Original subtitles

Stop!

Soon-shin, get him!

I got you, you bastard!

Look who's here. If isn't Yi Soon-shin!

Please come in, Attendant Ju!

What's this man doing here?

He is a drifter I hired as a hauler. Do you know him?

Do I know him? Attendant Ju knows him as well.

How could let such a dangerous man into your company?

I thought you were a good judge of character, but I guess I was wrong.

What now? We'we going to be kicked out before we start work!

Darn it! What's the magistrate's son doing here anyway?

Why is he here? He's thick with the baron, that's why.

Really?

Does everyone lie to you? Why don't you believe me?

You're the last person I'd trust.

How could I trust a thief who took my money?

Whatever. It's your choice whether you believe me or not.

And to think I was going to treat you like family from now on...

Is that bastard really close to the baron?

Is he ever. The baron treats his father like his grandfather!

What do we do?

Just when I thought we found a roof to put over our heads...

So are you insisting on keeping him?

Why are you getting so angry? Attendant Ju is with us.

Not only is he a traitor's son but he is a rabble-rouser

that threatened my father!

That's all the more reason to keep him here.

What could be more humiliating for a nobleman than being

reduced to a hauler? I'll make sure that he

pays a price for the magistrate's humiliation.

Baron Huh!

Stop this now. This is Baron Huh's business.

But...

Baron.

Yes, sir.

I'm sure you know why I'm here today.

Of course, sir. We're in the process of acquiring the very

best products for the Royal Repository.

His Majesty is unwell, so pay special attention to,

the medicinal herbs.

Do you understand?

Of course, sir.

By the way, there's been many solicitations from merchants

seeking to supply the goods for the Royal Repository.

I don't know why you're insisting on keeping a son of a traitor in

your company at the risk making an enemy of Magistrate Song.

Remember, you're not the only merchant in the city.

Get out of here!

But you told us to stay! How can you do this?

No, we're not leaving!

Out!

You bastard! You just said we were family from now on!

Dream on! Take a good look at yourself!

Let us see the baron! We will not leave before we see him!

He's the one who wants you out.

Let me pour.

Sir, it's Supervisor Kim.

Come in.

Are they gone?

Yes, we removed them from the premises as you ordered.

Get it out of your mind. Let's forget about it and eat our dinner.

Eat. You have to eat even if you don't want to.

You have to be strong if only to beat people like that.

You'll see. I won't let them treat you like this forever.

Eat. Eat up and get strong!

We'll work hard and show those bastards!

Look, we have our starting capital right here!

Let's eat!

Here you are.

Thanks, and good luck with the business!

We'll be seeing you again!

He started a pottery business? Yi Soon-shin?

Yes, Brother.

I thought he'd leave the city after that. I wonder why he is staying...

What should we do?

There's nothing more annoying than a man who keeps getting

up when you knock him down. I'll let you handle him.

You got it.

Yes.

Pottery! Pottery! Get your pottery right here!

Take home a magical jar that never breaks and mends itself when it does!

Boy, your fib is just a tad too much, young man.

It's the truth! You salt will never go bad if you keep it in

this jar, and it doubles in amount the next morning!

If that's true, this would be a magic wand, not a jar!

Take one home, Madam.

This is our first sale of the day, so we will give you a discount.

All right, I'll buy one for this handsome young man.

Here.

Is that all?

First sale of the day, right?

All right. Take it. Enjoy it for a lifetime.

Good luck with the business.

Thank you. Bye!

This is just a start.

You'll see. We'll make more money than we can count!

Pottery! Get your pottery right here!

Take home a magical jar that never breaks and mends itself when it does!

What is the meaning of this! Stop this at once!

What have we done to you that you'd do this to us?

We are from the merchant union!

Don't you know that it is against the law to set up

a business without proper authorization?

What are you waiting for? Destroy everything in sight

so that they never set foot in the bazaar again!

Did you take care of them?

Yes. They are flat broke, so they'll have o leave the city.

Idiots. They won't learn until someone teaches them a lesson.

Aren't you worried about Soon-shin?

Don't you care?

Darn...

I missed a big break thinking only about the immediate profit.

Sung-ryong!

How could you be so cold?

Would you like to play a round?

Never mind.

I'm not into playing with tiny stones on a small wooden board.

But on this board is a ruthless battlefield.

Checkers is much like game of life. Let us play.

Never mind.

If I had time for Checkers, I'd be out looking for Soon-shin!

I feel badly about sending him off like that.

Prudence and patience. Hasty moves get you into trouble.

If such rule applies to checkers, doesn't it apply to life as well?

Come on.

May I help you?

Is this the home of the academy scholar?

I heard how much you enjoy checkers.

It is a rare item from Ming but I do not play checkers.

As a junior scholar of the academy. I humbly offer it to you as gesture

of respect seeking your guidance. Please accept it.

Make your acquaintance. This is Scholar Song Byung-tek of Ahsan.

I'm Won Kyun.

If you're from Ahsan, you must know Soon-shin.

