If it's not Wang Xiu'e,
you might not be able to pull the bellows, An Jie.
Do you think I enjoy pulling the bellows? Is it a good job?
What's wrong with pulling the bellows? Better than death, anyway.
Who died? What are you saying?
If it wasn't for Wang Xiu'e, would you have survived?
A difficult labor can be fatal.
So now you're saying Wang Xiu'e is my lifesaver, is she?
Well, isn't she?
Yes.
According to what you said, Wang Xiu'e is my lifesaver.
You're even my benefactor.
If you weren't would I be here to pull these bellows?
What happened? I'm coming.
-What's wrong? -He peed again.
-Who peed? -Brother.
Let me see. Did you just pee again?
Have some of this.
Look at you, so childish.
You should take a nap later. Don't work too hard.
Do I need your permission for a nap?
Uncle Jiang.
Who is it?
It's Wang's son, Wang Haiyang. Come in. Come here, come on.
-What's going on? -Uncle Jiang, we just had some dumplings.
My mom asked me to bring some for you.
That's nice. Just one plate? Will it be enough for me and your auntie?
We only had one plateful per person.
Okay, then we'll share one.
Thank you for this. Now you can go home.
The dumplings are quite nice.
Lack of meat though. Not tasty enough.
Come on, Guoqing. Have some dumplings.
Here.
Don't you want some?
Not for me, I'll save them for you. You can have your own plateful.
Who made you mad again?
What's this for? One plate of dumplings today and a bowl of noodles tomorrow.
They are so stingy. Such an annoying family.
How come you're never grateful?
Just eat, or don't bother.
What's the problem?
I have a problem. You're practically destitute.
Are you calling it quits?
If I don't say a word, you might think I'm that easily defeated.
Do you have any other words to say?
I'm not bothered, even if you are asking for it.
You know I'm just worried.
They offered us a plate of dumplings.
Shouldn't we offer a plate of steamed buns in return?
When one gives, the other shall return. When will this end?
Why are you up so early? Get some more sleep.
That bugle is too noisy.
It follows you wherever you are, like a loyal dog.
Do you want your tongue cut out? What you just said was so reactionary.
And you still go on about revolution! You're the reactionary one.
You...
You beat me.
I'm off to work now.
I can't even do a quick wash.
-Hello? -Hello, is that the switchboard?
Could you please connect me to the Chief of Staff's office?
-Okay, transfer the call. -Okay, the Chief of Staff is on the line.
Come home early, would you? There's something in the tank.
What is it?
I have no idea. It isn't bugs or anything weird.
-I just don't know what it is. -That means there's nothing in there.
But there are loads of them, not just one.
-Loads floating in there. It's scary. -What is it?
What scary thing? Don't you have other things to do?
Why are you making a fuss about this?
Maybe it hasn't been cleaned in a while, and something just fell in. No big deal.
Something fell in and it's no big deal?
We've been drinking the water from it for two days. How disgusting is that?
Why is it disgusting?
I've been drinking it for about a year, nothing happened.
Only you think it's disgusting.
Time's up, Chief of Staff. We have to leave now.
Enough. Don't grumble too much.
I have work to do.
I grumbled too much?
Jerk.
What did she say?
"I grumbled too much? Jerk."
Wang, check this out. What's going on here?
They don't take training seriously.
What is it?
What are they looking at?
Hey, isn't that lady your wife?
She just made a fool of herself.
She's good. Hard working.
She carries the water quickly.
-Section Chief Yu. -Yes.
Rearrange the troops, have them all directed towards the sea.
Yes, sir.
-Is that necessary? -Let me be.
All troops towards to the sea. About-face!
Face front! Eyes front!
Madam... fling that bucket.
Madam, you need to swing it.
Swing?
Not you, Madam. Swing the bucket.
Haiyang, come here. Give me a hand.
Don't go. Let's see how long it takes her to get the water.
How fun. It's interesting.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
Nine.
Ten.
What are you guys doing here?
