Summary
of MG2 Episode 26:
Ah De and Ah Mei are sitting on the floor while Ah De is rubbing Ah Mei's foot since she fell when she was trying to run after Lei with his change. Ah De looks like he is using all his strength to rub her foot and Ah Mei’s face is frowning in pain.
Ah Mei: “Eh, can you be a little bit gentler? It hurts!”
Ah De doesn’t answer and just roughly rubs and twists her foot.
Ah Mei (pushing his hands aside, crying out): “OW! (glares at him) It’s not your foot, so you don’t hurt, is that it?”
Ah De: “When you sprained it, did it hurt?”
Ah Mei: “Nonsense!”
Ah De: “Then won’t it hurt if you bend/twist it back? If it doesn’t hurt, would you get well?!”
Ah Mei (rubs her foot and stares at him): “Then you should say it clearly. Why are you being so violent for?”
Ah De: “If I’m not violent, would you listen? How many times did I tell you that I didn’t take San Cai’s wallet? You just wouldn’t believe me! Still have to accuse me!”
Ah Mei (quietly): “Fine. Then this time I’m the one who’s wrong. (Ah De gives a big sigh.) But who told you to have been a thief originally? You had a past like that before, how can I trust you?”
They sat there in silence for a while and then Ah De slowly gets up and walks away. He stops outside the door in the hallway and sighs loudly. Then he turns around and walks back to the room and leans his head on the door. He takes a deep breath before turning to look at Ah Mei.
Ah De (serious expression): “Ah Mei. I have decided not to make any mistakes again. (Ah Mei looks down at the floor and quietly listens to what he’s saying.) I really have decided. This world – I have already seen through. (She looks up at him.) Whatever feelings, love, it’s all fake. (pause) Money is the most important. Without money, there is nothing.”
Ah Mei: “So?”
Ah De: “So… this time I come back, I won’t leave again. (pause) I want to stay beside you and take good care of you.”
He slowly walks over and sits down in front of Ah Mei again.
Ah De: “Ah Mei. Let the both of us take good care of this family, ok?”
There was complete silence while he waits for her answer.
Ah Mei (finally speaks): “Ah De. That ‘hu li jing’ [vixen] left you, right?”
He doesn’t answer and just looks away.
Ah Mei: “You go and steal other people’s wallet, steal other people’s money, it’s all to give to her. (pause) But each time that something happens, I’m the one that would help you out. (pause) Do you think that this kind of girl would really like you?”
Ah De: “I know. I know that she doesn’t truly love me. (pause) I’m good for nothing. That’s why the situation is the way that it is now. (pause) I also feel very bad. At first, I wanted to find a place and just hide away. (pause) Slowly wait for death. Just like that. (pause) But when I thought about you being here all by yourself… then I don’t have the heart to do it anymore. (pause) After mom died, there is only the two of us left. I can go ahead and die, but if I didn’t take good care of you… then I would never be able to… never be able to forgive myself.”
They sat there in silence for a while again before Ah Mei breaks the silence.
Ah Mei: “Eh. Have you said enough already? (Ah De looks at her.) I’m telling you, you owe me a lot. If you really have this kind of heart, then you have to use 800 years to return it to me. Moreover, you have to stop saying what you have and don’t have. (reaches over and pushes his head) Or else, I would hit you until your head explodes. Do you hear?”
Ah De doesn’t answer and just looks at her with a slight smile on his face. Ah Mei stares at him for a while more, before sticking her foot in front of him again.
Ah De (puts his hands on her foot): “Does it still hurt?”
She shakes her head lightly and he begins to rub her foot again.
Ah Mei (hits him on his arm): “Gentler!”
Ah De smiles and just continues to rub harder.
Ah Mei (pulls at his arm, cries out): “WEI!”
Ah De: “If you keep on being this violent, then you really won’t be able to get married.”
At the Dao Ming mansion, Ye Sha and Dao Ming Si is inside Ye Sha’s studio. Dao Ming Si is sitting on top of a ladder and posing for Ye Sha while she is drawing a picture of him. As she is drawing, the phone started ringing, but no one was picking it up. Finally Dao Ming Si makes a sound and signals Ye Sha to get the phone.
Dao Ming Si: “Eh.”
Without breaking his pose, he tilts his head slightly toward the phone. Ye Sha gets up, putting her sketchbook on the chair before walking over to the phone.
Ye Sha: “Hello, I am Ye Sha. Ah Si is keeping me company while I’m drawing. (pause, nods her head) Hold on a second. (She covers the speaking part of the phone and turns to look at Dao Ming Si.) Eh. (no movement from Dao Ming Si) Psst! (still on movement) Hoi!”
Dao Ming Si still doesn’t answer or move and has his eyes closed.
Ye Sha (speaking on the phone again): “Maybe I have been drawing too slow. Ah Si has fallen asleep. (pause) Ok, I’ll tell him.”
She hangs up the phone and quietly walks over to Dao Ming Si. Standing in front of him, she lightly taps him on his knee but he still doesn’t move. So then she tries tickling his chin, but still no movement. Next she starts blowing air on his face and he finally opens his eyes and looks at her.
Ye Sha: “Did you have an argument with your mom?”
Dao Ming Si (breaking out of his pose): “No.”
Ye Sha: “Then why is that ever since you came back from the hospital, you’ve been ignoring her? Don’t even want to say anything to her.”
Dao Ming Si: “I never had anything to say to her.”
