevitably comes a moment in life when money is needed. What I was looking at was a lifeline for the Joseon people in Wuhan.
“Do you remember all the personal details of the Joseon people written in the ledger?”
“Mostly? Even if I don’t recall some details, asking around will get you answers.”
“Then it might be worth trying…”
It was indeed worth executing the plan I had.
“You don’t mean you’re planning to manage that money? If you do it without permission, there’ll be significant backlash. To you, it might seem like little, but it could lead to bloodshed!”
Innkeeper Ahn spoke up, clearly alarmed.
“I’ve lived on just a piece of bread for a week. Do you think I don’t know that?”
I had often found myself contemplating whether to starve today to eat tomorrow or vice versa while handling the hard-earned money.
“Then why are you doing this?”
“For the future of the Gye Mohim, I have something I want to try. Could I borrow the ledger for a moment?”
“Go ahead. I have orders piling up, so I’ll head back to the kitchen.”
I took the ledger and made my way back to my office.
——
“You can’t possibly be thinking of using the money written in the ledger to seek investments, can you?”
Im Ha-yeon asked with suspicion, gazing keenly at the ledger.
“The test content will only operate on the revenues generated from receipts and business. I assure you I won’t take investments.”
Normally, without restrictions, the heirs vying for the position would have burned through their parents’ money carelessly, and I would have dipped into the funds from the Tea Bookstore.
“While you can buy something delicious with money that falls from the sky, you can’t inject that into today’s business, right? What do you plan to do?”
Im Ha-yeon’s concerns were valid.
“There’s not just the one way to get investments for expanding the business.”
If my method works, we could overcome the funding issue.
“Are you trying to play with money, perhaps?”
Loan sharking against Joseon people? That would turn me from a club leader to a loan shark.
“Haha, as if! By the way, Innkeeper Ahn’s ledger is a mess. It needs organization before we can decide whether to execute the plan; can you help tidy it up?”
With a mischievous grin, I offered the ledger to Im Ha-yeon.
“Do you think I’ve taken on all these miscellaneous tasks for you lately?”
Im Ha-yeon pouted as if somewhat dissatisfied. It hit me more because it was true.
“Then seeing as it could lead to unnecessary trouble, this time, I’ll… huh?!”
Im Ha-yeon playfully snatched the ledger from me, flashing a lovely smile that left me dumbfounded.
“Give it here. If you need help, I’ll definitely assist.”
——
“Indeed… it seems like your words could work.”
After going through the tidied ledger that Im Ha-yeon handed back, I explained my plan to her.
“I think so too.”
The neatly arranged ledger contained a list of people to try executing my plan.
“But won’t Man Geum-jeon raise objections?”
This old man is likely to nitpick everything, even the budget for Nine Black Qi Hands. Who knows where he’ll throw a fit next?
But this was different.
“Objection? He can’t. We’re using a method approved by Man Geum-jeon.”
My plan is something even the great Man Geum-jeon will have to nod at.
“Hearing you makes sense, but…”
Im Ha-yeon looked at me with a worried expression.
“Hahaha, it’s all right. The business is already going well. If he raises objections, it’s just someone telling me to get married instead of being set up for a blind date.”
There’s no way there’ll be any objections, so I lightly joked.
“Wha-what did you say?”
Why is she glaring at me so ominously?
“Ahem… If you’re really worried, I’ll send a letter to Man Geum-jeon.”
I awkwardly cleared my throat and lifted the brush.
“Have him get my approval before sending it out. It’s crucial. Most definitely.”
Understood.
With fire in my eyes, I had Im Ha-yeon proofread the letter content beside me while I diligently prepared a thorough business plan to send over to the Man Geum Battlefield.
*
Man Geum-jeon’s mansion.
“Have they still not found the culprit?”
Man Geum-jeon asked the Head of Guards while gazing at the pond in the garden, where fish were frolicking.
“We’ve mobilized the authorities and martial artists to track down the culprit, but it remains a total mystery.”
It had already been a week since Heo Song’s body was found. The Man Geum Battlefield was putting in efforts from various angles to identify the suspect, but not even a trace of them existed.
“What about my grandchildren?”
“The constables have been investigating zealously but reportedly found no evidence of suspicion.”
“What are the Head’s thoughts on this?”
“Regarding my grandchildren…”
Heo Song’s body was found in an entertainment district. Despite it being a high-footfall area, no one had seen the murder take place or witnessed the body being moved.
It seemed more centralized around a premeditated murder than an accidental one, piling on further suspicion.
If it was premeditated, who could have wanted to kill Heo Song?
Who would risk incurring Man Geum-jeon’s wrath by killing a grandchild of his?
The Head of Guards held his tongue in front of Man Geum-jeon, grappling with the grim situation.
“I didn’t build the Man Geum legacy to see my blood turn against each other.”
He thought he had amassed enough wealth to freely divide among his offspring. Who dared to incite fratricide?
Was this the result of losing his only son? Man Geum-jeon felt as if he had aged suddenly right then.
“Could they truly commit such an act?”
“I wish to believe in those children, but…”
Doubt was thick in Man Geum-jeon’s voice.
“Perhaps it might be wise to halt the tests and consult Master Kang regarding the successor issue?”
The Head of Guards knew better than anyone where the scales of Man Geum-jeon’s heart were tipping.
It would be wiser to disregard the tests and firm up the successor. If a test was truly desired, they could select only a few standout grandchildren for another round of competition.
“If anyone besides us found out about this, can you assure me it won’t happen again?”
Heo Song’s death wasn’t the first, nor may it be the last. Man Geum-jeon looked down at the Head of Guards with a chilling gaze.
“I underestimated the situation. Forgive me.”
