Go and do your own thing. Why follow me?
You are preparing stuff for me. Can I not watch?
You have to supervise me preparing your stuff?
Not supervise... I'm just curious what you have for me.
You'll take whatever I have for you.
You can see them when you're at Ding's.
That's a bother. I prefer to see them now.
You're careless now that you're marrying soon. You ignored the chicken.
See how hungry they are.
This is not good. You need to honor your last duty.
Okay, I will.
Sister-in-law, would you give me a camphorwood box?
They're a pair. My mother gave them to me as dowry.
I don't want both, just one of them.
Okay then. You can have one.
How do you look? Good?
-What do you think? -Very nice.
-Who's coming? -An Ran and Wang Yanfeng.
-Aunt, congratulations! -For what, Yanfeng?
-Congratulations, Aunt. -I'm not young. Why are you embarrassed?
Because you're finally marrying Uncle Ding.
You naughty little girl!
Aunt, here you go.
Sister-in-law...
do I look all right?
Who did the make-up for you? It's very nice.
An Ran helped me with it.
You look like a completely different person!
Let's take a look.
She applied some powder on my face too.
Did she?
Ding will be so pleased when he sees you.
Sister-in-law.
You look great, and this outfit fits you really nicely.
It fits well, huh?
You knew I always wanted someone well-educated.
Someone who can talk about everything with me.
Things from books.
It was my dream when I was young.
And when you and An got married, this wish grew even stronger.
Even Xiu'e could tell what I was thinking. You can never tell?
How can I not? I am not blind.
In the past, marriage was forced by parents, and we had no choice.
Now it's up to us.
But I still end up with an illiterate.
Do you think it's my fate?
I have no luck with well-educated women in this life.
Perhaps don’t marry Dehua then.
What are you talking about?
Aside from not being educated, Dehua is a good woman.
Sure she is. Guess whose sister she is?
And what is it with you two?
Dehua has lived with you for nearly 20 years.
One of you is a teacher. Couldn't you have taught her something?
She could at least have an elementary school diploma.
Stop it. If I knew she was going to marry you,
I'd have sent her to school long ago.
She could've gotten through college, let alone middle school.
Are you tired?
Why would I be tired?
I haven't done much today.
Let's get some rest.
What's...
What's this?
How... how come? Why?
How should I know?
I am perfectly clean, and I'm not on my period.
I know.
I mean, didn't you consummate with your first husband?
I did.
Then how come...
How... how is this possible?
I really don't know.
Brother Ding, I really have no idea what is going on.
-Some more, please, brother. -Enough?
This is what we're eating today?
Dad, please make do.
We were at the canteen. There were only steamed buns left.
And cold ones.
Dad, dip it in the sugar. It tastes good.
Go and get some pickles.
Why are you looking at me?
Are you deaf? Go get the pickles.
We don't have any.
There's not a single piece of vegetable, let alone pickles.
You could have just said there's none.
Since Aunt went to Uncle Ding's,
we are eating worse and worse.
And at Uncle Ding's, things are better and better.
Just eat and stop talking.
-You started it. -Exactly.
Shut up, you all. You're annoying.
Why's Dad annoyed?
Why do you think, idiot?
It's obvious.
Crash a tub in a pit, you'll get foul stuff everywhere.
You're eating steamed buns?
We are lucky we have these.
If we went two minutes later, we wouldn't even have them.
Couldn't you go there earlier?
-We could drop school for that? -Exactly.
-Okay then. Forget I said it. -Mom, where were you? You're back so late.
There's something I need to take care of.
Have you eaten?
Are you asleep?
Are you sleeping?
You're really sleepy, aren't you?
Get up. I have something to tell you.
You know what I've been doing,
and why I’m back so late?
What did you do and why?
Do you know about modelling? Do you know what that is?
I don't know what modelling is.
I only know about spying.
Spying?
That man,
writing and drawing in this prohibited military zone, what if he is a spy?
How do you know?
It must be the guard.
Such a long tongue, and a vigilant one.
I tell you. That person is an artist. He's producing art.
Artist? From where?
From the provincial capital.
