Original subtitles

Tai Chi Chuen builds health...

And provides self-defence skills

It has flourished over 800 years

Even when westerners speak of Kung Fu

They're bound to know of Tai Chi Chuen

Rumoured to have originated from Cheung San Fung

lts philosophy uses stillness...

to overcome action, softness to conquer power

Remain tranquil when faced with enemies

Move in response to opponents' movements

Rolling with the opponent's punches

Make him miss and lose balance

Then retaliate using the opponent's own force

Pre-empt the opponent once he moves

Every technique responding to the opponent's moves

Flowing naturally from within

Executed effortlessly

Conquering without form

Tai Chi should be practised slowly

To relax body and mind

So as to build health

And relax the body's muscles, tendons

And joints

Such that one is nimble and quick

Agile when responding to opponents

Changing techniques speedily

Practising the slow rhythm of Tai Chi...

will help attain maximum speed

This is Yi Jing's philosophy

That for every high there's a low

Brother Wu

We have been waiting since morning

Waiting up till now

Look at the sun

We can wait no longer

If you don't wait

When your name is called...

And you're absent, you've had it!

For this month you'd have worked for nothing

Whoever fools around with me,

...is a dead man

Stop it, let me look into this

What's the matter?

Why haven't the wages been distributed?

We have been waiting since early morning

Stop complaining and keep waiting

Keep waiting, for what?

You should appreciate

Many of them...

are waiting for the month's wages

To buy food and supplies

...they've eventually got to be paid

You want to rush me, is it?

Supervisor Tang is inside

Go and urge him yourself

Damn, we have worked hard

Please be generous

Rubbish! A day off each month...

is not enough even for collecting wages

Right...

Supervisor Tang, they are starting to quarrel

When the wages are distributed and they discover...

they've been cheated and paid just half of it;

I'm afraid...

Stop whining...

This isn't my first time as supervisor

I have seen things like these

Whoever is disgruntled can leave

We can easily hire people

Half of their wages

Is already mine

Supervisor Tang, it's time to distribute the wages

What's the hurry?

We're not under the sun

I want them provoked

If they cause a stir they play into my hands

Uncle...

Uncle has fainted

Uncle...

Uncle...

Carry him into the shade quickly

Get him out of the sun

Uncle...

He fainted under the hot sun

Let him rest inside

And get some water and ointment

Oh, maybe get a girl to serve him too?

What are you joking about?

He fainted under the hot sun

Uncle, wake up

Uncle... feeling better...

Brother Wu, he has come around

Let's find another place to rest

No way, I must go in

Try

You dare to strike others

Who is fighting?

You dare deny?

Brother Wu, let's leave

Why bother to argue with them?

Halt

Which group do you belong to?

What's your name?

Wu Bing Lien of group Nine

Wu Bing Lien

On whose influence are you leaning against...

Such that you dare strike others?

What power do poor people have?

I haven't struck others either

I saw with my own eyes up there

Nonsense! You call this hitting others

I merely pushed him

Right, I'll give you a push too

You dare strike me too

Brother Wu...

Stop fighting...

Brother Wu...

Ask around

And check out who I am

...before you hit people

Supervisor, he hasn't hit anyone

Who's that? So it's you

I tell you

Striking a supervisor is a hideous offence

It doesn't matter who struck the blow

Their wages will be used for medical bills

Then I'll hit you again

You...

I'm responsible, not Wu

What's your name?

Ku Ding of group 12

Right, you've worked for nothing this month

For nothing?

Sir, I badly need the money

I'd rather be beaten up

OK, that's fair enough

Take all necessary revenge

Ku Ding

Ku Ding

It's OK

What right have you to beat up others?

The June wages will be distributed now

Half of the wages are deducted?

Really? Why?

For the welfare fund

lt'll be returned after 3 years' of service

Why?