-What happened, Wang Haiyang? -It's Ms. Ge. Run!
You lot, go home now.
Thank you.
They're just being naughty. Don't worry.
Is this your first time?
Yes.
How can I make the bucket turn downwards?
-Thank you. -No worries.
Okay.
Oops, my fault. You surely can't carry a full bucket the first time.
Does it work now?
It certainly works now.
-Take it easy. -Alright, it works.
Put the weight back a bit.
Yes. Alright.
-Be careful. -Okay, I'm going now.
-Wait a minute, you... -What happened?
Are you okay carrying water in those shoes?
Sure, I'll be fine.
Left and right. Left and right.
One, two, three, four.
Left and right.
-Madam, are you alright? -I'm okay. I'm fine.
Left and right. Left and right.
Left and right...
Left and right.
Left and right...
Oh, My Lady...
Left and right...
What are you doing? Naughty boys.
You're such undisciplined children.
Undisciplined children.
Your son Haiyang is here, is he undisciplined like us?
Each of you is undisciplined. All of you.
Haiyang, get back here now.
Do you want me to smack you? Take this and go home now.
Hurry up.
Cry, cry, this is all you can do.
Enough, would you?
Stop crying.
Here comes the water.
You are quite good, you know?
Did you get the water?
What do you think?
I think not.
Then why do you bother to ask?
How did you know?
You caused a sensation on the island. How wouldn't I know?
What sensation did I cause?
All I did is fall over.
Does that become a sensation?
What now?
I want to go to Qingdao.
I want to go home.
You don't have to worry about sanitation.
And you don't need to be the husband who does the washing.
We'd better save more water now.
Now, this has annoyed me.
I'm used to being a neat person with good hygiene.
I'll feel uncomfortable if I can't wash.
You've got problems.
Problems? You turned me into this person.
Don't touch me.
I'm not touching you. How dare I touch you without your permission?
I want to discuss something with you.
What?
Lie down, just lie down.
For your comfort in using the toilet, I was thinking
I could build a toilet for you in the yard.
Do you have an opinion on that?
What are you doing?
I said I'll build a toilet for you, and you still don't want to do it?
Take a break now. Come here, get some water.
-Come here, take a break. -Alright. Madam, it's okay.
Thank you, guys.
Are you building a toilet?
Yes.
-Oh, My Lady. -Here you go.
Now I'll be able to see your butt!
How's it going? Alright?
Alright with what?
What? What's making you upset now?
What?
-How... how could it possibly be? -She just said that to me.
From the top of their roof, she said.
If she can't see, then why did she mention it?
There's only one option now. Cover the top of toilet.
She won't be able to see it.
There are more things to worry about, but what if it's true?
What makes you so worried? We'll take a look after the meal.
Besides, we'll visit and greet them too.
Here you go.
Wang!
What brings you here, Jiang?
-What are you having? Smells good. -Just a common meal. Come in.
-Smells nice? Join us and have some. -Come, sit down and eat.
No way. Here's someone who tried to stop me.
You guys enjoy the food. We just want to look around the yard.
What's interesting about my yard?
I just told Wang that you're building a toilet.
-And we want to visit your house. -Of course, you're welcome.
I often see you on top of the roof.
What are you doing up there?
You can do lots of things up there. Stitch the cover, sun-dry radish.
-It's open wide, you can do anything. -Is it? Let's look around.
-You're welcome to. -Take a look, go ahead.
-Let's go. -Over here.
-Enjoy the meal. -Okay, okay.
After you, I'll be your backup.
Take it easy.
You need to get down.
Why?
Get down.
Together we'll make the ladder collapse.
Don't worry. It won't collapse.
Eat your meal then.
It'll be alright. Let's go.
It's okay, go up.
Can you see it?
Nope.
I told you.
Can anyone see your butt that easily?
Jerk.
What now?
Why are you staring so hard?
See...
how beautiful it is?
Where's the beauty? I don't see any.
What can you see then?
I see that you're a real beauty.
What are you looking at?