He's a teacher from the art department of the Teachers' University.
He's here to collect folk art.
What's there to collect here?
I mean...
to look for inspiration for his work.
Of course I know what that means. I don't need you to tell me.
My point is,
who allowed him to be here?
Who allowed that?
-He came with the County Cultural Center. -On the records?
Why must they be?
This is a coastal defense outpost.
It's not for anyone to just walk in as they please.
Well, I wouldn't know if they are.
So, he's here for his art,
and what were you doing there?
I was being a model.
It was really fun.
I don't know what happened.
The Cultural Center guy came this morning and asked me to model for him.
He said Mr. Xia picked me as soon as he landed on the island.
And that I have outstanding disposition, and I’m very different.
He told you this?
The guy from the Cultural Center told me.
But he also told me himself afterwards.
Afterwards? When?
When I posed for him.
He knows his timing, huh.
And what did he say after that?
He said it is beautiful here.
The mountain, the water and the people, all are beautiful on this island.
He meant you, I guess?
Are you jealous?
I'm jealous? Of him?
One of the Stinking Old Ninth?
-Don't go. -What?
I'm beat. Come, rub my shoulders.
Come on.
What happened to your shoulders?
I couldn't move sitting on the rock. Now I have a pain in my back.
You deserve it.
Ask whoever painted you to do it.
Don't ask me.
Look how petty you are!
And you said you weren't jealous?
I didn't get jealous when you were younger.
Now you're at this age, why should I be?
At what age?
Am I not good enough for you to be jealous?
Then why are you mad? Are you really not jealous?
-Why would I be jealous? -You certainly are!
-Hi, Mrs An. Are you off to work? -Yes.
-Are you off to paint? -That's right.
-Are these your daughters? -Yes, they both are.
They are so pretty.
Just like you. Beautiful girls.
Thank you for the compliment. I'm flattered.
I'll draw a portrait of you some other time.
I'm off now. Goodbye.
What are you looking at?
He's an artist?
-That's what an artist is like. -Like what?
Like him.
What's good about that? So feminine. I disliked him at first sight.
Yafei, stop talking nonsense. It's ill-mannered.
He simply said something nice. Look how pleased you are.
How pleased am I?
Your eyes are narrowed into slits.
"Thank you for the compliment. I'm flattered."
What a cheeky girl.
Mrs. An!
Are you done modelling?
Basically.
You're either done or not. What do you mean by basically?
The artist said he'd ask me if modification is needed.
Then you should go anytime.
How can I? Can I go in work hours?
When you go next time, bring me with you.
-I'd like to see how he paints. -You might as well pose for him.
How can I? He took a fancy to you from first sight.
-Stand up! -Hello, Teacher!
I hear Commander Liu is assigned to the military district?
Who will take his place then?
I asked you a question.
What's it to you?
Can't I just be curious?
Grandmother, listen to me.
There are so many uncles in my family.
They never visit if there's no big matter.
I heard that Vice-Commander Wan may take the place of Commander Liu.
And Chief-of-Staff will take that of Wan. Is that true?
You're pretty well-informed. Did the cadre branch notify you?
Stop it. I'm serious.
If that's the case,
then the place of Chief-of-Staff at the fortress will be vacant, won't it?
Why do you stare at me?
I'm thinking for your own good.
You've been at the same place for almost a decade.
It has to be your turn now.
How many times have I told you?
Don't be nosy about my work. It's a bad habit.
How am I nosy?
I'm only reminding you not to miss the chance.
Reminders are no use in the business of the organization.
Isn't an organization made up of people?
Business is fixed, but people are elastic. Human effort is the decisive factor.
An Jie, one should learn to be content.
It's not bad for a poor guy like me to be where I am today.
Very good, actually.
If I asked for more from the organization,
there'd be an issue with not only my Party nature, but also my personality.
Man grows upwards, water flows downwards. You have to think about progress.
Your idea of letting things run their own course is undesirable.
You are a commander, and you're not even as ambitious as your wife.
Anything I say, you're capable of rendering it wrong.
Stay out of my business. Don't you worry about it.
Unteachable.
That's not for you to say.
