The Great Merchant
Episode 14
Tomorrow's the deadline, right?
Yes.
We just have to wrap up the batch we're drying now and we'll be 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 her anywhere.
Yes, how's it going?
We stopped by to see how the work was progressing.
That...
Are we bothering you?
It's not that.
Sorae... and the dried abalones...
are all gone!
Where are the abalones that were already processed?
Sorae had them stored separately, so...
You see?
Isn't she refusing to turn over the goods?
We've to take this to the authorities at once!
You're mistaken. Why would Mandeok hide the abalones?
Senior Foreman, I saw her with the lady owner of Westgate at the marketplace.
They must've plotted this together.
Did you meet with the madam owner of Westgate?
Yes, I did.
But sir,
please help me find the missing person first before you cast doubts about me.
Won't all this be clarified once we find Sorae?
How can we find her if she doesn't want to be found?
I'll find her.
I'll see to it that the goods are delivered.
Did they find the abalones?
How can we find something that's been stolen?
Don't you dare accuse Mandeok! She's the most honest person I know!
Yes, Mandeok's honest and upright, and I'm evil and malicious!
If you like her so much, go ahead and marry her!
Hey, Eun!
He doesn't know what he's talking about. Don't take it personally!
You fool, were you there?
How do you know if she pilfered the abalones or not?
What's wrong with you?
You know how good a person Mandeok is.
You moron!
What, "Our Mandeok"? Since when is Mandeok ours, you fool?
My lord, I've been waiting for you.
Oh dear...
I came in the middle of work because you said it's urgent.
What's all this?
You need to take a break once in a while.
Let me pour you a drink.
Drink up and pour me a glass.
If you win Choe Namgu's favor and he opens up to you,
your future will be set.
Did you kidnap me to put me in this hole.
Kidnap?
Ever seen a girl get kidnapped with her clothes packed?
Now you're a thief who stole Eastgate's dried abalones.
You're no longer wanted anywhere but here,
so be a good girl and dry the abalones.
Where are you keeping the abalones Eastgate sent you to dry?
I ate them.
You wench!
Leave her alone.
Let's see how long she lasts.
After all that fuss about making everything perfect,
she didn't touch the food.
I know.
Why did she have us make all this when no one's going to eat them?
Why?
That wench Yoha's working on Choe Namgu.
You just watch.
She's got something up her sleeves.
I'm worried about Mandeok.
I heard that someone she was working with made of with all the abalones.
Oh dear!
That poor girl never has any luck.
Yeah, let's drink!
Hey, Yongcheon,
we've all this food and sorrows to drown,
so let's stuff ourselves and get drunk!
Here, here!
Pour it to the top!
This tastes a little salty.
What? Who do you think you are criticizing your elder's cooking?
Darn!
Darn? You little...
We can still dry the abalones in the 3 days we've left if weather cooperate.
If only Mandeok can find Sorae...
Madam,
at Sorae's house the last time,
Mandeok and Madam Oh had identical rings on their fingers.
I... am not so sure about this.
What did I tell you?
We must turn Mandeok in to the authorities at once.
I'll assume responsibility for all of this.
So don't talk about turning the poor girl in to the authorities.
How can you assume responsibility for the damage that's already done?
I'll pay back for the loss even if I've to be a slave to Eastgate for the rest of my life!
Madam, is there any point in placing blame at this point?
Let's just hope that Mandeok finds Baek Sorae soon.
But if she fails, then...
Has the woman begun working?
She's being stubborn as a mule.
She says she'd rather starve to death than dry abalones for us.
I catered to the wench because of her talent but she doesn't know her place.
Let her starve to death.
I'll have a talk with her.
You said you once bought dried abalones from Japanese merchants before.
Can you contact them now?
Of course. I'll contact them right away.
What did they say?
They won't listen to me.
I don't blame them.
Why would they waste time searching for someone who packed her clothes and ran?
Sorae didn't run off?
