Episode 5
Scene 1 — Day Scene
Characters: Zhao Renjie, Yang Tiansi, You Tianmei, Doctor, Nurse
Time: One morning in mid-August.
Setting: General ward of the Miners’ Hospital
△ The anesthesia in Zhao Renjie’s body gradually wears off, and he regains consciousness. He hears the conversation between the Tiansi couple and the doctor making rounds.
Doctor: “For this kind of bone marrow transplant, the probability of finding a compatible genetic match is extremely low.”
Tiansi: “That is the Bodhisattva blessing good people.”
Doctor: “After genetic testing, we discovered that the compatibility rate between the patient and the donor exceeds 99 percent. Medically, there is only one explanation for this — the two should be blood relatives, namely biological brother and sister. Actually, regarding their blood relationship, Miss Yang personally informed me face-to-face when she came to my office, although at the time I still had doubts.”
△ The Tiansi couple are inwardly startled.
Tianmei: (OS) “Every night Jialing personally cooked late-night snacks and personally delivered them to Renjie. Could it be that the two truly are brother and sister, and that they had already recognized each other long ago?”
△ Tianmei whispers her thoughts into Tiansi’s ear.
Tiansi: “That they could recognize each other as brother and sister is, after all, a good thing.”
Tianmei: “I worry that after Doctor Zhao recovers from his illness, sooner or later he will take Ah-Ling away.”
Renjie: (Suddenly opening his eyes and speaking) “Uncle, Auntie, I will not take Jialing away. She will forever remain the daughter of your Yang family.”
Tiansi: “Doctor Zhao, sorry, my wife should not have said such things.”
Renjie: “Uncle, you painstakingly raised Jialing for more than ten years. How could I not be grateful for such kindness?”
Tianmei: (Embarrassed) “Doctor Zhao, you are the benefactor of our husband-and-wife pair. If you truly wanted to take Jialing away, although I would be unwilling to part with her, I would still bless you brother and sister.”
Renjie: “Jialing was your daughter before, and from now on she will still be your daughter. I will not take her away from Houtong.”
Tianmei: (Holding Renjie’s hand, grateful) “Doctor, thank you for understanding the feelings of me as a mother.”
Scene 2 — Night Scene
Characters: Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen, Xu Congming, Yang Jialing
Time: One night in late January, Year 71 of the Republic of China.
Setting: Waiting room of the Houtong Health Clinic
△ The waiting room inside and outside the clinic is filled with flower baskets and sympathy cards. Xu Congming lifts open the lid of a large cake box, while Jialing and Xiaofen place candles on top.
Jialing: “Big Brother, tonight you are the best leading actor! We are celebrating Big Brother’s rebirth.”
Renjie: (Comforted) “Big Brother gladly accepts your heartfelt intentions. I never imagined that it would be my own biological younger sister who changed the second half of my life!”
Congming: “This is all Heaven’s ingenious arrangement, allowing you brother and sister to reunite here.”
Xiaofen: “Yes, Jialing already told me about your situation.”
Jialing: “Big Brother, today with Sister Xiaofen here, your younger sister boldly makes a request to you — hurry and give me a sister-in-law, so she can help me take care of you.”
Renjie: (Laughing) “Little Sister, so helping your brother celebrate his recovery was merely a tactic, and forcing a marriage is the real objective!”
Jialing: (Acting spoiled) “That’s right! Big Brother, for the sake of your happiness, Congming and I can only resort to every possible means.”
Congming: (Waving his hands) “Big Brother Zhao, you can’t blame me. Your sister is the one who plotted against you.”
Renjie: (Laughing) “Looks like I can no longer avoid this, right, Little Sister?”
Jialing: (Pretending to be serious) “That’s right! Big Brother, we already prepared the flowers for you separately. Strike while the iron is hot — first propose to Sister Fen, and only then will you be allowed to cut the cake.”
Xiaofen: (Covering her mouth while laughing) “Jialing, stop teasing your big brother.”
Jialing: (Seriously) “No, Big Brother must propose to Sister Fen first.”
Renjie: (Shaking his head and laughing) “All right then. It seems I’ve been kidnapped by my own younger sister.”
△ Renjie takes the bouquet from Jialing and kneels on one knee facing Xiaofen. Xiaofen blushes so deeply that her entire face turns pink.
