I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 44

< What a Bank Does (1) >

“Then, would you like to learn by watching me? I am the most ruthless merchant under the Central Plains sky, you know.”

Jang Cheon-yang smiled just as brightly as Jo Gwang-yun, saying,

“The imperial court is full of ruthless people who slander others to the point of ruining their families just to get ahead. If I were to take office, that’s exactly where I would go. Isn’t using any means necessary simply because one desires something so earnestly?”

“You’ve made up your mind then.”

“Please teach me much in the future.”

Jang Cheon-yang bowed respectfully.

Jo Gwang-yun took out a bundle of chits [IOUs or promissory notes] from a drawer and handed them to Jang Cheon-yang.

“I will be back.”

Jang Cheon-yang tucked the chits into his pocket and bowed again.

“Where are you going?”

“Isn’t it your intention for me to exchange these chits, which are from the Hanam Bank, for silver and to assess the situation there?”

“You certainly don’t have a dull mind. Go and come back.”

Jo Gwang-yun said with a somewhat displeased expression.

As soon as Jang Cheon-yang left, Jo Gwang-yun burst into laughter.

“Hahaha. That fellow… He’s getting ahead of himself. I gave him that money to find a house in Gaebong.”

Jang Cheon-yang’s behavior was no different from that of a new employee trying to impress his boss at his first job.

* * *

“The expressions of the workers said it all.”

“Did they seem very distressed?”

“They looked completely dazed. The people verifying the chits were overwhelmed by the complaints of the long line of customers.”

“It’s because they’re all rushing in at once, right? To verify the authenticity of the chits?”

“Yes. It’s the first time they’ve experienced something like this, so they’re being extremely cautious.”

‘It won’t be long now.’

If Gaebong is in this state, the rumors must have already spread everywhere else. And once the Gaebong bank closes, the others will follow suit.

“But, Bank Owner Jo.”

Jang Cheon-yang carefully opened his mouth, watching Jo Gwang-yun’s expression.

“Was rumor all that was needed to orchestrate this?”

“Do you think there’s more to it?”

“I just can’t believe that a bank that has stood for so long could collapse with just a rumor.”

“That rumor is particularly vicious, you see. Unbelievably so.”

The speed at which praise and slander spread is vastly different.

Praise spreads very slowly and rarely leaves the region where the rumor started. But slander travels faster than a horse, even though it has no feet, and spreads a thousand miles.

“A bank doesn’t sell products; it sells trust. That rumor was enough to shatter that trust, and once the trust is broken, it’s the same as the product being broken. Who would buy a broken product?”

“Is people’s trust so fragile?”

“Especially the wealthy. They don’t trust anyone easily because they have so much to lose.”

“I see. Most of those who deposit money in banks are wealthy, after all.”

“Also, the first principle of the wealthy is to protect their money. In this case, it’s not difficult to simply withdraw their money from the bank. Hesitating and losing money would be a truly foolish thing to do.”

“The habits of the wealthy… I will keep that in mind. Oh, right.”

Jang Cheon-yang took out a bundle of silver ingots from his pocket and held them out.

“I retrieved this from the bank.”

“Use it.”

“Pardon?”

“Buy a house today. Somewhere near the Gyeong-an Escort Service. Buy some necessary household goods, and find a woman to do the housework.”

“Bank Owner Jo, just a moment. I am not yet married…”

‘He’s getting ahead of himself again.’

“I’m not talking about marriage; I’m just saying to find someone to do the housework. You don’t actually plan to cook and do laundry yourself, do you?”

“Ah… That’s what you meant. Thank you for your concern, but it’s alright. How much housework could there be for a man living alone? I’ve been doing it myself until now.”

“Do you think I’m just being considerate so you can live comfortably?”

Jang Cheon-yang’s face turned red at Jo Gwang-yun’s glare, as if realizing his mistake.

“I was short-sighted. I will do as you say.”

‘It means he should spend all his time working from now on.’

“Is the one *shijin* [approximately two hours] that Jang Hyeong spends on housework the same as the one *shijin* of a woman from around the neighborhood? You’re buying time with money. Buy it cheaply and devote yourself to more valuable work.”

