All language subtitles for The Great Merchant E25

Subtitled by
KBS America

You'd better go now.

I'm always here for you.

Reach out if things get tough.

Don't try to endure it alone.

I'm fine.

Being confined gave me

a chance to do some thinking.

Everyone knows the fact that

I made no profit by selling wine.

It made me want to show those who
incriminated me for prohibition violation

what business ethics is all about.

I will help you fight.

Then Moon Seon won't be quick
to hurt you.

My lord, Moon Seon is capable of
hurting anyone who gets in her way.

I'm waiting for her to
take the first shot at me.

Then I could really fight her back.

I'm afraid you might get hurt...

I know, but I will only be in
as much danger as you are.

Don't worry about me.

I'm always going to be right there
with you when things get tough.

If you fight, I will fight, too.

Andong ramie is here!

Three bowls of seaweed soup, please!

Welcome!
Right this way!

Welcome!

Forewoman!

My gosh! You're back!

All of us have been counting
the days for your return!

Are you all right?

I was very worried
when I was incarcerated,

but my strength is renewed
seeing how well you're

operating the business
in my absence.

We worked even harder so it's
not noticeable that you're not here.

How are things at the marketplace?

More businesses are closing down,
but I can't figure out why.

It's because of the tribute

goods inventory thing.

That's right. Shop owners who have been

tip toeing around West Gate no longer need

to pay more and buy

West Gate's merchandise.

Yes, so it has caused
a temporary break in trading.

Isn't that bad for us, too?

No. Merchants who are
free from monopoly

will start to
negotiate freely for best deals.

And competition will
create better quality goods,

and trading will become active again.

Isn't this what you've always wanted?

What does this mean for West Gate?

What is the meaning of this?

Why haven't you taken the silk
and salt you are supposed to take?

You've got some guts thinking
you can run a business like this.

I need you to empty
this shop immediately!

Oh madam, I'm so sorry!
Please forgive me just this once!

I bet that's what you thought I'd say.
Didn't you?

What are you trying to start?

Who do you folks think you are?

What the...

Until now, I had to bite the bullet and buy
expensive merchandise from West Gate

because West Gate was
collecting the tribute goods.

But now that the government office
is doing the collecting,

I can buy better product from
whomever I want!

So you dare talk back to Madam Oh?

Stop.

Ungrateful people!

She asked me to get her
some poisonous herbs...

Who has ever heard of a
wife killing her own husband?

So I thought it was for
some other purpose.

Boss!

How are the markets in Hanyang?

With the reopening of Songpa Market, the
licensed fish mart is operating in the red.

Keep sending East Gate's
seafood products to Hanyang.

Yes, sir.

By the way, sir, there's a growing demand
of jewelry and accessories not only among

noblewomen and gisaengs
but among commoners as well.

Is this reliable information?

I've asked the licensed merchants

to meet me here today

to devise countermeasures against

the loss of business we've been suffering

since the reopening of Songpa Market.

Isn't that Madam Oh's job?

Yes. She collected money from us
to grease the palms of politicians, so

she must have Commerce Control Bureau
or Ministry of Punishments protect us.

This is no time to lay blame!

Even the newly appointed Chief of
CCB is one of Jung Hong Soo's men.

How can we depend on Madam Oh to
protect us when she couldn't even stop this?

Very well. I will see what I can do.

By the way, where is Foreman
Kim of the rice store?

I had a wonderful day!

Returning from a hunting excursion, sir?

What brings you here?

I've been under a lot of stress lately,

but I had a good time thanks
to the hunting trip you arranged.

Then I will place my trust in
you and leave now, my lord.

He is quite a tactful fellow.

He knows how to take my position
and reputation into consideration.

He didn't even bring up
uncomfortable subjects.

Sir, we're being stifled in
both Hanyang and Jeju.

If the Ministry of Punishments could
help out the licensed market at least,

we might get a little breathing room...

Sentiment in the court is unfavorable.

This is essentially because Oh Moon Seon
who controls the Six Licensed Shops

can't either win public favor or control it!

I might be inclined to support
someone else in the next election

for Six Licensed Shops Daebang.

My lord, please give us a little more time.
I will send a letter to Moon Seon at once.

I got a letter from
Magistrate Jeong of Jeju.

Any good news, sir?

Yes. He says businesses are thriving in Jeju
after he took back the tribute goods

collection work and ended monopoly!

Does this mean His Highness's intent
to create free competitive market

in Jeju has come to fruition?

If all works out, it won't be long before
the wind of reform reaches Hanyang.

