Original subtitles

Bye, Mom.

Where are you going?

I was home for Chinese New Year and now I’m on the way back.

- I’ll take your temperature. - Okay, no problem.

Eh, it’s not working.

Give me your hand, please.

Damn it.

Your temperature’s 34 degrees Celsius.

32 degrees Celsius.

How...

It’s too cold outside.

- Hello. - How are you?

- I’m returning to Wuhan... - I’m from the police station.

I’m on the way back.

- Where to? - To Wuhan.

Where did you come from?

I came from Dongzhulu.

Do you live there?

That’s my hometown, I was back for Chinese New Year.

When did you return home?

I left Wuhan on January 23rd.

You arrived here the same day?

- Have you reported your travel history? - Yes.

Here’s my self-isolation record.

- You’ve all self-isolated? - Yes.

- How many are you? - Two.

Show me your IDs.

- All good. - Okay.

- Your IDs. - Thanks.

- Can we leave now? - You can leave.

Thank you.

Hello?

- Goddamn it, where are you? - Hey, Wei.

I’m on the expressway.

I don’t understand, they let you out?

I’m out, it’s already been a while.

- I was locked up for more than twenty days. - You’re on the way back?

Yup.

I was at the petrol station when you called.

No, I mean why are you going back to Wuhan?

I’m going back to fight.

I went to get petrol.

So I didn’t pick up.

The girl at the petrol station saw my Hubei license plate,

got scared and called the police.

The police showed up right away.

They questioned me again and again.

I showed them all my documents.

They took my temperature, then let me go.

I have to go back to Wuhan to work.

If you go, you can’t return.

I don’t intend to return.

Even if I regret it, it’s too late now.

The arrow that has left the bow never returns.

The snow’s too heavy today.

Even the petrol pump is frozen.

So we can’t add petrol right now.

If we want petrol,

we have to drive another 100 km to the next station.

Not even sure if it’ll be open.

We’ll try our luck.

In 200 m you will reach the Fenghuang Mountain Tollbooth.

Reduce speed.

You have arrived at the tollbooth. Reduce speed.

- 36.6. - Okay.

- There’s one more person here. - Yes.

- Anyone in the back? - No.

36.4.

Temperature is pretty normal.

1:15 p.m.

Thanks.

Where did you come from?

- From Shandong. - Shandong, eh?

Yes.

What’s your mobile number?

159

7142

4242.

The last digits are all 42?

Yes, three 42s.

Okay.

Thanks.

Oh no,

my fish.

Bed No.10 is in severe condition.

This sample is for the complete blood count.

- I already gave her the test. - You gave it to her like this?

- Did you paste the label on? - No.

Peel it off and paste it there.

It’s right at the line of the spine.

It’s inserted at this point, but no spinal fluid is coming out.

There’s no fluid, it’s dry.

It’s obvious, isn’t it?

We usually use this viral sampling kit with pharyngeal swabs.

It includes a sample tube containing viral preservation solution.

The other part is the pharyngeal testing swab made of synthetic fiber.

First open the set.

Take out the pharyngeal swab.

Take out the test strip.

Unscrew the sample tube a little.

Open the pharyngeal swab packaging.

Ask the patient to remove his mask and open his mouth,

insert the tip of the pharyngeal swab into the pharynx and withdraw it to obtain the sample.

When the sample is obtained, insert the pharyngeal swab into the liquid in the sample tube.

Break it in the middle.

Cover the sample tube.

Mark the tube.

Pass it to the assisting staff.

They’ll pack and seal it in an airtight bag.

Now the sample can be taken out of the restricted area.

The sampling process is complete.

Let’s keep it simple. Don’t say too much.

I don’t want to make broad statements or say negative things.

Don’t mention this virus situation in Wuhan.

Let’s just say we’re grateful. We thank them for coming.

Don’t talk rubbish. Don’t spread negative energy.

Introduce the Yellow Crane Tower and the Yangtze River Bridge as you pass by.

As you drive across in a leisurely fashion, describe the scenery to keep them calm.

Many of them are still in nursing school.

They’re just children so we have to comfort them.

Do you understand?

Welcome Hebei!

Thank you Hebei!

