Original subtitles

Mum

You really want me to get married?

Xiu

Look at your cousin

She's only your age but with a baby in tow

But I'm still

yet to turn nineteen

You've been legal since eighteen

"What more can a star-aligned man ask for?"

"Crouching in his ditch, head against a wall;"

What does 'star-aligned' mean?

By 'star-aligned' he meant that he had all his lucky stars aligned

that he had it all going for him

It's an old superstition

only Mr Lu Xun was writing it

as an antonym for his own star-crossed, ill-fated life

He had nothing going for him

-You get it? -Understood

"Hiding under a torn hat, roaming the streets"

"Drifting on a leaking boat, loaded with wine;"

"Eyebrows raised like cold blades, against a thousand foes"

"Head bowed as a meek cow, afront a ruthless brat"

Xiu, your teacher speaks highly of your writing

that you are always first in class

Dad will give you a good book a book from Beijing

it was a gift from Uncle Wang

Okay

-Dad -Sister

Don't go

What happened?

Sister

Are you okay?

Jun

Take good care of mother

Today is a big day for Comrade Liu Hanzhang and Kong Xiu

We praise the Communist Party we thank Chairman Mao

Comrades, let's sing

~The East is red$

~The Sun is rising$

Ready, and sing

~The East is red$

~The Sun is rising$

~From China comes Mao Zedong$

~He seeks happiness for his people$

~Hurrah$

~He is the Saviour of us all$

Great

Next up, we will have the bride and groom recite

from our Great Leader Chairman Mao's quotes

Let's begin

We are people of ironclad will

fearless of sacrifice

We overcome all hardships

to claim our victory

We are people of ironclad will

fearless of sacrifice

We overcome all hardships

to claim our victory

We are people of ironclad will

fearless of sacrifice

We overcome all hardships

To claim our victory

Wonderful

Let us bow to our Great Leader Chairman Mao Bow

Now bow to your parents

Bow to each other

Great

Congratulations, Comrade Kong

We are waiting to share your wedding candies

Comrade Kong, candies for us We want candies

Comrade Kong

Comrade Kong, you got candies for us too?

Yes Candies for everyone

Candies for all

-Here -Thank you

-For you -Thank you, Comrade Kong

-That's for you -Thank you, Comrade Kong

-It's the White Rabbit milk candy -Here

Thank you, Comrade Kong

I love the White Rabbit

Look at the bridegroom He is all so slouchy

He's still not getting the hang of it

Comrade Liu, you obviously don't know what you are doing

Why don't we all give him some lessons?

Teach him

First you smile and flirt then grab her by her skirt

kiss onto the bed you sit push her down, and deed is done

Luo Hao

This Bourgeois bad taste of yours is to be denounced

Your frivolous tone will get you snatched

Comrades Today, we are holding this commendation meeting

as our nation's great revolutionary spirit is blossoming

The revolutionary passion of our workers are reaching new heights

Let me firstly verbally endorse some of you so we all keep up our good work

Qiao Shengshui Zhao Yucheng

Li Ruifen

Kong Xiu

Li Qiang Liu Dazhuang

Look, the newlywed is rushing home

It's enough, you'll burn the seeds

Without enough temperature

the moisture inside can't dry out then the seeds won't grow

For wheat, the moisture composition is safe at 14% It's far from done

You sound so professional

Hanzhang, what did you study at college?

Textile machinery

You know your Textile Dyeing factory

I know those machines you have, they are all Soviet imports

If I had made it to graduation

I could well have been dispatched to your factory

Wouldn't that be nice, we would have been colleagues

A technician was dispatched to our unit

they also sent some engineers

They are spared from our kind of hard labour

Plenty of technicians out there,

they no longer need ones like me

Hanzhang

Rise and shine

Hanzhang

Hanzhang

What are you, useless? You got smoke all over the place

Hanzhang, get up and eat

Don't rush him out of bed, the boy needs more sleep

Here

-Dong, bring the dish to the table -Okay

Careful, it's hot

Dong Xue

Daddy, why are you back so late?

Is home just a canteen for you?

You're only ever back on the dinner hour

I went to Xinhua Bookshop,

got a book on agricultural techniques

The team wants me as agricultural technician

I must study it all from the beginning

Remember to take your medicine afterwards

What's wrong, Dong?

He caught a cold

Come, Xue

Mother asked me to ask you why didn't you go home to the village?

Sundays in the village ends up being more work than work All those chores

Isn't that a wife's duty?