The view from up here is quite good.
What view?
Oh, My Lady.
What kind of view is this?
-You think she's actually sightseeing? -Then what is she looking at?
-She wondered if you could see her butt. -Jerk.
Mom, what are you laughing at?
We're...
Ask your Auntie An.
Are you laughing at me?
Only the People's Commune can allow our potential
to expand the large-scale gathering and manufacture of wild plants.
Let them step out and participate in the establishment of Socialist...
-I don't want it! -Guoqing, what are you doing?
-What's up, Guoqing? -Get out here.
Have you finished?
-Yes. -Go play outside then.
-Mom, I finished mine too. -Back here.
Clean the table. What a waste of food.
You, kiddo...
Watch out for your brother.
Got it!
Do you want to be a teacher?
Teacher? What kind of teacher?
A school teacher, of course.
There's a teaching vacancy at the public school. Are you interested?
Why do you offer me the chance now?
Don't you want to express your personality?
I don't need to express it now.
The position is quite demanding.
Not a job for common people.
It has to be someone with higher cultural awareness.
I pondered, and considered,
you're the only one capable among the dependents.
-Do you want to do it? -Yes. Why not?
Even being a master of the children?
Yes. Any master would be better than a housewife.
So you do have an opinion about being a housewife?
Of course I do.
I was employed.
I'm not like those women who just follow the troops.
I like to keep busy. I'll be assigned jobs when I work there.
If you weren't so worried about people's impressions, I'd be working already.
Impressions, that's what you're afraid of.
I'm not afraid of it.
But a bad impression is not good at all.
Do you know the most common phrase I've heard since I married you?
"Impression."
I just wonder why you soldiers always speak of this word.
Our old neighbour Ding was like that.
Now, that Wang is the same.
Well, of course.
It proves that we soldiers have superior consciousness.
The stupid kind of consciousness?
Impression, impression.
-What's wrong with you? I'm not done. -Do you need more?
Just enjoy your "impression" then.
"Who knows that the meals on our plates..."
"Every morsel comes with toil and pain."
Now, second-grade students, transcribe the poem into your notebooks.
Third-grade students, open your textbooks.
Do you remember the words we learned yesterday?
Yes.
Alright, now repeat after me. S-U - "Su".
S-U - "Su".
Don't fight. You need to stick together, okay?
-Yes. -Go into the room.
Ms. An.
Have you finished, Ms. An?
How are you finding school life?
It's getting better and better.
Why do you laugh?
"Getting better and better."
Just a nice phrase.
-I'm serious. -Hello, Ms.
-Hi there. -Hello.
It is nice.
The way you speak is just different than others.
In what way?
So feminine.
I am a woman, you know.
You're different than others, seriously.
-Ms. An, have you been to the canteen? -Yes.
Ms. An.
-We'll set off around one o'clock. -Alright.
-Did you get food from the canteen again? -I just finished work.
You're lucky I didn't ask you to go to the canteen.
Cook by yourself if you don't want the canteen food.
I'm just like you, working all day long.
Okay... don't grumble again. Let's eat together.
I'm going to Small Black Hills after eating.
-You're going to Small Black Hills? -Yes. Is there any problem with that?
Nothing.
Why are you looking at me?
The naval defenses here must be improved.
-Sure. -Report to me after the assessment.
Got it.
Ouyang Yi, what are you idling for?
Do your job. Hurry up.
Let's board the ferry.
Did you just get home?
How's the weather out at sea today?
Did you get seasick?
Are you deaf? I'm talking to you.
I need to ask you something.
Do you have anything to say?
What haven't I told you?
Do you know anyone on the Small Black Hills?
Did you see them today?
Them?
Who are they?
My sisters' family.
What?
Your sister's family lives on the island? How come you never told me this before?
-I was scared to give a bad impression. -What, bad impression on me?
My brother said our bad family roots did you no good.
He didn't want to spoil your good impression.
Tell me,
as your sister is close to you,
don't you want to visit her?
