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

Yan Huaili slowly chewed the dried sweet potato in his mouth, nodded to Zhou Fangyuan, and said loudly, "It tastes delicious! It's wonderful!"

Zhou Fangyuan squatted down next to him, casually took one from the paper package, and took a bite.

The three of them squatted there, chewing on dried sweet potatoes together. No one spoke; all you could hear was the sound of them chewing.

Xiao Zhao called out from the side, "Come on, Fang Yuan, come and bring the lunchbox!"

Zhou Fangyuan responded, stood up, clapped his hands, and looked back one last time before leaving.

Ma Dehua waved her hand at him: "Go on, go on, come sit down when you're done."

Yan Huaili smiled but didn't say anything, only tucking the few dried sweet potatoes he had been given into his pocket.

Zhou Fangyuan went back to help Xiao Zhao hand over the lunchbox.

As soon as the aroma of the food spread, the people who had been resting slumped over perked up and gathered around in twos and threes.

Zhou Fangyuan and Xiao Zhao were busy handing out lunchboxes and chopsticks, their hands and feet never stopping.

"Hey, Fang Yuan, do you still have shredded radish today? Give me a lot more shredded radish!" A loud voice came from behind the crowd.

Zhou Fangyuan looked up and saw Lin Zhiqian.

He had just come down from the mountain, his forehead still glistening with sweat, and his loose training clothes covered in bits of grass and dirt.

As the action choreographer for the film crew, he had been leading the stuntmen in choreographing moves all day and only now had time to come down for lunch.

"Brother Lin, I saved this for you." Zhou Fangyuan handed over the largest lunchbox.

"Master Huang specially packed extra, saying you were tired today."

Lin Zhiqian took the lunchbox, and without finding a place to sit, he stood to the side and started eating.

He ate a few mouthfuls of rice, then looked up at Zhou Fangyuan: "You came up with quite a few ideas for that security vest?"

"Huh? I was just thinking about it randomly." Zhou Fangyuan answered casually when asked this question.

"How could you possibly figure that out by just guessing?" Lin Zhiqian pointed at him with his chopsticks.

"I've studied that thing. The two attachment points and the tire lining are all solid parts. It can go up to 6 meters without any problems!"

Now I feel much more at ease designing aerial maneuvers!

Zhou Fangyuan smiled and continued to hand out lunchboxes. Lin Zhiqian spoke directly, which was actually quite pleasant to listen to.

Just then, a lively discussion broke out nearby.

"Hey, this dish is different today!"

A young stuntman, carrying a lunchbox, rummaged through it with his chopsticks and suddenly became excited: "There's chili pepper! Did you see that? There's chili pepper in the shredded radish!"

The people next to them quickly looked down at their lunchboxes.

"That's true! I have a similar story!"

"Of course I have one!"

Zhou Fangyuan turned his head and saw that the stuntmen were gathered in a circle, each holding up their lunchboxes and gesturing as if they had discovered some treasure.

Hearing the noise, Lin Zhiqian craned his neck and peeked into the lunchboxes of those people.

I felt a little embarrassed after looking at him...

"Is it really necessary for you guys? It's just some chili peppers, right? There are plenty of fresh chili peppers here in Emei Mountain!"

"Brother Lin, we've been up here on the mountain for days and haven't seen many chili peppers! And these aren't ordinary chili peppers! They're dry and fragrant!"

The young man spoke with a serious expression.

Someone nearby immediately chimed in, "Exactly! Even though it's still just shredded radish, the flavor is completely transformed by the chili peppers! It's so delicious!"

Another older stuntman squatted there, holding a lunchbox, chewing and nodding as he did so.

"This doesn't taste like it was made with chili peppers from around here. Did Old Huang make it?"

Zhou Fangyuan listened from the side, feeling a little embarrassed to speak.

Xiao Zhao didn't hide it, and nudged him with her elbow: "Ask him! He brought the chili peppers!"

Several pairs of eyes turned around and immediately fell on Zhou Fangyuan.

"Comrade Xiao Zhou?"

"Did Fang Yuan bring this?"

"Is this also a local flavor from your hometown?"

Zhou Fangyuan leaned back slightly under the stare and quickly waved his hand: "It's just some dried goods that the villagers asked me to bring back. I delivered them to Master Huang today."

