--Episode 25--
Dear sir, this Shin Suk-ju has a favor to ask you.
Never allow Chun Bong-Sam, who is in the jail cell,
Read it.
step outside of Gwangju city while he is alive.
Everyone read this, right?
Why would burn that?
That's our only evidence.
Why would you burn something that would allow us to pressure Shin Suk-ju?
These words aren't important.
Put them into your heart.
I'm going to fight through business.
Against Yook-ei-jeon Head Merchant Shin Suk-ju!
I'm going to fight using my business skills.
With business skills.
There they are!
Stop there!
How about the money?
Did you bring it with you?
Yeah.
Don't catch us. We're not robbers!
Here's the price for the pollacks!
I was going to leave this behind before we left!
Stop there!
Catch the robbers!
Hey, try this.
Is it good?
Whoa, the taste is amazing!
Amazing!
Wonsan gaekju, Ma Chi-soon Fish Barn has the best dried pollacks.
This is so amazing!
It's been two months since we passed Poongdeungryeong already.
But do you think going to villages at night is enough?
We're not merely going to the village.
We go around and get dried pollacks as we get wet with early morning dew.
Are you sad that we don't take you because your eyes hurt?
Why would I be sad?
You're very funny!
It seems like we can open up a dried pollack restaurant.
What are you going to do with these?
Hey, Sun-dol.
What do you think about us opening up a dried pollack fish barn?
Bong-Sam.
Mr. Bong!
Well, think about it.
Wonsan gaekjus are not selling their pollacks to us.
What else can we do?
What's the best goods in this land of Chosun?
It's this.
Dried pollacks.
Should we just give up on these dried pollacks?
We shouldn't, right?
So I'm saying that we should open up our own dried pollack barn and sell them.
Hey, what do you think?
Well.
Good.
See?
It'll work!
Never sell them the goods!
Never!
Those punks...
Chun Bong-Sam has been taking false steps for two months.
He must be filled with anxiety and apprehension!
Please block it well.
Then Sir Head Merchant will be extremely happy.
Have you heard about the dudes that empty out the fish barns?
I don't think they are robbers.
They only take 10 pollacks and leave behind the money each time.
Those little robbers... by any chance, are they the Song-pa men?
Even if they are it, what would we do about 10 pollacks?
They must be enjoying every piece of it as their alcohol snack.
You're right!
The best alcohol snack is indeed those dried pollacks!
Please prohibit selling them, just as you all are right now.
We absolutely cannot let those guys take dried pollack!
Look at this!
This is what Westerners use to put babies to sleep.
The baby won't fall even if he flips over!
How convenient is this?
It's the best to put baby to sleep with his mother.
It's not too late to bring him after he starts walking.
Where should I put the baby's head towards to?
Well, if you put his head towards the east, he will grow up intelligent.
If towards the west, he will grow up affable.
If towards the north, he will grow up healthy.
Determine which direction would make him a prominent merchant.
In which he will become the Yook-ei-jeon Head Merchant and the god of business.
Oh, are you here?
Just as you ordered, I went to Wonsan
and checked on Chun Bong-sam's trading of dried pollacks.
Really?
You must handle Song-pa guys tightly until the expiration date.
We can't do anything about Chun Bong-Sam touching small money,
but we can't let him have dried pollacks!
Do not worry.
Wonsan gaekju owners bought a gift for the mistress, so I brought it here.
That is nice of them.
Thank you.
Go and have some rest.
Yes, Sir Head Merchant.
Alright, over here.
Look at this.
How could Sir Head Merchant do that?
He left you behind and met Honorable Mama to talk about the baby's...
Wol.
Whatever Sir Head Merchant does, I don't deserve to complain.
Mistress, I'm going in.
Go outside.
What? Three doulas?
Our mistress is very healthy.
I know.
Go and find three doulas.
Why do we need a doula?
Why do we need, not even one, but three doulas?
Are you trying to raise the baby outside of the house?
Shush!
Sir Head Merchant wanted it so.
If you open your mouth carelessly, you will get beheaded.
