Original subtitles

Shanghai Film Studio

The mountain road is meandering.

The wind is blowing and the snow is falling non-stop.

No matter how difficult the journey is,

bosom friends are always in our minds.

Legend of Tianyun Mountain

Screenwriter: Lu Yanzhou

Director: Xie Jin

The story I am going to tell begins in the winter of 1978.

By then, I had been working in the Organization Department

for less than half a year.

But the misjudged cases to be dealt with were countless.

I was itching for the settlement of all them with one single go.

The Gang of Four had been crushed two years before.

Great changes had taken place in our country.

But in our place, things remained almost the same as before.

In face of so many appeals, I,

who had been appointed undersecretary of the Organization Department recently,

though burning with impatience, could do nothing about them.

Because everything was under the control of my husband Wu Yao,

the party committee secretariat of the district.

But he had gone to the south to for recuperation again.

- Mom. - Hey.

My husband wrote to criticize me for being impatient.

This made me more restless.

Sister Song Wei.

Zhou Yuzhen came. She was the daughter of a revolutionary father.

She was sanguine, open-handed and open-minded.

But I absolutely hadn't expected

that her coming this time would stir feelings deep in my heart.

Well, look at you. You dress like a flower in the spring.

What's the matter with you today? Why look at me like that?

Oh, it's so cold!

Sister Li, light a fire.

Where have you been these days?

I went to Tianyun Mountain.

Tianyun Mountain

Sister Song Wei, aren't you very familiar with Tianyun Mountain too?

Ah. Well, how do you know that?

I just know it.

To be honest with you, I came across a strange man in Tianyun Mountain.

What strange man?

Maybe a hero.

Maybe he is what you often call,

"one who refuses to mend his ways despite repeated admonition"

It depends on your standpoint.

How can you say that?

There is always a standard of right or wrong.

Standard? What on earth is standard?

The Gang of Four has their standard, while you have your standard.

And me. I have my standard.

You and me. Do we have different standards?

Of course. In opposing the Gang of Four, we have the same standard.

But in other cases...

such as...

we all acknowledge those who are opposing the Gang of Fours as heroes.

How about those who criticized the ill inclination

in our ways of doing things before the Gang of Four?

They were not afraid of blows or stigmatizing. Are they heroes?

You can't answer that, can you?

Look at you.

Tell me. Who did you come across?

Do you want to hear it?

Ok. I will tell you.

The District Planning Group wanted us to search the inspection materials

of those years when they were developing Tianyun Mountain.

They want to develop Tianyun Mountain again?

But we didn't have any of these materials.

Then they recalled that it was in Tianyun Mountain Town

that the inspection team was dismissed that year.

There might be archives in that town.

Then they decided to send me to Tianyun Mountain Town.

Thank you very much.

Damned cart. Damned road.

When will Tianyun Mountain be modernized?

Xiao Lin, why are you fashionably sick like that too?

Satirize, mock and deride certain phenomena

in our life to show off your latest point of view.

All these are very easy to do.

Can they solve any problems?

Here you are. You lead the beasts of burden.

Get on.

You youngsters, you don't know how much burden you are bearing on your shoulders.

How many are like you, odd uncle?

What kind of person is this strange man?

Indeed. I felt puzzled too.

Look, you interrupted me. Do you still want to hear about it?

Yes.

Please wait a second.

We are going to visit a grave of one of our relatives.

Uncle, look.

Those country folks have been to my father's grave, haven't they?

Yes. Today is Midwinter Festival.

Comrade. Comrade.

Please put this bag on the cart.

Don't tell him now.

Give it to him when you arrive at Tianyun Mountain Town.

Oh, this...

His family is having a difficult time.

His old woman, especially.

She is very weak.

They can only afford two meals of porridge one day.

You see, he is driving the cart for the Supply and Marketing Association

to make up the deficiency.

This is with the regards of everyone.

I don't know whether he will accept it or not.

Grandpa, who is he?

Who is the girl's father?

Why do all you go to visit his grave?

My child.

You... what are you crying for?

For my father, as well as for you.

My good uncle, they were too unjust to you two.

You shouldn't drive the cart anymore. You should work for the Four Modernizations.

You should...

Thank you, comrade.

Not at all. Just a ride.

What's your name?

My name is Luo. Luo Ganche.

Luo Ganche ('driving a cart')

That's not your real name.

Why? Isn't the name good?

You don't look like a cart driver.

Uncle, unload the stuff.

Oh, just a minute.

This is from the grandpa to your old woman, ah, your wife.

Who is the cart driver?

Who?

Oh, a "rightist and counter-revolutionist"

A counter-revolutionist?

Stigmatized by others.

Hey, what's his name?

Luo Qun.

Luo Qun.

Yes, Luo Qun.

Luo Qun.

What's wrong with you?

Oh, nothing, I am a little bit cold.

I will be back soon.

Luo Qun.

Luo Qun.

It's has been twenty years and you are still on Tianyun Mountain.

I remember it was in the spring of 1957 that we met for the last time.

I want to be with you forever.

I want to be with you forever.

I want to be with you forever.

I want to be with you forever.

I want to be with you forever.

Sister Song Wei. What's the matter?

Are you coming out?

Supper is ready.

It's a sharp contrast.

With what?

With what the cart driver's family eats.

You went to his home?

Not only that. I stayed for a couple of days.

Though I knew his name was Luo Qun, I didn't know anything else about him.

The next day, I went to the Town Committee of the Revolution

to attend to my business.

They told me they hadn't seen any files about Tianyun Mountain.

They suggested that I should go to ask a certain primary school teacher

by the name of Feng Qinglan.

Qinglan?

Yes.

So, I asked them to write me a letter of introduction.

I went to see that teacher, Feng.

Auntie. Auntie. Our teacher is in a coma.

Please go and have a look.

What's wrong?

Our teacher fainted.

Teacher.

Wake up.

Teacher, drink some water.

Teacher.

