Don't look, I lost four kilos.
How come you only lost four kilos?
It's not enough.
If I lose any more I'd be a skeleton.
Sit down.
Commandant,
am I going to be demobilized?
What do you think?
Why won't you speak?
My leader, what do you want me to say now?
There's still time. There's still time to change your mind.
Never mind, I'm not changing it.
Only opportunists change their minds all the time.
What's not good about going back?
I can still participate in the revolution at home.
You are a lucky boy. You met a savior.
Your marriage report has been approved.
Commissar of the base granted it himself.
Really?
-Commandant, you are not joking, are you? -How can I have time to joke?
Look at it yourself.
Don't be happy so soon.
Your promotion is not going to happen.
Let it be then.
As long as I can still wear this uniform, I wouldn't mind being a newbie again.
-Now you are pretending to be noble? -I'm not pretending to be noble.
Those are my honest thoughts.
Brother, you have to be prepared.
With a wife like this,
in the future, all your progress will be affected for sure.
Let it affect it then.
I can't possibly ask everything to be perfect.
Colonel Jiang, what are you doing?
No… let me…
Our canteen has some white flour.
-So, I brought some. -We haven't had it in a long time.
-The stores don't even sell them now. -The farmer brought flour, white flour.
-You're laughing? Don't eat it then. -Colonel Jiang, you are too nice.
Let me…
-It got you all dirty, let me wipe it. -It's okay…
Why do you wipe it?
An Jie, help Colonel Jiang wipe it.
He's covered in flour.
-Don't wipe it here, go outside. -Okay…
Look at you, like a farmer carrying half a bag of flour. How embarrassing.
Aren't you wiping for me?
I am a farmer, it felt so good to carry that flour.
Such a nice and familiar feeling.
And when I thought it was for you,
it made me feel even better.
You are so good at talking now.
-Not good? -Not good.
Flattery? What's good about that?
I flatter you with my actions, why is that not good?
It's not good.
Gentler.
I ran here immediately after the class. My belly was already growling on the way.
We didn't know you were coming today,
so, we didn't prepare anything nice.
Isn't this good already?
This is very good to eat.
It would be even better if there was some wine.
Bring wine, then.
Colonel Jiang, which wine would you like?
-That gold prize one? -Brandy.
-The one that won a gold prize, that one. -Didn't you say that one's strong?
-You want to get drunk again? -You don't understand.
This is called "Stand up where you fall."
I just don't always believe it's too strong for me.
-Here. -Why are you laughing?
Can everyone drink together?
Drink with me, okay?
Colonel Jiang? What happened today? How come it feels like you won a prize?
It's even better than the gold prize.
Have some drinks, I will tell you after.
Okay.
An Jie.
This coming New Year's Eve, shall we get married?
What? You can?
Did they approve it?
I am only waiting for her to approve it now.
Colonel Jiang.
That means you don't need to go back to the countryside?
And my Aunt Jie also doesn't need to jump into the pit of hell?
You're jumping into the pit of hell?
-Aunt wanted to, my mom didn't let her. -Stop.
What is this nonsense? When did I say that?
You did…you really did.
I should toast to you then.
I know it's for her good. Here…
-No, Colonel Jiang, you… -I will drink first, I will drink.
Colonel Jiang, shouldn't you also toast to the one jumping into the pit of hell?
I should. I really should. Here.
Okay, one more…
Goodness, you are quite good at drinking.
Does that mean, you approve it as well?
Approved. Approved for sure.
Well, let's all raise our glasses.
-Here. -Let's congratulate them.
Sister Sun, come drink with us?
Nanny Sun, come take a glass.
-Come. -Thank you.
-Here. -Nanny Sun.
Fill the glass for Nanny Sun.
Okay, enough.
Come, let's congratulate them together.
-Here, cheers. Come. -Congratulations…
Please come in.
This apartment had been unoccupied for a while.
Not bad.
Not bad?
Is it okay for that wife of the Decembrist staying there?
Why not?
Isn't it better than Siberia
She wasn't even afraid of a pit of hell, why can't she live here?
Isn't it good to be a live-in son-in-law?
Why would you give up that comfort and waste all the effort here?
You don't understand.
This is about principles, it's also about my pride.
You don't want to be a live-in son-in-law.
But about the principles, I don't understand.
You're already ignoring principles to marry a woman like her.
How can you even mention principles?
Yes, I already broke my principles,
so I can't break them even further, right?
I am a Communist, how can I live with a family like that?
Enough, stop with the noble tunes.
Why? You can marry her, but can't live with them?
Of course not.
I marry her and bring her out, so, I'm breaking them up, understand?
