PCJ – Chapter 410 Perception

“I don’t know when we can start shooting. If this keeps dragging on, all the schedules for this year will be ruined,” Tang Yan said, sounding very worried.

“I heard that the water in the pond can’t be drained, and some people suspect it’s a bottomless pit. I feel like it’s something evil. The villagers said that people have drowned in that pond before,” Chen Haibo said, sounding concerned.

“Brother Bo, I didn’t realize you were so superstitious. I don’t believe in it at all. That pond isn’t as cursed as the villagers say. It’s just a pond. The reason it won’t drain is probably because it’s connected to an underground river. If we add a few more pumps, we can definitely drain the water! Don’t forget, people in Meizi’ao can swim, but even if you’re a good swimmer, bathing in a pond with an underground river can be dangerous,” Zou Heming said dismissively of Chen Haibo’s superstitions.

Chen Haibo was irritated. “Don’t call me ‘Brother Bo’ again, or I’ll stop talking to you. Call me ‘Brother Chen’ or ‘Haibo’ instead.”

“Brother Chen, Brother Chen,” Zou Heming, Tang Yan, and Chen Cheng laughed, almost falling over.

Chen Haibo shook his head. “Don’t laugh. When you encounter certain things, you’ll understand why I’m worried. We’re here to act, not to joke with our lives. Master He and Master Long are not easy people to deal with. I’m only telling you three this behind closed doors. If you don’t believe me, fine, but don’t let anyone else know I said this.”

“Brother Chen, I think you’re right. These past few days, I’ve been feeling like there’s something odd about the people coming here. We have professionals in our crew, so why are there all these mysterious people around? And why do we have to drain the water from the Laotang Pond? The pond always gives me a creepy feeling, like something is about to happen,” Chen Cheng spoke up.

“Exactly, that’s what I think too. The mountains around Meizi’ao are beautiful, and there are other ponds besides Laotang. Why not set up the scene there? Though I’m not a professional photographer, I know a bit, and the lighting there would probably give us better shots. Did you notice? Where we’re shooting, it’s not Director Lin who calls the shots,” Chen Haibo nodded, giving Chen Cheng a thumbs up to acknowledge her sharp observation.

“That’s true. Director Lin doesn’t seem happy about the delay either. But Wang Yiwei has been convincing him otherwise,” Tang Yan said.

Wherever Tang Yan and the others went, they were always watched by the villagers of Meizi’ao, and they had grown used to being pointed at and discussed by them.

“That’s the one, the actress who looks exactly like Feng Lian. Do you see? Is it just me?” Hu Xiaoqing pointed at Chen Cheng and spoke loudly.

“She does look like Feng Lian’s daughter. When Feng Lian came to the village years ago, her skin was as white as snow, and the villagers said she looked like she walked out of a painting. Maybe this is her daughter, who was born after she returned to the city,” Xie Chun’e said.

The villagers of Meizi’ao were gossiping, but Chen Cheng couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying. However, she started to feel uneasy. She had grown up in a very unusual family, so she was always sensitive to the thoughts and feelings of adults. Even though she couldn’t understand their dialect, she could tell from the villagers’ looks and actions that they were talking about her.

Chen Cheng had grown up in a rather abnormal household. Her parents never fought, but she could never feel the warmth of a normal family. To her, her parents seemed like mere parts of the family structure. As a child, she had hoped to receive the kind of love and affection that other kids did from their parents, but all she ever got was routine, like being provided for out of obligation. As she grew older, she realized that her parents were both living in pain and that they had come together at the wrong time.

“Chen Cheng, what are you daydreaming about? Let’s go!” Tang Yan pulled Chen Cheng’s arm.

“It’s nothing,” Chen Cheng quickly said and followed Tang Yan.

“Hey! Jiaohua! Wait up,” Tang Yan let go of Chen Cheng’s arm and ran after Zhang Jiaohua, who was strolling through the village.

Zhang Jiaohua looked puzzled. “What’s up?”

“Can I play with your monkey for a while?” Tang Yan asked.

“That depends on whether it agrees,” Zhang Jiaohua said, tapping the chubby monkey on the head.

The monkey immediately shook its head vigorously. But when it saw Tang Yan take out a handful of candy from her pocket, it immediately started nodding. Tang Yan couldn’t help but giggle.

“Glutton! Don’t follow me around. You’re embarrassing,” Zhang Jiaohua said, tapping the monkey’s head again.

“Hey, you promised me that if it agreed, I could play with it. You can’t go back on your word,” Tang Yan quickly said.

“Fine,” Zhang Jiaohua scratched his head.

Chen Haibo quickly spoke up, “Jiaohua, can I play with your fat cat? I’ve had cats for many years, but I’ve never seen one as smart as this fat cat.”

