In the Song Dynasty lived a woman named Pan Jinlian
who possessed an alluring beauty
Pan Jinlian's husband was named Wu Da
Wu Da had a younger brother called Wu Song
who had fought a tiger at Jingyang Ridge
An herbalist in the county seat named Ximen Qing
had an affair with Pan Jinlian
and together they poisoned Wu Da
After Wu Song found out
he killed Pan Jinlian and Ximen Qing
So since the Song Dynasty
people have called indecent women "Pan Jinlian"
The main character in today's story is Li Xuelian
Li Xuelian's husband said she was Pan Jinlian
Li Xuelian told everyone
Our story begins ten years ago
Who are you looking for?
Are you Wang Gongdao from the courthouse?
Yes
Is Chen Ah-Da from the backhills your cousin?
Yes
And Chen Ah-da's wife's family is from Cuijiawu?
Right?
Chen Ah-da's wife's sister got married in Qijia'an
Right?
I have a girl cousin on my mother's side who married
Chen Ah-Da's wife's sister's husband's cousin's son
So we're related!
What on earth do you want?
I want to get divorced
Why do you want to get divorced?
Irreconcilable differences?
It's more serious than that
There's someone else?
More serious than that
It can't be
as serious as murder?
If you can't help me
I'll return home right now and murder him
You don't want to do that
If you kill him
you won't be able to get a divorce
What was your name again?
Li Xuelian
Your husband?
Qin Yuhe
He drives a truck at the county tea factory
Did you bring your marriage license?
I have my divorce license
You're already divorced
why would you want a divorce?
This divorce is fake
It doesn't look fake
Sure, this divorce license isn't fake
But the divorce was fake
It doesn't matter if it was fake or not
Under the law
if you have these papers
Your divorce is real
What on earth do you want?
I want to bring a lawsuit
to prove the divorce was fake
I want to marry the adulterer once more
then get divorced again
You want to divorce Qin
In the end you will get a divorce
so aren't you just bellyaching?
With nothing better to do
That's just what everyone says
I don't think so
See there on the third floor?
Which one?
The one with the paper cutout
I fake divorced with Qin last year
It was so we could get a house in the county seat
When we got divorced
I got the house
and he got nothing
Only then would the tea factory give us an apartment
and we would get remarried when we got it
then the whole family would move to the county seat
That's what we agreed to do
I never thought when the apartment was ours
There would be someone else inside it
A fake divorce became real
The lout married someone else!
If it were you
could you stomach it?
So...
when you fake divorced
was that just a scam?
We didn't scam anyone else
but he scammed me
I'm a sucker
It was my idea to get divorced
I should slap myself
Use words, not violence
There's no need for that
You say it was a fake divorce last year
Qin's lawyer says it's real
You've each got your stories
I'm suing Qin
and that scoundrel won't even turn up
He only sent his lawyer
Will the plaintiff watch her language
There shall be no insults used in this court
There's a legal statute
allowing a lawyer to appear instead of the defendant
The evidence and divorce license have been submitted
Next we'll call the witness
Gu
It's your turn
Quickly!
The witness will now state his name
My name is Gu Daxing
I'm a Civil Affairs assistant for Guaiwan Town
Mr. Gu
Last year, Lian and Qin
Were you responsible for the divorce?
I do all marriages and divorces for Guaiwan Town
ls their divorce fake or real?
Is their divorce fake or real?
Real
Gu
You've lived long enough
You should have been able to see
that the divorce was fake
If it was fake
then didn't the two of you lie to me?
Lying to me is no big deal
but you can't lie to the government
You say the divorce is fake
Just now he read what Qin said
Qin said it was real
Qin is a lying swine
You can't believe a word he says
If I can't believe him, I should believe you?
Will the plaintiff please return to her seat
Don't overreact
The court has reached an agreement
It is clear from the evidence and witness
That Qin and Lian's divorce...
was real
The more she thought about the court's verdict
the angrier she became
Before the case
Lian was angry her husband had lied
Now she had sued and lost
didn't this prove her husband was in the right?
And that she deserved what she got?
Drink
Director
I'm busy working all year
and don't have time to look in on you
but your golden wedding anniversary
is something I'd never forget
Director
Today's banquet is a token of my personal affection
Definitely not paid for with public funds
You can enjoy yourself, director
Director
Let me tell you
Chief Justice Xun has given himself five taboos
Five
He won't drink at work functions
Today you and your wife are here
We're so happy!
The chief justice is making an exception today
An exception
Director
It's so great that the two of you have been married
For fifty years
Through all kinds of trouble
You've stayed together
It's so impressive
It's known all over our county
Tell us your secret
so us youngsters can learn
There's no secret
In the end there's only one word
Tolerance
No
Four words
Which four words?
Tolerate until it hurts
Auntie, you're so funny
Come, let's drink!
Happy
Watch your step
Zhengyi
I've already got Lao Li
on the case
I've troubled you again, haven't I?
That was good stuff today
Good stuff
Chief Justice
You have to help me, Chief Justice!
Who are you, what do you want?
Comrade
I have to tell you
This is neither the time nor the place
Wait to say what you have to say at the court
Did you hear me?
Go away
What's happening here?
Does she have a case?
I've seen this many times before
Come here, and describe your case
Director
I'll handle this
You get in the car
You must be drunk
Don't forget, you're retired!
Yes, Director
What can a peasant woman have to complain about?
Take care of yourself
We'll handle this
Zhengyi, I've told you before
Better a farmer than a heartless official
Don't worry, director
I've taken your words to heart
Good
Okay. Off you go
Rest up
Take care of your health, auntie
Be careful
Take care of your health
Let her go
Tell me
What's your problem?
Chief Justice
your court gave out the wrong verdict
You have to do something
What kind of case?
A divorce case
The chief justice can't bother with a divorce case
The only case that reaches him is murder
Understand?
Who's in charge of your case?
Wang Gongdao
He made the fake divorce real
If you're not happy with the court verdict
You can appeal
How do I appeal?
Appeal to the municipal intermediate court
So you won't do anything about the mistake?
It's your court's fault
I didn't say wasn't going to do anything
Did I?
