Mrs. An, working late again?
What was that for?
What do you think?
Why would she do that when I'm around?
That's what you don't understand.
When she's angry enough, she doesn't care who's around.
Why is she angry?
Why do you think?
I think she deserved it.
Why would you say that?
Look at you...
How are you ever going to win this war?
What war? I give up.
She's going through menopause right now.
I don't want to add more fuel to her fire.
You even know what menopause is now.
-And you don't? -Of course not.
That means Dehua hasn't got it yet.
You'll know as soon as she gets it.
She's going to be worse?
Don't you think she's a handful already?
Why did you come so late?
I was marking the end of term exam.
Eat slowly. It's all yours.
I'm starved.
You're always on about table manners, but look at yourself.
Table manners are for people who aren't hungry.
What in the world are you on about? I can't understand a word.
Listen,
has there been a visitor at your place?
People come and go all the time. Who are you referring to?
Is there a young girl?
A young girl?
You know what I mean.
A girl who's not married, without a husband.
Why do you want to know?
Just out of curiosity.
No, that's not it.
You've heard something, haven't you?
What do you mean? What have I heard?
You've heard something about a young girl, right?
Tell me. Just tell me.
I don't even know if I heard right,
but...
my brother was talking with my husband during lunch
and they mentioned some young girl.
What about her?
I didn't get the details.
But sounded like my brother was quite flustered with that girl.
Flustered? What about?
How would I know? That's why I'm asking you.
What kind of girl can do that to my brother?
He's not flustered at all. He's rather enjoying it.
Since when do you wipe your mouth like that?
I learned it from you people.
I learned nothing but bad habits from you.
How can say something like that?
How can you be so mean to someone who cooks for you all the time?
Are you waiting for someone?
Yes, I'm waiting for somebody.
Who is it?
You know who.
No, I don't.
I'm waiting for a young girl.
What... what young girl?
That young girl who's got you all flustered.
-Who... who? -Xiaoyang's here.
Who's got me flustered?
Here, have some grapes.
Don't! She's having a bad stomach lately.
Get it out of her mouth.
It's too late, Uncle. She's swallowed it.
-It's your fault if she has diarrhea. -She was sick already.
-Is it them? -Are you flustered now?
They always make me flustered.
What's that for?
You know very well.
Would I ask you if I knew already?
That's your guilty conscience speaking.
Big words from a well-educated person. Always so precise and to the point.
Don't feed her grapes. She'll have them when she grows up.
She'll have diarrhea if she eats grapes.
Why are you here?
No reason. Just bored.
Actually,
we came over because we were afraid that you might get into an argument.
How childish do you think we are?
It's not that.
It's because I said something about a young girl to my sister-in-law earlier,
so he got mad at me.
He said I'm an expert in meddling,
and made me come over here to explain myself.
What have you done this time?
She eavesdropped on our conversation at lunch and conjured up a scandal.
I made her come over to clear up some misunderstandings.
Dear Uncle,
are you trying to cover up your crime?
I didn't think much of it until you came over with your elaborate explanation.
Now, I do think I need to take out the leash.
See. See what you've done.
Not so smart after all, right?
Say "Daddy"...
Three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
Two, two, three, four, five, six, seven, go.
Mrs. An, why are you here?
I'm just passing through to see An Ran.
-An Ran. -Yes, sir.
Come here.
-Auntie, why are you here? -To see you, of course.
What? I'm not welcome?
Look at your blush.
Of course you're welcome.
Mrs. An, please excuse me then.
-Sure. I'll only take a few minutes. -Okay.
Auntie, please sit.
Where's that announcer?
You mean Gong Xiaomei? She's helping out somewhere else.
Got a transfer?
No, she helps around quite a lot.
Sometimes here, sometimes there.
She said she's just like a brick, filling all the gaps.
So she's quite popular then?
Not really.
She's the only female cadre in Propaganda Team.
And since we don't have much to do here,
she has to help out wherever a female cadre is needed.
-What's she like? -She's quite nice.
Very pretty, but easy to get along with.
Who says pretty girls have to be snobbish?
Aren't most of them like that?
