Subtitled by KBS America
What do you mean you've lost it?
The whole money belt was stolen with the promissory note in it. I'm sorry.
Lord Mu Meng Dal keeps asking for you.
I'll be right out. Ask the cooks to serve him some food first.
Okay.
I'll write Dong Ah, to find out when's the next ship to the mainland.
Yes, ma'am.
Oh goodness, I didn't ask for a meal?
You should know by now if you're
going to be able to repay the loan.
I received word today that all
of the white hats have been sold.
Come on. You know better than that.
Whether you sell all of your goods or not is not my concern.
When will you pay back my money?
I've instructed my men to exchange the note for rice in Haenam, so it will take a few days.
You borrowed money, so you should pay back money. What's with the rice?
Rice price is going up, so this will be more profitable for you.
Wait and see.
Wait...
There's still time until the due date, so I will wait.
But I will not wait one minute past the day that the money is due.
I'm fully aware of that.
West Gate's product quality keeps deteriorating.
This is to be expected in poor weather conditions we've been having.
Are you certain the weather is to blame?
According to rumors, you're sending high quality goods to licensed shops in Hanyang.
My lord, we are planning a deer hunting excursion on the seventh of next month.
We wanted to do something special for your birthday celebration. What do you think?
I wouldn't mind, of course...
It doesn't look like Man Deok is going to be able to pay back Mu Meng Dal.
I knew it. She's not cut out to be a merchant.
What makes you say that? There's still time before the loan is due.
Mu Meng Dal has been going in and out of her inn every day.
It's obvious there is some kind of trouble.
It's his business to lend money and act like he owns the place. That's just what he does.
Sir, is there any news from Hanyang that concerns Man Deok?
Only news I got from Hanyang is about the problems unlicensed merchants are creating.
Do you think she wasn't able to sell her white hats?
I don't know, but I wonder if Man Deok wasn't lying to Mu Meng Dal.
Wishful thinking.
Distribute the funds as listed.
You're paying off these men too?
Why? Does it worry you that they are Minister Jeong's political opposition?
Are you planning to cut off ties with Minister Jeong?
Not yet.
But a new King has risen, so we have start nurturing a new tree.
Before the old tree falls.
Yes, we should.
What happened to the market in Songpa?
Well, nothing yet...
Now that the fish market is mine, we cannot let unlicensed merchants create a loss for us.
All right. I'll get right on it.
Sahn, are you all right?
Why don't you send him to a warmer place like the doctor suggested?
I'll find a good caretaker for him.
No, my son will stay with me.
Don't ever say such things.
Unlicensed market in Songpa, Hanyang
Arrest them!
Yes, sir!
Let go of me!
Bastards!
What in the world is going on?
And where is Dong Ah?
I don't know.
What's going on?
It's nothing, Boss.
You beat a man half to death
and you say it's nothing.
This man threatened the junior boss at the market when we were raided.
Threatened him? How?
Well, um, he...
My money belt...
Give me back the note.
Explain why your identification
document is in this man's money belt.
Well, that's...
Search his sack!
Now!
Yes, sir.
Dong Ah! Dong Ah!
Dong Ah!
It's dark and Dong Ah's nowhere to be found.
Do you think something bad has happened to him?
Don't say things like that!
Yes! Lord Kim Eung Ryeol!
What about him?
Man Deok said to go to him for help if anything happened.
And something has definitely happened, right?
Yeah. But it might be better to go to Lord Jung Hong Soo instead.
No!
"We must not seek personal favors from an official of the government."
That's what Man Deok said..
Let's go to Lord Kim Eung Ryeol.
Okay.
He has broken the rule, so cut off his hands.
Please, Boss. Just this once! I'll never do this again!
Please forgive me just this once and I'll do anything you ask!
Just this once, sir. Please forgive me.
Forgive him, sir.
He's got a huge family to feed back home.
I will let it go just this once.
Thank you. Thank you, Boss!
But if you ever break the rule again, it'll cost you your head, not your hands.
Yes, sir.
Boss, thank you for forgiving us, but what are we going to do with all of those white hats?
I'll take care of it.
Yes, sir.
Is everything there?
Yes.
You can leave when you're able.
Sir,
you got the note back for me, so I'll tell you how you can sell your white hats in return.
Repaying the boss of the man who robbed you? Don't you think that's silly?
He wouldn't have robbed me if he were able to sell the write hats.
Making allowances for your robber's personal problems?
Man Deok... said I should.
Man Deok...
It sounds like she hasn't changed.
But you have.
What is she anyway? A clairvoyant?
How does she know where to sell white hats sitting there on a remote island?
Man Deok has been researching and studying the flow of goods in the mainland.
She has a special interest in itinerant merchant brokers.
