The Great Merchant
[Jeju Harbor]
Episode 5
What's in these jars?
They're for salted fish I sold in Haenam.
They're empty.
Open them.
Yes...
Sir... I...
I'll open them.
Next.
I don't have all day. Move.
- You wench! - Sir, please! I know I should have!
Forgive me just this once!
Mister.
How dare you attempt to escape the island! Don't you know it's against the law?
Move it!
Get away! Get away from me!
I'm sick of abalones.
If you need someone to dry abalones, catch my father and make him do it.
He's the one who left me behind and ran away to the mainland!
Get her! Don't let her get away!
That wench!
Let go!
I'd rather die than spend the rest of my life drying abalones!
How dare you!
Do you really have a death wish?
What's the meaning of this?
Escapees are for the government to deal with.
It's not a Westgate Market Brokers' business.
Sending dried abalone to the royal palace is our business.
Eastgate Market Brokers should mind its own business.
Take her!
Leave me alone!
If I want to kill myself, I'll kill myself!
You can't stop me!
Life's hard when you're stupid.
For 10 nyangs, I could put her on a comfortable boat out of here.
[Eastgate Marker brokers, Jeju Island]
Mister...
This is the Brokers' warehouse.
I've to get paid for the salted fish, so you stay put.
I'll be in trouble if they find out I brought you here, so don't make a sound.
Okay.
That goes over there. You should know that by now.
Herbs go right here!
Foreman, how did it go?
I couldn't get any salt from Buan either.
We only have two more days left to procure them for the resellers.
I guess we've no choice but to buy them from Westgate Market Brokers.
They'll name whatever price they want.
It makes me angry that we're so powerless.
We'll become powerful someday.
Foreman, my money for the salted fish...
Oh goodness!
That child was hiding in a salted fish jar!
You're that child from Haenam.
Where are you from?
From Hanyang.
Why did you stow away into this island?
This is my grandmother's hometown. I came to find her, sir.
Please let me stay here for a few days.
Sir, homeless orphans are everywhere.
If we take this child in, they all will be knocking on our door.
Please, sir.
It'll be easier to find my granny if I stayed here since so many people come through here.
I'll earn my keep two-fold.
Hello.
Welcome.
- Welcome, have you eaten, sir? - Yes, yes.
Let me take that for you.
You must've had a long trip. Please go inside and rest.
Keep him for a few days and give him some work.
But sir, what if the boy steals something valuable?
I don't steal!
And I'm... not a boy.
What?
[Han River Docks, Hanyang]
I'll go with you.
One of us has to be here if Hong comes back, you've to stay and wait.
Where are you going?
I'm going to check a few places in Hanyang where Hong might be.
Will I be able to see you again?
I'll come back and find you when the dust settles.
And if Daebang Gand and his men should find out that the doctor has been hiding us,
take the book I gave you and go to Captain Kim Ungryeol for help.
You mustn't let the book get into their hands.
I'm counting on you to find Hong.
It's face powder.
Ma'am, don't you sell these?
Oh, those. We can't sell them.
Why not?
Only the gisaengs buy those, and only Westgate Brokers can do business with gisaeng schools.
I bet I can sell them. Can I show them to gisaengs? I'll give them a good price.
Oh, you're such a pesky little child. Whatever, whatever!
[Jeju Island Marketplace]
See?
Your skin looks radiant!
That's so pretty!
Step right up and get your beauty powder!
Special one nyang discount!
Put this on and you'll look so good that the boy next door won't recognize you!
You can skip your wash for two days and still have men drooling over you!
Even dogs can't pass you by without wagging their tails!
Special one nyang discount!
That's cheap! Get your beauty powder!
It's just regular powder.
This is pretty.
You make these perfume pouches?
What? Oh, used to make and sell them but this is what's left over.
How much is this?
- This is one nyang. - One nyang?
I'll take one.
Thank you.
Me too.
Thank you!
Perfume pouches! One nyang each!
Aren't they pretty?
Perfume pouches!
Face powder, rouge, perfume pouches!
Beauty powder from Eastgate Market Brokers!
Specially priced!
- Aren't they pretty? - Let's go.
Ma'am, may I use these leftover pieces of silk?
Oh, I've no use for them, so go ahead.
Yes.
Wait, what you going to do with all that?
What does she want with scrap silk?
A merchant? No, learn how to sew instead.
Why is Granny always telling me to sew?
How many more times must I whip you before you understand?
Trading isn't about eating better food and wearing better clothes.
What did I tell you?
Business is sincerity.
You must first know how to make what you're selling
to know the real value of what you're selling.
This one has face powder and rouge.
This one has an eyebrow pencil.
You can carry them around in this convenient little pouch.
It's a great idea having both powder and rouge in one pouch.
It's perfect for afternoon outings.
