[Recap] The Duo Ep. 3 & 4

Don’t let your now-status shadows your bright future. A person from any classes can rise above and succeed!

Episode 3 Summary:

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Facing Gwi Dong, Chun Dung repeatedly announces that he bought the book with his own money. Having said enough, he flees the scene to avoid fights with the boys. Professor Sung (Dong Nyeo’s father) comes out and is impressed with the words being written on the ground. When Gwi Dong clarifies that it’s the beggar’s writing, Professor Sung compliments the beggar kid for being smarter than his students (Gwi Dong & his friend).

At Beggars’ place, Leader Jang is giving a few words of wisdom to his followers.. To be a capable beggar, you must remember/stay updated with the people and things around you, including dates. It’s ironic how everyone relies on a 15 year-old boy, Chun Dung, to remember everything.

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As promised, the chicken thief brings a horse to the Kim’s household and meets Butler Park. The funny thing is that he STOLE the horse to replace the STOLEN chickens. This transaction doesn’t click for Master Kim, and he is further exasperated to learn that Gwi Dong is the leader of this village’s hoodlums. HAH!

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Like always, our young master Gwi Dong is never at home. He is practicing gun shooting with Dal Yi. Returning home, they found But Deul’s father being beaten by the government officers for some charges he claims he didn’t do. Gwi Dong can’t stand and watch so he interferes and gets a few beating. It doesn’t go on long when Hunter Kang (Dal Yi’s uncle, we’ve seen from last episode) announces that this boy is Kim Jin Sa’s only son. Using his father and his uncle’s new status, Gwi Dong threatens them to release But Deul’s father or else he will tell his dad who gave him these bruises.

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In the hut, Gwi Dong promises to tell his uncle, the new County’s Officer about the unfair treatment. Dal Yi looks at him favorably…

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Since Chun Dung is still upset, he is on non-talking term with Soe Dol, who timidly expresses that he’s not here to see Chun Dung. He’s here to chop woods. Since he’s here, he might as well ask Chun Dung the book that he wanted last time, is it called “Government Residency?” because he has purchased it. Chun Dung smiles after Soe Dol leaves. Oh you! Rushing home to read the book, Chun Dung falls clumsily as Soe Dol watches from behind a bush. Aw, you two!!

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After Gwi Dong successfully sneaks into his house, he reveals to Mak Soon that external injury does not hurt as much as the unsettling feeling in his heart. He hands Mak Soon the letter that Dong Nyeo wrote to him and asks her to read it in his place. Clearly, the girl is a mountain he can’t climb over, says Mak Soon. However, Gwi Dong replies,

“If she’s a mountain that I can’t climb over, then I’ll walk around it!”

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Late that night, Chun Dung pays a visit to Professor Sung’s house. While reading, he chances upon things he doesn’t understand and wishes to have them explained. Delighted to encounter such a bright boy, Professor Sung takes Chun Dung in as his student and gives him paper and an ink stone. Grateful, Chun Dung vows to become a useful citizen in this world.

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Mak Soon is called in by Madam Kwon, Kim Jin Sa’s second wife, Gwi Dong’s stepmom. I really hate this woman.

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Gwi Dong asks Dal Yi to deliver the shoes she made to his crush, Dong Nyeo. Upon hearing that, Dal Yi’s face falls…and turns sour. I’m just saying… Gwi Dong…you know that this girl aims really well with her gun right?

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Oh…this scene burns as our two ladies clash for the first time. Dong Nyeo is well-mannered yet she knows her high status and uses it confidently (although, I still don’t like her attitude..heh). She takes a look at the shoes, compliments them, and rejects them.

Outside, Dal Yi takes a stab at her heart as Gwi Dong refers to her casually as a “shoemaker”. Dal Yi shoves him the shoes, and warns him to stay out of her face. Girl, I love you already! Love as it is, but don’t let it step on you like grass!

That night, Professor Sung has a secret meeting with Constable Kang (I referred to him as Hunter Kang earlier) and some other noblemen. They present to him a letter of appeal (Unsure what this letter is all about?).