I thought we had a long way to go before

we can abolish licensed monopolies which

is the root of economic evil,

but it looks like our man Jung Hong Soo

is going to come through for us!

Yes!

Demand for accessories imported from

Qing China is definitely increasing.

Economy is improving with
the reopening of Songpa Market,

so people want to improve
the quality of their lives as well.

Increase in demand of items such as
accessories and silk is the proof of that.

We're certain to do
well if put an item

in the market that
can replace Qing accessories.

What do you think?

How about pearls?

Will pearls appeal to women of Hanyang?

When I was a gisaeng, we used to make
hairpins and trinkets ourselves with pearls.

I'm sure gisaengs in Hanyang do
the same.

If we sell high quality Jeju pearls for such
use, I'm sure we will have a good response.

Let us collect some samples and
test out the market in Hanyang first.

I want you men to go to Hanyang as
soon as we've secured enough pearls.

Are you staying behind again, sir?

I have some things I need to do
for the guild master.

Go ahead without me.

Hurry up!

Come on, girls!

East Gate wants pearls in a hurry,
so give me all you've got.

This is for Man Deok, so
let's work really hard.

Wow! This must cost a fortune!

Did you want us to go around gisaeng
houses first and check the response?

A popular item among gisaengs will quickly
become popular among noblewomen, too.

I am going on this trip,
so don't worry about a thing.

You better not come back smelling
like gisaeng's face powder.

Keep an eye on him for me.

Okay.

I haven't seen Boss Kang since yesterday.

Oh, yes... He hasn't told us what he is
working on lately, so we're frustrated, too.

West Gate Market Brokers, Jeju Island

East Gate has been buying
up all the pearls on the island

paying the divers in advance!

East Gate is working with the itinerant
merchants taking away my business

both in Hanyang and Jeju, but my
men are sitting around doing nothing.

Madam.

It's a letter from Hanyang.

Is it bad news?

It looks like Jeong Dong is going to
support Foreman Kim of the rice shop

in the next election for Daebang.

If your position in shaken,
it will affect West Gate as well.

Shop owners are starting
to refuse our goods.

Something must be done.

I will not sit here and be victimized.

Madam, I once bought pearls from
Japan and sold them to noblewomen

when I was a mistress
of the gisaeng house.

Yes, I delivered those pearls myself,
and no one suspected anything.

Pearls are abundant in Japan, so if we
purchase large but low quality pearls

and pass them off as Jeju pearls,
we could make a huge profit.

If our cost is less expensive than Jeju pearls,
we might be able to make up our loss from

the seafood business.

Can you find me a
Japanese merchant?

Yes, ma'am. Do you remember
the merchant from last time?

He happens to be here in Jeju right now.

I'm sorry we're late.
Did you wait long?

No, we just arrived.

Did you get my message?

Have a look.

I'd like to purchase more
in large quantities.

Tell me how much you'd like to spend,
and I will get you as many medium

quality pearls as I can for that price.

We will buy as many as you can get.

I will get you the best goods I can find.

Would one month be enough?

Absolutely.

Smuggling?

Madam Oh is completely stressed out
because she's afraid Man Deok will crush

West Gate with this pearl
business she's got going.

Keep a close eye on her and let me know
when she's getting ready to make a move.

What are you planning to do, sir?

Knowing too much could hurt you.
Don't ask any more questions.

I always get hurt anyway
because you beat me up.

I know what you're feeling
for Madam Oh.

It wouldn't satisfy you to rip
her into pieces right now, but...

But it's time for you
to find a wife and...

Be quiet.

I'm scared.

Just get me the time and date Oh Moon Seon
is meeting the Japanese merchant.

If you do anything stupid to try
and protect me, I'll kill you first.

We targeted the gisaengs first like you
told us to and pearls are selling out fast.

Orders are pouring in from
noblewomen of Hanyang as well.

It's time to release the
pearls we've been collecting.

We will be the only company
selling Jeju pearls in Hanyang,

so our pearl business
will be smooth sailing!

These are highest quality pearls,
so let us mark them up three times.

Fresh deer antlers from Jeju...

And Jeju pearls that we've

distributed everywhere in Hanyang.

Was that Oh Moon Seon's business?

Yes, sir. If this pearl business works out,
we will have all the funds we need.

You're working so hard.
Good luck, my man.

I will do my very best
not to let you down, sir.

My lord, Foreman Kim is here to see you.

- Send him in.
- Yes, sir.

Let's see which cake looks
more scrumptious to eat...

Who are you trying to swindle?

Get out of here!

It's the country bumpkins that
you have to watch out for.

