"Son." "Your dad, I think he'll be leaving us today." "Stay here with your dad." "When he passes away, tell us." "Excuse me." "Deceased passing through." "Deceased passing through." "Steady." "What if he falls down?" "Bro." "What do we do about the funeral of the kid's old man?" "Just do it as a good deed." "This kid doesn't have other family?" "No." "Nobody has come to see him." "Tell him to go home and find a photo of his dad and a better suit of clothes." "It's almost time." "Will anybody come?" "How should I know?" "Anyway, when it's time we'll start the funeral." "Funeral official." "Bow most respectfully to Mr. Zhu Yong-Fang." "First bow." "Second bow." "Third bow." "The ceremony is over." "The family conveys thanks." "Xiang." "Do you remember me?" "The day before yesterday." "The hospital found my phone number in your father's clothing and informed me." "Early this morning." "We hurried over." "Having worked with your dad for so long." "We want to make it in time to send your father off." "The service for Mr. Zhu Yong-Fang is now over." "Thank you all for taking time from your busy affairs to attend Mr. Zhu's memorial service." "May Mr. Zhu's spirits give blessing to the guests sitting here and let everyone have wealth and many offspring be prosperous and powerful live long and well live long and well make fortune in every aspect and live a happy and abundant life." "May Mr. Zhu bless and watch over everyone." "Not easy going hungry at lunchtime, is it?" "If you eat people's food like this." "What will they do for lunch?" "And." "Do you know whose lunchbox you stole?" "Your teachers'." "Don't scratch when I talk to you." "Your family don't prepare for your lunch?" "Since my dad died last week" "I haven't brought a lunch." "How long are you going to steal lunchboxes?" "Your family doesn't get you food?" "When my dad was in the hospital his leftovers" "I made my lunchbox with them." "Sometimes." "Nurses would give me something to eat." "Eat." "Why are you crying when eating?" "Why do you put on a pitiable face?" "You want my sympathy?" "Don't scratch." "You are so young." "You've lived so little of your life." "A long time ago." "In my old home" "I was younger than you at the time" "I ran out one afternoon to play with neighbors" "I don't know how long I played." "But just when I was going home, the air raid sirens started up." "You know what air raid sirens are?" "It's when people want to drop bombs on you from the air." "A piercing sound starts up." "Telling us to hide." "Me?" "I ran with a bunch of adults and hid in an air raid shelter" "I actually didn't know why on earth." "Why I should hid?" "I just hid with the others." "Don't scratch when I talk to you, like a monkey" "I hid in a shelter." "Not long after" "I felt." "A kind of shaking from outside." "The sound of faraway explosions over and over." "When it was all over." "We ran outside to look." "Everywhere it was smoke." "Most of the houses had collapsed." "Me?" "I ran home in fear." "But my house was missing" "I shouldn't say it was missing." "After all the houses toppled over." "You couldn't tell which one was yours" "I couldn't find my parents either" "I looked everywhere." "For so long and couldn't find them" "I went crazy." "Until nightfall" "I walked the streets alone." "Walking endlessly." "After so many years." "Frankly speaking, I've already forgotten what my parents looked like." "Forgotten what my home looks like and the friends I played with that afternoon." "But I never forgot." "That night when the Japanese army entered Shanghai." "From somewhere came the sound of the Japanese soldiers singing" "I never forgot this sound." "Never forgot." "So." "Don't cry." "Eat." "Go inside to take a look." "Grandpa, Why are there so many pictures?" "Probably the owners didn't think they were valuable." "Grandpa, How about that doll?" "Don't touch that!" "Grandpa, This place looks strange." "It's alright, not strange." "Go look at the two rooms over there." "Grandpa, Are we stealing things?" "Nonsense!" "We're not stealing." "We're taking things." "What are we taking these things for?" "To sell them!" "Don't you need to eat?" "Whom are you selling to?" "To those who recognize good stuff." "No kidding." "Grandpa is very picky" "I only select good stuff." "If they're really