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

Zhang Jinlai didn't dare look at the face that was staring at him, his voice trembling violently.

"I'm afraid to stand in front of the camera, afraid of disappointing everyone, afraid of ruining all the hard work of so many people in the crew."

I'm not Sun Wukong, I'm just Zhang Jinlai, an ordinary actor. I can't take on that role...

I've made up my mind. I'll talk to Director Yang and... turn down this role.

His words were disorganized yet sincere, each one imbued with painful struggle.

This is not willfulness, but rather a result of the intense struggle between a profound sense of responsibility and an extreme lack of self-confidence.

Zhou Fangyuan squatted down so that he could look Zhang Jinlai, who was sitting, at eye level, his gaze earnest.

"Teacher Zhang, listen to me... The fact that you feel scared because you don't think it's right shows how much you value this role and how much you want to play it well."

Who on the film crew didn't find it difficult?

The props team had to rush to produce new props every day; Teacher Wang stayed up countless nights remodeling; Director Yang bore immense pressure...

But why do we persist? Because we believe in this story, and we believe that we, as a group, can bring it to fruition!

He softened his tone, his voice becoming gentler yet more powerful.

"What have you been practicing your eye skills and body techniques, all the hardships you've endured over the years, all for? Isn't it all for that one moment on the screen?"

Director Yang carefully selected you; she didn't choose you because you're like Sun Wukong now.

Rather, it's that you possess the potential to become Sun Wukong, and that pure heart.

When the topic of "carefully selecting" came up, Zhang Jinlai's body visibly trembled, and tears finally rolled down his cheeks.

Becoming Sun Wukong was his father's expectation of him, and also his brother's expectation.

Zhou Fangyuan continued speaking, but a different scene was awakened in Zhang Jinlai's mind.

That was deep within his memory.

In the place "Zhejiang, Xinjiang, Shaoxing, Shangyu", I had a conversation with him.

On the hospital bed, Xiao Liuling was breathing weakly, and the hand she was holding tremblingly was held by the child.

You have to get very close to hear what he's saying to hear him clearly...

"Jinlai...I'm going to die..."

"Huh? What is death?" Zhang Jinlai, who was only a few years old, asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"Death means... that you will never see me again."

"Then how can I see you?"

The person on the hospital bed paused for a long time before slowly speaking.

"The day you become the Monkey King, you'll see me..."

This older brother, fearing that his younger brother's birthday would become his own death anniversary, endured until after his brother's birthday before quietly passing away at the young age of 17...

Zhang Jinlai's vision was blurred by tears, as if he had traveled through time.

Amidst the panic, these clear and warm voices entered his mind.

That was the original hope of the "Monkey King Family," and that was his most beloved elder brother.

The words I spoke while holding his hand with my last strength at his bedside.

These words are not demands or pressures, but rather a promise and blessing leading to a reunion.

In an instant, all the fear and self-doubt seemed to be pierced and soothed by a warm and firm light.

The look in my brother's eyes before he died, the unfulfilled regret, and the profound entrustment.

The eager gaze of the person before me overlapped with the figures of everyone in the film crew working day and night.

On his shoulders lies the inheritance of the Zhang family's monkey opera, his elder brother's legacy, and the expectations of countless people.

It is also my most ardent dream since I started my career.

Zhang Jinlai took a deep breath and forcefully wiped away the tears on his face.

Although her eyes were still red, her back was already straight.

He looked at Zhou Fangyuan, and it was as if he were looking through him into a place even further away.

The voice was still not loud, but it no longer trembled, and every word was spoken with conviction.

"Fang Yuan... I, I won't push it anymore... I..."

I want there to be only one Monkey King in the hearts of a thousand viewers...

Whenever I think of Sun Wukong, I think of myself!

In those eyes, which always carried a hint of shyness and uncertainty, a faint yet persistent flame gradually ignited.

In the flames, there was determination, courage, and above all, a responsibility to move forward.

He stood up, paused for a moment, and then made a fist in the air with both hands.