Are you asleep?
No, come in.
Why are you still up?
We were so worried we couldn't sleep.
Don't worry. Everything will be fine.
You don't have to pretend with us. We know how terribly anxious you are.
Yes. You haven't slept in days.
I sent the men away with a dangerous assignment,
and I'm sitting here helpless to help them.
That's what bothers me.
Why don't we talk to Mu Meng Dal and ask him for some compassion?
Yes. This is frustrating and unfair, but we've been through worse.
We don't need this inn to put food in our mouths.
Stop torturing yourself with this.
Let's just give him this place and start over.
Yes, we can start over if we lose this inn.
But it's too soon to give up.
Hanyang is a big city. What are the chances robbers being caught?
Getting back the money is secondary.
What's important is that we try our very best.
And that is why our men are still in Hanyang.
Don't worry so much. I won't despair even if we fail.
That's the reason all of us are trying our best.
Kim Eung Ryeol's home, Hanyang
Dong Ah has disappeared?
That's not all, sir. We lost the money, too.
We don't even know if Dong Ah is alive.
What do we do, sir?
We must go to the authorities at once!
Dong Ah...!
Are you all right?
What in the world happened to you?
I'm sorry to have made you worry, sir.
Everything is all right now.
I will take my uncle and my men back.
The investigation is not over.
They were driving away those who were engaged in unlawful vending.
What is there to investigate?
It's our job to deal with the law breakers.
Are you asking me to release those who assaulted innocent people in broad daylight?
Innocent? You're the chief of the Commerce Control Bureau.
How can you say these illegal vendors are innocent?
I already warned you against arbitrary attacks on the unlicensed merchants!
Restrain the lawbreakers before you make threats to licensed merchants.
That is your job.
Your son is protecting the illegal vendors when
he's the head of the Commerce Control Bureau.
If this doesn't stop I won't be able to bring the licensed merchants together to support
you and the Noron faction.
Did you come here to tell me to control my son?
Forgive me.
Jeju Island
We stopped in Haenam and bought rice like your letter said.
Thank you.
For what? For doing everything you told me to do?
For coming back safely.
Good work, guys.
Oh, Dong Ah did everything.
And he took a good beating getting the promissory note back.
Are you all right?
Oh, you'll never believe who I ran into.
Foreman Kang Yoo Ji.
Foreman Kang?
I will pay you back the loan plus 30% if my profit in rice.
Don't hesitate to call me if you ever need another loan.
Thank you. It would be my honor to do business with you again.
Welcome back, Dong Ah! Thank you.
Has everyone been well?
Did you make me some japche?
Mom!
It took all of us to make this possible. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Oh, don't be so formal. We're all family.
We have taken a giant step toward getting East Gate back.
Will that really be possible?
Yes.
If we all work together, East Gate will be ours again in no time.
Yeah!
Why did you want to see us? Would you like us to do some more work?
Just say the word. We will get it done for you even if it takes all night.
Thank you.
The truth is, we sold the hats you made for us for a bigger margin than we had anticipated.
That's wonderful! I'm so glad to hear that.
What's this?
It's for your labor.
But you already paid us in advance.
We're giving you a percentage of the profit in addition to what we were already paid.
Oh my! This is a first!
We've worked for West Gate for a long time, but they pay us the same wage year after year.
And never on time. You're lucky if they you get paid the same year.
How much do the other market
brokers pay for brim weaving work?
What other market brokers?
Ever since East Gate went under, West Gate controls all of Jeju products.
Wage is at rock bottom because West Gate is the only company that produces hats...
Take this back.
We can't take advantage of your kindness.
No, no.
No, this is what your labor is really worth.
We've made a large profit on this trip.
Good work, everyone.
It's all because you told us to go to Andong, Boss.
None of us ever dreamed that the hats would sell out so fast!
This is all thanks to you, my man.
Me? I didn't do much...
Thanks to you we met a man from Jeju, and it's his information that brought us this profit.
Boss, what will we be selling next?
Black hats.
Hats again, sir?
Once the national mourning ends, nobles will toss out their white hats.
And many will seek to purchase new black hats.
Then we'd better start securing black hats!
The best black hats are produced in Jeju.
So I plan to go there personally to acquire them.
Let's prepare for the trip.
Yes, sir.
Jeju Marketplace
It's been a long time...
Let's buy up all the horsehair in the market.
Yes, sir.
Let's go!
Foreman!
Is that really you, sir?
It is.
Where have you been all this time?
I've missed you so much...
Were you afraid I wouldn't recognize you? You haven't changed a bit.
You've become so much more dignified and mature.
But I'm still the rapscallion Kang Yoo Ji inside.
What have you been doing and why are you in those clothes, sir?