good." "Why do people throw them away?" "How should I know?" "People think they are worthless." "How do you know who recognizes good stuff?" "I have connections." "Are they worth a lot of money?" "Don't talk so much." "Just work with me." "Don't you see this is hard-earned money?" "When you die." "Whom will you give your fortune to?" "You don't learn anything at school, do you?" "Who taught you to speak this way?" "You learned nothing from school" "I think your dad died from being angry at you." "Every day you Don't speak any more!" "Why can't I speak?" "Is it because you find me irritating?" "Too talkative?" "(Division of Social Assistance)" "Grandpa, I don't want a haircut." "What happened?" "The barbershop is so dirty inside!" "The cloth around the neck is black." "It's so disgusting!" "What are you talking about?" "Haven't you already dressed up?" "Hurry inside and get the haircut." "Do you know your mom is fetching you tomorrow?" "But I told the social worker" "I don't want to go back with my mom." "Zhu Wen-Xiang, It's not about what you want." "This is how things should happen." "Is there anything in this world better than your own mom?" "I am not giving you the tangerine to win your favor." "You hate me, right?" "I never thought your father would die so soon" "I always thought he'd live to a hundred." "Back so early?" "This is Xiang." "Go upstairs." "Your room is right ahead on the 2nd floor." "Put down your bag." "Do you want to take him to a doctor?" "Look how he eats." "The rice is all over." "Have a check-up with the doctor." "See if he has a hole in his throat." "Fuck!" "Making us stand here under this weather." "Who'd ever come here?" "I'm telling you." "If you want to sell a house." "You've got to tell people its good points." "Like how classy are the building materials?" "How big is the pool?" "How nice is the garden?" "You don't get anything by making two guys stand here!" "The economy's so bad" "I really worry for the boss." "We have to stand all day." "The job's so painful and the sales haven't increased." "Fuck!" "If I wasn't asked to help out" "I wouldn't be here!" "I'm telling you" "I read in a foreign magazine." "They did a survey." "The market for housing and sex are related" "I'm telling you." "They say the better the housing market." "The less sex in the house!" "Think about it, there's logic in it!" "You see a couple looking at houses." "They like the pretty house." "But afterwards they start to think." "How to pay the down payment?" "Thinking about the money." "How is sex possible?" "Real estate brokers are the same." "With more clients." "They have to contact each customer." "Follow each one and help them with so many transfer issues." "So many messy matters." "Please." "When they get home their screwdriver can't work anymore." "After a house is sold the sex rate goes down 30%." "This country..." "Our projects are called the "Royal Gardens"" "You put those idiots outside." "Making it look like a funeral parlor." "You think I make too much money." "So you want to ruin me?" "Boss, I don't dare." "That fat guy is my neighbor." "His family is poor" "I thought he didn't have anything to do." "So I let him make a little cash." "Let me tell you." "If you want to sell a house you've got to tell people its good points." "Like how classy are the building materials?" "How big is the pool?" "How beautiful is the garden?" "You don't get anything by having two guys stand there!" "The economy is so bad now" "I'm really worried for myself." "Excuse me, boss." "Could you give me tissue paper?" "Please!" "Boss" "I beg you." "Boy." "You are so young." "But so righteous and generous." "Just now, under such dire circumstances." "You still shared tissue paper with me." "Fuck!" "I must treat you something to eat." "Come with me." "Come!" "I am not a bad guy." "Let's go!" "Kid." "Ride with me." "Hurry!" "Brother, which grade are you in?" "Which grade?" "Which grade are you in high school?" "Boy." "Are you looking up to me or taking me for a fool?" "I have been working for many years." "What do you do?" "Fuck!" "I have too many friends" "I help so many people out" "I don't know what my occupation is." "But you are quite good." "You are loyal to friends" "I'm telling you." "You stick with me and you'll be well off for sure." "You