Our Shiny Days
Episode 6
Dad Eats Mustard When He Wants to Cry
Why are you still here?
Senior.
Well... I...
I have something to tell you.
I-I love you.
So?
I don't even know your name.
Senior,
my name is Chen Jing and I got enrolled in 2012.
I'm your junior.
My junior?
You're learning the piano too?
No, I'm learning Yangqin.
Yangqin?
Alright.
Chen Jing, the Yangqin learner,
answer me this:
Who is the most famous Yangqin maestro?
My subject teacher Li
is a maestro.
Is that so?
The most famous Yangqin maestro
works at our school.
It can't be hard for you to learn Yangqin.
Chen Jing,
I'm learning the piano.
Do you know
who are the piano maestros?
Lang Lang?
Maurizio, Argerich, Zimerman,
just to name a few living maestros.
If we narrow it down to our country,
the maestros who can compare with them
include Shen Wenyu
and Wang Yujia.
You know about Lang Lang and Li Yundi.
I'll just skip them.
I pursue something far beyond this school.
What do you love about me?
You-you look cool
on the stage.
This stage?
Do you know the Salle Pleyel?
It's a concert hall that has the greatest sound effect
in Europe, even in the whole world.
It stocks a type of Pleyel grand piano
that is no longer in production.
Someday,
I'll visit the Salle Pleyel
and play that Pleyel grand piano.
In that case,
go for it.
That's all I care about.
Whether you love me or not,
it doesn't concern me.
I-I just want to confess my feelings.
If loving me is your goal,
you'd better change it.
We have different stages.
You know?
I plan to go abroad after graduation.
And for that, I need to keep my conduct scores high.
Upperclassman, it's time to go.
The car will start soon.
What kind of stage
can a student like you step onto?
I'm quite curious.
Senior,
you adjusted the mood of the 2nd movement.
You caught that.
Page turner,
get out!
They are starting the car!
Is everyone here?
We should get going.
Everyone is here. Let's go.
Wait for me!
I'm telling you,
the female reporter who interviewed me today
had interviewed me years ago.
Back then, I was a D-list actress
and I played in a movie
that lacked stars and big investments.
But the director put his heart into it.
The production quality was great.
That woman was hosting a film review show.
She commented on all those films,
complaining how awful the Chinese movies were.
When our movie came out, it didn't make much at the box office, but it won critical acclaim.
And she didn't say a thing about our movie on her show.
Later, she interviewed me.
Do you know what she told me?
She said,
"Your movie is actually great.
I watched it when it was shown to the media.
I wanted to give you a good review,
but nobody contacted me after the screening.
What were you thinking?
My WeChat official account has so many subscriptions.
Do you prefer to pay
with money or face?
Just tell me. "
So straightforward.
These people
regard themselves too highly.
They should know who they're living off.
Pay with money.
If we weren't making films, what would they comment on?
Pay with face.
I'll show you my face.
Na, calm down.
You're not a D-list actress anymore.
Just forget it.
No.
Even if my name spreads to the south and north poles,
I'd always think like a D-list actress.
My shoelaces are loose.
Na, your agent is too nice.
I thought he was your assistant.
I envy you.
My agent is busier than me.
I have to make an appointment with her half a year early to meet with her.
Stop it.
You get to have Jiayi,
an influential expert agent,
you should be happy.
Tomorrow is Father's Day.
What special plans
have you made to
celebrate with your fathers?
I may not be able to go home because I have work to do.
So, I think I'll give my father a call.
What about you, Ms. Huang?
Give him a call.
A filial child makes every day Father's Day.
Very well.
I have a question, Ms. Huang.
Acting is a profession
that appears to glamorous,
but harbors
many secrets under its surface.
Like you just mentioned,
during the filming of this movie,
you were injured.
And an actress
often needs to
take part in intimate scenes.
I'd like to know
what does your father think of
this part of your job?
Does he support you?
Um...
Anyu, let me hold it for you.
The thing is,
as an entertainment reporter,
you have a job that sounds decent.
But does your father know you're writing about gossip?
Does he know your movie reviews
are based on money?
Does he know you'd spend a long time
waiting for an entertainment interview?
Talking to you isn't my job.
My job is starring in movies.
Your job is sitting across me
and listening to
whatever I'm saying.
