If you disobey orders,
you will be killed on the spot.
what does your instinct say?
The war is coming.
Isn't this fine now?
I don't want to be like in the past.
We'll take care of your wedding.
No, we won't.
I bought a one-way ticket for you.
Just like marrying into the village.
You can't return.
BASED ON PAI HSIEN-YUNG'S WORK A GREAT LITERARY FIGURE OF TAIWAN
Lady Qin.
As time goes by, everything will be fine.
Okay.
Don't regret it.
This is your marriage application.
I got it this morning.
The headquarters has approved it.
Give it back to me.
I mean, the ticket.
One day, I'll be using it.
Lady Qin, are you going back to Zhejiang?
Take your bag.
I'll help you.
It's going to be a long journey
back to the village.
Sir.
Students in Nanjing protested today.
And a curfew was declared.
That's good.
They should avoid that.
It's like when the enemies on the ground saw us in the sky.
Two bridegrooms.
Go to the New Society Club now. Don't miss the auspicious time.
Hurry now.
Everyone is going to be there, what are you doing? Move faster!
-Did you send the telegram? -Yes.
The wedding car is here!
-Gong. -Hey.
You look well dressed.
But you're not the groom.
One is my friend and the other one is my brother.
I'm happy for them.
Looks like your uncle is not able to come to your wedding.
We can't wait anymore. Let's go.
Lady Qin.
I don't have any relatives at the wedding.
Can you be my family?
I'm not your family.
From now on, I'm just a person who plays mahjong with you
whenever you're bored.
You're the woman of the hour.
Get in first.
Here. Be careful.
The groom, First Lieutenant Zhen Guo
and the bride, Ms. Qing Zhu.
Qian-yi.
Her family is not here.
All that's left is the final step.
She can't get married
if you don't walk her down the aisle.
No civil war!
No starvation!
No persecution!
No violence!
No civil war!
No starvation!
No persecution!
No violence!
This is the garrison headquarters!
Dismiss immediately!
This is the last warning!
No civil war!
No starvation!
No persecution!
No violence!
No civil war!
No starvation!
Those who attacked the Military Police will be killed immediately!
First Lieutenant Zhen Guo,
do you take...
Do you take Ms. Qing Zhu, to be your lawfully wedded wife?
The lovebirds are flying across the sky.
Gong, go take a look.
-Okay. -As a soldier,
it's our duty to protect the country and the people.
A bride has to wait for her husband at home.
We need people who can save the country
and who can protect their home...
Sir, the protestors have dispersed.
But some of them are rushing in from the alley outside.
Let's go.
As Captain, I will announce that...
Captain! You're not finished yet! You haven't said the last sentence!
I know!
Follow me.
-Find cover! -Hurry up!
Let's go!
Get out of the way!
Go, hurry!
I've prayed for you in this church.
When you were missing in action.
This place is calmer.
Let's get married here.
But we don't have any witnesses.
Wait here.
We want to get married here. Be our witness.
There is a riot out there, we have no place to go.
Be our witness.
May God bless you.
I do.
Lady Qin helped decorate the room.
I see.
Will you leave me?
Yes.
I don't want to lie to you.
But soon,
the war is going to break out.
Then you will join the war.
I...
You'll follow Lady Qin and Madam Zhou.
They'll take care of you.
This is what you get when you're married into the Air Force Village.
When I drew my air route,
I included you in that too.
You need to bid farewell
to your youth
and your past.
When the war ends,
you'll go to the New Society Club
to have some coffee and dance with me.
We'll live a good life.
If the war breaks out,
you'll play mahjong with Lady Qin to kill time.
Time will go by quickly.
Then I'll be back.
Believe me.
No matter where I am,
I'll find my way back to you.
Because you're my beacon.
I'll find where you are.
I'll come back for you.
Just remember these words,
the days will go by very quickly.
I hope to meet someone to spend my entire life with.
Thank you.
If your coordinate
isn't on my air route,
I really wouldn't know
where I should go.
Today, the founding ceremony of Central Political University was held.
It's merged from Central Political School and Central Cadre School.
The students from this school and traders' association
released a statement to support the central government
and condemned the Nanjing Student Association
and the Workers Association
as they used democracy as an excuse to riot and protest.
All students and civilians, don't be affected by the communists.
Withdraw half of your money from the bank,
and keep it in your house.
Those who want to write a letter to your family, please do so.
-Gong. -Yes?
Lady Qin.
Contact the train station every day and check the trains' condition.
Check the schedule and the availability of the trains.
Also, don't cut the telephone line of the village and the base.
-Make sure you check it every day. -Okay.
Go get some rest.
-Go on. -Leave quietly.
Don't disturb the newlyweds.
-Be quiet. -Goodness.
It's like the old days again.
