[English subtitles are available.]
Winter Begonia
Episode 34
[Shanghai Lanxin Theater. Shang Xirui. A Performance Tonight. Welcome!]
Excuse me.
People. People there.
Sir, are you all right?
Why did you walk backward?
Shang.
Shang is here.
Du.
Hurry up.
Du.
Shang is here.
What do you want?
Sorry.
We have seen before.
Really?
Yes.
He said you’ve met before.
Great. Mr. Shang.
A foreign reporter wants to interview you.
Xirui.
You are late.
Luocheng.
We’ve been waiting you.
Mr. Cheng.
You really drove slowly.
Xirui.
You don't remember the old friend?
Introduce yourself.
Mr. Shang.
Hello.
I’m Xue Zhicheng.
So you can speak Chinese?
Xue Zhicheng?
You forget me?
We, we’ve met in Yenching University.
I performed Madama Butterfly for you.
It’s you!
It's been a long time.
You’ve changed a lot.
We haven’t seen for over two years, right?
Three years.
I hosted you two the meal.
You spoke Chinese and he spoke English.
You really had a good conversation.
He was collecting specimens of insects
in China at that time.
The bugs and moths
made you very sick.
And you took revenge
by treating him fermented soya-bean milk or sort of,
which made him very sick, too.
It’s kind of Mr. Shang.
What’s wrong with it? It was my treat.
How could it be an act of revenge?
I really like fermented soya-bean milk.
You like it?
Here is the thing.
Luocheng once said to me
that you are his muse.
You gave him ideas and desire to create his works.
So, last time,
I went to Peking for you.
After seeing you,
I believed
Luocheng was not really bragging.
So, after that,
I learned Chinese
with the special intention
of seeing you again
to tell you that.
Muse?
What’s it?
The ancestor of the foreign actors.
You are flattering me.
Thank you.
How did you meet today?
Last time, Luocheng went to the Expo in Japan,
and I was one of the officials.
So I knew you will be in Shanghai,
and I volunteered to come for you.
Oh my God.
It’s late.
-I will meet you at the backstage. -Mr. Shang.
You were a bit excited just now.
Come on. Take a photo for me.
♫ Su San left Hongdong County ♫
♫ I come to the street ♫
♫ I feel hard without speaking a word ♫
♫ Those passing by please listen to me ♫
♫ Who will go to Nanking ♫
♫ Please bring a message to my Sanlang ♫
♫ And tell him Su San will die ♫
♫ I will repay in the next life ♫
♫ Ah Su San ♫
♫ Why do you stop and kneel here ♫
♫ Praying to the heaven or for money ♫
♫ Neither of those ♫
♫ Then why are you kneeling here ♫
♫ Please help me to ask ♫
♫ Anybody go to Nanking ♫
[Lanxin Theater]
Mr. Shang.
I remember you have said,
the performance should be real.
Wearing real things, one can
concentrate on his performance more easily.
This is a real butterfly
I caught in the American Continent.
Please accept it.
The butterfly
is kind of kingfisher.
Thank you.
Mr. Shang.
I feel
some basic movements in Noh
are similar to some basic postures
in ballet in the West.
Both are normalized.
But the Peking operas
are of free style.
So, you can make innovations
on the old operas at will.
Am I right?
Enough, Xue Zhicheng.
Let’s move to a new place.
Xirui is tired.
Xirui, are you hungry?
Make ready
for some delicious food.
Come on.
Stop bothering Xirui.
-I haven’t finished. -Come on.
Say goodbye.
Bye, Mr. Shang.
Mr. Cheng.
Have a meal together?
No, I don’t.
The top swordsman will accompany you.
The expert
just showed off his skills, didn’t he?
Interesting.
It’s wonderful.
Even the Japanese loves Peking operas.
You are the excellent one.
The fingers
are totally wrong.
They’re just curious about the new stuff.
They have to be reborn
if they want to understand the operas.
Yours looks much better.
Claws.
