[English subtitles are available.]
Winter Begonia
Episode 7
Mr. Cheng,
this used to be the temple built by the eunuchs.
It's deserted
as no one cares later.
Now there are only a few old eunuchs keeping it.
Mr. Cheng,
I want to build a theater here
and sing whatever I want in the future.
I don’t have to care about anyone’s feeling,
and no one can discipline me.
I don’t have to share the earnings with the theater.
So I can get the net earnings.
You asked me to come and see the plot.
Do you want me to invest?
How could that be?
I have an inherited fortune,
but I can't use unless emergency occurs.
It's time to spend a lot of money.
Alright.
Then please leave me a box.
I’ll leave the best one to you.
That's a deal.
-Please give me some money! -Please give me some money!
Pity us!
-Please help me! -Please give me some money!
-Pity us!
Please give me some money!
Mr. Shang, Mr. Shang!
Please give me some money! Mr. Shang!
What are the rules here?
Want big money?
Sing a new song.
Let me sing first.
“I’m a beggar lives in Beitian Temple,
belongs to the sect of Liu Jiu'er.”
Biography of Li Wa?
I’ve heard it.
Listen to me. Listen to me.
“The Chu and Han people are disturbed.
Two wise men, Liu Cheng and Yuan Zhao emerged from Dacheng County.
That year…”
Two Gods Picking Medicine?
Is there anything new?
Is there any more?
I’m leaving if not.
Don't go.
Don't drag me.
It’s useless.
Go find Mr. Cheng.
Mr. Cheng is rich.
Mr. Cheng! Mr. Cheng!
You poor children,
don't come over!
I might hit you.
Drive them away!
Don't let them come over to me!
Get away!
I don't run, I don't run.
Don't touch this.
Don't touch my ring,
and the chain.
Alright, alright.
come back.
I will give you an IOU.
Don’t touch.
Don’t touch that!
There is no paper.
It doesn’t matter.
Look at me.
Don’t touch!
Don’t touch that!
Step aside!
Walk away!
Here.
Write it on the back.
Do you have a pen?
Wait a second.
Pen, pen.
Give me! Give me that!
Mr. Cheng!
Bow down.
Okay.
I owe…
What's your name?
My name is Er Sha.
Er means two.
I owe Er…
You can’t take the chain.
This is too dangerous.
Don’t take it.
Mr. Cheng, how to write Sha?
I don’t know.
Figure it by yourself.
Mr. Cheng, Mr. Cheng. Mr. Cheng.
Okay now.
Look.
I owe Er...
A circle
still counts.
I owe Er Sha a silver dollar today.
Do you know where is Shuiyun Theater?
Yes.
Go.
Okay. Let’s go.
Let’s go to Shuiyun Theater.
Let’s go.
We have money now.
Mr. Cheng, your pen.
Mr. Shang.
Why are you leaving?
Mr. Shang, Mr. Shang, Mr. Shang,
don't be like this.
Don't leave upon seeing me.
It’s a wired day.
Uncle,
let's talk.
Sir,
I’m poor-sighted and
didn't see you.
You are full of spirits,
with a rounded and undefiled
forehead.
You must be a master of making money.
Excuse me,
what do you do?
We’ll go first
if you don’t have anything else.
Mr. Shang, Mr. Shang, Mr. Shang,
listen to me.
I’m not taking your money
for free.
Don't you want to hear something new?
I have a new one for you
today.
Sing it.
“Invite Eight Immortals to the Sacred Hall again.
Eight Immortals drifting across the waves.
The first immortal is Tieguai Li.
Tieguai Li is really strange,
with left leg being high and the right leg being low.
There are magic spells in the gourd.”
Is this a new song?
This is older than my father.
I still have one.
Listen to this one.
“From the south
to the north,
A Lei emerged from Beijing.
The table he builds will stretch its legs.
The house he builds will not get dusty.”
Interesting.
Carry on.
“Lei is really something.
He can carve beams and paint walls.
No nails, no hammers.
All he uses are woods.”
So hyperbolic!
You must be making it up.
Look,
how could I make it up?
A Lei is really living here.
It’s on the south end of our street.
Mr. Shang,
I’ve already sung for you.
So…
You should…
Just this?
Please give me more.
Too little?
I will give no more.
Please help me.
I haven't eaten all day.
