“There’s a problem.”
It was the first turn of the Gye Mohim. Choi Pyosa came into the inn with a troubled look on his face.
“A problem? Is there an issue with teaching the children? Or is it because of the ginseng candy I gave you last time?”
I really thought he’d eat it quickly if he showed talent, but did it cause a problem?
Choi Pyosa shook his head and opened his mouth.
“Neither is the problem. It’s just that the innkeeper says he won’t sell the inn.”
“What? We just needed to stamp the paper, and now he suddenly changes his mind?”
Getting a small one-room place is a huge hassle when you come out into society.
I thought it was a mansion just by looking at the pictures, but the saying goes, “a house is a mansion if ants live in it.” I rushed to check out a house with absurd conditions only to be greeted by a broker who said it was already gone.
To avoid such hardships, I had people look for a prime location for a delivery food business.
It’s not much of a location for an inn, but perfect for a delivery food place. I almost persuaded the innkeeper to the point of signing the contract, and now he backs out?
I couldn’t help but ask in disbelief.
“I need to meet the club leader about this. I’m shouting to high heaven because I think I can’t handle this myself.”
Choi Pyosa lowered his head with a face full of embarrassment.
“Alright. I’ll go.”
I really have to see what I’ll say.
——–
“Not selling!”
The old innkeeper crossed his arms and shouted with a grimace on his face.
“What do you mean pulling a fast one after everything was settled?!”
I asked the innkeeper in utter disbelief.
This was an inn that barely made any sales, and he was saying he would sell it right away if he could. It’s absurd how suddenly he’d change his attitude.
What the heck is going on?
“You Joseon folks, right? You said you were starting a new business? Then you need to recalibrate your math.”
The innkeeper smirked with his lips curled, as if he had uncovered my scheme.
I wondered how he got that news.
“Is there any more to this inn? It’s removed from the port, so travelers don’t come, and being in a residential area doesn’t help with lodging guests either.”
“There are regular lodging guests.”
“You’re just getting drunks because there are taverns nearby! But the drunks make it hard for actual customers to come!”
“Where did you hear that?”
It’s not even on a convenient path for travelers. Plus, with the residential area, there aren’t many lodging guests. And with the tavern nearby, there aren’t many drinkers either.
It’s amazing this place has been running as an inn for so long.
‘On the other hand, it’s the perfect spot for a delivery food business.’
There’s a large residential area, so there are customers for delivery food, and with the tavern being close, there’s a lot of foot traffic at night. A lot of foot traffic means there are definitely customers who’ll order late-night snacks.
It was the perfect location for a delivery food business, day or night.
“Brother, why make this difficult for something that just needs a stamp to finish?”
The black-haired broker, listening from the side, spoke to the innkeeper with a hurt voice.
“Do you have any idea how much I bought this inn for?! Looks like both of you are black-haired! Aren’t you both in cahoots?”
The innkeeper shot daggers at us, glaring with deep distrust.
“Brother, what are you talking about! I was just looking out for you since you wanted to sell the inn!”
“Ahem. That’s just what I’m saying.”
The innkeeper, feeling embarrassed, cleared his throat.
I think he wants to sell it high because he fears the other guy will profit.
Let’s think for a moment. The other side had already done the homework regarding the delivery food business. Trying to negotiate here would only lead to a stalemate with back and forth.
In situations like this, it’s best to—
“Alright. Then.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I won’t buy it.”
I said decisively.
“What, what, what did you just say?”
“I came here thinking I could get it at a lower price through the broker, but all I see is an old man full of greed. Did you two conspire? There’s this naive black-haired youth over here, thinking he can fool me for a ridiculous profit?”
You scam artists! Did you two plan this? I glared at both of them like a sucker who had caught on to their con.
“That’s not what I meant!”
“Do I look like someone who would do that?”
Both were startled, flailing their hands.
“Alright. In this vast Wuhan land, do you think I’m the only one who can sell an inn? I’ll be leaving. Broker, if I see your face again, you better run far away.”
I turned away as if I had lost interest, preparing to leave.
“Y-Young man, it seems you haven’t done business long, huh? You shouldn’t be so rash.”
“What?”
Just as I was about to leave, the startled innkeeper grabbed my sleeve.
“Ahem! Let’s find some middle ground here. If we keep going back and forth like this, neither of us will get anywhere.”
The innkeeper said, flustered.