Isn't it?
So ladies, for five nyangs, you can have this travel makeup kit.
You're getting two items for one price.
And if you buy today, you get this beautiful silk pouch for free.
But you've to hurry before they run out.
I'll take one.
I'll buy two.
No, you're too young.
Get through your training first.
Is that the girl from Eastgate Brokers?
Good afternoon, Mistress.
Do they send out young girls like you at Eastgate Market Brokers to make money?
They're temporarily allowing me to stay there, and I'm just trying to earn my keep.
What a resourceful little child!
- Hey. - Yes?
Do you happen to have any ointments for hands?
My mother's hands are dry and chapped.
A gift for your mother?
Tell her to wash her hands with boiled tangerine skin water.
That will soften them up.
Tangerine skin?
This is for your mother.
- Thanks. - Byeolim!
Yes, I'm coming!
See you again!
- Bye. - Bye.
They never do business with anyone but Westgate, how did you get them to buy from you?
Gisaengs go out a lot.
I put them in perfume pouches they can travel with,
I'm surprised how many I've sold too.
Were you a vendor in Hanyang?
It's a great idea combining the powder and rouge,
and these perfume pouches are beautiful.
"When you sell, you sell from the heart and sell what you clients really need."
That's what Granny used to say.
Ma'am,
would you ask people who come through here if they've seen Granny and Dong-ah?
Merchants travel all over the country, so they might know something.
Sure I can do that, but do you really think you could find them that way?
I've to try everything I can.
I'm going to visit other gisaeng schools tomorrow.
Doctor.
Doctor, are you in? Doctor?
I thought you might show up here.
Did he confess the whereabouts of Granny and the girl?
No, he's not talking.
Moreover, the Minister of Justice sent a messenger requesting to see you.
He'll want to know where Granny is.
Keep the boy alive for now.
Yes.
Don't worry.
I'm quite certain the old woman was killed by one of my men's arrow.
Can I trust you on that?
Do I have anything to gain by being untruthful to you?
Then...
Where's the body?
It fell over a cliff into a ravine and was swept away by the water.
Did the boy have a book in his possession by any chance?
What kind of book are you talking about?
Let's just say it's the reason why I was after the woman.
Did he?
Try to eat, Dong-ah.
Maksun...
Listen to me carefully.
If I should die...
Go to the training center and look under the tree in the backyard.
There's an important book buried there.
A book?
What kind of book is that?
When I caught him, he has nothing on him.
Perhaps it was swept away in the ravine with the woman.
Then that's taken care of.
Take the book to the captain of the Commerce Control Bureau.
You can't give it to anyone else.
Aren't you Maksun of the training center?
You think Granny and the kids got out of Hanyang okay, right?
Yes, I think so.
I've something to deliver to the captain.
What is it? I'll take it to him.
I was told to deliver it to him personally.
Oh, there he is now.
Captain Kim!
Sir, what brings you here at this late hour?
I was passing through and thought I'd stop by.
Did you wrap up the silk smuggling case?
Actually, I'm still looking for the girl and her family.
Go ahead.
I brought the wrong package. I'll come back.
Tell me where the book is if you want to live. Now!
Then you must at least know the content of that book.
Talk. What's in that book?
These are records of bribes the daebang gave to the high ministers!
Who kept a record?
Can it be... Granny?
"The true culprit who added poison to the King's food is..."
The Minister of Justice?
I'm so glad he's decided to attend the National Confucian Academy.
There's one thing I'd like to ask for before I do.
Go on.
Please release the boy captured by the daebang.
What?
The boy?
Are you talking about the boy that the Daebang Gang has?
Why does that concern you?
He's a friend of a dear friend.
I'd like to keep him close and have him as a friend as well.
Husband, what's he saying?
Fine. I'll release him.
But you must keep your word.
Yes.
Park, are you there?
You fool.
To survive in this world, people like you and I have to line ourselves with the powerful.
Just kill me.
If that's your wish...
Stop.
It's the Minister of Justice's order.
- Release the boy. - Yes.
Hey, where's the girl who sold the bad face powder?
This is a place of business, what's the commotion?
- Over there. There she is! - Come.
You destroyed one of our gisaeng's face with that bad powder!
What are you going to do?
The headmistress wants you right now!
Face powder?
Who gave her permission to sell anything?
Don't you know that only Westgate Brokers can sell face powder to gisaeng schools.
Resolve this before the foreman gets back!
A spoiled product to boot...
No, that can't be!
Are you calling us liars?
I want to see for myself!
Look what you did to my pretty face! Fix it!
It can't be the face powder.
I used it on myself and I'm just fine.
Did you eat anything not right?
You're still an apprentice and you wore makeup?
What's going on?
I wanted to look nice for my outing yesterday...
She went out with the junior foreman of Westgate Brokers yesterday.