Qing is not afraid.
So we shouldn't be afraid of it.
News from the CNA.
The National Army raided Dongbei.
The National Army had some rapid progress, and the Communist Army escaped.
The people in Dongbei welcomed the National Army
and thanked them for the rescue.
The National Army showed its generosity.
They offered the communist soldiers a chance to start with a clean slate.
You should not believe everything from the news.
What are you doing?
No matter how hard I try to repair it,
it won't return to the way it was anymore.
Forget it.
Let's take a new photo tomorrow.
Take a photo? Okay!
You, me and Qing. Let's take a pose for a photo together.
Here. Move to the front.
Hurry up!
Is it that hard to take a photo?
No, go to your right!
Don't step on the brake, move faster!
Here, come on.
If I had known that the photo we took that afternoon
would be the last photo
and the only photo of the three of us,
I would have asked Wei-xun
to organize it better
-and ask the officer -We're ready!
-to take a few more. -We're ready, come.
Hurry up.
Here, this side.
-You must take all this, okay? -Okay, no problem.
Is this okay? Or...
It's fine.
Okay. One, two, three.
-One more. -Okay, no problem.
Sometimes, the random peaceful days
will have the smell of happiness.
This smell of happiness
will make people
imagine the future.
People said that the soldiers and their wives
don't have any imagination.
But I think Lady Qin has a good imagination.
What happened?
Madam Zhou. Don't throw it.
No one wants to play with me.
Stop playing around, Madam Zhou.
Vice-Captain Shao said that he'll take you and Mo-ting out today.
My mom said the war is going to happen soon.
So the wives are bringing out the parachutes to air them.
Here.
Since the war is over, they're basking them in the sun to go out and play.
But what if they're tired?
When they're tired, they'll come back and look for you.
The soldiers are the ones with the best imagination.
They'll always tell you things that you won't believe.
Since when did the New Society Club become the Army's club?
Let's go to the streets.
Who wants to go with you?
The seats are already taken.
You're almost done, right? You can leave now.
-Me and my husband are going to sit here. -Wei-xun.
My husband. A major in the Air Force. A pilot.
He's three ranks higher than you.
It's about the same level as your deputy commander.
Last time,
I was in a bad mood.
Like you said, I'm a combat officer.
I could only be the vice-captain.
I'm sorry.
This is the first time I heard you spouting
in between your thanks and apology.
Anyway, Mo-ting is going to start school soon.
I'm thinking of putting your surname
on her name tag.
Chief.
Hey... What are you doing, Chief?
Waiting for my girlfriend.
What do you mean girlfriend? You're married.
The married men in the Air Force would usually have girlfriends.
-Am I right, Mo-ting? -Yes.
Zhi-jian, did you reply the letter?
What?
Your high school classmate.
There is a letter written for you a few days ago.
Right.
Chengdu Fourth High School.
Who would still keep in touch after being graduated for so long?
Then maybe it was intercepted by the Censorial Bureau.
That girlfriend of yours is from the Democratic Alliance.
Don't reply any of those letters yet. Just wait for a few days.
Yes.
It's good to have a peaceful day like this.
Look at you.
-Oh, yes, Wei-xun. -Yes?
When you go back, gather all the wives in the village.
Write an autobiography.
Start from elementary school period.
Especially about their marriage to pilots. Who introduced them?
Write it clearly.
After you're done, send it to the Censorial Bureau. Okay?
Peaceful days?
Wei-cheng was suddenly released. Now you want us to write an autobiography?
The party is having peace talks with the Communist Party.
We can't fight with our own people.
Oh, right. It's about time we put those two useless guys
back in jail.
Let Mo-ting have some candy.
-There's no need... -Waiter! Give me the Russian soft candy.
Democratic soft candy.
Have you tried that before?
-It's sweet and chewy. -Chief.
Is your girlfriend here yet? Are you waiting for her at the bar?
I prefer older women from Dongbei like Wei-xun.
What do you mean?
Aren't you older than Zhi-jian?
Two years older.
It was written in the marriage application form.
Older by two years. It's not even the nominal age.
You're here.
Didn't you book a place? I've waited for you all day.
I was chased out by an older woman from the Air Force.
Please give us your seat.
We booked this table.
You can bring Zhi-jian home and play there.
Let's go.
Go.
Sit.
-Chief. -When the Air Force crashes,
the size of the bodies is smaller than those of the Army.
So it's necessary to make the coffin's wall thicker, right?
Yes.
The new coffins are still under the Army's standard.
It's too thin.
The Army's management bureau is so unfriendly.
Change it. Send another batch.
Okay.
In China,
there are only two women who own a jet.
One of them is Mei-ling Song of the Air Force.
And the other one
is you.
Is it okay for you to change the code number?
It's fine.
