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Our wheat is particularly unique
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00:00:12,178 --> 00:00:14,764
due to the environment it grows in.
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In the mountains of our hometown,
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the growth conditions for wheat
are very harsh.
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In the winter,
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00:00:30,822 --> 00:00:35,577
the wheat seedlings are covered
with a white layer of frost.
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Other plants covered with snow will die,
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but wheat won't.
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As warmer weather melts the snow,
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the wheat grows better and fuller.
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Wheat is quite tasty.
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00:00:56,097 --> 00:00:58,391
Wheat noodles have a richer aroma.
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The moment you open
the cooking basket lid,
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the aroma of the noodles fills the room.
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Even without anything added,
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you can appreciate the special fragrance.
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This tradition of flour-based food culture
spans thousands of years.
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It's something at my core
that I cannot lose.
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To me, wheat is incredibly precious.
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00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,657
In Shaanxi, there are
about 100 types of noodles.
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00:05:28,369 --> 00:05:30,788
The most famous are Biang Biang noodles.
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These noodles give you an understanding
of the culture of Xi'an.
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00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,806
As a Shaanxi native who grew up in Xi'an,
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00:05:48,890 --> 00:05:53,311
I have an obligation
to carry on the cuisine's tradition.
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So, I use the traditional
handmade technique.
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The original flour aroma should remain.
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When I was a kid, my grandma and my mom
taught me how to make noodles.
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When slapped on the board,
the dough makes a "biang-biang" sound.
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I really enjoy this process.
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00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,393
We usually add seasoning to the noodles
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like local vinegar,
scallions, chili, and garlic.
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00:06:39,607 --> 00:06:42,360
When you pour the oil
on top of the seasoning,
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00:06:42,443 --> 00:06:44,028
you get a sizzling sound.
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00:06:46,072 --> 00:06:47,990
The noodles look so beautiful.
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00:06:48,074 --> 00:06:50,743
They bounce around like they are dancing.
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00:06:54,789 --> 00:06:56,416
After the first bite,
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I know one bowl won't be enough.
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They're soft, chewy, and smooth
at the same time.
39
00:07:07,009 --> 00:07:09,095
I doubt I'll ever get enough of them.
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00:07:13,099 --> 00:07:17,520
I want to spread our Shaanxi noodles
to more people around the world.
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00:07:19,355 --> 00:07:23,526
My hope is to make Xi'an noodles
reach people far and wide.
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00:07:24,277 --> 00:07:26,654
It is my duty and responsibility.
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00:07:51,888 --> 00:07:56,100
There's a Chinese saying,
"No one is promised a life of happiness."
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00:07:58,269 --> 00:08:02,315
I had a rougher childhood than my peers.
45
00:08:07,695 --> 00:08:10,948
I was born in the south
of Shaanxi Province, China.
46
00:08:12,158 --> 00:08:14,577
There were 800 people in our village.
47
00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,372
The village was extremely poor,
48
00:08:19,707 --> 00:08:22,502
and our family was one of the poorest.
49
00:08:26,172 --> 00:08:27,757
We were peasants.
50
00:08:30,718 --> 00:08:34,347
Every year, our family
struggled to have enough food.
51
00:08:36,474 --> 00:08:38,434
I am the eldest kid in my family.
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00:08:38,935 --> 00:08:40,811
I have two younger sisters.
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00:08:43,523 --> 00:08:47,610
Back then, Chinese people would say,
"Three daughters end a family lineage."
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00:08:50,363 --> 00:08:52,323
My parents thought that without a son,
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00:08:52,406 --> 00:08:55,076
there would be no one to do physical labor
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00:08:55,159 --> 00:08:56,953
or to support them in old age.
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00:08:59,747 --> 00:09:02,333
As the eldest daughter in the family,
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00:09:03,376 --> 00:09:06,504
I had an obligation
to bring in a live-in son-in-law.
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00:09:09,465 --> 00:09:11,884
I didn't think it should be this way.
60
00:09:14,887 --> 00:09:18,599
I should go out in the world
and learn more.
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00:09:25,356 --> 00:09:26,774
I thought to myself,
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00:09:26,857 --> 00:09:30,736
"Even if my parents don't have a son,
someday I'll show them
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00:09:30,820 --> 00:09:34,657
I'm, without a doubt, as capable as sons."
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00:09:52,216 --> 00:09:55,261
My first dream
was to go beyond the Qin Mountains.
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00:10:01,017 --> 00:10:04,979
Studying was our only way
out of the mountains at the time.
66
00:10:08,232 --> 00:10:12,820
But our family couldn't afford the tuition
for all three of us.
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00:10:17,074 --> 00:10:20,077
When I was 11 or 12, I made a decision.
68
00:10:21,829 --> 00:10:25,458
I would drop out of school
and start earning money,
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00:10:26,876 --> 00:10:30,838
so my sisters could get a good education.
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00:10:30,921 --> 00:10:33,257
And the whole family would be better off.
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00:10:40,139 --> 00:10:42,933
I found my first job
at a Paomo restaurant.
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00:10:44,935 --> 00:10:47,521
I would wash dishes and do various chores.
