Return to Dust (2022) - full transcript
The humble, unassuming Ma and timid Cao have been cast off by their families and forced into an arranged marriage. To survive, they have to come together and build a home for themselves.
Fourth Brother, why haven't you come in?
Hurry up!
Get moving!
Everyone's waiting to see you
Hurry up!
Come on out!
Hurry up!
Here, wear your brother's new jacket
There's plenty of rice, why have a bun too?
Have some more
I'll serve you more rice
I'm done, you take your time
I'm full
Is the wedding date set?
Tell me when it is
I'll come to the reception
Okay, Uncle
We'll send you a wedding invite
Does your younger son have a fiancée?
Yes, he's engaged
But he has to wait a year before he can marry
If both sons get married at the same time...
...how could I possibly afford it?
Come in and sit down
Here at last
Don't all stand up! Sit down
I should've invited your husband...
...to come for some food and a chat
Oh, he's a stubborn old donkey
Not very sociable
How did that miserable donkey get into the yard again?
The worthless thing!
I keep feeding it, but it's never full!
I should beat it to death for causing so much trouble!
Here, let me pour you some hot water
Guiying, what do you think of Fourth Brother?
Her Sister-in-law, is her name Guiying?
That's right, you remembered
Go for a pee, go on
Uh...she's going for a pee?
Hmm
Brother and sister-in-law of Guiying...
Look, I'm always frank
So I'll be straightforward
I feel Guiying and Fourth Brother are well-matched
His Third Brother has found them a house to live in
What do you think?
I also think they're a good match
If you think so, we agree
Eh...
We should check that she's found the toilet
Right, she should be back by now
Guiying, the toilet is over there
Ma Hongmei, take this 200 Yuan first
Sorry to give you the trouble...
...of arranging dates for both Fourth Brother Iron
and my elder son
Young people these days...
...don't like to live with older people
As to my elder son's fiancée...
Could you ask her...
...if she agrees to marry in the spring?
You've made matches for both uncle and nephew
Guiying lives in the backyard of her brother's place
Her life is miserable
Since she was small she's been beaten and bullied
And she can't control her bladder
She can't have children, so who else can she marry?
Anyhow, her brother and sister-in-law...
...can't wait to be rid of her
When Iron marries Guiying...
...he'll move out
Then your elder son's fiancée
will have no reason not to marry
Don't worry, Fourth Brother and Guiying will get married
Thank you so much for matching them
I don't know what I'd do if you hadn't
Guiying...
Close the door when you come back
Don't let the donkey get in there
Get closer, you two
Brother, get closer
That's better
Brother, turn your face more towards your wife
Good, chin down a bit
That's good
Sister, chin up a little
A little bit more
Your shoulder on this side is a bit too high
No, the other side
That's good
Now, both look at me
Sister, look at me
Good...
1, 2, 3...
Father
Mother
I'm your son Iron
This is Cao Guiying
We've got married
We've come today to burn some paper money for you
Please receive it
Spend it with my eldest brother Gold
And second brother Silver
Enjoy yourselves
Here, have an apple
Eat it
Eat it
Here
Have a fried dough stick
Here, eat
Eat
'If the living don't eat, the dead won't receive'
Eat
We call on everyone here today...
...to help save Zhang Yongfu
He is sick in hospital now
You can save him
Oh, Zhang Yongfu needs us to save him?
No wonder we haven't seen him for days
He's hiding in the city
We're the ones who need to be saved
He should pay us land rent and wages today
Zhang Yongfu owes you land rent
He also owes the Village Committee for water
But the issue now is that he's sick in hospital
He needs blood transfusions
He has a rare blood-type, in short supply
If anyone has 'panda' blood (RH negative)...
...you can help save him
His son is with us today
The crops we planted last year...
...are not yet sold
Oh
We are looking for ways...
...to sell the produce
So that we can pay your rents
And your wages
So...
For this year, take back your own land...
...and cultivate it yourselves
That will count as one year's land rent
Okay
Right now the only villager
with 'panda' blood is 'Iron' Ma
I hope you'll help save Zhang Yongfu
Who is 'Iron' Ma?
It must be Fourth Brother Ma
The panda is a national treasure
So Fourth Brother has become a national treasure!
He's not a national treasure, just a panda
Not a panda, just 'panda' blood
No, we won't
If you want to give blood, go ahead
Is there anything you want?
I'm rather scared of going to the hospital
I see, Uncle
Easy!
I'll call a friend who works in the hospital
I'll ask him to drive the blood collection van to our place
I will drive you...
...into town, to our place, to give blood
Not at the hospital, okay?
Time to go, Uncle!
The car is waiting outside
Stop for a moment
What's up?
Just stop
Hold on, hold on
Wait, I'll open the door
Tell me earlier if you need a pee
How come you peed in the car?
Eat, have something first
You eat too
No problems with the test result
Remove the cotton bud
That's just a tiny bit of blood for the test
It's fine
No transmissible disease in the blood, it's fine
Let's go to the van and take blood there
It's not hygienic here
You stay here, we'll go
Okay
Now you can eat something, but not too much
It's alright, don't go
They'll come back when it's done
Here are your wheat seeds
Debit my account please
When the autumn grain is sold...
...I'll settle the account
Okay
You gave your 'panda' blood to Zhang Yongfu
Why don't you ask him to buy you seeds and fertilizer...
...and drive them to your home in his BMW?
Why are you still using your own donkey cart?
Why do you still need credit?
Your Third Brother has been exploiting you for years
He didn't even give you a wedding reception!
You could buy a few bottles...
...and we could celebrate your wedding!
Yeah, let's celebrate!
That's enough of your banter
When you urged him to get booze...
...did you see how scared she looked?
She wet her pants!
590 yuan in total
Sign here
I'll do a fingerprint
Yes fine
It's to carry your nephew's wedding furniture
to get your nephew's the wedding furniture
I hired a car but some pieces won't fit in
I thought of hiring a second car
But it's not worth it
You come
Alright
Come inside
No, go to bed early
Here, have it while it's hot
Your hand is so deft
It's hot
Just leave it to cool before you eat it
For lunch and dinner...
...reheat the stir-fry in the wok
Have that with the buns
It'll be night before I'm back
It's dark on the road
Take care
I know
Take the buns out of the steamer when they're done
How much is this coat?
