Soon-shin, let's stop and catch our breath!
No, we have to be out of Chun-an by dawn.
But I can't take another step!
Let me get a drink of water at least!
Chun-su, let's get going!
Hold your horses! I have to finish up!
Who are you?!
An angel of death here to send you to hell?
Soon-shin! Run!
That way. I'll take this road.
Gotcha!
What happened? Wake up!
Hush up!
Wait a minute.
All of our problems be over once we get to the capital city. Right?
Well, I guess we don't have much choice even that isn't the case.
There is no going back now...
Soon-shin, to be honest I'm pretty scared.
We will have to go, right? We have to go and give it a shot, right?
The capital city is on the other side of this gate?
I'm going to forget everything.
My poor father, Ahsan, everything.
And I'm going to make something of my self.
You'll see. I'm going to be even more successful than you!
Next!
Where did I put my ID plaque?
Where did it go?
Don't hold up the line!
Here it is!
Here. I found it.
Next!
Wait! Wait a minute! Where are you folks going?
Who wants to know?
I think we might be from the same town.
Aren't you from Ahsan somewhere?
How did you know? That's right, we're from Ahsan.
Wow! What are the odds for running into someone from the same town in
this big city? I'm so glad to meet you!
So are we! Where in Ahsan are you from?
Let me talk. My guess is this is our first time in the city.
How about it? Do you need a cheap and decent room?
That's right. We have a place to stay.
Don't you know how hard it is to get a room these days?
What are you doing? Let go!
I'm not going to take you bag! Let me carry it for you!
We appreciate your kindness, but we have a destination.
Let's go.
Darn it!
Sung-kyun Academy, the highest educational institution in Chosun dynasty
Wow, they all look so dapper! So this is Sung-kyun Academy!
It's the biggest schoolhouse I've ever seen.
Let's look for him. What does he look like?
Aren't you going to look for your friend?
Huh? Oh, I don't think we can find him.
There are so many of them, and I can't make out their faces.
Then what? Should I go up and ask someone?
No, we can go to his house later.
All right. Then let's go somewhere and get some food.
I'm starving.
How do you do, sir?
Let us go inside.
I've wanted to meet you.
You placed first on the civil service exam in Own-yang?
Yes, sir.
Then perhaps you know a scholar named Yi Soon-shin.
Yi Soon-shin?
Stop drooling over his food and get another bowl for yourself!
I can't. It's too expensive!
Expensive? It's just a bowl of porridge!
Can't you give me just a little bit more for free?
You got to be kidding! If you want more, you have to pay!
Have mine.
No, you didn't have anything all day either.
Take it. I don't have much of an appetite.
Really?
Well, there's no sense in wasting food, so I'll help you out.
Oh no! My sack!
My food! Come back here and pay for the food!
Thief! Stop the thief!
Out of my way! Out of my way!
Thief! Stop the thief!
My sack! Don't let him get away!
Soon-shin! Don't let him get away!
Let go of me!
You bastard! Return the sack!
You...! You're that...
Soon-shin!
This doesn't concern you. Let us through!
Get out of our way!
Country bumpkins! Let's go!
You must be new in the city.
This place is full of thieves. Be careful.
My sack, Soon-shin, my sack!
That was everything my father left behind for me to start a business!
Wait...
Yes, you are! You're Soon-shin!
Kyun...
Yes, it's me! Won Kyun! How long has it been?
Who? Who is back?
Hey Bookworm, over here!
Who is this?
I would've never recognized you!
Let us go somewhere an have a drink.
There's nothing like wine for tired feet!
Yes, of course!
What are you doing over there? Come and sit down!
Let me pour a round.
Yes, pour.
None for me.
Pease don't refuse today. You must drink with us.
Chun-su, have another shot.
I'm all right...
Your servant?
Huh? I'm salt merchant Yim Chun-su, Soon-shin's friend.
Ridiculous! How could a peasant be a nobleman's friend?
Huh? But...
Soon-shin...
Friendships is about sharing your thoughts and feelings.
Does it really matter what social class you belong to?
Our situation are not much different.
But...
Ahsan is unlike the capital in many ways.
Customs that are strictly followed here may be loosely adhere to there.
If this man is Soon-shin fiend that makes him our friend as well.
Let me pour you a drink.
Gosh, much obliged...