Can't you understand what I'm saying?
Listen
according to legal procedure
Your case is out of our hands
Understand?
What if Justice Wang perverted the law?
He favored the defendant in court
So he must have taken a bribe from him
He did accept my sesame oil and cured meat
You should go to the procuratorate
Why?
Justice Wang is a civil servant
If he is taking bribes and perverting the law
then report him to the procuratorate
They'll register it for investigation
Understand?
Let's go
Chief Justice!
What are you doing?
I have suffered so much
Why are you giving me the brush-off?
I told you what to do
Don't you know the law?
What are you doing?
It's the middle of the night!
Look at yourself, pushing and shoving
Report Justice Wang to the procuratorate
Don't cause a scene
If you get drunk like this every day
can you judge any case correctly?
Hell!
Hey
Watch your attitude
Yes, sir
Good thing you didn't hit her
She's fine
Get up!
Whatever it is you want, get up first
Get up!
What's your grievance?
I want to bring a case
Against who?
Not just one
How many then?
The first is against Justice Wang
The second is against Chief Justice Xun
The third is against my husband Qin
All at once?
I'll call the county chief over
Don't go!
Let go!
You look like the county chief
How did you get that?
I asked around for your plate number
You're in the car
You're the county chief
The county chief's car may not hold the county chief
I am his secretary
This is a big case
I can't take responsibility
I'll call the county chief
I'll call the county chief for you
You just stay there
Don't move
Don't follow me. He's over there
I'll be quick
He's the county chief
Yes, he's the county chief
Did you get burned?
Is the car ready?
It's ready out back
Take off your jacket
Quickly
Cali the petition bureau chief
Get to the government gate and handle it
That... that woman with her case
Chief
Go out the back!
I've had three days' meetings at the provincial government
and she's been here the whole time
Haven't the deputy mayors come in to work?
Did they just ignore it?
The head of the petition bureau spoke to her
Deputy Mayor Diao also spoke to her
She won't listen
She's a woman
and there were so many onlookers
It was hard to do anything
because that would make the situation worse
You can't even solve this pea of a problem?
Was it murder? Or arson?
If it was murder or arson
it would be easy
It's a piddly problem
The woman got a divorce
and now she regrets it
Mayor Cai
What do you think we should do?
You always complain about having too small a post
When there's an incident
you want me to shoulder it
You ask me to step in
Mayor Cai, everyone's here
Good
It's fine to sit there on a normal day
but Governor Chu will come in two days
to inspect our spiritual civilization campaign
is this an example of spiritual civilization?
This is a critical moment. Get her to leave
Whatever the matter let's get through this first
Yes, sir
See the big picture
Keep the general interest in mind
And?
Unite as one in looking to the future
Good. Now you're talking
You've stayed long enough
Remember the lessons
New year's gifts from us
Sign on the line
then you can go
Mayor Cai only said to get rid of Lian
but he didn't say what to do with her
Then his attention shifted elsewhere
But his instructions were passed down the levels
and changed tone at the Public Security Bureau
To them, the mayor was angry
and wanted the woman locked up
I brought the case against someone else
so why did I end up inside?
So why did I end up inside?
I only made myself suffer
Not anybody else
I've turned everyone against me
Tell me
Should I keep up the struggle?
You beast
Even you don't think I can win
Lian decided to drop her case
Not because she listened to the cow
but because she just gave up
But before she did
She needed to see someone
in order to clear things up in person
If that person spoke the truth
she would pack up her army
and go home to open a countryside restaurant
Qin Yuhe
What?
Come over here
I need to talk to you
Say what you have to say right here
We should talk in private
Everyone in the countryside and the city
knows our business
There's nothing left to hide
Fine
You want to do it in public
then tell me something honestly
When we got divorced last year
was it real or was it fake?
Was it real or was it fake?
You went to court
What did the court say?
I don't care what the court said
What do you say?
Was our divorce real or was it fake?
Tell me!
You won't get me!
I don't know if you're recording this!
Qin, how can you go back on your words?
We said clearly last year that the divorce was fake
How can you change your mind without telling me
It was a fake divorce!
Why can't you be honest for once?
Just say it was fake
If you're honest today
I won't sue you anymore, Qin
Lian
You need to listen to me
You need to stop being so unreasonable!
If you stop now
it's not serious
The worst outcome is detention
If you keep on
then you'll go to prison
Also
Do you think you're fighting me?
You're fighting the judge
and the chief justice
The county chief and the mayor
Think about it
What will happen to you?
Lian, it's unresolvable
It's best you go
Qin Yuhe
We were husband and wife, right?
How could you be so cruel?
I don't care about the lawsuit
I just want to ask
Did you use a fake divorce
to have sex with another woman?
Who's the one having sex?
Who?
You should ask yourself
If we're on to that
you did it first
Qin! What do you mean by that?
What do I mean? Let me ask you
Were you a virgin when we married?
Were you?
On our wedding night, you admitted it!
You had sex with other men before me
Am I right?
I'm asking you
Your name is Lian?
Why do I think it's Pan Jinlian?
Qin
that's too far
You're muddying the waters
Let's drink
Lian never imagined
Qin would say something like that
She wanted to determine if the divorce was fake
not to ferret out if she was Pan Jinlian
Lian's love affairs before she was married
and Pan Jinlian's adultery and matricide
were two different things
Qin had an audience
so his words would cross the county the next day
Whether Lian was Pan Jinlian
was a much bigger deal than if the divorce was fake
Yingyong
Sister!
Weren't you arrested?
No, they made a mistake
Come here
I need to talk to you
Do we have a good relationship?
It's pretty good
You covered
The cost of my car
Then do a favor for me
What favor?
Help me kill Qin
He's behind all my suffering
Don't you think?
I can kill a pig for you
No problem
But I've never killed a man before
No one is born a killer
You reach a breaking point
If I kill him
I'd have to face the bullets, too
You don't have to kill him
Just hold him down for me
and I'll knife him
You won't have to face the bullets
I will
You won't be involved
If I hold him down while you kill him
I'll land in jail, too
Hu
Describe our relationship to me
I have always liked you
Have you ever paid too much for pork?
