I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 50

Jang Cheon-yang carefully examined the spot where the magistrate had frowned.

There was nothing special. It was just the ordinary scene of people buying goods and paying with vouchers.

The magistrate finished looking around the department store and then headed to Jo’s General Store.

It was the same here.

He circled around with a deeply furrowed brow and then left.

The magistrate, aware that Jang Cheon-yang was quietly following him, raised his hand and called him over.

“Yes, sir. What is it?”

“You’re Jang Cheon-yang, you said?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then you’re not the owner here. The owner has the surname Jo.”

“That’s right. The person who runs this place is Jo Gwang-yun.”

“Then tell him this. Have him come to the magistrate’s office as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.”

“Magistrate, I’m sorry, but may I ask why you are summoning him?”

“It’s a story the owner needs to hear, so I’m calling him. There’s nothing for a subordinate to know. That’s all.”

The magistrate lightly nodded towards Jang Cheon-yang and turned away.

Watching his retreating figure, Jang Cheon-yang felt utterly pathetic.

To be treated like a merchant’s underling, even with the blood of a noble scholar flowing through his veins…

Jang Cheon-yang let out a long sigh and hurried to Jo Gwang-yun.

Jo Gwang-yun didn’t think it was a good sign that the magistrate, after looking around the department store and general store, had summoned him.

“He kept frowning, you said?”

“Yes. I don’t know why. The expressions of the customers and shop owners were bright, and I could tell everyone was satisfied.”

“In the end, is it because of the wall…?”

“Master Jang, I don’t think that’s it.”

“Why is that?”

“Magistrate Yun Ju-seong is also from a noble family. He thinks the difference between commoners and nobles is natural. Unless he was born into a fallen family like me and lived among the common people, he wouldn’t even feel the discrimination itself.”

That’s right. This is a thorough class society.

“Then is it because of the price?”

“More than that, isn’t it because of the monopoly? We’re the only ones who handle silk in our department store. The magistrate must have noticed the silk the most.”

“He might think it’s a monopoly because he doesn’t know that individual shop owners are selling it.”

That’s not a very convincing reason.

It would have been better to meet him after finding out more about what kind of person the magistrate is, but this is unsettling.

Fortunately, the meeting is tomorrow. There’s still time left today.

“Teacher Jang, send someone to the magistrate’s office now. I need to meet some officials tonight. Tell them I’ll buy them a drink.”

And that evening, he met with several officials, but he realized it was a pointless endeavor.

The officials, indulging in expensive alcohol with beautiful courtesans, knew nothing.

“We don’t know either. He wandered around alone during the day, returned to the magistrate’s office, and didn’t meet anyone, just stayed alone. I don’t even know if he ate.”

“Without any special instructions or requests?”

“That’s right. We were all tense because he’s known to be picky, but he was just a scholar.”

There’s no reason to stay any longer.

“Then enjoy yourselves. I’ll take my leave first.”

The officials grabbed Jo Gwang-yun’s hand as he stood up.

“Already? Don’t you want to play some more…?”

“Wouldn’t you rather play with the courtesans than with me?”

The officials quickly released Jo Gwang-yun’s hand and plunged it into the courtesan’s chest.

“Take care, Master Jang Jo. Thank you as always.”

* * *

When he returned home late, there was a document on his desk.

It was the information about the magistrate that Jang Cheon-yang had investigated.

Based on the investigated information, the possibility of Magistrate Yun Ju-seong returning to central politics was zero.

Unless the emperor dies and the court is completely reshuffled, Magistrate Yun will either move from one local post to another, or this will be the end for him.

If he had a lot of wealth, he would set up a private academy and train future generations, but he wasn’t quite at that level.

Jo Gwang-yun fell into deep thought.

In the end, people are all the same. When they are pushed out and chased away, resentment builds up, and they need to vent that resentment to breathe and live.

If Magistrate Yun Ju-seong simply chose Jo Gwang-yun as a target to vent his frustration, it would be a great relief. After venting to his heart’s content, he will be able to breathe, and if he examines reality with a clear mind, he will never be able to distance himself from Jo Gwang-yun.

But if he really finds something unreasonable or illegal and tries to punish him, Jo Gwang-yun’s future will open up to a new thorny path.

Based on the investigation, isn’t Magistrate Yun a terribly persistent guy?

He might not stop until Jo Gwang-yun is stripped bare.

“In the end, I have no choice but to meet him and break through…”

Rather than being anxious with unnecessary imagination, Jo Gwang-yun’s way is to quickly face and resolve dangerous realities.

The next morning, Jo Gwang-yun arrived at the magistrate’s office, took a deep breath, and strode inside.

Magistrate Yun, already dressed in formal attire, was waiting for Jo Gwang-yun in the main hall of the magistrate’s office.

“Greetings, sir. I am Jo Gwang-yun.”

“Are you the owner of Jo’s Department Store, Jo’s General Store, and Jo’s Exchange?”

“That is correct.”

“I assume you already know that I looked around those places yesterday.”

“Yes, I received the report. I apologize for making you uncomfortable.”

Magistrate Yun’s eyes gleamed.

“Uncomfortable? Why do you think I was uncomfortable?”

“I don’t think you’re the type to get angry just because you weren’t recognized at the entrance. Frankly, I don’t know the reason.”

Suddenly, Magistrate Yun’s attitude changed.

“Listen carefully. Yesterday, this official saw something rampant that could shake the very foundation of this country, something akin to treason. And you, sir, are standing here as the mastermind behind it.”

