This was meant for you. What did you give it to us for?
You guys eat at home much more.
Not like us, we're always eating out.
Anyway, Wang's waiting for me outside. I've got to go.
-Okay, go then. -Okay, pack everything up.
Wait... Happy birthday.
Thank you.
So fake.
Is there some meat?
Yes. They can't finish it so she asked us to eat it for her.
Listen to yourself. How can you be so ungrateful?
Look at you. You'd eat anything that's free.
This is not just meat, she's showing off.
-Why would she do that? -Why, you say?
She wants us to know how much her daughter-in-law loves her...
that they're close like a real mother and daughter.
What's wrong with that?
That means Yafei has been good to her, right?
It means we've educated her well.
Ungrateful brat. I'm 66 already and I have never received any meat from her.
So that's why you're being so weird. Are you jealous?
Yafei didn't even know. Didn't she just find out too?
You're always on her side.
-That's not all I'm upset about. -What else is there?
Her tone just then.
What does she mean by we eat at home more than they do?
As if eating is all we do.
And she had to mention that they eat out all the time too. She's right.
Yafei and Haiyang do eat out a lot, don't they?
That's why they hardly ever cook, right? What's so upsetting about that?
-Why does she have to brag about it? -How is she bragging?
She brought us meat as a friendly gesture but you keep on picking on her.
You're so naive. You see nothing but meat.
An Jie, listen to me. You know what your biggest problem is?
What?
You think way too much. I want dumplings for dinner.
Stupid girl. It's not even sirloin.
-How have you been? -Okay.
Dad.
Oh yeah, remember to throw that vase away.
Okay.
-Looks like a good scold does work. -It'll probably only last a day.
Then you must scold them more.
Easy for you to say, leaving me to be the bad guy.
You think being a good guy is easy? Not everyone can do it, okay?
Of course, the bad guy is a hard role to play, too.
FOR LEASE DRY CLEANERS
GREAT LOCATION EQUIPMENT PROVIDED
CALL MR. XIE AT 13953316921 IF INTERESTED
Miss.
Can you lend me a pen and a piece of paper? I need to jot something down.
Who are you calling?
Hello? Is this Mr. Xie?
Hello. I saw your advertisement.
Yes… I'd like to know the address of the store and your asking price.
That much?
Okay…Thank you.
-Who's that? What are you doing? -Come…
I'm thinking of leasing a dry-wash store.
What? Why would you do that? You want to run a store?
Not for me. It's for our son and his wife.
Can they do it?
I know they have little skill and education,
but I think they can manage doing some washing.
Besides, jobs are hard to find now,
how are two high school graduates going to compete with university graduates?
They're not young anymore, either.
They can't afford to be picky.
They can't handle technical work and they won't do physical labor.
So, why not just set up a store for them?
That way, they'd have to work for every dollar themselves.
Good idea, right?
-Yes, it sounds pretty good. -Why don't we take a look this afternoon?
-Is three hundred thousand a bit much? -No.
How is it not? You think it's not much but can you afford it?
-Can you keep quiet? We'll talk back home. -Why wait? Why can't we talk now?
-Okay, we can talk about it now. -About what? Talk about what?
The lease.
-About that three hundred thousand. -Why couldn't we talk back there?
Why would you talk about money in front of a stranger?
Especially when we can't afford it. How embarrassing is that?
What do you mean?
I don't have three hundred thousand, simple as that.
Even if you can't afford it, you don't have to tell a stranger.
I don't even know him, why should I care?
You don't know him but don't you have any pride?
So, you're worried about your stupid pride.
No wonder you pretended to have that money.
Do you have it though?
-I did. -The past is the past.
Now you're talking about the past. Have you forgotten what you were like?
What was I like?
You were so scared whenever someone mentioned your rich family.
Is water free? How can you leave it running?
You're so cheap. So stingy.
I'm just a poor man, not a rich lady like yourself.
You have all the money.
What are you thinking? Are you still worried about that money?
Stop interrogating me. Aren't you worried?