This is as per company rules

If you don't like you may quit

You want to create trouble

Take him for an example

This is unfair garnishing of wages

If you don't like it, don't work here

OK, give me a month's pay

Not a cent more

You've only worked for a month

And have used the company's tools

You'll need to compensate for replacement cost too

C'mon, off you go

Whoever wants to work, get in line

Ah Jen, when practising...

You need to focus

It's hard to improve like that

Father

Is Ku Ding coming today?

He hasn't failed to show up in 10 years

Why hasn't he come?

Master

Ku Ding, come here

Have you met a strong adversary?

He wouldn't fight with other

I think he was beaten up

The supervisors wanted to get at someone

I was afraid of escalating trouble

So I let them beat me up

Right

This is our principle

We practise martial arts for health and defence

Not for bullying others

One has to be tolerant

You have trained here for 10 years

You haven't wasted it

You are my best student

Ten years only to get beaten up

What sort of kung fu is that?

Ah Jen

Perhaps you'll never understand this

Tai Chi turns force against itself

The punch aimed at you

Even if it were powerful

You could deflect it

And go unharmed

This is the pinnacle of our style

To get beaten up is also kung fu

I'll never agree for the rest of my life

Come, Ku Ding

Ku Ding

You haven't yet grasped Tai Chi's philosophy

As said in the doctrine

Use the opponent's force and make him miss

Harness the opportunity

And use minimum force to deflect maximum power

Again

You must remember the Pa Lien foot work

I'll keep still if you don't move

But I'll pre-empt your movement when you do

When your stance is weak...

I'll use your force against you

Then you'll tumble

Father, I don't believe this

Let me try

All right

Father, did you have to use so much power?

This is to teach you a lesson

This is called 'Play the Pi Pa'

This is 'Repulse Monkey'

This is 'Single Whip'

This is ' Turn and Strike with Fist '

This is ' Parting the Wild Horses' Mane '

You ought to remember these techniques

Enjoy wine when you can

Who knows what the future brings!

Waiter

Yes

Today's wine is insipid like water

When a drink gives you blood-shot eyes

You'll know the wine is strong

Brother Wu, stop drinking

Leave me

I'll not leave

Sit down

Come...

Have a drink...

What's the matter?

What's left of the wages given today

Is a meager dollar after deductions

Ah Bo's mother is sick again

The money I owe you from last month

I...

Go...

Who's pressing for a repayment?

Yes, yes

Wait

Take it all

But...

Remember

Though we're poor

Don't appear pitiful

Ku Ding

Take him home

All right

Ah Bao, go home

This damn kid

Go back home

Damn you, are you blind?

Sorry, sorry

Go home

Look

We already lead a dog's life

Yet Supervisor Tang wants to deduct half our wages

...For the so-called welfare fund

Forget it, whatever it is

We suffer for it

Father

Brother Ku

She needs a doctor

I know that too

But doctors decline to come here

I took her to a doctor in the afternoon

Even before we had gone ten steps of the way...

Mother fainted from the heat

If you pay a bit more, the doctor may come

This afternoon someone mentioned

A woman is here from Shanghai

And is looking for a servant

I hear she is willing to pay well

I'll see her tomorrow

What is she like?

I don't know

The word is she's putting up at Mr Jin's place

Look

I wasn't deceiving you, right

Mr Jin is wealthy

What good is all this?

Frankly, if you want me to stay...

You should change all the furniture

It should be sent over from Shanghai

Nothing could be easier

With money one can achieve anything

Miss Fan

Is she qualified enough for you?

Too unfashionable

That's OK, I'll dress her up

What's your name?

She's called Ah Bao

You must obey me while you're here

Young master

The masters are here

And are waiting for you in the back yard

Go, move

Who wants your company?

We will get beaten up again

No alternative unless we can beat him

Enough. Who goes first?

Let's all attack together

Good

Why don't you make your move?

Master Yuan

Is there anyone who can be my match?

It's difficult to find

If Master Yeung were here

We'll know if I have a match

What kind of a fellow is Master Yeung?

