Life (1984) - full transcript

Xi'an Film Studio

LIFE

Written by Lu Yao

Under the sky lies the Yellow River

which has many turns and twists

which there are dozens of boats

which there are dozens of boats

supported by dozens of masts

which are steered by sailors

which are steered by sailors

Alas...
Directed by Wu Tianming



Don't cry

I'll fight with GaoMinglou

even if at the cost of my life

Jialin!

Jialin! Off your hand

Let me go!

Let me go!

please don't make trouble!

I have worked as a teacher for three years

When didn't I work very well

He has just graduated
from senior high school

Why can he replace me?

It is just because
he is a secretary, isn't it?

He is not only arbitrary but also shameless



Jialin! Jialin! Oh, Jialin

I won't kill him but write to accuse them

If you charge them
our family won't have a way out

They have direct access
to the high government authorities

Look, what a dog's life I lead!

Oh, Oh, Oh

Go! Go!

Oh, Oh

Oh, Oh

Jialin

Don't dig

Stop! Do you want to tire yourself out?

Put down your hoe and give it to me.

You stubborn guy
don't do it rashly like this!

Do you think the hoe as a pen?

Let's go!

Come on!

Sit down here!

Tut-tut

You see
the yellow sand prevents blooding

At the beginning
you should spend your strength gradually

for the long future

Grandpa Deshun

I want to try all
the painstaking work at the beginning

and then I won't
be afraid of any difficulties

But you shouldn't exert
all your strength any way

I feel very confused

I think the hard work
will make me feel better

Here you are. Drink all the water

Don't dig the land tomorrow

Learn to plow from me and dig the land
after your injury is cured

and I think it will cure itself

and I think it will cure itself

Ok, Jialin

Jialin

Hey, Qiaozhen

Hey, Qiaozhen

Hey, Qiaozhen

Uncle Liben, Qiaozhen isn't in now

My relative, Don't yell like this

Are you coming back from the meeting?
Yes

Ma Shuan comes to interview her

That damn girl
deliberately avoids meeting him

Well, what are you shouting for?

It will be time to finish the work soon

Hey, Qiaozhen

Why don't you go home
to see your fiance?

Qiuaozhen, let's go!

Oh, MaShuan, Mashuan

he will tie you up immediately

San Xing is a teacher now, isn't he?

Ah, ha ha ...

You're so capable of achieving
your purpose

I am not so capable as you now

I am not so capable as you now

You earn much more money
by doing business

your purse seems to be broken!

You go your way I go mine:

You have power and I earn money.

Hey, Mr. Gao

new term has begun now
but why haven't you?

I am not a teacher any more

Where are you going?

I am going to interview a girl

Who?

The second daughter of the Liu's

Aha, you take the most
beautiful girl in our village

Really...

Don't you know that Qiaozhen is the most
beautiful girl in the neighborhood?

Well, she is really an attractive girl

But I'm afraid I can't win her heart

Ha

Why are you back so late?

Why are you back so late?

Any way, you should

Please talk about it after meal

Anyway, you should give us your opinion.
Why do you just keep silent?

You are not an honorable person

Come back!

Come back!

no longer a baby now

Can't you see him no matter
whether you agree or not?

My elder sister
please mind your own business!

Sister, do you think
your father-in-law a kind person?

Jialin is a model teacher in our community

But your father-in-law replaced him
with his own son by hooks and crooks

What an arbitrary person he is!

In the Graduation
Examination of senior high school

Sanxing failed in Chinese

and got a zero in Math

Hem, how can he work as a teacher?

Alas, see how just you are!

Others’ dog bites strangers but you two
bite your companies deliberately

It's not my father-in-law who laid off Jialin

but the teaching
cadre Ma Zhansheng did alone

Your father-in-law and Ma Zhansheng
are birds of a feather

The ducks upriver and the goose downriver

Focusing their eyes on their brothers

Cooking the elm fruit and putting
the rice into the boiling water

Picking the fire woods
on the road and glancing at you

The clean glass window are brightening

Chuckling at you with the teeth white

Anxiously opening the door

Dear honey be back soon

Jialin

This is our family plot
I plant it myself

Dad, go home please

The county market will open tomorrow

Let your mother make some bread and
you can go to sell them on the market

That's easier than the work in the field

Then I can buy a carton
of cigarettes for you

I've heard that his uncle

has been an official
now in the army in Xinjiang

We may let Jialin go to meet his uncle

and maybe he can find a job
in the town with his help

It's said the population over there
is sparse so it is easy to find a job

It is so far away and our child
has never traveled such a long journey

so I can't feel at ease

I don't agree

You'd better see him first
in your next meeting

Tl go too. See you then!

