《Episode Four》

Scene 1 – Day
Characters: Yang Jialing, Yang Tiansi, You Tianmei, Yang Jiazhen, Yang Jiaxiang
Time: A day in early February
Setting: The wooden plank house living room of Yang Tiansi’s home

△ On Lunar New Year’s Eve, the Yang family is pasting Spring Festival couplets.

Tianmei: “Jialing, after you finish your work later, go to the health station and invite Doctor Zhao to come over tonight and join us for the reunion dinner.”

Jialing: “Alright, Mom.”

Tiansi: “That’s a good idea. Doctor Zhao is my great benefactor. We can take this opportunity to thank him in person. But doesn’t he go home to have a reunion dinner during the New Year?”

Jialing: “Dad, Doctor Zhao is alone. During the New Year holiday, he probably has nowhere to go.”

Tiansi: “How would you know?”

Jialing: “He told me before.”

Tianmei: “A-Ling, go invite Doctor Zhao over so we can have a more lively reunion dinner together.”

Scene 2 – Day
Characters: Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen, Yang Jialing, dozens of patients
Time: Noon, a day in early February, Year 71 of the Republic of China
Setting: Houtong Health Station

△ During the lunch break, Yang Jialing carries a lunchbox to the entrance of the health station and sees a long line of patients waiting for consultation.

Jialing: “Sister Xiaofen, today is New Year’s Eve. Why isn’t the health station closed?”

Xiaofen: “I also want to rest! But yesterday afternoon Doctor Yang suddenly decided to add extra clinic hours today. Look at the patients lining up outside—I’m worried we won’t finish seeing them before six in the evening.”

Jialing: “Oh! Sister Xiaofen, you’ve worked hard. Eat first?”

△ Jialing enters the consultation room. Zhao Renjie is resting with his head on the table.

Jialing: “Big brother, come eat lunch.”

Renjie: (waking up) “Little sister, you’re here.”

Jialing: “My parents asked me to invite you to come over tonight and have a reunion dinner with us.”

Renjie: “Oh? The nurse just invited me to her house for a reunion dinner after work. I didn’t dare agree.”

Jialing: “Big brother, you can’t possibly not see that Sister Xiaofen has feelings for you?”

Renjie: “This… I know. But since my eldest sister passed away, I’ve gotten used to spending the holidays alone these years. That way I won’t trouble others.”

Jialing: “How about this? I’ll invite Sister Xiaofen to come along as well.”

△ At this moment, Xiaofen happens to enter.

Xiaofen: “Little sister, thank you for your kindness, but my mother and younger brother are waiting for me to go back and have the reunion dinner.”

Renjie: “Little sister, I still prefer to spend the holidays alone. Please tell your parents I thank them for their kindness.”

Jialing: (disappointed) “Big brother, if I go back like this, it will be hard to explain to my parents. How about this—later I’ll bring you some food. After you eat, I’ll come and keep you company through the night.”

Xiaofen: “After I finish things at home, I’ll come over too!”

Jialing: “That’s great! Sister Xiaofen, we can chat all night.”

Scene 3 – Night
Characters: Yang Jialing, Xu Congming, You Tianmei
Time: Evening, a day in early February
Setting: Outside Yang Tiansi’s house

△ Xu Congming comes to find Yang Jialing. Jialing has just finished cleaning up after dinner.

Congming: “Jialing, no other plans tonight, right? I want to invite you to Keelung to watch a movie.”

Jialing: “I can’t! I already made plans with Doctor Zhao and Sister Xiaofen to go to the health station to keep them company for the New Year’s Eve vigil.”

Congming: “Is that so? Then can I go along too?”

Jialing: “Your legs are on your own body—can I say no? The question is, will your parents allow you to stay there all night?”

Congming: “I’m not a little boy anymore. I’ll just inform them—why wouldn’t they allow it? I’ll go ride my bicycle over. Wait for me.”

Tianmei: “A-Ling, with Congming accompanying you, we feel more at ease. Don’t lock the door. After dawn, come in yourself.”

Jialing: “Got it, Mom.”

Scene 4 – Night
Characters: Yang Jialing, Xu Congming, Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen
Time: Evening, a day in early February (Lunar New Year’s Eve)
Setting: Houtong Health Station dormitory

△ At night, a bicycle arrives at the entrance of the health station. Hearing the sound, Xiaofen walks to the door.

Xiaofen: “You’ve arrived!”

Jialing: “There’s an uninvited guest tagging along.”

