The Diam Diam Era (我们的故事之沉默的年代)

I have told you many times.

Don't let the water drip when drying clothes.

Now I have to rewash it.

Do you want me to cut off your water pipe?

And...

You keep playing with paper planes.

It always gets into my house.

How many times do you want me to repeat it?

Mom! Save me!

- Someone wants to hit me! - Hey!

- Mom! Save me! Someone wants to hit me! - Got it?

Mom!

Mom! Save me!

- Mom? - Huat.

Mom!

Huat, are you already awake?

How many times do you want me to call you? Get ready, quick!

Su Ting. Su Qin.

What?

Did you dream about asking mom to save you again?

How many times must I tell you?

Mom passed away a long time ago.

Even if the hooligan downstairs

or the old troublemaker next door comes to bully us,

she will not come back to life and save us.

So, we have to unite and fight for ourselves.

This way, we won't get bullied by others.

Brush my teeth.

Brushing teeth every day.

Doing the same thing.

Done.

Su Ting, Huat did not use toothpaste when brushing!

Su Ting, he hit me!

I wanted to rinse my mouth first.

I'm done brushing.

Here.

Don't know how to say thank you?

Whose book is this?

MENSTRUAL PERIOD

Su Ting! It's mine!

I didn't know you had a period too.

And there's even discharge?

Do you want me to buy Bak Foong pills for you?

No wonder the colored pages

of every issue of my SISTERS are missing!

So it is with you.

You are so smart.

And you're getting worse!

That's strange.

How are you in the same class as Heng?

Because of Mom's blessing.

Huat's primary and secondary school are both affiliated,

so there are some privileges.

How else would he be able to enter the school?

Dream on.

Su Qin, why did you say that?

Did I offend you by being in the same class as Heng?

Don't think you're smart because you earn money

working at Emporium as a salesgirl.

Of course she is smart!

She is paying for your school fees.

What's that for?

Su Qin is very capable.

What course did you pass again?

- Nurse at Singapore General Hospital. - Nurse at Singapore General Hospital.

- Did you get a pay rise? - Yes.

It's 50 dollars.

Is 50 dollars a lot?

I will definitely earn more than you next time.

- Show off. - Then you have to be like Su Xin.

Achieve a university degree,

then you'll earn more money.

Don't just say it without doing it.

Huat, you're going to be late!

- Quick! - Where's your bag?

- Don't drink anymore. - Hurry.

- Quick! Get up. - Go now!

- Take this, go now. - Wait!

- Bye! - Hey!

Don't speak dialect in school!

You have been penalized many times!

Pay for it yourself.

Su Qin has 50 dollars!

That money is not to pay your penalty.

Obscure street lights

Quietly lying in the rain

The past has passed my heart

I am Shun Fa.

When my mom was still around,

we walked the path that she had created for us

and didn't have to worry about anything.

Now that Mom is gone,

we took the compensation from the farm.

After buying a three-room flat,

the amount left is not much.

Good morning, Mr. Ah Hui!

Morning!

In the blink of an eye

It is the spring breeze

Layers of homesickness thoughts Have also faded

So Su Ting has taken the responsibility of Mom

and Su Qin, who is weaker in studies just like me

have to work to earn money

to support Su Xin and me.

Since then, the four of us started to walk the path

without Mom guiding us.

Until our hair becomes grey

On a cool road

Pedestrians are rushing

On the street lights

Isolating in the rain

There is a faint singing voice In the distance

So, this is our story.

The story after we left our village.

Time passes like flowing water

In the blink of an eye

It is the spring breeze

YEAR 1979

Layers of homesickness thoughts Have also faded

He is more concentrated in his hometown

Heng!

This is Yong Xing.

My cousin of the same age.

He is the youngest son of my first uncle

whom he and an overseas singer secretly gave birth to.

Aunt was furious,

but she was helpless and had to accept it.

Why didn't you wait for me to come together?

I did.

When I walked to your house, I heard your sister

discussing seriously the menstrual issue with you.

So embarrassing. I felt awkward.

That's why I quickly ran off.

Seriously,

do you have period?

Go to hell.

Heng.

- So he is your cousin? - Yes.

I heard he comes from a Chinese stream primary school.

Poor thing.

Now all the subjects are in English.

- How are you going to catch up? - Ketchup?

No, I don't like ketchup.

I like chili.

But for bread, chili sauce won't go.

You have to use kaya .

You can't understand simple English?

Gosh. Don't laugh at me.

Can't I be Chinese educated?

Why don't you just say helicopter?

"A helicopter...

can fly...

328km..."

How do you read this word?

Let's skip this word.

Do you all think it is funny?

I have been Chinese-educated since I was young.

I've used Mandarin to teach Mathematics for more than ten years.

Now, it is all changed to English.

Like all of you,

I am not used to it either.

But I will give myself some time to improve.

Most importantly, all of you

must learn English in order to catch up.

Mr. Wong, does that mean you cannot catch up?

Yes, I cannot catch up for now.

But you can.

You recite this.

But Mr. Wong, I am just like you.

I cannot catch up either.

There are 25 English alphabets.

- To split it while reciting... - Wait a minute.

25 English alphabets?

Who taught you that?

There have only been 24 all along.

Do you really think I don't know?

I was just testing all of you.

There are 26, right?

Okay, Yong Xing.

Do this question.

Explain to the rest of the students in Mandarin.

That year, due to the changes in the education system,

all the subjects in school

were to be taught in English.

Let alone those who came from Chinese schools,

even teachers who use Mandarin as their first language

were not able to cope.

Other than the smart ones like Yong Xing,

all the other Chinese students struggled to adapt.

I knew how to answer that question earlier.

But it was all in English.

I didn't understand.

Look! "Learn Mandarin."

"Speak Mandarin."

But why are our textbooks all in English?

I am now very confused.

Heng.

That question just now was so easy.

Don't brag!

You would have done it if you knew.