The Great Merchant
Episode 13
Welcome!
Thank you for coming all this way.
Step right in, sir.
That way, sir. That way.
Thank you.
Come this way.
This is amazing!
We're actually busy!
What did I tell you? Hong, no I mean Mandeok's our lucky charm!
Lucky charm? Give me a break!
These men aren't here to give us business. They're here to see Gisaeng Hong.
Just watch.
This is going to blow up in our faces one way or another.
Let me help.
Okay.
Don't work too hard, Mandeok.
How do you do, sirs?
You're the reason we're here. Don't disappoint us.
Yes, sir. Thank you for your patronage.
Officials are coming down from Hanyang to inspect the abalones.
Oh, dear. Hanyang folks are coming again...
We'll never have any peace around here.
It's important to secure adequate supply of abalones, so work harder on that.
Don't worry, madam.
We're buying them up faster than the divers can pick them.
Madam! Oh dear! Oh dear!
No one's dying here. Don't make such a ruckus.
I just heard from Kim Pansul that
Mandeok's drawing...
all her old customers from the gisaeng house to Eastgate Market Brokers.
After all that legal hoopla and changing her name so she could stop being a gisaeng.
I guess she just can't help it since that's all she knows how to do.
Has she contacted you, my son?
You're Gisaeng Hong's biggest customer after all.
You're out of line.
Am I?
But it's true though.
Foreman.
Mandeok will become a headache for Eastgate, and I didn't have to do a thing.
What are you thinking about?
I can't stop thinking about Baek Sorae.
After all, she saved my life.
Is there any way we can get her out of the quarantine camp?
It might be possible if we can get the doctor to declare her disease free.
How about you? What's your plan for the future?
I want to relearn about business from scratch.
Is that why you brought all those customers to a business which isn't ready for them?
Is it a mistake to bring customers?
There is proper order to doing things.
The staff was caught completely off guard because of you.
I just wanted to earn my keep...
You should know that hasty actions bring trouble.
Besides, you're still a gisaeng house...
I just wish you'd learn the business quietly.
Forget this!
I came here because they said I could conduct business and have pretty girls serve me drinks.
Not to be treated like a beggar!
Why are you doing this?
Unbelievable!
Do you think this is a saloon?
Why would we have girls serving drinks?
If girls are what you want, go to the gisaeng house!
Listen to these crooks!
First you lure me in and now you're telling me to go to a gisaeng house?
When did I tell you we were serving drinks!
Fellows, why are you here?
Well, because they said Gisaeng Hong was serving drinks!
Sir!
We'll apologize for the misunderstanding.
But this is a trader's inn, so please discard any other expectations.
Do you think we're going to stay just because you apologized?
No, thanks!
You're not the only trade broker on this island!
I'm coming with you!
Unbelievable!
Hurry up!
- Let's get out of this place! - Yes, let's go!
That's a shame. Maybe you should've called over your gisaeng friends.
What?
People think this is a gisaeng house.
We had the foreman of Westgate with his fancy palanquin calling for you the other day.
Today you brought a pack of men wanting to get drunk.
We already know you were a gisaeng. You don't have to try so hard.
Who wouldn't get the wrong idea when we have a girl serving drinks just yesterday?
That's enough!
No, they're right.
It was a bad idea to have her work at the trader's inn with those delicate gisaeng hands.
Is that what you really think, Granny?
Yes.
Don't take it personally that she didn't come out to see you off.
It's hard for her to see you go.
Let's go. We better find you a place to stay.
There's someone I've to see first.
I'll send word when I find a place to stay.
Let me know right away. I'll be out looking for you.
I'm always causing trouble for you.
I put the roughnecks to work at Eastgate like you said, and it did the trick in a flash.
So what happened to Mandeok?
She got kicked out, of course.
I got to hand it to you, sir.
You've the knack for causing people pain.
What?
What I mean is that you're pretty crafty.
I mean crafty. I mean smart.
Beat it.
Just look at me.
There are others who don't belong in the quarantine camp.
I'm very stressed out right now because I haven't found the Pseudixus Japonicus that
I must send to the Royal palace.