Young master, disregard him

What use is that old fellow?

Which style is he from?

Tai Chi

Like this

Like catching shrimps

Master Yuan

Ingratiate him all you want

But don't insult Tai Chi Chuan

You're also a martial arts practitioner

And should know the status of Tai Chi

Old Yeung might not be young master's match

Never mind that

Master Yuan

Get Master Yeung to fight with me

Yes

Go

Quickly...

Hurry up

Quickly...

Don't be lazy

Quickly

Quickly

What are you doing?

It is not yet rest time

It is not yet rest time

Do you hear?

Breaking the duty rules

Will cause deduction of wages

You'd like us to work for free

Why are you still here?

Didn't you say you quit yesterday?

I'm not the only one who quit

All of them will quit

Right, we all quit

Don't listen to him

My dry lips are cracking

Still we don't get a drink?

That's right, go drink some water

Brother Wu

Oversee the work here

I have a matter to attend

For this group at month's end

Deduct one day's salary

Supervisor Tang

I think Wu is stirring up trouble

By month's end he'll be a dead man

Give way

Please sit

Supervisor Tang

You've ingratiated yourself with Boss Jin

And have become a supervisor

Overseeing thousands of workmen

How can we be equal?

Elder brother

Don't talk like that

You call us brothers

Supervisor Tang wants us for a big time job

I dare not say it's a big job

But rather it is a small token

Gentlemen...

That's a lot of money

What do I have to do?

Master Yeung

There's something you don't know. Since childhood...

Young master has been interested in martial arts

He is also courteous

He has heard of your name

And would like to see your skills

You should consent

Master Yeung, if you agree

I am sure that Master Jin

Will definitely reward you well

By then you'll know

I've come with good intentions

We don't need this kind of money...

to buy food and supplies

If he is so generous

Ask him not to treat road workmen

...in such a mean way

Ah Jen

Master Yeung

Are you going or not?

You should say something

And give me face

I'm not going

You have broken a carrying stick

You think I don't carry enough...

and add more weight such that it's broken

I don't care

Your wages will be deducted accordingly

I...

Listen, all of you

You'll all leave one hour later from tomorrow

No way...

What else are you up to?

What blase attitude!

When you first arrived...

you made your mark on the contract

Didn't you read one condition in the small print?

If we were literate, we wouldn't be in this job

Correct...

Right, I'll read it to you

If required by the job...

The company can extend the working hours

Workers cannot refuse

No way...

We're not made of iron

We'll leave at the same time tomorrow

Right...

Let's pack up

Let's go

Ku Ding, you were trained in martial arts

Not really been trained in it

That's good enough for us

Who did you train with?

Master Yeung

No wonder you submitted yourself to the beating

You can't be hurt

What do you mean?

Look, I 'm still bruised

That's nothing

Ku Ding, do yourjob well

I'll promote you

Ku Ding, let's go

Come

Ku Ding

Remember, learning from anyone

Is better than learning from Wu

Can't imagine in such a small place

There's someone like you

You'll be famous if you come with me to Shanghai

Famous?

You wouldn't understand now

Young master

It's strange! You look very different

What do you want?

What can I want?

Who is it?

Young master

Master Yuan wants to see you

I know

What's the matter?

Where is that Tai Chi Master Yeung

He wouldn't come

Nonsense

Didn't you say I asked for him?

Why didn't you say so?

He also scolded me

He must come and see me

Young master

Show him who's the boss

Bring him here

and he will make you angry

Then, get rid of him

I don't want to meet his kind

Young master

It's easy to kill him

But if anything goes wrong...

I'll take care of the worst

What? You doubt my prowess?

No...

This technique to divert your force

To strike you with your own force

To use strength against strength

Ku Ding

Today I'll be able to try out what you got

Stand fast

Come, hit me

Ku Ding, your chi

Has reached my level

How come you couldn't withstand my punch?