go to Tienweiliao and ask who "Big Gun" is." ""Big Gun"" ""Big Gun"" "is well-known there." "When you're in trouble just say my name." "Big troubles will turn into small troubles." "Small troubles will turn into nothing." "My name will keep you safe." "Kid" "I want to ask you a question." "Have you burned your tongue before?" "Why do you talk with a curled tongue, like a cooked squid?" "Boy" "I'm telling you." "When I was small" "I saw a movie." "It featured two guys." "Taking a trip by motorcycle." "It's called... something "Rider"" "It's so cool!" "In it, the guy rides a motorcycle with very long steering handles." "When he rides, it's like he's lying down." "How cool!" "I was thinking." "One day" "I have to find a good friend to wander far away from home with." "Have you ever thought about that?" "Alright, I have an idea." "The two of us, let's wander around the world, ok?" "Riding this motorcycle?" "Of course not, you're so dumb!" "Boy." "Has anyone called you a sissy before?" "Has anyone called you a sissy?" "Don't try to deny it." "Anyone?" "No." "Anyone?" "No" "I think you're holding me too tight." "You're holding me too tight." "Like a sissy." "You, back there." "Bring the money up here." "Go!" "Hands up." "Covering your ears." "What's with you?" "Be quiet." "Is your exhaust pipe broken?" "Cover your ears." "Cover your ears, I'm telling you" "I'm telling you" "I'll be back in five minutes." "If anyone's put their hands down." "You better watch out." "Understand?" "Cover your ears, you, you!" "Exhaust pipe." "Yours." "Mine." "Yours." "Mine." "Yours." "Why do I only get coins?" "Boy." "Just now, it's me who did the hard work." "You just sat there and look" "I afford everything you need." "What do you need money for?" "You have enough." "Yours." "Mine" "I'm telling you." "You should stick with me." "Everything those teachers say It's all bullshit, fucked up logic." "Don't believe it." "Confucius, Mencius... just a bunch of dead fogeys." "All useless" "I used to follow what my teacher said and I paid for it it's all cogito ergo sum." "Up your granny's bum!" "Why learn that?" "Telling us to memorize so many things." "Fuck" "I don't believe they can really memorize all this" "I'll give this all to you." "This is mine." "Put it in a safe place." "Let's go" "I cannot help it" "I piss too powerfully" "If I step up." "My piss will go bouncing back." "Then." "My pants and feet will get wet." "Boy." "Grown hairy yet?" "Not yet." "Better not." "Late bloomers develop better" "I only started to grow hair in 9th grade." "Now it's really impressive!" "You don't believe it?" "Take a look!" "There are only two of us at home." "Why cook so many dishes?" "Was business bad the past two days?" "Just two simple dishes is enough." "Bad business doesn't mean you have to be in a bad mood." "Life is always like this." "What's up?" "Did I feed the fish this afternoon?" "You'll." "You'll hurt the fish using that." "Miss." "You've caught enough fish." "You're very good at this." "You catch so many." "Enough." "If you go on." "Come inside." "You aren't scared of being caught?" "Don't be afraid, boy." "You look here." "I will check there." "Boy." "Boy." "Xiang." "What's this?" "Where did you get this?" "In the dresser!" "How did you know it was there?" "Grandpa taught me before." "It's mine." "This is for you." "Brother, what's this?" "Little turtle" "I am a little turtle" "I am not afraid of being tired while walking." "Frogs leap." "Butterflies fly" "I am chasing after them." "Boy." "Let me tell you." "This is." "This is Braille for blind people." "Blind people can't see." "They read by touching these dots." "It all looks the same." "How did you read it?" "I'm telling you, it's easy." "There are three dots on the left side of each character." "Three dots on the right side too." "Six dots make a code." "Just like phonetic signs." "The better you know the Braille the faster you can read." "Of course, boy one's innate sense of touch." "This also depends on." "Take it." "There's probably a sick child at this place." "We can't take this money." "We can't." "Only this." "Look inside." "A tiny bit is ok." "It's yours." "Why coins again?" "Just take it." "Do you know what you were supposed to draw last week?" "My good friend." "Yes!" "My good friend." "Do you know