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00:10:51,651 --> 00:10:55,321
While washing dishes,
I'd watch the master chef at the stove.
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00:10:55,404 --> 00:10:57,865
That looked so cool to me.
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There was a rhythm to it.
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When to put in the seasoning,
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when to toss the wok,
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and when to scrub and wash the wok.
79
00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:16,842
I didn't have music education as a kid,
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00:11:16,926 --> 00:11:20,721
but those kitchen sounds
were like music to me.
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00:11:25,935 --> 00:11:28,312
The swooshing sound of washing the wok,
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00:11:28,813 --> 00:11:31,399
the clanging of the ladle as it stirs,
83
00:11:32,566 --> 00:11:34,443
and the crackling of flames.
84
00:11:35,319 --> 00:11:39,115
I knew what was happening in the kitchen
without even looking.
85
00:11:39,198 --> 00:11:41,659
"The master chef is adding seasoning."
86
00:11:41,742 --> 00:11:45,538
"Oh, the dish is done. It's being served."
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00:11:48,874 --> 00:11:53,170
I thought to myself,
"One day, I'll be in that position."
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00:12:08,102 --> 00:12:11,063
One day, my cousin came back from Xi'an,
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00:12:11,147 --> 00:12:13,232
the big, provincial capital city.
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00:12:15,526 --> 00:12:18,028
She said, "Come with me to Xi'an."
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00:12:19,697 --> 00:12:22,032
"There are many job opportunities."
92
00:12:22,116 --> 00:12:25,077
"You'd probably
earn much more money there."
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00:12:28,622 --> 00:12:32,418
After hearing that,
I decided I had to go to Xi'an.
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00:12:39,675 --> 00:12:41,343
My family was against it.
95
00:12:43,345 --> 00:12:45,014
I was only 13 at the time.
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00:12:46,599 --> 00:12:50,936
It took over ten hours by car
from our town to cross the Qin Mountains.
97
00:12:52,313 --> 00:12:54,523
If I went over to Xi'an,
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they wondered if I'd ever come back.
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00:13:02,239 --> 00:13:05,242
I firmly told them that I would come back
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00:13:05,326 --> 00:13:07,620
and not leave my parents neglected.
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00:13:09,872 --> 00:13:12,625
When I left, I spoke with my sisters.
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00:13:12,708 --> 00:13:15,961
Pointing to the wall
behind our kitchen, I said,
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00:13:16,587 --> 00:13:19,381
"Look, I've always been
an excellent student."
104
00:13:19,465 --> 00:13:21,759
"My certificates are all over the wall."
105
00:13:23,302 --> 00:13:27,264
"If you don't study hard in the future,
that's your problem."
106
00:13:28,516 --> 00:13:31,936
"Not being able
to afford your tuition is mine."
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00:13:35,397 --> 00:13:39,151
In front of my family,
I acted really optimistic and strong.
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00:13:41,237 --> 00:13:45,574
But the moment the bus left,
I actually cried.
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00:14:00,589 --> 00:14:04,343
When I got to Xi'an,
my cousin took me downtown.
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Xi'an is a historical capital.
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Its rich history and prosperity
span thousands of years.
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00:14:18,858 --> 00:14:24,196
I had a feeling that in this city
I would definitely find my place.
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00:14:33,289 --> 00:14:36,292
All kinds of markets
were under the ancient city wall.
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00:14:39,503 --> 00:14:41,297
There was a huge variety of foods.
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00:14:43,757 --> 00:14:45,092
Steamed buns,
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00:14:45,968 --> 00:14:48,262
different Xi'an-style dumplings…
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and so many kinds of noodles.
118
00:14:57,771 --> 00:15:01,025
I thought people in my hometown
loved noodles,
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00:15:01,108 --> 00:15:03,611
but people in Xi'an
love noodles even more.
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00:15:09,575 --> 00:15:11,201
While we were walking around,
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00:15:11,285 --> 00:15:14,538
my cousin said,
"You should learn a trade."
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00:15:19,126 --> 00:15:22,546
She suggested
that I could learn flower arranging.
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00:15:24,214 --> 00:15:27,134
I said, "I can't learn that.
Look, I'm like a boy."
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"That's not for me."
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00:15:30,429 --> 00:15:33,682
Then she said, "How about a seamstress?"
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00:15:34,183 --> 00:15:37,478
I said, "They sit all the time.
That's even worse."
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00:15:38,854 --> 00:15:40,856
She said, "Then what do you want?"
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00:15:41,357 --> 00:15:42,232
I replied,
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"I'd like to learn to be a chef."
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My cousin was really worried.
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Generally, it was a trade for boys.
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I said, "No need to worry.
I'm just as capable as boys."
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I first make the dough from flour
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and soak it in water.
135
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I wash it until the gluten and starch
are completely separated.
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00:17:09,778 --> 00:17:12,364
Then I steam the gluten.
137
00:17:13,490 --> 00:17:18,078
I use the settled starch water
to steam the cold skin.
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00:17:19,705 --> 00:17:21,165
Once they're cool,
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00:17:21,248 --> 00:17:23,667
I cut them into thin noodle-like slices.