Did this happen before?

Yes.

It was the Gang of Four.

It doesn't matter. I will be fine in a minute.

My students, go home for now.

Go home now. Let your teacher be quiet for a while.

I will take care of her.

Are you better now?

You are.

Don't speak now.

Want any water?

So, Tianyun Mountain will be developed again.

Yes. Many years have been wasted.

That is a tragedy of history.

Tragedy?

Why not?

Our devious road could have been avoided.

This is the first time you have met me. And you dare talk about that in front of me?

Why shouldn't I dare?

Why should we be so guarded with one another?

This is the evil consequence of our abnormal political life.

This kind of phenomenon should be annihilated completely.

Your personality is somewhat like that of Lao Luo.

Lao Luo?

My husband.

He has gone to drive the cart.

Why does he have to drive the cart?

You are still young. You don't know much about life.

Comrade Zhou Yuzhen, aren't you here for the materials?

Yes. But I want to know you too.

Know us?

Oh, please forgive my curiosity.

Because your conduct and way of life really puzzles me.

I came on Luo Qun's cart yesterday.

About us, I will tell you later.

I want to show you something.

It's in that attic.

Behind the used newspapers.

This is a book.

More than one.

Please read this first, about Tianyun Mountain.

"Impressions of Tianyun Mountain by Luo Qun"

"Technology and China"

"The Past, the Present and the Future"

Finished.

It's amazing.

He has completely conquered me.

After reading his books, I realize how superficial I am.

You are too modest.

You don't know me. I am by no means a modest person.

This is indeed an amazing book.

Comrade Qinglan, I have a request.

Let me stay here for two days to finish reading the rest of your books. Is that ok?

Ok. Sure.

But, I didn't write them.

I was only an assistant.

You didn't write them. Then who did?

Him.

Sister.

We have a small room here. Our Xiao Lin lives there.

You can live here.

What? You had an attack today?

I am ok now.

Let me tell you, today...

Auntie, we...

Come with me.

- It's ok. - I will do it.

Come with me.

Don't worry about it. Xiao Lin can do it.

There, I want to show you something.

What is it?

Why did you buy this?

You don't have many clothes to wear yourself.

Look at your coat.

Qinglan, I...

You have given up everything for me these twenty years.

But I...

I haven't given you even a thread.

What's the matter with you today?

Why did you say that?

You are physically weak and afraid of cold. But you don't say much.

This is not a wadded jacket. It's a piece of cloth.

Come on.

Accept it. This is a gift from a cart driver.

Also in memory of the 19th anniversary of our marriage.

19 years.

Why don't you continue?

What else should I say?

I think they are lofty in sentiment,

faithful to the Party, and steadfast in mind.

I don't understand why the Organization Department ignores his appeal.

He lodged an appeal in our Organization Department

That's for sure. Three times.

Once in January 1977. Once in October 1977. And once last month.

Really? Why haven't I seen any of them?

Is it that you haven't seen or you don't want to see them?

I think you suppressed them intentionally.

Yuzhen, I really haven't seen them.

You misunderstood me.

I misunderstood you?

Sister, let's be frank. Why did you abandon him mercilessly?

Did you really think he was a real rightist?

I think what you cast away is a precious heart.

Sister, you can't live your life like a fish in the icehouse.

It's cold there and you can't see the sky.

It's time to think seriously.

In the fifties, I was still a slip of a girl among all the revolutionaries.

I was recommended to a school.

In the spring of 1956, I graduated.

I joined the Tianyun Mountain Inspection Team.

I arrived at Tianyun Mountain area with my best friend Feng Qinglan.

At that time, I was really young. Too young.

Little fatty, dare you ride a horse?

Humph, that's not a big deal.

You come down, and I will mount the horse.

Good. Come on.

Be careful.

Hey, Song Wei, come on.

No, I won't. Mind you, don't fall down.

Hey, hey, hey. Behave yourself. Come down.

Don't play jokes like that.

What kind of person is he?

Hurry up.

Let's go.

It's sugary.

Qinglan, let's hide.

If the commissar sees us, he will lecture us half a day.

Do you think so?

- Commissar, I... - Hey, hear me out.

I think

Shhhh.

You can't be playful and laugh all the time.

This commissar Wu is odd.

It seems to him that an intellectual will get into evil ways

without being lectured even for one second.

Ouch.

You bumped into him, and you are laughing.

Stop running like that, you two slips of girls.

Are you playing hide-and-seek?

Do you consider us children?

I dare not.

Well, where are you going?

We want to go to the ancient stockade village.

Then why are you here?

We have a commissar of a lecturer. We don't want him to see us.

Ah, great.

You are avoiding the leadership ofthe Party.

Don't stigmatize us.

We have been educated by the Party since childhood.

I know better than you what leadership of the Party is.

Well... what a girl!

Hey, aren't you going to the ancient stockade village? - Yes.

How about I show you the way? Am I welcome?

You are welcome.

Let's go.

Hey, nice shot.

Look.

It's Sunday. Add something to your meals.

You take it.

Here we are.

Hey, look, it has many stories.

- Come on. - Give me a hand.

Hey, Qinglan, check this out. It's fun.

Hey, look, what is he doing there?

Why are you copying it down?

It is feudalist stuff.

Feudalist stuff? It will be helpful to our development of Tianyun Mountain.

How can it help?

Only old fogeys like it.

Oh, then I am an old fogey.

Hey, look.

It tells us that feudalist fogyism was very obstinate.

It prevented any progressive ideology from entering Tianyun Mountain.

Look, they all sang praises of themselves.

Making it seem that our Chinese civilization had come to the zero point.

Without any more room for development.

The time that these monuments stand for is gone.

But the ideology still exists among our comrades. Is it so?

I didn't see it. You are a scholar after all.

What? God knows.

I am no scholar.

I am leaving. I have arranged all the work. Nothing else.

Whoops, sorry.

But you should pay more attention to the minds of the team members.

Catch it.

Nice shot.

Don't slacken the discipline.

Look, pair after pair of them, being playful all the time.

It will definitely affect their work.

They are youngsters.

Well, these youngsters, young intellectuals.

They are talkative and full of tricks.

It's not easy to lead them.

I am also a youngster.

Hey, Lao Wu, they say that you are not married yet.

I'm too busy to care about that.

Look at you.

I say, Comrade Luo Qun, don't belittle the intellectuals.

They have complicated minds.

Hey, that one. Have you noticed him?

He is laden with anxiety all the time. Something is wrong with him in here.

Lao Wu, you are like some comrades, in being

instinctively suspicious ofthe intellectuals.

Well... it's not like that.

I am following the orders of my superior to transform the minds of the intellectuals.

That's not being suspicious.

When it comes to principles, you can't play with new tricks, new words.

I am not playing with new tricks, new words.

I am thinking of Chairman Mao's recent talk on Ten Relations.

The essence is to mobilize all positive elements to search for resources,

to make plans and to build our country.

I think this is the focus of our work.

Xiao Song.

Commissar Wu.

Come here, I want to introduce you to someone.

This is your new Commissar, comrade Luo Qun.

You are a commissar?

I am a batman. At your service.

So we really have a new commissar.

That's great. I am telling the others.

We have a new commissar.

Hey, a commissar.

A new commissar

Qinglan, we have a new commissar. Come.

A new commissar has arrived.

Let's go and have a look.

Comrades, how do you do?

How do you do?

Hey, hello.

Welcome.

- How do you do? - Commissar.

That is the new commissar.

How do you do?

One year had gone by.

Owing to the effort of the Party Committee and all the comrades,

we discovered coal mines, copper mines and rare metal mines.

We found a location for the power station and the reservoir, and other resources.

To honor those who had contributed the most, we had a celebration that day.

Hey, why do they bring the horses?

You don't know. Those who have contributed the most will have a parade on horseback.

Our new commissar and political instructors

from other teams will lead the horses for them.

Lead the horses for them? The commissar.

What? He can't.

He has too many new ideas. Will that cause gossip?

That's nothing. I think that's exactly why he is so precious.

- Is it? - Yes.

You love him, so you should search his inner soul.

You slip of a thing. Who loves him?

You are not honest even with me.

Your eyes have revealed your secret.

I have observed him for you. This is a man as pure as crystal.

If you love him, you should take the initiative.

Otherwise, you will miss the opportunity.

Hey, why are you here by yourself?

I...

Lao Luo. Lao Luo.

Lao Luo.

Hey, Ling Shu.

Hey, this comrade...

Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, I know you, though.

Look, what a secretary you are.

She knows you, while you don't know her.

I am dealing with crops all the time.

I can't know all of your people.

Yes.

She is Song Wei, Wei as in Qian Wei (rosebush)

She came from the North too.

She switched to acquire some technology. She is a technician now.

Hey, Lao Luo, you two aren't here to talk about love, are you?

Look at you.

Let's go.

It is said that the Party Committee of the Special Zone criticized you.

Yes. They say I suck up to the intellectuals,

which degrades my position as the commissar.

If so, you should put on the airs.

Now there are some comrades among us.

They are senior officials and they put on great airs.

That makes it seem that what they say is sounder.

This is not a normal phenomenon.

Does your predecessor have something to do with it?

Wu Yao?

It is said that he has been promoted as the secretary

of the Organization Department of the Special Zone.

Let's not talk about this anymore.

Oh, Lao Ling, I have done it for you.

I told them that there were many mountains and rivers in the Tianyun Mountain area.

Agriculture should adjust measures to local conditions.

Let the agricultural committee handle their own business.

Good. What did they say?

They said I was being nosy.

How come?

You are responsible for the industry of Tianyun Mountain area.

I am responsible for the agriculture.

We are closely related.

That's exactly what I told them.

I enumerated much scientific statistics to persuade them.

But they just couldn't understand.

- Hey, Song Wei is here. - Come and have a try.

- Where have you been? - What were you doing?

- Come. - What is it? - Go.

Song Wei, come and learn how to ride a horse.

In future, it will help you no matter in battle or in construction.

No, I won't.

Come on.

I dare not touch any beasts of burden.

Hey, the commissar is here.

The commissar is here too.

Hey, Song Wei, mount the horse.

- I am afraid. - Come on. Don't be afraid.

Come on. Come. Come.

No, let me go.

Here. Take this.

Be brave.

I am afraid.

Whoops, that's no good. Song Wei will fall off the horse.

Don't let anything happen to her.

The horse is crossing the river.

Song Wei. Song Wei.

You must be frightened.

Like certain people, this white horse likes to bully those who are afraid of it.

It's nothing. I was a chicken when I was a child.

There is one time when my father beat the crap out of me.

Your father?

He sacrificed himself.

I grew up in a hospital in Yan'an and abroad.

I came back during the War of Liberation.

My father also sacrificed himself.

I know it. Let's go.

Ok.

Let us be together forever.

Till death comes.

Oh, Qinglan.

Many thanks to that white horse. It took me to paradise.

Congratulations. What you have found is an honest and passionate heart.

Qinglan.

What an unforgettable night. I will remember it forever.

My first love, my purest, my most passionate love.

There had been nothing like that before

and there would be nothing like that after.

Why did you abandon him mercilessly? Why?

Why did I abandon him so mercilessly?

How should I explain my behavior at that time?

Commissar.

Off duty now.

Lao Lin.

Yes.

What's the matter?

Somebody lodged a complaint against us with our superiors.

That you surrender yourself to capitalist intellectuals.

That you persecute and suppress party cadres.

We have a cadre here who is apt to lecture others.

He even abuses the engineers.

I did nothing more than criticize him a bit.

They say I have set up an independent kingdom here.

That I don't obey their orders.

They just stigmatized us.

They won't care how much the output of grain increased last year.

Nor will they care how many precious resources you have found.