what that means?" "Since you know." "Why did you draw this?" "Did you do it deliberately?" "It wasn't deliberate." "It's my good friend" "I know it's your good friend" "I meant you should draw your good friends around you not this good friend." "Yeah!" "It's my good friend!" "Are you kidding me?" "Teacher." "Didn't you tell us to draw the most obvious features of our friends?" "How could you see the features of your best friend?" "When he was pissing one time." "He showed it to me!" "Actually I didn't see it very clearly." "Mostly I looked at mine for reference." "Did he do anything to you?" "No!" "What does your friend do?" "He does a lot of things and he knows a lot of things." "Next time." "You couldn't make it last week You can't do it this week." "You can't do it today either." "She has to come with me today." "You have to work it out!" "Why can't you go today?" "I'm not well today." "You weren't well last week either!" "Did you turn vegetarian?" "Boss Li." "Let's forget about it." "We have many girls" "I'll find someone else for you" "I don't care" "I wanted to take her home today." "If she can't go then you come instead." "You joke too much." "She's not well Let her go." "You will be upset" "I already said it clearly." "Didn't you hear?" "I got an idea." "How about this?" "Here." "How's this?" "This looks just like a cunt." "If you don't mind, use this for now." "How does this work?" "It doesn't look like it at all!" "Of course it does The only difference is there's no hair and no hair makes it look like a little virgin's." "Come on!" "How nice!" "It's rare to see a virgin's." "Great Many customers like this." "Fuck you!" "Are you fucking with me?" "Who do you think I am?" "Did I pay for you to laugh at me?" "Fuck you!" "You give me that girl." "Or it's your turn today." "Do you have a condom on you?" "Wait." "You're not well today and you still carry a condom!" "Stupid girl." "What's wrong now?" "Weren't you so macho?" "I even wondered how well you could satisfy me." "Look how much you drank, you think you can still do it?" "Don't force her to do it" "I've lost face today anyway You splashed wine on me." "Nobody sees you in this shape." "Let's pretend that nothing ever happened, ok?" "What are you doing?" "I couldn't sleep I got up to get a drink." "Go to bed." "Mom, there is sound in the room." "What sound?" "Where's my big brother?" "Where did he go?" "Who?" "I dreamed of big brother" "I dreamed he was walking along the breakwater." "Where is he in your dream?" "The breakwater by the sea." "It's weird." "Don't talk nonsense." "Understand?" "How did you know it was him?" "When I took him away, you were only four." "You shouldn't have any memory of him." "Go to sleep." "It's so late" "I am telling you." "Yesterday I dreamed dream of fishing with my dad" "I saw a lobster on the beach" "I chased it and it kept running." "The lobster ran very fast" "I was sweating all over." "In the end, I got the lobster." "My dad killed it on the spot." "Then we sat on the beach." "Eating lobster sashimi with soy sauce." "Fuck!" "I still feel full after eating the whole lobster." "What are you thinking?" "The Great Learning teaches illustrious virtue in the people in the highest excellence that, once known, determines an objective." "Determination brings calm." "Calm brings repose." "Repose brings deliberation." "Deliberation brings fulfillment." "Objects have roots and branches." "Zhu Wen-Xiang." "Zhu Wen-Xiang." "Stand up and continue." "Are you able?" "I can." "Can you, Ms. Huang?" "Are you the teacher or am I?" "Then." "Ms. Huang, you recite a line and I'll recite a line, ok?" "We'll see who stops first." "The Great Learning teaches illustrious virtue in the people in the highest excellence that, once known, determines an objective." "Determination brings calm." "Calm brings repose." "Repose brings deliberation." "Deliberation brings fulfillment." "Objects have roots and branches." "Affairs have end and beginning." "To know what is first and last is to approach the Great Learning." "The ancients who desired virtue under heaven, first governed their state." "Desiring to govern their state, they first ordered their families." "Desiring to order their families, they first cultivated their person." "Desiring to cultivate their person, they first