We all know. His Uncle Ouyang always talks a lot.
Well, this time it got him in big trouble.
Don't you talk a lot? What is all that babbling?
Stop it, so annoying.
An Xin, what's your plan?
What can I do?
I will go with him.
Sister...
Stop it, it doesn't help.
I quit my job already.
I just need to pack and go.
Anything we can help you with?
Nothing. Some things I can't move with us.
I might have to bring them home.
Alright, move them here.
LOFTY LIGHT
Mom.
All right, stop crying already.
Oh my gosh, you are finally back.
Where is Dehwa?
-Dehwa... -Dehwa left.
She went back home.
She got a telegram saying her mother-in-law is critically ill.
What? Went back home?
When did she leave?
She left in the afternoon. She didn't have time to tell you.
Was it really that urgent? She couldn't even tell me?
Of course it was urgent, her mother-in-law is dying!
Who sent the telegram?
She's asking you.
It was... a soldier. A soldier sent it here.
You saw it?
I saw it.
Sister, you're not joking, are you?
I am really not joking.
Really, you can go home and look.
She took all her clothes.
Critically ill? Who are you fooling?
Fool... Who is fooling you? We are not fooling you.
Fooling me or not,
I need to check the telegram record at the reception office.
Check? Why would you check the telegrams?
I'll check the telegrams to see if anyone is messing with me,
to see if there really was a telegram.
Come, Guoqing, let's go.
Telegram...
Go on, back to sleep!
What are you doing, staring at me like that?
Lost, aren't you?
Was there a telegram?
No, right?
If she really goes to check the record,
what do we do then?
You think it's so easy to fool her?
That the two of you can fool her?
But what can we do besides fool her?
Would her sister-in-law let her go?
Would Dehwa be able to go?
She wanted to go, so she went.
Why would you make up lies?
Dehwa wants to help her brother force her sister-in-law to go to him.
Did you help her come up with this idea?
I am not that smart.
If I were that smart, I'd have told her so long ago.
Would I wait until today?
It's Secretary Yang, your Principal's wife, her idea.
I knew it, how could you have such a good idea?
The older ones are more experienced after all, this woman is not simple.
Which woman is not simple?
I said our Principal's wife is not simple.
If she really checks the telegrams, what do I do then?
Let her check it, Dehwa is gone already, so what if she checks?
How is she so smart?
I even fooled you, but she wouldn't believe me.
I think...
she's on her last stage, she will give up soon.
You are okay to let her go?
I thought you wouldn't want her to go.
Hit me! You should just kill me!
I am so exhausted already, how can you?
-Careful, take care. -Write to us.
-Hurry up. -Go back.
Get on.
Sister.
-It's okay. -Take care.
Don't worry.
-Here, slowly. -Thank you.
Write to us after you arrive.
Are you alright?
I'm okay.
Are the children okay at the kindergarten?
They are okay.
How's the activity going in your department?
Why do you ask about that?
You have to be careful, watch the words you say.
Our family can't have another rightist, that would ruin us.
I won't become a rightist.
You should still be careful.
A soldier's relative in our department...
just got sentenced as a rightist.
Being a soldier's family is not an amulet.
Besides, brother-in-law is not here, he can't really protect you.
I think you should follow the army.
It's better than staying here, making everyone worry.
Who says girls just sit around do nothing?
We work in the field during the day We spin the yarn at night
Sister.
You came?
-Come sit... -No.
I came to ask Ding something.
-Go ahead. -Ding, do you know Xiao Heishan Island?
I do, that island is very small.
You talk at one end, it can be heard at the other end.
And there's no fresh water there.
They have to bring from outside. The condition is quite bad.
Why are you asking about it?
Someone I know is going there.
That's Chief Jiang's garrison area, it's under their administration.
He can help look after that someone you know.
It's okay...he doesn't have to.
-I will leave now. Sorry to disturb you. -Sit for a while?
Who was that she was talking about?
How do I know?
I thought you knew.
Don't stir again.
We work in the field during the day We spin the yarn at night
I should just be a dummy.
An Jie.
Come in here.
In the future, you have to watch your tongue.
You can't just say whatever you want.
If it wasn't for Secretary Yang protecting you and speaking for you,
I think you'd really be in trouble.
How did Secretary Yang speak for me?
Secretary Yang said,
"Her husband is guarding the coastline for us,
and we are sentencing his wife here as a rightist.
That's shaking the morale of the army, that's the most reactionary behavior."
Secretary Yang also said, "If this was still during the war,
shaking the morale of the army could get you death sentence."
You finished work? How come you are so early today?
