Subtitled by KBS America
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? Man Deok is our lucky charm!
Lucky charm? Give me a break!
These men are not 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, Man Deok.
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, oh, oh!
No one's dying here. Don't make such a ruckus.
I just heard from Kim Pan Sul that Man Deok is drawing all of her old customers from
the gisaeng house to East Gate 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.
Man Deok will become a headache for East Gate, and I didn't have to do a thing.
What are you thinking about?
I can't stop thinking about Baek So Rae. 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 that isn't ready for them?
Is it a mistake to bring customers?
There is proper order to doing thing.
Because of you, the staff was caught completely off guard.
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!
Sir, 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?
I did not tell you we were serving drinks!
Fellow, why are you here?
Well, because they said Gisaeng Hong was serving drinks!
Sir!
We will 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 West Gate with his fancy palanquin calling for you the other day,
and 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 was 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 have to see first. I'll send word when I find a place to stay.
Let me know right away. Or I'll be out looking for you.
I'm always causing trouble for you...
I put the roughnecks to work at East Gate like you said, and it did the trick in a flash.
What happened to Man Deok?
She got kicked out, of course.
I got to hand it to you, sir. You have a knack for causing people pain.
What?
What I mean is that you're pretty crafty? I mean shifty? 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 have 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. Halla
to Gotjawal Forest for that darn shrub.
So don't waste my time and get out of here.
Hong!
No, it's Man Deok now. Word is all over
town that gisaeng Hong changed her name!
Man Deok, 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 East Gate 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 they're dead.
What's Man Deok going to do then?
She's got to do something to make a living.
I'll dive for abalone like my mother if I have to.
Diving isn't for everyone. 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.
Yeah. You'll find something
to do to make a living.
Yes, I'm prepared to do whatever I have 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, Man Deok will succeed in whatever she does!
Here's to Man Deok. May she make lots and lots of money!
May she strike it rich!
Cheers!
Ah, that's good!
Dong Ah.
Don't worry. She's fine.
Is she really fine when I'm not there?
Yeah, she's fine.
I better settle down quick so you don't have to lie.
Why are you picking all these medicinal herbs?
I have 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 So Rae out of the quarantine camp!
I found the shrub you were looking for.
You are a tenacious one!
All right. I will pay a visit to the quarantine camp.
Thank you!
What are you doing here?
I heard that the doctor was here to reexamine the patients.
I thought you might get released, so I came to see you home.
See me home? Whatever for?
Life is easier in the quarantine camp.
Don't worry. Mistress Myo Hyang has been kicked out of the gisaeng house,
and Assistant Magistrate Choi is still there,
but he doesn't have as much power as he used to.
It's still intact, thanks to the rocks.
Crazy...
Why don't we just go to the inn instead?
Who will welcome a couple of wretched wenches like us?
That's a little 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 is 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.
But if I hide it knowing this, not only would I be deceiving the King twice,
but 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.
Divers of Jeju are already...
If you care so much about the people of Jeju why did you go there to investigate
a crime that doesn't even exist 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 taking about lack of results but about the damage he has caused!
You are out of line, sir.
This is official opinion of the chief of CCB after assessing the local situation first hand.
It cannot be ignored. We should be looking for an alternative solution.
I will not budge unless you could produce a
crate full of silver nuggets for us 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 is 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, sir.
If you're bothered because I am in the Board of Punishments,
I will look into another department for you.
It's good to try variety of work when you're young.
Hong Soo!
What is this I hear about you having a hidden woman in Jeju?
Where did you hear this, Wife?
From a matchmaker when I went to see her regarding Hong Soo'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.
Hong Soo, I don't want you ever going to Jeju again. Okay?
I heard you turned in your resignation.
Word travels fast.
Man Deok would want you to continue working for the country and the 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
Man Deok, 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 have any work I can do. Okay?
Where are you staying now?
I'm staying with So Rae.
You mean Baek So Rae is
out of the quarantine camp?
Hey, girl! You're supposed 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!
Oh, 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 Eung Ryeol?
It seems he's lost his influence in Hanyang due to lack of results from Jeju investigation.
The rumor has it he turned 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, ma'am.
How are we doing with the abalone acquisition?
We have ample quantity of fresh goods secured, but because of this weather...
But everyone is 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.
Have you checked up on Man Deok?
Why did they kick you out of East Gate when you work 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.
No, I'm lucky to have someone that care.
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?
I heard Lord Kim Eung Ryeol is your father. Is it a false rumor?
Oh, what am I saying?
He wouldn't have left you here to suffer this hardship if you were really 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 Man Deok!
Isn't that the lady owner of West Gate?
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 West Gate, too, when they're ready to be sold.
And this...
Moon Seon, 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's 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 inspectors instituted just for show.
We should've known. Anyone can make a reform on paper.
