Translation and Timing by the Joy of Life Team @ Viki.com
♫ Have you ever heard of ♫
♫ the snow mountain’s cliff ♫
♫ once left people with lingering enchantments ♫
♫ Legend has it ♫
♫ that there are treasures on it ♫
♫ But there is also an hidden abyss ♫
♫ The smart, foolish ♫
♫ and kind people ♫
♫ are all people you’re familiar with ♫
♫ On the mountain slope, on the cliff ♫
♫ on the cloud peak ♫
♫ on this secular world ♫
♫ Let the snowflakes swirl and flutter ♫
[Joy of Life]
[Episode 1]
I told you many times. No students.
Can you at least have a look at this?
I read the thesis paper you emailed me.
And I replied. I made it fairly clear.
I didn't agree with the modern view you adopted to examine the history of ancient literature. So stop wasting your time.
But this is not my paper.
This is the program for Tencent's Next Idea Science Fiction Contest.
They take submissions every week.
They take submissions every week, and every week they eliminate entries they don't like
until they find the winner.
Why are you telling me this?
You don't like the idea of an interplay between modern views and ancient literature,
because that's something whose validity can't be proven or disproven.
What if I do it a different way?
I already signed myself up. Science fiction.
It's a story where modern ideas are brought into a clash with ancient institutions.
The theme: "What if life gets a second chance?"
Why a "second chance in life?"
Everyone, at some point in their lives,
fantasizes about a do-over.
Life is full of regrets.
Cherish the now and here.
Embrace life. That's what my story is all about.
And you are having writer's block already?
Of course not.
I have already finished the first few chapters.
I still have to come up with the title, though.
[A Dream of Red Mansions] "Second edition, 1957. Published by People's Literature."
"Thanks to one small act of kindness."
"Fortunate that her mother has done some unnoticed good."
"Men should rescue the distressed and aid the poor."
"Be not like her heartless uncle or treacherous cousin, who for love of money
forget their own flesh and blood."
"A Little Act of Kindness," one of the 12 "Dream of Red Mansion" songs.
What a coincidence.
This song works perfectly for my story, too.
Ma'am, can I hook my computer up to that screen over there?
Go ahead.
[Joy of Life]
This is where the story begins.
A young man with serious myasthenia gravis wakes up (T/N: chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles.)
to find himself transformed into a newborn baby tucked away in a bamboo chest.
He remembers life in the 21st century,
but a bunch of warriors in medieval Chinese costumes are hunting him.
He is confused as a brave new world unfolds itself in front of him.
[Wu Zhu: Servant of Fan Xian's Late Mother]
[Chen Pingping, Chief of Southern Qing Inspection and Control Bureau]
Where is the girl?
By the time I returned it was already too late.
The entire city was killing her.
Is that her baby?
- Yes. - Alive?
- Alive. - Let me see.
Where are you taking him?
Somewhere safe.
Now that I'm back,
nowhere is safer than the empire's capital.
When the girl was killed, why were you
and your black cavalry not in the capital?
I followed orders.
You mean someone is...
behind this?
I don't trust
anyone in this city.
So, you will just take him away like this?
What can you teach him?
Wu Zhu, you are one of the best warriors in the world. All you know is how to kill.
And you are no different.
Stop!
There is a place that is right for him.
Where?
Danzhou. You know...
the old lady who lives there.
I remember living in 21st century China.
Yet here I am, a little baby again.
Life has given me a second chance to start over without a deadly disease.
I will be sure to make the most out of it.
[Fan's Residence]
My name in this timeline?
It's Fan Xian. And I know what you are thinking.
This name is really annoying.
You didn't know?
Please, stop!
Stop hitting!
My Lady!
Here you are, finally!
They are both handmaids in my house.
Have you been flogging them?
Young Master, you can get away with some of your little adventures. That's fine.
But you shouldn't have
taken Her Ladyship with you.
