“Can you give me a few days?”
The next morning, I had a meeting with the martial artists who came from the Zhuge family.
“There has been a great disturbance at the Man Geum Battlefield; the situation is not yet settled. We will handle urgent matters and depart, so please take a few days to recover from your travels.”
Even if I took a week off, there’s still an enormous amount of work to do. It’s terrifying to think what would happen if the heir leading the entire business just threw everything away and left.
“The Head of Family said to bring you immediately.”
Was it Zhuge Jak who said that? The deputy, who came with the Head of Family’s order, spoke with a stubborn tone.
“I can’t be negligent in preparing to greet my father-in-law for the first time.”
Meeting my father-in-law for the first time, shouldn’t I at least have time to buy some red ginseng or beef? I said with a friendly smile.
“Who dares to call him my father-in-law!?”
The black-haired guy didn’t like me calling his father-in-law. Zhuge Jak raised his voice and glared at me.
“Please show some respect. He is the successor of the Man Geum Battlefield.”
Well done, our inspection deputy. No matter how much of a Zhuge you are, you’re still frowning and being blunt.
“I think I am being respectful enough by not grabbing this guy’s hair and dragging him out right now.”
A little provocation. Zhuge Jak glared at me as if I wasn’t worth listening to, and the inspection deputy couldn’t hold back.
“What did you just say…! Ugh!”
Fast. Before the inspection deputy could even place his hand on his waist, a sharp blade was aimed at his neck.
“Where do you think you’re putting that sword? I understand you want to catch my eye, but are you prepared to offer your neck for this excessive loyalty?”
As expected, a martial artist from the Zhuge family, here to fulfill the Head of Family’s orders. They easily dominate even the modest martial artists.
“You started it first…!”
“The one we intend to bring was bold enough to lay hands on the young lady, the youngest daughter of the Head of Family, without even the Zhuge family’s permission. Whether he is the heir of the Man Geum Battlefield or a black-haired punk doesn’t matter.”
The tip of Zhuge Jak’s sword tapped the inspection deputy’s jaw mockingly.
“Ugh!”
The inspection deputy’s furious gaze turned towards Zhuge Jak. This could really turn into a sword fight.
“Both of you should stop it.”
“We already gave you time yesterday.”
Zhuge Jak replied to the deputy without sheathing his sword.
“Wasn’t it late evening? We simply gave you time to recover from your travels and calmly talk.”
“Are you trying to mess with me?”
Finally, he turned his head. But despite the homeowner saying so, the sword stays unsheathed. Oh, I like this. Let’s see what happens.
“I understand your devotion to the Head of Family, but drawing your sword? Are you prepared to offer your neck for such excessive loyalty?”
I chuckled and reflected Zhuge Jak’s words back at him.
“What?! What did you just say?!”
“The Head of the Zhuge family is unconscious and lying down. Do you think it’s appropriate for a son-in-law to draw a sword and cause a ruckus in his family home?”
It seems he intended to take the lead in the conversation. The son-in-law pulls a sword inside the father-in-law’s home? Do you think this is the right situation?
As I subtly glanced at other martial artists from the Zhuge family, they seemed uncomfortable.
“We came here on the Head of Family’s orders.”
“I lead the Man Geum Battlefield according to the Head of Family’s orders as well.”
Zhuge Jak’s eyes showed the first sign of confusion today. Did you think only you could use the Head of Family card? I can use it too.
The issue between me and the Zhuge family is ultimately a family matter. My circumstances don’t matter. I have to explain myself because my father-in-law called for me. But what if the Head of Family shows up?
This is a matter of one household that becomes a dilemma for two households. My situation doesn’t matter, but the Head of Family’s case is different.
I am the successor acting on the Head of Family’s orders, and he is the one acting on the Head of Family’s orders.
So what will you do?
“The Head of Family may speak whatever he wishes to your father, but I was ordered to bring you.”
Zhuge Jak paused slightly and then spoke again in a stubborn voice.
I expected that response. The lack of an immediate answer tells me that he’s thought about it. Then there’s plenty of room for me to dig in.
“I’m not refusing to go. I just need time to prepare. Following orders is a subordinate’s virtue, but granting me some time would be beneficial for you as well, wouldn’t it?”
“Beneficial for me?”
“I don’t care. Now that you’ve drawn your sword, it’s enough to just comply quietly. But surely the Head of Family wasn’t aware of the elder’s situation. If I were to be dragged along like this and cause chaos in the Man Geum Battlefield, what do you think the Head of Family would say? Even if the Head of Family says nothing, what would your mother-in-law think?”
