Original subtitles

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by A Family of 7️⃣ Team @ Viki.com

♫ I wish I could wake up and have the morning breeze soothe my sorrows ♫

♫ I want to turn around and see the coldness melt away ♫

♫ I want to see your smiling face when I look up ♫

♫ How I wish you would show me your happiness and sorrow ♫

♫ I wish our hearts were going in the same direction ♫

♫ I want to be able to hold onto the warm feeling of your understanding along the way ♫

♫ I want to help you let go of the world so you can have your dreams back ♫

♫ I want you to know that love flows from the bottom of my heart ♫

♫ Life should always face the light ♫

♫ Embrace more hope after the disappointments ♫

♫ At the end of the night is sunshine The happiness in my hand will bloom eventually ♫

[Adapted from the novel "Children of the Qiao Family"]

[The Bond] ♫ It will bloom eventually ♫

[Episode 4]

I have a promise to keep and miles to go.

Big Brother, the mosquito coil is choking us!

So it chokes, but it's cheap.

¥2 can buy a bunch.

Yicheng, you're still studying?

I need to review some more.

Hurry and go to sleep.

You keep the light on every night till late. Is electricity free?

I want to participate in the national college entrance exams.

Didn't I tell you already?

Blue smoke has to rise from our ancestral graves for you to go to college. (T/N: an auspicious omen)

Don't waste your time. Getting a job is better than failing the exam.

You can even share some of my burdens.

[English]

Big Brother.

Big Brother, this is for you. Take it.

It's got walnuts inside.

After the first round of exams, eat two pieces to supplement your brain.

Big Brother, good luck!

Uncle-in-Law!

Let's go. Get on!

Let's go. Careful, careful. Make way.

Please make way, make way!

Do a good job at the exam, do you hear?

Don't be nervous, Yicheng.

Go on! Go!

[Study hard for ten years, do not fear hardship]

[Nanjing Ninth High School] [1983 National College Exam Location at Nanjing Ninth High School] [Best Wishes for Success]

Big Brother. Big Brother.

Big Brother.

Big Brother, Uncle brought us here to meet you. He went home to cook good dishes

to celebrate you and Older Cousin finishing the exam.

What happened to you?

I ran into Wang Jun and them from our class.

They bullied Little Mianhua, and wanted to burn it to death.

I finally figured out that it was them who spread lies about me stealing the money to buy the Hong Kong shirt.

Take this. Go!

♫ I want to help you let go of the world so you can have your dreams back ♫

♫ I want you to know that love flows from the bottom of my heart ♫

♫ Life should always face the light ♫

♫ We must be strong even when we stumble and fall ♫

♫ Counting all the shooting stars landing on your shoulder ♫

♫ And I'll always be by your side ♫

♫ Life should always face the light ♫

♫ Embrace more hope after the disappointments ♫

♫ At the end of the night is sunshine The happiness in my hand will bloom eventually ♫

Qiao Yicheng, letter!

I passed the exam!

♫ Life should always face the light ♫

I passed the exam!

♫ At the end of the night is sunshine The happiness in my hand will bloom eventually ♫

Your oldest one is great!

Our poor alleyway can actually produce a college student!

It's really unforeseen and unexpected!

- Congratulations! - I'm so envious. - You're blessed.

Brother Qiao, your Yicheng

always liked reading books since he was young!

I could tell early on that he was born to be a college student!

Of course. I never limited him since he was young.

If he wants to study, then just study.

Who said that a golden phoenix couldn't fly out of a chicken coop?

Yicheng is flying up to show them!

♪ Comrade-in-arms, you disguised yourself and snuck into the enemies lines to fight ♪

Went to the toilet?

Are you hungry? I'll cook noodles for you.

Just wait.

Eat.

Some other day, I'll take you to Tong Won restaurant to eat soup dumplings.

I really would never have imagined that our family would have a college student.

It's something that's never happened in at least three generations.

Blue fume has really risen out of the ancestral graves.

Let's find a day to pay respects to your grandfather's grave.

I just don't know if we can find it or not.

Which college are you going to? Is it good?

Nor-Normal university. (T/N: A teacher-training college, job is guaranteed after graduation.)

Good, good.