Jo Gwang-yun’s heart seemed to stop.

The word treason was shocking, but that wasn’t the reason. He was surprised by Yun Ju-seong’s insight, which had seen through the act of shaking the foundation of a country at a glance.

Without hesitation, Jo Gwang-yun prostrated himself on the floor.

“I am ignorant and have no idea what you are talking about. I deserve to die for not understanding your intentions.”

“Don’t know? How dare a man with such a brilliant mind to pull off such a thing pretend not to know?”

Magistrate Yun threw a small piece of paper he was holding.

The piece of paper fluttering to the ground was, at first glance, a voucher issued by Jo’s Exchange.

“I clearly saw with my own eyes the scene of people trading with this voucher yesterday. Are you still pretending not to know?”

As expected, it’s because of the voucher.

“A voucher is just a certificate of deposit, not currency. Only the country can make currency, but aren’t you the culprit who made people use vouchers like currency?”

“Magistrate, our Jo’s Exchange has never done such a thing. As you said, we only store silver and issue vouchers, that is, certificates of deposit, and simply give silver to the person who brings the voucher.”

“You! Where are you trying to weasel out of this?”

Yun Ju-seong’s voice grew even louder.

“Sir, it is unfair to pressure me like this. The issuance of vouchers is the responsibility of the exchange, but we cannot know or be responsible for the actions of those who use the vouchers after they are issued.”

Jo Gwang-yun subtly watched Yun Ju-seong’s expression as if he was wronged. His expression was still radiating anger.

“I knew you would try to get away with it like that.”

Yun Ju-seong had an expression that said, ‘I’ve got you now.’

“Aren’t you accepting vouchers instead of currency at that department store and general store you run? Your exchange issues them, and your stores accept them. This is exactly how you are training people to use vouchers instead of currency. Did you think I wouldn’t know your intentions?”

He’s really not an easy guy.

He accurately saw through even ‘training people to use vouchers instead of currency.’

Jo Gwang-yun worked his brain hard. What should he say to convince the magistrate?

“Does a voucher from a mere exchange have as much credit as the country’s currency, gold, or silver? Even if it has that much credit and is convenient, it is a personal thing. How dare you encourage your scribbled voucher to play the role of currency? This is shaking the foundation of the country’s economy! It’s the same as treason. Do you understand?”

Magistrate Yun Ju-seong felt chills down his spine when he saw people using vouchers so casually yesterday.

Corruption of officials, waste of taxes, the wealthy and powerful oppressing the people, turning people into slaves with high-interest debts.

He had seen many such heinous things, but it was the first time he had seen individuals using vouchers like money.

‘I don’t know who he is, but he’s an extraordinary person. He might shake the economy of this Henan Province, or even this country.’

It was his first day in office, but he couldn’t tolerate such a thing.

Jo Gwang-yun knew that if he didn’t change Yun’s mind, a great danger would come.

“Sir, I am just a common merchant. Please forgive my ignorance for not understanding even half of what you are saying. Also, I received the vouchers because of the customers’ requests. I thought that a merchant should accept any request from a customer in order to make money. Please consider this.”

It’s just a trivial excuse, but it’s something that a trivial merchant can say. Jo Gwang-yun expected that this simple logic would work. He knows that Magistrate Yun Ju-seong has great pride in his intellect. The simpler the logic, the clearer it is. What could justify a merchant’s actions more than having to comply with customers’ requests?

Magistrate Yun only breathed roughly and couldn’t shout.

Clearly, he had a strong suspicion, but he had no way to prove his intentions.

“Alright. I’ll believe that what you say is true. But from this moment on, there should be no buying or selling of goods with vouchers. If even a single voucher is circulating in your department store or general store… remember this. I will destroy all of your buildings!”

“I will faithfully follow your orders.”

Jo Gwang-yun, banging his head on the floor, had only one thought in his head.

Shit, I’m screwed.

* * *

“Master Jang. If the magistrate has banned the use of vouchers, shouldn’t we take action right now?”

“What action?”

“First, we should have customers use silver…”

“No way!”

Jang Cheon-yang flinched at Jo Gwang-yun’s shout.

“How can the person in charge of the exchange say such a thing! What have you learned all this time?”

Jang Cheon-yang realized his mistake. The words he had heard until his ears were sore were that the exchange is all about trust.

What if the department store stops using vouchers?

Vouchers have been used without any problems so far. Stopping the use of vouchers will make customers think that there is a problem with the vouchers, and this is an act of breaking trust.

The bigger problem is that the moment they doubt the vouchers, everyone will rush to the exchange to get their money back, and the moment the wealthy people of Gaebong find out that there is no money, everything will collapse.

“I’m sorry. I was short-sighted.”

“Stop saying sorry and come up with a plan!”

There’s no way a plan will come out when the ruler of Gaebong has issued a strict order.

Jang Cheon-yang couldn’t say anything and couldn’t lift his head.

Jo Gwang-yun was also silent, but for a different reason.

He was thinking about Magistrate Yun rather than vouchers or department stores.

He is a person who was hated by the court and kicked out. Even if such a person suddenly dies, the court will not pay much attention.

Besides, aren’t the officials of the magistrate’s office puppets that move according to his words? If he tells them to report the magistrate’s cause of death as illness or accident, they will follow his orders.

It’s the simplest and most certain method, but…

He’s still reluctant to use extreme methods.

End