The Chinese Botanist's Daughters (Les filles du botaniste)

I got to know

that my father was a Chinese,

and my mother a Russian.

She was a professor of Foreign Languages at Tangshan University.

They both died in an earthquake in 1976.

None of my relatives survived.

I was 3 years old at that time.

I had nobody to depend on.

The orphanage became my new home.

That's where I grew up.

The Chinese Botanist's Daughters

The Chinese Botanist's Daughters

Tangshan Orphanage

See you, Dean.

You're leaving?

Oh, I remember...

You're going to the botanical garden of Kunlin University,

to Professor Chen, the famous herbal specialist.

It's a great opportunity for you to gain some experience.

One and a half months is not too long, but you can still learn a lot.

We could use your knowledge here when you come back.

Hello.

Sir, I'd like to talk to Professor Chen.

Dr. Li is talking to him. What do you need?

I'm his intern, Li Ming.

I'll ask him tomorrow.

Excuse me, comrade.

Do you know what time it is?

It's already 21:08.

How dare you bother the Professor at this time?

Dad, what you want me to do?

First, prepare some seeds.

Then remove weeds carefully.

Professor Chen.

You are Li Ming, the intern?

You must have a problem with time.

First, you broke my rule yesterday, bothering me at 9 in the evening,

and now this morning you're an hour late.

See, we already have a break now.

Remember, never bother a professor after nine.

Is that a bird?

Professor Chen, it's my little present.

No need for this.

Long live Chairman Mao!

I heard from the seller that it could speak lots of words,

but all learned from the Culture Revolution.

What's your name?

Enough.

Arrange her accommodation now.

Isn't it only a month and a half?

No need for a whole renovation.

Help me, Li Ming.

I want her to live happily here.

Long live Chairman Mao!

Its Latin name is

Polygonum Multiflorum.

In Chinese we called it He-shou-wu.

In our medicine we use it to treat renal and hepatic illnesses.

According to the most ancient medical books, our ancestors prescribed it

against the wet dreams of men.

Today, we also use it against constipation.

The taste of its root is bitter as well as sweet.

Once you try it, you'll never forget the taste.

All of you who want to become doctors should experience this.

Come here, Comrade Li!

What's the matter?

Say, what did I ask you to bring?

Shou-wu.

Exactly.

But you brought me what?

Wu-tou!

It's not Shou-wu, but Wu-tou.

It's poisonous, lethal, you know that?

Why don't you use your eyes properly?

Fortunately I checked it myself.

Otherwise, everyone here would die because of you.

It's a great privilege for you

to study at the best botanical garden.

Many people dream to come here!

Who sent you to me?

They must be blind!

I am sorry.

I know how you feel, you know?

I'm a half orphan myself.

My mom passed away

when I was ten.

No more words.

Don't leave.

My dad's temper is always like that.

Cold and stubborn. Not only towards you.

Deep inside he's kind, though.

You'll see after a while.

I've tried to adapt to him for more than 20 years,

but I still can't bear his temper all the time.

Dad, your breakfast.

Dad, breakfast.

The time for my breakfast is at 7:30, not 8:00.

Different times for different things.

You should know that.

Take it away. I don't want it today.

This is Erythrina.

A toxic leguminous plant.

Comrade Li, don't forget this! Erythrina.

In the past people took its seeds.

They macerated them for days,

filtered the juice

and reduced it to obtain the poison.

Well, nowadays,

people usually use it as a local anesthetic.

Professor Chen, you are so erudite!

Officinal resin of pine is different.

You must keep trampling it

until it turns snow white.

It's very effective against abscesses

and skin inflammations.

You are so beautiful.

Help me add some water.

Looking for ginseng again?

Morning, Master Wang.

Long time no see. When did you arrive?

Just now.

You got an assistant?

Her name is Li Ming. She's training at our place.

The ginseng is rare this year.

Come.

Wait.

OK, you don't need to be afraid anymore.

The odour of orpiment makes the snakes flee.

Li Ming, come here and look.

Wild Atractylis, very rare. And there are two of them.

Careful.

You know, a long time ago, the robbers from the south of China

attached the root on their belt when they went out.

If they were caught and hit, they chewed on it,

and their wounds would heal faster.

One of these robbers

ended up becoming an emperor.

He named this plant Crimson Whip.

You know, my dad has heart problems.

He's had a few heart attacks.

Then he found a remedy,

made from glycine from the mountains.

The glycine looks like it's the same as that in the garden.

It's twice as heavy though.

Look.

Its juice is like milk.

Has his heart disease gotten better?

It's under control for now.

Ginseng is like us humans.

It has a soul.

You must tie it first.

Otherwise once you dig it out, it'll run away.

An.

Being with you is so interesting.

Professor Chen, your tea's ready.

You didn't forget it's 5 grams less than in the morning, right?

I didn't.

Hold on.

An has already told you to make the tea with rainwater, hasn't she?

Yes.

So why aren't you using it?

Isn't there enough rainwater here?

I...

You thought I couldn't tell?

Let me tell you something.

I can even distinguish which season the rain was from.

An.

An.

An.

I hurt my foot in that place once.

Be careful. There are lots of stones there.

The mud from this pond is my dad's favourite.

I come here several times a year.

An.

The duck is so perfect today. Neither hard nor soft.

Cooked just right.

I can feel it melting in my mouth.

Try some!

Thank you, Professor. I don't like it.

No way.

It's so delicious.

I can say it doesn't get any better than this.

You don't like it either?

I'm not hungry today.

You're both so weird tonight.

An!

An!

Stop it! You made a mistake.

I'm here.

Sorry.

Come on!

Rock-paper-scissors.

Paper-rock-scissors.

Rock-paper-scissors. Paper-rock-scissors.

You lose again!

Dan!

Dad's coming.

Dad!

Always the same.

Showing up out of the blue.