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00:17:27,546 --> 00:17:31,091
The process is complicated
and requires a lot of work.
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But it's worth it.
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00:18:06,168 --> 00:18:11,465
Nowhere else in the world can you find
these water-washed noodles of my hometown.
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00:18:12,841 --> 00:18:15,594
To me, it's unmatched
by other types of cuisines.
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00:18:16,678 --> 00:18:19,306
After all, our cuisine
dates back thousands of years.
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00:18:19,807 --> 00:18:21,391
There must be a reason.
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00:18:45,666 --> 00:18:48,669
After I graduated from culinary school,
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00:18:50,212 --> 00:18:54,174
a flood caused by a landslide
hit our hometown.
148
00:18:56,927 --> 00:19:03,350
Over the phone, my sister told me
the water came directly into our home.
149
00:19:04,226 --> 00:19:10,065
If the house had collapsed,
my family could've been crushed to death.
150
00:19:15,863 --> 00:19:19,283
It's in Chinese people's DNA
to take care of their parents.
151
00:19:27,583 --> 00:19:32,421
I felt upset because, at that time,
my internship salary was very low.
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00:19:36,300 --> 00:19:38,886
I didn't have much saved
to help my family.
153
00:19:42,347 --> 00:19:45,392
I also couldn't go back
to see them right away.
154
00:19:48,270 --> 00:19:50,314
That's when I had an idea.
155
00:19:56,528 --> 00:19:59,031
I should improve my skills
and make more money
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00:19:59,114 --> 00:20:01,867
to help my parents build a new house.
157
00:20:06,246 --> 00:20:08,248
I spent a long time planning.
158
00:20:12,169 --> 00:20:15,088
I simply couldn't stop working
in the kitchen.
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00:20:18,217 --> 00:20:19,843
I'd even help others.
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00:20:22,846 --> 00:20:24,348
Making cold dishes,
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00:20:25,015 --> 00:20:26,433
chopping ingredients,
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00:20:27,601 --> 00:20:29,061
stirring dishes,
stirring dishes,
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00:20:30,729 --> 00:20:32,814
making flour-based dishes, and more.
making flour-based dishes, and more.
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00:20:36,193 --> 00:20:38,612
I didn't see it as working for others.
I didn't see it as working for others.
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00:20:40,239 --> 00:20:42,032
I was doing it for my family.
I was doing it for my family.
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00:21:06,473 --> 00:21:10,018
I worked at a hotel for many years,
I worked at a hotel for many years,
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00:21:10,102 --> 00:21:13,897
trying my best to improve myself and learn the craft.
trying my best to improve myself and learn the craft.
168
00:21:16,441 --> 00:21:20,821
One day, our head chef went to Tokyo, Japan.
One day, our head chef went to Tokyo, Japan.
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00:21:22,739 --> 00:21:25,200
I spoke with my manager and said,
I spoke with my manager and said,
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00:21:25,284 --> 00:21:28,036
"I think I can do the job of a head chef."
"I think I can do the job of a head chef."
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00:21:29,037 --> 00:21:30,914
"Could you give me a chance?"
"Could you give me a chance?"
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00:21:33,500 --> 00:21:36,336
She said, "Yes, you can try the head chef position."
She said, "Yes, you can try the head chef position."
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00:21:44,845 --> 00:21:47,556
I was worried, especially about one thing.
I was worried, especially about one thing.
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00:21:48,598 --> 00:21:51,184
I'm a woman, and the only woman in the kitchen
I'm a woman, and the only woman in the kitchen
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00:21:51,268 --> 00:21:54,104
in charge of a group of men older than me!
in charge of a group of men older than me!
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00:21:56,815 --> 00:21:59,151
They were all more experienced than me.
They were all more experienced than me.
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00:22:01,194 --> 00:22:05,490
Taking attendance, I would be the youngest and the only woman
Taking attendance, I would be the youngest and the only woman
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00:22:05,574 --> 00:22:08,744
looking at the rows of men, calling out their names.
looking at the rows of men, calling out their names.
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00:22:32,059 --> 00:22:34,853
I did feel it wasn't going to be easy.
I did feel it wasn't going to be easy.
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00:22:36,730 --> 00:22:41,109
But I was still convinced that I could do it.
But I was still convinced that I could do it.
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00:22:44,946 --> 00:22:50,827
I just kept working in the kitchen, doing my thing every day.
I just kept working in the kitchen, doing my thing every day.
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00:22:53,330 --> 00:22:55,207
Our team gradually adjusted.
Our team gradually adjusted.
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00:22:57,667 --> 00:23:01,254
And later on, they worked well with me.
And later on, they worked well with me.
184
00:23:03,215 --> 00:23:06,426
My dream of managing a kitchen had come true.
My dream of managing a kitchen had come true.
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00:23:16,561 --> 00:23:18,355
No cucumber shreds?
No cucumber shreds?
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00:23:22,109 --> 00:23:25,362
This doesn't need cucumber shreds, so no.
This doesn't need cucumber shreds, so no.