You have a heart of gold.
You have helped so many actors.
It won’t bother you to help one more.
Don't flatter me.
I’m heartless.
Let's say this time,
I will definitely not give you more money.
If you have no money for me,
I don’t have means to earn a living.
You have no way to live? I have no money.
OK, fine.
I can see.
You two
are old acquaintance.
Mr. Shang,
let's take it for respecting the elderly.
You have a good heart.
I can tell
you are a good person.
I
have seen so many people here.
I can see charity and morality
in your eyebrows.
In the future, you will…
-…turn calamities into blessings. -No!
And you’ll have more children and happiness.
Let me
tell you.
You definitely
can make a fortune.
Isn't this robbing money?
Look,
he’ll use that money for prostitution or gambling.
He will use it up before tomorrow.
Forget it.
It's not big money.
Don’t be angry with him.
It’s not about money.
I used to hire him at Shuiyun Theater to run some errands.
Guess what?
He egged the children into prostitution and gambling.
I would definitely send him to the police station
if it weren't for his age.
What are you looking at?
You’re sympathetic,
not so heartless.
Leader!
What happened?
They’re fighting
at home.
Someone might be killed.
Please come back and take a look!
Get out the way!
-What are you doing? - Get out the way!
Put it down, La Yuehong!
Leader is here!
Put it down!
What happened?
-La Yuehong! -Put down the broadsword!
Leader is here!
Put down the broadsword immediately!
Don’t be so disrespectful!
What are you doing?
Want a rebellion?
Shijiu,
tell us.
A while ago,
we saw Liuyue hooked up with
Xue Qianshan,
the owner of Beiping Newspaper.
She denied when I asked her.
The Xue family's wedding gifts are delivered today.
Why are you fighting
like this
just for wedding gifts?
No.
Don’t marry him.
Stay here.
I’ll protect you.
The leader asks you to stay.
Can you grow up?
Moreover,
you signed life-long contract with Shuiyun Theater.
If leader does not let you go,
Xue family can't come here to grab you.
Let me tell you,
every girl at Shuiyun Theater,
who marries
as a concubine,
feels regretful.
Just for men’s hollow promise,
they sacrifice
all they have learnt
for years.
Is it worthwhile?
Xue Qianshan
said
his wives at home
are equal-footed
without hierarchy.
So silly!
Before getting married,
men can say anything nice.
You’re just an opera actress.
You're going to be a doormat
if you marry as a concubine.
It’s
already
too late.
Why do you think so?
You are not going to be the first wife.
You can quit.
I'll help you argue with them.
No.
Leader.
Why?
You are pregnant?
How dare you not tell us
and leave here?
You are deceiving the teacher and disgracing the ancestors.
You deserve to be beaten to death
if you deceive the teacher.
You…
You are pregnant?
Get abortion!
Leader.
Kill me first if you are going to kill her.
What do I kill her for?
I ask her to get an abortion.
No way!
Getting an abortion
is for her own good.
You don’t get it!
Liu Yuehong,
what do you think?
Leader.
I don't…
I do not want…
I do not want to do that.
What do you want to say?
You want to be a concubine?
With all the intrigue inside the mansion,
how could you live a good life?
Leader.
Please be kind,
and let her get married.
Shut up!
You are not in the position to talk!
Liu Yuehong!
-Leader! -Leader!
You’re now saying she hooked up with a man.
What are you doing?
Why not pity her
when you were bullying her?
If the theater is a good place to stay,
how could she
be duped by the man outside?
Well,
leader,
he means
it’s us that forced her to
look for a man.
She didn’t learn the operas well,
but she is quite good at
hooking up with men.
What are you doing, La Yuehong?
-Let me tell you! -What are you doing?
She is definitely going to get married!
If you keep bullying her
and making her suffer,
I…
-What are you doing? -What are you doing?
Screw you!
Leader!
Why do you hit me?
Hit me? Hit me? Hit me?
My father hit me, and my brother hit me.
How dare you hit me?
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!
Enough!
Stop! Stop!
Enough, leader!
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!
Leader!
Okay! Stop!
Just let me get married!
I’ll take
all the consequences.
You take all the consequences?
How old are you?
After giving birth to the child,
without support,
how can you take all the consequences?
Did Xue Qianshan
give you
gold and silver?