Welcome Sichuan!

Go Wuhan!

Go! Go! Go Wuhan!

Doctor

Cui Wenquan

These are the inspection records for all the isolation wards.

Even these contaminated papers can’t leave the wards.

That’s why we take photos of the inspection records

and post them in our WeChat groups so everyone will know the patients’ conditions.

Doctor Cui, please sit on the chair.

Take off the leg covers, don’t expose your hands.

Please look in the mirror and slide the leg covers off.

Doctor Cui, wash your hands.

When you leave the first changing room

just open the door with your bare hands.

When you leave the second changing room for the third room,

use a wipe when you make contact with the door.

- You’re going to take a shower? - Yes.

Doctor, we need to measure your blood oxygen.

Held my breath and now my heart rate is up.

Have the nucleic acid tests results come back?

All the results have come back, they’re all negative.

They were negative on March 4th but we got a positive on 9th.

The diagnosis is clear. That’s pretty good.

Now only Patient 49’s tests are all negative.

Seems like Patient 22 is also all negative.

Do these pathology reports need to be organized? Are any of them under our care?

Patients 27 and 43 will be discharged tomorrow.

Okay.

We’re done for today. Thanks everyone.

This is different from SARS.

SARS patients have a lot of pulmonary fibrosis.

When the body is healed, it can absorb the matter.

But the fibres in the diseased area won’t shed.

There’s serous exudate in these patients but no visible fibrosis.

But the cases you just saw are all fibrotic. They will be disabled.

Because his lungs are weak.

Hello?

- Hello. - Hi, delivery service here.

I’m now at Xinqiao Kindergarten.

What’s the delivery?

Milk.

Milk?

Okay. I’ll be right there.

- Hello? - Hello.

Are you expecting more deliveries?

- Did it arrive today? - I only have one package.

There should be one more.

- Bring them over together then. - Okay.

Good, thanks.

- Your name? - Yang Jiangning.

There should be one more package.

That’s all this time, right?

That’s all I have today.

There’s also flour.

- Hello? - Hello.

I’m at Xinqiao Kindergarten.

Okay, I’ll ask someone to go over.

- Your name? - Rui Xue.

Rui Xue, right?

Did you chase them to ship your order out?

It’s taking very long.

- I can’t go there anymore. - Huh?

I have to deliver some nappies, should I drop them off at No. 1 South Gate?

Yes, they have to be dropped off there.

Hello. The number you dialed is not available. Please try again later.

Wow.

You’re staying here?

You said there’s electricity, but doesn’t look like it.

There was, I don’t know why it stopped.

How long will it be out?

Aren’t you scared?

I fell asleep in the car and when I woke up it was like this.

You can sit there. It’s sturdy.

My mom added some fish for you.

Aw, thank you so much.

I went with the official to the temporary shelter.

It was a mobile cabin.

I said I couldn’t stay there.

Please find a way to let me go home.

I have my own vehicle, right?

It’d be better to go home.

I really don’t want to stay there.

I still have to pay off the loans on my car and house.

I’d rather go home than stay there. Just help me to go back.

They just have to issue me a travel pass.

I’m not asking them to give me a ticket or transport.

That would be a hassle, right?

So, I didn’t stay there.

After being here for so long, I got used to it.

I may find some work related to the pandemic.

That’s the main thing.

Anyway, with all these leftovers,

I can make something to eat.

They didn’t have regular cooking oil.

So I got this small bottle of sesame oil.

After cooking with it, you can just add the oil.

It’s pretty good,

it’s fragrant.

You just connect the pot to that power strip.

What?

You use that power strip.

Yes, but I don’t know why the power is off.

I don’t usually eat spicy food.

- It’s not spicy today. - Yeah, that’s good, very good.

Good, I’ll save this dish for dinner tonight.

I’ll cook some noodles tonight and add this dish in.

It’ll be good.

In my family, my sister knows I’m here.

They all know I came here but I didn’t tell them about my situation.

I told them it’s pretty good here.

Pretty normal.

Hello, do you know why there’s no electricity?

You you you’re here

There was electricity in the morning, why did it get cut off?

It just went out like that?

It’ll come on in a bit.