Are you two close?

I do know him, but how could I be close to traitor's grandson?

As I said before, I advise you to stay away from him as well.

What could you benefit from associating with a traitor?

Don't speak in haste!

It is in your best interest. The great exam is coming up soon.

It could seriously hurt you to be seen with a traitor.

What did you say?!

What's the meaning of this!

First you expose your peer's weakness, then you try to turn

us against him? Get out of here!

Senior, are you going to tolerate this man's insolence?

You little bastard!

Lave us now. It's in your best interest.

Let's go.

Hey!

You said these were valuable.

Then you should take good care of them!

So that was the reason.

That's why you turned Soon-shin away so coldly.

You're afraid Soon-shin's background might hurt your future!

Say something!

"I refuse to learn if I can't even defend my own friend!"

What happened to the boy who stood up to the schoolmaster?

Do you feel differently now that you are facing civil service?

Does friendship mean anything to you anymore?

If I put my hand out to help him, Soon-shin will give up trying...

What are we doing here? He won't take us back.

The magistrate's son won't let him.

He may kick us out, but I have to try.

Why can't we just go to Sir Won's house?

Uh? Look who's back!

Is the baron inside?

What do you want with the baron?

I need to see him.

Dream on!

He threw you out, remember?

Hey you! You're talking to a nobleman! Don't you dare talk to him that way?

A nobleman? Give me a break!

You expect me to treat him differently when you treat

him as your equal calling him by his first name?

You little...

There's a problem, sir.

He's refusing the release the goods?

Yes, sir...

How could you let this situation get to this point?

We've doing business with him for five years, and he had promised to

deliver the goods even if he had to search the entire city...

And you believed him?

I'm sorry, sir...

So how much does he want?

Ten yangs per keun.

Ten yangs? That's double the market price!

They've acquired all of ginseng in the city, and there is not a

single root available elsewhere. And they know that our delivery

date for the Royal Repository is approaching...

So you want me to take a loss?

If we lose credibility, we will lose business.

Like Attendant Ju said...

If this gets out to the other merchants, they will take our

company lightly and attempt to exploit us the same way!

What then?

Say something! Have you suddenly become mute?

This is our failure, sir. But if you'd do the deal just this once...

I can't do that.

Sir...

Come up with a plan! Go to your rooms and come up with a plan!

None of you will have a job here otherwise!

You! How dare you come back here and eavesdrop in our conversation!

Get him out of here at once!

I told you to leave! Get out of here! Go!

Sir, forgive me, but won't you let me handle your problem?

What?!

I've come to purchase ginseng.

Two hundred keuns?

Yes.

At ten yangs per keun?

That's right.

I'm in negotiation with another buyer for my goods, but...

Fine, if you make the purchase first, they are yours.

But there is one condition.

Let me borrow the goods first.

I will make the payment once the quality of the goods is confirmed.

You must be kidding. How could I let you have such expensive

merchandise and trust you to pay me later?

You can take these as security.

If my boss likes the goods, he will be content to pay

double your asking price.

Don't worry about the quality.

Your boss won't buy from anywhere else once he sees our ginseng.

That is my hope as well. But one can never be too careful.

Sign your name mere.

It says that you will take back the goods if we are not satisfied.

But you will pay the full price and not a keun less

if the quality is satisfactory?

Very well.

Is everyone here?

Yes.

By the way, why do you needs these hobos?

Broker Kim may recognize our hauler and catch onto plot.

Ah!

You mean you didn't know that, you idiot?

Don't talk to me that way in front of my men!

How can you raise your price by two fold all of a sudden?

Let's make a deal. I'll meet half way an pay you seven.

Customers are lined up to buy them at ten yangs.

Oh dear, what do I do?

Well, I'll give them to you at nine since we are friends.

I can't pay that kind of a price.

Please my fellow, give me a little break.

Sir, may I come in?

Yes, come in.

A shipment of ginseng has arrived from Geum-san, sir.

Oh? How is the quality?

Perhaps you should check them out personally.

Yes, that's a good idea.

Sir, how about our deal?

Didn't you hear Supervisor Kim? I have my ginseng from Geum-san.

But I'm sure the quality is not has half as good as mine.

I'll find out soon enough.

The quality is quite decent. What was the price?

Five yangs.

Five yang?!

Good price, too. Do they have the quantity?

I don't think that's a concern, sir.

I guess our worries are over.

What are you standing there for? You may go now.

Sir...

We'll be dealing with Geum-san from now on.

We won't be needing your merchandise anymore.

Sir...

How could you do this? How could you bring back the goods?

But you've signed an agreement, remember?

I'm sure Broker Kim learned his lesson?

Yes, sir. Perhaps he'll sell his ginseng at four yangs now.

Four yangs? What do you think? Would four yangs be reasonable?

I'd advise you to give him seven yangs as you had offered.

Seven yangs? Why?

He was no lying about this year being a bad year.

At four yangs, he would suffer a great loss.

He deserves it after what he tried to pull.

But you are going to continue doing business with him.

