Original subtitles

Subtitled by KBS America

Sahn is not in his room.

Where is he?

Get them!

Go to the magistrate at once and

tell him we're being raided by a mob.

Yes, ma'am.

Forewoman, don't go to West Gate.

People wouldn't rise up like this if they didn't deserve it.

When I think about all the things they've done,

I want join the mob and rip them to pieces.

I have to go. Please let me go.

I never oppose anything you do, but I have to stand my ground this time.

You can't go. I won't let you.

I have to stop them.

I can't let all those people become law breakers no matter what the reason.

Find Oh Moon Seon!

Find the woman!

Find Oh Moon Seon!

Are you all right?

Thank goodness.

The state guards will be here soon. We just have to wait, and...

I don't like this.

Mother, why did you make people angry?

Get her!

Get her! It's Oh Moon Seon!

It's definitely Oh Moon Seon!

Let's hang the child first!

I'll teach you how it feels to have your child die right in front of your eyes.

Hang him!

No, not my baby! Please! I'm sorry!

Forgive me. Don't hurt my son! Please!

- No, please! - Mother!

- Sahn! - Mother!

Stop this!

Forewoman of East Gate...

Why is she...

Lord Magistrate! Lord Magistrate!

It's a raid! We're being raided!

I understand your situation and I know how you feel.

But this is not the way to resolve your problem.

Do you know how many families have been torn apart by Oh Moon Seon's debt harassment

and how many people have lost their loved ones?

We have nothing to resolve with that evil wench!

Give her one more chance.

Do you think anything would change for us if we gave her a chance?

Are you going to be responsible for what happens to us?

Would you stand down if I say that I would?

Stop!

Arrest the rioters. All of them!

Yes, sir!

They are not rioters.

They came seeking resolution for debt they owe after being harassed.

Indeed they are rioters.

They threatened my son and stole our grains.

No, Mother. The truth is I opened the shed for them.

They threatened you...

No, I told them to take it.

Didn't you say you were being raided?

Well, it was clearly...

Sir, this is an accident caused by panic

and fear rising from the drought and food shortage.

What do you wish to do?

Do you wish to press charges?

West Gate... The owner of West Gate... ...says he opened the shed himself.

I will ask you once again. Is this your final decision?

Yes.

You must be laughing at me.

Come with me to East Gate.

I'm the owner of West Gate. I have no reason to leave.

Everyone's gone now, but we can't assume they won't be come back.

- So... - So you sent away the mob.

Are you feeling proud of yourself because you think you helped me?

No. I'm just at a loss right now.

They tried to kill you so they could survive,

but I also know that you drove them to a corner for the same reason.

So I don't know what to do.

Leave.

Moon Seon,

I don't want to listen to this anymore.

It's not for you.

For your son's sake, think about it and come to East Gate tomorrow.

Mother.

Mother, I'm scared.

I'm scared, Mother...

I'll leave Dong Ah and a few others here.

Mother, please don't... Please don't do that...

Mother, why do you make people angry?

Don't make your son pay for your crimes.

You're guaranteed to be miserable if you let money become your source of happiness.

I'm not here to chitchat.

I wanted you to see your capacity for yourself.

I hoped that you'd want what you can posses and grow from there.

Forewoman is at the port right now.

She'll be back soon if you wait here.

Sahn,

the forewoman of East Gate is a good person,

so she'll teach you lots of things that I couldn't.

Am I going to study here?

Everything is going to be all right from now on.

Where's your mother?

You said you wanted to buy my notes.

I'm giving them to you.

In return, take care of my son Sahn for me.

This is my first request of favor to you.

Please raise my Sahn well.

Sahn...

My son...

I have nothing to give you.

I just thought if I made enough money, you wouldn't have to live a hard life like I did.

I'm afraid you'll be ashamed of your foolish mother.

Please live a good life.

I will pay for my mistakes alone, so please live a good life.

Did my mother leave me here and go away?

Sahn.

Because I opened the storehouse for those people and she's angry?

No, absolutely not.

Your mother loves you very much. That's why...

She's coming back, isn't she?

Yes, she will.

A few years later...

I'm hungry. Get up!

I'm hungry!

Mom, get up!

What are you doing?

You're a curious boy.

Why did you call us into the storehouse?

We're going to hand distribute grains we have in storage to the hungry people.

So let the word out and have those in need gather here.

We've already given away plenty of rice bit

by bit, and now you want to do it openly?

The drought has plagued us for years now.

Without help, hunger will turn good people into thieves and looters.

But even the King is helpless to save them from this poverty.

How can we possibly save them?

This drought can't last forever.

We just have to get through it together.

Yes. It'll be great sharing food with everyone!

Get in line, everyone! Get in line!

One at a time!

This way!

One at a time!

Be patient!

Step up!

We're going to run out of grains soon.

Already? I thought we had quite a bit of grains we brought in from branch locations.

I know. That was just a few days ago.

This is like trying to fill a bottomless cup.

More people are coming as words get around.

The magistrate is appealing to the royal court for help.

Couldn't we feed them for just another month somehow?

We might last longer if we feed them

porridge instead of giving them grains.