Renjie: (Sincerely) “Miss Xiaofen, are you willing to accept my proposal?”
Xiaofen: (Shy and pleasantly surprised) “I am willing.”
Jialing: “Sister-in-law, that was too soft. We didn’t hear it.”
Congming: (Laughing) “Jialing, spare your future sister-in-law.”
Jialing: “All right then, but after eating the cake later, Big Brother and Sister-in-law must kiss.”
Scene 3 — Day Scene
Characters: Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen, Xu Congming, Yang Jialing, Xu Fugui, Wu Youxiu, Yang Tiansi, You Tianmei, Huang Dachuan, Zhang Da, Li Dongming, Xu Zhaodi, Xiao Yaqian, Li Jincai (Town Mayor), relatives, friends, several hundred guests
Time: One day in late August.
Setting: Houtong Health Clinic
△ Doctor Zhao Renjie’s wedding becomes a major event in Ruifang Township. Mayor Li Jincai personally attends to host and give a speech.
Li Jincai: “Ever since Doctor Zhao Renjie came to our Houtong Health Clinic, during this past year his benevolent heart and superb medical skill have saved many miner friends suffering from black lung disease. He is the living Bodhisattva of our Ruifang. Today is the joyous wedding day of Doctor Zhao and Nurse Wang Xiaofen. Here, on behalf of our Ruifang Township, I wish this newlywed couple everlasting love and happiness. I also hope that in the future Doctor Zhao will continue staying in our township to serve the villagers and protect everyone’s health.”
△ After the mayor’s speech, the sound of firecrackers erupts, and amidst the blessings of relatives and friends, the newlyweds complete the ceremony.
△ Li Dongming squeezes himself into the crowd, his eyes never leaving Yang Jialing standing beside the bride.
Scene 4 — Night Scene
Characters: Yang Jialing, Xu Congming, You Tianmei
Time: One evening in early September.
Setting: Yang Tiansi’s home, Xu Fugui’s home
△ Xu Congming gets up in the middle of the night to drink water. He notices that across from him, the light in Jialing’s bedroom at the Yang house is still on. Under the light, Jialing is still studying.
Congming: “So Jialing works this hard? I really should support her and learn from her properly!”
Scene 5 — Morning Scene
Characters: Yang Jialing, Xu Congming, Xu Zhaodi, Xiao Yaqian, Ticket Inspector, dozens of students
Time: Early morning on a day in early September
Setting: Houtong Train Station, inside the train carriage
▲ After school begins, on the platform of Houtong Train Station early in the morning, dozens of students and several office workers sit or stand waiting for the train.
Zhaodi: “Jialing, lately you look radiant with happiness. Did your big brother’s happy occasion influence you?”
Jialing: “Yes! My big brother’s health recovered, and now he has a good sister-in-law to take care of him. It can be considered bitterness finally turning into sweetness.”
Zhaodi: “You really want to apply to medical school?”
Jialing: “Mm! I want to become a doctor who saves the world and rescues people, just like my brother.”
Congming: “Jialing, seeing you preparing like this every day, studying late into the night and rising before dawn, your body won’t be able to endure it.”
Jialing: “It’s still okay! Every night after finishing the housework at home, I first sleep for two hours, then get up again to study.”
Yaqian: “If it were me, I couldn’t do it. If I don’t sleep seven full hours a day, I definitely won’t have any energy.”
Zhaodi: “The train is coming!”
Jialing: “After boarding the train, don’t disturb me. Let me take a little nap.”
Zhaodi: “All right. When the train arrives at Keelung Station, we’ll wake you up.”
△ After boarding the train, Jialing leans against the seat and naps lightly. Xu Congming quietly watches the sleeping Jialing, his eyes filled with affection and tenderness.
Scene 6 — Day Scene
Characters: Yang Jialing, Li Dongming, You Tianmei, Wu Manmei, Huang Dachuan, Zhang Da, diners
Setting: Ruyi Eatery near Houtong Train Station
▲ Li Dongming drives to Ruyi Eatery to look for Yang Jialing.
Huang Dachuan: “Young Boss, we haven’t seen you lately. We heard you went to Taipei to attend university.”
