Original subtitles

Sub by iQiyi & Ripped by skysoultan ♔ Follow @skysoultan on Instagram ♔

Ping Pong

This show is the selected drama by NRTA

in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the PRC,

and was funded under the 2019 Art Creation of Hubei.

Episode 32

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance is purely coincidental.

Lei.

Xu Tan has been training well.

And his mind has started to become stable.

But is he not willing to join the Summer Universiade?

Feng.

Playing ping-pong is like playing chess.

For example,

you learn to play chess

by learning the horse and elephant movement,

and memorising chess manual first.

Take one step at a time.

And you finally reach the state

where you can play with outstanding players.

By then,

your mind pattern is totally different, right?

It's at this moment

someone suddenly takes away your chess board,

together with the chess pieces.

The opponent no longer wants to play with you.

He's going to play with others.

While he keeps improving himself,

you

have got into a literal void.

After a long while,

that opponent suddenly

comes to play chess with you again.

How would you feel?

That's the problem he's facing.

If he can get over this,

he will have a very smooth future.

But he must be able to get over it.

We've done everything we should.

Give him some time.

Oh yeah, I'm going back to Beijing Team. And I'll be away for a few days.

Well,

please keep an eye on Xu Tan.

Why are you heading back to Beijing?

You can't know too much.

Yes.

I'll call you if anything happens.

Okay.

Yu Ke Nan.

Mr Fu. Mr Teng.

Mr Teng, are you here for recruitment?

Cut it out.

Because I care about you.

Am I interrupting your training?

I came to say hi to you.

He can't do anything about it.

Silly brat. Stop going against Mr Zheng.

If I don't go against him,

we will never be on good terms.

Don't talk nonsense.

Mr Zheng is a very good coach.

All right.

Go ahead. Be good.

Train well.

Got it.

Here, come with me.

Okay.

Cai Wei

What are you up to, bro?

What are you smirking at?

I'm not.

What are you smirking at?

My bro Wu Chang Sheng, whom I grew up with.

He came to Beijing today.

And he had dinner together.

He said, after the quake,

he lost his house in the hometown.

So he prepares to start over in Beijing.

That's a pretty good idea.

How will he start over?

Do you know that small restaurant at the entrance of General Administration?

Chang Sheng is going to buy it

and open a new Sichuan restaurant

that serves the most authentic Sichuanese cuisine.

And I'll invest small money in it.

Really?

That makes you Mr Liu.

I'll keep a low profile.

Just like what I said.

In our batch,

you're the smartest of all.

You're exaggerating. There's Xu Tan, too.

Training Center of General Administration of Sport of China

Stop.

How did you return that serve?

What's wrong?

What's the rush?

That's a fast serve he got you.

Couldn't you have made a stable stroke before attacking him?

Didn't you ask me to attack?

Do you want me to attack or not?

To attack with a stable stroke and not to attack.

They are two different things.

Don't you twist my words around.

Yes, you're the best coach.

Everything you say is right.

Yu Ke Nan.

You must fix your attitude before joining the table.

If not,

you will train with Ma Chuan and Liu Shi.

Don't waste everyone's time!

What's wrong with Ma Chuan and Liu Shi?

Mr Qin is coaching them so well.

I'm less than them.

Mr Zheng.

Maybe Ke Nan

is curious about how the rest of us train.

Let me train with him.

Fine, get on with it. Train with one another.

Nice shot, Liu Shi.

I'll keep a low profile.

Are you okay?

Where has Mr Qin gone?

He went out alone after talking to the team doctor.

What did they talk about?

It's more or less the same thing.

You've heard it all.

But you can't tell me, can you?

They think your injury

is the result of you doing irregular chop shots

for a long time.

It's a long buried danger.

But don't you worry.

We'll definitely get it cured.

Stop lying to me.

I'm not.

That's what they said.

Does it hurt?

I'm aware that it's different from last time.