Or a status?
At the time when he kick you out,
don’t come back to ask me for help.
Shuiyun Theater does not take in incapable person.
I don’t care for staying here.
Shuiyun Theater can’t protect itself.
She has a good place to go.
That is her fate.
Why are you forcing her
to stay here to suffer?
Do you all think so?
Xiao Lai,
bring me the life-long contract.
Bring me
the life-long contract.
Liu Yuehong.
Nine years ago,
your uncle
sold you to Shuiyun Theater
and took thirty dollars in cash.
It was settled that
you will learn skills and
commit to this place for ten years.
If you default on the terms,
you have to compensate for ten times.
As of today,
everyday counted,
it is less than two years
since you started singing opera on the stage.
Leader.
I will pay
the money.
I will pay.
Leader.
I will pay the money back.
Is it hers?
Yes.
From now on,
you
are no longer a member of Shuiyun Theater.
Once you get out,
don't tell anyone
that you learnt opera
from me.
Who else of you
wants to go?
I will let you go,
without charging money.
But only for
today.
Who else?
No.
Good.
Since you guys have attachment
with Shuiyun Theater,
I will never disappoint you.
During the reign of Emperor Qianlong,
Shuiyun Theater entered Beijing.
Actors have been performed on the street for a living,
and played for the Emperor and Empress Dowager.
After five generations,
I will never let it collapse in my hands.
Instead,
I will make it prosper!
I assure you,
it won’t take long
before I make you
rich!
Recently,
rumors had it in Beiping that
I offended Commander Cao
and Commander Cao is going to shoot me.
And we have no place to sing opera
and no way to make money.
Singing opera is
for
making a name
and a fortune.
At this point,
I don't blame you
for looking for other ways of living.
Leader.
We all know that it’s all nonsense.
Rumors will disappear
after a while.
Wait a while?
How long can we hold out?
So I decided
to build
our own theater.
Build a theater?
We have no land and no money.
How to build that?
I have already selected the plot.
At Bodhi Court overpass.
And I have
money.
♫ Let it be ♫
♫ Master Hai ♫
Dad,
is this bottle ours?
Why haven't I seen it before?
Just got it in the morning.
What do you think
the matter I just told you?
Shang Xirui took Cheng Fengtai
to the overpass.
What’s he up to?
Just a waste of effort no matter what he’s up to.
But Cheng Fengtai
is a rich man.
Tell me.
Who is Cheng Fengtai?
He is a businessman.
How could a sophisticated man like Cheng Fengtai
get himself entangled in such a mess
as Shuiyun Theater?
Well,
dad,
how could you even know
they are losing money?
Someone from Shuiyun Theater
sold this porcelain bottle
to me.
If Cheng Fengtai is really going to help them out,
how could they sell such a good thing?
Wait and see.
Shuiyun Theater is in trouble.
I, unfilial descendant Shang Xirui,
need money right now.
So I have to take out the ancestral heritage.
Ancestors of the Shang family,
please bless me.
Dasheng,
lift out the box.
Savings of leaders of Shuiyun Theater for generations
are all here.
I arrived one step ahead to Beiping
just to hide it.
In order to guard it,
I didn’t move when the landlord increased the rent.
My dad
put more stuff in it in his life.
Now I
have to take it out.
Wait!
Brother,
these stuff
are the savings of the old leader.
Isn't it a sin to move it?
No matter how hard it is, we can overcome.
We can't do such thing
to the old leader.
-Right. -Right.
Before my dad died, he said
that I can open the box
if I can't live on.
If not now,
when?
No, brother.
Get out the way!
Stop him!
Where are you going?
Come back!
We are taught by the same teacher.
Don’t do this.
Where is the stuff?
Some
were sold
and some were given away.
Where is the money?
I used it up in
eating, drinking, gambling and prostitution.
Anyway, it’s all spent.
Great,
you are a quick spender.
Leader.
Don't talk to him.
According to family rule,
give him eighty sticks of beat.
Come on!
Hit me!
Why don’t you beat me to death?
So I can go to meet the old leader in hell,
and tell him that
his son killed his fellow brother
for a few pennies.
Beating you to death is slacking you off.
What do you mean?
Report it to the officer and
throw him in jail for several years.
Make him suffer and
teach him some lessons.