Zhang Da: “That’s good! Young people should study more while they still have the chance. Only then will they have opportunities to accomplish great undertakings in the future.”
Li Dongming: “Two uncles, thank you for your encouragement.”
Yang Jialing: “Young Master Li, what business do you have with me?”
Li Dongming: “I wanted to invite you to watch a movie. What do you think?”
Yang Jialing: “Watch a movie? That is a luxurious enjoyment. I have neither the time to go nor the desire to go.”
Li Dongming: (Embarrassed) “After the mine closes at the end of the year, we won’t be able to see each other often anymore.”
Yang Jialing: “Different people have different destinies, Young Master. I was born with a life of hard labor. You should find someone of equal social standing. Then you won’t need to waste time and energy on me.”
Huang Dachuan: “Young Boss, is your father really going to shut down the coal mine at the end of this year?”
Li Dongming: “Yes, there is indeed such a plan.”
Zhang Da: “Looks like we’ll have to seek another way out for ourselves.”
(Two years later)
Scene 7
People: Yang Tianci, You Tianmei, Xu Fugui, Wu Youxiu, Yang Jialing, Huang Dachuan, Zhang Da, more than ten relatives and friends
Time: One afternoon in late July, Year 72 of the Republic of China.
Setting: The alley in front of Yang Tianci’s house
△ The results of the university entrance examination are announced. Jialing indeed gets admitted to National Taiwan University Medical Department, and Dazhi is admitted to National Taiwan University Electrical Engineering Department. Xu Fugui prepares a long string of firecrackers and hangs them at the entrance of the alley; they crackle and bang for a long time.
△ Narration:
Yang Jialing’s admission to the National Taiwan University Medical Department quickly shocks the entire Ruifang. Xu Congming’s Electrical Engineering Department, on the contrary, is not the focal topic of villagers’ discussion, because a girl being admitted to National Taiwan University Medical Department is an unprecedented achievement in Ruifang town.
△ Villagers come in an endless stream to congratulate the Yang family. Tianci and Tianmei prepare several large basins of oil rice and meat thick soup to entertain the visiting neighbors.
Huang Dachuan: “Congratulations! A-Tian, you and your wife have finally made it. Your Jialing has been admitted to National Taiwan University Medical Department. In the future she will be the first female doctor in our Ruifang town. This is the glory of our Houtong mining village.”
Tianci: “Thank you, thank you! It’s because you don’t despise us!”
Tianmei: “Please come inside and sit down, let us treat you.”
Relative/Friend A: “Ah Tianmei, you’ve finally turned your luck around. Your daughter is truly talented. Congratulations!”
Tianmei: “Ugly bamboo can produce good shoots.”
Relative/Friend C: “Your daughter has brought honor to us Hakka people, A-Tian.”
Tianci: “No, no! It’s all because of the villagers’ care and affection.”
Zhang Da: “Your daughter is the first female top scholar in our area. Truly not simple. In the future you two won’t have to worry about food or clothing, living in villas, driving luxury cars, enjoying wealth and honor.”
Tianci: “A daughter, once she marries, becomes someone else’s family. As long as her marriage is happy and peaceful, and she lives a life without disaster or hardship, as parents we are already satisfied. As for wealth and honor, I have already walked once through the gates of death, I long ago took these things lightly.”
△ Across the street, the Xu family receives only a sparse number of visiting congratulators, forming a strong contrast.
Scene 8
People: Yang Jialing, Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen
Time: One day in late July
Setting: Houtong Health Station
△ Jialing calls outside the health station: “Big brother! Big sister-in-law.”
△ Renjie hurriedly walks out of the clinic and sees Jialing holding an envelope.
Jialing: “Brother, guess what I am holding?”
Renjie: “Sister, is it the university admission notice?”
Jialing: “Mm, I got into National Taiwan University Medical Department.”
Renjie: (tears welling in his eyes, holding Jialing’s hand) “Sister, I had a strong feeling I would live to see this day.”
Xiaofen: “Little sister, you are as outstanding as your brother!”
Jialing: “Big brother, because of your appearance in my life, my future life path has taken a turn. I sincerely thank you.”
Renjie: “Sister, this is the result of your own hard work. Wait a moment, I’ll go get something.”