187
00:23:51,888 --> 00:23:56,977
I was so excited, because in London, the salary was very high.
I was so excited, because in London, the salary was very high.
188
00:23:59,438 --> 00:24:02,357
I thought if I worked abroad for a year,
I thought if I worked abroad for a year,
189
00:24:02,441 --> 00:24:05,026
I might be able to build my parents a house.
I might be able to build my parents a house.
190
00:24:07,112 --> 00:24:09,614
Besides, I had always dreamed of going abroad.
Besides, I had always dreamed of going abroad.
191
00:24:11,366 --> 00:24:15,036
But this wasn't like going from my hometown to Xi'an.
But this wasn't like going from my hometown to Xi'an.
192
00:24:23,503 --> 00:24:25,088
I had never been on a plane.
I had never been on a plane.
193
00:24:30,886 --> 00:24:35,891
The moment I landed on British soil, I wanted to see what Britain was like.
The moment I landed on British soil, I wanted to see what Britain was like.
194
00:24:37,851 --> 00:24:39,478
It was drizzling outside.
It was drizzling outside.
195
00:24:43,815 --> 00:24:46,526
It was 4:30 p.m. and already dark.
It was 4:30 p.m. and already dark.
196
00:24:48,487 --> 00:24:50,864
The roads were very narrow.
The roads were very narrow.
197
00:24:53,158 --> 00:24:55,869
Not a single new or tall building in sight.
Not a single new or tall building in sight.
198
00:24:57,287 --> 00:24:58,997
London was said to be prosperous,
London was said to be prosperous,
199
00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:01,833
but all I saw were old and shabby buildings.
but all I saw were old and shabby buildings.
200
00:25:05,837 --> 00:25:07,297
I felt anxious.
I felt anxious.
201
00:25:26,900 --> 00:25:30,070
In London, there were many types of cuisine.
In London, there were many types of cuisine.
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00:25:32,030 --> 00:25:34,783
I had Malaysian food, Spanish food,
I had Malaysian food, Spanish food,
203
00:25:35,534 --> 00:25:36,493
and pizza.
and pizza.
204
00:25:38,161 --> 00:25:41,206
But Chinese food wasn't well-developed yet.
But Chinese food wasn't well-developed yet.
205
00:25:43,124 --> 00:25:46,711
There were very few Xi'an people here and no noodle shops.
There were very few Xi'an people here and no noodle shops.
206
00:26:21,871 --> 00:26:26,251
I was the only chef on the team who didn't come from Sichuan.
I was the only chef on the team who didn't come from Sichuan.
207
00:26:28,712 --> 00:26:33,133
Traditional Shaanxi cuisine and Sichuan cuisine are different.
Traditional Shaanxi cuisine and Sichuan cuisine are different.
208
00:26:35,135 --> 00:26:38,054
I love cooking food from my hometown.
I love cooking food from my hometown.
209
00:26:39,681 --> 00:26:41,057
So one day,
So one day,
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00:26:41,141 --> 00:26:44,144
for the staff meal I made Biang Biang noodles.
for the staff meal I made Biang Biang noodles.
211
00:26:46,605 --> 00:26:48,940
They all said, "We like this."
They all said, "We like this."
212
00:26:51,443 --> 00:26:53,153
That made me really happy.
That made me really happy.
213
00:26:55,405 --> 00:26:57,574
So every Sunday night,
So every Sunday night,
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00:26:57,657 --> 00:26:59,534
I'd make different flour-based foods.
I'd make different flour-based foods.
215
00:27:02,996 --> 00:27:05,582
My colleagues looked forward to Sundays.
My colleagues looked forward to Sundays.
216
00:27:07,042 --> 00:27:09,461
"Ah, finally a break from Sichuan food."
"Ah, finally a break from Sichuan food."
217
00:27:09,544 --> 00:27:11,421
"Time for Shaanxi flour foods."
"Time for Shaanxi flour foods."
218
00:27:13,673 --> 00:27:15,675
It really inspired me
It really inspired me
219
00:27:16,259 --> 00:27:19,554
to open a noodle shop with my hometown cooking.
to open a noodle shop with my hometown cooking.
220
00:27:39,532 --> 00:27:40,867
You just came back?
You just came back?
221
00:27:42,118 --> 00:27:43,620
I came back around 9:00.
I came back around 9:00.
222
00:27:44,245 --> 00:27:45,622
Where is Little Lemon?
Where is Little Lemon?
223
00:27:47,082 --> 00:27:49,000
She is still in Hunan.
She is still in Hunan.
224
00:27:49,084 --> 00:27:49,918
Oh.
Oh.
225
00:27:50,001 --> 00:27:51,503
She's having fun,
She's having fun,
226
00:27:51,586 --> 00:27:54,964
so she'll stay in our hometown until school starts.
so she'll stay in our hometown until school starts.
227
00:27:55,048 --> 00:27:56,091
That makes sense.
That makes sense.
228
00:27:56,174 --> 00:27:58,968
Maybe she doesn't even want to go to school now.
Maybe she doesn't even want to go to school now.
