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

Zhou Fangyuan took out another piece of cardboard that he had prepared in advance, but before he put pen to paper, a thought crossed his mind.

The original price of 1.5 yuan was changed to 1.8 yuan.

He had considered this change.

He wasn't sure if the high-end products would sell well; a lower price might be better for the children's palace, and he hoped to sell as many as possible.

In this courtyard, he had actually investigated the place and found that if the price of a high-end product was only 1.5 yuan, it might not be "significant enough".

People here believe in the principle of "you get what you pay for," and even think that "there's a reason why things are expensive."

One dollar and eighty cents is three cents more than one dollar and fifty cents. It may not seem like much, but psychologically, it crosses the usual threshold and gets closer to the two-dollar price range.

It appears more upscale and less expensive.

For customers who are not short of money but pursue a respectable and high-quality lifestyle, this price is actually more attractive than one dollar and fifty cents.

They are not afraid of things being expensive; what they fear is that things are not good enough and do not match their standards and status.

To put it bluntly, it's all about saving face!

Before long, people who had just finished get off work or were returning from outings were attracted.

A middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses, looking like a scholar, but smelling faintly of engine oil, walked over.

He bent down to examine it closely, and after a long while, he exclaimed:

"What excellent craftsmanship! The carving is solid, and the figure's movements are captured so accurately."

He didn't give Zhou Fangyuan a chance to explain, and instead sighed to himself with admiration.

"Hmm, not bad, not bad! This is not just a toy, it's a work of art with artistic value, and it can also promote the essence of our own culture."

This was exactly the effect Zhou Fangyuan wanted. Hearing this, several people gathered around.

There were middle-aged men who looked like government officials, and women with elegant demeanor.

The discussions mostly revolve around phrases like "exquisite craftsmanship," "promoting tradition," "high-quality materials," and "collectible value."

In this group, anyone who can't offer a proper explanation or say anything meaningful will lose face and feel inferior.

Price is not the most sensitive factor here.

Medium-grade items at 60 cents are very popular, while high-grade items at 1.8 yuan are also inquired about frequently and have a very high conversion rate.

Almost every time someone asks for a question, one item is sold; some are bought as gifts.

While they were vying to save face, Zhou Fangyuan was bursting with joy.

But he still maintained that calm and collected expression, nodding in approval from time to time.

The uncle who bought the items at the beginning did not leave afterward.

Upon learning that Zhou Fangyuan was a member of the Journey to the West production team, his eyes immediately lit up, and he approached him with great interest to chat about the show.

He praised the pilot episode that aired the day before yesterday, his words full of love and anticipation, clearly showing his genuine liking for it.

A woman who seemed to be tech-savvy bought a high-quality Sun Wukong and a high-quality Tang Sanzang without hesitation:

"These two pieces look so elegant in the home; they're much more meaningful than those plaster statues."

Just as business was booming, Zhou Fangyuan was about to package a high-quality Bajie (a type of Chinese snack) for a middle-aged cadre.

A familiar figure walked over; it was Chen Jing, and he didn't look too good.

Coincidentally, the middle-aged cadre who was paying looked up and saw Chen Jing passing by, and greeted him with a smile.

"Hey, Xiao Jing's back! Look at this young man's wood carving skills, they're really impressive! I'll buy one for my Xiao Bin! He can keep it as a collector's item!"

Chen Jing turned his head and looked over, his eyes meeting Zhou Fangyuan's. Both of them were visibly stunned for a moment.

Chen Jing's brows furrowed quickly as his gaze swept over the wood carvings on the stall and his cousin who was paying for them.

A barely perceptible hint of embarrassment and displeasure flashed across his face.

"Cousin-in-law".

Chen Jingxian greeted the middle-aged man respectfully.

Only then did he turn his gaze to Zhou Fangyuan, his expression indifferent, carrying the subconscious distance that a professional student would feel when facing an "unconventional" person.

At this moment, he saw that his cousin, who was quite cultured, was actually praising Zhou Fangyuan, this "unorthodox" man, so highly.

Chen Jing felt a surge of superiority and an urge to uphold professional standards.

Then, a slightly reserved smile appeared on his face, as if he were offering advice from a professional perspective.

"Uncle, you like these kinds of folk crafts?"

