All language subtitles for The Great Merchant E29

Subtitled by
KBS America

Hong...

Hong... Hong...

I'm here.
I'm here, my lord.

Hong, I can't see you.

Don't. Don't say anything.

I'm right here.
I'm right here with you.

Hong, don't cry.

I'll always be with you.
Always...

Hong Soo! Open your eyes!
Open your eyes, Hong Soo!

Hong Soo...!

This isn't happening.

Are you awake?

Forewoman...

Oh, dear! You poor thing!
Forewoman...

Why? You can't go
anywhere in this condition!

Lord Hong Soo is waiting for me.

Forewoman. Forewoman!

Leave!

My lord, please...

You're nothing but a disgrace
to my son in death and alive.

What brings you to Jeju, sir?

Lord Jeong Dong's crimes
have been exposed.

I traveled here out of
concern for Magistrate Jeong.

What has happened on Jeju?

The magistrate has passed away.

What... What... do you mean?

Sir...

I will go to the government office at once.

Yes, sir.

My lord.

Father.

Father, Lord Jeong is...

Cry. Don't hold back your tears.

Lord Jeong told me not to cry.

I can feel your heart
crying in pain right now.

Holding back the tears doesn't
mean you're not crying.

You have to let out your
pain with your tears.

Or your heart will never stop crying.
That's what Magistrate Jeong meant.

Thank you.

Sahn, come to Mommy.

Get a hold of yourself.
Get a hold of yourself, Oh Moon Seon.

You have to survive.
You can't go down like this.

I plan to go back to work
when I return to Hanyang.

I didn't think there was anything left
for me to do in the royal court,

but Magistrate Jeong has told
me where to go in his passing.

I want to stay longer with you,

but I think it's my duty to pursue
the wish of the departed.

Don't be so sad.

I know nothing can
comfort you right now,

but I don't think Hong Soo
would want to see you like this.

He said he wanted to be with me.

And then...

You're not alone.

Think of all the people
who have been with you.

Endure it. Endure the pain
and pursue your dreams.

I'm sure that's what Hong Soo is
hoping and trusting you will do.

My lord, it was an accident.
A most horrific and regrettable accident.

I'm sorry.
This is all my fault.

My lord, my son is ill.
Without me, he will die.

Please take pity on the young child
and grant me mercy. I beg you.

My lord?

Anyone out there?

My lord.

Yes, sir.

I can't bear the sight of
this thing any longer.

Yes, sir.

My lord! My lord!
Please spare my son's life!

Sahn will die without me!
My lord!

Please, my lord!

Spare her son's life?

She killed my son and she wants
me to spare her son's life?

I'm here.

- Get her!
- I'm sorry!

I'll take the punishment instead!

You promised.
That you'd live with me...

I'm not letting you go.
You can't leave my heart.

Thank you for allowing my
daughter to say her last goodbye.

Once you return to Hanyang, there will be
an action against your past malfeasance.

I urge you to go to His Highness
first and seek punishment.

It's useless.

Magistrate Jeong wasn't looking for
you to be convicted and punished.

Are you saying he wanted me to
turn myself in and beg for mercy?

My lord.

I'm an evil man without an ounce of
remorse. I can only expect to be executed.

Don't you see what your son wanted?

He wanted you to come forward
yourself and atone for your crimes.

Not because you are forced
but because your heart is willing.

That is exactly the reason
why I cannot come forward.

I must be punished to the fullest for my
evil deeds that even claimed my son's life.

My lord, please think of what
Magistrate Jeong wanted.

She hasn't been out of her
room in days. I'm so worried...

She is alive, isn't she?

Don't worry so much.
She'll be all right.

I'm not so sure about that.

She hasn't been out of bed since
the body was sent to Hanyang.

I'm so worried about the forewoman
that I can't sleep at night.

Forewoman!

I'm going to work hard and live as
a merchant of Jeju Kim Man Deok.

Good! Then everything
is going to be all right!

We will do all the work, so you
just get yourself healthy again.

