They searched the entire cave but couldn't find Zhou Jiuzhen and the others.
Ling Huanwu could only leave disappointed and went home with Political Commissar Hao and the others.
As soon as she entered the house, she numbly lay down on the bed.
My mind is full of questions: Where did Zhou Jiuzhen and the others go?
How could so many people suddenly disappear?
She thought about it over and over, but she couldn't figure it out.
Ling Huanwu calmed herself down and got up to enter the space again.
It was quiet inside, there was no one there, except for Little Green standing on the shelf, idly pecking at an apple.
The grain and other supplies in the warehouse were all neatly arranged, with no sign of being missing.
In the following days, Ling Huanwu continued to inquire about Zhou Jiuzhen and the others, but it was like throwing a stone into the sea; there was no response at all.
She shuttled back and forth between the army, the village, and the mountains every day, her legs feeling like lead, and her heart heavy with a sense of unease.
That night, Ling Huanwu couldn't hold on any longer and fell into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The next morning, she was awakened from her sleep by a commotion.
Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I went outside and saw, good heavens, the entrance to the army base was surrounded by villagers, all with angry faces, crying and cursing in a chaotic mess.
Ling Huanwu, who had already applied makeup and dressed up, grabbed an older woman next to her and asked anxiously, "Auntie, what's going on?"
The old woman's eyes reddened, and she wiped away her tears, saying, "The higher-ups have issued a notice that we have to move away from the island to the far northwest for development. The army won't help us repair the houses damaged by the storm surge anymore. Without a house, they're determined to drive us away!"
Just then, Political Commissar Hao strode out of the troops and raised his voice, saying, "Everyone, please be quiet and let me explain!"
"The island's resources are dwindling, and if this continues, we'll all go hungry. To have a way to survive in the future, we have no choice but to move!"
A young man retorted defiantly, "Why do you say there's no way to survive? Our fishing commune caught quite a few fish this morning, which proves there are still fish in the sea and we can still live!"
As they were talking, several villagers carried over a basket full of small fish, which they then dumped on the ground with a "whoosh." But when everyone looked closer, they were all dumbfounded—the fish in the basket were all dead!
The scene fell silent instantly, and everyone wore expressions of despair.
This storm surge has completely destroyed the ecosystem of the nearby waters, making fishing and even aquaculture impossible in the future.
Political Commissar Hao looked at everyone and earnestly advised, "Fellow villagers, if the quartz mine on the island were still there, we certainly wouldn't have had to leave."
"But now that the mine is gone, and the fishing industry is gone too, we really have to move! If you can't bear to leave your loved ones buried here, you can come back to visit every year. Maybe you can even live a better life in the new place!"
Upon hearing this, the villagers hung their heads and walked back with long faces.
Although he kept muttering that he wouldn't agree, he understood in his heart.
Nowadays, every household is struggling to make ends meet, and the subsidies and various tickets offered for moving away from the island are a considerable temptation.
However, the legends and rules left by our ancestors prevent us from moving away from the island, and this matter weighs heavily on everyone's hearts like a big stone.
Ling Huanwu saw all of this and made a decision in her heart.
She wanted to stay on the island, searching for Zhou Jiuzhen while also helping her fellow villagers find a way to get through this difficult time.
In the days that followed, Ling Huanwu went around investigating, trying to see if there were any other solutions for the island.
Whether it was growing crops, raising livestock, or developing handicrafts, there were many difficulties, and the problem of survival could not be solved at all.
That day, Ling Huanwu came to the crystal cave on the mountain again.
While she carefully searched for traces of Zhou Jiuzhen and the others inside, she pondered how to help her fellow villagers.
As she walked, she came to the bottom of the crystal cave, and suddenly her eyes lit up.
At the bottom of the cave, a huge crystal pillar hangs from the top of the cave to the ground.
The cave walls are inlaid with colorful crystals, which shimmer and glow under the sunlight, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
Ling Huanwu's eyes widened as a bold idea gradually took shape in her mind.
Without thinking twice, she immediately turned around and ran down the mountain, heading straight for Political Commissar Hao's office.
Upon seeing Political Commissar Hao, Ling Huanwu said breathlessly, "Political Commissar Hao, I have an idea that might save the island and allow the villagers to stay home!"
Political Commissar Hao looked at her suspiciously: "What idea? Tell me quickly."
Ling Huanwu took a deep breath and blurted out all her thoughts.
“If we develop this crystal cave into a tourist attraction, it will definitely attract a lot of people. When people come, it will boost consumption, and the villagers will have jobs and earn money!”
Political Commissar Hao was taken aback at first, then a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes. “That’s a good idea! But, given the current situation, many people are struggling to make ends meet. How can they possibly travel around like this? I think we need to discuss this with the village chiefs.”
Soon, Political Commissar Hao summoned the village chiefs from several villages together.
Ling Huanwu stood before everyone and explained her plan in detail.
The village chiefs were so surprised they couldn't close their mouths.
After a long while, an old village chief finally spoke up: "This...is this going to work? Our ancestors have guarded this island for generations, and we've never heard of anyone making a living just by living in a cave. Besides, people from outside are willing to travel all this way and spend money to come here just to see a cave. Wouldn't it be better to use that money to buy some big pig's trotters?"
Ling Huanwu smiled and explained, "Grandpa, times have changed."
“City dwellers and foreigners love these novel and beautiful places. If we develop the crystal cave properly and charge an entrance fee, and add some farmhouses and guesthouses, it will definitely attract a lot of tourists. Then, the villagers won’t have to leave their homes.”
The crowd started discussing it, some supporting it and others hesitant.
But Ling Huanwu could see that a glimmer of hope had been ignited in everyone's hearts.
In the following days.
Ling Huanwu went to the city and invited experts to conduct an on-site investigation.
They escorted the experts away by boat.
Ling Huanwu squatted on the reef, clutching a brand-new geological team report in her hand, her fingertips rubbing the words "Sea-eroded crystal caves, with extremely high ornamental value" until they shone.
Behind us, the fishing boats of Stone Village were stranded on the mudflats as the tide receded, like a group of powerless fish.
"Xiao Ling, are you really going to mess with that stone cave?"
Aunt Liu handed the baby in her arms to Ling Huanwu, her eyes full of worry. "The county says this is a 'useless geological wonder.' We fishermen have made our living from the sea for generations. What do we know about tourism?"
Ling Huanwu took the child, touched her cheek against the child's tender face, and looked towards the high mountain where the crystal cave was located. "Aunt Liu, look at the crystals in that cave. When the sunlight shines on them, they reflect rainbows. City people really love these things. If we could turn the crystal cave into a tourist attraction, everyone could make money right at their doorstep and wouldn't be forced to move away from the island."
Aunt Liu didn't understand any of this. She just looked in the direction of the coastal cemetery and silently prayed for Mazu's blessing, hoping that everyone could live a good life.
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