When we first started dating, I was very happy.
But, later on,
I wasn't happy anymore.
I want to find the happiness I initially had.
So I have to find myself first.
Deng Tian-ming, if you think you don't deserve me...
I'll give you time to work hard.
If one day, when you think you're ready
and confident enough,
if I'm still single,
I'll give you a chance to pursue me.
Poor thing. The flu is really serious nowadays.
Jo, remember to take your medicine.
Stay at home and quarantine yourself.
What? I need to quarantine myself?
Of course.
Here.
Be careful.
Jo, listen to me.
-I got some warm water here for you. -Okay.
Drink lots of water. Drink it whenever you want.
Take off your sweater.
Uncle, please, don't make Chinese medicine for me.
-I don't like the smell. -Have some of this.
It won't be effective if she doesn't believe in it.
How can this be?
She's been in Taiwan for so long and stayed at Heshengtang.
How could her immune system be so weak?
She even takes Western medicine.
If people find out, that'll be embarrassing.
Don't worry. I'll feel better after a nap.
All right. Go to sleep now.
I'll call Tian-ming.
You'll feel better when he comes to visit.
Are you crazy?
You said she had to be quarantined.
And you want Tian-ming to come visit her?
Tian-ming has been very busy lately. He has a lot of work to do.
What if he catches the flu?
Can't he wear a mask?
What's more important than seeing his sick girlfriend?
Gosh.
We've already...
-Jo. -Yes.
-Get some sleep. Get well soon. -Okay.
That's right.
The ceiling uses the concept of old wooden frames.
It's really achieved a fusion of modern and classic.
Also, this structure was built in 1912
while the rice shop opened in 1923.
-Really? -Yes.
So the rice shop has been around for 96 years.
Yes, four more years and it will be a century.
Their family is still struggling to keep the tradition alive.
BEST IN THE BUSINESS
Taiwanese Oolong tea plus mullet roe
is truly an innovation.
Try it.
BANDIT CHEN TEA SHOP
-Is it good? -Yes.
Let's keep going.
This shop focuses on fair trade.
Fair trade allows weak manufacturers to have reasonable profit.
Up ahead, we'll see some cloth shops.
They're being run by the second or third generations.
They import high-quality cloths from
Japan, India. This coffee shop is another successful example.
You said you want to open a coffee shop too.
What kind of style do you have in mind?
It's more of a hipster vibe
-I see. -with some industrial tones
or a hippie style.
Inside, we'd have flags for protesting the fourth nuclear power plant.
It'd be like the Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco that hipsters go to.
We can bring our laptops there to work or have meetings.
Do you know the story of Blue Bottle Coffee?
Not really.
One of the cloth shops we passed by earlier
is run by a son who once had bugs eating his expensive silk.
He wants to make use of the cloth before the bugs destroyed all of them.
So, he opened a shop.
It's the same for the owner of the rice shop.
His family used to own a rice granary, which was a hundred years old.
He wants people to learn the history of Taiwan rice.
That's why he set up the shop.
Blue Bottle Coffee started out from a farmer's market at the pier.
They started small and worked hard for 14 years to get where they are now.
These shops all have stories.
What's the story of your coffee shop?
I don't know.
Let me tell you my story then.
I grew up in Dadaocheng.
Before the financial crisis in 2008, I made a lot of money.
However, I went bankrupt after 2008 and had tons of debt.
To help me pay off my debt,
my dad worked so hard that he got sick and died.
He left a grocery store to me, but I didn't know what to do with it.
I stocked up the shop with my friends,
borrowed money, paid money, fell in love, broke up. I did a lot of things,
but I didn't really know what I was doing.
In the end, I realized
that I what I really wanted was to establish my roots.
I didn't want the changing times to eradicate my roots
and leave me floating around like duckweed.
Floating, you know?
Don't you think you're being too strict?
We're about to break up.
That's why we want to open a coffee shop.
I see.