Then please do something for me
What?
Look at you, big shoulders
Strong all over
Help me hold someone down
so I can slap him real good
Are you talking about your ex?
I heard about it
Qin is a piece of work
I'd like to know
If I help you
what's in it for me?
If you hold him down
I'll do it with you
Love
If we can do that
forget beating
I will kill for you
Okay
Then kill him
If that's what you want
Let's do it first
Okay
When can we do it?
Tonight
Do you know who to kill?
Qin Yuhe?
This is the list
That's a lot of people
Mayor Cai
County Chief Shi
Chief Justice Xun
Justice Wang
Rotten Qin
Love
Did you go mad in detention?
Did you lose your mind?
I'm just one man. Can I kill so many?
And apart from Qin
everyone's a government official
They're surrounded all day
It's hard to do anything
That's fine
Each one counts
I have suffered so much
Do you think I'm getting a good deal?
For doing you once
I murder five people?
I'm not the mafia
I knew you didn't have the guts!
Lian wanted to stop her troublemaking
but she couldn't
Now that she'd become Pan Jinlian
But what should she do?
She had tried the county seat and the city
She suddenly decided to take it to Beijing
Locals were fools
There were no idiots in Beijing
Thanks
Go somewhere else
This is for NPC delegates
I'm not staying
I'm looking for a friend
Your friend is a delegate?
He's not
He's a chef here
Zhao Jingli
I know the chefs
No one by that name here
Go away, go somewhere else
No way
Everyone in the county knows he's here
How can that be?
Wait, he has a nickname: Zhao Datou
Where did you come from, Lian?
We haven't seen each other for ten years
Yes, I'm here to see family
I thought I'd come see you
Datou, Datou
It's NPC time
Strangers can't stay
Is she a stranger?
We went to the same school
No schoolmates either
Those are the rules
So now you care about the rules?
But not when you come to pick up dinner
Every time it's, "A little more, Zhao"
I was there for you
You ungrateful bastard!
Come on
You can't hide this
The boss will find out
I've rustled up a couple of dishes
Try my cooking
I remember you in middle school
You liked stir-fried egg and tomato
Datou, I brought you tea and honey
and meat I cured myself
Now why would you bring me food?
There's food everywhere here
Let's eat while it's hot
The boss trusts me to look after the storeroom
Why don't you sleep here tonight?
Where will you sleep?
This is my turf. I have a dozen places to sleep
I can go anywhere
This is Manhattan
The World Financial Center
This is the White House
Where the US president lives
It's highly secured
This is the Arc de Triomphe
The Eiffel Tower
I don't like taking photos
It's just a souvenir
Thanks
Get two of the dragons
Okay
Next!
Datou, I feel bad you've skipped work
and spent money on me while I'm here
Don't be silly
I've had a crush on you since middle school
Time has given me another chance
It's been so many years
and you're still a joker
Lian wasn't happy in Beijing
Because she wasn't here to tour
but to sue
She couldn't tell Zhao Datou the truth
Even worse
once in Beijing
She didn't know where to take her case
or to whom
What place would accept her lawsuit?
And what people would listen to her?
Datou
What do you want?
I just wanted to see if you're asleep
I'm looking for yeast for tomorrows fried dough
To be honest
the governor of our province
loves my fried dough sticks
Datou
If you think you got a rotten deal
taking time off to show me Beijing and dine out
then I'll give you every cent I have
Lian
What are you talking about?
What kind of person do you think I am?
Hey, Datou
I want to go out alone tomorrow
Don't worry, I'll be fine
If you want to go alone that's fine
If I ask to take off again
the head chef will get mad
If you go out tomorrow, make it early
Why?
There are so many guards now
I think a high official is coming
A high official will come here?
Yes
This is where the NPC delegates stay
The leadership comes here for meetings
Oh
Though I'm just a chef
I've seen a lot of officials from TV in person
Remember
Don't tell anyone! It's a secret
A secret
Would all NPC delegates take a seat
The meeting is about to start
The high official is about to arrive
Eight delegates will speak today
We all know the order
but I must stress the timing
Each person will speak for eight minutes
on the subject of yesterday's government work report
Don't go off topic
or you'll run over
There won't be enough time
and the high official won't have time to close
That would be a huge loss, wouldn't you agree?
I won't mince words
If anyone goes long
after the meeting
they will be fined
Hello, Chairman
Hello, Hello
Jinglian
Please continue
Let me hear your brilliant ideas
Our leader has taken time from his busy schedule
He cares for the 50 million people of our province
For our part, we should
I'm just an ordinary delegate
The same as you all
Here to discuss the government work report
Don't make a big deal about it
Let me just make one thing clear
Today
I'm here with my ears, not my lips
I'm not here to make a speech
Datou, the boss wants you
What for?
Something good
Police
You Zhao Jingli?
Eight delegates
Representing a range of sectors
have shared their views
Now
would the honored leader now give us instructions
Didn't I just tell you?
I'm not speaking today
It looks like you've twisted my arm
Comrades, your speeches were fine
As for the constructive criticisms you've raised
I completely agree
My overall feeling towards the government work report
is to seek truth from facts
On last year's outcomes
and this year's plans
do not act rashly
Some people say I'm conservative
Better to be conservative
than to be radical
Radicals
end up in remedial classes
Haven't we learned enough from history?
Let me now turn to deficiencies
Stop the cameras
Corruption. immorality
I stress these the most
Also the people complain about these most
It gets worse each day
Comrades
Every case uncovered makes us shudder
Shudder, comrades!
The waters can float a boat or tip it
These two tumors
Could shake our legitimacy, if not removed
Jinglian
Is Guangming County in your province?
Yes
Today
something strange happened to me
I was on my way here
As my car entered the compound
a woman stopped my car
My guard wanted to arrest her as a terrorist
I told him to stop
I asked her what was the matter
I said
Why are you stopping my car?
She said: "I have a case"
I asked her where she was from
She said she was from Guangming County
I asked her what sort of case
She told me
It wasn't a big case
just a divorce
A small divorce case
that made it to Beijing!
Such a small thing
why did it end up in Beijing?
Why?
