Oh no, my stomach is also hurting now.
And you say that I'm reactionary?
If you waste this special meal, I'll tell our teacher.
Are you dumb? Go before you poop in your pants.
We're eating now, what are you talking about?
Mom, you always bother yourself with such rules.
Mom isn't bothered, she's spoilt.
Mom's family used to be capitalists, and capitalists were rich.
What's wrong with capitalists and being rich?
Being rich is not okay.
Why were the capitalists rich? Because they exploited the poor people.
Who are the poor people? Are you poor? Did the capitalists exploit you?
I wasn't born back then, how could I be the poor one?
Our Aunt went through it, she's from a poor family.
Your mom's family never exploited us.
My family was exploited by the landlords, not by capitalists.
Weidong, everyone is against the landlords and the rightists.
Nobody is against capitalists now, who put this idea in your head?
Aunt, you're wrong.
Even if you've never been exploited by capitalists,
you shouldn't wear the same trousers as them.
When did I wear the same trousers as your mom? How would I get into them?
What are you thinking about?
I'm thinking about my sister's family.
If I'm like this, imagine what it's like for them.
You are like what?
Some clothes are damaged and some heels are broken, can't you deal with it?
That's not all.
They broke my records.
All the wine sets, tea sets, and coffee sets had to be put away.
The house is so empty now, even my heart feels empty.
You capitalists really need to be educated and transformed.
Those ridiculous items have gone, and now your heart is empty?
Can't the people around you fill up your heart?
That's not what I meant, I meant...
What's the meaning of life now?
No coffee, no high heels, no operas,
and you can't live any longer? Is life meaningless now?
-That's not what I meant. -So what did you mean?
Even the kids can judge me now, and I can't even say anything about it.
They just don't know any better yet, it will be better when they grow up.
When can they grow up? When does this situation come to an end?
Look how bad my memory is now,
I wanted to tell you something, but I keep forgetting what to say.
What is it?
-Ding's coming. -Which Ding?
Which Ding could it be? How many Dings do you know?
The Ding from Qingdao, from the Artillery School.
-Really? Why's he coming? -To work.
He's been transferred to our headquarters as Deputy Chief of Staff.
Deputy Chief of Staff? Isn't that a regimental level?
-It is. -So he...
I don't know the details.
I just know that the Artillery School released a bunch of officers.
The garrison division released two. Ding is one of them.
That's all I know, that's all I can tell you.
So is Wang Xiue coming with him?
Of course she is.
This time the family will come with the officers.
How many years had it been?
More than a decade.
Since you mentioned them, all of a sudden I miss them.
-I want to see them right now. -Aren't they arriving soon?
After they arrive, help them organize their house.
You're an expert on that.
I don't need reminding of that. I will help them as much as I can.
Now when I close my eyes,
I can remember back then, when they helped me with my luggage
and that rope broke. Poor Wang Xiu'e fell all the way down.
Alright, don't be sentimental now. Get up and make food already.
Where is Dehua?
I said my memory was bad, you're worse than me.
Did you forget? She told us last night,
the tide is ebbing today, they went to gather seafood.
Why do they love gathering sea food so much? They're addicted to it.
Especially Zhang Guiying...
she doesn't look like a Commissar's wife at all.
She's so tanned, like a fisherman's wife.
Whoever's wife, you all have to cook. Get up and make food.
Okay, make food.
-What are you doing today? -Nothing.
Fill up the water vat for me, I need to wash the sheets.
Don't we have tap water? Why do I have to fetch water?
Tap water is too hard, I can't do laundry with it.
We can drink the tap water, why can't you do the laundry with it?
Because I said so, quit the nonsense.
Last time you stole my clothes and caused trouble, I haven't yelled at you yet.
Look at you, why do you always bring up the past?
We are talking about fetching water here, don't argue about the past.
But is he fetching it?
Are you?
-I will if you don't bring up the past. -Okay, I won't.
No, you already did.
-You're not going to get it? -No.
I'll go get the water.
What did you say to him? What magic potion did you feed him?
I told him two German police dogs are coming to the island tomorrow,
and that he can play with them.
Isn't Ding coming tomorrow?
Ding is coming. Does that mean the police dogs can't come?
That's not what I meant. I meant, why are the police dogs coming here?
Those police dogs were used for solving crimes, now they don't allow it.
The police don't need them anymore, so they are being sent here.
Don't underestimate those police dogs,
they're registered as city residents, and even have their own food rations.