We are the fool for thinking things would change.
We can acquire fresh abalone and start preparing them now.
I told you. East Gate has already acquired all of the fresh abalones out there!
They're calling this an open bid, but we cannot compete with West Gate!
So are you suggesting that we close our doors?
If that's not the case, we cannot throw away an opportunity without at least giving it a shot.
Madam is 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?
Well...
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 is 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 So Rae.
Her family has been drying abalones for generations.
She was sent to the quarantine camp by Assistant Magistrate Choi.
I must see the assistant magistrate.
Send word.
This is our chance. A chance of a lifetime!
What makes you think East Gate 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 contact,
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
know 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, So Rae.
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 Myo Hyang 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 West Gate.
I heard a woman named Baek So Rae is being held at the quarantine camp.
How do you know about Baek So Rae?
Oh. Myo Hyang must've told you.
Yes. I need that woman.
Could you help me?
Too late. Man Deok already got her out.
Is this going to be enough?
Dong Ah!
You two are quite a team.
Clean them thoroughly.
These were dried just recently?
And you made these?
No, the person who did the preparation is Baek So Rae.
Baek So Rae? I thought she was in the quarantine camp.
Her health was restored, so they let her out.
If you left East Gate, you should stay away. Why are you back here asking favors?
I didn't come to ask any favors. I came to do business.
Business?
Why don't you do business with all of those countless clientele of yours?
It seems you're displeased with my merchandise. I will 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 worthy a try.
Can you produce the quantity we need by the bidding date?
If we can secure the fresh abalones, yes.
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 will be her guarantor.
Man Deok took the dried abalones to East Gate?
What's more, Kim Pan Sul says the quality was excellent.
That's impossible. Who can dry abalones in this wet weather?
Baek So Rae can.
Man Deok must've won over Baek So Rae.
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 So Rae from Man Deok.
Our bigger problem is Assistant Magistrate Choi.
Do you have an idea to bring the angry man around to our side?
Why don't you let me handle Choi Nam Gu?
Yes, I'll do that.
Do you know where Baek So Rae lives?
Yes.
Let's go see how Man Deok is doing.
We don't need that. Take it back.
Man Deok and I are childhood friends. She wouldn't mind a gift from me.
That's not my business.
Moon Seon!
Good. I wasn't sure if I had the right place.
What are you doing here?
I just came to visit Man Deok as a friend.
I can see this is not the right time. I'll see you next time.
Then I'll get going.
We've seen the sample of your dried abalones. You have 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 have a work facility at East Gate, so
we'll provide you with room and board.
No, I will 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 will send the fresh abalones right away.
We will do our best.
What was that about? Volunteering to bring Assistant Magistrate Choi around.
It infuriates me to I 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 is very busy entertaining the officials from Hanyang.
Are you the only gisaeng that 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?
Choi Nam Gu is the heavyweight in Jeju provincial government.
If you can win his heart, becoming the headmistress will be a breeze.
Turn him around for us, and Madam Oh of West Gate will make it worth your while.
Anyone home?
We're here from East Gate 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...
All right. Then tell me why you're here.
It looks like East Gate is going to acquire high quality dried abalones.
How is that possible in this weather?
Kim Man Deok is preparing abalones with Baek So Rae for East Gate.
Sir, Baek So Rae is 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 East Gate. What do we do?
Simple. We kidnap the girl.
Kim Pan Sul told the foreman as you ordered him to do and left.
And Foreman Kang?
The foreman took the guards and went out with Dong Joo right after Kim Pan Sul left.
What do you suppose is going to happen?
Everything is going well, so we don't have to worry.
Tomorrow is the deadline, right?
Yeah. We just have to wrap up the batch we're drying now and we'll be set.
Great. You worked hard.
We had a lot of help.
Man Deok, is that you?
I heard you have exceptional skills in drying abalones.
Why don't you come and work for West Gate?
Don't waste your time and leave.
Just the thought of West Gate makes me ill.
Oh? Then I guess I have no choice.
She's not here. I can't find her anywhere.
Kids, how is it going?
We stopped by to see how the work was progressing.
I...
Are we bothering you?
No, it's not that.
So Rae... and the dried abalones... are gone!
Subtitled by KBS America
Have you seen So Rae?
The dried abalones are gone, too.
I saw strange men coming out of So Rae's house.
So you're after the abalones.
I'd rather die than dry abalones for West Gate.
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 East Gate?
Three-year tribute goods delivery contract will go to West Gate Market Brokers.
Give Man Deok a chance.
This is not just a competition between two businesses.
Our national interest is at stake.
Man Deok! The officials are leaving.
We can't let them leave.
Man Deok is taking the dried abalones to the government office!
She must be stopped.
Wait!
I brought the dried abalones.
Are these really locally
harvested dried abalones?
Yes. Would you like to take a look?