Was it the woman's fault?
No
At every level of government
Officials at every rank
did not care about the concerns of the people!
Did not care about the concerns of the people!
They ignored her
Sidestepped
Gave her a hard time
A sesame seed is now a watermelon
An ant is now an elephant
A woman's divorce is between her and her husband
Now
She wants to sue seven or eight people
from the city mayor
to the county chief
to the chief justice
I heard
because of her case
she was arrested
Who twisted her arm?
Who?
Not a public servant
A public parasite
Not a public advocate
but someone running roughshod over the public
Tell the provincial committee
Everyone involved in this woman's case
must be held accountable
and severely punished
Governor Zhu
For the sake of one divorced woman
ls firing all those officials
truly necessary?
I've had the secretary verify the situation
Although details differ from the high official's version
It's real enough
They let things reach this point
Haven't they made the whole province lose face?
Buddha
Don't be penny wise and pound foolish
You've punished
the greedy and corrupt
but that treacherous Qin
is still at large
And this Pan Jinlian label on me
still isn't cleared up
And that's the main point of this case
Buddha
It can't end like this
Ten years passed
Lian continued her suit
Her divorce case with Qin Yuhe
And the Pan Jinlian label
were still unresolved
General suing aside
every year
she brought her case to Beijing during the NPC
causing headaches for officials at all levels
Cousin
Open up
Cousin
Hey
Have you been here all night?
Yes
Look at this frost!
There's no frost!
No?
I'm not that stupid
I came knocking last night
You pretended not to hear
so we went back
I came early today
knew I would get you
Cousin
I've come for no particular reason
I just want a bowl of your bone broth
Actually, it's not because I wanted your bone broth
I wanted to come see
if you needed anything
If you really want nothing else
go home
I don't need anything
and take that ham leg with you
I'm a Buddhist now
I don't eat meat
Why are you making bone broth then?
If you're not in trouble
I can't come see you?
Stop calling me cousin
You're the chief justice
When you call me that
it makes me nervous
Even if I became mayor
you'd still be my cousin
Chen Ah-Da from the back hills
who died last year
is my distant uncle, did you know that?
If he's your uncle
don't ask me
ask your mother
Chen Ah-Da's wife's sister
married Hu at Qijia'an
You have a cousin on your mother's side
who married Chen Ah-Da's wife's sister's husband's cousin's son
So we're related pretty closely!
Chief Justice Wang
If you've got nothing else
stop grinding your teeth here
I'm busy
Since we're related
I won't go round in circles
In two weeks
the NPC starts in Beijing
When will you be going?
So that's what you want
Listen
I'm not going this year
Look
I'm not going in circles
But you are
For ten years
you sued every year
Now you suddenly say you won't
who can believe that?
It's not the same this year
How so? Explain
I hadn't given up then
I've given up now
Cousin, that's not convincing
I know how much you've suffered
But honestly
this case
is no longer just yours
Your divorce case
toppled the mayor
the county chief
and the chief justice
But let's get real
Was your divorce real or fake?
Can you and Qin remarry
and then divorce?
Can the mayor or the county chief decide this?
Can't you empathize?
If not for anyone else
then for me
If you don't sue
I can keep my job
If you sue again
I might lose my job
just like Chief Justice Xun ten years ago
You
You no longer have to worry
I already told you
I'm not going this year
Why do you lie every time you open your mouth?
We're brother and sister!
Can't we have an honest and open conversation
You won't believe anything I've said
Stop wasting my time
I need to buy brine today
Cousin!
One house is burnt
We cannot permit a second to catch fire
These old homes
are on file with the province
After the first fire
the province issued a notice
If a second one burns
the situation changes
Look
This extinguisher expired a year ago
Cultural Relics
Public Security
Fire
If any department did its job
things wouldn't be this way
Now
check them one by one for hidden dangers
I'll be back in ten days
If they are not compliant
I'll hold you responsible
Justice Wang
continue your report on Lian
Don't just take notes
Put Chief Zheng's instructions into practice
Ten years
This woman's gotten even harder to deal with
If she doesn't want to sue
I can't figure her out
Don't try to figure it out
Let her sue
We can't let her sue
Stopping Lian is as important as firefighting
Where does the constitution say a citizen can't sue?
I wouldn't be afraid if she just sued in the county
but she'll go to Beijing
If she stops another official's car
the city mayor, you and me
will be fired
So be it
I don't want to be chief anyway
Chief Zheng
please forgive my frankness
You don't want to be chief anymore
but the major still wants his job
and so do I
So this peasant woman commands the fate of us all?
For a decade
it's been like this
If she were alone, it would be fine
But she's three people now
What do you mean?
To us, she's a tenacious pest
Her husband says she's a slut
She thinks she's a victim of injustice
Three women
None of whom are easy to handle
Three difficult women combined
is superhuman
and she trains like Lady White Snake
Ten years of complaining
She's a master of it
She's got your number
Let me meet this Pan Jinlian
Cousin
what are you doing back here?
I'm too junior to convince you
so I've brought the county chief
This is Chief Zheng
Fine
Come inside
That's okay
Lian
I like directness
so let's be blunt
The NPC is in session in Beijing
so are you going?
I told you yesterday
I won't go this year
You've come to your senses
so sign a guarantee
What does a guarantee do?
If you sue again
the law holds you accountable
Then I won't sign
If you're not suing
why are you afraid to sign?
I'm not afraid
The situation isn't like that
That's not what I'm arguing
Right?
I don't need redress
but I won't sign a guarantee
If I sign
it's like I'm admitting fault
Not a problem
except that for more than ten years
What have I been doing?
Was it all wrong?
Lian
It's not that serious
It's just a formality
Now it's a formality
When something happens
you'll pull out that paper
and then it's the police station for me
I know
That's not the point
It's so we can all relax
An oral agreement
isn't worth anything
Cousin
Here's what we'll do
We've already drafted an agreement
Chief Zheng came today
so just sign it here
I guarantee I won't bother you after that
I won't sign
I had not planned to sue this year
but if you keep pressuring me
I swear
I'll change my mind
and I'll sue this year too
Look
At last the truth comes out!