Did the city cut off the electricity?

- It’s probably a routine inspection. - Inspection?

Okay, I see.

If they cut it off, they’d tell me.

Okay. Thank you.

You need this document.

They need to see this type of document.

But this document is specifically for expressway tollbooths.

The first time he said this document won’t do.

You need to get the company responsible for you to help.

I contacted the company and they gave me a new document.

It didn’t work either.

I tried a second time.

The second time they told me the department for epidemic prevention was in charge.

So, I went to look for this department,

but I couldn’t find it anywhere.

In the government offices around the Dongxi Lake District

there was an Epidemic Prevention Department.

But they told me to go look for the Dongxi Lake government.

The Dongxi Lake government said

It was the responsibility of the Public Complaints Administration.

They said

we don’t make modular units for the temporary hospital in the Dongxi Lake District.

You have to go look for

the local government in the area where they make such units.

So I went to the Hanyang District government.

At the Hanyang government office,

the head of the Public Complaints Administration...

he said he’d help me get this document.

In the end, it turned out that the provincial government had decreed

nobody in Wuhan was allowed to leave.

At the end I gave up. It was futile.

They explicitly forbid you to leave.

They only allow medical workers or workers from cargo and logistics companies to leave.

Hello, this is Meng Liang. I’m the one who’s still stuck in Wuhan.

I saw on the news yesterday and on Tiktok

that some medical aid workers were allowed to leave Hubei and return home.

What about us, the construction workers who came to build the hospitals?

Are we allowed to go home?

Whom should I talk to about my situation?

I don’t know Where did they bring you yesterday?

Why didn’t they solve your problem?

That was only a temporary shelter for people who couldn’t leave.

Call back later, I’ll ask.

What?

I’ll enquire about the situation.

Okay. Thank you.

The place they sent you the day before. What did they tell you?

They told me to stay put until the pandemic is over.

For sure, it has to be until the pandemic’s over.

But they said yesterday

What you heard wasn’t official news, do you understand?

I heard that on the news headlines yesterday.

I’ll ask for you, call back later.

Okay. Thank you so much.

There were others asking me for an interview.

There were two more volunteers with professional filming equipment.

So the official from the Public Complaints Administration told me,

we tried to help you.

Don’t mess it up with ‘filming’ to get into the news.

That’ll have a bad impact.

Today I called and they just ignored me.

They say they’re not in charge.

So I don’t even know whom I should ask.

Looks like it’s going to rain.

Rain again.

The weather forecast says there’s rain tomorrow.

This weather’s not quite right, is it?

Won’t they get scared if they see you in these clothes?

Are you talking about me or about yourself?

You.

Shouldn’t be, it’s just protective gear.

What’s there to be scared of?

It’s here.

Damn it, it’s closed.

Maybe there’s one there.

The door’s locked.

It’s not open any more.

Door’s locked.

Please drive straight ahead to Dongwu Avenue.

The entire journey is 2.1 km. Duration is about six minutes.

Starting navigation.

Hello, I can hear you. Do you miss me?

I do.

You do?

Come to visit me.

Do you know who I am?

Uncle!

Of course I want to visit you.

I’ll come play with you when the pandemic is over.

But you have to wear a face mask and protective clothes and shoes when you come to my home.

A face mask, protective clothes and shoes?

When I’m back after the pandemic, I’ll take you to your grandma’s to play.

I’ll have Mom go to your place too.

What?

I’ll have Mom and my brother go to your place too.

I’ll bring my spray to disinfect your place.

To disinfect it first? Great.

So wait for me to get back, okay?

I’ll buy you toys and snacks.

Okay.

Do you miss me?

Hello?

Are you there?

Hello?

What’s this?

It’s not clear.

It’s too bright. Can’t see it.

It’s reflecting the light.

What’s it for?

Making a video.

The neighbors aren’t coming down for some sun?

No, they’re not.

I think it’s good to get some sun;

sunlight can sterilize things.

They’re fine staying at home.

It’s not good to lock yourselves in the house all the time.

So just the two of us.

What’s the story with the ants?

Apparently, you only have to leave this ant-killing chemical out in your flat.

If an ant touches it,

he’ll bring it back to his colony and give it to the other ants.