I just think mine is
like a chicken claw.
Thank you.
Xirui, here we are.
Here it is.
Japanese cuisine?
Sashimi?
Cold rice and vegetable rolls?
The noodles are not as good as that with soybean paste.
Since he invited you,
let’s be gentle.
If the food doesn’t satisfy you,
later,
I will treat you another meal.
-Come on. Don’t be affectedly unconventional. -No, I don’t.
Well,
Xue Zhicheng said to treat us with the meal,
but he still hasn’t appeared.
Where is he?
You’ll see later.
Here it is.
It begins.
Is this the Kabuki?
I saw it on the pictorials.
This performance
is Fairy in the Heaven.
It’s about a fairy.
In order to pray for rain,
she has to seduce an eminent monk.
Look.
How do you like the performance?
It’s not as good as I thought.
You are quite proud.
I’m telling the truth.
Mr. Shang.
Thank you for watching.
Xue Zhicheng?
When I was on the stage,
what were you talking about?
Xue Zhicheng, we…
We were saying
the Japanese performances
are too stiff.
It’s too hard for the actors
because they can’t perform well
even they try every effort.
It’s mainly because
of the bad mold.
It’s,
you are like this
It’s raw
and boring
without artistic conception.
Boring.
So, according to what you said,
if you were born in Japan
and became an actor,
in case the mold is not good,
you can’t be a famous star, right?
I’m not the same.
I’m Mr. Shang.
What’s the difference for Mr. Shang?
Let me take a look.
You have a horn?
Or you have a tail?
You don’t believe me?
I will let you see it.
Mr. Shang.
You mean you will have a performance?
Here?
I can’t sing
what you just sang.
But I can show you some gestures.
What’s the role called?
Berry in the heaven?
Fairy in the Heaven.
That’s it.
Can I borrow your costume?
OK.
Please change it now.
Little baby.
You are so lovely.
Little baby.
Let me.
No. I can do that.
-It’s fine. I will do it. -This is my daughter.
-I will do it. I will hold her myself. -Mr. Fan.
It’s been late. Why don’t you go back?
Zhao was called back by my sister.
I can’t leave such an adorable baby
to you
who haven’t raised a baby.
I feel worried.
I will look after her myself.
Am I right?
If you really love her,
you wouldn’t leave her to Mr. Cheng.
I wasn’t ready at that time.
And at that moment,
you didn’t look good,
right?
Look at her, she is fair and soft,
and looks like me so much.
Right, baby?
How can I don’t like you?
Yeah. Yeah.
You are her dad.
You make sense.
Stop. Don’t.
Why is it wet?
-Wet? -She peed. You…
-Peed? -Peed. Peed.
My clothes. Hey you…
My baby.
How could you pee like this?
I will change your nappy.
Let’s go.
I will change it.
Hurry.
So,
she is really Fan Lian’s child?
Mrs. Cheng.
I heard it very clearly.
The actors in Shuiyun Theater said so.
Mr. Fan also asked Fengyi to call him dad
in front of everyone.
He came to see the child for three times a day.
If she is not his baby,
he wouldn’t pay so much attention.
Well.
It’s late.
Bring the clothes to the baby.
Mrs. Cheng.
Nobody knows your kindly feelings.
She’s a child of my family.
What should I do?
If she is raised in the theater by the actors,
nobody knows what will happen.
Here you are.
This way, please.
Look at this.
Funny, right?
Mrs. Cheng. Mr. Cheng is back.
Son.
Call him dad.
It’s me.
You haven’t seen me for a long time,
so you don’t know me now?
-Let me play with the trains with you? -Call him dad.
Play with him, OK?
It hits your foot.
Why are you back?
It’s better outside.
Beautiful women and children are outside.
You also have singers for funny.
It’s been a long time.
Are you still mad with me?
What do you want?
Let go of me.
What?
Let me go.
Hey. Stop.
Thank you for finding out my mom.
After I know she’s safe and sound,
I can feel easy now.