Xiaofen: “That’s good! The more people, the livelier. I just arrived a moment ago as well.”

△ Jialing raises the bag in her hand.

Jialing: “My mom told me to bring this—braised snacks and beer.”

Renjie: “The dinner you brought earlier is still on the dining table. Come inside first; it’s damp outside.”

△ The two enter the room.

Congming: “It feels warm inside.”

Xiaofen: “Because it rains often here, we need a dehumidifier.”

Renjie: “Sit down. You can listen to music, play bridge, or play Go.”

Congming: “Music? What kind of tapes and records do you have?”

Renjie: “Sorry, I’m an old soul in modern times. I don’t have pop music. After work, I only listen to classical music.”

Congming: “Brother Zhao, you can play Go too?”

Renjie: (smiling) “I have a ranking. Want to challenge me?”

Congming: “I’d better not. Go takes too much brainpower. Let’s play cards instead.”

Renjie: “Do you want to play Gong Zhu or Big Two? Do the two ladies know how to play?”

Xiaofen: “I only know how to play ‘Picking Red Dots.’”

Jialing: “How do you play ‘Picking Red Dots’?”

Congming: (surprised) “No way! You don’t even know how to play that?”

Jialing: (pretending to be angry) “Big Mouth Bird, when have you ever seen me play cards?”

Congming: (thinking) “Seems like I really never have. But I’ll teach you right away. The rules are simple—you’ll learn it in no time.”

Renjie: “Then you teach Jialing first. I’ll listen to some classical music.”

△ Xiaofen takes out cold beer.

Xiaofen: “Let’s drink beer.”

Renjie: “Alright. Eat as much of the braised snacks Jialing brought as you like. I don’t eat much.”

△ Renjie drinks beer while listening to classical music.

Xiaofen: “This piece is quite powerful. I’ve heard it on the radio before.”

Renjie: “This is the first movement of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the ‘Fate Symphony.’ It’s often played on the radio.”

Congming: “Brother Zhao, we can start playing ‘Picking Red Dots.’”

Renjie: “I’ll lower the volume a bit. Let’s play. Help yourselves to the snacks!”

Scene 5 – Day
Characters: Yang Jialing, Xu Congming, Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen, tourists, vendors, shopkeepers
Time: Noon on Lunar New Year’s Day (a day in early February)
Setting: Pingxi Old Street

△ On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the four of them go to stroll along Pingxi Old Street. The street is crowded, filled with all kinds of snacks, treats, and amusements.

△ The four come to a pinball-style sausage stall.

Congming: “I’ll try my luck and bet sausages with the vendor.”

Xiaofen: “I’ve played this before. I lost three times in a row, and the vendor couldn’t bear it and gave me a sausage.”

Congming: “There’s a trick. When pulling the spring lever, you need to control the force. If you pull too hard, the ball will bounce wildly and fall into the bottom slot, losing points. If that happens, when the vendor pulls, his score will always be higher than yours.”

Xiaofen: “I see. But the vendor plays against customers every day—he’s already very skilled.”

Congming: “Exactly! So if you want to win one or two sausages, you still need some luck. Jialing, why do you seem uninterested in these games?”

Jialing: “I never touch gambling games. I don’t believe in luck. I only believe that you reap what you sow.”

Renjie: “Congming, my little sister probably really doesn’t have a gambling nature. Her life is too simple.”

△ Xu Congming bets with the vendor three times, winning only the first round—and it looks like the vendor deliberately let him win that round.

Congming: “This vendor is even smarter than me. He deliberately let me win the first round to give me a taste of success and lure me into continuing. By the third round, I felt something was off.”

Renjie: (smiling) “If he didn’t do business that way, how would he attract customers? It’s obvious.”

Congming: “Yes! Big brother is experienced and your analysis makes a lot of sense.”

△ The four then go to play ring toss. Everyone wins something, but Renjie wins the most prizes.

Jialing: “Big brother, you’re amazing! You got so many.”

Xiaofen: “Your brother has long arms and legs—that gives him an advantage over us!”

Scene 6 – Night
Characters: Huang Dachuan, Zhang Da, Xu Congming, Xu Fugui, Wu Youxiu
Time: Late night on the first day of the Lunar New Year (a day in early February)
Setting: Outside Xu Fugui’s house

△ Huang Dachuan supports Old Shandong Zhang Da and comes to Xu Fugui’s house late at night, knocking on the door.

Dachuan: “Quick, come save a life! Foreman!”

△ The urgent knocking wakes up Xu Fugui’s family. Xu Fugui gets up and opens the door.

