Chapter 2, The Weeping Island, Cai Manxin's Past Continuous Tense

The engine roared, cutting through the waves, leaping at the crest, like a flying fish, like a dolphin. Cai Manxin, wearing an orange-red life jacket, stood at the bow of the boat, raising her arms and shouting "Ura." The speedboat jolted, and she nearly fell off. Jiang Hai, quick-witted and agile, steered with one hand and grabbed her wrist with the other.

She let out a scream, jumping up and down while brushing herself off

"Oh, I have always been good at comforting others, turning black into white," said Cai Manxin with a hearty laugh. She then asked, "Hey, what is your name? I can't just keep calling you 'hey' every day."

Cai Manxin only drank a glass of orange juice on the plane. Although she had just eaten beef noodles, she still managed to eat two rice balls, a bowl of dried fish, and a plate of lettuce in one go. A Jun exclaimed that this visitor was a big eater, and the business was at a loss. Granny Lu laughed so hard that her wrinkles deepened, revealing a toothless gum with two or three missing teeth

"Go to the stern of the boat!" Jiang Hai shouted loudly

Jiang Hai nodded: "It will be completed in another month"

The sound was scattered by the fierce wind, and Cai Manxin could not hear it. She laughed heartily, her hair dancing in the wind

The two individuals navigated around the rugged coastal rocks and spotted a nearly abandoned staircase on the hillside. Ascending the steps along the slope, they encountered wild grasses of varying heights. Cai Manxin initially felt that this place was remote and desolate; however, as the path twisted and turned, upon reaching the summit, he suddenly beheld a small wooden cabin perched on the rocks at the cape. The dark brown exterior walls and the deep green doors and windows created a striking contrast. As Jiang Hai opened the door, he was immediately greeted by the breathtaking view of the sea. The ocean seemed to be right beneath their feet, a vast expanse of clear, vibrant blues in varying depths and shades.

"Hey, you wouldn't really be so pessimistic and world-weary as to come here, would you?" Cai Manxin said, "Don't seek death; there aren't many handsome guys left in this era."

You have no say in this! Cai Manxin stuck out her tongue, "Those who abandon the world see everything as shabby, while I see everything as a vibrant world."

Bending down to pick up the notebook, he saw a long shadow stretching beneath his feet. He crossed his arms, still expressionless. She stood sideways in the wind, holding a wide-open notebook. She did not avoid anyone's gaze. You are cold, but I am even cooler

What joy it is, in a moment of inspiration, to stretch my shoulders and neck between the sea and sky, performing several yoga poses. I kicked off my shoes and jumped onto the beach, surrounded by trees, the sun, Warrior I, and Warrior II. Each body contorted into various shapes. At this moment, my mind is tranquil, and I can clearly hear the tide rushing towards the wooden piles of the pier and then receding, as the gentle stream trickles back into the sea through the crevices of the coarse wood.

The bay in this area offers a magnificent view of the sunset. The coconut groves at the foot of the mountains rise with the mountain mist, further accentuating the greenery of the trees before us. Dark clouds approach from the mountains, meeting the evening glow over the sea. Large patches of ink gray and rose pink intertwine, gradually blending together. The sea grows darker and deeper, while the distant lighthouse flickers.

Cai Manxin paid him no mind. "Oh, Granny, have your teeth been fixed?" she asked

How to get there? Swim over?

I want to see when you will be drowned by the rising tide" he said with a light mockery

Everything was going smoothly, and she felt content. Turning around, she saw that person again. "Why do you always sneak around and spy without saying a word?" she questioned, raising her chin.

