Where are you going, huh?
Don't make it worse. Sit down.
Stay put. Don't go anywhere.
Sit.
I think...
we should... just tell... the truth now.
Comrade...
you're not very good at keeping your cool, are you?
Sit down. Sit down, and let's talk it over.
I think Changyi is here this time,
ready to tell the truth.
He wants to take this opportunity to show who he really is.
If he's not in love with An Ran,
he'll probably keep it a secret for the rest of his life.
Who would know he'd be in love with An Ran,
and want to marry her?
Now he has to go through An Jie.
If An Jie doesn't approve, they'll never get married.
Exactly. It's like coming up against a brick wall.
So, I guess,
the kid is going to go through it all,
and make it clear to everyone.
So he could untie the knot in An Jie's mind,
and get the girl for himself.
-That's two birds with one stone. -The hell with that.
Doesn't he care about the family name of Jiang, huh?
His late father's reputation?
Young people today,
they don’t care much about anything other than their love.
It's not like in our day, with so much to worry about.
That won't work.
He might not care about the family name, but we do.
What do we fight for in our life? Is it not for our face?
He can live without a face, we can't.
Then tell me...
what do we do?
I'll talk to him. He can't just blab around like that.
I hope he listens.
He has no choice. Or what, he's going to go against me?
I've was thinking how familiar you looked from behind.
Turns out it's you.
Why are you looking at him?
Yeah, it's us. What's up?
I didn't say anything.
It doesn't matter what I say, it matters what my mom says.
Go back home now. My mom's waiting for you, okay?
Go on.
Do you think... my Little Aunt...
saw us together earlier?
I don't know.
It might be good if she did. It'd be easier to explain.
You stay quiet. Let me do the talking.
Maybe I should, just to save you from the scolding.
She's my aunt after all. It might be worse for you.
She doesn't seem that unreasonable to me. What's the worst she can say?
Let's go.
Mom, they're back.
Go bring them here.
My mom saw you together at the beach.
She's asking for you.
She's furious at the moment. Don't argue with her.
It's the menopause.
Don't take it personally. Just let her scold away.
Go on in.
Little Aunt,
if you'd like to say something, please say it.
Aren't you sure of yourself?
Tell me, how come you two are messing around together?
Little Aunt,
must you use such ugly language?
What do you mean by "messing around"?
You don't like my language? I don't like what you've done.
What did I do to deserve that?
You don't know what you've done? Do I have to tell you?
Mom,
don't get worked up. Talk calmly.
You stay out of this. It's hardly for you to lecture me.
Little Sis,
-maybe you should step outside. -Don't call her that.
She's not your little sis. Stop with that.
-Mom... -Little Aunt,
you don't need to be so loud or arrogant.
Why can't he call Yaning "Little Sis"?
She may not be his sister, but she is his cousin.
Sis An Ran, what did you say?
Say it again.
He's not your brother. He's your cousin.
Cousin?
Yes, your cousin, you dad's nephew.
Yaning, call your dad and ask him to come home.
The phone's ringing.
Why...
Can't you answer it? Can't you see I'm cooking?
Just answer it.
What a nuisance.
Hello?
Yaning.
Just a sec.
Brother, Brother, it's for you.
Yes?
What?
-What? -What's wrong?
The idiot just confessed everything.
You'd better get back there right away.
Why are you standing here? Go over and see.
-Me? What about you? -I'm not going.
It won't be good if I go. You go ahead.
An Ran...
tell your uncle what you said earlier.
Uncle.
Get out of here!
Get out, now. Now!
And stay away! I don't want to see you ever again!
Aunt.
You were beaten?
You asked for it.
Why did you tell? And now you got the nerve to cry.
Come on. Come with me.
Why did you get all worked up?
Was it because he's your nephew,
-not your son? -Shut it already.
-You... -What?
I'll tell you again. You shut up.
Did you think we were all fools, huh?
That we'd just buy your story?
I tell you,
we knew it the year you came. We could guess what had happened.
Aunt... you...
How did you know?
How can your uncle not know if you're his son, huh?
And your mother, what a fool she is!
If your uncle hadn't admitted you were his son, what would you have done?
Where would you find someone like him?
For all these years, he's lived with this burden.
