To Live Page #4

She was fine when I left.

She can't even say "Daddy."

In fact, she was lucky.

For a week, she ran a high fever.

No one thought she'd pull through.

When the fever came down...

she'd lost her voice.

You're here.

Fugui's back.

This is our town leader, Mr. Niu.

So you're our leading cadre.

- I heard you got back this morning.

- I'm back.

I have come to see if you need anything.

Look at this.

He has served in the Liberation Army?

You participated in the revolution.

I just dragged a cannon and sang opera.

That's taking part.

You were with Chunsheng.

Why isn't he back?

He joined the army as a driver.

He went south with them.

We won't see him for a while.

Fugui, you're back just in time...

to attend Long'er's public trial.

Come along and get an education.

What did Long'er do?

Because of the family home,

he's been sentenced a landlord.

But it's not just that.

The government wanted part of the house.

He refused, beat up a cadre...

and then set fire to the place.

Classic counterrevolutionary sabotage.

He burn it?

It burnt for days.

Your timber was first class!

That wasn't ours.

It was counterrevolutionary timber.

Counterrevolutionary timber.

Of course. You're you, he's him.

Execute the revolutionary despot, Long'er!

To the execution ground!

We will crush the counterrevolution!

Crush the counterrevolution!

Down with the counterrevolutionaries!

Long live the Communist Party!

Long live the People's Government!

Long live Chairman Mao!

Down with the counterrevolutionaries!

Build a new China!

What's wrong?

Why are your pants wet?

Five bullets. Five.

They shoot him.

They shot Long'er?

Pumped five bullets into him.

He is dead.

In I hadn't lost my home to him...

that'd have been me.

What class do we belong to?

Landlords?

Surely not. We lost that status to Long'er.

So, what are we?

Not landlords.

Ordinary townspeople.

Sounds okey to me.

And I took part in the revolution.

- What are you looking for?

- That certificate.

- In the wash?

- No, here it is.

Better dry it out fast.

Have to keep it safe.

Are you sure we're just townsfolk?

Of course.

Poor townspeople.

It's good to be poor. Nothing like it.

Get a frame for it tomorrow.

I'll hang it on the wall.

Good idea!

The 1950s

1958:
Mao Zedong launches

the "Great Leap Forward."

Steel production is now targeted

at 10.7 million tonnes per year.

Every household donates its iron utensils.

Take a break.

Tired?

Fugui!

Our family's turn to donate iron.

It's ready.

It's all here?

Keep these.

To deliver water to the steelworks.

Everyone will be thirsty.

We'll take these.

If you take all our pots away,

how will we cook?

We're racing towards Communism,

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