Auntie, why are you so interested in her?
No reason. Just curious.
Just curious?
What else could it be?
That's what I want to know too.
Silly girl.
Why do I feel so sick?
You look kind of awful too.
Are you okay? Medical staff!
Too late for that. We must take him to the hospital.
Why has his blood pressure gone up?
Is it a curable disease?
Is he okay here?
Should we go to the hospital?
Can you just be quiet for a while?
Don't worry.
High blood pressure is quite normal for people of a certain age.
Then why is he the only one who fainted?
I think we should go to the hospital.
I'm so scared, my heart is pounding like crazy.
Auntie, can you just be quiet? You're annoying everyone here.
Watch your attitude.
No manners at all.
That's your fault too. You've spoiled all of them.
All of you, enough already. Please let me sleep for a while.
Fine. Go, all of you.
I think you should measure his blood pressure twice a day.
The commander mustn't get up and move around until
his blood pressure is measured again at night.
We'll see how that goes before giving him anymore medication.
Is he okay at home?
Yes.
-Thank you, Dr. Chen. -No problem.
-Is he really okay at home? -Yes, yes.
Can you not keep repeating the same question?
I'm just worried. I need to double-check.
Why do you look so worried?
My blood pressure is down already.
Just like the doctor said, I just some good rest.
So you just let me sleep. Go...
Then... I'll sleep with you.
Look at you.
You used to complain about sleeping with me so much.
Never comfortable and always hurting somewhere.
Why are you suddenly willing to sleep with me?
You're even offering now.
I guess your blood pressure is down. You're back to your old ways again.
No worries. I promise to grow old with you.
Go to sleep then. I'll leave you to it.
Where did you go?
I went to borrow a book. Look.
Please don't experiment on me.
Listen, the book says high blood pressure is hereditary.
What does that mean?
It means you got this from either your dad or your mom.
Bull-crap.
How can you blame this on people who've been dead for almost 30 years?
This is science, not bull-crap.
Science can be bull-crap sometimes.
-Enough. Stop reading. -Don't.
Enough. Go to sleep.
What is it? What's wrong with you?
Look at you. Back to your old self again.
What happened to that nice lady who offered to sleep with me?
You think this is funny?
I'm just trying to make you laugh.
I feel so weak at the moment.
I have no strength in my body.
My legs feel so weak too.
-Is it your blood pressure again? -No, I just measured.
See if you can find it in this book.
Why do I feel all weak in my legs?
It doesn't say.
Dad, Mom.
Come in.
What is it?
We're here to check on Dad.
Dad, feeling better?
Dad, is your blood pressure still high?
I'm fine...
You just go back to sleep.
Go back to sleep.
This feels so nice.
Nice?
With my wife and my kids beside me.
Mom, the doctor's here to take Dad's blood pressure.
Okay.
Sorry about this. You didn't sleep well last night, right?
You slept fine though. Snoring like a pig.
Come in.
Good morning. Hello, sir.
Why are you here? Where's Dr. Chen?
I'm responsible for check-ups of all division heads.
Which means
-you'll be taking his blood pressure? -Yes.
Blood pressure normal.
Everything's normal?
Yes, all normal. Looking good.
I should go now. Goodbye, sir.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
No need, it's my job.
-What's wrong with you now? -Why can't Dr. Chen come?
Didn't she just say?
She's responsible for check-ups. It's her job.
What the hell are they thinking? Why send a girl for check-ups?
It's not appropriate at all. You're still in bed,
and not even properly dressed.
I just don't get it.
You never get anything.
Who said I'm not properly dressed? Wasn't I wearing shorts and a singlet?
Besides, I'm covered up by the blanket.
Weren't you here watching as well?
Would you like me to step out to make more room for you?
Why would I want that?
Why do you think?
Get lost. You're annoying me.
See, I'm dizzy again. Must be my blood pressure.
Serves you right for thinking funny thoughts in your head.
What would you like for breakfast?
Congee and mantou. I wouldn't want to trouble you.
When it reaches this position,
let go and let it slide down slowly.
Let go slowly.
Slowly. Do you hear a "dong" sound?
