Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 150

Finally, Jin Cheon-hee decided on two merchant groups for the final bid.

For ondol, it was the Putuo Merchant Group affiliated with Putuo Escort Agency.

It wasn’t simply because of his connection with Nun Abi, but because they could smoothly supply materials through maritime trade.

“We meet again.”

He was so surprised when Gong Banha came as a member of the Putuo Merchant Group.

“Shouldn’t you be at Gong-woon Escort Agency?”

Originally, Gong-woon Escort Agency was a small to medium-sized courier service that rented space in the same building as Putuo Escort Agency.

After saving her younger brother Gong Ilsang from bandits, he met her sister Gong Banha through that connection and even stayed in a special room at Celestial Inn.

For such a person to be in Putuo Merchant Group, not even Putuo Escort Agency.

Gong Banha sighed softly.

“I’m ashamed to tell you this, benefactor, but due to management difficulties, Gong-woon Escort Agency has converted to Putuo Merchant Group.”

‘It must not be easy to run a small to medium-sized courier service.’

A courier service is, in a way, like a modern delivery company.

While large, systematic companies can somehow roll along on established foundations, for small and medium businesses, even doing one thing is a task.

Especially since the courier service industry itself isn’t a blue ocean, but a red ocean.

If it were a world like the original work where Cloud-Dragon Escort Agency had collapsed, it might be different, but now it’s firmly established, and new courier services had to break through that.

‘The collapse of Gong-woon Escort Agency was inevitable.’

Instead, it seems they’ve entered Putuo Merchant Group and become partners with Putuo Escort Agency.

Company acquisitions and changes are the same in both the modern world and the martial world.

Jin Cheon-hee offered words of encouragement.

“Still, you have a good eye for trends and many people helping you, so I’m sure you’ll do well.”

“Thank you, great hero.”

Jin Cheon-hee guided Gong Banha to a warm ondol room.

“In the Central Plains style, we normally use tables and chairs… but I’ve cleared them away hoping you’d feel the heat from the floor.”

Jin Cheon-hee guided her to a cushion.

Gong Banha nodded and sat down.

Yoo Ho came in, brewed tea, and brought it on a small table with tea utensils.

Conveniently, snow was falling outside the window.

‘Nothing’s better than ondol on a cold day.’

It’s only natural to become as soft as rice cake when the floor is warm.

Gong Banha didn’t become that soft, but she seemed to be testing how warm it was by placing her hand on the floor.

“I heard you want to buy the construction method for this ondol.”

Jin Cheon-hee said while pouring tea.

Gong Banha nodded.

“Yes. That’s why our merchant group has come to probe about buying this ondol, even if it’s a stretch. I was so surprised to hear that you invented it yourself, great hero.”

“I didn’t invent it. This is merely something used elsewhere that I’ve modified to the Central Plains style and brought here.”

“Where is that place?”

“It’s very far away and difficult for me to say.”

It’s ondol from the blue planet Earth, Republic of Korea.

The third planet in the solar system, located near the edge of our galaxy.

Jin Cheon-hee swallowed these words.

After being lost in thought for a while, Gong Banha said this.

“Many martial artists who have experienced ondol at White Dragon Medical Pavilion are contacting numerous merchant groups wanting to make something similar. We want to learn directly from you, great hero, and do business.”

‘In other words, they want to use the genuine article.’

Gong Banha continued.

“Moreover, some sect leaders have even installed glass windows in their homes at great expense. Of course, the transparency doesn’t compare to White Dragon Medical Pavilion, but many people want to imitate it even like that.”

“Ah… I see.”

Jin Cheon-hee nodded.

Neither Gong Banha nor Jin Cheon-hee were the type to beat around the bush anyway, and time is money.

“I’d like to receive 30 percent.”

“30 percent…?”

“Yes. I want to receive 30 percent of the net profit when one ondol unit is built as the transaction fee.”

“…”

Gong Banha fell into thought.

“We were thinking of 10 percent.”

Jin Cheon-hee continued.

“If used incorrectly, ondol can kill people. I will also explain what dangers can arise when using an improperly structured ondol.”

Although it’s better than the era when they used charcoal instead of firewood, that doesn’t mean there are no carbon monoxide poisoning accidents.

Even in modern times, accidents still occur in camping sites or fireplaces in country houses.

Plus, fire accidents often occur due to improper construction.

‘It’s something that can kill people.’

It was something that had been bothering him, so he thought this was a good opportunity.

In other words, it means he’ll campaign for ‘No fakes, use only genuine products.’

“Many people want to buy White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s medical insurance even if they have to pay for it.”

Gong Banha fell into thought.

“…I can’t beat you, great hero. 30 percent. With mutual exclusive trading.”

To give 30 percent, they need exclusive trading rights.

If Jin Cheon-hee sells the technology to this merchant group and that merchant group, Gong Banha would be stabbed in the back.

Jin Cheon-hee replied.

“It’s a good deal.”

That was what he had in mind from the beginning.

Next is the sale of Cheongok.

An unexpected figure stepped up for this bid.

It was the Gongsun Hyeon and Gongsun Yeong sisters.

Of course, Gongsun Yeong was just dragged along, and the owner of the Gongsun Merchant Group was the older sister, Gongsun Hyeon.

And the one who came as a guard was… Wang Gak-yeon.

Wearing martial clothes with the pine tree embroidery that symbolized the Gongsun family, Gongsun Yeong doted on Wang Gak-yeon like an attachment doll.

“Hey, little benefactor! Wow, you’ve grown a lot!”

Gongsun Yeong waved her hand big towards Jin Cheon-hee, still with her boisterous voice.

Jin Cheon-hee also greeted Gongsun Yeong, and beside her was Wang Gak-yeon, coming up with a shy expression.

“Gak-yeon!”

“Jin… Jin Cheon-hee!”

Wang Gak-yeon’s face turned red.

‘Looks like she didn’t expect to come back like this for work.’

It seems Wang Gak-yeon, who left saying ‘I’ll do something great!’, didn’t expect to be dragged back for business without even finishing her task.

‘Wang Gak-yeon has grown a lot too.’

Wang Gak-yeon, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, had grown greatly.

Especially, only an empty quiver occupied a place on Wang Gak-yeon’s back.

‘She’s entered the realm of Mind Archery.’

It seems Wang Gak-yeon has achieved at a young age the realm where Phantom Archer used to shoot energy instead of arrows to hit enemies.

It was a joyous thing that his friend had become stronger.

Jin Cheon-hee’s mood naturally improved.

Behind the two, Gongsun Hyeon was coming up, panting.

“Kids… just… let’s rest a bit…”

“That’s why I told you to ride the palanquin up, sister.”

“That’s right. Sister, or do you want to ride on my back?”

When Wang Gak-yeon naturally took a posture to carry Gongsun Hyeon on her back, Gongsun Hyeon waved her hands vigorously.

“No, no, how can I do that when there are eyes watching? Anyway…”

While saying that, Gongsun Hyeon’s eyes were dripping with honey as she looked at the two.

Her strangely twisted posture was still the same, but her complexion was much better than before.

It’s natural to become brighter when you’re around bright people.

Since that day, Gongsun Hyeon had lived each day grateful for the fact that her sister was by her side.

Then one day, Wang Gak-yeon came in through Jin Cheon-hee’s introduction, and it seems she spent happy scheming days pulling Wang Gak-yeon’s chubby cheeks.

‘The growth of Gongsun Merchant Group these days is terrifying.’

Not only in making money, but even their skill in eliminating competitors was astounding.

And there was no one in the Central Plains who didn’t know that Gongsun Hyeon was behind it.

Jin Cheon-hee made a fist-and-palm salute.

“It’s so good to see the three of you.”

“I’m glad to see the Little White Dragon, whose fame is widespread in the martial world.”

The older sister Gongsun Hyeon still greeted Jin Cheon-hee formally.

Displeased with her sister’s formality, Gongsun Yeong hugged her sister from behind and lifted her up.