400 Yuan
Don't go, you can have it for 300
It's a designer brand
Come back, the bottom price is 150
I only have 50 Yuan
I know
50 more and it's a deal
Okay, save it for me
I'll bring the money on my next trip to town
I'll buy it then, okay?
It's just that my family is desperately short of money
My dad and I would have nothing to drive
The two BMW are not for sale
My dad and I would have nothing to drive
Okay, uh-huh
Can you sell it for 80 Yuan?
Alright then
Only because you are my first customer today
Quickly, quickly
Here
Here's a bag for it
Uncle...
You bought so much furniture!
It's my elder nephew's wedding furniture
Ah
I'm carrying it back for him
I see
Here, take the coat
Quickly, take it, quickly
Don't drop it! I've got to go
I'll take it as a loan
I've told you again and again, come back earlier
It's the middle of the night!
It's not that far
You'd been back before dark if you'd crawled!
Careful! Mind the sofa legs
It's the middle of the night
It's freezing cold, why are you out here?
It's hot...Here, you sip some too
The long walk worked up a sweat
I didn't feel cold
The hot water in the jar...
...went cold more than once
I filled the jar again and waited for you to come
Filled it again, you still weren't back
Here
Hold it to warm your hands
Here
Here
Wear this when you go out at night
It's long enough...
...to cover your bottom
And it'll keep you warm
Come, sit on the cart
Don't discard the good seeds
Don't throw out the good seeds
Sit tight and we'll go again
Alright
Then they'd dive into the water
I asked if he wasn't afraid of man-eating fish
They dare not stay in the water for long
They dive down and then come up again right away
Straight in, straight out
You poor wretch...
You've worked for your Third Brother for so long
He hasn't even bought you a TV
You still need to visit someone else to watch TV
This is where they wash their clothes and food
But when they wash anything...
...in this spot...
...there will be man-eating fish in the water
Especially in October
So even washing their food...
...becomes impossible
They need to scoop up some water
And then clean the food here
When they wash fish...
...and empty a bucket like this...
...they can see movement in the water
Big shoals of man-eating fish!
What brings you here, Chief?
Oh, you're all watching TV
Please take a seat
I'm fine, don't need to sit
I just came to ask about something
I'd like to know about your neighbor
How many years since he left his house?
Why do you ask?
It's like this
The Village Committee met a few days ago
The government wants to improve
the living environment
Build new countryside better
Demolition of vacant old houses
15000 yuan for demolition
15000 yuan if refurbished
I see
They've been away for 5 or 6 years
Hm, I see
Apparently they all went to work in the South...
...and bought a property down there
Oh
That's all, you go on watching
Okay, see you
Bye
You wretched thing!
Why did you pee on the stool?
You think a tissue is enough to wipe it clean?
Hey, you forgot the eggs you're borrowing
You are...
...Ma Youwen
Yes
You're back
Yes, I'm back
You've come back
Yes
The Village Committee telephoned me
They said...
Vacant houses will be torn down,
with 15,000 Yuan compensation
You know about that?
So move out your things in the next couple of days
I've taken a few days off...
...to see to the demolition of my old house
When it's done...
...I'll rush back to work in Dongguan
Here, have a cigarette
Here
Come on, take one
Have some water
No, no, no
No
Don't worry...
There are lots of empty houses in the village
Move to one that's not being demolished for now
Actually...
I suggest...
...you load your cart...
...with the wood from the doors and windows
Use it as firewood
Here, let me
A swallow's nest
Well, it won't find its old nest this year
Ready?
Then let's go
Take care
How about now?
The “Double Happiness wedding symbol”
Up a tiny bit
That's it
I think in a few days...
...chicks will hatch
By the time of wheat harvest...
...the hens might start laying
It can't be helped
It can be fertilizer for the other shoots
Everyone has his own destination
The wheat is no different
It has its fate too
When summer comes...
...it'll be cut down anyway
Why are you on foot? You could ride on the cart
Too heavy for the donkey
That's what the donkey's for
Worried you'd over-burden it!
If you got that useless idler off the cart...
...the donkey won't be over-burdened!
Anything else?
There
Okay, let's move to the next one
“Long-vacant property”
Here, take your coat
Hey, look at this
The chicks are hatching
Incubated chicks don't have a mother
So they take the first person they see...
...as their mother
No trouble for you to look after them in the future
Don't help it
Let it stand on its own feet
Let's go...
I'll carry this bucket
Time for food
Come and eat
Wait a bit while I finish molding these bricks
Wait a bit
I need to mold the mud first
Don't go! Don't ever go again
Is the coat alright?
Doctor, take my blood
Instead of his
Just give him a rest
Anyone's blood won't do
That's why...
...we need to keep bothering you
Unclench your fist
Hey!
Hey!
Come in and eat first
Come in and eat first
He'll come once it's done
Come on
Don't eat it
It fell on the ground
Don't worry
Everything starts in the soil
Everything grows in the soil
The soil doesn't despise us
How can we despise the soil?
The soil rewards us
Whether you're rich and powerful...
...or an ordinary person
You plant a bag of wheat...
...and it will repay you tenfold
Or even twentyfold
That miserable donkey...
That miserable donkey...
Can't it chew on something else?
Since it ate some corn seedlings...
...we'll feed it one less cob in the autumn
What's eaten was eaten
Take the wicker mat with you
I will walk home first
The donkey has to pull the tiller
if I ride on the cart, my weight could be...
...too much for the donkey
Okay
I'll get on with weeding the corn field
Yes
I'll fetch you when I'm ready to load the cart
Come to Grandma
Those things are dirty
Come, sit on the cart
No
Come, sit up here
Look...
He really cares for her
He could tie her to his belt
So fond of her
Looks after her well
Not like us, nobody cares
No-one loves us
Or even cares
See, he's very fond of her
Then you should've agreed to marry him!
If you'd married him...
...he'd give you lifelong care
You old fool...
I am just giving you an example
She lives better than any of us
So what?
Men always spoil their women
Have a good rest tomorrow
Listen...
The old bottles in the eaves...
...are whistling again
Slow down, don't fall over! It's pitch-black out here
Lots of bags have blown away
Don't cry
It's just a few bags
Here, put on this plastic sheet
Don't worry about me, protect the mud bricks
Go back inside, you'll catch cold in this rain
You're crying with laughter!