They’ll all die.

All the ants will die.

So after this, an ant exterminator came.

Someone called an ant exterminator.

Just one ant came into contact with the chemical.

After he returned to his colony, all the ants there died.

All the ants in the building gradually died too.

So, according to this, it’s biological...

It’s poison to the ants.

As long as one ant came into contact with it,

it would immediately infect other ants until they were all dead.

After we did that, we had no ants.

Is this related?

They are ants and we are people.

If one gets infected, he’ll give it to all the others.

Is it like that?

Yes, that’s it.

That’s called biotoxin transmission.

Four leaders have been replaced.

What?

Four of them. The secretary, the governor.

What happened?

Four Wuhan government leaders have been replaced.

Then there’ll be more.

They’re in the same faction.

The Shanghai mayor was transferred here to be the governor.

Who’s the party secretary?

The party secretary’s also changed.

I don’t blame him.

Our state must be stable.

If our state is not stable and the heads of the government keep changing,

it’s very dangerous.

“Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”

If someone controls the barrel of a gun,

he can use it to throw out the heads of government and take over power.

But this won’t happen in China.

As Mao Zedong said long ago,

“the Party commands the gun,

and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party.”

The military may only follow the Party’s orders.

72 negative pressure ambulances are urgently needed and being transported

on a special train from Xiamen, Fujian to Wuhan.

What are you filming?

What?

What are you filming?

Right now large amounts of everyday supplies are needed.

Tibet has donated nearly 170,000 cases of mineral water to Hubei,

and 50 tons of yak meat are being shipped to Hubei.

Yunnan has donated more than 600 tons of supplies to Hubei.

The Blue Sky Rescue Team volunteers have distributed more than 17 million masks,

protective clothing items and other supplies to hundreds of Wuhan work units.

How was your management expertise there?

Not that impressive.

Didn’t you have people working under you?

Of course, I was president of the union.

You must be pretty good at managing.

You had so much to deal with.

How do you define good management? You just need to finish the job.

So how do you determine this?

Were you motivated in your work?

Of course, I worked according to the union’s regulations.

You follow their demands.

I was a candidate for merit awards every year.

Did you get awards?

Did you get any awards?

I got a lot of awards.

A whole lot of them.

So you’re one of those of high merit.

You really don’t speak like a Party member.

Haha, I’m not one.

How can you teach your students if you talk this way?

You sound like a greenhorn.

I can show you my awards.

Okay, show me.

We’re ordinary cadres, ordinary Party members.

Look! Look! Look!

You really have a lot of them.

You kept all of them.

Should I have thrown them away?

1986.

So many of them.

1983.

It was the Urban Construction Administration.

In 1983.

Which work unit was this in 1983? The Urban Construction Administration?

Yes.

This one is torn.

It’s torn.

In 1970.

This was written by Lin Biao in 1970,

‘Making Revolution.’ ‘Mao Zedong Thought.’

Lin Biao wrote it. No wonder you tore it.

I recognized Lin Biao’s words right away. No wonder you ripped it.

I didn’t, I didn’t.

Then who tore it? Did Dad do this?

No idea.

According to John Hopkins University,

the number of confirmed cases in the US rose to 55,225 on March 25th at 3:00 p.m.,

with more than 8000 new cases and 801 deaths in one day.

Most of the cases are in New York State.

On March 24th, Andrew Cuomo, the Governor of New York State,

said that the outbreak will peak 45 days later.

But according to current trends the peak may occur in 14 days.

He called again on the US government to provide medical supplies such as ventilators.

California, the largest state economy in the US, is also panicking over medical supplies.

The surgical masks and PPE (personal protective equipment) used in isolation facilities are running out,

and there isn’t enough hand sanitizer.

People can move mountains when they work as one.

Together we can tackle any problem.

It’s not like this in other countries.

When I’m abroad, my life isn’t guaranteed;

there’s nobody even to examine me.

I might as well return to China.

In China it’s guaranteed that we take care of our own.

The state announced that it covers all the expenses.

That’s why people want to come back.

Things are so expensive overseas.

Good!

This is a lesson for those who are always itching to go abroad,

including your cousin.