Even if I needed teaching, it wouldn't be by a capitalist lady like you.
Jiang Defu,
haven't I been married to you for 20 years?
And haven't I been profoundly transformed by you in these years?
I would at least have made a proletariat.
I make your meals and clothing, wash dishes and clean the house every day.
Am I not technically a maidservant?
And you?
With a big belly, walking away right after you're fed with food and drink,
you're more like a bourgeois who gets things by doing nothing!
Damn!
I can never outdebate you. I give up.
Mom, is Dad coming back?
Maybe we should stop waiting and eat. My belly keeps growling.
And mine.
Maybe we should just eat.
Mind your manners. You won't starve to death.
It must be Dad!
Hello?
I see.
Let's eat. Don't wait now.
-Where's your dad eating? -The hostel. There're visitors from above.
Eat then.
Let's eat!
As if reborn by a starved ghost.
Mom, was she not born by you?
I thought you said Dad wasn't coming?
I didn't. It was Uncle Feng from the administration office.
He told me over the phone.
You're back. How come you ate so fast?
Ate what? Just the air.
They were sick. All of them are seasick.
They all laid down without eating.
Who came visiting?
Deputy Political Commissar Liang from the military district.
-What's he doing here? -Checking on the team.
So he hasn't eaten then?
Why do you ask? What's it to you?
Can't I just ask?
Yaning? Yaning!
What is it?
I've got an important task for you.
Go.
Mom!
How come you're back so soon?
You sent me for an embarrassment.
Uncle Liang didn't want it?
I didn't even get to see him.
Dad sent me back at the small gate.
And Uncle Ding was with him, with a false smile on his face.
Where's Yafei?
She's not home. Why do you need her?
She's had your sister for quite a while. I'm here to look for them.
Aunt, you are spoiling kids. This is not right.
Did your mom say that?
She forgot how I indulged you guys in the past.
Go and help me find them.
Sister-in-law.
I'm not sure if I should tell you this.
Either tell me or don't.
Maybe not then.
If I told you, you're bound to be mad.
No, you have to tell me. Tell me.
Will you promise not to be mad?
I don't know what it is. How can I promise?
You surely will be.
I was furious when I heard. How can you not be?
Well, what is it? Tell me.
Siyang came home and told me
that rumor says you are sweet with that artist from the capital city.
And that he did more than paint your portrait.
And...
And what?
And it gets worse. I was outraged.
Well, tell me already.
And...
they say you let him paint you naked.
Sister-in-law,
it's just a rumor, right? It's not true, is it?
It is.
I did let him paint me naked. So what?
So what?
You know what! It's not acceptable.
Why do you yell at me? Even your brother doesn't yell at me.
Because he hasn't heard.
If he had, he'd probably beat you, let alone yell at you.
Well tell him then, let him beat me.
Why should he beat you if you didn't do it? He can beat you when you do.
What did I do exactly?
You let a guy paint you naked.
Who said that to Siyang? Bring him here. I'll ask him.
See if I tear his mouth apart!
Tough one, aren't you? Can you do that to all those spreading the rumor?
Please rest assured, Chief. I'm not disgruntled.
For so long I've been guided by the Party. This is the least I should know.
Very well.
Jiang,
you are not a new comrade now.
I'll be straight with you.
You've been in the same place for so long,
not because you're not doing well, nor that you're incompetent.
Your conduct and capabilities are praised by all.
But it's just your family.
Your promotion to the fortress district was filed a few times, but your family...
And her social relations are too complicated.
And besides, she has a Rightist sister-in-law.
I hear you've been quite close?
These are all problems.
I know. I understand.
Family issues are the most difficult to bypass.
But it's easier for some people, and harder for the others.
It's to do with their personal nature.
Eventually,
it is a question of what you need and what you desire.
Don't you agree?
Yes, you're right, sir.
I'm heavily attached to my family. There are things I can't let go.
Then you'll lose others over them.
Yes... yes.
We're almost home.
-Is she asleep? -She is.
She drooled all over me.
That means you're blessed.
Baby's drool is good. Whoever gets drooled on is blessed.