In that case,
if you go live with them, it's like breaking into the enemy army?
Isn't it much better than breaking them up?
Look at you, why do you waste your time?
Can't you just ask a tailor to make it?
How can you compare a tailor's work to what I make?
All right, if you are willing to, make it.
If you don't think it's trouble, make it.
What kind of attitude is that? Do you look like you are getting married?
I am getting married, so how I should look like?
If not happy to death, at least pretty happy.
But, not like how you are, lazy and slouching.
I don't know what's wrong with me, either.
Now I'm really about to marry him, I feel so anxious, so annoyed.
You are satisfied, aren't you?
Yes, probably.
Probably? You are.
Look at you, you were even willing to jump into the pit of hell.
Now you don't have to anymore. How come you are getting scared?
I'm not getting scared.
I am just…
just a little dissatisfied.
What are you unsatisfied with?
Exactly, what am I unsatisfied with?
Probably because I used to imagine love to be so pretty and romantic.
I always thought that one day,
a tall and big and handsome guy would stand in front of me.
Wearing a white suit, and a red tie.
Looking at me with so much love under the sunshine.
And whisper gently to my ears,
Isn't that easy?
Doesn't Jiang Defu listen to whatever you say?
Just ask him to say it next to your ears,
-Wouldn't that be enough? -He doesn't listen to what I say.
The other day, I asked him to kneel and propose to me, he wouldn't even do it.
And he said, a real man doesn't kneel down easily.
-Made me so mad. -You know what?
that makes Jiang Defu cute.
Just that makes him cute?
He is cute in so many ways.
You were dissatisfied a minute ago, now you are defending him?
I am dissatisfied.
What kind of marriage is this?
Can't go to the church, can't wear a white dress.
Can't even have a decent wedding.
Enough with the whining, Don't babble nonstop.
If our sister-in-law heard it, she'd have anxiety.
Why would she have anxiety?
Our brother and sister-in-law are so happy about your marriage. They are so proud.
Haven't you noticed your sister-in-law is so nice to you recently?
Always chasing after you and asking
“Little sister, what would you like to eat?"
"Little sister, what would like to have for dinner?"
Now after you leave, I'll really be alone.
Now your situation is much better. You have a single room now.
That's true. I don't have to listen to you snore anymore.
Me too.
Now I can finally sleep well.
You wish, you are not going to have peace anymore.
A wedding gift for you.
You can use it for your wedding night.
Look at you,
how can you give me a white towel? What bad luck.
You really don't understand? Or are you pretending?
-I… -It's not your first wedding night.
Why am I pretending?
At your hometown, they don't care about the virgin blood?
Maybe, your first wife was not a virgin to begin with?
What was that bullshit?
All these are your dowry?
What? Not enough?
Not enough?
It's too much, way too much.
It's not good. It doesn't look good.
Cut it in half.
No. Cut off a big half.
Take two-thirds out.
You just need to bring some necessities.
These are all necessities.
All of them?
Goodness, this is a necessity?
It is.
And this?
It is as well.
No way. It's not good.
You have to downsize for me,
and live a simple and plain life with me.
Didn't you swear to help me live a good life?
Is a simple and plain life a good life?
A simple and plain life is a good life, indeed.
That's the kind of life Chairman Mao advocates. You don't like it?
Don't scare me with Chairman Mao. I am not scared.
You are quite bold.
Not even afraid of Chairman Mao?
That's not what I meant.
So, what did you mean?
I didn't mean anything.
Nothing.
Forget it. Forget about the marriage.
What's good about a marriage like?
-What kind? -The kind that you want.
The simple and plain marriage.
I don't want it. I don't want a simple and plain life.
You want it, you can have it, but not me.
All right… Why are you getting upset?
What are you doing?
So, can I bring all this stuff?
Bring it.
But, don't bring all of it.
I'm not only doing this for myself. It's also for you.
How is it for me?
So, people don't say you are compromising for me.
Isn't compromising an ugly word? Are you willing to compromise?
Am I compromising?
I know you are not compromising.
But other people don't know.
How can we curb everyone's thoughts, right?
I'm not bring anything. None of it.
That's even better, so I don't feel pressured.
I even bought you a suit.
What a waste of a gesture.
What did you say? You bought me a suit?
Yes.
Damn, is this still me?
Don't curse.
How can a gentleman curse?
Am I a gentleman?
-Do I look like one? -Yes.
You look like one.
I didn't know you could be a handsome gentleman.
Mr. Jiang, I love you.
What are you laughing about? Do you understand?
Go back.
Okay.
Why are you looking at me?
That Lenin suit looks quite nice on you.