They just talk nonsense without any investigation.

If this way of sucking up to dishonest information won't change,

it won't do any good.

I will give my advice to them.

They are sending an inspection team to check upon you and me.

Ok.

When it comes to principles, I won't give in.

Yes, I forgot to tell you.

They want to send Song Wei to Party school.

They asked me to bring this to you by the way.

Where will they send me to?

Hah hah. You are eavesdropping.

They are sending you to Party school to study.

So you two will be the Cowherd and the Girl Weaver for the time being.

I won't go.

No, you have to. This is the decision of the Organization.

You are to report your duty to the Special Zone tomorrow. Ok?

Let's get married.

Wait till after the autumn, when you finish your studies,

when the planning of the development of Tianyun Mountain is finished. Ok?

Ok.

I don't want to leave you.

Half a year will be gone in a blink of an eye.

It hadn't occurred to me that that would be our last time to see each other.

Before long, the Anti-rightist Movement began.

I was fully involved in this political movement.

Song Wei, Comrade Wu Yao wants to talk about Luo Qun with you.

On behalf of Movement Office of the Party Committee of the Special Zone,

I am now informing you of this.

Former commissar of the Tianyun Mountain inspection team has degraded himself

as an anti-Party, anti-socialism rightist.

He covered up for the rightists, and set up an anti-Party circle.

No. No, that can't be.

In many things, we know better than you.

Luo Qun launches his attacks on the Party organically and designedly.

He colludes with rightists in society.

He attacks the Party viciously in the back.

Let's be together forever.

The Party hopes you will hold your position,

make a clear distinction with him and break away from him.

As to his crimes, you should disclose them without hiding anything.

Comrade Song Wei, this is a trial for you.

On behalf of the Party Branch, I hope you will take actual action

to answer Secretary Wu's words.

You father is a revolutionary martyr.

The Party trusts that you can overcome your feelings.

He is a reactionary in politics.

He is corrupted in his way of living.

You should hold your position.

You should hold your position.

You should hold your position.

You should hold your position.

You should hold your position.

You should make a clear distinction with him

You should make a clear distinction with him

You should disclose his crimes completely.

You should disclose his crimes completely.

In between the Party and Luo Qun,

I had to make that painful decision.

I finally made up my mind to break away from Luo Qun.

After I had graduated from party school, I was transferred to another city.

I changed my profession to politics.

Therefore, another significant turning point occurred in my life.

Song Wei.

Director Chen. Secretary Wu.

- When did you arrive? - We just arrived.

Lao Wu and I came to see you especially.

How is it? It's better than the Tianyun Mountain Special Zone, isn't it?

Director Chen, you are gathering flesh.

Director Chen asked to go to the hotel to have some fun.

We are working.

It doesn't matter.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Do you know anything about Luo Qun recently?

You were completely right in breaking away from him in the first place.

This guy, he is beyond redemption.

In the recent anti-rightist movement, he made another mistake.

He has serious problems.

I don't want to know this, Director Chen.

When the anti-rightist movement is over,

Comrade Wu Yao and I will be transferred here.

You will come to the city too? - Yes.

We are here. We will look after you.

After all, we watched you grow up.

That's great.

Xiao Song, have you considered marriage?

No. I don't want to get married.

That won't do. I will recommend one to you.

Him? No.

He is a man of principles,

capable as well as decent in his way of living.

He will rise in the world politically in the future.

You are right to marry him.

No, I won't.

You trust the Organization or you trust yourself?

- Who is it? - Feng Qinglan.

Qinglan

Yes.

She is here to ask you to speak for Luo Qun.

I have already met her.

To speak for Luo Qun?

She wants you to find the leaders to defend Luo Qun.

This comrade can't be more stupid politically.

Then...

I think you'd better not see her. Another dish is coming.

What can you say to her even if you see her?

Tell her that Comrade Song Wei is not in.

Hey, where is the bridegroom?

Look, where have you been?

- You didn't finish the liquor just now. - Why did you go away?

You left when we were drinking. Three cups is your fine.

The bridegroom can drink. Bottoms up.

Where is the bride?

Hey, where is the bride?

The bridegroom has lost the bride.

At last, I married Wu Yao.

As time went by,

Luo Qun came to mind from time to time.

Sometimes, I couldn't help asking myself.

Was he really an anti-Party rightist?

It hadn't occurred to me that, after so many years,

fate would once again deliver Luo Qun's problem to me.

I had to think about his problem anew.

Sister Song.

Are you going to work? - Yes.

I hope you will find Comrade Feng Qinglan's plea.

And read it carefully.

If there is any, I am sure I will find it.

Sister, reading only is not good enough.

You should analyze, think.

Where are you going?

I am going to buy a train ticket.

I am going to the provincial city.

I will report books written by Luo Qun to the authorities concerned.

By the way, I will tell them about Luo Qun.

Is it true that somebody holds his case intentionally?

Secretary Song, Did you call for me?

A certain Feng Qinglan from the Tianyun Mountain Area sent a plea.

Is it you that handled them?

Feng Qinglan?

She appealed on behalf of her husband, Luo Qun.

Oh. Yes. Yes. Yes. I remember now.

Yes. I did.

Where are the files? Why didn't you let me read them?

Because...

Because of what?

Because they mention Secretary Wu Yao.

So I handed them to him first.

Where are the files now?

Secretariat Wu hasn't returned them to me.

Anything else?

Nothing else.

Secretary Song, you have found those files?

Yes. I have.

I am reading them.

You are so eager to find those files.

Is it that certain senior officials told you to?

Oh, Secretariat Wu called.

No.

Nobody told me to.

Then some important people has dropped you a hint?

No.

In reviewing cases, do we have to follow the hints of important people?

I I didn't mean that.

Do you have any other business?

Secretary Song.

I don't know whether I should say this or not.

What?

You are the wife of Secretariat Wu.

I am his long-time subordinate.

