Original subtitles

"Orchid, little orchid..."

Fenfen, age 4

Fenfen, look!

A baby chicken!

Wow!

I can make a better fire than you.

It needs more kindling.

What are you doing Fenfen?

Yingying, age 10

Come over here.

Wanna die?

Don't, I'm scared.

I'm gonna hit you!

Ouch, that hurt.

Zhenzhen, age 6

Don't cry.

I'm gonna get the tongs...

Stop it you two.

What are you doing?

Do you need a hug?

You're going to hurt yourselves.

I'm telling Daddy!

Get up.

Let's go find your stick.

Daddy's gonna spank you!

What's this?

They're falling apart.

You should wash them first.

You gotta...

Watch your feet, Fenfen.

My feet?

Wanna hit my feet? Go ahead!

Whose is this?

Whose ball is this?

That's Zhenzhen's and this is mine!

Stupid...dang...boots!

Look what I found.

It looks like a little house.

"The boy's coming up the mountain,

with some for me, some for you, some to share..."

I'm gonna go look.

Come sit.

Here, I'll cut that string for you.

I can't do it myself.

Give me the keys. You'll lose them.

- Huh? - The keys.

What keys?

Give them.

- Well? - No!

Then I'll turn off the lights,

and leave you alone in the dark.

Go ahead!

Really?

Really.

Leave that, it's full of soot.

I want more!

Let's go play.

Come on.

In a minute.

I'm leaving.

Hey, wait for me!

Yanyan, cousin, age 8

What are you looking at?

Come warm yourself by the fire.

Xiaopu, cousin, age 9

Zhu Fulian, aunt

The one I just told you about.

Take off your boot.

Take it off.

Look, pigs in love!

Got to put on my boot...

- Zhenzhen? - Yeah?

What?

Where'd it go?

Let's go.

What are you doing out here?

You've played enough!

Go on home!

Where's your cousin?

Where's Yanyan?

Back there.

Zhenzhen, come help me.

Go help.

Okay.

Hurry up.

You pick and I'll carry.

Pick from the bottom first.

Don't forget the little bits.

Hurry it up!

We're almost done.

Hey, get in here and help us!

Yanyan?

Yanyan!

Yanyan!

Go call your brother to help us!

Once we get this cleaned out,

I'll carry it up the ladder.

Here it is.

Just two lessons left.

Two to go.

We finished that one.

Us too.

We're on this one now.

Which one?

This.

How come it's different?

We should both be on lesson five.

I learned this whole part.

Fenfen?

Hmm?

Where's Yingying?

They're calling you.

Do you need more?

These aren't even dry yet.

Don't scare the pig, let it pass!

Just one more pig to go.

Out of the way, Yanyan!

Move it!

Into the pigpen with you!

- Can I help stomp the potatoes? - Sure.

I get to help!

Here, move over.

Okay.

- Mom? - Yeah?

Do we need more pig slop?

You sleep here, I'll sleep there, okay?

You sleep here.

It's all wet.

The blanket's wet too.

Get in bed.

Now!

It'll warm up once we're in it.

You're splashing water all over.

Stop it.

Or I'll tell Grandpa.

I said stop.

Turn off the tap!

No.

Whose clothes are still wet?

Who called my name?

Yingying!

Really?

- Who was it really? - Fenfen.

The fire's smoking again.

Let me blow on it.

No, keep away!

Put this on it.

That smells good.

Put on some more!

What are you doing?

Look at my feet.

My boots are still drying.

Look at my toes...

they're all shriveled up!

Wrinkly toes!

Yingying, look!

Yeah, looks like a dead person's foot.

Yours are wetter than mine,

so you win.

It's not a contest.

Mine are just a tiny bit wet.

They'll dry faster with more kindling.

Today we'll dry yours, tomorrow, mine!

Still drying?

Still drying your shoes?

Yes.

Still drying...

Want more kindling?

Okay.

"My love, my love, I'll never forget..."

I'm gonna make more fire!

This is too hot.

Really?

Mine's burned.

Maybe a little burned.

Just a little.

Not too much.

Yingying said we can play stick guns later.

I wanna shoot a tiger.