I'm a poor man, I'm worried all the time.
But why would a rich lady be worried?
-What are you doing? -This is not washed yet.
Old people just want the best for their children
They work hard all their life just to keep the family together
You're in a good mood. What happened? Did you get the money?
You can't make fun of me anymore. I've got an idea.
What idea?
Investment. I'm going to ask the other children to invest.
Having so many children is finally paying off.
If I'd known,
I would have had even more children, enough for an entire platoon.
You're so smart, putting all of your children in danger.
Don't you know private investment is illegal?
How is collecting money from my own children illegal?
Even if it's legal, it doesn't sound right.
Just think how embarrassing it would be
if people found out that you asked your children for hand-outs.
What's so embarrassing about that? I'm their mother.
-You're truly something. -I need to call An Ran too.
Weiguo, it's me.
Your father and I want to lease a dry cleaners.
Yes, a dry cleaners. Yes, there's one available now.
We were thinking of leasing it for Weimin and his wife.
You know how they're unemployed now, right? They haven't found a job yet.
So, I was thinking, maybe they could run a store.
Sleeping… you sleep like a pig. Get up already.
-Go listen to your mother. -What's going on?
Your mom got you a dry cleaners so you can wash people's dirty clothes.
What did you say?
Your mom wants you to wash other people's dirty clothes like a maid.
Dad.
Where are you going?
-Home. -Which one?
-Yours. -Why?
I don't know either. Your wife called and asked for me.
I get it now.
You better not go back now. You'll regret it if you do.
-Fighting again? -Almost. Almost there.
What was that phrase the newspaper used to describe a pending war?
-"The calm before the storm." -Yes, that one.
Our family is now going through "the calm before the storm."
Is it that serious?
What's wrong with washing clothes?
What's so embarrassing about that?
What makes you better than other people?
I won't wash people's dirty clothes. You can wash them if you like.
It's not manual labor. Everything's done by machines.
Can machines operate themselves? Wouldn't I still have to work?
What's wrong with that? Why can't you work?
I'll be embarrassed, okay? Is that good enough?
What's so embarrassing about making a living with your own hands?
You may not be embarrassed but I am. It's me who has to do it.
Jiang Weimin, don't over-estimate yourself and expect to go places you can't reach.
What's wrong with that? I don't see anything wrong.
People must always aim for higher places.
With your qualifications?
You're only good for washing clothes, nothing else. How high could you climb?
-You heard that. Your wife's so mean. -I know that.
How can you say that? How can you be so spiteful?
Was I talking to you?
He's my husband, I'm his wife. You can't insult him.
You can always leave. I wasn't talking to you anyway.
-Who are you to defend him? -Oh, no... That's my cue.
-mom, watch what you're saying. -Why should I?
This is my house. I can say whatever I want.
We know this is your house. You don't have to remind us.
You too, enough.
Are we not allowed to speak around here? This is so unfair.
-Who's being unfair? -See that? Hear what she said?
No matter what, she's our mother.
You must listen to what she has to say. Who said you could talk back?
You're lecturing me? What rights have you got?
How can you lecture me when you're the one who talks back the most?
Jiang Weimin,
where did you pick her up? Where are her manners?
Jiang Yafei, stop meddling in our business.
You know the word "meddling"? What else do you know?
Enough… Keep out of it. You're just making things worse.
You can talk! I thought you were dumb or something!
How can you let your wife talk back to mom like that?
-No manners at all. -Back off.
You don't know anything about us.
You wouldn't act so high and mighty if you were like us.
You know what?
I wouldn't eat off my parents even if I'm penniless.
Jiang Yafei, you're pushing it.
If I had…
If we had taken advantage of our parents, like you,
we wouldn't be here in the first place.
Stop pointing fingers at other people for what you've become.
You have only yourself to blame. You brought bad luck upon yourself.
You wouldn't stay on the island back then.
You said you'd had enough, didn't you?
Go on...
Then when you wanted to join the military, it was too late
and the only place you could go was the country, like those farmers.