Hey, Qiaozhen! Qiaozhen!

Yaping, let's return those books

Where are they. Please try to find them

Ok

GaoJialin?!

Jialin!

Jialin! Hello!

Jialin! Hi!

Where are you going?

To see a relative
Really?

You're really talented

I have read the essays you
wrote on the local newspaper

Your style of writing is so excellent

Jialin, are you still working as a teacher?

Replaced by the son of the Secretary

I am only a community member now

Then do you have less time for writing?

No, much more now

A poet said that

we write down numerous lines
of poetry with the hoes in the land

Ha ha ha ha

Where are you going ?

On a business trip to Taiyuan City

Are you still a buyer in the food company

I have been promoted
as the department dean

but there is a "vice" before "dean"

Jialin, if you want to buy cigarettes
alcohol or something like that

just let me know and I am sure
to offer you some help

please drop in to our broadcasting studio

please drop in to our broadcasting studio

I want to ask
you some questions on literature

You are now in a high position

It's unavailable for the common people
in the mountainous area to contact

Attention, please

It's time for No.308 train to leave
I see, you have not improved
your stubborn disposition

Passengers going to Taiyuan get
on the train quickly, please

See you then!

It's time for No.308 train to leave
See you

The passengers going to Taiyuan get
on the train quickly, please

Hey, Jialin

Jialin

are you coming to the market here?

are you coming to the market here?

To sell bread

Jialin, don't hate me

I am not the decisive guy in that matter

GaoMinglou and Secretary Zhang have
been close friends for so many years

How do you think, I should do?

I know much about you

Mr. Ma, don't mention it any more

Mr. Ma, don't mention it any more

I have been transferred to
the Labor Bureau of the county now

It may be called a promotion

I'm now a vice-director in the Labor Bureau

Hahaha, as a newly appointed official

I am busy to death

Leave it alone if you don't want

Leave it alone if you don't want

Jialin, Jialin

did you go to sell bread?

Yeah. Have you also come to the market?

Yes, I come here for nothing

Jialin, I know you
haven't sold a single bread

You are afraid of losing face

You are afraid of losing face

Let me sell them for you

and my mother hope you
would have a taste

and my mother hope you
would have a taste

Hey, Qiaozhen, Stay here for dinner

No, thanks. It's getting dark

No, thanks. It's getting dark

Please check it

Qiaozhen, you are so capable!

The sun is setting
so you'd better go home first

Let's go together

I can't carry you on the bike

I'm afraid to throw you off

Then let me carry you

That won't do

Well, we don't ride bike
and walk home

You are tired
so let me push the bike

Green willows are growing tall

What do you love me for?

Horses are not the same height

Brother Jialin
don't struggle too hard

Brother Jialin
don't struggle too hard

You are getting thinner these days

In fact, it's also good to be a farmer

because there are a large
number of farmers on the earth

There are hills
rivers and fresh air in our countryside

If you have a comfortable family

you can also live a happy life there

Neither can I get a position in school

nor can I do hard work in the field

As a peasant without
strength and farming skill

I might starve my wife and children to
death in the future. What will I do?

if you don't look down on me

Pardon?

You stay at home
and I work in the field

I won't let you suffer

It's dark now. Let's go

Why did you suddenly have such an idea?

Not suddenly

I have been thinking
about it these years

I can't expect it when you were a teacher

Now you are laid off

I feel both sad and happy

I may have a chance
I think, since you are a peasant now

Here you are. Have a cigarette

I have bought a carbon for you
Here you are

Iodine?

put some on your wounds when back home

How did you know my hand

I did know

A teacher's hands are very fragile

Are you feeling better now?

Listen, It's ok now

Well

Don't run away! Stop! Stop!
Don't run away

Hey!...

Ha Ha...

Let me off, please!
It doesn't matter.