"Why bother with the reasons? As long as there is food, that's all that matters," A-Jun laughed

Cai Manxin and the two generations of grandparents and grandchildren were laughing together. A Hai's expression gradually softened, occasionally breaking into a faint smile. The wind wove through the courtyard, bringing with it the fragrance of flowers, trees, and grass

In the days that followed, Cai Manxin sometimes wondered, if she had not gone to Washington for an internship that year, and heard about a small town called Xianggang; if He Luo had not declined during the summer, and the two of them had traveled together; if she had seen more information online and booked accommodations in advance; or even if she had not snatched that E.T. T-shirt while shopping... would she have accidentally stumbled upon Grandma Lu's guesthouse, would she have stayed in Xianggang for so long, would she have questioned the true meaning of her previous hard work and striving, and would she have endeavored to explore what is truly called a dream. If she had seen more information online and booked accommodations in advance; or even if she had not snatched that E.T. T-shirt while shopping... would she have accidentally stumbled upon Grandma Lu's guesthouse, would she have stayed in Xianggang for so long, would she have questioned the true meaning of her previous hard work and striving, and would she have endeavored to explore what is truly called a dream

This is ... ... yours?" She looked around and saw the pile of wood and tools beside her

While bargaining, I saw Jiang Hai's figure appear on the pier. "I guessed you wouldn't listen to advice," he snorted, "What is there to see in a broken house and a broken tree"

"Are you trying to compliment me?" he scoffed

This is what is known as the butterfly effect. A slight turn may lead the future down a completely different path

The river and the sea do not think so: "A centipede has more legs, doesn't it?"

"It is even more remote over there," he said, "not a place for single women to go."

Cai Manxin listened with great interest, feeling that the chaotic wild grass by the roadside added a touch of rustic charm, having long forgotten her initial impression of how this place had fallen into disrepair

The last rays of sunlight on the horizon cast a dim and blurred orange-red hue, enveloping the heavens and the earth in the same color

The reason it is called Tear Island is that in ancient times, a banished scholar remarked that this island evokes deep sorrow. He said, Those who come from the inland find themselves here with no path forward, only the vast ocean, which easily leads one to despair and abandon the world.

Cai Manxin slept soundly through the night and, in the morning, set off to the seaside with a camera bag on her back. The gentle breeze was refreshing, the water was clear, and the sand was soft. Small crabs hurriedly waved their pincers as they chased the retreating waves. Throughout the day, she wandered around, stopping here and there, and by evening, she sat under a large banyan tree, enjoying turtle jelly while writing her travel journal. A child next door was playing badminton, and in a moment of distraction, the shuttlecock got stuck in the tree. The child jumped and tried to hit it with the racket, but still fell short. Cai Manxin stood up, brushed the dust off her pants, and with a skip and a jump, ran over, tossing her thick notebook into the air, causing the branches to tremble.

It is said that the sea water over there is clearer. Cai Manxin pointed to the small island in the sea. The sandbar connecting it to the mainland is covered by the tide, becoming increasingly distant and isolated.

"Rivers and seas," he said, "rivers, lakes, and oceans"

Cai Manxin could not help but take a step forward, but was pulled back by Jiang Hai, who said: "Look closely, the floor is not yet finished laying"

He pointed to the turquoise shadows on the azure water's surface, saying that beneath it lies a bed of corals, and during low tide, one can see schools of fish retreating to deeper waters along the waves. He mentioned that on the island, one can see green four-legged lizards, and the snails are much larger than those in Beijing; on Blue Screen Mountain, there are two types of monkeys: one is the leaf monkey, which moves in groups, quietly sitting in trees and eating leaves, while the other is the mischievous macaque, which once came to snatch Jiang Haidai's lunch, chattering loudly as it ran into waist-deep water to escape its pursuers. He mentioned that on the island, one can see green four-legged lizards, and the snails are much larger than those in Beijing; on Blue Screen Mountain, there are two types of monkeys: one is the leaf monkey, which moves in groups, quietly sitting in trees and eating leaves, while the other is the mischievous macaque, which once came to snatch Jiang Haidai's lunch, chattering loudly as it ran into waist-deep water to escape its pursuers

After locking eyes for half a minute, A-Jun knocked on the bowl and shouted: "Dinner is ready, dinner is served!"