You want to be a teacher?

The tuition is waived.

It's good not having to pay.

It's good not having to pay. You are indeed my son.

It would be good if Erqiang and the others could study well like you do.

But our family can't afford several college students,

unless everyone goes to Normal University.

You eat. You eat.

Me... I've been reinstated to the same job.

Bought it at the auction house.

I've tried it. It's pretty accurate.

You just have to wind it up every day.

Pretty good, right?

Wear it carefully.

Congratulations!

Squirrel fish.

You've worked hard.

Come.

- So pretty with newly permed hair! - Pretty, right?

Eat well! Sit, sit.

Shufang.

Congratulations.

You're so fortunate with such a promising son.

He not only got into a university,

he's even number one in Nanjing in liberal arts.

Oh my! It really is amazing!

- Second Aunt. - Oh, Yicheng.

Look at your nephew. He got admitted to college, too.

You and your older sister have born good children.

Isn't that right? That's why I got my savings for a grave site to invite people.

I'm so happy.

Why be afraid that I won't have a grave later on?

I'm content to have a good son in this lifetime.

If I die, just put my ashes in a wooden box.

Even after I die, I'll still be a lucky ghost.

Shufang, you're talking nonsense.

What are you saying on such a happy day?

- Yicheng, come. Have a drink with Uncle. - It's okay, Uncle.

I came to drop off the monthly living expenses for Qiqi.

No need, no need.

You've worked hard. Hurry and come inside.

- Come, come. Have a drink with Uncle. - Congratulations to you, too.

You also got admitted to college.

He got into Normal University.

He'll have a great future as a teacher.

Yes, yes. Here, have a drink.

Sister-in-Law, as the number one in civil subjects, he can attend Peking University. (T/N: One of the best and most elite universities in China.)

Of course.

But my child is mature.

He knows that his mom can't bear to miss him.

Qiao Yicheng!

Take that back for Simei and the others to eat.

It's a little gift from us.

Don't throw it away on the way back!

Good luck! [Congratulations - Qiqi]

♫ Our future ♫

♫ Lies in the fields of hope ♫

It was such a nice day.

In the year of 1983, I made it into college.

All of China was like a field blooming with hope.

Among the billowing tides,

we walked towards

a future destined to be filled with hope.

How nice.

Sweeping the streets for the people?

A beautiful spirit, beautiful conduct, beautiful words, and a beautiful environment.

You've covered all four.

- Go away. - This street belongs to everyone.

If you can walk it, then I can, too.

Not only can I walk it, but you have to clean it for me to do so.

If you don't sweep it clean, then I won't be happy about walking on it.

You can't talk to me without a few sarcastic lines, right?

I'm too lazy to be sarcastic.

I came to visit Uncle, how's he been doing recently?

Not too well.

What? What happened?

My mother and I took him to be examined, but the results aren't back yet.

I'm scared it's not a good illness.

Illnesses can be good or bad?

All you say is nonsense.

I'm leaving now. I'm going to go see Uncle.

Second Aunt? Hi, Second Aunt.

- Yicheng? - I came to see Uncle.

He just fell asleep, he was up all night last night.

This is the Chinese yam porridge that Erqiang made.

Say, your uncle

has been nice to everyone his whole life and never did anything bad.

How could he be put through this suffering, seriously.

Erqiang's cooking isn't bad.

Yes.

I heard Aunt Wu say that he quit school?

His studying doesn't even amount to half his cooking skills.

His teacher told me that in literature class,

he said Guan Yu invited Liu Bei to the Hongmen Banquet. (T/N: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xiang Yu invites Liu Bang.)

He insisted that's what he heard from the opera when he was a kid.

What's the most outrageous is that for a fill-in-the-blank question,

asking "Out of the Four Great Chinese classical novels,

which is also known as The Story of the Stone," he answered "Journey to the West." (T/N: The correct answer is Dream of the Red Chamber.)

Made me so angry. He isn't the type for studying.

He's already been held back three times.

Before even getting my consent, my dad made him drop out.

Now, all he does is wander around every day.

Goodness.

Lately, they're cracking down on crime. You better keep an eye on him and not let him go out and make trouble.