You should focus on training, but instead you're preoccupied with indulgence of pleasure?
Mistress, shouldn't you chastise the girl who sold the bad powder first?
If the face powder is what caused the rashes, I'll take the blame.
But if something else is the cause, you need to know what it is to treat it.
Where did you go yesterday?
Youngsil Valley... under the big tree...
If the powder is the cause,
Eastgate Market Brokers have to compensate for the injury.
Yes.
Where's Hong?
I'm sorry.
I'm trying to find her as well.
I thought if I got you out,
I'd be able to find out where Hong is...
I'll leave here tonight to find Hong and Granny.
I'm afraid you won't be able to find Granny.
It pains me to give you the news.
Dong-ah...
Granny... is dead.
Is this the truth?
Are you sure it's true?
She was running away from Daebang Gang's men...
and fell off a cliff.
That's not true.
No way.
Granny!
Granny...
You can't go.
We haven't found Hong yet...
We've to get all the kids back and live together again.
Granny...
[A Gisaeng School, Jeju Island]
Mistress, I got it!
It's not the powder that caused the rashes!
It's this. This is what caused it!
Since the cause isn't the face powder I sold, Eastgate Brokers can't be held accountable.
If they don't want you at Eastgate Brokers,
won't you come under me?
I can't stay in one place because I'm looking for someone.
I should go now.
What about my face?
Varnish tree sap is toxic to your skin,
but I heard that it also has cleansing effect on your body.
That's what my granny said. It'll actually make you healthier.
Does the girl pleases you, Mistress?
You've sold cosmetics at a gisaeng school without the permission of Westgate Brokers?
What's going on?
Not Eastgate Market Brokers...
it's this girl who acted alone.
She'll be punished and let go, so please overlook this.
I humbly ask of you.
If that's the case, I'll consider it.
But...
You'll have to pay a fine for the violation.
- Let's go. - Yes.
Throw this girl out at once!
Yes.
But sir... this isn't fair!
- Sir! - Out!
Sir!
This isn't fair! Assistant foreman!
Assistant Foreman!
Here. Take the money you earned and go.
You might get whipped hanging around here.
But what did I do wrong?
Only Westgate Market Brokers are allowed to sell cosmetics to gisaeng guild schools by law.
How could I have known you'd sell so many?
Run along!
I haven't seen any good gisaengs lately.
Are you neglecting your duty as the headmistress to recruit new talent?
Forgive me.
I too, stay awake at night because of this situation.
I can't find any decent girls.
Don't worry about the cost. Find new talents.
If we can't accommodate the officials from Hanyang to their satisfaction,
it would be our failure, yours and mine.
Here's the money for the last face powder.
Wherever you go, I wish you luck.
Thank you.
I knew you'd be back.
Did they kick you out?
Do you have a place to go?
That...
Why don't you stay here?
No need... but I should go.
Have you decided where to go?
There's something I kept from you.
I'm going to Jeju Island.
That's a long way.
When Hong and I parted ways,
we promised to meet in Granny's hometown.
My guess is... Hong's in Jeju right now.
Is this true?
Then go at once and bring Hong back.
No, wait.
It'll take you months to get back even if you find her.
Yes, I'll write you a letter. Please give it to her when you find her.
No, I don't need your help.
- I need you to leave. - Please, ma'am.
- Just a few days... - No, I don't need you.
She's got nowhere to go, so it's a matter of time before she's in your hands.
But if I'm going to work on this for a whole month,
I'll need money.
Just make sure she doesn't find out I'm behind this.
But what if she really escapes to the mainland?
I've told the state guards to keep a close eye on her.
She has no way of proving her identity, so she'll never get away from the island.
Even if she does come to you,
how will you get her to register on the gisaeng guild?
I already have it all planned out.
I hope Dong-ah got there safely.
He left over a month ago, so he should be there by now.
I guess Jeju's really far away.
It's taking so long to get there.
I just hope Hong's all right...
You were punished for going out with me because of this girl?
Apologize at once!
Who are you?
He's the junior foreman of the Westgate Market Brokers.
Are you deaf, you lowly wench?
Get on your knees and apologize!
On your knees!
Don't do it!
Dong-ah?
Dong-ah!
Where are you going?
Dong-ah!
Young Master! Out of the way!
Run! Hurry!
Out of the way!
What happened?
Those bastards!
They said these were the most precious food here.
I would've bought something else had I known you've been starving.
I feel like I'm dreaming right now.
I prayed every night to find you and Granny.
Where's Granny? Why didn't she come with you?
Hong...
I've something to tell you.
Granny...
had passed away.
I'm sorry, Hong.
I shouldn't have left Granny...
I'm sorry.
Granny...
No...
No.
Dong-ah, what to do?
She's supposed to be here.
How am I going to live without her?
