I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 27

< Eliminating Competitors (1) >

“Where have you been? Did you perhaps find another Mukdo Society [a secret society] branch here?”

Jo Gwang-yun asked Lee Geon, who had returned late that night.

“As I suspected, the Murim aristocratic families [families of martial artists] are even more materialistic than the Nine Sects [major martial arts sects].”

“Murim aristocratic families? Did you perhaps visit the famous Sichuan Tang Family [a family known for their martial arts and poison]?”

“Even if I had the guts, how could I go there? I just wandered around a bit.”

“It wasn’t just wandering around, was it?”

Hair soaked with sweat, clothes covered in dirt. He didn’t look like someone who had been leisurely sightseeing.

“I just checked who has the most influence here. The Tang Family has a lot of blood relatives. The gambling dens and brothels are all controlled by people with the Tang surname.”

“As a family with a long history, how could there not be many descendants, even with just a few drops of their blood?”

“Even so, it’s excessive. Usually, the more famous a Murim aristocratic family is, the more they prevent involvement in shady dealings. In severe cases, even close relatives of the main family are mercilessly kicked out.”

“So, you’re saying the Tang family does anything that makes money, regardless of what it is?”

“Yes. They operate secretly, afraid of being exposed. But after roughing up a few guys, they spilled the beans. Hehe.”

Lee Geon drank his liquor with a strangely pleased look on his face.

Jo Gwang-yun realized what that expression meant.

“The fact that the Tang family is doing it secretly means that even if someone enters this area and causes trouble, they can’t directly intervene.”

Lee Geon put down his glass and clicked his tongue.

“Have you already read my mind? I can’t say anything.”

“Taking over a small sect that isn’t directly related to the Sichuan Tang Family and slowly eating away at it… The Tang Family will turn a blind eye to a certain extent, making it suitable as a new entry point… And Grand Master Yoo Chu-saeng is the perfect person to be in charge.”

Lee Geon picked up his glass again as Jo Gwang-yun finished speaking.

“Since we understand each other so well, you’re more reliable than a blood brother.”

Lee Geon emptied his glass in one gulp and put it down, watching Jo Gwang-yun’s reaction.

“The marketplace was bustling today… Was that perhaps something you started, Jo hyung [older brother]?”

“It’s all done. If you have anything left to do, Lee hyung, stay longer. If not, you can go back tomorrow.”

Eighty rolls of Cheonjam silk [high-quality silk] and carts filled with over twenty bolts of silk.

It will take at least three months for Merchant Ma, who has already left for Sichuan, to load the silk and bring the carts back to Gaebong.

There is plenty of time to prepare in Gaebong.

* * *

After briefly reporting to Yoo Chu-saeng upon returning to Gaebong, Jo Gwang-yun first met with the ten children.

“Now, let’s see how well you can run.”

Jo Gwang-yun took the children to the entrance of the central marketplace. As the most bustling place in Gaebong, it was crowded with people.

“Listen carefully. There’s a dumpling shop at the end of this road. You all know it, right?”

The ten children nodded. They had run errands while working under the Oryun Clan [a local gang], so they knew the general stores in the marketplace well. Moreover, wasn’t it a restaurant the children liked?

“Good. Then go and get one dumpling each.”

The children didn’t understand what he meant and started looking at each other. Did he mean to buy dumplings, or to run to the dumpling shop and back?

If he meant to buy dumplings, he should give them money, but Jo Gwang-yun, with his arms crossed and smiling, didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so.

At that moment, the child who had started the fight when they first ran began to sprint, and the other children ran after him.

Jo Gwang-yun smiled and muttered as the children disappeared from sight.

“Quick-witted, decisive, and fast-acting… If only they had leadership skills, they would be perfect.”

These children are struggling to survive in a cold and cruel world. They would never have learned how to lead someone and work together.

While Jo Gwang-yun was lost in thought about the children, a noisy commotion and shouts began to be heard from afar.

“Oh! Already?”

He was more curious about how many would return without being caught than who would return first.

In this marketplace, it is common for hungry children to steal food if you look away for even a moment, so the merchants who were doing business just watched without much concern.

The returning children handed over the dumplings they held in their hands, panting, and Jo Gwang-yun noticed that only the child he had been watching was missing.

“One is missing? Was he caught?”

Nine children returned. Only that one was missing.

“I, I don’t know. The shop owner chased after him.”

Behind the child who was gasping for breath, a young man also approached Jo Gwang-yun, panting.

“Who are you? Are you related to these kids?”

He couldn’t treat Jo Gwang-yun carelessly because he was well-dressed.

“Are you? Do you work at the dumpling shop?”

“Ah, yes. It’s my brother’s shop… These guys, you see…”

Jo Gwang-yun raised his hand to stop him from speaking.

“Let’s go together. I’ll take care of it. You all come with me too.”

Jo Gwang-yun moved his feet as if he were the son of a high-ranking official, acting arrogantly.

The dumpling shop owner glared at Jo Gwang-yun, panting.

“There should be one more child… The one the owner was chasing.”

“He was so quick… He ran away. More than that, are these guys your family’s servants? What on earth are they doing…?”

The shop owner closed his mouth at the silver coin Jo Gwang-yun handed him.

“This should be enough to cover the cost of these children eating their fill of dumplings. Don’t you think?”

“Oh my, it’s more than enough. Will it be just today? They can come and eat as much as they want tomorrow too.”

The children’s faces brightened as they saw the shop owner groveling.

“Alright, alright, sit down. I’ll give you dumplings.”

The shop owner’s attitude changed as if he were treating his own children, and the children were already holding chopsticks, waiting for the dumplings to come out.

While the nine children were filling their stomachs with dumplings, Jo Gwang-yun waited for the remaining one.

Just as they were too full to eat anymore and were putting down their chopsticks one by one, he spotted a child outside the shop, surveying the situation.

When Jo Gwang-yun smiled and gestured, the child entered the dumpling shop as if he had been waiting and began to cautiously bring the dumplings to his mouth.

“Listen while you eat. Starting tomorrow, you will take these kids and look all over this marketplace until the entire structure of the marketplace is firmly imprinted in your head. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

The child nodded instead of answering because of the dumplings in his mouth.

“Okay. That’s enough for today, go back and rest.”

Jo Gwang-yun stood up and spoke to the other children as well.

“From tomorrow, you must listen to this child. If you don’t listen and act up, I will send you back to the place you came from, so keep that in mind.”

The children were startled by the mention of being sent back to the gambling den and all nodded their heads.

The current comfort of eating their fill and sleeping comfortably if they just run a little is not something easy to give up.

* * *

Time passed quickly as they spent busy days.

In a month, the silk that Jo Gwang-yun bought will arrive in Gaebong, and at the same time, most of the Gaebong silk merchants’ inventory will be depleted.

Now is the time to lay the groundwork.

Jo Gwang-yun put on his most splendid clothes and went to visit the Gaebong magistrate.

The most necessary thing for humans is food. The first thing for survival is eating. However, the three essential conditions are said to be clothing, food, and shelter. Clothing is put first.

Clothing is a symbol of status. The most important means of distinguishing humans is clothing.

Wearing silk clothes means that you are a ruler and a person who reigns above ordinary humans.

It is impossible to meet a magistrate in plain cotton clothes.

When a subordinate reported that a young man wearing splendid silk clothes had come to see him, the magistrate, who was not very busy, had no reason to refuse.

“I am Jo Gwang-yun, Your Excellency.”

Gaebong Magistrate Jin Woo-sang (秦雨桑) instinctively smelled something. It was the smell of money.

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