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...

Like A Flowing River

~ Episode 32 ~

Mother, this is the place. Give the things to me.

Here, give it to me.

How is it? It's quite good, right?

Mother, mother, mother, don't go up from there. It's really dangerous. There's a ladder here.

So you sleep here.

There's quite a bit of goods here.

That's right.

How come there's just boxes? Aren't there even wood planks around?

I feel quite comfortable sleeping here. I sleep well everyday.

The blanket is so thin.

Eldest, is it cold at night when you are sleeping?

Not cold. Mother, actually it's quite good here.

I can meet the clients here anytime when they are here.

It's convenient for both replenishing and taking stocks.

There's not even a stove here. How do you eat your meals everyday?

Mother, these are all electronics. I can't use a stove here.

This Xiao Feng prepares for me everyday. Xiao Feng's cooking skills are really good.

Stew white meat with pickled vegebles,

stew pork with vermicelli, there are many delicious things to eat.

Xiao Feng sleeps here too?

Then...isn't it causing her to suffer too much?

How can she sleep here with me? I rented a house for her outside.

It's not far from here.

Okay. Ask Xiao Feng to take me over to her place to have a look.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Say, our luck is good the moment mother is here.

It starts to rain the moment we got into the house.

The kitchen is not small.

How is it? Is it okay?

It's not bad.

Eldest, looks like you didn't lie to me this time.

You are really not staying together with Xiao Feng.

Since when did I lie to you?

Mother, are you thirsty?

Quickly, go and pour get water. Go and get some water for mother.

OK, I'll go. Auntie, I'll get a glass of water for you.

She's reading a novel from a foreign country.

Mother, what would you like to eat at noon?

I'm not hungry.

Auntie, I know of a restaurant nearby. It is very nice,

It is very nice and not expensive too.

Why don't Yang Xun and I treat you to something nice?

There is no need to. We are all from the same family, we can just do it simply. There is no need to go the the restaurant.

- Furthermore, it is not easy for Yang Xun to make money. - Yes.

Then let me prepare it. I will prepare the meal today.

Xiao Feng, you came from very far away.

In the normal course of events, Auntie should be the one preparing a nice meal for you.

How can we do that?

Auntie, Yang Xun said that

in addition to being a woman cadre, you still have to look after the brothers and sisters at home.

It's not easy for you to make the trip here. How can we let you do the work?

I'll do it. I'll do it.

Okay, that's good too.

She's hard working.

Mother, please have a seat. Here.

How is it? You have seen the business. You have also met the person.

You shouldn't worry anymore.

There is nothing I can say as far as her looks are concerned.

But she's just too beautiful.

She doesn't look like someone who can live her life the way we do.

Xiao Feng looks like a carefree person normally, but she's actually careful and scrupulous.

When I'm attending to the business outside, she could take care of the store for me.

Things like payment for the goods,

sending out and taking delivery of goods, she's never miss out anything.

Then who is in charge of your money? Do you still give her a salary?

I am in charge of the money. I don't give her any salary too.

I give her a little bit for living expenses every month.

Furthermore, this Miss Xiao Feng is really good. She knows how to live her life properly.

She has savings every month and has saved quite a lot already.

Did she tell you all these?

I know about all these.

According to what you said, not only is she pretty,

she also know how to take care of the family. Then why should she even like you in the first place?

Mother, don't you also think that Miss Xiao Feng is especially good?

Don't be crafty.

Did you say good things to trick her?

How could I have trick anyone? I follow your style. I have never tricked anyone.

Yes, she is indeed better looking than me.

But I am hard working. I am capable. She will not suffer if she follows me.

Then did you tell her that we have taken a very big loan?

She knows about all these. But now my business

is getting better and better. When the payment of the goods for the mine

is collected next month, I will return the money back to Brother Lei first.

Then, if I think that there is any surplus,

I will renovate your house.

Is that good?

When the house is ready,

I'm thinking...

...we'll have the banquet first.

- No. - Why not?

The two of you are still so young.

If you want to get married, you must wait till you are of suitable age before we'll discuss it.

We can have the banquet first.

I am a cadre of the village representing the women.

If my own son becomes the first to get married without a certificate,

how am I going to take charge of other people's late marriage and child birth?