“Don’t ask me, ask it,” Zhang Jiaohua said, sounding irritated. He was still annoyed by Tang Yan’s earlier trick.

The fat cat didn’t even acknowledge Chen Haibo. No matter how much he tried, the cat stayed far away, refusing even a touch.

“Jiaohua,” Chen Cheng called.

“You better not ask me for the leopard. The leopard won’t play with you,” Zhang Jiaohua said.

The mountain leopard, as if on cue, made a ferocious face, scaring Chen Cheng and the others into stepping back.

“Jiaohua, control your leopard! Don’t hurt anyone,” Zou Heming said, his voice trembling, his body shaking.

“Pathetic. You’re all scared by just that little scare,” Zhang Jiaohua said, shaking his head in disappointment.

“Jiaohua, I don’t want the leopard to play with me. I just want to ask you something,” Chen Cheng quickly clarified.

“What’s up?” Zhang Jiaohua looked at her in confusion.

“These past few days, I’ve felt like everyone in the village is staring at me, and they’re saying all these strange things. But I don’t understand what they’re saying. You know what’s going on, right?” Chen Cheng asked.

“They must be saying how beautiful you are. Saying you look like that auntie, like you both stepped out of a painting,” Zhang Jiaohua said.

“Jiaohua, why are you calling me ‘aunt’?” Tang Yan said with a wry smile.

Zhang Jiaohua scratched his head. “You’re about the same age as my mom. What else should I call you?”

“I’m not older than your mom! You should call me ‘sister,’ since I’m unmarried,” Tang Yan said.

Chen Haibo and the others secretly chuckled behind them.

Zhang Jiaohua nodded. “Auntie, next time I’ll call you ‘sister.’”

Tang Yan was speechless. “Fine, whatever. Fat Monkey, we’re not talking to this troublemaker anymore.”

“Eek!” The fat monkey suddenly screeched fiercely at Tang Yan, scaring her back several steps. Afterward, it ran back to Zhang Jiaohua, took the candy it had stolen from Tang Yan earlier, and offered it to him in a flattering manner. It then checked the remaining candy in its pouch, took another one, and handed it to Zhang Jiaohua.

“Fat Monkey, you’re breaking my heart!” Tang Yan said, almost in tears.

Chen Cheng didn’t get an answer from Zhang Jiaohua, and she was unwilling to give up. She walked over to him and asked again, “Jiaohua, I know the villagers are talking about me. Can you tell me what they’re saying?”

“My mom says we shouldn’t gossip about others. Don’t ask me,” Zhang Jiaohua quickly ran off.

When Zhang Jiaohua ran away, Chen Haibo and the others understood—Chen Cheng’s intuition was right. It really did have something to do with her.

“Chen Cheng, have you been to Meizi’ao before?” Tang Yan asked.

Chen Cheng shook her head. “I was born in Donghai. If it weren’t for coming here to shoot the film, I would never have known about Meizi’ao.”

“Do you know anyone from Meizi’ao?” Chen Haibo also asked.

Chen Cheng shook her head again. “I don’t know anyone here at all!”

“Let’s go. I know where we can find answers.” Tang Yan grabbed Chen Cheng and started running after Zhang Jiaohua.

“Where to?” Chen Cheng could only follow passively.

“Didn’t Jiaohua just hint to you? He’s too scared to tell you the truth, but you can ask his mom. That kid is sharp—he’s not like ordinary kids. I’ve never seen a kid as smart as him,” Tang Yan said.

After hearing Tang Yan’s intentions, Liu Qiaoye shot a glance at Zhang Jiaohua. “You little rascal, I’ve told you a thousand times, don’t go around blabbing. You can’t even manage your own business, and now you’re sticking your nose in adults’ affairs.”

“Liu, please tell me. I don’t know what they’re saying, but I’m sure it has something to do with me,” Chen Cheng pleaded.

Liu Qiaoye looked at her, clearly reluctant. After a long pause, she said, “Actually, this is all just gossip. People are saying you look a lot like someone from our village, and they even think you might be sisters. But that’s impossible, isn’t it? You’re clearly from the city, and she’s never left Meizi’ao. Saying you’re sisters… they’re just talking nonsense. There are lots of people who look alike, but that doesn’t mean they’re related. Don’t worry about it, just let them talk, and after a while, it will all die down.”

“But… but…” Chen Cheng seemed unable to speak.

Chen Haibo quickly intervened, “Hey, let’s go check out the pig farm and see the wild boars!”

Tang Yan immediately understood, “I’ve never seen a wild boar. Let’s go have a look.”

“We should wait for Chen Cheng,” Zou Heming said, still unsure of what was happening.

“Let’s go!” Chen Haibo pulled Zou Heming along.

After they left, Chen Cheng finally said, “My mom once went to the countryside, I think it was somewhere near Zijiang.”

“What’s your mom’s name?” Chen Haibo asked.