Original subtitles

What brings you?

What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?

I... I will take the exam in your place.

Are you to be trusted?

I would not play with my brother's life.

If anyone finds out, not only your brother but your entire

family will pay the price. You must take extreme caution.

Yo-shin...!

Yo-shin, it's me. Soon-shin!

Yo-shin, it's me. Soon-shin!

Yo-shin, please wake up...

How could they do this to him?

What did they say when they released him?

Huh?

Why did they release him it his crime deserved such harsh punishment?

They said that the man he assaulted suffered less injury

than they thought, so they were letting him go.

You mean they whipped him before they determined the severity of the crime?

Are we to just accept this?

He is a peaceful boy who can't hurt a fly.

Wife...

There has to be more to this. He was unjustly punished.

Why else would they release him in one day after charging

him with a high crime?

Mother...

I will o to the courts myself and get to the bottom of this!

They wouldn't punish him if he didn't do anything wrong.

Don't make this bigger than is.

Where did you go so early in the morning?

I've got a gifted scholar who has mastered the works of Yi Tae-bek

and Du Bo taking my test. First place is practically a guarantee.

Don't be so cold.

After all, you and I are on the same boat.

Let's take it easy.

We can chitchat a little.

The exam is just around the corner.

You'll be humiliated if you don't at least look like you

know what you're doing. Read your book.

Read this!

It is to be read by the King.

Yes, it's your poem.

Ah, but what do you know? It has my name on it.

As, too, will your exam paper. But don't be angry.

That's just the way it is. Power and money rules his world.

Don't bet on it. The world will be rectified some day.

Fool.

Look where you are and what you are doing.

It baffles me that you could talk about rectifying the world when

you're breaking the law yourself.

Soon-shin! Soon-shin!

Soon-shin!

Where is he? He said he'd be working in the field.

How are you feeling?

Oh, Chun-su.

My father sent some fermented feces for your bruises.

It stinks like hell but works like magic.

Thanks for the trouble.

It's no trouble. I just want you to get well soon.

Where is Soon-shin anyway?

He should be on the field. Didn't you see him on the way?

No, he wasn't there.

Yo-shin!

Where were you?

Oh, I just... What are you doing here?

I felt restless sitting at home, so I thought I'd come out and see you.

I'll get back on my feet soon and tend to this field

like you have all this time.

Yo-shin...

I want you to focus on your studies and take the civil service exam.

Yo-shin, what are you talking about? That won't happen.

Civil service exam for a simpleminded farmer like me?

"The phoenix comes from a far away place where the sun and

the moon reside, and exalted songs of peace come from

glorious virtue of the king..."

How do you know my poem?

The moment I read that poem I knew that he one who should

be a taking this exam is you, not me.

I'm glad it's not too late for me to set things straight.

No, Yo-shin, that's...

I know exactly why you hid your talent and your passion, but I

looked away. I felt ashamed. I didn't want to acknowledge

that fact that you're better than me despite all the burden

placed on your shoulder to take care of the family.

What are you talking about? That's absurd!

I was a coward. Would you ever forgive me?

What's wrong with you?

I'm not taking the exam no matter what you say! It's not for me!

Soon-shin...

No! How many times do I have to tell you?

I'm not taking the exam!

Father is right.

Civil service exam, government posts, I'm not cut out for that stuff.

I'd be content if I could find myself a decent wife,

make a family and live a humble life as a farmer.

Soon-shin...

You must be tired.

I'm fine, Mother.

Dinner is ready. Go inside and eat.

I'm not really hungry.

What's wrong? You haven't had any appetite lately.

Are you sick?

No, Mother. Don't worry about me.

Husband.

Yes? Is there something you'd like to talk about?

Soon-shin has been acting strange lately.

Strange?

He won't smile, he's slacking on field work, he won't even look me

straight in the eye since what happened to Yo-shin.

He cares more about his brother than fie does about himself.

I'm sure it was a shock to him.

I think there is more to it. He is hiding something.

Don't you have a talk with him?

He is a grown man of marrying age.

Let him be. He is not a child anymore.

But Husband...

I'm sure he has his reasons.

It's a valuable item from Ming. Take it. Most men never get

to see something like that in their entire life.

Why? Does it hurt your pride? But of course.

You're too proud to accept such a gift from a stranger.

On the contrary. How could I refuse such a valuable gift?

Thanks.

It's my name and my birth information.

What good is a good score if you don't get my name right?

Memorize it.

Well, I think I'll take a nap now.

You can get back to work.

Get up! Don't you have any strength in you legs?

