"THATCHED MEMORIES" "Based on book Thatched Memories by Cao Wenxuan" "An oil bottle hung on a star breaks and spills filed black beans So sweet they smell, the ginger sells" "The ginger's hot, like a pagoda high, whose lofty top pierces the sky" "Heaven is heaven, earth is earth The farmland brings rich harvests" "The land god eats no meat Two ducks in one big bite" "1962, Year of the Yang Water Tiger" "That year was the year of the tiger." "But I was born in the year of the dragon." "Zhi Yue was two years older than I, born in the year of tiger." "That day was the first time I saw Zhi Yue." "Don't be afraid." "Aunt is here now." "The kids grown so tall." "Please come inside and sit down." " Principal Sang..." " Yes?" "I would like to ask you a favor: to transfer Zhi Yue to You Ma Di school." " Why?" " Nothing special." "She wouldn't like attending Ban Cang school." "Aunt, you set me a difficult problem." "The higher authorities make the policy rigid." "Kids must attend their local school." "Moreover, Ban Cang is far away from You Ma Di." "Would she be able to handle walking back and forth every day?" "Yes, she could." "She could handle it." "Kid, come here." "Uncle Sang, think of her dead mother." "You just accept her, OK?" "The kid takes after her mother so much." "Well... just enrol her into the class temporarily, and let her study for a while." "You can come to attend school tomorrow." "Stand up." "Good morning, teacher." "Good morning." "Sit down, please." "This is your new classmate." "Come here and write your name on the blackboard." "Zhi..." "Yue." "Zhi Yue." "Mr. Jiang..." "How about that new student, Zhi Yue?" "It seems good news." "Another bright student in our school." "I guess this kid must have something in her background." "Otherwise, why attend our school from so far away?" "Its rumored that she's illegitimate." "After she was born, her mother felt so ashamed she killed herself." "Where did you get that rubbish?" "What are schools for?" "Schools are to train good students." "As long as they're good students, they will be accepted." "Du Xiaokang, he touched your bike." " Just now you touched it, too." " I didn't, you did." "Just so you know, Du Xiaokang agreed to let me ride his bike after school." "Ifs true: deceiving you is like deceiving a puppy." " Don't boast!" "If you don't believe me, you can ask Du Xiaokang." "Sang Sang, may I borrow your knife?" "I wouldn't lend it to you, even if I had it with me, which I don't." " Who's got a knife?" "Please lend me one." " I have." "I can lend it to you..." "But you have to let me touch your head." " OK, deal!" "Bald He, you want to ride the bike, don't you?" "Take it." "Nothing extraordinary." "Fire?" "Sang Sang." "I'll let the pigeons out!" " Enough, can you afford it if it breaks?" " Let me ride it once more." "Stop fighting!" "I'll give everyone one more ride." "Don't you dare touch me again!" "I'll make you die miserably." "Same to you!" "Do you want to ride it or not?" "OK, OK, go home." "School's over, disperse." "Sister is 15, whilst!" "am 16." "Mum gives birth to sister and I cook gruel." "Dad sleeps at the cradle." "And crying to me for milk to eat." "Boys and girls, today I have two things to talk about." "First, all schools in our community will have calisthenics next week." "And our school has won the cup for the past two years." "And this time... we must retain the number one place." "Secondly, the community theatrical festival will begin next month." "Who wet the bed again?" "Luckily, ifs sunny today." "No one else but Sang Sang." "It's unbelievable that such a big boy still wets the bed." "His cousin wet the bed until he was 18 years old." "What are you doing?" "A Shu!" "You, A Yue!" "Wang Xiaoxiao." "Zhi Yue, Du Xiaokang." "Gao Guoqing." "You, and you." "Principal Sang, how about me?" "Lu He, don't bother again." "Go." "Back home." "All right." "Those called, remain here." "Those not called, disperse." "Go home early." "Principal, I don't want to attend school." "Why not?" "I just don't want to attend school any more." " Bullshit!" "That's all the money we have." "Saved for the kid's tuition." " What are you going to do?" " Go to the city." "Why are you going to go to the city?" " Revolution!" "You just remember this:" "you must go to school." "It's not easy to support your schooling." "See what you did!" "That was one day in 1942." "A company of puppet soldiers arrived in Tuqiao Town." "They committed all kinds of atrocities." "Civilians despised them utterly." "And they all expected the NFA to come here early to annihilate them." "That evening, it was so dark." "Liu Bin, listen carefully." "The company commander of the NFA, Wang Zhijiao, led several soldiers to Tuqiao Town under cover of darkness." "Guess." "Who'll play the company commander of the NFA?" "At this moment, bald Yang was indulging in drinking." "The NFA took advantage of the lack of defense... to eliminate all of them." ""Sang Sang acts the Scoundrel."" "Just like that, bald Yang and his fellows were