The old 513 is going to be dismantled anyway.
The entire wing has started to use new planes.
The old ones will be moved to other units.
But we still have the old 513.
After seeing its maintenance records, no one wants it.
So the engine factory plans to dismantle it.
Before I went to prison, I told the old 513.
I told that if I could find you back,
I would find a hangar
to store it.
I was just saying "thank you" to 513.
If it's possible,
I wish I could keep it.
It's just that there's really no other way.
There's a way!
The captain is looking for you, hurry up!
There's a chance that the old 513 will not be dismantled.
Really?
There's no need to dismantle it?
A new pilot came, but he doesn't have a plane.
Maybe he can save the old 513.
HAPPINESS, QING ZHU
Did you graduate
before the Japanese surrendered?
Yes, sir.
Wow.
You even jumped with a parachute before?
Yes, sir.
Safely landed.
Good.
Did you still have a chance to fight when the Japanese were going to surrender?
I wasn't fighting against the Japanese, sir.
Then...
You can talk to the captain.
I was fighting with the practice target.
Practice target?
What does it have to do with the parachute?
I couldn't estimate the distance,
so I crashed into the practice target.
Okay.
You're not suitable for the recon unit.
I think...
you should go to the 6th Reconnaissance Wing.
Thank you for your recommendation.
Thank you, Vice-Captain. Thank you, Squadron Captain.
Trainee officer, Zhao-jun Gu, received the order.
Sir.
Let him stay here.
When he graduated, the Japanese troops were about to surrender.
All units were busy.
He had no time to practice.
That's why he had bad results.
Our wing still has a P-51,
my 513.
I don't want to give it to the engine factory.
But if something happens...
What's going to happen?
He's just a trainee officer on probation.
If the war in Dongbei breaks out,
he won't be joining.
Okay.
Then let him take care of your 513.
Just taking care of it.
Here.
Here is your personnel transferring form.
After you sign it, send it back to your 2nd Wing.
Let them transfer your position and make the payment.
Also, say hello to your captain for me.
He used to be my classmate.
I don't need to send it anymore. The 2nd Wing has gone to Dongbei.
Why do we have to write an autobiography?
Didn't the chief say that they are negotiating?
Maybe they're afraid that there are people
from the Democratic Alliance or the underground party.
Who else hasn't submitted their autobiography yet?
-Ying Wang. -I'll help her write.
I'll describe her as a communist.
I heard a new pilot joined the unit.
He saved that old 513.
Yes. Otherwise, it will be such a pity.
Lady Qin, did you go see the captain's jet last time?
Last time, he brought me there quite often.
There are patches all over. With bullet holes.
It looks murderous, I don't like it.
You just got married, so you'll like everything about him.
As days go by, you wouldn't even want to be near the airport.
Lady Qin, my uncle replied my letter.
I want to visit him in Guangxi.
You should ask Zhen Guo.
You can only go if he said yes.
They won't like it if they enter an empty house.
No lights.
No woman waiting for them.
Eight bamboos.
I won! I warned you.
There's a hole there.
I'm back.
Wei-cheng is back.
I haven't spent any time with you. I was thinking of having dinner with you.
-I haven't seen a new one in a while. -Yes, it just got published.
So I bought it for you.
I'll help you out, go play with them.
Chief said that they're negotiating, right?
Yes.
Eleven more months.
It will finish before you know it. Then everything will be better.
You'll be discharged soon. I'm counting the days.
When the time comes, we should go back to my hometown.
Yes, okay.
-I'll cook for you later. -Why don't you play first?
Hurry up and come here.
Lady Qin.
-Ying Wang. -Madam Wang.
How many times do you want me to ask for your autobiography?
Lady Qin.
Can you transfer Gang Wang to aviation school?
I heard that there's a vacancy there.
Lady Qin, please.
Why?
Captain, please.
Why?
Gang Wang, where did you hear about that?
From the rookie.
Do you want to be transferred?
No. I want to fight alongside you, Captain.
Gang.
Didn't you say there won't be a war?
Go back to the airport!
-Go. -You can't go!
Gang.
The 2nd Wing went to Dongbei to assist them.
The communists
didn't surrender.
Are you going back to the airport?
Wei-cheng, we'll go now. Stay and have dinner with Qian-yi.
Eating dinner is not my job.
I need to go back and take care of the team.
The 2nd Wing left.
What's next?
Which wing?
Soldiers solve problems, not predict the answers.
Also,
the atmosphere is pretty impetuous lately.
I need to stay with the team to increase their morale
and improve their flight training.
Qian-yi.
Please take care of the village.
You're not merely a wife now. Don't affect the team.
Like you said,
everything will get better.
Stay!
When you got married into the village,
I gave all of you the chance.
To think about it carefully.