I know you didn't
have supper this evening

People like us working
in the field year in year out

always feel too tired to have supper
after a full-day's fieldwork

let alone you

If you don't visit me

I must send it to your home

You shouldn't do that

If your father knows this matter

he will break my legs

Brother Jialin Yeah?

Whenever I see you
I feel you are closer than my parents

Grandpa Deshun

Hey, Qiaozhen
are you going to pick pig-food?

Yeah

Grandpa Deshun

the jujubes on our trees have turned red

Please taste some fresh ones. Ok

Jialin Ah!

Come to taste some jujube
Come over please

Thanks!

Here you are

Jialin Yeah?

Do you want a girlfriend?

Yeah, but none proper

How about Qiaozhen?

I believe that you two seem
to be born for one another

Well

You have a good judgment.

Grandpa Deshun
I have never thought about her

Don't tell lie
I figured it out long time ago

Hum, let's go!

Grandpa Deshun
don't gossip it with others, please

Take it easy

I won't tell anybody

Ha ha ha

Well, I feel so happy for you two

Well, just like the words in the old songs

you two are born a perfect match

Qiaozhen has her boyfriend

Qiaozhen has her boyfriend

Who?

How did you say to him?

I said, that's just you

Really? Yeah

How did you dare to?

Egg shells are used to light
and only half the bed is bright

Small wine cups are used to measure the
rice and your poverty I don't dislike

Neither for your house nor for your land

Are you singing a song called
"Waiting fort brother"

The ducks upriver
and the goose downriver

Focusing their eyes on their brothers

Cooking the elm fruit and putting
the rice into the boiling water

Picking the fire woods on the road

Brother Jialin, Jialin

Look, how tired you are!

You'd better rest a day tomorrow

Twill let you rest
for one day every week

just as you had when in school

just as you had when in school

Run away quickly!

Don't beat me, Dad

I beat you to death. Shameless!
Please stop, Dad

How dare you want to marry

to that black sheep

By Jove! I can feel
all the villagers smirking behind me

She would lose my face
if I don't beat her to death

Elder sister, run away quickly!

I must beat you
a law-down dirty shame, to death

Jialin

Dad, that's enough!

Don't think about it any more

In this plight we are not able
to pursue a marriage with her

Who is pursuing?

You would
be good-for-nothing all your life

I will make a decision for my own
Just mind your own business

If you don't instruct your son strictly

and if I find him luring my daughter

I will break his legs!

I will break his legs!

I will scalp you

I won't give up!

Let's go and see!

I don't believe
I can't conquer you two

Hum, there are laws governing you!

Alas. It is nothing
but their love, isn't it?

Damn love!

Damn love!

how can you two flirt with each
other outside every night?

You have shamed us all

Why aren't you open-minded
since you well-traveled

and a man of wide experience?

Today the young are different
from us in the old times

There are so many new things you
have never seen or heard of

Several years ago

Come on!....

When I passed Xi'an and Taiyuan
to visit the famous Dazhai Village

I saw many young men and women
walking on the streets

hand by hand during the daytime

hand by hand during the daytime

He will ruin my Qiaozhen

What? GaoJialin is
a senior high school graduate

Why do you look down on Jialin

A senior high school student
is good for nothing

He also has to whip the ox ass

Come on

He is not able to whip the ox ass

you shouldn't
look down on Gao Jialin.

GaoJialin is not only a learned young man
but also a hardworking guy

In this village

few people of his age can match him

People now regard

us two as the most capable men

Capable men! It is he that will be the real
capable man in our village in the future

To tell you the truth

I really felt happy
when I learned about that news

You see
If QiaoZhen marry toJialin

you and I both are his relatives

you and I both are his relatives

You have said so much pleasant words

so I can't push her

into a dark hole

so I can't push her
into a dark hole

What can you do?

I will break the legs of that damn guy

Please pay attention

to the punishment of police bureau

Qiaozhen, come down
I have something to tell you

Brother Jialin, what's it?

My father is watching us

Don't be afraid
I deliberately let them know

Did your father beat you?

No. He just scolded me

If he beat you again

I won't forgive him

Jialin, don't get so angry

My father is a kind-hearted man
with a sharp tongue

He won't be too harsh on me

Don't worry
I can make decision in my family

I see

It's too dirty!