all eliminated by our NFA." "Sang Sang, listen carefully." "All right, now we'll assign roles." "Zhi Yue will play Shu Hua." "Wang Xiaoxiao will be the company commander of puppet troops." "Zhao Ashu will be the NFA squad leader." "The company commander of the NFA will be played by..." "Sang Sang... and Du Xiaokang." "Here is an explanation:" "The company commander is a key role." "We decided to arrange for two classmates to play it." "Du Xiaokang will play role A and Sang Sang will play role B." "Mr. Jiang, what is role A?" "What is role B?" "Ifs simple." "For example, a tractor has both tires and spare tires." "Mr. Jiang, is that right?" "Roughly." "Both of them are important." "OK." "Come on." "Collect your plays." "Sang Sang, call Zhi Yue back." "Tell her to stay at our home tonight." "Zhi Yue!" "Zhi Yue!" "My father said he will send a message to your grandma, and you don't have to go home." "Still, I'd better go home." " Where's Zhi Yue?" " She hasn't come." " Why not?" "How can I know that?" "Anyway, she wasn't willing to come." "You dozy kid, you cant even handle a simple thing like that." "You'd better change your wet clothes quickly." "Madam, I'll help you pick the vegetables." "Sit down." "Good kid." "Ifs so boring." "Absolutely no one appreciated my excellent performance." "And finally I've become a real drenched chicken." " Mum, I'm hungry." " All you do is play." "You see what a good girl Zhi Yue is!" "You should learn from her." "Look at yourself!" "Why aren't you getting changed?" "How about later?" "Mum went to cook rice but found the pot had disappeared." "She asked elder brother if he had seen the pot." "Elder brother felt afraid, and was found in the pigsty with pigshit on him." " What did he do with the pot?" " He broke it and sold it." " Sold it why?" " To buy pigeons." "Liu Liu, stop it." "You have to go to school tomorrow." "Go to sleep early." "Oh!" "What is this?" "What's the matter, Liu Liu?" "Liu Liu, what happened?" "Are you having a nightmare?" "It's elder brother - he poured water onto us." "Sang Sang, what are you doing?" "Your Dad will sort you out!" "All right, go to sleep." "Let your father punish him tomorrow." "Elder brother, you wet the bed again, didn't you?" "Don't you feel ashamed?" "You bullshit, I didn't wet the bed." "It was just a little bit of water." "It's true, I merely poured a little bit of water!" "I'll teach you a lesson." "No, I didn't do it!" "It's so hot, what are you crazy about?" "Sister is 15, while I am 16." "Mum gives birth to sister and I cook gruel." "Sang Sang, Sang Sang." "What's wrong?" "Your son makes trouble again." "I dare to swear, at that moment, with all those eyes staring at me, one pair of them must belong to Zhi Yue." "Unexpectedly, Bald He was coming with his hat on." "Who's that?" "It's Bald He!" "Wild gooses build their nests with earth." "All our people firmly follow Chairman Mao." "I'm Wang Zhijiao." "Anyone saving the nation from Japan is a hero." "Today I am here at Tuqiao Town... to seize the evil, bald Yang." "Report to the company commander." "Zhi Yue, it's your turn, be quick!" "I'm coming." "What messages do you bring this time?" "The regimental commander needs you to attend an urgent meeting." "My hat!" "Give me it back!" "My hat, my hat..." "Sang Sang, stop!" " Give me my hat." " I didn't take your hat." " I told you, I didn't take your hat." " My hat!" "That's Lu He's hat, isn't it?" "Lu He!" "Lu He, what's wrong with you?" "What's happened?" "We've searched every corner." " How about the toilet?" " Checked." "We've also searched around, but didn't find him." " How about at the back of the hill?" " We've looked already." "Principal." "Lu He, come here." "I don't wear the hat anymore." "I don't wear the hat anymore!" "You think that as long as you hide everything will be fine?" "You can hide yourself in the daytime and also at night?" "You won't go home today and also tomorrow?" "What are you laughing at?" "I must stress again that... in the calisthenics, You Ma Di must be champion." "Any class that makes trouble, the teacher of that class will take full responsibility." "In this calisthenics competition, our school must Wm." "Any student who makes trouble must take full responsibility." " Clear?" " Clear." "Gao Guoqing, be serious." "Look at yourself." "Just like chicken feet!" "Look, what's it like?" "Be serious!" "Higher, a little bit higher." "Higher, higher." "Too much, too much." "OK." "That's it." "Where are you going?" "Where are you going?" "Come on, it's time to assemble." "Schoolmates, fall in!" "Come on, quick!" "Schoolmates, only 10 minutes left." "The group calisthenics will begin soon." " Are you confident of yourselves?" " Yes!" " Nervous?" " Yes!" "Don't be nervous, OK?" "Just follow me, and breathe deeply." "Breathe out..." "Breathe in..." "Breathe out..." "Breathe in..." "Bald He!" "Lu He!" " Lu He, get down!" " One, two, three, four." "Did you hear me?" "You, come down." " I want to take part." " You should come down first!" "I want to!" "I