According to the rules of operatic circle,
internal matters in Shuiyun Theater
should not be reported to the officer.
Indeed.
This is easy.
Bring me the life-long contract.
Which one is his?
This one.
Is this his name?
Yes.
Okay.
He is not a member of Shuiyun Theater now.
Take him away.
Leader, wait!
Don’t do this!
Brother!
No,
leader, leader!
I’m wrong.
You can't report me to the officer and
put me in jail.
I will not do this again.
It’s not just me.
Them!
Jin Quan’er, Zhang Chaohe, Xiao Shen’er
are all involved.
They took it, too.
Gao Yunfu, don't talk nonsense!
Gao Yunfu,
don't wrong good people!
You are slurring!
Leader,
he insults us.
We are wronged!
What's wrong?
We spent the money together.
I…
Shuiyun Theater is really a den of thieves.
Dasheng,
take them all to the police station.
Leader!
-Don't move! -I am wrong.
I'm really wrong.
Leader!
Please show some mercy!
Forgive me!
I’ll never
do this again!
We grew up together.
Forgive me!
I will turn over a new leaf.
-Leader! -I will turn over a new leaf.
Brothers,
don't cry.
This is good.
After we get to the police station,
we’ll just be in jail for a few years.
Use these years to change our freedom for life.
Don’t you think it’s worthwhile?
It is.
Guys,
do you see?
If you want to be free in the future,
you know what to do.
You can keep ruining the Shuiyun Theater.
He dares not kill anyone.
You would rather go to jail
than stay in Shuiyun Theater.
Yes!
If it weren't for the life-long contract in your hand,
I would have changed my career and made a fortune.
I want to leave but I can’t.
You are holding me back from living a good life.
Who am I going to steal from except you?
You owe me.
You deserve it!
Dasheng.
What are you doing?
Send them to the police station!
No need to listen to him.
Leader!
Forgive me!
Leader!
Let's go.
Please forgive me!
I will do my best!
Leader!
Don’t get angry with him. We…
I'm tired and want to sleep.
It's all your fault, bitch.
-Would you cut it out? -What are you doing?
We didn't steal.
La Yuehong,
accompany me back to the house to pack things up.
♫ Pshaw ♫
♫ Mr. Gao ♫
♫ Who will spend the night with you ♫
♫ Lady, don’t be annoyed ♫
♫ This liquor is brewed by the officials overnight ♫
♫ Thus it’s named “Overnight Liquor” ♫
♫ Well ♫
♫ Pass me ♫
♫ Yes, Your Ladyship ♫
♫ Overnight Liquor ♫
Madam,
are you looking for me?
Fengtai sang
and hummed
when he came home today.
He is not a man loves operas.
I keep wondering
what did he do last night?
He
played cards at Mr. Huang's.
Maybe they
called the troupe to liven things up.
Last time I asked you,
you also said they played cards.
Are you afraid that I’ll quarrel with Fengtai
and you’ll catch up in the middle?
Madam,
Mr. Cheng didn't play cards yesterday.
After coming out of the freight agency,
he went to the theater.
Then?
Then…
Then he went for a cup of coffee
and
rested in the theater.
Which theater?
Shuiyun Theater.
All right.
OK.
You can leave.
Madam,
these actresses are all vulgar.
Mr. Cheng is just looking for some new faces.
He won't take it seriously.
You don't need to be angry.
Dad,
I am so tired.
I don't want to worry about it anymore.
No way.
You are a member of Shang family.
The troupe
and the theater stage
are burdens
on your shoulder.
Dad,
I'm cold and tired.
I can't hang on.
Keep going.
Hang on there.
How to become the protagonist
if you don’t persevere.
I can't do it.
If you keep forcing me,
I'm going to drown myself in the river.
Don’t seek death.
That is throwing in the towel.
Death, death.
Doing it again?
I will beat you to death!
Kid,
you listen to me.
Tell me,
do you want
to be free
without people hitting you again?
No one will care about you anymore.
Fine.
Then we have to
work our butts off.
Let me tell you,
in this world,
as long as you are
a little better than others,
they will be jealous of you,
put you in danger,
ruin your life,
drag you down desperately, and
break you.
But
if you are better than others
by a large margin,
no one can catch up with you.
Guess what?
They will respect you,
afraid of you,
love you,
and treat you like a venerable master.
