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

Xiao Liu, clutching a comic book, squatted on the sand and secretly sidled up to Zhou Fangyuan, whispering:

"Brother Fang Yuan, what's wrong with Ah Hai? Why is he suddenly so unhappy?"

Zhou Fangyuan didn't respond. His gaze remained fixed on Ah Hai, watching the man bend over, straighten the rope, and fold the net. His movements were skilled but carried an indescribable dullness.

He discovered that Ah Hai, despite his seemingly cheerful demeanor, actually carried everything on his own shoulders and was reluctant to utter even a single word of complaint.

The sun sank a little lower, and the golden light on the sea slowly turned dark red, and the sky gradually darkened.

Xiao Chen patted the sand off his pants, stood up, and said it was time to go back to the film set.

Xiao Liu also stood up, still muttering to himself, unable to shake off Ah Hai's unusual behavior.

Just as Zhou Fangyuan turned to leave, a soft call came from behind him.

"etc!"

Zhou Fangyuan and the others immediately turned around.

Ah Hai had stood up straight at some point and was standing quietly beside the pile of fishing baskets, watching him intently.

Zhou Fangyuan stopped and waited without saying a word.

Ah Hai slowly walked over, his footsteps sinking into the soft sand, one step at a time, very slowly and heavily.

He stopped in front of Zhou Fangyuan, lowered his head, and remained silent for a long time.

Xiao Liu and Xiao Chen also quieted down and stood aside watching.

Zhou Fangyuan waited a moment, and seeing that he still didn't speak, he lowered his voice and asked, "What's wrong, Ah Hai? Is something the matter?"

Ah Hai was silent for a few seconds before finally raising his head: "Brother Fang Yuan, I want to ask you for a favor."

Zhou Fangyuan nodded: "Go ahead."

Ah Hai glanced in the direction of the old man. The old man was still sitting on the rocks, wearing that faded, heavy cotton-padded coat, with his back to them and facing the sea.

He lowered his voice even further after confirming that his grandfather wasn't paying attention.

"My grandfather... got caught in the rain a few days ago and fell ill. He had just recovered when he insisted on coming to the beach. I was afraid he would catch a cold from the wind, and I couldn't persuade him otherwise."

Zhou Fangyuan listened quietly without interrupting.

"He was healthy when he was young, but he hasn't been able to in recent years. My dad has bad legs and can't do heavy work. I'm the only one in the family who can go to sea. My grandfather feels sorry for me and always wants to come and help keep an eye on things. But actually, he can't do much when he comes; he just sits there."

Ahai paused, a hint of helplessness in his voice: "But if he doesn't come, I can't stay at home; I'm always thinking about him."

Zhou Fangyuan nodded slightly. He understood. It was a dilemma of wanting to protect someone but being unable to stop them.

I want to go out to sea tomorrow.

Ah Hai's gaze returned to Zhou Fangyuan, with a rare hint of pleading: "The tide is just right these two days, it would be a shame not to go."

But I don't want Grandpa to come with me. If he finds out I'm going alone, he'll definitely sneak over again.

He took a deep breath and blurted out what he had been holding in his heart.

"Brother Fang Yuan, Brother Liu, Brother Chen, are you free tomorrow? Could you lend me a hand?"

"It's just near the shore, not far out, so there won't be any danger... It's just for one day. Just help me pass things around and lend a hand when we haul in the nets."

After he finished speaking, he stood there, a hint of nervousness in his eyes, quietly waiting for Zhou Fangyuan's reply.

Zhou Fangyuan was a little surprised; he hadn't expected that this was what Ah Hai had asked him for.

After a moment's thought, he turned to look at Xiao Liu and Xiao Chen.

Who's free tomorrow?

Xiao Liu's eyes lit up immediately, and he blurted out, "I have one! I have one! I'm free every day!"

Xiao Chen thought for a moment, then shook his head with some regret: "My scenes are booked for tomorrow, and I can't leave for the extra scene at the beach."

