[The Way We Were]
[Episode 5]
Will you return this to him in person?
Don't let anyone find out.
So is this a secret between the two of us?
If that's how you want to look at it.
Sure, I'll help you.
But you have to tell me what happened between you guys
and why he'd give you a car.
I'll tell you when all of this is over.
Okay.
Remember!
You have to give it to him in person. No one can find out about it.
- Don't worry about it. - Okay then, I'm leaving.
- I'll drive you! - No need.
I want this car out of my sight.
I'm going to be driving my car!
I plan to cross-examine the patrol officer
and question his Chinese listening skills.
Then I'll have his colleague come out as a witness
to indicate that he misheard your conversation.
If everything goes as planned...
we'll be able to have the charge of obstruction of justice dropped.
Next is our turn to provide evidence.
I'll present your plane ticket showing you left in June and returned in August.
I'll also include your border stamps, proving that you didn't receive...
My client's legs were crushed and rendered useless in this accident.
[2007] They had to be amputated at the thighs
nearly to her waist. It's been labeled a stage V injury.
She won't be able to live an independent life.
I ask you to bring your attention to this photo.
This is a photo of my client right after they were injured.
Does the defense have anything to add?
No, Your Honor.
Shu Che.
Shu Che!
Do you have any thoughts or opinions?
No.
Okay then.
What's on your mind?
I'm thinking about the girl from six years ago again.
I've never told you this.
Whenever I go back for the holidays, I wander into her neighborhood.
I just wait for her to show up.
Just to see how she's doing.
Mom is super strong. I ate a giant bowl of rice for lunch.
You sit. Hold on tight.
Honey, watch your hand.
We've got to slide it a bit more.
Come on, pull.
I watched her until she got married.
I watched her marry a deaf man.
Her face on that day was lit up with the kind of happiness...
you'd expect from a girl on her wedding day.
I watched from a distance.
I kept thinking to myself...
How much happier she'd be...
if I hadn't made the mistake that I did.
But you didn't do it intentionally.
Also...
Your parents paid her enough money for a lifetime.
All the pain I caused her... physically, emotionally...
Can money really make up for all of that?
But you guys did everything you could.
What did I do?
Some things...
You should just leave them in the past.
Events are done once they're done.
But when it comes to what's right and what's wrong...
It's stuck here forever.
What is right? What are we supposed to do?
Are they not synonymous?
What should be done is the right thing.
We've been taught that since we were all young.
But after growing up, I've come to realize...
that they are often different things and are sometimes even opposites.
What you should do isn't always right
and doing the right thing isn't always the best thing.
Will choosing do to the right thing...
hurt the loved ones that are just trying to protect you?
Yet is doing what they think you should do
you protecting yourself, or you hurting yourself?
["He that violates his oath profanes the divinity of faith." - Cicero]
Good luck.
All rise.
Please be seated. Court is now in session.
- Morning, Mr. Shu. - Good morning, Your Honor.
According to your profile, it looks like you're...
in your studies at Standord University.
And you're in the final year of your undergraduate studies?
Yes, Your Honor.
Well, the material submitted by your defense attorney
have included your transcripts.
It looks like you're doing very well at university.
Yes, Your Honor.
My client has always been an excellent student
and enjoyed a good reputation.
I'd like to hear what the prosecution has to say first.
Officer Schuler, will you please give us your opening statement?
On August 6, 2013, when I was on duty, I saw the accused speeding with his car
with the license plate 4D0Q678.
While I was trying to speed up and ask him to stop and pull over...
he ignored my warning and continued to speed up and go off the highway.
When I arrived at the spot where the accused had stopped...
He and a lady who had been with him had already gotten out
and were standing on the driver's side of the door.
While I was approaching them with my gun...
I heard the accused ask the lady in Chinese...
to tell the police that she was the driver, not him.
He said his license was revoked because of traffic violations.
Therefore, I arrested the accused on the spot.
On behalf of the San Francisco Police Department
I would now like to submit the lawsuit against the accused
against four charges. Driving without a license...
driving with excessive speed, dangerous and reckless driving...
and obstruction of justice.