It's game over for me this time.

What a regret.

If I can't play ping-pong,

I'll make a lot less money.

Now isn't the time

to think about money.

You're not worried about your lumbar injury at all.

Machamp...

Change from Machamp mode to Little Fairy mode.

Little Fairy mode is no fun.

Press Conference

Signing Ceremony of Shanghai Thunder Club

Shanghai Thunder Club

Thank you.

All right. Dear members of the press.

Next, we'll be having a Q&A session.

Feel free to ask any questions.

You.

Hello, Yu Ke Nan.

I'm a reporter from Thunder APP.

You're a budding player.

Yet, you've already got a lot of fans.

What do you think

about the attention you receive outside the game?

Actually, I think

everyone wants to be a celebrity.

But as a public figure,

I feel pressured.

In fact, pressure is motivation.

I think there are pros and cons.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

You.

Do you

have any personal way to destress yourself?

Personally, I

like to play video games.

In fact, I think playing video games makes one smarter.

It trains one's mind.

Hello, I'm the reporter from Cloud Media.

I heard that you're an experienced player

of AskTao Mobile developed by Thunder.

In your opinion, what are the similarities

between playing ping-pong and video game?

Actually, one can meet many new friends by playing video games.

And he can build team awareness

with his own friends.

It's like us playing ping-pong.

Because Chinese ping-pong team

and national team

are very united and friendly.

For example, my teammate

Liu Shi.

He's a very hardworking

and powerful

chopper in the Chinese ping-pong team.

But due to some injury,

you won't be able to

see him play for now.

Please show him

more attention afterwards.

Lastly, thank you for coming today.

And I'll keep up the good work.

by training hard and fight for the country.

I'll show you a better Yu Ke Nan.

Thank you everyone.

Thank you.

I'll have a word with you.

You're aware of this.

The CTTSL for this season

is about to start.

The home of Tianjin Guoben Club

is the stadium of our university.

Their match

with Henan Club is in three days.

As the host,

we have responsibility to assist the organiser

with the preparation.

Let me assign the tasks to you all.

Your team

is mainly responsible for our stadium's...

Are there any national team players

in both of those clubs?

You'll monitor the cleanliness of men's and women's restrooms.

I guess so.

Do you know many of them?

Maybe.

Si Heng, I'll leave it to you.

All right. I've got something on.

Here's the thing.

You all have been training hard these days.

Let's have

barbecue tomorrow, okay?

Sure. Thank you, Manager.

What are you doing?

Get over here and help us out.

Stop it. Hurry up.

Darn it. Go for it. Charge.

I'm coming. What?

What?

-What's with you? -What's with me?

I'm coming at you.

Are you helping us out or not?

Cut it out.

I'm coming. Stop it.

Why don't you join in the fun?

I'm not used to that kind of fun.

I'm afraid I'll be a killjoy.

No, you're very good.

I know.

Well,

have you ever had fun with your girlfriend?

I don't have a girlfriend.

Did you have any?

No, I didn't.

You're into someone, aren't you?

Why didn't you tell me you're back?

It's been days since I came back.

Well, some of my foreign friends came to visit.

And I've been busy being their tour guide.

Great. You can introduce them to Bittern Flapjack,

mung bean milk, and others.

I don't think they can stomach them.

That's a given.

Are those friends

in the pictures you posted online?

No.

Those are from the charity club.

It's a school club.

The ones who came back with me.

They're not from the university.

You have quite a lot of friends.

So-so.

Have you got a boyfriend?

I know why you gifted me the CD.

And I also know why you gave me the chocolate.

But I've gone abroad.

Thus, our lives will be

very different.

So I...

Enough. Just do me this one favour.

I'll get going.

Thank you!

Xu Tan.

Well...

I'm sorry for being so nosy.

I was into someone.

What kind of girl was she?

She's a Beijing girl.

She's a tall girl with long legs.

She got a very small face.

And she's really violent.