In comparison to you,
I'm sure my father supports me.
Go back and ask your father
whether he supports you.
Where were we?
We were talking about Father's Day.
Well?
Got any more questions?
If not, let's call it a day.
No more questions.
Cut off what I just said.
Keep watch.
Don't worry.
Will you practice the piano when we get home?
I will.
What's the purpose of practicing piano?
It's to perform on stage.
Why are you here?
I-I came out for a walk.
A walk?
More like a shower.
Did you confess your love?
I was rejected.
Can't you see heaven is weeping for me?
Blow your hair dry.
You'd catch a cold if you return to your dorm and sleep like this.
Let's go.
Chen Jing.
Are you okay?
I'm okay.
I just feel
a little shocked.
Aren't you prepared
for rejection?
I am.
But his reason for rejection
perplexes me.
What is his reason?
Do you know who are the Yangqin maestros?
I do.
Xiang Zuhua
is the vice president of International Yangqin Association.
Huang He and Liu Yuening
visited many countries,
modified the bamboo Yangqin beaters,
and invented the component tone system.
Tanggu and Yangqin have always been good friends.
Good friends ought to know each other.
What did he say to you?
He said,
"What kind of stage
can a Yangqin learner like you step onto?"
He was curious.
I had so many things to say.
But I didn't get to say.
I choked.
That's why I'm so depressed right now.
What did you want to say?
I'm learning Yangqin.
Yangqin is a traditional Chinese hammered string instrument.
It was brought from Persia to China during the Ming Dynasty.
Originated from the same thing as piano,
it's an indispensable instrument in any large-scale band.
It came to China during the Ming Dynasty
and originated from the same thing as piano!
Our instruments have the same ancestor!
How dare he look down on me?!
Dreg.
Do you think Yangqin can be performed on stage?
Can I step onto a stage?
It depends on how you view this matter.
Stages are everywhere in life.
Dreg, do you have any sentimental songs?
Play the songs for me.
What kind of song do you want?
The kind that inspires me to stand up
and stride forward.
Dreg!
Didn't you want to stride forward?
Start a new life with my scars.
Try to understand my requirement, okay?
Got it.
Dreg, just forget it.
Leave me alone.
Loyal and responsible,
I don't rely on anyone except myself.
My spirit holds itself proud.
Loyal and responsible...
Dreg.
I've made up my mind.
On what?
I,
I am going to perform on stage.
I'm going to perform on stage too.
I'll make him know
what Yangqin is.
How many times do I need to tell you?
It's five million, not five hundred.
I'm an investor, not a philanthropist.
Five million is a lot of money.
Do you know how many zeroes there are in five million?
You don't know?
Six zeroes. Six zeroes.
One, two, three, four, five, six.
Six zeroes, miss.
Wake up.
Where have you been? You were gone for a long time.
You should have been studying.
Dad, what has suddenly brought you here?
I came to Beijing for business and stopped by to visit you.
This is for your schoolmates to enjoy.
Dad, you could have sent it via express delivery.
It's so heavy.
You think express delivery is free?
I needed to come here anyway. Why should I come empty-handed?
To catch winds?
I-I'll take it upstairs.
Be quick. I've got to take you to dinner.
It's a very important business dinner to help you gain life experiences.
Wear something nice.
Um, Dad,
why did you ask me to bring the drum?
To liven up the mood.
What, can't you perform for us?
I can.
I-I was just asking.
Let me stress this again.
I entrusted my money to you
because I wanted...
That kid!
How can you throw a filled bottle away? What a waste!
It has no bubbles.
You won't drink it just because it has no bubbles?
I'll see what you do when you starve!
I'm not finished yet.
Don't assume I'm gullible just because I'm not educated.
Dad.
It's not a festival or holiday.
Why have you come home?
Because I missed you.
No way.
Today is Father's Day, Dad.
Dad,
don't choose the internet over family.
Alright.
I'm leaving it to the robot.
Well,
now you're back to celebrate, have you brought any gifts?
I have brought back
your healthy and lively daughter.
I'd rather have something more cost-effective.
Can I have it?
I plan to cook a meal for you today.
I just learned a hack for making cold potato salad.
Cut it out.
The last time you came back, you cooked rice noodles with river snails for me.
It left a stink in the house for three days.
Our neighbor Liu lost her cat.