“Bank Owner Jo, you broaden my horizons every time. I’ve never thought about buying time with money before…”

“The saying that time is fair to everyone is nonsense. To make money, you have to take other people’s time. This is the most important thing, so you should think within this framework no matter what you do.”

“You mean I should buy the time spent on chores with money?”

Jo Gwang-yun continued to explain, hoping that Jang Cheon-yang would eventually understand.

“The merchants who have set up shop in Jo Ga Department Store in Hanam pay me ten percent of their monthly sales, right? You know that?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve taken ten percent of their day. The same goes for the escort service fees. I provide them with a space and environment to work, and they give me their time. It’s not money; it’s time.”

“Not money, but time…”

“If there are ten thousand such merchants, my day is the same as other people’s thousand days.”

Jang Cheon-yang looked incredulous at the specific numbers.

“Now, let’s earn in one day what others have to earn in a thousand days.”

“Is that what a bank is for?”

“A bank isn’t everything, but it’s a very big part. It will be a solid pillar for all businesses.”

Others would call it a pipe dream, but it felt real to Jang Cheon-yang.

Instead, Jo Gwang-yun, who spoke so frankly, seemed unrealistic.

* * *

The Hanam Bank’s Manager Yoo sighed deeply as he raised his glass.

He had diligently managed the bank, meticulously safeguarding the money and gold entrusted to him by customers, and even charged lower storage fees than other banks on the continent.

Yet, an absurd thing had happened: no one had been robbed, but he had become a thief.

What was even more absurd was that people were simply withdrawing their money without calling him a thief.

His business was based on trust, but his credibility had hit rock bottom, so his business capital had been depleted. No one would do business with a thief.

“Elder, a guest has arrived. What shall we do?”

Someone cautiously reported from outside the door.

“Who is it?”

“He says he’s from Jo Ga Department Store.”

Manager Yoo hurriedly came out of the room, looking for his shoes, and said,

“Quickly, bring him in.”

Jo Ga Department Store was rumored to be sweeping up all the money in Hanam Province. If they were to deposit that money in the Hanam Bank, it would be a lifeline.

Wouldn’t it be a golden opportunity to restore his credibility in an instant?

“I am Jo Gwang-yun.”

“I’ve finally met you, Bank Owner Jo.”

Manager Yoo carefully examined the young man before him.

A merchant who had grown so rapidly that he was now rumored to be the wealthiest man in Hanam. But he had not deposited his money in the Hanam Bank.

Of course, he could trade through others, but even so, it wouldn’t be a large sum. It was common sense among the wealthy to handle large sums directly.

“May I come in for a moment?”

“Oh, what a discourtesy. Please, come in.”

Manager Yoo led Jo Gwang-yun into the room.

When Jo Gwang-yun saw the liquor bottles scattered around his room, he knew Manager Yoo’s condition for sure.

Drinking this much alcohol alone meant he was driven to the edge.

“You’ve come to see me at this late hour, so I assume you have something urgent to say?”

“That’s right. But it seems you’ve had too much to drink…”

“Ah, no. These bottles aren’t from today, but from a few days ago… I haven’t had much to drink today.”

‘Drinking every night… He must be even more desperate.’

“More importantly, the urgent matter you mentioned… Could it be that you’re considering doing business with our Hanam Bank…?”

“Ah, I’m sorry if you had any expectations. I don’t have enough money to deposit in a bank.”

“Oh, how could that be? I’ve heard you’re sweeping up money from every department store.”

“That’s right. I am sweeping it up.”

“There, you see. Haha.”

“But I’ve spent it all. Do you think the department stores I’ve built all over Hanam just appeared out of nowhere? It’s all money.”

“Ah, I suppose that’s true.”

Manager Yoo couldn’t hide his disappointment.

“Then, what is the reason for your visit…?”

Jo Gwang-yun cleared his throat once and opened his mouth.

“I want to buy the ledger.”

“The ledger? Which ledger are you referring to?”

“The ledger that records customers’ money transactions. You haven’t not recorded them, have you?”

Manager Yoo couldn’t understand what it meant to buy the bank’s secret ledger, so he was speechless for a while.

< What a Bank Does (1) > End