If you show him integrity, he will stop these dirty tactics.

And you will be letting the other merchants know that this company

values credibility first and foremost.

Yes, that's right! That's absolutely right!

Soon-shin, I'm so proud of you! We're set! The baron loves you!

You don't have to worry about getting thrown out!

Sit down.

I appreciate the help, Mujik.

Oh, I didn't do much...

That's right. He didn't do anything!

How about you? What did you do?

All you did was to ride on his coattails!

Listen to this guy!

I'm the one who rallied the hobos!

Yes, this would've been hard to pull off without your men.

Did you hear that?

Baron Hun gave us this. Have a drink with your men.

You can't trust him with money! He'll put it in his own pocket!

What?! We merchants live by put own code!

I may be a con artist, but I never dupe my own friends!

Friends? Hooey! That man is all talk.

By the way, aren't we going to have a drink?

I found myself a gem!

He's got guts and the brains.

But I keep thinking about what Sir Song said.

I don't know if it is a good idea to keep him.

Magistrate Song has powerful connections at the top.

If we should fall out of favor with him...

I hope that doesn't happen.

So, sir.

But good men are hard to come by.

A nobleman whose future in civil service is thwarted

by his background... Then he will find an alternative way

to make something of himself. Men make their greatest efforts

when they are cornered and desperate.

And men of nobility have a naive side.

They will do anything, even give up their lives, for those who

acknowledge and appreciate them.

Having said that, how could I possibly turn away this gem?

But Magistrate Song is...

I'll let you in on something. Power is not eternal.

A businessman must know when to get off the boat and get

on a different one.

Soon-shin, forget all about your friends now.

You and I will work hard and get rich!

We'll live in a big huge house and wear the most expensive clothes.

Who says you have to pass the civil service exam and become a magistrate?

This is much better than being a scholar.

Right, Soon-shin? Oh, nature calls again.

What's wrong with you today? You're way off the mark.

We have our good days and bad days.

Kyun, what's bothering you today?

Nothing, sir.

Your arrow says that you are upset.

How can I believe your words?

Forgive me, sir.

The mind comes first before the talent.

You must learn to govern your own mind and emotion.

Only then you can stop meaningless slaughter.

I will remember that, Master.

Did you say you have a friend in the Sung-kyun Academy?

Yes, sir.

Bring him by.

My friend Sung-ryong?

I have a personal favor to ask of him.

Soon-shin, Soon-shin, can you hear me?

You're not a coward!

You're a brave soldier of the Gunchun-dong Brigade!

Soon-shin, you can't slack off on you're studies when you go to Ahsan.

You have to study hard for us to be together again, okay?

Okay. I'll study hard and win first place on a civil service exam.

Let's go to Sung-Kyun Academy together when we grow up.

Can you do it?

I wanted to keep the promise.

But I may never be able to.

The only thing I can do right now is living to survive, that is all.

Is that all right?

Are you worried about Soon-shin?

Is that why you're here?

I can't figure you out. You're the one who heartlessly threw him out.

I couldn't understand...

why you were determined to make Soon-shin jump off this cliff when

we were children.

But I think I know now.

Perhaps you felt the same way then as I feel now.

It's frustrating

to watch a friend in need unable to help...

But I think that's better than putting out my hand right now.

The best we can do for him right now is to trust him and let him

find his path.

Oh, it's already started!

Is this really okay? Can I really go?

You worry too much. Let's go! No one will know!

Borem!

Look at them! Look!

Wow! Isn't that amazing?

Where is Soon-shin anyway?

He'll be here when he's ready.

Why are you worried? He's not your wife!

But still...

Wow? I've never seen her before? Who is that beauty?

Hey cutie, enjoying the fair?

What do you want?

I'm not talking to you. What's your name?

How dare you!

Let's go, Borem.

Are you looking for me?

I asked you your name.

Get out of our way!

What?!

It's fate that brought us together.

How about it? Let me buy a drink.

How dare you! Step aside at once!

Huh?! Listen to this adorable wench!

She's pretending like she is a lady of nobility!

Isn't she even cuter when she's mad?

How dare you! Step aside at once!

And if I refuse? Then what? You audacious wench!

What is the meaning of this!

Stay out of it. It's not your business!

Why are you harassing a helpless woman in board daylight?

Who is harassing whom? That wench slapped my face!

That's enough!

Talk about bad luck!

You must've been frightened.

I'm afraid that man had too much to drink.

I apologize on his behalf.

Let's go.

Have a seat.

You asked for me, sir?

I want you to deliver this to General Bang.

It's an arrow made with a cow bone from Ming, so handle it

will extreme care.

Yes, sir.

We're here. I think it's this house.

Greetings, sir.

I am Yi Soon-shin from Huh Tae-man trading company.

And Baron Huh sent me a letter?

He told me to bring back a reply.

Please judge the character of the young man delivering this letter.

I intend to put him to important service in the company.

Who are you!

Who are you!

I've come to take your head!

Recognize me?

You!

Father!