You haven't caught a cold, have you?
I'm not that weak
I used to live in a shed in my brother's backyard
I'm used to strong wind and rain
No problem
Does this look like our donkey?
Yes
Very similar
A straw donkey has it good
Doesn't need to graze, not bossed around
That first time at your Third Brother's house...
...I saw him beat the donkey
My sister-in-law was afraid I might wet myself...
...and that you'd turn me down if you saw
So she urged me to have a pee
I saw you...
...comforting the donkey in the yard
Feeding him corns
This donkey...
This donkey had a better life than I did
I thought...
...you'd be a good man...
...to marry
That day you kept staring at me
I was so embarrassed
I could barely look up
The old men and women at the bridge...
They said I could...
...tie you to my belt
I need to fasten you...
...in case you roll off the roof in the night
It's cooler to sleep up here on the roof
Hey
I can hear their TV is on
Go and watch a bit
Go on
I'll give you a shout when the grinding is done
Go and watch TV
I'll sing this song for you
There's no radiation in my bed
I don't need to eat a lot
Don't think it over, don't hesitate
Let me give you a sports car
Yaoting, Yaoting, come and sing along with me
Here
It's yesterday's flour, fresh-ground
A sack for you
When the Jiji hay is used up, come for some more
I will
I'll bring you a couple of sacks of potatoes in autumn
The hay isn't worth much
A sack and a half would be fine
Oh, I took some cow dung from your pasture
When you've burnt it, come for more
Alright
Okay, good, good
Guiying
Pull the donkey
pull
Yes, that's the way
A bit slower...yes, good
Slow down, slow down
Don't fall off!
Good
Be careful
Alright
Father
Mother
Brother Gold
Brother Silver
This is Iron here
We're building a house
Guiying and I are here to burn you some paper money
Please receive and spend it
Well...
The wheat's in ear
Smell it
When the wheat in ear, it smells so nice
We used to have a crazy in our village
He kept muttering the same thing day after day
To the sickle, he'd say “What could the wheat say?”
To the pecking sparrows, he'd say...
“What could the wheat say?”
To the grinder, he'd say...
“What could the wheat say?”
Since it was still in seed form...
...what could the wheat say?
I've heard such things too
We also had a crazy guy posted to our village
He liked saying such things
Oh
When I was a little kid...
...other kids would catapult pebbles at him
But our teacher took him under his wing
When he saw the catapulting...
...he'd tell us off angrily
He even fed the crazy guy buns
It's only now that I'm halfway to the grave...
...that I understand what the crazy guy meant
I also gave him food
Because of that...
...my brother and sister-in-law beat me hard
I couldn't walk for a couple of weeks
Hah, we're talking about the same guy
Take a break from it
Okay
But I'll finish straightening up these corns first
Come and eat some buns
Let me wash my hands first
Alright
Hey, come, down here
I'll wash your hands too
Come quickly
Ai-ya!
Quick, get some hay and dry wood
Taste some
Doctor...
Doctor, the blood bag is full
It's full!
Take the needle out
It's not full yet, in a moment
Stop it
Sit down and be patient
Here, I bought you a light coat
It's getting warmer
This won't make you sweat
Here you go, take it
Hey
Yes?
Well...
Their land rent and wages...
Pay them soon
Those old people in the village...
...have tough lives
They must send grandchildren to school...
See doctors...
Grow crops, pay for seeds and fertilizer
These are all expenses
They all need money
You're pumping blood now
Why are you speaking for them?
Well, I know
When the corn is sold, they will all be paid
The needle is out, get some food
Eat first
You can go on sharpening afterwards
Have some buns
And a sip of water
I'm fine
I mean, don't bother
I want to get all the wheat loaded first
Once it's done, I can relax and have a drink
Alright
Slow down
Take it slower
Can you use the fork...
...to lift those last bundles up here?
If I clamber down to fetch them...
...I could damage the ones already loaded
Watch out!
You'll ruin all the ears of wheat!
You're useless!
You've eaten so much wheat
But you can't even load a few bundles
I keep a donkey because it can pull the cart
Come on, sit on the cart
Come on, sit on the cart
Come on, sit on the cart
I put too little weight on the front
If you sit there, you'll balance it
Don't be cross, get on
Go up there
I've made you a nest
You can just sit in it...
...and hold the rope
Hold tight
I planted a flower on you there
Made a mark
So I'll always find you, wherever you go
Well...
Good harvest this year
Eat as much as you can
No matter how much food there is...
...my stomach is no bigger
Ouch! wheat rash!
No, don't scratch it
How come so much rash on your wrist?
Stop scratching
You'll make it worse
Come down
Come and have a wash
It will stop the rash on your neck from itching
The water is running too fast today
You can stand between these two logs
I'll hold you tight, don't worry
Come down
It's cold
Come on, it's warm when you're in the water
it's warm in the water
Come on
Lean forward, hold tigh
My feet aren't steady, the water's too fast
It's okay, hold on to the log
I'll wash and rub you
Stay still, I'll give you a good rub
Swallows build their own nests
What swallow would come to live in your nest?
You are Ma Chengwan
You're back
Swallows know their own nests
Their old nest was in the demolished house
Since your new house is built...
...move over in the next couple of days
Okay
That's all, I'll be going
Come in and have a seat
No, no, I will see myself off
Do you have a place to live?
Yes, don't worry, I do
Everything moved out?
Yes
Then start the demolition
Could you wait for a few more days?
Until the baby swallow hatches and leaves?
I'm rushing back to Shenzhen for work
I don't have time to wait for any swallow
Hurry up
Get a move on!
Just go
Drive up and start demolishing from here
What are you there for?
Off you go
Leave now
Check, is it level?
Up a bit on this side
A little bit more
A tiny bit more
Yes, that's it
Get your food
Alright
The sound from the rain bottles
in the eaves is nicer here
Much better than the old places
That's your way of saying...
“Home-made is best every time”
I've never thought...
...in my whole life...
...that I'd ever have my own home
Sleep on my own kang (heated brick bed)
When the autumn corn is harvested and sold...
...I'll buy you a big TV set for the New Year
And take you to the city...
...to see a reputable doctor
In all my life...
...I've never been to the city
Neither have I
Then we'll go have a good look round the city
Here, I'll take it
You've moved in
Just recently...
...I've been busy with your elder nephew's wedding
So I had no time to help you move
Here...