△ Renjie takes out a passbook and places it in Jialing’s hand.
Renjie: “This money is what I have saved every month since I came to Houtong. In the future, I will continue to deposit money every month. You can use it first, sister.”
Jialing: “Big brother, you should keep this money to help sister-in-law build a new house in the future, and you also need to take care of your health. I cannot accept it.”
Xiaofen: “This is your brother’s intention. You should accept it.”
Renjie: “That’s right! Your sister-in-law is temporarily living with me in the dormitory; it’s quite comfortable here. Consider this money as a loan from me. When you finish your studies and come back, you can take over my position.”
Scene 9
People: Yang Jialing, Xu Zhaodi, Xu Congming, Li Dongming
Time: One evening in late July
Setting: In front of the doctor’s dormitory at the health station
△ Xu Congming rides a brand-new motorcycle to the entrance of the doctor’s dormitory at the health station and meets Jialing, Zhaodi, and Li Dongming.
Congming (straddling the motorcycle): “Jialing, I was just about to ask you to go watch a movie!”
Zhaodi: “Next time. Young Master Li is going to drive us to the North Coast for a ride.”
Congming: (disappointed) “Oh.”
Jialing: “Come along together? There’s still space in the car.”
Dongming: “Jialing, you… I didn’t say I was bringing Xu Congming along.”
Zhaodi: “Be more generous, Young Master Li.”
Congming: (awkwardly) “You all go ahead, I’m going home.”
△ Xu Congming turns around and leaves.
Zhaodi: “Why are boys so ungenerous? Young Master Li, drive.”
△ Li Dongming drives away.
Scene 10
People: Xu Fugui, Wu Youxiu, Xu Congming
Time: One day in late July
Setting: Xu Fugui’s living room (all dialogue in this scene is in Hokkien/Fulao language)
△ Congming rides his motorcycle home, still full of anger.
Fugui: “Congming, you don’t even greet when you enter the house? After getting into university you’ve even lost your manners.”
Youxiu: (glancing at Fugui) “Old man, I think your son seems to have something on his mind.”
Fugui: “Congming, sit down and chat with your father.”
Congming: (pours a glass of ice water and drinks) “What is it, Dad?”
Fugui: (puts down the newspaper) “I should be asking you what’s wrong. You look like you’ve lost your soul. Earlier when the results came out, why didn’t you ask Jialing out for a ride?”
Congming: (coldly) “She is a big celebrity now.”
Youxiu: “Jialing is a very dutiful girl. During holidays she helps Tianmei run her business. I really like her. It would be wonderful if she could become our daughter-in-law.”
Congming: “In our village, there are a lot of guys chasing her. It’s not my turn.”
Youxiu: (teasing) “Which young master is it that dares to offend my son?”
Congming: (angrily) “That Li family young master, who else. He invited Jialing and Zhaodi to go driving.”
Youxiu: “You saw it with your own eyes?”
Congming: “I met them at the entrance of our alley just now.”
Fugui: “Son, you’re jealous, aren’t you?”
Youxiu: (testing him deliberately) “Congming, tell mother honestly, do you really like Jialing?”
Congming: (blushing) “No! I’m just afraid she will be bullied.”
Fugui: (picks up the newspaper again, laughing secretly behind it) “Alright, since you don’t like her, then the engagement talk is off.”
Congming: “Engagement? Who with whom?”
Youxiu: “You and Jialing. You both are going to study outside; getting engaged earlier would let you take care of each other.”
Fugui: “Yes, but since you have no feelings for Jialing, we shouldn’t delay her. We’ll arrange another match for you later.”
Congming: “Mom, I never said I don’t like her.”
△ Congming acts spoiled and asks his mother Youxiu for help.
Youxiu: “Don’t joke with your father.”
Fugui: “What do you mean exactly? What do you want to do?”
Congming: “Mom, hurry and go propose marriage at Jialing’s house. Tomorrow—tomorrow!”
Fugui: (laughs and hits Congming’s head with the newspaper) “You silly boy, even more impatient than your father when he was young!”
△ Xu Congming scratches his head and laughs foolishly, his face turning red like pig liver.