You have love troubles.
You're just like me then.
Silly girls.
You think running a coffee shop is very cool and modern.
I'm telling you.
You won't even last for six months if you do it this way.
Do you know how long the history of coffee is?
It's been around for centuries, even thousands of years.
It's not modern at all.
Strictly speaking, it's actually a traditional industry.
We need to combine the traditional with cultural and creative industries.
Think of Dadaocheng as a cultural circle,
a miniature version of society.
From old to young, from new to old, everything needs to be redefined.
Actually, I don't really understand it myself.
We can both exchange our ideas.
TAIPEI XIAHAI CITY GOD TEMPLE
Silly girl.
If you don't wipe your sweat off, how will you get better?
Okay.
Jo.
Your pillow is wet. Let me get you a new one.
Get up first.
Come on.
Hold on.
Okay. Wait a minute.
Sit properly first, okay?
You're such a westerner.
You have a cold and you want to eat ice cream.
All right, done.
You miss your mom, don't you?
You always argue with her,
but you still miss her the most when you're sick.
Hold on.
Your mom especially told me
that you're very stubborn.
You'll still miss home sometimes though.
This is for you.
Thank you.
It's alright.
What happened between you and Tian-ming?
Do you want me to call him for you?
He didn't come visit, you didn't go to him either.
What's going on?
We broke up.
All right. It's okay.
Gosh.
It's okay.
Gosh.
Mom.
Nian-nian.
Hello?
Are you a ghost?
Ghost is not a nice term.
I'm a spirit, okay?
I miss you so much.
I've always missed you.
I've really missed you so much.
My little Nian-nian.
Yongquan.
Chengjin.
-Futu. -No!
You don't want me anymore. What are you doing here?
Yinmen.
-Is San Francisco that great? -Zhibian.
You left Dad.
-Guanyuan. -You also left me.
Shenque.
I've been staying in the room you decorated.
Laogong.
-I've been waiting for you, -Ximen.
but you never came.
Not even once. Not even in my dreams.
Xiabai.
It's the same pier,
the same river,
the same bridge.
Why would you rather be here in San Francisco without me
than be in Dadaocheng with me?
The first time I put on my school uniform, my first mother-daughter day,
my first date,
my first heartbreak, my first hospital stay.
I've imagined that you'd come and see me every time,
but you didn't.
Do you think
I didn't try?
You should have tried harder.
You should have loved me more.
Because you're my mom.
You should try harder to love your own daughter.
Nian-nian.
Your concept of love is too narrow.
Is this the reason for your trip?
When you came to San Francisco,
did you find true love?
Did you?
Did you find it?
I read Lady and the Tramp to Jo again before she went to bed tonight.
I made it really scary.
She looked so scared, but she still wanted to listen to it.
She's so cute. It's been raining in San Francisco lately.
When I was a child, the adults said that
it always rains around Chingming Festival.
Living abroad, when will I return to Taiwan
and sweep my ancestor's tomb?
Xiu-he,
Jo threw up this morning.
There was undigested cereal in her vomit.
Maybe she's allergic to cereal because she's Asian.
Let's try rice cakes next time.
I'm off to work now.
From Min-hsiung.
Hello?
Jo, contact your mom right now.
What's wrong with my mom?
I can't reach Ryan.
Find a way to call him at his restaurant
or some other way to contact him.
Why do you need to contact Ryan?
Hurry, I'm worried about Nian-nian.
Hello?
Li Nian-nian, where did you go?
The rental car company called and said they contacted the police.
The police said you're in a dangerous area. Where are you?
Why did you call me?
Nonsense! You have me as your emergency contact, remember?
Are you crazy? I'm in Taiwan.
How can I help when you're in trouble?
I could only think of you at that time.
What about Ryan?
I don't want to trouble him.
Miss, can you try to be more mature?
If it weren't for Ryan,
would your parents let you go to San Francisco by yourself?