I am a worker

Our country grants us one day off per week

I'd rather prioritize raising our own kids

I save up for your cigarette money too

Wear a condom

I've got nightshift tonight

Take care of the children

I left cigarette money on the table

When seeding, we prioritize four things

Fertilizing, depth, density and width between the rows

Fertilizers come before the seed

Pour your good old horse, pig, cow manure all in there

We seed three to five centimetres in depth not too deep

not too dense not too sparse either

They need to be evenly spaced

Keep the distance between rows consistent

to ensure that the seeds can breathe

Team Leader That's all I have for now

Hooray for the college student

The seeds Hanzhang plants are simply better than Old Liu's

-Surely Trust the science -Yes

Mother, it tastes bland

Look at you, how demanding

Try ask that wife of yours to cook

You've got a wife right?

Living like a stag,

dumping your laundry on me, cooking your meals for you

-She is a worker -What's so precious about workers?

She's still your wife She should be cooking your meals

Get over it,

you've got much to say

Eat up

You're pregnant again

Keeping the baby?

You can't keep doing this

Two abortions in one year cannot be good for you

Comrade Kong

Comrade Kong?

Are you okay? Let's get up

The kindergarten An accident over at the kindergarten The boiler exploded

Dong Are you okay? Dong, let mum see you

Where is your sister? Where is Xue?

Xue

Are you alright? You are okay Let's go

-What is your name, girl? -Xue

Good, let me ask you a question

Can you answer me if you can hear me? Let's block your ear on one side

-Xue, how old are you? -Three and half

Very good Now, block the other side

Hold tight

Xue, how old are you?

Xue, how old are you?

Let me check

The child has perforated eardrum She will need hearing aids

-Is there no other cure? -There is nothing we can do now

She'll get used to the hearing aids

Let me tell you something, it was no boiler that exploded,

it was the violent riots between Red Guard fractions

A hand grenade fell inside the kindergarten a kid picked it up

That's what exploded

Xue

Xue

I want that

-What do you want to eat, Xue? -Peanuts

Out of the way, sit on the bed

Come, give it to me Look, more goodies in Daddy's bag

-Xue -Sweet jujube

Dong

It's for your sister

Good?

Dong, do you prefer mum's dormitory or would you prefer home?

I prefer Mum

Wear a condom if you want it

I come home just once a week and I have to beg you for it?

What kind of husband and wife are we?

My mother was right I'm no different than a stag

Your mother, your mother What about me? The children?

Look at your daughter

My mother said

I'd be better off divorced

Do it

You better think it through

Where is my cigarette money?

There are none

I'm saving up for Xue's hearing aids

Xiu

Mother said that

if you quit your job go back to the village

keep up the house chores then we'll carry on together

Liu Hanzhang and Kong Xiu

Are you both willing to proceed with the divorce?

I'm unwilling but my mother is displeased with her

A wife, out there working all day

Leaving the livestock and chores to Mother

Your mother?

My mother said 'Better a stag than an invisible wife'

She either quit her job or it's a divorce

What factory are you at?

Textile Dyeing factory

I'm not quitting my work

I'm doing fine at the factory

They are forcing me to go to the village I'm not going back

Since I married him, I did not spend a cent from his family

However exhausted I was

every Sunday I was never spared from farm chores

I married him,

bore his children

He did not take care of them his parents didn't care either

My children were with me

staying at the women worker's dormitory

Kids go to kindergarten there,

they are still young

they get sick easily

He does not care enough about them

Look at you, man

Why don't you take good care of your wife and children?

Now your mother tells you to get a divorce, who do you live with?

Your wife or your mother?

I mainly live with my father, my mother, and my sister

My parents suffered a great deal raising me up

I'm the only son

Sister paid for my college tuition

I went only for one year until the new movement began

Higher Education Reform happened colleges closed

I was sent down back to the village farm

I, a college student can be made a farmer why can't she do it?

Why can't you take care of the children and let your wife go to work?

My sister has four more children

My mother is old she can't take care of all these kids

Let's proceed

Both children stay with me

My mother said

the boy is offspring to the Liu family I need the boy

-I must take Dong back to the village -No way

It's decided, both kids are mine

Comrade Kong Xiu, you are only in your twenties

How are you going to raise two children alone?

I've got one on

I will send Dong over to you later

This month's daycare is already paid for

Your cigarette money

Mum,

no more kindergarten for me?

I want to stay with you forever

Are you in labour?

Hold on

Hang in there, Comrade Kong Hurry Help

-What's the matter? -Comrade Kong is in labour What to do?