And she suspected that
her cat died in our house.
The robot is so unreliable.
I only had two 2 and 1 bomb.
And it just
laid all three of them.
It's pissing me off.
How are your grades going?
I can beat you with one single card.
Focus on your game.
Don't worry about me.
Don't avoid the question.
You won't be expelled from school, will you?
I won't.
I'm only one brain away
from becoming a top student.
How about your solfeggio and ear training?
I heard from your cousin that you're having problems with them.
I have made some progress.
Recently, I have learned to understand chords.
Chords?
What chords?
Beautiful.
It feels nice,
like I'm playing cards
in a grand national theater.
I'm getting the good cards now.
Raising a daughter is rewarding.
It's rewarding.
You can help me earn Joy Beans.
Alright.
I was planning to take you to make do
at the meat pie restaurant downstairs.
But I'm going to cook now.
Noodles with soybean paste.
What do you say?
I'll make the paste myself.
You'll be treated like a leader.
I don't need to make cold potato salad?
Save it.
I appreciate your kindness.
Tomorrow, I'll be fishing with
Mr. Liu at the reservoir.
It won't look good if I have loose bowels.
Have you told your mother about your return?
Tell her now.
I'm going to cook.
Mom, I'm back.
Dad, this restaurant must be expensive.
They booked it.
It's not that expensive.
They said they'll have vegetables.
Vegetables can't be that expensive.
It's okay.
Look. They are not that expensive.
I knew vegetables can't be expensive.
Just two figures.
A piece of cake.
Dad, that's the price of dipping sauces.
Thank you for coming
on such a hot day.
Li, I haven't seen you in a long time.
Yeah. Gui, you haven't returned to your hometown for many years.
I can only come here to talk to you.
Let me introduce them to you.
This is Mr. Wu.
Mr. Wu, hello.
Hello.
This is Mr. Wu's employee.
Hello. Hello.
And this gentleman
deserves special attention.
Director Sun Yihai.
I won't explain what he's in charge of.
Director Sun, hello.
Hello.
I've heard so much about you.
You flatter me.
This is my fellow townsman Li Wang,
an entrepreneur from my hometown.
A well-known entrepreneur.
That's nonsense.
I'm just an ordinary townsman.
A townsman. Not even an upstart.
This must be your son.
He's my son Li You,
learning music here.
Come on, greet the gentlemen.
This kid is obtuse.
I brought him here to meet the big guns.
Hello.
-Very well. -Hello.
Please take a seat.
Gentlemen, please take a seat.
Please take a seat.
My little brother has become taller.
Look.
Do you need to measure his weight?
Hurry up. I have things to do later.
Alright. I won't bother you.
It's my fault.
Sending my little brother to another person's home.
We don't even have the time to chat.
There's a hole in your courtyard wall.
It's probably the result of recent rainfall.
Call the property office to fix it
for safety's sake.
I filled the hole with broken bricks for the time being.
Living in such a big house alone.
Don't you think it's too large?
I plan to move away.
But I can't sell this house.
You can't sell it?
So, you rented it.
Yes, you can't sell it.
The landlord wouldn't be happy.
My father left this house to me.
I'm sorry.
I grew up here.
Back then, there were lots of people in my family.
Do you see
that corner?
It's measured my height since I was little.
I always hoped to grow up and become higher soon.
So, I measured my height every few days.
You just measured your brother. How tall is he?
1.35 meters.
I'll mark it down here.
Though I have no idea
how long I will stay here.
Where are you going?
Um...
I've never seen you go out at this hour.
I'm going to see my father.
Now?
At this hour?
Out to see your father?
Got a problem?
Do you have to go at night?
Aren't you afraid?
I'm going to see my father.
What's there to fear?
You are right.
Do you intend to drive there?
There's a restriction on traffic today. I'm calling a taxi.
Hey, it's pretty dark. Let me take you there.
I'll just call a taxi.
Are you sure you can find a taxi
that takes you to your father's place at this hour?
Don't argue with me.
I'm going to the airport anyway.
I can set off early and give you a ride.
See you at the door three minutes later.
Don't argue with me. Don't make me wait.
Miss.
Zhou, let's go.
Shall we head to the mountain?
Go to Zhongnan Mountain first.
Miss. Need any water?
No.
Miss. Want to hear any songs?
