Original subtitles

Merchant Kim Man Deok

Episode 1

Mandeok crossed the cloud-covered ocean on a ship...

And entered Seoul in the fall of 1796.

A few days later,

she was appointed female physician of the Palace Dispensary.

And stayed in the palace as leader of all female physicians.

Mandeok entered the palace and formally presented herself to the King.

Year 1795, 19th year of Jeongjo's reign,

a severe famine struck Jeju taking many lives.

Thereupon, Mandeok had taken 1,000 pieces

of her gold acquiring rice from mainland...

And people praised her for her generous heart.

From Life of Mandeok by Che Je-gong Beonam Collection of Works, Vol. 55.

Episode 1

Just trust me on this.

This is my rice I stashed away one fistful at a time every time it was my turn to cook.

This is what you've to do if you want to make money.

I'm already in trouble because I didn't make the straw shoes.

Okay, but if we get caught, you carry the can.

Chicken.

Kids, you know what to do, right?

Won't you buy some rice from us?

Think of them as your own children going hungry.

Please...

- Thank you. - Thank you.

Unni!

How does red bean porridge sound?

It's on me. Let's go!

Hurray!

Kids...

Run!

Stop right there!

Stop!

Stop!

Stop those rascals!

Stop them!

Stop!

Stop!

Stop!

Stop, you little runt!

When I get my hands on you...

I said stop!

Stop!

Sorry!

Stop!

Young Master!

What was that about?

I don't know.

Fellows, what's the meaning of this?

Good morning, madam.

Have my children done something wrong?

Go on.

If they've done something wrong, it's my responsibility.

Granted they're just children,

it's against the law to do business without a permit.

If you don't control your children,

we're going to have a problem.

Aren't you that girl from the training center?

Sir, please let me stay here for one minute.

Do you think this is a playground?

My apologies.

I've told them repeatedly about the sternness of the law.

I'll tell them once more and prevent this from happening again.

- Return to your shops. - How about my money?

Aren't you going to compensate us for our loss of time and business?

Come on, buddy. Don't be ungrateful.

Yes. Why, she's the reason we're in business in the first place.

I'll pay for whatever damages my children have caused.

Yes.

But sir!

Get out of here right now!

Oh, madam.

It's not my business that you take these derelicts, feed, clothe and teach them how to be merchants,

but should they be disrupting businesses?

Please restrain them for a bit.

I apologize.

But your boss Gang Daebang

was also one of those derelicts I had under my wing.

Who knows?

The girl you just tossed out might someday become a big merchant like Gang Daebang.

No one knows what the future holds.

Give Gang Daebang my regards.

Granny is the best!

Come out of there.

We're all dead.

Not over something like this.

Selling rice is much more profitable than selling straw shoes.

Granny will change her mind too, once she sees this.

Stand up straight!

What'll it take for you to learn your lesson?

You engaged in sales for the purpose of eating better food and wearing better clothes?

What did I tell you?

Business is sincerity.

How many times must I tell you?

Whose idea was this?

Do I have to whip all of you again to get an answer?

It was my idea.

Please forgive her now.

I'm sure Hong is feeling remorseful.

You won't be forgiven if you ever sell anything at the marketplace again.

Look.

Isn't selling rice is much better than selling straw shoes.

Does money mean that much to you?

If you love money that much,

put it in your mouth and taste it.

If you like the filthy taste, eat it.

It's bitter because you acquired by playing on sympathy using young children.

You can spit it out now.

It tastes great!

Then keep it in your mouth until you're ready to admit what you did is wrong.

What are you standing around for?

Go finish your daily duties!

You're not here to learn to be a merchant.

Only when you've learned to work and learned the value of labor,

will you be awaken to ethics as it should be practiced by merchants.

A merchant without ethics is no better than a thief.

Why do you keep doing things that you know will get you punished?

Because I feel like I've to do something,

but I'm always told I can't do anything.

Take that coin out of your mouth now.

I get it.

Even the most inferior boys get a chance to work at the marketplace,

but as a girl you might end up as a seamstress or weaver,

you're angry, right?

Then...

You swallow it?

I've to go to the outhouse.

I made 20 pairs of straw shoes today, and now I can't bend my fingers.

Move over so I can lie down.

Unni, look what happened to my pretty legs because of you.

Pretty? Pretty chunky, you mean.

Do you enjoy deceiving Granny and selling things without permission?