Qiaozhen, let's buy some
bleaching powder in the city

Shall 1 go with you? Yeah

Go together. Dare you go?

Yeah. I am going home
to fetch my bike

You go to change your clothes
for a better one

Take off this one
and I'll wash it for you tomorrow

Ha. What a good wife

It sounds too unpleasant

Qiaozhen Jialin

Hey, GaoJialin, LiuQiaozhen

GaoJialin, LiuQiaozhen

Hey, Jialin
I'll let you have Sundays

GaoJialin, LiuQiaozhen.....

GaoJialin, LiuQiaozhen.....

GaoJialin, LiuQiaozhen.....

Oh, Oh

GaoJialin, LiuQiaozhen
I will have Sundays!

GaoJialin.....

Hey, Jialin, Take care.

Brother Jialin

You should try going out to work

Really I support you completely
if you can find a job in the town

If you really work in town some day

I will plant our reserved field at home

and raise our children

You can come back to see
us whenever you are free

and I will take our children there
and live together with you. If lam free

You let me work outside

Aren't you afraid that I will part with you?

Don't leave me alone whatever happens

For you, it seems that I have got a job

Brother YiDe, Brother YiDe

Brother YiDe, Brother YiDe

Come and have some together with us

Come and have some together with us

Please help yourselves

The cadres of our village decide
to fetch some dung in the city

It is an easy task

so I want it done
by Jialin and Grandpa Deshun

Ha...

Jialin, you are really tired these days

Alright. I must go now

Well, ask Qiaozhen go to cook for you

Her auntie has an empty room in the town

Ok. Let's go

See you. Ha. Ha

See you

Youth is never but once
It's good to be young..

The old men with white beard are useless

What are you laughing at?

I am old now

but I feel so happy
when I see you, the young people

but I feel so happy
when I see you, the young people

Ha ha ha

Grandpa Deshun Yeah?

You are single all your life

Did you ever fall in love
with someone when you were young?

Ah? Fall in love?

Ah

Oh. When I was young

Oh. When I was young

Ha ha ha

Alas. At that time
I was as young as you are now

When I was free

I took my draught animals
outside the village to carry salt
and leather goods for the landlord

When I had a rest in a small inn
on the riverside of Wuding Lake

I met the daughter of the owner
and we fell in love

Her name was Lingzhuan

and she was more beautiful
than the singer in the county troupe

Every time she knew exactly
when I could arrive there

As soon as I turned up
in the corner of their village

she welcomed me with her songs

Her voice was as pleasant as
that of two silver bells ringing

I didn't want

to leave after entering that inn

always gave me cake with mutton
buckwheat, and river snail to eat

As soon as the night fell
she came to my room stealthily

Every time I left their village

she swept sadly
with tears running down her cheeks

She would send me to the riverside

weeping and singing all the way

Did she sing the song called
"Going to Xikou'?

Yeah

Brother, you will go far away

I can't ask you to stay

I have some words to tell you
which you should keep them in mind

I have some words to tell you
which you should keep them in mind

not along the path

On the crowded road

you can chat with others
not feeling lonely

Brother, you will go far away

I see you off

Drawing your hand,

I sweep sadly
with my tears down my cheeks

I sweep sadly
with my tears down my cheeks

I am really old

so that I feel so sentimental
to make my eyes water

Ah. You might laugh at me for this

Grandpa Deshun, what about the
following story? Lingzhu, she

Alas. It was said that she married
to a businessman from Tianjin

She was unwilling to marry him

but her father forced her to go with him

Oh. Tianjin is a place so far from us

Zhuanling may be alive now

Of course, she is alive! She is alive
as long as I am living in the world

I have her in my heart all the life

Dad, come here to eat the watermelon

Come on. Have a piece

Come on. Have a piece

Go to somewhere else to fetch dung

Don't you see some people sitting here?

You the guy are so impolite!

What are you coming to do?
Dare you kill me?

Comrade, there is really no other way

We chose to fetch dung in the evening

just in order to avoid hindering
your work during the daytime

We didn't know you are enjoying
the cool in the evening

Well, that's enough!
Please fill your pails and go away.

Please go away quickly. Go away

Go away quickly. It smells so bad!

I am really dirty

but I find your mind stinking

You say what?

Well. That's enough! Go away please!

What an impolite person!