want to!" "Miss Weng, go check what's happening there?" "Leaders, please!" "Stop!" " You, come down!" " You can't stop me." "You, stop!" "You get down." "Get down here." "Mr. Jiang, what's happening?" "The leaders are coming right now." " Lu He, why are you..." " You get down quickly." " I promise you." "Return to the group." " Swear you won't deceive me." "All right, I swear." "But I have a condition, too." "You must wear a hat first." " But I have no hat." " I'll lend you one." "Bald He, come here." "Sang Sang, why are you in there?" "Look, I'm great, aren't I?" "I haven't such courage." "My father would kill me!" "I'm not finished yet." "You just wait and see." "Bald He defended his dignity in his own way." "However, You Ma Di lost the Cup for the first time in three years." "Dad wouldn't smile at anyone for the following week... until he caught a glimmer of hope... from a play Mr. Jiang Mote." "Mr. Jiang!" "Mr. Jiang!" "I'd like to choose this one, 'Red Water Chestnut Boat'." "It's fine." "To make up for the shame of the calisthenics, we must win the community theatrical festival." "Sang Sang!" "Where's he got to?" "Sang Sang!" "I'm not deaf!" "Go to the red door to buy half a kilo of vinegar and a kilo of red powdered sugar." " I don't want to go!" " Say that again." " Where's the money?" " Let them put it on our tab." "We'll pay when your dad gets his salary." "Be quick." "I'm waiting for it." "14 cents." "I'll have to owe you again and pay it all next time." "Don't worry, I'll add the amount to your bill." "Mao Ya, your "next time" is too much." "I promise to pay next time." "Half a kilo of vinegar and a kilo of powdered sugar, please?" "If it isn't the principal's son!" "Haifa kilo of vinegar is six cents." "A kilo of red powdered sugar is 46 cents." "In total, 52 cents." "I don't have it." "My Mum said we'd owe you and pay when my Dad gets his salary." "No problem, you just go back." "Red powdered sugar, plus vinegar." " Maybe your mother's cooking fish." " Sang Sang..." "Mr. Jiang said rehearsal's at 7:00 tonight." "Everyone must be on time." " But if I have something else to do?" " Anyway, I've told you." "Xiaokang, come here." "Help me make a note." "Principal Sang owes 52 cents." "I'm here." "Zhi Yue, you're late again." "Come on, take your seat quickly." "All right, classmates, next let's analyze the gist of the paragraphs in this article." "Please turn to page 45." "Zhi Yue, you're always late recently." "Tell me, is there something wrong with your family?" "It's really not easy for her... to walk back and forth several miles every day." "Zhi Yue, I think you'd better go back to Ban Cang primary school." "Mr. Jiang, I promise never to be late again!" "Please don't send me back to Ban Cang school." "Why are you so upset?" "All right, all right, forget it." "You're such a good student that all teachers will treasure you." "OK, go back to the classroom." "Zhi Yue, don't be late again." "Go back." "From her face, you can tell she's a poor kid." " Quite right." "I also heard that..." " Excuse me!" "Come in." "Mr. Jiang, I don't want to be assigned to the same group as bald He." "It's Lu He." " Anyway, we don't want him in our group." "For what reason?" " He ruined the calisthenics and embarrassed our school." "He has no team spirit, so we don't want him." " All right, quieten down!" "Quiet!" "This is the staffroom." "I can feel my head swimming!" "OK, you all go back now." "Let me think it over." "Just go back." "Take me along, OK?" "You don't belong to our group." "Let's go." "Come on, we should make the best use of our time." "Lu He, you work with me." "Come on!" "Attention, please!" "According to the weather forecast... it will be windy tonight." "Be sure to close... all the windows after school." "I repeat..." "All grades, be sure to close all the windows." "Mr. Jiang, Zhi Yue hasn't arrived yet?" "Yes, she's here." "I asked her why she was late again, but she didn't want to explain." "I asked a few questions, and she burst out crying." "I guess... there's something wrong with her family, or some bad kids in Ban Cang bullied her." "Today after school, I plan to go to Ban Cang to have a look." "Sounds good." "About Zhi Yue, I'd better deal with her myself." "You'd better put your time into the rehearsals." "Don't you worry." "Don't forget to dub in some background music." " All right!" "Don't you find Principal Sang seems particularly concerned about Zhi Yue?" "It's quite normal." "Principal Sang worked at Ban Cang primary school." "He knew Zhi Yue's mother." "It's not so simple." "Don't you see the expression in his eyes when he looks at Zhi Yue?" "A married girl comes back to her mother's family." "She holds a big wax gourd." "The wax gourd is huge." "The son-in-law's just a small kid." " You can go home now." " My dad said I had to watch you go in." "What bad luck I've got!" "Zhi Yue, go ahead." "I want to see who dares to touch you." "Fight!" "Stop fighting!" "Please, don't fight any more!" "Zhi Yue, run!" "Run!" "Zhi