If something happens to her,
that is too huge a responsibility for you to carry around.
I asked if you have been flogging the girls.
They didn't know where you went.
That's right. They didn't.
Then they deserve punishment.
Isn't that right?
They are my handmaids. Shouldn't it be me who disciplines them?
The senior lady made me the house manager.
It is my job
to whip the servants into line.
You don't know!
- You don't know! - Please, no!
I'll just stay on them for you.
No! Please!
You... What are you...
Come over a bit.
Come over a bit more.
Straighten your head.
You won't admit your defeat?
The beating is fine. It's absolutely all right.
Serve the dishes.
Serve the dishes!
Who hit you?
Old Madam, it was Young Master who taught me a lesson.
It was you who hit him?
Grandmother, did you eat yet?
I'm asking you.
I was the one who hit him.
Mr. Zhou beat brother's handmaids first.
Enough.
House Manager Zhou.
Old Madam.
The girls in Fan Xian's house,
change them.
Yes, Ma'am. I'll find some girls who know how to do their jobs.
Not necessary, Grandma.
I don't need anyone from now on.
Then just let them go.
Yes, Ma'am. I'll make sure it's done.
The carriage is at the doorway.
Ruoruo will be on her way back to the capital after you finish your meal.
- What about my brother? - He stays in Danzhou.
Go.
Don't be sad, young Fan Xian.
Ruoruo is a lady. She is meant to go back to the capital, sooner or later.
You, on the other hand, don't have a legitimate position in the house.
You two are from two different worlds.
By the way, I let go of your handmaids.
It is a big house and you will be all alone in it at night.
Just watch your back. Let's hope it's not haunted.
Is it an incisor you are missing?
No, a molar.
- Then, why are you talking funny? - Funny? How?
It sounds like someone is f... You know.
You are Fan Xian?
You finally came!
You know who I am?
You are my dad.
I...
- I'm not. - Yes, you are.
She set those up for you.
What is this?
Bamboo tea.
Who did it?
My mom.
Nonsense.
Your mom died the day you were born.
She is here, always has been.
Where is she?
There.
Dead?
We are closed. Come back tomorrow.
Someone is trying to kill me.
Do you need me to call the prefects? (T/N: were controlled by the magistrates; like the police in modern day)
You have to help me.
Uncle Wu Zhu, open up!
I killed someone.
He is alive.
He is waking up.
His name is Fei Jie.
He is an agent of the Department of Inspection.
He is a friend.
Why didn't you say anything when I smashed his face in?
You didn't ask.
Now, what do we do? I hit him three times.
Does he like to hold grudges?
For someone who is with us, he looks kind of disgusting.
You woke up.
What happened to me?
You dozed off.
Actually, someone knocked you out.
Was it you?
No.
Then, who did it?
He did.
Mr. Wu?
Mr. Wu, last time we talked, we were in the capital. You look well.
I thought of you all the time.
Why are you here?
Lord Fan and the department chief sent me to be his mentor.
My dad sent you?
Lord Fan is too busy to come himself.
But he thinks of you all the time.
I tend to act weird.
So Mr. Wu hit me in the head.
It wasn't me.
He did.
And he didn't just hit you once, he did it three times.
Ma'am, Lord Fan wrote this for you.
What happened to your head?
I was attacked on the trip.
Did they catch the assailant?
Don't worry.
We caught him.
Good.
You said my son sent you
all the way to Danzhou
to be the boy's mentor?
Yes.
What do you plan to teach him?
I happen to know a thing or two about the art of governance and the art of war.
What would you suggest that I teach him?
I'll leave that to you.
It is up to him what he can learn
from you and how much.
Where is the kitchen?
It's past meal time.
But I'm hungry. Just tell me where the kitchen is. I need to find something to eat.
You'll find nothing.
Just tell me where it is.
It's over there.
Mr. Fei, can I have a word?
Mr. Fei, how do you plan to teach the boy?
I'm open to advice.