The importance of improving the countryside
I won't repeat myself
Now let me describe
our "beautiful countryside"
Filthy. Chaotic. Inferior
Are any villages not ringed with rubbish?
Who's going to invest where everything's filthy?
We've had many clean-ups
but they've been only superficial
It's back the way it was three days later
Not this time
and fix the source
County and district chiefs must be personally in charge
In three days
submit your comprehensive plans
and bring them to me
Dismissed
Chief Zheng of Guangming County, stay behind
Chief secretary, you too
Mayor Ma
I've been thinking about Lian
Lian...
Yes
...is not entirely to blame for the situation
Has our approach been too simplistic?
A peasant woman who's complained for a decade
decides to stop this year
Real or fake
she needs to be led in a positive direction
But you all
are forcing her to sign a guarantee
and screwed it all up
Our approach is too simplistic
Yes it is
But what's the substance of the problem?
Our attitude toward the masses
You don't trust her
So why should she trust you?
Yes
Besides
the woman went to Beijing a decade ago
A woman who somehow made connections in Beijing
is no ordinary rural woman
Yes
If we conduct our business
as if she's an ordinary peasant woman
Then we'll have problems
Ah
Our predecessors ten years ago
treated her like that
Haven't we learned anything since then?
Yes
I haven't learned any lessons
But that's not my main point
News has advanced
Internet, microblogs, WeChat
The whole world might find out overnight
Then, like our predecessors ten years ago
we're out of a job
Worse, the country loses face before the world
Mayor Ma
You're right
I've misjudged the problem
We lost the bigger picture
I'll go back and write a report
No self-criticism is needed
Just so you're aware
I've been thinking
There are lots of old sayings
That are worth remembering
For example
Along dike can fail at a pinprick
Stop trends early or "Miss the forest for the trees"
They all have to do with small things
Many stumble on the small, not on the big
because they don't grasp the importance of "small"
The NPC opens in nine days
I'd better go myself
I'm an NPC delegate
This is one of my duties
Besides
in the three years I've been mayor
I've never met our victim
I get caught up in bureaucracy, too
Mayor Ma
My poor efforts have caused you problems
Meeting the public is one of my duties
Find some time
I'd like to have dinner with the woman
Very well
Have it at the city government hotel
Not to criticize
but our attitude toward the public
is apparent from a meal
Should we go to them
or should they come to us?
Right, of course. We'll go to the county seat
Hold it at the county government hotel
Okay
I just said to draw inferences
Why is that so hard to put into practice?
If you invite someone to a meal at a hotel
with lights blazing
Before she even sits down
she's nervous
She's scared stiff
I've heard Lian runs her own restaurant
Yes
Why can't we meet there?
Right, of course. Go to her place
I'm just worried about hygiene
I'm not
I grew up in the countryside
What others eat, I will too
If you won't
you don't have to go
We will
Lian
I'll have your broth
if you try this sausage
my mother cured it back home
Maybe it's not a delicacy
but its flavor
is authentic Jiangxi
Oh! The power's out
Chief Zheng
Yes
Call the power bureau
I'll call them now
We have a lantern but no oil
I'll borrow some
Lian
Don't go
They cut the power
so let them fix it
Justice Wang
get some oil from the village head
Quickly
I'll go at once
Here's the lantern
Mayor Ma, you didn't come for my bone broth
but for the case, right?
Lian
I have a question
but you don't need to answer it
You said before you won't sue
but they don't trust you
and reacted badly
Can you repeat what you said before?
Mayor Ma
Since you're here
I'll talk to you
I've told them twice over
I won't sue this year
They don't believe me
You've sued for over ten years
Why not this year?
I was uncertain before
but I've figured it out
Then tell me
What was it you hadn't figured out
but figured out this year?
For example
Did something specific happen
that convinced you?
It wasn't anything specific
I listened to the cow
Cow?
What cow?
Lian
Mayor Ma's come a long way
It shows his good faith
and intent to solve this problem
Don't mock him
by dragging animals into it
See?
It's the same as with my case
I tell the truth
and you take it as a lie
Lian
I believe you're telling the truth
so let's trust the cow together, okay?
So let's trust the cow together, okay?
No suit this year
Mayor
There's a difference
What difference?
The cow can decide
You all can't
Why?
The cow says no because
it's scared I won't win
You don't want me to because you want me to lose
They're two different things
Look, you can see that we've come today
to help solve your problem
Don't try to fool me
Once it's NPC time
you line up to see me
All to keep up the ruse for a few days
and then you'll drop it and ignore me again
Cousin
Focus on the case
Why drag in the cow?
You're being insulting!
Come here, Chief Zheng
Wasn't the city's war on poverty hard?
And reconstructing the old quarter?
And last year's flood recovery effort?
Didn't we rise to every challenge?
But one women's mental block
Has got us stumped
Change of tack
Put aside the woman
and talk to her ex
Ah
It may be a chore
but won't that solve the problem?
Whoa! Mayor
That's a capital idea
Right to the point
Chief
The factory director is here
Director Li
Chief Zheng
This matter isn't our factory's business
It isn't the government's business, either
I just have one question
Can you solve it or not?
If you can
solve it right away
If you can't
I'll find someone who can
Chief Zheng
There's an opening for fleet chief
If you help out the plant
then you'll end up chief, I guarantee it
You're good to me, director
You brought me up here from Hubei
and I'm grateful to you
and I'd like to help
But I can't help you with this
Why not?
Do you know who has been affected most
by Lian's decade of lawsuits?
Who?
My current wife
Lian had ten years of lawsuits
My wife has had ten years of finger-pointing
Five years ago she got depression
She says to me "Why are you afraid of Lian?"
Because of her lawsuits?
Get me mad and I'll sue too!
So that makes two lawsuits
And I'll tell you something, director
If you all pressure me
I'll sue too
And then one lawsuit
will have turned into three
As matters stand
the county can take care of it
Remind Zheng
Pay attention to his approach
This must be foolproof
Wait
One more thing
One mistake is proof we're fools
Chen
On government business?
Not so lucky this year
Isn't keeping watch better than catching people?