Yes...
-Weimin. -What?
Come... Come over here.
-Wait. -Hurry up.
-Hurry. -What is it?
We're taking your blood pressure. Hurry.
Why? I'm not the one with high blood pressure.
-Do you even know how? -Of course.
Would I ask to take your blood pressure if I didn't know how?
Don't move.
Where's that "dong" sound?
Mom.
-Do I have high blood pressure too? -Quiet.
I think I'm dizzy.
There it is...
Dizzy, my foot. You're fine.
Didn't you say you couldn't hear a "dong"?
I heard it in the end, didn't I?
Where's Yafei? Get her over here.
She's outside. I'll go get her.
Yafei, Mom wants you.
Dad, please come home now.
Mom learned how to measure blood pressure and now she's gone crazy.
You're back.
Come.
You knew already?
The entire island knows.
Isn't this great? You have a personal doctor.
Are you sure?
Of course.
I can hear that "dong dong" sound loud and clear.
-What "dong dong" sound? -Be quiet. Here I go.
One hundred and ten over ninety. Normal.
Are you sure about this?
As long as you have a blood pressure, then I can read it.
Being a doctor seems so easy.
How hard can it be?
Besides operating on someone, I believe I can pretty much do everything else.
You think? Do you think it's that easy?
Just accept it.
Just accept the fact that I'll be taking your blood pressure
and not that girl doctor.
I know you were looking forward to seeing another woman every morning.
There's still the issue of that telegram girl.
Are you going to take over her job too?
Not a bad idea at all. I might just do that.
Home already?
Don't you have a copy of Dream of the Red Chamber?
Yes. What about it?
Get it out for me.
Who wants to read it?
I want to read it.
What? You?
You want to read it?
Why can't I read Dream of the Red Chamber?
What made you suddenly think of it?
It's not me.
Chairman wants us to read it.
He says all superior officers must read it,
not just once...
but three or four times.
You'd be lucky to make it through the first round. Any more would kill you.
Not only Dream of the Red Chamber,
I'm going to read all four masterpieces.
My goodness. You know there's four of them?
Stop making fun of village people, you daughter of a capitalist.
-Help me out here. -So disrespectful.
Then let me ask you,
what are the names of the four masterpieces?
Dream of the Red Chamber.
The Romance of Three Kingdoms.
The Journey... The Journey to the West.
Not bad. That's three already.
And...
Outlaws of the Bush.
What? Say it again?
Outlaws of the Bush.
"Bush"? You said "Bush"?
Is your blood pressure up again?
Did you hit your head?
"Outlaws in the Bush", my foot.
Is this how you got promoted?
By misspelling words on official documents
and cursing when making oral reports?
An Jie.
You're lucky that I married you.
If it were anyone else,
you'd be branded a rightist with that tongue of yours.
Can't I laugh at you for making a silly mistake?
You think too highly of yourself.
Can't you tell I was only joking around?
You were joking? I think you were pretty serious.
Would I make a mistake like that?
You think I don't know it's Outlaws of the Marsh?
Laughing at me?
You think you're the only one with a brain?
Let me give you a friendly reminder.
Stop being so smug.
Remember, humility is the only way to advancement.
Advancement, my foot.
It's been a while now, you're still on that page?
Are you memorizing it?
I don't like reading books that are written vertically.
Keep losing my place.
Nothing makes sense this way.
Here.
What's this for?
You can use this ruler to mark out the line you're reading.
Wisdom of a housewife.
Pretty good.
Mom.
Where's my ruler?
Why? Didn't you give it to me?
That ruler has scale and this one doesn't. Let's swap.
It's on your dad's bedside cabinet.
Jiang Yaning.
Coming.
How can that Jia Baoyu be born with a jade in his mouth?
That's just ridiculous.
Dad, you're so silly.
It's intended to be a myth.
That's why Jia Baoyu's name means "fake jade".
You read Dream of the Red Chamber?
Yaning.
Here. Come here.
-Drag that green box out from under there. -Why?
You'll know soon enough.
Slowly.
Here. Open it.
Mom.
Can I read them?