You heard Her Ladyship.
- Yes. - You ought to have some idea
what to teach him and what not to.
Maybe I could just teach him how to read and nothing else?
- That's cheap of you. - What about medicine?
Medicine?
When he is kicked out of this house,
he can practice medicine for a living.
I'll let you decide.
Your dad married again,
and they have a son.
I know.
How dare you not salute me?
Don't think for a second you can sneak by
when I'm not looking your way.
Well, no way!
Shall I kill him? Just a thought.
I'll make sure it looks like a natural death.
He is mean, but does he deserve to die?
Well, let me know when you change your mind.
Listen.
I will go to my room to get some rest after I finish my porridge.
You got me hard.
We will have your first lesson after my nap.
What lesson?
- Medicine. - Medicine?
This is a badly neglected cemetery.
I can tell.
Pick one.
Start digging.
Done.
- Open it. - All right.
Why didn't you ask me why?
Why what?
Why am I telling you to dig up a dead body?
We need to study human anatomy.
A dead body seems to be
a reasonable first lesson.
Open it.
It's fresh enough.
Cut it open. Let's see how this one died.
Cut it.
Are you scared?
There are germs all over it. Don't we need protection?
What are germs?
Well, it's unsanitary. Can we at least wear some gloves?
An autopsy is delicate work.
Gloves are clumsy.
They will slow you down.
I'm not talking about the gloves you wear in the winter.
Surgical gloves are thin.
They are tight.
I've never heard of them.
Just wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
Uncle Wu is good?
As good as the Four Great Masters.
He doesn't do a lot of kungfu, though, and not a lot of people have heard of him.
Otherwise, there would be Five Great Masters.
What was my mom's relationship with Uncle Wu?
Mr. Wu was her servant.
So my mom was even better than him?
Your mom was the best in the world.
How did she die?
- I can't tell you that. - Just tell me something.
You talk too much.
Are you tired?
If it gets to be too much, even for you...
Come on. I'm just a boy.
Uncle Wu, I spent the whole night cutting open bodies
and this is what you cook for me?
Yes.
You got any condiments?
No.
Did my mom teach you how to make this?
What do you want to say?
What was my mom like?
Her name was Ye Qingmei.
And?
That's all I remember.
You gave me this secret book on Qi.
Remember?
Your mom left it for you.
I'm having trouble with it.
It's very hard to control. Unruly.
Uncle Wu, does this book have a title?
Yes.
What is it?
"The Unruly Qi."
Why do I have the feeling you just made that up?
If I can't get it under control, it might hurt me.
How exactly should I control my qi after all?
I don't know. I never learned it.
But my mentor said you are awesome.
I'm okay.
Did my mom die because you made her mad?
I don't remember.
What should I do with my qi?
Eat the turnip. Then come with me.
Where are we going?
Channel your qi to your feet.
It will make you fast.
I never learned kungfu and I don't know how to use my qi.
So I came up with a way to help you practice.
- What is that? - I attack you.
- And? - You dodge.
Just like that?
You need to have good eyes.
You need to be fast and strong.
Just dodge.
Again.
[Fan Mansion]
That's okay.
Kids usually oversleep.
Think. What kind of poison is it?
When was it used? How?
You poisoned me when I bent down to pick up my chopsticks.
It's bitter.
So you put it in the bitter vegetables.
Remember what I taught you. Pick for yourself.
No.
This one?
- Take it if you think you found the right one. - But is it?
Take it and you will know.
What?
What is happening?
You picked the wrong one?
The other vials smelled wrong.
I told you to pick a vial.
I didn't say you would find the antidote in any one of them.
How can you...
Sir...
You are a bad person!
This will teach you about smashing my head in.
If you want to settle scores with me, try and poison me.
If you succeed, you will graduate.
I'm supposed to teach him today.
I'll teach him for today.
Uncle, I think I can never avoid you!
You need time.
Teacher said you are at the same level as the Four Great Masters.