229
00:27:59,594 --> 00:28:02,347
She is very naughty, just like Little Yue Yue.
She is very naughty, just like Little Yue Yue.
230
00:28:03,431 --> 00:28:04,265
Yeah.
Yeah.
231
00:28:04,349 --> 00:28:07,394
She is good at persuading her grandparents.
She is good at persuading her grandparents.
232
00:28:08,353 --> 00:28:10,105
She rides on Grandpa's shoulders.
She rides on Grandpa's shoulders.
233
00:28:10,188 --> 00:28:11,022
Oh.
Oh.
234
00:28:12,273 --> 00:28:15,902
At her grandparents' home, she is the boss.
At her grandparents' home, she is the boss.
235
00:28:19,155 --> 00:28:21,491
I worked at Barshu for seven years.
I worked at Barshu for seven years.
236
00:28:23,284 --> 00:28:26,830
During those years, my work went quite smoothly.
During those years, my work went quite smoothly.
237
00:28:27,330 --> 00:28:28,748
- Shall we hang up? - Okay.
- Shall we hang up? - Okay.
238
00:28:32,043 --> 00:28:35,880
Every year, I gave extra money to my parents
Every year, I gave extra money to my parents
239
00:28:35,964 --> 00:28:38,341
so my sisters could continue to study.
so my sisters could continue to study.
240
00:28:42,053 --> 00:28:44,514
I felt a small sense of accomplishment.
I felt a small sense of accomplishment.
241
00:28:49,144 --> 00:28:52,480
I could have stayed at Barshu for the rest of my career.
I could have stayed at Barshu for the rest of my career.
242
00:28:57,485 --> 00:29:00,447
But I still had this desire
But I still had this desire
243
00:29:00,530 --> 00:29:04,242
to introduce Shaanxi's flour-food culture to more Westerners.
to introduce Shaanxi's flour-food culture to more Westerners.
244
00:29:09,330 --> 00:29:12,000
So I said to my boss,
So I said to my boss,
245
00:29:12,083 --> 00:29:14,794
"I really want to open a restaurant."
"I really want to open a restaurant."
246
00:29:17,088 --> 00:29:19,883
He didn't want me to resign and leave.
He didn't want me to resign and leave.
247
00:29:19,966 --> 00:29:22,927
He said, "Our restaurant is doing great."
He said, "Our restaurant is doing great."
248
00:29:25,263 --> 00:29:28,558
"You could be the head chef when we expand to a new spot."
"You could be the head chef when we expand to a new spot."
249
00:29:31,394 --> 00:29:35,273
"I can also send you to a Michelin star restaurant to learn."
"I can also send you to a Michelin star restaurant to learn."
250
00:29:35,356 --> 00:29:36,524
"All good options."
"All good options."
251
00:29:39,819 --> 00:29:42,322
I said, "I'd love to learn those things,
I said, "I'd love to learn those things,
252
00:29:42,405 --> 00:29:46,534
but they're different from the direction of my dream."
but they're different from the direction of my dream."
253
00:29:49,746 --> 00:29:52,290
I turned down his offer.
I turned down his offer.
254
00:29:53,958 --> 00:29:56,920
That's when I left Barshu.
That's when I left Barshu.
255
00:30:09,557 --> 00:30:12,143
I got the lease for my first restaurant.
I got the lease for my first restaurant.
256
00:30:16,314 --> 00:30:20,109
To start, I needed to draft the menu.
To start, I needed to draft the menu.
257
00:30:24,155 --> 00:30:27,784
It had to include the core dishes of Shaanxi cuisine.
It had to include the core dishes of Shaanxi cuisine.
258
00:30:31,371 --> 00:30:35,542
But I was worried Westerners might not be receptive to that.
But I was worried Westerners might not be receptive to that.
259
00:30:42,382 --> 00:30:45,218
We northerners love chewy noodles.
We northerners love chewy noodles.
260
00:30:47,637 --> 00:30:51,015
Many restaurant owners saw this as a challenge.
Many restaurant owners saw this as a challenge.
261
00:30:55,103 --> 00:30:58,773
They couldn't imagine selling such glutinous noodles in London.
They couldn't imagine selling such glutinous noodles in London.
262
00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:01,359
HAND-ROLLED NOODLES
HAND-ROLLED NOODLES
263
00:31:01,442 --> 00:31:03,862
I was told Western customers would not like it.
I was told Western customers would not like it.
264
00:31:05,822 --> 00:31:08,074
When cooking Sichuan food at Barshu,
When cooking Sichuan food at Barshu,
265
00:31:08,157 --> 00:31:13,329
we'd use fewer numbing Sichuan peppers given Westerners' limited tolerance.
we'd use fewer numbing Sichuan peppers given Westerners' limited tolerance.
266
00:31:17,292 --> 00:31:22,046
At my hometown-style restaurant, I didn't want to alter our food culture.
At my hometown-style restaurant, I didn't want to alter our food culture.
267
00:31:27,385 --> 00:31:30,179
I procured and shipped chili peppers from China,
I procured and shipped chili peppers from China,
268
00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:32,515
and ground my own chili powder.
and ground my own chili powder.