She always complained outwardly,
but she was a different person when she worked.
But if you look at the circumstances, it fits.
We've to find her quickly, or you and Granny will be in big trouble.
Sorae, where are you?
Oh, right.
I found this, a sack of fresh abalones.
This net sack belongs to Chung!
Are you alright in this cold place?
Let go, you wench!
Crooks!
- You! - Step back!
Aren't you Mandeok's friend?
I apologize for the harsh way Foreman Gang has treated you.
Forget your apology. Let me go or call Mandeok!
Stop acting like an animal and give it a good thought.
If you cooperate with our madam,
our madam will make it worth your while.
How? By throwing me back into the quarantine camp?
Crazy wench! Stop biting... please.
Don't be so stubborn.
If you cooperate,
who knows you might finally get your wish and get out of Jeju.
Get out of Jeju?
Our Madam Oh can arrange that in a snap
if you'll just dry the abalones for us.
It's that darn abalones again.
Forget it.
I've already been through this seven years ago.
I'd sooner die than dry abalones for Westgate.
Go ahead. Kill me if you want.
Or send me to the quarantine camp.
There's obviously a misunderstanding.
I just wanted to help you.
I'll come back when you're in a better mood.
Ladies!
Have you ladies seen Sorae?
Why? Did she leave?
She did say she was sick of abalones...
The dried abalones are gone too.
What?
She might be sick of abalones, but she would never steal.
Chung? Have you seen Chung?
Chung?
She's been acting really strange since yesterday.
Chung!
Were you at Sorae's house yesterday?
Chung, please.
I need you to tell me if you saw something.
I went there to see Sorae yesterday
if she would show me how to dry abalones...
And?
I saw strange men coming out of Sorae's house.
What kind of strange men?
I didn't recognize the others,
but one looked like Foreman Gang of Westgate.
I got scared and ran away...
It can't be... Foreman Gang?
Hang on... we can't act hastily.
Let's just get near their building and watch their activities.
The Japanese merchants will be coming to see you tonight.
Have you told them what we need?
Please don't worry.
They'll come prepared.
Those men work for Westgate.
But those people behind them?
They look like Japanese merchants.
What do you mean you can't give us the dried abalones?
Are you refusing to do business with us?
I didn't come here to sell abalones.
Then?
I've come to make a proposition.
One thousand pieces of Japanese silver.
It's yours if you make sure that no one wins this bid for abalone trading.
You can't be forgetting that you're in Joseon now?
And you must know what will happen if I report you to the authorities?
Of course I know that.
But I also know that the madam owner of Westgate wouldn't do such a thing.
You wouldn't forgo profit that's within arm's reach.
You're asking me to put my neck on the line and obstruct international trade?
Do you think my life and Westgate are only worth one thousand pieces of silver?
Very well.
How much do you want exactly?
What are you going to do?
Isn't this deal too dangerous to accept?
And if we don't accept? Do we have any choice?
They don't want to compete with Joseon in abalone trade with Qing.
We'll make the most out of it.
Then, this will hinder future trading of Jeju products with Qing.
Seafood trade is dominated by Japan anyway.
We'll just say that there aren't enough products for foreign trade
after allocation for the Royal palace.
An island merchant offering Japanese silver to the king,
do you think they'll buy your story?
We'll make them believe us.
That's our job.
It's too dangerous, stop it.
It's our chance to give up something small for a greater gain.
There's no other alternative.
I won't discuss this again.
If you must insist, go ahead.
But if this should bring Westgate any kind of harm,
I won't be idle then.
Hunting clothes at this time of the night?
Something's not right. I'm going to follow him.
It's too dangerous. Wait for me at Eastgate.
How to wait?
It's okay. Let's hurry so we don't lose him.
Moonsun, what are you doing now?
My scrumptious little darlings! I could eat them for you...
We've to render them completely useless.
So they will think there are no dried abalones in Jeju in this weather.
