“Why the long face?”
On the way back after receiving Man Geum-jeon’s approval.
Coincidentally, I passed by Jeon Gil-san’s inn, who is Man Geum-jeon’s grandson and my first franchisee, so I decided to check it out.
“It’s nothing unusual. What’s up with the lack of losses in Nine Black Qi Hands? This is the least among all the inns.”
I was distracted by Jeon Gil-san’s greetings and rummaged through the store’s paperwork.
Since the carrier pigeons for delivery can get lost or die due to accidents, it’s strange why the order volume for carrier pigeons has recently decreased? Even if they managed it well, the lose rate is too low.
“I rounded up our family’s guards and took a walk.”
Jeon Gil-san looked at me thoughtfully and then replied with a confident face.
“You went for a walk?”
“There have to be a few troublemakers. There are all sorts of guys out there. So, we took a walk for some mental education.”
“You went to their delivery addresses? Did you foresee anything happening?”
“Do you know who the great Jeon Gil-san is? I even figured out their backgrounds and only dealt with the worst of them, so don’t worry. In fact, I might go and confiscate those Nine Black Qi Hands. They tried to grab my pants, you know?”
Jeon Gil-san shrugged as if it was no big deal.
In Korea, delivery restaurants tremble over a single star rating, giving free drinks as a standard service. Here, if you cause trouble at a delivery restaurant, does the owner go smash someone’s head?
“Keep your mouth shut about this. The ingredient orders show that sales are fine.”
In fact, it’s even increased compared to a few weeks ago. Really, is the etiquette training actually effective?
Since I operate the delivery business as a monopoly, having a few troublemakers leave isn’t a big deal. I’ve had to deal with Joseon people who caused trouble by asking why they delivered food.
“For me, there are no problems. The problem is you.”
Jeon Gil-san smirked at me.
“Me? What problem?”
“It’s so obvious it’s a woman problem.”
Jeon Gil-san looked me up and down as if he had it all figured out.
“Not true.”
With the successor problem at Man Geum Battlefield, the marriage to Miss Zhuge, and my future activities as an author piling up unexpectedly, did my expression give it away?
I unintentionally answered a bit curtly.
“Right. Anyway, you should have toned it down with the double-timing. I always knew you’d end up in a tight spot. Hehe.”
Jeon Gil-san laughed like it was the funniest thing ever.
“Not that kind of problem. And Han Yeon left because she had to travel with my father-in-law.”
Was he jumping to conclusions because my face darkened over the Miss Han Yeon problem, which had recently come up?
“Right. Right. My mother does that sometimes too. She says she’s visiting her family when she fights with my dad.”
“Hey.”
How dare he slip in such a blatant truth right at this timing?
“Hehe.”
“A while ago, I met your maternal grandfather.”
I sighed softly and tried to change the subject.
“Ah! So, it wasn’t this way. How is he still alive?”
Can I even hit this guy named Jeon Gil-san? I just wanted to change the subject.
“I’m not talking about Miss Zhuge.”
Finally, Jeon Gil-san joined me in a more serious conversation.
“Then is it about the business? Just go with the flow. That’s just how he is. I also get called in often due to the successor tests, and there’s no one who gets praised. Everyone comes back in a state of near-death. It’s so bad that those with poor scores pretend to be dead just to avoid meetings.”
I’ve heard that.
“Now you’re just throwing random stuff out….”
I muttered worriedly and subtly glanced at Jeon Gil-san.
‘Does talking about the successor mean I might end up clashing with Jeon Gil-san again?’
Even though we met through a bad connection, we’ve become friendly enough to share jokes over time.
Will we just end up as rivals again in the future?
“Although he’s my grandfather, who can know the true thoughts of the great Man Geum-jeon? Good! It’s been a while; I’ll treat you this time. Come with me.”
Jeon Gil-san, completely oblivious to my inner turmoil, grabbed my sleeve and tried to drag me outside.
“Come along? I have to finish my work and go home quickly.”
It’s still business hours, after all. That guy, who was just talking about the successor test, already looked full of thoughts of drinking.
“Doesn’t being home late count as running away? Come on. Let’s grab a drink at the bar.”
“Bar? Miss Zhuge is at home too.”
And what’s more, if I later get blamed by Han Yeon for frequenting bars, what kind of lecture will I get?
Plus, Miss Gi-mun Hyang-ju had explicitly told me not to wander into bars.
“You don’t get it. You’re struggling because you’re too busy. You need to have fun when you can! At home, you’re constantly paying attention to women. At work, there are endless things to worry about. There are tests too. Under these circumstances, you have to enjoy some leisure time.”
Jeon Gil-san spoke as if he was sharing profound life wisdom. In reality, it sounded like the Man Geum-jeon’s sigh-producing advice.
“Do I look like a guy who enjoys women?”
“Wasn’t that the case?!”
Jeon Gil-san looked startled and waved his arms as he stared at me.
“…….”
No. His look is like, why weren’t we on the same page?
When I think about it from start to finish, I feel quite wronged, yet there’s no arguing point when I think about it.