I subtly shifted the conversation again.
I’m just saying you drew your sword, so I’m perfectly fine. Just drag me along! However, think carefully.
The successor of Man Geum Jeon is Zhuge Geuk. What if problems arise in his household because of his son-in-law? If things go wrong at the Man Geum Battlefield, who gets stuck with the blame?
Do you think the Head of Family will shield you?
Does this seem like a situation that could just pass by?
Your opponent is the Head of Family’s father-in-law and the hostess of the Zhuge family, after all.
“…….”
Zhuge Jak stared at me, seemingly speechless.
Are you torn? Then I’ll provide you with another justification.
“There’s a saying: ‘A general can win only if the lord doesn’t interfere.’ You came here on the Head of Family’s orders, but since you are the field commander, wouldn’t it be appropriate to show some flexibility?”
I cleverly shook the opponent’s heart while looking at the deputy.
You drew your sword first. You mentioned waiting. Now, if this goes badly, it’s all your responsibility. Can you handle that?
I’m giving you the justification here.
A capable commander doesn’t follow his lord’s command blindly—they adapt based on the situation on the field.
Let’s show flexibility.
I waited with a smile until Zhuge Jak would thoughtfully consider it.
“……You’re quite slick for a merchant. Did you charm the young lady with that tongue of yours?”
With the sword returning to its scabbard, I could hear the small declaration of defeat.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“I don’t plan on staying long.”
Zhuge Jak turned his body towards the door.
“I’ll be ready to depart within two days at the latest.”
I’m not planning to drag this out either.
“I’ll make sure to keep waiting. If time is exceeded, I’ll drag you along by force.”
——
“Deputy, thank you for your hard work.”
As soon as the Zhuge family’s people disappeared, I spoke a word to the inspection deputy.
“Even if it was the command of Master Kang, I thought we were going to be in big trouble.”
“Is this lunatic Kang Yoon-ho deliberately provoking Zhuge family martial artists?”
Gil-san, having watched the entire situation unfold, spoke to me with surprise.
Yeah. What just happened was actually a situation I led on purpose.
“I’ve committed the sin of cohabitating with the youngest daughter, who is yet to be married, so no argument would stand. I need to buy myself some time and create a weakness using provocation.”
There was no flaw in the Zhuge family’s logic. But I can’t let myself be dragged away right away.
What should I do?
If I refer to the fact that I drew the attention of the youngest daughter without permission from the family, and then deliberately created a standoff situation to draw a sword—?
No matter how renowned the Zhuge family is, they’re still martial artists. They can’t just ignore their anger. But that’s where it would end.
For a martial artist, drawing a sword first is about seizing the initiative, but drawing a sword first in the merchant’s arena exposes a weakness.
“What kind of lunatic manages to make his opponent back away even while begging? What’s this…?”
“If you take the submissive stance unnecessarily, you’ll have to stay in a submissive stance until the end.”
If I’m going to apologize, I might as well make my opponent back down.
Gil-san looked at me as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Your grandfather must have no worries. Even while unconscious, his successor is doing fine.”
“Haha! While the heir of Man Geum Jeon has some guts, Master Kang is no mere pushover either.”
The inspection deputy chimed in with a laugh.
“Since I’ve bought myself some time, I should hasten to finish preparing for my first greeting. Deputy.”
After buying the time, it’s time to move quickly. I called for the deputy, who couldn’t hide a smile while looking at me.
“If you’re planning to be out for about a month, the urgent manpower issue is a problem.”
“Is it because of the confiscated businesses?”
Un Yeop nodded at my words.
“Yes. Especially the businesses owned by the Bang family and Eun family, which are facing extinction due to their ties with the Demonic Cult. We would need to hire personnel from scratch, and it’s awkward because we need to immediately deploy mid-level managers who are accustomed to the field.”
“They need to be able to operate on the ground right away and, moreover, be trustworthy. Got it. I’ll provide the urgent manpower right away.”
“Huh? Do you have something in mind?”
“I’ll hire those capable enough to jump into fieldwork immediately but haven’t had an opportunity up to now.”
While I’ve finished the education that I couldn’t easily obtain, there are still talented workers doing manual labor.
“Oh! Are you talking about the Joseon person alumni association members we saw before?!”
As expected of the deputy. Quick-witted.
“If I mention we’re looking for mid-level managers, they will surely pick out reliable people from the Joseon alumni association. The ones I’ve been using as accountants have outstanding practical experience; I could easily entrust them with multiple businesses.”