Some leftovers from the wedding reception
No-one's touched it
We thought you must be working on your house
So you'd be too busy...
...to come to the wedding reception
Come inside
Here is fine
There's something I need to discuss with you
The National Poverty Alleviation Policy says that every
impoverished household is eligible
for one council apartment
I've applied for one on your behalf
80 square metres
Just over 10,000 Yuan
I will pay for you
I'm just a farmer
What do I want with an apartment in town?
How could I maintain it?
If I moved there...
...where would I keep my donkey, pigs and hens?
I don't want it
Look, well...
Your second nephew said the application will begin
Now the price of buildings is very high
Don't miss this opportunity
They usually cost over 200,000 yuan
if we miss this chance...
...how could I find the money...
...to buy an apartment for him?
My hand...
Something bit me, it's come up in a lump
I've tied this toad here to neutralize it
Only four apartments for this whole village
How can it be my turn?
Don't worry
As long as you want it...
...you're one of the poorest in our village
You don't have kids
And you donate 'panda' blood for Zhang Yongfu
You're saving Zhang Yongfu
And that saves most people in our village
If you don't help Zhang Yongfu, he'll die
Where would they get their land rent and wages then?
How would the Village Committee
get the overdue water payment?
As long as you apply for the apartment...
...no-one will dare to challenge you
He should deliver your stuff to you in his BMW!
To save you pulling your donkey cart
For carrying sacks of stuff...
...my gold donkey cart beats his gold car
The car's not as good as his donkey!
That 'gold' donkey cart is the best!
Next!
We leased one and a half acres of your land
That's 725 Yuan, correct?
Yes, correct
You can take 7 bags of corn
I'm giving you 12.5 kilos extra
That can't be right
The market price for corn is 80 cents per 500 grams
You're making it 1 yuan per 500 grams?
Do you want it or not? If not, go home and wait...
...until I have the money to pay you
I owe you land rent for two acres
500 kilos
That's right
Take 500 kilos of corn
Er...
Deduct the money for the two coats
Just give me 420 kilos
As we agreed, that money was 'borrowed'
This is this, that is that
Alright then
Just load up 420 kilos
Next
Look...
It looks as if you're planting footprints in the field
Maybe in a few days the autumn vegetables
won't grow...
...but we get a crop of footprints!
I hope not
Because you can't move if your feet 'grow' in the field
Either the wind will blow you down...
Or the donkey will nibble you...
Or you'll be pecked by sparrows, or cut by sickles
Being stuck in the field is to suffer
That's right
Feet let people walk around
They're better off than crops and vegetables
grown in the field
Things grown in the field can't go anywhere
Exposed to wind and sun...
Living, then dying...
Never leaving the field
That's right
Mind you, though...
Where can our feet take us?
We're also tied to our land
We can't go anywhere
Tell me, how can a peasant live without land?
This way...
This block is not bad
Yes, pretty well built
The balcony is nice and bright
Yes, it's okay
'Iron' Ma
You'll soon move into this spacious and tidy apartment
How do you feel?
People can live here
But where do my donkey...
The pigs...
...and the hens live?
I think the apartment is not bad
Kitchen's a bit small though
But they'll manage
Nice big living room
One, Two
Three, Four
Five
This miserable hen
...went to lay eggs in Ma Chengwan's old house
No wonder there's one gone missing
It went to live and lay eggs there
Well
I'll make it a nest...
...get it used to lay eggs in the new nest
it grew up in Ma Chengwan's old house
Hmm
What's the matter with you?
Feeling dizzy
Your hands are hot
You are having a temperature
Get inside
Get up
You don't look well
Quickly
Get inside and cover up with heavy duvets...
...you'll get better after a good sweating
Get up now
Get up and eat the poached egg while it's still hot
Then drink the Zisu herb soup
Come on...
Have it while it's hot
Taste the first egg...
...from the chickens you raised
I'm so unlucky
In the old days...
...when I lived in the backyard shed, I never got ill
Now I eat well, live well
But I get ill
You have some too
You get on and eat
Quick!
Get your energy back, go on
You have a bit
You eat, go on
Go on, eat
From now on, they'll lay eggs every day
You go on and eat
I need to make them a coop
Or they might run back to the old house to lay eggs
You eat and get better soon
it might work with a log
Your wife was bringing two buns and an egg
She was looking for you
We asked her to wait, you'd be here soon
But when she stood up...
...she felt dizzy and fell into the water
Lao Wang was taking her
Run for her
Are you going to make sure Lao Wang
pulls your wife up?
Guiying!
Guiying! Guiying!
Guiying!
“Date of marriage registration: 2011.02.08”
In the studio on the second floor...
...we have more wedding clothes
Come and take a look
This is our latest collection of...
...men's suits for the season
This looks good too
Chinese style, Western style
This side is women's wear
Gowns for the wedding reception
Your marriage certificate photo...
...looks really blurred when we zoom in
Have you got a photo with better resolution?
Guiying, take this TV with you
You don't want to go
You were used by others for most of your life...
...haven't you had enough?
Miserable beast
You're selling the whole lot?
Yes
Not keeping any to eat?
No
Okay then
Come, let me tot it up for you
Okay, you have 912 kilos of wheat
Deduct moisture, that's roughly 850 kilos
Corn, 1998.5 kilos
Deduct moisture, roughly 1900 kilos, okay?
Agreeable to you?
Then it's 3974 yuan in total
Forget the 4 yuan, makes the book-keeping easier
Here, 3900 yuan, check it
And here's the 70 yuan
I'm doing this for you as a neighbor
You need cash, so I'm buying all your stock
If it was anyone else...
...I wouldn't give such a good price
Since the start of the spring,
you've had credit for fertilizer...
Pesticide, seeds...
...to a total of 1510 yuan
Plus seeds for autumn vegetable, 60 yuan
Grand total of 1570 yuan
Check if that's correct
It's noted on my calendar, correct
It's turned cooler since the corn harvest
The cold season is coming
The ten eggs I borrowed from you last spring
Just ten eggs, no need
This is this, that is that
At the time, I said it was a loan
Come back
Sit down and have a chat, come on
Now you have your own house and food...
...it's nice and easy to live alone
Is the house fully cleared?