“Eek! Yeong-ah!”

“Sister, are you plotting some terrifying scheme again? Let’s not do that to our little benefactor. Okay?”

“…Sigh, Yeong-ah.”

“Yes, sister? I don’t do this to other people.”

When Gongsun Yeong rubbed her cheek against her sister’s cheek, Gongsun Hyeon finally couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

“I give up. Anyway. This is why people from the family keep noticing how close we are.”

“I don’t understand why you’re hiding that.”

“As I’ve said many times before, our Gongsun family has a rigid structure between the main family and branch families…”

“Okay, okay.”

Gongsun Yeong waved her hand dismissively.

Born with a martial artist’s physique, she lived a life that was the very essence of a martial artist, wielding a sword throughout her life.

Gongsun Hyeon couldn’t overcome her sister’s magnanimity.

“…As you can see, this is how it turned out. There was a power struggle between the main family and branch families, so we were hiding our relationship, but Yeong… doesn’t think of hiding it at all, so now more people are noticing.”

Gongsun Hyeon sighed with a pale expression.

What she wanted was to pass the clan head position to Gongsun Yeong and leave herself.

To do that, she needed to use the fight between the main family and branch families.

However, her sister Gongsun Yeong was a sister-doting person without a speck of ambition.

‘It seems you’re starting to realize the reality.’

Although Jin Cheon-hee couldn’t say it out loud, it seemed that Gongsun Hyeon herself was starting to realize that it might not be impossible for her cousin sister to become the clan head.

Gongsun Hyeon said.

“And Yeon-ee, whom you introduced, is helping with my bodyguard duties and the merchant group’s work. She’s reached the realm of Mind Archery and has started to be called the Little Bow King.”

It seems she’s calling Wang Gak-yeon by the nickname ‘Yeon-ee’.

“Yeon-ah. Why are you so shy when you’ve come home?”

“…”

Wang Gak-yeon stepped back hesitantly with a bright red face.

Then Gongsun Yeong grabbed Wang Gak-yeon and lifted her up just like she did with her sister.

“Aaaah! Sister!”

“Hahaha, why are you so shy! That’s more than enough for a triumphant return!”

“B-but… I didn’t make a triumphant return. I didn’t obtain any secret manuals or eat any elixirs…”

Wang Gak-yeon’s standards were high.

It was then.

“Gak-yeon!”

A booming voice sounded from behind Jin Cheon-hee. It was Elder Phantom Archer.

As soon as the elder discovered Wang Gak-yeon, he shouted and ran over.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

Tears like cow dung began to form in his large eyes.

Wang Gak-yeon was flustered and shouted.

“Dad, are you… crying?!”

“What are you talking about. This father doesn’t cry over such things.”

His shoulders started to shake.

Even though he had calmly waited with a martial artist’s heart for his child who had left to make a name in the martial world, it had been a long time since he’d seen his daughter.

Seeing his daughter who had grown so much, he couldn’t control his tears as a father.

“Don’t cry! Dad!”

“I told you Dad’s not crying.”

His lips started to quiver.

Unable to bear it any longer, Gongsun Yeong slapped Wang Gak-yeon’s back.

“Go hug him.”

“Oh, geez…”

Tears also formed in Wang Gak-yeon’s eyes as she said that.

No matter how much you leave to make a name in the martial world and aim to become a great hero with a cool title, living away from home is still hard.

Even if Jin Cheon-hee had made things convenient, it couldn’t compare to living at home with family.

“…Dad.”

Unable to hold back, Wang Gak-yeon hugged her dad.

Phantom Archer patted Wang Gak-yeon’s back and said.

“Don’t cry, my daughter. Dad will… do well.”

“…You’re the one crying, Dad.”

Watching this scene, Gongsun Hyeon calmly said.

“Yeon-ah. I’ll give you two days off, so spend today sharing father-daughter affection.”

“What are you saying? I have work to do.”

“That’s enough! Take it when it’s given.”

Gongsun Yeong laughed heartily.