I am in charge of overseeing your delivery of the baby.
Honorable Mama.
A woman, who is experienced in childbirth, should oversee the delivery.
I've done a lot of work as a midwife, so I will do it well.
We're going to have a doctor on standby, too.
I think you don't have to worry about it.
Are you scared of me?
You, as a woman...
as a woman,
I'm afraid of you.
I'm worried about your heart towards the head cattle broker of Song-pa Stable.
And I'm afraid of it.
Guksadang Shrine Honorable Mama, you enshrine the god.
Because you cure pain and suffering of humans and comfort people,
I trust you.
I trust that you will earnestly take care of my baby and me.
Okay.
Trust me.
You have to trust me.
I already saw you earlier today,
but what brings you all the way here to see me again?
Here.
This is from the Qing Dynasty. It's very valuable and precious.
As you know, my wife is very weak.
If she delivers the baby with that weak body, she will be out of energy.
Make her take this medicine after she gives birth.
It's unbelievable to see how much care about the mistress.
Don't worry.
I will take care of her for you.
Oh.
You must make her take this after the delivery.
After the baby comes out in this world.
Honorable Mama, where did you get this precious medicine?
Is this that good?
There is nothing better than this to cure the pain in ulcer.
Thank you so much, doctor.
Oh.
But you can't use this on a woman who just delivered a baby.
It will cause uterine bleeding.
If you use it a lot, it will make a woman bleed to death.
Are you...
Are you serious?
During the former king's regime, Queen Sukbi took this medicine,
and had adverse reaction and died in one day.
Hey, how about here?
Kangreung doesn't have pollacks.
Over here, Gangsung and these three areas.
Yeah.
Anywhere between Wonsan and Sokcho is
a good place to open up the dried pollack market.
The distance between Wonsan and Sokcho is about 150 kilometers.
So it's perfect to be out of Shin Suk-ju's sight.
I think this is perfect.
Yeah.
So how are your eyes? Are they okay?
Why do you look at me like that?
I'm okay!
See?
If you look into a map all day, it's normal to have aching head and eyes.
Mr. Bong!
Yeah.
Mr. Bong!
Wonsan Open Market is finally open, as you have waited for!
Really?
That's good.
Sun-dol, let's go.
Okay, let's go.
You stay here.
Hey, just go.
How is it? Can you see things clearly?
I don't like it because it's too heavy.
Why is this heavy?
Come on.
Whoa, I feel dizzy. Try it.
It makes you dizzy.
The price for this one pair of glasses equals to one bull.
How is it not heavy in our situation?
We don't have the goods yet.
and we've been paying our bills for two months.
Is 300 nyang cheap to us?
Hey, hey.
Whether it be 3,000 nyang or 30,000 nyang, it's worth it to me!
Why?
Because your eyes are our stable eyes.
Okay?
Once you have clear vision, the vision of our stable's income becomes clear, too.
Am I right or wrong?
You are right!
Alright, try it on.
Whoa, look at this handsome man!
Let me see!
It suits you well.
He's a handsome man.
Can you see clearly?
Yes, I can see it clearly.
What do you think about that lady over there?
Wow, that lady is very pretty.
You can see that?
Then, what does that say over there?
Wang...
Wang?
Wang...
Wang?
Brother Wang-bal.
It says Brother Wang-bal?
Hey, Wang-bal!
Wang-bal?
Why is he...
Wang-bal... / Hey, wait!
Sit, sit.
Wang-bal, you!
Have you forgotten about the grain ship incident already?
Nothing good has happened. Why would you bring Bong-Sam here?
Look, sir. I was at Wonsan Open Market to get rice,
and I bumped into them randomly.
Sir Head Cattle Broker.
Why are you here in Wonsan?
Well, him and I cannot stay in Gunsan because everyone knows about us.
By any chance, do you know anything about dried pollacks?
Huh?
Are you saying you want to have some drinks with dried pollack soup?
Dried pollack.
Did you pick dried pollack as your goods to sell?
You're right.