Ye Sha (puts a hand on his knee): “Actually your mom cares about you a lot. You said to her that your health hasn’t recovered yet, you don’t want to go to work…”
Dao Ming Si (turns his head to look at her and interrupts her): “Hey, you are very strange! Didn’t you never liked her? Why do I suddenly have this feeling that you talking for her?”
Ye Sha just looks at him cautiously and slowly pulls her hand away from his knee at his sudden outburst. Dao Ming Si turns his head away and looks to the side.
Ye Sha (changing the subject): “Do you want to drink tea or coffee? I’ll go make it.”
She slowly walks past him and he reaches out a hand and stops her.
Dao Ming Si (holding on to her arm): “Ye Sha, sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
Ye Sha (stands in front of him again): “It’s my fault. You just got back from the hospital and I’m pulling you along to accompany to do this.”
She walks away again to get the drinks and Dao Ming Si turns his head to stare at her leave. After she left, he gets off the ladder and stood around the room. Feeling restless, he takes a deep breath and walks out of the studio.
Meanwhile, Da Xin, Yi Ling and Ah Lun are driving on the road with their breakfast van and they are singing “Happy” all together. As they were driving by, Dao Ming Si sees the van in his own car and starts to chase after them. When Dao Ming Si gets behind the van, he started honking, for them to stop, but Da Xin looks in his side mirror and ignores him.
Da Xin: “This car… this car…”
Ah Lun (looking over at the mirror): “Eh, really. This car seems to have been following us for a long time already.”
Dao Ming Si speeds up and keeps on honking his car. His car windows are tinted so it’s hard to see who’s inside the car, therefore, Da Xin can’t see who it is.
Da Xin: “Right. Why is he continuously following us? Not use to seeing such a cute van, is that it? Come on!”
Yi Ling (cautiously): “What are you going to do?”
Da Xin steps hard on the gas and everybody was thrown back on their seats.
Da Xin (shouting): “Come over here!!!”
Dao Ming Si’s car and Da Xin’s van was going side by side, when Dao Ming Si pulls ahead of the van and tries to slow down.
Da Xin (shifts the gear and steps on the gas again): “Not a problem!!! Come again!!!”
He shifts left and right, left and right with the van and was finally able to pass Dao Ming Si’s car. Inside the van, Ah Lun and Yi Ling was being thrown left and right, left and right. But Da Xin only has a very determined and ferocious look on his face as he tries to lose DMS’s car. Ah Lun and Yi Ling are both holding onto each other tightly with scared looks on their faces.
Ah Lun (cries out): “Be careful! Be careful!”
Da Xin (with a very ferocious look): “No problem!! Fast!!!”
He pulls away from Dao Ming Si’s car and puts a long distance between them and then finally loses sight of Dao Ming Si’s car.
Da Xin (cheering loudly): “WOOOOOOO!!!!”
Ah Lun (finally looks relieved, claps his hand): “Finally got rid of him!”
Da Xin (driving at a normal speed now): “Before racing a van, he should have first try to find out who gave us this van, right?”
Ah Lun (happy): “Exactly!”
They continued to drive happily down the road and singing “Happy.” All of a sudden, Dao Ming Si’s car drove out from the side street and stops a couple of feet right in front of the on coming van. Everybody in the van shouts and Da Xin steps on the brakes and screeches to a stop. Yi Ling, sitting in the middle of Ah Lun and Da Xin, reaches out with her left hand and covers Da Xin’s face and the right hand covers Ah Lun’s face as she tries to stop herself from being flattened against the windshield of the car.
Da Xin (looks at the car angrily, takes off his seat belt and opens the door): “This kid wants to play huh?!?!”
He angrily gets out of the van and walks over to the driver’s seat of the car.
Da Xin (points to the driver’s window and shouts): “Get out!! GET OUT!!”
Ah Lun and Yi Ling also gets out of the van and comes over.
Ah Lun (holding a spatula in his hand, like a weapon): “Get out!!! Get out!!! Let’s talk about it!!”
Da Xin (staring into the tinted window): “Get out!!”
The window slowly rolls down and they see a very cool Dao Ming Si sitting inside, starting straight ahead.
The four of them found a place to park the van and car and they set up a table and some chairs to sit around. Dao Ming Si is very quite and lost in his own thoughts. Yi Ling walks over to the table with a tea cup and sits down between Da Xin and Dao Ming Si.
Ah Lun (sitting on the other side of Dao Ming Si, clears his throat): “What’s wrong, Ah Sing?”
Da Xin: “Aye, you couldn’t have broken up with Ye Sha?”
Ah Lun: “Huh?”
Da Xin: “Hey, say something. This is not ‘answer and get a gift.’ Say something. Eh. Talk a little.”
Everybody is staring at Dao Ming Si, but he just keeps on looking down and being very quiet.
Yi Ling: “The two of you look forward. (pushes Da Xin’s head) Look forward and don’t look back. (The three of them looks straight forward.) From now on, the three of us, no matter what we hear, it will have nothing to do with Ah Sing. Understand?”
Da Xin / Ah Lun: “Orh.”
Dao Ming Si looks up and slowly looks at them before reluctantly speaking.
Dao Ming Si (quietly): “I’ve regained my memories.”
Da Xin turns his head to look at Dao Ming Si in surprise but Yi Ling uses her hand to push his head to face forward again.
Dao Ming Si: “I remember that I once told you guys before that I had a girlfriend that really loves me. Now… I have finally remembered. (pause) I remember that I actually… really love her.”
Da Xin (not daring to move his head): “But… (keeping his head still, he moves his eyes to the side before looking straight again) don’t you love Ye Sha also?”