When she got upset,

she'd spray a fire extinguisher at others.

But she's quite cute.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Are you still into her?

That's during my adolescence.

Now she's got a boyfriend.

I feel sorry for her.

I feel sorry for her, too.

Let me help you out.

Go ahead.

Just give it to me.

Please start your performance.

Okay.

What are you thinking?

It suddenly occurred to me that

it's quite fun going to university.

Take it back.

I've reached the limit.

Do you still remember it?

Back then, you told me that

there's only you

on the path to becoming a ping-pong player.

That you needed to walk alone and look for the answer.

And the answer

wasn't about whether you could become the world champion or not.

It's about

knowing where your limit was.

Xu Tan.

I don't believe this is your limit.

Athlete Apartment

Stone.

You're back.

What a bumpy ride.

Aren't your lumbar injured?

How did it end up like this?

You don't get it.

My spine has been affected by my cervical spine,

which has affected my lumbar spine.

Now I dare not move at all.

Get more rest, then.

My souvenirs from Shanghai.

Did you buy them for me?

I forgot to do so.

I did.

They're in the luggage.

You want them now?

You're really a piece of work.

Half of my luggage

is full of your souvenirs.

I'm putting it here.

Quick, put it in my hands.

Put it in my hands.

Hurry up.

I feel much better.

What a good-for-nothing.

I'm to blame. I shouldn't have let you play that game.

I asked to play it.

And my lumbar has always been injured.

You have nothing to do with it.

Treat it well. You'll get recovered from it.

The first round of CTTSL is about to start.

Fu Jing Chun's

Tianjin Guoben Club

will be going against

Leng Yi's Henan Club.

The home of Tianjin Guoben Club is

the stadium of Tianjin Lvteng Normal University.

Lvteng Normal University?

Isn't it Xu Tan's university?

Dear audience

and those who are watching this from the television.

Welcome to

Chinese Table Tennis Super League

where we cheer for the athletes.

Today's the seventh round in 2011.

Team Tianjin Guoben will be going against Team Henan.

And we're here at the home of Team Tianjin,

Lvteng Normal University.

Dear audience.

Please give a big round of applause

and welcome our host team,

Team Tianjin Guoben.

Xu Tan.

Why does Fu Jing Chun seem so different?

Even though he's as stable as he was,

he no longer acts like

the God's favoured one.

Stability is all he has left.

And his fierceness is all gone.

Didn't he play quite well?

What happened to him?

He's probably injured.

Xu Tan. Have you ever joined CTTSL?

No.

Don't you want to try it?

No.

Although you're no longer in the national team,

joining leagues

is a great opportunity to prove yourself.

Got it.

Watch the game.

Nice shot!

Nice shot!

What a nice shot!

Fu Jing Chun defeated Leng Yi 11-9.

That means Team Tianjin Guoben

won this game.

All right, dear audience.

The game is over.

Next Monday, same time.

See you at CTTSL.

Coach, I'll have a chat with them.

You need not wait for me.

-You may go first. -All right.

Long time no see.

Do you still remember me?

Four-Eyed Boy, Lin Hao Zhi.

Of course I do.

During the regional training,

you ran into the forest, didn't you?

I heard from him that you're here.

You've become handsome.

And who are both of them?

Okay.

Well, I'll treat you all to dinner tonight.

Come along.

As for my offer,

give it a thought.

Here.

I didn't know that

Team Tianjin Guoben's home is at your university.

That's fate.

Well, you do like a university student.

How are things going with the team?

The team?

It's changed quite a lot.

Xia Ke has retired.

Then came some new kids.

And they're all so powerful.

Then,

Stone has gotten injured.

It's his lumbar.

And it seems pretty serious.

I hope he can get well soon.

I don't want him to end up like me.

Xu Tan, since you're free already,

would you consider joining a club?

You see.

I'm in Team Tianjin.

It pays quite well.

And the boss is pretty nice.