Make her something nutritious.

I'm so glad you're all right.

Jeong Dong's estate, Hanyang

Are you at peace now?
So am I.

You've made a very difficult decision.

What could be more difficult
than surviving your own child?

I offer you my deepest condolences.
It is truly a great loss.

Please deliver the letter
to the King personally.

Only then will he be able to make
a brave decision free of influence.

I will.

Well then.

Minister Jeong,
may we share a drink before you leave?

Jeju Government Office Detention Facility

You won't even allow me a visit
after all the money we paid you?

You can't treat me this way no
matter what has happened.

Silence! I'd expect you to be on your
knees begging for mercy after what

your uncle has done, but you
barge in here making demands?

I will sell my business and
give you everything.

I even have a corpse prepared that
you can bury instead of my uncle.

If you help us one more time...

You wench!

How dare you attempt to bribe an

official to secretly release a prisoner!

I could have your head for this!

Then you'll just have to die with me.

What?

Should I start naming all those
that died unjustly in your hands?

Surely you haven't forgotten who
took care of all of the cover-up.

You're delusional if you think you're still
under Minister Jeong Dong's protection.

I will forgive you for this for the sake of
our past association, but leave at once!

Why haven't you notified
us in advance, sir?

You must be exhausted from
the long trip, Lord Magistrate.

I am your assistant Choi Nam Gu.

So you're Choi Nam Gu.

Yes, sir. I am Assistant
Magistrate Choi Nam Gu.

Sir! Why...?

Assistant Magistrate Choi Nam Gu, you
are being arrested for embezzlement

of tribute goods and
exploitation of the public.

Remove him from office and
place him under confinement!

Yes, sir!

Remove from office?

Magistrate! Sir!
I haven't done anything!

Mother!

Oh Moon Seon, you are under arrest!

Crimes of Minister Jeong Dong and his
faction have been thoroughly exposed.

And it has been clearly revealed that
you, Oh Moon Seon, provided slush fund

to Jeong Dong in
exchange for political favors.

Do you acknowledge your guilt?

Lord Magistrate, I am the
one who is responsible.

This woman doesn't know anything.

She's a mother and a homemaker.
How could she know anything

about making political connections
and running a big business?

Merchants of the silk shop confessed
to Oh Moon Seon's involvement!

Lord Magistrate, the silk shop
originally belonged to Kang Kye Man.

I couldn't blatantly act like the
owner after Kang Kye Man died,

so I forced my niece
to be the frontman.

Is this true?

Were you forced to keep
silent about this by this man?

I-I didn't know.
I didn't know anything about this.

This man's crime is more treacherous
than stated on this report!

Arrest him and release Oh Moon Seon.

But you are not to leave the island
until the investigation is complete.

- Proceed!
- Yes.

Are you ready for the trip?

Yes, we just have to get out of here.

You're going on a business trip and you
always talk like you can't wait to take off.

Are you that happy to leave home?

There they go again.
Be quiet. The forewoman is talking.

Ma'am, an itinerant
merchant delivered a letter.

Isn't the ship leaving soon?

Oh, yeah.
Then we'll see you when we get back!

Okay. You should hustle
so you don't miss the ship.

- Okay.
- Go on.

Don't come out.

I'll keep close contact through
the traveling merchants,

so write me right away
if anything happens.

- Have a safe trip.
- I will.

It's me, Kang Yoo Ji.

I didn't get to say goodbye when I
left, so I'm writing a few words.

I'm doing well.

- That was good.
- Thank you!

- I'll see you next time!
- Come again!

- Hey, innkeeper!
- Never mind.

One measly bowl of
soup for all that work?

It's enough.
Let us have another empty bowl.

I know that business is going well from the
rumors I've heard here on the mainland.

I'm relieved that you are with
Jung Hong Soo. I trust that you're happy.

How did it go?

They're confiscating all of our assets.

Don't worry. You can get back on
your feet again as long as you're alive.

Uncle...