Yes, that's a good idea.

Then starting tomorrow, we will distribute porridge instead of bags of grains.

Then we have to wash the pots,

prepare the grains? we have a lot to do!

Let's get busy, ladies!

Great. Thanks a lot for the

sore arms I'm going to have!

Your Highness, famine continues in Jeju and requests for relief continue to come in.

It is regrettable, but the other regions are suffering food shortage as well due to the

crop failure we experienced last year.

Jeju has been suffering for years,

but scarcity on the mainland has held us back from delivering aid.

We cannot put it off any longer.

Before delivering aid to faraway Jeju, we must first attend to the suffering

of regions close to Hanyang and appease public sentiment.

Your Highness,

people of Jeju are on the frontier living harder lives than anywhere else in Joseon.

You must not turn your back on them.

I agree, Your Highness.

Magistrate of Jeju is not asking us to feed the hungry.

He is asking us to save those who would otherwise die of starvation.

I'm told countless people have already died on the island.

It's an atrocity that the last generation has not

known and the next generation will not know.

Send relief at once!

Your grace is immeasurable!

Enjoy it!

Here you go!

Be careful. It's hot.

Here you go. Enjoy.

Mother! Honey!

Mother! Mother!

The royal court is sending relief grains to Jeju!

Really!

That's wonderful!

Ships carrying the relief grains sank to the sea?

Five ships carrying 20,000 sacks of rice encountered a storm near the coat of Gangjin

and sank to the bottom of the ocean.

Jeju has reached its limit.

We can't last much longer on what we have.

I will write again, but other regions are suffering as well.

I doubt they will send another aid.

Sell off everything for rice?

You've already done more than enough. You can't save the world.

That's right. It's good to help people but we have a business to run.

So many people are dying. Do you plan to save all of them?

You're not the King...

Sahn, we will be saving ourselves by saving other people.

Saving ourselves? How so?

If there's no one to buy our goods, it doesn't matter what we sell.

I'll be useless.

Sell off valuable items like cattle gallstones and pearls as well and buy rice from Gangjin.

Now is the time to protect the people, not our wealth.

Yes, Forewoman.

Sis, I'm back!

Who's here?

I told you to stop helping strangers!

And a filthy beggar at that...!

Assistant Magistrate Choi?

Sis, are you out of your mind?

East Gate emptying their storehouse to feed the island.

Don't make a fuss over a bowl of porridge.

Don't mind her. Eat up.

Thank you.

By the way, Sis, I heard Man Deok called Lord Mu Meng Dal.

She's going to go out of business trying to save everyone on the island!

I've been in lending business for 40 years,

but this is the first time doing such a large deal.

Do you have the funds?

This exceeds my collateral amount.

Value of the collateral depends on how you look at it.

Since you've put your entire asset on the table,

I must do the same for this to be a fair deal.

Here you go.

So what are you going to do with all this rice?

What are we going to do with it?

We're going to feed the hungry people of Jeju.

This is for your trouble.

Thank you.

Wait! I didn't pay you yet!

What's going on?

Oh, two of the workers just left before I could pay them.

Boss, we're barely getting by these days.

How could you work for free just because it's for East Gate?

Didn't you hear them? Man Deok is feeding Jeju.

Your sisters are in Jeju.

That's... true.

Do you think they're doing all right?

I'm sure they are. Your sisters are no ordinary women.

You're right. They'll eat bugs if that's all they had to survive on.

Man, I'm hungry... Wait for me!

You sold everything you own and sent your men to buy rice?

Yes, with a little help from the wind, they should be here in just a few days.

I heard a ship recently sunk coming back from Yongam. If your ship sinks...

I try not to worry about things that haven't happened.

I can finally see what Hong Soo saw in you.

You must resent me.

I'd be lying if I said no. But I don't anymore.

I've tried all kinds of delicacies,

but none compares to this porridge you made yourself.

I don't want you to bring the porridge to me anymore.

My lord...

Precious food that's meant to save the people shouldn't be wasted on a sinner like me.

Yes, eat up!

- It's hot. Be careful. - Thank you.

We're low on rice, so we're serving porridge...

...but now we're out of porridge too.

What do we do now?

There's nothing left. This is the last batch.

Ships are getting capsized in the storm.

Our guys will make it back safely, won't they?

Mother! Forewoman!

Mother, your son is back!

Forewoman, we brought rice.

Good. We're going to be all right!

No, I can't accept this. I didn't ask you for money.

Take it. Without your understanding, I wouldn't have been able to sell

the branch stores and feed the hungry.

This is money that I had set aside for you from the branch operation proceeds.

But if you give us all this, how will you operate the headquarters?

I intend to close down East Gate for a while.

Pardon?

Forewoman, what would you get out of this if you give everything away?

Wasn't it your life-long dream to have

a countrywide distribution network for East Gate?

Was it really worth it to give that up to feed the people?

It most certainly was.

They were once my valued customer and they will be again in the future.

I've saved them, so I've lost nothing.

Sir, you're here.

I had to come. We have unfinished business.

We will empty the building right away.

I'm afraid that will not do.

What do you mean?