So you say
But you get a warm bed at night
and I'm standing here out in the open
It may be springtime
but the nights are still cold
Only two places in China are this closely guarded
Which two places?
One is Party headquarters
the other is your house
Lian
Four bodyguards
Just like the US president
I had this inscription brought from Jingjiang Palace
They say it's auspicious
It turns bad luck to good
Here
Have you thought any more about us?
About what?
Marriage
I've got a lot on my mind
Don't joke around
I lost my wife over a year ago
We need a new start
You're not suing this year
So we've got time for it
I did say that
but I've changed my mind
Why?
They forced me
Who did?
The chief justice
The county chief
The mayor
I said I wouldn't sue this year
but they didn't believe me
They demanded a reason
I said I obey my cow
They took it as an insult
I don't get it
Whatever I say
they twist around
Why don't you just ignore them?
Do what we agreed
Drop the suit
and be together
No. They're pushing me
They're driving me to desperation
If I don't sue
they'll think they've beaten me
I never thought the situation
would blow up like this
Datou
I've got a favor to ask
What is it?
Look
I've got four people who follow me all day
If I really want to sue
I've got to escape
How can I handle so many on my own?
I wonder
Do you think you could help me find a way to escape?
Chen
It's cold out there
You all come in for a drink
We're on duty
We can't drink
You don't need to watch her anymore
What do you mean?
This year it's different
She's not suing
Who's going to believe that?
Lian is going to marry me
Tonight's drink is for our engagement
And if we're getting married
She's not going to complain about some old divorce
Are you for real?
It's not a joke
Does Lian joke?
Come on in
You have a point
I won't lie to you
Lian and I are together
after a stormy two decades
She was my crush in middle school
But time moved on
and we went our separate ways
It wasn't easy, but now we're reunited
So let's drink to that
Here
Try some dried tofu I brined myself
Today is a good day
You toast them too
Yes
Drink
You are all here today
to toast our engagement
It's fate
I should thank the government for sending you
I express my thanks by emptying this glass
Take it easy
Oh, that's harsh
Have some more
Oh, that's harsh
Datou
Lian
Congratulations
Thank you
How're you doing, Chen?
The pig trotters came up
which is a shame
No, I can walk on my own
See?
I can walk fine
Take it easy
I'm fine
Are you okay, Chen?
Datou, I'm truly happy for you
It's late
I'll stay here
Don't blab around, though
Take it easy
We're not blabbermouths
Have some more
No more
Hey, bring the car around
Come up to the gate
We'll sleep in the car
Take care
Time to go
Let me give you a hand
I'm fine. See?
I'll make it. I'm really fine
Come to my restaurant in the county seat some time
I'm fine. Let me be
Drive the car around
Take it slow
Ah. Okay
Go back home
Let's go
There's four of them and one of her
A police chief
A chief justice
Tricked by a peasant woman
It's embarrassing!
The NPC starts in five days
You've got to find Lian
Don't worry, chief
I'll find Lian
How many days?
Three
Two!
She'll be in Beijing in three
Two days
Find her, and come see me
If you can't
then deliver your resignation
I'll get to surveillance at once
Mayor Ma has arrived at Lian's village
How did the mayor know?
And how did he get there so fast?
I'm on the defensive
Why didn't you tell me earlier that she left?
They just reported it
Quick!
What are you waiting for?
A medal?
Chief Zheng
It's the police's fault Lian escaped
It has nothing to do with us
Nothing to do with you?
If you hadn't ruled wrongly
would we be here today?
It's the right ruling ten years ago that led to today!
Chief Zheng!
Secretary
I just found out myself
Where's the mayor?
By the river
If he curses at you
just take it. Don't try to explain
I know, I know
Mayor
I didn't do my job
and now Lian has escaped
It's so scenic here
I'm pondering a question
We all know the nature of the Lian issue
but problems keep cropping up
Do these problems
arise from the small
or the big?
Just as you pointed out
It's always the small things
Along dike can fail at a pinprick
But don't worry
Mayor
We've learned our lesson
I guarantee
Within two days
we'll find that woman
Thank you. Chief Zheng
I've come today
to talk more about the links between big and small
I can't mention "foolproof" anymore
Chief Zheng
There's five more days before the NPC
In four days
I'll report to Beijing
Chief Zheng
It's in your hands.
Please trust me
I will do everything I can.
Datou
Where are we now?
Tangkou
Hell, Datou
Police!
Don't panic
They're not here for us
We'll find a hotel
Better to sleep days
Travel nights
I'm not being stingy
They only have one room left
A triple
We can sleep by ourselves
Datou
You're strangling me!
What are you doing?
Knock it off, Datou
This is fate
Datou
Datou, knock it off
It's been a long day
You need your rest
Datou
Hands off
I'm going to get angry
Datou, knock it off
I've waited twenty years
You're really pissing me off
I can't wait any longer
Datou
That was rape, you know?
Just tell me, did you like it?
It's daytime
Don't you have any shame?
It's never been this good for me ever
Let me ask you a question
What?
Would people rather be with a loved one?
Or with an enemy?
That's a silly question
Then I'd advise you to drop your suit
A suit is abandoning your family for your enemies
If you change your mind
We'll go back and get married
Your restaurant downstairs
and the hotel upstairs
have been abandoned for years
Let's re-open them
What do you say about that?
It's a good thing we came to Huangshan
Climbing mountains really opens your mind
Here's what I think
Let's not sue
Let's not go home either
Let them look!
Where will they look?
Chief Zheng
Our search now covers four counties
all highway exits
all bus and train stations
all major roads
all monitored by our police
Have you found them?
Not yet
Chief
A court justice wants to see you
Wonderful to meet you, Chief Zheng
Spit it out
Wonderful to meet you
I'm Jia. Jia Congming
Continue
You all take a break
Please continue
I rushed over here to make a report
You can stop the search
There's no need to find her
Why not?
Because she's not going to Beijing to sue
Where did she go?
Huangshan
She went to fall in love
What?
Wang
You've got to talk to the chief for me
Our police have been working overtime for two days
We're doing all we can
The chief hasn't slept either
The mayor laid into him
Zhao Datou sent me text messages
In one
he said he took Lian to bed
In the other, they're climbing Huangshan
He said they're getting married
They're getting married
Why would Lian still want to sue?