Oh right, they're actually your fellow villagers.
Aren't they German dogs? How are they my fellow villagers?
But they're coming from Qingdao, aren't you from Qingdao as well?
-Stop it. -Mom, who's Ding?
Are you stupid? You couldn't even figure that out?
Ding is a dog, a dog that's named Ding. Right, dad?
You're the silly one. What did you hear exactly? Nonsense.
-Didn't Weiguo fill up the water vat? -How is one vat going to be enough?
Why do you have to wash so much?
Why are you laughing?
Brine conquers tofu, one thing always conquers another.
Who's brine? Who's tofu?
You...
What's wrong with you?
My sister Zhang fell into the water, she almost drowned.
Who are you humphing at? Why did you humph?
Who's brine and who's tofu now?
Look, Miss Ge.
Sister in law, look, Miss Ge is carrying night soil.
Why are you yelling? No one thinks you're dumb.
-All the staff came. -Good, good.
-Aunt. -Mom.
-Where's your big brother? -He's there.
Look, look over there.
Weiguo, Weiguo! Come here.
Look at you, how come you like dogs so much?
What's so good about dogs?
They're not just dogs, they're police dogs.
Police dogs are not just dogs? You're annoying.
Talking to uneducated people is so exhausting.
Aunt, he called you uneducated.
Educated or not, so what? You still have to carry night soil.
The ship is here.
Over there.
Come over here!
Dad, did you see?
-It's a German Shepherd. -German what?
German Shepherds. The dogs are German Shepherds, they're famous dogs.
Look, it's Ding!
-I saw, I'm not blind. -Who said you were blind?
-We're in public, stop yelling. -Who yelled?
We're in public, stop that already.
Where is sister Wang and Wang Xiue?
Exactly. How come I don't see her? Didn't she come?
-She's lying inside the cabin. -Yes, most people get seasick.
You aren't most people, so you don't get seasick.
We're in public, stop it now.
-Aunt, why are you smirking? -I can smirk whenever I want.
Mom, my aunt is smirking.
She perks her own lips, why do you care?
You're ungrateful.
Welcome, welcome. You're finally here.
Why do you seem so weak now?
What?
I brought so many people to greet you, can't you crack a smile at least?
You came to greet me? Didn't you come to greet the dogs?
Come, let me introduce you to everyone. This is the Chief of Staff, Chen.
-How are you? welcome, welcome. -How are you?
-This is the Deputy Chief of Staff, Liu. -How are you?
-This is Chief Zuo from Combat Division. -How are you?
-Brother Ding, how are you? -How are you?
-Brother, do you remember me? -I do, I do.
How could I forget?
-You can call your Aunt Little An. -I'm not little An anymore.
-Call her Aunt Senior An then. -Stop it.
-Just call me Aunt An. -Aunt An.
-Call her aunt. -Aunt.
-You're Sanyang, right? -No, I am Siyang.
Dayang and Eryang joined the army, Sanyang is minding our grandparents.
What about your mom?
His mother passed away when she gave birth to him.
She died from a hemorrhage.
Good, good.
Jiang Weiguo, you should put your hands back and perk up your chest.
No. We must takeover Motian Hill.
You're not doing it right.
Brother, Dad is here.
-What are you wearing? -We were just playing.
Playing?
You've stolen your mom's clothes before, didn't you learn your lesson from it?
My mom's clothes are from the Four Olds, yours are not.
You're good at arguing. Go home and take them off.
Otherwise your mom will make you suffer for it again.
-How was it? Did he blame you? -Are you are happy I got yelled at?
Why would I be happy? It's none of my business.
I don't think your dad was angry.
Of course he wasn't, why would he be angry?
-So why did you run? -Exactly.
Go away, I wanted to run.
-Where are you going? -I'll go home and change, it's so hot.
Could you go in and see if mom's home for me?
Why are you laughing?
Do you know what you look like now?
-Like what? -You look like you're from the German SS.
You should salute like them, watch.
Hitler.
One more time.
Hitler.
-Hitler. -Brother, come. Mom's not here.
Hitler.
You don't know what I'm doing, do you? This is how the SS salute.
-It's from his hometown, how is it? Nice? -It's nice.
Hitler.
Wait for me.
Who are you?
Why are you looking at us like that? How dare you.
-Exactly, how dare you? -Did you borrow courage from a leopard?
-Who's that aimed at? -At the dog.
You can't even insult the dog properly.
I already did. What are you going to do?