Yue, please!" "Run!" "Stop fighting!" "Do you give up yet?" "Give up?" " Not." "I don't!" "Fight me one-on-one!" "All right." "One-on-one." "Think I'm afraid of you?" "I'm ready to risk my life to fight you!" "I don't like fighting." "Let's compete gracefully." "I say one, two, three, we jump down together." "Whoever doesn't jump is a little coward." "Sang Sang, you can't jump!" "Don't listen to them." "You can't jump!" "Are you afraid now?" "Do you give up?" "No, I don't!" "I don't just give up!" "I will not give up!" "Classmates, let's pass comments on each other's essays." "First of all, we'll ask Sang Sang to read his essay, 'My Father'." "Don't worry." "Look for it carefully." "Who's seen Sang Sang's exercise book?" "It's really strange." "Can it fly?" "All right, everyone give a hand to see if someone took the wrong exercise book." " I don't see it." " Neither do I." " Nor I." "Teacher, Sang Sang's exercise book's here... but I don't know why." "Be quiet!" "Be quiet!" "Be quiet!" "Be quiet!" "Folks, be quiet!" "Calm down, please!" "Today we'll have a dress rehearsal." "That means everything is exactly the same... as it will be for the formal one." "Please give us your feedback." "Yes, I will!" "Don't stand there wasting time!" "Just begin quickly!" "We want Bai Que!" "Folks, am I right?" "We want Bai Que!" "Folks, please!" "Listen to me!" "Come on!" "'Night Attack On Tu Bridge' comes first." "Then Mr. Jiang's bamboo flute solo." "Last is 'Red Water Chestnut Boat', are you clear?" " Sure!" "OK." "Now, let's begin." "The first item is the modern drama, 'Night Attack On Tu Bridge'." "Company commander, it's your turn." " Not bad." " The rhythm's exactly right." "Shit!" "Principal, you must punish me." "Why punish you?" "The effect isn't bad." " Two of them!" "My name is Wang Zhijiao." "Whoever saves the nation from Japan is a hero." "Today I come to Tu Bridge Town just to seize evil, bald Yang." " Here I am." " Report what's happened?" "The liaison woman, she..." "Why two of you?" "You get down quickly." "You should get down." "He reports to me first." "I'm role A." " But the teacher didn't say who should act today!" "The regimental commander orders you to attend an urgent meeting right now." "I'm bald Yang." "A born bald-head." " That was your fault!" " It was your fault!" "Don't quarrel any more." "Today is role A." "Take turns afterwards." "One play for each in turn." "OK?" "But there's only one play in total." "Get down!" "Get down!" "Get down!" "Get down!" "Principal Sang, you are joking with us, aren't you?" "He's got so much hair!" "How can you call him bald Yang?" "You're deceiving us, aren't you?" "Folks, am I right?" "Folks, it's just a play." "In the Beijing opera 'Push Sliding Carriages Up', Gao Chong falls down from a horse." "There isn't a real horse on the stage, is there?" "These literary men are so eloquent!" "We're not able to argue with them." "We just insist that Bald Yang must be a baldie!" "Who is so wicked?" "My family will die without sons!" "Wang Degui, can you speak politely?" "This is the school." "Is it decent, shouting abuse in the street like this?" "Mrs. Weng, you be the judge." "My family has only one boy in three generations." "Will my family die without sons?" "What happened?" "They want to have his head shaved." "A good boy like my Xiaoxiao!" "He's never stolen or robbed." "Why should he have his head bald, like a criminal?" "Is it not a bad sign for our family?" " It's just for the performance." " Nobody will force him." "We just asked him." "Do it or not, it's up to you." "All right." "We'll tell you clearly:" "we won't do it." "Let's go!" "OK, schoolmates, disperse." "Mr. Jiang, try to make some changes to that scene." "How can I?" "The comedy of this drama lies in the fact he's bald." "Are you shouting at me?" "You should have expected this!" "OK, just don't quarrel any more." "Continue." "Ask Sang Sang to have his hair out." "No, I won't have my hair out!" "I don't act bad eggs!" "Anyway, someone has to act that role." "You don't act." "He doesn't act..." "How can we gain the number one place?" "Why don't you ask Du Xiaokang?" "Just do your father a favor, OK?" "I know." "Just because I'm the son of the principal, I get this bad luck!" "You can say that again." "Because you are the son of the principal, you should suffer loss more than other people." "Do it!" "Who is it?" "Who is it?" "Principal!" " Madam..." " What is it?" "Where is the principal?" "He's persuading his son to have his hair out." "Principal Sang." "Mr. Jiang, anything wrong?" "Look: another option we could use." ""Mr. Jiang, can I have a try?" "Lu He."" " Are you OK, Mr. 