Then you were sent to a tractor factory as a laborer.
You brought that upon yourself.
mom tried to get you out.
She asked you to stay put and wait for a transfer.
You quit on your own. Everybody knows that.
Would you like to see all those letters you wrote to mom during that time?
What makes you think you've sacrificed for the good of this family?
How have you suffered working in the country?
Was it us who destroyed your wonderful career?
I don't get it.
Out of all the people sent to the country, how come other people can still make it
and you can't?
We know how hard it must have been for you in the country so we all
chipped in money and looked after your kid.
And now, you've not only forgotten about all that,
but you've turned everything around.
Fine, let's put everything on the table once and for all.
How have we wronged you? What have you done for this family?
Stop it. That's enough for today.
You two, go back to your room and think about it.
What's wrong with you? Who says this discussion is over?
Where were you? Hiding somewhere?
I was standing outside, listening to everything
including that great speech by Yafei.
Yafei, it was wonderfully put. You did a great job.
You lifted a big weight off my heart. I'm so proud of you today.
-Was I really that good? -You were great.
It's so strange though. You're so logical even when you're angry.
It's like the madder you get, the clearer you're thinking.
-I never realized you had that skill. -Now you know.
Other people lose their cool when they get mad but I'm just the opposite.
What can I say? I guess I'm just special.
Sounds just like her mother.
But some are just born without luck.
Do you think they're crying in there right now?
That's their own business. Who told them to be so obnoxious?
That's enough, mom. You sound like a step-mother.
Well, I am a step-mother.
Mom, listen. Don't worry about them anymore.
Just leave them if they don't want to do it.
Then what should we do about them?
What if we use that money to help them start their own business?
They can do whatever they like.
How about a tea house?
A pot of Dahongpao now costs 380 dollars.
What do you think?
-Not bad. -Not bad at all.
Auntie.
Why spend so much money on decoration?
If we don't, we won't be able to charge 380 a pot.
This is better than that other place.
I think we can charge more than 380 a pot.
mom, look. The face of a profiteer.
-Look… -She's not happy again.
-Why should I be unhappy? -Because she teased me.
She's right. You're right too. No profit, no business.
-So true, spoken like a true capitalist. -Stop it.
-Where are they? -Who?
The boss and his wife.
They're busy circling all the tea houses in town to learn a thing or two.
-What's that for? -I'm worried.
I just can't help it. What if they mess this up too?
How can I pay back that three hundred thousand?
Shush. You just keep quiet.
Stop cursing them before they even get started.
-What a surprise. -I'm waiting here just for you.
You should come and join us some time.
-Why stay home all the time? -I don't have the luxury.
So many things to do.
-Get your daughter-in-law to do it. -Her?
She's too lazy, and even if she wasn't, I wouldn't trust her.
She takes forever just to mop the floor.
You must lower your standards.
So what if she's slow? Better than nothing, right?
I'm not like you. I'd rather she did nothing.
I get mad just watching her.
Well, you won't see her much longer. Aren't they moving out soon?
Yeah, I have to thank Haiyang for that too.
Why thank him? That house was empty anyway.
It'll go ruined if it stays empty.
-When are they moving in? -I think in a couple of days.
The tea house is about to open too. It's more convenient for them over there.
Do they serve coffee in the tea house?
You're so silly. A tea house is obviously for drinking tea.
Why would they serve coffee? That's so weird.
What's so weird about that? The best of both worlds.
We haven't had coffee together for so many years.
Yeah, it's been a long time.
The last time was when you got married and were about to leave the island.
The days go by so fast. I can't believe 20 years have passed already.
We're both old ladies now.
Would you like to come to my place for some coffee?
Have you waited long?
-This coffee smells so good. -Right?
This coffee is nothing like what you used to drink.
I use coffee beans. I make them from scratch.
That's why it smells good.
I thought you'd just upgraded to a better brand.
I didn't think you were in a totally different league altogether.
So many memories are coming back to me.
Yeah.
