To Live (1994)

Ben Niu: Town Chief

Quotes 

• Town Chief : We've smelted our steel... and reached our production target. We're off to report the good news. Everyone's earned merit. Fugui, Jiazhen, you've made a real contribution. There'll be dumplings at the canteen tonight... with a whole pig stuffed in each one! Eat your fill, and then we'll continue. Fifteen years, we'll surpass America. We've made enough steel for three cannon balls. They'll all go to Taiwan! One to land on Chiang Kai-shek's bed... another on his dinner table... and the last in the toilet! He won't be able to sleep or eat or ever take a dump... and we'll liberate Taiwan!

• Town Chief : What are these eggs for?

  Xu Jiazhen : Fengxia's about to have a baby. It's to thank the matchmaker!

  Town Chief : Fengxia's about to give birth? Time does fly!

  Xu Fugui : Erxi sent word from the hospital. She's in labor. We're on our way there.

  Town Chief : Another working class member on the way!

• Xu Jiazhen : Why's she crying? What's happened?

  Town Chief : I'm no longer head of the township. They say I'm a capitalist. I have to confess my crimes.

  Xu Jiazhen : You! Crimes?

  Xu Fugui : You, a capitalist? Everyone knows you.

  Town Chief : I have faith in the Party. I've always followed Chairman Mao's path.

  Xu Jiazhen : When will they let you return?

  Town Chief : Let's not talk about it. You go to Fengxia. Go now, I'll be okay.

  Xu Fugui : Niu, don't let it get to you. Take care!

  Xu Jiazhen : We'll visit you after she's out of the hospital.

  Town Chief : Send her my very best. She's producing a little revolutionary successor.

• Town Chief : You have to get rid of those puppets. Everyone knows about them.

  Xu Fugui : I was telling Jiazhen... that we could... do propaganda shows. Put these old things to new use.

  Town Chief : Don't you see what they are? Emperors, scholars and beauties. Classic feudal types. Latest editorial: 'The older, the more reactionary.' Do as Chairman Mao says.

• Xu Fugui : You're the District Chief? It was you who killed my son? I had only one son, Chunsheng! I had only one son! And you killed him! You, behind the goddamn wheel!

  Town Chief : Don't be like that. The District Chief is upset, too.

  Chunsheng : How can I ever make it up? Take this for now. It's money. Tell me what else I can do.

  Xu Jiazhen : No one wants your money. I want my son. Give me back my son. You killed him! Give him back to me! Go away! Remember, you owe us a life. You killed him. Remember that. You killed him. Go away! Now!

  Town Chief : District Chief, let's go. I think you should go, Chief.

  Xu Fugui : Go away!

  Chunsheng : All right. I'm going. I owe you a life. I will remember.

• Town Chief : Fugui, you're back just in time... to attend Long'er's public trial. Come along and get an education.

  Xu Fugui : What did Long'er do?

  Xu Jiazhen : Because of the family home, he's been sentenced a landlord.

  Town Chief : 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.

  Xu Fugui : He burnt it?

  Town Chief : It burnt for days. Your timber was first class!

  Xu Fugui : That wasn't ours. It was counterrevolutionary timber.

  Xu Jiazhen : Counterrevolutionary timber.

  Town Chief : Of course. You're you, he's him.

• Town Chief : First, pay respects to Chairman Mao.

  Wan Erxi : Chairman Mao... Comrade Fengxia's mine now.

• Town Chief : We'll take these.

  Xu Jiazhen : If you take all our pots away, how will we cook?

  Town Chief : We're racing towards Communism, and you worry about food? We are setting up communal kitchens. When you're hungry... just come to the canteen. There'll be meat, fish. Nothing else to contribute?

  Xu Youqing : Yes, there is!

  Xu Fugui : But that's wood.

  Xu Youqing : There's metal on it. And here are pins.

  Xu Fugui : It can't be worth much.

  Town Chief : We are less politically aware than your son. It's enough for two bullets. We are just two bullets short of liberating Taiwan. So let's get that metal.

• Town Chief : You participated in the revolution.

  Xu Fugui : I just dragged a cannon and sang opera.

  Town Chief : That's taking part.