What are you doing with that rope?
Sister, I am leaving.
Leaving? Where are you going?
I will go follow the army, I will go to the island.
Really? When are you leaving?
That's great. Here...
Sit down first.
WIND ALERT NO BOAT TODAY
How come there are still no ships? How long do we have to wait?
Exactly, we've waited for five days, it's almost a week.
A week is too much for you?
Some waited for more than 20 days, still no ships to go.
There aren't even vegetables on the island anymore.
I really don't have time anymore.
I only have one month for visiting family, what should I do?
That's not rare.
Some had waited until the visit time was over, but still didn't get on.
-Huang. -Sister An.
The wind stopped already, how come there's still no ship?
The wind has stopped, but look at the rain.
The waves must be really rough, the ships can't go.
Don't worry, if there's a ship going, I will let you know right away.
Okay.
-Mom, I am scared. -Don't be scared...
Watch your brother, here.
-Watch your brother, I'll go close it. -Mom, I am scared.
It's okay.
-Mom, I am scared. -Don't be scared.
Who is it?
Sister An, It's me, Huang.
Guoqing, watch your brother. Here.
Here, watch your brother.
Sister An, it's me, Huang.
The power line is broken out there, I came to send you candles.
And matches.
-Here. -Thank you.
So the room will be bright. Typhoons are like this, don't be scared.
I will go now.
What kind of place is this?
Sister An...
I talked to the canteen, let's go eat there.
-Okay. -Wear these, it's raining really hard.
Okay.
Here, and this.
-Put it on. -Thank you.
Kiddo.
Here, put your clothes on.
Come, put your clothes on, here.
Let uncle help you get dressed. Good boy, here.
Come... slowly.
Sister An, sit here.
-Chef Lu, please bring the dishes. -Okay, coming.
Are you hungry? So cute.
-Thank you. Okay. -Enjoy.
Sister An, eat already.
My stomach is not feeling well, I can't eat.
-You eat. -Your stomach is not well?
I will get a doctor for you after the meal?
No... I brought pills, I have pills.
-You eat. -Here, eat...come...
Eat more. Here, Sister An,
-let him eat some too. -Let me.
Sister An...
Sister An, I know you are not feeling well,
so I asked chef Lu to make you something special.
Thank you.
Don't let it get cold.
Alright, Sister An, eat.
We will go now.
Sister An...
Sister An, a ship is leaving. We can get on the island.
-There's a ship? -Yes! Organize your things.
-I will go get a car. -Okay.
Guoqing, hurry. Let's go meet daddy.
Here, come.
Junqing, come, wake up.
Sister An...
Sister An, we are here.
-We are? -Yes, we are.
-An Jie. -Let's get off.
Slowly.
Let's go, Sister An.
It's okay, Sister An.
It's okay, give me your hand.
-How can I walk on this? -It's okay, come over.
It's okay, give me your hand. Here.
-Come. -Slowly.
Slowly.
-My shoe fell. -Alright.
My baby son.
Good boy. Alright... let's go...
Let's go... let's go.
Slowly, slowly.
Why? Is it the fashion in the city now to wear only one shoe?
Slowly...
This woman, quite a handful for the Chief.
-Slowly... -Exactly.
Don't touch me, you touch me, I want to puke.
Okay, sleep more.
I will go join practice.
-Morning. -Morning.
Where is the toilet?
I am asking you.
What...what did you ask me?
Where is the toilet?
How can you look for a toilet at home?
Using a toilet at home, how unclean!
How dirty.
The toilet is outside.
No toilet at home.
Listen, go out and turn right, about 250 meters.
There, you have toilet for men and women.
Watch out, don't go to the wrong side.
Aren't you using the toilet? How about I go with you?
I will just go at home, I will do it in your bucket.
You don't have to do that, isn't there a spittoon?
Do it in the spittoon.
Where's the water?
I'm sorry, we don't have tap water.
This is well water.
If you didn't tell me, I would've thought it's sea water.
Come.
Usually, I fetch the water.
But now if I fetch the water, it's not so convenient.
-How is it not convenient? -Think about it.
I am the Chief of Staff of a garrison, how can I go fetch water?
So you are saying I have to fetch water?
Well...
I guess you have to.
Wait... all the women fetch water here.
No man does it.
Unless, it's a pregnant woman who can't carry it.
Do you think I know how to fetch water? Besides, can I carry so much?
You are such a smart person, what can't you learn?
If you can't carry full barrels, carry half at once.
Don't rush it.
If you really can't, I'd have to do it at midnight.
Jiang Defu, you've really fooled me big time.