rectified their hearts." "Desiring to rectify their hearts, they first made sincere their thought." "Desiring to be sincere in their thought, they first expanded their knowledge." "Knowledge lies in investigation." "Investigation brings education." "Education brings sincere thought." "Sincere thought brings a rectified heart." "A rectified heart brings a cultivated person." "A cultivated person brings an ordered family." "An ordered family brings a governed state." "A governed state brings harmony under heaven." "Go stand outside" "I'm very sorry making you come to school." "It's not actually a big deal." "My purpose was to find out what Xiang's home life is like." "Did he make trouble for you at school?" "It's fine." "It's just his opinions are beyond his years." "May I ask Did you just move here?" "No, we moved here three years ago." "Xiang just arrived recently." "He lived with his father before." "But after his father died." "He came here to live with me." "Excuse me." "May I be so bold as to ask something?" "Your dialect is not from here." "Are you?" "Yes, I came from the mainland." "More than ten years ago" "I work at a lounge." "Xiang's stepfather works at a night market booth now." "Miss Huang" "I probably know what you're going to say." "You'll say Xiang is strange." "A lot of adults are also strange." "Especially you teachers" "I don't mean anything particular about you." "It feels like you're the one who called me here today" "I'm very sorry." "The truth is, this semester I've been paying attention to him" "I rarely see him play with other students." "Or seek them out on his own" "I just hope you can pay him more attention." "Oh, right." "Yesterday in class." "He drew a picture on the book" "I asked what he was drawing." "He said, his big brother." "But in his school file." "There's nothing written about a brother" "I thought it was strange" "I asked Xiang." "About his brother." "He didn't say anything." "So I don't know what happened." "Can I smoke?" "Yeah." "Miss Huang." "Taiwanese ID." "Do you know why I show you this?" "I suffered a lot." "For this ID" "I came here ten years ago." "Expecting to have a good life" "I didn't consider leaving." "But I knew soon afterwards" "I wouldn't have that life" "I finally got my ID and I took Xiang's brother away." "Then" "I met my current husband." "At the time" "I ran into some trouble" "I was in jail." "One day my husband came to tell me." "The child's missing." "We reported to the police." "But couldn't find him." "He is still missing" "I am sorry" "I am talking too much." "Sorry" "I didn't know so many things happened" "I often wonder." "Where is he?" "Is he doing alright?" "I thought I'd already forgotten this." "His name is Yi." "What a beautiful name!" "Business has been good the past two days." "Kid!" "What do you want?" "Kid, our day-care school is closed" "I'm looking for my mom." "Haven't you weaned yet?" "What for?" "You need milk?" "What's your mom's name?" "Her name is Wu Chun-Lan." "Wu Chun-Lan." "You know this woman?" "She is our mainland compatriot." "Oh, that one." "Go find her." "Just take him with you" "Ok." "Kid." "Wait a moment" "I'll look for your mom." "Wait a minute." "Why'd you come here so late?" "I couldn't sleep." "Are you hungry?" "Stay here." "Don't walk around." "Stay here and eat." "Don't run about, ok?" "I will come here for you soon." "Child." "Child." "What are you doing here?" "Where's my mom?" "Everyone's left." "She told me to wait here." "Really?" "I tell you what." "Go upstairs to look for her." "Be careful." "Mom." "Let's go home!" "Mom." "Mom." "Did you eat what I gave you?" "Ate it" "I am too tired to walk." "Let's rest a bit, come sit with me!" "My head aches." "Mom, are you feeling better?" "Mom, do you not like me?" "If I didn't, I wouldn't have brought you home." "Why aren't you sleeping at midnight?" "Were you afraid walking here alone?" "I wasn't afraid" "I feel scared only at your home." "Xiang, you understand?" "I'm not the mother I used to be" "I'm with someone else now" "I have a child with him." "In our household." "You're little more than a stranger." "That day you asked me." "Where did your brother go?" "I am telling you." "He's been missing" "I never blamed your uncle." "Because I knew it was also my fault." "If I didn't mess