Luckily our Xiao Yi took over his father's job and is working as an apprentice in the auto factory.

With a job, this child can be more focused and become more mature.

Have you seen Weimin?

When I came, I saw him sweeping the ground in the alleyway.

Yicheng's here?

Oh, Uncle.

Mom.

I raised you and paid for college in order for you to prove yourself!

I didn't mean for you to dig out shit and sweep the streets.

Mom, I don't think it's embarrassing.

Hey, who are you? What are you doing?

Why are you taking photos of my son?

Auntie, I'm a reporter from Nanjing Daily.

Our newspaper is looking for new youths around us to promote and support

the "Five Disciplines, Four Graces and Three Loves" movement.

By coincidence, I heard that your son—

Go, go, go. We don't want to join. Go away. We don't want to be a part of it.

Auntie, you misunderstand. We want to positively publicize classmate Qi—

All right, enough! I don't care what newspaper you're from;

either way, you can't take pictures of my son sweeping the streets.

That's an embarrassment for my son, isn't it?!

Mom, she doesn't have any bad intentions.

Sorry, I don't have anything interesting to be publicized anyways.

Not so. Your story is very meaningful to us.

I plan to write social news about the No. 1 exam winner who sweeps the streets.

- All right, enough! Go away, go away! What streets sweeping? - Mom!

- My son isn't a street sweeper! - Mom, you can't be like this, it's not nice. - Why are you pushing me, how can you do that?

- Sorry, sorry. - Hey, excuse me! Excuse me.

Why don't you leave first?

Also, these pictures and the report.

Please don't publish them.

- Sorry. - Let me tell you. If you dare to write about my son in the newspaper and talk bad about us,

watch that I'll file a complaint to your workplace!

What kind of journalist!

Sorry about that!

Mom.

This street-sweeping job was given to me by the neighborhood committee, not to you.

Your dad is indeed ill right now.

But don't worry, even by myself, I can send you to college!

- Yicheng, I'm begging you to talk some sense into him. - Yes.

Don't panic.

Who is it?

Bro.

Bro! Bro! I got it, be gentler!

- Did you disregard everything I told you? - No...

Are dramas that amazing to watch?!

Are they so amazing you'd risk your life?

No, I didn't even watch that many...

It's all made-up nonsense!

Midnight bandit god, robbing from the rich to help the poor,

stepping on the snow without leaving a trace, spreading fragrance everywhere.

That's because of Chu Liuxiang's lightness skill. No one can catch him. (T/N: Chu Liuxiang series written by Gu Long".)

If I also had learned lightness skills when I was younger—

You also want to shoot the eagle and move like the water dragon?

Let me tell you! That's filming dramas!

It's all fake. They're acting, don't you know?

Go easy on me.

I got it.

Weren't you staying on campus? Why are you back?

Do you wish all the time that I will stay at school and never come back, right?

Well, how fortunate. You don't have to go to school.

You follow Niuye every day fooling around.

I'm warning you! Sooner or later, you'll have to eat prison meals!

You'll enter the execution grounds!

I-I don't want to eat prison meals or be executed. I got it, I'll stop fooling around.

Then be good and stay at home for me!

Did you hear me?!

Yes.

- Louder. - I heard you.

Louder!

Sanli.

Why did you pick mine out and only wash yours when doing laundry?

Why are you only doing half of it?

I didn't say I wouldn't wash yours. I'll do it in batches, is that not okay?

Then tell me, why do you have to wash it in batches now when you used to do it all at once?

Why are you yelling? Go back to your room.

♪ In a slumber for 100 years ♪

♪ Our people are gradually waking up ♪ (Theme song from a popular martial arts drama.)

What is it?

You really scared me.

You're like a ghost standing there without a sound.

You're also pulling a dead person's face. You want to say something?

If it's about Erqiang, there's nothing to discuss.

He dropped out, the earlier the better. Or else, it was just a waste.

After dropping out of school, he can get a job.

Make some money to support the family sooner.

I never thought about discussing it with you old man.

It's your wise decision.

Who would dare refute it?

As long as you know.

There's another important matter.

I want... Sanli and Simei to move to your room.

You go stay with Erqiang.

What the hell are you talking about?

Or Erqiang can move to your room, it's easier that way.