Dachuan: “Old Shandong was just bitten by a venomous snake!”

Xu Fugui: “What kind of venomous snake bit him? Let me see.”

Zhang Da: (lifting his pant leg to reveal his left calf) “I just had to urinate and went to the grass to relieve myself, and then I got bitten.”

Xu Fugui: (bending down to examine the wound) “Black blood is flowing from the wound. It’s definitely a venomous snake. Did you see clearly what kind of snake bit you?”

Zhang Da: “I don’t know what kind of venomous snake bit me. When I was bitten, I only felt a sharp pain. I kicked my leg, and the snake was flung into the ravine. I didn’t have time to see it clearly…”

△ Wu Youxiu and Xu Congming also come to the door.

Xu Fugui: “Of all days, it has to be the first day of the New Year. The miners’ hospital isn’t seeing emergency cases. We may have to send him to Keelung.”

Xu Congming: “Dad, I know Doctor Zhao is on duty at the health station.”

Xu Fugui: “Alright! Dachuan and Congming, I’ll go get the car. You help Old Shandong into the car and take him to the health station nearby. Right now, only Doctor Zhao can save Old Shandong.”

Scene 7 – Night
Characters: Xu Congming, Zhao Renjie, Huang Dachuan, Zhang Da, Xu Fugui
Time: Late night on the first day of the Lunar New Year (a day in early February)
Setting: Houtong Health Station

△ Late at night, the three support Zhang Da and arrive at the entrance of the health station.

Xu Congming: “I’ll go knock on the dormitory door and wake Doctor Zhao.”

△ Xu Congming goes to knock on the door. Fugui and Dachuan wait outside. Shortly after, Zhao Renjie comes with Congming and opens the wooden door.

Zhao Renjie: “Bring him in first.”

△ The three support Zhang Da into the consultation room.

Zhao Renjie: “Don’t let him lie down, or the poison will circulate back faster!”

△ Zhang Da sits on the examination table, legs hanging down.

Zhao Renjie: (examining the wound) “It’s indeed a venomous snake bite. What kind of snake bit you?”

Zhang Da: “I was panicking at the time and didn’t see clearly.”

Zhao Renjie: “It’s alright. I have a way to find out. Congming, help me lift his calf slightly.”

Xu Congming: “Alright.”

Zhao Renjie: “My friend, I’m going to cut open your wound first and squeeze out the poisoned blood. It will hurt a bit, so you’ll have to endure it. Then I’ll identify the type of snake from the poisoned blood and inject the appropriate antivenom.”

Zhang Da: “This bit of pain is nothing. I’ve been hit by Communist bullets when I was young!”

Zhao Renjie: “I also have to tell you that the antivenom I will inject into your body has expired, but it has been well preserved. I think it can still detoxify. I must obtain your consent first.”

Zhang Da: “I agree, I agree. Treat a dead horse as if it were alive—Doctor Zhao, hurry and take care of it!”

Scene 8 – Night
Characters: Xu Congming, Zhao Renjie, Huang Dachuan, Zhang Da, Xu Fugui
Time: Late night on the first day of the Lunar New Year (a day in early February)
Setting: Houtong Health Station (all dialogue in Mandarin)

△ Zhang Da leans against the examination table with his eyes closed, resting. His calf wound has already been bandaged.

Huang Dachuan: “If Doctor Zhao hadn’t been here, Old Shandong, you’d really be returning to your hometown this time!”

Zhang Da: (slightly opening his eyes) “You brat, how dare you laugh at me? You were the one who asked me to drink.”

Xu Fugui: (curious) “Doctor Zhao, how did you find out what kind of snake bit Old Shandong?”

Zhao Renjie: “I first judged based on his clinical symptoms, then used the poisoned blood extracted from his wound to conduct a small test, and quickly identified it.”

Xu Fugui: “Old Shandong, you should drink with some moderation in the future.”

Zhang Da: “I know. I won’t drink myself into a stupor again.”

Zhao Renjie: “Let him rest like this. When it gets light, you can take him away.”

Huang Dachuan: “I’ll stay here. Foreman, you all go back and rest.”

Xu Fugui: “Then we’ll head back first, Dachuan.”

Scene 9 – Day
Characters: Xu Fugui, Xu Congming, Wu Youxiu, A-Hou, Tu Niu, Gong Wan, Zhang Jialing, You Tianmei, villagers offering incense
Time: Second day of the Lunar New Year (a day in early February)
Setting: Temple courtyard

△ Jialing and her mother Tianmei bring offerings to the Heavenly God Temple. At the temple entrance, several local hooligans are playing pinball at a sausage stall. One of them recognizes Jialing as the girl Li Dongming is pursuing.