And you said that her piss was good when she pissed all over me.
Everything from her is a treasure, as if she's a little pig.
She is a little pig. Anything from her is a treasure.
Look how soundly she sleeps, just like a little pig.
My classmates all like her. They like touching her cheeks.
No wonder she's always drooling. You guys have been touching her.
-Ding Xiaoyang. -Don't touch her.
I won't then. I'm going home.
Don't. You mom's going crazy inside.
Come and stay with us.
Why is she going crazy?
Dad, you're going home?
I suggest you don't. You wife is going crazy inside.
Where did you get that from?
Talking nonsense all day, knowing no respect.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Forget I said it. Go ahead.
Yafei, maybe you should head home too.
If they do end up fighting, you can help stop it.
They can fight if they like. And they'd better.
Stop it.
How can your dad rival her? He'll get a good beating.
Then he deserves it. He was ungrateful, mistaking my kind warning for a bad one.
Don't talk about your dad as if he was a dog that bites people.
He is not as good as Gouyao.
You're even more excited now.
Aunt, Gouyao was a person, not a dog.
Never mind, it's a long story.
I'd better go back. We don't want a fight.
Dad, where are you going?
I'm out for business.
I know it’s for business, but where are you going?
Why are you talking so weirdly?
How am I talking weird?
I was being polite. That makes it weird?
Didn't you blame me for lack of respect?
Dad!
Where are you going? For what and for how long?
I'm going to Regiment 29 with the Chief. I'll be back in two or three days.
Fine. Go ahead then. Be back soon.
-Goodbye, Dad! -Goodbye.
Mother,
did you hear that? Should I repeat it for you?
Get lost!
What's happened to everyone these days?
Mom.
-Do you know who Gouyao is? -He can be whoever he wants.
Why are you still here?
I'm not coming this afternoon. I have plans.
So I thought I'd finish with these exercises.
You're done modelling?
I am. It's boring.
Not because it's boring,
but because of the rumor, right?
You have no idea how ugly it gets.
I am just furious.
How can I not know? I've heard about it.
Let me tell you. The uglier it gets, the less it’s true, and less believed.
Outrageous.
Are you still at work?
If we weren’t, aren't you here for nothing?
Yeah.
See, I'm talking nonsense here.
I saw these nice flowers on my way,
so I picked some. Though it'd brighten it up a bit.
Where should they go?
There would be fine.
Okay, here.
No, not here. There.
What are you doing?
-Well then. -Thank you.
You're welcome.
Mrs. An, what about this afternoon?
I'm afraid not. I have something to take care of at home.
That's okay. I'm going to paint then.
I'm sorry about this.
Mrs. An, don't be.
You've been helping me. I should be the one thanking you.
Let's say no more about it.
I'm... I'm going then.
-I'm going. Bye. -Bye, Mr. Xia.
Bye.
What are you looking at? He's married already.
So what? I can't look at a married man?
What for? It's no good.
Quite right, it's no good.
The moment he walked in,
he didn't notice me at all. Only someone else.
Stop the nonsense.
How is that nonsense? It is what happened.
-I say this, Mr. Xia is a bit into you. -You are getting absurd.
If anyone hears it, there'd be even more rumors.
What more can there be?
Can it get any worse than being painted naked?
The truth is, you didn't.
So what if you did?
It'd be for art. There's no shame in giving yourself to art.
Would you just shut it?
Easy for you to say.
Why don't you try giving yourself to art?
I'm not good enough.
If I were up to it, I would.
Look at you, all toughened up.
How about coffee at my place this afternoon?
There's coffee again?
My man was at the military district for a meeting. He was glad when he saw it.
He pulled some strings to get foreign currency, and bought me a little pack.
Miss An,
I'm not complimenting you because you invite me to coffee.
But you are really fortunate.
At home, you have a husband who loves you,
and outside, there're people so fond of you.
Aren't you fortunate?
Any more of this nonsense, no more coffee for you.
Coffee this afternoon. See you.
Mr. Xia.
Miss Ge.
I didn't expect to see you here. What a surprise.
Miss Ge, where are you going?
I'm going to Mrs. An's.