Let's go To the hospital Hurry

Dazhuang

Find the manager, ask for a car Hurry

The mother is in danger Where is the next of kin?

Doctor, her husband is away for work He can't come?

Who is in charge then? Are we to save the mother or the child?

Save them both

Thank you, Doctor

Drive safe

~Two little tigers$

~Run very fast$

~One has no ears$

~One has no tail$

~Very weird$

Hello, son Daddy is back

I missed you so much Come, give daddy a hug

Daddy's big hug

Come

Bump our heads

Look at him, our boy has my eyes

You've been gone for a year

I suffered so much, I almost died

Not your first time giving birth though, what's the big deal?

Let's go to mummy

Let's give our boy a proper name

Xue, bring a piece of coal

Here

Has her name been changed?

She's not changing her name

Then she can't enter Yang's house

Xue?

Xue

Xue?

Xue

I don't want his surname He doesn't like me

Xue,

he is your father now

It's okay, baby, Mummy is here

Sleep baby, sleep

-Class begins -Greetings, teacher

Greetings, students Sit

I am Wang, your new teacher You can call me Ms Wang

Today we are going to learn the first of 'Two Fables'

'The Farmer and the Snake'

I will call the roll before we start so I get to know everyone

-Yan Jihong -Present

Sit please

-Chen Xuejun -Present

Sit please

-Li Gang -Present

Sit please

-Xiang Ronghua -Present

Sit please

Yang Xue

Yang Xue?

-Is she here? -Present

Good boy Aren't you a good boy?

Here, come to Mummy

-Come to Mummy -Ups-a-daisy

What do you want to eat? Flatbread

Here is a bread

Kong Xiu

Talking about expectations for food, your cooking is substandard

When I was in the army,

I cooked for the whole company, everyone praised my cooking

My chow hall cooking was even better than this home meal

Forget about your hasbeens,

you were different even a year ago

You were nice to Xue, that's why I married you

If you dislike my cooking, you can cook

Her eyes are less like yours now

Look at our baby, he looks just like me

I don't think so

-Say that again? -I don't think so

-I dare you say that again -What are you doing?

I dare you say that

Eat up

It's nothing

Now, there are two giant mountains

over the head of us Chinese people

One is Imperialism

one is Feudalism

The Chinese Communist Party is long determined

to remove these two giant mountains

We must persist

We must continue to work hard

We will impress God

This God is no other than

we the people of all China

United are we the people

together, we will flatten these two mountains No obstacles can stop us

We must persist

We must keep working

We will impress God

This God is no other than

we the people of all China

United are we the people

together, we will flatten these two mountains

No obstacles can stop us

What wisdom of our Great Leader Chairman Mao

This season our unit came first again

Manager Feng over at Unit 3 Is even embarrassed to bump into me

What's on your neck?

That's a question for her bed

Don't laugh

We are dedicated workers We obey rules

No matter at the factory or at home

The manager said don't

What's your problem? Why do you need the manager's approval?

So what?

You are my wife, I do whatever I want It's none of his business

Quit pretending I know you want more

Divorce me if you want

Mummy is here

You and your kids, all hostile to me I'm leaving tomorrow

Comrade Kong

Your machine is malfunctioning

-Who is the technician on duty? -Dazhuang, but he called in sick

What to do now?

Try Comrade Wu, he is on duty today

Comrade Wu, the machine broke

Could you please take a look?

What are you reading? What's there to hide?

'How the Steel Was Tempered' You are learning about steelmaking?

This is a Soviet novel

By steel, it means a person's ironclad will

Is it a pleasant read?

It's really a a love story

Please take a look at the machines

Don't be too sad

Jun

You've got a life ahead of you

Sister

I am not that sad

Cheng was nice to me

but we were arranged by the Party

Sister,

we were never much of a husband and wife

Jun

It's all over

Look ahead, you are still young

Xue, come eat candy

Xue, is your new daddy nice to you?

No He is mean to Mummy and he hates me

Aunt, I want to live with you here

Xue

We get power cuts here all the time

I never know how to fix this

I can ask Comrade Wu at the factory to help you fix it tomorrow

Sure

Xue, sure you can live here, with aunt

Is Comrade Kong Xiu home?

Hi

-What happened to him? -Let's talk inside

Yang had this problem from his work site long ago

This time he got further injured

We have been assigned many tasks

and too few people to care for him

Take him to the doctors, we'll pay the medical bills

What happened, happened

Don't be too hard on yourself Let us know if there is anything we can do

Alright

I will get going

Coming

Is this the home of Comrade Kong Jun?

