Returning to the 82 Mountain Village: An Encounter with the Journey to the West Film Crew at the Beg

As Zhou Fangyuan stepped out of the production crew's door, about to ask someone for directions, he heard a series of slightly hurried footsteps that he recognized very well.

He looked up and his eyes lit up.

Zhang Jinlai's face was already painted with the colors of Sun Wukong, and his eyes, outlined in the paint, looked exceptionally bright and lively.

He was walking quickly outside while adjusting his costume.

His bright yellow monk's robe was draped diagonally, one arm just slipped into the sleeve, and the ties of his tiger-skin skirt were not yet fully tightened, swaying with his steps.

Behind him followed Zhang Qiang from the props team, who was carrying the other half of his costume and several pieces of protective gear that he hadn't yet put on.

Zhang Qiang was carrying several pieces of protective gear lined with cotton, while a colleague from the art group was carrying a large bundle of rough, worn-out hemp rope.

"Fang Yuan!" Zhang Jinlai spotted him first, a smile immediately spreading across his face as he quickly walked over.

"You're back? Is everything going well at home?"

"Comrade Fang Yuan, you must be tired from the journey!" Zhang Qiang greeted him with a smile.

"Jinlai, Brother Qiang!" Zhou Fangyuan quickly responded, knowing from Zhang Jinlai's outfit that there was a filming assignment.

"Everything's done, all went smoothly. Are you guys filming a movie? Why aren't you dressed properly? And why are you carrying a rope?"

Zhang Jinlai pointed towards the mountain, speaking faster than usual, revealing the excitement of an actor before getting into character:

"We are going to shoot. We just received a notification that Director Yang and his team encountered an amazing sea of ​​clouds at 'Chanyun Cliff' with great lighting, and they want to capture a long shot."

I need that agile yet slightly perilous feeling; I have to get there now.

Zhang Jinlai tugged at his costume and continued, "Opportunity waits for no one. I'll finish my makeup quickly, but I'll have to wear the costume on the way."

As he spoke, he skillfully took the last wristband from Zhang Qiang and put it on, saying, "To save time!"

"So that's how it is."

Zhou Fangyuan understood, thinking to himself that this was quite a coincidence:

"Director Li just told me that Director Yang and the others are at 'Chanyun Cliff.' I was just thinking of going up there to check it out, report to her, and learn a thing or two."

"That's great!" Zhang Jinlai's smile widened upon hearing this.

"Let's go together! You can see the scenery there; I've heard it's truly rare."

"You can lend me a hand on the way and tell me about the interesting things that happened on your trip back."

Zhang Qiang nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, traveling together means we can look out for each other. With Fang Yuan back, our team is even more complete."

"Let's hurry up and move on, so as not to waste the light."

As Zhang Jinlai spoke, he took the lead and started walking up the mountain path.

The bright costume stood out against the gray-brown rocks and trees, making him seem like the restless Monkey King, about to venture into the depths of this sacred mountain.

Zhou Fangyuan perked up and immediately followed. He hadn't expected that he would be able to participate in such a filming mission that required seizing the right time and place so soon after returning.

Zhang Jinlai had basically finished tidying up his outfit. Although there were still some minor details that weren't quite right, his cleverness and wit as the Monkey King were already palpable.

The group chatted and laughed as their figures quickly disappeared into the lush woods along the mountain path.

The group hurried along and finally arrived at "Entangling Cloud Cliff".

The terrain here is even more precipitous than the one Zhou Fangyuan visited last time.

On one side is a near-vertical cliff, and on the other side is a sea of ​​clouds that surges endlessly like ocean waves.

The rays of the setting sun pierce through the clouds at a specific angle, dyeing the rolling clouds with magnificent colors of gold, red, and pale purple, creating a myriad of breathtaking scenes.

Director Yang and Wang Chongqiu were standing on a relatively safe protruding rock, keeping a close eye on the changes in the sea of ​​clouds, gesturing and discussing camera positions and actions from time to time.