I must come here!

I have learned so much knowledge

and I am as excellent as them

Why should I be insulted like this?

Uncle Gao, here is your letter

from Xingjiang

Read it for us. Ok

My elder brother and elder sister
how are you

Qiaoling, come here. Sit down to read

I have good news to tell you

that I will be transferred
to work in our hometown soon

It is said in the letter sent from
the local government authorities

It is said in the letter sent from
the local government authorities

I decide to
Labor?

Are you also sent home
to work by the government?

No. Auntie

Wrap quickly....

Grandson, give me room

Auntie Hi

I'll go to fetch my table

Thank you

You pat one and I pat one

a child's driving a plane

You pat two and I pat two

two children are plaiting pigtails

You pat three and I pat three

three children are climbing
the snow mountain

You pat four and I pat four

four children are writing big characters

You pat five and I pat five

You pat five and I pat five

You pat Six and I pat Six

Having left home for decades

always dreamed to be home

I am more than fifty years old now

It is said that the falling
leaves settle on the roots

Yes, yes

Yizhi, do you forget

that two of us stole the peaches
of Grandpa Deshun in our childhood?

Ha ha ha

Ha ha ha

Ha ha ha

These bowls can't be used
to entertain guests

What are you doing?
Get off, please

Hi, Jialin

Yes?

I don't mention something else

I will offer you a job
as soon as possible

As an aged couple

we have nothing to involve you

In recent years we have
nothing painstaking under
the better policy of government

The only worry is the future of your nephew

He is still doing the fieldwork
after graduation from senior high school

You work as a teacher
in the village school, don't you?

Yes

Now there are fewer students than
before and so fewer teachers are wanted

Thus, he came back

Elder brother
you put me in trouble for this matter

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

I am newly appointed in this position
How can I

Elder brother, You should understand me

Sanxing, go to call a person!

Ok

Did Director Gao mention
to offer Jialin a job in the town?

You, I think, are the only wise man
in Gaojiagou village..

Today, who speaks
it out clearly for this kind of matter?
Otherwise he must be a stupid leader.

It depends on a flexible mind of
the persons who work directly under him

When you handle the matter well yourself

he may pretend to scold you

But inwardly he can't help
promoting you immediately

Uncle Gao. Here all you come. Oh

They arrived home

Come in please.
Hurry up! Well

Hello, Yizhi

Director Gao

Brother YiDe

Director Gao, Secretary Gao has been
waiting for you for along time

Why doesn't Jialin come?

That stubborn guy!
It doesn't matter without him.

Let's come in and sit down, please!

Help yourself, Director Gao

Help yourselves

Please, drink some more

Cheers!

Cheers!

Jialin, you should always think of me

Yeah

You must love only me

Yeah

The ducks upriver and the goose downriver

Focusing their eyes on their brothers

Cooking the elm fruit and putting
the rice into the boiling water

Picking the fire woods
on the road and glancing at you

The clean glass window are brightening

Chuckling at you with the teeth white

Anxiously opening the door

Dear honey be back soon

Ah

Anxiously opening the door

Dear honey be back soon

Be back soon

Be back soon

Be back soon

We're now to broadcast
the message sent by our reporter

GaoJialin from the frontline of
the flood disaster in the Nan Ma River

The title: At the Vital Moment

LiuYuhai, the secretary of NanMa River
community was injured in seven points

without sleeping for twenty-four hours

He struggled on the frontline
of flood disaster together

with the cadres
and members of the community

His deeds show the strong
will of a communist party member

Comrade Jialin, return for a rest please

OK

Jialin, Jialin

Hello Welcome back

This time, your article is so moving

Thanks. I'm glad to hear that

It's really moving
Not so good as you said

I was moved to tears when I read it

Really? Yeah.

Please wash your face. Ok

I am so glad that you are working here

for I have a conversable
partner from now on

To tell you the truth
these years I've felt so bored

for I cannot find a proper
person to chat with in the town

You overlooked them

You overlooked them

but you don't know much about them

Maybe you are too haughty
for the ordinary people to approach

but I really feel a little bored

but I really feel a little bored

The selected collection of Mérimée's novels
How did you get it?

Some days ago

May I read it first? Yeah

Mérimée is a realist

but her works are of romantic color

I like Carmen's character very much

Do you?