'Yang?" " Madam..." "Dad, just do it." "Sang Sang, both you and Lu He are good boys." "The girl grows up quickly." "To marry the company commander." "Having new clothes and living in the big house." "Even a shit can be flattered." "And countless money to spend." "Principal Sang, it seems this time you'll win again." "I hear your 'Red Water Chestnut Boat' is pretty good." "Yours isn't either." "Sang, the second item is 'Red Water Chestnut Boat'." "Don't be late." "Yes, I know." "Mr. Jiang!" " Is she here?" " Not yet..." "I have sent Er Shuanzi to call her again." " Is there something wrong with you?" " Of course not." "Tell me the truth." "ls everything OK?" "Principal Sang, I told you, everything is under control." "Under control?" "The play will begin in a second!" "We haven't seen the leading lady yet!" "Does that sound "under control"?" "Principal Sang!" "Bai San, that son-of-a-bitch!" "He won't allow Bai Que to come." "You tell him it's just like fire-fighting." "I said so much that my throat's on fire!" " Whatever, there must be a reason!" " Why?" "I..." "I'm in a desperate situation." "Why do you keep me guessing?" "So many people here, how can I say it?" "Just say it straight!" "Sang, next up's 'Red Water Chestnut Boat'." "Quick!" "Assistant Liu!" "We have to change the order." "Do "Night Attack On Tu Bridge" first." "Are you joking?" "The list has been posted outside." "Assistant Liu, just do me a favour." "Have you heard?" "Next up is "Night Attack On Tu Bridge"." ""Puppet soldiers", follow me." "Lu He, 'Red Water Chestnut Boat' is off." "You Ma Di is depending on you alone." "Go!" "I am bald Yang." "A born bald-head." "Lu He!" "Lu He!" "Lu He!" "Lu He!" "Dad, he's not at home." "Du Xiaokang, try to remember." "When did he disappear exactly?" "About clothes-changing time, I saw him." "OK, let's disperse to look for him." "Lu He, are you crying?" "No, I'm not." "Oh that night, in the light of the fire and the moon," "I saw the most courageous and handsome boy in the world." "He had finally gained his dignity without any controversy, and showed us what true beauty was." "Mr. Jiang is playing his flute again." "Sang Sang, did you notice?" "Mr. Jiang has changed." "Changed?" "How do you mean?" "I can't explain it clearly." "But anyway, his playing is better now." "When I hear it, I feel a bit sad." " Why don't I?" "Du Xiaokang is coming." "Are you going to talk to him?" "No, I'm not." "That's a boring game!" "Let's ride the bike." "I forgot to do my homework." "I'd better go." "Sang Sang, you'd like to ride for a while, wouldn't you?" "No, I wouldn't." "I know you really want to." "I'll go first... and wait for you where the wheat's stored." "Flying..." "Flying..." "Are you hungry?" "Let's bake some sweet potatoes." "Right, I have matches!" "Sang Sang, the fire's going." " Xiaokang, can you smell it?" " Yes!" "It's fun!" "Make the fire bigger." "The bigger, the better!" "How about the sweet potatoes?" "Are they OK?" "They're about done." "I think all schoolmates will already know... the wheat store was set on fire yesterday." "Who caused this disaster?" "Who?" "Nobody knows, eh?" "Well, let me tell you something..." "He's a student of our You Ma Di primary school." "He's one of you." "Be quiet!" "You thought I didn't know who it was." "Don't deceive yourself." "Some villagers saw you." "You are a student of our school." "It's not too late now to make an apology." "Who did it?" " I'll ask again, who did it?" " It was me." "Anyone else?" "I already told you, it was me." "I asked, who else was involved?" "Du Xiaokang, come to my office." "Other schoolmates, disperse." "Tell me honestly, who was the other one?" "Someone saw two boys." "I've told you already." "It was me." "It was Sang Sang, wasn't it?" "Say, it was you, wasn't it?" "Well, was it?" "The boy should be punished..." "Otherwise, he'll be out of control when he grows up." "You saw Du Xiaokang?" "He took responsibility for his actions." "He's a real man." "What are you?" "A soft 699!" "Even several decades later, I still cannot forgive myself." "Why not me, but Du Xiaokang stepped forward bra very that day." "Slowly, slowly, watch your feet." "Dad, I acted in a scene today." "Indeed?" "That's great!" " Principal Sang!" " What's happened?" "You go back first." "Du Xiaokang, come here." "Oh, no!" "You deceive me!" "Step aside, step aside!" "Disperse!" "Nothing to see!" "All disperse!" "What's ever happened?" "What's happened?" "God knows!" "What a sweet family, finished in just a second!" "It'll require God's help for Mr. Du to get his life back." "Open the door!" "Open the door!" "Mr. Jiang!" "Mr. Jiang!" "Come here!" "There's a seat!" "Come here!" "I just wanted to ask you to do me a favor." " Help me send a letter." " Now?" "Be careful." "Be sure not to lose it." "Clean your hands first." "Remember, don't let anyone else see it." "Hey!" "I haven't yet told you who to give it to." "It's bound to be sister Bai Que." "I know!" " How do you know that?" " Try to guess." "Boy, just go!" "Come back as soon as you can." "Sorry, Mrs. Weng!" "Mr. Jiang, you got yourself a young go-between!" "Step aside, step aside." "This door still has some value." "Sang Sang!" "Dinner's ready!" "Don't shout any more." "He's working for Mr. Jiang as a go-between." "Oh, what a boy!" "Coming, I'm coming!" "Who is it?" "You little bastard, what are you knocking for!" "Get