up my life." "This would never have happened." "He also has many regrets." "You stay as far as you can from him, ok?" "My friend." "From your physiognomy." "You are discreet." "Astute and rational." "But your downfall is your nose." "According to Chinese physiognomic texts." "This is a dog nose." "A person with a doggish nose is incapable and lazy." "Eating and spending a lot will end up achieving nothing your entire life." "Fortune-teller." "Is my friend's face so bad?" "I was talking about you." "But your little friend is totally different." "He was conceived in April." "Conceived?" "What does that mean?" "Impregnation." "Though somewhat nervous." "If he pays attention and grabs the opportunity." "He will make a great fortune." "If." "What do you want to ask?" "Just ask" "I want to ask about his dream." "Dream." "Dream?" "Basically." "If you dream of your brother." "It is a good sign." "If you dream of hitting your brother." "You will get a fortune." "If you dream of your brother marrying." "Your expenses will increase." "If you dream of your brother dying." "You will live longer." "If you dream of a dead brother returning." "You will face a disaster" "I know you would come" "I can sense you come back, every time." "Even though I didn't say it" "I knew it anyway." "But I'm telling you the truth" "I made a mistake" "I owe you a big apology" "I shouldn't have hit you so hard." "Making you become this way." "But I hit you." "Not because I disliked you." "What I am telling you now is true." "When I first met your mom" "I loved her very much" "I saw you as my own child." "So." "During those days when your mom was gone" "I was getting very upset" "I kept thinking of ways to get your mom out quickly." "But you were always whining." "Always crying." "Then I hit you" "I hit you to tell you to stop whining." "Enough." "When your mom wasn't around I'd still look after you." "But that time I hit you too hard." "That night you didn't wake up again" "I feel very sorry" "I am really sorry." "But at the time, how could I possibly tell other people that I killed a child by accident?" "Of course I looked for any other way." "I" "I will" "I racked my brains to find a way to quickly." "Quickly hide you away." "Yes, I was terrified at the time" "I was afraid everyone would despise me" "I feared your mom would hate me" "I was so scared" "I thought the world is so vast but I did not know where to go." "You often give your brother dreams." "And I know you really came back." "Even if I don't see you" "I know you're around." "But, Yi, you know what?" "I know many people fear ghosts." "But I don't" "I don't fear living with ghosts." "So I advise you to go find your own path." "Don't come bother us again" "I know I've wronged you" "I know I will regret it my whole life." "But I am telling you" "I am not afraid." "Do you hear?" "I am not afraid." "Why are you standing here?" "You scared me." "Why did you go upstairs?" "Just giving him something." "What thing?" "Clothes." "Book bag." "Doesn't he have clothes to wear?" "You skip work to buy him clothes." "Look how you dress yourself." "You want him to be like you?" "What are you trying to say?" "Nothing." "After all he is my son." "Ever since Xiang came back." "You haven't been pleasant once" "I know you're unhappy." "What can I do about it?" "What are you trying to say exactly?" "I want to say that Xiang has to live with us." "Don't pull a long face every day, ok?" "I am not upset." "If you're not upset, what are you doing now?" "I was just curious." "It's alright to ask" "I always follow your opinions." "You didn't like the place we used to live." "So we moved here." "You didn't want to work." "That's fine too." "He is only a child" "I can conform to your ideas." "But you are overdoing it." "What have I done?" "Deep in your heart, you know perfectly what you've done." "Is this Zhu Wen-Xiang's house?" "Yes." "May I ask who you are?" "My name's Zhang" "I'm the janitor from Xiang's old school." "How do you do?" "Mr. Zhang." "Mr. Zhang is here." "The man the social worker mentioned on the phone." "Oh, Mr. Zhang." "How do you do?" "How do you do?" "Xiang owes a lot to you" "I haven't had a chance to thank you." "Yes." "How did you get the time to visit Xiang today?" "It's like this." "After this semester, I'm retiring