Original subtitles

♫ My dear, sometimes, ♫

♫ I feel so tired. ♫

♫ When I'm lonely, ♫

♫ I'll cry as well. ♫

♫ Ooh. Ooh. ♫

♫ Trying hard to grow up. ♫

♫ Ooh. Ooh. ♫

♫ Keeping up with hesitation. ♫

♫ Bravely ♫

♫ The so-called darkness ♫

♫ is just your supposition. ♫

♫ The detour in life ♫

♫ makes us fearless. ♫

♫ Ooh. Ooh. ♫

♫ Go flying. ♫

♫ Where are you now? ♫

♫ Let's go. ♫

Go Ahead

Episode 01

(Summer, Year 1999)

(Haichao Noodle Restaurant)

Jianjian, what happened?

Are you okay?

- Come and let me see. - Did she get hurt?

Well, she seems to be fine.

I'm really sorry. It's all my fault.

In order to save trouble,

I've moved all the furniture by one truck.

It's all right as she's fine.

So sorry about that.

- Is it your noodle restaurant? - Yes.

I'm the landlord, Li Haichao.

I'm Ling Heping. I'll live here from now on.

I see.

Your address is Room two, Unit three, Building three.

How do you know that?

Aunt Fang from the community has told me

that a policeman will live upstairs.

- Is that you? - Yes, it's me.

I'm just transferred to the sub-district police station.

Hope you support my work in the future.

- Of course. We'll help each other. - That's it.

- Ling. - Yes?

It's really hot today. Let's move things in first.

- My wife, Chen Ting. - Nice to meet you.

Here's my son, Ling Xiao.

How cute the boy is!

See hi to him.

Greet each other.

Really a nice boy!

So many things here... What about this?

I'll go to help you later.

No, it'll bother you too much.

Come on! We're neighbors!

Go to park the truck first.

All right then. Thank you so much! Otherwise it's really hard for me to move them all.

Just park it in front of the doorway.

Okay.

Jianjian, we have new neighbors.

- Are you happy? - Yes.

Wait! Why did you come out to play without finishing eating your noodles?

It sticks together!

I haven't completed my painting. Time to draw you now.

Painting...

Pretty good.

Really a nice painting.

- I should reward you for such a good painting. - Yeah!

Fine. I'll give you an ice cream!

I want two!

Two? You... All right.

But you should finish your noodles first.

The house is well lighted. Better than the former.

And our neighbors are really warmhearted.

Aunt Fang gave us such a large bowl of pork ribs!

When I went to see Aunt Fang off,

she told me that,

our downstairs neighbor Li Haichao,

his wife passed away last year.

She told us not to mention it.

Well...

how did she die?

It seems that she had a pulmonary hypertension

when she's six months pregnant.

The doctor suggested to induce labor

but she hated to part with her fetus.

She refused to do so

no matter how her relatives persuaded.

But they ultimately both died.

It happened in the last June.

Is it the little girl we met downstairs?

She lost her mom at such a young age. She's really poor.

Poor?

I don't think we're better than others.

Do you feel hot?

Come on. The fan is ready.

Plug in. Turn on to the maximum

and set it towards my wife.

Have a try!

Dear, everything is ready now.

Don't think too much. Just have more rest.

Let me go to report for duty first.

I'll come back for dinner.

Buy a ginger duck on your way home.

Ling Xiao likes it.

Ling Xiao.

Sort out the comic books yourself.

What have you hidden?

Nothing...

My comic books...

Step aside. Let me see.

Step aside.

Sorry, mom...

Aunt!

Are you the girl in the noodles restaurant?

Is Brother Ling at home?

What's the matter?

I bought an ice cream for him.

He doesn't like it. Thank you.

Jianjian.

Time to eat!

Jianjian, we'll have sweet and sour spare ribs today.

- Jianjian, time to eat. - Dad!

What's up?

They still have a younger sister!

Where did you find it?

Ling Xiao's mom threw them.

A box of toys.

We can't keep them.

Let me throw them away.

- I'll buy you something new. - I want them!

They're all my treasures!

Let me tell you something, Jianjian.

We can't keep others' rubbishes.

And remember,

not to mention anything

about the sister with our neighbors, okay?

Why?

Because they have no more sisters now.

Is she same with my mom? She's dead?

Not exactly the same.