Scene 11
People: Yang Jialing, Xu Zhaodi, Li Dongming
Time: One day in late July, Year 79 of the Republic of China
Setting: Mountain road from Houtong to Ruifang
△ Li Dongming drives from Houtong toward Ruifang.
Dongming: “Congratulations on getting into National Taiwan University Medical Department.”
Jialing: “Thank you.”
Zhaodi: “Why didn’t you congratulate me? I’m going to be your junior schoolmate.”
Dongming: “Oh? You got into Fu Jen?”
Zhaodi: “Mm! Department of Textile and Clothing.”
Dongming: “So you’re going into fashion design in the future?”
Zhaodi: “That’s my dream!”
Dongming: “Jialing, what about you? Will you stay in Ruifang to serve?”
Jialing: “Maybe. If Ruifang Health Center needs me.”
Dongming: “I’ll first take you two to my photography studio. It’s on Ruifang Street.”
Jialing: “Photography studio? Why have I never heard you mention it?”
Dongming: “My mother lent me money to open the shop. I didn’t tell my father.”
Jialing: “Do you really want to open a film company in the future? Become a director yourself?”
Dongming: “Yes. First I want my own shop and my own staff. After I finish military service, I plan to officially set up a film company.”
Jialing: “What about your father’s hotel?”
Dongming: “My parents can still manage the hotel. When I come back on vacation, I’ll also help a bit.”
Jialing: “In Ruifang, coal mines are closing one after another. My mother’s restaurant business is getting harder and harder. In the future we may also move away from Houtong.”
Dongming: “Taiwan’s coal mining industry is rapidly declining. It cannot compete with imported coal in terms of cost. Seeing Pingxi, Houtong, and Jingtong gradually decline, I really feel emotional. My first film in the future will use our Ruifang coal mines as the background. The main story will be about you, your big brother, and my father’s Jianxing Coal Mine. I already have a rough outline of the script.”
Jialing: “Oh? I didn’t expect you to be such a nostalgic person.”
Dongming: “I was born and raised in Houtong. Ruifang is my hometown. Honestly, I always miss that familiar smell of coal smoke. If I hadn’t met you, I might still be drifting on the streets. Jialing, you changed the direction of my fate.”
Jialing: “That’s all your own realization and effort. I really didn’t help you much.”
Dongming: “My photography studio is almost here, just ahead at the intersection.”
Scene 12
People: Yang Jialing, Xu Zhaodi, Li Dongming, A Hou, Gongwan, Tu Niu, Master A De
Time: One day in late July, Year 79 of the Republic of China
Setting: Dongming Photography Studio (all dialogue in Mandarin)
△ The sedan stops in front of the photography studio. Li Dongming leads the two inside.
Tu Niu: “Brother Ming, you’re here!”
Jialing: (surprised) “Why are the three of them here?”
Dongming: “Don’t worry. These three have been following me to run the shop for two years already. They are no longer hanging around the streets.”
A Hou: “Future sister-in-law, sorry about that! Two years ago at the Tian Gong Temple, we were rude to you.”
Jialing: “Don’t call people randomly.”
Dongming: “A De, I will be bringing in a Sony video recorder soon. You must teach the three of them how to properly operate and maintain it. Imported video recorders are expensive; you must use them carefully.”
A De: “Understood, boss.”
Dongming: “After this video recorder arrives, you can start providing outdoor filming services for wedding photography clients.”
A De: “No problem, boss.”
Zhaodi: “You also provide wedding video recording?”
A Hou: “Of course! This is our main source of revenue.”
Jialing: (smiles) “You’re quite business-minded.”
Dongming: “This is the future trend. I’m just quicker at thinking. Now many households can afford video players.”
Dongming: “Gongwan, prepare a single-lens camera with a telephoto lens and a wide-angle lens, and also a tripod. I’ll take it out later.”
Gongwan: “Yes, boss.”
Scene 13
People: Yang Jialing, Xu Zhaodi, Li Dongming, tourists
Time: One day in late July, Year 79 of the Republic of China
Setting: Northern Coast, Shimen Cave
△ Li Dongming drives from Ruifang to the northern coast. They first arrive at Shimen Cave.
Dongming: “This Shimen Cave was originally under the sea. Later, due to tectonic uplift in this area, it gradually emerged above sea level.”