No.
Hear any songs?
You think we're on a spring outing?
Think about her mood.
Back off.
I'm sorry.
Enjoy a massage and relax.
Shut it down.
Zhou. Zhou.
Stop the car.
Wait a minute.
Hey.
What do you need? I can go in your stead.
30% of your success is heaven's work and 70% is your own work.
Work hard to become the winner.
Come on, let's toast.
Here.
I'm so happy.
Thank you for watching.
Gentlemen,
shall we open another bottle of wine?
Ask the director.
Ask for his instruction.
Let's open another bottle of
what you called fine wine.
Black Noir.
Black Noir, right?
I remember it.
Because in the country of Fujian,
there's a type of black sugarcane.
It's so sweet.
I'll bring some sugarcane to you next time.
It's so sweet.
You got it wrong. It's Pinot Noir.
One word wrong.
I won't ever forget it.
Son, remember it for me.
We should skip the wine.
I've had such fun today.
I met a new friend.
Hope we'll stay in touch.
I think...
Got it.
Health comes first.
The city people don't urge anyone to drink.
Dismiss!
Li.
You're so funny.
So interesting.
Interesting.
Gui, I've done enough to protect your feelings.
You made me
spend this night watching a play
with all those loud noises.
Thank you, director. Thank you for protecting my feelings.
I told you about
my fellow townsman.
He's nothing but an upstart.
He used to be so poor.
Then his house was demolished.
He got so much money.
The sudden wealth feels like a hot potato
to the poor man.
He fears that he'd use up the money and become poor again.
So, he's been asking his fellow townspeople
who have made a name for themselves
to help him get into business.
He even wants to invest.
He's a pain in my neck, director.
If I ignore him as his fellow townsman,
I'd be criticized by my townspeople.
Try to talk some sense into him.
Keep his money.
No one wants it.
Yes, yes.
Let's go.
How salty is today's sauce?
A little salty. Go easy on it.
Enough.
Do you think I have musical talent?
You have to try to know that.
I've tried for years.
Dad, do you think you have musical talent?
Well,
it depends.
When I'm in the bath house,
I think I sing pretty well.
But when I'm fishing with Mr. Liu,
my singing
always leads to him complaining that
I'm warning the fish.
Did my mother have musical talent?
When my mother passed away, I was so little
and can't remember anything.
Your mother
sang like a hen with someone stepping on its neck.
You probably take after her
with the off-key singing thing.
That's called shifting the blame.
However, when you were just born,
your mother started to play songs for you.
There was a song you liked very much.
"Dreamer".
Do you remember?
I remember.
Since I could remember things,
you have played that song.
Because your mother loved this song.
She played it when breastfeeding you.
She played it when putting you to bed.
When you were happy, you jumped to the music.
When you were unhappy,
the song always quieted you down.
That's when your mother told me that
you had musical talent.
Dad.
What if I spend years learning music
and achieve nothing?
What will I do?
What if I never get to perform on stage?
When I enrolled in Zhongxia Conservatory of Music,
you bought a suit
and said you'll wear it to my concert
and present a bouquet to me.
What if you don't get such a chance?
What will you do?
Wait a minute.
When you were just born,
your mother bought lots of story books.
She hoped to tell these stories
to you when you can talk.
But she didn't get the chance.
They are all fairy tales.
When she was on her death bed,
I asked her,
"What should I do with our daughter?
Give me a guide."
"Make her dare to dream."
That's what your mother told me.
I and your mother brought you to this world,
so you can, instead of making friends
and winning other people's respect,
find out the best way
to live your life.
I've never read these books to you,
because I want you to pursue your dream.
Other people's dreams are second-handed dreams.
For what it's worth in this life,
you should have your original dream.
No matter how impractical your dream is,
I'll support you.
When you're past the age of dreaming,
I'll help you grasp a clear picture of reality.
Dad.
I want to hear "Dreamer".
No problem.
Goodnight, my little teammate.
It's time to fall asleep.
In dreams, there's the colorful sky,
there are many mysterious friends.
Sing, my little teammate.
La la la la la la la.
Sing to summon our partners
and scare away the villain.
Go on an adventure, my little teammate.
Go to the distant ocean.
Go through the sunny days and the four seasons.
We're each other's best partner.
Dad.
Do you want to eat mustard cabbage?