269
00:31:35,226 --> 00:31:37,604
I had no idea how the business would go.
I had no idea how the business would go.
270
00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:40,940
I was quite nervous.
I was quite nervous.
271
00:31:42,734 --> 00:31:45,820
My new staff had never seen Shaanxi noodles before,
My new staff had never seen Shaanxi noodles before,
272
00:31:46,404 --> 00:31:48,573
so I had to teach them from scratch.
so I had to teach them from scratch.
273
00:31:49,991 --> 00:31:52,493
Across from my Xi'an Impression restaurant
Across from my Xi'an Impression restaurant
274
00:31:52,577 --> 00:31:55,413
were two tall buildings with many residents.
were two tall buildings with many residents.
275
00:31:57,081 --> 00:31:58,958
They'd come down to try our food.
They'd come down to try our food.
276
00:31:59,042 --> 00:32:03,796
Gradually, customers started coming back two, three, four days in a row!
Gradually, customers started coming back two, three, four days in a row!
277
00:32:08,593 --> 00:32:11,804
We didn't need to advertise. Word of mouth was enough.
We didn't need to advertise. Word of mouth was enough.
278
00:32:13,973 --> 00:32:16,142
Three weeks in,
Three weeks in,
279
00:32:17,685 --> 00:32:19,771
The Guardian called me.
The Guardian called me.
280
00:32:22,357 --> 00:32:24,317
Time Out also called
Time Out also called
281
00:32:25,318 --> 00:32:26,945
to write about us.
to write about us.
282
00:32:30,823 --> 00:32:32,158
It was quite a shock.
It was quite a shock.
283
00:32:35,370 --> 00:32:38,039
And just like that, business was booming.
And just like that, business was booming.
284
00:32:40,458 --> 00:32:42,293
I felt quite pleased with that.
I felt quite pleased with that.
285
00:33:07,068 --> 00:33:08,403
Two months later,
Two months later,
286
00:33:08,486 --> 00:33:11,990
I started to feel discomfort throughout my body.
I started to feel discomfort throughout my body.
287
00:33:12,073 --> 00:33:16,035
I thought I was just exhausted from the restaurant.
I thought I was just exhausted from the restaurant.
288
00:33:19,914 --> 00:33:22,583
I went to the doctor and the doctor asked,
I went to the doctor and the doctor asked,
289
00:33:22,667 --> 00:33:25,378
"You didn't know you're three months pregnant?"
"You didn't know you're three months pregnant?"
290
00:33:25,461 --> 00:33:26,838
I said I had no idea.
I said I had no idea.
291
00:33:36,222 --> 00:33:40,435
Mentally, I was really torn.
Mentally, I was really torn.
292
00:33:43,980 --> 00:33:49,152
Developing a career while being pregnant
Developing a career while being pregnant
293
00:33:49,944 --> 00:33:52,864
is extremely difficult.
is extremely difficult.
294
00:33:59,746 --> 00:34:04,375
I always thought that restaurants were my calling.
I always thought that restaurants were my calling.
295
00:34:06,502 --> 00:34:09,630
This business could change my family's fate.
This business could change my family's fate.
296
00:34:12,050 --> 00:34:13,885
I couldn't give it up.
I couldn't give it up.
297
00:34:18,639 --> 00:34:20,600
I didn't know how it would go,
I didn't know how it would go,
298
00:34:21,100 --> 00:34:23,686
but I was extremely determined.
but I was extremely determined.
299
00:34:26,022 --> 00:34:27,565
My friends were so worried.
My friends were so worried.
300
00:34:27,648 --> 00:34:30,610
"How can you be in the kitchen with your big belly,
"How can you be in the kitchen with your big belly,
301
00:34:30,693 --> 00:34:32,487
walking around knives and woks?"
walking around knives and woks?"
302
00:34:33,780 --> 00:34:35,114
"Aren't you afraid?"
"Aren't you afraid?"
303
00:34:38,826 --> 00:34:43,206
I said I would find a way to do what I really wanted to do.
I said I would find a way to do what I really wanted to do.
304
00:34:43,873 --> 00:34:46,876
That is, to have a child and my career.
That is, to have a child and my career.
305
00:35:04,477 --> 00:35:08,189
I took about a month off after giving birth to my daughter.
I took about a month off after giving birth to my daughter.
306
00:35:08,981 --> 00:35:12,401
Then I hired a nanny to help look after her,
Then I hired a nanny to help look after her,
307
00:35:12,485 --> 00:35:15,363
so I could go back to work.
so I could go back to work.
308
00:35:20,409 --> 00:35:21,744
Because business was good,
Because business was good,
309
00:35:23,162 --> 00:35:25,957
I opened my second restaurant called Master Wei.
I opened my second restaurant called Master Wei.
310
00:35:28,376 --> 00:35:30,128
I'd start working at 7:00 a.m.
I'd start working at 7:00 a.m.
311
00:35:30,211 --> 00:35:33,798
Sometimes I wouldn't get home until midnight or 1:00 a.m.
Sometimes I wouldn't get home until midnight or 1:00 a.m.