And he never said a word.
Did you know that?
All these years, your aunt fought with him whenever she thought about it,
blaming him however she wanted to.
Any other guy would have had enough and told the truth.
But did he? No, he didn't, not to anyone.
And what's more, he didn't let me tell. Do you know why?
I do.
Then why did you tell such a big secret, huh?
Don't you think it's shameful?
Do you know what it is? It's incest.
If this got out in our hometown, would we have the nerve to go back?
You are such a selfish kid.
You only care about your marriage, and not your parents' reputation.
And you don't care about the decency maintained by all our ancestors.
He was born a farmer after all.
However high a position he reaches, he cannot shake that off.
What are you looking at?
I'm trying to see if you're being sarcastic about Dad.
Why would I be?
What just happened makes him more of a hero in my eyes.
He is a noble man. Very much so.
What? Why are you looking at me again?
It's nice being a college student. You know how to speak.
You took the words right out of my mouth. Thank you for that.
You're so loquacious.
I mean it.
I really do.
I've made up my mind.
I want to marry someone like Dad in the future.
Exactly.
Sis,
where do you think we can find someone like Dad?
Mom is so blessed in this life.
But she's not satisfied.
She just doesn't see how blessed she is.
Tell me, honestly.
Did you know this a long time ago?
Yes.
Did you know as soon as he was here?
Yes.
How did you find out?
Didn't we agree to talk about it nicely? To speak frankly and sincerely?
Yes.
We did.
Then how did you find out?
Was it because he looked like your second brother?
Why are you being quiet again?
Why do you... have to know every detail?
How could I not know if it's something I never did?
I never touched her. How can I have a son with her?
Why didn't you touch her?
Did you plan to go back and divorce her?
-No. -Then why?
Come on. Tell me.
That year...
I went back to see my family.
When I arrived, it was already dark.
Probably about...
seven or eight in the evening.
People in the countryside go to bed early.
I caught them doing it together.
Good gracious.
It didn't develop into anything bigger?
It was too shameful to tell.
Then what?
They knelt before me right away.
My second brother kept grovelling.
He even cut his head open.
And then?
Then we got divorced.
And I returned to the army.
I've never been back since.
Your second brother didn't get married?
He did.
His wife ran away with someone.
My second brother was dumb. He couldn't speak.
Didn't he have any children?
So where did he go afterwards?
He couldn’t face me again.
He went to mine in Tangshan.
It hadn't been a year before he died in a mine accident.
That's enough now. Go to sleep.
Wait... I have something else to ask you.
What?
Why did you keep this from me?
Why couldn't I know about it?
I was too embarrassed to tell you.
You were embarrassed, so you had to keep me in the dark?
You saw how upset it made me,
even heartbroken, and yet you felt nothing?
-Why are you being quiet again? -What am I supposed to say?
Yes...
it was my fault.
I was thinking about myself.
I wasn't thinking from your perspective.
It was wrong. I should have told you.
I... apologize to you here and now.
My wife...
I'm sorry. Please forgive me.
We are a family.
We've lived more than half our lives together,
and our children are adults now.
And you don't trust me enough to tell me this?
You've treated me like an outsider.
Do you know how much that hurts me?
You're right. I shouldn't have.
I've done so many things that I regret.
I shouldn't have kept this from you.
And I shouldn't have...
left my second brother all alone...
Leaving him to die in a mine like that...
We couldn't even find his body.
And I surely shouldn't have slapped the kid when he was confessing to me.
I slapped him so hard.
You tell me...
Tell me, how could my late brother ever forgive me?
That's enough of that now. Let's go to sleep.
Now you're all here.
I...
Uncle...
Aunt-in-law...
I was wrong.
I'm sorry.
I beg your forgiveness.
Uncle!
It's okay now. Get up. We forgive you.
Uncle.
Just get up. It's over now.
Get up now. He forgives you. Now get up.
Changyi, let me ask you something.
Please, Uncle.
If...
I mean just if...
If it weren't for what's between you and An Ran, would you still have confessed?
I would have. Surely I would have.
I'd have found a suitable moment and made all this clear to the family.
To be honest...
I never wanted to carry this burden for my whole life.
All these years...
I've never felt at ease with it.