Of course.
Really?
Really.
You'd actually let me?
Yaning, what's wrong with your ears? Didn't I say you could?
All of this?
Then I'll start right now. Tonight.
Look at you, so excited you've lost your mind.
Are you that happy?
You really want to be a writer, huh?
Why did you take them out?
Can she read all these capitalist books?
Dad, just go away. Don't come in.
This is my bedroom. You're kicking me out?
You get out of here.
No manners at all.
We must support her talent.
-What talent? -In writing.
Writing? What's so good about writing?
Why would she want to be a writer?
What do you know? Get lost.
Yeah, what do you know? Get lost.
Look at you.
Showing me no respect, even in front of our children.
Auntie...
Did you know that Gong Xiaomei
has been transferred to the Secrecy Office?
Really? Where did you hear that?
I heard it from her.
I even helped her move out.
People working with me all say
that she's finally getting noticed by the leaders.
Oh yeah.
I heard that Uncle helped put in some good words for her.
What are you doing?
Don't touch me.
Tell me...
why isn't Gong Xiaomei here anymore?
Who's Gong Xiaomei?
You're such a liar.
Weren't you the one who helped her stay at the Secrecy Office?
You mean that girl?
Her name is Gong Xiaomei?
You're such a bad liar.
You were the one who told me her name.
Did I?
How could I when I don't even know her name?
Jiang, please just save it.
You're a big boy now. Can't you just own up like a man?
Own up to what?
That you're lying about not knowing her name.
You better quit while you're ahead.
Please explain this to me.
When have I lied? Why must I own up?
Why would I need to lie? What for?
You and that Gong Xiaomei are both lying.
What have we lied about? What have you heard?
Then tell me...
Has she been transferred or not?
She has been transferred.
Tell me...
Did you help with her transfer?
Not just me, but also the political commissar and the chief.
So politically savvy for a young girl.
Knows exactly who to ask.
She's too dangerous to have around.
Especially at a place like the Secrecy Office.
Mrs. An...
Have you finally lost your mind?
Do you see conspiracy in everything?
Yes, I'm an old lady who's losing her mind.
Not like those pretty young things out there.
Especially those near you.
This menopause thing is driving you crazy.
Instead of sitting there making things up,
I think you should see a doctor.
A girl comes to deliver a telegram, you're not happy.
A girl comes to take my blood pressure, you're not happy.
But look at yourself.
You modeled for that painter, sometimes for the entire day.
Where are you going?
-Where are you going? -None of your business.
I'll sleep wherever I like,
just not beside a sleaze.
-Who's a sleaze? -You know who.
The guy who helped a young girl to get transferred.
-An Jie, you're sick in the head. -You're sick in the head.
Let go of me.
Fine, go.
Just go. Go.
Crazy woman.
Yafei.
Did you know Mom and Dad are sleeping separately?
Are they getting a divorce?
I'm not sure,
but looks that way.
I read somewhere that separation is the prelude to divorce.
You're always talking about this book or that book.
Can't trust everything they say.
I think they're just having a regular fight.
Mom will move back in a couple of days.
Why would they do that?
Mom's paranoid. She doesn't like that girl at the Secrecy Office.
She's going through menopause.
Women going through menopause are prone to jealousy.
What's menopause?
I'm not sure.
But I read somewhere that all women get it at a certain age.
Sounds scary.
Not scary at all. We're still far from it.
Yafei.
Thank you.
Auntie.
Has your mom moved back yet?
Not yet.
She's more persistent than I thought.
There's lot more to my mom than you think.
I didn't mean it in a good way. It's nothing to brag about.
They can't stay like that forever.
We have to think of a way to help them.
You do that, but don't drag us in.
Have you learned nothing at school?
Yes, so don't drag us in because we're stupid.
I've got it.
Come out, all of you.
Who did this?
Not me.
Not me either.
Don't look at me.
But I know who did it though.
Who?
Who did this?
It's...
our auntie.
Our auntie locked the door.
Go get your auntie for me.
You guys can go.
You go.
Jiang Yaning, you go.
You're such a traitor.
Auntie, are you mad?