She's now a fairy on the sea.

Will my mom come back?

No, she won't.

She's staying there as a fairy.

But never mind.

We'll also be there after many years later.

Then we'll have the family reunion.

Then when can we meet her?

Till...

Jianjian becomes an old granny.

Is it like this?

Sweet beancurd jelly.

Sweet like honey.

Young chap,

do you want some?

Let me try.

Yum. It's so yummy!

Okay, stop.

Let me throw them away.

Daddy, I've glued for a long time...

Fine.

We can keep them temporarily.

Go to wash your hands. Let's have the meal!

Okay.

- Haichao! - Yes, Aunt Qian.

Why are you still in the apron?

You didn't change your clothes?

Hurry up! Go to change one!

Why? I just changed it this morning. It's neat and tidy.

It's your first appointment.

Shouldn't you give her a good impression?

I'm the point, not the clothes. It's okay.

Fine. So it goes.

Put off your apron.

Hurry up.

- Don't let the lady wait for you! - You're right.

Granny Qian, where are we going?

Jianjian, shall we go to the park?

I want to go fishing for goldfish and I want a water pistol!

- Okay, I'll buy for you. - Deal!

Let's go.

The dough is still there!

Let's go!

He Mei, he's Li Haichao. I've told you before.

He's the landlord of a noodles inn

and you are a beauty assistant.

Both of you work inside. How fabulous!

Introduce yourselves!

Nice to meet you. My name is He Mei.

Nice to meet you too. I'm Li Haichao.

He's Ziqiu.

Ziqiu, greet him.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you too!

Come on. Let's shake hands.

Lovely boy.

- How old are you? - I'm seven.

You're seven.

Let me introduce a younger sister to you.

- Jianjian. - No!

- Jianjian! - Jianjian.

Don't worry. I'll go to find her.

Have a nice chat to know each other more.

- Okay. - Fine.

Jianjian!

- Do you want to go out to play? - Yes.

Go to play with Jianjian, okay?

- Go ahead. - Okay.

Let's have the seats.

Sit down, please.

- She's too young to be sensible. Sorry about that. It's okay.

Have the tea, please.

Thank you.

Aunt Qian told me that your wife passed away due to illness?

Yes.

It's not a long time, right?

All the neighbors are warmhearted

to help me find a new wife.

I see.

They think the couple is better than the single.

- It's good for the child. - It's right.

What's your hobby?

Hobby?

I...

I like cooking.

- Cooking? - Yes.

What else?

Well...

nothing more.

My restaurant is usually very busy...

What about you?

I like reading.

Such as Anna Karenina,

Pride and Prejudice.

I'm busy too.

I hardly have time to read.

I see.

You're right...

So...

how do you deal with Ziqiu's meals as you're really busy?

He had to buy some food himself.

Buy food...

Can he gain enough nutrition?

Though I feel sorry about that,

I really have no other choices.

I have to work about 10 hours a day.

You're really toilsome.

How can you have time to cook?

How about this?

Take him to my inn to have noodles as you're free.

Do you like kids?

Yes!

Of course I like them!

Kids are so interesting!

They'll stay around you and talk to you.

Really cute.

Here you are.

- Three yuan? - Yes.

So expensive! Can you give a lower price?

It's already cheap enough.

Forget it.

Jianjian, how can you spray your brother?

He's not my brother!

I don't want a stepmother!

Don't you like Aunt He Mei?

How beautiful she is!

Isn't it a good thing for you to have one more person who cares you?

No stepmother!

You're a bad guy!

Why am I a bad guy now?

How can you...

Bad guy! "Destroy" the bad guy!

Jianjian!

Bad guy! "Destroy" the bad guy!

Enough! Stop spraying him!

Bad guy!

Stop...

How dare you spray wet all over Ziqiu?

What should we do if he catches a cold?

Then we have to send him to the hospital.

Won't we pay for medical costs?

As you pay for the costs, will you have no money for...

Brother Ling Xiao!

Let's play the water pistol together!

She's talking to you.

Say hello to the uncle.

Hello, Ling Xiao.

Are you going out?

Yes. Go out to buy something.

Did you bring her out to play?

He had a blind date with "Daji"!

It seems that she's pretty.

Just have a chat.

Pretty good.

A pretty woman is hard to be a good wife.

We have to leave now.