I'll ask you another question.
Whose idea was it? Was it... your mother's?
No it wasn't.
It was mine.
She never agreed to it.
It was all me. I thought about my future development.
Then I... just went ahead with my own way.
You were so sure of it when you decided?
No, I wasn't.
I was ready to risk it.
If it works, then it works. If it doesn't...
I'll just get a good scolding and go back to farming.
How daring you are! Who did you get this from, huh?
Seems like his third uncle.
He's the daring one.
Why are you looking at me? Am I wrong?
I'd say it’s from you. You're the daring one here.
Mom, let's go.
Dad, come on.
Birthday Lady, I wish you a perfect ending to your 50th birthday.
Quite a birthday you've just had.
Eventful, extraordinary and full of twists and turns. How enviable.
Enviable? You think I enjoy a birthday like this?
You have no idea how blessed you are.
Who are you talking about?
Your wife, my mother.
You wicked girl.
Shouldn't you keep an eye on your wife?
Jiang Defu!
-Come on, Vice Commander Jiang. -Oh, good.
-Take care. -See you.
Look at her.
She's not a girl at all. Who'd dare marry her in the future?
No need to worry. There will always be someone bold enough.
Now let's have Comrade Meng Tianzhu, Political Director of Regiment 29,
representative of the 6th NPC, to brief us on the conference.
Comrades,
in this conference, we...
Look,
how young is this Political Director? And he's an NPC representative.
So what?
Leave me alone. I was on duty for the whole night last night. I'm exhausted.
...a direction and a goal.
We must keep up our spirit and carry forward the good tradition of our army.
We must not fear hardship and death.
How about... you tell him to lower his voice?
...to deliver to you...
Dear leaders, comrades...
One, two, one. One, two, one.
One, two, one.
One, two, one. One, two, one.
What are you laughing at? Stop it or get out.
One, two, one.
-One, two, one. -Nuisance.
One, two, one.
One, two, one. One, two, one.
-Secretary? -Yes.
Phone call for the Vice Commander.
Who is it?
One-two-one.
Hello? Are you calling to lecture me?
Yeah. Come back as soon as you can. I'll lecture you in person.
What is it?
Just come back here. I'll tell you then.
You people always bug the calls.
Dad.
Are you being fussy about your appearance or not?
Running around in your pyjamas.
I'm adapting foreign things to my needs. I wear whatever comes in handy.
I feel uncomfortable whenever I look at you like this.
You’ve tossed away the proud traditions of our Party and our army.
Go answer the phone.
If you don't answer it when you're home, there's an issue with your attitude.
So much laundry again.
You'll need to pay for the washing powder now.
Fine. Make a note of it.
I'll pay it all together at the end of the year.
That won't work. You need to pay right away, in case you go back on your word.
-So dirty. -There's a hole there. Sew it up.
Am I your nanny?
What happened? Why did you want me to come back?
You're 23 this year.
You should start seeing someone.
-Really? I can see someone now? -Mm.
Are you ready to be a mother-in-law?
Be serious. I'm not joking with you.
Go ahead then.
Yafei, you're not a little girl.
You can date now.
Do you think I'm stupid? Would I tell you if I were dating?
I see.
You're tired of me always coming home for food.
Fine. Put that down as well. Let's settle at the end of the year.
I want you to get married sooner, so that I can collect double fees.
You wish. You won't get a penny if it comes to that.
Enough with the jokes now. I'm serious.
Tell me. What exactly are you trying to say?
Did you go to the report meeting yesterday?
I did. Why?
What do you think of that NPC representative?
Victory will definitely be ours!
Him?
Why are you laughing?
What is he like?
I have no idea.
I fell asleep soon after I got to the auditorium.
When I woke up, I heard that it was over.
Then why did you laugh?
The soldiers in our company have given him a nickname, "Director Eat."
-Director what? -"Eat," as in eating.
They say that he kept saying "eat, eat" up there.
At first, we didn't know what that was.
It turned out he was saying "we."
Engineer Dong said,
when he kept saying "eat, eat," it made him hungry.
It's funny, isn't it?
Not a bit.
What's with your company? Always making up nicknames.
-You have one as well, "one-two-one." -Do you have one then?
Of course.