Since you're here in Tianjin,

why don't we play leagues together?

I don't mean to be rude. It's just that...

You see, I've been dismissed from the national team.

And if I were to play ping-pong for money, I...

I couldn't accept it.

You don't want to play for money?

Before I came to Tianjin,

I already applied to leave the team.

Why?

There're so many good players in the national team.

And I understand that

there's no way I can be a world champion.

Xu Tan.

Although you've left the national team,

it doesn't mean you've to give up on ping-pong.

How does that saying go?

"For a single general’s reputation is made out of ten thousand corpses."

Whether we're becoming corpses or not,

the choice is ours.

Hello, Mom.

I told him.

Why did you...

Judging from the rate of deterioration,

the only solution is to have a liver transplant.

And it's better to do it soonest.

If we keep delaying it,

it's very likely that it'll turn into cancer.

Is it really that serious?

Is there any other solution?

What's the approximate cost of the surgery?

It's not cheap.

Liver donation, surgery, hospitalisation,

immunosuppressants for future use, and etc.

Taking reimbursable expenses into account,

the conservative estimate is five hundred thousand yuan.

Sure, we'll do the surgery.

Son.

You told me that

you joined the university team.

So, how are you coping with it?

Quite good.

I get to play ping-pong without feeling pressured.

I'm quite happy.

As long as you're happy.

Son.

Do you make friends at the university?

Yes, there are boy and girl friends.

Your dad is asking you

if you have a girlfriend.

Why are you beating around the bush?

Mind your own business.

We talked so quietly but you managed to hear us.

Girlfriend? Well...

Who's that?

Hello, Uncle and Auntie.

I'm Xu Tan's classmate.

My name is Wang Si Heng.

I came to visit both of you on behalf of my schoolmates.

Come on in.

You shouldn't have bought all this.

Come.

Here, miss. Have some water.

Thank you, Auntie.

Did you come from Tianjin?

It's a long train ride.

You must be quite tired, right?

I'm not tired, Auntie. I'm all right.

But I'm tired.

Why are you here?

I came to visit Uncle and Auntie.

Are you in the same class?

No.

I'm the manager of university ping-pong team.

You're so young but you're already a manager.

You're really something else.

No, Xu Tan is better.

He plays ping-pong so well.

And he's willing to teach other teammates how to play it.

Is he?

Tan Tan.

It's almost time to eat.

You should take her out to dinner.

What about both of you?

We'll have patient meals.

Don't mind us. Hurry up.

Go ahead. Tan Tan will take you out to dinner.

Let's go.

Don't let Uncle and Auntie eat patient meals.

I found a nice porridge restaurant nearby.

It's clean and hygenic. And they use fresh ingredients.

Uncle should eat light food

before the surgery.

I'll buy Uncle and Auntie some porridge.

Xiao Li called just now.

He said he's coming here.

What should we do?

He'll be here later?

What do we do?

Tan Tan is still around.

I know.

Okay, I'll go down and check on it.

Don't go down by myself.

Sister Lin, stop running away from us.

Hello, Brother Xu.

How are you doing?

Quite good.

Brother Xu, we're sorry

for disturbing you when you're sick.

But there's really no other way around it.

Xiao Li, this is a ward.

Can we talk outside?

Let's go.

I'm not going anywhere. Let's just talk here.

When will you pay back the money you owe us?

It's as I said on the phone.

Can you give me one more month?

Once I've got the money, I'll pay it back at once.

I mean it.

Sister, you've been saying that for months.

Are you trying to sway us to your excuse?

Brothers, we're not doing that.

Now we're indeed in deep water.

Once everything has gotten back on track,

we'll return you the money instantly.

Yes.

You made the same promise for times.

But have you ever kept your word?

Have you ever paid back the money?

Tan Tan.

Mom.

Who are they?

Are you Xu Tan?

Your parents owe us money.

And they can't pay it back.

What is this?