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At Professor Sung’s house, Chun Dung stops by to hand in his homework. Seeing how pale and scrawny he looks, Dong Nyeo wants to feed him. Aww…Not to be looked down as a beggar, he refuses and leaves.

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Curious, Dong Nyeo prepares some food and follows him to the forest house. There they exchange words of praise and modesty. Gahh…these two…!!

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Seeing Beggar Jang’s second wife and her son, Do Kap, flying a kite together, Chun Dung has an urge to look for Mak Soon…uh…oh. He approaches Mak Soon at the river and gathers all his courage to call out, “Mother!” However, blood drains from Mak Soon’s face as she stares up at him in horror.

Ep. 4 Summary:

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Upon hearing Chun Dung calls her mother, Mak Soon questions, “Who are you calling mother?” Dead-face, Mak Soon denies having anything to do with him. Chun Dung stops her from leaving and assumes that she doesn’t like him because he’s a beggar. When he touches her arm slightly, Mak Soon screams like a mad woman and runs away. Poor Chun Dung, all he wants is to call her mother.

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After Mak Soon ran away in fear, Chun Dung picks up one of the socks she left behind. He returns it to the maid, who’s with Gwi Dong’s half sister, Geum Ok. Little Miss passes the sock back to Mak Soon and praises the beggar (Chun Dung). Mak Soon cautions Geum Ok to stay away from him, finger-points at his beggar’s status. Looks like Geum Ok has a good impression of Chun Dung now…

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Leaning against the wall, Chun Dung listens to Beggar Jang’s first wife complains about his mother’s cold-hearted nature. Dejected, Chun Dung mumbles that he will never approach her again. Good boy!

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Outside, Beggar Jang is having a fit at his son, Do Kap, for making a shuttlecock out of his school books. When Chun Dung leaves to beg for food, Do Kap offers to come along too, he says, “I must beg for food…only then can I eat.” Gosh, the kids in this beggar’s place are too adorable. I foresee A LOT of BROmance! *runs around like a mad fangirl*

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Gwi Dong is out hunting with But Deul’s father. He casually mentions that since Dal Yi is not around to nag him, he’s improving at gun-shooting/aiming. But Deul’s father speaks up for Dal Yi and says she’s a lonely child, please bare with her moodiness. Gwi Dong calls her out for being petty. Having nothing else to say, But Deul’s father thinks Gwi Dong should try out the blunderbuss Dal Yi uses. Gwi Dong’s face turns sour as he remembers what happened earlier…

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Hoping to ease things between them, Gwi Dong compliments Dal Yi’s shoe-making skills. But she remains aloof and shouts at him. Gwi Dong then asks meekly to borrow her blunderbuss and this is when Dal Yi explodes and aims her blunderbuss at him. Running for his dear life, Gwi Dong scurries out of the house and bumbles his way in the snow field. hahaha!

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Mak Soon and a male servant arrive at Professor Sung’s house to deliver rice and cotton clothes as a token of gratitude. Looking past this, Professor Sung expresses that he’s not going to have any rituals this year. So many kids are starving in this village, he doesn’t want to waste money and food on such events.

Uh Oh…looks like Mak Soon is going to have a rough time with Madam Kwon, who is determined to send her away from Gwi Dong with ‘retirement’ money.

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Mak Soon visits Soe Dol and plans to open a tavern with the money from Madam Kwon. She can handle the cooking while Soe Dol takes care of the customers. As long as Gwi Dong is here, she won’t be going anywhere. Mak Soon also asks Soe Dol to send Chun Dung somewhere far away to relieve her stress. Selfish woman, not an ounce of guilt?!

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That night, Soe Dol comes to the forest house to say sorry. He’s sorry for hiding the truth from Chun Dung and for raising him up in a lacking environment. Chun Dung asks for his father’s identity, but Soe Dol refuses to say anything. Fed-up with everyone hiding stuff from him, Chun Dung grits his teeth,

“If you can’t tell me that, then, no matter how well you treat me, I’m going to hate you! And if you never tell me, I’m going to find out one day…who my father is…why my mother dislikes me…And I will hate you until I die.”