It’s also not good to make money here and spend it overseas.

Now people realise life here is good and they’re rushing to come back.

It’s a lesson for them.

They used to think wages here were low and they could make big money abroad.

Go on then!

Even if you make money there, if you get sick, the bills are high.

You pay for everything yourself and medical treatment is expensive.

Our country gives you free food and drink.

They make sure that you eat well.

Now you know how good the Communist Party is.

I told your cousin,

it’s not good when you make money here and spend it overseas.

They’re beating people up.

This is the Jiujiang Bridge!

Look!

Did you see the overturned police car?

I don’t think it’s good to post things like this online.

It could have a bad impact.

That’s why I mostly read positive things.

According to the Chinese government, public security, and police,

that shouldn’t have happened.

You think what you heard is fake?

- How can it be fake? - Those things you heard are fake.

You can’t say it’s fake.

Your thinking is wrong, you just like to be contrarian.

Your thinking isn’t right.

The Communist Party nurtured you to be what you are today.

I’m showing you reality.

Why do you think you see reality but I don’t?

I’m reading...

Did I show you something real just now?

These things are real. Why don’t you take a look?

Do you know what kind of books you’re reading?

This is what I’m talking about. It’s all real.

I even have some newspaper clippings here.

About the Kuomintang and the Communist Party.

Here, in these newspaper clippings.

This is “Spring Dream of Jinling.”

This stuff is ancient.

Is it going to be good weather tomorrow?

You’re leaving tomorrow?

Yes.

Here, let me cut it.

I’ll cut it. You can chop it later.

Wuhan’s not under lockdown anymore.

The lockdown’s over.

But people coming back from abroad have to self-isolate for 14 days.

So if you go to Wuhan, you’ll have to self-isolate too?

We don’t have to.

Do you know why so many people are coming from Hong Kong?

It was announced that today’s the last day.

If they return from Hong Kong after today,

they’ll have to self-isolate for 14 days.

Why’s that?

They’re not letting people enter China because the pandemic’s broken out abroad.

When is all this going to be over?

Code scanning.

Are they talking about the situation only in Hubei or in other places as well?

Is it all like this?

It’s all like this.

Wuhan’s lockdown is being lifted on April 8th.

That’s soon.

But after this you have to take care of any medical bills yourself.

If you get infected, you’ll have to self-isolate for 14 days.

Then the medical bill is 10,000 RMB (approx. 1400 USD),

and self-isolation costs another 10,000 RMB.

If you catch it you’ll have to spend a lot of money from your own pocket.

From now on?

It’s just been announced.

Is this what they’re talking about online?

Yes, they just announced it.

They’re asking you to be careful. You have to be responsible for yourself.

You have to scan your mobile phone code every time you use public transport.

It’s the Health Code.

The Health Regulation?

Health Code.

“Jian kang ma?”

They scan your code.

This is the regulation.

Elderly people don’t have smart phones. There are special measures for the elderly.

Special measures for the elderly How old should they be?

Above 60 years of age?

It’s not about that. It’s more about the phone.

Because our phones have GPS.

If someone on the bus or train gets sick, they can see who else was on that vehicle.

Then everyone in that vehicle will have to self-isolate for 14 days.

Even if you weren’t infected,

you’d have to self-isolate too.

Do all passengers have to take their temperature on the bus?

They have to scan their codes.

“Sao ma?”

Once your code is scanned, they’ll have your personal information.

How will they scan it?

There’s a code scanner on the bus.

So there’s something to take our temperature once we get on the bus?

Yes, there’s a code scanner.

So after today, we shouldn’t go out casually.

Yes. If you get sick you’ll have to self-isolate and pay for it.

At your own cost?

Yes,

that’s what it says.

Anyway, take care of yourself.

Don’t look at your phone so often. Don’t lie in bed so much.

Get some exercise.

When you eat, don’t always drink so much soup.

There’s so much fat in the soup.

I’ve already told you this.

I’m leaving.

Bye.

The tire seems to be flat.

You’ll begin your probationary period as a Party member

once your local branch holds a confirmation meeting.

Now, I’d like to invite everyone to join me to take the oath of the Party.

Please raise your right hands like this.