Your brain is going bad. How dare you make such a request to me.

You're not independent, I'm not dead yet!

Thinking of taking my house already.

Who's doing that?

Sanli and Simei are already grown up.

Us sons and daughters live in one room.

Do you think that's appropriate?

What's wrong with it?

You're all biological brothers and sisters.

Wear clothes as they should be worn. It'll be fine.

The weather's only getting warmer. There will be lots of other inconveniences!

Then close your eyes.

Let me tell you. As long as I can still breathe,

I'm going to protect this room.

Even if I die, I want to be carried out of this room.

Erqiang, why are your clothes mixed up in mine again?! Didn't I tell you?

- I'm washing them batch by— - Why are you so simple-minded? Isn't that wooden basin also for washing clothes?

There's clearly another basin, but you had to put it in the one I wash my face with. I told you so many times, you never listen!

- So what if— - How many times have I told you?

Sanli washes her things separately.

Just leave it, Sanli. Tomorrow we'll buy a bigger basin,

then there will be enough to use.

Also, starting from today, you'll sleep in the main room.

What?

Then I'll have to move the bed?

No need.

There's a cot at home. Just set it up when you sleep.

What are you doing? I didn't do anything wrong, why—

I told you to come out to sleep, so just do it. Why is there so much useless talk?

Great, Second Brother. It's because your feet smell so bad.

If you go sleep in the central room, none of us will have to smell your stinky feet anymore.

You're the one who stinks!

Big Brother.

Then, are you sleeping alone in the inner room?

I'm staying on campus from now on.

Who is it?

You scared me to death!

Are you brain dead? Why do you keep sleeping here?

You've nearly scared me to death.

Big Brother told me to sleep in the main room.

Each one of you is a debt collector.

Yicheng.

Teacher Wen.

I have a favor to ask of you.

Please tell me. There's no need to be so formal.

My sister wants me to find a tutor for my niece.

I thought about it for a long time, and I'm only comfortable with you.

Then, what grade is your niece going into?

She's eighteen this year.

She failed the college entrance exam last year, so she's repeating this year.

My sister is raising her alone and has to go to work.

Sometimes she doesn't have time.

I've tutored her before.

Maybe it's because we're family,

plus this child is a bit rebellious.

Anyway... the results haven't been that good.

Rebellious?

She's not dumb.

She's scored perfect in math before.

It's just that she's not very focused.

I hope you can push her a little.

Okay.

Sit for a bit, I'll go upstairs and check.

Xiao Qiao, come here.

Ju'an, Teacher Xiao Qiao is here.

- This is my daughter. - Hello.

Then, you can start the lesson.

Hello. My name is Qiao Yicheng.

I'm Teacher Wen Jihua's student.

I was also introduced by him.

Teacher Wen told me about your college situation.

Let's start with the perfect tense.

Let's do it the other way around.

We can look at some examples first, to get a feel for what the perfect tense is,

then we'll go over the rules.

What's the use of learning this?

I'm Chinese. I don't want to learn English.

Everyone thinks learning English is very important.

They are all studying hard.

It's so stupid.

I forgot earlier.

Before we start officially learning,

I want to test your current English skills.

What's this?

This is the English test I hand wrote.

I'm sure you can read it.

What was in the bag? Show me.

It tastes good.

You like to eat those?

I do.

Sh!

Teacher Xiao Qiao, have some fruit.

Thank you.

Continue studying.

What two words is your name made up of?

One, two, three's "one," and the cheng from "success."

- Then... do you have any siblings? - Yes.

I have a younger brother and two younger sisters.

Then... is your younger brother's name "Ercheng" (T/N: second success)

and younger sisters' names "Sancheng" and "Sicheng"? (T/N: third success, fourth success)

Close enough.

Hello, my name is Wen Ju'an.

♫ You ask me how deeply I love you ♫

♫ How much is my love to you? ♫

♫ My feelings are true ♫

♫ My love is also true ♫

- Why are you here? - Hey, Brother Niuye. I'm here to have some fun.

No, no. Leave, leave.

Leave, leave, leave.

I-I... let me have some fun!

No. Your big brother is going to have a problem with me.

