“What kind of woman is she!!!”
Thud!
She was hit with an unexpected blow.
Im Ha-yeon returned to her lodging and fluffed the pillow on her bed while shouting.
“I was determined and went to face her!”
Muttering as she hugged the pillow that was beaten to a pulp, she seemed furious.
She hadn’t planned to fight by pulling anyone’s hair.
The Tea Bookstore branch was a place absolutely necessary for her and her future. She was also working hard for herself, so she had no intention of sabotaging it.
The reason Im Ha-yeon was meeting Jeong Gyeol-hyang was different.
‘It’s to show the gap.’
Was the youngest daughter of the Jeong family a big deal?
Let’s clearly show who’s prettier, who’s needed for his business, and who suits him better.
To do that, she consciously stayed next to Kang Yoon-ho and deliberately blocked Jeong Gyeol-hyang’s approach.
Im Ha-yeon’s plan was somewhat successful.
The woman she thought was a vixen turned out to be a shy personality who couldn’t even place an order for a drink.
Secretly, she even felt a little victory coming.
At least until that statement came out.
“一 You look too mature!”
“Do I look mature to you?”
No way, she thought, never expecting such a provocation.
“You look old.”
Im Ha-yeon’s morning effort in getting ready was shattered by a single word from Jeong Gyeol-hyang.
A definite counterattack, showing the prowess of Jeong Gyeol-myeong’s descendants who supported the Shu Kingdom.
“一 I’m actually a year older than you.”
Jeong Gyeol-hyang continued her assault without stopping.
Normally, she might not have reacted much to being called “older sister.” But both were at the age of marriageable status, and with a man they were concerned about nearby, the conversation changed.
With continuous attacks about looking old and being older than her, even Im Ha-yeon, who had come prepared, couldn’t help but waver for a moment.
“Weren’t you actually being pretentious?”
Im Ha-yeon squeezed the pillow’s neck with both arms in frustration.
As Ha So-so said, could it be that Jeong Gyeol-hyang was truly the vixen?
Im Ha-yeon, who was younger and prettier, felt she could do better than her within a year. Was that what she meant?
With her feelings hurt, Jeong Gyeol-hyang’s words and actions could only be seen as provocations in Im Ha-yeon’s eyes.
And the man’s reaction only intensified her anger towards Jeong Gyeol-hyang.
“Ugh! Why are you defending her in front of me?!”
She knew.
She knew he was the kind of guy who actively stepped up for others in trouble. But he was right there in front of her. How could he hide another woman behind him?
Maybe the vixen was deliberately acting to provoke protective instincts!
“Don’t let your guard down. Absolutely!”
She wasn’t someone to be underestimated.
Recalling today’s events, Im Ha-yeon reignited her fighting spirit.
It had been a few days since the conclusion of the Tea Bookstore branch construction and the welcome of the management staff from Yichang. The branch opening was finally in sight.
“It keeps raining,” she said worriedly as she gazed silently out the window of the office.
“It started last night,” he replied.
“The books should arrive from Yichang any day now, and I’m worried.”
“That’s what I’m saying. The management are training the employees they’ve selected, so it’ll be over once the books arrive.”
Once the books were organized and the employee’s movements set, they could finally open the Tea Bookstore branch.
“On stormy days, the currents of the Yangtze River become fierce, so I hope they dock at another port and come tomorrow.”
“Even if they arrive, it might be a problem. No matter how much we cover it with waterproof tarps, if even a single drop of rain touches the books, it would be a disaster.”
Moisture and paper are enemies. The rain needs to stop before the books arrive.
“Well, since it’s the Seocheon Post Office, I should pray they handle it well enough.”
But really, it wouldn’t matter if two non-experts babbled; nothing could replace a professional’s skill.
“Club Leader, we have a guest.”
While discussing future plans with Im Ha-yeon, a receptionist knocked on the office door.
A guest? Who could it be? Perhaps it’s the Man Geum Battlefield?
“Let him in.”
“Master Kang!”
As the receptionist opened the door, a burly middle-aged man appeared behind him.
He wasn’t from the Man Geum Battlefield.
Fortunately, the visitor wasn’t a man from the Man Geum Battlefield bringing work, but someone whose face had been familiar since the day he arrived in Wuhan.
“Why is the manager from the Seocheon Post Office here?”
It was the head of the Seocheon Post Office’s Wuhan branch, who had been offering many kinds of help.
His complexion looked quite pale. Had he been out in the rain? The branches of the manager’s hair were drenched with rainwater.
What could possibly bring a manager here while soaked in rain?
“……”
The manager seemed unable to answer my question right away.
His expression of choosing words was concerning. This atmosphere wasn’t good.
Could it be…
“Mr. Manager, could it be that……”
“I’m sorry, we were robbed of our cargo.”
Why does my bad premonition never miss?
——————
“The postman and the crew members on the boat were found dead.”
The situation was far more serious than imagined.
“Did they fall victim to water bandits?”
Even a small boat could carry cargo worth dozens of ordinary people.
Had she met a loyal reader who chose the path of a thief because she wanted to read the works of the illustrious Ho Pil without money?
“That is……. This morning at the Yangtze River Port, we discovered the boat.”
My expectations were easily shattered.
“At the port? Didn’t you say they were found dead?”
If they were attacked, it should have happened on the river, not found at the dock.
“The boat had docked normally last night. When a worker noticed the silence at dawn, he found the bodies hidden away.”
“Were there any survivors?”
“The sailors’ bodies weren’t found. However, there were signs that the cargo was moved just after docking at the port.”