I think we should comprehend well Secretary Wu's instructions.

About this plea, Secretariat Wu has most clear instruction.

That is, no review.

No review?

Yes.

Oh, it's not just because it is Secretariat Wu who handled this case then.

Not to mention that Luo Qun's case can't be redressed and corrected.

Why?

I have read the materials about his being a rightist.

That's completely confusing right and wrong.

Practice proves that he was not only right, but also...

Of course. He might have been right judging from now.

But we can't judge him without considering the situation then.

Besides, his problem is not just being a rightist.

He undermined steel-making. He undermined the Great Leap Forward.

He opposed the Anti-Rightist Movement.

In a word, his case concerns many issues.

Can you overturn all of them?

I don't think so.

You should consider the consequences.

Its influence on your marriage.

I have thought of a better way to deal with it.

Luo Qun was stigmatized as a counter-revolutionary

by Lin Biao and the Gang of Four.

He was totally right in opposing the Gang of Four.

So we can take the stigmatization of counter-revolutionary off him.

About this part of the case, we can redress it completely.

Considering his living situation,

we can suggest relocating him locally, by giving him ajob.

This solution is relatively just.

It's a fairly good solution from whatever aspect you consider it.

I hope Secretary Song will take my opinion into careful consideration.

It will be better ifyou let me handle it.

Secretariat Wu and you should stay out of it.

I dislike this section chief Zhu.

But his words drew me into deep consideration.

I couldn't deny that what he had said made some sense.

Especially his words about my husband.

There wasn't much intimacy between my husband and me.

But after all, we had lived together for 17 or 18 years.

And we had a kid.

If I insisted, chances were that our marriage

would come to an end.

End?

Do I have the courage?

- Mom, you have a registered letter. - From where?

From Tianyun Mountain.

Tianyun Mountain

Oh, from her.

How do you do, Comrade Song Wei.

It has been twenty years since we parted.

We are vastly different in position as between heaven and earth.

Where should I start to tell you?

About my marriage to Luo Qun, you may feel strange.

As many people have asked me,

"Why do you have to cling to a rightist and counter-revolutionary,

who refuses to mend his ways despite repeated admonition"

What should I say?

Essentially, about life and so-called happiness,

different people have different understanding.

I don't want others to understand it like I do.

I write to you, only to talk about my life and my mind.

What I defend is not only an individual, Luo Qun.

Because Luo Qun has deep and pure-hearted feelings

toward the Party, towards Socialism and towards the People.

It's from this that I came to recognize his being precious.

I will begin with the moment when you left.

Not long after you had left, Luo Qun and Ling Shu and the Inspection Team

sent by the Special Zone fell out.

One day..

Let's go.

Where are you going?

To the Party Committee of the Special Zone.

They are far removed from the masses and reality.

And they believe in rumors. What the hell are they doing?

We should really give them some advice this time.

If this kind of bureaucratic style is not to be eliminated, it won't do any good.

Exactly.

If they insist like that, chances are that they will make big mistakes.

Not to mention that this time they didn't solve the problem.

They brought back serious consequences.

Before long, the Anti-rightist Movement began.

Anti-rightist Movements should target at those real rightists.

But certain people availed themselves this movement to fix their own people.

You didn't say anything today. They paid much attention to you.

To have given advice to the party committee is to have opposed the Party.

To have changed Wu Yao's way of doing things is to have surrendered.

To have fallen in love with Song Wei is to have fallen morally.

To have mixed with intellectual is to have spoken for rightists.

What on earth?

Lower your voice.

I am not good at telling lies.

Is it that the revolution needs hypocrisy?

That one should be unfaithful to facts, to truth, to the comrades?

I...

Xiao Wang, let's go to dinner. - Coming.

Let's go to dinner.

You are writing a review?

Yes.

What are you reviewing?

I can't go on.

I can't doubt the Movement the Party has launched.

I am wiling to analyze myself.

To adjust my step to that of the Organization.

But I can't say what I don't see.

I can't lie to the Party.

Comrade Qinglan, you are working under me.

Maybe you see it clearer than me.

Where on earth does my problem lie?

I don't think you have any problem.

You are smoking?

Song Wei wrote to you.

Read it.

She broke away from you.

She drew a clear distinction with you.

Thank you. Go back.

Take care of yourself.

I will.

Comrade Qinglan, don't misunderstand the Party because of what has befallen me.

I hope all the comrades will work well.

Yes.

Luo Qun left like that.

To my surprise, his shadow lingered in my mind all the time.

I couldn't help worrying about him.

I knew that he was facing austere trials.

That's all for today. Let's go.

Hey, you stop too.

Sister, please, may I ask where Luo Qun lives?

Ah. You want to see Lao Luo? - Yes.

Oh, you must be his lover?

I...

Come with me.

Poor thing.

It has been one year since he was banished and came here.

Nobody has ever come to see him.

He was all alone.

Comrade Qinglan.

It has never occurred to me that you you would come here.

Please have a seat.

Please have a seat.

Where should I sit?

Is everything going well in your place?

After you had left, they overturned all the former plans.

They said those were conservative and backward,

that they were the results of your surrender.

The engineers dared not say anything anymore.

Now they are seized by a whim. They want to build the reservoir ahead of schedule.

We will be transferred to the reservoir too.

They are to start without any preparation.

Let's talk about you.

How have you been here?

The comrades miss you very much.

Please tell the comrades that I miss them too.

I was pessimistic, and I was disappointed.

But later I thought, somebody has expelled me,

but the revolution hasn't, and the people haven't.

I myself. I haven't expelled me either.

I think I should keep working for the Party in possible fields.

Hey, Lao Luo.

Yes, I am coming.

This is the plan I made for myself. Give me some advice on it.

You want to continue your research

into the construction and development of Tianyun Mountain?

I am better off than those who suffered the same fate.

I can't waste my own life.

I support you, Comrade Luo Qun.

Thank you, Qinglan. Comrade Qinglan.