A-Hou: “This girl is the one our boss Ming is chasing. She’s really beautiful—no wonder Ming hasn’t been hanging out with us lately.”

Gong Wan: “So Ming wants to turn over a new leaf because of this girl.”

A-Hou: “Let’s go say hello.”

Tu Niu: “Don’t! If Ming finds out, he’ll go crazy.”

A-Hou: “We want him to go crazy. Who told him to ignore brotherhood? Come on, what are you afraid of?”

△ The three surround Jialing and Tianmei, who are burning paper offerings at the incense burner.

A-Hou: “Pretty girl, our boss Ming says you’re the most beautiful in Houtong. Can I have a touch?”

Jialing: (frightened) “What are you trying to do?”

Tianmei: “You rascals, how dare you act up in front of the Heavenly God Temple? You have no manners!”

Gong Wan: “You old woman, watch your mouth!”

△ The villagers offering incense recognize the hooligans. No one wants trouble, so they can only watch coldly.

△ A-Hou and Gong Wan surround Jialing from front and back, about to grope her. At this moment, Xu Fugui’s family arrives by car.

Tianmei: “What are you trying to do? You bunch of bad kids!”

△ Xu Congming sees the scene first.

Congming: “Dad, Jialing is in trouble. I’ll go teach those hooligans a lesson.”

Fugui: “Go first. I’ll park the car and follow right away.”

Youxiu: “Be careful. They might have knives.”

△ Xu Congming rushes over, grabs A-Hou and Gong Wan, and throws them to the ground. They quickly get up again.

Congming: (rolling up his sleeves) “You bunch of unruly punks, you dare bully my girl? You really need to be taught a lesson!”

A-Hou: (unconvinced, taking out an awl) “You’re just a high school student, and you dare meddle? Today I’ll show you I’m not to be messed with! Gong Wan, Tu Niu, let’s go together!”

△ The three surround Xu Congming. At this moment, Xu Fugui swings a four-foot carrying pole and strikes A-Hou from behind. A-Hou falls to the ground, clutching his waist in pain. Xu Congming uses a side kick to take down Gong Wan. The burly Tu Niu is the most timid—seeing this, he doesn’t dare act and instead kneels to beg for mercy.

Tu Niu: “Big brother, sorry! We didn’t mean it. Please forgive us!”

△ Xu Congming recognizes Tu Niu and the others as people who used to hang around with Li Dongming.

Congming: “Damn! You trash. Go back and tell your boss Li Dongming that tonight I’ll bring people to his house and drag him out for a beating. Now get out of here!”

△ Tu Niu helps the other two up, and they leave in a sorry state. Cheers erupt in the temple courtyard.

“They deserve a lesson!”
“They should be beaten! Otherwise they won’t know better!”

△ Xu Congming and Fugui go forward to check on Tianmei and Jialing.

Congming: “Auntie, Jialing, are you alright?”

Jialing: (still shaken) “Luckily you came in time.”

Fugui: “These hooligans are really out of line!”

Congming: “They’re the gang that hangs out with that Li family brat. Later I’ll go find Li Dongming.”

Fugui: “Congming, Dad supports you!”

Youxiu: “Ah-Gui, isn’t the other side your employer’s son?”

Fugui: “Afraid of him? No matter what, we can’t let kids run wild like this in the village!”

Youxiu: “Aren’t you afraid your boss will fire you?”

Fugui: “If I lose this job, I’ll find another. What’s there to fear? Dad will go with you to the Li house tonight.”

Tianmei: “Don’t! Let’s not provoke them!”

Fugui: “Don’t worry. Even I can’t stand it this time!”

Scene 10 – Day
Characters: Li Jianxing, Chen Aijiao, Li Dongming, housekeeper, A-Hou, Tu Niu, Gong Wan
Time: Second day of the Lunar New Year (a day in early February)
Setting: Outside Li Jianxing’s house

△ Tu Niu helps the two injured men to Li’s house to find Li Dongming.

Tu Niu: “I’m looking for Boss Dongming.”

Housekeeper: “Wait a moment. I’ll go call the young master.”

△ Li Dongming comes to the door and sees the injured A-Hou and Gong Wan.

Dongming: “You two were beaten?”

Gong Wan: (bruised and scraped) “Yes.”