By the way Soon-shin, what brings you to the capital?
I thought you'd be busy preparing for the civil service exam.
Cabin fever.
I wanted to see the capital city and see the two of you.
I guess you needed a break. I bet you are glued to your desk at home.
I'm glad you are here!
Cheers!
The clear sky is full of stars...
and our hearts are full of worries...
Brothers, let us go somewhere else and have another drink.
We had enough for the night, my man.
Body can tolerate only so much wine.
Sung-ryong is right.
Come on! A man shouldn't do anything half way!
Let's go! Let's go!
Soon-shin! Wake up!
Take him inside.
I'm surprised...
Don't you think he's acting strange?
He didn't even touch alcohol when I visited him a few years back.
He's a grown man now.
We can't chastise him about having few drinks.
That was not just a few drinks.
What could've happened in Ahsan for him to be drowning himself in wine?
Rest comfortably.
Oh, my joints! I'm exhausted!
Are you really Soon-shin's friend?
Huh? Yes, sir.
Then answer my questions truthfully.
It's me!
Come in.
Did you know about this?
Did you know why Soon-shin is acting like this?
Are you referring to the civil service exam?
You knew. Why didn't you tell me?
What's telling you going to change?
Sung-ryong!
We're getting a draft. Would you shut the door?
You're up early.
Riding helps me release my frustrations.
First you buy a row of good chicken eggs and hatch them.
Then you sell those chicken for baby pigs. Then you sell those
pigs for cows. And before you know it, you're rich!
So how many cows do you have at your farm?
I don't have them yet, but I will just as soon as I find my sack.
You'd better off waiting for the pig to lay an egg!
Huh?
That'll be faster than waiting for your sack to reappear.
What's this smell? It's beef soup! Where do we eat?
You can't eat before your master!
Who is my master? Soon-shin is my friend!
Sure, whatever!
If Sir Yi is your friend, the Prime Minister is my friend!
Good grief! How come you Seoul folks don't believe people?
Should I call Soon-shin over and prove to you?
So, what's your plan now?
He will stay with me from now on.
- Kyun... - Come with me after breakfast.
Are you on to go with Kyun?
Pardon?
You didn't come here expecting me or Kyun to take care of you, did you?
What are you trying to say?
I'd like to know if he left Ahsan without thinking about his future.
What's wrong with you? If a friend needs help, you should help him!
We're not children anymore.
A friend shouldn't rely on another friend for his livelihood,
and he definitely shouldn't cause him harm.
What's wrong with you?
You and both have barely gotten out start in this world.
We don't have the capacity to assume responsibility for another
person's life. There are people who expect great things from us.
Sung-ryong, how could you...!
Stop.
Please don't argue. Of course I have a plan.
I'm here only because I wanted to see you. I never intended to rely on you.
Soon-shin?
I'll get going now.
How could you do this? You know the situation he is in!
It's not my problem. If he can't enter government service,
he will look for other alternatives.
Soon-shin!
Let's go.
Go where? We haven't had breakfast yet.
Soon-shin!
Kyun, do you still see Soon-shin as little boy that shook in fear
atop a waterfall?
Sung-ryong...
Don't you know the reality that lies before Soon-shin?
They shut him out of the royal court because his clan was marked traitors.
There's nothing you can do for him that will change that.
And no one know if that door will ever open up for him.
Then what does mean?
If Soon-shin is to have any kind of future, he needs to become strong.
So he threw you out?
Wasn't he the one who sent you all those letters and gifts?
How could he throw you out on the street just because you didn't pass the exam?
Now that Won Kyun fellow is a real man. He's generous.
He told me to come with you to this house.
Where is his house? That's were we're going, right?
No, we're not going there.
Huh? Oh, for goodness sakes! Then where are we going?
We lost all our money and we have nowhere else to go!
Huh? Are you ignoring me? You can at least pretend o listen!
Am I wishing you harm? I only want what's best for you!
What are we doing here?
We have to find work or we'll starve to death.
I may not look it, but I'm a strong man who can carry three
sacks of heavy salt at a time. You can lift two, can't you?
Will they hire just anyone off the street?
How could anyone turn away good looking men like us?
Let's go! Let's give it a shot.
What?
It's that thief!
Sir, where are you from?
Dae-gu, right?
I knew it! So am I!