Do you think I've the time to examine the diseased in the quarantine camp?
Will you see them if I help you find the shrub?
I've searched everywhere from Mt. Hala to Gotjawal forest for that darn shrub.
So don't waste my time and get out of here.
Hong!
No, it's Mandeok now.
Word is all over town that gisaeng Hong changed here name!
Mandeok, what are you doing here at the government office?
I just had some business to take care of at the pharmacy.
Have you been well?
Why haven't you come by if you're curious about how we are?
I'm sorry, I've been remiss.
What's this?
I... left Eastgate Market Brokers.
Why?
Did they kick you out because you were a gisaeng before?
How did you know?
Forget them!
There're plenty of other places you can go.
They say it's easy to shed your gisaeng's robe but hard to shed the gisaeng name.
You're shouting "Forget me", but they remember you until you're dead.
What's Mandeok going to do then?
She got to do something to make a living.
I'll dive for abalone like my mother if I've to.
Diving isn't for anyone.
You need the protection of the Dragon King.
You think the Dragon King will kick me out too when he sees my delicate gisaeng hands?
Goodness! How can you joke around in the rut you're in?
I was eager to get myself away from being a government gisaeng,
but I guess I never thought it through about how I was going to live afterwards.
Don't make any hasty decisions.
Take it slow.
I've talked to the innkeeper so you can stay here for a few days.
Yes.
You'll find something to do to make a living.
Yes, I'm prepared to do whatever I've to.
I'll eat whatever I have and do any kind of work that comes my way
and make it on my own.
I'm going to show them that I can make a good living without being a gisaeng.
Yes, Mandeok will succeed in whatever she does!
Here's to our Mandeok. May she make lots and lots of money!
May she strike it rich!
Cheers!
That's good!
Dong-ah.
Don't worry. She's fine.
Is she really fine when I'm not there?
Yes, she's fine.
I better settle down quick so you don't have to lie.
Why are you picking all these medicinal herbs?
I've to do something to put food in my mouth.
What are you doing? You could've hurt yourself!
Thanks, Dong-ah!
This is Pseudixus Japonicus!
Now I can get Baek Sorae out of the quarantine camp!
I found the shrub you were looking for.
You're a tenacious one!
Okay, I'll pay a visit to the quarantine camp.
Thank you!
What are you doing here?
I heard that the doctor was here to examine the patients.
I thought you might get released, so I came to see you home.
See me home? Whatever for?
Life's easier in the quarantine camp.
Don't worry.
Mistress Myohyang has been kicked out of the gisaeng house,
and Assistant Magistrate Choe's still there, but he doesn't have as much power as before.
It's still intact, thanks to the rocks.
Crazy...
Why don't we just go the inn instead?
Who will welcome a couple of wretched wenches like us?
That's a bit harsh.
No, Dong-ah. She's right.
But that's in the past.
Let's show the world that things are different for us now.
Let's clean up then.
Darn house...
It won't even rot.
When father, mother, and grandmother have all passed on...
What's it still standing for?
Is this true?
A daughter you never knew about?
So I intend to turn myself in for deceiving the king.
If you reveal this,
Jeong Dong and his faction will come after you.
If I hide it knowing this,
not only would I be deceiving the king twice,
it could bring you great harm as well.
But I would be losing my right-hand man if you resign.
Please think this over.
Am I wrong?
But Minister Jeong,
collecting more abalones for tribute goods to Qing would be most cruel.
Jeju divers are already...
If you care so much about the people of Jeju, why did you go there to investigate a crime which never existed
and paralyze local commerce?
Not all investigations produce results.
If the agents are blamed every time this happened, who would want to work?
I'm not talking about lack of results but about the damage he has caused!
You're out of line, sir.
This is official opinion of the CCB chief after assessing the local situation first hand.
It can't be ignored.
We should be looking for an alternative solution.
I won't burge unless you could produce a crate full of silver nuggets for us to offer instead.
Minister, why are you being so unreasonable?
This is for the benefit of Joseon!