“True. You’re too emotional because you’re young. We just need to agree, and it’s done.”
“Just a stamp here and you’re trying to eat the broker’s fee, right?”
I frowned at the broker who chimed in.
They say not to trust black-haired people from foreign lands, and look where I am!
“Haha, you sure have a knack for making people uncomfortable.”
The broker seemed guilty and avoided my gaze.
“Innkeeper. Do you really want to reevaluate your calculations?”
I moved my gaze from the awkward broker to the flustered innkeeper.
“Recently, they say the Joseon folks are getting popular for their Nine Black Qi Hands delivery food. Isn’t this inn necessary for that?”
You’re still being greedy, aren’t you?
“Correct. If that’s the case, how about this price?”
Then I’d write down the price you want.
“Isn’t this price a whole 10% lower than what we agreed on?”
“I don’t like it? Then how about this?”
I drew a shocking price with ink, and then wrote another.
“10% lower than that again! A-Are you kidding me?”
“I’m not kidding.”
“What?”
“There’s an old saying that when you’re planning something big, you don’t sweat the small change. Though I had complaints about the broker’s price, I wasn’t cutting it. But now that you want to reevaluate, I have to go the proper route.”
“Are you serious?”
“Did I not mention?”
“Because you haven’t been maintaining the building, there’s plenty to renovate—so that’s a deduction. The food is so bad I’d spit it out, so that’s another deduction while I need a new innkeeper. We’re having this conversation while flies are buzzing around due to lack of customers—so that’s yet another deduction. Want to hear more about my deductions?”
“N-No.”
“Brother, let’s just dispose of this quickly.”
“Alright. I’ll buy it for half of your original price.”
“WHAT? You can’t be serious!”
“If you don’t want to sell, rip up the contract. If not, stamp it. And broker, if you show up in front of me without the stamped paperwork, you better think twice. Trusting a black-haired man has led me down a ridiculous path.”
“Hahaha…”
“Im Ha-yeon, let’s go.”
“W-Wait a second!”
I shook off the innkeeper’s hand reaching for my sleeve and left the inn with Im Ha-yeon.
————————
“It was agreed to sell for 70% of the original price.”
The black-haired broker entered my office with a smile.
“Good work.”
I greeted him with a warm smile and settled comfortably into a chair opposite the Joseon broker.
“You saw the way you immediately caused suspicion, linking the innkeeper and me together. I was truly impressed.”
“I only wanted you to find a good inn, and you’ve become a regular now, treating each other like family—those skills can’t be compared.”
The deal had not fallen apart.
On the contrary, I believed I had scammed a gullible one out of a big opportunity.
It was a snap decision, but he quickly noticed and acted accordingly. I guess working as a broker in Joseon wasn’t just talk.
“Hahaha! To live as a lowly broker with nothing to offer, one has to excel at this craft! I was blown away by the club leader’s ability to slash prices.”
The broker shook his head, seemingly overwhelmed, and said to me.
“Haha. How much should I pay you for the broker’s fee?”
“Not at all. I’m also a member of the Gye Mohim. How could I take a fee from the club leader?”
The broker waved his hands dismissively.
“Just take it. We should keep things clean between us; it avoids emotional entanglements.”
“If I introduce you to a one-room flat and then suddenly take a hefty fee, I’ll get in trouble.”
“Once you become the innkeeper, you’ll be making way more than this. It’s just a little kickback for now.”
“Really, it’s alright! Unless… would it be okay for you to…”
The broker, with his head bowed, was repeatedly looking for signs from me as if he had something he wanted to say but couldn’t.
When someone doesn’t want money, it usually means they value something more important than cash.
“Do you want the next turn?”
The next turn in the Gye Mohim. He wants to be an innkeeper.
“Hahahaha.”
The broker chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head.
“Just because I didn’t ask for a broker’s fee doesn’t mean I should indulge in greedy hopes.”
I had struggled, but it wasn’t like I was desperate. I still wore a smile while giving him a subtle warning.
“I have a good eye for land, so in the future, I will personally check every inn location for the Gye Mohim members and won’t charge the broker’s fee.”
It was indeed a good spot that the broker found. Plus, since the broker’s fee is a significant amount, it would be great if I could save that.
It’s a nice offer.
But even that isn’t satisfying enough.
“Let’s agree on this. No on the second turn. But if the other inns that open flourish, the news will spread that your eye for land is sharp.”