Brother Ling Xiao!

Please!

Let's go back home to play.

Don't spray wet all over Ling Xiao again.

Reckless girl.

Well, you see.

His wife passed away only a year ago.

But now he's in a hurry to have the blind date.

As his wife died in childbirth for him,

how could he now go to date so easily?

As Li Jianjian called the woman "Daji", he's extremely happy.

He's gone too far.

Well, I think that he's not a bad guy.

Why are you eating so fast?

I'm on night duty today.

Have you stayed at home over half an hour?

Well, as I've just changed my job,

I have to get familiar with the new environment.

There are lots of things to handle.

No matter where we move, it's all the same.

Do you feel uncomfortable to see me?

No.

What about changing your wife?

As Li Haichao now goes to date,

you can also go to see the beauties.

Darling, how dare I!

All my efforts are for you

and for our home.

For our home?

Why can't I find that?

What's this?

It's a welcome gift!

Bingo!

- Li Jianjian! - Yes!

- Set out! - Yes!

Open the door for your dad.

Maybe he forgot brought his key again.

Brother Ling Xiao!

Here's the welcome gift!

We picked them on the mountains.

Get out!

What's going on?

Well...

What?

Jianjian...

What happened?

He doesn't like walnuts.

We can choose a different gift next time.

Next time?

What about candies?

Candies are yummy.

Sweet fried pastry and sweet beancurd jelly are also good.

Okay, stop.

Still want to eat candies.

Look at your teeth. So many dental caries!

Don't worry.

They will regrow.

Ling Xiao.

Go to apologize to Jianjian with me after finishing meals.

As she sent us mountain products with goodwill,

was it rude for you to treat her in this way?

No need to do so.

Chen Ting.

They're our neighbors.

And also, they don't know our matters.

Your conduct is really a mystery.

A mystery to you'?

I didn't mean that.

I mean it's a mystery to others.

They did things with goodwill.

Then can they hurt me so?

So I'm the only one who suffer a lot, right?

Fine, let's stop. Do not cry before the child.

Pretend to be a good father now? Why pretend so late?

If you can care about us more, it won't happen!

Okay... Forget it.

We've said to live without mentioning these anymore, right?

Did I mention it?

Didn't I want to live a better life?

It's all my fault! I apologize!

I shouldn't mention it! I promise I won't do that again.

Let's have the meal first. I need to work after the meal.

Ling Xiao, continue to eat.

Go to work...

Just go to work! You don't need to care about us!

You don't need to eat!

Are you crazy?

Yes!

How can't I be crazy?

It's my daughter! I gave her birth!

Didn't I have a hard time?

But our life...

- Have your meal. - still need to go on.

- Hurry up. - I see.

Haichao told me you weren't satisfied with him.

I know you're picky to choose your partner.

Though he's not that rich,

it's enough to feed the family.

And the most important is that he's nice.

Many people are satisfied with it.

If you two can be together,

then you'll have both a son and a daughter.

What a good thing!

Give me more time.

I just passed by to have a meal here.

Fine. Just go ahead first no matter what the end is.

Though it's small here, it's a busy restaurant.

Many neighbors come here to eat.

Fly into your mouth at once!

Morning! Come and have some watermelons then.

Come in.

- I'm back with a watermelon. - You're here.

That's my little frog!

Well... here you are.

I don't want it anymore!

What are you doing, Jianjian?

How can talk to him in such a way?

How can you hit him?

He's our guest!

Haven't I told you what a guest is?

Guest is god!

How can you hit him?

How many frog toys have you destroyed this month?

If so, I have no money to buy you a new one.

You're perspiring heavily. Why are you so angry?

Anger brings sweats.

Relieve the heat and don't be angry.

Have some watermelon. Come on.

- Here you are. - Thank you.

- Here you are, Ziqiu. - Thank you.

You're welcome.

She's still young.

As you're elder, could you forgive her?

It's my fault. I shouldn't touch her toy.

Wow.

What a reasonable boy!

You're a real man.

Let me award you.

Tell me what you want to eat. I'll cook for you.

No spicy.

Is it enough?

Don't touch him!

It's not a big deal...

Touching won't hurt him, right?

Calm down. Let me stroke you then.

She's always like this.

Then let me make some cold noodles with sesame sauce for you.

What do you refuse to eat?