Zhou Fangyuan nodded, then looked at Ah Hai: "How about me and Xiao Liu?"

Ah Hai looked at Xiao Liu, and the corners of his tightly clenched lips finally twitched slightly upwards, a smile of complete relief.

"Okay, the two of you are enough."

Xiao Liu was so happy he almost jumped up, but Xiao Chen grabbed him.

"We have to leave before dawn tomorrow." Ah Hai added, "The tide waits for no one, we have to be early."

Zhou Fangyuan readily agreed: "Okay, shall we meet here again tomorrow?"

Ah Hai hummed in response and remained standing still. After a while, he suddenly spoke softly, his voice so low it was almost drowned out by the sea breeze.

"Thank you..."

These words were spoken very softly, as if afraid of being overheard by others, or as if they had been held back for a long time before being uttered.

Zhou Fangyuan waved his hand: "No need to thank me, hurry up and take Grandpa back, it's getting dark and chilly."

Ahai nodded, turned and walked towards his grandfather. After a few steps, he looked back and waved gently at them.

Xiao Liu immediately waved his hand excitedly in response.

Zhou Fangyuan stood there, watching Ah Hai walk to his grandfather's side, bend down and whisper a few words.

The old man slowly stood up, wearing his old cotton-padded coat, and the two of them, old and young, walked side by side toward the village.

The two figures were stretched long by the twilight, gradually shrinking until they completely melted into the darkness.

Little Liu jumped up and down excitedly beside him, unable to contain his excitement: "Brother Fang Yuan! We can go out to sea tomorrow! I've never been on a fishing boat before!"

Xiao Chen patted his head: "Keep your voice down, or you'll scare the fish away."

Xiao Liu chuckled, still unable to suppress his excitement.

Zhou Fangyuan didn't say anything, and then turned around and walked back.

After walking a few steps, he subconsciously turned back and glanced at the sea, which was gradually darkening.

The sky was getting completely dark, and he suddenly felt a little anticipation for what the sea would look like tomorrow.

By the time the three of them started walking back, it was completely dark.

Xiao Liu walked at the very front, taking quick steps and skipping along, muttering to himself incessantly:

"I'm going out to sea tomorrow! I can go out to sea tomorrow! Xiao Chen, did you hear me? I can go out to sea tomorrow!"

Xiao Chen walked beside him, glancing occasionally at the jubilant Xiao Liu ahead. His lips twitched, but in the end, he just shook his head helplessly and hummed in agreement.

Zhou Fangyuan walked at the very back, occasionally glancing at Xiao Liu, a faint smile unconsciously appearing on his lips.

This kid can't hide anything.

As they reached the entrance of the guesthouse, Xiao Liu suddenly stopped, turned around, and asked earnestly, "Brother Fang Yuan, what time is it tomorrow?"

"Let's hurry up, Ah Hai said the tide waits for no one."

Xiao Liu nodded vigorously, then started muttering to himself again, "Then I'll go to bed early tonight, no, I'll go back to sleep right now..."

He was about to rush towards the dormitory when Xiao Chen grabbed him.

Xiao Chen said somewhat helplessly, "What's the rush? We've been busy all day, aren't we going to eat in the cafeteria?"

Zhou Fangyuan thought for a moment and nodded. Xiao Liu nodded as well, but his eyes were already drifting towards the dormitory, and he was completely absent-minded.

The cafeteria lights were still on. The three of them pushed open the door and went in. A wave of heat hit them, instantly dispelling the chill of the night.

Master Huang was squatting on the ground tidying up the vegetables when he heard the noise. He looked up, saw them, and casually asked, "You're back? You didn't change the fish this time, did you?"

Xiao Liu, who had been holding back his words all the way, finally found an outlet. He rushed over and squatted down next to Master Huang, his voice rising eight octaves.

"Master Huang! We're going out to sea tomorrow!"