Dongming: “Who dared to beat you?”

Tu Niu: “That foreman surnamed Xu and his son.”

Dongming: “Foreman Xu and his son? Why would they beat you for no reason?”

Tu Niu: (hesitating, glancing at A-Hou and Gong Wan) “Well…”

A-Hou: (holding his waist, in pain) “I’ll say it! We saw that high schooler surnamed Xu pulling and tugging at your girlfriend in front of the temple. We didn’t want your girl to be taken advantage of, so we stepped in to teach him a lesson. But his father ambushed us with a pole…”

Dongming: (suspicious, hands on hips) “Is that so? I know Foreman Xu well. You must have provoked him first. With Jialing’s personality, that Xu Congming wouldn’t dare take advantage of her. A-Hou, you’re clearly lying! Tu Niu, I want you to speak!”

Tu Niu: (shrinking back) “Boss Ming, I… I don’t dare say…”

Gong Wan: “Boss Ming, just give us a few hundred dollars so we can see a doctor!”

△ At this moment, Li Jianxing comes downstairs.

Li Jianxing: “Dongming, who is it?” (in Mandarin)

Dongming: “No, no, nothing! I’m just talking to a neighbor.”

△ Dongming doesn’t want his father to know, so he quickly takes out a small stack of cash.

Dongming: “Take this money to see a doctor first. When you come back, I’ll question you again.”

△ After being scolded by Li Jianxing earlier, A-Hou and the others don’t dare stay long. They take the money and leave the Li house.

Episode 11 — Day Scene
Characters: Zhao Renjie, Huang Dachuan, Zhang Da, A-Hou, Gongwan, Tuniu
Time: (A day in early February) Lunar New Year, the second day
Setting: Houtong Health Station

△ Gongwan and Tuniu support A-Hou as they arrive at the health station.

Gongwan: “Today is the second day of the lunar month; the doctor should still be resting.”
Tuniu: “Look, the lights inside the health station are on. Let’s help A-Hou in first.”

△ The three enter the health station and see the doctor changing and dressing a patient’s lower-leg wound.

Renjie: “Sir, you need to come back on time these next few days to change the dressing. Don’t let the wound get wet, to avoid bacterial infection and cellulitis.”
Zhang Da: “I understand. I’ll follow the doctor’s instructions.”

△ Huang Dachuan and Zhang Da are about to leave.

Gongwan: “Doctor, my brother was beaten and injured. Please take a look at him.”
Renjie: “Sit down. Let me see.”

△ A-Hou sits down, with Gongwan and Tuniu standing behind him.

Huang Dachuan (disdainfully): “So it’s you three punks. What, got beaten up, huh?”

△ The three do not dare to respond.

△ Renjie performs a palpation on A-Hou. When he presses the injured area, A-Hou cries out in pain.

Renjie: “What were you hit with?”
A-Hou: “A shoulder pole, a shoulder pole.”
Renjie: “Your ribs are fractured. It’s best to take an X-ray.”
Gongwan: “Doctor, does he need surgery?”
Renjie: “Let’s check the X-ray first. If there’s internal bleeding, he’ll need to be transferred to the miners’ hospital for surgery as soon as possible. Help him to the X-ray room.”

△ Gongwan and Tuniu support A-Hou toward the X-ray room.

Episode 12 — Day Scene
Characters: Li Jianxing, Chen Aijiao, Li Dongming, Xu Congming, Xu Fugui, Butler, Taekwondo club students
Time: (A day in early February) Lunar New Year, the second day
Setting: Entrance of Li Jianxing’s house (all dialogue in Mandarin)

△ Xu Fugui and his son, along with several Taekwondo club students, come to Li Jianxing’s house to demand an explanation, but are stopped by the butler.

Butler: “I can’t let you in!”
Xu Fugui: “We want to see the boss! His precious son’s underlings molested a girl in the street. We’re asking the boss to come out and give us an explanation!”

△ Hearing the commotion, Li Jianxing and his family come out.

Jianxing: “What are you arguing about?”
Xu Fugui: “Boss, your son’s three underlings bullied Yang Jialing and her mother in broad daylight at the Temple of Heaven. You must give us an explanation!”
Jianxing: “Did that really happen?”
Chen Aijiao: “Why is it the Yang family’s daughter again?”

Xu Congming (pointing at Dongming): “Your underlings—A-Hou and the other two—publicly harassed Yang Jialing at the temple entrance, groping her. Luckily, our family happened to be there offering incense, so we drove them away.”

