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Forever and Ever
Episode 20
♫Having studied together for three years♫
♫Shanbo and Yingtai were reluctant to part from each other♫
♫Walking down the mountain side by side♫
♫they continued to go along the Qiantang River♫
The last time we drank together like this
was already six or seven years ago.
For the Ghost Festival,
all the relatives have come here.
I'm concerned that our fourth uncle might feel alone,
so I'd like you and Ren to go over there.
I understand that.
Why didn't you tell me the truth?
The truth was too hurtful to be told.
If you had told me earlier
that to Chen's return,
his second uncle was the biggest hindrance,
I would have already left.
Qin Wan,
are you really going to
sacrifice the rest of your life
to repay Zhousheng Wen?
What I owed him before
must be paid in the rest of my life.
I just want to feel relieved.
I understand.
I'll leave tomorrow morning
with Ren.
That's enough.
It's bad for your health.
How are your
older brothers and sisters?
They are all fine.
Which family is your eldest brother's
fiancee from?
I don't think you've heard about her name.
In the next Spring Festival,
we can meet her in the ancestral temple, right?
I'm sure you'll like her.
Family of Books and Rituals
You look happy.
Chen and Shi Yi are coming back today.
No matter what holiday it is,
you always seem
like the happiest one in the family.
Right.
Only in holidays
can all the family members get together.
In this family,
I am most like grandma.
We're always waiting for the rest of the family
to come back here.
Don't try to comfort me.
I don't need it.
This year is my happiest one.
All the people that should come back
have returned.
They are bored staying at home every day.
It's nice
to come out for some fresh air
once in a while.
Shi Yi.
Hi.
He was just saying that you would have arrived.
And here you are.
Chen is strict
with punctuality.
As his driver, you can never be late.
So that will be a rather stressful job.
So many dragonflies here.
When I was a kid,
I often came and played here.
Shi Yi,
let me go and catch one for you.
Don't catch them today.
Why not?
Don't keep us in suspense.
It's a folktale.
People used to think
dragonflies and katydids
were avatars of ghosts.
So we'd better leave them
out of the house today,
or we might have some unexpected guests.
What are katydids?
Grasshoppers.
I remember that you always played with them
when you were young.
Sorry.
I was rude to your ancestors
before.
Please don't be offended.
Please.
Alright.
Stop kidding her.
These things
have nothing to do
with those ghosts.
What exists is rational.
We should always show respect.
For nature,
but not for the tales.
Alright. Stop arguing.
Let's go over there.
Shi Yi,
why are you covering it?
Are crabs afraid of sunshine?
What will happen if they overdose on sun?
Will they lose their pincers?
They will...
They will be roasted.
We left in early summer.
And now it's already early autumn.
You should stay for longer this time.
Last time, due to various inconvenience,
you didn't even
have a proper meal with us.
I did.
I mean
a family dinner with more than 100 people.
I get your point.
We only tried some dishes
with several young people last time.
That wasn't a proper meal.
This time we'll have a big one.
Is there anything
that I should pay special attention to?
Any taboos?
Nothing, I guess.
The only thing is in every dinner,
we would put the same dishes as ours
on a table specially
for the ancestors to enjoy.
Just remember not to sit at that table.
Anything else?
You are about to be in charge.
So be cocky.
Lotus Fragrance Pavilion
Take a seat.
I'll pour some wine.
Grandma.
Auntie.
On behalf of our generation,
Chen would propose a toast to the ancestors
in every dinner.
Where is Chuan?
He went fishing.
He's been into fishing recently.
Let's start.
Mom.
Go ahead.
Let's eat.
It is very dark
in the bamboo forest at night.
You would often hear something weird
when passing by.
What else?
You want to know more?
Come on.
And the library.
Stop.
Not the library.
Why not?
It's Shi Yi's
favorite place.
What if your story makes her
too scared to go there ever again?
Stop then.
I'm afraid I won't go there again.
It's nothing serious.
I spent a lot of time reading there
when I was young.
With Zhousheng Chen.
Then we went abroad
and stopped going there that often.
You like ancient literature, don't you?
Then you should've been born in our family.
Not many of your siblings
are into that.
You're right.
The other day you sent to us
the tune names for choosing your wife...
I was doing it for fun.
By the way,
is it time to take your medicine?
Come.
Shi Yi, see you.
Bye.
Watch your mouth next time.
Not everything
can be joked about.
I felt something was wrong
as soon as I said it.
Sorry.
I'm almost there.
I'll walk you to the yard.
No need. It's close enough.
What?
Are you mad at me?
No.
If you're seen by my mom and grandma,
you'll have to listen to their nagging again.