Yes
Then we'll start knocking it down
Go ahead
Come, sign the papers
Compensation for demolition, 15,000 yuan
Here you are
Fourth Brother follow you to live in the building
This is also the beginning of his new life
Hurry up!
Get moving!
Everyone's waiting to see you
Hurry up!
Come on out!
Hurry up!
Here, wear your brother's new jacket
There's plenty of rice, why have a bun too?
Have some more
I'll serve you more rice
I'm done, you take your time
I'm full
Is the wedding date set?
Tell me when it is
I'll come to the reception
Okay, Uncle
We'll send you a wedding invite
Does your younger son have a fiancée?
Yes, he's engaged
But he has to wait a year before he can marry
If both sons get married at the same time...
...how could I possibly afford it?
Come in and sit down
Here at last
Don't all stand up! Sit down
I should've invited your husband...
...to come for some food and a chat
Oh, he's a stubborn old donkey
Not very sociable
How did that miserable donkey get into the yard again?
The worthless thing!
I keep feeding it, but it's never full!
I should beat it to death for causing so much trouble!
Here, let me pour you some hot water
Guiying, what do you think of Fourth Brother?
Her Sister-in-law, is her name Guiying?
That's right, you remembered
Go for a pee, go on
Uh...she's going for a pee?
Hmm
Brother and sister-in-law of Guiying...
Look, I'm always frank
So I'll be straightforward
I feel Guiying and Fourth Brother are well-matched
His Third Brother has found them a house to live in
What do you think?
I also think they're a good match
If you think so, we agree
Eh...
We should check that she's found the toilet
Right, she should be back by now
Guiying, the toilet is over there
Ma Hongmei, take this 200 Yuan first
Sorry to give you the trouble...
...of arranging dates for both Fourth Brother Iron
and my elder son
Young people these days...
...don't like to live with older people
As to my elder son's fiancée...
Could you ask her...
...if she agrees to marry in the spring?
You've made matches for both uncle and nephew
Guiying lives in the backyard of her brother's place
Her life is miserable
Since she was small she's been beaten and bullied
And she can't control her bladder
She can't have children, so who else can she marry?
Anyhow, her brother and sister-in-law...
...can't wait to be rid of her
When Iron marries Guiying...
...he'll move out
Then your elder son's fiancée
will have no reason not to marry
Don't worry, Fourth Brother and Guiying will get married
Thank you so much for matching them
I don't know what I'd do if you hadn't
Guiying...
Close the door when you come back
Don't let the donkey get in there
Get closer, you two
Brother, get closer
That's better
Brother, turn your face more towards your wife
Good, chin down a bit
That's good
Sister, chin up a little
A little bit more
Your shoulder on this side is a bit too high
No, the other side
That's good
Now, both look at me
Sister, look at me
Good...
1, 2, 3...
Father
Mother
I'm your son Iron
This is Cao Guiying
We've got married
We've come today to burn some paper money for you
Please receive it
Spend it with my eldest brother Gold
And second brother Silver
Enjoy yourselves
Here, have an apple
Eat it
Eat it
Here
Have a fried dough stick
Here, eat
Eat
'If the living don't eat, the dead won't receive'
Eat
We call on everyone here today...
...to help save Zhang Yongfu
He is sick in hospital now
You can save him
Oh, Zhang Yongfu needs us to save him?
No wonder we haven't seen him for days
He's hiding in the city
We're the ones who need to be saved
He should pay us land rent and wages today
Zhang Yongfu owes you land rent
He also owes the Village Committee for water
But the issue now is that he's sick in hospital
He needs blood transfusions
He has a rare blood-type, in short supply
If anyone has 'panda' blood (RH negative)...
...you can help save him
His son is with us today
The crops we planted last year...
...are not yet sold
Oh
We are looking for ways...
...to sell the produce
So that we can pay your rents
And your wages
So...
For this year, take back your own land...
...and cultivate it yourselves
That will count as one year's land rent
Okay
Right now the only villager
with 'panda' blood is 'Iron' Ma
I hope you'll help save Zhang Yongfu
Who is 'Iron' Ma?
It must be Fourth Brother Ma
The panda is a national treasure
So Fourth Brother has become a national treasure!
He's not a national treasure, just a panda
Not a panda, just 'panda' blood
No, we won't
If you want to give blood, go ahead
Is there anything you want?
I'm rather scared of going to the hospital
I see, Uncle
Easy!
I'll call a friend who works in the hospital
I'll ask him to drive the blood collection van to our place
I will drive you...
...into town, to our place, to give blood
Not at the hospital, okay?
Time to go, Uncle!
The car is waiting outside
Stop for a moment
What's up?
Just stop
Hold on, hold on
Wait, I'll open the door
Tell me earlier if you need a pee
How come you peed in the car?
Eat, have something first
You eat too
No problems with the test result
Remove the cotton bud
That's just a tiny bit of blood for the test
It's fine
No transmissible disease in the blood, it's fine
Let's go to the van and take blood there
It's not hygienic here
You stay here, we'll go
Okay
Now you can eat something, but not too much
It's alright, don't go
They'll come back when it's done
Here are your wheat seeds
Debit my account please
When the autumn grain is sold...
...I'll settle the account
Okay
You gave your 'panda' blood to Zhang Yongfu
Why don't you ask him to buy you seeds and fertilizer...
...and drive them to your home in his BMW?
Why are you still using your own donkey cart?
Why do you still need credit?
Your Third Brother has been exploiting you for years
He didn't even give you a wedding reception!
You could buy a few bottles...
...and we could celebrate your wedding!
Yeah, let's celebrate!
That's enough of your banter
When you urged him to get booze...
...did you see how scared she looked?
She wet her pants!
590 yuan in total
Sign here
I'll do a fingerprint
Yes fine
It's to carry your nephew's wedding furniture
to get your nephew's the wedding furniture
I hired a car but some pieces won't fit in
I thought of hiring a second car
But it's not worth it
You come
Alright
Come inside
No, go to bed early
Here, have it while it's hot
Your hand is so deft
It's hot
Just leave it to cool before you eat it
For lunch and dinner...
...reheat the stir-fry in the wok
Have that with the buns
It'll be night before I'm back
It's dark on the road
Take care
I know
Take the buns out of the steamer when they're done
How much is this coat?
400 Yuan
Don't go, you can have it for 300
It's a designer brand
Come back, the bottom price is 150
I only have 50 Yuan
I know
50 more and it's a deal
Okay, save it for me
I'll bring the money on my next trip to town
I'll buy it then, okay?