“Right. Right. Honestly, I don’t enjoy women. The courtesans all cater to me. I just go because I feel special when I’m treated well. How could I just roam bars just to enjoy women? I’m telling you, I’ll teach you about leisure. Come on!”
“It sounds suspicious.”
He may love bars, but this is too persistent.
“What’s suspicious? I just want to treat you.”
No, it seems extremely suspicious. His face looks like he has something hidden.
“Hey. You’re asking because you have something to say, right?”
“Do I look like a guy who would do that?”
“Yeah. A whole lot.”
“…….”
“Is there something to it? Tell me. If you say it now, I won’t hear a thing.”
“Ugh. I’m slightly wanting to open a third branch but lack some funds…”
“I’ll take regular prices.”
I answered without hesitation.
“Hey! Kang Yoon-ho! No, Kang Huizhu. Let’s talk about it there. Whether she’s beautiful or graceful, or dances, I’ll let you play with a courtesan that the men of Wuhan have looked forward to meeting!”
“Is there such a courtesan?”
In this world, courtesans are almost like idols. I unintentionally let the words slip out.
“Look at you, tempted, huh? It’s Mae-hyang. To meet her directly, you’d need to give one of your mansions! Tempted? So let’s go talk about good business.”
Mae-hyang? That name rings a bell.
Oh!!!
“Let’s talk about the third branch later. Miss Zhuge is at home, so it’s not happening.”
I shook off Jeon Gil-san’s hold on my sleeve and flailed my arms.
“Brother-in-law! How could we do this to each other?!”
“You can’t call me brother-in-law and still go there. Hey.”
“Hey! Brother-in-law! Come on! You’re thinking about your own woman, right…?”
As I turned with an extremely guilty expression, Jeon Gil-san said a few words before giving up.
Yeah, with Miss Zhuge here, how could I go to a place like a bar?
It’s definitely not because that courtesan Mae-hyang is a close associate of Miss Gi-mun Hyang-ju and that a specific piece of clothing she gifted is sitting in a corner of my room.
——
“Where is Miss Zhuge?”
When I got home, I couldn’t find Miss Zhuge in the room.
I looked through the office, among the boxes in the house, in dark, damp places where the sun doesn’t shine, and even at spots out of sight, but I couldn’t find her whereabouts.
Where could she have gone? Did something happen? I asked the maid.
“Lord Man Geum has summoned her to the mansion.”
“Looks like our paths crossed.”
If he was going to call her, why not call us together? Did he have something to say separately?
“I shouldn’t have said anything unnecessary.”
I’m feeling uneasy.
“Kang Yoon-ho, what do you think of that girl?”
Contrary to Kang Yoon-ho’s expectations, Man Geum-jeon spoke with a warm smile like a grandfather meeting his long-lost granddaughter.
“Yes, Master Kang is a very gre—good person.”
On the other hand, Miss Zhuge nervously nodded her head repeatedly.
It was rare for her grandfather, known for being strict, to smile so warmly while asking. For Miss Zhuge, it was impossible not to feel anxious.
“Kang Yoon-ho, I plan to make that child my successor. Then you will become the mistress of Man Geum Battlefield.”
After enjoying tea and chatting for a while, Man Geum-jeon finally got to the main point.
“What?”
Master Kang as the successor of Man Geum Battlefield? Miss Zhuge was taken aback, letting out a dazed sound.
“I will soon tell your aunts. They will probably strongly oppose it, but I believe that Kang Yoon-ho will prove himself. I’m not worried about that matter, but there’s something else that concerns me.”
“Concern?”
It was shocking enough that Master Kang might become the successor, but the next news hit Miss Zhuge even harder.
“Your father doesn’t know about your relationship with Kang Yoon-ho.”
“Eh? Whattt?”
To think her father was in the dark. Miss Zhuge’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at her grandfather.
‘Now that I think about it, there hasn’t been any talk about it at home!’
She had been living with Master Kang for months now. If their family knew, she would have heard about it long ago. If her father had known, he certainly wouldn’t have stayed quiet.
‘What should I do?!’
Miss Zhuge felt momentarily panic consumed her.
“Don’t be flustered. For now, just support Kang Yoon-ho. Once he’s chosen as my successor, you can go to the Zhuge family and get your engagement officially recognized.”
Although Man Geum-jeon was her maternal grandfather, the true authority was with the Zhuge family. Therefore, he had no final say over their marriage.
However, as the family patriarch’s father-in-law, he could help find a good match, especially since he was elevating his chosen successor.
“Wait, that means, me and Master Kang will be…”
Engagement. Miss Zhuge trembled at the sudden progress in her relationship with Kang Yoon-ho.
“However, there is one thing you must do before Kang Yoon-ho becomes the successor.”
“W-what do I have to do?”
What kind of responsibility was her grandfather about to place on her? Miss Zhuge looked at Jang Noya, her heart racing like a rookie official awaiting a weighty assignment.
“You need to seduce Kang Yoon-ho.”
“Whaaaaat?”
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