About the kid,
I’m now figuring it out.
Her history is doubtful
and you don’t feel very well.
So I will raise her outside.
When you trust it,
I will take her back.
But I will never leave
my home from now on.
You can hit me or scold me,
but you can’t drive me off.
I drove you off?
Did I?
I’ve seen Fengyi.
She looks like Fan Lian.
You were really wronged.
Don’t take it to heart.
I dare not hold a grudge against you.
I dare not.
Thank you for being perceptive of the slightest.
Since she’s a child of the Fan family,
and Fan Lian doesn’t raise her,
I will raise her as her aunt.
Take her back.
It’s late.
I’m afraid
it won’t be that easy now.
I finally get back.
Mr. Fan. Mr. Fan.
Leader is not back.
We can talk about it after leader is back.
What’s wrong? She’s my child.
Mr. Fan. Leave the child.
What are you doing?
You can’t take him away.
Leader. Leader.
Finally you are back.
Mr. Fan will take Fengyi away.
Yes. Yes.
Get out of the way.
What are you doing?
OK.
I see.
It’s my fault.
I’ll leave the child here.
Here.
-Don’t cry. -Be good.
I will see you tomorrow, OK?
I will come tomorrow.
Don’t come again.
I will come tomorrow.
No. You bastard.
What are you doing?
Don’t run.
Hey. No. Mr. Shang.
-What are you doing? -Stop him.
Don’t run.
Please. Tell me what is wrong.
That’s for Zeng Aiyu.
Zeng Aiyu?
Hey, how did you know her?
I know everything. Don’t run.
-Leader. Leader. -Stop beating me.
What’s going on?
Leader. Leader.
Later, if I am not here
and Fan Lian dares to come for the child,
beat him out.
The one who beats him to death will be rewarded.
Leader. Leader.
Leader hates child very much, right?
Yes.
Why does he change
after getting from Shanghai?
What’s wrong with you?
Can you drive or not?
Fengtai.
The actor beat me.
You should criticize him.
Please criticize him for me.
Hitting others is not surprising for him.
Why did he hit you?
I don’t know.
He has been out for a long time.
So I come here to play with Fengyi.
I mean raising her.
I didn’t expect
he hit me with that thick stick.
He said it’s for Zeng Aiyu.
Does he know Zeng Aiyu?
It’s none of his business, right?
No. He can hit you indeed.
Hey. Fengtai.
Why did you say that?
Fengyi fell asleep already.
Are you driving off by Mrs. Cheng again?
Or?
She is kind to me
and doesn’t blame me.
I’m here for some articles.
You can leave now.
Fengyi stays here.
You were not willing to see her before.
But now you are not willing to let her go.
You love kids all of a sudden?
She is not just a child,
but the sentiments Aiyu left for me.
You said you didn’t care about blood relation.
I was kidding.
After seeing my sister,
I found
that kind of affection exists in the world.
She didn’t care whether I was famous or not,
and whether I am rich or not.
she was just ready to risk everything for me.
Did she do that for you?
She was for Lin Danqiu.
She was for her brother.
I am her brother.
After that,
my life in Peking has been peaceful.
But I gradually feel subtle changes
behind the peace.
My business gets better.
[Resistance to Japanese! People are armed for anti-Japanese! Defend the Country and Anti- Japanese!]
The situation becomes messier.
Mr. Shang has been performing as before.
No.
He becomes more popular.
I thought
life would continue like that.
[July 7th Incident! Peking is occupied!]
Next.
Pass.
Go.
Head. Raise your head.
Follow.
Be slow.
Stand still.
Be slow.
Who’s that? So annoying.
Let’s take a look.
Take a look.
Come on.
Keep practicing.
Mr. Cheng.
Here you come.
Mr. Cheng is here.
Why are you in a daze?
Move the things.
What? What things?
What are these?
-Are these all for Shuiyun Theater? -There are so many of them.
You don’t want them?
We want them.
-Mr. Ge. Cover them. -We want them of course.