- Just about. - You fought with them before?
- Yes. - Who won?
We tied.
Those are the four strongest people in the world!
You never learned martial arts, but you tied with them!
Fast enough, strong enough, that's enough.
How strong do you have to be to fight with them?
Uncle Wu?
Uncle, the cliff is in front of us.
You only need to be this strong.
Uncle!
Is he human... ?
Teacher, sit.
There's new poison in the tea. Give it a try.
The "red gut ripper" again?
There isn't any in the tea! How did you do it?
There's none on the surface, but there is inside.
Think about it yourself.
Got you!
What poison is it?
It's not poison. It's time. During this time,
you've been consuming top quality medicine.
Teacher, you haven't been poisoned.
You overdosed on the substance. It put your qi and your blood circulation into overdrive.
You're smart.
You found another way.
Do I get to graduate?
I graduated because I got you?
Yes.
I'm graduating!
Nothing good lasts forever.
Don't send me off.
During these years, the only person I truly relied on
was Uncle Wu.
He has no regrets.
There's one more now.
Don't forget that there's still a disobedient student in Danzhou.
Here.
The pass of the Department of Inspection.
The chief told me to give it to you.
Does the chief know me?
He is old friends with your mother.
I have something to give to you, too!
I made it with sheep liver!
In the future when you're looking at corpses or making poison, put it on!
Okay!
I like it!
If I had met you sooner,
I might have chosen another path,
married a woman, had a sneaky kid like you!
Teacher, I'll preside over your funeral in the future!
It's good that he left.
If he had stayed here,
he'll have attracted the attention of those in the capital.
I'll be in danger?
If the Red Soldiers
appear on the streets of Danzhou,
then the real danger
will be here.
What Red Soldiers?
Young Master Fan Xian, what are you doing?
I'm waiting for the Red Soldiers.
What Red Soldiers?
You don't get it.
[Fan Xian: illegitimate son of Southern Qing's Earl of Sinan, Fan Jian]
Young Master Fan Xian, you're still waiting for the Red Soldiers?
These people are here to take me to the capital?
Who told them to come?
Naturally, it was your father.
I already rejected them.
The capital isn't a good place.
Your mother died in the capital.
You'll live longer if you stay here.
But they're kneeling outside.
Let them kneel.
Once they kneel to death, clean up their bodies.
Translation and Timing by the Joy of Life Team @ Viki.com
♫ Life goes round and round ♫
♫ In the long river of time ♫
♫ Layers of memories, of many lives over ♫
♫ Get stacked up ♫
♫ In an intoxicating river of stars ♫
♫ Before you know it, spring is over and it's almost fall again ♫
♫ The swallows are gone to their wintering grounds ♫
♫ Who can give up the chance ♫
♫ To spend this life with you? ♫
♫ You have been walking around in your dream for so long ♫
♫ The flowers fall from the boughs quietly ♫
♫ Year in and year out, we are on the road ♫
♫ Counting the remaining days of the year ♫
♫ Even if we will never meet again ♫
♫ Even if the bond is broken ♫
♫ No complaints ♫
♫ It's a cold world and I still think of you as I did before ♫
♫ The moon is sleepless ♫
♫ Leave a warm heart ♫
♫ To look after the rest of the year ♫
♫ Even if I have to cross a thousand mountains ♫
♫ Through the fire of war ♫
♫ You are always there for me ♫
♫ The flowers leave the boughs, quietly ♫
♫ Year in and year out, we are on the road ♫
♫ Counting the remaining days of the year ♫
♫ Even if we will never meet again ♫
♫ Even if the bond is broken ♫
♫ No complaints ♫
♫ It's a cold world and I think of you as I did before ♫
♫ The moon is sleepless ♫
♫ Leave a warm heart ♫
♫ To look after the rest of the year ♫
♫ Even if I have to cross a thousand mountains and through the fire of war ♫
♫ You are always there for me ♫