Wonsan gaekju owners teamed up with Shin Suk-ju,
and they've been hiding dried pollacks.
He wants to open up a dried pollack barn.
Right?
You are at a loss for words that laughter comes out naturally, eh?
Wait.
There are pollacks out there and experts who will support us.
And after we find a good place, why can't we open up our own fish barn?
We can do it!
Fine.
Let's go.
To Sokcho.
Let's go?
See!
Let's go!
Hey, there.
Sir.
I heard pollack is the bumper crop of the year.
Yes.
This is our stable's head cattle broker.
My name is Chun Bong-Sam.
He used to be the mooring post owner, who catches pollacks, in Wonsan.
While he was fighting against the Wonsan gaekjus, he got kicked out.
Now, I'm Park Chi-soon, who lives off catching pollacks every now and then.
Mr. Park, please help us.
You go straight to business, huh?
Well, what can I do to help?
I want to run a pollack barn.
What do you think? He's very bold, huh?
You can't.
You don't even have any experience in handling a single pollack.
Do you think you can do business solely with motivation?
He's right, Mr. Bong.
He said we can't.
How are we supposed to run a fish barn? We can't.
We can't?
Do you also think we can't do it?
Then, when are we going to earn the money and regain our stable,
and pay Shin Suk-ju the money back?
Shin Suk-ju has his mouth wide open to eat up all of us merchants!
We have nowhere else to go.
We must do this.
Sir Park.
Is there any way to do it?
Do you feel signs of labor?
It seems like the baby is getting ready to come out.
I feel the pain in my stomach.
Let me stroke your stomach.
Try to fall asleep again.
Go and find three doulas.
Why do we need doulas?
Sir Head Merchant wanted it so.
If you open your mouth carelessly, you can get beheaded.
Mistress.
What am I supposed to do?
I think Sir Head Merchant is...
I think he is...
trying to get rid of you.
The whole Yook-ei-jeon knows that Shin Suk-ju deeply cares about his wife.
There's something abnormal about it.
It looks like he's trying to take away the baby from his wife.
There is something.
What is it?
Why are you asking me?
Then?
I would ask the number one shaman in this land of Chosun.
Then who else would I ask?
You know about it, huh?
Spill it out.
A king raises a prince. Why would he let the queen handle it?
You're not going to tell me?
Well, I don't know what is so abnormal about it.
Really?
You're going to hide things from me, huh?
There is something.
I am sure.
Right now, you are stuck with me to work.
But you and I both know you have other plans.
But we have a mutual opponent.
Shin Suk-ju.
We need to make Shin Suk-ju fall down to get opportunities.
What is Shin Suk-ju hiding right now?
It seems like that's the reason why you got your tongue cut off.
Shin Suk-ju is too big for you to fight alone.
Fine. A bear from a steep mountain catches a fox from a hill.
And a tiger from Baekdu Mountain catches the bear.
So-gae, you catch half-way.
And I'll handle the rest.
"Cha-tae"?
(Cha-tae: pregnant by another man)
Who is it?
Who's the father of the baby?
You know who that is?
Chun.
Bong.
Sam.
Chun Bong-Sam from Song-pa Stable?
Chun Bong...
Chun Bong-Sam.
Are you feeling it now?
About how it feels to carry the pollacks and pass that mountain?
Whoa, this is ridiculous.
It's not like any other goods.
You have to carry live pollacks. How are you going to pass that mountain?
Everyone, listen carefully.
Over there, that mountain.
Salt merchants and salted seafood merchants have passed it, too.
Why can't we pass it? Huh?
Why are you afraid of carrying seafood?
It's not impossible to pass it, but...
Over there. Let's go that way
Let's go!
Everyone, sit down.
Alright.
Over here, Tosung.
If we leave the town here,
and pass Dojeok Waterfall, the distance is about 25 kilometers.
But, walking 25 kilometers on mountain path is harder
than walking 250 kilometers on flatland.
Why do you think they don't have a fish barn there?
There are only mountain robbers in this area.
Unless they are hunters, people don't use this path.