Could you understand what they were saying in Chinese?
Your Honor, I've been studying Chinese for two years.
I can speak Chinese very well.
My Chinese is excellent.
Defense attorney, please provide us with your statement.
I need a word. My client denies all these charges.
In the court, I will submit information of his flight.
He went to Beijing from San Francisco on June 29th.
He returned on August 1.
And I will also submit immigration records to support his words.
Because he'd left the US, he could not receive his traffic ticket.
He was unaware that his driving license was revoked.
So he had to subjective illegal intention of driving without a license.
Besides this, I want to submit evidence provided by my client's landlord.
It will explain other reasons.
The reason my client's license was revoked was because two months ago
he needed to rush the landlady, who had a heart attack late at night
to the hospital, and drove through a red light on the way.
Which was punished as a traffic offense.
This statement shows my client has good character
and loves helping people.
In addition...
I suspect the authenticity of the testimony from the prosecution...
of Officer Schuler.
I will provide new evidence to prove Officer Schuler
is overconfident about his Chinese language level.
Because of mishearing and misunderstanding...
He has fabricated the allegation of my client inciting other people
to take the blame for him.
Are you saying I misunderstood?
I will demonstrate that we are not sure you understood
what my client said on the spot.
But Ms. Xiao, who was with him at the time...
already verified with her testimony that my understanding was correct.
I'm deeply interested in what Ms. Xiao will say in court today.
- Is Ms. Xiao here? - Yes, she's seated here.
Ms. Xiao, please take the witness stand.
Place your hand on the Bible.
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Yes I do.
Please make your statement as to whether the accused
asked you to take the punishment for him.
Ms. Xiao, please answer the question.
Your Honor.
Please forgive me for interrupting.
May I explain the reason for my lawyer's statement?
Shu Che!
Okay, what's your statement?
My lawyer denies the four charges against me
because I have reserved information from him.
As for the four charges, Your Honor...
I...
I plead guilty.
I confess.
Because I was busy with preparing for exams
and went back to China to attend my girlfriend's commencement...
I failed to get my license restated in time
after it was revoked.
I confess.
On August sixth...
The day when it happened...
I had not planned to drive in the first place.
But my friend who agreed to drive me to the airport was out of contact.
Therefore, I had no choice but to pick up my girlfriend myself...
and that caused unlicensed driving.
I confess, because my girlfriend had been sent to the hospital
for a sudden illness that happened on the plane...
I was so worried about her that I over-sped.
And last, I confess...
When I was about to be arrested by Officer Schuler...
I asked Ms. Xiao...
to take the blame for me.
As I worried that I could not get to the hospital on time.
When I got arrested, my girlfriend was in surgery then.
The accused, why didn't you tell your attorney
about this in the first place?
And now you tell it in court?
Since this incident transpired...
I have struggled between doing what is best for me personally
and what is actually the right thing to do.
In the past...
I have been unwilling to admit my own faults.
I have always acted in my own self-interest.
This is why I asked Xiao Qing to take the blame for me.
I would like to thank Officer Schuler for being able to understand my words.
As such... he has prevented me from obstructing justice.
I also must thank Xiao Qing for denying my selfish request.
In doing so...
she has avoided perjuring herself in court today on my behalf.
At this moment...
I realized I finally have the answer to the issue
which has haunted me for so long.
From this point forward, I promise to always do what is right.
Regardless of the consequences.
I sincerely apologize for my past acts of cowardliness and selfishness.
I like your honesty and courage today.
If it's so, we can speed ahead the trial process.
The accused, please sit down.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Ms. Xiao.
Do you have any objections with his confession?
No objection, Your Honor.
Do you have any further questions for Ms. Xiao?
I have none, Your Honor.
Me neither, Your Honor.
Ms. Xiao, you may be excused.
Defense Attorney, do you have any further witnesses to testify?
Since my client has pleaded guilty, we shall provide no more witnesses.
I apply to the court to submit his flight arrival records...
payment of his fines, consideration of reinstatement
for his driver's license, and a statement from his landlady.