Seeing Zhang Jinlai and the others come up, Yang Jie turned his head, his face showing the sharpness of someone focused on work, but when he saw Zhou Fangyuan, a hint of surprise immediately flashed in his eyes:

"Fang Yuan is back? Good, he's back just in time." She spoke quickly, clearly her mind was still mostly on the scene before her.

"Everything went smoothly?"

"Everything went smoothly, Director Yang!" Zhou Fangyuan answered loudly, though the mountain wind was a bit strong.

"Okay! I'll talk to you later." Yang Jie nodded, then immediately turned her attention back to filming. Her voice remained clear and strong amidst the mountain wind and the sound of the sea of ​​clouds.

"Jin Lai, Zhang Qiang, listen to Chong Qiu's instructions! Hurry up, safety first. First, hoist Sun Wukong up to test the waters, find the right position and angle! Make sure to check all the equipment!"

Zhang Jinlai and the other man responded loudly and immediately joined Wang Chongqiu, the props team, and several comrades from the art department to begin their preparations.

Seeing this, Zhou Fangyuan subconsciously wanted to go over and lend a hand, to help pass something or something.

He had just taken a step when Director Yang gently called out to him, "Fang Yuan, come here."

Upon hearing the sound, Zhou Fangyuan quickly walked back to Director Yang's side.

Director Yang's gaze still occasionally swept over the busy filming area, but his tone softened considerably as he said to him, "Don't rush over there."

During these kinds of rushed shots, the cameraman, Chongqiu, is in charge of directing the entire operation; having too many people would only create chaos. They know what to do and are familiar with the procedures.

My role here is just to coordinate; ultimately, I listen to the cameraman.

You just got back, you're still breathing, and it's cold up in the mountains, don't rush. Come on, tell me, how was your trip back? What happened in the village, and what did you see and hear on the road?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Fangyuan immediately understood.

Director Yang's experience is adept; he knows everyone should perform their duties to avoid disrupting the tense on-site preparations, and he is also considerate of Yang's recent long journey back.

His initial tension and anxiety from seeing the urgent filming immediately subsided, and he felt reassured, as if he had found a pillar of support.

"Okay, Director Yang."

Zhou Fangyuan stood a little behind and to the side of Yang Jie, so that he could see the preparations on the other side clearly without obstructing Director Yang's overall observation.

He took the notebook out of his bag and opened it.

"Things in the village have gotten off to a good start," he began his report, his voice clear in the wind.

"The commune approved a letter of introduction supporting our village to conduct a pilot project on medicinal herbs. Our Party Secretary and Team Leader have already gone to the county to coordinate. This can be considered the first step."

As he spoke, he briefly explained the matter of the letter of introduction and the village's reaction.

Director Yang Jie listened, his gaze still fixed on Zhang Jinlai, who was being carefully bound with hemp rope and the knots being checked, but a smile appeared on his face:

"This is a good thing! Take it one step at a time, be down-to-earth. With the support of the commune, we have policy backing. What you've done is meaningful."

Receiving Director Yang's affirmation warmed Zhou Fangyuan's heart even more.

He then recounted his chance encounter and conversation on the train, mentioning Professor Pan Hong's views and encouragement regarding rural themes, and also expressed his own inspiration to try writing something.

Director Yang listened more attentively, turned to look at him, and nodded: "This is your lucky encounter. Comrade Pan Hong's judgment is accurate."

Life is the wellspring of creation; it's good that you have this idea. Write it down and think about it more.

The two chatted on and on, in a pleasant atmosphere.

This feeling made Zhou Fangyuan feel really warm; it didn't feel like he was reporting to a leader.

It felt more like exchanging ideas with a senior who cared about the younger generation and was well-versed in artistic creation.

After Zhou Fangyuan finished his report, he handed over the notebook.

Just as Director Yang was carefully reviewing the document, Zhou Fangyuan finally shifted his gaze from the appreciative look on his face to the scene on set.

But when they saw what they were doing, they were immediately horrified!