I will take them to the disaster victims.
Please don’t, Mr. Cheng.
Hurry. Move them in.
Hurry. Give a hand.
Here. Take it.
Be slow.
Be careful.
Move slowly.
Be slow.
It’s all right.
Nobody will scramble them. They are all yours.
Don’t be haste.
It’s in a mess.
-The price in Peking has raised a lot. -Take it.
It’s difficult to get wheat flour.
Luckily, Mr. Cheng helps us so much.
Be slow.
Anybody can be starved but not Mr. Shang.
He can get out and eat a man.
Right?
Yes.
You are right all the time.
Steamed stuffed bun.
How’s it?
Enjoy it.
Mr. Cheng is here.
Come on.
Come. Give it to me.
Mr. Cheng. Please take a seat.
I will take a bowl of soya-bean milk for you.
OK. Thank you.
Xiao Lai is polite recently.
Of course,
I’m providing you rice and noodles.
Seeing me is like seeing the granary.
She surely is.
You are having red-cooked pork in the morning?
Isn’t it greasy?
Are you eager for meat so much?
Have it yourself.
The Japanese are coming into town.
It’s in a mess outside.
Don’t go out if you don’t need to.
If the theater is in recession,
you can close it.
We can open it later.
I’ve told Mr. Ma
if you don’t have any income,
the expenses are from the freight company.
I tried every way to persuade Mrs. Cheng
not to take the child away from you for months.
Why are you still giving me the cold shoulder?
I’m resting my voice.
Since you are resting your voice,
you should talk nicely.
But why did you hit me?
It’s because you banged the table.
Mr. Shang.
You are now a respectable star.
So you have to be sensible
without getting physical,
you know?
Bring out the reasons if you are right.
Be reasonable when I’m right.
Get physical when I’m not.
It’s hard to make myself clear.
Mr. Cheng.
Here you are.
Hot soya-bean milk.
Thank you.
Dad.
Since the Japanese came to Peking,
it's been hard for business in every industry.
The day before yesterday,
Sansheng Theater couldn’t hold it any more
and returned home.
And the Ye's Troupe as well as Yuling Theater
are also ready to quit.
I am thinking
when we should leave.
If you are planning to do this,
we should make it ready as soon as possible.
Otherwise…
-Otherwise… -What?
Spring Theater is located in Peking.
Where do you want to go?
But, dad…
Sir,
the Japanese are at the gate.
Leader. Leader.
What’s wrong?
Mr. Cheng. Leader.
What’s going on?
Get out of the way.
Leader. Leader.
What should we do? Let’s take a look.
Leader. Leader.
Keep quiet. Stay still.
[Sakata Inge]
Nice to meet you.
Sorry.
Excuse me. I am
Sakata Inge.
Is this Mr. Cheng Fengtai?
I’m very pleased to meet you.
You know me?
Of course.
You are Commander Cao’s relative.
So you are a friend of our Japan Empire.
What do you mean?
I’ve said it frankly.
Mr. Cheng is smart.
You should understand if you think about it.
What are you doing here?
[Set up the Opera Society]
We are inviting Mr. Shang…
I’m illiterate.
We’ll set up an Opera Society for
exchanging the opera culture of China and Japan.
Society?
We already have the Opera Association.
The Chairman is Jiang Rongshou.
That belongs to you Chinese.
It’s behind the times.
For the new society,
the chairman will be appointed by us.
Who would you like to pick up?
In Peking,
the experienced and prestigious actors
are Jiang Rongshou
and Ning Jiulang.
He won’t accept.
He has no choice.
[Ning Jiulang is appointed to be the chairman.]
What should we do?
I know it will happen one day.
But I didn’t expect it’s been so quick.
Duke.
Please say something.
Will we really let Mr. Ning
be the chairman of the opera society?
We can’t escape.
It’s useless to worry.
Only if it’s not publicized,
we can still find a way.
Duke.
Am I right?
I’m going to meet their officials
to turn down.
