His sister had died, his mother had fallen ill, and the family’s fortunes had crumbled, but Yeonhwi remained bright as ever. He could never easily pass by those in hardship or suffering, and wherever help was needed, he never spared his own strength.
For some reason, there were no friends left by his side, but Yeonhwi had no leisure to make friends anyway.
"I'm sorry, Yeonhwi. I feel uneasy, as if I'm leaving you with a heavy burden."
Yeonhwi’s father, the head of the Red Cloud Merchant Group, asked for forgiveness with a dark expression.
"When I return, the household will get better, so bear with it just a little while longer."
To cure his sister’s fever, to care for his mother’s madness, too much money had gone out. There was also the cause of neglecting the merchant group’s affairs while tending to his family’s illnesses.
Thus, the group’s losses, which had gradually been tilting, grew so large before he knew it that they could no longer be endured with their existing trade. So the head of the merchant group chose to bring in goods from the Outlands.
"Don't worry, Father. I will guard Mother well. I can also look after the group’s work to some degree, so go without worry."