Can you stop scolding me?
I feel cold and uncomfortable now.
Fine. I'll stop.
Stay there and don't move.
The police are coming. Ryan will be there soon.
You told him?
I didn't want him to know.
You're driving me crazy.
Do you know how worried I was?
What if something happened to you? What would I do?
I know I could have called you,
but...
But I passed out, so...
What do you mean you passed out?
Are you hurt?
I had a brownie.
I didn't know what was in it.
After I ate it, I...
You had a weed brownie.
What were you thinking?
Are you okay?
I shouldn't have come to San Francisco.
What do you plan to do now?
I thought I would have the answer by the end of my journey.
It turns out that the journey was the answer.
The journey was the answer?
What does that mean?
My journey to the States was the answer.
That was the answer...
Mrs. Li. Why are you here?
What's this?
The family of my doctor friend planted these.
He's gone, but his son's still breeding indigenous rice in the mountain tribe.
He sent us so many of them.
There are red quinoa and mushrooms.
I thought you can put them in your shop.
You can sell them or give them away to your customers as gifts.
Is that so?
You're worried I'm not making enough money so you want me to sell more to earn more?
Please, I don't have the time to worry about you.
I gave you some because we can't eat this much.
Can't I do that?
You've done a great job with this place.
Jo's been helping me clean up and organize things around here.
-Jo? -Yes.
Tian-ming, I know it's between the two of you
and I shouldn't try to interfere,
but aside from looking after the store and making money,
being nice to girls is also important.
Are you talking about Nian-nian?
I'm talking about Jo.
She's not feeling well.
Shouldn't you go visit her?
I just called her yesterday.
You called her yesterday?
I did.
You couldn't tell that she was weak?
She sounded okay.
She's sick. It's serious!
She didn't tell me.
They're so in love. Why did they just broke it off?
Why didn't you tell me that you're sick?
We're not strangers, are we?
Aren't you westerners very open-minded?
You remain as friends after breaking up.
Did I say we're not friends anymore?
You didn't contact me either.
So now it's my fault?
I called you yesterday.
Yes, you called about another woman.
Well, Nian-nian is fine now.
Of course I hope you're fine too.
You seem fine to me.
Let me know if anything happens to you.
Deng Tian-ming.
What?
Never mind.
I feel like it's been so long.
I'm finally home.
You and your new mom...
You're both very happy.
I saw her pick you up from school.
You crossed the street together.
You shared an ice cream cone.
I thought
maybe you've forgotten me.
Back then,
I wished she was you.
I made a choice.
I have to be responsible for it.
Your dad made a choice too.
You were his priority.
I have a big heart,
but the world with you was too small.
I love you.
But my love wasn't there.
Why didn't you disappear for good?
Why did you have to keep me hooked, writing cards and letters to me,
telling me how wonderful the world is,
creating an American dream that never belonged to me?
Why didn't things get better since I came here?
Answer me.
I didn't tell you to come here.
"I didn't tell you to come here."
"I didn't ask you to come here."
"I didn't..."
-Hello? -Jo.
Are you in my room?
Can you find something for me?
Do you see a cupboard in front of you?
Open it.
There's a metal box inside.
There's a few postcards from San Francisco in there.
Only one or two have addresses.
Postcards?
Send me the pictures.
TAIPEI XIAHAI CITY GOD TEMPLE
Jo!
Mr. Li.
I'm sick, but I'm not deaf.
I've made some calculations.
You've taken your medicine. You've had your sleep.
Tian-ming also came to see you. You should feel better now.
Come down here.
Look.
I made your favorite braised pork.
Mrs. Li said we should eat it with you when you wake up.
Is that so?
Hurry up.
All right.
I'll go get changed.
That's my girl.
Hurry up.
NIAN-NIAN. BECAUSE I'M ME AND YOU'RE YOU. FROM: TIAN-MING
Jo.
Hey.
Didn't you say you'd come down immediately?