We can't do anything to you, but Anti-imperialism can.
Go!
Run fast!
-Who were you cheering for? -It just slipped out.
How could you let it slip out in a battle?
We're like slaves, and you're like the master.
I'm a soldier who has captured you two, and I'm escorting you somewhere.
The communist army is nice to the people they capture.
-Why do you make us carry firewood? -Exactly.
Hurry up, otherwise Lazy will catch us up.
Did the sun rise from the west today?
-Aunt, is there anything to eat? -There are steamed buns in the kitchen.
Who wants steamed buns?
Ungrateful child! What's wrong with steamed buns? What do you want instead?
I want walnut cookies.
Aunt.
Alright, since you brought the firewood.
Stop. Stand here.
-Here. -Thank you, aunt.
-What about me? -Did you collect firewood?
-I did. -Did he collect any?
Did he collect?
Did he collect any or not?
He did, he did.
-Where did you get walnut cookies from? -I stole them.
-Aunt, he stole some walnut cookies. -Stop it. Stop yelling, ladies.
-You all have some. Come here. -We're eating walnut cookies!
Aunt, if we had these earlier we would have finished them so long ago.
How did they find out? They should go collect wool.
And what?
Come back bald or something?
I don't think that's right, they should come home shorn.
Jiang Guoqing, Jiang Junqing! Come here, right now!
Hurry.
Do you hear me? Come here right now!
Oh my gosh, what's the problem now?
-Miss An, that's our firewood. -Yes, that's ours.
-Are you coming out or not? -No, they can't. No matter what.
Are you bothered?
Weiguo, come out already. You can't hide in there forever.
Let's go, we can't run away from this.
Weren't you the one that brought the firewood?
Didn't you make me bring it?
-Were you the one wanting all the credit? -You...
We're about to die.
We're not afraid to die for the revolution, let's go.
Come on.
-What's with this firewood? -They dumped it here.
-Bullshit, who said we dumped it? -You're full of bullshit.
Which jerk ran faster than the bunnies?
If your brother didn't make the dog bite us would we have ran away?
Did the dog bite you? He didn't catch you, why did you run?
-He would have bitten us if we didn't run. -You're cowards, you deserve it.
Miss An, here.
Telling the dog to bite! Telling the dog to bite!
Jiang Weidong, don't follow me. We have to separate so she can't catch us.
Stop right there! Stop right there!
Do you hear me? Run? Where are you running to? Get down.
-Don't hit me. -Don't you beat people? How dare you?
Are you bullying people?
-Are you coming down or not? -You really hit him?
-Why would I fake it? -Why do you only hit me?
-Are you coming down or not? -Why don't you hit him?
Junqing, you...
-You just wait. -Enough.
How embarrassing in front of everyone.
-What do you want? -I want to beat you up.
Alright, are you happy now? Carry your firewood and go home.
We had two bunches, there's another one.
-Where's the other one? -Zhao Jianguo took it.
Did you hear that? Zhao Jianguo took it. Go ask Zhao Jianguo for it.
We don't know where he lives.
So how did you know where we lived?
You're the Commander's family, the whole island knows.
Why is our family so unlucky?
Alright, Weiguo, take them already. Take them to Zhao Jianguo.
I'm not going.
What was that?
Hitler.
-Aunt, brother Haiyang will take them. -Alright then, go.
Mom, when can we eat? I'm hungry.
Soon. It will be ready soon.
-Your hand... -It's still so thick, how can it be soon?
Your aunt made the dough too hard, It's difficult to roll.
Aunt said that rolled noodles should be hard.
You don't know how to roll it, why blame the dough?
-Go away, stop bothering me. -Hurry up then, I'm hungry.
You won't die from missing one meal.
Mom, I'm also hungry, listen to me. Come on, listen.
It's always a rush with you. Did you die from hunger in your last life?
Now look what happened. Great, so now no one can eat.
You don't know how to roll noodles, why are you blaming us?
Do you want to get beaten up?
-Run! -Hurry, hurry!
Why are you running? Why?
-Mom wants to hit us with a rolling pin. -Is your mother a step mother?
-She's meaner than a step mother. -Unbelievable.
Enough, enough. You're acting like a step mother.
Are we having noodles for dinner?
-What's wrong? Who upset her again? -No one upset her, the noodles did.
She said aunt made the dough too hard, and that it was too difficult to roll.
The dough broke, so mom got mad.
Of course you'd be mad if you finally finished rolling and it broke.
Anyone would be mad about that.
