The Road Home Page #2

a new building must have...

...a red cloth wrapped around its beam

for good luck.

The cloth is called the "Lucky Red Banner."

It must be woven

by the most beautiful maiden in the village.

This task, of course, fell upon my mother.

Perhaps she already had my father in mind.

The red cloth she made

was especially beautiful.

The village had two wells back then.

The old well was called the "Front Well."

The newer well was called the "Back Well."

Most people used the Back Well

since it was closer to the village.

After my father arrived,

my mother started to use the old well...

...because she could pass by the school.

Back then, when the village had

a big event like building a new house...

...each family prepared a dish...

...for the men working on the site.

My mother prepared her best dishes...

...hoping my father would eat

what she made.

In the old days, women were not allowed

to participate in many things...

...such as building a new house

or digging a new well.

Superstition had it

that women would bring bad luck.

When they built the schoolhouse,

women could only...

...watch from a distance.

- What did you make today?

- Steamed bread.

- Di, what did you make?

- I made onion cakes.

I brought rice steamed in lotus leaves.

Steamed rice is not as good

as onion cakes.

- Did you save some for your boyfriend?

- Shut up!

They just pick up any dish at random.

They don't know who made what.

I wonder who ate my dumplings.

Put them here.

You're already done with the banner?

I was going to come get it from you.

- Give it to me.

- It's okay. I saved you a trip.

This is a beautiful banner.

The school is almost finished.

The first lesson will be Chinese literature.

- Is the teacher happy with the food?

- Yes.

- Does he eat what we make?

- Yes.

Does he grab the food like you guys?

No. He's a gentleman from the city.

He is not like us.

So how does it work?

We always ask the teacher to pick first.

"In life..." Read after me.

"One must have a goal."

Let's start from the beginning.

"Reading and writing opens one's eyes.

"Writing and counting benefit one's life.

"Keep a journal faithfully.

"Know the present, know the past..."

When I was young, my mother told me

my father had a beautiful voice.

My mother is illiterate

She didn't understand the text.

But she couldn't resist my father's voice.

She went by the school

every day after that.

For most, the novelty of the new school

wore off after a while.

But not for my mother.

For 40 years, she went to listen.

It became part of her life.

"Have respect for your elders."

My mother heard that each day

after school...

...my father walked some students home.

She started waiting beside the road,

hoping to meet my father.

"The birds sing with the beautiful sun.

"Their songs wake the beautiful flowers."

- Who is she?

- That's Zhao Di.

- Is she from the village?

- Yes.

Di, the teacher is asking about you!

- Teacher, you want some water?

- Yes.

- Let me get it for you.

- No, I can do it myself.

- Let me do it.

- I can do it, thanks.

You're the teacher, you shouldn't bother.

Let me do it.

Come on.

I can.

Di, how come you came to the Front Well?

- Tomorrow it's our turn to have you over.

- I know.

My father told me the first time

he went to my mother's house...

...she stood in the doorway.

Leaning against the door frame,

she looked like a figure in a painting.

That's the image he would never forget.

- Di, is the teacher here?

- Yes.

I could tell by his heavy footsteps.

Come in. Let me see.

My mother's eyesight is no good.

This teacher is very tall.

Sit down, please.

The food must taste good to you.

You sound like you're enjoying it.

How long have you been in our village?

About a month.

- Have you gotten used to it?

- Yes.

That's good.

- You're from the city?

- Yes, from East Gate.

How did you choose Sanhetun?

After graduation, I had nothing to do.

One day I saw someone on the street

signing people up.

I signed up without asking what it was for.

I ended up here.

- Do you regret it?

- No.

Why not?

I like it here.

- Are you married?

- No.

- Are you engaged?

- No.

Di will do it. Just sit down, please.

Do you remember this bowl?

The white and blue design?

No, I don't remember it.

- Did you eat the food brought to the site?

- Yes.

It seems Di's hard work

wasn't appreciated.

Di didn't tell me, but I knew everything.

When you were building the school,

she made all her best dishes.

She always used that bowl...

...hoping you would choose her dish.

Even I wasn't allowed to touch it.

I remember now.

You do?

No wonder the bowl seems familiar.

- You ate from this bowl?

- Yes.

What did you eat?

On the first day, I made onion cakes.

On the second,

scrambled eggs with onions on rice.

On the third day, mushroom dumplings.

What a shame, three delicious meals.

Mushroom dumplings are my favourite.

I'll make you some this afternoon.

- That's too much trouble for you.

- Not at all.

You've just finished lunch,

and now you're planning dinner.

Di, show the teacher out.

He must be very busy.

Yes, I should go.

You look pretty in that red jacket.

I remember it from the day I arrived.

Don't forget to come back for dumplings

this afternoon.

You shouldn't make the dumplings.

- Why not?

- So you won't regret it later.

- What will I regret?

- You know it yourself.

This teacher is a nice man.

But he's out of our class.

What are you talking about?

They're only dumplings.

Don't play dumb. I'm just being honest.

You'd better forget about him.

- I won't go back.

- You've got no choice.

I came to say goodbye.

Where are you going?

- Back to the city.

- What's happened?

Nothing.

I saw you arguing with someone.

Was that what it was about?

Who was he?

Why do you have to go back?

It's no big deal.

He just wants to ask me some questions.

- Can't he ask you questions here?

- It's not up to him.

Will you come back?

Of course!

I have classes to teach.

When will you be back?

By the 27th at the latest.

I will be back before

the school holiday starts on the 28th.

- Come in and have some dumplings.

- I can't.

I have things to do before I go.

Don't wait for me.

He's waiting for me.

Tell him to come, too.

Anyway, you have to eat.

Okay, I'll be back.

I'll wait for you.

This is for you.

It goes well with your red jacket.

I'll be waiting.

What is going on? No more classes?

- He's in some political trouble.

- What?

I don't understand it either.

Maybe he'll be back soon.

The teacher's left.

- The teacher's left?

- Yes.

- When?

- The mayor just saw him off.

My mother retraced her steps every day...

...searching back and forth.

She had to find the clip

that my father gave her.

Bowl and pot repair.

Please come in.

I charge for the nails I use.

This will cost you more than

buying a new bowl.

Just tell me how much and I'll pay you.

- Is it a family heirloom?

- No.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes