More Than Expected (5)
The workshop was a fairly spacious place, which made sense — after all, a thousand dolls had to be made here.
"Do you like the workshop?"
At my question, she nodded with a dazed expression.
"This is really, where I'm going to work?"
"That's right. More precisely, that room over there."
"That's more than enough for me."
"Then let's start making the doll clothes in earnest."
"Yes."
I held out the doll that I had prepared through Palgap.
"This is the doll."
When I wound the wheel of the doll and let go, the doll began to dance on its own.
"Oh my!"
She shouted in surprise.
"T-The doll!"
"Yes, it dances. This is the item our Merchant Group will be releasing."
"So... I'm supposed to make clothes for this doll?"
"Exactly."
"Then, what kind of fabric should I use…"
"Please follow me."
I headed to the Eunhae fabric store with her.
The Eunhae fabric store was nearby, so it didn't take long to get there.
Receiving greetings from the staff as I entered, I spoke to her.
"We plan to sell each doll for ten nyang of silver, so the clothes need to be worthy of that."
"Then, we should use silk."
"Yes."
I spread my arms wide and said,
"Choose any silk you like, as much as you want."
This had already been approved by Father last night.
As she looked at the various colors and textures of silk displayed at the Eunhae fabric store, Madam Hong Geumso cautiously asked,
"Can I really choose anything?"
"Yes."
Even with my confirmation, she only looked with her eyes and didn't seem ready to touch them.
Silk is quite expensive, after all.
Most cost at least eight silver nyang per bolt.
So it's natural she'd hesitate.
I asked her,
"Is there anything that catches your eye?"
"…That one."
I strode over, took out the silk she pointed to, and spread it out before her.
"Is there another one you like?"
"That one too…"
Swish!
I laid that one out as well.
"What else do you like?"
"T-That one?"
Once I stepped up and started laying out silks myself, she finally seemed at ease and began to seriously examine them.
Watching her eyes sparkle as she checked out each fabric, it didn't seem like she would choose one quickly.
"Palgap."
"Yes, young master."
"I'm heading to work now, so move the fabrics she selects to the workshop and have her begin work. Also, make sure she has all the tools she needs."
Palgap nodded at my words.
"Don't worry about a thing and head to work. I'll take care of everything."
If it's Palgap, I can trust him.
I excused myself to Madam Hong Geumso and went to work at the Finance Pavilion.
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.
.
Work at the Finance Pavilion was just as hectic as ever.
With the sales of the Self-Dancing Dolls starting to materialize, expenditures were also starting to pile up, adding to our tasks. Chief of Internal Affairs Yoo So-Ak let out a sigh.
But he didn't complain.
If profits increase because of this, there'll be fewer things to sigh about for someone in charge of managing Eunhae Merchant Group's household affairs.
"Then, I'll be heading out for the day."
"See you tomorrow."
As soon as I left work, I headed straight to the workshop.
"Oh! Seoho."
At the sound of someone calling me, I turned my head.
"Oh? Father. What brings you here?"
"I found a craftsman who can make the dolls with wood. I figured you'd come straight to the workshop, so I'm on my way there too."
"I see."
I gave an awkward laugh.
"Actually, I was on my way to see how the doll clothes were coming along."
"Is that so? I told them to bring the craftsman to the workshop, so let's go together."
"Yes."
I headed to the workshop with Father.
"We greet the Merchant Lord and young master."
The guards standing at the workshop entrance quickly bowed with fists clasped.
We entered, and I called out loudly,
"Madam, the Merchant Lord has arrived."
At my call, there was a flurry of sounds inside, and Madam Hong Geumso rushed out hurriedly.
"Welcome!"
"Yes, I was curious to see how the doll clothing was progressing."
"It's finished for now. But, I wonder if this is really acceptable…"
She led us into the workshop, and we couldn't help but gape.
I turned to look at Father.
He had the same expression as me.