It's like going back to your yard on that island...
and smelling coffee for the first time.
I thought to myself…
"How wonderful this is!
This must be heaven. When will I be able to live like this?"
-Aren't you living like that now? -Yes.
It's a bit late but at least I'm finally living it.
-You should be happy with that. -I am. I'm very happy.
I'll tell you what, I only had one goal when I was young.
That was to live like Ms. An.
I'd give everything just to live like you for one day.
Was my life that great? Were you really that envious?
You've taken everything for granted.
We both came from unfavorable backgrounds.
How come you ended up living like that, and I ended up living like I did?
It was so frustrating to watch.
I feel ashamed when you put it like that.
I think I did take everything for granted.
-Be careful, Dad. -Okay…
-Auntie. -"May business be great". Good.
Auntie, you've come too?
"Chunlai Tea House".
Isn't that the name of Aqing's wife's tea house?
Who named this place? Isn't that stealing someone else's idea?
Dad, your son was the one who named this place.
It was me.
Enough about the name. Come in and I'll show you my calligraphy.
This way, please.
-Dad, what would you like? -Ask your mom.
mom, what would you like?
What kind of waitress are you? I don't even have a menu.
How would I know what you have?
I'm just too nervous.
What's there to be nervous about?
To run a tea house, you must keep your eyes and ears open.
mom, you're quoting Uncle Aqing's wife again. Be careful, she might sue you.
Those words don't belong to her.
Stop your bickering already. Hurry up, I'm so thirsty.
-Then you have a look. -You know I can't read.
I've heard so much about Dahongpao though.
Why don't we drink that today?
Dahongpao is too expensive. We should save it for the customers.
It's not like we're going to drink it all. I want Dahongpao.
Okay, Dahongpao it is.
Are you the boss here? Who says you get to decide?
-Hello. -Hello, boss.
We're here for your Dahongpao.
Drink... Uncle, have as much as you like.
-Give them the best Dahongpao. -How much would that be?
-Auntie, for you, it's free. -I know it's free.
I just want to know how much you're charging for a pot.
It's on the menu, 398 a pot.
-Three hundred ninety-eight? -Didn't we agree to charge more?
-Thank you. -Not bad.
No wonder it's the best.
They all taste the same to me.
What would you know? This tea is wasted on you.
Old lady, please drink gracefully.
No matter what I do, I still have more grace than your little finger.
Such a silly girl.
Hurry up. Haven’t you heard Yafei honking outside?
Do you need me? Must I go?
What I mean is, you go and pick them up at the station and I'll wait here.
Why is that?
Don't you know this is international protocol?
On TV, it's always the vice-president who greets guests at the airport
while the president waits at the presidential palace.
Are you the president?
It's just an example, something along those lines.
Are you going or not?
I'll go…
-I'll go, okay? -You're just like a donkey.
You only move when there's a whip.
What are you talking about? How am I like a donkey?
Just hurry up and go.
-What's the matter with you? So slow. -Ask your dad.
Dear comrade, are you dragging your feet again?
I asked your mom to go to the train station while
I waited at home, but she wouldn't have it.
-Why? -Who knows? You ask her.
I'm asking you. Why wouldn't you go to the station?
Why should I go to the station for them?
Why can't you go to the station? Who do you think you are?
I'm your father, and a commanding officer.
You are my father,
but you're not a commanding officer anymore. You've retired.
I'm only calling you commander out of respect.
Don't get too worked up about it.
-What are you laughing at? -At you.
You're not only a commander but a president.
Are they here?
-Hurry up. -Okay.
Dad, let me give you some friendly advice. Keep your cool in front of Uncle.
Yafei's right. Stop competing with him all the time.
Especially his fashion sense.
Me? Competing? Who am I competing with?
You had to buy pajamas after he got some.
Yeah, he wore pajamas to go to sleep, but you wore them on the street.
What's wrong with you two today?
Why are you ganging up on me?
That's not what we meant. We're just concerned about you.
Concerned about what?