Dao Ming Si: “I really love Ye Sha. All this time, it’s Ye Sha that is constantly beside me. Without her, then there would not be the present me. But how was I suppose to know that God wanted to play such a big joke on me? I also don’t want to be a half-hearted person. But I have unexpectedly said to the both of them that… I will love them forever.”
Ah Lun (forces a small laugh): “Then… does Ye Sha know about this?”
Dao Ming Si: “No one knows. (pause) Before I met you guys today, I didn’t know who I should speak to.”
Ah Lun: “Ah Sing. I don’t want to you to be unfair to Ye Sha, but your old girlfriend have been waiting so long for you… the least you should do is confess everything to her.”
Da Xin: “Moreover, you must not forget… that time when Ye Sha wanted to leave, you were the one that was so firm on having her stay behind. Now, she’s your fiancé. You can’t not be responsible. You have to confess to her.”
Dao Ming Si looks very confused and troubled.
Ah Lun: “It doesn’t matter. In any case, you have to must make things clear.”
Da Xin: “Right. Moreover, you can’t, because God is not being fair to you, be unfair to the two of them. This is no different than cheating on both of their feelings.”
Ah Lun: “That’s why I say that you must hurry up and tell Ye Sha the truth.”
Da Xin: “No, it’s telling her old girlfriend the truth.”
Ah Lun (looks over at Da Xin): “Why would he go and tell his old girlfriend the truth?”
Da Xin: “Of course, it’s tell the old…”
Ah Lun (interrupting him): “Should tell Ye Sha the truth.”
Da Xin (arguing back): “The old one.”
Ah Lun: “Not right. It should be go and tell Ye Sha the truth. You know that Ye Sha is now very pitiful.”
Yi Ling (interrupts their argument, loudly): “Can’t tell either one the truth.”
Da Xin / Ah Lun: “Why?”
Dao Ming Si is holding his head in his confusion.
Yi Ling: “You two really don’t understand girls. (pause, speaking to Dao Ming Si) When a girl truly loves you, she will not be able to bear to see you in pain. When this girl finds out that there is another girl that truly loves you, then she would rather sacrifice herself, in order to help you achieve your happiness. So, once you tell them, it’s the same as losing the both of them forever.”
Da Xin and Ah Lun is listening closely with very confused expressions on their faces while Dao Ming Si is also listening very closely.
Yi Ling: “Ah Sing, the pain is already created. Now, the only choice you can make is to stop regretting. (pause) Before you have cleared up on who you really love… don’t tell anyone. (looks at Dao Ming Si) Really. Don’t tell anyone.”
Dao Ming Si sits there thinking for a while before pushing the chair back and stands up. Everybody is quiet as they all think about what just went on.
Back at the countryside, San Cai and Lei are both shopping in a grocery store.
Lei (following behind San Cai with a shopping bag): “You said that you want to treat Ah Mei them to dinner, you meant that you are going to make it yourself?”
San Cai: “Right. This way I feel that it’s much better.”
Lei: “What do you mean?”
San Cai: “Because when I think about how I accused Ah De before, I would feel very bad in my heart. So I want to use my hands and help them do something. This way, it’s much better to express my feelings than specially buying a gift and apologizing.”
Lei nods his head as he follows her around the store. As they walked out of the store, an old lady holding a basket walks by them.
Lady: “Hey, young people. Come and buy some vegetables. I picked them this morning. Just picked them. (walks over to her area where all the vegetables are laid out) It’s very fresh. Tastes very good.”
San Cai: “Did you plant them yourself?”
Lady: “Right, I plant them myself. There are no freshly planted vegetables around here. I water these myself. When you cook them, it tastes very good.”
Lei and San Cai is standing there and looking at her vegetables.
San Cai (pointing to a green vegetable): “What kind of vegetables are these?”
Lady: “These are ‘da tou cai’.”
San Cai: “Da tou cai?”
Lady: “Yes, if you use it to make soup, they will taste very delicious.”
San Cai (looking at Lei): “Use for a soup?”
Lady: “You young people come and buy some. You two are dressed so nicely, going on a date to walk around? What a life!”
San Cai (smiling): “No. You plant your own, so your health must be very good.”
Lady: “I planted them myself. I exercise and sow seeds. My body would be a bit strong. You young people have to exercise. Exercise is good!”
Lei: “Then we’ll exercise more and help you sell, ok?”
Lady: “No need. You are dressed so nicely. Your clothes will get dirty. You two go and continue walking and not help me sell vegetables which will dirty your clothes. Not good.”
San Cai: “It’s ok. Let him try it.”
Lei sits on a small chair and helps the old lady to sell her vegetables. He holds a vegetable in his hands for a customer.
Lady (standing next to Lei with a bag): “I’ll sell it myself. This is ½ kilogram for $20. (to the customer) You give me $20 is ok.”
The customer holds out the money as Lei helps the old lady with bagging the vegetable. Lei continues to help the lady while San Cai sits in the back and looks at them with a smile on her face.
Afterwards, Lei and San Cai is slowly walking down the street. Lei holds the $100 in his hand and stares at it.
San Cai: “What’s wrong? Is it that you never thought that the grandma would give you a $100?”
Lei: “Right. This is the first time that I earned money with my own hands.”
San Cai (smiling): “Then should we celebrate a little?”
Lei smiles and nods his head.
San Cai (points to another vegetable selling vendor): “I’m going to look at the vegetables.”
Lei: “Ok.”
As San Cai is looking at the vegetables, Lei looks up and sees a vendor selling flowers a couple of feet away. He slowly walks toward the vendor with a smile on his face.