What good would that do?
I don't get to pick my own bloody nephews and nieces, right?
Don't get mad at me.
It was Jiang Weimin who betrayed you.
That scoundrel. Always so timid.
Auntie, are you going to open the lock?
You think I'm scared of your mom? It's not like she's Chairman Mao.
That's right.
You're the only one who dares to confront her.
And you're the only one who my mom is afraid of.
You sneaky little thing. Trying to dig a hole for me?
Dehua, you're really something.
You're more like Ding each day.
-Fine. Here. -Open it.
Here... Don't cry...
Don't cry...
Auntie, wait for me.
What do you want?
-How come... -How come what?
How come...
you just opened the door as she said?
You want me to be cooked alive?
Mom.
Anna Karenina is so sad.
You've finished it already?
It's taken me three days.
You should take your time
and go over some of the more meaningful sentences or passages.
I know.
I'll do that when I read it again.
I'm even going to write down those meaningful sentences and passages.
That's a girl. Don't take it lightly.
Mom, it saddens me sometimes to finish a book.
But I can't just stop.
Come. Sit down.
I know exactly how you feel.
I was like that too when I was young.
Mom.
Why did Anna Karenina kill herself?
You'd have to ask Tolstoy that.
-Was Anna pretty? -Of course.
Why else would Vronsky fall in love with her?
How pretty was she? Who did she resemble?
Look at you. It's like you're addicted.
Is that the point of the novel? You can't read like this.
What's wrong with how I read?
I just want to know how pretty Anna was.
Then close your eyes and try to picture her.
She can be as beautiful as you imagine,
so you can make her as beautiful as you like.
Mom, that won't do.
I can only think of Li Tiemei and Small Changbao when I close my eyes.
You kids are so deprived.
When I was your age, I watched a lot of foreign movies.
All those actresses and stars...
So amazing.
-Are they beautiful? -Of course.
-How beautiful? -As beautiful as you can imagine.
Pity I don't have an imagination.
I just can't picture them.
That won't do.
A writer must have imagination.
What do you think those books are for?
If only I had an imagination,
then I'd know how beautiful Anna was.
Such a shame you haven't seen a Russian film.
Of course I have.
Isn't Lenin in October a Russian film?
But there are no girls in that.
Of course there are. Vasily's wife is a girl, right?
Not pretty though.
I thought she was.
Then you just imagine Anna to be ten times and a hundred times prettier.
I just can't do it.
Fine. Go away and leave me to my chores.
Yaning, see if there's any illustrations in the book.
No. It'd be good if there were some.
Then remove the book cover and see if there's any on the front.
Great.
ANNA KARENINA
Who's that?
Let me see.
Why are you hiding it? Who is it?
Let me see.
What is it with you?
What?
My God, who's that?
Why is he dressed like that?
How would I know?
Look, there's some writing on the back.
What is it? What does it mean?
Why ask me? How should I know?
This must be foreign. Written by a foreigner.
There's a date.
June, 1948.
That's before liberation.
Yeah, the evil of the old society.
Jiang Yaning, this can't be a good person.
Poor people didn't dress like this before liberation.
They wore clothes with a lot of patches.
Where did you get this?
Inside the book cover of Mom's book.
Really?
Jiang Yaning.
Could our mom be a Nationalist spy?
Could this be a secret message?
What are you on about?
What are you guys doing?
What is that?
Who is it?
Don't know.
Where is it from?
Mom's book.
Shit, really?
Shit. Don't swear.
Didn't you just swear too?
-I mean you. -Stop fighting.
What should we do?
What do you mean?
Yafei said this person might be a Nationalist spy.
A Nationalist spy? Why?
Are those the clothes of a decent man?
Decent men wear nice clothes too.
Like those who went underground.
Those people only wore nice clothes so they could get closer to the enemy.
-What do you know? -Yeah.
Besides, why would Mom hide this picture if he really went underground?
-Yeah. -Yeah. Are you a broken record?
Wang, set up a meeting.
-Set up a meeting, okay? -Okay.
Dad, let me show you something.
Subtitle translation by Lisa Lai