You're just like Nian-nian.
I always have to call her a hundred times before she'll eat.
Come on.
Hey.
Why did you take these out?
Well, Nian-nian called last night
and asked me to take a picture of the address here.
Uncle, were these from Nian-nian's biological mom?
She told me about it before.
She said that when she was five, her mother moved to San Francisco.
But these two postcards
seem to be from two different people.
YILICHEN CHINESE MEDICINE SHOP
Miss, can I help you?
Excuse me.
May I ask if you know this person?
That's Grace.
She's my mom.
You're the Nian-nian Grace always talked about.
So her name is Grace.
Yes, that's what we called her.
We don't use our Chinese names.
And she can't work here illegally.
-It's not good to ask her Chinese name. -She couldn't work legally in the States.
She could only work part-time.
She had a few American boyfriends.
They said they'd marry her and get her citizenship,
but you never know with relationships.
They broke up after awhile.
She worked odd jobs here and there.
Sometimes, she didn't have money to eat three times a day.
YILICHEN CHINESE MEDICINE SHOP
Can I help you?
Yes.
I'm looking for a job.
You speak Chinese. I see.
This gets rid of dampness in your body. It's very good.
It has pearl barley in it.
You can try it.
It's good for your health.
Don't worry.
-Thank you. -The shop owner was very kind.
Since she knew about Chinese medicine,
they let her help in the shop.
She stayed there for around ten years.
-These are for... -When she got sick,
-This is for reducing heat. -the owner contacted me.
-Sometimes, we have heat in our bodies, -I flew over right away.
so this is good for treating that.
-Okay. -She refused to meet me.
Here you go.
-Thank you. -She wouldn't meet me.
-This was hers. -Okay.
Gosh.
The man who came to see her said he was her brother.
Was that your father?
I think so.
He was very nice.
He gave a prescription and left some money.
He told me to take care of Grace.
Her body was too weak though.
Gosh.
I haven't thought of Grace in years.
Can I ask you
if she was happy here?
She always wanted to come to San Francisco.
We didn't immigrate because it made us happy.
We came for our children's education.
We came to make a living.
I didn't know what Grace was thinking.
What a silly girl.
She sent me cards every year though.
She said she was doing great.
-She wrote cards to you? -Yes.
She just told you she was doing well for your sake.
I've kept this suitcase for years.
Now, I can finally give it to you.
She was here for so many years.
All she had is in this suitcase?
This was everything she had.
I can't believe Grace's daughter is all grown up now.
Good luck, Nian-nian.
Okay.
Bye.
When Nian-nian was very little,
she always thought
that her mom loved her and thought of her all the time.
However, many years passed by
and her mom never wrote to her.
So I had to write to her on behalf of Nian-nian
so that she would have the courage to come back.
But she never did.
Every year, especially during Nian-nian's birthday,
she always hopes her mom would come home.
How is that possible?
So I had to write to Nian-nian
on her mom's behalf every year.
And send her a gift.
I did it
year after year.
Grace.
Long time no see.
How are you?
Nian-nian is in kindergarten now.
She's growing up so fast.
Her old clothes don't fit anymore.
Qian-hui.
Is San Francisco's air still the same?
The air
makes you miss as well as forget things.
If only you were here.
If you were having a hard time,
why didn't you go back?
Don't you regret it?
I left you that day.
In the 3,817 days after that,
I missed you every day.
However,
I don't regret a thing because it was my own choice.
But...
But I've been waiting for you.
I've been waiting for you to come for me.
You're all grown up now.
Are you still waiting for someone to take you away from a life you don't like?
You constructed that dream yourself.
You know that very well.
You know that the mother
who went to the States and lived a wonderful life
was only a fantasy you made up from the fairy tales you read as a child.
-That's not how life is. -That's not how life is.
The reality is what you saw
and heard in Chinatown.
The fact is
I abandoned you to get my freedom.
