Original subtitles

My stirrup just broke!

Did you fall?

Almost. I could have died.

Get out of my way!

This one is done.

Try it on.

- We're on, Hasa. - Take your horse.

Be careful.

After long and arduous battles,

the brave Mongolian warriors return victorious

to their beloved homeland.

Ribbons flutter, horses prance with joy.

Once again, the grasslands are filled with joy and vitality.

Enjoy the show!

Dad, where are the other sheep?

I sold them yesterday!

Why didn't you wait for me?

I told you their offer was too low.

I asked you to wait.

The white horse and the stallion were fighting again.

They're still out there.

Were you gambling again?

Why not just bet our house, too?

I didn't...

Oh dear, that's a nasty bite.

Go.

Go on!

Go.

You don't want to?

Come on, let's go home.

Hey, Hasa!

Your black horse runs well. Are you sure you want to sell it?

Why not?

Moving to town costs money. It costs a lot.

What about that expensive toy you bought?

That's completely different.

It expresses my spiritual aspirations. You won't get it.

Are you still going to Erdene's horse race tomorrow?

I have no horses left.

What's the point.

Then you can't wear this anymore.

You wear it, if you're still racing.

We were really something.

No one ever beat us at the Naadam races.

You said it.

Your white horse is a good one.

But,

its rider, not so much.

Screw you!

So you sold all your sheep? None left?

I can always eat yours.

Get out of here!

Go on, sell my horses for me. I'll move some of my furniture.

Ok, see you.

Keep left. Stop!

Make sure the horse doesn't slip out.

It got away!

Don't chase it. I will.

This winter arrived late,

with less snow than usual.

These changes are likely linked to global warming.

The prolonged drought harms both crops and livestock.

It's getting cold.

What happened here? Did a debt collector smash it?

Go buy a new pane of glass in town tomorrow.

Too salty.

I see lots of trucks full of horses.

Lao Zhang said he can get a good price for our horses.

No, we're not selling.

Why bother keeping so many horses?

We can get money for them.

What's the point in selling them?

I earn 6,000 a month working in the city.

Why not raise a few horses?

Where did that come from?

The power's going off soon.

Years ago,

there was a miserably cold winter.

I went out to find our livestock wearing only a thin pair of pants.

When it started snowing,

I couldn't see a thing.

Every step was a struggle.

Careful!

At that time,

your mom was sick in bed.

She couldn't help.

I walked alone in that blizzard, getting more and more scared.

What would I do if our animals froze to death?

There were so many.

There were ewes with lambs.

After that winter,

I couldn't straighten my leg any longer.

How old were you then?

Okay, enough drinking.

One more glass.

Half a glass, then.

Your hay is selling well.

Since the drought, herders now depend on your hay.

We're getting by!

If the drought lasts another year, there will be no pasture left.

And we'll all have to leave here.

How's your dad?

The same.

Drunk as soon as he wakes up.

He's still drinking?

Is there any more work like this?

I'll keep an eye out for you.

Great.

See you.

Take care.

Come for tea when you're free!

See you!

Come here, hurry up.

- You cold? - No.

It's warm.

Want to go over there?

Watch your step.

Let Daddy take you.

Namuuhan, come here!

Sorry to bother you.

The meeting ran late.

I couldn't pick him up.

It's okay, Tana.

Were you out of town again?

A friend found some work for me.

What kind of work?

Just some horse riding tricks.

You still do that?

You're not young anymore.

Why not look for a more stable job?

I've tried.

How's your shoulder?

I know someone in town who does acupuncture.

It's fine.

How's your work going?

It's okay.

My boss holds meetings all day.

It's so annoying.

That fat guy with glasses?

Yes, that's him.

I'm thinking of taking Namuuhan to a kindergarten in the city.

The schools here aren't good enough.

The neighbor's kid

only started Chinese and English in elementary school.

It's hard for him to catch up.

But that's no good. He won't speak Mongolian there.

I'll make sure to speak it with him!

It's up to you, you've got custody.

What's this supposed to be?

Have you thought about my feelings?

Of course I have.

You've really got it easy!

You go off racing horses.

When our son gets a fever at midnight,

I'm the one who takes him to the hospital.

My boss

always makes me serve drinks and sing at banquets.

Does anyone ask me what I want?

I didn't mean it like that.

I just want him to grow up happy.

Like you?

Now we see...

the gap is growing.

The last horse is near the finish line.

And that wraps up our eight-kilometer race.

You let go too early, and it ran out of steam.

Not really.

She's getting old, plus my weight doesn't help.

Are you selling?

Is it purebred?

She's a local Mongolian horse.

Doesn't look like it. It's quite tall.

Nevermind then. Its meat isn't even worth as much as a cow's.

Wanted: horse trainers

May the eternal sky bless you.