So annoying, why does it always go on?
-I'm back. -See you later.
Daddy.
How come you brought so much stuff?
Didn't you say to move our home here?
Others always move, no one has so much stuff.
Look at all these bottles and jars.
There's so much with just the glasses!
I don't care what life others are having, I have to live like this.
I have to have a life like this.
What kind of life you want to live?
Like this, drink water with a water glass, and drink tea with a tea cup.
And drink coffee with a coffee cup. Why? Can't I?
You can... You can live however you want.
But you have to cook also, right?
Did you make food?
I've been working the whole time, did I take a break even?
Whatever you do, you have to know your priorities.
Can't you organize them later? You should cook first.
I wanted to cook also.
But I don't know how to use that thing in the kitchen.
Come on... I will teach you.
Watch your brother.
Liar, you've really fooled me big time.
Fetching water, pumping bellows, Is this a farmer's life or what?
The big boy is asleep. I think he is tired.
What's going on?
It's a signal, the electricity will go out in 15 minutes.
What? No electricity? Why do they do that?
Because the lights-out taps were on, so the power will be cut.
Why do you look at me? Hurry with your wash.
Soon you won't have light. Hurry.
Jiang Defu.
Screaming again...
The kids just fell asleep, why are you screaming here again?
I can't see.
Why do you scream so much now?
Whatever you say is right. You sound like I owe you.
You do owe me, don't you admit it?
Alright, I admit it...
That's why I serve you like this.
Okay.
The flashlight also has signals? Is it also going out of power?
Damn.
Out of battery.
Hurry up.
-What do I do? -It's okay, here, give me your hand.
-I didn't pour the water yet. -Never mind, pour it tomorrow.
What did you bump into?
How do I know?
It's your home, you made the traps.
What are you talking about? It's our home.
Our home? So why do only I bump, not you?
-I will protect you... -What are you doing?
Don't touch me.
Did you light it up or not?
Damn.
The oil ran out.
What kind of life are you living here?
No this, no that.
How do you live?
I've been compromising.
I asked you to come, but you wouldn't. So, I could only compromise like this.
Smells so good.
You look even prettier when you glance at me like that.
Burned yourself? You had to compromise like that?
Hurry up, we are running out of matches.
What kind of life is it?
That's why I wanted you to come so bad.
Why do you want me to come?
What do you think?
Annoying.
-Are you done or not? Come... -Not yet.
What are you doing?
Revolution, I told you.
That's reactionary, how can you say it's the revolution?
Well...
it is a part of the revolution.
How come you can say that, but I can't?
Let's not talk about that now. Come over here.
Annoying.
Why do you look at me?
So pretty.
So beautiful.
Pretty with your eyes closed. Prettier with your eyes open.
Annoying.
What will you do today?
What can I do? Continue organizing and working.
Now you look like a housewife.
I am not a housewife, I have a job.
-What job do I do here? -What's the rush? Rest for a while first.
I will rest for a while, who wouldn't want to rest for a while?
Is it the left or the right?
How can they laugh in there?
Unbelievable.
Do you keep your promises?
What do you mean?
I mean do you keep your promises?
Of course I do.
When a real man makes a promise, even eight horses can't bring it back.
People say four horses can't bring it back.
I am stronger than them. Here... let me wash.
They handle four horses, I handle eight.
I don't care how many horses you handle, as long as you keep your promises.
What did I promise?
You promised to pour face-washing and foot-washing water for me, right?
Yes, I said that.
And you said, you'd pour the spittoon for me?
I said that as well, why?
Go ahead then, the spittoon is in there.
Please pour it for me.
You...you did...
Yes, I couldn't hold it anymore.
-So go to the toilet. -Go to that toilet?
It was just so disgusting.
I'm telling you, there where maggots in there.
This big.
How big
This big.
They are this big.
They are just huge, so disgusting.
They almost came up my feet.
I was so grossed out.
I still want to puke when I think about it.
Look how spoiled you are, how can you live like this?
I can live any sort of life.
I can use an oil lamp,
I can go fetch water as well.
But, that kind of toilet I really can't go.
So many people squatting together, doing it together.
How stinky is it?
And they were talking and laughing.
How could they laugh at such a place?
Forget about those, and there are maggots.
The maggots were everywhere,
what if they came up to your body?
If I knew, I'd rather stay in Qingdao as a rightist,
instead of coming here to use a toilet like this.
You are really so difficult.
If I knew you were this difficult,
I'd rather be a bachelor for a whole life instead of marrying a wife like you.
Mom... brother peed again.