Mother, you are too old-fashioned.

Xiao Feng followed me from so far away. It really was not easy at all for her.

If I still won't at least give her a wedding banquet,

then I'm really not doing right by her. How can I explain things to her family?

You said that she's a good girl and is willing to go through hardship with you.

But what kind of place are you staying at? What kind of life are you leading?

- What kind of place is she staying at? What kind of clothes is she wearing? - Mother, softer.

Aren't you the one suffering all the hardship?

How could you talk about Xiao Feng in this manner?

Eldest,

you know that it's been very difficult for our family all this while.

I took care of the four of you by myself.

I didn't have the ability to send you to school.

You had to go out and do business at a very young age.

Mother has always felt that I've let you down.

Mother, you must not talk like this please.

I am happy to come out and do business.

I am happy to send money to you every month. I am willing to provide for all of you.

Mother doesn't understand anything about your business matters.

But I have experienced so much. I am not wrong in the way that I assess people.

It's not easy for you to earn money. Mother doesn't want you to be taken advantage of.

Mother, how could I be taken advantage of?

Since little, you know how I am. I am the one taking advantage of other people.

Say, those two years when I was selling steam buns

were so hard. But I was never taken advantage of.

Isn't it so? I have my own ways of doing things.

Furthermore, most of the money that I earned

is sent back to you every month.

You know this too.

Mother knows that you take good care of the family.

But our family is too much of a burden to you.

You can't add anymore burden to yourself.

Xiao Feng is not my burden.

Let me tell you this, in the few months that Xiao Feng is here,

the business is really doing well. She's really smart.

She learned all about the know-how of the business in just a few months.

She's the one beating the drums by my side,

hence, we're able to sway the buyers from the state-run plant.

I had originally thought that after two years of doing business,

the condition of family will be better. You can come back to continue your studies.

But it looks like you've become ambitious in doing business.

It's no longer possible to ask you to come back to continue your studies.

Mother admits to this.

But to get married, you must wait until the suitable age to get married.

If she really wants to be with you,

it can't be that she can't even wait for you, right?.

I've seen those things that I needed to see and understand.

Mother needs to go back tonight. I will not have the meal.

Don't, don't, don't. Why are you in such a hurry? There is still a lot of time.

It's getting dark very soon. There wouldn't be any long-distance bus.

Mother will go back by train. The ticket is already bought.

Xiao Feng has already went to prepare a meal.

Can you at least stay to have a meal before leaving?

I won't have the meal. Mother is afraid that I might not make it on time.

Furthermore, if I don't leave, where am I going to stay?

You can't let me stay at her place, right?

- Let's go. - Okay.

- Xiao Feng . - Yes.

Mother is going back.

Xiao Feng.

Auntie, you are going back? The meal is almost ready.

I'm afraid that I might be late for my train. I'm going off.

Then let us send you off.

No need. No need. It's raining. You should stay at home.

Take care of each other. Mother is going off. Goodbye.

It's raining.

Mother! Mother, it's raining! You don't have an umbrella.

Eldest, why have you come down?

You must at least allow me to send you off.

It's not as if I don't know the way.

When I was coming down just now, Xiao Feng was saying that

if she knew you'll be leaving like this, she would have prepared something fast that you can take with you in the train.

There's no need.

Eldest. The two of you are not married yet.

You really need to observe the appropriate behavior where certain things are concerned.

I know. Mother, I know how to behave appropriately. Look, we don't stay together.

You must remember this at all times.

You have three brothers and sisters who are already at the age where they are being to understand things.

If they follow you and fall in love during their senior high school,

they won't be taking the college entrance examination anymore.

You are the older brother. You need to be a good role model. Understand?

I understand.

- Please let me send you off. - No need. No need. It's alright.

- It's alright. - It's raining. Quickly go and prepare the meal with Xiao Feng and have your meal.

- I will just send you to the train station. - No need.

At least allow me...

- Go up quickly. - Okay.

- Mother, take care. - Yes.

- Don't let Mother worry. Go back. - Yes.

- Be careful on the way home. - Yes.

- Xiao Feng, what are you doing? - Going back to Dongbei.

You were fine before. What's wrong now?

If I don't go back now, must I wait for you to kick me out?