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

Inside the dining hall, the lights were bright, and the steam from the food mingled with the hushed laughter, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

The atmosphere today was noticeably different from usual; the crew members and Taoist priests no longer sat separately, but rather intermingled with each other.

The prop master here is gesturing with his hands, asking a middle-aged Taoist priest about the beam structure of the ancient buildings in the temple.

The girls from the makeup team were quietly asking a young Taoist priest about his daily lessons, their curiosity and respect evident.

When Zhou Fangyuan arrived, he happened to see Master Wang and was invited to sit down.

After a brief chat about planting, Master Wang left first, saying he was going to find some booklets about medicinal herb cultivation for Zhou Fangyuan.

Zhou Fangyuan sat there alone, having eaten half of the food in his bowl, but his thoughts were wandering far away.

The calm and solemn power he felt during the daytime filming, and the simple and unpretentious joy he felt when Liu Qiang brought him sweet potatoes in the morning, overlapped repeatedly in his heart.

Those barren mountains in my hometown became exceptionally clear in my mind.

Planting medicinal herbs... Once this idea took root, it grew wildly like vines.

But he knew that having only ideas and enthusiasm wouldn't get him anywhere on this land.

Just as I was lost in thought, Li Chengru led his group into the dining hall, carrying rice bowls and walking in with a ruddy complexion.

He looked around and saw an empty seat next to Zhou Fangyuan, so he plopped down on it.

"Hey, Xiao Zhou, you're eating already?" Li Chengru was in a great mood, his voice loud and clear, carrying the straightforwardness of a Beijing native.

"Today's scene, hey, it went really smoothly! Director Yang's face was beaming with joy."

"Yes, everyone has worked hard." Zhou Fangyuan snapped out of his reverie and smiled in response, but his mind was still on that desolate mountain.

As Li Chengru ate his food, he greeted people he knew nearby, chatting and laughing, adding a lively touch to the entire dining hall.

He was known as the "know-it-all" in the group. He was knowledgeable and had a keen eye for interpersonal relationships and how to get things done.

Zhou Fangyuan looked at him, and a thought suddenly struck him.

Asking him might give you a different perspective on this matter.

After Li Chengru finished talking to the person next to him, Zhou Fangyuan carefully spoke:

"Brother Li, I have a question for you. You have a lot of experience, could you help me analyze it?"

"Say it, with our relationship, do we need to be so polite?" Li Chengru picked up a piece of vegetable, gesturing for him to continue.

"In my hometown, there is a piece of barren mountain belonging to the collective. I was thinking, could we set up an experimental field like the villagers here in Qingcheng Mountain and try to grow some medicinal herbs?"

Zhou Fangyuan spoke sincerely, "I've thought about it, and I'm somewhat capable of handling the technology and sales channels, but the most difficult hurdle, I think, is the 'procedures'."

The land belongs to the collective, so any construction work requires a permit or approval. I'm often away from home, and I'm afraid it won't work if I just talk about it without any real knowledge.

You said, in this situation, if you really want to do it, where should you start and find a breakthrough?

After listening, Li Chengru put down his chopsticks, looked Zhou Fangyuan over carefully, and smiled.

"You've hit the nail on the head. The key issue isn't whether or not crops can be planted on barren mountains, but rather 'who lets you plant them,' and 'why you're allowed to plant them.'"

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and pondered.

"To break this deadlock, just trying to find a solution back in your hometown might not be enough... Hmm... we also need to find a pretext that 'the higher-ups' will consider a serious matter..."

His eyes lit up, and he leaned forward slightly: "Hey! Why don't you ask Director Li for advice!"

When our crew was filming, he dealt with people from all over the country. He was the general manager. What kind of complicated situation hadn't he dealt with?

He knows everything about forestry, land, policies, regulations, and interpersonal relationships.

Go ask Director Li if there are any policy avenues to leverage in this situation, and how to proceed with the procedures smoothly.

If he's willing to give you a few pointers, it's a hundred times better than you figuring it out on your own!

Zhou Fangyuan suddenly understood. Li Chengru's words were like a key, pointing him to a pragmatic path.

The goal is not to directly resolve the approval process, but rather to find strategies and support for resolving it.

Li Hongchang's experience and connections are exactly the think tank and bridge he needs most right now.

"I understand, Brother Li." Zhou Fangyuan nodded heavily, a grateful expression on his face.

"Thank you for your guidance! I need to find an opportunity to properly consult with Director Li."

Seeing that it was still early, he simply got up and went straight to find Li Hongchang.

Zhou Fangyuan arrived at the guest room and gently knocked on the door. Li Hongchang and Lao Zeng were checking the schedule for tomorrow's performance under the lamp.

Li Hongchang was somewhat surprised when Zhou Fangyuan explained his purpose, but he listened to his thoughts very carefully.

Zeng, the production assistant, chimed in from the side: "Brother Chang, I know about that barren mountain that Xiao Zhou mentioned."

That day, the three of them went up the mountain to dig, and when they came back, they were covered in mud, looking like mud monkeys!

He laughed heartily, but quickly put on a serious face and continued:

"But he's right. I've seen that mountain. It's shady and damp, and the soil is good. It's definitely a good place to grow medicinal herbs. There's potential there."

Li Hongchang nodded after listening, and his gaze toward Zhou Fangyuan held a hint of approval: "It's not wishful thinking; it's practical, which is good."

After a moment's thought, he readily said, "You don't need to worry too much about this."

Various regions are now exploring ways to develop side businesses and utilize idle resources.

I have a general idea of ​​the situation in your village. I'll ask around, look for policy guidelines, and see if I know anyone who can put in a good word for you.

Don't worry, it'll only take a few phone calls. I'll scout things out for you first.

Zhou Fangyuan was overjoyed to hear this, not expecting him to agree so readily. He was extremely grateful and quickly thanked the two of them sincerely.

Stepping out of the house, the night breeze was slightly cool, but Zhou Fangyuan felt a warmth in his heart.

Back in the temporary annex, the other people in the room sat together and chatted.

Ma Dehua turned around and saw Zhou Fangyuan return, then pointed to the side and said:

"Master Wang came by earlier and brought you some books and a few packets of seeds. His name is written on the packets, so I put them by your bedside."

He told me to tell you that these are probably the easiest medicinal herbs to harvest in your area.

After responding, Zhou Fangyuan walked to the bedside and saw two old thread-bound books neatly stacked there.

Next to it were several seeds carefully wrapped in plain paper, with the names of the medicinal materials meticulously marked on them with a brush.

Picking up a packet of seeds, you can feel the subtle life within the paper packet on your fingertips, and your heart is instantly filled with a warm current.

Zhou Fangyuan sat on the bed and carefully studied the booklet about medicinal herbs by the light.

The next morning, the mountain was shrouded in mist, but it was torn apart by an uncontrollable exclamation and commotion.

"Oh no! Someone come quick!"

"My God... what are we going to do?!"

The sound came from a corner of a side hall where props were temporarily stored.

Zhou Fangyuan's heart skipped a beat, and he ran over with several crew members who had rushed over upon hearing the noise.

Xiao Wu, who was in charge of the props, was pale-faced. He pointed at several open rattan boxes and wooden crates on the ground, his hands trembling.

Everyone crowded closer to take a look and gasped in shock.

The box was a mess.

Several robes intended for minor characters were torn to shreds, with strips of cloth scattered everywhere, and jagged teeth marks left on the wooden box.

Even worse were the paper props, the meticulously drawn talismans, and the antique-style booklets.

Even several important scene sketches were gnawed into pieces, mixed with black and gray rat droppings, a complete mess.

The air was filled with a nauseating, foul stench.