If I'm going to become a big time merchant, I've to start early.

First, I'm going to make lots of money and buy a ship.

So we can go all over the world trading,

all of us.

Dong-ah, Seungchil oraboni, Gitae oraboni,

Mokbo, Kotnim...

All of us will get on a huge ship

and sail off to a faraway land.

There's not a place in the world that our ship can't take us.

Japan, China, Vietnam,

beyond the desert,

and the sea all the way to the end of Asia...

We'll ride camels,

see tigers...

Dragons?

Yes, we'll see dragons too.

Eat lots of good food?

Of course.

We'll make enough money by trading to eat and see anything we want.

Oh, my stomach is rumbling.

Move. I've to go.

Many merchants seek our silk in Joseon.

But I, Gang Daebang, am the only one who can acquire a thousand bolts at a time.

I heard that a bolt of Joseonese silk is traded for a sack of rice.

Our Qing silk cost five times as much.

How can you sell 1,000 bolts of silk monthly for three years in a tiny country like Joseon?

Joseon may be a small country,

but the vanity of the dignitaries that I deal with

is larger than the continent.

And in modern Joseon,

a lord isn't treated as such without a robe of Qing silk over his shoulders.

So you needn't be concerned about sales.

Is that so?

Well then, we shall seal the deal.

This way.

What?

Gang Daebang has signed a contract to buy 1,000 bolts of Qing silk every month.

The marketplace is overflowing with silk right now.

The Royal court won't stand by and watch.

Some kind of measure will be taken.

Gang Daebang's blind to this because all he can see is money.

Is there anything else I can do?

Just be careful.

They'll hurt you if they find out you're giving me information.

Please don't worry.

Why isn't it coming out?

That bell... I'm going to go destroy it.

But we worked all night,

maybe Granny will let us sleep in?

Dream on.

Hey, I think I'm going to die.

Sell off the rice I've saved and give me a decent funeral.

And money...

tasted awful.

Take my advice, don't eat it.

Hurry, Granny's up.

Dong-ah, kids,

it's finally out.

Overcome the temptation to sleep through dawn.

Only those who leave the first footsteps on the marketplace at daybreak

while the others are sleeping are qualified to be a good merchant.

What new products have come in today,

how much they're selling for, who's buying and selling...

Information is useful only if you get them early.

That's why we come up here every morning and survey the marketplace.

- Do you understand? - Yes!

Daegu, Myeonghee,

you'll find out what the marketplace price is for salt and hemp today.

Yes!

How about me?

Mokbo, you and the boys will make your rounds to the shoe shops and get their order.

Yes!

How about me, Granny? What should I do?

Twenty pairs is your minimum.

Give us a break.

Who would order so many when no one wears straw shoes in winter?

Proceeds for anything above that is yours to keep.

If you don't reach your minimum, there's no dinner tonight.

No dinner? No, I'll die if I don't eat.

Kotnim, go to Vice Minister Kim's house.

They'll give you clothes that need sewing to bring back.

And Dong-ah,

I want you to stay home starting tomorrow morning and focus on your studies.

Your interpreter's exam's only five days away.

Yes.

What about me?

I've already asked twice.

Let's go.

Wait, Gran...

What am I supposed to do?

No! Why are you doing this?

Stop this violence at once!

Good morning, madam.

You must be out showing the children the merchant ships.

Have you become hooligans?

What's the meaning of this?

Vending without a license is against the law.

So it looks like Gang Daebang's bent on

having you beat the vendors out of business.

Madam, please don't interfere.

You might hurt your decades-long relationship with Gang Daebang.

Gang Daebang will turn everyone against him first.

What are you waiting for? Clean them up!

Yes!

Go tell Gang Daebang!

I'll be paying him a visit today.

What does that old woman want with me?

I think it's more about the silk deal than anything else.

She's nothing but a glorified orphan keeper.

How did she find out about my deal with Qing China?

She has connections everywhere from the marketplace to the Royal Palace.

Her connections in the palace are as old as she is.

All she has is whatever news those training center minions employed...

by this and that shop manage to find.

You call that information?!

And if it weren't for your contributions, that training center would've shut down by now.

Sir, she may have made an initial investment on this silk store,

but you've injected many times the amount over the years.

If you stop contributions,

the training center will have to be shut down.

So won't that eventually drive the querulous old woman out of the picture?

Why are you following me?

I want to see Maksun too.