312
00:35:35,633 --> 00:35:37,760
No water. I'll heat the oil there.
No water. I'll heat the oil there.
313
00:35:37,844 --> 00:35:38,803
Don't add water.
Don't add water.
314
00:35:38,886 --> 00:35:41,055
It's fine. The wok has just dried.
It's fine. The wok has just dried.
315
00:35:43,808 --> 00:35:45,977
For most of my daughter's childhood,
For most of my daughter's childhood,
316
00:35:47,812 --> 00:35:50,189
I didn't spend much time with her.
I didn't spend much time with her.
317
00:35:56,529 --> 00:35:58,739
I struggled in my heart.
I struggled in my heart.
318
00:36:00,741 --> 00:36:04,370
I wasn't sure if I should spend more time with my daughter
I wasn't sure if I should spend more time with my daughter
319
00:36:04,453 --> 00:36:09,458
or put more time in and keep giving my all to the restaurants.
or put more time in and keep giving my all to the restaurants.
320
00:36:12,044 --> 00:36:16,757
The most difficult time was when my daughter was sick with a fever,
The most difficult time was when my daughter was sick with a fever,
321
00:36:18,384 --> 00:36:20,303
and I couldn't be with her.
and I couldn't be with her.
322
00:36:22,054 --> 00:36:24,640
I had a friend take her to the hospital.
I had a friend take her to the hospital.
323
00:36:28,144 --> 00:36:29,937
My daughter kept asking,
My daughter kept asking,
324
00:36:30,021 --> 00:36:32,857
"Mom, when can you spend time with me and rest?"
"Mom, when can you spend time with me and rest?"
325
00:36:34,525 --> 00:36:37,111
I know my daughter didn't want me to work too hard.
I know my daughter didn't want me to work too hard.
326
00:36:46,370 --> 00:36:47,997
I wasn't a good mother.
I wasn't a good mother.
327
00:36:51,083 --> 00:36:52,710
I felt quite lost about it.
I felt quite lost about it.
328
00:37:06,140 --> 00:37:07,183
Hold my hand.
Hold my hand.
329
00:37:07,266 --> 00:37:08,100
Okay.
Okay.
330
00:37:10,144 --> 00:37:12,396
- Do you hear the ducks quacking? - Yeah.
- Do you hear the ducks quacking? - Yeah.
331
00:37:15,733 --> 00:37:18,194
Wow, they must be starving, right?
Wow, they must be starving, right?
332
00:37:18,277 --> 00:37:19,403
Right.
Right.
333
00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:22,823
Come here, Mom.
Come here, Mom.
334
00:37:22,907 --> 00:37:23,866
Where?
Where?
335
00:37:23,950 --> 00:37:24,784
Here.
Here.
336
00:37:28,746 --> 00:37:29,956
Let me help you.
Let me help you.
337
00:37:30,998 --> 00:37:31,832
Put it here.
Put it here.
338
00:37:36,963 --> 00:37:39,173
They're coming!
They're coming!
339
00:37:46,639 --> 00:37:51,978
I want to give my daughter a much better life than I had.
I want to give my daughter a much better life than I had.
340
00:37:54,355 --> 00:37:56,649
For her to have a better education,
For her to have a better education,
341
00:37:56,732 --> 00:37:59,068
I have no choice but to work this hard.
I have no choice but to work this hard.
342
00:38:02,822 --> 00:38:05,241
I need to believe everything is worth it.
I need to believe everything is worth it.
343
00:38:07,410 --> 00:38:08,869
What if you fell in?
What if you fell in?
344
00:38:09,412 --> 00:38:10,830
You can save me.
You can save me.
345
00:38:10,913 --> 00:38:12,290
Is that so?
Is that so?
346
00:38:12,373 --> 00:38:14,875
I can't swim. Can you swim?
I can't swim. Can you swim?
347
00:38:15,376 --> 00:38:16,919
- Can you? - A little bit.
- Can you? - A little bit.
348
00:38:17,003 --> 00:38:18,254
A little bit?
A little bit?
349
00:38:18,337 --> 00:38:19,297
Is this fun?
Is this fun?
350
00:38:19,380 --> 00:38:20,214
Yes.
Yes.
351
00:38:24,176 --> 00:38:25,386
Come over here, Yue.
Come over here, Yue.
352
00:38:28,639 --> 00:38:31,892
Whenever I manage to have some free time,
Whenever I manage to have some free time,
353
00:38:33,436 --> 00:38:37,898
I take her to see and learn about the world.
I take her to see and learn about the world.
354
00:38:42,361 --> 00:38:44,322
I barely have time for her,
I barely have time for her,
355
00:38:46,532 --> 00:38:50,494
but I can provide the opportunities for her to learn
but I can provide the opportunities for her to learn
356
00:38:52,538 --> 00:38:54,415
This is my responsibility in life.
This is my responsibility in life.
357
00:38:57,376 --> 00:38:59,337
Wow, how do you throw it so far?
Wow, how do you throw it so far?
358
00:38:59,420 --> 00:39:00,463
I have no idea.
I have no idea.