lost!" " I'm looking for a man." " Who?" "I want to see..." "I want to see Wang Xiaoxiao." " Not here!" " Yes, I'm sure!" "Wang Xiaoxiao!" "Open the door quickly!" "Little man, you're wrong." "Wang Xiaoxiao home's over there." "What a nuisance!" "A poor teacher, plus a foreigner." "What does he have going for him?" "Good or bad, I can judge for myself." "Your wings are strong enough to fly?" "Sister is 15 years old and I'm 16." "Mum gave birth to sister while I was cooking gruel." "Father was sleeping at the cradle." "He was crying for milk to drink." "What are you laughing at?" "I just realized... that little bastards a pupil at You Ma Di." "He was sent by the bookworm?" "You little shit, stop singing!" "Or I'll teach you a lesson!" " Sister, your letter." " Thank you." "Sang Sang, this place is all right." "Go, take a rest." "Don't worry, I won't disturb you." "No!" "No matter what happened, I want to go to school." "Xiaokang, have I ever told you no?" "Even the moon, if you want it, your Dad will try!" "But today's Red Door isn't the same as the past." "Just accept it, OK?" "No, I just want to go to school!" "Why are you crying?" "Sang Sang!" "Get up, quickly." "Today's Sunday, isn't it?" "Get up, Du Xiaokang has been waiting for you." "Du Xiaokang, why's he here?" "Sang Sang, I don't know why you always found fault with me." "But I will miss you." "I will miss our You Ma Di primary school." "What?" "Are you leaving?" "Maybe I'll never go to school again." "Sang Sang, study hard for me." "It was my first time to experience a kind of feeling I'd never felt before." "I suddenly realized Du Xiaokang was my best fiend." "Bu!" "it was too late for me to realise this." "Xiaokang, what are you thinking about?" "You just wait and see." "After selling the duck eggs and earning some money," "I'll open a bigger stall, and then you can go to school again." "And this time we can choose:" "you'll go to the school in town." "No, I won't go to any other school!" "I want You Ma Di primary school!" "Mr. Jiang!" "Where's Mr. Jiang?" "He's not here, he's out for a meeting with your father." "Sang Sang, you have new information, don't you?" " No!" "Sang Sang!" "Sang Sang, you're reading Jiang's letters without permission." "That's bad." " Who said that?" "I didn't." " But you want to." "I have no intention of doing that!" ""Dear Yi Lun..."" "Yi Lun..." "Yi Lun!" "Yi Lun!" "Uncle Jiang." " Oh, Mr. Jiang is coming." " Madam." "You are having lunch?" " Come." "Something to eat?" " Oh, no, I just had lunch." "Mr. Jiang, is there anything I can help you with?" " No, nothing." "Have a cup of tea." "Don't hurry, take your time." "Yi Lun!" "Jiang Yi Lun!" "For many years, I've worried that it was my little mistake... that caused those two I loved to miss their chance forever." "But, how could I know then that the world of adults was so complicated, troublesome, and unfathomable?" " Mr. Jiang, you're looking for me?" " Sang Sang, come here." "Do me a favor, please." "Go to return these to her." "Mr. Jiang, you really don't want to see Bai Que?" "Sang Sang, you're too young to understand the adults' world." "I do understand." "I won't go." "Be a good boy, come on, take them." " No, I won't go there." " Why not?" "Nothing, I will tell you later." "Sang Sang..." "Who is it?" "I'm coming." "Little bastard!" "It's you again!" "Get lost!" " I'm looking for sister Bai Que." " If you don't go right now, I'll teach you!" " Sang Sang, why are you here?" " I'm looking for you." "Bai Que, back quickly, back!" "Open the door!" "Let me out!" " What on earth happened?" " Why don't you like Mr. Jiang anymore?" "No, it's not me." "It was his decision." "No, not." "It's my fault!" "I lost your letter!" "Sang Sang, don't cry, OK?" "Open the door, please!" "OK, don't open it!" "Never come back again!" "Don't cry, Sang Sang." "I won't blame you." "I don't want to hear any more!" "Just let it go!" "Brother, the bride's here." "Let's go have a look." "We want to see the bride!" "Don't shout." "Don't shout." "All right, I'll let you have a look." "Come on, give some sweets to the kids." "Sang Sang, hold this." "It's sister's wedding sweets." "I don't like sweets." "The pages in the book turn one by one..." ""Fume passes, day by day." "Finally, one day, my father enters my story." "Sang Sang, ask Zhi Yue to come for lunch." "Your mum's cooking a chicken." "Can't you tell her yourself?" "Say that again!" "My father wants you to come have lunch." "My father wants you to come have lunch!" "A Shu, you bastard!" "Come on!" "What happened?" "He started it." " Tell me why." " Ask him!" "I'm asking you." "He said you're Zhi Yue's father." "You jest." "Bullshit." "I didn't say it, he did." "Ask bald He!" "Did you say that?" " I heard it from the others." " Others?" "Who are these 'others".7" "Tell us clearly." "They all say so!" "Zhi Yue!" "Zhi Yue!" "Zhi Yue, come back with me." "Madam cooked a chicken for you." "But I don't want people to speak ill of you." "Zhi Yue, that's beyond our control." "Just ignore