Up the mountain, go, go, go!

Look.

I found more lice.

I can't reach it!

Me neither.

You'll never reach it.

Oh, she got it!

Hey, Daddy's home!

Daddy's home!

I wanna see Daddy!

Daddy!

Fenfen hung her toy from the door!

She hung it on a string.

So they couldn't steal it!

Why'd you use such a long string?

Daddy?

Zhenzhen's foot...

Zhenzhen hurt her foot.

What are you doing?

Hey, what are you doing?

Bathtime, then bedtime.

- Daddy. - You need a bath.

Then to bed.

It'll be better with hot water.

Zhenzhen, go fill the basin.

Here.

Put it on the floor.

That's awful hot.

- Too hot? - No.

Look Daddy, my hands are all black.

We'd better give them a good scrub.

You're dirty as dung.

Let's roll up your sleeves.

Look Fenfen, I'll teach you how.

No, she's too little.

I can wash all by myself.

You got Daddy's hands all dirty.

There, dump that water out.

All done?

Done.

It's been years since we washed.

Really? Well, it's high time then.

After you left, we didn't wash for years.

Oh? How many years is that?

A bunch of years.

Oh my, you haven't washed in years?

Yep.

Sun Shunbao, father, age 32

Careful, wait till I finish.

One each.

Don't try to carry too much.

Go fetch a tablecloth.

We should add more noodles and water.

Sit down.

When that's clean, go draw some water.

All you have to do is raise 2000 yuan,

and the matchmaker will sort out the rest.

The woman won't ask for more.

If you offer her 2000,

and she accepts,

then it's settled.

If she takes the money,

it means she's agreed to the match.

I'd rather talk it over with her first

to make sure she's will to live here.

All that cash will help her decide.

Some people care about more than money, Dad.

Daddy, Zhenzhen has a tummy ache.

If you kids are tired, go to bed.

What if I can't raise the 2000?

Maybe you could ask your wife...?

I don't even know where she is.

Pass me that little bowl.

Till death do us part...what a joke.

You think you'll run into her, this woman?

Today?

Maybe when I graze the sheep today,

I'll happen to run into her...

Better just to wait.

I don't mind waiting, but...

Did I make enough noodles?

Yes.

I'm worried I didn't, but we'll see.

Hand me a ladle.

Is this bowl clean?

If not, get another one.

It's fine. It's clean.

Where's the small ladle?

This one's better.

If there are leftovers, we'll cover the pot

and make another meal out of it.

Bring your bowls, kids.

Are you full, Fenfen?

Had enough to eat?

If you're full, give the rest to your sister.

Let her sit and rest.

Go sit by the fire.

Or better yet, outside.

Leave her be, Dad.

Can you eat all that, Yingying?

One bowl? Sure she can.

The girl's got a healthy appetite, all right.

The kids stayed at my house for two days.

I had Yingying keep an eye on the well.

After a while, she fell asleep, woke up,

and started playing with the Zhang's cow.

That night, the cow went missing.

Your brother offered to pay them for the loss.

When I woke her for dinner,

the cow was gone.

Oh, and Mrs. Zhang was so mad, she pinched Fenfen's ear.

If she's still hungry, give her seconds.

Then she can go out and play.

- You want more? - Yes.

That's enough.

Luckily, while we were searching

Yingying overheard some people talking

and found out where the cow was hidden.

Otherwise we'd never have found it.

It was in a ditch, behind a rise.

Someone stole it, then set it loose.

It followed Grandpa home like a puppy!

I managed to rope it.

Lucky thing, too.

Tomorrow, after making breakfast for Yingying,

go out and find some kindling, or maybe buy some.

As for her clothes...

They'll do for now.

Meimei will help you find work in town.

I bought her family a few things in exchange.

But how can you work if Yingying's with you?

Better to leave her here, and buy her

a good pair of galoshes.

Where do you catch the bus tomorrow?

It stops along the road.

So Yingying will stay with me.

You just focus on your work, and things will be fine.

You can live with me.

You're better off here, anyway.

We'll share the cooking and chores.

See, I'm not abandoning you.

I'll have Grandpa.

She can keep me company...