What to do?
Granny, you can't go... Please...
Dong-ah...
Hong.
It's a letter from Young Master Hongsu.
Hong, I'm glad I can write you this letter even though we're far apart.
I've been striving to achieve the new dream you inspired to have since you left.
Meeting you made me realize the true purpose of learning
and what kind of world a scholar must strive to create.
For this, I've forever grateful.
I know you're in great pain because of your loss,
and I want to be the one to comfort you.
Hong, come back to Hanyang when you receive my letter.
Let's be close to encourage each other's dreams.
I'll be waiting.
Bring me those bastards right now!
Who are they?
How dare they humiliate me this way?
The girl's the one who sold cosmetics to gisaengs without our permission,
and we're looking into the boy's identity now.
I don't care what it takes, I want them caught.
I know him.
He captured and took a woman who was trying to escape the island.
What should we do?
This island is harder to get out then get in.
And you said you snuck in as a stowaway.
You've to get out the same way to be safe.
I could put her on a comfortable boat out of here for 10 nyangs.
Do you have money?
Let me have it first.
I know someone who might be able to help us.
She gets people on board outbound boats for 10 nyangs each.
- Are you sure it's safe? - Don't worry. Let me handle it.
What is it?
We need to get on an outbound boat tonight. Can you help us?
You've got money?
10 nyangs each, right?
Come to the port at nine.
Jeju in sight!
Wasn't this board going to Hanyang?
What are you talking about?
This boat goes from Jeju to Woodo and comes back to Jeju.
No, we're going to Hanyang. We've to go to Hanyang!
Look, I got you on board as a favor because a Westgate employee said you were his niece.
Ahjussi, we're going to die if we go back to Jeju.
We're going to die!
Let go!
Why don't you jump into the ocean like that other girl did?
Take me lightly in this island and you'll end up shark bait.
So be careful.
- Take them! - Aye!
Up!
Let go of me!
Let's go!
I know you want them, but I can't turn them over to you.
The junior foreman was screaming at us to catch them and bring them to him.
Once he sees them, they're done for.
I'll go to Westgate Brokers myself.
Go to the station and tell them to work on the boy first.
I can hear your brain working, Sister.
Where's my friend? Please don't do this!
- Where's Dong-ah? - Get in there!
Where's Dong-ah?
Please don't hurt him! Please don't hurt my friend!
You must've done something to irk the Westgate Market Brokers too.
Just catch up on sleep that you lost trying to run away.
The only ones who can save or kill us...
are the Westgate Brokers.
I'll make shark bait out of those tramps!
But will that really satisfy your anger?
There's a way to toy with them and punish them for life.
For life?
Dong-ah!
It's me, Hong! Can you hear me, Dong-ah?
You awelessly broke the law.
Your punishment will be death,
and your friends will die as well for aiding your escape.
No!
Dong-ah hasn't done anything!
Do you want to save your friend?
Yes, I'll take the punishment alone.
There's a way for you to save him and save yourself as well.
What have I got to do? I'll do anything.
Then... be my foster daughter.
Then I'll convince the Westgate Brokers and the state guards to release you.
No... No, Hong...
What'll you do?
Take him back for torture. Let's go!
- No! No! - Move!
Dong-ah!
Help us. Please! Please help us!
The torture will kill your friend for sure this time.
- Let's go! - Yes!
I'll be your foster daughter.
No, Hong. No!
I'll be your daughter.
No, Hong...
- Hong! - Where do you think this is?
I must see Hong.
Dong-ah.
Didn't I tell you to put him on a ship to Hanyang?
He was unconscious when I got him on board,
but then he work up...
Hong, I'm sorry.
Because of me...
Get up. This isn't your fault.
This is wrong. It's completely absurd.
Come with me.
Leave them.
This is a road I chose for myself.
Like Granny said.
Once you make a decision, you can't look back.
I leave this place...
You'll die.
Since Granny's not here to tell me,
just wish me luck and tell me to be good.
Hong...
Put him on the next ship out.
I'll stay too.
What would a boy do at a gisaeng school?
Do you want to live the rest of your life looking after Hong like a servant?
Yes.
Hong chose this path to save my life, so I'll stay with her and protect her.
Please let me stay.
Hong, was it?
I'll never forget her incredible riding skills.
This is the pouch I gave to Byeolim!
Why did you kill Byeolim?
Just do your job and attend to the county magistrate's needs.
What are you wearing?
Please postpone Hong's Chignon Ceremony until the 49 day mourning period's over.
They confiscated all the abalones?
I'm going to Jeju.
Would you help me take a bath?
Hong sent a letter to the Royal court.
You requested an investigation of the local government? You're nothing but a gisaeng!
Will you put your hair up as planned?
Who does this room belong to?
What's her name?
Her name's Hong.