Lei (walks up to the vendor): “Hello. I’ll look around myself.”
After looking at all the flowers around, he sees one that he likes.
Lei (pointing to a bouquet): “Lao Ban. How much is this?”
Vendor (picking the bouquet up): “This? $100 is ok.”
San Cai is slowly walking over to where Lei is.
Lei: “$100? (hands her the money in his hand) Here. For you. (He takes the bouquet in his hands.) Thank you. No need to wrap it.”
Vendor: “Ok. Thank you.”
Lei turns around and sees San Cai walking over. San Cai stops walking and smiles at him. He slowly walks over to her and hands her the bouquet of flowers.
Lei: “This is for you.”
San Cai stares at the flowers and then looks up at Lei.
San Cai (smiling): “Thank you.”
She takes the flowers and looks from the flowers to Lei and then back to the flowers again, with a happy smile on her face.
That night, San Cai, Lei, Ah De, and Ah Mei sets up a table with chairs outside on the balcony area for dinner.
San Cai (bringing a pot to the table): “The soup’s here.”
Ah De (impressed): “Wow! San Cai, the food that you make is very pretty. Seems like the color, the smell, it’s all there. So great!”
San Cai: “Then let’s start eating.”
Ah De: “Ok, ok. I’ve been waiting for so long. So hungry!”
San Cai: “Eat more.”
Ah De (after tasting): “Um, this is good.”
Ah Mei: “Our town really don’t have that much fun things to do around here. (points to the back of her) But the waterside behind here is really not bad. You guys could go and see.”
Ah De: “I always go there to get a tan. It’s great!”
San Cai: “Well, we don’t really have any special places to go and don’t have any plans. Like today, we are very happy.”
Ah Mei: “Where did you guys go today?”
Lei: “But groceries. Prepare dinner.”
San Cai: “And also bought flowers.”
Ah De: “That’s it?”
Ah Mei: “Then what about tomorrow? What do you want to do tomorrow?”
San Cai looks over at Lei for an answer while chewing her food.
Lei: “Don’t do anything.”
San Cai (explains): “Because he has to sleep.”
Ah Mei: “Why are you two so weird?”
Ah De: “Sleep only? (looks at Ah Mei) Look at how these rich people’s thinking are so very special.”
Ah Mei (looks at Ah De): “How do you know he’s rich?”
Ah De (chewing): “Of course I know. (looks at Lei) The car that is parked out front by the door – is it yours? (Lei nods his head.) Then that’s right. Someone who can afford to buy that kind of car must be very rich.”
Ah Mei (accusing tone): “Why are you taking so much notice of other people’s car for? What crooked thoughts are you thinking about now?”
Ah De (tries to defend himself): “Eh! We came in through the door and saw the car parked out front for a few times already. So of course I would know that it’s his car. What crooked thoughts are those?”
Ah Mei: “Your occupational illness, is that it? Which part of your brain is not working?”
Ah De: “Guys should know how much a car costs!”
San Cai (interrupting their argument): “I’ll help you guys get some soup, ok?”
Ah Mei (looks at Ah De): “Weird.”
San Cai: “The calms are very fresh. I bought it today.”
Lei: “Right. The food is getting cold. Let’s eat first.”
Ah De (to Ah Mei): “You really have some sort of illness, you.”
Ah Mei (retorts back): “You are the one that is so baffling!”
San Cai (changing the subject before Ah De can say anything): “Ah Mei, this water side, if we want to go, then how do we get there?”
Ah Mei (points to behind her): “The beach is over on this side. But if you guys want to go, then I’ll bring you guys there.”
San Cai: “Approximately how long does it take to walk there?”
Ah Mei: “Doesn’t take long at all.”
San Cai (puts a bowl in front of Ah Mei): “Give you this bowl first.”
After dinner, Ah De is standing by himself over at the balcony area while San Cai is washing dishes and Ah Mei is helping to clean up. She brings more dishes over for San Cai to wash.
San Cai: “Thank you.”
Ah Mei turns her head and looks over at where Ah De is standing.
San Cai: “Ah Mei, (She turns her head to look at San Cai.) you have to trust Ah De more.”
Ah Mei: “What does that mean?”
San Cai: “Because a person who is starting all over from the beginning, not only needs a lot of courage, but he also needs a lot of support.”
San Cai looks over at Ah De and Ah Mei also turns her head to look at where Lei and Ah De is standing there talking.
Ah Mei: “San Cai.”
San Cai: “What?”
Ah Mei walks over to stand next to San Cai.
Ah Mei: “You and this Lei – are you actually boyfriend and girlfriend?”
San Cai (amused): “What do you mean actually?”
Ah Mei: “I feel that the two of you have a very close relationship. I asked him before. But he said no.”
San Cai: “We are only friends.”
Ah Mei: “Really?”
San Cai: “I don’t have a boyfriend. Moreover, what I need now is a friend and not a boyfriend.”
Ah Mei doesn’t answer and looks from San Cai to Lei and back again. Then she continues helping San Cai to clean up. San Cai looks back at Ah Mei before looking out at where Ah De and Lei is sitting.
San Cai (thinking to herself): “Tonight, all four of us are very happy. Especially, for I and Ah De, who are working very hard for a new beginning.”
Afterwards, Ah De and Ah Mei is leaving and Lei and San Cai are standing there and saying goodbye to them.
San Cai (waving): “Bye bye.”
Ah De / Ah Mei: “Bye. Goodbye.”
