The Piano in a Factory (Gang de qin) (钢的琴)

Divorce is a two-way street.

You cut me some slack and I'll do the same for you.

Divorce is divorce. Don't talk rubbish!

Let's just do it.

Glad you agree.

Then let's find time to get it over with.

The refrigerator, the TV, the washing machine.

Take whatever you want.

You think I'm a junk collector?

I almost forgot, you've struck it rich now.

I don't want anything.

Good, just as I thought.

But I'm taking Xiao Yuan.

What?

You're taking Xiao Yuan?

My daughter can't be happy with you.

Stop playing the happiness card.

Xiao Yuan is very happy.

The Volga River is blanketed in snow.

A troika is rushing across the ice.

Someone is humming a sad tune.

It's the coachman.

What makes you so sad?

Why bow down your head?

What torments your heart?

The passenger asks him.

Dear sir, this old horse is my only companion...

Stop, stop, stop!

Stop, stop, stop.

What's up, brother? What's wrong?

That melody is too painful.

But the Russians always play this tune at funerals.

The theme is pain and sorrow.

That's no good.

The old folks will be trudging their feet to that tune.

Yes, yes, yes.

Yeah, I've got it.

Then we'll get the old folks to hurry it up.

Hurry up to go where?

Who cares?

Then let's play "Rising Higher Step by Step." B flat, okay?

One, two, three, go.

Give me a lift.

Ask someone else.

Hey you, count it carefully.

Don't assume the paymaster will steal.

You can't accuse someone of corruption just like that.

I'm going.

Ma'am, here is the tuition.

We're very grateful to you.

Just right.

Here's some skin care lotion for you.

Save it for your wife.

She can't use it. It's too late for her.

She's not young and pretty like you.

Thanks then.

You're welcome.

Dad, let's go home.

Xiao Ju's come back.

She wants a divorce.

I agreed.

She's now with a guy who sells fake medicine.

She's happy.

She's finally fulfilled her dream of an easy life.

You know how he does it?

He grinds up some biscuits with a rolling pin,

crushes some Tylenol tablets,

then he buys some cheap capsules and stuffs it all in.

Two pounds of biscuits to one tablet.

That crap won't kill you.

It doesn't do anything except bring in a lot of money.

I heard Xiao Ju is back.

Big Liu told you?

Yeah.

Blabber mouth.

He said she treated all the girls in the workshop to a meal.

A real big affair.

She's doing well for herself, eh?

If you can put up with her stay together.

You've got a kid.

Mind your own business.

It's got nothing to do with you.

It's not easy to live by yourself.

But if you do split up

we'll be in the same boat.

What are you talking about?

We're completely different.

I'm separated, you're widowed.

Right? Drink up.

We used to work together.

He wants the kid to become a pianist.

So what?

You can't scare the hell out of people late at night.

Some female teachers are afraid to go to the toilet after dark.

I'm really sorry the teachers

couldn't go to the toilet because of me.

People were saying the school is haunted.

At first we didn't believe it.

But there really is a ghost.

You!

You see, he had no choice.

Enough. No excuses.

You don't need to come back to work tomorrow.

Ma'am, it's not his fault. It's my fault.

Because I want my daughter to practice piano.

It's none of your business.

Just don't ever come back, or I'll call the police.

Yes, yes, we won't come back.

Dad, can I really play that?

Huh?

Of course you can. Just wait for it to dry.

But it won't make a sound even when it's dry.

Didn't daddy tell you about Beethoven?

Beethoven couldn't hear.

He couldn't hear, but other people could.

Really?

Daddy will play something for you and you will hear it.

If you don't believe me I'll show you.

Come here.

Hush, quiet.

Listen carefully.

Hush.

You must listen with your heart, okay?

Do re mi...

Why did you come here?

Where did you get that? Looks pretty good.

It's for the show.

When did you get back?

As if you don't know when I got back.

You look like you're doing well.

Okay.

A little better than you.

The show's about to begin. You can talk afterward.

I saw Xiao Yuan.

Come with me.

I went to Xiao Yuan's school

and chatted with the teacher about her education.

What do you know about education?

Don't bicker with me as soon as I start talking.

Shut up. I know all about you.

You can barely read

and you dare to talk about education

wearing flashy outfits like that?

How dare you!

A cardboard box piano.

You call that a good education for my daughter?

Tempting my daughter with a cheap pencil set

you just want to bribe her.

Let me tell you, it's too late.

You don't own Xiao Yuan.

I'm not interested in what you’ve got to say.

I ordered a piano from Germany for Xiao Yuan.

It hasn't arrived yet. Probably still on the sea.

Or in the sky!

If everything goes smoothly

it should arrive in a few days.

Will it kill you to stop lying?

Guilin, I just want to give my daughter a good environment.

Good environment?

You call selling fake medicine

with her step-father a good environment?

Better than singing on the streets with her step-mother.

Cut the crap.

There's no way I'll let Xiao Yuan go with you.

It's not our decision.

Let's see what Xiao Yuan wants.

We want to fly to that faraway place.

To see the bright side of the world.

We will fly to that far away place.

To see the sunny side of the world.

Posture, posture! Don't hunch your back!

Right, posture is important.

Imagine you are playing a beautiful melody,

a slow ballad.

Hey, hey, watch your hands.

They should be as if you are holding an egg.

Like holding two eggs. Did you hear me?

Watch your hands.

You. Watch your hands too.

Pull the yarn straight. Look at the mess you've made.

Look what I've chosen for my kid - calligraphy.

Just get him a brush and some paper, that's it.

Hassle free and doesn't cost anything

except some old newspapers.

My father gave me the name Guilin

so I'd be like the scenery in Guilin, the best in the world.

But I didn't make it, just got halfway.

So I must get her to learn piano.

To fulfill your dreams?

Fulfill what?

If Xiao Ju takes her

what do I have left to fulfill?

Let's toast, my friend,

and let the past flow by.

Look back at the past

as just a hangover.

Tomorrow's glass will not be filled with yesterday's sorrow.

So raise your glass my friend,

and let us toast the past.

My son has gone to granny's.