It's the problem between us.

Why are you talking about it in front of our son?

Pay back the money, then.

Brother Xu, it's not easy for us either.

If there were a ray of hope,

we wouldn't have come all the way here.

That's right, Brother Xu.

It's because of this money

that my wife wants to divorce me.

If I don't get the money today,

I can't go back home.

Let's go outside.

Tan Tan, you stay out of it.

Auntie, just leave it to Xu Tan.

Don't worry.

Miss, pardon us.

It's okay. Auntie, have a seat.

It's all right.

How much?

Five hundred thousand yuan.

What will you do about it?

As you just said,

we're old friends.

I'll pay you back the money.

But as you can see, our family isn't doing well.

Can you give me a little bit more time?

Well, here's the thing.

Your parents were supposed to pay us months ago.

Right?

Tell us...

When can you return the money?

Yes.

Ten days.

Uncle. Auntie. Don't worry.

They seem to be having a good talk.

That kid

has never had this kind of situation.

I'm to blame.

I shouldn't have asked him to come back.

Auntie. Luckily you asked him to come here.

If he hadn't done so,

he would've felt regret

knowing about it afterwards.

And I find

Xu Tan reliable.

Don't worry.

Si Heng.

We've wasted a lot of your time.

Auntie and I are sorry about that.

Uncle. Auntie. Never mind.

Hard Work

Here.

I must get the Grand Slam.

Everyone is waiting for my result.

I want to tell them that

I can do it.

It's good to have determination.

But don't expect instant success.

Too much pressure and it'll become a burden.

It's the national team. Who wouldn't put pressure on himself?

And with a coach like Mr Zheng...

Ke Nan, I need to comment on that.

Even though Mr Zheng

is a bit strict,

but nothing's wrong with him.

Here's how people communicate with each other.

Be nicer to him

and he

will treat you as nicely.

What about Fu Jing Chun?

Fu Jing Chun was nice to him, wasn't he?

And he ended up like that.

Mr Teng.

When will you join the first team?

It's none of your business.

Brat.

Do you remember

we used to play football together?

I do.

Here's what I said.

One must slow down. Make the move only at the right timing.

Yes.

You can't slow down.

Make the move at the right timing.

Work hard to join the first team.

I'm waiting for you.

Hello, Mom. Xu Tan...

His family is going to have surgery.

And he needs...

Can you lend him some money?

I've given my parents a call.

They said they could lend you some money.

And the classmates would chip in with some of it.

You should be able to pay for the first surgery.

No need.

No need.

Thank you.

It's nothing. We're just trying to help you.

I have a way.

What is it?

Here.

Tan Tan, are you going to play CTTSL?

I think I'll be paid hundreds of thousands yuan for one season.

Tan Tan, don't bother yourself with it.

Your dad and I can solve it.

And the relatives can be of help.

Don't burden yourself.

Wait, could relatives be more helpful than a son?

Playing ping-pong has always been my job.

Just leave it to me.

Uncle. Auntie. Xu Tan is really a very good player.

Don't worry.

I'll look after him on your behalf.

Okay, thank you.

Sub by iQiyi & Ripped by skysoultan ♔ Follow @skysoultan on Instagram ♔

Ping Pong Little Drama

CCTSL

CCTSL.

CCTSL is the acronym of

Chinese Table Tennis Super League.

It's an elaborate sport event

co-organised by Chinese Table Tennis Association

and China Central Television.

It's organised once a year.

Organised Once A Year

The categories include

men's team

and women's team.

Since the national sports reform in 1994,

China started establishing

ping-pong clubs.

And on December 1995,

the first CTTSL

was held in Guangdong.

All these years,

with the joint effort by ITTF

and Chinese Table Tennis Association,

there have been matches held and ping-pong has also been promoted.

That's why ping-pong

has been gaining popularity

across the world.

The competitiveness of every table tennis association in the world

has also been developed.

Ping Pong