Aftershock Page #2

Look. . .

We live in the apartment up there.

We're home.

Ya Ya,

This is where mom and dad live.

Don't be afraid.

We don't have earthquakes here.

Ya Ya,

Look. . .

This is your room.

We got this room ready just for you.

Do you like it?

Come here.

Later,

We'll take a shower,

Change into clean clothes.

She just got here. It's all new to her.

Don't worry.

The whole way here...

She didn't say a single word.

Could she be mute?

Don't make things up.

If a stray cat or dog

couldn't eat anything for two days. . .

What can you expect of a child who nearly died?

Look. . .

Isn't she listening to us?

Mom...

Sister...

Why'd you come here?

Mom.

Fang Da,

Say hi to your grandma and aunt.

Hi grandma. Hi aunt.

You were waiting a long time.

Hard to find.

No one knew where to find you.

Let's go inside.

Yuan Ni. . .

Let us take Fang Da back with us.

His last name is Fang. He's my grandson.

We should take care of him.

You're still young.

I've thought about it.

You can move on with your life.

Mom...

You can't just kick me

out of the family like this.

Fang Da is so pitiful.

With only one hand...

He can carry a book but not a pen.

Or a pen but not a book.

I can take good care of Fang Da.

The teacher said he can enroll in school.

He can go to school in Jinan.

It's better than going to school in Tangshan.

Look at it here. When will the new buildings

be finished?

Yuan Ni. . .

How about this.

You...

and Fang Da. . .

Can both go to Jinan.

You can look for a job if you want.

If you don't want to work...

You can stay at home with your child.

Our family. . .

Won't let you two feel neglected.

I know you want to help me.

But I can't go anywhere.

Why are you so stubborn!

We're thinking about you.

You have to keep us in mind too.

Mom

Mom, don't worry.

Fang Da will be fine with me.

Later when our lives are better,

I'll take him to spend the holidays with you.

I came all the way here. . .

To bring him back with me.

Fang Da is all I have left.

If he leaves me,

Then this family...

Will be all gone.

My son should have left the army

to come back to Jinan.

He stayed in Tangshan to be with you.

Mom...

What are you saying?

I should have died instead of my son.

I'm sorry.

He was so tall.

He was so smart and strong.

He's gone just like that.

Now my grandson is crippled.

Of course I am concerned.

I can't stop worrying about him.

How can I go on living now?

Sorry.

I feel so guilty.

I feel terrible for Da Qiang.

And I feel terrible for Fang Deng and Fang Da.

I'm the only one who's fine.

I agree.

Take him. . .

Just as long as he'll be better off.

Okay.

We're all one family. . .

We shouldn't act like strangers.

So many terrible things have happened.

So many people have died.

We have to come together...

And think of our future.

At home...

All your belongings are gone.

Last time you sent us photographs,

I brought one back for you.

Sit tight

Hold on

Fang Da. . .

Do what your grandma tells you.

Don't misbehave.

Don't forget.

Mom.

Yeah.

Mom

Be good.

Mom

Be good.

Mom.

Mom,

By taking Fang Da from her. . .

It is like stealing Yuan Ni's life away.

Mom!

Fang Da!

Mom!

Let's go.

Wang, This is your daughter?

Yes.

She's very pretty.

- Say hi.

- What's your name?

Say hi.

Doctor Dong,

This is the girl who was brought

back from Tangshan.

Yes.

Let me see your face.

Do you look like your dad or mom?

Come on, let's eat.

What are you doing. . .

Scaring the child?

What's her name?

Ya Ya.

Say hi to your "uncle."

Go on.

You're impolite.

Here, men are called "uncles,"

And women are called "aunts."

Don't embarrass her.

Ya Ya,

Is a bit shy around new people.

Is that pretty?

Ya Ya, are you ready?

We need to go now.

You are a pretty girl.

What's your name?

Wang Fan. "Fan" means "sail."

I'm Wang Deng.

Whatever she wants.

"Deng."

Was this your name before?

Later on. . .

When you think of things from the past. . .

You can tell mom and dad.

Dad can take you to Tangshan

to look for your relatives.

Right?

I don't remember.

You'll remember.

Alright.

Everything's taken care of.

From this day on, you are the student Wang Deng.

Let's go home.

"Tangshan 1 986"

Watch out.

Fang Da,

Hurry and eat breakfast.

Give me the towel.

Give it to me.

Go on in.

Hurry and eat.

When you finish, put your arm on.

I don't want to.

It hurts too much.

You still need to wear it.

Young men need to look decent.

Also...

It was very expensive.

If I knew you had borrowed money for it,

I wouldn't have wanted it.

Eat, don't talk.

Mom,

What are you doing?

Your teacher told me...

You need to have a good place to study.

The fridge is too noisy. I'm moving it to my room.

Even if you move it,

I still won't get into college.

I don't want to take the test.

What are you saying?

If you don't go to college, then what?

Take my job?

You can't do the work at the factory.

You can't drive.

You can't cook.

I've thought of all types of jobs.

You have to go to college.

I can be a guard.

How about a bathroom attendant?

No way!

If you don't get into college,

Your grandmother will blame me.

You didn't go to Jinan,

All these years,

So she sent money and cakes.

If you get into college,

Then I'll have repaid the debt to her.

What is there to pay back?

She's my grandmother.

Why are you always thinking like that?

If I die...

What will you do?

If you don't have any skills,

What girl would want to marry you?

I want to help you raise a child.

Then the child can help you when you are old.

Mom...

Don't worry.

Later I promise I can find a girl

who will marry me.

Get to school.

Go on.

Hold on.

Yuan Ni! Yuan Ni!

There's a call from Fang Da's school again.

The passengers are coming out of the station.

They are coming out.

Anyone need a hotel?

Need a hotel?

Need a hotel? We can give you a ride.

The room's clean and cheap.

Mister, need a hotel?

It's raining. We can give you a ride.

Come in.

Teacher Jiang.

The school has a policy. . .

Students are suspended after fifteen absences.

Fang Da has missed three days of school already.

Is he planning to take the college entrance exam?

Yes.

Da Qiang.

Fang Deng.

Don't think I'm annoying.

Each year...

we talk to you both.

We moved.

If you want to come back,

Don't go the wrong way.

Our alleyway...

Is next to the railway's school.

At the first row of houses, turn left.

Our home is the first one.

Don't forget.

Where we used to live. . .

They're building a department store.

We can't move back.

Mom,

Dad and my sister died ten years ago.

How can they come back?

It's spooky when you say these things.

I don't know how to tell your dad and sister.

I was waiting for the day of

your college entrance exam.

But you didn't even go to take it.

Why can't you do the right thing?

I'm so disappointed.

Disappointed. . .

If you had known,

You could have saved my sister instead.

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