Granny, send me out like Gitae and Seungchil, please?

You know I'm savvy and quick on my feet.

I'm going crazy staying at home all day weaving.

I want to make money, find my family,

and have a big business someday.

Do you want to leave?

Yes.

You don't have a home to go back to like the other children.

Of course I do.

My father is out there somewhere.

Before my mother died...

Where did it go?

Granny, my flute is gone.

Stupid! Of all things to lose...

What brings you here, madam?

Do you have to ask?

If this is about illegal vendors, you've wasted your time.

It's my job as the Daebang of the marketplace to stop them from disturbing order.

Since when did you become Daebang of the marketplace?

Have you forgotten why I gave you, a penniless peddler from Jeju,

all kind of information from the palace, money to start a business and knowledge to run it?

"Evils of monopoly can be prevented by fair competition. "

Your words of passion had moved a woman who had just left her life in the Royal palace.

But now I hear you're running around stuffing the pockets of the wrong people.

Have you been avoiding me lately because I've always opposed importing silk from Qing?

Pay close attention.

There is a surplus in the supply of silk in the present market.

The Royal court doesn't look favorably upon those who go around donning Qing silk.

Restrictive measures will be taken shortly.

I appreciate your concern, but...

I do have some influence over decisions of the Royal court now, so don't interfere.

I've been wrong about you.

What happened to your noble resolve?

Resolve is only a resolve no matter how noble it is.

Power comes from elsewhere.

A humble merchant can't change the world.

All I can do is run a good business.

The sweet taste of money doesn't last.

Madam,

you're not a young woman anymore.

Allow me to return your investment so you can spend the rest of your life

peaceful tranquility of the countryside. How about that?

You can keep the money.

Why be so generous to me? Right?

Get rid of her? I don't understand.

She should know that she'll break if she doesn't bend.

There's not a man in this town who hasn't heard that I make my fortune riding on that old hag's coattails.

I'm sick of it.

Above all,

she'll eventually get in my way of running this business.

Take care of this problem for me once and for all.

Then... I'll see what I can do.

When does the Minister of Justice's son take his first civil service exam?

It's tomorrow.

Have a hundred rolls of silk ready to present as congratulatory gift if he passes the exam.

You look so much like your father at a young age dressed up like this.

When did you make this?

While you were confined to your room studying for your exam.

I sewed it stitch by stitch with all of my heart.

You've worked very hard during this time.

I'll do my very best.

Try not to get too nervous, and there will be good results.

Trust yourself and do your best.

Yes, Mother.

What's that?

Nothing important.

Hey, what do you want?

If it's not by the soup house, it has to be here somewhere...

Ajumoni, have you seen a little flute here somewhere?

No.

What are you looking for?

Maksun.

Did you lose something?

The little flute my mother left me.

Go ahead, I won't take long.

You need to be back before we return from the delivery.

Okay.

I'll help you find it.

Didn't you say it's the only thing you've of your mother's?

She said my father would know who I am by that flute when he finds me.

Oh, are they hiring anymore helpers at the silk shop?

Get Granny's permission first if you want to work at the silk shop.

She says it'll ruin me if I learned about business at a big place like that.

And you still want to work there?

Yes.

I think it's amazing how you can take one color silk and mix it with another

to create something that feels so different,

I love persuading people to buy things.

And I get jealous when I see you handling silk.

Your hands remind me of delicate fluttering flower fan.

Flower fan?

I've all these cuts from handling silk all day.

Where?

They look soft to me.

Granny.

How are you, Granny?

I'm sorry I haven't been by to see you.

Oh, I made a pair of ear muffs for you. Wait here, I'll go get them.

Never mind.

But I made them from my heart, though...

Are you genuinely happy to see me?

Or are you just looking for my approval?

Get the ear muffs, I'll give them to her.

Never mind.

You told me to stay and study longer at the training center,

but I went to work for Gaebang Gang, you're still bitter with that?

But,

I'm learning a lot more than I would under you.

I've no regrets.

In fact, I'm glad I left.

You know how liberating it is?

Hong, not coming?

Got that?

My flute's still missing... Maksun's angry...

What are you mumbling about?

How could you be so mean?

Maksun was just happy to see you.

I should've packed my things and went with her...

when she left to go work at the silk shop.

Do you really think what Maksun's doing is business?

She's selling silk when she doesn't even know what silk is.

There's merchandize and she's selling them.