I hope the court gives them consideration.
In spite of the short time, I believe Your Honor has learned
that my client has good character.
And he had no subjective intention for what he was accused of.
And as you can see, my client is also a man
who has the courage to bear responsibility
and face up to whatever it takes.
Therefore, I expect the court to give him a reasonable judgement.
So that he can get more opportunities to serve society
instead of just taking the punishment.
This is the very justice my client wishes and welcomes.
There's something I'd like to say before making an announcement on this.
To confront is the precondition of correction.
as well as the beginning of all proper precognition.
To confess one's own sin...
is the greatest bravery for everyone.
Again, I'd like to express my admiration for Mr. Shu.
For your courage, and making this a comforting trial.
Now I'm ruling the accused, Shu Che...
is guilty of all four charges and is fined $1,000
and to perform 100 hours of community service.
- Thank you, Your Honor. - Thank you, Your Honor.
Xiao Qing, thank you.
- I'll be going first. - Okay.
I'm sorry.
Forgive me for being ungrateful.
I'm proud of you.
I love you.
Let's go home.
This Shu Che... he strayed from the lawyer's plan.
He admitted his guilt in court.
We did all that work for nothing.
[Yanzhou] So what happened?
The outcome is decent.
Just a small fine and community service.
Perhaps it's his honesty that struck the judge the right way
and lightened the sentence.
But it will be on his record regardless.
This is what he considers doing the right thing?
It's my fault things ended up this way.
You did everything you could. It's not your fault.
Not to mention what's done is done.
All right, forget it. How is the business venture coming along?
It's pretty much all set.
CE Asia's president is aware
that we are adamant about not turning into a foreign-invested enterprise.
He suggested to me the idea of importing and developing our own technology.
China would have full intellectual property rights.
But the decision is still up to CE's executive board.
Next, we'll have to see if the American boss...
is willing to give us the technology in exchange for our market.
You must remember.
The main contender this time is either a joint or solely foreign venture.
Their goal is "Made in China," "Made in Germany," or "Made in Japan."
So you absolute must nab intellectual property rights.
This is your only trump card.
I understand.
I'll see you.
Where are you taking me?
A good place.
Why did you bring me here?
You'll know in a bit.
Careful, there's a rock here. Watch your feet.
Go on and dig. It's just below this shovel.
Dig for what?
There's treasure under the shovel.
Treasure that I prepared for you.
Is it April Fool's Day?
Do I look like I'm messing with you?
You're in trouble if I don't dig anything up.
- What did you hide? - Good luck.
You hid it so deep!
You're almost there.
This?
When did you bury this here?
A long, long time ago.
Don't you want to open it and see?
I'm opening it.
It's all yours.
Today is my tenth day in a row eating In n Out.
[August 20, 2007] Miao Ying.
I desperately want to eat your cabbage cooked in vinegar.
Braised ribs in soy sauce.
Even though you always put too much vinegar or burn the ribs...
but I still dream about their taste every night.
Today is the tenth time I've been harassed since I arrived.
It's also my tenth time steadfastly turning them down.
Miao Ying, there were a few seconds where I hesitated.
I wanted to let go and just pretend that she was you.
But the thought was gone in a matter of seconds.
Because no one could replace you for even a second.
Is it hard waiting for someone for six years?
I thought so in the beginning.
But when missing you became a part of everyday life, I realized...
how hard something is depends on how determined you are.
Thank you, Miao Ying, for using 60 days out of every year
to prove to me how much the hundred or so days of waiting is worth it.
You let me realize that doing something steadily and quietly...
even if it's just waiting, even if it was for six whole years...
It's all possible.
I've become a freak in everyone's eyes because I refuse all the girls.
They find it completely inconceivable.
They think there's something wrong with me.
It's so hard being an abstinent person these days.
Miao Ying!
Miao Ying, are you missing me?
Miao Ying.
There are still 1,778 days until you arrive.
In the years I've been here, I've come to this place a lot.
I just stand here looking out at the sea.
Because I know... you're right on the other side.
Sometimes if I looked long enough, it was as if...