I’m the emperor’s uncle.
The emperor was close to me when he was a child.
The Japanese
needs him to win the people’s support in the Northeast.
They may give me some respect.
Yes. It sounds reasonable.
Duke.
I will get the car ready for you.
Duke.
It’s easier said than done.
I don’t think the thing is so simple.
I have to go no matter how hard it is.
It’s OK if it works.
Don’t force if not.
Duke.
Please don’t use force.
[Japanese Command of Troops quartered in NC]
Is Mr. Kujyo back?
Yes.
Ask him to see me.
Yes.
Dad.
The Japanese
really plan to ask Ning Jiulang to be the chairman?
Will Mr. Ning agree?
Ning Jiulang looks gentle.
But he’s strong in his inner mind.
Except the master in the palace,
he always looks down upon the others.
Right.
He can rely on Duke Qi.
Maybe the Japanese dare not bother him.
Power
is not always more useful than moral integrity.
Then…
OK.
Let’s wait and see.
Duke.
Don’t worry too much.
We can still find a way for the thing of Ning Jiulang.
I will try my best to help you.
Thank you.
Duke.
Are you all right?
I’m fine.
What did they say?
We are back to your mansion?
To the palace.
I’m the descendant of Aisin Gioro,
benefiting a lot from the royal family.
But I can never pay back.
How can I be so ungrateful?
Time has changed.
Even the emperor has been out of the palace.
Duke, why are you accusing yourself?
During the years,
the emperor has sent me many letters
and said he didn’t have many courtiers.
So he asked me to help him in the Northeast.
But I didn’t agree
for ease and comfort.
Take it slow.
What do you want?
Just say it.
You are hurting me.
Meixin.
Have you contacted Wanjun recently?
Yes.
Why are you asking?
The Japanese said Wanjun is his friend.
Meixin.
Your husband Cao Wanjun is a Japanophile.
This is what you want to say?
So you know it?
I’ve been sleeping beside him for years.
Of course I know everything.
Why didn’t you tell me earlier?
What are you saying?
Liu Hanyun intends to incorporate the Cao Troops?
That old bastard!
In this time, he doesn’t defend against enemies
but fights against our own people.
Does he want to take over the military leadership?
Fine.
I’d like to see what he really has.
Report.
Come in.
What’s up?
The underground radio you asked us to watch
received a cryptographic telegram,
which is indecipherable.
[Telegram Decoding Dictionary]
[Special for Land Force. Copy to Cao]
[Cao Wanjun]
You little jerk
wouldn’t come to me for nothing.
You are giving me a rubdown?
That’s nonsense.
Don’t beat about the bush!
Liu Hanyun came to Peking to investigate
smuggling and colluding case,
but actually to incorporate the Cao Troops.
But you avoided him.
The leaders don’t meet each other.
What on earth do you want?
Dad,
Are you really going to betray?
Nonsense.
Let me tell you about China’s present situation.
In China,
corruption has been around for centuries.
In the present national government,
it’s the same.
But it is different in Japan.
The country is powerful now.
But our people,
everyone has an axe to grind.
The Japanese
has seized the Northeast China.
Once they take the expansion,
it won't benefit us.
Just on the other day,
the Japanese came to ask me to
work together with them.
I strongly disagree.
But I’m getting old,
not as fit as I use to be.
So,
I’ve been finding a way
to give you the Cao Troops’ military leadership.
If I do it apparently,
the Japanese will be suspicious of me.
Luckily,
Liu Hanyun just came to Peking.
So, let’s
collaborate.
I’ll find a way to get the situation of the Japanese.
And you go to
murder some japs
to take an oath
and make your resolution
to cooperate.
He’s a bastard.
However,
He’s strongly against Japanese.
If you can persuade him,
the Cao Troops’ military leadership
will naturally be yours.
You are in the clear place
and I’m in the dark.
If the government makes a difference,
I will be your plant.
If the government doesn’t make a difference,
then you find a way
to revolt.