359
00:39:00,546 --> 00:39:02,715
Because as soon as I throw it out,
Because as soon as I throw it out,
360
00:39:02,798 --> 00:39:03,883
it just goes far.
it just goes far.
361
00:39:03,966 --> 00:39:05,426
Oh, I see.
Oh, I see.
362
00:39:06,177 --> 00:39:08,137
- Then teach me that. Okay? - Okay.
- Then teach me that. Okay? - Okay.
363
00:39:10,681 --> 00:39:13,684
I took my daughter to a pretty good school.
I took my daughter to a pretty good school.
364
00:39:15,227 --> 00:39:17,688
At her interview, she was really happy.
At her interview, she was really happy.
365
00:39:17,772 --> 00:39:20,858
She was great at answering the questions.
She was great at answering the questions.
366
00:39:22,860 --> 00:39:25,863
The principal said, "Welcome to our school."
The principal said, "Welcome to our school."
367
00:39:27,907 --> 00:39:29,450
It was such a good feeling.
It was such a good feeling.
368
00:39:31,202 --> 00:39:32,328
What did they say?
What did they say?
369
00:39:32,411 --> 00:39:34,205
- They're talking, right? - Yeah.
- They're talking, right? - Yeah.
370
00:39:34,288 --> 00:39:36,248
- Chatting. - I know what they said.
- Chatting. - I know what they said.
371
00:39:37,625 --> 00:39:40,086
"Hello, you ate this bread as well?"
"Hello, you ate this bread as well?"
372
00:39:40,169 --> 00:39:42,755
"It's so yummy."
"It's so yummy."
373
00:39:45,591 --> 00:39:47,593
Because the school is far away,
Because the school is far away,
374
00:39:48,594 --> 00:39:51,347
I had to move south.
I had to move south.
375
00:39:53,140 --> 00:39:59,605
I spend about 3.5 hours commuting to and from work every day.
I spend about 3.5 hours commuting to and from work every day.
376
00:40:01,899 --> 00:40:06,153
Although challenging, I think it's all worth it.
Although challenging, I think it's all worth it.
377
00:40:07,029 --> 00:40:09,740
My daughter has a great time in school.
My daughter has a great time in school.
378
00:40:11,700 --> 00:40:14,537
She wishes we could spend more time together.
She wishes we could spend more time together.
379
00:40:16,539 --> 00:40:18,374
But now she understands
But now she understands
380
00:40:18,457 --> 00:40:22,503
why her mom goes to work every day and works so hard.
why her mom goes to work every day and works so hard.
381
00:42:24,208 --> 00:42:25,834
Yue, I'll wrap you sparent>
Yue, I'll wrap you in it.
382
00:42:25,918 --> 00:42:28,087
Come on. Yue, wrapping you in.
383
00:42:28,587 --> 00:42:29,505
Sounds good?
384
00:42:30,005 --> 00:42:31,840
Can I wrap you up with it?
385
00:42:31,924 --> 00:42:33,842
It's big enough to wrap you up.
386
00:42:35,594 --> 00:42:39,306
I feel like I've been
on the right path all these years.
387
00:42:42,643 --> 00:42:46,564
Cooking has not only
fulfilled my own dream
388
00:42:46,647 --> 00:42:48,274
of doing what I love,
389
00:42:48,357 --> 00:42:51,151
but also helped to improve
my family's life.
390
00:42:54,113 --> 00:42:57,575
My two sisters are now fully independent.
391
00:42:59,410 --> 00:43:01,704
My youngest sister is a doctor.
392
00:43:04,957 --> 00:43:08,168
And my other sister
is also doing pretty well in Xi'an.
393
00:43:12,298 --> 00:43:14,258
I still support my parents.
394
00:43:15,593 --> 00:43:19,346
I built four single-story houses
for my family.
395
00:43:23,684 --> 00:43:25,978
And now, my parents think that
396
00:43:26,061 --> 00:43:29,231
this daughter is much better
than other people's sons.
397
00:43:31,191 --> 00:43:33,527
I hope when my daughter grows up,
398
00:43:33,611 --> 00:43:35,613
she'll realize her own potential.
399
00:43:39,033 --> 00:43:43,120
I won't force her into
or steer her away from anything.
400
00:43:45,456 --> 00:43:47,374
My daughter knows this too.
401
00:44:21,825 --> 00:44:25,829
Up to now, my life has been
like that of Shaanxi wheat.
402
00:44:27,706 --> 00:44:30,376
The wheat is tenacious and resilient,
403
00:44:30,459 --> 00:44:32,544
growing step by step.
404
00:44:34,630 --> 00:44:36,507
My path has not been easy,
405
00:44:36,590 --> 00:44:39,635
but the hardships I faced shaped me
406
00:44:39,718 --> 00:44:43,055
into a person of responsibility
and independent thinking.
407
00:44:44,473 --> 00:44:48,769
I also hope my future is like the wheat.
408
00:44:49,853 --> 00:44:53,148
Overcoming obstacles, one step at a time.
409
00:46:50,098 --> 00:46:53,685
Subtitle translation by: Fiona Springer