The Story of Qiu Ju (秋菊打官司)

THE STORY OF QIU JU

Meizi, it's here.

Stop.

Qinglai, we're here.

Easy, easy.

Meizi, take the bag.

Come in.

Sit down.

Well, what's the matter?

My husband, he's been kicked.

Kicked? Where?

Between the legs.

Between the legs?

Take off your pants and let me see.

Take it easy.

- Where are you from? - Xigouzi.

You came all that way!

That man looks more like a vet.

Meizi.

What did he say?

He said keep it straight and let air get to it.

I'll be okay in a few days.

Here's his report. We have to get it stamped.

It was a long trip. Are you okay?

I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about.

If we can't fix your plumbing...

we'll be stuck with the single-child policy for good.

Is there a boy or a girl in here? Who knows?

I'll be all right. Don't worry.

The doctor is a specialist.

If he said I'll be fine, I'll be fine. It just takes a little while.

It's not that simple. I'll talk to him when I go back.

- Qiu Ju, have you eaten? - Yes.

I'll bring some food.

Is he in?

Yes. Yes, come.

Auntie Qiu Ju!

- Is he in? - Yes.

Some noodles? I'll get you some noodles.

I've eaten. You go ahead.

- Just have a little. - I've eaten.

- Just a little. - No. I've just eaten.

It's cold!

Chief, Qinglai is wounded, in case you're interested.

Here's the medical report.

Read it.

Tell us what to do.

Do whatever you want.

- Read it. Qiu Ju has brought it to you. - Mind your own business!

You're the one who kicked him.

So tell us what to do.

What to do?

Ask him why I did it.

You're the village Chief. You should know better.

You can't kick a man in his groin.

So I kicked him. What do you want now?

You tell us what you think should be done.

If you insist.

But don't blame me for being crude.

I'll stand outside with my legs open...

and let him kick me back. How's that?

If that's your answer, forget it.

Forget it then.

What kind of justice is this?

I'm leaving. Don't bother to see me off.

Don't walk too fast.

Good-bye, Auntie.

Don't walk too fast.

Dad.

Go eat something. It's in the pot.

What did he say?

Did you take your medicine?

What did he say?

"Nothing to be done." That's what he said.

Nothing to be done?

How can the Chief say that?

I'll go into the village tomorrow.

Good idea.

There must be justice somewhere.

Meizi, Qiu Ju is so big now.

Go with her tomorrow.

Careful, Qiu Ju. The road is slippery.

Meizi, take care of your sister. The road is slippery.

Father, go back to the house.

Where are you going, Qiu Ju?

To the village.

The village? Be careful.

THE VILLAGE

He wore a padded jacket.

He took it off.

He said, "What's wrong?"

I said, "You know what's wrong."

And we started to fight.

So he started it?

Did he start it?

No. He just took off his jacket.

He didn't hit me.

I took off my jacket and hung it up.

I hadn't hit him yet.

He took off his jacket...

hung it up...

and said...

"You, your wife and daughters, all four of you...

kicked me and hit me.

What's the idea? Why did you do that?"

I hit him. He didn't hit back.

I don't think that's possible.

Yes? Who are you looking for?

I want to see Officer Li.

Officer Li.

Go over there.

Have a seat.

I'll be right with you.

What's the problem?

Wan Qinglai?

What's happened to him?

He's been kicked.

Are you Qinglai's wife?

I couldn't make it to his wedding.

I hear his wife is a beauty. So, that's you.

You're going to have a baby! Sit down. Sit down.

"Bruises on the right chest...

left testicle slightly swollen."

"Slightly swollen."

Qinglai is such a gentle guy. With whom was he fighting?

- With our Chief. - You mean Wang Shantang?

- Yes. - Why?

We grow chilies, you know.

- Hey, Li, I'll take this. - Here.

You know we grow chilies.

- I know. - You do?

Well, we started to build a storage shed.

We got the bricks and the tiles.

But the Chief kept refusing our application.

So, instead...

we cleared an area on our allocated land...

to make room for the chili shed.

But the Chief still refused.

He claimed it was against the law.

I said, "If there is such a law, let me see it."

But he refused. "I am the law," he said.

He wouldn't show it to me.

Mind you, there is such a law.

The land is for growing crops.

If everyone built on it, what would we eat?

But does this law permit him to beat people?

He's the Chief.

A few punches are one thing.

But to kick a man where it counts...

It takes two to fight.

He must have been provoked.

What was the reason?

Why?

Why?

My brother was angry. He insulted him.

- Who are you? - I am Qinglai's sister.

What did your brother say?

He said the Chief would have no heirs. He could only raise hens.

Then your brother was wrong.

Everyone knows the Chief only has daughters.

Your brother's words hurt him deeply.

He'll have no heirs according to family planning laws.

It's cruel to remind him of it.

But he has no right to beat people up.

He's the Chief. He shouldn't have kicked him there.

I asked him what should be done.

He said, "I kicked him, and that's that."

I said, "If you won't do something, who will?

You beat him. That's not right!"

- Is that why you came here? - Yes.

The Chief was wrong to kick your husband.

Sure he was! Especially where he kicked him!

- If it doesn't heal, we'll – - Okay! I said he was wrong.

For the time being, go home.

Within a day or two, I'll come and sort things out.

I want both of you to do some self-criticism.

- Is that clear? - Yes.

Go home. I'm busy today.

You can leave this with me.

When will you come?

In a few days.

Officer Li, please come soon!

Good-bye, Li.

Good-bye.

Dad. Dad.

It's you, Li. Come in and warm up.

Wang.

I want to talk to Wang. Why don't you go outside?

What brings you here?

What beautiful maize!

Wang...

I've read the medical report, and I've been to see Qinglai.

He shouldn't have cursed you. I told him that.

But you were wrong too.

You're older than he, and you're the Chief.

You shouldn't have beaten him like that.

I was just obeying the law.

But the law doesn't say you can beat people up.

If he had any sense...

he'd understand why I kicked him.