You are not focused

What's bothering you?

Nothing

You don't fool me

Tai Chi is different from other martial arts

An un-focused mind would just cause confusion

I'd like to leave earlier

What for?

To see Ah Bao

Ah Bao?

Young master

Where's the young lady?

What do you want with her?

You can tell me

I'd like to go out for a while

To see Ku Ding

I'll back soon

All right

Thank you, young master

Young master, you...

No, don't

Please don't

No, don't

No, please don't

Although we practise martial arts

Nevertheless we should have moral

The assignment given by Jin

Is best refused

To perform in public for a living

Is better than being a running dog of the rich

Master Yeung is right

Master Yeung

Come on, don't let him get away

Who hired you to assassinate me?

Speak up

Who hired you to come after me?

Jin Dai Sing

Father, father

Father

Ah Jen

Quick, get Ku Ding

Ah Bao, Ah Bao

How are you?

Why don't you say something?

Ah Bao, what's wrong with you?

Don't you recognize me?

I'm Ku Ding

Ah Bao, Ah Bao

Ku Ding, Ku Ding

Cut that racket in the middle of the night

You're disturbing peoples' sleep

Ku Ding, Ku Ding

What's all that noise?

It's middle of the night

People can't sleep

Ku Ding

Someone's calling me

Wait for me

Master Jin

Ku Ding

Ku Ding, don't stay here

Come along

Ah Bao

Ku Ding, if you don't come with me now...

we can't see father anymore. Let's go

- Master... - Father

Go lie down

I'll get the doctor

Ku Ding, you've come at last

I haven't begged anyone all my life

Now I'm asking you a favour

Go with Ah Jen

Father

Escape in the middle of the night

Master, you...

Ku Ding, be tolerant in all matters

- Ah Jen - Father!

Master

- Father - Master

Father!

With people like you working for me...

I'm made to look like a fool to all

Where's Chan Tung?

Got himself drunk in the backyard last night

No one has seen him

Young master

We have taken care of old Yeung

Had I been aware of your incompetence...

I would have done it myself

You said old Yeung has a daughter

Who else is there?

A disciple repairing the roads

His name?

Ku Ding

I'm going out for a while

I'll meet Ku Ding and then return immediately

This is good

To have established connections with him

Really terrible!

So young

I wonder where she is from

Ah Bao?

Good, they know her

What's your relationship with her?

She is uncle's daughter

Go and alert her family

Go quickly

All right

Go...

Ah Bao

I'll beat you if you don't go home

Go back

That's strange

Ku Ding hasn't returned the whole night

Quite late last night,

A girl was looking for him

You're worried about him

Ku Ding is not that kind of person

I am not fooling you

That girl

Is tall, has a braid

And big eyes

She's quite pretty so to speak

She's Master Yeung's daughter

Has something happened to Yeung?

Inform the supervisor

I'll start work later

You are Wu Bing Lien?

You're about to die

What?

I say it's time you died

What?

Wu, you heard me

We are the ones who beat you up

But the one after your life is Tang Hoi Hay

Ku Ding...

Ku Ding is here

Ku Ding

Ku Ding, you know already?

You are so grieved yourself

How can you comfort uncle and aunt?

Uncle? Aunt?

Ah Bao is dead

What did you say? Ah Bao, dead?

Let go

Ah Bao is dead, he saw it

That's right

She was fished out of the water

Ku Ding...

Where's Ah Bao?

Speak

Ah Bao is at the morgue

Why have you waited till now to come

Ah Bao was best friends with you

Why she jumped into the river...

you should know

She went to boss Jin's place...

to serve a lady

I mean, after only one day...!

I am leaving

Master Jin

Ku Ding, what's the matter?

What's wrong?

Ah Bao was killed by the Jin family

Ku Ding, be careful of what you say

If you babble like that

You're the one who'll suffer

Not the powerful Jins

Right...

No matter what

The Jin family is involved

Let's take this up with them

Where's Brother Wu?