- B-But, Brother, I... - Leave, leave!

But I...

♫ My feelings will never change ♫

Fine, I won't have fun. Seriously.

He's so stingy.

Turn off the lights and music! Cooperate with the investigation!

- What's going on? - What are you doing?

What did we do?

Hurry up! Go!

This way.

Brother! Brother!

Keep walking! Cooperate with the investigation.

Keep walking.

Second Brother, what's wrong?

Second Brother, did you see a ghost?

Niuye. Niuye was captured by the police.

- Really?! - I saw it with my own eyes.

They said he was having an illegal dancing party.

The police arrested him. All of the dancers got arrested.

Then, will he have to go to jail?

What about it?

You still have to rely on your old Father during important times.

What are you saying, Dad?

I found a job for Erqiang.

What? Am I good?

What?

What do you mean "What"?

All you do is eat at home. How many days have you done that?

Come work with me at Yuhong Machinery Factory next week.

I told them that you're eighteen, about to be nineteen.

Don't expose yourself, okay?

We have one more person making money now, yeah?

[Shamao Alley 55-2]

Second Brother, when you get your first paycheck,

- treat me to a meal at a restaurant. - Okay.

Also, buy me some real silk material

so I can make a skirt. Okay?

Sure.

Then, treat me to soup dumplings.

I also want some candied hawthorns, a fried beef dumpling,

boiled shredded dry bean curd, assorted stuffed rice balls,

and... never mind.

Why don't we just go to Luliuju and have some vegetables?

Simei, come wash your feet.

Let's go.

Don't take advantage of Second Brother.

An apprentice's salary is very pitiful.

Sister, Big Brother hasn't come home in such a long time.

I miss Big Brother.

I do too.

Sister, do you think Big Brother abandoned us?

Nonsense! How could Big Brother abandon us?

Sometimes, I keep thinking

Big Brother is annoyed with us.

Big Brother isn't annoyed with us. He's annoyed with you.

Brother!

Liu Qiang!

You're going to the forging section, Xu Erbao, Master Xu.

Master Xu.

Follow me.

Li Jun!

You are going to the forging section, Sun Qianfa, Master Sun.

- Master Sun. - Follow me.

Ma Xiaohui!

You are going to the fitter section, Zhang Danian, Master Zhang.

Very well. Follow me.

Qiao Erqiang!

You are going to the turning shop, Ma Suqin, Master Ma.

Ma Suqin. Where is Master Ma?

Went out just now. He will be right back.

Qiao Erqiang, wait for Master Ma. Okay?

Sure.

Kid, who's your master?

Ma Suqin, Master Ma.

Boy you're lucky. You have a beauty as your master.

Beautiful flower, your student has been waiting for you.

The young boy's been stretching his neck looking for you.

You're Qiao Erqiang?

Master.

Follow me.

We'll get you two sets of uniforms. The job that we do gets our clothes dirty easily.

There's a bathhouse in the factory. I'll get you some tickets.

Master Ma, you're lucky to have such a cute little apprentice like him.

Good to have a boy. You can leave all the heavy lifting to him.

That's right, Ma Suqin. You should give us a hand, too!

She'll forget about her colleagues now that she's got her little apprentice.

Envious? Go on and be jealous!

By the way, bring your own lunch tomorrow.

Our job requires a lot of energy. You just started, so you need to eat well to work well.

Do you remember what I just told you?

I do.

Are we learning about the perfect tense again today?

No. We will go through the past perfect tense.

Same as the last session. Let's look at a couple of examples first.

- Then— - The past, the present, and the future.

Then we will talk about the definition.

I heard my uncle say you only have your father.

This has nothing to do with our class.

We are talking about the past per—

Your father has to take care of the four of you. It must be tough, right?

I look after my younger siblings. My dad doesn't even bother.

Why do you think you have to "look after" kids.

They don't need it.

You live so close to home. You must visit them often.

I live on campus. I haven't been home that much lately.

You are not from out of town. Why do you live on campus?

I'm busy with school.

I need to make money in my spare time, too.

The Teacher's College doesn't charge tuition right?

Why do you have to spend your spare time making money?

No tuition doesn't mean I don't spend any money in my daily life.