I'm a drifting peddler.
Boss, it's me.
"Boss"?
Come in.
We have a problem, sir. Horsehair is completely sold out in the entire market.
Is West Gate hoarding horsehair?
Well, West Gate did have monopoly over horsehair, but Man Deok paid more than
what we pay and bought up the market.
We learned a thing or two from the way you conducted your white hat business.
Thank you.
May I ask why you wanted to see me?
We've come to acquire horsehair to produce black hats.
I have no intention of turning over just the horsehair.
What do you mean?
The flow of business is like the flow of blood in your body.
It must run without stop.
So I need merchants who will be my feet to sell my products.
Are you talking about going into some kind of partnership with us.
Exactly.
Very well. I will let my boss know about your offer.
Thank you.
Let's get going!
Do you think this is a good idea, sir?
What do you mean?
I'm not comfortable going into business with some woman that runs a traveler's inn.
Don't worry.
She may be a woman, but she's a bigger man than both of us.
Do you know the woman, sir?
Foreman!
I...
I have to stop by somewhere, so wait for me at the harbor.
Yes, sir.
Let's go.
Yes, For...
"Foreman"?
Should I kidnap her and put her on the ship for you?
You're really not going to talk to her?
It's not time yet.
Sir, take me with you.
I'll come back again soon.
- Your seaweed is here! - I'm here, too!
Thank you for everything.
Thank you! For delivering the goods so quickly.
No, we're the ones who should thank you for buying our goods at such good prices.
You were in debt when you were working for West Gate. Are things better now?
Goodness, do you read minds? That was just what I was thinking!
Man Deok is my favorite person in the world!
If you're thankful, just keep on bringing us the best stuff you get!
Yes, ma'am! Just say the word and I'll fetch the Dragon Kings underpants for you!
We should get the goods shipped to Hanyang right away.
Yes, ma'am! Let's get the goods packed up for delivery!
Yes, sir!
- Here, get this heavy one. - Two at a time!
Man Deok bought up all the horsehair,
and now the divers are selling their goods only to her.
You must be quite frustrated, Junior Foreman.
Man Deok is going around like she owns the market.
Shouldn't we report this to Madam Oh in Hanyang?
Why would I report the activities of a petty innkeeper to the busy madam?
If you don't want to report it, you should at least devise a defensive measure.
Defensive measure?
What do you think is the first thing Man Deok will do once she has money in her hands?
Well, she'll buy back East Gate...
No, that can't happen!
If that happens and Madam Oh finds out...
I don't even want to think about it.
So you must preempt her.
Itinerant Merchants' Lodge, Hanyang
Welcome!
Sir...
What is it?
Goods have arrived from Jeju, sir.
Send them to Songpa and Newon.
Yes, sir.
We have no room left in the storage.
Try using your head, not just your muscles.
I'm telling you. There's no room whatsoever for any more inventory!
We're running out of room in the kitchen, too.
I'll have to stand there holding the wine cask.
I guess too much business creates problems,
too. I wish we could move to a bigger place.
Then we will move.
The time has come.
I will give you our farm in Aewol. It's the most generous offer for this old building.
Well, whether it's generous or not is for me to decide.
Look here?
Can't you see that we're talking? What is this boorish behavior?
"Break up quarrels and encourage haggling." Isn't that what they say?
What?
Sir, let us buy East Gate Market Brokers back.
Look here. You've agreed to hand over this building to me!
I'm sure you'll be content with the offer.
I trust that you will not jeopardize our relationship over a few nyangs.
I establish my relationships for money.
If you didn't know, that's too bad.
The place is empty, so move in anytime.
Welcome to East Gate Market Brokers!
Come on in!
Man Deok, you're the best!
This is great!
We're back...
All of the seafood products are ready to be shipped to Hanyang.
Good work.
But Hanyang has licensed shops. Wouldn't it be hard to find a vendor for our product?
What's more, Hanyang is West Gate's Madam Oh's territory.
Yes, you're right.
But Hanyang is a very important market that we cannot give up on.
I will make sure that our product has a place in Hanyang.
All right.
This is...
Now that we got East Gate back we need an official foreman.
But how could I? There are more experienced elders...
Just take it. Who's been leading us all this time?
You'll just be doing what you've been doing all along with a new title. That's all.
But...
Don't be stubborn and listen to the elders, Senior Foreman.
Yes, Senior Foreman.
Senior Foreman!
Thank you, everyone.
We're all set then. We have our foreman, and future looks bright for East Gate!
Our Man Deok has become the Great Foreman, so I'm going to cook up a
special feast to celebrate!
Yeah! Chicken legs!
Don't forget japche, too!
Peddlers markets in Newon and Songpa
have become a threat to our livelihood.
