Tang Family Leather.

The sign of the leather shop run by Guhwang, newly established on the Ganyang shopping street, had changed.

"What is this?"

The people from the hunters' association, having heard the news, came running.

"Shopkeeper Gu! Shopkeeper Gu!"

"Ah, isn't it the Association Head?"

"What on earth! Is this foolishness?"

"Foolishness?"

Guhwang's eyes turned fierce at the hunters' association head's words.

"Changing the name to that, if that's not foolishness, are you in your right mind?"

It was a direct and sharp accusation.

"It's my shop! What's so wrong with changing the name?"

"Of course it's wrong! The Tang Family! The Tang Family's estate! What is this but an act of ignoring Lord Go's decision?"

"Why is that wrong?"

"What?"

"A merchant must make choices based on profit."

"What did you say?"

"The goods brought from the hunters' association in the past... haah, let's not even talk about it."

"This guy..."

"Anyway, stop interfering with my business and leave. I have decided to stay in the shadow of the Tang Family's estate from today. From now on, you don't need to bring any goods. Tang Family Leather only handles the Tang family's goods."

At the harsh dismissal, the hunters' association head gritted his teeth and glared.

What could he say when the owner said so?

But the change wasn't just in leather.

At Guhwang's earnest persuasion, one herbal medicine shop also turned.

Tang Family Pharmacy.

Again, it was the Tang Family's estate.

Although it was only two places, the hunters' association and the herb gatherers' association, both belonging to the Ganyang Merchant Association, were turned upside down.

And for good reason. Hadn't they already experienced it?

The blow was big even when those punks set up stalls, so what if they opened a proper shop and sold high-quality goods?

The loss would be immense.

It was obvious what the furious men would do next.

"Association Head! Two shops have gone over to the Tang Family's estate punks."

As the heads of the hunters' association and the herb gatherers' association came to him with flushed faces, Go Hyeon, who was brewing tea, let out a smirk.

"You mean Guhwang and Eonsaeng?"

"Yes! Those punks have ignored the merchant association's order and joined hands with the Tang Family's estate."

"So it has come to that. Well, they owed a great debt to the Mandeok Estate... they must want to wash away their past sins with this opportunity. But how foolish. How can they do business like that? To be swayed by sentiment and join a fight they are sure to lose."

Although the two association heads were venting their anger, Go Hyeon calmly filled a teacup with the brewed tea.

"Since you're here, have a cup of tea before you go."

"Association Head!"

"Ho ho, calm down."

"Do we look like we can calm down right now?"

"Is there a need to be angry?"

"Of course we're angry! Our livelihoods are at stake."

"Livelihoods at stake? That's strange. Isn't your main business trading with the merchant groups in the capital, not Ganyang?"

"Well, that's true, but... we have many mouths to feed. We cannot give up Ganyang."

"Tsk tsk, what greedy people. Why do you try to hold a rice cake in both hands?"

"Association Head, please give us your wise opinion."

"Hmm..."

At the earnest request of the two association heads, Go Hyeon pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Lower the prices."

"Pardon?"

"Don't you know the saying, 'small profits and quick returns'?"

"Small profits and quick returns?"

"Yes."

To make up for losses by selling many things at a low price.

Who wouldn't know that?

"I looked into it, and I heard the quality of the leather and medicinal herbs the Tang Family's estate sold before was very good."

"...Yes."

"Then of course you have to compete with quantity."

"But, their quantity was not ordinary either."

"Tsk tsk, how can people in the business be so dull?"

"Pardon?"

"I looked into it too. They say the quality of the goods the Tang Family's estate sold at that time varied greatly."

"..."

"Most of the medicinal herbs were dried, and although the quality of the leather was good, much of it was old and the fur was stiff, right?"

"Well, yes..."

"Don't you get it? It wasn't obtained in a short time. They sold off what they had been steadily accumulating over a long period of time all at once."

"..."

"In contrast, what about you? Even if the quality is a little lower, is the quantity you can handle at once less than theirs?"

"That's not it, but."

"Lower the prices. The loss will be brief. You just have to sell like that until the Tang Family's estate can't withstand your volume offensive and slashed prices and gives up."

"Umm."

"Don't worry. I will support you with the merchant association's surplus funds."

"Pardon? Is that true?"

