I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 42

< Gathering People (3) >

“Do you like the house? Is there anything you find uncomfortable?”

“It’s fine. A house just needs to keep the rain out.”

Jo Gwang-yun visited Gwon Jung-won at his new home in Gaebong to pay his respects.

“How is my son doing?”

“He is preparing. He will be leaving in a few days… Would you like to see him before he leaves?”

“No. Just let me know when he arrives safely in Gyeongdo. That’s all I need.”

“I will.”

*There’s no way he would end it with just that, being his only bloodline. He plans to keep a close watch on Jang Cheong-un and monitor his movements.*

“And have you met the Changryong Sect [Green Dragon Sect]?”

Gwon Jung-won nodded.

“That Im Bon-ja is better than I thought. His martial arts are decent, and he has trained his disciples well.”

“Really? That’s a relief. I was worried you might be uncomfortable if it was a sect that didn’t meet your standards.”

“I am uncomfortable. It’s a little better, but it doesn’t mean it meets my standards.”

Jo Gwang-yun carefully watched his expression and spoke cautiously.

“Do you have any plans to train a proper martial artist? Like polishing a rough gem hidden in the mud…”

“What is it? Are you finally thinking about your investment? Are you regretting making fun of me?”

“No, it’s not that. I was just wondering if there was a martial artist who caught your eye. Please don’t worry about it.”

“There is one. I’ve seen countless talented kids in the Central Plains, but none of them moved my heart. But I met one here in Gaebong.”

Jo Gwang-yun gave a bitter smile.

“Great Master, I would also like to learn martial arts, but as you know, I’m so busy with work that I don’t even get enough sleep. Moreover, I’ll be even busier in the future because of the new business. I can’t even think about finding time to train.”

“Who said anything about you?”

His face flushed. He had naturally assumed it was him.

“Hehehe. That guy, he even knows how to blush?”

“I’m embarrassed. I’ve heard a few times that I have good physical attributes…”

“It *is* you.”

“Yes?”

“I asked Head Im, and he said you only care about money. Of course, I know you’re busy making money. But from now on, you will take an hour out of your day every day.”

“Great Master.”

Gwon Jung-won ignored Jo Gwang-yun’s troubled expression.

“Come whenever you have time starting tomorrow. Just one hour. I won’t hold you any longer.”

“If I say I can’t do it… You wouldn’t call the whole thing off, would you?”

“Isn’t this Gaebong? I’ll meet the Beggar Clan Leader and tell him that the Changryong Sect has deep ties with the Silent Ink Society.”

*He calls himself a chivalrous person, but he also resorts to threats.*

“Great Master, that’s not true. I do give some funds to the Silent Ink Society, but…”

“I know. The Beggar Clan probably knows too. But the Beggar Clan Leader can’t ignore my words. Either way, the Changryong Sect won’t be able to set foot in the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance].”

Jo Gwang-yun let out a hollow laugh.

“I understand. I will follow your words, Great Master.”

*Either way, he practices the Danhon Sword Technique for about two hours each day. He just has to think of it as that time being extended a bit.*

*‘Am I going to have full-fledged personal lessons from tomorrow?’*

*For a personal lesson, the teacher is too terrifying.*

* * *

The inn was bustling with merchants. It was the day the department store recorded its highest sales since its opening, so Jo Gwang-yun invited the merchants to celebrate.

“Thank you all for your hard work. I’ll take care of everything tonight, so eat and enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content.”

Jo Gwang-yun held a bottle of alcohol and filled the merchants’ glasses, expressing his gratitude. After a few rounds of drinks, Jo Gwang-yun quietly asked the merchants sitting around him.

“By the way, does anyone know much about the Hanam Bank?”

“Hanam Bank? I know a bit about it. Why do you ask?”

“Ah, it’s nothing much, but I make a list of customers who spend a lot of money and manage them specially… There’s someone who has been overwhelmingly in first place every month.”

“Oh, really?”

“So, I asked around, and it turns out she’s the wife of the Hanam Bank owner.”

The merchants nodded as if it were obvious.

“Isn’t Hanam Bank the best bank in Hanam Province?”

“Isn’t there the Continental Bank?”

Jo Gwang-yun tilted his head and asked. He wasn’t asking because he didn’t know. He pretended not to know in order to plant what he wanted in these merchants’ minds.

“Everyone knows that the Continental Bank is the best in the Central Plains, but each province has its own local bank. The Continental Bank’s bills can be exchanged for money anywhere in the Central Plains, so that’s why.”