This is because these illegal vendors and itinerant brokers have formed an alliance.
That's right.
They'll end up taking our commercial supremacy unless something is done.
We cannot let this continue.
So you must stop the goods from flowing into these illegal shops.
Stop them ourselves?
Yes.
Show them that we're the only merchants authorized by the King to do business.
We must put an end to this once and for all.
Hey, hey, hey!
What do you think you're doing?
Who are you?
We're licensed merchants!
We're done letting you peddlers steal our business!
Who says you're the only ones that can do business?
We're all trying to make a living here.
Make a living some other way. You lowlifes are not licensed to do business!
Wicked old man!
Did you just hit me?
All of the merchandise that came from Jeju are ruined.
The licensed merchants are blocking the port determined to destroy us!
Round up the vendors.
The vendors?
Let's take them on once and for all.
Destroy everything!
Licensed Market, Hanyang
Arrest them!
Why did itinerant brokers and unlicensed
merchants wreak havoc in the licensed market?
This is injustice, sir!
The licensed merchants raided the peddlers market first looting and destroying our shops!
My lord, we'd like to file charges against these men for physical assault and property damage.
Those who broke the law will be duly punished.
But it is also a fact that the licensed merchants have assaulted the peddlers as well.
So before you file charges, I urge you to seek an amicable settlement.
The licensed merchants restored order in the market. Are you calling this an assault?
Do you call it an assault when the state guards hurt the wrongdoers while restraining them?
Are you playing word games with me?
You're telling us to make peace with those who destroyed our shops and attacked us.
I can only take that as a joke.
Chief Jeong, punish the peddlers that raided the licensed market to the extent of the law.
This riot was instigated by the licensed merchants. I propose an investigation.
Vending without a license is clearly against the law.
The shop owners would not have taken the matter into their hands if you had strongly
enforced this law.
That is not the answer, sir.
Peddling was outlawed no establish order in trading
not to encourage monopoly.
Chief Jeong!
Let us settle down, gentlemen.
Chief Jeong has a point.
With the growing number of private merchants,
this is the right time for us to discuss this issue.
There is no evidence anywhere that monopoly by the licensed merchants caused public harm.
What's more, if there is a group that resorts to violence to accomplish their own goal,
I will take stern measures and demonstrate the power of the law!
With all due respect, the power of the law is in its fairness, not in its mercilessness.
I will not hear any more of this!
I will dismantle the peddlers market in Newon and display the power of the law.
You really are something. You made them close down Newon!
I'll take care of Jung Hong Soo as well.
How?
I will make Minister Jeong take care of him.
But it's his son. Do you think he will?
Minister Jeong cannot sever his ties with me.
He knows exactly what will happen if his money line is cut off when the new King
is on the throne.
So even his precious son...
Mommy!
Sahn!
Stop that man! Stop that man!
Sahn!
Stop that man! Stop that man!
Sahn!
Get out of the way!
Put the child down.
Sahn!
You're all right.
My lord, my son Sahn was almost kidnapped by peddlers.
You must've been very frightened. Is the child all right?
He is better now,
but I plan to send him to Jeju for his health and safety.
Our sons seem to be the
biggest problem for us both.
Did you have an argument with Chief Jeong?
He is always fighting everything I do.
It's beyond my tolerance.
But he is your only son. Getting angry is not the answer.
Do you have a better idea?
The Commerce Control Bureau was not the right place for him from the start.
If he had a scholarly position instead, you will enjoy peace at home.
I have thought about that, but he doesn't listen to me.
You are a man of power and influence. Use it.
Chief Jeong and Minister Jeong have been butting heads quite often lately.
That is a concern.
The rift between father and son may grow beyond repair...
Sir, may I come in?
I had to work late on the licensed market raid case.
Unlicensed merchants acted foolishly.
Licensed merchants had attacked their markets in Songpa and Newon a few days ago.
I guess they decided not to take it lying down.
I speculate Oh Moon Seon induced this aggression with her manipulation.
Noron faction will use this incident to crack down on unlicensed vending.
And my father is leading them.
Political changes do not come overnight.
Don't rush, my man.
But we're protecting the privileged if we do nothing.
And I can't do that, sir.
Is that your only motivation or is there something else?
Are you asking me if I'm seeking atonement for my father's wrongdoings?
Partly, yes.
Cast aside your feelings about your father.
Approach your work and make your decisions based only on what is best for this country.
Do you understand?
Jeju Harbor
Welcome, Madam.
It appears life has been good in my absence.
All of you have such healthy glow.
The Young Master has grown so much!
Oh, Young Master!
Sahn!
Are you all right?
Sahn!
Sahn, come to Mommy.
Now!
Subtitled by KBS America