Why haven't we seen him?

Oh, yes

For him to take uncle...

would be best

Brother Wu heard Miss Yeung sought you

And said maybe something happened to Yeung

Yeung was stabbed

He died

What?

Ku Ding, uncle's matter is urgent

We can't wait for Wu

Say, why don't you and I...

accompany uncle to the Jins

Uncle, I'll take you there

This girl Ah Bao;

Did she not...

take a month's salary?

She got that long ago

That's fine then

What are you grumbling about?

She jumped into the river and died

What nonsense!

She had her own free will

If she wanted to jump...

Was it up to me to stop her

Master Jin

She did work here

Have a heart

Get lost

Have a heart?

How much can I do?

Young master

If nothing happened here...

Ah Bao wouldn't have jumped

Bloody nonsense

You want to blame it on me?

I saw her at mid night yesterday

That's your business

It might be because you failed to rape her

That you pushed her into the river

Get lost at once

Master Jin, you...

Master Jin, please...

What's the matter?

These three have gone crazy

And want to blackmail me

Oh, you're here as well!

Supervisor Tang

Uncle's daughter came here to serve the lady

Don't involve me

She jumped into the river and died

What's the big deal?

Go and collect 10 dollars from accounts

Father

Don't give a cent

We owe them nothing

If we start a precedence...

It might appear we're obliged

That'll be big trouble

Tell them to be gone

Get lost... go...

Young master

This is Ku Ding whom you have been looking for

Drive those two out

Master Jin, don't you have any conscience?

Don't go

I heard you trained under Master Yeung

And trained in Tai Chi Chuen, is it?

Spar with me

Let me see

What over-rated kung-fu is that

Go...

Young master, you...

Come

If the environment hinders you...

follow me to the backyard

There's plenty of space

See how many punches you can take

Close the door

What? Will you not strike?

While I did learn kung fu

It was not intended for fighting

If it's not for fighting

What's the point?

You wouldn't understand

Oh, so you do?

You killed Ah Bao

Rubbish

Tolerate

You can't deny...

You killed Ah Bao

Nonsense

Take it up with the court

I know you fear not the court; However...

you'll fear because someone has died because of you

You killed Ah Bao

You dare say that again?

Tolerate

Young master

He's not your match

I'll kill him if he doesn't fight

Open the door...

Young master

He tricked you

He uses your own force against you

That's the essence of Tai Chi

A waste of energy

You can't kill him alone

Let's all join forces and kill him

Why don't you strike back?

You bastard

Why don't you fight back?

I know of a way

Young master

Push him here

Tolerate...

Ku Ding, fight...

Release Ku Ding...

Why doesn't Ku come out?

Release Ku Ding...

Why Ku Ding didn't come out

Jin has no reason to retain him

Not let him go?

Right...

What business is it of yours?

Are you going to release him?

Ku Ding...

Are you all right?

I am okay

That's fine then

Tang Hoi Hay

Fire these people and never hire them again

We'd rather be beggars

...than work for you

Take back your dirty money

Damn it

Let's go...

Go

Young master

A man of your status

Shouldn't fight with these people

Ku Ding

You're useless

Having trained in kung fu for 10 years

All you do is take a beating

And dare not fight back

Right. Why don't you fight back?

Don't blame him

If he hits Jin...

Jin has the money to get away with murder

What do we have?

Yes, no wonder...

I am useless

I can't deal with them on your behalf

You can only seek Brother Wu's help

Yes, it's about time

Let's go find Brother Wu

Yes. Come on, let's get brother Wu

Do your work quickly...

What's wrong? Do it quickly

What's the matter?

Here comes Ku Ding

I don't know

What are you doing?

Brother Wu... Brother Wu is dead

Brother Wu was beaten to death by someone

He died horribly

Where did he die?

In the grave yard

Brother Wu didn't die peacefully

He died a cruel death

Brother Wu

Ku Ding, avenge Brother Wu's death...