And the truth is...

From now until New Year,

I can give you 50 cents a day

for spending money.

What do you say?

That's 100 yuan altogether,

enough for school supplies.

But no more cadging meals at your aunt and uncle's.

You come straight home after school.

And eat your meals with Grandpa.

Your dad will be back in a few months.

Like we talked about.

Living in the city will be expensive.

If you can't afford bus fare...

Don't worry, I'll walk home if I have to.

What's bus fare for the three of you, 160 yuan?

I'm more worried about Yingying's school fees...

I don't know about fees, but three kids who can't work

means three extra mouths to feed.

Well, it's September now...

Yingying should be fine here, with her cousins.

It's two months until winter vacation.

September, October,

November...three months.

Your dad will visit after winter vacation.

- School's too expensive in the city. - But you'll see him soon, at New Year.

Move.

Come here, I have something for you!

My god, you're crawling with lice!

Just let me...smash this one.

Smash it!

Stop squirming. I just found a bunch more.

Okay.

Otherwise, they'll eat you alive

on the bus with Dad tomorrow.

- You don't want that, do you? - So I won't ride the bus!

How will you get there?

I'll run really fast!

Run? You'd never make it.

It would take you forever.

I'd like to see you try.

Stand up. I'll help you.

Come on, stand up.

You're being impossible!

Let's go play outside, okay?

Let's go!

Get off the floor!

If you cry, Daddy won't take you with him.

Come on, get up!

Just forget it, then.

Let's go.

You want some?

Yes or no?

I want some cake, and...

...and an apple.

What did you say?

I'll cut it for you, okay?

Fine, if you don't want it...

Uh-oh, she's on the ground again.

Let her sulk.

See if I care.

Has anyone fed the dog?

No matter.

Should I feed it?

Yeah, give it something.

The keys should be right here.

If you need a key, take hers.

Be careful she doesn't lose it.

There's only one?

I lost the other one.

You should be more careful.

What a nuisance.

Give me your set of keys

before you leave tomorrow.

And put those potatoes in the pot.

Hopefully, you can catch the bus tomorrow.

Make sure to wash all over.

Like this.

To bed.

Okay.

Look...

- This blanket is... - It's all dirty.

Cover up, now.

You got here fast.

Don't get your clothes dirty.

Did you hurt yourself?

Keep walking.

Two adults?

No, just me and the kids,

like I told you.

Just two kids?

10 yuan per person.

Get on.

Up you go.

Let's go.

Do you have our seat reservations?

Who did you talk to?

Someone in the Zuojiao office.

I reserved two seats,

but I forgot the reservation number.

You made reservations?

Yes, for the three of us.

- Including the camera guy? - No.

There were two earlier buses,

but they were full.

So I'm picking up the slack.

How many passengers do you usually have?

About a dozen.

Mostly migrant workers.

If we promise to pick them up, those folks always wait.

Give me the keys Mom, I want to go play!

Mom!

Shush.

Can't you see I'm busy?

I'm going to tear this!

I tore it.

Go check on the sheep.

It's time for class!

I can't be absent!

You have to ask the teacher!

I won't go!

Let the potato man pass.

Coming through, coming through!

Village elementary school, November 2010

"Everyone said...

that Mei Lanfang could speak volumes with his eyes!"

"After years of rigorous study...

Mei Lanfang became a world famous Peking Opera singer!"

"Mei Lanfang became...

a world famous Peking Opera singer!"

- One more time. - One more time!

Two more times!

Lesson 14.

"Mei Lanfang learned the art of...

Quiet down!

Teacher, I don't understand this part.

I learned it all by heart!

I memorized seven chapters!

By heart?

Take out your textbooks.

Fill that up.

Where's the kid goat?

Back in the pen.

She's calling for her kid.

- Yingying, where's the herd? - Down the hill.

Go catch up with it.

Hurry up and eat.

- You want another apple? - No, I've got enough.

Can I give Yingying one?

No, that's all we've got.

Yonggao, friend, age 11

Hi!

How many baskets did you fill?

There's another pile over there.

Enough dung, but not enough baskets!

Everyone's out collecting dung today.