You're a young man! When I was your age, I ran all the way to

Chun-an with three of these sacks on my back!

What did I tell you? Didn't I tell you to stay home and rest?

Forget it.

Go home, Father! You have to rest and get well!

And you have to help me so I can get some rest too!

Good grief...

Go home!

All right! I'm leaving!

You startled me! Are you trying to knock me over?

What's that?

When are you going to be done?

Don't drink so much.

What's wrong with you? Slow down at least!

Here, have another.

Innkeeper!

Goodness? Are you going to empty my wine barrel for that

funny looking ink stone?

It's a valuable item.

How valuable could it be when I have no use for it?

What's wrong with you?

What's going on?

What's going on? We're drinking.

Sure, of course. Why would you want to talk to an ignorant

peasant about your problems?

Would you stop this? Yo-shin said you were taking the civil service exam.

Shouldn't you be studying?

Soon-shin!

They want me to be a proxy.

Huh?

A proxy.

What's a proxy? Why does it have you all torn up like this?

What happened? Is he hurt?

No... I didn't want to drink, but he was so adamant...

Is he drunk?

Drinking is all right, but... I guess there's a first time for everything.

Let's take him inside.

Yes.

Thanks, Chun-su.

I better go now.

By the way, what's a proxy?

Pardon?

What's a proxy? Is it a bad thing? Why is it bothering him so much?

Did Soon-shin tell you that he's going to be a proxy for

the civil service exam?

I, I better go now.

Yo-shin...

What made you do this?

I'm sorry. I had a little too much to drink.

Am I the one who is ruining your future?

Yo-shin...!

First I ignored my brother's incredible talent to attend to

my own future, and now I made you sell your pride and dignity

in exchange for my worthless life!

I don't know what you're talking about.

Who asked you to do this?

Who asked you to throw way our pride and come to my rescue?

A test proxy? How could you!

Yo-shin, hear me out!

Is that why I was released?

Did you think that I would thank you and give you a big hug?

And to think that I was lying in bed shamelessly resting and

eating like everything is dandy after making my brother do this!

I feel mortified. I feel absolutely mortified!

I�m sorry, Yo-shin. I was wrong to do this, but...

Forget about it! I'm going back to the government center!

No, Yo-shin! No!

I'll walk back into that jail cell myself and die in there

before I let you take that test for someone else!

Yo-shin!!

Father!

A proxy for the civil service exam?

You're going to deceive government and commit a crime?

What a fine family we are turning out to be!

The father is wasting his life away and the son has sold his conscience!

No one can change this world anyway!

No one can change this world anyway!

Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise!

Surely you didn't sell your talent for nothing.

How much are they paying you?

How about all the wine I can drink for life.

Forgive me for not arranging this sooner.

Don't mention it.

Your son is a fine young man. As the county magistrate.

I'm very proud to have such a talented young man in county.

You are too kind.

If all goes well, I will tend to your family as my son.

And I'll do all I can to place your sons on government service as well.

Thank you for you kindness despite my son's offense.

It is a token of my appreciation.

Oh, what is all this?

Please put it away.

Oh, it's silver.

I thought they were gold.

It's just a little something in advance to assist your finances.

I will offer you ten plots of fertile land if my son passes the exam.

You're not as generous a man as I thought.

Did you have something else in mind? Please feel free to speak.

I was thinking more along the lines of Ahsan Magistrate.

Is this a joke?

No, no! Don't you think it's a reasonable price?

If this gets out it will ruin your son's future as well as

the future of his sons.

What?! And do you think your son would come out unscathed?

If anyone gets hurt, it will be you and your son!

What is the meaning of this!

Do whatever you want, you bastard!

Do you think you will get away with this?

I will go to the King with this!

And I'll report your pathetic crime even if it kills me!

Lord Yi, let go of me.

Let's calm down and talk about this.

Stay away from my sons! Do you understand?

Thanks for the drinks!

But I have a bad taste in my mouth as if I just drank the

blood of the people of Ahsan.

Perhaps we could look for another proxy, sir.

How can you think about another proxy after this?

Then?

How dare he!

Sir, if that boy should take the exam himself and take first place...

I can't let that happen. Investigate them.

There has to be a reason why a family of such scholastic

aptitude is living in this boondocks.

Find out why even if you have to dig up their ancestors' graves!

Yes, sir.

One can never be too careful...

I'd like to go away for a while.

Yo-shin...

I will abide by your wish, Father. I will renounce the world.

I will live as you do.

But as for Soon-shin, please don't stop him.

He is an extraordinary boy.

All the filth and corruption in the world will not taint him.

You know that better than I do, Father.