I want you to use the time
to go back and rest.
You work until one or two in the morning every day.
How can you ignore your health?
Enough.
Let's go.
You're back.
Sleep with me for a while.
I haven't washed up yet.
The lights are on.
Are they asleep?
Keep it down.
They would be awakened by you.
Well,
I mean
if he is still up,
you should go up and ask
whether they'll have breakfast
together
or separately.
I'm not going.
What if they are sleeping?
Are people sleeping with lights on?
Of course.
You can see the shadows.
It's not my fault.
Really.
You are too loud.
Go and fetch me some cherries.
I'm not going.
It's too late.
Cherries picked in the sun
are not tasty.
We have a curfew
in this month.
We are not allowed to go out at midnight.
Then go and get me some lotus roots.
Tomorrow
I'll make Sweet Lotus Root with Sticky Rice
for Shi Yi.
Lotus roots.
By the water.
No way.
It's too dangerous to go near the water at night.
I'll go by myself then.
Well,
I'm coming with you.
Zhousheng Chen?
He didn't wake me up again.
You are up.
He turned off my alarm.
Did you finish breakfast already?
The old lady said
your daily schedule
could be different from ours,
so she told us not to wake you up.
Try this.
I've been waiting for it for months
since it was only a bud.
Finally, we can eat it.
For months?
Right.
The buds come out at the end of May.
The flowers bloom between July and August.
In September, the flowers wither and the roots take shape.
Did you raise lotuses before?
I raised some
when I learned how to paint them.
I kept painting them from the germination of their seeds at the end of April
to the end of their flowering season.
And I picked it up again next year
after the winter.
That lasted for years.
No wonder you are so good at it.
You are very patient.
It's tasty.
Really?
My great-uncle also likes my cooking.
I don't usually cook for people,
not even for the lady,
not even if they beg me.
And every year,
I always hide
the lotuses I like
from other people.
Teach me.
Can you cook?
I'm passionate about cooking.
We share the same hobby.
You can be my confidant.
I'll teach you
after the Ghost Festival.
It's the Ghost Festival today.
Are there any family events?
Yes. To release lanterns on the water.
On the water?
I only watched it once
when people released some on land,
but never on water.
Then come back here every year.
We do it every year.
In my previous Ghost Festivals,
if we worked very late,
we would just tell each other
to go home earlier
and not to stay out late,
since it was the Ghost Festival.
It's fine.
Lin Fei and I will go with you.
Don't worry.
Finish your meal.
I'll do some cleaning.
What are you looking for?
Something practical.
Practical?
I don't think
there is anything practical here.
We only have things that are too precious
to be taken out.
I saw it when I was ten.
It should be here.
You have a retentive memory.
Why are you putting it back?
I just need to know it's here.
It's the Ghost Festival.
Not a good day to give gifts.
I thought you never
believed these things.
It's about her.
I'd rather be too cautious
than sorry.
Figure divination?
I saw it before
in a script.
So I want to look for more information.
Are these books
from the right end of
the third row of the tenth shelf on the second floor?
You read it before?
Ren did.
After he finished,
I helped him put them back.
Why would Ren be interested in these?
We spent one Spring Festival in the ancestral temple.
Our fourth great-uncle told Ren
a story
about figure divination.
What's that story?
There was an ambitious general
living in the Northern Dynasties.
After a palace coup
where he saved the crown prince's life,
he came up with an idea of taking his place
and being the emperor himself.
To convince all the ministers and people in the country,
he followed ancient rules
and asked craftsmen
to make dozens of molds for him
to build gilded bronze figures in public.
But he
failed every time
and all the molds were ruined.
He got downhearted
and asked the crown prince to give it a try.
But unexpectedly,
the crown prince succeeded on his first attempt.
He realized that it should be God's will.
Thus, he dropped his delusional idea
and supported the crown prince's enthronement.
Through this story, our fourth great-uncle wanted to
let Ren understand
that everyone
has their own fate
and should never expect things that don't belong to them.
Ren didn't buy it
and came to ask me.
What did you say?
I said
the craftsmen might have made
two different kinds of metal molds.
Some had a higher melting point than bronze,
and the others had a lower one.
As long as they wanted,
they could always
get in the way of the general.
Right.
Ancient people might have no idea of melting points.
But the craftsmen dealt with
metallic materials all the time.
They must have known the difference.
By the way,
Lian Sui told me
grandma wanted to go home.
I can
send her home together with you.
Aren't you going to release lanterns with
Wenxing tonight?
I'll send grandma home.
Sure.
Come back before dark.
It's a special day.
OK.
Grandma.
Shi Yi told me
to go back before dark today.
So I can't be with you
tonight.