When you fill that, I'll carry it down.

What time is it?

What's the time?

Half past eleven.

How many sheep do you have?

Seven.

Think this would hurt?

That's full.

See if you can lift it.

- Dump the rest in here. - What?

Dump the rest of the dung in my basket.

But it'll spill out...

Oh?

I'll come back later.

Yongfeng, Yonggao's cousin, age 10

Time to go.

She's calling you.

She's calling you.

It's full.

We've got two baskets full.

- So it'll take two trips? - Yeah.

This could fill a whole basket of dung.

He and his brother live with us now.

Their mom ran away,

and their dad works in town.

Their house fell down.

Can I come to your house and play?

Why?

Take that over there.

Help me lift it.

Yongjin, Yonggao's brother, age 9

Put it over there, and I'll keep collecting here.

Over by that mound?

Yeah.

On top of it?

By the ditch.

On the other side of the ditch?

No, this side.

All right.

Hurry it up.

I know.

- Keep working. - Okay.

And don't block the path.

Hurry up.

Okay.

Let's go.

All right!

It's heavy.

What's that dog doing here?

Always keep the herd in front of you.

- Did you heat up the leftovers? - No.

Are you feeling any better now?

Hi Yingying. Going to collect pine cones?

Yes, Grandpa sent me to get some.

Oh.

Yingying!

What do you want?

Why'd you hit me?

Let go, or else.

My mom's watching.

So what?

Jiaojiao, neighbor, age 6

She was peeking in our house!

When?

The day she was next door.

She never was.

She peeked over the wall, the crumbly bit...

And the time before?

What time before?

You hit her before.

The day we were gathering kindling.

I don't remember that.

Why would you hit my daughter?

Maybe because she wouldn't help?

Even though I asked her nicely?

Leave her be, Jiaojiao!

You better watch out!

No, you better watch out!

Yingying?

Yeah?

- Yingying! - Yeah!

Come help pen the sheep.

What, studying again?

If someone steals these sheep,

what are we going to eat?

Can you carry it?

Aren't you coming?

Does that dog bite?

Grab a stick if you're scared.

But watch out for the dog.

It's behind the door!

Any dog can bite.

Autumn feast at Great-Uncle's house, in a neighboring village

Hand me the chili sauce.

It needs salt.

Not yet.

Where's the sauce?

Oh, here it is.

Let's eat. Gather round.

After they eat, take them back home.

Sit yourself down here.

- You're back. - Yes.

- Where'd you go? - Laoyanjiao Village.

And you came back today?

- Where'd you stay? - You came back just in time.

I've been cooking for days.

You should have seen the size of this pig.

This needs more salt.

The sauce is too bland.

Don't put in too much.

I'll add more salt.

Here's the sauce. Help yourselves.

This still needs more salt.

Coming through!

Raise your bowl.

- No thanks. - Take some!

This was quite a feast.

Lucky the electricity was working.

No hurry, take your time.

Someone should move that wok.

They probably forgot.

The big topic now is "rural revival."

Liu Kaiming, village mayor

Rural what?

- But what does that mean? - It's happening nearby.

Like in Fengshuilin Village,

or Jianshan or Shikanzi.

Those are the key villages.

They're building these fancy new houses,

and meanwhile, the villagers can hardly afford to eat.

They're installing electricity, but we haven't got two cents to rub together.

Health insurance is a big part of their urban revival plan.

I told them I couldn't ask you for more,

not in good conscience.

But even if I don't collect those fees,

they'll collect them all the same.

Fees go up 10 yuan per year,

and we can't afford it anymore.

And they'll keep going up.

Seems likely.

They wanted an answer by the 10th.

When I refused,

they said they'd send someone else,

hire people for 100 yuan per day to collect the fees,

or confiscate your pigs and sheep.

Anyway, so there it is...

I've told you their decision.

They're serious about collecting these fees,

whether in cash or in kind,

and there's nothing I can do.

We were supposed to hold a village meeting,

with them in attendance.

That was on the 10th,

and it's the 18th now.

We'll give them one more day,

and see if they show up.

So we'll shelve this for now,

and see what happens.

I've told you what you need to know,

so for now, we'll leave it at that.