These are property titles I gave you as collateral for your advance payment.

I'm investing!

I'll give these back to you, so just bring me a fat return on my investment.

My lord...

Forewoman! Forewoman!

We heard East Gate was closing down.

You can't! It's because of you that we found hope and started living again.

These are for the rice. It's not nearly enough though.

Just think of it as interest and take it.

Yes, let us give you what we can.

Thank you.

Thank you so much!

Thank you!

It's not much.

Thank you.

If you need our help for anything...

Your Highness, a merchant of Jeju Kim Man Deok saved the starving people of

Jeju with 500 sacks of rice purchased with her entire fortune.

Your Highness, Kim Man Deok's deed are indeed praiseworthy,

but her common birth disqualifies her for your royal commendation.

Your highness, this woman saved your dying people.

How could we put less value on a meritorious deed based on birth status?

Prime Minister shares my sentiment exactly.

I want to grant the woman a wish, so send a royal messenger and bring back her reply.

His Highness the King wants to bestow you a huge reward.

And he asks to know what your wish is.

I don't need anything.

He can grant you a title of nobility,

or give you monetary reward

if that's what you wish.

All of that is honor above me,

Lord Magistrate.

You don't understand. This is the King's command.

If I don't send back your reply you will get me in trouble.

So do me a favor and say a wish.

I'd like to tour the King's palace and Mt. Geumgang.

Don't you have any other wish?

No.

Tour the palace and Mt. Geumgang?

Yes, Your Highness.

I'm curious. I'm curious to know what kind of woman she is.

I can't wait to meet her.

Call the lowly woman into the palace? This is unheard of!

There's order and hierarchy in this country!

Do you know what the high officials are saying about this?

Petitions are pouring in!

Your Highness, good deeds bought with money are unworthy of praise.

But this woman audaciously requests departure

from Jeju which is prohibited by the law!

What's more, this common merchant dare seeks to enter the palace

and have audience with the King. We are truly appalled, Your Highness.

Kim Man Deok has ignored the national law and insulted the King and his court!

You must demonstrate the austerity of the law and tighten discipline among the people

by punishing Kim Man Deok. Please reconsider your decision.

Please reconsider, Your Highness!

For what reason do you think the laws exist?

The laws exist to maintain order and discipline in the country, Your Highness.

Then why do we have to maintain order and discipline in the country?

I believe it is to protect and care for the people.

When this common merchant that you condemn...

was sacrificing everything she has to save my people,

what were you men doing?

This is truly an embarrassment.

Forewoman! Forewoman!

What did the King give you as reward?

Wait. Why are you empty-handed?

You're talking to the head female

physician of the Palace Dispensary.

Head female physician? What's that?

I've been granted an honor to enter the palace and meet the King.

That's not all. She's going to tour Mt. Geumgang.

What? Mt. Geumgang? I couldn't dare dream such a dream!

I'm so proud of you!

I'm so proud!

This is wonderful!

Marketplace, Hanyang

The woman in that palanquin is Kim Man Deok.

Great Merchant Kim Man Deok?

She's the one who gave up her entire fortune to save the people of Jeju,

and now she's going to meet the King!

That's not all, buddy.

The King also gave her an honorary title as the

head female physician of the Palace Dispensary!

Wow, that's impressive!

Sahn...

Sahn...!

My lord... Young Master Hong Soo...

I'm here.

Who was he?

Someone very special.

Let's go.

Thank you.

Thank you so much...

Sahn...

I am Man Deok.

I've known about you for a long time. It's wonderful to finally meet you!

Did you have a comfortable trip?

Yes, it was pleasant.

How nice it would have been if Hong Soo were here with us.

I'm sure he's watching us from above.

Well, let's not keep the King waiting. Shall we?

Physician Kim Man Deok!

Raise your head.

I have many questions to ask,

but I'd like most of all to know how you became a merchant when you are a woman.

I grew up on a street market, Your Highness.

Being born a woman, I couldn't pursue my dreams anywhere.

But in all of the years I have been a merchant,

I've never felt held back because I'm a woman.

That is the reason and the strength behind what I do.

You've saved many lives with your righteous heart and it is truly admirable.

Since you gave up your entire fortune to deliver hunger relief,

I will reward you riches to rebuild your business.

Forgive me, Your Highness, but I have not lost anything.

Not lost anything? What do you mean?

People are the true foundation of my business, but I have lost no one.

So I have lost nothing.

You have lost no one?

Ah...

It seems I've made a big mistake.

Prime Minister.

Yes, Your Highness.

Please make certain that her trip to Mt. Geumgang is comfortable.

Your grace is infinite.

Why did you tell the King that seeing Mt. Geumgang was your wish?

Then what should I have asked for?

You could've asked to be made a noble, or you could've asked for money.

Perhaps... But I think they would have only put fetters on my heart.

Fetters on your heart?

Sahn, always keep your heart open.

A fettered heart cannot feel free even on a vast open continent,

but an open heart can freely roam the world even on a tiny island.

Granny, are you watching?

I've become a merchant who values people.

Now I'm free.

And with that free heart, I'm going back to Jeju.

To the place that holds the people who will be with me through this life...