We are saying this because we are worried.
Why don't you think about it once more?
We can't! We can't!
We can't do anything!
When was making money easy?
Then, for how long are we going to
let Yook-ei-jeon Head Merchant monopolize the dried pollack?
Everyone, close your eyes.
Like this.
If I close my eyes, I see a mountain and money over that mountain.
That money is rolling around, all over the place!
I see that money with my eyes!
That money!
Everyone, don't you all see that money?
Can't see it?
Fine.
If we can't do it, I know that we should give up.
But my heart is aching!
After giving up on dried pollack,
which goods can we sell to regain our Song-pa Stable?
I don't have an answer to that!
Then, I'll do it.
I will carry pollacks over that mountain.
Sir Head Cattle Broker.
I can't let you do that.
If you get caught by the government guys, you're going to lose your life!
That's a no!
I'm tired of living as a pirate now.
I would like to live with my boys as I handle dried pollacks.
Sir Head Cattle Broker.
Bong-Sam.
This is my duty.
Sir, do you think you can really pass the mountain carrying live pollacks?
Hey, look. Didn't I say I can do it?
Alright!
Then I will send out a notification letter to salted seafood sellers.
We will give out pollack tripe, gill, and pollack roe, in place of
pollacks from Gansuong and Sokcho. I will announce this in the letter!
Sounds good!
I will obtain the pollacks.
Great!
I will give you at market price!
Let's do this.
By stamping your feet like that,
do you think Head Cattle Broker Chun will get here from Wonsan?
There's a messenger that comes and goes once a day,
leave the message if you want.
Excuse me.
This...
Please... please deliver this to Sir Head Cattle Broker.
If not, our mistress will...
Why is she so desperate about it?
Hey, Bang-geum.
What are you doing?
You didn't lose your habits, huh?
Mistress is in danger.
Sir Head Merchant is about to get rid of the mistress
once she gives birth to the baby.
Sir Head Cattle Broker, the baby's father isn't Sir Head Merchant.
The father is you.
Please rescue the mistress!
So what?
Why does Bong-Sam have to rescue Shin Suk-ju's baby?
What is it again?
So, Shin Suk-ju isn't the baby's father, and...
it's Gil So-gae?
What are you saying again?
It's not Gil So-gae's baby, and it's...
it's...
Oh, Merchant Maeng. It's his baby?
You idiot!
Bong-Sam! It's Bong-Sam's baby!
Why the heck are you hitting my head?
Hey.
You... just spoke, huh?
You just spoke? Right?
Yeah!
I was at a loss for words.
It's ridiculous how you and I ruined Song-pa Stable.
It's ridiculous how Cho Sung-jun cut my heels.
I was going to shut my mouth and my ears for life.
Hey, you fool!
You made bruises in my heart! You're ridiculous!
Is that the problem right now?
Hurry.
Hurry up and go.
Go and bring Bong-Sam!
Okay, I will.
I'm leaving now.
Take this.
Hey, Bang-geum, you can talk!
Bong-Sam! Bong-Sam! / ("Poongdeungryeong, Chun's Gaekju Lodge")
Oh? Man-chi!
What brings you here?
What are these packed belongings?
Where is Bong-Sam? Where is he?
Why? Did something happened at the stable?
Did that damned Gil So-gae do something again?
Bong-sam's child is about to die.
Bong-sam's child is about to die!
What are you talking about?
Bong-Sam is not even married. What child are you talking about?
The mistress?
Boeun mistress?
Yeah.
Shin Suk-ju's wife.
Oh my goodness.
Shin Suk-ju is not going to let Bong-Sam be.
Hurry up and get Honorable Mama for me.
No, I can't. You need to endure it.
Dear baby, I beg you.
Please help us all, Mr. Bong-Sam, our mistress, and this Wol.
Not now.
Don't come out now
Wol, why are you doing this?
What?
Look, are you having signs of labor?
No, Sir Head Merchant.
It's indigestion.
She ate rice cake earlier, and she has indigestion from it.
The rice cake must have gone bad.