Ku Ding

You can't fall

It's all up to you now

Up to me?

We intended to discuss with Brother Wu

Now he's dead

Who else can we turn to?

Ku Ding

Brother Wu has been killed

And Ah Bao committed suicide

Even your Master was done away with

You must seek revenge

Ku Ding, you must avenge them

What are you doing? Back to work

Father

I'll avenge you

Who killed master?

Jin and his gang

Father, even if I'm alone

I'll avenge you

Ah Jen, just before master died...

Don't say that

You said Master was killed by Jin

...and his gang

Did Master tell you that before he died?

No

But I know

Yuen said Jin wanted to see father

Jin went away unhappy

Someone named Wong came at night

Father went out with him

And returned with a knife stuck in him

Ah Jen, when Master asked us to leave

It was precisely to avoid trouble

What do you mean by that?

Ah Jen

I long knew you wanted to stay out of trouble

I haven't involved you in my bid for revenge

What are you grumbling about?

Ah Jen

Leave. Go away

My father asked you not to come here again

Ah Jen, I...

You're useless, wasting your kung fu

Father

Father

Another bottle

Ku Ding

You've never been the drinking kind

In any event we're closing

Go home

Give me another bottle

No

You can't drink anymore

Give it to him

Master Chan, you...

I said give him more wine

Master Chan, you don't know

He is not the drinking kind

Stop grumbling

I know better

If a man wants to drink heavily

He must have his reason

Are you going to give him more wine?

Yes, yes

One bottle for me too

Yes, yes

Here's the wine

Come with me

I'll take you to a place to drink

There

We'll not be disturbed

Friend

What do you do?

Road works

There's someone called Wu Bing Lien

You know Brother Wu too?

What's your name?

Ku Ding

Do you know this?

I've learnt a little from Tai Chi Master Yeung

My master...

Master Yeung

He was murdered

Tolerate...

Father, I'm going

What's with you?

A girl just went by

Full of fury

Brother Chan, there's something I've to take care of

What are you laughing at?

I am weak by nature

Hiding behind others, and tolerating all the time

I haven't done a thing...

which has been useful to society

What's the use of kung fu?

Now I 'm going to look for someone

You should come with me

Me?

Which lady wants to see me?

Lady

So early in the day

What can I do for you?

I'm here to kill you

Interesting! You know kung fu

I have to kill you...

Young master...

She's Master Yeung's daughter

Even better

Young master

At the site today

No workman has shown up

What's wrong?

Young master

Miss Yeung

After we finish playing here

Let's frolic in the bed

You beast

Halt

Do you still remember at the graveyard

You killed Wu?

Ku Ding, you want to die?

Supervisor Tang...

Jin Dai Sing

You ruthless murderers

Chan Tung

Do you want to die?

I have been avoiding to do what's just

And should have died long ago

But you will not live either

Ku Ding, Ku Ding

Ah Jen

Brother Chan

Brother Chan

Why don't you fight?

Rescue Brother Chan first

Not that easy

Brother Chan

Where is Ku Ding?

Brother Chan

Brother Chan...

Brother Chan

You've come

I wouldn't make it

Ku Ding

It was Jin who murdered your master

And raped Ah Bao

And also killed your friend Wu

You must avenge them

Ku Ding

We can't drink together again...

Brother Chan

You've spent 10 years learning kung fu for nothing

You're useless

Ah Jen

Come along. Let's take revenge

You little swine

You can run to nowhere

Jin Dai Sing

Today is the day of reckoning

What's the big deal about Tai Chi?

Your master was killed by my men

I'll kill you, Jin

Oh? Vengeance, is it

Quickly, let's go

Ku Ding

I've killed someone

Until now I never imagined...

I'll kill someone

Ku Ding

I've killed someone!

I'm not at all happy

The thought is so unbearable

Those people...

Why do they enjoy killing people?

Say no more