May I ask where you bought these pearls?

They belong to a gisaeng
in another gisaeng house.

She said they were Jeju pearls, so I asked
her how much she paid for them,

and they were less
than half what I paid!

If this isn't swindling, what is?

No, ma'am!
These are top quality Jeju...

Look at them. Size is what counts for
pearls and there's hardly any difference.

What makes yours the highest quality?

Take them back and get out of here!

Something isn't right.
Please let me...

I said get out of here!

Jeju pearls from another source?
And for half our price at that?

I don't know how this
happened, but it's true.

We spent all that time promoting Jeju pearls
and someone else will reap the benefit.

Did you bring those pearls
by any chance?

Yeah, here.

It's really hard to tell them apart.

One is a Jeju pearl
that you got for us,

and the other is a pearl
that sells for half price.

You see how it peels easily?
It's a low quality pearl with thin nacre.

How could there be such a large
quantity of low quality pearls out there?

Oysters bear more pearls
in warmer waters.

I think they might be from the south.

Then... from Japan?

This has got to be another
one of Moon Seon's schemes.

She must be trying to recover her
loss from the seafood business.

Don't you think we should
tell the magistrate about this?

It's too soon to jump to conclusions.
Let's do some more digging.

But if we're right,
this violates business ethics.

Yeah.

But the bigger issue here is that we have
these pearls being passed off as Jeju pearls.

Ultimately it will tarnish the credibility of
Jeju pearls as a whole, so people will stop

buying, and we will be
stuck with the inventory.

What do we do?

We've got to figure out a way to sell our
pearls and eliminate the imposter pearls too.

Ma'am, you haven't been eating
very much lately. Are you all right?

Let's send these hats to Andong.

How is the horsehair?

It's excellent quality.

We have a large order from Tongyoung
for horsehair. Should I send them?

Why when we have
our own hat workshop?

Tell them to buy the
finished hat from us instead.

Gee, would you do that it you were them?

There's a huge difference in the profit
margin between making the hats yourself

and selling the hats that are
already made.

Leave enough horsehair for our hat
shop and send the rest to Tongyoung.

Please call everyone for a meeting
after you clean up the stockroom.

Make pearl accessories?

Yes. Profit margin will be greater
than selling the loose pearls.

And low quality pearls will easily
be damaged in the setting process,

so it will be easier to set our pearls apart
if we compete in the form of accessories.

If we pay attention to the workmanship,
perhaps they'll gain recognition like Jeju hats

and bring in good profit.

But how about the labor cost?

There're hardly any jewelry makers in Jeju.
It's costly to send them out for production.

Eun is right. That's why merchants
have always sold loose pearls.

Should I learn jewelry
making and do them myself?

I'm sure it's easier than weaving hats.

Husband, this is serious.

No, it's actually a good idea.

Pardon?

If we can learn the craft,
our problem is solved.

It'll take investment of time and money,

but it will be worth it to teach the
working people of Jeju another trade.

Deok Pal, since you're interested...

You want me to really learn pearl setting?

I want you to go out and recruit people who
are interested in learning accessory making.

We will teach them regardless
of age and gender.

Dong Ah, find us a master jeweler.

Not someone who will do the work but
someone who will teach us the craft.

Excuse me, sir.

I heard you were the best
jewelry maker in Jeju.

Do you do pearls as well?

Yes, I do. Why do you ask?

We are going to be teaching you the
skills to make trinkets, hairpins, combs

and other fine accessories using pearls.

I've never worked with pearls before.
I hope I can do this.

This craft requires skill,
perseverance and concentration.

But it can also be mastered with anyone
with a pair of eyes and a pair of hands.

The training is six months long, and
you'll be paid a stipend during that time.

You're teaching us a trade
and paying us, too?

But you must focus on your training.

You will be evaluated on your progress each
month and eliminated if you can't keep up.

I'm getting too old to dive, so I'm going
to very work hard and master this skill!

If you succeed, you will have learned a trade
to get you through the rest of your life.

West Gate needs your help
with our pearl business.

How will you acquire the goods?

There's hardly enough pearls out there for
tribute goods after Kim Man Deok takes

what she already purchased in advance.

There is plenty of supply of pearls
in the oceans near or afar.

And if you would just look the other
way for us, there will be even more.

Oceans afar...

So that's the secret.

Would I be getting something in return?

Naturally.

Then I'll just have to make sure our naive
and ambitious magistrate doesn't find out.

I heard you are starting a new venture.

Yes. It's accessory business.
Would you like to see it?

I would think Jeju pearls
are profitable as they are.