Now that you're here,
you want to leave.
You made a rash decision to come here.
It was a silly decision.
If you want to leave,
you need to have the guts!
The dependent certificate is not here yet.
If you want to leave, leave now.
Don't make a fuss in the village.
I'm tired.
I don't have the energy to take care of everyone.
You can't move?
No guts to leave?
Then be quiet and stay in the village!
Don't influence them!
The 2nd Wing is the backup team from the headquarters.
They were transferred there.
Maybe they want to ensure the momentum.
I'll go talk to Lady Qin.
About what?
Your transfer.
When we got married, didn't you say that you're not afraid?
That was a lie.
I could lie about anything just to get married.
Zhao-jun, you bastard.
You messed with everyone.
Qing, listen to me.
I'm different from you. I don't lie.
I told you that I'd come back.
Then I'll come back for sure.
Don't be afraid.
Then, can I go visit my uncle?
Lady Qin said that as long as you agree,
I can leave the village.
You can't. You can't leave the village.
My uncle is going to Dongbei soon.
He wants me to bring you along to Guangxi and visit him.
Where's the letter?
Hey!
What are you doing? He's my only family now!
Now?
The war is going to begin.
If you leave now, you may not be able to come back.
In the middle of the chaos, how am I going to find you?
You don't have a family. You only have me.
If I'm not here, Lady Qin is your only family.
You're being hard on your wife,
even before you become the captain.
It's not like that, Lady Qin.
Right now...
-Go back to the airport. -She...
Don't you have flight training tomorrow?
Tell Wei-cheng
that I'll bring the wives to support the Air Force.
Qing.
I have something to tell you.
Do you want to hear it?
Becoming the wife of a pilot
is not easy.
You must always be on your toes.
And even if your eyes bleed from looking at the sky,
the pilots
won't even know.
They're linked to their planes.
Sometimes, they head east.
Sometimes, they head west.
You can't reach them.
You're already in the village now.
You need to be strong
and brace yourself for what's to come.
Lady Qin.
LIFE
Go! Hurry up and go!
Go!
-Gong. -Yes?
Hurry up and find a cloth to cover.
Okay.
Wei-xun.
Send the wives back to the village.
Why are there so many coffins?
-Why? -Let's go.
Look away, let's go.
I told you to go.
Do you hear me? Go back.
Qian-yi.
You should go.
Qian-yi, you should go.
Just go. I said, go back now!
I've seen a lot of coffins. I'm not afraid of death.
I don't want you to suffer. I'm afraid that you'll be left alone!
I'm afraid that you'll hate it if we part ways.
Why do you always keep quiet?
Huh?
Can't you just scold me?
Can't you just pick a fight with me?
Is it that difficult?
Why do you have to endure everything?
Can you scold me?
Can't you just take your anger out on me?
I'm begging you to fight with me.
How can I ever repay the things that you've done for me?
Who said the 2nd Wing has gone to Dongbei?
-Reporting! Gang Wang asked me. -Lie down!
Say that again!
Say that again if you want to see all of us lying in the coffins.
We've just received a notice.
To stop the training and start attending the political class.
"Three Principles of People and Sunology."
After that,
prepare to fly to Dongbei.
Are you searching for the address of my hometown?
So that you can send me money
even if we're separated?
You wrote it a few times already during the war with the Japanese.
You still can't memorize it.
You don't even know the address
and yet you said you wanted to bring me back to my hometown.
When I saw the coffins today,
I knew you'll come back and write your own will tonight.
I wrote down my hometown's address for you.
In the right drawer.
I won't write.
I'll come back. I won't die.
Wait for me.
You should go home and stay with your uncle.
I really can't go with you.
It's fine as long as you come back.
You wrote your will?
Yes.
I need to prepare for the war.
Go on.
To: Jie-liang Qin
-Hello, Lady Qin. -Hello, Lady Qin.
Salute!
-Hello, Lady Qin. -Hello, Lady Qin.
Where are you going?
The captain said we should report your whereabouts.
I'm going to the headquarters to send the wives' autobiographies.
Okay, please wait.
Yes, thank you, sir.
Lady Qin, the captain said the street is too dangerous.
He wants Madam Zhou to send it.
I don't think I got married to a good husband.
At least Zhen allowed you to go back to your hometown.
I'm sorry, but I should ask you a favor.
I have the guts,
but I can't leave the village.
Stop the car.
SANYOU BUSINESS CLUB
Ten years later, my daughter will be a grown-up,
Then I'll set Zhi-jian free.
Qian-yi Qin.
Are you leaving me?
Our lives don't belong to us.
You're back for a little while, then you're gone again.
You, pilots, become heroes.
What about us?
We're left with only a will
for the rest of our lives.
Hurry!
Subtitle translation by Blue