going back to the mainland." "Before I go I thought I should see Xiang and say hello to you as well." "Thank you." "Is Xiang home?" "Yes, he is." "You're too kind." "Xiang." "Xiang." "Mr Zhang come to see you Would you like to come inside?" "Your garden is pretty." "Our landlord did the gardening." "Say hello." "Grandpa." "Mr. Zhang, Would you like to have a seat and drink some tea?" "I'm in a bit of a hurry" "I'm afraid I can't sit" "I'd like to take Xiang for a walk." "May I?" "Sure." "Xiang." "Don't pester our guest." "Excuse us." "No problem." "You've lived here for some time." "Is everything alright?" "Alright." "Have you made new friends?" "Yes" "I will soon leave the school and return to the mainland" "I don't know when I'll return." "Maybe never." "Maybe." "In a short while." "Do you know what the mainland is like?" "I do." "There's the Yangtze and Yellow River, and Shanghai" "I know a lot about it." "Yes, I'm returning to Shanghai." "Haven't been back in fifty years." "Do you know what fifty years means?" "I do, it means a long, long time." "But does your family think you're dead?" "Since we parted you haven't learned anything, right?" "You are still speaking impolitely." "You can't be like this." "Or you will get into trouble" "I understand" "I'll tell you a story." "Okay." "When I was little." "In my hometown in Shanghai." "We played a game called" ""roast frog."" "Ever heard of it?" "No." "What's "roast frog"?" "Well." "We'd find a deep iron container." "Like the cookie tins in the grocery stores." "Narrow and deep." "And then light a fire." "We didn't add water." "So it roasted." "Then." "We'd catch some from the fields, put them in." "The frogs would start to jump, jump." "Faster and higher." "All the frogs wanted to jump out." "But, the mouth of the container was narrow." "So they couldn't jump out." "We had a rule." "We wouldn't catch the frogs who escaped." "Once the roast was done." "Most of the frogs would be dead in the pot." "Only a few would escape." "Then did you eat the dead frogs?" "The point of my story isn't whether we ate the frogs." "What I want to tell you is." "You have to be a frog who escapes." "Escape." "Maybe you get hurt." "But you have to jump out." "Get it?" "Yes, I do." "Your stepfather isn't a good person." "But I don't have any way to help you either." "Be careful of him." "What happen?" "Just listen and don't talk." "Okay." "Sir" "I'm telling you" "I'm trying to help you." "Crossing your legs is a terrible habit." "If you keep doing it." "You'll ruin your cock." "My cock is not so easily damaged" "I think." "It's your brains that are damaged." "Don't think you'll be walking out every time you come here!" "Fuck!" "You rob those little schoolkids." "It's a disgrace to Taiwan's criminal history." "You even have to drag a kid into it." "How is the class going to look at him now?" "Fuck!" "You're going to get him killed." "Fuck!" "I won't get him killed." "It's his brother that was killed." "What are you bullshitting about?" "It's true." "Xiang told me." "He dreamed of his brother walking by the sea." "Like a haunted ghost." "Doesn't that show he was killed?" "Don't bullshit!" "How long have you known him?" "Two or three months." "Do you know his job?" "Or his name?" "He is called "Big Gun"" ""Big Gun"?" "Kid." "You know, your friend, he's very famous here." "Go to Tianweiliao and ask for "Pig-shit"" "They'll show you." "The house that looks like it was hit by a comet." "He comes to our police station." "Like going to his own kitchen." "You know what you've done lately." "Including when you robbed your classroom." "You told him." "The class was paying activity fees that day." "Right?" "He's a pitiful guy." "Everyone pities him for the things he does." "But you're different" "I have a light." "Thanks" "I'm so sorry to trouble you with the child." "He's still young." "Maybe he thinks." "It's fun." "Don't punish him when you get home." "Yes!" "Of course!" "In fact, it's our fault." "Right?" "We are too busy and not looking after him." "Just now his friend mentioned it." "Does Xiang have an older brother?" "Yes, He has an older brother." "The same." "It happened." "Over three years ago." "Xiang's brother was at home." "Then." "He probably went out to play." "But never came back afterwards." "We