What's good for the country is good for Jeju as well,
and that's the end of this discussion!
Your mother has been quite worried about you.
Why don't you transfer to the Board of Punishments?
I'm quite content at the Bureau of Commerce Control so don't worry.
If you're bothered because I'm in the Board of Punishments,
I'll look into another department for you.
It's good to try a variety of work when you're young.
Hongsu!
What's this I hear about you having a hidden women in Jeju?
Where did you hear this, wife?
From a matchmaker when I went to see her regarding Hongsu's marriage.
I've heard this rumor as well.
False rumors are bound to start when we allow our son to travel to such distant place so often.
Hongsu, I don't want you ever going to Jeju again. Okay?
I heard you turned in your resignation.
Word travels fast.
Mandeok would want you to continue working for the country and people.
I did this for myself.
I don't want to live with the guilt
of having deceived the king, so I'm trying to pay the price and be free of it.
[Divers Cove, Jeju]
Hyungnim! Mandeok, what are you doing here?
Come here and get warm.
I came early and cleaned up the place for you guys.
I don't understand why you did this to yourself when you can have a fancy, comfortable life.
For peace of mind.
So let me know if you've any work I can do, okay?
Where are you staying now?
I'm staying with Sorae.
You mean Baek Sorae's out of the quarantine camp?
Hey, girl! You're supposed to come see me, the diver master first!
How did you know I got out?
It must've been so tough for you...
Not really.
No diving, no abalones...
The quarantine camp was great.
I heard you're an expert at drying abalones.
There's no one better!
Rain or snow, she can dry abalones to perfection!
Forget the nonsense, and make me some of your famous seaweed soup.
Let me go sell this and get us some food.
Don't go anywhere, I'll be right back.
You're going to feed all of them?
My, you're generous!
I hope your trip here wasn't too uncomfortable.
Have you checked on Kim Ungryeol?
It seems he's lost influence in Hanyang due to lack of results from Jeju investigation.
And the rumor has it he turned in his resignation.
Resign over one minor investigation?
He must be feeling quite guilty.
Minister of Justice must be in urgent need of funds to have sent you here.
Can't blame them for complaining given how long it's been since the last time we paid them.
He's hounding me to secure this bid and secure steady source of fund.
- Is anyone outside? - Yes.
Dongju's here.
How are we doing with the abalone acquisition?
We've amply quantity of fresh goods secured, but because of this weather,
everyone's trying their best with the drying process.
We do have a surplus supply of dried abalone in the warehouse as well, so don't worry.
But, have you checked up on Mandeok?
Why did they kick you out of Eastgate when you worked so hard?
Is it because of your background as a gisaeng?
No.
Sure it is. I can tell by looking at your face.
I'm sorry that I can't help when I'm supposed to be a friend.
I'm lucky to have someone who cares.
Maybe you should've gone to Hanyang with Inspector Kim.
If you're going to be discriminated here because of your background...
What do you mean by that?
I heard Lord Kim Ungryeol's your father.
Is it a false rumor?
What am I saying?
He wouldn't leave you here to suffer this hardship if you really were his daughter.
By the way, where are you staying these days?
"For the reason that abalone has become a tribute product being sent to Qing,
an open bid will be held to select the supplier of abalones."
That's absurd!
There's less than two weeks left.
Do we have any dried abalones in stock?
Yeah, but not much.
There's Mandeok!
Isn't that the lady owner of Westgate?
Don't worry about me.
I think I finally know what I'm going to do for a living now.
What's that?
I'm thinking about preparing dried abalones to sell to the market brokers.
Really?
Bring some by to Westgate too when they're ready to be sold.
And...
this.
Moonsun, this is...
I heard you refused my last gift.
I'm going to be hurt if you refuse it again.
It's just a token of my friendship.
It's not a keepsake gift, so use it if you need to.
How did you store them that the valuable abalones would go bad?
It couldn't be helped because of the wet weather.
Even if they were good,
we don't have enough to present them for the bidding.
We got our hopes up for nothing on the new policies the inspectors instituted just for show.
We should've know. Anyone can make a reform on paper.