Jialing: “Compared to nature, humans are truly insignificant and life is so brief. That is why we must cherish our limited time, enrich ourselves, and let ourselves shine with energy to contribute to society.”
Dongming: “Your wish is certainly worth encouraging, but don’t forget to pursue your own happiness.”
Jialing: “Since I have chosen the path of practicing medicine to help the world, I will not think about personal happiness. Whenever I see miners suffering from black lung disease, they feel like my fathers and brothers. I understand the physical pain and the mental despair they endure. In the future, if I have the ability, I will do everything possible to relieve their suffering.”
Zhaodi: “Jialing, hearing you say this makes me feel like I’ve been living selfishly.”
Jialing: “You don’t need to think that way. Every blade of grass receives its own dew; everyone bears different responsibilities in life.”
Dongming: “Let’s go walk by the sea. Let’s not talk about such serious topics for now. We’ll take some photos as memories.”
△ Dongming carries the camera on his back. The three walk toward the seaside.
Scene 14
People: Yang Tianci, You Tianmei, Yang Jialing, Yang Jiaxiang, Yang Jiazhen, Xu Fugui, Wu Youxiu, Xu Congming
Time: One afternoon in late July, Year 79 of the Republic of China
Setting: Yang Tianci’s living room
△ Xu Fugui and his wife Youxiu, together with their son Congming, carry two large gift boxes to the Yang family next door to propose marriage.
Tianci: “Brother Fugui, you are too polite. It’s already good that you came, and you even brought such heavy gifts.”
Fugui: “Tianci, the situation is like this. Today we specially came…”
Youxiu: “Let me speak. Brother Tianci, today we are here to propose marriage for my son Congming.”
Tianci: (looking at Jialing) “This… Jialing, what do you think yourself?”
Jialing: “In this lifetime, I do not plan to marry, so uncle and aunt, I’m sorry.”
Congming: (disappointed inner monologue) “I didn’t expect that what Jialing once said about not marrying in her lifetime was truly her sincere thought.”
Tianmei: “Jialing, won’t you consider it again? Your uncle and aunt have always liked you very much.”
Jialing: “Mom, I’m still so young. If I marry now, who will take care of my younger brother in the future?”
Tianmei: “We will take care of your brother. You don’t need to worry.”
Jialing: “And when you and Dad are gone, who will take care of him then?”
Tianci: “Tianmei, don’t force Jialing. Marriage should be decided by herself.”
△ The Xu family did not expect such a quick refusal. The atmosphere becomes awkward. Tianci quickly changes the topic.
Tianci: “I heard that several mines here will gradually stop operations soon?”
Fugui: (bitter smile) “Yes. In the past year and a half, we’ve been living off severance pay. When all the Houtong miners are gone, this place will decline.”
Tianci: “You must already have plans, right?”
Fugui: “We are just taking one day at a time. I plan to buy those old miners’ dormitories, renovate them, and open a guesthouse. But if there are no tourists, it probably won’t make much money.”
Scene 15 (Night)
People: Yang Tianci, You Tianmei, Yang Jialing, Yang Jiaxiang, Yang Jiazhen, Xu Fugui, Wu Youxiu, Xu Congming, Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen, dozens of neighbors
Time: One night in early August, Year 79 of the Republic of China
Setting: Yang Tianci’s wooden house
△ Late at night, fire suddenly erupts from the kitchen. Jialing first smells burning and wakes up; the house is already filled with thick smoke.
Jialing: (shaking her siblings awake) “Fire! Wake up quickly, get up now!”
Jiazhen: (smelling smoke) “Sis, so much smoke.”
Jialing: (shouting) “Quickly take Jiaxiang and get outside!”
△ Jialing finds two flashlights in the drawer and hands one to her sister.
Jialing: (shouting) “Leave the house immediately! I’ll go wake Mom and Dad. Jiazhen, go knock on the Xu family’s door. Hurry!”
△ Jialing turns on the flashlight, wets a towel, covers her mouth and nose, and rushes toward her parents’ bedroom. Flames have already spread from the kitchen.
Jialing: (shouting) “Mom! Dad! There’s a fire! Wake up quickly!”
△ Tianci and Tianmei are already unconscious from heavy smoke inhalation. Jialing carries her mother out first. At the living room entrance, Xu Congming rushes in.