But these are valuable!
Spoil every single one of them. Move it!
I can't believe I'm doing this.
Uncle.
I've a job for you to do.
Go on tell me. What is it?
You're the one Mandeok was with when I went to the quarantine camp to save her, aren't you?
Now I remember.
You're the man who came to Mandeok's rescue.
You've become useless.
I brought you here, I guess I'll have to take care of you.
Or will you swear never tell anyone about this?
I can't promise you anything.
Shoot me if you want.
By the way,
why would you say you're going to kill me then untie me?
What?
Madam what's her name, played you from the start when she had you kidnap me, didn't she?
And you just figured it out.
Watch your tongue!
That's why you're testing me.
You don't want to be played for a fool again.
How dare you!
No!
Get out of my way. I'm going to shoot.
Shoot.
Go.
You know I won't shoot you.
Let's hurry.
How dare you!
You dare put a sword to the foreman's throat?
You've a death wish?
You don't deserve to be the foreman.
Do you?
What you're doing right now isn't exactly for the benefit and welfare of Westgate or Jeju.
Since when did you care so much about Westgate and Jeju?
Image of a skirt chasing lost soul fits you better.
Our Westgate's fate is riding on this.
If we don't come out on top,
I'll hold you responsible
and remove you from the position of foreman.
Do you understand?
You hid them here?
Oh, no!
I needed to keep a fire going on in here.
It's all full of moisture from being left unattended the last few days.
What are we do?
I should've trusted you and told you about it.
It's my fault.
The company's going to suffer a great loss because of my lack of judgment.
I'll accept my responsibility and resign from the advisor position.
I suppose there's no way to avoid the responsibility.
Foreman!
- Foreman! - What's the commotion?
Baek Sorae's back!
Baek Sorae! I thought she betrayed us and disappeared?
Sorae didn't betray us.
Here I am.
What happened?
We couldn't find you, so...
It's not like you're paying me to work, why did you look for me?
Here are the abalones.
But they've been ruined by moisture.
You've the nerve to come back here after doing this to the abalones?
I've come to ask you for a favor.
You've some nerve.
You caused us tremendous harm and now you want a favor?
The only way to make up for the loss I've caused to Eastgate
is to enable you to enter this bid.
Enter the bid? How's that possible at this point?
Get us fresh abalones one more time
and I'll dry them.
You've ruined all of those abalones and you want more?
Westgate has taken them all and there are none left.
But shouldn't we to give it a try?
There's not enough time, so let it go.
But, sir.
I'm afraid Eastgate will have to forfeit this contest this time.
That's a shame.
We apologize for applying for the bid and failing to come through.
Yes, what's Westgate situation?
We also have failed to acquire the required quantity of dried abalones.
So I would like to offer something else instead.
Bring it in.
Yes, madam!
Excuse me for a while.
Open it.
Japanese silver have long been depleted, where did you get all this?
We had it set aside for such use.
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 be awarded to Westgate Market Brokers.
And the state will give you credit for abalones according to the value in silver.
Thank you.
It puzzles me how Westgate acquired such large amount of Japanese silver.
I'm sure Moonsun got in contact with the Japanese and acquired the silver
when she couldn't secure the dried abalones.
Getting the Japanese involved in a domestic business competition...
Foreman Ko,
let's give Mandeok a chance.
But hasn't the tribute goods contract been awarded to Westgate?
Officials from Hanyang are still here.
Don't just sit there. Go out and make dried abalones!
I oppose this. It makes no sense!
Sir, we've no way of getting the abalones.
Does it makes no sense to work on a bid that's already over?
You're both right.
But...
But we can't forgo this golden opportunity to introduce our marine product to Qing.
I agree with Madam.
Westgate has disgracefully replaced dried abalones with Japanese silver
and foiled our opportunity to open marine products trade with Qing.
This isn't just a competition between two business rivals.
Our national interest's at state.
So let's all give Mandeok our support.