If that's not business, what is?

Do you really want to be a merchant?

- Do you really want it that badly? - What?

Yes.

Even if you've to risk everything?

I'll do anything.

Just give me a chance.

Fine.

To be a merchant, you need foundation.

Foundation?

Think hard about what you have.

To be a merchant, you need foundation.

What do you have?

My silver tongue?

My quick feet.

Money?

These guys?

What's the foundation that Granny's talking about?

The merchants of the marketplace?

Yes.

They're talking as if they're ready to shut down the training center tomorrow.

They're even talks about rejecting the children from the training center altogether.

Can you find people who might want to take the bigger children?

They don't have to be merchants.

You're not thinking about shutting down the center, are you?

This is just the beginning.

If Steward Oh is stirring up the merchants against me,

it means Gang Gaeman is trying to drive me out of the marketplace.

What are you going to do?

Gang Gaeman isn't the only one who has influence in this market.

Will you go against Gang Daebang?

I can't let my children be kicked out into the streets.

If he wants to bring me down, I won't take it lying down.

Shut down the center?

No.

I won't be separated from my friends.

What to do?

Yes...

I got it.

My foundation's my desire to stay together with my friends.

Then what do I have to do?

What...

Passed! Yes!

Young Master?

My young master passed the exam with flying colors!

Stop making a fuss.

Chilbok.

Why are you calling me in that gentle tone?

What?

Young Master, you'll get me killed.

I've done nothing but study for the exam for a whole year.

Now I want to learn about the world.

Chilbok.

It's really Qing silk.

But in massive quantity.

How much?

At least a hundred bolts.

A hundred bolts of Qing silk as gift?

You can't call that a gift.

Investigate why Gang Gaeman is greasing his palm,

and if there's anyone else Gang Gaeman has been giving bribes to.

Yes, sir.

I can't wait to see the Minister of Justice's face when I show up and crash his party.

To congratulate the young master on his success in his first civil service exam.

I brought a little gift.

It's the best quality silk from Qing.

You're such a smart man.

My lord, Captain Kim Ungryeol of the Bureau of Commerce Control is here to see you.

An invited guest has come to join us.

Don't mind him and enjoy yourself.

See him in.

Captain Kim, I wasn't expecting you.

I stopped by to offer my congratulations on your son's success in the state exam.

Oh, I hope I'm not spoiling the festive mood.

No, I'm glad you're here.

There's someone I've been meaning to introduce to you.

Have a seat.

Captain Kim, this is Gang Daebang of the Six Licensed Stores.

This is the newly appointed captain of the Bureau of Commerce Control, Kim Ungryeol.

Make yourselves acquainted.

My lord,

illegal vending has become rampant in the marketplace recently.

I fear the Bureau of Commerce Control isn't doing enough to control them.

Since you became Daebang of the Six Licensed Stores,

unlicensed vending has increased dramatically,

I did received a report on that.

Some say that since you too office,

life has become easy for illegal vendors, Captain Kim.

Is that why you decided to punish them yourself by beating them up?

As the Daebang of the marketplace,

it's my duty to protect the licensed merchants.

All matters regarding unlicensed vending will be dealt with by the Bureau.

I won't stand by

and allow the licensed merchants to take the law into their own hands.

I know the law better than you do,

so I suggest you observe the laws that only concern you, Daebang.

Let's consider ourselves acquainted now, Captain.

My lord, where's the hero of the day?

Mister!

Aren't you that kid from the other day?

Have you been well?

But what's that?

I was wondering if you'd be interested in buying it, I need some capital.

Try somewhere else. I'll pass.

Mister, please. Everyone else turned me down too.

So... please just this once, okay?

I said no!

What's this despicable behavior to a girl!

What did you punk just say?

Apologize to the child at once.

Unbelievable. This is just not my day.

You... get out of here or else!

How dare you!

Stop, that's enough.

Ahjussi, I'm sorry.

Are you alright?

Mind your own business!

- I was just trying to help you... - You didn't help me, you got in my way.

He might have bought it out of sympathy if I had been hurt...

In that case, I'm sorry.

Then, is there something I can do?

What are you going to do with that rice?

I don't have a choice, I've to sell it on the street.

But... that's illegal.

If you got caught by the authorities...

I heard that a thousand times so you don't have to remind me.

Well, good.

But I don't have a choice.

- Don't worry about it and go. - But...