Raise your elbow to shoulder height.

I swear.

It is my will to join the Chinese Communist Party.

Uphold the Party’s program, observe the Party’s discipline.

Safeguard the Party’s secrets.

Be loyal to the Party.

Work diligently.

Fight for communism as long as I live.

Isn’t this one leaving?

No, it’s changed to A264.

There’s no 264.

264’s documents aren’t here.

Regardless of whether they’re going to the temporary hospital or another hospital,

they’re all being transferred tonight.

We all have to leave tomorrow.

Won’t that take a long time until midnight?

Yes there’s over thirty people, it will take a while.

The rest should be done tomorrow morning.

We did the nucleic acid tests and CT five times.

Results were all the same.

What did that hospital system do for me?

Nobody takes any responsibility. They won’t tell you the truth.

One way or the other they just write: “viral infection.”

Meaning everyone is infected with the virus.

They do the virus tests in the afternoons.

They test again and again. The results are all the same.

All of us with ‘viral infections.’

You’re with the authorized media agency, you can show this to the people higher up.

We’ve been shut in this hospital for a month, some of us for two months.

It’s not like you’re giving me more treatment,

such as certain injections, or specialized medicine

It’s the same medicine. So why keep me in here?

What’s the point?

Isn’t this a waste of the state’s money?

To put it more clearly, the mortality rate is such-and-such.

So you’re using cases like ours to make the numbers look better.

So the mortality rate goes down.

I think that’s what’s going on here.

Can you tell us what this is?

This is a full automatic biochemical analyzer.

Every day we do a biochemical analysis of the patients.

We have almost a hundred specimens everyday.

We can complete the analysis in around two hours.

If the Wuhan leaders had locked down the city earlier

there wouldn’t be so many lost souls roaming it.

When a father or mother dies, the children’s life is totally ruined.

They are left alone.

My father-in-law’s death is unjust.

We were running around, looking for help. No one helped us.

The hospital would only accept those who had tested positive for the nucleic acid test.

My father-in-law’s nucleic acid test was negative, but his CT result was postive.

The hospitals refused to admit him.

He was killed by the government’s mismanagement. There are a lot of cases like ours.

Many others couldn’t even get the tests done in time.

They died from insufficient treatment.

They may not even be listed as victims of the coronavirus.

Passed away just like that.

The people of Wuhan have had such an agonizing experience.

The most painful part is

if you contracted a serious illness, maybe a chronic disease,

you’d have someone by your side when you died. You’d want to say your last words.

But we weren’t even allowed to see our parents, families and loved ones one last time.

When we sent him to the quarantine point, we didn’t know it’d be the last time we’d see him.

He must have felt such despair in his final moments.

For our generation, who experienced this pandemic,

its shadow will darken our hearts forever.

Miss, don’t get upset, we can discuss this calmly.

Just tell us if someone did something to you. Don’t get emotional.

Don’t do anything rash or you’ll regret it.

Just tell us what’s on your mind.

We can help you fix it.

Miss, don’t get emotional.

We know something happened.

Just tell us what happened and we promise we’ll help.

Officer, please help him. I beg you.

Ma’am,

are you leaving the hospital?

Yes.

Still the same three slogans.

Victory to Wuhan, Victory to Hubei, Victory to China.

Good, ready?

One, two, three.

Victory to Wuhan, Victory to Hubei, Victory to China.

Good, one more time.

When we get to ‘Victory to China’ raise the flowers.

Get ready.

One, two, three.

Victory to Wuhan, Victory to Hubei, Victory to China.

At the beginning, just as the pandemic broke out,

the officials controlled the information about the outbreak.

They didn’t tell the truth about the pandemic in time to warn people to take precautions.

Instead, the government concealed the information.

The officials said it could be managed and controlled.

Specialists said the virus wouldn’t spread through human transmission.

So, I didn’t know the real situation. I sent my father back to Wuhan.

That’s how he became a victim. They took his life.

After he passed away, a leader of my father’s work unit called me.

I told him that since it’s okay to get the ashes myself,

I would do it myself.

His tone suddenly hardened.

He said, ‘No!’ I was really annoyed on hearing this.

