Like a Flowing River (Da Jiang Da He / 大江大河)

Proletarian internationalism is built on the notion of seeking truth from facts.

Only when you stand firmly,

insisting on seeking the truth from facts

can socialist modernization

move forward.

We can now enter university!

What has been undergoing, as a practice, is the only discussion we will have to examine the truth.

More practically, the core argument is to emancipate the mind.

Whether or not...

My calculation is right.

Xiao Hui!

Xiao Hui!

Sister, why did you come here?

Our college entrance exam results are out.

Did we pass?

Anyway, I passed.

Well... what about me?

What's wrong? Still not happy with being placed first in the county?

Do you need to be first in the province?

Then what about the rest of us who have only studied until high school?

Sister, did I really come first in the whole county?

I saw the exam results myself!

You really did place first in the county.

Xiao Hui, if you want to laugh, then laugh. If you want to shout, then shout.

There is no one else on this mountain.

Sister, look.

"Leading cadres at all levels should support young people in applying for college."

"During the political review, focus will be placed on individual performance."

"Choosing talents for the establishment of the four modernization plans." [Chinese national project in the 1970's and 1980's to modernize agriculture, national defense, science, and technology]

"This concerns our country's grand undertaking that will last for ages to come."

This is a news report on People's Daily .

When you read it for me,

I memorized it.

Xiao Hui, we have passed.

We have gotten into college!

Let's go!

Let's go! Time to eat!

- Mother! - Mother, we're home!

- Go and wash your hands - It's so hot! So tasty. - You child...

- I'm hungry. - Seriously...

Ping Ping, if you still didn't come, your younger brother would be eating everything.

You're still eating with your hands! You're almost a college student. Be careful of getting laughed at by other students once you're in college.

It hurts!

Dad.

- Ping Ping. - Yes?

- Bring me some alcohol. - Okay.

- Dad. - Thanks.

Sister, you told me to wash my hands but why haven't you washed yours? Come and wash your hands!

Wash... Let's all wash.

Come.

Let's eat, let's eat!

- Xiao Hui. - Yes.

Drink some alcohol with me today.

Quickly go and get your dad a cup.

Okay.

Here, Dad.

Lift your cup up.

You did well on your exams.

Ping Ping, you did well, too.

- Quickly eat some vegetables. - Quickly eat some rice.

Xiao Hui will only drink that much. Don't let him drink anymore.

Today, when I went out, everyone kept telling me that our family was blessed.

We simultaneously have two college students in this house.

They still don't know that Xiao Hui came first in the county. If they knew,

I don't know how jealous they would be.

You didn't tell anyone else, did you?

I didn't tell anyone in town. I just told the women's director of the Back Mountain Brigade.

She is usually quite nice to Xiao Hui. When she heard the news, she was so excited!

- That's good then. - Is Xiao Hui home?

Director Yang!

- The whole family is eating together? - Yes.

- I came at a wrong time. As if I deliberately came to have a free meal. - Come eat with us.

Ping Ping, go and get a bowl for Director Yang.

- I'll go get the food. Xiao Hui, can you go next door to get a chair? - Okay.

Ping Ping, don't bother. I have to go to a meeting in town soon.

I came to give you Xiao Hui's materials for the political review.

- Quickly hand it in this afternoon. - Thank you, Director Yang.

- I will! - Okay then, just continue eating.

I have to go now.

- You're leaving already? - Yes.

- Director Yang, travel safely. - Slow down.

- Goodbye! Goodbye! - Thank you, Director Yang!

Director Yang is very nice.

Dad.

Okay. I'll go to the town's revolutionary committee to submit it.

Dad, no need. I will go and deliver it this afternoon.

I think it's best that I go.

Dad, I will go with sister this afternoon to hand it in.

Don't worry.

You're Song Jishan's children?

With your family background, you still want to go to college?

Universities that are pro-social democracy were not established for people like you.

But both of us got grades beyond the required minimum.

My little brother is number one in the county.

Who knows if you cheated to become first place.

- I didn't. - Enough.

- I have no time to explain things to you two. Just go. - But—

Remember this. For universities that are pro-social democracy, you can't enter.

Who's your dad?

Go!

Xiao Hui, you go back first.

What about you?

I'll find a way.

I'll accompany you.

No need. I can do it on my own.

Give me your political review documents.

Go home first.

- Sister... - Don't worry.

Go.

Why are you still not going out to eat?

Director Li.

I'm done writing the explanation material you asked me to do.

Come, please take a look.

You have been part of the rebel faction and did a lot as one for so many years.

You were able to explain everything with just one page?

Right...

All these are just a generalizations.

There are still a lot of details.

I'll write them all down in the coming days.

Go home and write it then.

Okay...

Director Li.

My little brother and I both passed the college entrance exam.

I came to deliver the political review documents.

You've passed the college entrance exam? Who are you?

I'm from our town. My name is Song Yunping.

My little brother Song Yunhui got the county's top spot.

I heard that our town got the top spot in the county. So, it's your little brother.

You need anything?

I have to trouble you to help us submit these materials to the county.

Okay. Just leave it there.

Thank you, Director Li!

Xiao Hui?

Sister.

Why are you still here?

I'm worried about you.

- How did it go? - You guess.

- You've submitted it? - Yes.

Director Li didn't say anything

and just accepted our materials.

That person who wouldn't accept our materials

must be one of the three types of person that have lost power as said in the broadcast.

He himself is even writing a self-criticism.

Sister, you're really capable.

- Let's go home. - Let's go.

Sister.

Why are you running away?

I'm running?

We are in a pro-social democracy country.

I came from a poor and lower-middle peasant background.

I'm running away?

Why would I run?

What do you want to do?

We're not afraid of you.

Look at how arrogant you are.

Director Li said that you yourself have issues to explain.

You still want to bully people?

Everyone, don't let him get away.

Why do you like saying empty brags?

You're bullying people!

You still want to bully people until now?!

Let's go.

Move!

Song Jishan, look at the good children you've raised.

I'll go help mother cook first.

Dad, we didn't do anything wrong today.

It's true. It was that person.

That person wants to harm us.

Which person?

What does that person do?

That bad person who wouldn't accept our political review materials.

You don't even know what his name is.

You already assume that he's a bad person.

That person's surname is Lei. He's our town's cadre.

A few years ago, he managed all the major and minor matters of our town.

He's the fiercest when it comes to arguments.

As the old saying goes, "Villains are hard to offend."

Our family can't bear to offend a person like him.

Dad, what era is it already? Why are you still afraid of a person like that?

Still answering back?

Xiao Hui, how can you speak to father like that?

Dad.

He's insensible, so are you.

You think I don't know? Xiao Hui isn't that bold.

If you didn't take the lead, would he create such huge trouble?

Xiao Hui, would you be going back to the Back Mountain Brigade today?

- I've prepared a sack of sweet potatoes. Take them back with you later. - Okay.

Go and eat first.

Ping Ping, you eat first, too.

Husband, let's eat.

When you're back at the brigade, focus on working.

All of them there are quite nice to you.

We must know to repay kindness.

I got it, Sister.

I also didn't want to answer back to father today.

I know.

If you are unhappy about anything from now on,

just tell me.

Sister, we must enter university

and lead father and mother out of this town.