She is a liberalist

and she is unwilling to bear
any bandage of the society

I expect more romances in our life

By the way. Did you often write poems?

I just want to ask for your help on this

Do you have any new works?

I wrote a short poem last night
Did you?

Here it is. Please read it yourself

but I can't understand

but I can't understand

why I should be a wild goose

Hehe...

I believe you will
understand it gradually

Have lunch at my home, please

I am not used to having meals
in the home of strangers

Am Ia stranger for you?

I meant that I don't know your parents

First time strangers
and second time friends

Thank you for your kindness. But I

Are you afraid of meeting strangers?

No. No

Bumpkin!

I am originally a bumpkin

Who is there?

It's me

Yaping, come to my home for lunch

eating the fresh fish

Eating, and eating again
You only know that

Yaping Don't touch me!

What's wrong with you today?

Hey, Jialin. Ah

Why are you driving the tractor?

It's boring to be a teacher

MaZhansheng arranged for
me to work in the mechanized
construction team in the county

Recently, we've been carrying stones
in GaoJiagou village

Qiaozhen sent a package for you
Here you are

Who replaced your position in the school?

Qiaoling did. She hadn't pass
the college entrance examination

Qiaoling did. She hadn't pass
the college entrance examination

I am in Nanguan. OK

Sanxin, wait a moment

Who is there?

It's me

Mum

Well

Zhenzhen, come here, please

These are the candies Jialin
sent to you and your Dad

Sanxin has also brought some for us
Put over there

so these are all for you

Why do you come here?

This place isn't your self-reserved land

Your words are so bitter and sharp

I meant that it's getting dark
and you are here alone

Not only myself

What about Kenan?

He is not my tail

Then who else?

Just you!

Me?

I want to leave

Are you going on errands?
Where are you going?

Not on business
I will leave here forever

My father will
be transferred to wok in Nanjing

my hometown
and I will also work there

It's beautiful in south
whose sceneries are old friends

The sunrise shining over
the river like flowers in bloom

And the river in the spring
turns green and blue

How can I help recalling
the southern land?

While recalling the southern land
the special is Hangzhou

Seeking osmanthus flower in the moon
when staying in the hill temple

And watching the surging tides
while lying in the pavilion

When could I go back for another tour?

Yea, I always dream my hometown

Are you really leaving?

Sure

Suzhou and Hangzhou
are the two paradises on the earth

Xizi Lake is such an attractive site

I am not able to visit it in my lifetime

Do you want to go there?

Me? I even expect
to visit the United Nations

I meant whether you would like
to visit Nanjin, Hangzhou, and Shanghai

I won't get the chances
to go on errands in these cities

It's meaningless for me to go there alone

You have Kenan for company

I hope it's you not him
that will accompany me there

You know that
I loved you when we at school

We were too young
to understand love at that time

And then you returned
to your hometown later

And now I see you are the right man I love

Kenan doesn't disgust me

but I cannot be stirred by him

In fact, my parents like him more

Let's live together

Go to Nanjing with our family

Go to Nanjing with our family

You'll have
a bright future in a big city

I'm sure to ask my father
manage to transfer
you to work as a reporter in Jiangsu

Qiaozhen

Jialin

right now the doorkeeper said
you were not here and didn't let me in

Well. I went to Liujiagou village
for an interview. Get in

Ok

Are you back now? Yeah

Go to my office, please All right

Here is not the crop field

My superiors are just in the next room

You haven't ever come home since you left

I've been here several times
expecting to see you

but they told me you had gone
to the countryside

Sit down please. Well

Let me tidy it for you

Thanks

The quilt is too thin

I will bring you some new cotton next time

It's getting cold and you cannot
sleep with a single underlay

I'll also bring you my own tick of dog skin

Please don't do that

It's hairy and will sure be laughable

The dog skin is very warm

I am not cold, and, you see
I have a stove there

Sanxin is driving the tractor

and Qiaoling is a teacher now. She failed
in the college entrance examination

Well. Sanxin has told me those things

Your sow gave birth to twelve piglets

with one crashed
by the sow and left only

Eleven piglets left

Yes, eleven left

but one died the next day

Really?