He leaned slightly forward, pointed to a detail of the wooden Pigsy carving in his uncle's hand, and whispered to his uncle in a more "expert" tone:

"Haha, Uncle, if you really like wood carving art, I'll take you to see the works of the master craftsmen at the arts and crafts factory, or the student creations at the art academy's graduation exhibition another day."

That's what serious creation is all about, emphasizing the rigor of form and the depth of artistic expression.

These little trinkets sculpted from the shapes seen in TV dramas…

He shook his head slightly, a hint of "you know what I mean" in his smile.

"It's lively, but after all... it lacks systematic training and artistic pursuit."

It's fine as a novelty item, but it's still a bit far from being a true art collectible. Don't you think so?

His words were spoken subtly and politely, completely adopting the posture of "doing what's best for the elders" and "providing professional advice."

While not directly attacking Zhou Fangyuan, every sentence raised the bar for "professional training" and "formal training."

By belittling the quality of these "amateur productions" in front of him, he intended to make his uncle feel that buying them was a bit of a rip-off.

These words stunned his cousin and the onlookers around him.

The group looked at each other, their faces showing hesitation.

Zhou Fangyuan listened quietly, a peaceful smile still on his face.

He waited until Chen Jing finished speaking before calmly opening his own mouth, neither refuting Chen Jing's words nor getting angry.

Following his own logic, he addressed Chen Jing's cousin and several other interested residents:

"What this comrade said makes sense. Works from professional institutions certainly have their own system and depth."

However, I think that art sometimes depends on fate and personal affinity.

Just like when we filmed "Journey to the West," wasn't our hope that the public would like it and feel that the characters of Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie were exactly how they imagined them?

As he spoke, Zhou Fangyuan smiled and picked up another high-quality Pigsy character, looking at the middle-aged man:

"Look at this, it was carved by our carpenter, stroke by stroke."

He may not have attended an art academy, but he had studied the temperament of each person he had killed.

When he was carving, he wasn't thinking about "traditional rigor"; he was probably just thinking about what kind of expression Pigsy should have when he made this pose.

This thing is just sitting there, and it might not meet certain 'artistic standards'.

But it can bring a smile to the faces of children who have watched the TV series, and make those who like the story feel a sense of familiarity and joy.

It might even evoke some fond memories. Wouldn't you say that's a kind of value too?

As Zhou Fangyuan spoke with great focus, his gaze would unconsciously drift toward the Bajie wood carving, his eyes sparkling.

It wasn't just about introducing a piece of work; it was more like reliving a certain afternoon when sawdust filled the dormitory, and he and Xiao Zhang were engrossed in discussing an arc or a particular expression.

"When buying things, especially those with cultural significance, the most important 'value' is that you genuinely like them and feel happy when you see them."

If you find this Pigsy figurine appealing and enjoy buying it, then that's its greatest value.

These words completely broke out of the debate framework set by Chen Jing, which was "professional vs. amateur" and "in-depth vs. superficial".

It returns to the most basic level of "like or dislike" and "emotional connection".

Those around him agreed and praised the young man highly.

Chen Jing stood there, his smile almost fading.

His carefully crafted "professional advice" seemed utterly powerless in the face of Zhou Fangyuan's gentle rhetoric of "emotional connection."

Most importantly, after hearing these remarks, I actually found them to make some sense.

He originally intended to subtly belittle Zhou Fangyuan and the unconventional methods he represented, thus solidifying his "professional and correct" image in front of his relatives.

The result was like punching cotton; it only made me appear narrow-minded and obsessed with empty fame.

After listening to the young man's explanation of the wood carving, Chen Jing's uncle's smile widened even more.

Touched by this sentiment, he laughed and patted Zhou Fangyuan on the shoulder:

"Young man, well said! That makes sense! I bought this old pig because I like it, because it catches my eye!"

Let's not talk about collecting them, just do what makes us happy!

He then turned to Chen Jing, his tone gentle yet carrying the magnanimity of an elder.

"Xiao Jing, art, in the end, is about making people feel comfortable! This Bajie is great, Xiao Bin will definitely like it!"

He paid the money readily, then reconsidered.

"Hey? Xiao Jing, such fine wood carvings are rare. Why don't you buy one for your brother? He'd probably like it too!"