Honey, I understand why you're mad. I'm on your side.
Let go.
-Where's Dehua? -What do you think?
She went to help him again.
Do you have a problem with that?
Why would I have a problem with it? It's great that she's helping him.
-But... -But what?
A man and a woman are alone, what does it look like?
People will gossip about it.
Look at you,
people haven't been gossiping. You're gossiping first. How ridiculous.
I'm being serious, you should talk to Ding immediately.
I think Dehua seems quite willing.
Haven't you seen her going there all the time?
I'm not blind, I do notice these things.
It's just her own wishful thinking. What can I do?
Look at Ding, who else does he want to marry?
What did you say about Ding?
He's a widower, with four sons. What kind of woman does he want?
-What is Ding? -A widower, no?
What's a widower?
A widower is a man whose wife has died. Isn't Ding one?
You shouldn't be so mean.
That's the most polite way to say it. Didn't you know?
I didn't, but it doesn't sound good to me.
Don't call him a widower from now on.
Mom, Mom.
-When can we eat? I'm so hungry. -Shortly. Eat a steamed bun first.
Didn't you tell us not to eat cold food?
-Since when did you start listening to me? -So I don't have to listen to you anymore?
Why are you always hitting people? What is this?
She's like a warlord.
-Enough, enough. -Let go of me.
Enough, warlord.
You can't act like a warlord.
-Overthrow the warlords! -Overthrow the warlords!
-Lay the warlords down and stamp on them! -Lay the warlords…
Mom.
I'm so hungry, I'm about to cry.
What can I do? You should eat the steamed buns.
The canteen stopped serving food, what else do you want?
Mom, can we eat a walnut cookie first?
You're so high maintenance.
-It's just a cookie, why not? -I'd love to let them eat.
All the walnut cookies are locked up, I don't have the key, your sister took it.
-Let's ask aunt for it. Let's go. -Yes, let's go eat walnut cookies!
Walnut cookies!
How come the meat in the kitchen is disappearing so fast?
Are you suggesting that my aunt is stealing meat?
How dare you say that?
When did you start hitting people? You're always doing it.
She was fine. You always have to stir the pot.
Next time, stay out of it when I discipline them,
Who disciplines children like that? You're always yelling or hitting them.
-That's just how she is. -Shut up.
PEOPLE'S DAILY
-Should I go talk to Ding? -About what?
Don't ask obvious questions, what do you think?
You think I don't want Dehua to marry Ding? I'm behind the idea.
Dehua is my biggest concern right now. After she's married, I can relax.
He seems like the best candidate.
We should try to make it happen then.
I know what Ding is like.
He's got a bit of an education, and is quite a passionate guy.
Ding's passionate? He isn't.
He'd love to be passionate. But does he dare?
After-all, who doesn't want to be passionate?
Very few people dared, but it didn't end well.
-So you want to be passionate too? -Who said I wanted to be?
I'm an exception.
With a wife like you, I'm satisfied and content with life.
If I'm still thinking of others, I'd be upsetting god and you.
-Who'd believe it? -You don't have to believe me.
As long as I believe it.
Ding doesn't believe it either.
You see? An uneducated fellow like me,
married to an educated and pretty woman like you.
We had so many babies, even twins.
A couple of pigeons as well, how could he believe it?
No matter what, he went to school for a few years. He's educated.
Why can't he marry someone from the city, who's pretty and educated?
His parents arranged his last one, he had no choice. Now he's free.
Think about it, would he make the same mistake again?
Would he be prepared to suffer again?
You're right.
But shouldn't we at least try?
What if Ding isn't like that? What if he'd say yes?
You're day dreaming. Try it if you want to.
You never give up until you reach a dead end.
-What are you doing? -What do you think?
You're walking into the trap.
I want to examine how passionate you really are.
Sure, you're welcome to examine me.
Jiang Yafei, your mom bought walnut cookies.
Yes, and?
-Do you know how many she bought? -How many?
-Ten packs, she bought ten packs.
-Really? -Why would I lie? I saw her buying them.
-Why are you running? -Mom bought ten packs of cookies.
Jiang Weiguo, did something happen? Your brothers and sisters are running.
Oh no.
-Mom, Mom! -What's wrong?
What's wrong? What did you do now?
Mom, we heard that you bought ten packs of walnut cookies.
Are you a sniffer dog or what? Why is your nose so good?
-What? What happened? -Mom bought ten packs of walnut cookies.
Get up, don't you have to do laundry?