them." "If I had had a daughter like you, I would have been happy in my dreams." "Principal, I do want to call you dad." "Then do so." "But I have a father." "My grandma said... he would come and pick me up some day." "What am I afraid of?" "I've always been honest with you." "No smoke without fire." "Why don't they talk about the others?" "If even you don't believe me, how can I clear myself?" "Why keep walking around?" "Go to bed." " I was going to the toilet." " Go to bed." "Come here." "Talk with me for a while." " Call me." " Call you what?" " Dad!" " Dad." "No, no." "Not like that." "Dad!" "Son!" " Is your Dad good?" " I don't know." "Dad, are you really Zhi Yue's father?" " What do you think?" " I don't think you're at all alike." "Dad, the duck's had chicks!" "Du Xiaokang's duck's laid eggs." "So many!" "So many!" "All double-yolk eggs." "You can see in sunlight, they all have double yolks." "Where did you see Du Xiaokang?" "They're hundreds of miles away." "I saw him in my dream." " Is everything OK, Principal?" " Nothing wrong." "A message from Ban Cang." "Zhi Yue's grandma died yesterday." "She can't come to school for some days." "Poor child..." "Does she have any other relatives?" "Yes..." "No..." "No big difference." "OK, let's go to Ban Cang to have a look tonight." "Mum, I'm hungry." "Mum, has Du Xiaokang come back?" "Sharp nose!" "Can you smell it?" "These eggs must be from Du Xiaokang." "He said he'd bring me some double-yolk eggs." "Mum, where is he?" "He left already." "Eager to die, little bastard!" "Du Xiaokang!" "Hundreds of ducks entered the fish pool." "The fry will all be eaten up." "How much property does Mr. Du have?" "It's really not enough to compensate." "Anger plus anxiety, so..." "Elder brother, I saw Du Xiaokang!" " Where is he?" " At the school gate." "Come on, it's class time." "We had a deal: you'll study hard for me, remember?" "You have to buy something." "Good morning, students." "Sit down, please." "Excuse me." "What's wrong, Sang Sang?" "I'm eating candy." "Take your seat quickly." "Ready?" "Let's begin." " What happened?" " Nothing's wrong." ""Trouble never comes alone"." "Just wasting his talent, poor Du Xiaokang." "But the poor family brings up capable children." "I dare say, the most promising boy in You Ma Di will be Du Xiaokang." "What a cool notebook!" "What are you doing, Sang Sang?" "You're a real pain, aren't you?" "Tearing it like that, PH show you!" "Daring to tear things up like that!" "I treasure them like my eyes!" "How did you tear all of them?" "Mr. Weng!" "Quick, stop him, please!" "Principal Sang, open the door!" "Sang Qiao, you are the Principal!" "You can't beat a child badly like this!" "Let's do it together." "One, two..." "Come out!" "I'll kill you if you don't come out!" "I'm teaching my son a lesson!" "You get out of here!" "But I'm protecting my student!" "OK, I'll stop - you do it!" "You see what your 'good student' did?" "These notebooks are my awards from the Party." "I keep them untouched, even by myself." "What a job he did..." "Tearing all of them!" "Tearing them!" "What are these?" "These are not notebooks." "These are your father's painstaking efforts." "These are your father's credit and pride!" "Don't you understand?" "Your father has tried to do his best all his life, caring for his reputation above all else." "But you've just wounded him to the quick." "Tell me that you'll be more considerate in future?" "Promise!" "Principal Sang, come here, please." "Sang, you expend so much effort on the children." "All of us appreciate it." "Even without those, would that mean you're no longer a good principal?" "You know that's not what I mean." "I just feel that the child should learn to cherish things from childhood." "There are three missing!" "Sang Sang, come here." "Chinese..." "Arithmetic..." "Biology" "These are the textbooks for Grade 4." "Why did you copy them?" "Du Xiaokang can't come back to our school any more, but he dreams of going to school." "All right, all right." "Don't cry." "Son!" "Sang Sang!" "Sang Sang, what's wrong with you?" "Sang Sang, what's happened to you?" "I don't know." "It just felt like the ground went soft." "My God, you soared me." "Mum, I have a sore neck." " Where does it hurt?" "Tell Mum." " Here." "Don't worry, you probably just twisted it." "It'll be fine after some rest." "Mr. Jiang took a leave of absence." "I'm taking the class for him." "Now, let's introduce ourselves." " Wang Xiaoxiao." " Yes." " Zhang Mingzhu." " Yes." " Gao Guoqin." " Yes." "Zhi Yue." "Zhi Yue?" " Zhi Yue hasn't come for a long time." " Did she take a holiday?" " Her grandma died." " Ah." " Yao Shuangkou." " Yes." " Sang Sang." " Sang Sang's on sick leave." "I really was sick." "Mrs. Weng, who'd taken Chinese medicine for half her life, began preparing Chinese medicine for me now" "Everyone tried to deceive me with smiles, saying my case wasn't a serious one." "Actually, the gravity of it was easy to see on the adults' faces." "Mrs. Weng, am I going to die?" "Why