Jianxing: “Dongming, how many times have I warned you not to associate with those riffraff? You’ve treated my words like wind past your ears. This time, you handle it yourself. I don’t want to clean up your mess!”

Li Dongming: “Dad, I didn’t instigate A-Hou and the others to do such things. Besides, I haven’t been associating with them lately.”

Li Dongming (through gritted teeth, aside): “Damn it, A-Hou and Gongwan dared to bully Jialing, and then even lied to me to get medical expenses. Let’s see how I deal with you two!”

Chen Aijiao: “Yes, dear. Recently, our son has been coming home on time after work and studying in his room. I rarely see him going out.”

Xu Congming: “Li Dongming, don’t try to shirk responsibility. Your people did wrong—you must take responsibility.”

Li Dongming: “Xu Congming, are you being reasonable? A-Hou and the others aren’t my subordinates, and I would never order them to do something bad. How can you pin this on me?”

Jianxing: “Foreman Xu, Xu Congming, my son has indeed been much more restrained lately. I believe he wouldn’t lie to me. As for A-Hou and the others, if they continue causing trouble, you can report them to the police at any time. I guarantee you: if Dongming is still seen with those hooligans, I will chain him up and lock him in a dog cage!”

Chen Aijiao: “How can you treat your son like that?”

Jianxing: “If a son is not taught, it is the father’s fault. His constant troublemaking is due to your long-term indulgence and protection.”

Xu Fugui: “Boss, since you’ve given your guarantee, we won’t pursue this matter further. Son, let’s go.”

△ Xu Fugui and the others leave.

Jianxing: “Dongming, listen carefully—this is the last time. If it happens again, I will punish you with family discipline!”

Li Dongming (aside): “Damn! Why have I been so unlucky lately, always running into trouble?”

Episode 13 — Day Scene
Characters: Li Dongming, A-Hou, Gongwan, Tuniu
Time: (A day in early February) Lunar New Year, the third day
Setting: Pavilion in front of the Earth God Temple

△ Li Dongming comes to find the three.

Li Dongming (aside): “Damn it! You three are really reckless—how dare you bully my girl!”

Tuniu: “Brother Ming, not me! It was A-Hou’s idea.”
Gongwan: “We must find a chance to settle this score!”

Li Dongming: “Just the three of you think you can settle scores with Xu Fugui and his son? Don’t be stupid! Stop causing trouble. Where did you take A-Hou to see a doctor?”

Gongwan: “To the health station.”

Li Dongming: “The health station? It’s still the New Year—wasn’t it closed?”

Gongwan: “We just tried our luck. Someone happened to be there changing dressings, so we saw the doctor inside and brought A-Hou in.”

Li Dongming: “A-Hou, are your injuries serious?”

Gongwan: “Two ribs are broken. The doctor said there’s no internal bleeding, but A-Hou needs to rest for one or two months.”

Tuniu: “Brother Ming hasn’t given us allowance lately. We’re out of money.”

Li Dongming: “I’m really unlucky to have you three! I’ll cover the medical expenses. But unless you’re willing to find jobs together, don’t come to me again!”

△ The three look at each other.

A-Hou: “Brother Ming, we don’t have any skills. What can we do?”

Li Dongming: “Then learn! Who is born knowing everything? Here’s what—we’ll open a photography studio. I’ll invest money and find a master to teach you.”

Tuniu: “Great! Then we can earn our own money.”

Li Dongming: “Do you know the background of Doctor Zhao at the health station? He’s my girl’s biological older brother.”

Gongwan and Tuniu (in unison): “Really? Her real brother?”

Li Dongming: “If he finds out you bullied his sister, you’ll be in serious trouble!”

Gongwan: “Why should we be afraid of him?”

Li Dongming: “Don’t you know he’s extremely well-liked in Ruifang? If he wanted to deal with you, he just has to give the word, and villagers and miners would beat you badly!”

A-Hou: “Brother Ming, don’t scare us.”

Li Dongming: “Why would I scare you? So many miners in the entire Ruifang mining area have benefited from him—don’t you know that? Calling you idiots wouldn’t even be too much!”

Gongwan: “Oh… how would we know that?”

Li Dongming: “Xu Fugui and his son went to my house this afternoon to complain, saying I ordered you to harass Yang Jialing. My father warned me severely—if I associate with you again, he’ll chain me up and lock me in a dog cage. You three really know how to cause me trouble!”

A-Hou: “Brother Ming, sorry!”