The eyes of the two association heads widened.

"It seems you've seen me lie to you before."

"No. Absolutely not."

"Then do as I say."

"Of course. We will do so."

"Lower and lower the prices until the Tang Family's estate gives up on its own. Also, to prevent their quantity from keeping up with yours, have the hunters and herb gatherers work without rest for a while. The goods to be sent to the two merchant groups in the capital will be sufficient with what's stored in the warehouse for now."

"Yes! My lord!"

"Keep this in mind, this is a war. A war for survival. You are now at the forefront of it."

"You mean this? Just trust us! You will soon hear the news that the two Tang family shops have closed down."

The association heads, having received a satisfactory answer, returned with forceful steps.

"That young punk of a Tang family head... was this all you could do after defying my words? Then, go ahead and try. I will show you that the world is not so easy."

Go Hyeon savored the taste of the tea and wore a satisfied smile.

* * *

"Dammit... I'm exhausted."

Baekgang, who had piled up a heap of freshly skinned animal hides, grumbled.

"Are you okay?"

"Do I look okay?"

Baekgang showed his annoyance without reservation at Hwangsama's words.

"Dammit, what on earth is this mess? To meet the quantity, we have to hunt and hunt... and he says we can't rest from training."

"Tell me about it."

"Look over there. The Hoyeon Brigade kids all have long faces. Long faces."

"Hmm, it's understandable. Lately, they haven't been able to sleep properly, with training and hunting..."

"Is the medicinal herb side okay?"

"Of course not. Yesterday, Seongu almost fell off a cliff while dozing off."

"Seongu did?"

"Yes."

"Damn it, there's going to be an accident at this rate. The fight with the merchant association is important, but we have to say something to the Family Head. And he wants us to increase the quantity? Does that even make sense?"

"Of course it doesn't. Speaking of which, shall we go now?"

"Let's go! Let's go!"

Just as Hwangsama and Baekgang were agreeing.

"It would be better not to go."

"Ah, Divine Work Pavilion Master."

"Ho ho, you're all having a hard time, aren't you?"

"We're about to die."

"I'm sorry I can't help."

"Help? Don't you have your own work to do, Divine Work Pavilion Master?"

"Still, I feel sorry. But, don't go to the Family Head."

"Pardon?"

"Ah, actually, he's not here even if you go now."

"He's not here?"

"No."

"Then when he comes back..."

"Don't go even when he comes back."

Ahn Chilgang shook his head and said firmly.

"Why?"

"How much do you guys sleep these days?"

"Sleep? Roughly, about two hours?"

"You don't take naps either?"

"That's right. About half an hour..."

"That's why."

"Pardon?"

"The Family Head hasn't slept for several days."

"...Pardon?"

"Actually, the thing is."

Ahn Chilgang began to speak with a worried expression.

Tang Cheonyeong doesn't sleep these days.

He wakes up at dawn to start his training, and in the morning, he discusses with Ahn Chilgang how to build the pavilions of the Tang Family's estate.

When that's done, he goes to the market and helps out at the Tang Family Leather and Pharmacy.

"Is that all? He splits his remaining time to go to other villages far away with the Inner Hall Master to buy groceries."

"Pardon? The Family Head is doing that too?"

"Hmm, the Inner Hall Master told me."

"..."

"And he said he has to go to the capital soon. It seems it's not easy to open a trade."

"..."

"Since I'm old and a light sleeper... I sometimes see what the Family Head does when he returns late at night."

"..."

"He was training. When I told him it would be better to rest, he smiled and said that training only during the day was not enough... that he had to become stronger to protect the members of the Tang Family's estate."

Hwangsama and Baekgang couldn't say anything.

"Lately, he hasn't been sleeping at all, so when I asked if he was okay, he said he would sleep continuously when he died anyway. As a retainer, I couldn't help but feel sorry. I've met a good master in my later years."

Ahn Chilgang laughed heartily and looked at the two alternately.

"He rarely complains. He says that if the person at the top complains, the people below lose strength. He said it's a pity that he can't work several times more than the people below him, as he should in a high position."

"..."

"Ah! I've held you two up for too long while you were resting. Rest for a moment. The Family Head will understand that much."

"Pardon?"

"I'll go back to work now. Shouldn't I move a little more diligently so that the Family Head will trust me and rest for a moment?"