They haven’t missed out on opportunities, it’s just that they haven’t had any.
“That’s a good idea. But if you only hire Joseon people now that you’re here as the successor, it may invite suspicion, so let’s hire a few from the Joseon alumni association and separately from the Man Geum Battlefield as well.”
“Do that.”
Alright. The manpower issue has been resolved.
Now, shall we start getting ready to meet my father-in-law and mother-in-law?
——
“You’re going to meet Young-Young? Has Father finally regained consciousness?”
The first place I headed to was my Aunt Jang Nan-ok’s house.
“It seems that the Head of the Zhuge family, Zhuge Geuk, wasn’t aware of the engagement with Miss Zhuge. The Zhuge family’s people came rushing in.”
“Sigh… It seems my old man is up to no good again.”
As soon as Jang Nan-ok heard the situation, she immediately downgraded my father to an old man and clutched her head.
“Fortunately, it seems he had a conversation with my mother-in-law.”
“My old man’s scheming isn’t anything new, but to plot such things without letting his son-in-law know? Young-Young is clearly someone else’s daughter! Does he have any thoughts in his head?”
It appears the worries of the eldest daughter about her father were not without merit, as Jang Nan-ok let out a sigh mixed with exasperation.
“It’s all for the future of the family, isn’t it?”
“So now that he is the successor, he’s saying whatever he wants?”
“Haha! A granddaughter’s duty is to think of her grandfather.”
It’s all Baek Myeon-ho-ri’s fault; what does the Head of Man Geum Jeon have to do with this? I’m not just saying this because his schemes allowed me to become the heir! I nodded with a sheepish smile.
“Well then, what are you going to do?”
“What’s there to do? I’ll get a few hits, get chewed out, and then ask for the marriage approval.”
I’ll be back alive. No way I’ll die!
“What if you go and don’t get the marriage approval?”
“There’s no way that will happen.”
With the heir of Man Geum Battlefield, there shouldn’t be a shortage of recognition.
“It seems that you, the son-in-law from a foreign land, don’t know much about the Zhuge family. The Zhuge family is one of the most prestigious families in the martial arts world. They can turn the heir of the Man Geum Battlefield into just an ordinary merchant’s son.”
“Isn’t it presided over by the Head of Family’s father-in-law?”
“It’s because my brother-in-law is not an ordinary person. What if he refuses to acknowledge you?”
“I’ll have to convince him one way or another.”
This is akin to a foreign worker trying to marry the youngest daughter of a conglomerate. I’ve already prepared myself for that.
As I answered with a solemn face, Aunt Jang Nan-ok gazed at me for a while before quietly opening her mouth.
“If they treat you too harshly in the Zhuge family, just run away.”
“What?”
“Don’t hold onto a place where they can’t recognize a son-in-law worth showing off. Since your father-in-law has acknowledged you as the heir, there are many paths available.”
Why are you suddenly scrutinizing me from top to bottom?
“I’ll take that as meaning to have confidence.”
Don’t act too humble. It’s probably the best encouragement from Aunt Jang Nan-ok.
“I also think I… no, I don’t. Right. Is there anything else you wanted to say?”
“Actually, I have a favor to ask.”
Yes. I obviously came for that. I fixed my posture and looked at Jang Nan-ok.
“Don’t worry too much and go. If it’s caring for your father during his illness, I can take care of that. If anyone tries to shake the family while the son-in-law is absent, I won’t let it slide.”
As expected of my aunt. It’s not for nothing that Jang Noya said that if he could win the heart of his eldest daughter, he could have the most reliable ally.
“The reason I came to see you is for another favor.”
But the favor I intended to ask today was different.
“Another favor?”
Before heading to the Zhuge family, what should I prepare?
As I quickly drafted a list, I heard an unexpected fact from Miss Zhuge.
“I’ve heard from Miss Zhuge that the Head of the Zhuge family, Zhuge Geuk, is a bit intimidated by you, Aunt.”
Jang Nan-ok seemed surprised by the unexpected question, her eyes widening as she nodded willingly.
“It happened that I came to see him without waiting for my brother to obtain his marriage approval. After raising my younger siblings in place of my late mother, I ended up receiving great respect from my brother-in-law as the eldest in the family.”
As expected.
“So I was thinking.”
“Huh?”
I have to face my enraged father-in-law without any preparation; I can’t go for my first greeting unprepared.
What should I prepare?
No matter how angry he is, let’s take a gift that he can’t refuse. It has to be a gift that he must open without fail.
“Could I ask for a letter?”
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