Moon Seon, don't say anything.
I'm already a dead man.

But...

I can't let what happened
to you happen to Sahn.

I don't know why
I couldn't do this back then.

When your mother died and
you came to live with me,

I don't know why I couldn't do
anything but scold a crying little girl.

Get through this.
You have to get through it.

Uncle...

- Two soup and rice, please.
- Two?

- Two soup and rice, please!
- Okay!

Moon Seon.

Are you happy now?

Are you happy now
that I've lost everything?

You repulse me.

You're wearing a face of an angel
counting the days until my uncle dies.

You make me sick.

Oh Moon Seon is not going down.

You'll see. I'll survive this.

I'll survive if only to prove that I can.

It's been months since the

last time you were in Jeju.

It's getting harder and harder to leave
with all the expansion we keep doing.

Are the other branch managers here?

Yeah, they're here.

It's been 2 years since Lord Jeong Dong
moved his place of exile to Jeju from Goje.

Is he still refusing to see you?

He's still the same.

Good work, everyone.

All of the branch locations have done
better this quarter than the last quarter.

But profit has decreased for our branch.

We're selling more items at cost, so
we're busier but profit has gone down.

Your branch did fine.

There are items that yield high profit,

and there are items we must carry
even if we they sell below cost.

I know it's a lot of work, but please don't
remove those items from the product line.

Yes, ma'am.

Is there anything else?

Partnership with the itinerant merchants,
distribution of Jeju's specialty products?

Everything is running smoothly now.

So I guess there's only one more wish to
go before all of your wishes are fulfilled.

No, we still don't have a
branch store in Qing China yet.

And Russia either.

What is this all about?

Abolition of licensed stores?

A new law has taken effect in Hanyang
that abolishes the grants of monopoly

privileges and allows the public
to freely become a merchant.

Commercial Equalization Enactment Declared in 1791

I brought you good news today.

The government proclaimed a
new law that allows free trading.

Lord Hong Soo's dream has
finally come true.

I'm so worried about this dry weather.

Good for you that you have
time to worry about the weather.

The drought is causing hardship for those
who borrowed money from you as well.

Be kind at times like this, and...

Mind your own business.
I live my life my way.

A man in exiles shouldn't

have so many visitors.

If you ever need anything...

I allowed you to come in to
tell you never to seek me again.

But how could I ignore you
when you're here in Jeju?

When I think of the kindness you've
done for me, there's nothing I can...

I heard Steward Oh told them
you were nothing but a puppet.

Are you afraid I might
tell them that it's a lie?

No, my lord. I'm just...

It was for my son Hong Soo.

He would not have wanted you harmed.

And it was for your son.

I had hoped you'd change
your life if only for your son's sake.

You and I both have
committed countless misdeeds.

But isn't it time to change?

Don't make your son pay
for your sins like I did.

No, stop!
Stop, you bloody bastards!

You're killing me!
Bastards!

I know I'm behind on my interest
payment, but this is thuggery!

- Load them all up!
- Yes, sir!

Load them up!

Bastard, I'll see you in hell for this!
I'll see you in hell!

Hey, it's not nice to hit people.

Let go of him.
Stay out of our business.

Junior Foreman, aside from
whose business this is,

isn't it about time you acted your
age and stop bullying other people?

If you feel so sorry for them,
why don't you pay off their loan?

What are you standing around
for? Load up the merchandise!

- Yes, sir!
- Load them up!

No, you can't do this!

Stop, you bastards!

They would've been better off
borrowing from Lord Mu Meng Dal.

Oh, you're eyes are going bad
and you're doing that again?

Why are you clucking your tongue?

I was just at the marketplace.

There're cleaning out
one store every other day.

I swear West Gate will never change.

West Gate?

They lend you money pretending to help,
and once the debt becomes large,

they trap you and take you for all
you've got. You know the dirty trick.

That Kim Pan Sul was sucking

up all the money like a demon.

It's pretty amazing though.

They fell from grace and crashed,

but they're still doing the same things!