San Cai (calls after them): “Be careful! It’s very dark outside.”
Ah Mei (turns back to wave again): “Bye bye.”
San Cai / Lei (waving back): “Bye bye.”
San Cai (to Lei): “Let’s go in.”
She turns and walks back toward the house, with Lei following behind her.
San Cai (thinking to herself): “This road is very hard and maybe also very long, but I’m not scared anymore now. Because today I received a great, very great gift.”
San Cai is looking at the bouquet of flowers that Lei gave her and spraying some water at it.
Back at Dao Ming mansion, Dao Ming Si is sitting outside and staring at two coconuts on a table. Ye Sha comes out with a big brown bag in her hand and sits down at the table.
Ye Sha: “You still didn’t finish drinking?”
Dao Ming Si: “You like drinking it the most. (pushes the coconut to her) You should drink more.”
Ye Sha (smiling): “Really?”
She quickly pulls the straw out of her coconut and sticks it in Dao Ming Si’s coconut. She starts drinking nonstop and Dao Ming Si just sits there and stares at her. Finally, she pulls her straw out of the coconut and gives Dao Ming Si a sheepish smile.
Ye Sha: “I accidentally drank all of it.”
Dao Ming Si just looks at her and smiles lightly.
Ye Sha: “No wonder Sha Ge says that if you spoil me like this, sooner or later, you will spoil me bad.”
She smiles but Dao Ming Si doesn’t say anything. There was complete silence for a few seconds before Dao Ming Si finally speaks.
Dao Ming Si: “If I’m able to spoil you bad, then that would be a kind of happiness.”
Ye Sha: “When you went out to buy coconut before, I found a lot of things in the house.”
She picks up the big bag that she brought out with her before. She opens the bag up and shows him.
Ye Sha (takes out some carving material): “Look. (rummages inside the bag for more stuff) And also these. (shows him the cookie cutters in her hands)”
Dao Ming Si: “What’s it for?”
Ye Sha (smiling): “Help rotten egg to carve a girlfriend. (She opens up a box and takes out a carving knife and hands it to him.) Here.”
Dao Ming Si doesn’t take it and just looks at her.
Ye Sha: “You carve one and I’ll carve one.”
Dao Ming Si slowly takes the knife and stares at it while Ye Sha takes another knife out of the bag and happily begins to carve her coconut. Dao Ming Si stares at her and doesn’t do anything.
Ye Sha (stops carving): “What’s wrong?”
Dao Ming Si smiles and shakes his head.
Ye Sha (points to his coconut): “Hurry up.”
She goes back to carving her own coconut.
Ye Sha: “It has to be very cute.”
Dao Ming Si just sat there and continues to stare at her carving.
Next morning, Lei is standing on a bridge and looking down at the small creek below. A man rides by on his bike with three pieces of big wood attached to the back of his bike. He seems to be wobbling around and after he passes by Lei, there was a loud noise as all his wood fell off his bike. Lei turns his head and looks over at the man. He slowly walks over and stands to the side as he watches the man pick up one of the wood pieces and hoists it back on his bike.
Lei: “Need any help?”
Man: “I can do it myself. Thank you.”
He reaches down and picks up another piece of wood. In the process of picking it up, Lei walks over and gives him a hand.
Man: “Thank you.”
They both pick up the last piece of wood.
Man: “It’s very heavy.”
Lei helps him to use the rope to tie it to the bike so that it won’t fall again. Afterwards, he helps the man bring the wood back to his workshop. As Lei is bringing in one of the pieces of wood, he stares in surprise at all the violins and wood pieces around the shop.
Man (reaches over to relieve Lei of the piece of wood): “Come, give me the piece of wood.”
He takes it from Lei and puts it aside.
Man: “Do you want something to drink?”
Lei (shakes his head): “No need. Thank you.”
As the man walks away, Lei walks into the workshop and goes over to where San Cai is standing.
San Cai: “Lei, lots of violins.”
Lei: “It’s all handmade.”
San Cai: “You’re saying that it’s all made by that person?”
Lei: “I think it must be by him. I know in Taiwan there is only one ‘shi fu’ who makes violins. He used to study music in the past. After that time that his shoulder was injured, he can’t continue to the play anymore so that’s why he started to make violins. Because he said that he hopes to create much more beautiful music.”
Man (hands a drink to both San Cai and Lei): “Here, have some drinks.”
San Cai / Lei: “Thank you.”
Man (to Lei): “So you know about my story already.”
San Cai: “Because he plays the violin too.”
Man: “Really? Then you should take a look around.”
San Cai: “Thank you.”
Lei: “Teacher. (points to a violin that is hanging) Can you let me look at that violin?”
Man (reaches to get the violin that Lei wants): “This violin? (Lei nods his head.) Of course.”
Lei puts down his drink and reaches for the violin after the man brings it down.
Man: “In about 2 more days, I would be able to finish it. At that time, you would be welcome to come and try it out.”
San Cai smiles at Lei and Lei smiles back.
Lei: “Teacher. Can I bring another friend here to look around?”
Man: “Of course. Welcome.”
Meanwhile, Mei Zuo and Xiao Qiao are at a music shop. Mei Zuo is walking around the store looking at stuff while Xiao Qiao is sitting down with a cello and she’s slowly stroking it with her hand.
Mei Zuo (walks over to her): “It’s still not ok?”
Xiao Qiao (nods her head): “There aren’t many people who play the cello.”
Mei Zuo: “Where did you buy your original cello? I’ll go book plane tickets immediately and we’ll fly straight over there tomorrow. (Xiao Qiao smiles at his words.) I don’t believe that we can’t buy one that will satisfy you.”