Come to think of it,
we have mustard cabbage in the house.
It's really spicy.
Really spicy.
So spicy.
Your father lives here?
The feng shui here is good.
Now that you've come,
greet him before you leave.
Driver.
Stop before that building.
Greet-greet him?
But he's at home.
Whom will I be greeting?
Father.
When I saw the light in the driveway,
I knew you were coming.
Alive?
Wait.
This is?
He's here to present a bouquet to you.
You're very kind.
It's not the season of chrysanthemum,
but a bouquet
always delights me.
No.
Mister, it's a mistake.
Um... I... Well...
Uncle.
We have guests.
I won't enter the house.
Father.
Here are the books you asked for.
Goodbye.
Come in and sit for a while.
This is my student.
She's here to talk about Xiao Hong.
Talk all you want.
I won't bother you.
This gentleman came a long way
and took you here.
Your relation...
We're neighbors.
He gave me a ride.
What do you want from my daughter?
No.
I want nothing.
Good.
Marriage is a tomb.
I hope my daughter won't go astray.
Alright.
Go back inside and talk about Xiao Hong.
It can take a long time
to talk about Xiao Hong.
Forgive me for not seeing you off.
Daughter,
take care.
Well?
You want to go inside and talk about Xiao Hong?
Um...
You said
your father left the house to you.
The word "left" gave me the wrong impression.
I thought your father was dead.
He's the same as a dead person.
Don't say that.
That living person
stood in front of me.
My father was busy doing business and making money.
Though he didn't always come home,
he was a responsible father.
Later, when he underwent too much pressure in business
and the demise of our sick family member,
he suddenly decided to change his lifestyle.
He divorced my mother
and gave the house to me.
He closed his business,
got enough money to spend until death,
and started a new life.
I still regard him as my father
and he regards me as his daughter.
But I know
he'll largely live the rest of his life
for himself.
Then that woman...
He gets a new woman every now and then.
Half a year ago, I visited him
and found him surfing
with a mixed-blood Hawaiian.
My senior.
You envy him.
No, no.
Such an irresponsible man.
If he weren't your father,
I'd criticize him.
I think it's alright.
Possessions come with troubles.
It's something
my father taught me personally.
Son, have I brought shame on you?
Son.
Our family is rich now.
We're so rich.
You know.
But I still work so hard.
Hilarious, right?
Because I was so poor when little.
Son, do you remember
I told you that
your uncle starved every day when he was little.
He starved so badly that his knees became weak.
One day, a villager
came back with a sack,
said there was rice in the sack.
Your uncle was so hungry at midnight,
so he ran to that villager's house
and ate the rice in the sack.
He didn't care if the rice was uncooked.
It turns out the sack contained urea.
Urea.
He ate urea.
Dad, I remember.
You told me that.
But it wasn't your uncle who ate urea.
It was your father.
Son,
I used to starve,
so I fear.
I fear even though I'm rich.
I fear that I'll starve again.
If I don't have you,
I wouldn't fear like this.
Son, a lifetime is so long.
There are so many ups and downs.
I only have one wish.
I want to lay the solidest foundation for you.
When you reach my age,
don't see anyone you don't want to see,
don't eat anything you don't want to eat.
I must fulfill my wish.
Nobody must stop me.
Nobody!
Dad, have some rest.
Take a rest.
I want you to never starve.
Before I turned 40 years old,
I had never boarded on a plane.
When you graduate from this school,
I'll send you to another country.
Nobody must stop me.
I live for my son.
Life is like sea waves.
It goes up and down.
Dad.
Happy Father's Day.
My good teammate.
Staying with me.
As I open my eyes,
more dreams come.
Dad.
Happy Father's Day.
As an entertainment reporter,
you have a job that sounds decent.
But does your father know you're writing about gossip?
Does he know you'd spend a long time
waiting for an entertainment interview?
Go back and ask your father
whether he supports you.
Today is Father's Day.
You asked me whether my father supported my job.
If he wakes up now
and sees you question me,
I think he'd support me,
and what's more, he'd take pity on me.
My father has been in a coma for years after his car accident.
I don't have the chance to ask him.
Mr. Feng,
I only wanted to do my job,
but, after waiting for you for two hours,
I was despised and belittled.
Tell me,
is this really funny
in your opinion?