Mom, why did you buy so many cookies at once?
Didn't you say me and your aunt were too strict?
Weren't you upset that we locked up all the cookies?
From now on, everyone gets one pack of walnut cookies per month.
Everyone gets their own pack. When it's finished, it's finished.
One pack per person.
Save them, it's for the whole month.
Leave them, it's better if they eat them all today.
Two, four, five.
Who are all these packs for?
Your dad, your mom and your aunt. Can't we eat, too?
The three of you eat five packs? That's unfair.
Aren't we allowed to eat more?
-No, you can't. -No, you can't.
Miss An.
Why are you walking so fast? You're good at walking.
Dehua went to wash Ding's sheets, she can't come back to make lunch.
I have to rush back to make lunch so you don't yell about being hungry.
Ding, when do you plan to mention it to him?
When will I get the chance to mention it?
Dehua is pretty much living there already, how can I mention it in front of her?
I'd say you should mention it as soon as possible, so nothing happens.
-What could happened? -What do you think?
I'd say it's better if something happens, I hope it does.
I don't know how Ding could say no.
What are you on about? You're a woman.
Do you actually think about such embarrassing stuff?
-What do you mean? -What did I mean?
I'm afraid Dehua will fall even deeper, and then can't back out of it.
People would gossip about it,
and she can't get married. How embarrassing would it be for us?
And it might also ruin our relationship with Ding, it's not worth it.
That makes sense.
I didn't know that you were quite passionate yourself.
How am I passionate? It's strategy. I'm just strategic.
Tell Ding tonight, and reach an agreement.
Don't let Dehua go.
She's wasting her time.
Aren't you comrades? How could you do this?
Dehua is my sister, she's close to me.
Why isn't there much meat?
-Weidong, why are you laughing? -I'm happy.
Why are you so happy?
My brother promised to give me his new slingshot. Right, Brother?
Yes.
Who's kicking me?
Blackmail, evil blackmail.
-Are you changing your mind? -What do you mean?
-When did I promise you? -You promised me at the table.
Jiang Weidong, I've come to the conclusion that you're a rascal.
Rascal or not,
as long as I get your slingshot you can call me whatever you like.
-Even a rascal? -Sure.
-Even a traitor? -Sure.
-Even a renegade? -Sure.
Not a renegade, I won't be a renegade no matter what. Don't worry.
That's better.
-Give me it then. -Only if you do something for me.
-What is it? -Go get the dog something to eat.
What should I get?
Meat, of course. Would I need you if it was something else?
They'd notice it if I steal any more.
They are going to notice anyway. Get it while you can.
Alright.
-I'll inspect the situation first. -Go.
Come in.
This guy was eavesdropping outside.
-Tell me who sent you. -No one sent me.
Nonsense, if no one sent you, why were you eavesdropping outside?
No, I didn't mean to listen, I was about to come in.
But I heard you were talking about stealing meat, so I listened for a while.
-Did you hear everything? -I did.
He heard everything, what do we do?
Kill him.
Hitler.
Help!
What are you doing?
-Go away. -Go, go.
-Dad, they're bullying me. -Who's bullying you?
-The Brothers. -Which one?
All the brothers bully me.
Guoqing, Guoqing!
Dad, how many times have I told you? I'm not Guoqing, my name is Weiguo.
-Have you been bullying your sister? -No, who said that?
-Why is she crying then? -I didn't bully her.
-Are you ready? -Soon.
Hurry up.
Oh no, hurry up.
What are you guys doing?
Move.
Great, you guys stole the meat.
Lower your voice.
-I'm going to tell mom. -Don't.
What's that noise? Weiguo.
-Check what the noise in the kitchen was. -Okay.
The last time the landlord's son put a toad in your pencil case,
didn't the shepherd get revenge for you?
Did you forget? That little boy was so scared.
The dog is so nice to you, and he wants meat. Let him have some.
Who said I wouldn't let him?
I'll go then, forget about what I said today.
Sorry for disturbing you.
-I won't walk you out then. -You don't need to so polite.
Hide, Mom's there.
Who upset Mom?
You almost killed me.
The meat is killing me, it smells so good.
-Wait, no. Let me think about it. -What? How could you be such a rascal?
Here.
You think if you block me, that I don't know where to go? I can go here.
Why did you move there?
You're back?
I forgot something at school, so I went back to get it.
-Did you get it back? Where is it? -Let's stop playing.
Subtitle translation by Lynn Lee