reported it at the time and posted his pictures on the police bulletin." "The missing children posters." "For a very long time." "But up till now we haven't found him." "In Taiwan." "About one hundred children go missing every year." "Only a few can be found" "I suspect." "Those missing children perhaps aren't living in this world any more." "Tell me one more time." "Where did your child go?" "About three years ago." "Well." "The child was home alone." "Then." "When I came back, I didn't see him." "We reported it right away." "What were you doing three days before your child was gone?" "My wife was in jail at the time." "Then" "I was busy handling things for her." "Quite upset." "Didn't you have a job?" "Yes, I did." "Where did you work?" "In a construction company." "What kind of construction company?" "It's." "A cement contractor." "Why was your wife imprisoned?" "Fraud." "For six months." "When you were busy working." "Who took care of the child?" "He was at home." "With no one?" "At the time I was too busy." "Really." "When did you notice the child missing?" "When I came home that night, I found him gone" "I am asking." "When did you notice the child missing?" "I'm not asking when you found out he wasn't at home." "What do you mean?" "When did you notice the child missing?" "The same night?" "The next day?" "Or two days after?" "The next day." "OK" "Then tell me again from the beginning." "How did it happen?" "Three years ago." "Our child was home alone." "He probably went out to play." "After that he disappeared." "We reported to the police right away." "Don't repeat what you just said." "If I want to hear the same thing" "I will simply listen to the recorder." "We policemen at the local police station." "Handle petty cases every day." "Catching thieves." "Adulterous wives, this sort of things." "The policemen at the local station are not very smart." "But." "What we have is time." "Alright." "You take the child home first." "Don't let him disappear again." "We'll talk about other stuff later." "Sit." "You live here, I won't bother you." "You go to school and play when you want." "It's up to you." "If it wasn't for your mom" "I wouldn't ever know you." "But in the police station today." "You made me humiliated by the policeman" "I know we all feel uncomfortable under the same roof." "If we all put up with it." "When you go to high school or college." "You can get the fuck out." "But" "I didn't say anything." "Your mom has told me you dreamed of your brother." "In truth, I don't have any feelings about it." "But I don't want you to talk about family matters outside." "What happens in the home is private." "But." "It's not about your family." "It's about my brother" "I'll tell you something else." "No one else knows it." "Your brother really is gone." "Nobody will ever find him in five hundred or a thousand years." "So I beg you." "Not to go around telling people about it." "Your mother asked me about it." "Now it's the police asking me." "What do you think I should do?" "You want to drive me crazy?" "You'll feel better if I go mad?" "I am telling you this today." "And I am not afraid you'll tell other people." "Xiang." "You are a smart kid." "Okay." "Let's pretend nothing ever happened." "Let's live well together." "Alright?" "Just living" "Ok, don't cry any more." "Go wash your face." "Your mom is coming back." "We'll get ready to eat in a moment." "Remember." "This never happened." "Don't pick it up." "It's dirty." "Will you be on time." "Alright." "Sparrows chatter." "Koalas sleep." "Woodpeckers shake their heads." "Woodpeckers knock on the tree trunk." "Sparrows chatter." "Sparrows chatter." "A gust of wind blows." "Koalas wake up." "Brother." "Do you know what a woodpecker is?" "Sure." "Do you know?" "I do." "What is it?" "It knocks on the wood." "Why does it knock on the wood?" "Because trees get sick and woodpecker is the tree doctor." "Taking out the worms and eat them." "You're not bad." "Brother." "Someone is outside." "Dad, don't sit here." "Go inside." "Watch your step." "Go inside." "Alright, stop playing, everyone." "Do you know why I asked you to bring mirrors today?" "Don't know" "Ok." "Take a look at yourself in the mirror." "Today's drawing class is to draw the face that you see." "Start drawing after careful study"