We can do it.
If Sorae and I can't do it alone,
we'll get the diver ladies to help.
Yeah, positive thinking always works for me.
Positive thinking doesn't give us abalones, we need money to buy them.
I'll pitch in my own money to buy the abalones.
Sorae, are you sure you told the diver ladies to be here?
I told them I'd give them my famous family secret to drying abalones,
so they'll be here.
But where are they?
Abalones! Ocean fresh, just picked abalones!
Why these...
We heard about the trouble you're in because of Sorae.
It's not much, but we hope it'll help.
Ladies!
Oh, look at your pale face! I think you need to eat one first.
What can we do to help?
We need one thousand pieces of dried abalones by mid morning tomorrow.
What?
In this weather and in just a day?
That's insane!
Sure, it's insane.
But if you follow my instructions,
it just might be possible.
Do you want to learn my secret?
It'll come in handy when the weather's bad.
Let's get started!
Isn't the flame too strong?
Oh! It's so nice and warm that I kept feeling the furnace!
If you dry them this way,
the sparks protect the abalones from going bad.
We women of Jeju rarely get women's diseases.
Do you know why?
Is it because we're by the fire all day and the heat drives the sickness away?
That's right.
Jowang Goddess overseas the water and fire in our kitchen,
protecting us from ills and bringing us prosperity.
Jowang Goddess,
please help us dry these abalones to perfection!
Mandeok, you're becoming a real Jeju woman!
[Jeong Dong's manor, Hanyang]
Did you wish to see me?
Hongsu, I found a perfect bride for you.
A bride?
She comes from a family close to the soon-to-be queen.
The Queen, Hongsu! There couldn't be a better candidate!
I'm not ready to get married.
Preservation of the family name is imperative!
Or did you already produce a child in Jeju like you-know-who?
Who are you referring to now?
Wife, please leave us.
I'm well aware that Kim Ungryeol fathered a child while he was in exile
and committed a crime of treachery against the King.
Father, I beg you not to use that as a political weapon against him.
You'd bend your ethical standards just because you and he share same ideas?
How can you call yourself a public servant who walks the righteous path?
Please, Father.
If you overlook this,
I'll transfer to the Board of Punishments as you wish.
I heard there is a scarcity in sheepskin hats imported from Qing because of high demand.
- Have you looked into this? - Yes.
It seems the high lords are buying up the market.
This must be nipped in the bud before it becomes a big problem.
Hasn't increased expenditure in luxury items create a shortage of silver that we need for foreign trade?
That's correct.
Captain Jeong, investigate the pricing and distribution of Qing sheepskin hats
and work out a solution to this.
Yes, sir.
Why do you look so glum when this isn't a matter of great urgency?
Is there something wrong?
The truth is, Captain Jeong has requested a transfer to the Board of Punishments.
Board of Punishments?
What are you going to do?
He'll eventually be forced to dig up his own father's corrupt dealings if he stayed under me.
Perhaps this is a good thing.
The Bureau work hasn't always been a chore thanks to you being by my side.
I'm just sorry I've to disappoint you like this, sir.
No, I'm the one who disappointed you.
I'm certain you'll be a good public servant wherever you go.
Please know that I'll be with you wherever I am, sir.
Here, let's drink.
Don't worry about that.
It'll be impossible for Eastgate to produce the required amount by tomorrow.
But if our contract should break,
you'll have to give us double the silver we paid you for breach of contract.
We've already won the contract,
the officials are leaving the island tomorrow night.
Why are you so concerned?
Please relax.
A dinner's prepared for you to enjoy,
come with me.
I hope we didn't bite off more that we can chew.
This is nerve wrecking.
If we've bitten off more that we can chew, we'll deal with it then.
Stop the useless worrying and get some rest, uncle.
You must be tired too, so rest.
Mandeok!
The officials are leaving right now!
They're to leave on the last ship, why suddenly?