What made you decide to put in the
effort and make accessories out of them?

To show the quality and set them
apart from other pearls out there.

I would've wanted to buy it for
you if I had seen it at a store.

They will do well.

It's been a while.

You look well.

But then, you're the luckiest girl I know.

Is that right?

You should've lived and
died a lowly innkeeper

but here you are, a merchant forewoman.

My success is a product of my
determination and hard work.

But yes, I have had some luck as well.

Do you think you'll be lucky forever?

I don't believe in luck.

Arrogant wench.

In fact, I think I was born
with no luck at all.

But it's the choices you make
that determine your fate

more so than the
luck you are born with.

What?

It's a lesson you taught me well.

I see you still have your silver tongue.
We'll see what happens.

Arrange a secret meeting
at Gunip Harbor this time.

Gunip Harbor?

When the Japanese deliver the pearls,

we will send the entire lot to Hanyang
and sell them at even lower price.

We're going to drive East Gate's
pearls completely out of Hanyang.

Yes, ma'am.

One more thing.
Find me a bodyguard.

Quietly.

Is this because of Kang Yoo Ji?

I feel as though he is watching me.

Get a guard dog or whatever.
I want security here day and night.

I will take care of it, ma'am.

Did you find out?

They're going to meet with the Japanese
merchants tomorrow night at Gunip Harbor.

How about Oh Moon Seon?

It looks like she's going there herself.
Should I report this to the magistrate?

The magistrate?
And give up this perfect chance?

What are you going to do?

Jung Hong Soo will he happy getting
West Gate and the Japanese merchants alone.

Boss, are you really going to kill...

You can't do this, sir!

Remember.
This stays between you and me.

Oh, stop pacing and sit down!
You're making me nervous.

What in the world is Madam Oh doing?

Don't scream!
Sahn is taking his medicine.

What's wrong with you?

I-I just want to know where Madam is.

She's meeting the Japanese merchants.
Where do you think she is?

I thought he turned over a new leaf
when he became an itinerant merchant...

Oh, what do I do?

Are you sick or something?
You're talking to yourself.

I have to stop him.
Dong Joo, you have to stop him!

I think they will do well in Hanyang.

We were just on our way to see you.

Were you?

We brought you a few samples.
Would you like to see them?

I'll see them later.

May I ask where you are going?

I've been working without rest,

so I thought
I'd take a break and go hunting.

Hunting? But it'll be dark soon.

I heard about the troubles you've
had because of the imposter pearls.

Be mindful of your health.

Lord Kang?

There's trouble!

Aren't you Mr. Kim from West Gate?

Help me! I think Lord Kang is
going to kill Madam Oh tonight!

What do you mean?
Calm down and tell us what's going on.

There's no time to explain!
We have to stop Lord Kang!

He said he was going hunting. Then...

What's wrong?

My lord, please stop Foreman Kang Yoo Ji.

Kang Yoo Ji?

What is this about?
You mean he is here in Jeju?

The truth is, he is the head of the itinerant
merchant group that I've been working with.

What?

You've been working with Kang Yoo Ji?
Is this really true?

Yes.

Why didn't you tell me this before?

He is surrounded by enemies.
I had to protect him.

Kang Yoo Ji is not a man
for you to protect.

If we had the rancher's testimony,

you would never have lost East Gate and
other tragedies would've been avoided.

My lord, Foreman Kang
might be after Moon Seon's life.

First you have to stop him.

Gunip Harbor

My business is thriving
thanks to your pearls.

And thanks to you, we're getting a fair price
for goods we've been trying to get rid of.

Here are the goods.
Would you like to inspect them?

The guards have been assembled, sir!

Move out to Gunip Harbor immediately.
Conduct a thorough search of the vicinity.

Yes, sir!

What is that boy up to now?

Madam!

It's the state guards!

How did this happen?

Junior Foreman, take the
crate and get out of here.

Do not be captured.
Do you understand?

What are you waiting for? Move!

Huh?

Yes.

- Let's go
- Yes.

Subtitled by
KBS America

Foreman Kang is dying!
Please help him!

I'll stay here until his condition is stable.

Where did you go so early
in the morning?

Dong Joo came back with
blood on his clothes.

He must know where Foreman Kang is.

Sir, West Gate's guards are on the move!

Deliver this to Lord Jeong Dong
in Hanyang.

Didn't Oh Moon Seon kill the
old hag that had the ledger?

Oh Moon Seon has been hiding a

dagger to stab me with all this time.

What do you mean the ledger has resurfaced?

It's Yoo Ji.

It's got to be in his possession!