-Guoqing. -Daddy, you are back.
I came back.
Here, come to me.
What is that? What's with all those trumpets?
Military camps follow trumpets all the time.
What is this trumpet for?
This is for meals.
And what was it before?
That was for finishing work.
So there's also a tap for sleeping time?
Of course, it's called the lights-out trumpet.
They really mind everything.
They say lights off, so I have to turn off?
You don't have to, who can curb you? Who are you?
Here, come here.
It's so good to be with family, so nice.
My heart is so warm.
Your heart is warm, what about me?
Why? Your heart is not warm?
My heart is so warm.
I am finally having such a nice countryside life with you.
Stop with the "countryside" and "suburb."
Is this the countryside? Is this the suburb?
Is this not the countryside or a suburb? Is this the city?
City...
You only ever miss that city of yours.
When can you change this capitalist mindset of pleasure-seeking?
City is for capitalists?
So all the city residents are capitalists?
Chairman Mao is also in the city, and he is in the biggest city,
is Chairman Mao also a capitalist?
Why can't you change yourself?
Shooting out words without thinking.
Oh my gosh, you are so rich.
Look, you hung a whole yard of fancy clothes.
I always hear people say Chief's wife is a lady from a rich family.
It's really true.
Look at you, a whole yard of fancy clothes.
Oh my gosh, they can last for longer than my life.
So soft, so smooth.
Smells so good.
Look at you, you have so much?
Oh my gosh, this one is even softer and smoother.
Oh my gosh.
Is this also yours?
It exposes so much, you dare wear it?
Oh my dear god.
Isn't this what the spies wear in the movies?
This is yours as well?
Oh my god, how can you wear this outside?
Oh my dear god.
You finished organizing?
How come you have so much stuff?
So rich.
Oh my, how come you organized so well?
Oh my god.
How come you have so many glasses? I can't stop breaking them.
Is there anything I can help you with?
No... nothing.
Don't be afraid to ask.
I don't have much to do anyway, just killing time.
I will help you finish organizing.
No... It's really fine. Thank you.
Why do you thank me?
People always say, a neighbor nearby is better than a family far away.
Exactly...
Alright then.
Call me anytime if you need anything.
I will go now, I'm leaving.
What a life she has!
Where did that idiot come from?
The rectification movement also promoted the leap of culture,education and health.
Chief...wait...
You guys are so rich.
The yard is full of fancy clothes.
Just the water glasses can last for more than a lifetime.
You went to our place?
Chief, your wife is so pretty.
She had two kids already,
oh my gosh, she looks like a young girl.
Alright, go home already, aren't you tired?
Tired, you wouldn't help me.
She's so good at working.
She can't do anything else, but she's strong.
Isn't it good she's strong?
Why does a woman need to be that strong?
To fetch water, doesn't that save you trouble?
She has to fetch it whether she's strong or not!
Can your wife carry water? Would you let her?
Why wouldn't I let her?
Your wife can carry it, why can't my wife do it?
Don't throw that attitude yet, wait until she can carry water first.
-So good. Guoqing. -Daddy.
So good...
-Even your son can help you now. -Daddy.
Help me? As long as he doesn't cause trouble.
An Jie, you are so good.
Look how fast you've organized our home?
It looks organized, but there's still a lot of work.
It will take me a while.
You can do it, I believe you can.
I need you to believe me?
Stop feeding me honeyed words. I don't fall for that.
Look at you, can't please you anyway.
Nice or tough, with you nothing works. Here, give me.
Enough, stop kissing my ass.
Take our sons out now, food will be ready soon.
Okay, come. Go play with your brother outside.
I wasn't kissing your ass.
You are really talented.
Look how fast you learned to set up a fire
and pump the bellows.
-Not bad, not bad at all. -Are you mocking me?
If I can't learn such primitive work, I am worse than a farmer.
Stop with the judgement on the farmers.
What about farmers? Why do you have to talk like that?
Oh right, I almost forgot.
Who is that next door?
Director Wang, why?
What director? What level?
Director of the political department. Division level, why?
I am just so curious,
how come you communist officers all marry women like that?
Like...like what?
Like Wang Xiu'e.
What?
Can you please learn to watch your mouth?
How many times have I told you already?
If it wasn't for Wang Xiu'e,
you, An Jie, wouldn't even know how to pump bellows here.
You think I want to pump bellows? What's good about pumping bellows?
What's bad about pumping bellows? It's better than being dead.
Who'd be dead?
If it weren't for Wang Xiu'e, would you be alive today?
The labor alone could have killed you.
Subtitle translation by Lynn Lee