It's just that my family is desperately short of money
My dad and I would have nothing to drive
The two BMW are not for sale
My dad and I would have nothing to drive
Okay, uh-huh
Can you sell it for 80 Yuan?
Alright then
Only because you are my first customer today
Quickly, quickly
Here
Here's a bag for it
Uncle...
You bought so much furniture!
It's my elder nephew's wedding furniture
Ah
I'm carrying it back for him
I see
Here, take the coat
Quickly, take it, quickly
Don't drop it! I've got to go
I'll take it as a loan
I've told you again and again, come back earlier
It's the middle of the night!
It's not that far
You'd been back before dark if you'd crawled!
Careful! Mind the sofa legs
It's the middle of the night
It's freezing cold, why are you out here?
It's hot...Here, you sip some too
The long walk worked up a sweat
I didn't feel cold
The hot water in the jar...
...went cold more than once
I filled the jar again and waited for you to come
Filled it again, you still weren't back
Here
Hold it to warm your hands
Here
Here
Wear this when you go out at night
It's long enough...
...to cover your bottom
And it'll keep you warm
Come, sit on the cart
Don't discard the good seeds
Don't throw out the good seeds
Sit tight and we'll go again
Alright
Then they'd dive into the water
I asked if he wasn't afraid of man-eating fish
They dare not stay in the water for long
They dive down and then come up again right away
Straight in, straight out
You poor wretch...
You've worked for your Third Brother for so long
He hasn't even bought you a TV
You still need to visit someone else to watch TV
This is where they wash their clothes and food
But when they wash anything...
...in this spot...
...there will be man-eating fish in the water
Especially in October
So even washing their food...
...becomes impossible
They need to scoop up some water
And then clean the food here
When they wash fish...
...and empty a bucket like this...
...they can see movement in the water
Big shoals of man-eating fish!
What brings you here, Chief?
Oh, you're all watching TV
Please take a seat
I'm fine, don't need to sit
I just came to ask about something
I'd like to know about your neighbor
How many years since he left his house?
Why do you ask?
It's like this
The Village Committee met a few days ago
The government wants to improve
the living environment
Build new countryside better
Demolition of vacant old houses
15000 yuan for demolition
15000 yuan if refurbished
I see
They've been away for 5 or 6 years
Hm, I see
Apparently they all went to work in the South...
...and bought a property down there
Oh
That's all, you go on watching
Okay, see you
Bye
You wretched thing!
Why did you pee on the stool?
You think a tissue is enough to wipe it clean?
Hey, you forgot the eggs you're borrowing
You are...
...Ma Youwen
Yes
You're back
Yes, I'm back
You've come back
Yes
The Village Committee telephoned me
They said...
Vacant houses will be torn down,
with 15,000 Yuan compensation
You know about that?
So move out your things in the next couple of days
I've taken a few days off...
...to see to the demolition of my old house
When it's done...
...I'll rush back to work in Dongguan
Here, have a cigarette
Here
Come on, take one
Have some water
No, no, no
No
Don't worry...
There are lots of empty houses in the village
Move to one that's not being demolished for now
Actually...
I suggest...
...you load your cart...
...with the wood from the doors and windows
Use it as firewood
Here, let me
A swallow's nest
Well, it won't find its old nest this year
Ready?
Then let's go
Take care
How about now?
The “Double Happiness wedding symbol”
Up a tiny bit
That's it
I think in a few days...
...chicks will hatch
By the time of wheat harvest...
...the hens might start laying
It can't be helped
It can be fertilizer for the other shoots
Everyone has his own destination
The wheat is no different
It has its fate too
When summer comes...
...it'll be cut down anyway
Why are you on foot? You could ride on the cart
Too heavy for the donkey
That's what the donkey's for
Worried you'd over-burden it!
If you got that useless idler off the cart...
...the donkey won't be over-burdened!
Anything else?
There
Okay, let's move to the next one
“Long-vacant property”
Here, take your coat
Hey, look at this
The chicks are hatching
Incubated chicks don't have a mother
So they take the first person they see...
...as their mother
No trouble for you to look after them in the future
Don't help it
Let it stand on its own feet
Let's go...
I'll carry this bucket
Time for food
Come and eat
Wait a bit while I finish molding these bricks
Wait a bit
I need to mold the mud first
Don't go! Don't ever go again
Is the coat alright?
Doctor, take my blood
Instead of his
Just give him a rest
Anyone's blood won't do
That's why...
...we need to keep bothering you
Unclench your fist
Hey!
Hey!
Come in and eat first
Come in and eat first
He'll come once it's done
Come on
Don't eat it
It fell on the ground
Don't worry
Everything starts in the soil
Everything grows in the soil
The soil doesn't despise us
How can we despise the soil?
The soil rewards us
Whether you're rich and powerful...
...or an ordinary person
You plant a bag of wheat...
...and it will repay you tenfold
Or even twentyfold
That miserable donkey...
That miserable donkey...
Can't it chew on something else?
Since it ate some corn seedlings...
...we'll feed it one less cob in the autumn
What's eaten was eaten
Take the wicker mat with you
I will walk home first
The donkey has to pull the tiller
if I ride on the cart, my weight could be...
...too much for the donkey
Okay
I'll get on with weeding the corn field
Yes
I'll fetch you when I'm ready to load the cart
Come to Grandma
Those things are dirty
Come, sit on the cart
No
Come, sit up here
Look...
He really cares for her
He could tie her to his belt
So fond of her
Looks after her well
Not like us, nobody cares
No-one loves us
Or even cares
See, he's very fond of her
Then you should've agreed to marry him!
If you'd married him...
...he'd give you lifelong care
You old fool...
I am just giving you an example
She lives better than any of us
So what?
Men always spoil their women
Have a good rest tomorrow
Listen...
The old bottles in the eaves...
...are whistling again
Slow down, don't fall over! It's pitch-black out here
Lots of bags have blown away
Don't cry
It's just a few bags
Here, put on this plastic sheet
Don't worry about me, protect the mud bricks
Go back inside, you'll catch cold in this rain
You're crying with laughter!
You haven't caught a cold, have you?
I'm not that weak
I used to live in a shed in my brother's backyard
I'm used to strong wind and rain
No problem
Does this look like our donkey?
