Chapter 25

As Jowoo and Han Seolhyun were about to step out of the inn and board the carriage, Jegal Yun, who looked clearly flustered, hurriedly approached and whispered to Jowoo.

“T-There’s a bit of a problem.”

“Problem? What kind?”

Jegal Yun nodded toward the back.

“I said I wanted to invest in the trading company, right? So I contacted the main house... and my older brother came in person.”

“Older brother?”

As Jowoo looked in the direction Jegal Yun had nodded, a man with a refined demeanor, fluttering a fan, came into view. Sensing Jowoo’s gaze, he folded his fan and bowed politely.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Jegal Yeong of the Jegal family.”

Jegal Yeong’s first impression was unique. He exuded the characteristic aloofness and stubbornness of the Jegal family, yet his face was naturally amiable. He also had a manly and generous air, and it seemed he had achieved a considerable level of martial arts.

However, Jowoo quickly suppressed his pleasant feelings.

What a coward. To send someone as high-ranking as the head of the inner court just because a mere 10,000 gold investment was made.

Jowoo could understand the intentions of the Jegal family’s patriarch without even seeing him.

Soon, Jowoo looked at Jegal Yeong with a bored expression.

“Show your brother around. I’m very busy today.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Today was the day all the business locations of the Zhao Family Trading Company were opening. Although the Zhao Family Inn had already opened to accommodate the executives, the cold drinks service had not started yet. The people of Poyang Lake would truly experience the culture of the Zhao Family Trading Company today.

“Then...”

As Jowoo was about to board the Heavenly Cloud Carriage, Jegal Yeong’s voice was heard.

“Jowoo, young master!”

Jowoo turned back and answered with a slightly annoyed look.

“I’m sorry, but I have a lot to do today. I’ll greet you another time.”

Jegal Yeong bowed again.

“What I want to see is not the business locations but you, the president of the Zhao Family Trading Company.”

“...”

What a troublesome person.

“I can’t spare the time today. Let’s meet again tomorrow.”

Jegal Yeong pointed at the Heavenly Cloud Carriage.

“I won’t interfere in any way. I just want to accompany you.”

Jowoo sighed as if he had no choice and nodded.

“Alright. Get in.”

As Jegal Yeong boarded the Heavenly Cloud Carriage with Jowoo, he looked around the interior and was inwardly amazed.

‘Impressive. And there’s something peculiar about it.’

The interior decorations and various convenience features were all new to him.

Especially, the foldable tables attached to each seat were quite unique.

There were grooves on the tables for placing bowls and teacups.

So, are these foldable tables personal dining tables?

Eating a meal in a carriage that jolts so violently?

Moreover, unlike other carriages, each seat was independently installed and wrapped in soft leather, giving a luxurious feel.

There were sunshades on each window, a pot with orchids, and even a shoe rack.

It was hard to tell if this was inside a carriage or a room.

“Please start.”

As Jowoo instructed the driver through the side window, the Heavenly Cloud Carriage began to move slowly.

“Huh?”

A voice of surprise.

Jegal Yeong’s round eyes immediately turned to Jowoo.

“...How is this possible?”

Even on the main road of Poyang Lake, the road was full of gravel and stones. Although the carriage was clearly moving, the jolts were minimal.

It felt like walking on clouds, a completely different experience from any carriage he had ever been in.

At that moment, Jowoo unfolded a foldable table and took out a ledger from his sleeve, spreading it out.

He then took out a charcoal pen and began to write.

Jegal Yeong, with his mouth open, stared at him in a daze.

To conduct business in a carriage that jolted so violently was something he had never even imagined.

“What are you doing?”

Jegal Yeong, with a look of admiration, answered.

“It’s not an ordinary carriage.”

Jowoo smiled slightly.

“It’s called the Heavenly Cloud Carriage, an invention of our Anhui Iron Workshop.”

“Heavenly Cloud Carriage!”

Jegal Yeong nodded in admiration. Indeed, the name suited the carriage.

He then turned his gaze to the veiled woman sitting next to Jowoo.

Wearing a veil meant she did not want to reveal her identity.

Since they had agreed not to interfere with their activities, there was no need to start a conversation and cause a commotion.

As about an hour passed, the driver’s voice was heard through the side window.

“We have arrived at the first destination.”

Jowoo closed the ledger and put it back in his sleeve, then spoke to Han Seolhyun.

“Let’s get out.”

“Yes.”

In front of the Zhao Family Chengxin Hall in Poyang Lake, it was like a bustling market.

People were already gathered in large numbers.

This was because the immense reputation of the Anhui Zhao Family Chengxin Hall had already spread to Poyang Lake.

Everyone was lining up to taste the famous six-layered meat bun and Black Clear Water.

What surprised Jegal Yeong the most was that even the experts of the Black Heaven Lotus were standing in line.

Not only them, but also the attendants of the nobles, the rich dressed in expensive silk, and the officials—all were gathered in a crowd.