Originally

Please drink some water

I'll go to buy the meal
and we eat together

No. I am not hungry

I must go home early

In order to get a lift in Sanxin's tractor

I left my hoe in the field
and didn't tell my family

Er. It

Brother Jialin
you need more expenses in the town

but your salary is not high

so take this fifty-yuan with you

You can buy something else to eat
if the breakfast is not enough for you

I will buy you a pair of sneakers

Sanxin told me that you often play balls
which abrades shoes very much

The bonus of the first
half-year has been allotted

and I got ninety-two yuan

Now I have salary
and the royalties for my articles

You should keep it yourself

and buy some fashionable clothes

No. This is for you

I, I have my own

Don't reject like that or I'll get angry

Well, I'll keep it for you

And I will give it back
to you whenever you need

Ok

I bought it for you long
time ago but forgot to send to you

Come on. Let me help you wear it

Lingling, I beg you for a help

Tell me please

Could you teach me to read?

I learn ten words every day

and I am able to read and write in a year

My elder sister!

I am willing to be a hovering wild goose

loving the blue sky freely

Your sow gave birth to twelve piglets

and one was crashed
by the sow, crashed

I loved you when we at school

You are the right man I love

Brother Jialin, Brother Jialin

I am your only love

Never leave me alone whatever happens

How to write the word "Gao"?

Which "Gao"?

That's that’s the "Gao"

Gao-Jia-lin

Ha ha ha

Who asked you to write these words

Ha Ha Ha

You want to marry
an illiterate country woman!

Yea

I can't understand
why a talented senior high school graduate

wants to marry an illiterate countrywoman

You are destroying yourself

That's enough. At that time

I was a dusty peasant

Did any city lady like you would love me?

How ferocious you are!

I am a bad-tempered man

and you can't bear me
if you live with me

Did you mean
that you agree to live with me?

Jialin

I have to explain to Qiaozhen first

You know,

I feel so sorry

Yeah, you should
end up your tragedy quickly

Maybe it would be an tragic ending

When did GaoJialin
and Yaping date with each other?

You're a worthless wretch

Hum. How dare that guy bully us?

Under the sky lies the Yellow River

which has many turns and twists

many turns and twists

many turns and twists

dozens of boats

Jialin, what's the matter with you?

Yesterday Sanxin took
your message to ask me to come here

I worried about you for the
whole night supposing you were ill

Jialin, please have a look
at the words I wrote

Qiaoling taught me to write

I can't write well now

Qiaozhen

I have something to tell you

But it is hard to speak out

if you have something to tell

if you have something to tell

Don't hide it in your heart

If I tell you
I am worried that you will cry

Tell me please. I won't cry

Qiaozhen

I will be transferred
to work thousands of miles away

We

what about you?

Qiaozhen Jialin

that's enough

I see what you mean

You, you just go there please

I won't prevent you

Jialin, I have thought
about our relations for numerous times

since you worked in the county

Though I love you dear
I know I can't match you.

I am illiterate

I am not able to assist you
but to encumber your work

You just go outside
and find a better wife than me

Unlike in our native village

you should take more care of yourself
in a completely new place

Jialin

you don't know how much I love you

Qiaozhen

Qiaozhen. Don't cry please

Jialin, I must be off now

Qiaozhen!

You should have
rooted yourself in this land

But now...

you have become a bean sprout

without any earth on the root

Hum!

You have sold your conscience

but you

she is a piece of gold

You leave her alone on the half way

You, you are committing a sin
You

Hum!

When we were about forty years old
your mother gave birth to you
the only child of us

We are always fearing that you might
be caught into trouble in your life

We didn't expect that you

Maybe you are right

But I can't return in the way of advance

Moreover, you have your
way of life while I have my own

I am unwilling to live like you

digging the land
in Gaojiagou village all the life

That damned GaoYude!

Fuck him! Gangster!
He must die a sudden death

The thunders must
burn him as a black charcoal stake

Dad, don't scold him. Don't curse him

Forget him

Zhenzhen

You shouldn't feel too sad

Zhenzhen, don't ruin yourself for you
haven't begin your wonderful life

I embarrassed him
before for the sake of you

Alas. 1 don't compel you in this matter

However, you are old enough for marriage

You'd better choose a husband by yourself

You shouldn't shoot too high

Dad made you illiterate

and you'd better choose an honest farmer

Later, I heard
that you dated with Mr.Gao

and then I felt very disappointed

and then I felt very disappointed

I heard that Mr.Gao fell
in love with a city girl

and parted with you. And then I felt

I have become a infamous woman
all over this village

Don't you look down on me?