Move along! You can't beg here.

You want to work at a horse ranch?

Isn't riding every day enough for you?

50 ewes for sale, plump and healthy. Price non-negotiable.

Coach,

this horse has a bad leg.

I want to change horses.

You need to talk to your boss.

It's not my department.

Have you seen Hasa?

Which Hasa? There are so many people here.

You can thank our performers for their spectacular show

by buying drinks for your favorite ones,

and carrots for their horses.

It's 10 RMB for a carrot, thank you!

You can thank our performers for their spectacular show

by buying drinks for your favorite ones,

and carrots for their horses.

It's 10 RMB for a carrot, thank you!

Come on, sober up!

You're no fun! Didn't even drink one sip.

That's my best price.

If I'm drunk, who will drive you home?

This isn't like you at all.

What's the matter? You used to be able to drink.

Are you getting grumpy in your old age?

Who are you calling old?

Have you sold the rest of your sheep?

I will, soon.

Prices are too low right now.

It'll do.

With the drought this year,

your sheep are just skin and bones.

I sold all my horses and cows before I came back to join the show.

I'm through being a herder.

Then what are you going to do after the show closes?

Go back to your grassland?

Go back to what?

I'm done herding.

I've been thinking.

After I sell all the sheep,

I've still got my salary.

And I can find another day job.

I've got to clear my dad's debt.

A horse is loose! Catch it!

Hasa, Hasa!

The doctor said...

The doctor said

your son Hasa is out of danger.

We'll take turns watching him.

Don't worry about the money.

Hello?

Hello? Can you hear me?

That's still too low.

Will you pick up the sheep or should I send them to you?

Can you wait for a couple of days?

Okay, I'll work out how to send them to you.

Fine.

Call you later.

Okay.

Hi.

Hi.

Got a cigarette?

Is a shepherd without sheep still a shepherd?

I've never heard of anyone who sells their sheep

and, ten years later, is still a shepherd.

But to the wide grasslands, these are unimportant.

Will the grasslands care if people like us live or die?

A few years back, when there was a severe drought,

I lost the will to be a herder. So I sold all my animals.

But next year, the rains were heavy.

When I finally had the money to buy back my flock,

there was another drought.

Spring Festival is coming.

Get yourself something to drink.

When a herdsman sells his dearest steed,

Earth unearthed, winter's snow recedes,

barren land reveals buried bones,

an endless bondage then takes seed.

Leave some for me.

When I was a kid, we were dirt poor,

but we never sold all our sheep.

Stop blabbering!

We sold our sheep and got our money, didn't we?

What else could you do?

Be a street sweeper?

You go sweep the streets.

I won't.

I'm staying here.

Where wormwood does not grow,

the horse will not linger.

Where there is no father,

the child will not stay.

When was the last time it snowed here?

When you were a kid, it snowed a lot every year.

When I was a kid,

you never taught me how to ride.

You just picked me up and put me in the saddle.

Really?

Not even once.

You were always out all day, herding other people's sheep.

Mom would sit by this window, gazing out for hours.

How did I learn?

Too much to drink last night?

- Don't drink so much on your own. - Alright.

Take good care of my horses.

Give them water on time.

- Are you leaving? - Yes.

Don't forget to feed them hay.

Hello?

Is the mine still looking for drivers?

Hello?

Hello?

Is Hasa's family here?

Money's been tight lately.

I sold the rest of my sheep.

No more searching for lost sheep in the dead of winter.

I kept the horses though.

I won't sell them for now.

Sounds good.

Will you come back with me to the pasture?

I've already moved everything out.

There's nothing to go back to.

I have a relative in the city.

I'll try living there.

So you've decided, then?

Will you keep on performing?

The time is 10:30 AM.

Stay tuned for the local news following these messages.

Yes, boss?

You're playing ads?

Yes, two more news segments and we're done.

Tana,

let's have lunch together.

I have to pick up my son.

My ex-husband can't make it today.

Saina's back?

Next up, two local stories.

The recent snowfall has caused a ten-degree drop in temperature,

resulting in several deaths and loss of livestock.

Two individuals reportedly froze to death after the snowfall

near the New Migrant Village.

One, a 24-year-old male named Bai,

fell asleep in the town square while intoxicated.

The other, whose identity is unknown, was around 60 years old.

Hey, over here.

Didn't you used to be a rider?

How long have you been riding?

Since I was a kid.

As you can see,

our students learn English-style equestrianism.

It's not at all like how Mongolians ride on the grasslands.

I used to be a rider at a stable.

And I've won many horse races.

Equestrian clubs in the city no longer emphasize racing.

We now focus on proper equestrianism,

an aristocratic sport of Western origin.

We do have some members who used to ride Mongolian style.

If you really want to learn,

you can start as a stable hand.