Hey, hey!
Even though I haven't experienced childbirth at this age,
do you think I can't differentiate labor pains and indigestion?
I am sure this is a sign of labor.
I should go and get Honorable Mama.
Mother.
Sir Head Merchant is seriously urging us.
Mother, what's wrong?
You don't want to assist delivering the Sir Head Merchant's baby?
You enshrine the god, Honorable Mama.
Because you cure pain and suffering of humans and comfort people,
I trust you.
I trust that you will earnestly take care of my baby and me.
I have no choice.
This is your fate.
Honorable Mama is here.
Honorable Mama, you're here.
Come on in.
I was running late.
Are you ready for the delivery?
Yes, everything is ready.
Hang straw ropes in the main building and the front gate.
Because the baby, Sir Head Merchant's son,
will be leading Shin's Major Gaekju in the future,
we will restrict anyone from coming in.
Yes, Honorable Mama.
Hurry up and do what she tells you to do.
Alright, Honorable Mama.
Just a moment.
You know the medicine I gave you last time?
Don't worry.
Why wouldn't I know how you feel?
You can just leave everything up to me.
Okay.
Sir, it seems like we'll be eating dried pollack for rest of our lives!
We don't have any leftovers, right?
Oh, Man-chi. Why are you here?
Hello.
What took you so long? You bastard!
We haven't seen each other for a while. You can just ask me how I'm doing.
Why are you cussing me out?
What brings you here?
Bong-Sam, take a look at this first.
What is it?
Hey, you're about to get your baby taken away by Shin Suk-ju.
And Shin Suk-ju is trying to kill the baby's mother.
Seo-Lin.
Seo-Lin!
Mr. Bong!
Bong-Sam!
Let's go!
Mr. Bong!
Bong-Sam.
Are you okay?
Let's go. I must go.
Let me see.
His ankle bone is broken.
Dol-ee, I have to go!
Bong-Sam!
Everyone, but Gat-nan, should leave now.
We can't.
I can't leave the mistress.
You, wench!
How dare you talk back to me?
Mistress, tell her...
Tell her no.
It seems like this exciting day will get ruined because of a servant wench, huh?
If you don't leave, then I will leave.
Wol, I'm okay.
I'm okay, so go outside.
It's your first childbirth at an old age, so it will take a long time.
Honorable Mama.
There's no one else but you to trust.
Mistress.
Comfortably, so you won't suffer too much,
I will take care of you so you don't have to feel the pain too much.
You should stop walking.
I'm okay. I have to go.
You're going to hurt yourself more!
This is it. You can't walk anymore.
I have to go.
We won't be able to make it like this.
Are you going to let her die?
I said I have to go!
Okay, okay.
Let's try this again.
Bong-Sam.
This is it. Sun-dol is right.
Man-chi.
Man-chi...
Can you help me?
Are you dying or what?
You see, I am such a stupid bastard.
That woman must have called me from her heart endlessly.
I didn't understand that heart.
Please...
Please get that woman and my baby...
please get them to me.
Man-chi.
Please get them out of Shin Suk-ju's hands.
You're a man! Why are you crying?
Hey, cripple, take care of Bong-Sam and get him to Bang-geum.
Okay.
If I am not carrying the goods, walking 100 kilometers a day is easy.
We are going to run 150 kilometers today.
Let's go!
Let's hurry up and run!
Okay.
Alright.
Thank you!
I beg you!
Watch out!
Please get back to me with them!
Ouch?
It hurts?
Is it supposed to be this painful?
Alright, alright.
A boy!
It must be a boy!
Me...
No, I mean, it must be a boy, who will take over this Shin's Major Gaekju!
Finally, Shin Suk-ju is having a successor, huh?
They closed out the gate,
as if they're giving birth to the King's child at Kyeongbok Palace or something.
That's accurate.
He's the richest man in Chosun and the king of Yook-ei-jeon.
So, what would be a good gift?
Wouldn't a package of spoons and chopsticks be enough?
No, no.
That's too weak.