Of course. How could I not want to?
But I'm scared to make a bad impression.
Why do you always speak of impressions?
Didn't I just learn it from you?
Didn't you teach me that?
I taught you many things, did you learn them all?
Besides, did I ever ask you to shun your family for the sake of impressions?
Why are you staring at me?
Tomorrow,
the ferry on duty will go to Small Black Hills.
Go visit your sister.
Can I? Shouldn't we sever ties with them?
Well, well. You're very aware, you learn fast.
You even know how to sever ties.
Your sister An Xin is not a right-winger. Why would you sever ties with her?
-Isn't Ou a right-winger? -Who's Ou? His family name is Ouyang.
Isn't that the name you always call him?
I had called him with that name.
Now he's different, and it's inappropriate to call him that.
You could've told me earlier, then we could've visited them.
Are you sure we don't have to sever ties with them?
The policy of our party is practicality.
You can label them, but they're still your relatives.
And I'm not afraid of having them as family.
KNEADING FACTORY
Are they looking for you?
Baby sis?
My sister.
Let's go in.
Come in.
What are you looking at?
The house is very organized and clean.
The only thing I can do now is keep clean.
Where are the children?
With the neighbours.
They're good to you, even taking care of your kids.
Don't you understand what ordinary life is like?
Do they charge you?
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
-How much do you pay per month? -Seven dollars.
Not too bad, I think.
-What are you looking for? -I'm getting you a cup.
Isn't there one just there?
How could you use that one?
Don't bother. I'm not thirsty.
Go fetch the kids. I want to see them.
I don't have much time, I need to take the ferry back.
Okay, I'll get them now.
Of course Auntie is a pretty lady. She loves you lots.
Greet your auntie.
-Auntie. -Auntie.
Which of you is An Ran
Are you An Ran?
Then you must be An Nuo?
Am I correct?
Baby sis.
I'll go get your brother-in-law.
Good girls.
One, two, and go.
-Go home, would you? -I'm not going back, why would I?
She came to visit us.
What does it mean if you don't meet her?
I don't want to see her.
I don't want to see anyone.
Then what should I tell her?
Say whatever you want.
I don't care.
Just tell her you couldn't find me.
Or I went out to sea.
Madam, you should board now. We're leaving.
Sis, I'll go now.
Say bye to Auntie.
-Bye, Auntie. -Bye, Auntie.
See you later, An Ran and An Nuo.
-See you. -See you.
Their names sound just like our family.
Take care of yourself, sis.
Thank you, baby sis.
Send my love to my brother-in-law.
Okay then.
See you.
-Eat, chick. -Eat the food.
Eat.
Have some.
Yes, you need to eat more.
Where's your mother?
She's inside.
Did you just get back?
How did it go?
What do you mean?
Not good, I suppose.
Did you leave her some money?
I told you to bring more stuff, but you didn't listen to me.
What could you do with that money? What can you buy there?
How conspicuous would it be if I brought loads of stuff with me?
I went there and returned here alone and no one would notice.
Why are you afraid of being noticed?
What do you think?
Didn't I do this for your own good?
Alright, don't worry too much.
My sister's family is so wretched.
How could I take all this happiness for granted?
Okay...
You're a great comrade if you know how to right wrongs.
Jeez, what did I do wrong?
I just appraised you and now you're being aggressive again?
Darling.
I need to tell you some good news. But first you need to appraise me more.
What good news?
I think I might be pregnant.
-Might be...? -Very likely.
-Did you go to the hospital? -Not yet, but I'm pretty sure about it.
Okay.
Then I shall only appraise you with good words.
I will offer you a reward after you've confirmed it at the hospital.
What reward?
Just like this.
A FEW MONTHS LATER...
-Advance, take it. -Advance!
Advance, take it.
Charge, take it!
Guoqing... stop it.
Bring your brother inside and have some water.
He always takes advantage of me.
How could he possibly beat you? Bring him inside and drink water.
Subtitle translation by Hui-Ting Yu