To Live Page #4

I'll teach you a lesson!

What are you doing?

How dare you!

What's going on?

She smashed the windows of the jeep.

Who the heck is she?

Let her go!

Are you mad?

Do you want your jeep?

No!

The 1960s

June 1966:
Start of the

"Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution."

It lasted 10 years...

and left no family unaffected.

- You're eating?

- Come on in, Mr. Niu.

- Don't let me interrupt.

- We're finished.

Sit here.

You have to get rid of those puppets.

Everyone knows about them.

I was telling Jiazhen...

that we could...

do propaganda shows.

Put these old things to new use.

Don't you see what they are?

Emperors, scholars and beauties.

Classic feudal types.

Latest editorial:

"The older, the more reactionary."

Do as Chairman Mao says.

They always remind Jiazhen of Youqing.

Let's not bring up the past.

Burn them, okay?

I've got other people to see.

Fetch a brazier.

You can't keep them. Burn them!

Fugui...

Chunsheng has asked me many times...

to get you a better job. What do you think?

Delivering water is fine.

Jiazhen's health is poor.

If we're together, I can look after her.

We'll discuss it later.

I may have found a prospect for Fengxia.

I'll tell you about him.

Let's not let her in on it for now.

I've found just the man for her.

His name is Wan Erxi.

He works in a factory in the county seat.

He is the leader of the factory's Red Guards.

He'd like to meet her.

Sounds too good. Will he go for Fengxia?

He's also got a handicap...

a lame leg.

How lame? Can he walk?

Yes, and run if he has to.

He can run?

Was he born a cripple?

No, it was an accident at work.

He gets compensation.

Shall we invite him over?

Fengxia can check him out.

Does she mind us playing matchmaker?

She's not opposed,

she does fret about leaving us.

Comrade Wan Erxi's here.

Comrade Wan Erxi.

Fengxia's mom and dad.

Come inside.

Have something to drink.

Quotations from Chairman Mao

Comrade Wan works

at the East Wind Factory.

His father and grandfather

were workers, too.

Solid working class stock.

Fengxia's father took part in the revolution.

A good family.

The Liberation Army

gave me that certificate.

Good.

Where's Fengxia?

Comrade Wan Erxi.

Comrade Fengxia.

I'll be going.

Have something to eat first. Lunch is ready.

No, thanks.

You won't stay?

Have some lunch first.

No, really.

Let's go.

What do you think?

His leg's not so bad, and he seems nice.

I approve.

Who's to say he'll like our Fengxia?

He only glanced at her, and wouldn't stay.

If it doesn't work out, we'll keep looking.

Anyway, it's up to Fengxia.

I think she likes him.

It's different from before. Look.

Go ask Mr. Niu...

what the boy thinks.

How's this for Fengxia?

Comrade, could I look at that one?

There's trouble at your home.

Red Guards are swarming over the place.

I just caught them on a ladder,

pulling off roof tiles.

From where?

No idea! The leader is a cripple.

You'd better hurry back.

A cripple?

Must be Wan Erxi!

He doesn't like Fengxia,

so he tears the place down.

Anything is possible.

Mr. Niu said he was a Red Guard.

We'd better hurry.

Don't forget your package!

Aren't you busy!

I brought some colleagues.

We're fixing the place up.

We replaced the roof tiles...

so it wouldn't leak anymore.

An we've painted Chairman Mao's portrait.

Fengxia help us.

You're just in time. We've just finished.

- Don't rush off!

- I'll make you something to eat.

We must be going.

Do stay! Come on insde.

Erxi painted this.

"The working class leads us all."

Erxi is good with his hands.

He painted all the Chairman Maos

in our factory!

I'll get some water so you can wash up.

Thanks, we'll go to factory bathhouse.

You've gone to so much trouble.

Please come again.

What do you think about Fengxia and me?

We're happy if you are.

We approve.

Shall we set a date?

Anytime. You decide.

Fengxia's had a hard life.

If you don't mind...

let's make the wedding a real occasion.

To make her happy.

Today comrades, Wan Erxi and Xu Fengxia...

begin their wedded life.

In good times, we think of Chairman Mao.

Let's sing a song!

Nothing compares

to the Party's benevolence

Chairman Mao is dearer

than father and mother

There's nothing as good as socialism

No ocean as deep as class feeling

Maoist Thought

is revolution's treasure trove

Whoever opposes it, we take as our enemy

Come on, you can't cry today.

They're all singing for Fengxia...

and she can't even join in!

At least it's loud enough for her to hear.

Time for a photo!

Move aside! Stand still!

Hold your little Red Books.

Clear a path! Ship sailing through!

Let's get the whole family.

The ship of revolution! Advance

through the storm with Chairman Mao!

Time to wrap up.

First, pay respects to Chairman Mao.

Chairman Mao...

Comrade Fengxia's mine now.

Come over here.

Now, bow!

Dad, Mom...

I'm taking Fengxia.

I'll look after her.

Go on, don't be sad.

You'll be back!

Chunsheng.

Congratulations on Fengxia's wedding.

- When did you get here?

- A while ago.

But there were so many people,

I didn't come in.

Come on inside.

Jiazhen, make some tea.

Isn't the tea ready yet?

Chunsheng's been here for ages.

Water's not boiled.

Sit with us for a bit.

Don't be like that.

Come as soon as the water's ready.

But here's boiled water.

Chunsheng came to wish Fengxia well.

You can't go on avoiding him.

Can't we put this behind us?

If only Youqing had been here today.

I'll be going.

Don't go. The tea's ready.

Never mind.

Jiazhen, I know you don't want to see me.

I'll leave my gift here and be gone.

Give it back to him.

I don't want his gifts.

But it's Chairman Mao.

Dad! Mom!

Come on in!

Fengxia, you're back!

You cold?

I'm fine, really.

How are you feeling, Mom?

On the mend.

Better when you come over.

Have you eaten?

I'll make something.

Launch is all taken care of.

Help me with the table.

You brought a bottle.

Dad, Mom, we're having a baby.

No wonder there's a bottle!

Really?

I just came from the hospital.

The doctor says it's due in autumn.

Fengxia's going to be a mother.

Fengxia, you're going to be a mother.

Cheers!

Erxi, when you went to the hospital today...

what did they say about Fengxia's health?

That she's in terrific shape.

Still, you can't be too careful.

Your folks aren't around.

After the birth,

you'll stay with us for a while.

Spend as much time as you can with her.

When I was pregnant with Fengxia...

her dad was never around.

He was very busy?

Very!

Don't bring up the past.

I was a real no-hoper.

But things are better now.

And will be better for your child.

Erxi, drink up.

Help yourself.

I had the photo framed.

We haven't taken a photo in years.

This is great.

After the child is born...

have a photo taken every year.

We've no photos of Fengxia as a child.

Okay.

Fengxia, after the child is born...

have a photo taken every year.

Dad, I saw Chunsheng yesterday.

He's been arrested as a capitalist.

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