Jialing: (shouting) “Congming! My father is still in the bedroom. He’s unconscious. Hurry and carry him out!”
△ Congming rushes into the smoke. Neighbors gather outside with buckets of water to put out the fire. Congming quickly carries Tianci out of the smoke. Tianci and Tianmei are laid under the eaves across the street, cared for by Xu Fugui and his wife.
△ Zhao Renjie and Xiaofen also arrive and immediately begin emergency treatment.
△ Jialing holds her siblings, kneeling beside her parents, waiting anxiously.
Scene 16
People: Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen
Time: One evening in early August, Year 79 of the Republic of China
Setting: Houtong Health Station clinic
△ After work hours. Renjie and Xiaofen clean up medical equipment. Renjie sits in a chair thinking.
Xiaofen: “It’s already after work. Aren’t you coming to eat with me?”
Renjie: “I’m thinking about my sister’s family. Last night, an unknown fire burned down their wooden house. They need a place to live.”
Xiaofen: “Aren’t there two empty rooms in your dormitory? It should be fine to squeeze in temporarily until they find a place to rent.”
Renjie: “Given their situation now, renting would also be a heavy burden.”
Xiaofen: “Do you have a better idea to accommodate them?”
Renjie: “We will eventually need our own house. How about this—I’ll find a piece of land and build two townhouses. One for us, one for my sister’s family.”
Xiaofen: “I understand your intention. You want to take care of your sister. That’s natural. If I were you, I would do the same.”
Renjie: (moved) “Xiaofen, you’re a kind-hearted girl.”
Xiaofen: (smiling) “Jialing is your biological sister. Of course she comes first in your heart.”
Renjie: (smiling) “Don’t be jealous. She’s my only family.”
Xiaofen: “I’m not jealous, husband. I know you care about her. But your goodwill must also depend on whether her parents accept it.”
Renjie: “I think my sincerity should be able to move them.”
Xiaofen: “I support you. I still have some savings. We can pool them together. If it’s not enough, we can borrow from the bank. I know most of your savings have already been used for your sister’s tuition.”
Renjie: “Thank you, Xiaofen.”
Xiaofen: “No need to thank me. As the ancients say: husband and wife are birds in the same forest.”
Scene 17
People: Yang Tianci, You Tianmei, Yang Jialing, Yang Jiaxiang, Yang Jiazhen, Xu Fugui, Wu Youxiu, Xu Congming, Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen
Time: One morning in early August, Year 79 of the Republic of China
Setting: Houtong Health Station ward
△ Tianci and Tianmei have regained consciousness. The children and Xu family surround them.
Tianci: “Brother Fugui, I’m really sorry. I burned down the wooden house you lent us.”
Fugui: (awkward) “Don’t say that. The fire department said the wooden house was too old. It was an electrical fire. I almost caused harm to your whole family. I should be the one apologizing.”
Youxiu: “Yes. When we renovated the roof two years ago, we considered rebuilding it into a brick house. But because you had no place to live, we didn’t demolish it.”
Tianmei: “In any case, we will compensate for your losses.”
Youxiu: “Tianmei, your family also suffered great losses. We are like sisters; don’t mention compensation again.”
Renjie: (in Mandarin) “My dormitory still has space. Uncle and aunt, you can stay with us temporarily. When our new house is built, you can move in with us.”
Xiaofen: (in Mandarin) “Yes, uncle and aunt. Renjie and I have already planned to buy land and build a house. You can become our neighbors and we can look after each other.”
Tianci: “How can we accept that? Jialing’s tuition is already paid by you. How can we continue to burden you?”
Fugui: “How about this—I’ll sell you that land cheaply. You can build two townhouses. Then both families can continue living next to each other.”
Youxiu: “Good! Fugui, that’s a perfect idea.”
Renjie: “I think we should first discuss and reach a consensus with uncle and aunt before deciding.”
Fugui: (disappointed) “I see.”
Jiaxiang: “Dad, Mom, are we going to live in a townhouse?”
Tianmei: “Not decided yet. For now, we will stay with your sister’s elder brother.”