Strive everyday to finish constructing the reservoir 100 days ahead of schedule.

Come on. Make an extra effort.

I arrived at the reservoir construction site.

So did Luo Qun and Ling Shu soon after.

It was the autumn of 1959.

One day, Wu Yao, who had been promoted as

deputy secretariat of Tianyun Mountain Special Zone, came too.

Secretariat Wu, you have come.

How do you do? How do you do?

Chief Wang, how do you do you?

You are here too. Hello.

Yes. How do you do? How do you do?

Hey, Xiao Feng, you are here too.

Ling Shu told me to.

Ok. Ok. You can experience more here.

Hey, Xiao Feng, come over.

Hey, hurry up.

Coming.

It is said that you are very close to Luo Qun. Is it true?

Yes.

Woodenhead, you are.

Do you know the recent behavior of Luo Qun and Lin Shu?

You and Song Wei grew up in the care of the Party.

Song Wei behaves well now.

She has been promoted as a section chief in Jiangcheng City.

How about you? The Party hopes you can be on the side of the Party.

Don't get into their anti-Party activities.

Secretariat Wu, drink some water.

After all, I used to be your commissar.

As your former superior, I always hope the best for you.

You are still young.

Secretariat Wu, the meeting is ready to begin.

Should we begin right now?

Ok.

Luo Qun and Lin Shu were against deforestation for the sake of steel-making.

Certain people said they had undermined the steel-making,

undermined the Great Leap Forward.

Under this circumstance, the problem was serious.

But just when they were about to hold the criticism meeting,

a storm destroyed the immature dam.

Ling Shu.

Ling Shu.

Ling Shu.

He was no anti-partisan. He was no rightist.

Even if they want to criticize a communist, they should tell the truth.

He shouldn't have died.

He is here.

Come with us.

Come.

Take care of Sister Lin. Take good care of the child.

Ling Shu sacrificed himself. Luo Qun was taken away.

Then I thought about you.

Maybe you could help him.

Maybe you still loved him secretly.

If you could get him out and marry him,

I would be happy for you.

Therefore, I decided to go to see you.

What happened when I went to see you,

I won't write about. Sorry.

After I had returned, Tianyun Mountain Special Zone was repealed.

Luo Qun was dismissed from his position

and was handed over to the production team again.

We were redistributed.

Why stay and be a primary school teacher?

The development of Tianyun Mountain has stopped. We will be needed elsewhere.

Comrade Feng Qinglan, I really don't understand.

There are things that are difficult to understand.

It needs courage to break through them.

I don't understand.

Comrade Feng Qinglan, I... you know...

I love...

This is out of the question.

Why?

It isn't because of Luo Qun, is it?

If he needs me, I will be with him.

This is true.

He even doesn't have a job. Are you going to provide for him?

Do you know how many difficulties you are going to meet?

What will your family think of you? How will society look at you?

How are you going to make a living?

Depending on your meager salary?

What's more, why do you have to bear such a big burden?

I am going to see Luo Qun. He is ill now.

So long. Thank you.

Are you here to see him?

Yes.

His fever won't come down. I don't know what to do.

Come with me. I am a primary school teacher now.

I have spoken to the party committee of the commune. You will move into my place.

Don't be silly. I am not going anywhere.

Don't be like that. They know you well in their hearts.

Oh right. I have bought all the books on the list you gave me.

I don't want them. I don't want nothing now.

What's the matter?

I will bear the heavy burden by myself.

By myself.

Silly, come with me.

I have five Yuan on me.

Five Yuan is enough for our wedding.

Like this we got married.

We adopted Ling Shu's daughter, Xiao Linlin.

Because her mother had died too.

Our life was difficult or you can say, miserable.

But our minds were high-spirited and rich.

Our life went by year by year in this way.

Later, Lin Biao and the Gang of Four

stigmatized him as a counter-revolutionary.

What's more,

they tortured him inhumanly, physically.

As for me, they tortured me almost to death

because I wouldn't give away Luo Qun's manuscripts.

I will tell you a secret, which I keep secret from Luo Qun.

Because of the persecution of the Gang of Four,

I was completely devastated physically.

I could die any minute now.

I told you at the beginning ofthe letter.

Even if I were to leave the world today, I would be happy.

How about you, Comrade Song Wei?

Me?

You are a kind-hearted and bright person.

I believe you can summarize your experience

and have a new beginning.

As for Luo Qun's problem, in fact, some people still want to hold onto it.

But I believe that it will be settled soon.

This is the necessity of history.

I only hope that you will not be a person

who keeps history from advancing.

So long.

My friend from my youth.

Qinglan.

Qinglan, my good friend.

For so many years, I had been afraid of

making mistakes, of being criticized, of being isolated.

I had been afraid of being looked down by others.

I hadn't even thought of thinking independently.

Not at all.

Stamps and remittance.

Xiao Chen, send this file to the printing room. Print it right now. - Ok.

We will have an meeting. Notify everyone.

Secretary Song, what are we going to talk about at tomorrow's meeting?

About Luo Qun's case.

About Luo Qun's case?

Because it is a typical case.

Through discussion of this case,

we can carry out the policies better and work better.

Secretariat Wu is coming back soon. Should we wait for him?

So we don't have to work until comrade Wu Yao comes back?

I think this a misjudged case that must be redressed.

Twenty years practice has proved that this Luo Qun wasn't wrong at all.

On the contrary, his advice,

no matter judging from then or now, is totally right.

Hello.

It's Secretariat Wu.

Oh, you are back.

I am Lao Zhu. How are you?

Yes. Yes.

Ok. Ok.

Secretary Song, Secretariat Wu is on thephone.

Hello. It's me.

You are back.

We are having a meeting.

What? Go back?

Guests?

Ok.

Secretary Song, now that Secretariat Wu is back...

and he wants you to go home, should we continue this meeting tomorrow?

Ok.

Ah, you are home.

Come here. I will introduce you to somebody.