It's so late already, no one else will come, right?
Let's go to sleep.
Let's...
go to sleep.
Did you wash yourself?
What did you say?
Did you wash yourself?
I did. I showered in the bathhouse this afternoon. I washed very well.
You still need to wash before you sleep.
Don't you wash up before you go to bed?
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.
How can you not wash up before you go to bed?
Sometimes I am tired,
I fall asleep the second I get in bed, how can I wash?
I hope you can change that. Wash every day, make a habit.
It's about hygiene. It's a civilized habit.
All right.
I can do that.
As long as you are right, we'd obey,
and do it.
Chairman Mao taught us that.
Chairman Mao teaches you about washing yourself? You made that up.
They're Chairman Mao's words, how can I make them up?
Even though Chairman Mao didn't teach us how to brush and wash, specifically,
Chairman Mao did teach us
to listen to a non-member's suggestion with a modest attitude.
I will go brush my teeth and wash my face now.
That's not enough, you also have to wash your feet.
And you should also wash…
Wash what?
Wash your tushie.
What? What did you say? Say it louder.
Louder.
Wash your tushie.
Wash my ass?
Why do you make it sound so disgusting?
Your tushie, not ass.
Isn't it the same?
Not the same.
"tushie" is polite, "ass"…
is rude.
So why don't you call it "butt", isn't that even more polite?
You know quite a lot. You know butt is tushie.
I don't know that butt is tushie, I just know butt is ass.
All right.
Your rule. Whatever you say.
I will wash whatever you want me to wash.
I will wash right now, immediately.
You should brush your teeth first, and then wash face.
Who made those rules? That bastard called civilization again?
Annoying.
This bucket with no flowers is yours, that one with flowers is mine.
Don't mix them up.
No wonder you brought a whole bunch of buckets.
I thought you wanted to sell them.
Take them.
This big one is for feet, and the small one is for ass?
You are not going to watch? You are not supervising anymore?
May I ask, should I wash feet first? Or should I wash my ass first?
Whatever.
Whatever you like.
Damn.
How complicated.
What are you doing in there?
-You know how long it's been? -Soon.
You smell so good, what did you put on? It smells so nice.
Come, come in.
What's wrong?
What is it now?
When I hear something is wrong, I get so nervous.
My lady, talk to me! What is it?
It's nothing serious.
It's just…
What is it?
I'm in the middle of it.
In the middle of what?
My period came.
What came?
My period.
You're so annoying, why do you keep asking?
Still, don't just stand there. Get in already.
So, don't touch me, okay?
You are having your period, how can I?
I won't. Get in bed.
You… turn around first.
Why?
All right. I will turn around.
Are you done?
You…
Why are you dressed again?
It's pajamas.
So many issues, get in now.
Please. Please put on your pajamas, too.
All right, you can turn around now.
Look Good enough?
Don't be nervous.
Relax.
Don't touch me.
What kind of person do you think I am?
An evil guy? A rascal?
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.
I will stay away from you, far away.
Is this far enough?
That period of yours.
Why wouldn't it come earlier or later? Why today?
How should I know?
It's one week early.
Why not a week late?
Stop with the "hmm." Talk to me.
I don't know what to say.
Say whatever you can think of, anything.
Is your wife from the countryside pretty?
Why would you ask about that?
-Didn't you say anything is okay? -Still, you shouldn't ask about that.
Especially not now, look at you…
You did have a wife before, why can't I ask?
Enough, turn off the light, sleep.
What are you doing?
Look how scared you are.
Don't worry, I won't touch you.
Thank you.
Don't thank me yet.
You have to promise,
after that…period is gone, you can't not let me touch you.
How annoying.
One, two, three, four.
One two one. Halt.
To the left.
Eyes right.
Eyes front, dismiss.
Not bad, Jiang, so energetic?
A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance.
You don't need to practice today.
-Says who? -It's your wedding night.
Nonsense, it's already my wedding morning.
Did you see the blood?
Of course, I did. A big puddle.
Goodbye, buddy.
Goodbye.
Idiot.
What are you doing?
I'm not doing anything.
So why are you panicking?
Who says I'm panicking?
Aren't you panicking?
No, I'm not. Why would I be?
So, what are you hiding?
I'm not hiding anything.
-Not hiding anything? -What am I hiding?
So, let me have a look.
You are feeling guilty now?
Look… You want to look, so go ahead.
This…
-I am starving. -You're back?
I am starving so badly, my stomach's been growling all the time.
Even Ding heard it.
Did he say something bad about me again?
Since you're so good at guessing, guess. What did he say?