Yes, she ran off
But to Huangshan
not Beijing. This is proof
This is very serious
There's no room for uncertainty
Chief
I'll stake my job on it
No more mess
I've been working on Zhao Datou for two weeks
but I couldn't present it until it was confirmed
You've been working secretly on this
That's right
What's your angle?
Not just to ease the leadership's worries, is it?
Purely to ease the leadership's worries
Of course
Since I helped with such a thorny problem
I do hope for certain consideration
Let's have it
And I've got a mind to improve myself
What was Zhao's angle
for cooperating with you?
For cooperating with you?
He gets a wife
His former wife died last year
Jia
You've helped us resolve a major problem
That's right
Take all of the messages on your phone
and send them to my phone
Okay
As to your request
When this is all over
the Party will consider it
Thank you, Chief
How tall are you?
176 cm
For your husband?
Turn around
Let me compare
I'm not bugging you
I took care of your situation
Did you take care of mine?
Of course I believe the chief
but I've got to see it myself
My son said there's been no movement on his status
You only report news of me and Lian to the chief
but what about my son's job?
Oh?
That's ridiculous
The two aren't comparable
We're here. You can't see with your own eyes
Not just in Huangshan
but even in our county
If I took Lian to bed
you wouldn't be there
It's taken care of
We'll come back and get married
She won't sue
That's enough. I can't talk
She's coming back
Listen
I can explain
Scoundrel!
I was forced into it too
It wasn't my idea
It was Jia Congming from the court
Open up
Don't be angry
I don't care about my son
I truly want to marry you
Ah
If you're still angry
Let's trick them together
Where are you going?
Listen, I'll...
Don't follow me
If you do I'll kill you
Zhao Datou and Jia Congming's plot shocked Lian
Her complaint was that Qin called her Pan Jinlian
For over a decade she wasn't Pan Jinlian
Zhao Datou had sullied her
Now she was an adulteress
She couldn't keep living if she didn't clear her name
Isn't she getting married?
Why has she run off again?
What the hell is going on?
Chief
I knew nothing about this
This is unconnected to the court
He acted on his own
Don't try to clear yourself, okay?
You were the architect
Explain
Zhao Datou
had everything worked out
Lian was going to marry him
but Zhao insisted on conditions
His son was a temp at the livestock bureau
and he wanted you to use your connections
to make him a permanent hire
I didn't tell you that
Then they climbed the mountain
But then Zhao Datou
thought only about himself
and he called me for an answer
He was overheard by Lian
so she ran off
It was just one step from success
Why didn't you tell me before?
Personally speaking
My biggest character flaw
is that I don't want to burden my superiors
Shut your trap
You concealed it!
A classic case of missing the forest for the trees
Not only that!
He concealed what he knew
Your only concern was becoming assistant chief justice
Your selfish greed ruined a sure thing
and now the government's in a bigger mess
The government's in extra trouble because of you
Shut up
You're such an idiot
You're not smart
You're a fake
Where did Lian go?
I don't know
From the looks of it, Beijing
Then what are you still doing here?
Find her in Beijing!
Bring Lian back!
Chief
The court isn't involved in arrests
Not involved?
Your court is to blame for this
And you say you're not involved
Another thing
Didn't you say you're related to her?
Us? Related?
We can't possibly be related!
Let me repeat
If anything happens
I'm finished as county chief
You're off the court, too
I can't conceal such a weighty matter
The last time she ran off
the mayor came directly to
to the county, I couldn't do anything
You're even more screwed this time
Vice-Governor Meng, in charge of petitions
came to inspect the city's petition work
At dinner
He asked about Lian
and Mayor Ma joked with him
that Lian was getting married
Vice-Governor Meng laughed
and so did his colleagues
But now, in the time of this performance
it's flipped completely
Now it's really a joke
How will Ma explain his joke to the vice-governor?
I apologize
Because the NPC is going on in Beijing
to ensure its smooth operation
all city visitors
must be inspected
Please show your ID cards
Thank you for your cooperation
ID, please
To save time
please have your ID cards ready
Ma'am
Your ID card please
I've lost it
I was pickpocketed on the road
Go home and replace it
You can't pass without it
Get off
Let me through
I'm ill
Go home for a checkup
You can't get in without an ID
Go replace your ID and then come back to Beijing
Feel my head. I'm burning up
Exit the bus first, okay?
Cooperate with us
We're not here to give you a hard time
I'm dizzy and my vision's blurry
It's on you if I die
The bus can't go with you on it
Don't waste everyone's time
Come, ma'am. Work with us here
Don't pull at me. I'm not getting off
Wait
Comrade
You need her identification?
Her identity is a patient
Ever since she got on
she's been leaning on me, burning up
If she were your sister
you wouldn't ignore her health
Sir, please don't get angry
No passage without an ID card
I can't be liable
We're in the middle of nowhere
If anything happens to her here
you're liable
How about this?
We send her to the nearest town
Okay?
Without ID she won't reach Beijing
Please understand
Hou
Where's Lian?
I turned around and she was gone
Didn't I ask you to watch her?
Yes. But there's so many people
it's hard to keep track
If you spotted her, why didn't you pounce?
A big guy like you can't hold onto a woman?
I should have spooked her?
Besides
I'm not in uniform
Plainclothes, you know?
If I grabbed her
she'd yell and struggle
And with all those people watching
it's tense enough already
They would take me for a thug and beat me up
That would be a hassle
Cut the crap
Did you get a clear enough look
to see whether it's really her?
If it was her that you saw
then it means she's in Beijing
Problems are at hand
Check out any family she might have here
Laborers. Vendors
Right
Where am I?
Niutou County
How far is Beijing?
An hour or so
How long have I been here?
Two days
We can't let you go without paying
We're close to Beijing
I've got a relative there
He sells oil at the farmer's market in Donggaodi
How about this, director?
You send someone with me to get the money
Okay?
Are you sure about this?
I don't have the time to mess around
He's a nut seller
Where could he be?