This is Doctor Zhang from the sanatorium.

- How do you do? - This is Xiao Wu, a nurse.

My wife Song Wei.

How do you do

Secretary Song, you are so young.

Old now.

Not at all.

Don't be diplomatic.

Xiao Zhang and Xiao Wu, stay for dinner with us.

My wife is good at cooking.

Come. I will show you around upstairs.

Ok.

Xiao Gang, turn it off. That's rubbish.

Father, what do you know? This is light music.

What light music, heavy music. Turn it off.

Go to sleep.

Is everything ok at home?

Fine.

- You are fatter this time. - Really

Anything in the Department?

As usual. Everything will be done when you are back.

Yes. They have got used to that.

Lao Wu, I want to tell you something.

Ok.

The central government is having a work meeting.

It is said that the 3rd plenary meeting

of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC is going to open soon.

I know.

I don't know whether you have read the speeches

by certain central government officials.

I think we are still lagging behind

the central government's directions in carrying out policies

and handling old cases.

Comrade Wu, I have cleaned the bathroom.

Should I fill the bathtub with water?

Ok.

There is no hurry. Wait for the official documents.

The central government indeed has the documents.

The problem is that we haven't carried them out.

The Prefectural Party Committee and other departments are complaining about us.

Which superior? This is my jurisdiction.

- The water is ready. - Ok.

Why the rush?

Haven't I told you? In this kind of matter, don't take the lead.

Lao Wu, say...

What time is it now? It must be eleven o'clock.

I am talking about serious matters with you.

What serious matters?

We will talk about them in the office tomorrow.

Don't talk to me in this way all the time.

Look. Look at you.

Lao Wu, I know you misjudged many people in the past.

You were misjudged by others in recent years.

You must understand how those misjudged...

What? What did you say?

I misjudged people? Who did I misjudge?

You are not young anymore, and you are an undersecretary.

How can you look at something like that?

You are right. I led many movements many times in the past.

I indeed fixed many people.

But it was necessary and right.

How can you arrive at such a conclusion?

You. Is it that Zhou Yuzhen influenced you?

Or the newspaper influenced you?

Mind yourself. Some newspaper propagandas nowadays are all wrong.

Don't let this temporary flurry sweep you away.

In my opinion, rightist tendencies are coming up again.

Mind your tongue when you speak in the Department.

In many cases, our words symbolize policies.

Ok. Let's not talk about this anymore.

Look, my old woman.

Is this the way to welcome back your old man?

Like this, this conversation between us ended.

You are crying?

No.

Whom are you crying for? Whom are you shedding tears for?

Lao Wu.

For a kind of abnormal reminiscence, you went

toward the opposite of the Party's policies.

You printed files about that rightist without permission while I was away.

What's more, you pried into my drawer.

I...

You suppressed the comrades in the department to coerce them

to hold a meeting to redress that rightist's case.

Comrade Song Wei, let me ask you.

What kind of problem is this?

I can tell you, he is a typical rightist.

No matter how many redresses there will be, he is out of the question.

This you must know well.

Let me ask you, why do you suddenly want to trace his appeal?

Is it that he came to see you in person?

Don't mix this with personal matters.

I think he was misjudged because of you in the first place.

I think, your admission of this now won't damage your reputation at all.

On the opposite, it can...

We are in the office. Mind your manner of speaking.

I am talking about problem of principles with you.

You are reporting me secretly to the First Secretariat.

No wonder he criticized me like that at the standing committee meeting.

You. You are...

Secretariat Wu, we are all here.

Ok. Let's attend the meeting now.

Wipe away the tears. Don't let others notice that we have just quarreled.

A department cadre meeting which I have summoned.

Clean up and come out right away.

Be seated.

Song Wei, sit here.

What's wrong? Are you ill?

A little.

- Should we begin? - Ok.

- Let's begin. - Be seated.

I have been away for over a month.

About business in the department, I didn't ask much.

What kind of life is that?

For twenty years, I would back off from any situation

where there might be confrontation.

I had tried my best to think of the good things.

Especially during the time when

we were being persecuted by the Gang of Four,

we even encouraged each other.

We went through the imprisonment in the cowshed,

criticism at the public meeting, the pillory,

and transfer to work at the grass-roots level.

After all, he didn't surrender to the Gang of Four

for the sake of his official position.

But now he came back to work.

He considered his being misjudged as emphasizing his being right all the time.

Even our family life returned unconsciously

to that indifferent state.

Even after he had thrown the smashed paper in my face,

I had to sit there listening to his admonitions.

Comrade Song Wei was wrong in dealing with this appeal.

Lao Zhu tried to dissuade her, but she didn't listen to him.

He also passed my opinion to her.

In my opinion, this appeal confuses right and wrong.

It argues irrationally for this guy Luo Qun.

However, Comrade Song Wei replaced serious work with worldly feelings.

She went so far as to give the order to print the materials

and organized a discussion,

which is against the principle of the Organization.

Comrade Song Wei's problem lied in her feeling.

Because the wife of the Luo guy

is her classmate, she made a mistake.

In this department, no personal feelings are allowed in our work.

This is a lesson for us all.

From this, we should remember,"always stick to your principles"

At present, rightist matters are rising.

A symptom of the tendency, timeserving, has appeared.

Overdoing is having its after effects.

Comrade Song Wei is my wife though.

Everybody knows that.

But I won't hold my criticism for her because she is my wife.

Comrade Song Wei herself has realized her mistake.

She has decided to talk to you when the right time comes.

You are not feeling well. Go back and get some rest.

After all, women comrades are weak.

Now I will talk about our future work.

Why are you in Xiao Gang's bed?

You actually left the meeting half way.

If hadn't put in a word for you, what would the influence be?

You think I wronged you. But I did all this to protect you.

I criticized you severely in public. That's absolutely necessary.

You should keep your mind clear.

Haven't you finished yet?

You can't deceive anybody.

Do you think they couldn't see through your motives?