That you'd embarrass yourself in front of the entire Qingdao.
Keep away from me.
-An Xin. -Auntie.
An Jie, have you waited here long?
Yafei, what are you laughing at?
My dear auntie,
I'm just too excited to see you, that's all.
Don't listen to her nonsense.
I just like listening to Yafei talk, even if it's nonsense.
You're here too? This is such an honor.
Where is Mr. Ou?
He forgot his hat. He's gone back to get it.
It's so hot, why is he wearing a hat?
That's what I said too, but he won't listen.
I think he's just a show off.
-Dad. -Leave me alone.
What are you laughing at?
See... it's such an ugly hat, but he had to wear it.
What a nice hat? Maybe I should get myself one too, huh?
-Welcome. -Commander Jiang.
Stop it, this is too much for me.
-That's international protocol. -Yeah…
-Uncle. -My big niece.
Yes… Uncle, you're so stylish these days.
We're like bunch of hillbillies next to you.
Hillbillies can be stylish too.
You're quite the smooth talker.
-Let's go. Is this all your luggage? -Yes.
Only one suitcase.
Uncle, you're so ahead of the times, too. Is that your computer?
Yes, I've invested in some stocks
so I can't leave my computer.
-Is that why you love your computer? -What else is on there?
Nothing. Don't listen to her nonsense. Nothing's on there.
-Let's go… -Here.
This particular Maotai is special, made for the Great Hall of the People.
-Here. -"Special" my ass.
Just an excuse to profit.
Maotai has lost its value now. Anybody can afford it these days.
It's just like a nobleman who has lost all of his fortunes.
The brand has lost its shine too. Now it's struggling for money, you know.
Yes. You're absolutely right.
Why can't you just shut up and drink your Maotai?
Why must you lecture people?
What have I said? I'm just stating the facts.
-Who asked you to state the facts? -Do I need permission?
Enough…Stop arguing.
Let's eat.
Here, it may not be the best liquor but that doesn't mean you're less welcomed.
Let us all drink to this precious moment.
-Welcome. -Cheers.
-Welcome. -Welcome.
Auntie.
-Welcome. -Thanks.
Ding, why didn't you finish your liquor?
What are you saving that for?
That's more like a military man.
-Great. Give him some more. -Here, Dad.
Uncle, auntie.
Let us have a drink with you.
Yafei,
your auntie and I weren't too happy that we weren't invited to your wedding.
Then let's make this a welcome drink as well as a form of apology.
-That won't do. -Okay...
You need to drink twice.
No problem. We can do that, right?
-Yes. -See.
-Good. -Here.
-Congratulations. -Thank you.
-Cheers, auntie.
-Uncle sure can drink. -No…
I was much better with alcohol when I was a rightist on the island.
Are you drunk already? What did you mention that for?
Are you… proud of being a rightist?
I'm not proud, but I'm not ashamed of it either.
Not everybody can be a rightist. You must be qualified. Am I right?
Yes…We couldn't qualify at all.
-Isn't that so, Ding? -Yes, that's right.
Here, Mr. Ou. Let us drink to your qualification.
Sure.
-Here. -Okay.
-Cheers. -Cheers.
No cheating now.
Ate too much?
Too much indeed.
Everything I ate is still here. It won't go down.
Why not?
Why do you think?
-Because of Mr. Ou? -That old fool.
How can someone change so much in just few years?
He was always like that. Nothing has changed.
He wasn't like that when we were on the island.
He used to be humble man.
Now he doesn't even know how the write the word "humble".
That's true.
That's why I didn't want to go to the station. Why did you force me?
What's that got to do with anything?
You don't get it. It has to do with everything.
If I didn't go to the station and greet him personally,
he wouldn't be so obnoxious.
You still don't get it. You don't understand intellectuals like him.
They're just like that,
the older they get, the more immature and obnoxious they become.
They call it "character" and think of themselves as bohemians.
Helium? What helium?
Don't look at me like that. I really don't know, okay?
That's why I need you to ask about things.