I can't just leave when I've done you harm.

So are you going to help me sell this then.

- Can you sell? - Sell?

Step right up and get your rice here, folks!

It's a perfect blend of sweet rice and

white rice that cooks up fluffy and chewy!

One nyang for one bowl!

Two nyangs for three bowls!

Get more and save more!

Step right up, folks!

Get your delicious rice!

Didn't you say you were going to help?

Rice... Buy rice.

You won't even attract an ant with that voice.

Sweet and white rice!

But, what's sweet rice?

Unbelievable... Unbelievable!

Come get your rice, folks!

Arrest the unlicensed vendors!

Run!

If we get caught, it's over. Hurry, run!

Get them!

Deliver them to the Minister of Justice's estate.

Make sure they arrive in perfect condition.

Please don't worry.

I've done this many times.

Let's go.

Hong?

Look here!

I don't care what you do to me, but you can't imprison a young girl!

Your name?

My name is Jeong Hongsu.

Your father's name?

The Minister of Justice is my father.

Shut up, punk!

You're nothing but a street peddler!

What's all this fuss about?

Aren't you Hong?

Sir!

Isn't this great?

Dong-ah's now an official government interpreter!

Congratulations!

I'm not an interpreter yet. I still have the second exam to take.

But, where's Hong?

That's strange.

I'm sure she's more anxious than anyone to know the results of your test.

Yes.

Madam!

Madam!

Hong was arrested?

Yes, you need to do something quickly.

If she has violated the law, she has got to face the consequences.

Madam, you don't understand!

Captain Kim Ungryeol of the Bureau of Commerce Control's a merciless man!

Of all days to get caught...

Did you just say Kim Ungryeol?

Kim Ungryeol...

I'm sure the offenders have learned their lesson now.

Lead the way to the holding cell.

Yes?

I'll interrogate the rest of the offenders as well.

Madam, we've to hurry.

The children will be called out for interrogation any minute now.

The children?

The Minister of Justice's young son was arrested along with Hong.

Granny.

Dong-ah,

go to the Minister of Justice's estate

and tell them their son was arrested. Hurry!

Yes.

These offenders peddling without a license?

That's right.

Heaven is so cruel...

I must stop this.

I can't allow Hong and Kim Ungryeol to meet.

Didn't you know that you were violating a national law?

I tried to sell the rice to a licensed merchant,

but they all refused.

So...

So you knew you were violating the law, but you did it anyway.

Sir,

the law has indeed been broken,

If a young child was forced to sell rice on the street, isn't there a good reason?

I beg you for lenience.

The national law applies equally to everyone.

Who would obey the law if offenders are pardoned because they're young?

Then...

isn't there something wrong with that law?

What?

No one can buy or sell anything anywhere except from licensed shops.

But if the licensed shops refuse to do business with you,

do we have a choice but to be lawbreakers?

And if a law is making us lawbreakers,

isn't there something wrong with that law?

You're a cheeky little girl.

Instead of showing remorse for your crime, you're busy making excuses.

I'll show you the sternness of the law today.

Conducting business without a license thereby evading taxation is tantamount to thievery!

I'll accept my punishment.

But I beg you first listen to this girl's story.

If a child's forced to sell the food she has to eat in the streets,

isn't there some good reason which is worth consideration.

Why were you out selling rice?

Who put you up to it?

No one put me up to it.

I just didn't want to part from my family...

so I tried to sell the rice I had been putting away a handful at a time every time I cooked.

What were you saving this rice for?

There's no specific reason.

I just wanted to be prepared.

Prepared?

Saving a handful of rice at cooking time's a housekeeping trick

practiced by women of Jeju Island.

Is your mother from Jeju Island?

What?

I was just selling my rice which I had been saving a handful at a time.

It's my rice I put away a handful at a time every time I cooked.

I thought you were just thoughtful but I guess you're mature too.

Where have I seen her? Where?

It's Palace Matron Kim that you had ousted from the palace 13 years ago.

I need to get rid of her quietly.

It's trouble.

Hereafter, gold and silver brocade silk of Qing China will be restricted to use by the Royal house.

You've been robbed of your silk.

Weed the old woman out too.

You can work at the silk store if this works out.

- Okay. - Silence everyone who knows about this.

You wench! Did your granny tell you to steal our silk?

Granny knows nothing about this!

I'll prove that she had nothing to do with this.

Isn't that enough?