Scene 18
People: Yang Tianci, You Tianmei, Yang Jialing, Yang Jiaxiang, Yang Jiazhen, Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen
Time: One morning in early August, Year 79 of the Republic of China
Setting: Houtong Health Station dormitory living room
△ During lunch break, both families eat together.
Jialing: “Mom, your food stall really isn’t opening anymore?”
Tianmei: “Yes. Most miners here have already left. Business is not good.”
Tianci: “Your mother and I are worrying about what business we can do in the future.”
Renjie: “That is indeed a difficult problem. The film A City of Sadness has just been released. Newspapers say it has brought tourism to Jiufen and Jinguashi. Maybe in a few years, the Pingxi line will also attract tourists.”
Tianmei: “Should we move to Jiufen and continue opening a food stall?”
Tianci: “We don’t have the capital to start a shop.”
Renjie: “Uncle, you don’t need to worry about capital. Jiufen is indeed a good place to open a shop. You should first go choose suitable storefronts. Before prices rise, buy them first.”
Tianmei: “But…”
Xiaofen: “Think of it as our investment. After you earn money, you can repay us in installments.”
Tianci: “Alright. We will go to Jiufen in the next two days to look at storefronts.”
Renjie: “Xiaofen, bring my camera. Let Jialing take photos and bring them back so we can discuss together.”
Xiaofen: “Okay! I’ll go get it right away.”
Scene 19
People: Xu Congming, Yang Jialing, Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen
Time: One morning in early August, Year 79 of the Republic of China
Setting: Entrance of Houtong Health Station dormitory
△ Xu Congming comes to the dormitory of the health station to look for Jialing.
Congming: “Is your whole family really moving to Jiufen?”
Jialing: “Mm, it’s my father and mother’s decision. Jiufen isn’t far from here. You can come often.”
Congming: “It’s not far, but over these years I’ve already gotten used to waking up every day and seeing you.”
Jialing: “Soon we will get used to a brand new life.”
Congming: “Jialing, I’ve started to miss the days when we took the train together to school and back.”
Jialing: “That was indeed a beautiful time, but we always have to grow up.”
Congming: “I would rather we never grow up!”
Jialing: “What kind of silly words are those? Time will not stop for us. We should look forward and face the future.”
Scene 20
People: Yang Tianci, You Tianmei, Yang Jialing, Xu Fugui, Wu Youxiu, Xu Congming, Zhao Renjie
Time: One evening in late August, Year 79 of the Republic of China
Setting: Houtong Railway Station platform
△ The Yang and Xu families are on the platform to see them off, filled with reluctant parting feelings.
Tianci: “Ah-Ling, if your living expenses are not enough, call back and tell us. You are living alone in the school dormitory, you must take care of your health. What you should eat and use—do not save on it.”
Jialing: “I know, Dad. You must also take care of your health.”
Tianci: “I will. Your father still wants to live several decades—must live long enough to make it worth it.”
Tianmei: “Ling, the tuition and living expenses I prepared for you are not enough. I will start a mutual aid association and borrow money through it to keep for your use.”
Jialing: “Mom, you don’t need to start any mutual aid association anymore. I will spend carefully.”
Tianmei: “After you settle down, your father and I, the whole family, will specially go to Taipei. I’ve lived over forty years and have never been to National Taiwan University.”
Tianci: “Ah-Ling, go say goodbye to your elder brother. He truly cares about you very much.”
Jialing: “Mm, I’ll go now.”
△ On the other side, Renjie and Congming are speaking in low voices. Not far away, Li Dongming stands by the car door, stretching his neck toward the platform.
Renjie: “After you go to Taipei, take good care of my sister. If you want to win the heart of a beautiful woman, you must be attentive and hardworking.”
Congming: “I understand. I will, big brother.”
Renjie: (patting Congming’s shoulder) “Sincerity can move even metal and stone. Just listen to me—you won’t go wrong.”
△ Jialing walks over and embraces Renjie.
Jialing: “Big brother, from now on I’ll leave sister-in-law to take care of you.”
Renjie: (stroking Jialing’s hair) “When you go to Taipei, focus on your studies. Your brother is proud of you.”
△ The train arrives. Congming and Jialing carry their luggage and wave goodbye to the relatives and friends who are seeing them off… Li Dongming closes the car door, starts the engine, and follows the train toward Keelung.
— THE END —