Yes
Very similar
A straw donkey has it good
Doesn't need to graze, not bossed around
That first time at your Third Brother's house...
...I saw him beat the donkey
My sister-in-law was afraid I might wet myself...
...and that you'd turn me down if you saw
So she urged me to have a pee
I saw you...
...comforting the donkey in the yard
Feeding him corns
This donkey...
This donkey had a better life than I did
I thought...
...you'd be a good man...
...to marry
That day you kept staring at me
I was so embarrassed
I could barely look up
The old men and women at the bridge...
They said I could...
...tie you to my belt
I need to fasten you...
...in case you roll off the roof in the night
It's cooler to sleep up here on the roof
Hey
I can hear their TV is on
Go and watch a bit
Go on
I'll give you a shout when the grinding is done
Go and watch TV
I'll sing this song for you
There's no radiation in my bed
I don't need to eat a lot
Don't think it over, don't hesitate
Let me give you a sports car
Yaoting, Yaoting, come and sing along with me
Here
It's yesterday's flour, fresh-ground
A sack for you
When the Jiji hay is used up, come for some more
I will
I'll bring you a couple of sacks of potatoes in autumn
The hay isn't worth much
A sack and a half would be fine
Oh, I took some cow dung from your pasture
When you've burnt it, come for more
Alright
Okay, good, good
Guiying
Pull the donkey
pull
Yes, that's the way
A bit slower...yes, good
Slow down, slow down
Don't fall off!
Good
Be careful
Alright
Father
Mother
Brother Gold
Brother Silver
This is Iron here
We're building a house
Guiying and I are here to burn you some paper money
Please receive and spend it
Well...
The wheat's in ear
Smell it
When the wheat in ear, it smells so nice
We used to have a crazy in our village
He kept muttering the same thing day after day
To the sickle, he'd say “What could the wheat say?”
To the pecking sparrows, he'd say...
“What could the wheat say?”
To the grinder, he'd say...
“What could the wheat say?”
Since it was still in seed form...
...what could the wheat say?
I've heard such things too
We also had a crazy guy posted to our village
He liked saying such things
Oh
When I was a little kid...
...other kids would catapult pebbles at him
But our teacher took him under his wing
When he saw the catapulting...
...he'd tell us off angrily
He even fed the crazy guy buns
It's only now that I'm halfway to the grave...
...that I understand what the crazy guy meant
I also gave him food
Because of that...
...my brother and sister-in-law beat me hard
I couldn't walk for a couple of weeks
Hah, we're talking about the same guy
Take a break from it
Okay
But I'll finish straightening up these corns first
Come and eat some buns
Let me wash my hands first
Alright
Hey, come, down here
I'll wash your hands too
Come quickly
Ai-ya!
Quick, get some hay and dry wood
Taste some
Doctor...
Doctor, the blood bag is full
It's full!
Take the needle out
It's not full yet, in a moment
Stop it
Sit down and be patient
Here, I bought you a light coat
It's getting warmer
This won't make you sweat
Here you go, take it
Hey
Yes?
Well...
Their land rent and wages...
Pay them soon
Those old people in the village...
...have tough lives
They must send grandchildren to school...
See doctors...
Grow crops, pay for seeds and fertilizer
These are all expenses
They all need money
You're pumping blood now
Why are you speaking for them?
Well, I know
When the corn is sold, they will all be paid
The needle is out, get some food
Eat first
You can go on sharpening afterwards
Have some buns
And a sip of water
I'm fine
I mean, don't bother
I want to get all the wheat loaded first
Once it's done, I can relax and have a drink
Alright
Slow down
Take it slower
Can you use the fork...
...to lift those last bundles up here?
If I clamber down to fetch them...
...I could damage the ones already loaded
Watch out!
You'll ruin all the ears of wheat!
You're useless!
You've eaten so much wheat
But you can't even load a few bundles
I keep a donkey because it can pull the cart
Come on, sit on the cart
Come on, sit on the cart
Come on, sit on the cart
I put too little weight on the front
If you sit there, you'll balance it
Don't be cross, get on
Go up there
I've made you a nest
You can just sit in it...
...and hold the rope
Hold tight
I planted a flower on you there
Made a mark
So I'll always find you, wherever you go
Well...
Good harvest this year
Eat as much as you can
No matter how much food there is...
...my stomach is no bigger
Ouch! wheat rash!
No, don't scratch it
How come so much rash on your wrist?
Stop scratching
You'll make it worse
Come down
Come and have a wash
It will stop the rash on your neck from itching
The water is running too fast today
You can stand between these two logs
I'll hold you tight, don't worry
Come down
It's cold
Come on, it's warm when you're in the water
it's warm in the water
Come on
Lean forward, hold tigh
My feet aren't steady, the water's too fast
It's okay, hold on to the log
I'll wash and rub you
Stay still, I'll give you a good rub
Swallows build their own nests
What swallow would come to live in your nest?
You are Ma Chengwan
You're back
Swallows know their own nests
Their old nest was in the demolished house
Since your new house is built...
...move over in the next couple of days
Okay
That's all, I'll be going
Come in and have a seat
No, no, I will see myself off
Do you have a place to live?
Yes, don't worry, I do
Everything moved out?
Yes
Then start the demolition
Could you wait for a few more days?
Until the baby swallow hatches and leaves?
I'm rushing back to Shenzhen for work
I don't have time to wait for any swallow
Hurry up
Get a move on!
Just go
Drive up and start demolishing from here
What are you there for?
Off you go
Leave now
Check, is it level?
Up a bit on this side
A little bit more
A tiny bit more
Yes, that's it
Get your food
Alright
The sound from the rain bottles
in the eaves is nicer here
Much better than the old places
That's your way of saying...
“Home-made is best every time”
I've never thought...
...in my whole life...
...that I'd ever have my own home
Sleep on my own kang (heated brick bed)
When the autumn corn is harvested and sold...
...I'll buy you a big TV set for the New Year
And take you to the city...
...to see a reputable doctor
In all my life...
...I've never been to the city
Neither have I
Then we'll go have a good look round the city
Here, I'll take it
You've moved in
Just recently...
...I've been busy with your elder nephew's wedding
So I had no time to help you move
Here...
Some leftovers from the wedding reception
No-one's touched it
We thought you must be working on your house
So you'd be too busy...