Constant dripping wears away the stone.

Don't try to break him. Encourage him and give him your support.

I beg you, Father.

Yo-shin!

Soon-shin, why are you in such a hurry?

I don't have to be a proxy!

I was running home to give you the good news.

Are you going somewhere? But you're in no condition to...

Would you give me a hand with my bag?

Are you okay?

Yo-shin!

I'm fine. I felt a little dizzy, that is all.

Where are you going in this condition?

Look around. This wasteland was once rich and fertile thanks to

the hard work and sweat of a man named Kang-suk whom I had

befriended when I first came to Ahsan.

But tyranny and abuse of greedy officials forced him to abandon

the land and move way.

One must know the pain of hunger to become a leader of true

compassion and virtue.

Yo-shin...

Take the civil service exam and enter government service.

And don't ever change.

Hold on to the warm heart that cherishes a humble salt merchant

friend, hold on to the selfless spirit that looked after this

foolish brother.

Take that pole out of the water.

The hook is missing.

In the same way, changing the world, is as difficult as catching a fish

without a hook.

Your older brother has chosen to abide by my wish.

This world will not be easy on you.

At times you are forced to break your own rules just like you

couldn't say no to the magistrate's request.

There may be other circumstances beyond your control that take you

down the path not of your own choosing.

But if your desire is strong, you have my permission.

Father!

Sir, are you familiar with the name Yi Bek-rok?

Yi Bek-rok? Who is he?

He was among those that died in 1519 who also happens to be

Yi Soon-shin's grandfather.

1519?

I've prepared a special gift for you, Minister Ju.

You shouldn't have!

Take the exam. I will make the necessary arrangements.

Just make a brush mark on the lower left-hand corner of the answer sheet.

Thank you, sir.

The first place is yours as long as there is no one distinctly

superior than the rest.

Sir, if we could possibly talk to you about that...

- Byung-tek you're here. - What kept you so long?

Sit down.

- Byung-gi. - Yes, Brother.

I raised a dog with care and sweat and it bit me and ran away.

Are you referring to Yi Soon-shin?

What would you do if it were your dog?

Teach him a lesson, of course!

Don't worry, Byung-tek. We'll take care of him.

Drink up!

I'll be going back home in glory after this exam!

I won't forget what you've done for me.

Congrats!

Proper attire is also important at a civil service exam.

Thank you, Mother.

Those were your father's clothes.

Seeing you in that robe and hat reminds me of your father

when he was a proud and confident young man.

- Soon-shin. - Yes, Mother.

Don't blame your father.

He has lived in grief all of his life.

But no one will be happier than your father if you pass this exam.

Yes, Mother.

Here, this brush practically writes on its own.

It's the weasel fur gold hair brush!

Are you sure this is the best brush in all of Chosun?

Does everyone lie to you? Weasel fur is the best in the world!

How much is it?

Two yangs.

Huh?!

Hey, stop right there! Where do you think you're going?

Put the rest on credit! My father will pay you with salt!

I sent him off.

But I'm afraid.

I don't want him to come back with a broken heart...

Soon-shin! Soon-shin!

Take it.

It's a gold hair brush.

I bet you've never seen it.

It's made with finest weasel fur in the world!

Thanks.

If you win first place, you owe it to me All right?

First place? Dream on.

It's a nice day, isn't it? Why don't we go for a swim?

Step aside.

Wait, wait, wait a minute!

There's something I've been wanting to show you.

This here is...

How is my salt? Isn't it sweet?

Bastard!

Stay away!

Stay away, or you'll regret it!

Run, Soon-shin! Run!

This is your lucky day? I'll teach you thugs a lesson!

The theme!

Yi Soon-shin. Yi Soon-shin... What a remarkable literary talent?

I think we found a hidden gem in Ahsan!

Let us call the scholar.

Yes. I am quite anxious to meet this man of talent.

Is your name Soon-shin? You possess exceptional aptitude.

We have not seen such high marks in a long time.

Your father's name is Yi Jung, and your ancestral home is Duk-su?

That's correct, sir.

How about your grandfather's name?

He passed away long ago, but his name was Yi Bek-rok.

Yi Bek-rok?

Could it be the Yi Bek-rok that served the royal court in 1519?

I believe so.

Did he die in 1519?

Yes, sir.

I see... You are the grandson of Yi Bek-rok that died in 1519.

You are excused.

Third place: Kang Do-hyung, Min Hyung-suk, Han Joon-pil!

Scond place: Yi Suk-woo, Shin Jin-hwa!

First place:

A scholar of Ahsan Song Byung-tek!