Xiao Qiao (smiling): “Mei Zuo. Sometimes buying a cello is a kind of fate. It can’t be rushed.”
Mei Zuo: “If you don’t try it, how would you know?”
At this moment, Mei Zuo’s cell phone starts ringing. He answers it while Xiao Qiao starts trying out the cello.
Mei Zuo: “Hello? (pause) I’m busy. (pause) Lei?”
Back at the workshop, the man who makes violins is looking at Xiao Qiao’s cello. Mei Zuo, Lei, San Cai and Xiao Qiao is anxiously standing aside and waiting for an answer from the man. While everybody is waiting for the man’s answer, Ah Mei is walking around the shop and looking at things. Then she walks over to where the whole crowd was standing.
Ah Mei: “Eh, I don’t believe that there lives someone who makes violins over here.”
The man looks briefly over at Ah Mei before looking back at the cello. San Cai tries to tell Ah Mei to be quiet.
San Cai: “Shh.”
Ah Mei: “Shh, what?”
After silence for a few seconds, Ah Mei opens her mouth to talk again.
Ah Mei (pointing to something): “Hey, we have that at our ice shop too.”
The man looks up at Ah Mei again at her sudden outburst. Lei taps her on her shoulder and pulls her away. The man goes back to looking at the cello.
Man (finally speaking): “It can be fixed. (Xiao Qiao smiles in relief.) But it would need some time.”
Mei Zuo (happy): “Great! Then how long is some time?”
Man: “Because it needs some materials. So, if I can’t find it within this country, then I must go abroad to find it.”
Xiao Qiao nods her head in understanding.
Mei Zuo (with a worried tone and expression): “Then can it be fixed before her musical performance?”
Xiao Qiao: “Teacher said that he needs some time. So, stop asking already.”
Mei Zuo (sighs deeply): “Fine. If you are not anxious, then why should I be anxious?”
He walks out the room and San Cai walks in to stand next to Xiao Qiao.
San Cai (smiling, whispers): “Xiao Qiao. Do you know? I’ve never seen Mei Zuo this anxious, this serious before.”
They both secretly smile at each other.
Lei is standing aside in the workshop and staring up at the hanging violins again. Then he bends down on his heels and looks at the things that are on a table. Ah Mei walks over to him and looks at him.
Ah Mei (bending down on the table also): “What are you looking at?”
Lei: “I’m looking at shu ji.”
Ah Mei: “What’s shu ji?”
Lei (smiles and stands up): “It’s a sticky material.”
Ah Mei stands up also and the man brings over a violin to Lei.
Man: “Last time you were looking at this violin, it’s finished already.”
Ah Mei: “It’s such a pretty violin.”
Man (to Lei): “Do you want to try it and see?”
Ah Mei (reaches for the violin): “Ok.”
She takes the violin and starts to pretend to play it while she’s making sounds with her mouth. Everybody is standing around and smiling happily as they watch Ah Mei playing around.
Ah Mei (hands the violin out to Lei): “This violin is not bad. Your turn.”
Lei (very amused): “You are really very cute.”
Lei takes the violin from her hands and Ah Mei turns away to look at other things. San Cai is standing aside and looking at Lei. As Lei starts to play, he catches the attention of everyone in the room. Ah Mei looks up and over at Lei in surprise as she hears real violin sounds coming from his direction. As though mesmerized, Ah Mei slowly walks to stand in front of Lei and stares at him while he continues to play, lost in his music. After playing solo for a while, suddenly there came the sound of a cello playing. Everyone, except Lei, looks over to see that Xiao Qiao is sitting down with her cello and playing along with Lei’s violin. San Cai stares at Xiao Qiao playing before slowly looking over at Mei Zuo. Mei Zuo is looking at Xiao Qiao play and Xiao Qiao looks up from her cello to smile at him. He returns her smile and continues to look at her play. Meanwhile, Ah Mei is still standing in front of Lei, mesmerized either by his music or by his good look with the violin!
That night, back at home, Ah De is sitting at a table and waiting for the bathroom anxiously.
Ah De (calls out): “Are you done yet?”
No answer from the bathroom – just the sound of water running.
Ah De (out of patience): “Miss, I beg you to be quicker ok? (no answer, so he stands up quickly) Say something! (He sits back down in a huff.) What are you doing in there? (He stands up again and calls out.) If you still don’t come out, then I’ll have to think of a way myself! (no answer) You forced me!”
He pushes the chair aside and runs out of the house in a hurry. Inside the bathroom, Ah Mei is standing in front of the mirror and wiping her face with a tissue.
Ah Mei (speaking to the mirror): “I hate it when people say that I’m cute.”
She glares at her image and pulls more tissues from the box to wipe her nose.
Ah Mei (looking at her image again): “Where is the cuteness?”
She stares some more and then smiles at herself in the mirror.
Next morning, San Cai and Xiao Qiao is planting some small pots of flowers while Mei Zuo and Lei is standing to the side and speaking.
Xiao Qiao: “Planting it now, wonder how long it would take before it grows up.”
They both stand back and stare at the little pots that they were working on.
San Cai: “Next time when you come with Mei Zuo again, it might be grown up.”
Xiao Qiao (with a serious expression): “It’s so far away. Who will know.”
San Cai: “So that’s why you and Mei Zuo must jia you.”
Xiao Qiao (smiles at and looks at San Cai): “San Cai, then it’s a deal. You and Lei’s plant must also jia you. At that time, we will come back together.”