When I first joined the company, they called me "Yafeila."
Then it was "Jiang 250ml,"
because at a Bayi dinner party, I drank 250ml of white wine.
But now they're calling me "Mama Sense."
Jiang Yaning started it, she called me that first.
They all agreed that it suited me, so they're calling me "Mama Sense" now.
Mama who? You're whose mama?
Mama "Sense," as in "make sense." Or in "the sense of rebellion."
"Mama Sense"?
That suits you well.
-I'll call you that as well. -Go ahead. Suit yourself.
Mama Sense.
Let's get back to the issue.
You're not trying to introduce that "Director Eat" to me, are you?
I am. What do you say?
Do you want to starve me to death? No way.
Don't go.
-Why not? -Why yes?
He's become an NPC representative at such a young age,
and a cadre at regiment level. Where can you find someone else as good?
Mom, since when are you obsessed with government positions?
I'm thinking about what's good for you.
Well forget about me. You should mind your own husband.
He's dressed like he's just got back from abroad.
That's nothing like a veteran cadre. Can you live with that?
You wicked little...
Go get it for me.
No, I won't. You just tried to kick me.
Yafei.
What are you...? Is that some kung fu you're practicing, huh?
Standing on one foot?
My shoe was kicked over there. Get it for me.
-Now. -Be careful.
What were you doing? How come it went so far away?
Is this good?
Why didn't you tell her about it?
Yafei is like an ammunition depot, ready to blow up any second.
And if she did blow up, no one would survive the embarrassment.
She won't. I know my own daughter.
She's sensible, and she knows the bigger picture.
But at any rate, you should have let her know about the meeting beforehand.
If I had, would she come?
To a kid like Yafei, you have to act before telling her. Don't reason with her.
Who can out-reason her?
Do you know what they call her in her company?
What?
"Mama Sense."
Mama who?
"Mama Sense," as in "make no sense."
They're quite good with nicknames.
Then you're "Grandma Sense."
Shut it.
-Do you think Yafei will be back? -I do.
I told her that you were sick, with a cold.
Why did you say I was sick instead of yourself?
If I were sick, could I have called her?
-It had to be you. -Good God.
When he comes,
show some hospitality.
Nothing's going on yet. Why should I be hospitable?
You should be anyway, even with a normal guest.
-Chief, are you well? -Yes?
Yes, I'm well.
How's Dad? Is he okay?
Yafei, I need to tell you something.
He's come to see your dad. When you go in, say hello to him.
Be nice to him, okay?
Who's come to see Dad? And who do I have to be nice to?
That Director Meng. The NPC representative.
Director Eat? What's he doing here?
Didn't I tell you? He's here to see your dad.
If he's here to see Dad, then why should I say hello and be nice to him?
Well...
He's here to see you as well.
To see me? Why would he want to see me?
Didn't I tell you the other day?
Didn't I say "No way"?
But he proposed setting up a meeting. I couldn't really say no, could I?
I told you I'm not doing this.
Why can’t you listen? Why can't you just respect me?
Okay, okay. But there's a difference in who we deal with.
We can do as we like within the family. But he's a guest.
What will you do if I don't go in?
What can I do?
I'll just put on my old face, explain and apologize to him.
Don't try and get sympathy.
I'll go in.
But I tell you, it's not because you're trying to get sympathy,
it's to protect Dad's pride.
Fine, fine.
You just go in there and sit for a while, for whoever's sake.
You've changed so much over the years.
How have I changed?
You've turned snobbish, without knowing any dignity.
Chief is such a kind person.
Don't mention it.
Yafei, let me introduce you to someone.
This is Meng Tianzhu, Political Director of Regiment 29.
-Director Meng, -Yes?
this is Jiang Yafei, the famous Vice Commander of Communications Company.
She's most respected within the company.
She always gets the highest votes in anonymous cadre deliberations.
Very nice to meet you.
Dad,
are you feeling better yet?
Yes, I'm feeling much better now.
Yafei, mind your manners, girl.
There are chairs there.
Why do you have to control everything? I'm fine sitting here.
-She's like that. -Good, good.
-Dad, -Huh?
you were fine yesterday. How come you got sick today?
And now you're much better? What was it that you got?
Don't just giggle, as if you were a goody two shoes.