Madam Hong Geumso's true talent was neither in sewing, nor in choosing fabric colors, nor in making clothes look stylish.
Only now did I realize.
Madam Hong Geumso's true gift was in making clothes for dolls.
"Well, now!"
Father could only marvel in admiration.
But whether that was a positive or negative response, Madam Hong Geumso couldn't tell and fidgeted nervously.
"Where on earth do you find such remarkable talent?"
To Father's question, I answered with a smile.
"They just happened to catch my eye."
"Hohoho."
Father cleared his throat and looked at Madam Hong Geumso.
"Such beautiful and elegant craftsmanship!"
"T-Thank you very much."
"I was honestly worried when I heard Seoho would personally bring in the doll-clothing artisan, but after seeing your work, my worries are gone. The future of this business looks bright."
"Y-You're too kind."
"Then I'll count on you going forward."
"Yes. I will do my very best."
Just then, adjutant Lim Man approached the workshop with several men in tow.
Father has three adjutants, and adjutant Lim Man is the second.
The third adjutant is Jo Youngyoung.
"Oh! The craftsmen are here."
Seeing those men, I smiled inwardly. Just as I expected — they were artisans affiliated with the Eunhae Merchant Group.
Among them was someone I knew.
His name was Bogwang.
He had the talent to craft doll faces that looked just like real human faces.
If I knew about his skills, there's no way Father didn't.
That's why he had only given permission regarding the artisan for the doll clothes.
Thus, the finest artisans gathered to create the Self-Dancing Doll.
Honestly, I wanted to ask Madam — the wife of my master — for some silk, but the time wasn't right yet.
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.
.
Today as well, I was working as Assistant to Chief of Internal Affairs Yoo So-Ak at the Finance Pavilion.
Sales were sharply rising — red paper for making red envelopes for New Year's money, peachwood plaques for writing spring couplets, and so on.
It really seemed like the Spring Festival was coming.
In truth, events like this, which everyone celebrated, were the best opportunities to make money.
People would open their wallets easily in such a festive atmosphere.
Of course, the Eunhae Merchant Group couldn't afford to miss out on such an opportunity.
However!
Precisely because of that, we wouldn't release the Self-Dancing Doll during the Spring Festival.
There would surely be people who bought it on impulse and later regretted it, and that could damage the value of the Self-Dancing Doll.
The Self-Dancing Doll wasn't something to buy on a whim — it had to be something people desperately wanted.
So, just as Father said, we had to wait until rumors spread via the Hubei Province's Chief Inspector, and until there were people who truly desired it.
Even rice has to be left to steam before it's ready to eat.
That's why we prioritized producing the dolls to be taken to the Chief Inspector.
"Young master, please take a look at this as well."
"Ah, yes."
"Please check if there's an error in the calculations."
I received the document from Chief Yoo and began calculating with the abacus.
But this…
It was an expense report for the shops we purchased to sell the Self-Dancing Doll.
Looking at the amount, I let out a silent, bitter laugh.
The scale was even bigger than I'd thought.
It was truly full support.
Since I was the one who'd hired Gong Mil and triggered this whole project, I couldn't help but feel a sudden sense of pressure.
Before becoming a Vice-Leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group, you had to complete five years of practical training.
And now I fully understood why three of those five years had to be spent at the Finance Pavilion.
By seeing the income and expenses of the merchant group, I could grasp exactly how it was run.
Even for someone like me, who was often called gifted, it took over a year to get to the point where I could see the flow at a glance.
To be honest, the real heart of the Eunhae Merchant Group was the Sunset Pavilion, which handled all products and transactions. But I learned something during the year I spent there in training.
Commerce isn't something you learn from books.
Experience was key.
That's why, after a year of grasping the big picture, they entrusted trainees with managing a shop — to let them build experience directly.
As for the Breeze Pavilion, one could naturally pick things up from staying inside the merchant group.