He said, " Your wife doesn't make you breakfast, does she?"
So, what did you say?
I said, "Nonsense, I ate so much, I have gastroptosis."
Not bad, you know quite a lot, you even know what gastroptosis is.
You didn't educate me and scare me all these days for nothing.
"You can't eat this, can't eat that, watch, you will get sick
with this disease, that disease."
But it's true.
If you don't change those habits, you'd develop new diseases.
All right, stop scaring me.
I will change, all right?
What are we having this morning?
Can't you see it yourself?
Why is it this again?
What? It's not good?
It's not that it's not good.
Can't you change it up sometimes? Change it.
You asked me to live a simple and plain life with you,
and this is how you live a simple and plain life?
Even milk and eggs are not good, you want to change?
Not that they are not good.
They are too good for me. So good I can't get used to it. It's not enough.
How is it not enough?
It's enough for the big foreigners. How is it not enough for you?
Foreigners have foreign stomachs.
I am Chinese. I have a Chinese stomach.
This stuff goes into my stomach, and doesn't stay.
It's all gone with one pee. Of course, I'm hungry.
All right. Why do you talk about that while we eat? It's so disgusting.
So many issues.
This is disgusting, that is disgusting. As if you guys don't pee or poo.
Are you mad?
I was wrong. I was wrong.
I shouldn't have said you guys have too many issues.
I won't mention pee or poo at the table, anymore.
What else did I do wrong?
What do you think?
I really don't know, can't you tell me?
Did you wash your hands after you came back?
Exactly. You see, I was hungry, and forgot to wash my hands.
Don't forget to use soap.
I know, I'm using it now.
I used soap.
I just didn't put a lot, not very thorough.
It's not that.
So, what is it?
What did you dry your hands with?
Tow…towel.
What is that?
I am wrong again.
I made a mistake again, see?
I just got them dirty again, like I didn't wash them.
I will wash again, wash again.
What are you doing? Are you taking a shower?
Smell, I used soap.
I'm not smelling. It's your business.
You won't examine them? I will eat then?
Go ahead.
How is this worth eating?
You don't think this is disgusting?
I will cook it longer for you in the future.
So what if you cook it longer? It still won't keep me full.
So, what can keep you full exactly?
Steamed buns and congee can. But you wouldn't make them.
Where do I have the time? I have to clean and make breakfast.
You don't have to clean every day.
Our home is so clean, I am afraid to live here already.
If I don't clean, I'd be afraid to live here.
How about this, I will go back to my home.
See…?
You are threatening me again, scaring me?
I surrender.
I am scared, I am scared of you, okay?
Who wanted you to be scared?
Just steamed buns and congee?
I will make them for you.
I should really thank you then.
How will you thank me?
In the evening.
At night, I will thank you in bed.
You are shameless.
What are you wiping with?
I am so exhausted.
You really have so many issues.
You are the one with all the issues. How annoying.
Can't I ask you something?
This Sunday, can I have some guests?
Which guests?
My classmates.
They want to come make a toast to us. They want to come here.
Also Ding?
Of course.
He is the one that's complaining the most.
No matter what, he has to be invited.
All right.
So, I will make a whole bunch of steamed buns and congee.
So they can get all very full.
So they don't gossip behind my back, make it sound like I owe them anything.
One two three four.
An Jie.
Why are you always behind my ass?
Tushie, not ass.
Why are you always behind my butt?
That's even better.
I came to talk to you about something.
What is it?
About how the wife obeys the husband.
Of course,
usually, it's the husband obeying the wife.
But tonight, we have guests. Do you think you can adjust temporarily?
Cooperate with me.
Let's pretend that the wife obeys the husband, okay?
Why?
Listen, it's for your own good.
All my comrades and classmates
are coming for dinner tonight to see how you get embarrassed.
Me getting embarrassed? Why would I be embarrassed?
They think
you are always waiting to be served, like a rich family lady.
They are sure you don't know how to do any of this.
And, they think you are very tough.
Especially that Ding, spreading all the gossip out there.
Saying, "That Jiang, does all the work at home.
Such a coward, being bullied at home."
Ding is such a bad guy.
Not only does he not say anything nice, he even spreads gossip.
Exactly…
Therefore, we have to slap him hard.
Using actions, the wife obeys the husband, all right?
Why should I show him with my actions?
Tonight, he is not allowed to come.
He wants to drink and watch the drama? He wishes.
Look at you,
how come you can't keep calm? A few words already make you mad?
If you are like this, how can I tell you the truth again?
You are not telling me the truth?
Exactly.
Exactly what?
Can you do it?
I will think about it.
Subtitle translation by Lynn Lee