We're fools for thinking things would change.
We can acquire fresh abalones and start preparing them now.
Didn't I tell that Eastgate has already acquired all the fresh abalones out there?
They're calling this an open bid, but we can't compete with Westgate!
So are you suggesting that we close our doors?
If that's not the case,
we can't throw away an opportunity without giving it a shot at least.
Madam's right.
Start acquiring all the fresh abalones that you can.
Mold?
How could you let this happen?
Why are there mold on perfectly good abalones?
That...
Round up all the divers and fishermen and start preparing dried abalones again!
Madam, it's very difficult to dry abalones in this weather.
So we're supposed to do nothing when the bidding's just days away?
This is frequent occurrence in foul weather.
Whether this is frequent or rare is unimportant!
Don't worry about the bid.
It's more than likely everyone has the same problem.
Besides, I know someone who can make dried abalones in any kind of weather.
Who would that be?
A diver named Baek Sorae.
Her family has been drying abalones for generations.
She was sent to the quarantine camp by Assistant Magistrate Choe.
I must see the assistant magistrate.
Send word.
This is our chance. A chance of a lifetime!
What makes you think Eastgate will buy our dried abalones if we make them?
Because they need them.
They need to secure a huge supply to enter the bid for the contract,
so we don't have to worry about selling them if we can just make them.
I'm tired.
Go ahead and make them yourself if you want, but leave me out of it.
I wish I could make them myself, but I don't how to dry abalones in this weather.
But you do.
Please help me.
I really want to be accepted as a merchant.
If I can do this, those who see me only as a gisaeng will look at me a little differently.
And if they don't?
Then I'll have to do something else.
There's nothing you can't do in this world, is there?
Help me, Sorae.
You're so persistent!
Then get the fresh abalones first.
Welcome.
You must be exhausted from extended travel.
- Please come inside. - This way.
Assistant Magistrate.
You're a difficult man to see.
Haven't you received my message?
Was I supposed to run over and see you?
Is there something upsetting you?
Why did you hire Myohyang without talking to me first?
I couldn't risk her exposing us being left unwatched in Daejeonghyun.
So you bribed the magistrate and got her out without my knowledge to keep an eye on her?
Good excuse.
I need to talk to you about a matter regarding Westgate.
I heard a woman named Baek Sorae is being held at the quarantine camp.
How did you know about Baek Sorae?
Myohyang must've told you.
Yes.
I need that woman.
Could you help me?
Too late. Mandeok already got her out.
Is this going to be enough?
Dong-ah!
You two are quite a team.
Clean them thoroughly.
Sorae!
These were dried just recently?
And you made these?
The person who did the preparation is Baek Sorae.
Baek Sorae?
Isn't she in the quarantine camp?
Her health has been restored, so they let her out.
If you left Eastgate, you should stay away.
Why are you back here asking for favors?
I didn't come to ask for any favors.
I came to do business.
Business?
Why don't you do business with all those countless clientele of yours?
You seemed displeased with my merchandise.
I'll take it elsewhere.
Have a look.
It's light and dried to perfection.
If she can produce this quality in the current weather, it's worth a try.
Can you produce the quantity we need by the bidding date?
Yes, if we can secure the fresh abalones.
These were prepared by a diseased woman out of the quarantine camp.
Imagine the loss if anything went wrong. It's too risky.
Most importantly, I don't trust this girl.
If trust is the issue, I'll be her guarantor.
Mandeok took the dried abalones to Eastgate?
What's more, Kim Pansul says the quality was excellent.
Impossible! Who can dry abalones in this wet weather?
But Baek Sorae can.
Mandeok must've won over Baek Sorae.
She used to gnash her teeth at the sight of abalones.
You provided us valuable information but we've been preempted.
I'm sure you're more than capable of taking Baek Sorae from Mandeok.
Our bigger problem's Assistant Magistrate Choe.
Do you have an idea to bring the angry man around to our side?
Why don't you let me handle Choe Namgu?
Yes, I'll do that.
Do you know where Baek Sorae lives?
Yes.