Indeed, when it comes to fine dining and gluttony, there is no distinction of high or low, young or old.

After getting out of the carriage, Jowoo led Han Seolhyun into the Zhao Family Chengxin Hall and then came out again.

After a while, Han Seolhyun came out, breathing heavily, looking quite exhausted.

To prevent her from getting too tired, Jowoo quickly gave her the candies and medicine he had prepared.

“You mustn’t overwork yourself. Take them all.”

“...Thank you.”

Despite her excellent ice cultivation skills, her internal energy was very weak.

Jowoo was determined to obtain the Heavenly Ice Spirit for her.

Seeing her suffer from exhaustion after using her ice cultivation skills made him feel uneasy.

No matter how good the business was, he couldn’t push someone to the point of suffering and only benefit himself.

Of course, his desire to protect her was also influenced by her stunning beauty.

With the ice fully prepared, the Zhao Family Chengxin Hall began its operations.

As the Zhao Family Chengxin Hall opened, people who had been waiting in long lines started to order loudly.

“Black Clear Water! I want to taste the Black Clear Water!”

“I want Black Clear Water too!”

“Give me the six-layered meat bun and Black Clear Water!”

It was a bustling scene!

As the food people ordered started to be served one by one, exclamations, screams, and cries of shock burst out from all directions.

“Wow!”

“What, what a taste!”

Seeing the enthusiastic scene, Jegal Yeong was inwardly curious about the taste of the six-layered meat bun and Black Clear Water.

At that moment, the manager of the Chengxin Hall, holding the six-layered meat bun and Black Clear Water, hurriedly ran to Jowoo.

“I’ve brought them, President!”

The manager was clearly nervous.

Jowoo’s taste test was known to be very strict.

Especially today, the first day the Zhao Family Chengxin Hall opened in Poyang Lake, failing this test could mean a temporary shutdown.

Jowoo took a bite of the six-layered meat bun and closed his eyes to savor it.

He then took a sip of the Black Clear Water.

“Hmm...”

The manager, who had been watching, swallowed hard, waiting for Jowoo’s evaluation.

Jowoo opened his eyes and smiled faintly, looking satisfied.

“It’s good. The taste hasn’t changed.”

Although the Black Clear Water was not as impressive as modern cola, it was still quite something.

Soon, Jowoo instructed the manager to bring extra Black Clear Water and six-layered meat buns.

After the manager brought the well-packaged items, Jowoo immediately got back into the carriage.

“Let’s go. We’ll have lunch on the way.”

Jegal Yeong, who had boarded the carriage again, showed great curiosity about the food of the Chengxin Hall.

“Can I taste it first?”

Jowoo nodded silently and handed him the six-layered meat bun and Black Clear Water.

Jegal Yeong took a bite of the six-layered meat bun and started to chew.

His pupils dilated suddenly!

How could it taste like this?

It was a gastronomic fantasy.

The spicy aroma that tingled the tongue.

The sweet taste that swirled around the tongue.

The insane flavor that was full of umami.

Each element was stimulating, but the combination of sweet, spicy, and salty flavors created a perfect harmony.

Swallow!

It felt like a ‘taste storm’ had passed through his mouth!

This fantastical taste was a new world for Jegal Yeong!

However, the pleasure he felt when he sipped the Black Clear Water was incomparable.

Suck!

As he deeply sucked the Black Clear Water through a thin, young bamboo tube, a fierce sensation of coolness spread from the top of his head.

“Ah!”

Such a refreshing burp, never experienced before!

Jegal Yeong savored the Black Clear Water for a long time, then suddenly realized his mistake and regained his composure.

“Excuse me.”

However, once a person tastes such pleasure, they can never forget it.

As soon as the intense pleasure subsided, Jegal Yeong instinctively, like Pavlov’s dog, bit down on the bamboo tube again.

Suck!

“Ah!”

Exclamations! More exclamations!

Could such a beverage even exist in this world?

It was truly unbelievable.

The tour of the Zhao Family Trading Company continued until evening.

He shivered at the cold drinks of the Zhao Family Inn and lost his mind over the Hanbing Wine of the Zhao Family Distillery. Especially, after tasting the Snow Flower Wine, he was on the verge of tears!

That’s not all.

Seeing the riders of the Zhao Family Transport Company, with their numerous bicycles, dispersing in all directions, he was speechless.

The delivery service, a groundbreaking business model, was a new world for him.

To deliver such a large amount of food right to people’s homes!

The idea was so impressive that it made his whole body shiver!

But that wasn’t the end.

That evening, as soon as he returned to the inn, he rushed to his brother’s room to share his admiration.

However, he found a design diagram of a ten-story pavilion on the table.

After listening to his brother’s explanation, Jegal Yeong immediately wrote a letter.

-Father.

This is your son, Yeong.

Please send all the available funds of the family.

No, it’s not about investment.

This is a revolution.

Jowoo is a truly terrifying person.

We must ally with him by