I don't eat scallions.

No scallions... Good...

Jianjian, have fun with Ziqiu.

Do you hear? Do not fight with him.

I want to go out to play.

Go out...

But...

Fine. Leave then.

Don't run away.

Naughty girl.

I'll cook now.

Aunt Qian, entertain her.

There are more sunflower seeds in the counter. Eat as you like.

I see. Go ahead. Don't worry. I'll take care of her.

♫ Eyes stare like brass bells, ♫

♫ showing shrewd as lightning. ♫

♫ Ears stand up like antenna, ♫

Have a bite?

Brother Ling, shall we see Black cat Sheriff?

I'm not your brother. Go away.

Let's go to see Doudou's kittens?

Her cat gave birth to several kittens.

Sheriff, here's White Pigeon.

I've found the monster's nest.

Once again.

Sheriff, here's White Pigeon.

I've found the monster's nest.

Sheriff, here's White Pigeon.

We'll be right there.

Why do they quarrel everyday?

Will they break our roof someday?

Could you stop thinking about that?

Then will they fall into our home?

No, I can't!

I can't eat and sleep well!

I cannot control myself!

Brother Ling, do you want some watermelon?

So sweet!

So many people today.

Always like this.

Heping, come and sit here.

- Sit with us. - Hello, Aunt Fang and Aunt Qian.

Have a meal here?

No one eats at home so we're out to have meals here.

Don't you go back home for lunch?

Something at the station needs to be solved.

So I have to go back after a simple meal.

Heping is here.

- Here you are. - Thank you.

- And yours. - Thank you, Haichao.

And a cucumber salad for you.

Haichao sends us dishes every time.

Then how can you earn money?

It's enough for me.

What do you want?

The same. Cold noodles with chicken slices. More noodles.

Okay. Hold on.

- Let me tell you something, Heping. - Yes.

Although spouses may bicker sometimes,

it does hurt the feelings for quarrelling all the time.

As you're a man,

humor Chen Ting more.

I see.

Well, it already lets you know the matters.

Floors cannot deadened sounds.

The whole building could hear the sound of breaking a bowl.

There's still a kid at home.

- Care about his feelings. - I know.

Sorry to be a nuisance for you.

Actually,

I'm now avoiding conflicts on my own initiative.

She's now in a bad temper. She can see nothing good now.

I think that

I should not appear so often.

You can't keep on avoiding her.

Be careful.

Maybe she'll do some other things.

You should communicate with her and apologize to her.

I don't have a glib tongue.

I really don't know what to say.

I've already apologized and said to her.

Maybe it'll be better in the future.

You can't just avoid her after you quarrelled.

It'll break your relationship totally.

Explain things clearly. Don't put off till tomorrow.

No matter how good the relation is,

it will also be damaged by delaying.

Men are always negligent.

You're right.

Noodles are coming!

- I've added two liangs for you. - Thank you.

Tell me if it's not enough.

As you first come, I'll send you a meat dish.

I can't accept it. You'll earn nothing then.

The pork with garlic sauce he made is really nice!

- She's right. - Have a try!

Let me try some.

How is it?

Delicious.

Eat together.

Jianjian!

You need to eat both meats and vegetables.

Heping, you only have one child.

So how lonely he is for having no partners!

But now, Jianjian just lives downstairs.

They can play together!

Just like he having a sister, right?

Chen Ting, can you calm down?

You're just like changing into another person.

I changed?

You're the same!

You're always so busy!

Have you cared about me?

Do you know how much I suffered?

Ling Xiao?

Why are you sitting here?

You can't feel well for sitting here.

What about...

going to my home and playing?

Jianjian is watching cartoon.

And we'll have salted shrimp with pepper today.

Thank you.

But I've already had the dinner.

Had the dinner...

But it's still uncomfortable for you to sit here.

Many mosquitos here.

Fine.

Keep on reading.

What about this?

If you want to find us, just knock the door.

It's really unlucky for a power cut.

People's life is better and every home has an air-conditioner

but the transformer cannot afford it.

As long as one unit has two conditioners on,

the electricity will be cut off.

Nothing can be done.

Don't stand there. Sit down, please.

Okay.

Thank you.

Use it to cool down.

Fine.

A man with a child

can have such a good life.

Really awesome.

It's just so so.

My goal is to run well the restaurant

and take good care of my daughter.

