Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 58

GuLong Chronicles (58)

“It seems to rain more this year than last. If it keeps raining like this, the lower village will be flooded.”

Every year during the rainy season, many people are displaced. Despite facing the same issues annually, there’s been no improvement.

Large cities and counties prepare for the rainy season by maintaining drainage systems and sewers, but smaller towns and counties lack the resources and suffer flood damage every year.

Sanyang County was a typical flood-prone area. However, after GuLong Manor acquired the brothel and inn, expanding its business, they also constructed drainage and sewer systems during the construction process. This allowed water to flow without stagnating, making this year’s rainy season slightly better.

Except for the areas managed by GuLong Manor, water still accumulated and overflowed, gradually affecting daily life. People came out every day to sweep away the water, but it was only a temporary fix. Sweeping water in the rain for long hours was not something anyone wanted to do, and the fact that their efforts seemed futile was even more discouraging.

Working in the rain often led to colds or body aches, leaving people bedridden and unable to do anything, with the accumulated water impacting their lives.

“This is a real problem.”

“What do you think you’re doing? Sweep the water away, quickly!”

Young men wearing raincoats appeared, sweeping the water pooling around the houses to prevent it from entering.

“Wang, are you inside?”

“Cough… Cough… Who is it?”

A weak voice accompanied by coughing came from inside, eliciting a look of concern.

“It’s me. May I come in?”

The man took off his raincoat and went inside.

“What brings you here, brother? Cough, cough.”

“Tsk, tsk… Don’t you know you’re only hurting yourself by being sick like this? Where are your wife and children?”

“I sent them to their family home before the rainy season started. It’s better for them to be there than here, so I sent them together.”

“What’s so great about that? It’s better to be together. You should have someone to take care of you when you’re sick.”

“Because of the rainy season…”

“Tsk, tsk. What if you get sick and die like this?”

“Did you come here to curse me?”

He snapped back, causing the man to chuckle.

“Curse you…”

The man took out a packet of medicine from his pocket and handed it to him.

“What is this?”

“Eat it and die.”

“What!”

“GuLong Manor anticipated that there would be many people like you, so they hired young men to go around sweeping water and even prepared medicine for you to take and recover.”

“GuLong Manor?”

“Yes. Once you recover and the rainy season ends, thank the Lord of GuLong Manor.”

“Why would the Lord of GuLong Manor do this?”

“How would I know? I’m just doing this for money. But hasn’t the Lord of GuLong Manor been doing a lot of good things in our Sanyang County?”

“That’s true.”

“He must be planning to settle down in Sanyang County. Big manors and powerful families pay a lot of attention to public sentiment.”

“Is that so?”

“So, just say hello if you happen to meet the Lord of GuLong Manor. That’s just common courtesy.”

“I understand.”

“The medicine is for three days. Boil it in water and drink the water.”

“The cost of the medicine…”

“If you had money for medicine, would you be lying here? Don’t worry about that and make sure to take it and regain your strength. You need to work, don’t you? The young men will come and sweep away the stagnant water for a while. So, don’t think about anything else and just take care of yourself.”

With those words, he got up.

“Are you leaving?”

“I have to go to other houses too. You’re not the only one like this.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I’m just doing this for money. Save your gratitude for the Lord of GuLong Manor when you get better.”

As the man left, he stared at the packet of medicine left in the room.

“The Lord of GuLong Manor sent it.”

* * *

Hwa-Rin used the Yangtze River to reach Chongqing and then headed north to Shanxi Province. It took longer than expected, but it still only took three days.

Hwa-Rin arrived at GuLong Manor in Sanyang County and listened to Lee Seo-jung, who was in charge as the acting general manager, talk about the situation in Sanyang County.

“Good job. Continue to hire young men to go around the county and prevent water from accumulating.”

Hwa-Rin, hearing that things were difficult every rainy season, hired young men from the county to go around the villages, sweeping away stagnant water, and had medicine prepared for those who were bedridden with colds or body aches.

This led to praises for the Lord of GuLong Manor filling Sanyang County.

“Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“They say the Lord of GuLong Manor will be distributing grain tomorrow.”

“Is that true?”

“My wife is making a fuss about going to receive grain tomorrow.”

Hwa-Rin, having heard from Mi-Ok that people lacked food during the rainy season, released the grain obtained from the HwaMyung Trading Company to prevent the people of Sanyang County from going hungry.

Instead of giving it all away at once, he distributed it little by little to many people, so he didn’t have to consume too much grain.

Although it was a small amount, it was enough for a family of four to eat for two or three days, which was a great help to those who received it.

Hwa-Rin’s acts of charity in Sanyang County led to praises for him spreading beyond Sanyang County to Sangju and Sangnam County.

“Hey, they say the Lord of GuLong Manor gave out grain in Sanyang County, so why isn’t the villa giving us anything?”

Some people complained about why the GuLong Manor villa wasn’t distributing grain, but the villa made no response.