Prepare a gold rice bowl,
I will write the congratulations message.
Okay.
What is wrong?
Anyway, I feel bad for you.
Because Shin Suk-ju has a successor now,
you and Maeng Gu-bum did everything for nothing, huh?
Well, it's too early to say that.
Whether this will be Sir Head Merchant's benefit or loss, we have to wait and see.
What do you mean?
If you sit quietly and watch, you'll find out.
You're doing a good job.
Push it harder.
You're doing a good job.
A little bit more.
A little bit harder, mistress.
She's unconscious.
Mistress.
Mistress!
You can't ease your mind.
Honorable Mama.
Go and tell them to bring in the meat broth.
If not, she's going to lose energy and fail at giving birth.
Mother, it seems like she has a long way to go.
Why don't you go wash up and eat a bowl of porridge?
Alright.
Take care of her.
You two go and get the goods I told you earlier.
Yes, sir.
Okay. Come to the tavern at the three-way intersection.
Yes, sir.
Hurry up!
Let's hurry up, too.
Bang-geum.
Sir Head Cattle Broker!
What took you so long?
Bong-Sam, hurry up!
Bang-geum.
My ears are broken! I hear your voice!
That's not the problem right now.
Hurry up and come over here.
What's going on?
That's not the problem...
If we make an error, then we will obviously lose our lives.
Both the mistress and Bong-Sam will lose their lives, too.
So we can't make a single false move.
Okay.
Hurry up and come on in.
What in the world?
Since when did a gang's lodge become so nice?
You might not like it here, but Sir Head Merchant will be looking for you,
where else would be a better place to hide?
As long as she comes here alive, I can assist in delivering the child.
Bang-geum.
I have to go.
Where are you trying to go?
If you get caught by Sir Head Merchant, you will die instantly!
Even though I can't walk through Sir Head Merchant's gate and carry that woman,
I have to go.
One step...
one step each...
I have to go.
Bong-Sam, no.
Let go!
I have to go.
Why does it take so long?
Honorable Mama.
Even though it's a difficult delivery, isn't this taking way too long?
Last night, I prayed for a short moment.
What the heck would praying do in this situation?
Don't worry.
Your son will come out healthy.
Is that so?
Honorable Mama, I am trusting you.
As long as this delivery is successfully over,
I will generously send you a huge gift.
I'm not doing this to receive a gift.
Sir Head Merchant.
Huh? What?
Is Gat-nan looking for me?
Mistress's family in Boeun sent a gift.
They said they are items for the baby.
Hey! Why are you making a big deal out of an unimportant thing?
Just put them out in the women's quarters!
You scared me.
Sir, come on in.
Even though she's in the process of childbirth,
we can't kick out mistress's brother.
Who are you?
I'm Bong-sam's friend, Sun-dol.
I'm here to take you, as Bong-Sam requested.
What happened?
They all know.
That the baby is Sir Head Cattle Broker's...
Wol.
Who are you trying to kill?
We have no time to waste like this.
Mistress.
Honorable Mama will be here soon.
I already promised Sir Head Merchant.
As long as he spare that man's life,
I promised that I will take care of Sir Head Merchant for life.
Sir Head Merchant spared Bong-sam's life?
Yes.
From Gwangju jail...
"I have a favor to ask you, sir."
"Do not let him pass the Gwangju sign while he is alive."
That's what the head merchant wrote to Gwangju court magistrate.
If we didn't switch out that letter, Bong-Sam would have been dead by now.
Therefore, you don't owe Sir Head Merchant anything.
Mistress.
Please.
There is no time!
We have to hurry up!
Hurry up and get ready.
Open it up.
Please hang in there for a bit.
Please go in.
Mistress.
Over there.
Mistress!
--The Merchant: Gaekju 2015--
It's Chun Bong-Sam of Song-pa Stable!
Sir Head Merchant's wife ran away.
I don't think I can go any further.
Please help me.
You're telling me to receive the baby with my hands?
Then, there is no other way to make Shin Suk-ju fall.
I have to find my son no matter what!