No, I don't. It doesn't matter

The young people always
experience much frustration

What's more, don't hate Mr.Gao

He is a government cadre now

but you are an illiterate country girl so
it's impossible for you two to live together

It is said that the golden
flower matches the silvery one
and the pumpkin matches the cushaw

Both of us are illiterate
and it's just

Qiaozhen

I have so much strength
and a flexible mind.

I won't let you suffer even
if I have to work as an animal

I will make you enjoy all
the happiness a villager can afford

Mum, ask my father to tell Mashuan

that our wedding will be held according
to the local customs completely

It should be the same as yours
at that time

It's of old times

That's also Ok

Come on! Eat sugar

Here are the dishes!

The dishes are coming!

Hi. Attention please!...

Give me a way!

Hey, the dishes come again.

Cheers! cheers!

Hey, eat first

Enjoy yourself, take easy! Hehe...

Come on! Come on!

Cheers!

Hey, put it over there

Here are the dishes!

Hey. Here come the dishes!

No Help yourselves, please!

Give me a way!
Hey, the dishes are coming!

Go away quickly please. Quickly, please!

Go away please!

Go out quickly please!
Go out! How disgusting!

My second elder sister!

My dear little sister

don't forget me

You must come to see me frequently

I'm illiterate

but you like learned people

Elderly sister

I see, you are suffering in your heart

At any rate, I have to live my life

Elderly sister, don't take it so seriously

There are so many things
worth loving in one's life

Don't get dismayed for one thing

Elderly sister

You must come to see me frequently

Yeah

You should always speak these words to me

Elderly sister

Now we can proceed ahead

Proceed ahead, let's walk up front

Hey, the rear catch up

Nannan
GaoJialin will be finished

The regional
investigation group have come to

investigate how he had ever
found the job through the backdoor

I wrote to disclose him

I wrote to disclose him

And now we are villains

You good-for-nothing
how silly you are to

speak these damn words with your
lover being induced by him?

Moreover, it's really illegal for him
to get in by the back door

to get in by the back door

have the duty to maintain
the laws of our party

Mum, you are right in principle

But morally , we are revenging him
in the name of public interests

Fuck your nonsense!

Sanxing, Sanxing

Do you finish the training course?

Yeah

Are you going back
to Gaojiagou in these days?

No. I am carrying
the sands in Zhangjia River

Well. That's just the same

Do you know that Qiaozhen got married?

To whom?

Mashuan

Ma Zhansheng
is also dismissed from his post

No, I must be with you

It's impossible

for lam a peasant again now

I won't go to Nanjing

I won't go to Nanjing

I want to be a peasant together with you

I, I love you!

I won't live without you

Yaping, you needn't sacrifice
your own interests for me

I know your devoted love for me

I appreciate you very much

However, in my heart

I like Qiaozhen

more though she is illiterate

If, if that's the truth

I wish you happiness!

But Qiaozhen

has got married with another man

Elder sister

Elder sister, go back please!

Don't do that! That's laughable

To laugh at what?

Qiaoling told me all
this matter this morning

You don't

What a torturing person you are!

GaoJialin not only hurts you

but also embarrasses all our family

If you can stand this
you bear it yourself

Today I must embarrass
that guy in return

My good elder sister
he is so miserable now

If everyone hits a him when he's down

how can he live the following days?

I don't care

Elder sister, I beg you!

Don't treat Jialin like that

At any rate I love him

If you punish him like this

you are just poking my heart with a knife!

You, my dear sister

Under the sky lies the Yellow River

which has many turns and twists

The ducks upriver
and the goose downriver

are focusing their eyes on their brothers

Starred by
Zhou Xingjing Wu Yufang

Gao Baocheng

Jia Liu

Li Xiaoli

Qiao Jianhua

Yu Zhongyi

Gao Jialin

Xue Jianshe

Xue Bai

Wen Jian

Li Jinbang

Wang Lan

Zhang Mugin

Mu Mu

Pan Jun

Chen Xuegang

Produced by Xi'an Film Studio