You've always been unwilling to accept that fact.
You made up an American dream to spice up your boring life.
You lie to yourself that someone still loves you.
You wanted someone to come and save you.
You dreamed of leaving for a better life.
The fact is
you didn't have the courage to leave.
You didn't have the courage to leave because you're weak.
You're very weak.
If you knew all that,
why didn't you warn me then?
Why didn't you warn me that everything would remain the same even if I come here?
I'm still alone! I'm still lonely!
I wanted you to experience it all.
I wanted you to experience everything.
You deserve to experience all the hardships and loneliness here.
You deserve to experience all the hardships and loneliness here
just like me.
I knew you'd suffer,
but that's our own choice.
That's our own choice.
-But-- -You need to be responsible
for the consequences of your actions. Don't regret anything.
I came for you.
It was for you.
It was because of you.
I didn't write those letters.
You know that a long time ago.
Your dad loves you too much.
He did it to protect you and console you.
He built a rosy dream for you.
I didn't ask you to come here.
Deep inside,
you want to leave your failure of a life.
But now,
you don't want to take responsibility for your suffering.
You've failed.
Now you're asking someone else the reason you came on this trip.
This journey of yours
was a form of escape.
This journey of yours
was a form of escape.
Your life is yours alone.
No one else can control it but you.
NIAN-NIAN, YOU KNOW WHAT? I PICKED OUT YOUR NAME.
NIAN-NIAN'S DAD REALLY CAME TO SEE ME.
I TRIED WORKING AT A RESTAURANT. I THOUGHT I CAN WEAR A UNIFORM AND...
HE'S A LIAR. ALL HE DID WAS LIE TO ME.
Qian-hui.
Do you have enough money?
It's cold in San Francisco.
Are you wearing enough clothes?
Do you have money to buy clothes?
If you can't make it, come home.
You're Nian-nian's biological mother.
Nian-nian always dreams of flying there to see you.
It's too cruel to let you two be apart
from each other forever.
Over the past few years,
she has grown closer to Xiao-wen.
But she's still reluctant to talk to Xiao-wen
about relationships and love.
Hey.
If only you were with Nian-nian,
that would be great.
I'm coming, Golden Gate Bridge!
I'm coming, San Francisco!
NIAN-NIAN, I'LL ALWAYS BE BY YOUR SIDE. TIAN-MING
NIAN-NIAN, THANK YOU FOR TODAY! I'M GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH ME. TIAN-MING
Don't say I don't care about you.
I bought almond tea and fried bread sticks.
Have some.
Are you feeling better?
You don't have a fever anymore. You've gotten better.
I wrote these when I was very young.
So you used to like Nian-nian.
Or did you two date before?
You know she was with Wei-sheng.
That's all in the past.
But why didn't you tell me?
Come on. We never dated.
She went to the States for Wei-sheng. You know that.
What am I supposed to explain to you?
Can I control where she puts things?
We're just like...
Childhood friends. When we were little...
We're like family, okay? You're thinking too much.
I see, so am I also family to you?
Of course not.
You're my most important...
friend.
Professor Qian, the thing is,
I'm sure you've also heard from the media
that it's hard to get work permits.
The school will choose between you
and Professor Mamikonian.
We will give one of you a work permit.
Even though it's...
It's because of administrative regulations,
you know we're on your side.
If...
If you could just be more cooperative.
For example, the number of beds and your clinic hours.
You spend too much time at the clinic.
You should prescribe more medicines for each patient.
Dean.
That's enough.
I'm done.
Can you take a photo for us?
I'm so jealous.
Why?
Li Nian-nian.
-Dean. -I need to talk to you.
Starting next week, please assist Professor Mamikonian with his patients.
I was originally assisting Professor Qian.
Professor Qian recommended you.
You're the intern most patients ask for.
When you get your license, the hospital would probably hire you
and give you a work permit.
What about Professor Qian?
Thanks, Professor Qian.