That's trouble.
They're turning the people against them.

I'm still good to take care of myself.

Did I say you couldn't
take care of yourself?

I wonder where Dong Joo
is and how he is doing...

Harvest is poor
this year due to the drought,

and rice crops have failed
on the mainland as well,

so the rice price is soaring.

We can make a huge profit right now
if we sell the rice we have piled up in

the storehouse, madam.

Not yet.

Pardon?

Sell off everything we've confiscated
and buy as much grains as you possible.

Not just the crops harvested on Jeju

but buy up all the crops that
enter through the port as well.

Everything?

Yes, buy up everything.

I want no one on this island to
own a single grain of rice except me.

Then we will have our chance?

Our chance to get revenge and
seize power and wealth once again.

Let us release the grains we have
in stock at a discounted price.

Discounted price?

But you can get whatever
you ask for in the current rice market.

People are going hungry
because of the drought.

Our priority is in distributing
the grains to these people.

And contact your branch and have your men
to buy surplus supply of rice just in case.

The harvest was poor on the mainland as
well, so securing grains won't be very easy.

No!

No, give them back!

Give them back!

Stop!

You can't do this!

If you take away everything,
my family will starve to death!

You're going too far!

Unbelievable! You gave us the same sob
story when came to borrow from us.

Do you really expect me to
believe you? They're lies!

Even the evil officials didn't take away the
last sack of rice we have to survive on.

How could you be so cruel?

Are you telling me to be kind to
you and starve to death myself?

We didn't say we won't pay you back!

We've been patient with you all this time
when you can't even pay the interest.

Where do you think you
are yelling and screaming?

Don't waste your time.

Kick them out, and call the authorities
if they continue to cause trouble.

Let's see what happens.

The money that you raked up at the cost of
our suffering will be you demise someday!

What brings the great forewoman
of East Gate to this humble place?

Those people can barely
eat one meal a day.

Don't be so heartless.

Save the lecture for
your employees, madam.

Then how about if I buy
their debt from you?

How thankful I am...

...that you're offering to pay
off bad debt I can't collect.

I have no reason to say no.

Then...

But I want the debt paid in grains.

But... It's impossible to pay such large
sum in grains in a lean year like this.

I'll pay you with money or land.

I don't need anything else.

Moon Seon, it's people
that bring you money.

You could lose everything
if you keep this up.

Don't act so smart.

People? People only come
when you have money.

Do you think all those people
flock to you because they like you?

They're there because you have
money they can leech off of.

They've gone way too far.

I should set fire to their storehouse.

I have a better idea.

Steal everything they have and dump it
on the street. You'll be a hero overnight.

Yeah. We're going to die anyway.
Why don't we go out with a bang?

If you want to do it, I'm in!

I despise West Gate.
I despise them!

West Gate's mistress is demanding
that the loan be paid back in grains

and charging more interest.

I doubt she will accept cash from
me even if I offer to buy the notes.

I'm afraid someone might hurt her if she
continues to be so cruel in these hard times.

You are a persuasive man, sir.
Please see what you can do.

I will pay you generously for your trouble.

I don't know.

I'll give it a try if you insist, but she's smart
enough to know that you put me up to it.

Forewoman! Forewoman!
There's trouble!

Trouble?

A group of disgruntled people
is about to raid West Gate!

Madam! Madam!

People, no, an angry mob is coming!

An angry mob?

It's the borrowers.
They're swearing to kill us!

Sahn. Where is Sahn?

I don't know...

Don't make your son pay for your sins.

Sahn... Sahn!

Subtitled by
KBS America

Get them!

We must stop them. We can't let
all of those people become rioters.

Why did you make those
people angry, Mother?

It's Oh Moon Seon!

Hang the child on a tree!

No! Not my son!

Stop this at once!

You're guaranteed to be miserable if
money is your source of happiness.

This is my first request of favor.

Raise my son Sahn.

I will pay for my mistakes alone,

so please live a good life.