San Cai: “Didn’t Mei Zuo tell you? I and he and Lei are all good friends.”
Xiao Qiao (looks at the plants again): “It doesn’t matter. Just as long as you take good care of it then I believe that there will be a day, when they will become very healthy and strong. (looks over at San Cai) No?”
San Cai smiles and nods her head.
Back over at the porch where Lei and Mei Zuo is standing.
Lei (leaning against the wall with his arms crossed): “Mei Zuo. When you go back, remember not to tell everyone that San Cai is here.”
Mei Zuo (with his left hand in his pant pocket): “Why?”
Lei (looks over at San Cai): “She needs more time.”
Mei Zuo: “Then you should use this time wisely.”
Lei (looks back at Mei Zuo): “What does that mean?”
Mei Zuo: “You know what I mean. San Cai has had enough pain.”
There was complete silence for a few seconds as Mei Zuo looks over at where San Cai and Xiao Qiao are standing.
Mei Zuo: “Should leave now.”
Lei (nods his head and stands up straight): “I’ll see you out.”
Mei Zuo reaches down to pick up his bag and they both walk away. Outside where Mei Zuo’s car is parked, he puts the bag in the trunk.
San Cai: “You guys have to be careful.”
Xiao Qiao: “You too. Have to take care.”
San Cai nods her head. Mei Zuo closes the trunk and walks over.
San Cai (waves): “Bye bye.”
Xiao Qiao (waves back): “Bye bye.”
Mei Zuo (to Xiao Qiao): “Let’s get in the car.”
Xiao Qiao slowly walks to the passenger side of the car. Mei Zuo walks over to the driver’s side, opens the door and stood there for a few seconds before turning around to face San Cai and Lei.
Mei Zuo: “You two have to take care of each other. Ok?”
San Cai: “The two of you also.”
Mei Zuo smiles and looks down.
San Cai: “Mei Zuo. Xiao Qiao is really good.”
Mei Zuo (smiling): “Lei is also really good.”
San Cai (looks to her side briefly, where Lei is standing): “I’m telling you the truth.”
Mei Zuo (teases): “So does that mean I’m saying that Lei is really good is false?”
San Cai smiles and looks down, not sure how to answer.
Mei Zuo (sighing): “But San Cai… let the past be the past. Because all of us really hope that you can hurry up and come back.”
San Cai doesn’t answer and Mei Zuo and Xiao Qiao gets in the car. Lei slowly walks over and knocks on Mei Zuo’s window before nodding his head and watches Mei Zuo drive away.
At the ice shop, the three guys are eating ice and Da Da is standing near Ah Mei again.
Da Da: “Go, Ah Mei. Let’s all go singing tonight.”
Guy A & C: “Right. Let’s go sing together.”
Ah Mei (brings a bowl of ice to a customer): “Don’t want to.”
Da Da (follows her): “Then let’s go see a movie.”
Ah Mei: “Not interested.”
Da Da: “Then let’s…”
Ah Mei (interrupts him loudly): “Hey! Why are you so bothersome today? (calls out for her brother) Ah De.”
Guy A (with his mouth full): “Ah De he just went out.”
Ah Mei: “Where to?”
Guy C: “Don’t know. He said that he has something very important to do.”
Ah Mei: “What important thing does he have to do? He’s just being lazy. He better not come back or else I’ll break his leg.”
That night, Ah De is walking up the small road toward the place that San Cai and Lei is staying.
Ah De (sitting in the living room with Lei and San Cai): “Lei, San Cai. I have a favor to ask you guys. Ah Mei’s birthday is almost here.”
San Cai (sitting next to Lei): “Ah Mei’s birthday is coming soon?”
Ah De: “You both know that these past couple of years, I’ve been away from home. After my mom passed away, it seems like there was no one that helped celebrate her birthday. (pause) I’m really not a good brother. And I’ve never really taken good care of her. So, that’s why her birthday this time, I really want to help her celebrate. And give her a surprise.”
Lei: “Then how do you want us to help you?”
Next morning, Ah De is still sleeping in his bed when Ah Mei is shouting out for him to get up.
Ah Mei (calling out): “Ah De! Do you want to get out of bed?! (pounding of footsteps, as Ah Mei stomps up the stairs to his room) Ah De! (loudly knocking on the door) Get up!!”
She opens the door and barges in.
Ah Mei (standing next to the bed): “Ah De.”
No answer and movement, so she hits him hard on his leg.
Ah Mei: “Get up!”
Ah De continues to ignore her so Ah Mei stands up on the bed and pulls on his blanket.
Ah Mei: “Do you want to get up?! (she gives him a kick on his leg.) Do you want to get up?! (She starts to stomp on him with each word she says.) Get up! Get up! Get up!”
Ah De (groans sleepily): “What are you doing?”
Ah Mei: “Get up!!! (She grabs his bag that is hanging on the wall and starts to hit him with it.) Still don’t get up! Still don’t get up!”
Ah De (tries to block the blows): “What exactly happened?”
Ah Mei (throws the bag at him): “Wake up! It’s time to open the shop.”
Ah De (grabs the clock by the bed stand and looks at it): “What time is it now? You’re telling me to get up?”
Ah Mei: “You have to do all the work today. So that’s why you have to wake up now.”
Ah De (points to himself): “Do it all by myself? (points to her) What about you?”
Ah Mei: “I have something important to do. (She grabs the bag and hits him with it again.) Stop sleeping!”
She gets off the bed and walks out the door, slamming it behind her.