Yes You are?

I am a colleague of Kong Xiu's Wu Beichen

I remember My sister had asked you to fix our power switch here, right?

-Yes -Come in, please

This is my sister's daughter, Xue

Xue, I heard about you from your mother

-Xue, say hi to Uncle Wu -Hi, Uncle Wu

Hello, Xue

-Please sit, I will get tea -No need

-Where is the main switch? -Here

Here

-Two pills, three times a day -What's the point?

Drink these herbs

Careful

It's damn hot

Why are you so damn incompetent?

This stuff is way too bitter

You trying to poison me?

Kill me so you can marry another?

He

He beat you again?

Why are you accepting this?

Why don't you get a divorce?

He is sick

He's very sick

Divorce, how?

Xue

Bao?

Yang Xue

Now that your surname is Yang

You gotta have manners

Don't make that sound when you eat

When is she leaving?

Xue,

I'm taking your father to acupuncture soon Take care of your little brother

I'll take you to aunt when I get back

-Bao? -I have a runny nose

Let's give it a wipe

Four fingers make three inches

Three inches under Xiyan joint is Zusanli joint

Here is the proper way to handle the needle

hold with your index and middle finger and thumb

Lift with the middle finger

Find the acupuncture joint,

press down swiftly

One factory turns into three That is our great blueprint

Let's salute our leadership with overproduction

-Can we do this? -Yes

We can

I hear on the radio

that your factory is doing this big production boost It's a good campaign

It's all fluff

a pack of lies

Why do you mean?

Hard to explain,

the textile products may look the same

but the colour fades after a wash or two

What cute little feet

Bao

Eggs for you

We are holding this meeting

for two things

Firstly, we must acknowledge

that our factory's production boost

is met with outstanding success

Thank you all for your hard work

However

there are some people out there

who are backstabbing us

smearing our revolutionary campaign

If it wasn't her peasant family history that saved her life

she'd been prosecuted as a counter-revolutionary

Remember this

Don't ever slander

Not even in bed at night

Wu from your factory union came to visit me today

He's a kind fellow

You told him what I told you

What?

The campaign

Why? What did I say wrong?

I'm entitled to check on you

Leave me alone

Wait Wait, everyone

We have a problem No one leaves

We have defective stock

The manager is coming to investigate

The five of you

are operators on these export production lines

Now we have defective stock Be honest Who's fault is it?

This much defective stock is a big deal

Whoever it is is due for a denunciation rally

One bun, half a pound of flatbread

Xiu, come and see, we have new stock

A fried egg for you

Here

You've been slack at home and now trouble at work?

Big trouble

Don't you hit Mummy

Back off

Let go

Xue, let go

My sister is away for two days

can Xue stay here?

Just for two days

I beg you

Come in

Sir, I found the problem

It's Li Qiang's machine

that has oil leaks

It was not Kong Xiu

Keep it quiet

-Why? -Go back to work

Go on

Where is Xue?

I'm asking you, where did she go?

Go ask her real father

Did you kick her out?

Get out

Xue

Xue?

Xue?

Xue?

Xue?

Xue?

Xue?

Xue?

Xue, you there?

Xue?

Xue?

Dong?

Dong?

Let's separate

I know you hate me

You took care of me all these years

in order to leave me

-Sister, do you remember Li Wanqin? -Who?

My junior classmate who went to the pickles factory

-What about her? -She made it into the university

Really?

What a surprise, right?

It's a surprise

I want to go to the university too I wish I can get in

You should take an exam

Xue, come

Aunt

It's your birthday today, let aunt give you a present

You are a big girl now

Thank you, aunt

Where is Bao?

He went to this friend's place

It's pretty

-Hello -Comrade Wu

Here you are

Birthday noodles

My family's conviction was rehabilitated

They gave back things they confiscated A radio

It's a gift for you

-This is too much Too much of a gift -It's no problem

I know this book

'Grimms' Fairy Tales'

I read this when I was young

Comrade Wu, why don't you try your luck at the university exam?

Forget about it

I'm dated

I have another dream

Xue, this book is for you

This was given to me by your grandpa when I was ten

Because he always heard from the teachers that I was a top writer

Why don't you keep writing? Write novels

Me, writing novels?