While Hwa-Rin was performing good deeds for Sanyang County, a man came to GuLong Manor.

“What brings the Lord of Youngcheon Trading Company to our GuLong Manor?”

Hwa-Rin asked, pretending not to know anything.

“The Lord’s good deeds are filling the county, so I came to build a relationship.”

“Ah, you’ve come to the right place.”

As Hwa-Rin smiled brightly, Dongseo-dok was inwardly doubtful.

‘Could he really not know anything?’

As SaDo-hyung’s words came to mind, Dongseo-dok braced himself, thinking that Hwa-Rin would lower his guard and then stab him in the back.

“There are many rumors about the Lord of GuLong Manor among us merchants.”

“Oh, is that so? What kind of rumors?”

“Many rumors are circulating, but the most talked about is GuLong Tower.”

“Ah, GuLong Tower will be a major source of income for our manor in the future.”

“That’s why I’m asking, how did the Lord obtain permission for the gambling den?”

“Someone came and asked me before, but I went every day and pestered them until the Lord of the Castle gave up and granted it.”

“Is that true?”

“Of course. I went every day for about five years without missing a single day.”

Dongseo-dok was surprised to hear that he had gone every day for five years.

“Even if you put in that much effort to get permission…”

“They wouldn’t grant it just by doing that. I went and pestered them, helped with household chores, and sometimes even interfered with the Lord’s work.”

“You’d get into big trouble doing that.”

“Yes. I got hit and even imprisoned.”

“Imprisoned? Didn’t you say you went every day?”

He asked, not understanding.

“Of course. I learned many techniques from my seniors while serving in the military, one of which was how to pick prison locks.”

“So?”

“I would pick the lock, come out, greet them, pester them to grant permission, and then go back to prison.”

Dongseo-dok was troubled about how much of Hwa-Rin’s words to believe.

“You don’t seem to believe me.”

“That’s true.”

“There may be some lies mixed in with what I said. But I don’t think I have any reason to tell you that business secret.”

“Ahem.”

Dongseo-dok, embarrassed, cleared his throat and hid his true feelings.

“But the Lord seems quite young, but you seem to have a lot of inherited wealth. As far as I know, this manor was originally the Danri Family’s manor.”

“The only inherited wealth I have is this body. I earned all this money by working. And it seems like someone who came to build a relationship is here to investigate me.”

“Haha, I’m sorry. I was just asking because the Lord is younger than I expected, and I was thinking of setting you up with someone. Forgive me if I was rude.”

“A matchmaker?”

“I heard you’re still single. You seem to be over twenty, so you should get married and have children to carry on the family line, shouldn’t you?”

“That’s true, but I haven’t really thought about marriage. But listening to you, I realize I’m getting to the age where I should get married.”

“It’s a bit late. Prestigious families usually get married before they turn twenty and work hard to continue their lineage. And you can be more daring when you work if you have descendants.”

“Can’t you do it alone?”

“That’s true, but if you’re trying to build a family, wouldn’t you want to be more stable?”

“That makes sense.”

“It’s different if you have nothing, but people with some wealth like the Lord have a different mindset.”

“I understand what you mean. It’s good to meet you and hear your insights.”

“Haha, insights? Thank you for taking it so well. If the Lord changes his mind and wants to sell GuLong Tower, would you tell me first?”

“That’s not a difficult thing to do, so I’ll do that.”

“Haha, thank you.”

“Lord!”

A voice calling Hwa-Rin was heard from outside.

“What’s wrong?”

“Someone from the Youngchin Royal Palace has arrived.”

At the mention of the Youngchin Royal Palace, Dongseo-dok flinched.

‘Isn’t the Youngchin Royal Palace where Prince Joo Young-woon, who is in charge of the Palosuro Army, resides?’

“From the Youngchin Royal Palace?”

“Yes. His Royal Highness Prince Youngchin has come in person.”

Dongseo-dok was even more surprised to hear that Prince Youngchin had come in person, and his body trembled slightly.

“What brings my uncle here?”

‘Gasp!’

There are only a few people who can call Prince Youngchin uncle.

“I’m sorry. I think I should get going.”

“Please do. You shouldn’t keep the Prince waiting.”

Hwa-Rin got up, left his office, and a smile filled his face.

Dongseo-dok, left alone, suddenly became short of breath.

“The only people who can call Prince Youngchin uncle are the Emperor’s children. That’s why the Lord of Shanxi Province granted permission for the gambling den, and the Imperial Palace didn’t take any action on that permission.”

—It seems like he came to see my situation, but it’s different from what he expected, so he must be very anxious.

At Hwa-Rin’s telepathic message ringing in his head, his heart almost stopped.

“Gasp!”

—I’m the type to repay silver or money tenfold. You sent assassins to take my life, so you must be prepared to some extent, right?

Dongseo-dok trembled like an aspen in the fierce cold.

—But if you give me some compensation, I might show mercy. Think carefully while I finish talking with my uncle.