Let's go see how Mandeok's doing.
We don't need that. Take it back.
Mandeok and I are childhood friends.
She wouldn't mind a gift from me.
That's not my business.
Moonsun!
Good, I wasn't sure if I had the right place.
What are you doing here?
I just came to visit Mandeok as a friend.
I can see this isn't the right time.
I'll see you next time.
Then I'll get going.
We've seen the sample of your dried abalones.
You've excellent skills.
So we've come to ask you to work for us.
I've already consented to do the work if you want the goods.
We've a work facility at Eastgate, so we'll provide you with room and board.
I prefer to work at home.
Is there any particular reason why?
I'll work where it's comfortable for me, so don't concern yourself.
Very well.
I'll send the fresh abalones right away.
We'll do our best.
What was that about, volunteering to bring Assistant Magistrate Choe around?
It infuriates me to think about what he did, but I need him on my side for the future.
Besides, I can't be a freeloader here forever.
I can't stay long.
The gisaeng house's very busy entertaining the officials from Hanyang.
Are you the only gisaeng who can pour drinks?
I called you to give you the secret to becoming the next headmistress of the gisaeng house.
Are you interested?
Headmistress of the gisaeng house?
Choe Namgu's the heavyweight in Jeju provincial government.
If you can win his heart, becoming the headmistress will be a breeze.
If you can turn him around for us,
Madam Oh of Westgate will make it worth your while.
Anyone home?
We're here from Eastgate to deliver fresh abalones.
Please bring them right in here.
This way.
All done.
You're all done. Run along now.
Um, I'd like to see the drying process if I can.
Don't bother me.
Just come back on the pick-up date.
Yes, ma'am. Well then...
Let's go.
She's just curious, why did you have to shoo her off like that?
I can't work with people watching over my shoulders.
She's so difficult.
You're in the wrong room.
Madam Oh isn't here.
Well, she turned in early, so...
Okay. Then tell me why you're here.
Looks like Eastgate's going to acquire high quality dried abalones.
How's that possible in this weather?
Kim Mandeok's preparing abalones with Baek Sorae for Eastgate.
Sir, Baek Sorae's a girl who used to work for us before she was sent to the quarantine camp.
Good work.
Bye.
Sir, we're going to lose the bid to Eastgate. What do we do?
What do we do? Simple. We kidnap the girl.
Kim Pansul told the foreman as you ordered him to do and left.
And Foreman Gang?
The foreman took the guards and went out with Dongju right after Kim Pansul left.
What do you suppose is going to happen?
Everything's going well, so we don't have to worry.
tomorrow's the deadline, right?
Yes.
We just have to wrap up the batch we're drying now and we're set.
Great, you've worked hard.
We had a lot of help.
Mandeok, is that you?
I heard you've exceptional skills in drying abalones.
Why don't you come and work for Westgate?
Don't waste your time and leave.
Just the thought of Westgate makes me ill.
Really? Then I guess I've no choice.
She's not here. I can't find here anywhere.
Kids, how's it going?
We stopped by to see how the work's progressing.
That...
Are we bothering you?
It's not that.
Sorae... and the dried abalones... are gone!
- Have you see Sorae? - The dried abalones are gone too.
I saw strange men coming out of Sorae's house.
So you're after the abalones.
I'd rather die than dry abalones for Westgate.
They're Japanese merchants.
You can't give us the dried abalones?
Are you refusing to do business with us?
One thousand piece of silver.
I don't want anyone to enter this bid.
They don't want to compete with Joseon in abalone trading with Qing.
They have to be rendered completely useless.
What happens if we offer Japanese silver to the state instead of dried abalones
in this situation with forfeiture from Eastgate?
Three year tribute goods delivery contract will go to Westgate Market Brokers.
Give Mandeok a chance.
This isn't just a competition between two business.
Our national interest is at stake.
Mandeok! The officials are leaving.
We can't let them leave.
Mandeok's taking the dried abalones to the government office!
She must be stopped!
Wait!
Here. I brought the dried abalones.
Are these really locally harvested dried abalones?
Yes, would you like to take a look?