Yafei, do you always talk to the chief like that?
-That's not good. -Tell me about it.
I know it's not good, but I can't change it.
You can, and you must.
Yes, Sir.
Well...
did you discuss it in your company?
Discuss what?
Director Meng's report.
Of course we did, most enthusiastically.
My Putonghua is not very good. I have an accent.
Many comrades reported that they didn’t really follow what I said.
You're being modest. Your Putonghua is more than "not very good."
It's very bad.
Yafei, don't be so rude.
Right, Yafei is always very straightforward.
That's one of her main qualities.
Section Chief, don't praise me here. Why not do that back in the company?
Dad, I have something to tend to in the company this afternoon. I'm going.
-I'll see you in a few days, okay? -Okay, okay.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank me?
Don't you have anything else to say? Or do you not know what to say?
I'm going.
Here, have some water.
Hello?
Yeah.
Did he? Really?
That's great.
Okay, okay.
Rest assured. I'll persuade her.
Okay. Good.
Goodbye.
Who was that? Look how pleased you are.
Director Meng is into our Yafei.
He wants to pursue her.
You're so pleased because he's into Yafei?
Who is he?
Look at you. Such a disgrace.
What disgrace?
Hey. I heard that NPC representative wants to pursue Yafei?
As if he could just by wanting to.
Which one is that?
The Political Director from a regiment, who gave the report the other day.
-Regiment 29. -That's right, him.
Was it Mrs. An's idea?
-The phone's ringing. -Whose else's could it be?
The phone's ringing!
Wait, I'll be right there.
Mrs. An does have a strategic eye.
-What strategic eye? -Isn't it obvious, huh?
She's looking for someone to take over when you've retired.
That's quite a strategic vision.
She's worrying for nothing.
Yafei's not even keen, and she's setting all these things up.
Why is Yafei not keen?
Why should she be?
He's a good catch, worth considering.
She won't have another chance like this.
So be it. Can't she find an ideal husband?
One as good as this one? Difficult.
How good is he, huh?
You tell me.
The way I see it, you're all snobs. When did you become so snobbish?
Meng.
Commander Jiang.
-Off for food? -Yes.
By the way, when do you return to your regiment?
In a couple of days.
-Okay, off you go then. -Yeah.
Good day, Commander.
Such a prune. And he wants to chase my Yafei.
MILITARY CANTEEN
-Director Meng, here to get food? -Yeah, yeah.
-Did you get your meal? -Yeah.
Hey.
Call Yafei and tell her to come here tomorrow.
Why? What for?
What do you think?
You know what for.
I won't. Call her yourself.
Would I ask you if I could?
I forgot the thing to wipe my feet. Please get it for me.
Then help me with something as well.
Call Yafei.
-I'll go. I'll go get it. -Don't bother. I'm good.
Why are you so stubborn?
Look who's talking.
Since when are you so snobbish?
How am I snobbish? Am I not thinking about her good?
Stay out of the kid's business. Haven't you learned your lesson?
Fine.
-I see now. I see. -What do you see?
The thing is, you haven't prepared yourself.
Prepared myself for what?
For being a father-in-law.
For marrying your daughter.
You're still holding a grudge. Don't you get tired of it?
Go on. Call her.
I won't. I just won't.
Mom.
-Mom. -Yafei.
My, my. Who did such a nice thing?
It wasn't Comrade Lei Feng, was it?
Your mother is no less than a person than Comrade Lei Feng.
-I make your meals... -And our clothes. That's all you can say.
Comrade Lei Feng isn't like you, whining about the good he does.
-Thank you, Mom. -Hey.
Hello.
You're back.
Listen to you.
Sounds like you're the host and I'm your guest?
Am I a guest supplanting the host?
You've turned yourself into a host.
-Don't go. -Let me go.
Stop dragging me. Let me go.
-Lower your voice. -Why should I?
What's wrong? What are you doing?
-Huh? -She's leaving.
Leaving? Why are you leaving?
Yafei...
now you're here, just stay a little while longer.
We made dumplings with three ingredients. At least eat a couple.
Okay. For your sake, I'll leave after I've eaten.
Thanks. Thank you for that.
Subtitle translation by Christine Huang