The thing is,

they're mostly in their teens and twenties.

It's up to you.

Who could this ugly kid be?

You've still got this.

Just throw it away.

Why?

Keep it for my grandson when he grows up.

Will he be a rider when he grows up?

This used to be my favorite toy when I was little.

This is mine.

Will we send it away in a truck?

A car's coming.

Do you know them?

No.

Let me see.

This is it, several thousand acres of grassland near his house.

You'll still be able to live here.

However, when the mining starts, there will be a lot of dust.

That will be bad for your livestock.

Your compensation will definitely be substantial.

Look, a drone!

A drone!

Pass me that bottle of alcohol.

Where is it?

On the cabinet.

Hurry up!

Can't find it.

Were you bitten by some rich guy's horse?

Just your luck, isn't it?

Can you do anything besides watching TV?

If it wasn't for your gambling debts...

I told you, never mention this again!

How did we end up like this?

My entire body is covered in scars. All because I need to earn money.

Your grandson is going to kindergarten in the city.

Don't you wonder how I'll earn enough to pay for that?

Where are you taking them?

I'm taking them away, to sell to a donkey meat shop in town.

How much can you get for one?

A local Mongolian horse might fetch around three to five thousand.

But if it's got a pedigree, you can get a bit more.

Mr. Zhang, take it easy.

Your son doesn't look Mongolian.

He's so skinny!

You said it, Mr. Zhang!

Those horse racers, they all look thin.

It's good for racing, isn't it?

How would I know?

The terms they've offered are pretty good.

Mr. Zhang made a special trip here. Just to settle this.

It's been months since his son has seen him.

Enough already. Don't be too greedy!

It's not about the money.

Come on, let's have a drink!

Don't complain about the money.

You'll get an apartment in town. That's what everybody wants.

And we'll take care of your debt as well.

I don't think that your horses are worth all that much.

I have a buddy who runs a tourist site. He could use some horses.

Just leave them all with him!

Let's have a toast!

I have to talk this over with my son.

We do need to pass through your land,

You're lucky that we can offer you cash.

Who else would give you cash like this?

Think it over.

The smart ones have already left.

Are you planning to stay here forever?

If you don't get it, your son will figure it out for you.

If we settle this today, we can work together again.

Where's your son?

Saina, come here!

Saina!

What's going on?

Mr. Zhang!

Saina!

What do you think you're doing!

Leave me alone!

What are you doing!

Let go!

Get away from me!

- Come here. - You bastard!

How can I have a son like you?

Come here.

Let's go.

Hold on tight, son.

You have to learn to ride.

Hold on tight.

You'll learn well, my son.

Are you scared?

I want to stop.

Want to stop?

Okay, that's enough.

You said you wanted to ride, didn't you?

No more?

Were you scared?

Come.

Those tourists rode the horses much too hard.

- I think their legs are injured. - I know.

Riding like that could harm the horses.

They just want to run them hard.

How many groups of tourists are left?

After this group, there're a few on their own.

Hey buddy, which one is well-behaved?

They all are. Get on.

I'll hold it for you. It's fine.

Is this one steady?

Go catch up to him. Don't let him fall!

Ah, he wants to go fast too!

It's okay, they're from the same herd.

If one of them runs, the others want to follow.

You guys must be so happy here,

out on the vast grasslands, herding and riding, eating lamb.

We city folks sit in little cubicles every day.

It's really no way to live!

You're right.

When I retire,

I want to come here and take care of my own grasslands.

Why are you guys visiting now?

The grass isn't green until summer.

We figured it'd be less crowded at this time.

We're falling behind. Should we pick up the pace?

Not too fast.

Alright, sit tight.

What's the matter? You drink during the day now?

What brings you back?

After I moved to town,

A friend found me a job at the mine.

It pays well.

What do you do there?

I operate an excavator, moving rocks.

Driving an excavator is almost like riding a horse.

It's really dusty though.

How about you?

What else can I do? I work at a tourist site.

Dig in.

We moved away, too.

Let's drink.

Papa, I bought something for us.

Let me do it.

Take it easy.

They say that Mongolians are good singers.

Yes.

Let's drink!

Tana,

sing a Mongolian song for us.

Mr. Shan came such a long way.

We can't let him down.

Tana is not feeling well, boss.

How about another day?

That won't work.

Mr. Shan is going back to Guangdong.

Can't you sing a couple of lines, even with a cold?

Tana,

don't spoil the mood.

Just sing a couple of lines for us.

Is this part of the show here?

Please, let's continue.

Tana.

Welcome to my chatroom!

If you haven't followed me yet, hit that follow button.

And tap the little yellow heart above.

Welcome, friends!

What? You see a guy on a horse?

Is he drunk?

Hey! Hello!

Now I see what's blocking traffic.