Aftershocks

---

"July 27, 1976 Tangshan"

Dad, fast. Look!

Dragonflies!

There are too many. I don't even

want to chase them.

Dad, why are there so many

dragonflies?

A storm must be approaching.

Dad, I want a popsicle

Let's get off

Go with your brother and take this

fan home.

Tell mom I'm going to the factory.

I'll come back home later.

Are six pennies enough?

Enough.

Be careful.

Two milk popsicles, please.

Ying Tong, let's go.

Give it to me

Ying Tong's brother stole my popsicle!

Fang Da! Hurry, run.

- How dare you?

- Hurry, run.

Run home. Don't let him catch you.

Hurry.

Fang Da, run faster.

Hurry. Come on.

Slow down.

What are you carrying

Dad bought a fan.

Blow it on me. Blow it on me.

Hold on.

I have to plug it in first.

Fang Da,

Don't get your hand caught in the fan.

Get down!

How's this?

Good.

First me.

No, first let it blow on mom.

Mom's all hot from cooking.

we can all cool off together.

Mom, feel better?

Yes, it's cooler.

You two cool off.

Don't put your hands inside.

Okay.

Nice and cool.

Don't move.

Dad has two watches now.

Dad,

What time do you want it to be?

Seven.

Okay

I bought two new book bags for you.

I want the Tiananmen Square one.

I want the Great wall one.

Don't turn it off.

It's hot.

But you can't let it blow on you

like that.

Come here.

Mom's got to put powder on you.

Mom, I want to eat a tomato.

I do too.

Just a minute.

My gosh, look.

Look at the new book bags

Mom bought you.

They're a bit large for you.

These are for you to use

when you're in the 6th grade.

There's only one left.

Fang Deng, let your brother have it.

Mom, Fang Da ate it all.

I want some too.

It's all gone.

Mom will buy some for you tomorrow.

Liar.

I'm not lying.

You can count on Mom.

Okay?

Having twins is strange.

They both go potty at the same time.

If one snacks on sunflower seeds,

so will the other.

They're not imitating each another.

It's really interesting.

So fascinating.

They're still a bit lonely.

Other kids pick on them.

I really want one more.

You do?

Sure

We were scared to death

when you had the twins.

You want to do it again.

Sure, why not.

Too bad I can't get pregnant.

I'm happy with one son and one daughter.

People can see us.

Go to the back

Hurry.

You bad boy

Come here

What are you laughing at?

It's so hot.

We're probably the only ones

in Tangshan doing this.

Everyone must be hot,

So no one can fall asleep.

Just got off work?

Yes

See you tomorrow.

why is the truck shaking?

why's the sky purple?

what's going on?

Hurry and get off.

Earthquake. It's an earthquake!

My children.

Run.

Mom!

Dad!

Mom!

Fang Da, run. Run.

The crane is going to fall!

Come here!

Mom!

I'm coming!

Mom!

Dad!

what are you doing?

Da Qiang.

Zhiguo!

Help! Can anyone help us?

Da Qiang, don't give up.

I'm here.

Yuan Ni is here.

Da Qiang.

Hold on.

Stay with me.

Da Qiang, hold on.

Da Qiang.

Here it comes again.

Da Qiang.

God.

You bastard.

Dad. Mom.

Sister.

Dad, save me.

Sister.

Mom.

Save me.

Mom.

Save me.

Why did you push me away

why'd you leave me by myself?

Da Qiang!

There are children here. Hurry, help.

Yuan Ni. It's Fang Da.

Fang Da!

- where are you?

- Here. Over here.

Fang Da.

Mom, I want out.

I don't want to stay here

Be good. Don't cry.

Mom's here.

We'll get you out soon.

My arm hurts. It's killing me.

Mom, I want to get out of here.

Don't cry. Mom's right here.

Where's your sister?

Is she next to you?

I can't see her.

I can hear her knocking on the stone.

Fang Da, hold on.

Hold on.

I can see Fang Deng.

A concrete slab is on top of them.

where?

Underneath.

- Take a look.

- Let me see

Fang Deng!

Fang Deng, say something.

Fang Deng!

Mister.

I beg you all.

I beg you.

Their dad...

Their dad is already gone.

If my kids aren't saved,

I can't go on living.

I beg you.

I'll do anything you want for

the rest of my life.

I'll be your servant, okay?

Stop crying!

We'll find a solution.

First, we'll remove the slab.

Hurry and get a crowbar.

One, two, three.

I'll go get a pole.

One, two, three.

Hurry up.

I can't hear them anymore.

You can only save one.

Hurry and make up your mind.

They both have to be saved.

You still don't understand?

A concrete slab is on top of them both.

One side's on your daughter.

The other side's on your son.

If we lift up here, the slab will crush

your daughter.

If we lift up the other side,

then the slab will crush your son.

Hurry and make up your mind.

You can only save one.

Both have to be saved.

They both have to be saved.

My gosh.

We can only lift up one side

of the concrete slab.

I beg you. Save them both.

Hurry and make up your mind.

I beg you. Save them both.

Save them both.

I beg you.

Hurry up.

we can't hear them anymore.

Stop waiting. If you wait,

both will be gone.

Save them both.

Yuan Ni, have you finally decided. . .

Which one?

Someone's alive here. Come, help!

We have to go rescue more people

over there.

Mister. . .

Save my son.

Which one?

Save my son.

Hurry, save the son.

Mom...

Forgive mom.

Fang Deng,

Forgive mom.

Fang Da,

Say something.

Yuan Ni,

You should first save the one

who is still alive.

We can't do anything about the dead.

Look, he's not saying anything.

He's not making a sound.

Hurry and take him to the

Tangshan airport.

The People's Liberation Army's

medical teams are there.

Get going.

If you don't hurry it'll be too late.

Hurry up.

Hey kid, Where's your family?

Where are your parents?

Any family members left?

Don't worry.

I'll take you home.

That one.

The girl whose head is lowered.

She's not too old?

Five or six.

She remembers everything.

She's the prettiest.

She can be an actress when she grows up.

She's pretty.

I'm afraid she'll be hard to bring up.

I've asked her many times,

But she can't remember anything.

It shouldn't be hard to develop

a relationship with her.

It's just that. . .

These children have been through so much.

It will take some time.

Are you sure she's an orphan?

Her photo was posted in the

emergency rescue office...

For such a long time.

No relative contacted her.

without anyone having contacted her,

she should be an orphan.

Of course one can't say for sure.

I don't want to end up losing her.

I understand.

You can think it over.

Whenever you have a chance,

you can come and see her.

Please hurry with the paperwork.

Fine.

Please do what you can.

You are doing a good thing.

She doesn't have any problems, does she?

we haven't found any problems.

But. . .

She doesn't like to speak.

I think she's just fine.

Salute!

Learn from the heroes of the

earthquake rescue.

Honor the soldiers of the

earthquake rescue.

Ya Ya,

what do you think?

Our army is like a large

revolutionary family.

Everyone will become like family to you.

You're always carrying her.

Let me carry her.

Don't worry. I'm not tired.

That's not it.

I want to carry her.

Ya Ya,

Go to mommy.

I'll take her.

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