I'm heading upstairs.
Okay.
What's going on?
Did you have a deal?
Did they agree?
Where are you going?
Why are you throwing me off to someone else?
I've been in the States for 15 years already.
I thought I had an ambition.
However, after working all these years,
all that's left of my American dream are donuts.
You're the best in Chinese medicine.
The school also values you.
Why are you giving up your work permit?
That's true.
It's been 15 years.
I'm still waiting for a work permit.
I'm just working muddle-headedly here daily.
Why exactly am I still here?
It's your dream.
Didn't you tell us before?
You want to bring Chinese medicine to the west
to let them know that Chinese medicine is scientific too.
That's your dream. That's what you told us.
That's a lie I tell kids like you.
But I can't lie to myself.
I know.
I just don't have the courage
to go back to China without accomplishing anything.
Look, I still don't have citizenship after 15 years.
You're lying again.
It's true. You just came here.
You really don't know how painful it is
to not be able to stay and not be able to leave either.
I do.
My mom felt that way.
Your mom?
I've seen lots of people like her.
There's someone like her whom I'm forced to see
in the mirror every day. That's me.
Are you really going back?
In Shanghai,
I'm a very famous doctor.
What am I waiting for here?
I really want to see
what this country, this government, can do without talented people like us
who come from abroad.
Gosh, the American dream.
I'm done with it.
You can work hard for your American dream.
I'm leaving now.
I'm done with them too.
MISSED CALLS FROM RYAN
I've sold my shares of the winery.
I've also divorced Sally.
Can we...
Let's start over.
A lot has happened.
One year ago,
I was sitting right there so pitifully.
I missed you so much.
I missed you.
What took you so long?
Welcome to San Francisco.
I never thought so much will change
in one year.
Did you find the answer you were looking for?
Some people say
that the journey brings happiness,
not the destination.
That day, you also said
that the destination didn't turn out to be the answer.
It was the journey instead.
Yes.
When my mom first came to San Francisco on her honeymoon,
she was very happy.
She was so happy
that she thought it was everything in her life.
She thought that San Francisco would make her happy forever.
But now I know she was wrong.
It turns out that America
isn't as wonderful as I've imagined.
It seems that getting married isn't that important too.
Do you think changing for the sake of our relationship
will truly make us happy?
I missed my chance with you, didn't I?
We completed a journey together.
I'm very happy.
I'm very sad.
I know.
She's allergic to lobsters.
I will stay.
-If we do this, I'll only think of you -No.
when I see these acupuncture points.
I'm satisfied.
You're annoying.
What? Say it properly.
-I feel shy. -What? Say it!
It was a pleasure working with you, Dr. Li.
Thank you.
TIAN-MING: MY PE TEACHER SAID THAT TAIWANESE PEOPLE MUST DO THREE THINGS:
TRAVEL AROUND TAIWAN, CLIMB MOUNT JADE, AND SWIM ACROSS SUN MOON LAKE.
Auntie, I'll do it.
I've been staying in this room. Of course I should organize it myself.
Are you crazy? How can I let you do it by yourself?
Look, this new comforter looks really nice.
I bought you and Nian-nian one each.
This way, even if you two siblings sleep in different rooms,
you can have the same comforter.
How cute would that be?
Siblings?
Yes.
What?
You think that when Nian-nian comes home, you don't have to listen to me?
Mr. Li and I treat you like our own daughter.
Go and ask everyone out there.
Who doesn't know that there are two daughters in Heshengtang?
One is Jo, the other is Nian-nian.
When Mr. Li and Tian-ming pick up Nian-nian tomorrow,
the whole family will be reunited.
I need to water this.
NEXT EPISODE
My sister has dated lawyers, doctors, accountants...
You have the best taste.
Jo asked me yesterday if we would ever get back together.
Why on earth would she think that it's possible for us to be together?
Damn it.
Subtitle translation by Sophie Chang