Li Dongming: “Go run your business properly. Don’t say I don’t care about brotherhood!”

Gongwan: “Alright. Brother Ming takes such good care of us—we won’t let you down.”

(Half a year later)

Episode 14 — Day Scene
Characters: Li Dongming, Chen Aijiao, Li Jianxing, Butler, Postman
Time: A day in early August
Setting: Living room of the Li residence (all dialogue in Mandarin)

△ A postman delivers a registered letter addressed to Li Dongming. The butler brings it inside.

Butler: “A registered letter for the young master.”
Jianxing: “Let me see—it’s a university admission notice.”

△ Jianxing opens the letter.

Chen Aijiao: “Which university did he get into?”
Jianxing: “Fu Jen Catholic University, Department of Mass Communication. This boy—wanted him to study business, and he deliberately goes against me.”

Chen Aijiao: “It’s good enough that he got into a university. Stop being picky—it’s better than him continuing to hang around with those bad friends.”

Jianxing: “Forget it, forget it. Dongming has never listened to me anyway.”

△ Dongming enters from outside.

Jianxing: “Your admission notice—take it and read it yourself.”

Dongming (glancing at his father’s expression): “Oh.”

△ He pulls out the notice, feels a surge of excitement, but suppresses it and quickly returns to his room.

Episode 14 — Night Scene
Characters: Li Dongming, Yang Jialing
Time: A night in early August
Setting: Suspension bridge to Houtong Health Station

△ Li Dongming waits on the bridge. Jialing arrives carrying dinner.

Dongming: “Jialing, I’ve been waiting for you. I have good news!”
Jialing: “You got into your ideal university major?”
Dongming: “Mm. How did you guess?”
Jialing: “I couldn’t think of anything else.”
Dongming: “I got into Fu Jen University, Department of Mass Communication.”
Jialing: “Congratulations!”
Dongming: “At the end of August, I’ll go to Taipei, Xinzhuang, to register. I’ll come back often to see you.”
Jialing: “I’m not sick or injured—why would I need you to come see me?”
Dongming: “It’s my feeling for you.”
Jialing: “Focus on your studies. Once you’re in university, you’ll have many chances to meet different girls.”
Dongming: “Jialing, why do you always keep me at arm’s length?”
Jialing: “Don’t talk to me about romance. My future has more important missions.”

Episode 15 — Night Scene
Characters: Yang Jialing, Zhao Renjie, Wang Xiaofen, patients
Time: A night in early August
Setting: Houtong Health Station

△ Jialing arrives with dinner as Zhao finishes seeing the last patient.

Jialing: “Big brother, sorry—I ran into a friend on the way and chatted for a bit.”
Xiaofen: “It’s alright. He just finished too. Tonight is relatively early—usually we’re busy until eight.”
Jialing: “Big brother, I’ve noticed you seem very fatigued lately. Your dark circles are obvious—you need to take care of your health.”
Xiaofen: “I’ve noticed too. I’ve reminded him several times, but he always says he’s fine.”
Renjie: “Let’s not talk about me. Clean up and let’s eat.”

Episode 16 — Night Scene
Characters: Zhao Renjie, Yang Jialing, Xu Congming
Time: Late night, early August
Setting: Houtong Health Station

△ Jialing brings a late-night snack to the dormitory and sees the lights still on, so she walks in.

Jialing: “Big brother, I brought you a late-night snack.”

△ She calls out several times but gets no response. A sudden unease rises in her heart. She enters the consultation room and finds her brother slumped over the desk. No matter how she calls him, he doesn’t wake up. She suspects he has fainted and calls Xu Congming.

Jialing: “My brother has collapsed! Congming, come quickly and help—hurry…”
Congming: “I’m on my way. Call an ambulance first.”

Episode 17 — Night Scene
Characters: Yang Jialing, Zhao Renjie, Xu Congming, Yang Tiansi, You Tianmei, Wang Xiaofen
Time: Late night, a day in early August
Setting: General ward, Miners’ Hospital

△ In the ward, Renjie has already regained consciousness, but his face is still pale. A nurse is taking his blood pressure when the attending doctor enters the ward.

Tiansi: “Doctor, is Mr. Zhao going to be alright?”
Doctor: “From the X-ray images, we have found enlargement of the patient’s spleen and lymph nodes. A preliminary assessment suggests it is very likely chronic leukemia. Once the blood test report comes out, we will be able to confirm it.”

△ Upon hearing it is leukemia, the couple becomes deeply worried, and Jialing is so distressed that she begins to sob.