It felt as if he were truly holding a staff that weighed more than a thousand pounds—the golden cudgel his brother had given him.

The weight pressed down on his palm, yet strangely, it gave him the strength to support himself.

For the first time, the cleverness and stubbornness that belonged to Sun Wukong were so clearly revealed in the eyes of this shy young man.

Looking at Zhang Jinlai, who seemed to have undergone a complete transformation, Zhou Fangyuan felt a surge of immense relief and emotion.

He knew that the "Monkey King," destined to amaze an era, had finally truly taken over his mission at this moment.

The two exchanged a smile, and the gloom vanished.

Although the light in Zhang Jinlai's eyes was still tinged with tears, the hesitation had faded.

Instead, there is a calm preparedness to meet the challenge.

Just then, a series of hurried and slightly heavy footsteps came from outside the door.

Accompanied by the sound of fabric rubbing together, the owner of those steps seemed to be suppressing a surge of anger.

The footsteps stopped abruptly at the door of the editing room.

"Bang!"

The door was pushed open rudely, slamming against the wall with a dull thud.

Zhou Fangyuan and Zhang Jinlai, who were standing by the door, were both startled and turned their heads at the same time.

The person standing at the door was Director Yang Jie.

She was wearing a slightly worn shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her forearms, and she was holding a roll of documents that clearly came from a recent meeting.

His brows were furrowed, and his usually energetic face still carried a hint of seriousness, even a trace of fatigue and anger.

She had just escaped a heated argument.

At the meeting, some people had many criticisms of Wang Yue's portrayal of Tang Sanzang.

They felt that his face looked bitter, his temperament was not generous enough, and he lacked the dignity, nobility and approachability that a high-ranking monk should have.

It doesn't meet everyone's expectations of Tang Sanzang being refined and possessing a natural Buddhist aura, so it's suggested that someone else be chosen.

However, Yang Jie believes that trial episodes are meant for trial and error, and newcomers should be given a chance, not be directly rejected.

They spent a lot of effort and persuasion to save Wang Yue.

At this moment, she saw that the editing room was no longer empty, but now contained Zhou Fangyuan and Zhang Jinlai.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by a sharp scrutiny.

His gaze lingered for a moment on her face, which had narrowed slightly in surprise and whose eyes were still a little red.

"What are you two doing here?"

Yang Jie's voice wasn't loud, but it carried her unique, undeniable penetrating power.

The tension from the meeting still lingered in his tone.

Upon hearing this, the two almost simultaneously and subconsciously shook their heads.

Zhang Jinlai opened his mouth but made no sound, only slightly hesitantly avoiding Director Yang's gaze.

Zhou Fangyuan quickly took over the conversation, calming himself down:

"Director Yang, we...we were just looking for you."

The new makeup for Pigsy is finished! Teacher Wang has already tried it out, and the results are excellent! We'd especially like to invite you over to take a look and give us your feedback.

He emphasized that the results were very good, attempting to dilute the slightly awkward and delicate atmosphere with good news at work.

Yang Jie's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them once more.

Zhang Jinlai's evasive gaze and still-reddened eyes, Zhou Fangyuan's slightly hurried but trying-to-remain calm explanation.

She knew exactly what was going on.

"Those two kids, especially Jin Lai, something definitely happened just now, and it wasn't a small matter..."

But at this moment, although her gaze towards Zhang Jinlai was still evasive, it was no longer empty, and even faintly revealed a sense of determination.

This also brings to mind the potential overall improvement that could be brought about by redesigning Zhu Bajie's appearance...

The pent-up frustration she felt from the meeting strangely dissipated somewhat.

That's how artistic creation works; if one thing is blocked, everything else will be disrupted.

Clearing one blockage can suddenly bring about a breakthrough.

The actors' performances, the character development, and the refinement of costumes, props, and sets are all interconnected.

She didn't ask any further questions.

Sometimes, not asking questions is a form of protection, a form of trust, and also a kind of wisdom from a director.

Of course, she wouldn't tell Wang Yue about what happened at the meeting; one troublesome person like her was enough.