Is that why you promised my uncle to teach me?

How many students have you taught before?

This is my first time being a private tutor.

What other jobs do you do?

Teacher Xiao Qiao.

- Have some grapes. - Thank you.

Eat as many as you want.

Study hard.

Eat.

Little Brother, what book are you reading?

Don't bother my brother. Go away.

Qiqi, call me older sister. Then I'll buy you some candy.

Qiqi, don't be shy. That's your fourth sister.

Brother Min!

I can do it.

Leave it. Leave it.

Take it. It's a gift.

Thank you, Brother Min.

Here. I'll take it.

This girl is too crafty.

She doesn't know her place.

She's not an easy one to deal with. She'll get into trouble when she's older.

You're done with the lesson?

Yes.

Ju'an learns really quickly.

Xiao Qiao, thanks for your time. Should I see you out?

No need.

Goodbye, Aunt Wen!

Goodbye.

If there's something that you don't understand.

Underline it.

I'll explain it to you next time when I come.

Where's your part-time job?

At the magazine stand on campus.

[Da Jiang Photography Studio]

Done with your food?

Take care.

Come again.

I told you I don't want cilantro. You'll put it in again.

If you don't like it then don't eat it.

That's not fair. The living expense money that Big Brother gave you is for both of us. Why can't I have requests?

Whose things are these?

Did they leave them here and forgot about it?

Maybe it's from one of my suitors?

Stop joking around.

Whose are these?

We're about to leave. Please come claim it.

If no one wants it, I'll throw it away.

Sister, look. It's a love poem!

I see.

The love poem, the paper stars, and the apples. They're all for you.

How romantic.

Sis, what are you doing?!

If you pick it up, I'll never speak to you again.

Throw that bottle away, too.

The apples are so good. What a waste to throw them away.

Throwing the bottle away, too. What a shame.

Such disgusting items. It's not a shame.

It's not disgusting.

You've got this. Lift it higher.

You've got this. More power.

Up, up, up!

What's going on? What are you doing?

How could you use this cart for it?

Safety is the most important thing in a workshop.

How could you be so careless?

Manager, don't be mad.

He's an apprentice. He just got here and hasn't gotten used to it yet.

You're a generous man. I'll criticize him later.

You're our big manager. It's not worth getting mad at a young kid.

If you get sick, who will lead us?

I'll let you off today because of Master Ma.

You have to be careful next time.

Don't worry.

Are you okay? Are you injured?

Master, I'm sorry.

It's not a big deal.

I told you. You just need more experience when it comes to the factory.

As an apprentice, you're not that bad.

What's that smell? Did you pick up smoking?

Some other masters gave it to me. I only smoked one.

You're still a kid. Don't pick up bad habits like this.

I told you, never touch cigarettes, alcohol, prostitutes, and gambling in your life.

Just one of them is enough to ruin your life.

If you have time, you should read more books and learn more.

Okay, Master, I'll listen to you.

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by A Family of 7️⃣ Team @ Viki.com

♫ I wish I could wake up and have the morning breeze soothe my sorrows ♫

♫ I want to turn around and see the coldness melt away ♫

♫ I want to see your smiling face when I look up ♫

♫ How I wish you would show me your happiness and sorrow ♫

♫ I wish our hearts were going in the same direction ♫

♫ I want to be able to hold onto the warm feeling of your understanding along the way ♫

♫ I want to help you let go of the world so you can have your dreams back ♫

♫ I want you to know that love flows from the bottom of my heart ♫

♫ Life should always face the light ♫

♫ We must be strong even when we stumble and fall ♫

♫ Counting all the shooting stars landing on your shoulder And I'll always be by your side ♫

♫ Life should always face the light ♫

♫ Embrace more hope after the disappointments ♫

♫ At the end of the night is sunshine The happiness in my hands will eventually bloom ♫

♫ Life should always face the light ♫

♫ We must be strong even when we stumble and fall ♫

♫ Counting all the shooting stars landing on your shoulder And I'll always be by your side ♫

♫ Life should always face the light ♫

♫ Embrace more hope after the disappointments ♫

♫ At the end of the night is sunshine The happiness in my hand will bloom eventually ♫

♫ It will bloom eventually ♫