I think Westgate had something to do with their change of plans.
We just got word this morning.
Senior Foreman's already gone to the government office to see them off.
No way! You dried all this overnight?
They can't leave. No, we can't let them leave.
What are you going to do?
Show them the abalone at least. I can't just let them leave!
We'll come too!
Give me a batch! Hurry!
Stay out of this, Deokpal!
What's going on here?
Isn't it obvious?
Shouldn't we show the goods to the officials!
What are you doing here in broad daylight?
Do you want the world to know that you're our spy?
Mandeok... Mandeok's on her way to the government office with dried abalones...
Mandeok?
How did she find out about the schedule change?
There's no time to explain. You've to stop her now!
Round up the men! She must be stopped!
All those abalones dried in that short time?
This is exciting. Let's see if she pulls through.
Are you alright?
Sorae, what are we to do?
I know another way to the government office.
Take the abalones and go. Deokpal and I will hold them back.
Me?
Please.
I'll see you at the government office.
Okay.
Mandeok, don't worry. I'll take care of these goons!
Blood! Dang!
So I finally get to see you again, Hong.
I see that you're still quick on your feet.
Wench!
What just happened?
Let's get out of here!
Sorae!
Sorae, are you alright?
Don't worry about her, quickly go.
We prepared some food for you for the trip.
Thank you.
- Then we shall be on our way. - Yes.
Have you gone any sightseeing around Jeju?
Perhaps a tour around the island on the way...
Thank you, but we've a long road ahead.
But...
Your ship will sail without you. You must hurry.
Yes, we've to go.
Wait a second!
Please wait!
Here... I brought you the dried abalones.
What happened?
How dare you stand in the path of a government official!
Are these really locally harvested dried abalones?
Yes, would you like to have a look?
Yes!
We need to have another discussion.
We've seen Japanese dried abalones but these are far more superior in quality.
I'm truly astonished.
Is that right?
These will be worth much more than a thousand pieces of silver to the state.
Once this trading's established, it'll benefit both Qing and Joseon.
Eastgate Market Brokers?
This is a remarkable display of abalone processing skill.
Naturally dried Jeju abalones are said to hold the secrets of Fountain of Youth.
But it's nearly impossible to produce them in wet weather such as this.
The only reason we were able to produce this is because of our divers' experience,
knowledge and efforts made by this woman, Kim Mandeok.
Then does this mean you've made your decision?
We'll award the contract to Eastgate Market Brokers who delivered the goods.
Hurray!
Hurrah for Mandeok!
Hurray!
Tribute goods supply contract's hereby granted to Eastgate Market Brokers.
You're ordered to fulfill your duty to the fullest.
Yes.
This is trouble.
Hanyang's Lord Jeong Dong isn't going to like this.
What's he going to do?
Come all the way down here to Jeju?
It's not that.
He and his men are our only protection.
What are you so happy about, son?
Would you rather I cried then?
I hope you're prepared.
I'm relieving you of your position as the foreman of Westgate like I said I would.
I want you to stay out of the company business altogether.
Actually, I do want to take a break for a while.
But make no mistake.
As the foreman of Westgate, I can resume command anytime I wish.
I don't need anyone's permission.
Take care of yourself.
Mother, you too take care of your poor ego that Mandeok has crushed to smithereens.
Our Eastgate Market Brokers
have been awarded a 3 year contract to trade abalones with Qing!
This is a product of Mandeok's unrelenting faith and effort.
Mandeok will work as our warehouse keeper along with Deokpal from now on.
You're our family now, so let's take care of one another.
Thank you, Senior Foreman.
Yes, I'll do my very best to be a good teacher to Mandeok!
Sir, now that we're going to be rich, may we have a party to celebrate?
Huh?
Certainly. Let's celebrate!
This is all I've to give you.
Would you... remember me?
I too, want to make a family and live as a wife and mother.
But however desirable that life may be,
I can't have it by sacrificing your dream.