...to come to the wedding reception
Come inside
Here is fine
There's something I need to discuss with you
The National Poverty Alleviation Policy says that every
impoverished household is eligible
for one council apartment
I've applied for one on your behalf
80 square metres
Just over 10,000 Yuan
I will pay for you
I'm just a farmer
What do I want with an apartment in town?
How could I maintain it?
If I moved there...
...where would I keep my donkey, pigs and hens?
I don't want it
Look, well...
Your second nephew said the application will begin
Now the price of buildings is very high
Don't miss this opportunity
They usually cost over 200,000 yuan
if we miss this chance...
...how could I find the money...
...to buy an apartment for him?
My hand...
Something bit me, it's come up in a lump
I've tied this toad here to neutralize it
Only four apartments for this whole village
How can it be my turn?
Don't worry
As long as you want it...
...you're one of the poorest in our village
You don't have kids
And you donate 'panda' blood for Zhang Yongfu
You're saving Zhang Yongfu
And that saves most people in our village
If you don't help Zhang Yongfu, he'll die
Where would they get their land rent and wages then?
How would the Village Committee
get the overdue water payment?
As long as you apply for the apartment...
...no-one will dare to challenge you
He should deliver your stuff to you in his BMW!
To save you pulling your donkey cart
For carrying sacks of stuff...
...my gold donkey cart beats his gold car
The car's not as good as his donkey!
That 'gold' donkey cart is the best!
Next!
We leased one and a half acres of your land
That's 725 Yuan, correct?
Yes, correct
You can take 7 bags of corn
I'm giving you 12.5 kilos extra
That can't be right
The market price for corn is 80 cents per 500 grams
You're making it 1 yuan per 500 grams?
Do you want it or not? If not, go home and wait...
...until I have the money to pay you
I owe you land rent for two acres
500 kilos
That's right
Take 500 kilos of corn
Er...
Deduct the money for the two coats
Just give me 420 kilos
As we agreed, that money was 'borrowed'
This is this, that is that
Alright then
Just load up 420 kilos
Next
Look...
It looks as if you're planting footprints in the field
Maybe in a few days the autumn vegetables
won't grow...
...but we get a crop of footprints!
I hope not
Because you can't move if your feet 'grow' in the field
Either the wind will blow you down...
Or the donkey will nibble you...
Or you'll be pecked by sparrows, or cut by sickles
Being stuck in the field is to suffer
That's right
Feet let people walk around
They're better off than crops and vegetables
grown in the field
Things grown in the field can't go anywhere
Exposed to wind and sun...
Living, then dying...
Never leaving the field
That's right
Mind you, though...
Where can our feet take us?
We're also tied to our land
We can't go anywhere
Tell me, how can a peasant live without land?
This way...
This block is not bad
Yes, pretty well built
The balcony is nice and bright
Yes, it's okay
'Iron' Ma
You'll soon move into this spacious and tidy apartment
How do you feel?
People can live here
But where do my donkey...
The pigs...
...and the hens live?
I think the apartment is not bad
Kitchen's a bit small though
But they'll manage
Nice big living room
One, Two
Three, Four
Five
This miserable hen
...went to lay eggs in Ma Chengwan's old house
No wonder there's one gone missing
It went to live and lay eggs there
Well
I'll make it a nest...
...get it used to lay eggs in the new nest
it grew up in Ma Chengwan's old house
Hmm
What's the matter with you?
Feeling dizzy
Your hands are hot
You are having a temperature
Get inside
Get up
You don't look well
Quickly
Get inside and cover up with heavy duvets...
...you'll get better after a good sweating
Get up now
Get up and eat the poached egg while it's still hot
Then drink the Zisu herb soup
Come on...
Have it while it's hot
Taste the first egg...
...from the chickens you raised
I'm so unlucky
In the old days...
...when I lived in the backyard shed, I never got ill
Now I eat well, live well
But I get ill
You have some too
You get on and eat
Quick!
Get your energy back, go on
You have a bit
You eat, go on
Go on, eat
From now on, they'll lay eggs every day
You go on and eat
I need to make them a coop
Or they might run back to the old house to lay eggs
You eat and get better soon
it might work with a log
Your wife was bringing two buns and an egg
She was looking for you
We asked her to wait, you'd be here soon
But when she stood up...
...she felt dizzy and fell into the water
Lao Wang was taking her
Run for her
Are you going to make sure Lao Wang
pulls your wife up?
Guiying!
Guiying! Guiying!
Guiying!
“Date of marriage registration: 2011.02.08”
In the studio on the second floor...
...we have more wedding clothes
Come and take a look
This is our latest collection of...
...men's suits for the season
This looks good too
Chinese style, Western style
This side is women's wear
Gowns for the wedding reception
Your marriage certificate photo...
...looks really blurred when we zoom in
Have you got a photo with better resolution?
Guiying, take this TV with you
You don't want to go
You were used by others for most of your life...
...haven't you had enough?
Miserable beast
You're selling the whole lot?
Yes
Not keeping any to eat?
No
Okay then
Come, let me tot it up for you
Okay, you have 912 kilos of wheat
Deduct moisture, that's roughly 850 kilos
Corn, 1998.5 kilos
Deduct moisture, roughly 1900 kilos, okay?
Agreeable to you?
Then it's 3974 yuan in total
Forget the 4 yuan, makes the book-keeping easier
Here, 3900 yuan, check it
And here's the 70 yuan
I'm doing this for you as a neighbor
You need cash, so I'm buying all your stock
If it was anyone else...
...I wouldn't give such a good price
Since the start of the spring,
you've had credit for fertilizer...
Pesticide, seeds...
...to a total of 1510 yuan
Plus seeds for autumn vegetable, 60 yuan
Grand total of 1570 yuan
Check if that's correct
It's noted on my calendar, correct
It's turned cooler since the corn harvest
The cold season is coming
The ten eggs I borrowed from you last spring
Just ten eggs, no need
This is this, that is that
At the time, I said it was a loan
Come back
Sit down and have a chat, come on
Now you have your own house and food...
...it's nice and easy to live alone
Is the house fully cleared?
Yes
Then we'll start knocking it down
Go ahead
Come, sign the papers
Compensation for demolition, 15,000 yuan
Here you are
Fourth Brother follow you to live in the building
This is also the beginning of his new life