“Fund pooling? Are you suggesting we buy the inn with the fund pooling?”
I nodded at a middle-aged man’s question.
Since they are Joseon people, I need to give a familiar example.
“You must have heard about the ox fund pooling back in my hometown. To prepare oxen for farming, we organized a fund pooling to buy those oxen who couldn’t live under tough circumstances. The branch fund pooling is similar.”
“We are like wild grass in the Central Plains. How can we do fund pooling when we don’t know when or how things will turn out? It requires trust in one another, and who would do such a thing if they can’t prepare for the future?”
It’s understandable that they wouldn’t trust someone whose origin is unknown and who could disappear at any moment.
“I will guarantee that trust and future as the fund manager.”
Since I already own two buildings, having a club leader and building owner as a guarantor changes the narrative.
“If the successful club leader helps us, we can certainly trust him. However, no matter how much we squeeze our money, it’s impossible for all of us sitting here to buy a building, right?”
The gathered individuals had large sums of money on the ledger. But just because a Joseon person has a sizeable amount of money doesn’t mean they’re wealthy.
“It is possible. If you follow my plan.”
I was proceeding with a plan keeping all this in mind.
“What do you mean?”
“When I buy the buildings, I will cover half of the costs.”
Starting with my funds…
“You, the club leader?”
“I will take on half of the fund pooling as the fund manager. This way, while you collect the next fund pooling, I can also gather half of the fund pooling. If we take our time like the ox funds, everyone can become the owner of the inn by the end.”
With plenty of time, half will be from me.
It’s a way to reduce the burden on Joseon people while continuing the fund pooling.
“Indeed, if the club leader supports it and we proceed quarterly or annually like the ox funds, it might be possible. Then does the first turn go to you, club leader?”
“I will take the last turn without exception.”
If I take the first turn, it means I am receiving investments. That would be an immediate disqualification.
“Haha! You would take the last turn, which everyone avoids!”
“I told you, I came here to make every member sitting here the owner of the inn.”
The reality is that I shouldn’t receive investments. But if the results are good, isn’t that all goodwill?
The Joseon people looked at me with surprised expressions.
“What happens when it’s the last turn of the club leader? Will you take just one inn building?”
Good question.
“I will collect the repayment.”
“Excuse me?”
“Haha. Everyone has become a building owner now. As the owner of the inn, you would have a stable income to pay me back quarterly for the fund pooling I contributed.”
By that time, it would no longer be a burden to repay.
“Indeed…”
“That’s right. It would be a sacrifice on your part, club leader.”
“If one inn becomes mine, that fund pooling issue would be negligible!”
I took a moment to catch my breath as I saw the inn filling up with chatter about the fund pooling.
“The franchise business was already approved by Man Geum-jeon during the first examination. If I can successfully conduct this fund pooling, I can expand the business without receiving investments or engaging in money play.”
What I’m doing is merely providing the funds to buy the inn. Through the fund pooling, there’s no financial gain for me.
What I’m aiming for is the method that Man Geum-jeon already approved during the first examination.
Franchise profits.
———————
“I understand your words well. Since you mentioned branch fund pooling, are there additional matters we must keep in mind?”
As the noisy atmosphere quieted down, a representative man raised his hand to ask.
There are important things to keep in mind.
Now is the time to frankly discuss the toxic clauses.
“As the fund manager, I will keep the building documents until the fund pooling ends.”
“What does that mean?! Are you saying the fund manager will keep all the buildings?”
“The buildings belong to you all. It’s simply a safety measure against fund pooling disputes or escape.”
When five humans gather, there’s always one trashy person. Isn’t there a saying that disputes are money disputes? If fund pooling is a tradition, escaping with the fund pooling is a traditional game.
I informed them that if the fund pooling were to be arbitrarily called off, the inn would be disposed of at the fund manager’s discretion.
“So the building itself becomes a hostage to prevent fund pooling issues.”
“Exactly.”