All right.
I'm an old woman.
I don't need you here with me.
Go and be with your wife.
That's the most important matter.
Here. Be careful, grandma.
Chen.
I'm afraid that grandma might find out
about Wenxing's condition.
If she asks about it,
please help me stall her off.
Mr. Mei and I
are going to see the doctor now.
Come as soon as you can.
OK.
Thank you.
We're all family.
What's more,
Wenxing grew up in my house,
and I know that doctor
better than you do.
Just go.
Alright. Bye.
Mom, I have other things to do.
OK.
Be safe.
Be careful.
You are back.
-Here. -Alright.
Grandma hasn't eaten yet.
Cook for her.
OK.
I was thinking
that Wan would not let me leave this time.
But she agreed
so fast and easily.
What's going on in the family?
Nothing, grandma.
I don't believe her.
I only believe you.
You never lie to me.
Go.
Your wife is waiting for you at home.
OK, grandma.
I'll come back in two days.
OK.
You said two days.
Don't be late.
I promise. Two days.
Deal.
OK. Go.
Bye, grandma.
Go.
Why must I let her
stay in the mountains to recuperate?
It's too humid here.
It's all my fault.
Doctor Lin,
how is Wenxing's condition?
Her condition
is even worse than I thought.
Before you came,
we were talking about the treatment.
Doctor Lin suggests a heart transplant operation.
He wishes
Wenxing can stay in the country for further treatment,
so that it'll be easier to
find a suitable heart donor.
I know you feel bad for Wenxing.
We've worked it out over the years,
and we can surely work it out again this time.
Mr. Wang,
stop here, please.
All right.
Ancestors,
if you are watching this,
please bless
my older brothers and sisters-in-law
with a smooth life,
including Mei Xing.
When I was a kid, my mom told me
we should release lanterns on the water during the Ghost Festival,
so that the ancestors could see us
and bless
all the generations of Zhou family
with a happy and healthy life.
In the future,
I will also bless you.
People die.
Shi Yi,
if,
I mean if
I am gone one day,
you and Chen
don't have to come back to see me every year.
I would be satisfied as long as you think about me.
Shut up.
Knock on the wood to withdraw those unlucky words.
Come on.
Silly kid.
There are so many people who love you
and stay by your side.
Even for them,
you should live on and live well.
Never say those
bad words again.
Here.
I don't feel cold, Shi Yi.
Why are your hands so cold?
I've always been like this.
In winter,
I dare not touch others' hands,
for I'm afraid they would feel cold too.
The wind is too strong here.
Let's go back.
Sure.
Here.
Sir, we are going back.
All right.
Shi Yi.
I...
Shi Yi.
What...
Sir, help her!
I can't swim.
Shi Yi.
I...
Shi Yi...
Wenxing.
Come back up.
You can't take this.
Wenxing, come on up now.
Right.
-Wenxing. -Why did she fall into the water?
-Wenxing. -Get some help now.
Come up now.
Your body can't take this.
Something is wrong.
What's wrong, Uncle Lin?
Shi Yi.
Shi Yi fell into the water.
What?
What happened?
Family of Books and Rituals
Do you know why?
Who else was on the boat?
Only Wenxing and a boatman.
Mr. Mei,
Wenxing is having a high fever.
I took the liberty of coming to you.
They told us to keep quiet about it.
Don't tell Zhousheng Chen for the moment.
"The Bones of the Beauty"
is a legendary story
in ancient times.
It's about the Junior Prince of Nanchen whose meritorious military service was illustrious,
and an aristocratic girl.
That girl's name
was also Shi Yi.
The ending of the story
is too cruel.
Until they died,
the "Fu on the Imperial Park" on the wall of the royal mansion
was still unfinished.
Why didn't they talk about it
before they left each other?
Neither of them finished the prose.
That may be the beauty of regret.
Perhaps they were both hoping
that one day
they could finish it.
Uncle Lin,
why don't you go up and talk to him?
He hasn't eaten all day.
It would be strange if he could
eat anything now.
Haven't you eaten?
Shi Yi hasn't eaten either.
Being married
means you have one more family member.
If you live on your own,
you'll experience aging, sickness and death
only once.
But for married people,
they have to experience all this of
their beloved as well.
There are more challenges await on the road.
You can't just stop eating and drinking
when things get tough.
The meal is cold.
I'll warm it up for you.
Uncle Lin,
just leave it here.
I'll have it later.
Zhousheng Chen.
Shi Yi.
Can you hear me?
You are awake.
How are you
feeling now?
I'll get the doctor.
What are you doing down here?
Is she awake?
Bring some light food for her.
It's already done.
I'll go and get it.