I could see you waking up and washing up.
Eating, studying...
Turning off the lights, and going to sleep at night.
You know, when I put the first message inside the bottle...
it was my third day in America.
This strip of sand has heard everything I've wanted to say to you.
It knows my loneliness and how much I've missed you.
It's also key witness to the fact that I've been single all these years.
I had planned to bring you here the day you arrived.
Miao Ying.
Are you willing to marry me?
Right now. Immediately.
Yes I am.
Right now.
Immediately.
I've finally waited for the day you're here with me.
Shu Che.
Miao Ying went over the trial with me.
The outcome isn't too bad.
I'm sorry I've been so busy with work and haven't been able to help out.
It's fine. This is the result I wanted.
To do things by myself and take responsibility for my own mistakes.
Cheng Ran, when can you learn from Shu Che?
Dad, I came to America on my own when I was 14.
How much more independent do you want me to be?
Right. Your extravagant spending shows real independence.
I want you to learn some responsibility.
Shu Che, you're graduating next year. What are your plans?
To go back to China to start a business or stay here and work?
I think I'll stay here and keep studying.
I want to get a law degree.
- You want to keep studying? That's good. - So a JD like Xiao Qing?
Then you'll go from being a senior to a junior.
When did you get this idea? I've never heard you mention it.
It's been some time.
I keep thinking I have some questions that I want to find the answers to
through law, so I want to study it more in depth.
Your father... wants you to go into business, right?
That's what he wants, but not what I want.
Studying law doesn't mean he can't also do business.
Dad, I'll just take this chance to introduce you
to what Shu Che is currently researching.
It's called a domain name server.
- It's called... - Domain name server.
What is that? Tell me.
For example...
A domain is like the mainstay for a bank or online marketplace
on the Internet.
If it gets hacked or there's a leak in the system...
problems could arise, and the domain could be lost.
Then no one would be able to find it and the website would crash.
Thus, what a domain name server has to do
is prevent the domain from being attacked
and ensure the security of the website.
So this is an Internet security product.
It has a lot of market potential.
I look forward to it. Have you found an investor?
Investors are hard to find these days, but I'm confident in my product.
I believe it's only a matter of time.
Why bother looking? Just have my dad be your investor.
Two birds with one stone.
I don't know if you'll allow me the honor of being your investor.
- I can't accept that. - Why?
Because we have a personal relationship.
Even if it's like any other investment...
I'm afraid of exposing my dad to unnecessary risks.
You've given this a lot of thought.
Especially since your dad runs in official circles.
- I understand. Absolutely. - Thank you.
Come on, let's eat.
Also, there's something else. It has to do with me and Miao Ying.
I want to talk to you and Cheng Ran about it.
What would you need my permission for? Do tell!
Miao Ying and I have decided... to get married.
Finally! Here, congrats. I wish both of you the best!
You guys haven't even graduated.
You don't even know what direction you're headed yet.
Why are you in such a hurry to get married?
Isn't it okay as long as they love each other?
Will you stop talking? I'm being serious here.
Marriage has always been in my plans.
I've waited for Miao Ying for really a long time.
It's been six years.
She's here now.
I think it's a good time for us to marry.
I don't know what will happen in the future.
All I know for sure right now...
I love her.
And I want to be with her for the rest of my life.
I understand all of what you're saying.
But marriage is a very complicated thing.
For example, how would we have the wedding here?
What would we do about those back in China?
Like where will you two live?
Will you have to buy a house and furniture?
Not to mention I haven't even met your parents formally yet.
Miao Ying and I have discussed these things.
We don't plan on having a wedding yet, just going to get ourselves registered.
After that, she can move in with me.
- Our life can start from their. - Just that simple?
Yeah, it's just that simple.
Shu Che and I are on the same page.
Isn't this too hasty?
Marriage isn't just about the two of you.
Think about it. You have a lot of friends and relatives, right?
We do too. They deserve some kind of notification.
And most importantly...
Have you discussed this with your parents?
- Not yet, but I will. - You see?
Dad, let us hear your thoughts first.
Do you agree to it or not?