The Tale of Nokdu (The Joseon Romantic-Comedy Tale of Nok-Du / Joseonroko Nokdujeon / 조선로코 녹두전)

​ Timing and Subtitles done by 💞 Lovers Secrets Joseon's Team💞 @ Viki

I'm Dong Joo from Lotus Room.

What?

You seem happy to see me.

But then again, you seem to detest me, too.

How are you here?

I had something to tell you.

R-Right now in this situation?

Yes.

It's something that suits this situation right now.

What... is that?

So that is...

from today on, I'm your...

I'm your...

...mother.

You're my... What?

Mo-ther.

Are you surprised?

How could I not be?

I understand.

I look totally handsome wearing an expensive robe, right?

It's crazy, right?

Are you sick somewhere? Did you drink?

Wh-What is it with "mother," and handsome, my butt.

What happened exactly?

Can't you tell? You don't have to be a courtesan anymore. You don't want to anyway.

Don't do it anymore.

That, too, is the fate of a courtesan...

Where is the shortcut to the hermitage?

Pardon?

We can become a family.

You want to make Dong Joo your foster daughter?

But... when I don't know you well, Widow,

how could I trust you with Dong Joo?

It's a reasonable concern. So...

What if Courtesan Dong Joo and I live together here at the Widow Village?

Close to you, Haeng Soo.

Why are you doing this?

Well...

Let me see...

I guess I've become fond of her.

I want to keep her from doing at least one thing

she would hate to do.

You, be my daughter.

Oh my goodness! You're here, Daughter?

Hey, Dong Dong Joo.

Starting today, I'm your...

I'm your...

What is this?

I'm too mother-like!

Why are you doing this much for me?

That's because...

I have to keep living at the Widow Village,

but you keep kicking me out.

That's all? The reason for spending that much money on me?

Th-Then what other reason would there be?

I have to meet my Madam no matter what, that's why.

What is it now?

I mean, are you worried that I might really be the kind of man that harasses women?

If that were the case, it would have been better to live as a courtesan house idler with that money.

Then... are you worried that I might get caught and something might happen to me?

I'm worried.

Huh?

What will they think of me if you get caught?

Everyone will see me as a crazy woman who sympathized with a vulgar hobo!

I won't get caught, and I'll leave as soon as possible, so relax.

I can't relax. There are too many things I still find strange and can't understand.

But...

You've spared me from being a courtesan, so I'll help you to not get caught. That's enough, right?

No. There's one more thing.

What... What is it?

There. You have to pay me back.

A promissory note?

Look at the interest! 7%?

Hey, this high of an interest will get you arrested by the government office!

Oh! You should have said that before giving your thumbprint.

This bull... It's invalid!

- This is invalid! - Bull? How can you be so rude to your mother?

- What nonsense are you spewing? - You should have been more cautious then!

Dong Joo! - Oh! Wait!

Dong Joo.

My Lord, what brings you here?

You're beautiful.

I asked what brought you here.

Were you shocked at all?

I came to fetch you. That rotten bastard of a man--

Wi-Widow?

I wondered where that nobleman went off to. Then that guy...

Wasn't he just an idler?

I don't know. How would I know that?

Maybe he has a high government post? If not, maybe his family is vastly wealthy?

Never mind. Even so...

Even so?

He can't hold a candle to me when it comes to looks.

Hey. You go in first. I have things to finish up.

- The... - What kind of things?

Do you think it's that simple to be a mother? Hurry up and go in.

You followed me as expected.

Why didn't you do your job?

It's not that I didn't, I've delayed it for a short time.

I believed that saving came before killing.

What?

It's good to get rid of a rotten nobleman, too,

but I couldn't ignore a powerless woman being made to walk to her death after seeing her.

But that wasn't our agreement.

Even if you lost your life in return, you wouldn't have anything to say.

I don't have any regrets since I saved an innocent life.

I guess you think I wouldn't kill you.

To be honest... no.

Why not?

You're curious about me.

You think it'll be a shame to kill me. Am I not right?

I'll think about whether it would really be a shame.

But... if you do anything stupid, I'll cut you on the spot.

Killing someone like you is nothing to us.

Yes. I'll bear that in mind.

Did you dislike becoming a courtesan that much?

I'm sorry, Haeng Soo.

You must be so happy to have a nice mother.

Oh! Oh! I love having a mother! I'm so happy!

My in-laws? Do I have to write down things like that, too?

Well, it's just a formality. In case of an unexpected mishap.

Just write it next to your name, Kim Nok Soon.

Oh! You were Lord Park Jong Chil's household's daughter-in-law!

I knew it! You were overflowing with unusual elegance!

Madam, just remember that just over the wall is me, Geun--

Oh, that I'm here. Please don't forget.

Daughter, let's go!

Haeng Soo, I'll be leaving now. Please be well.

Yes, you've been through a lot all this time.

Come by often to see me, okay?

I'll be going.

Right, from now on, you can just treat me like your father.

I'll take care of you as if you were my own daughter!

And call upon me if anything should happen with your mother, okay?

Come say your greetings in the mornings and nights.

This thing, really!

I'm telling you not to come into my room as you wish for other than that!

My goodness, that's for me to say!

Let's please live independently of each other!

But... where is our house?

You want us to live in this... s-small room together?

And we have to live in the same house with the three of you?

Yes. You two can live cozily together.

And we're right across in the other room, so you'll feel very, very safe!

Oh, isn't it great?

But... Haeng Soo told me she'd provide me with my own place.

She asked us in person.

You'll be unaccustomed to living here and it will be unfamiliar so we should help you a lot.

Oh, what do you mean I'm unfamiliar and unaccustomed?!

I'm totally comfortable. It's like my hometown!

Oh, yes. I-I'll take good care of my mother, so any empty house you might have--

Empty house? We don't have any.

Let's go in.

I can't... Wait a minute.

Oh, no! Wait a minute!

Be comfortable.

Oh!

How about telling her now? Instead of delaying it?

Then now there's four of us in the Yeolnyeodan?

Well, there's no need to rush.

She has to unpack, and I'm sure she has a lot of things to do.

Let's take our time telling her!

Exactly, where did that girl Deul Rae go?

She hasn't left anything, and there's no sign of her having packed up things to take with her either!

You don't think something happened, do you?

No way, that guy...

Let's look for her some more. She could have gone out on a search alone.

But... what are you going to do with Widow Kim?

Her boldness in going out to save her friend first when her life is on the line, I like it.

No, we have to follow the rules.

We told her we'd kill her if she failed. Let's get rid of her at an opportune moment.

It's a shame to kill her like this, though...

It'll be easy to say your daily greetings since all you have to do is turn your head.

Are you seriously saying that right now? In this tiny room, you and I...

Let's just bear with it a little longer.

We're not going to live like this forever.

It's until Madam comes?

Right. That's the case for me.

But what about you? You said you don't even have a place to go.

Why don't I? I do!

I'm going to leave here, too, when it's time.

- Where to? - Don't worry. I'll pay everything back to you before I go.

That's a given. Where are you going?

Why would you need to know? It's a secret.

They say it's no use raising a child. It's useless even before starting to raise one!

I saved you, but all you do is keep a secret from me.

Where are you going?

If we're to eat and live, we need some dishes at least!

And we only have one blanket!

- Let me come with you. - Never mind.

Hey, let me come with you.

Daughter! What if someone hears you say "hey"? You have to say, "Mother..."

Really? Do you really want me to call you "mother?"

Oh, it gives me goosebumps!

- No, no. - Hurry up, let's go.

Here you go.

Don't buy so much, Mother.

I got it, Daughter.

- Oh! I need that! - What--