Ah De (calls out after her): “What important thing?”
He sighs deeply and leans back against his pillow. Ah Mei walks back down the stairs and goes into her room and closes all the doors. She starts off with putting on makeup and then she unties her two braids and loosens out her hair.
Later that morning, the three guys are at the ice shop sitting around again. Ah De walks over with his breakfast in hand and sits down at the table.
Ah De: “You guys are always at our shop day and night for what?”
Da Da (pulls up a chair to sit next to Ah De): “Ah Mei’s big brother. What exactly is Ah Mei doing locking herself in her room?”
Guy A (sits down on the other side of Ah De): “Right. She’s been there from early morning till now. It’s been so long already.”
Guy C (also sits down at the table): “Could something have happened to her?”
Ah De: “Nope.”
Guy C: “Why are you so sure?”
Guy A: “Right.”
Ah De: “Because I was originally worried too. But I have went to her door to knock on it already. She replied with one word to me. After I heard it, I felt very relieved.”
Three guys: “What word? Which word?”
Ah De takes a sip of his drink and remembers the scene of what happened. He went to knock on Ah Mei’s door and Ah Mei yells out, “LEAVE!”
Ah De (holds out both his hands after explaining): “There.”
Three guys (finally understanding): “Oh.”
Guy: “Then we don’t have to worry anymore.”
At this moment, Ah Mei walks into the room wearing a long dress and her hair in one ponytail rather than her usual braids. She stood at the doorway fixing her dress while the three guys stared at her like they’ve never seen her before. Ah Mei looks up and notices their stares and yells at them.
Ah Mei: “What are you looking at?!”
Ah De looks up from his drink and also stares with his mouth slightly opened in surprise. Ah Mei ignores them and continues to fix her dress and hair.
Later Ah Mei is sitting behind on Da Da’s bike while Guy A and C is on another bike. The other two guys are trailing behind Ah Mei and Da Da’s bike.
Guy C (on the back seat): “Have to be fast!”
Guy A (peddling as fast as he could): “I don’t have any way!”
Da Da: “Exactly where are we peddling off to?”
Ah Mei: “It doesn’t matter. Just hurry up and peddle!”
Guy C: “Right. Exactly where are we peddling off to?”
Guy A: “My legs are going to break soon!”
Ah Mei: “Hurry up and peddle!”
Da Da: “It’s very far, Ah Mei.”
He starts to wobble a little from left to right.
Guy A (catching up and next peddling next to Da Da’s bike, tries to avoid from crashing with Da Da): “Be careful!”
Ah Mei (to Da Da): “Can you be a little more careful? I’m going to fall over!”
Da Da: “I don’t want it to be like that either.”
Ah Mei (turning back to look at the other two guys who fell behind again): “Peddle faster!”
Guy A: “Fine.”
Guy C (urges Guy A): “Peddle some more!”
Guy A (complaining): “It’s so far.”
Finally they screech to a stop on the small road to Lei and San Cai’s house. There were groans of pain as they almost ran into each other. There are noises of Ah Mei yelling at someone again.
Guy (defending himself): “It’s not me!”
Ah Mei (cries out): “It hurts!”
Da Da (concerned): “Are you ok?”
Ah Mei is walking and trying to fix her shoes at the same time.
Guy A: “What are we here for anyway?”
Guy C: “What is this place?”
Ah Mei walks straight ahead while the other guys are trying to park their bike.
Da Da (calling after her): “Wait a minute!”
Ah Mei: “Hurry up, Ok?”
Guy C: “It’s so big here.”
Ah Mei walks up the small road and opening the screen door knocks on the door behind. When no one answers, she knocks again but harder. Having knocked too hard she cries out in pain. Da Da sees this and helps her knock on the door too. Finally San Cai opens up the door.
San Cai: “It’s so early. What’s wrong?”
Ah Mei doesn’t answer and looks at Da Da who’s standing right next to her.
Da Da (points to himself): “Not me. (points to Ah Mei) It’s her.”
Ah Mei (looks at San Cai): “Where’s this Lei?”
San Cai: “Oh, he’s still sleeping.”
Ah Mei barges through the door and starts walking into the house.
San Cai (following behind Ah Mei): “Do you want me to call him for you?”
Ah Mei doesn’t answer and just starts walking up the stairs.
San Cai: “Ah Mei, let me tell him to wake up first.”
Ah Mei walks up to the top of the stairs following by the three guys right behind and San Cai was left at the foot of the stairs.
Ah Mei (stands at the top of the stairs and looks toward the bed): “Eh! Wake up! (no answer) Wake up!”
She walks over to Lei’s bed and sits down on a chair next to his bed.
Ah Mei (grabbing hold of his arm, starts shaking him): “Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!”
Lei looks at her with eyes half closed.
Ah Mei: “Wake up!”
Lei (sleepily voice): “What do you want?”
Ah Mei: “I have something to say to you. Get up.”
Lei (closing his eyes): “If you have something to say, then just say it like this. I’m listening.”
Ah Mei: “Something so important, how can it be just say it like this? (She pulls him up to a sitting position.) Get up! Get up!”
Lei (sits up and looks at her): “Say it.”
Ah Mei (little nervous): “Ok, then I’m going to say it. You have to listen carefully. (She leans closer to look at him.) Are you awake?”
Lei: “Are you going to say it or not?”
Ah Mei (sitting back up straight): “Fine. I hate beating around the bush anyway. (The three guys look at each other and smile as if to say, “Yeah, right.”) Then I’ll be straight forward. I… have decided to be your girlfriend.”