“I once had a guy eat the fund while I was at home.”
Someone seemed to recall some bitter experiences, and I could hear murmurs from the back.
“Are there any more matters we need to know?”
“The fund pooling is a condition for establishing my business branches. Therefore, the branches must pay the franchise fee and all other related costs.”
I had the clerks hand out the documents related to the franchise costs, which Im Ha-yeon and I had carefully prepared, to each person.
“Are you saying we need to pay such a large sum?”
“Isn’t this excessive?!”
I expected this reaction right away.
It’s a business where half of my money goes into opening each inn.
Unlike the time with Jeon Gil-san, where he carried his own costs from start to finish, this franchise was going to require a significantly larger amount.
“Most of it will be paid through fund pooling. The costs incurred while doing business can be considered manageable when you think about the profit.”
I have no intention of continuously making money from half of the fund pooling.
I will reduce the burden gradually through the initial franchise fee and other costs, and the money collected monthly.
“But this is too…”
“Club leader.”
An elderly man with a hunched back raised his hand, which carried a vague fishy smell.
“Mr. Kim, please speak.”
“This old man fled from the farming life and made it all the way to Wuhan. To me, this condition seems merely a suggestion to be a tenant.”
I had expected that comment.
I steeled my expression and opened my mouth with an angered air.
“When did being a tenant mean subsisting on someone else’s land? What tenant would be able to buy land they could live off of for their entire life for the price of barely an inch of land?”
“Ugh, you have a point. The old man spoke out of turn.”
Don’t tarnish my goodwill with malice. After I clarified the lines, Mr. Kim looked startled and sat back down.
“What the club leader said about the conditions is good.”
“This guy, if you pay this money, how will you survive?”
“Only the club leader can run the delivery business, so obviously, it should go well in the future!”
“But still…”
‘They all look skeptical. With such a large amount at stake, I need to provide certainty.’
I have no intention of losing money with this fund pooling.
While I will make a big investment up front, I plan to earn back the franchise fee and ultimately even the money that was paid in fund pooling.
Moreover, even if the buildings become the property of other Joseon people, the franchise contract continues. That means I’ll continuously have employees generating money.
I anticipated the resistance.
There’s certainly an upside to becoming building owners, but it could very well be seen as a slave contract.
I need to resolve that anxiety.
I’ll wrap up my intentions once again and emphasize only the benefits that will come to them.
“Mr. Kim.”
“Yes?”
“I know you’re a Joseon person who sells fish at a stall, struggling through life, cramped into a corner where no one comes.”
Starting with highlighting the plight of the gathered Joseon people.
“Profits may be meager, but it’s still enough to scrape by, isn’t it?”
“That’s true, yes.”
“You recently told me—no, someone else might have told you—that you were bedridden after getting hit by something during your delivery work, and that you’re now unable to find work anywhere.”
“Oh, but I have managed to save a little money.”
“I fully understand how hard everyone works here.”
I looked at the Joseon people, emphasizing their tough situation despite their hard work.
“The Sam-gu brothers working at the port said that our Joseon people come out earlier and stay out later than anyone.”
“Thanks to the club leader, wages for Joseon people have increased, and we sometimes get to eat meat or drink.”
I nodded and silently looked at the Joseon people.
Kang Yoon-ho’s goodwill. The club leader is a person concerned for the Joseon people. While that clear fact sinks into their minds.
“Why did we leave our beloved hometown and come to this distant place in the Central Plains, Wuhan?”
Now I raise a question.
“Some left because of oppressive governance, some due to famine, and some because of epidemics. Each has their own reason for leaving, but there is only one reason we came here.”
I raise one finger towards the Joseon people. Some may easily reach a conclusion, while others might be curious.
Once I have their attention, I present my answer.
“To seek a better life! But are we living the life we wanted right now?”
No one here could say yes.
A persecuted ethnic group. Joseon people. Let’s utilize the commonalities between us to create a sense of shared identity.
