In the gripping third episode of "Concrete Market," Hee-ro and Tae-jin forge an uneasy alliance. Tae-jin's team captivates Chairman Park's attention when they uncover a resident engaged in medicine hoarding. A crucial rule of the market dictates that Chairman Park is the sole provider of medication, necessitating vendors to submit all drugs involved in transactions to his quarters. According to the market's unyielding rules, the resident is ruthlessly pushed off a cliff to his doom.
Subsequently, Cheol-min and his cohorts attempt to provoke a confrontation with Tae-jin. They had heard whispers that he was trading cigarettes for canned goods, so they sent one of their own to procure a stash. The pack of cigarettes he received bore the same "X" marking that Cheol-min's group had used at the market, perplexing Cheol-min as to Tae-jin's game. However, there's nothing in Tae-jin's actions that contravenes the market's stringent regulations.
This passage depicts the intense drama and complex dynamics within the "Concrete Market," where every action carries weight and every decision is scrutinized. It showcases the harsh realities of survival in a ruthless environment where the stakes are high and the consequences severe.
It emerges that with Hee-ro's profound understanding of seasons and astute business acumen, Tae-jin's team had the unsuspecting residents channelling cigarettes, fuel, and oil to Tae-jin's inventory. Soon, the rains descended, and they were in the business game. The residents had no choice but to purchase the essentials that Tae-jin was hoarding at exorbitant prices set by Hee-ro. The next time Cheol-min and Tae-jin paid their taxes to Chairman Park, Tae-jin's revenue had skyrocketed, earning him the Chairman's favor. Chairman Park rewarded Tae-jin with drinks and the right to manage two more floors of the building. He invited Hee-ro out for drinks during the night watch. They shared the drinks with the team and took over the night watch.
Tae-jin awkwardly tried to apologize by beating around the bush. He mumbled an apology for the rocky start of their relationship and how he had treated her. He thanked her for helping him take over more floors and proposed that they continue working together and expand their turf. Hee-ro remembered Se-jeong's death and her unquenchable thirst for revenge against Chairman Park. She recalled that she had to take care of Se-hee, so she needed access to the medicines.
At the end of the episode, she threw a curveball at Tae-jin by asking if he ever thought of taking control of room 902, Chairman Park's room.