What are you talking about? This is my family’s matter.

As if I had to ask his permission to collect my father’s ashes.

When my father was hospitalized, none of you showed up.

Why were you suddenly so concerned after his death?

Even trying to stop me from getting my father’s ashes myself?

After a few days, someone from my father’s work unit called me again.

They said you will never get your father’s ashes by yourself.

We have to accompany you at all times.

In the past few days, they called me again.

They talked about it again.

They insisted on having their way.

They said they’d known my father a long time and wanted to help me.

They sounded less forceful,

saying that they wanted to help me, to accompany me to get my father’s ashes.

Again I rejected their offer and said I wanted to go alone.

My father and I had left for Wuhan together.

It was the two of us.

Now he’s gone and I’m alone.

I wanted to collect my father’s ashes by myself

and give him a proper funeral.

I have so much to say to him at his grave.

I can’t accept strangers there besides me.

My father was in his wheelchair and I’d bring him out for walks.

The table and chair are still here, but...

The place is the same, but my father’s gone.

It’s really sad.

Are you the person responsible for the deceased Zhang Lifa’s affairs?

- I’m his family member. - A family member of the deceased?

Yes. Of the deceased whose name you just mentioned.

Oh, then this isn’t his work unit’s phone number.

I’m Zhang Lifa’s family member.

If you’re Zhang Lifa’s family member, then who’s Zhou Chunyan?

I have no idea.

What do you need to organize?

Now I understand.

We’re looking for the work unit, not the family.

Do you think it makes sense to look for the work unit and not the family of the deceased?

We’re coordinating with the work unit to carry out this task.

The work unit is in charge of this.

We have to coordinate with them, that’s why I’m looking for them.

But they left me your number. So we now have this problem.

I’d like to know how you’re coordinating with them to take care of the deceased’s affairs.

I should be the one taking care of this, not the work unit, get it?

I know, I know.

Did the work unit give you the pension?

The compensation is 3000 RMB (approx. 400 USD), right?

Yes, 3000 RMB.

Is there anything else?

And there’s a discount on the grave. A 30 percent discount.

We have our own family grave.

Oh, okay.

So what’s the main reason why you still haven’t buried your father?

I want to know:

why can’t I collect the ashes myself?

The work unit called me again and again, insisting on accompanying me.

I’m not a three-year-old. I’ve said it very clearly,

I don’t want strangers coming with me.

The government machinery is so powerful.

If you face the government yourself

You feel you’re tiny and powerless.

There’s a Chinese proverb: “The Praying Mantis Blocks a Chariot.”

But it gave me this feeling how do I describe it?

The government, in order to maintain stability,

uses so many resources, so much manpower and money to monitor and control me.

Many other families have someone who died from the coronavirus.

They’re also being monitored by the local Public Security Bureau.

Since you have all these resources and power to use against the families,

why don’t you help us with our problems?

Instead, you use this kind of violence to exert pressure on us.

There’s a good Chinese proverb:

“Flowing water carries a boat, but it can also capsize it.”

A country can only be built on the backs of countless citizens.

I believe that those people monitoring me are also just trying to do their job.

If we speak about their true feelings, they probably feel just the same way I do.

Anyone else in my shoes would search for those accountable.

One can’t just vanish silently in this world.

Family members of the deceased whose IDs start with 420111 and 420105

please go to the Tianxiao Hall and line up for the formalities.

You have to be strong, there’s still a lot to take care of.

Be strong.

First we’ll take care of these matters.

Let’s get this done first.

You have to be strong, we’ll help you get through this.

Just put the ashes back and he’ll give you a certificate.

Then you come back with your daughter.

I’ve wronged your loved ones.

How will I account to them when I return home?

My love, I can’t bring you back to your sister.

I can’t bring you back.

My love...

Which one? Is this yours?

Wang Donglin.

Wang Donglin, right?

Is it packed?

Yes.

Check the name yourself.

Wang Donglin.

I don’t need your documents.

Is this right?

Yes.

The ashes won’t fit.

First pour the ashes in the jar, otherwise they won’t fit.

Okay, that’s fine.

My hands are sore.

All yours.

Disinfect here and I’ll go upstairs to get a new mask.