“If that’s the case…”
“Then I’ll give you a turn later.”
“I’ll do my utmost to scout out the land!”
Yes. Keep finding good places to prove your potential. If the reputation is high, then no one will speak ill of you.
Work hard!
————————–
“I’m worried that the club leader is playing tricks over turns, and there might be whispers behind the scenes.”
Im Ha-yeon, listening to our exchange from a corner of the office, spoke up worriedly as the broker left.
“I’d prefer it if the whispers did keep coming.”
That’s what I’m hoping for.
“Why’s that?”
“It’s not meddling for my own selfish reasons. The word gets around that someone who’s serving the Gye Mohim is getting front turns, that’ll certainly make a fuss.”
“Now that you mention it, both Choi Pyosa and the broker are helpful people in the Gye Mohim.”
I nodded at Im Ha-yeon.
One is a martial arts instructor. The other is a real estate broker. Both are essential figures in the business going on in Wuhan.
“Everyone in the Gye Mohim, they’re people who have some money in the Joseon community. Just by throwing them a motive for goodwill, something will come out of it.”
Letting them work for the Gye Mohim on their own.
More accurately, while I’m the one benefiting if they help me, I need to make them feel like they’re also aiding the Gye Mohim.
The more they work for the Gye Mohim and boost their reputation, the more they’ll think they’ll receive front turns.
“Indeed, our club leader deserves the title.”
Im Ha-yeon looked at me with a face full of admiration.
“Now all that’s left is to tell Choi Pyosa to stamp it! Oh, and the ginseng candy I gave him earlier.”
“W-Why?”
Why does her voice suddenly waver?
“When I took a look while handing it over, it seemed like there was less inside than I thought.”
I had received a whole box of elixirs. It should have been filled to the brim, but when I took a peek, it was noticeably less.
“Hey, the apothecary must have eaten some.”
Im Ha-yeon’s eyes popped wide as she replied.
“It seems the apothecary was in a hurry.”
Is that so? After all, my wife has three others by her side. She must have leaned heavily on those pills.
Unlike someone who uproots every morning, it’s not surprising for an average resident of the Central Plains.
Just as I was lost in thought, suddenly, Im Ha-yeon sprang to her feet and shouted.
“We have to hurry and show it to Choi Pyosa! Let’s go!”
*
In the dark of night. A figure, barely visible even to a martial arts master, darted between roofs and arrived at a window of an inn.
“Still up?”
Im Ha-yeon opened the window of the office and found Kang Yoon-ho sitting at the desk.
She had split early due to the Nine Black Qi Hands training since she heard that they were going to have drinks with Choi Pyosa. She never expected to return and find him working instead of resting.
“Ugh… I was drafting the documents that need to be submitted for the government’s approval when the inn changes hands.”
The new innkeeper has to receive government approval. Kang Yoon-ho diligently worked on the paperwork, rubbing his sore stomach.
“After drinking so much with Choi Pyosa… you should sleep and do it tomorrow.”
“I didn’t drink much. The officials work so slowly; I had to move quickly.”
“Don’t overexert yourself; slip some money to one or two officials. It goes a long way.”
Officials of the petty bureaucratic ranks are always hungry. If Kang Yoon-ho gave them a little something, they’d definitely place his papers in good view of their higher-ups.
“Haha. I need to avoid being cornered into giving them too much.”
“You, seriously… Tomorrow, people from the Gye Mohim will have a celebration since it’s their first inn purchase. You need to get some sleep. Let me help tidy up the paperwork.”
“Alright.”
Kang Yoon-ho wasn’t really in a hurry to hold out until the end.
As soon as he saw Im Ha-yeon skillfully organizing the papers on the desk, he himself got up to help.
The problem arose when Im Ha-yeon, as usual, opened Kang Yoon-ho’s drawer.
“There shouldn’t be anything except documents in this drawer, why is there a box in here? This isn’t for documents…”
In the drawer was an exquisite box. Im Ha-yeon let out a small sigh and reached for the fine box.
“Oh, that’s…”
Who had the bad luck now?
Because Kang Yoon-ho had carelessly tossed it in, the lid was loose.
The moment Im Ha-yeon picked it up, the lid fell off easily, and she could see exactly what was inside the box.
“…A brush?”
The luxurious brush gifted by Jeongal Hyang.