A single stem of dandelion has formed a fluffy ball; when the wind blows, the delicate white seeds scatter into the sky, passing right before her eyes, soaring all the way to the low blue heavens. The clouds are so low that the soft, white cotton-like fluff almost envelops her.

This is what is known as the butterfly effect. A slight turn may lead the future down a completely different path

I truly wish to live here for a lifetime. " She sighed, " to build a stone house, where I can gaze at the sea every day.

Cai Manxin found a fisherman and agreed to hire him to row a small boat to Tears Island. It is said that there are still dilapidated churches and trenches there, where one can search for a way out among the ruins, with no paths leading anywhere, only winding trails in every direction. Thinking of this, she felt a surge of excitement, imagining herself as the second Lara, a shadow of the island.

Really? This is easy. Jiang Hai couldn't help but curl his lip, "Becoming a lighthouse keeper, and you can still earn a salary"

For dinner, we had steamed crabs, with only a bit of ginger and no other seasonings, yet they were so delicious that one could almost lick their own tongue. Cai Manxin said: "This morning by the seaside, I realized why crabs walk sideways."

But I really want to go and see it, " said Cai Manxin. "Aunt Lu said that island is called Tear Island. At that time, her husband was conscripted to Taiwan, and she and her sisters cried all their tears on the island.

In the center of Tear Island, there seemed to be a rainforest, with a narrow path almost submerged in dense vegetation. Jiang Hai wielded a machete to clear the way, while Cai Manxin followed closely behind, using both hands and feet. Her arms were scratched by thorns, yet she held back her cries, fearing that the guide would look down on her. After crossing the hills in the center of Tear Island, a vast expanse of dandelions greeted them in a clearing among the trees. The vibrant green stems and tender yellow flowers spread layer upon layer towards the sea. Cai Manxin ran over and shouted longingly: "Ah~~~~" The vibrant green stems and tender yellow flowers spread layer upon layer towards the sea. Cai Manxin ran over and shouted longingly: "Ah~~~~"

Cai Manxin grabbed a handful of wet sand and threw it over. He sidestepped and easily dodged it

Cai Manxin ran alone across the long pier, with fishing boats lined up on the sea, quietly rising and falling with the waves

Aunt Lu made rice balls, mixing white rice with glutinous rice and mung bean flour, resulting in a soft and sticky texture with a refreshing aroma. The accompanying dish was homemade dried fish, wrapped in lettuce, with a balanced flavor, where the moisture from the leaves enhanced the natural freshness of the fish.

A Hai is the most well-behaved, a hundred times better than this little rascal of mine

"You are really quite enthusiastic," Cai Manxin teased

How could it be! Cai Manxin is full of vigor and enthusiasm, "There is an even greater world beyond the sea!"

"Is this child begging for alms?" Old Granny Lu scolded in her frail voice, "I have told you countless times, yet you do not change. Ah Hai, you should also speak to him about this."

"You can swim, if you can keep up with my speedboat," Jiang Hai urged her as she jumped over several small boats. Close to the dock, there was a small speedboat. "Hold on to the railing," he said

Hmph, the world is full of distractions!" He scoffed with a smile, "I will take you there.

"Yes, yes, it was Ah Hai who took me this afternoon." The old man childishly removed his dentures, "Look, doesn't it look real? In the past, wealthy people would just get a gold tooth; nothing looked as good as this."

This is the most beautiful sky I have ever seen! She opens her arms at the end of the pier, and I really want to tell someone this.

Cai Manxin exclaimed, "With so many legs, walking upright is bound to step on one's own feet!" The Lu family, spanning generations, burst into laughter.

The world is vast, yet there are not many places to go

Cai Manxin glanced at him and lay back in the sea of flowers.

Get up, I will take you to a better place. Jiang Hai kicked her foot

The ball has fallen, and there are still many withered leaves and small insects.