So we sat there the whole evening...

Sit still, Jiaojiao.

They brought so many piglets, they had no place to keep them!

We should be going.

It's after nine, time for bed.

Otherwise, we'll never get up tomorrow.

You should stay a little longer.

Or at least come visit again soon.

He'd fried up this flour to eat...

It looked like horseshit with a bit of mutton mixed in!

How could anyone eat that?

Where's my stool?

Look, Guo Baozhang's on TV!

In 2011, unable to support his family in the city,

Sun Shunbao returned to the village with his two daughters, their babysitter and her little girl.

See if he'll eat a cabbage leaf.

Don't hit him!

If so, we'll buy some cabbage and feed him that this winter.

Hurry up.

You two stay over there.

Quiet, Fenfen. Let him eat.

I want to pick him up.

Daddy, I can't...

pick him up by myself.

You're stupid!

You're stupider. You eat goat food!

Hush, don't spook him.

Hold it lower, so he can get at it.

Bring those noodles over here.

Should I put them all in?

After we eat, we'll look for that lost goat.

Did you add the oil?

These noodles are too long.

Should I add the little bits too?

No, leave the rest.

What are you doing?

No, not yet.

Add it slowly, not all at once.

- Get some... - There.

I haven't added salt or MSG yet.

I think we're almost out. I forgot to buy some.

Wait, let me do it.

Yeah, we're low on salt.

Do you mix this in?

Slowly.

There's still a lot more.

Maybe a bit more salt.

- Yanyan! - Yeah?

Put that jacket down, it's not yours.

This bowl's dirty.

Fenfen washed that one.

Naughty girl.

Zhenzhen washed it, Daddy, not me.

That's odd, since the other bowls were clean...

Everybody picks on me, cause I'm the littlest.

You, little?

It's always three against one...

I'll wash it again after Zhenzhen.

I'll do it after I pen the sheep.

Wash it if you want. I'm not gonna!

When I was washing my hair,

she pushed me.

If you don't believe me, just watch.

Who did?

Yingying.

Just like this, I swear!

Who wants more?

I'll take some more.

Bring it over here.

I'm starving.

Damn cat!

Watch the cat, Yanyan!

Yanyan, bring me some too!

Yanyan, you can have the rest of mine.

Careful of my pipe.

Daddy made a burp!

Are you full too?

Burp for us again, Daddy!

All right, I'll try.

Burp again.

We want to hear it again!

Oh! Zhenzhen made a burp too.

By the time I find the goat,

it'll probably be dark.

I've also got to hire horses for tomorrow.

How long will you be?

An hour or so, not long.

See you later.

That goat hasn't had any yet. He needs to eat.

Hurry, Zhenzhen!

I didn't mean over here.

Good, put all your weight into it!

Hold them down.

Hey you, goat, come here and eat!

Hurry up! Hurry up and eat!

I said bring the horses here, not over there!

Go on, that way!

Whoa, slow down, donkey!

Here, I meant over here!

I need another horse over here!

But you're nearly done.

Stop!

There are two horses over there.

I need one more horse and a mule.

What the hell?

Stand still!

Damn!

What's wrong with this donkey?

Over there, and stay put!

One basket should be enough for planting, right?

Over there, I said!

Don't make me take a stick to you!

And leave those potatoes alone.

Stay there!

Dump all that dung out, and spread it on the ground.

Stand still.

If there were a contest for most lice, Fenfen would win.

- Get away! - Don't sit so close.

Don't fuss, sweetie, it's fine.

Calm down. Sit still!

Such a little brat today...

If you keep this up, I'll thrash you!

Zhenzhen, sit down and quit being annoying.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Stubborn as a mule, that child.

Just look at all these lice...

Come wash over here.

I wanna play, too.

"The nicest mommy...

mommy...

in the whole wide world is mine!

Mine's the nicest mommy...

Hey, no biting.

...the nicest mommy in the world.

Kids who have a mommy...

are the happiest in the world!

Kids who have a mommy..."

This documentary was filmed in China's southwestern province of Yunnan, in Xiyangtang Village, 3200 meters above sea level and home to 80 families.