“A while ago, a constable visited me. They said that barbarians peel the skin off people’s faces, and suggested that a black-haired barbarian like me must be a murderer.”
“How could they treat us like this!”
“Those Central Plains people!”
“What sin have we committed? We only came here to find a way to survive. But here in the Central Plains, we are eternal sinners, simply for being poor black-haired people.”
“That’s right!”
“We are trying hard to live. But we’re poor. It pains us to see our children in torn clothes. It’s pathetic to say we’re okay even when it’s hard. Even when I cry to sleep out of sorrow, I have to endure it. That’s my life. Because I need to wake up for my children tomorrow.”
I inject intense emotions. Poverty and family. Let’s shake the two points that are most important in their lives.
“Ugh!”
“We’re living like this right now. But everyone! At the very least! No, we must do whatever we can! To ensure that our children don’t have to live like this!”
Everyone gathered here are men with families.
The mention of children inevitably stirs up emotions.
“…If I join the club leader’s business, can my children avoid poverty?”
A man with three children trembled as he asked me.
“Yes. If we work hard, I will ensure that we leave behind wealth so that your children can live well without worrying.”
It may very well be a slave contract. But just endure it. Let’s sacrifice. We will earn money. Just a bit of hardship, and you could become building owners.
Then your children will surely be happy.
I inject hope.
“….”
I could see firm resolutions flashing through the seated Joseon people’s expressions.
“What’s your reason for helping us so much?”
To make money.
To reclaim the Tea Bookstore and save Im Ha-yeon.
I calmly swallowed the words that were on the tip of my tongue and placed my palm on my chest, looking at them as if I had great ambitions.
“One day, I too will have a child. I want them to live with dignity, without being looked down upon here in Wuhan, at least among the Joseon people.”
Some nodded firmly as if they empathized with my words. Someone was even shedding tears.
As many faces reflected mixed feelings, someone stood up and approached me.
“Club leader!”
Then, one by one, they rose from their seats and knelt before me.
“Club leader!!!”
“Have you made your decision?”
“Club leader, I want to participate in the fund pooling!”
“Please allow us to join!”
“Please give us a chance!”
Ultimately, I successfully organized the fund pooling.
———–
“Deciding the order for the fund pooling is quite a task.”
In my office, I mumbled to myself while checking the information of those participating in the fund pooling on the empty desk.
“While you’re agonizing over names, why not handle some paperwork with me, Mr. Kang. Yoon. Ho. Director?”
Im Ha-yeon furrowed her brows, unlike my desk, which was clear; hers was filled with papers.
“Haha… the head of a group should be in a position to make decisions, not getting bogged down in details.”
“…….”
I’m about to get stabbed with her glare if I keep this up.
“I will take these documents with me.”
Let’s get to work!
“….About the branch.”
“That’s not urgent, so first let’s handle the pending work.”
“No, not the branch, the Tea Bookstore branch!”
“Now that I think about it, it has been quite a while without any news.”
“Are they hesitant to give it up?”
Im Ha-yeon’s voice sounded oddly excited.
“Only a few days have passed since Heo Song’s funeral. It’s understandable that even Man Geum-jeon would hesitate to snatch away something from the hands of the murdered grandson. It might take some time.”
If possible, I hope it gets replaced not with the old building but at the finest, most favorable location.
“….So what about that woman?”
“Do you mean Jeong Gyeol-hyang? Now that I think about it, I haven’t contacted her since the matchmaking.”
I hadn’t set up the next meeting since I planned to operate the bookstore immediately after acquiring it.
“Isn’t there any need to contact her?”
“That’s true…”
Since we’re not in a romantic relationship, and we are engaged in a contractual romance. It’s not like I’m going to fall in love and go out with her every day.
I guess I’ll wait until news comes from Man Geum Battlefield.
*
At that moment in Man Geum-jeon’s mansion.
“Why hasn’t he contacted me after we agreed to date?!”
A silver-haired woman with blue eyes was wailing.