The stuntman grabbed his arm: "Comrade Zhou Fangyuan! You're like a brother to me! Do you have any more in the future? Bring some more, please!"

The people around him burst into laughter: "Look at you, so pathetic!"

"If you're so capable, then don't eat it! Leave the chili peppers for me!"

The group argued, picking and choosing the chili threads in their lunchboxes, none of them willing to give way.

Assistant director Xun Hao squatted not far away, not getting involved, but his chewing movements were noticeably slower, as if he was savoring the spiciness. He nodded and continued to shovel a big mouthful.

Ma Dehua also came over at some point, holding her lunchbox and slowly chewing.

He ate like a seasoned gourmet, not quickly, but chewing each bite carefully. After swallowing, he looked at Zhou Fangyuan with a serious expression.

"Fang Yuan, I'm telling you the truth."

Zhou Fangyuan looked at him and said, "Brother Ma, you speak."

"Today's meal..." Ma Dehua raised her chopsticks, "is the best meal we've had since we arrived at Mount Emei."

Several people nearby nodded in agreement, with one adding, "The food is even better than what we ate at home during the Lunar New Year!"

Zhou Fangyuan was a little embarrassed by the praise and smiled with his head down.

He knew in his heart that it was just ordinary stir-fried radish with chili peppers, nothing special at home.

But here...

In this place where supplies are hard to get in, and in this film crew where every day is stewed pumpkin with radishes and cabbage, being able to taste something different feels just like celebrating the New Year.

Zhou Fangyuan was praised by everyone in turn, and seeing this scene, he didn't know what to say.

Just then, Xiao Zhao called him to bring him some water, so he quickly went over to help.

After one round of meals was distributed, the number of lunch boxes in the carrying pole decreased, but people continued to come over.

Zhou Fangyuan squatted beside the carrying pole, ready to hand chopsticks and pour water for people at any time.

After Lin Zhiqian finished eating, he put the lunchbox in the basket, wiped his mouth, and squatted down next to Zhou Fangyuan.

"Ah, that feels so good! We're almost done here too."

Zhou Fangyuan turned to look at him.

"We'll finish shooting the remaining few shots in the next couple of days, then we'll have to move."

Lin Zhiqian took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a puff: "Next stop: Fujian."

"So fast?" Zhou Fangyuan knew the crew was moving locations, but he didn't expect it to be so soon.

"We have to hurry, time is of the essence."

Lin Zhiqian exhaled a puff of smoke: "We've already contacted the filming locations over there. If we don't go soon, the weather will change. If we hadn't discovered Chanyun Cliff here, we would have left long ago."

Zhou Fangyuan didn't speak, but mentally calculated the days.

How long have you been at Mount Emi? It seems like you haven't even explored the whole place before you have to leave.

Xun Hao had also finished eating and came over with his empty lunchbox. Hearing their conversation, he added:

"Fujian is by the sea, the scenery is completely different from here, we'll be very busy then."

He put the lunchbox into the basket, rubbed the vegetable juice off his hands, and suddenly remembered something, looking at Zhou Fangyuan:

"By the way, Fang Yuan, do you still have any dried sweet potatoes? I want the fragrant kind."

Zhou Fangyuan paused for a moment, then smiled: "Director Ren, you knew about it too?"

"I just heard Dehua bragging about how you slipped him a packet."

Xun Hao rarely showed a smile: "I was thinking... how about we have some too?"

Zhou Fangyuan stood up with a smile and reached into his pocket.

"It's all gone, given to Brother Ma."

He honestly replied, "I'll bring you some more later."

Xun Hao smiled and nodded, then turned and left without saying anything more.

After finishing his cigarette, Lin Zhiqian stubbed it out on the ground, carefully picked it up, and put it in his pocket. The crew was strict; no one was allowed to litter or damage the environment.

"Alright, you've rested enough. Let's continue up the mountain." He stood up and patted Zhou Fangyuan on the shoulder.

Zhou Fangyuan nodded: "Brother Lin, take it easy."

Lin Zhiqian took a few steps, then turned back: "That 'cross-river dragon' (referring to a powerful figure who has crossed the river from another region), we'll think about it again when we have time, and see if we can improve it further."

"OK."