It's 12:00
I've got to pick up medicine
Hey, how about this
I take you back to town
and you talk to our director
What do you say?
I'm in a hurry
I'll die before I go back
Skipping out on the bill?
Is that your plan?
No
When I find him I'll pay you back
You have to let me find him
If we don't find him on this round
I'll tie you up and take you back
Fresh roasted! Cheap!
Peanuts! Sunflower seeds! Fresh roasted!
Yi
Cousin
The county court's got people looking for you
They've been here ten times
Three times yesterday
Then I've got to get away
You're not going anywhere
Pay the money
Cousin!
You're not an easy person to find
Hey, man. She owes me money
Once she pays me back, then you two can talk
Step aside
Take her to court if she owes you money
Don't obstruct official business
Take him away
Don't try to run
Drop your case
Come back home with us
I told you I wouldn't sue
but you didn't believe me
It was you who forced me into this
I'll fight you before I stop
Cousin
Be civilized!
Lian
Cousin
Don't hit me, cousin
We're not here to block your case
Stop fighting!
We're not stopping you
Somethings come up
I had to tell you as quickly as possible
so I came by plane
I needed to talk to you
What's the matter?
Qin
He's dead
Dead?
He wasn't ill or injured
How did he die?
Two nights ago
he was driving a shipment to Wuhan
Probably got tired
His truck, with him in it
took a plunge into the Yangtze River
Cousin
It's been ten years
but Qin is dead now
Your enemy is dead and gone
You can't sue anymore
It's not about him
It's about you all
You've been fighting us all this time
but in the end it's about Qin
He's the root of the whole case
We're just the leaves and branches
Now he's dead
Without the root
the leaves fall off. The case won't hold up
Like the old saying goes
Without skin, what keeps the fur on?
Yes
So how can I continue my suit?
Unless Qin comes back to life
Qin Yuhe!
You good-for-nothing!
You've ruined my life!
Even in death I can't escape!
You died without a word
and left me stranded here
We still haven't resolved our situation
and now you've died on me!
And it'll never be cleared up
You wretch!
Why didn't you hold on?
Why did you have to die?
Cousin, come home
Come on
Let's take you home
Stop making a scene
Let's go
Go home
What am I going to do?
Mayor
We finally found Lian
on the closing day of the NPC
Cutting it close!
With Qin dead
Lian won't be suing
Not this year, and not ever again
Right
It ended up accidentally
That's right
That's not what I meant
I mean the way it was resolved
It wasn't because of us
The resolution was random
It resolved through without resolving anything
The whole situation
was an accident
The past few days
I've been pondering Lian
The government and its officials
were not malicious
They all wanted to do good
They all wanted to help her
So why did the situation worsen?
Why did it drag on for ten years?
Besides
When you get down to it
Lian wasn't in the right
The court didn't make a mistake
in its judgment of her divorce
So why, at all levels
were we so afraid of her?
Did we really want to help Li Xuelian?
Or just protect our own positions?
In my opinion
it's more the latter
Someone who only cares about himself
isn't going to stick his neck out
He's only looking upward, not outward
But you know what?
Not answering to the people
is the worst thing we can do for our superiors
If we don't figure that out
then Lian may move on
but a Wang Xuelian will take her place
Don't rush to answer
Go home and think about it
You'll see the importance of taking responsibility
Li Xuelian fell terribly ill
When she came to her senses
She looked for a spot to hang herself
Not because she could no longer petition
But because for ten years it had been her life
She had nothing to struggle for anymore
Li Xuelian's life had collapsed
Living had no point
That's how she felt
Sister!
What's your beef with me?!
You shouldn't do this to me
Hey. Leave it alone!
I've been watching you
If I die here
what's it to you?
It's easy for you
But this orchard is contracted to me
At harvest time
city folk come here to pick fruit
If they knew someone died here
would anyone come?
Where should I go?
You really wanna die?
When someone wants to die
no one can stop them
Why?
If I could answer that
I wouldn't kill myself
If you really want to die
then do me a favor
Go over there
That orchard
is contracted to Cao
He's my competitor
As the saying goes
Don't hang yourself on just one tree
You won't waste much time if you change trees
After Mayor Ma's chat with Chief Zheng
The city of Yong'an launched a program focused on rectifying official conduct
Drawing a range of lessons from the Li Xuelian case
To prevent minor issues from metastasizing
Establish a responsibility system
And work closely among the general populace
To nip similar situations in the bud
Here, dried tofu
Enjoy
Ma'am
Coming
I'd like
one bowl of broth
and one plate of cured meat
One plate of cured meat
Sister
Are you Lian?
Do you recognize me?
Do we know each other?
Back then you were holding a big sign
With "Injustice" written on it
You stopped my car
I lost my job as county chief
Oh, you're Chief Shi
We only met that once
I know
That's my injustice
Chief Shi
It's because of me
that your future got derailed
Don't say that
because you never know
What are you up to now?
After I lost my job
I went back to Hunan
I'm from a family of carpenters
I run a woodshop
I get by
I've come to Beijing
to get business
Why are you here
and not out suing?
When Qin Yuhe died
I couldn't continue my case
Rather than go home
I stayed here with a cousin
and opened a restaurant in front of the station
Careful, it's hot
Thanks
Here
A decade of lawsuits
but I got nowhere
You included
I recall the case started
with an apartment, is that right?
For an apartment
you faked a divorce
Looking back now
was it worth it?
When we faked our divorce
it wasn't for an apartment
Then what for?
It was to have another child
The apartment was just a pretext
But in those days I wasn't allowed to
It was against the law
So we talked it over,
and faked a divorce
Qin would get our son
and I'd give birth to the younger one
Who would belong to me
Once the baby was registered
we could remarry
But a few months after that
what was fake became real
That lowlife got married again
I was so angry
I had a miscarriage
Chief Shi
Those ten years of lawsuits
were all for my unborn child
I didn't realize it was so complicated
I'd rather not mention the past
Yes, you're right
The past may fade
Eat up
This concludes our story of Lian
The past may fade
But people told her story the way they told a joke
First behind her back
and then to her face
Eventually she got used to it
She even laughed along with them
as if it was someone else's story
not hers