On his way to school, Gwi Dong sees chicken thief and his boys. They are discussing about the haunted forest house. In the midst of calling these boys liars, Gwi Dong quickly hides when he sees Professor Sung walking towards his house.

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Professor Sung bumps into Master Kim, and immediately interrogates him with questions about the high tax collection this year. Their conversation is relocated to a much darker room, where the men throw glares at each other. Professor Sung speaks up for the commoners saying that they have been treated unfairly in the past by corrupted officials. Even with the new officer, their lives aren’t any better. In short, Professor Sung asks Master Kim to keep the new officer (his brother-in-law) in line and prevent him from falling off his high horse. Figuratively.

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At school, Gwi Dong tries to make an impression on Dong Nyeo by boasting that he’ll check out the haunted forest house. His classmates look away when he asks for volunteers.

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Visiting Constable Kang, Professor Sung informs them about the bad news regarding the corrupted officers. Constable Kang is quick to jump to conclusion and wants to rebel against the government. Caring about the people, Professor Sung dismisses the idea to avoid unnecessary sacrifices. Fuming, Constable Kang kicks the door down as he leaves.

With Dong Nyeo learning about Gwi Dong’s plan to catch the ghost at the forest house, she hurries off to warn Chun Dung. On the other side, Gwi Dong goes to Dal Yi’s place, hoping to borrow the blunderbuss to fend off the ghost, just in case. Fail!

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Chun Dung doesn’t want to give up his study place and decides to put up a fight tonight with the young masters. Yay!

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Gwi Dong is accompanied by the chicken thief, Han Soon, and his loyal follower. While the two prepare beans to fight the ghost, Gwi Dong has a stick which has been soaked in poop; Dal Yi’s grandfather told him this trick earlier. ha!

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Crouching before the house, Gwi Dong is in charged of opening the door, while the other two enter and throw beans in every direction. Much to their disappointment, the house is empty until this masked figure hangs down from the ceiling:

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Freaked-out, the boys escape! And the two masked figures are none other than Dong Nyeo and Chun Dung. They smile at their victorious partnership.

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At the market, Madam Kwon and her daughter, Geum Ok, is trying out new shoes at Dal Yi’s stall. Watching them is Beggar Jang’s second wife, and I shall call her Second Madam from now on. With Second Madam is her son, Do Kap, and together they plan to rob that new pair of shoes.

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Fortunately, Chun Dung gives chase the moment he recognizes Do Kap. Refusing to return the shoes, Chun Dung slaps Do Kap, and the latter ends up on the ground with a bloody nose. Ack! Tough love!

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At the market, Dal Yi tries her best to soothe Geum Ok, who is crying over her beautiful new pair of shoes. Chun Dung shows up to return the shoes and the girls lighten up at his mannerism. However, Beggar Jang is enraged and pulls him by the collar to a distant location… *gulps*

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A beating! Really…? T_T Please don’t hit him!!

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Not to worry, Dal Yi has called Constable Kang to the rescue! He also gives Beggar Jang a bloody nose. Hah!

Alice: So far, I like the pace of the story. It’s interesting how the writer keeps our male leads apart in the past 3 episodes. With Constable Kang’s interference, this will speed up Chun Dung’s departure from the beggar’s clan. But what will happen to Soe Dol? Surely, Beggar Jang wouldn’t let him or Chun Dung off so easily after the public humiliation.

Our Gwi Dong is an interesting kid isn’t he? I thought he would give the new shoes to Mak Soon but he ends up selling them to another maid. He’s still full of himself – reckless and stubborn.

I like Dal Yi’s personality although her crush on Gwi Dong does seem a bit too serious and overplay. She’s the type to hate and love giving her all, without any lingering feelings once the emotion is gone. I love her badass look when she aims the blunderbuss at Gwi Dong.