The Head lowered his head in apology.
“I can offer as many apologies as needed to the dead in the afterlife. I’m willing to take any hits in the afterlife. However, I don’t wish to make enemies. Make finding the culprit your priority.”
“Of course, I will do my utmost. Also, a letter has arrived from Master Kang.”
“Bring it to me.”
Man Geum-jeon pulled out the letter from Kang Yoon-ho and began to read.
Hehe. “So, Kang Yoon-ho has a knack for money! Look at this, Head!”
Man Geum-jeon handed it over to the Head as if he were proudly presenting a list of successful candidates from the gaming exam with his son-in-law’s name on it.
“What is this?!”
The Head couldn’t help but widen his eyes upon reading Kang Yoon-ho’s letter.
“If he passed the test, he should be satisfied and catch his breath, but he’s tirelessly moving about.”
Kang Yoon-ho wasn’t resting at all after Si-mun Hyang-ju’s words, but Man Geum-jeon couldn’t have known that.
“He reminds me of you when you were younger, the more I look.”
Hehe. “When you set restrictions on money, I didn’t expect he’d come up with such amusing ideas.”
“He’s walking a thin line on your terms. How should we convey our response?”
“Since he passed the first test, there should be a reward for him. Convey that he has my approval.”
Man Geum-jeon nodded with a satisfied expression.
“I’ll hasten to send someone.”
After watching the Head of Guards bow once more and leave, Man Geum-jeon turned back toward the pond in the garden.
Unbeknownst to him, a predator lay in the waters of the freshly tended pond.
It wasn’t yet time to release the golden koi he had painstakingly caught from outside into the garden’s pond.
“My grandchildren ask for another receipt, while this one brings something more remarkable than just receipts.”
Worries and troubles continued to descend upon him day after day.
Man Geum-jeon smiled faintly, imagining whether the golden koi would grow to be the dragon he wished for.
“Indeed, even Man Geum-jeon approved.”
“Haahh… truly a relief.”
Im Ha-yeon sighed heavily after I informed her that Man Geum-jeon had sent a letter from the Man Geum Battlefield, as if her chest could no longer swell with joy.
No matter how I looked at it, she seemed to be among the top three women I’ve ever met.
“Now let’s prepare to welcome our guests.”
With prior arrangements in place, it was time to execute the plan.
—————
“Looks like everyone’s gathered. I expected at least one or two to decline.”
In the inn I run, I had invited those who could be considered the few with significant savings from the list in the ledger.
“Who would refuse an invitation?”
“Exactly. Club Leader!”
“Make sure to enjoy the food before it gets cold.”
“Thank you for the meal!”
People need to be well-fed to be generous in spirit. After confirming that everyone had finished their meals, I stepped up to the prepared platform.
“I’m sure many of you are curious about the reason I invited you here today.”
Starting with my Small Wheel Mental Image Technique to enhance my voice, I immediately captured everyone’s attention.
As my voice resonated, everyone in the inn turned to face me.
“I understand that among the community, there are those whose financial situations are relatively better!”
One quick-witted Joseon man chortled loudly in response.
Nodding along, I acknowledged his words and, maintaining a serious face, continued.
“You’re all likely aware of my business endeavors.”
“Is it the food delivery business? I’ve utilized it a few times.”
“Quite convenient!”
“I brought you all together to offer you a chance to join in that very business.”
I jumped straight to the point.
“……”
A momentary silence filled the inn, not out of confusion, but disbelief.
“Are you saying that you summoned us to seek permission to use the money written in Innkeeper Ahn’s ledger?”
A keen man raised his hand again, questioning me.
“No, that’s not why I’ve brought you all here.”
I have no intention of seeking permission. In fact, starting now, you will be the ones who’ll need to ask for permission.
“Are you seeking investments? The kind where you share equity?”
“I’m not gathering you here just for my own benefit. What I’m aiming for is to help every single Joseon person here.”
“What in the world do you mean?”
“It’s to offer you a chance to open branches for my business.”
That’s precisely the reason behind them being gathered.
“You want us to start a food delivery business ourselves? I’m sorry, but none of us here can afford to buy a building for an inn.”
“That’s correct!”
“While we all know that your business is flourishing, our limit is merely to support the jobs you offer.”
That’s true.
The people I had gathered were those who had managed to save some funds. But savings were merely for emergencies, nowhere near enough to buy a costly building in Wuhan.
Has the club leader gone mad? What utter nonsense is this, they must be thinking from their expressions.
But it doesn’t matter. The fact they’re feeling resistant means they’re focusing all their thoughts on the idea I just threw out there.
Now, it was time to throw out the most enticing bait.
“What if everyone here could actually buy a building for an inn?”
“……”
This time, the silence in the air was not one of confusion but one of astonishment.
“How… how is that possible?”
“It will be possible with my help.”
I infused certainty into my expression and words. It was as if simply taking my hand would lead them to become building owners.
“Help? Are you suggesting you’d buy the buildings for us?”
“I have no plans to do that.”
If I had that kind of money, I wouldn’t have gathered you in the first place. I shook my head firmly, left and right.
“Then…”
“How can we join your business?”
Questions surged from the crowd.
Now was the time to provide the first answer regarding today’s matter.
“I’m sure you all realize we Joseon people have a certain tradition that the people of the Central Plains do not have.”
“Tradition?”
“What could that possibly be?”
Filling my own stomach.
Growing the Joseon community in Wuhan.
A method conforming to Man Geum-jeon’s conditions.
And once more, a way to keep expanding my business.
“Pooling funds.”
“Excuse me?”
“Pooling funds. I, Kang Yoon-ho, will become the fund manager for the branch funds as the club leader.”