“So, Hanam Bank is quite big too.”

“Hey, Manager Jo. Let me ask you something.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Doesn’t Manager Jo have money deposited in the bank? Ask these merchants here. They’ve probably deposited all their earnings in the bank. But you don’t know about the bank? That doesn’t make sense.”

Jo Gwang-yun put on a truly wronged expression and said.

“Oh, where would I get the money? It all goes out as soon as I earn it.”

Looking at their expressions, none of the merchants seemed to believe Jo Gwang-yun’s whining.

“You don’t seem to believe me, but check with Hanam Bank. If there’s even a penny of my money there, you can take it all.”

At Jo Gwang-yun’s loud declaration, their disbelief turned into a look of doubt.

“Honestly, I make a lot of money. But I spend it all.”

Jo Gwang-yun’s voice grew louder and louder.

“I have to give it to the magistrate and the officials below him.”

*The officials who used to come to the market and find fault with everything had completely disappeared.*

“I also have to help with the Changryong Sect’s operating funds.”

*The Changryong Sect’s sturdy young men patrolled the market streets every day, and petty thugs who tried to extort money vanished without a trace.*

“Everyone keeps it quiet, but as you all know, I have to give money to the Black Faction [an underworld organization] so they won’t feel neglected.”

*There are conflicts between the righteous and evil factions all over the Central Plains, but Gaebong is peaceful.*

“And I’ve built department stores all over Hanam. Where do you think that money came from?”

“Hey, that’s sophistry. You’re saying you spent all the money expanding your business… But you’ll earn even more later, won’t you?”

“If I earn more, I’ll pour it all back in. Without leaving anything behind.”

The merchant who had been speaking sarcastically shut his mouth when Jo Gwang-yun said he would spend all the money he earned.

“Haven’t I repeatedly told you? What I want is the prosperity of our merchants. And when I say ‘our,’ I don’t just mean you people in Gaebong. I’m talking about all the merchants in the Central Plains.”

Some were impressed by Jo Gwang-yun’s passionate speech, while others couldn’t shake off their suspicious looks.

“Anyway, that’s not what I was trying to say. I was just wondering how Hanam Bank earns more money than the merchants, officials, and landowners.”

“Doesn’t the bank receive storage fees for holding money? There must be more than one or two rich people in Hanam. They must be making a huge profit.”

“How much do they charge for storage fees?”

“It varies depending on the amount of money and the person, so we can’t know exactly.”

*Everyone was careful with their words.*

*If they revealed the fees here, they would be subtly revealing how much money they had deposited.*

“I’m just asking because I find it hard to understand how they can spend money so lavishly even though they earn so much. How can someone who only stores money act richer than the wealthy people who deposit it… I really don’t get it.”

Only then did people start to stir.

“So, what do you think, Manager Jo?”

“I think there are two possibilities. They charge too much for storage fees. Otherwise, there’s no way they can make so much money.”

“And the other one?”

“Maybe… This is a bit uncomfortable to say… But since everyone here is like family, I’ll tell you my honest thoughts. I’m worried that they might be secretly skimming off the money that customers deposit.”

All the merchants were startled.

*Isn’t that money like their own children, earned with blood and sweat?*

*Could they be having their children’s flesh torn off?*

“Oh, please don’t think that way. I’m just mentioning a possibility. There’s no way the prestigious Hanam Bank would do that, right?”

Jo Gwang-yun spoke hastily, but the words he had already thrown out could not be taken back. He threw them out because he knew they couldn’t be taken back.

Now, the only thing left in the merchants’ minds is that the storage fees are excessively high.

Since they are also merchants, they don’t blame high profits.

But they cannot forgive betraying their trust. Especially if that trust involves money.

Doubt amplifies itself, swallowing even the smallest things without discarding them.

As doubt grows, it becomes conviction, and the moment they are convinced of betrayal, trust is shattered.

Trust. That is credit.

Money has developed based on credit, and banks are maintained precisely because of credit.

Today, a very small crack has appeared in the credit of Hanam Bank, which boasted of being the best in Hanam Province.

Now, to make the doubt grow, they need to spread their wings of imagination wide. Jo Gwang-yun jumped up.

“I have another appointment, so I’ll take my leave first. Please forget my nonsense and enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content.”

The merchants’ murmuring continued incessantly until Jo Gwang-yun left the inn. It was the sound of the wings of imagination spreading wide.

< Gathering People (3) > End