Isn't that heavy? Let me give you a hand.
No, get out of here!
- Excuse me, sir! - Are you talking to me?
Yes! Do you see anyone else around?
You look familiar. Where are you from?
I'm from Naju...
I knew it! So am I! We are neighbors!
I must tell you. Merchants here are very territorial, and they
will break your dishes before you set your tent!
Would you like me to show you around?
Out of the way!
These goods are going to lord Park's manor!
Why didn't he tell me that in the first place?
Talk about bad luck!
That bastard!
Why are you stopping me?
Our worries will be over once we get back my sack that he stole from me!
What if he denies it? We need proof before we do anything!
I guess...
Come.
Where is hat thief going?
What now?
Let's go.
How are we going to get in?
Follow me.
But the gate is that way...
No, this way!
I think we're lost! What if we can't find a way out?
This way! This way! Hurry!
Where are we?
I hope we didn't walk into a tiger's cave.
What do we do now?
Wow! What is all this?
Wow! One of these could buy all the salterns in Ahsan!
Where are we?
I trust that everything went smoothly?
Don't worry, sir. No one knows that we transferred the goods.
Make sure none of it gets distributed within the city.
Of course not.
Arrangements have been made for distribution in Ansung.
You and I must take this to our graves.
Of course, sir. But what if someone catches on to what we're doing?
Don't worry. I've altered the books perfectly. Let's go.
What are you trying to do? Kill me?
Who is in here?!
Who are these men?
We found them hiding in the dry goods warehouse.
The dry goods warehouse? That is restricted area.
Yes, sir.
This explain the discrepancies in the books lately!
It is true that we were in the warehouse, but we're not thieves!
No, we are no thieves! Those other guys were!
Other guys? If that's true, did you see their faces?
Well, it was so dark in there, and...
Where do you think you are?
You must've worked with someone from the inside. Who are they?
You are mistaken! We didn't do anything wrong!
They leave me no choice. Locck them up in the cellar!
They are not to be feed a drop of water until they expose their accomplice!
Yes, sir!
Very well, I will expose anything!
Now you're talking. Who is your accomplice?
But first let me speak to the baron!
Ha. You sneaky little rat! You are request the baron?
He's a busy man!
I will not expose my accomplice to anyone except the baron.
How dare you?
What's this commotion?
You won't leave this place in on piece if you utter nonsense.
You do know that, don't you?
Of course, sir.
So, who is the culprit?
First I must ask a question. Where there any shipment of
dry goods that came in through the pier today?
There was a ship from Cholla, but what does that have
anything to do with this?
Then the supervisor who oversaw the unloading of those goods is
the culprit.
How can you be certain?
We entered your warehouse by mistake and overheard a conversation between two men.
I didn't see their faces, but their shoes were soaked with water and mud.
Muddy shoes on dry day would mean that they worked at the waterfront,
and one of them seemed to hold a position handling the books.
A supervisor that was at the pier...
Why didn't you expose this man earlier when you were accused?
I wanted to find a way to cause no loss to both you and myself.
Find way to cause no loss?
I'm sure it takes many years of experience to become a supervisor
in a large company like this, and I can imagine the time and effort
you invested in training this man. If i had exposed him at the scene
you would have had no choice but to remove him, and that may not
be in the best interest of the company.
And if this man happens to be a respected man, I wouldn't be
doing myself any favors by turning him in.
Thus, it's my loss to lose a supervisor and you loss to
complicate your future?
Yes, sir.
Feed these men and find them a room.
But they're...!
We can always use another hauler.
Are you offering us work?
Why? Don't you want to work?
Of course we do! We will work our hands to the bone!
I'd like a word with you.
It seems we have a thief in the inside. Did you know about this?
No. sir!
That boy knows who it is but refused o reveal his name.
Ten good men can't make up for one thief.
I'm counting on you to keep this thief away.
I will do that, sir.
Am I dreaming?! I thought we were doomed, but we are being fed!
What did you say to the Baron? Did you catch the real culprit?
Just eat.
Who is the culprit? Is it that bastard?
That thief with the slanted eyes that took my sack?
Darn, talk about having a bad day. Nothing's going right!
Stop that man?
Stop, you bastard! Stop!
Soon-shin, get him!
I got you, you bastard!
Look who's here! If it isn't Yi Soon-shin!