I barely graduated middle school

So what? You can still try

If by life you were deceived

don't be dismal don't be wild

Let's go and see

Be mild; merry days will come, believe

Heart is living in tomorrow;

Present is dejected here;

In a moment passes sorrow;

That which passes Will be dear

I'll be next

'Les Confessions', by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

I have begun on a work which is without precedent

whose accomplishments will have no imitator

I propose to set before my fellow mortals a man in all the truth of nature;

and this man shall be myself

I have studied mankind and know my heart;

I am not made like any one I have been acquainted with

perhaps like no one in existence

Let me play you a good song

-By who? -Teresa Teng

Let me do it

Listen together

-Xiaoma -Wait right here

Look at this

Hasselblad 500

Which year is this from?

I have no idea It passed down from the family A family heirloom

How much?

Depends on how badly you want it

It's nice a nice thing to have

-Let me think about it -Sure

Kong Xiu

Can I invite you for a dance?

-I can't dance -Not to worry

Just do what I do

Let's go

Hey, stop dancing Stop it Turn off the music

Hurry Shut the lights too

Kong Xiu,

if you like

we

we can walk together

Yes?

Beichen,

I know what you mean

Aren't we already walking together?

Beichen,

you have a better future ahead of you

I

I've got a lot to work on

Kong Xiu,

I must be frank with you

about one thing

I always felt I owe you this

Do you remember when defective stock came up at the factory?

That night

I inspected the machines

I never believed that it was your fault anyway

I found out that

it was Li Qiang's machine that had problems

I reported to the manager

but

but he told me to be quiet about it

I should

should have told you

It's the past

Don't let it trouble you

Come on

You get to order anything you want today

I want the braised carp

-I want meatballs in gravy -Good

I'll take the vinegar bok choy

-We'll get a soup too -Thank you

Mum, why are you so happy today?

What is it?

The Worker's Daily

Mum's novel got published on the Worker's Daily

Really?

Really?

Let me read this

Right here

'Comrade Qiao and his Four Apprentices' Author: Kong Xiu

Comrade Kong Xiu

Comrade Kong Xiu

Wake up, Bao Wake up

Xue

Wake up, Xue

Get up, Bao

Your father is on his last breath We'll go see him

Xue, get up

I'm not going

You have his surname You must go

Xue

Come here

Say something to your dad

Dad

Dad

I don't know anything about this

Let me find out right away I will report back to you

Kong Xiu

Is this your novel?

Why didn't you tell us about it? It's such wonderful news

You have manuscripts?

Yes

Can we see your manuscripts?

Why are you digging through my diary?

Be honest with me, are you dating boys out there?

-I never -Never?

Read what you wrote

I dare you read it?

Alright, I'll read

Never before had I heard such a song,

a voice from the heart as if it's from my own

Liar

Mum You have no power over me

You never knew love

This Comrade Kong Xiu what was her position at the factory?

We had her at our broadcasting station

She was a Propagandist

What a great role model

She well embodies the spirit of our times

Yes, of course

We arm ourselves with knowledge

in order to progress

with our Four Modernizations

Comrade Kong Xiu an average factory worker

she authored so many novels

That is splendid

I think she is a real pioneer

Do some research

we can think about

having Comrade Kong Xiu deliver a speech to our city

We shall amplify her good spirit

spread it wide and afar

Yes, Mr Mayor

'Motherland, My Dear Motherland'

Author: Shu Ting

I am your worn water mill on the riverside

weaving your tired century-old songs

I am the coal lamp smudged on your forehead

lighting your way crawling in the tunnel of his-story;

I am a strand of dry, withered wheat I am the beat-up road

the rusted boat, stranded ashore;

My tow rope sunken deeply into your shoulders

O Motherland I am poverty

I am sorrow

I am the painful hope of your generations;

I am the celestial flower

that never fell, onto your earth Motherland

I am your sparkling new ideals

who escaped the spider web of your myths;

I am the ancient lotus bud covered by your snow

I am your tear-filled dimples;

I am your freshly painted scratch line

I am the roaring pink dawn;

O Motherland I am one in your billion

I am the totality of your vast land;

That sounds like your mother's voice

I feed on you, confused

thinking

boiling;

Over my blood and bones

I claim

your riches, your glory your freedom;

O Motherland

My Dear Motherland

Hanzhang

Xiu?

You came alone?

Where is Xue?

She is boarding

She got into technical school

Great

Great

How many acres are you farming?

From here, to here, all ours

Your parents passed away early

Is your wife helping?

She fell ill two years ago, can't get up ever since

-Is Dong home? -No He's also boarding

I wrote to him

He never wrote back

He's taking the university exam next year?

-Yeah -Can he get in?

Of course he can He's a smart kid

I believe he is