Her home is nicely decorated, clean and elegant.
I believe so. Mrs. An has fine tastes.
Mrs. An!
I'm here!
I've been expecting you.
Here, come on in.
-Mrs. An. -Mr. Xia.
What? Shall I introduce you?
Very funny. Please come in.
What a yard! It's full of the breath of spring.
Look at these flowers, the vines and the lot of vegetables.
-How beautiful! -I was right, wasn't I?
Yes, absolutely!
Mrs. An, may I take a few photos here?
Yeah.
-Of course you can. Go ahead. -Great.
Why do you look at me like that?
You don't mind me bringing him here, do you?
Of course I do.
As if there weren't enough rumors already.
I ran into him near your gate.
He asked if he could come. You think I could have said no?
Besides, there was no one else there.
Really, no one saw us.
It'd be too late if we were seen.
You're really good at making troubles.
Just take things as they come.
And shouldn't you treat him nicely for once?
At any rate, he's an artist, and he's painted so many pictures of you.
And created so many rumors for me.
So what?
A clear conscience laughs at false accusation.
He might be surprised if he sees us having coffee here.
Look how excited you are.
Are you growing fond of him?
A little.
I am a little fond of him.
Well, go out now.
You brought him here and now you're leaving him alone.
Right. I'll go find him.
You make the coffee. Be quick.
Wow, it's really coffee.
Co... what is it?
It's "coffee" in English.
Mr. Xia, please.
I will go ahead then.
It smells fantastic.
Finally I can have such good coffee again.
Miss Ge, are you laughing at me?
No, not at all. Why would I?
Do you know where coffee comes from?
It's said that there was a shepherd in Ethiopia in the 16th century.
One day when he was out with his flock, he noticed that the goats
were bouncing and hopping.
And he found out that all the goats had eaten a kind of small red round fruit.
He took some of the fruit home out of curiosity.
And after he ate the fruit,
he found that whatever work he did, he never got tired.
He was full of energy and particularly excited.
Later,
he brought the fruit to a monastery, and asked everyone to try it.
It turned out
that everyone who ate it felt the same.
Since then,
the fruit has been used as a medicine with refreshing effects
and is very much liked.
This is the coffee we have today.
That's the story of coffee.
Tasting coffee is like admiring a world-famous painting.
You need to know about the historical context and the story behind it.
That way, you may get its real tastes.
Yes, yes, yes, yes...
I didn't know you could often get such quality coffee on this remote island.
This place does seem like an otherworldly land.
We'll have a meeting 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.
What do we do now?
What do you mean?
Commander Jiang has returned.
Mrs. An, I'm sorry.
Why apologize? Sorry for what? You sit here.
-Prepare for the specifics. -Yes, sir.
I'm going.
You're back. I thought it would take two or three days.
The Chief got some short notice. He's needed in Beijing for a meeting.
So I'm back early.
What, am I not welcomed back?
This is your house. You need me welcoming you?
I was having coffee.
You're in a nice mood while I’m gone,
drinking coffee by yourself.
Want me to join you?
Thanks, but no.
I already have company.
Who is it?
Can you guess?
Do I need to? It must be Miss Ge.
On this island,
only you two are likely to be coffee partners.
-There's someone else. -Who else?
Mr. Xia.
Who is Mr. Xia?
That artist.
Commander Jiang.
You guys sit and drink. I'll be back in a moment.
What was that? There are guests, and you couldn't even say hello?
What would they think?
He can think whatever he likes.
Mr. Xia,
perhaps we should leave.
That's not good.
It's not good to leave without saying goodbye.
He's a guest?
What guest? Whose guest?
He's my guest.
You invited them here?
I didn't. He was walking by, and Miss Ge brought him here.
Then he's an unexpected guest. Even less necessary for me to meet.
How can you do this? You're embarrassing me.
An Jie, I have shown you enough respect. Enough is enough.
-What do you mean? -You know what I mean.
Send away the unexpected guest now.
Also,
I bought the coffee for you,
not for any bastard or scoundrel.
All right, Jiang Defu.
You just wait!
Subtitle translation by Christine Huang