Then, my eyes caught a particular line item.
It was about travel expenses for the trip to and from Hubei Province's capital.
That was because Father and Pavilion Master Yeon had taken the Self-Dancing Dolls requested by the Chief Inspector and personally traveled to the capital.
***
The carriage gradually slowed down.
"We've arrived, Merchant Lord, Pavilion Master Yeon."
At the escort warrior's words, the carriage door opened, and Eun Gil-Sang and Yeon Dami stepped out.
They had arrived in the capital of Hubei Province.
The capital was the closest major city to the Eunhae Merchant Group's main base, and one of their primary areas of activity.
That's why the group's largest branch was located there.
Eun Gil-Sang spoke to his second adjutant, Lim Man.
"Adjutant Lim, go and request an audience with the Chief Inspector."
"Understood."
Then, Eun Gil-Sang gave strict instructions to guard the Self-Dancing Doll with care, and immediately headed to the market district of the capital.
That was because there was a newly acquired shop there, intended for selling the Self-Dancing Doll.
The shopfront was covered with red fabric.
Actually, this had been Eun Seoho's suggestion.
"Father, how about putting up a red curtain over the shop front while it's being renovated?"
"A curtain? Wouldn't that get in the way of the construction?"
"There is that drawback, of course. But it'll catch people's attention. Curiosity reaches its peak not when things are completely visible, but when they're completely hidden."
So, by covering it like this, the idea was to make people wonder what it was for — and gain publicity.
The red fabric wasn't tightly woven, but loose, so you could faintly see inside.
Not clearly, just enough to stir curiosity in every passerby.
This curtain also had an unexpected benefit.
Dust didn't spread to nearby shops, so there were no complaints from them.
Eun Gil-Sang entered the tent and met with an employee who was supervising the construction.
"Welcome, Merchant Lord!"
"Oh! You're working hard."
This man was the soon-to-be shopkeeper of the store that would sell the Self-Dancing Doll.
He had worked for a long time under the previous owner of the trinket shop in the capital.
And now, thanks to a recommendation, he has been promoted to shopkeeper.
"This project is something the merchant group is pushing forward with great ambition, so I'm counting on you."
"Of course. I will dedicate myself fully."
"If there's anything difficult, let me know."
While Eun Gil-Sang was speaking with the shopkeeper about the Self-Dancing Doll, adjutant Lim Man came running, gasping for breath.
"Hah… hahh… Merchant Lord!"
"What is it?"
"You must come immediately. The Chief Inspector is calling for you."
"Is that so? Understood."
Eun Gil-Sang stood and let out a soft laugh.
'He sure is in a hurry.'
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.
Not long after, Eun Gil-Sang and Yeon Dami were face-to-face with the Chief Inspector.
"It must've been a difficult trip to get here."
"Not at all. To meet you, sir, no journey could be considered difficult."
"Hahaha, flattering me like that, are you?"
The Chief Inspector stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
"So, what brings you to see me?"
"Well, I have come to express our gratitude for the kindness you've shown our merchant group."
Although they had come with the Self-Dancing Doll that the Chief Inspector had requested, the word request was never mentioned.
That was crucial in dealings — no, in meetings — with high-ranking officials.
You had to present it as a sincere offering out of admiration for the grace shown by the high official, not as a favor being fulfilled.
"You didn't need to go to such lengths… hmph."
Eun Gil-Sang looked at Yeon Dami, and she opened the specially designed case for the Self-Dancing Doll, which had been placed beside her.
"Oh!"
The Chief Inspector's eyes widened at the sight of the doll revealed within.
"How can it be so beautiful!"
It was a Self-Dancing Doll created through the combined efforts of Eunhae Merchant Group's top woodworker, Madam Hong Geumso — whose needlework was so exquisite she was said to be flawless — and the master artisan Gong Mil.
It was so lifelike, it could be said to be alive, and it was utterly breathtaking.