So from now on,
no matter what obstacles you are running into,
you have to tell yourself
confidently
that you can carry on.
Once you tide it over,
and when you look back,
these are all trivial matters.
From now on,
you will be free
and be the king.
Let me ask you again,
do you want to throw in the towel?
You should be content that Shuiyun Theater didn’t let you pay penalty.
How dare you steal?
And also,
this new coat you are wearing
was paid by the Leader for the actors of Shuiyun Theater
during the Spring Festival last year.
You are no longer a member of Shuiyun Theater.
Why do you still have the face to wear it?
You won’t let her wear coat in such a cold day?
Do you want to freeze her to death?
She asks for it.
Let her borne the consequences.
Sister,
you are pregnant.
Don't get cold.
Let's go.
Sister,
this is my monthly pay.
Go out and get a rickshaw.
If the Xue family gives you a hard time,
don't do anything stupid.
I will support you with my earnings.
Good brother.
Your friendship
is kept in my heart.
Leader.
I know
that if you hadn’t asked for a favor from the old leader,
I wouldn't have had enough to eat.
I know
it's for my own good that you won't let me go.
But the mother and child are connected, leader.
I can't bear being apart from my child.
No matter how good
Shuiyun Theater is,
it is not my home after all.
Thanks for your care all these years.
I’m really grateful for
your kindness.
I’ll repay your kindness in the future.
Why don't you follow her?
Why come back?
Who are you showing your sad face to?
Ever since sister finished her apprenticeship,
have you treated her nicely?
Isn’t it because she looks better than you
and sings better than you?
Bah!
Do you think she…
Enough! Enough!
Just spare your words.
Leader!
What are you doing?
Why are you here?
Get up.
What happened?
Stand up.
What did you say?
Everything is gone. Everything is gone.
- Everything is gone. -What are you talking about?
What is going on?
-Get up. - What is going on?
Leader!
Leader, don't scare us.
If you feel bad, you can cry out.
Don't hold back.
That's right, leader.
What to do?
Oh, no!
He’s not normal.
I'm afraid it will be worse.
Don’t you think he looks
like the one in the Pingyang Tower…
Stop talking.
It’s scary.
Everything is gone.
Leader!
It’s OK.
This is no big deal.
We can tighten our belts.
There will always be a solution for a few days.
That's right.
Leader, leader, leader!
Come out!
Too tight!
It’s okay.
Why hasn’t Fan Lian
come yet?
He’s just a fake foreigner building a mansion.
Look at you.
Don't call him that in front of him.
He is an engineer.
Isn't the road on the east difficult to walk now?
Do you remember what I told you
that there is a place called Cave Liuxian.
Big stones always fall down from above.
Ordinary people dare not go there.
I
just want to invite Dr. Xin
to help me strengthen Cave Liuxian.
After getting it done,
I can take a shortcut from there.
You’re resourceful.
But it's fine.
Building bridges and roads is to accumulate virtues.
Chun Xing,
ask the cook to do it carefully today
The foreigner will come.
Don't put chili
and garlic.
Yes.
Go.
I didn’t see you so happy when Commander Cao was here.
That's different.
Commander Cao is live-in brother-in-law.
This one is
I invited back from Germany
by wading through mountains and rivers.
Commander Cao would slap you
if he hears you.
Why don't you get changed?
Have dinner with me tonight.
Tell your sister to go with you.
If I go,
I don't know what to say
to those foreigners.
It’ll be awkward.
Say what sister said.
Times are different now.
It's normal to help husband entertain
as a wife.
You don’t need me to entertain for you.
You’re capable of everything.
From the Command House
to the bandit den,
I don't know how many women like you
outside.
Including the actresses
and ladies.
That is nonsense!
You slept in the theater all night.
Your shirt sleeves are stained with oil.
Why deny?
I have been either at freight agency
or Cave Liuxian.
I am so busy every day.
How can I have time for such things?
Let me tell you,
just rest assured.
Don't be paranoid.
Got it?
They're almost here.
I'll meet them.
You are always being playful.
[Cheng’s Mansion]
What a palace!
Go.
Here they are.
Hurry up, hurry up.
It takes so long.
Leader.
Are you hungry? Leader.
I bought meat.
Come out and get a bite.
Is it ok? Leader?