Hwangsama and Baekgang stared blankly at the retreating Ahn Chilgang.

How long had they been in that quiet silence?

"Oh? You guys are here? Are you okay? Aigoo, these guys... the dark circles under your eyes show how hard you've been working. It shows. Shall I help you a little? Do you want to take turns sleeping? I have a little work left in the Outer Hall, but..."

The Outer Hall Master, Chunil, who had gone out, came back and spoke to the two.

"No?"

"Huh?"

"Hwangsama, are you tired?"

"Me? I'm perfectly fine. I'm in trouble because I have too much energy."

"That's what I'm saying!"

Chunil tilted his head at the sight of the two, who were showing off their muscles as if they had suddenly gained strength they didn't have.

"Chunil."

"Yeah?"

"Work hard. We have to assist the Family Head well. Don't you think so?"

"Well, yes..."

"We'll be going now. We have to catch twice as much as yesterday today. And train harder!"

"As for me, I plan to dig up more than ten baskets of medicinal herbs today."

Hwangsama and Baekgang run off as if competing.

"What's with those guys? They were about to die yesterday..."

Chunil could only tilt his head in confusion.

And then.

"Will this do?"

"Yes."

Cheonyeong, who was hiding in a secluded place far away, wore a sinister smile.

"I don't know if this is okay."

"It's fine. Those guys, I know from training them, they're just feigning. They're still full of energy, just whining for no reason."

"Ho ho, my... there was no lie in my words, but I feel like I'm committing a sin for no reason."

Cheonyeong grinned at Ahn Chilgang's words and shook his head.

Beating is only for once or twice.

Even the same method doesn't work if you use it many times, and it only creates unnecessary resentment.

At times like this, it's better to coax them and use them.

Should I call it a method of appealing to emotions?

So he had deliberately ordered it.

To Ahn Chilgang, the eldest in the Tang Family's estate.

"But will it be okay to leave right away without sleeping? You didn't sleep a wink yesterday either."

"I have to endure until the fight with the merchant association is over. We're short on hands."

"Family Head, please take care of your body. If you, the Family Head, collapse... isn't it all for nothing?"

"I'll keep that in mind."

Cheonyeong smiled and nodded his head.

"Family Head! Family Head!"

And, just in time, Yongcheon and Sanghui, carrying a lot of luggage on their backs, approached.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah!"

Pow!

"Keuk! Hey, why did you hit me?"

"What do you mean, 'yeah' to the Family Head? You're the Vice Family Head."

"Ah! Yes, Family Head!"

Yongcheon, who had been speaking informally out of habit, was hit in the side by Sanghui and corrected his words.

"Then, Family Head, please have a safe trip."

"Alright, today, prepare some food that will restore the energy of the Hoyeon Brigade kids. They must be very tired."

"I will. Don't worry about the Inner Hall's affairs. Lately, the newly accepted Yin Hand Chamber... no, the laborers are also working hard."

As Sanghui bowed and disappeared, saying she was busy with work, Yongcheon pouted and said.

"Dammit, that kid is always like that only to me."

Cheonyeong grinned at Yongcheon's words.

You idiot... that's what you call domestic support.

Really, Sanghui, who is pretty, quick-witted... and good at her work, is too good for him.

If he hadn't owed his life to Yongcheon, he would have coaxed Sanghui and paired her with a good match. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Then, I'll be going."

"Yes, Family Head. Please be careful on your long journey."

"Yes."

Having finished his farewells with Ahn Chilgang, Cheonyeong left the Tang Family's estate with Yongcheon.

The place they were heading to was the capital of Sichuan, Seongdo.

The Munjeong Merchant Group and the Simcheon Merchant Group there.

He had to go now.

Even if he was exhausted, he had to go.

Because the Ganyang Merchant Association Head, Go Hyeon, had headed to the capital with a cart full of leather and medicinal herbs.

Surely, the merchant groups wouldn't mercilessly cast aside their existing business partners for no reason.

He had to make it so they had no choice but to cast them aside.

Fair competition.

That is commercial ethics.

Of course, Go Hyeon did not know that he was also going with him.

"Keuk keuk, I'll cut off your livelihood properly. Right in front of your eyes."

(End of Chapter)