To ask about things?
-Am I your dictionary or something? -Fine.
You're my grand master, okay?
Why are they always fighting? Is your sister okay?
-Why wouldn't she be? -You know, the menopause.
At her age? She's way passed it.
I think it may have gone chronic. Incurable.
I have reached a conclusion after observing them over the past few days.
Your sister is the one to blame for all that fighting between them.
She always picks a fight with him.
It's like, Mr. Ou can't do anything right.
You're right. She is picking fights with him deliberately.
See, my intuition is spot on.
Why would she do that though?
You wouldn't believe it.
Mr. Ou is in love.
I know that. Isn't it quite obvious?
He's in love with the internet. He's always looking at it.
-Do you know why? -Investment, wasn't it?
No one buys or sells that much stock online, okay?
He's doing something else too. Something quite despicable.
-What is it? -He's into online dating.
He's been chatting with a girl named "Endless Night".
What?
Come in.
Why close the door during the day?
-We were exchanging secrets. -What secrets?
-Why should I tell you? -Yeah, you shouldn't tell me.
Are you done? Are we going to the tea house or not?
Okay, I'll be done soon.
Just wait for me downstairs. I'll be there in a minute.
Hurry up. I'll wait downstairs.
-Slowly. No need to hurry. -My waist.
SPRING TEAHOUSE
-Who told you that? -There are no secrets under the sun.
-Is it true or not? -Don't listen to that woman.
I've never even met "Endless Night", so what could I have done?
-You've never met her? -I've never met her.
I don't even know if she is really a woman or a man.
She told me she's a woman so I assumed she is.
Who are you trying to fool? You think I'm that dumb?
You're chatting to someone...
and you don't even know whether it's a woman or a man?
You people are so unreasonable…
-Your dad is giving your uncle a lecture. -They are always like that.
How come?
Your uncle is well-educated but your dad is just a country boy.
Why would an educated man listen to a country boy?
You don't get it. It has to do with family history.
You're right, I don't get your family at all.
Why are you staring at me for? I'm telling you the truth.
-Really? That's it? -What else could there be?
That's all. I swear on my honor.
Don't swear on your honor. It's your honor that we're questioning right now.
I swear on my life then.
If I'm involved with "Endless Night" in any way,
I'll... I'll die in a horrific car crash.
That won't do either. I have to ride in the same car as you later.
You…
You know what I mean. Jiang...
There's nothing more than...
online chatting between "Endless Night" and I.
You shouldn't do that either. You have a family.
You're even a grandfather now.
In the olden days, that could count as a crime.
That's why…
An Xin always compares me to you. She thinks I'm useless in comparison.
That's where she's wrong.
You're definitely not useless. Nobody's useless.
Really? Even me? Fine then.
Since you put it that way, please tell me exactly how I'm useful.
Exactly how? Let me think about it.
You can't just ask me like that. I can't think that quickly.
That's enough.
I got it. You have great taste in clothes.
So much better than me.
Especially that hat of yours. You look so stylish with it.
How is good taste in clothes useful to anyone?
At least it's something.
Let me try that hat. I want to see what it's like on me.
-How's that? -Not bad.
-What kind of tone is that? -Can't I compliment you now?
I need the truth.
Fine. Not bad.
Really?
Not bad. Really.
Then I must get one too.
Dad, I think that hat looks good on you. Very stylish.
Really? Okay, you buy me one then.
Why aren't they back yet?
What's taking them so long? Do you think something might have happened?
-A fight maybe? -No.
He's not man enough to fight your husband.
You really think so? You think he's still the same old Mr. Ou?
I think not.
Why did you tell your husband anyway?
I didn't tell him. He noticed something wrong and asked me about it.
If only Mr. Ou could be that observant.
What's so good about being observant? Always being followed everywhere,
being asked this and that... So annoying.
-I'm not helping here, right? -Are you trying to make things worse?
-Where are you going? -Toilet.
Toilet's over there.
Subtitle translation by Lisa Lai