Tiansi (shocked): “What? It’s blood cancer? Can this kind of illness be cured?”
Doctor: “This disease can be treated with oral chemotherapy drugs or subcutaneous interferon injections. However, after several years, it will typically transform into acute leukemia, eventually leading to death. At present, the only curative method relies on bone marrow transplantation. But for transplantation, genetic matching must be done first, and the probability of finding a match is not high, unless among blood relatives.”

Jialing (aside): “So my brother has leukemia. No wonder he hasn’t been in good spirits lately. If my genetic match is compatible, perhaps I can cure his leukemia. I must go find the attending physician.”

Tiansi: “Doctor, please, we beg you—do your utmost to treat Doctor Zhao.”
Doctor: “Doctor Zhao is our colleague in the medical field, a compassionate and skilled physician who has saved many patients with pneumoconiosis. He is a role model worthy of my respect and learning. Our hospital will certainly do everything possible to treat Doctor Renjie.”

Xiaofen: “Jialing, it’s my fault for being too careless. I thought Doctor Zhao was just unwell from overwork. I never expected he had been hiding his illness from us.”

Jialing: “Sister Fen, Doctor Zhao is just like that—a man who keeps everything to himself. Not long ago, I kept urging him to find me a sister-in-law. At that time, he said he had his reasons. I immediately pressed him, but he refused to say. Now that I think about it, he must have believed he had an incurable disease, so he didn’t dare to have a girlfriend.”

Xiaofen: “Your analysis makes sense. Jialing, I’ve always felt that Doctor Zhao has been avoiding me, not daring to face his own feelings.”

Episode 18 — Night Scene
Characters: Yang Jialing, Attending Doctor, Duty Nurse
Time: Night, a day in early August
Setting: Attending physician’s office, Miners’ Hospital

△ Accompanied by the duty nurse, Jialing enters the attending doctor’s office.

Jialing: “Doctor, I am Zhao Renjie’s biological younger sister. I think perhaps I can donate bone marrow to my brother.”
Doctor: “Oh? I must explain to you first: even between siblings, although the probability is higher, it is not guaranteed that the genetic match will succeed. You must understand this.”
Jialing: “Yes, I understand. It’s still a chance. Could you please arrange a blood test for me?”
Doctor: “Alright. I will arrange the blood test immediately. You will need to wait a few days for the genetic matching results.”

Episode 19 — Day Scene
Characters: Yang Jialing, Zhao Renjie, Xu Congming, Yang Tiansi, You Tianmei, Doctor, Nurse
Time: One afternoon in mid-August
Setting: Operating room, Miners’ Hospital

△ Yang Tiansi, You Tianmei, and Wang Xiaofen wait outside the operating room. Renjie is pushed into the operating room by nurses, and Jialing changes into a surgical patient gown.

Jialing: “Sister Fen, after Doctor Zhao’s surgery, please take good care of him. At this time, he needs your companionship the most.”
Xiaofen: “I will. We must all stay strong. I believe Doctor Zhao will definitely get through this difficult time.”

△ Jialing follows into the operating room. In the corridor, Tiansi, his wife, and Xiaofen wait anxiously as time passes minute by minute.

Tianmei: “How could Doctor Zhao suddenly become so seriously ill?”
Tiansi: “Didn’t you hear the doctor here say it’s blood cancer? This illness drags on over time and becomes more severe the longer it lasts.”

Tianmei (with hands clasped): “Amitabha, Bodhisattva, please bless Doctor Zhao so that he will be safe and recover soon…”

Episode 20 — Day Scene
Characters: Yang Jialing, Zhao Renjie, Yang Tiansi, You Tianmei, Yang Jiaxiang, Yang Jiazhen, Doctor, Nurse
Time: Night, a day in mid-August
Setting: General ward, Miners’ Hospital

△ In a double ward, Renjie and Jialing lie in their beds, surrounded by members of the Yang family.

Xiaofen (holding Jialing’s hand): “I hope Doctor Zhao can recover. He truly is a good doctor.”
Jialing (smiling): “Future sister-in-law, please forgive Doctor Zhao. He didn’t intend to let you down.”
Xiaofen (eyes brimming with tears): “I know, I know. I just hope he can get better.”

△ Zhao Renjie is still asleep.

Tiansi: “A-Ling, does it still hurt?”
Jialing: “Not much anymore. It feels like a bee sting—the wound is a bit sore.”

Tianmei: “Doctor Zhao is a good man. The Bodhisattva will surely bless him and keep him safe.”