You are in debt.

Don't have an attitude anymore.

Get out of here. Out.

Your mother isn't feeling well. Go and comfort her.

Mom, you quarreled with Dad.

Dad was being bureaucratic. Don't mind him.

Gang Gang, go and ask Nanny to cook something for you.

Mom, I saw Auntie Zhou Yuzhen just now.

Oh, she has returned.

She was crying when I saw her.

What did she cry for?

She said that a very very nice person was dying.

That she was very sorry.

Mom, who is that person?

A woman.

A woman that has few comparisons.

Mom is no comparison with her.

- Sister. - Yes.

I came back last night.

Books written by Luo Qun caused great sensation in the science committee.

The person responsible for the provincial party committee knew it too.

He has bid the science committee to hold a meeting to discuss them.

I wanted to inform Luo Qun and Feng Qinglan of it, so I called them when I returned.

But Luo Qun was not in. He had gone to the mountains to transport goods.

Some comrade in the town told me that Feng Qinglan had fallen ill again. - What?

She is in danger. They are saving her now.

What should we do? If she...

I was looking for you everywhere.

Can you make time to visit her?

Ok. When should we go?

- The sooner the better. - Ok.

- Hey, have you read her appeal? - Yes, I have.

Qinglan wrote to me too.

Then I will go to see the First Secretariat now.

I will report to him once more on Luo Qun's case.

I must take an affirmative message to Qinglan.

Otherwise, I won't feel at ease seeing her.

Ok then. I know you will do it.

Are there any obstacles in your department?

Comrade Wu Yao is against it?

I will tell you in detail later.

You go to the hospital right away and ask for a certain Doctor Chen.

Tell him that I sent for him.

Oh, I will prepare a car.

We will meet at my home early tomorrow morning and set off.

- Ok. It's a deal. - Ok.

Well this case...

This kind of thing, never will we allow it to happen again.

Tomorrow, you should go to Tianyun Mountain Town.

Say hello to the couple for me.

Ok.

You are here.

I am ok right away.

Hurry. I called last night. She was in great danger.

Qinglan. We haven't met for almost 21 years.

I hope she won't pass away just when spring is coming.

Yes.

Tianyun Mountain Special Zone is going to be reestablished.

I am going to send in my papers and go to Tianyun Mountain.

Comrade Wu Yao.

What are you busy with in the early morning?

We are going to see two people.

Who?

Two tough and nice people who has been suffering.

Who you don't want to carry out the policies for them.

Humph, Xiao Zhou, stop being a liberalist.

Humph! I know you want to show that you have been right all the time.

You are afraid of denying yourself.

Actually you have nothing to lose.

It will only add more to your reputation.

Don't talk nonsense anymore.

Nonsense?

Comrade Wu Yao, I am talking about serious matters.

Why can't you look at things from other's point of view?

Haven't you been persecuted by the Gang of Four?

They were wrong in persecuting you.

And you are right in persecuting others?

Humph, does that make sense?

The more you talk the more deviation.

You youngsters nowadays are too impudent.

Comrade Wu Yao, look, a new page has turned in history.

And you?

Yuzhen, let's go.

Where are you going?

To Tianyun Mountain Town to see Feng Qinglan.

She is dying.

No way.

You?

What are you doing?

You are not going to see Feng Qinglan. You are going to see Luo Qun.

I know you have never stopped loving that rightist.

You...

Comrade Wu Yao, this is how you treat others?

You have nobody to persecute now, so you persecute your own wife?

How terrible!

Sister, I am waiting downstairs.

Secretariat Wu, First Secretariat wanted to speak to you on the phone.

He wanted you to report to him about Luo Qun's case immediately.

This is the 300 Yuan that you remitted to Tianyun Mountain Town.

It was sent back.

I remitted the money.

Give it to me.

Song Wei, don't go.

I was out of my mind. Why did I hit you?

Forgive me, Song Wei. For...

Doctor, how is she?

Doctor.

Don't cry.

Are you better?

You cried.

Silly. Don't cry.

It doesn't matter.

No, I didn't cry.

Don't drive the cart anymore.

You should go to university.

And you should get ready to work.

I have a premonition.

Yes.

But you... you have sacrificed everything for me in the past twenty years.

I haven't taken good care ofyou.

Don't say that.

It is you who have given me the most valuable...

Me?

Ideals, faith...

...sentiment and love.

I... no, it is you who have given me all those.

I can't do it without you.

Something happened. I am late.

How are you? Are you better?

Thank you. I am better.

I have brought you good news.

Comrade Luo Qun's problem will be solved soon.

The Academy ofSciences thinks highly of your books.

You can call it, a shock.

Did you hear that?

This day this day has finally come.

Song Wei, why hasn't she come?

Qinglan. Qinglan.

Auntie. Auntie.

Let me have a look at you.

Comrade Feng Qinglan passed away in the end.

And I woke up in the hospital.

During my stay in the hospital,

desirable political changes had taken place in our country.

The policies made in the 3rd plenary meeting

of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC were being carried out.

Tianyun Mountain Special Zone had been reestablished.

Luo Qun had been appointed as the Secretariat ofthe Party Committee

of the construction headquarters of the Special Zone.

Wu Yao and I were separated, hell and gone.

Ah, Tianyun Mountain,

where my youthhood, my love

and my career began and ended untimely.

Would they come back?

You two are not talking about love here, are you

You two slips of girls. Are you playing hide and seek?

Memories of the past made my heart beat faster.

A strong desire to see Luo Qun came into my heart.

Little friends, whose grave have you gone to see?

Miss Feng, our teacher.

Which Miss Feng?

Feng Qinglan.

Watching them, I suddenly felt ashamed.

What was I thinking about?

What is gone is gone.

There should be a higher realm in one's life.

There are more important missions for me to accomplish.

Shi Jianlan... Feng Qinglan

Wang Fuli... Song Wei

Shi Weijian... Luo Qun

The End.