The essential core of running a noodle restaurant

is that the sauce should taste good

and the noodles should be bouncy.

I usually start to work about three or four o'clock.

The first thing is to prepare the sauces.

And then start to knead dough.

The chef starts to boil noodles as the inn's open.

Staying there or not is not a big deal then.

Then put things in order after the restaurant is close.

That's all.

All my neighbors know my situation

so they often patronize.

If you enjoy having noodles...

I'm a little bit wordy.

Help yourself with the tea or fruits.

Pretty well.

I can't be like that.

I even can't take a good care of myself.

Well... don't you have any relatives here?

You feed Ziqiu only yourself?

My father passed away early

and my mother lives in the countryside.

I knew I was pregnant after divorcing with ex-husband.

I decided to give birth to the baby myself.

Nothing to do with my ex-husband.

You're really amazing as you've made such a decision.

It's not a big deal.

I won't make such a decision as knowing it's so hard.

The kid suffers a lot with me

and also I'm really tired.

Do you regret?

You still have other choices now.

If you think it's troublesome, you can let him stay with me.

I'll raise him up.

I like kids.

But are you willing to do so?

You see. Start again.

Well...

The couple upstairs often quarrel with each other.

Quarrel and smash things.

I'm already accustomed to it.

So the little boy who sits in front of the door

- is their child? - Yes.

Adults quarrelling brings disasters to the child.

- Really a disaster for him. - You're right.

Great.

Put it closer to you.

Is that okay?

Let me prepare something for you.

As your parents quarrel, will they hit you?

Zhu Peng, he can't talk.

He's dumb.

You're dumb, right?

Dumb!

Try to say something!

Dumb!

Wait!

Have I asked you to leave?

ZHU BAJIE!

Li Jianjian! You hit Zhu Peng!

I'll go to find his mom!

See how hard Li Jianjian bit my son!

Look at my daughter.

Her hair's plucked by Pengpeng

and her face swelled up, right?

Kids' fight... it's hard to avoid.

See his eyes. It's so dangerous.

So how can she bite others?

It's Li Jianjian who hit my son first!

He bullied Brother Ling!

Pengpeng.

Are you in second grade now?

You see. How tall and strong you are!

You're nearly a real man now.

Shouldn't a real man protect the younger kids in the block?

Yes.

Don't worry. It's common for kids to make a mess.

Let me dab iodine for him.

No thanks! We have the iodine at home!

Bully others? I'll give you a lesson when home! Go!

Don't do that.

Listen to me, Pengpeng.

When you're free, go to have some noodles in my inn.

Let me treat you a meal.

Thank you.

Keep your words.

We'll go then.

Don't mention it. We're neighbors.

Let's go.

Remember not to beat him!

Okay, I know. See you.

Wash your hands and then have the meal.

It's the first time for him fighting with other kids.

Sorry.

It's all Jianjian's fault.

Not bad.

It's more like a boy now.

It's true.

Come and have a seat.

Here you are.

Thank you.

Have a try, Ziqiu.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Hold them.

Why do you take it out on us?

How could you bite him?

Are you a puppy?

How can you let Ziqiu stir up trouble together with you?

Look at his eyes!

How dangerous it is!

He's willing to do that!

Yes, it's my own will.

You can only eat vegetables today.

Get started.

Jianjian.

Tell me the truth.

Have you bitten anyone else?

♫ When we held our hands for the first time, ♫

♫ it was like you were grasping all you had. ♫

♫ One turns bigger while the other turns smaller. ♫

♫ We meet at the crossroads of time. ♫

♫ Good night. Goodbye. My children. ♫

♫ Maybe you'll leave here. ♫

♫ Maybe the way back home will be longer. ♫

♫ Walk slowly. Don't look back. ♫

♫ I'll stay here, ♫

♫ looking afar with your back view. ♫

♫ I'm like the old house you're accustomed to live in. ♫

♫ One day you find a new start, ♫

♫ like a leaf flying to the new branch. ♫

♫ The old days are just like yesterday. ♫

♫ Good night. Goodbye. My children. ♫

♫ Maybe you'll leave here. ♫

♫ Maybe the way back home will be longer. ♫

♫ Walk slowly. Don't be sad. ♫

♫ I'll stay here, ♫

♫ watching you fly away. ♫