Could it be that the crew turned into thieves?
It was rare, but it could happen.
As I glanced over with a “just in case,” the manager confirmed that the boat and sailors were not employees of the Seocheon Post Office.
“What can I say to comfort you? Such a dreadful situation occurs right in the middle of Wuhan.”
“I’m sorry. All the books from the Tea Bookstore scheduled to arrive today are now missing as well.”
I looked at the manager, who bowed his head again.
What are you going to do about my books? Do you know how much was spent on materials and labor for them? The opening of the branch is just around the corner. Yelling at him wouldn’t help.
It wouldn’t change anything by getting into a pointless emotional tussle right now.
The important thing was the future measures and compensation issues.
“You’ve really faced a big disaster, but there’s no need to keep bowing your head.”
“While searching for the whereabouts of the missing crew, it seems it will be challenging to find the criminal if it was premeditated.”
“Why is that?”
“The Seocheon Post Office is a foreign entity in Wuhan.”
The manager answered with an awkward expression.
“I heard you’re under a lot of pressure from competitors.”
Hubei Province is not under the jurisdiction of the Sichuan Tang Family. Moreover, Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province.
Even though the Seocheon Post Office is under the Tang Family’s jurisdiction, it had to tread carefully among various sects’ influences in Wuhan.
“This matter isn’t related to the Martial Arts World but to the postal service. Everyone will watch from the sidelines and file complaints.”
What happened today wasn’t an attack on a sect, but rather a Martial Arts-style shipping accident. Other sects wouldn’t have a reason to help.
In fact, they might see it as an opportunity to drive the Seocheon Post Office out of Wuhan, leading to a high chance of inaction.
“It’s troublesome since the branch opening is just around the corner.”
Now that the situation was understood, let’s get to the compensation issue. First, let’s try to guide the conversation with a somewhat awkward smile.
“I’m really sorry. You entrusted this to me, and I’m really sorry for this. I will compensate you separately from the Wuhan branch.”
Since it was the Seocheon Post Office and not some random post office, it’d surely be reliable. The problem is that this means the opening will be delayed beyond the expected date.
“The scale of the damage must be significant.”
Taking a moment to calm my mind, I asked the manager again.
“I plan to take responsibility for this incident and step down.”
“Why would you, the manager of the branch that didn’t send any cargo, take responsibility for it?”
“The shipping was planned entirely by me from start to finish. It was my first time renting an entire boat for the Wuhan branch to boast to customers about our might.”
The manager revealed that he had bundled a major transaction alongside smaller ones to promote their successful outcomes.
Did their ambitious project in Wuhan lead to the worst outcome with enormous losses?
This event could literally be the start of a team’s downfall.
“You must have faced a huge loss.”
“I’ll compensate the customers, but it seems this incident will considerably diminish the standing of the Wuhan branch.”
While money can come back, credibility cannot.
With such a large transaction failing at once, the Seocheon Post Office’s standing in Wuhan would surely shrink.
It seemed the manager felt the struggles ahead, as he flashed a sad smile.
“I hope it gets resolved nicely.”
“I will promise a generous reward to whoever finds the missing cargo, and I’m planning to look for it in every possible way. I have to visit other customers too, so I will take my leave now.”
The manager continued to bow his head in apology, then disappeared into the rain.
———————
Why did it seem like everything had been flowing so smoothly lately?
The books meant for the Tea Bookstore branch had just vanished in an instant.
An unexpected incident. Yet there was no need for me to sit idle because of an unforeseen accident.
Let’s think it through. What is the best course of action in the current situation?
“What do we do? The opening is just a few days away.”
Im Ha-yeon had been waiting patiently as I lost myself in thought, then finally spoke.
“The Tang Family must have some leeway in Yichang. If I send another letter, perhaps we can open the branch a bit later.”
“What about the other books?”
“The best option is to buy from Man Geum Bookstore. Jeon Gil-san will surely spill the details if I threaten him just once.”
If we followed through with the original plan discussed at the Man Geum Battlefield, we could open even if it was a bit late.
This was the most reasonable solution I had just thought of.
“……You’re not really thinking that way, are you?”
Telepathy.
Im Ha-yeon asked with a smile, as though she could see right through me.
Between Yichang and Wuhan, she was probably forecasting where I might veer off track since she was always by my side.
I couldn’t help but smile back at her expression.
“I usually only mention alternatives after I’ve tried the best methods.”
There was still time until the opening date.
In that case, I could give the best course of action a shot.
“I figured you’d say that.”
Im Ha-yeon nodded at my words.
It felt like we were getting to know each other better. I grinned and jumped to my feet.
“Let’s find the stolen cargo. If we locate it, we can open the branch right away, and the Seocheon Post Office promises a considerable reward, so it’s worth a shot.”
If the Seocheon Post Office’s efforts to expand in Hubei Province were obstructed, I’d also face difficulties with the business I intended to expand into the Yangtze River region.
Finding the missing cargo was both the best plan and the only path forward.
“Do you already have a plan?”
“I need to try something that even the mighty Seocheon Post Office can’t accomplish.”
I raised one corner of my mouth and looked at Im Ha-yeon.
I’ve got a card in my hand.
“Use what you have that the Seocheon Post Office doesn’t, right?”
Im Ha-yeon let out a confident smile, like a skilled card player pulling the desired card from her colleague’s hand.
That’s right. That’s the plan.
“First, bring the Sam-gu brothers who oversee the port unloading area to me.”
I’ve got eyes and ears in Wuhan.