say that?" "Fool." "You're just a budding flower." "No!" "You're a doctor!" "Your duty is to save lives!" "It's your duty, and can't be evaded!" "Calm down, please, brother." "You're not my brother!" "I tell you, now that I have brought this child into the world..." "I will ensure he grows up well and enjoys a long life." "You just wait and see!" "Son, let's go." "Dad, don't be angry if I tell you something." " I won't." "Just tell me." " You won't be angry, will you?" "No." " You're sure you won't be angry?" "I'm sure." "Dad, the other boy in the wheat store was me." " Dad, you're angry?" " No." "Oh, Zhi Yue?" " Madam, is Sang Sang at home?" " Yes, he is." "Sang Sang!" "Sang Sang?" "He was here just now." "Zhi Yue, let me have a good look at you." "You've lost weight, child." "Madam, was Sang Sang born in the year of the dragon?" "Yeah, he's two years younger than you." "My grandma says people born in dragon years are lucky;" "nothing will happen to Sang Sang." "Zhi Yue, you're hungry?" "Madam will cook an egg for you." "Zhi Yue..." "Zhi Yue?" "Dad, can I go back to school?" "Sure." "You will go to high school, and to university as well." "I want you to go to university in Beijing." "Well, but we'll have to see Grandpa first." "You can go to school again after taking his medicine." "Really?" "Are you sure?" "Sure, people call him a supernatural being." "That's all right then." "Dad changed." "Even his voice changed." "I knew why." "Sometimes, I really didn't want to be cured... so he would be the best father in the world forever." "Sorry, my father died." "What?" "Mr. Hu died?" " Take care." " We come from far away." "I can't cure this disease." "But..." "there is a person you might try." "Please show the boy a path to survive." "Brother..." "This boy is only 11 years old." "He's so young!" "Grandpa, is this the way to Ya Tang?" "You've gone the wrong way." "Go back five kilometers and ask again." "Thank you." "What happened?" "What's wrong with the child?" "Father, I'm thirsty." "Well, let's go have a bowl of tea." " Grandpa, a bowl of tea!" " OK." "This child is very sick." "Boy, show me your hand." "Oh, show me the other one." " Show me." " Let Grandpa have a look." "No worries." "It can be cured." "Are you sure?" "If you trust me, just try several doses of my medicine." "But you have to take it for 49 days." "Make sure you don't miss any." "I trust you, Grandpa." " You just make out the prescription." " Boy, this medicine is very bitter." "He's not afraid of it." "It's bitterer than any other medicine, boy!" "I understand!" "Buddy, it's getting dark." "You'd better go to Ya Tang tomorrow." "No, I'm going to the dispensary right now." "You have to remember, after taking the medicine... if the boy's urine is dark colored, don't be afraid: the poison is being discharged." "If the urine becomes pale, that means the boy is saved, understand?" "I got it!" "Zhi Yue?" "Zhi Yue!" "Suddenly, I gave up." "I'm sure it was the happiest moment of her life." "Though there was no smile on her face, her heart must have been in raptures..." "Because she finally has a father, like other people do." "Ifs been several decades since Zhi Yue left." "I have never received any information about her since then." "But I know for sure, she's living happily somewhere in the world." " Sang Sang, you must be anxious." " Father, I saw Zhi Yue just now." " Did you?" "Where is she?" " She was with her father." " Her father?" " Yes, her father... she was with her father." "Take it, Sang Sang." "I know it's really bitter... but I've been taking it for over a decade." " Why?" "Because I expect a good life, watching you growing up." "Because I would like to be a good teacher." "Because you enjoy my music lessons." "You know, every time when I take class, watching you singing like little birds," "I have every reason to keep taking the medicine... even though it's the bitterest thing in the world." "And you?" "Mrs. Weng, I saw Zhi Yue." "She left with her father." "Her father was so tall!" "Zhi Yue will be tall when she grows up." "Sang Sang, you really have a wild imagination." "That's why Mr. Jiang always praises your writing, particularly the endings;" "they're even better." "I found it difficult to make adults believe what I'd seen." "Maybe, when people grow up, they neglect a lot of things." "That year was a tiger year." "But I'm not a tiger, I'm a dragon." "Zhi Yue's grandma once told me, dragon boys are able to escape disasters, but also need to experience them a total of 81 times." "That meant my story was just beginning..." "Attention, please!" "Let's begin to call the rotor!" " Wang Xiaoxiao!" " Yes!" " Zhang Mingzhu!" " Yes!" " Du Xiaokang!" " Yes!" " Zhao Arshu!" " Yes!" " Gao Guoqing!" " Yes!" " Xia Yuhau!" " Yes!" " Sister Baique!" " Yes!" " Mr. Jiang!" " Yes!" " Mrs. Weng!" " Yes!" " Zhi Yue!" " Yes!" " Bald He!" "Whoops, Lu He!" " Yes!" "Father, be quick!" "Come and have a look!" "Son!" "Subtitles English re-phrased and retimed by jaygator  lordretsudo in ADC"