FS-novel Chapter 577: Thief Catcher Wraps
Chapter 577: Thief Catcher Wraps
The Thief Catcher 2 production team stayed in G Province for a very long time, filming continuously from November straight through to the end of December.This period was a very happy time for everyone.
Although there were inevitably some frictions and unpleasant moments during the filming process, the atmosphere within the crew was excellent. Xiao He had known these people for a long time to begin with, so working together now felt completely natural and effortless, with absolutely no sense of distance.
Similar in tone to the first Thief Catcher, the second part also focused on the state and the suffering of the common people. However, compared to the ordinary folk of the first part, the second part clearly packed in more events involving important figures, with a grander and more magnificent backdrop.
This storyline focused on the hardships of war on the frontier. During this period, foreign barbarians were eyeing the territory covetously, while treacherous officials held sway within the court. The generals and soldiers desperately holding the frontier line had yet to receive their winter military pay and supplies. Seeing that winter was about to arrive, the leading general had no choice but to submit another memorial.
Yet, against all expectations, this letter pleading for help became evidence of treasonous collusion with the enemy. The various forces lurking in the shadows once again engaged in a silent struggle...
The powerful figures fought tooth and nail over their own interests, giving no thought whatsoever to the soldiers and civilians on the frontier, nor caring about the nation's territory. In their eyes, everything was just a transaction.
And Jiang Rushuai, Shen Jue, and the others who got caught up in it were merely small players in this chaotic world. They had to hustle desperately just to survive, yet in the end, they unexpectedly turned the tables on the power game played by the big shots by bringing forth evidence...
When they left the frontier, it was just like when they left Jiangnan in the first part. No one came to see them off, no one tried to persuade them to stay. The two of them simply rode their horses and quietly departed from the weathered frontier city wall.
No one knew how much they had contributed to the stability of the frontier, nor how many perilous moments they had experienced, teetering on the edge of life and death.
But clearly, they didn't care about such empty fame either.
Moreover, living in the twilight of a dynasty, being able to live such a low-key life was already pretty good.
"Jiang Rushuai—"
Just before they got far, someone on the city wall called out Jiang Rushuai's name.
Jiang Rushuai looked up and immediately saw the woman standing atop the wall.
The woman had resumed her elegant and luxurious attire, the vermilion hairpins on her head glittering brightly. Even though she still wore a veil, it couldn't hide her breathtaking beauty... Just standing there, she brought a vibrant splash of color to the dilapidated wall eroded by wind and sand.
She was completely different from the simple, plainly dressed landlady back at the inn.
Yet she was still her.
Jiang Rushuai tugged on the reins, a somewhat roguish smile on his face. "What? Has the landlady decided to come back with us?"
The woman's gaze lingered on Shen Jue beside Jiang Rushuai for a moment, her eyes indeed holding a trace of reluctance. But she still shook her head and tossed a copper coin down towards Jiang Rushuai.
The coin flew through the air, finally caught with precision by Jiang Rushuai below the wall.
But looking at the coin lying quietly in his palm, Jiang Rushuai was momentarily stunned.
"I heard this is your rule, Jiang Rushuai, as a thief catcher."
The woman continued.
"This is my payment."
Jiang Rushuai's expression was complicated. He rubbed the coin carefully in his hand for a moment, then finally let out a soft laugh. He glanced at the silent Shen Jue beside him, then raised his hand and sent the coin flying back with pinpoint accuracy into the woman's hand.
"I've already been paid."
Jiang Rushuai gripped the reins, turning his horse's head around again, his posture cool and casual.
"If the landlady wants to repay me, come to the northwest later and buy me a drink—"
Along with his carefree voice, the sound of two sets of hoofbeats also gradually faded into the distance.
Even when they were far away, she never heard a single word of farewell from him.
But that was just the kind of person Shen Jue was.
—Not saying goodbye meant they could meet again anytime in the future.
The woman lowered her eyes, looking at the copper coin in her hand, her beautiful eyes filled with unconcealable sorrow.
"So he knew all along..."
"Hehe."
The woman clenched the copper coin in her hand, turning away in a discomfited manner. It was just hard to tell how much melancholy and self-mockery were carried in that soft laugh.
...
On this day, both Xiao He and Qu Qiuyan wrapped their scenes.
Qu Qiuyan, draped in an outer coat, gracefully accepted the flowers handed to her by a staff member, her face showing a rare touch of melancholy.
Meanwhile, Xiao He sat on his horse, gazing once more at the distant, towering city wall and the surrounding undulating sand dunes, also inexplicably beginning to feel a sense of wistfulness.
"Time passes so quickly."
It felt like the time spent with this crew had just flown by.
"Hahaha, Brother Xiao, that look on your face, it's like you haven't acted enough yet."
Pu Rong dismounted from his horse, teasing Xiao He while also taking a jab at Lin Yipeng. "Director Lin, you see, Xiao He is already itching to film the third part."
Lin Yipeng was still checking the footage. Hearing Pu Rong's words, he retorted with a hint of annoyance, "We haven't even finished filming the second part yet, why don't you guys aim to reach the sky in a single bound?"
"So there really is a third part?"
Xiao He picked up on the subtext in his words and immediately asked with curiosity.
While filming the first part, he could guess that Thief Catcher might have a second part because the landlady character never showed her face from beginning to end, clearly intending to plant foreshadowing with this character.
Now that the second part was also nearing its end, and all the foreshadowing around the landlady had been resolved, Xiao He really couldn't imagine what Lin Yipeng would film next.
Lin Yipeng shot Xiao He a sidelong glance and didn't speak.
Clearly, he realized Xiao He was trying to fish for information.
Xiao He raised an eyebrow. Now he was truly certain that Lin Yipeng's mind held some conception of a third part.
But what would the third part be about?
Xiao He ran through the possibilities in his mind, and then an incredible idea surfaced—
In Thief Catcher, the characters with mysterious backgrounds weren't limited to just the landlady; there was also Shen Jue, and even the protagonist Jiang Rushuai himself.
For example, Shen Jue's origins, Jiang Rushuai's practice of accepting copper coins to complete tasks, how the two met and became friends... These clearly hid another deep story, possibly even more than one.
So...
Xiao He made a bold guess: the third part would be a prequel!
That is, telling the story that happened even earlier than the first and second parts!
Only this could fill in the background and character relationships of Thief Catcher.
Who would have thought this kid would have such ambition.
After all, Thief Catcher was Lin Yipeng's very first work!
Had he already planned to film the subsequent stories back then?
That does sound like something he would do.
"Even if you've guessed it, don't ask me, and don't get your hopes up."
Lin Yipeng seemed to notice that Xiao He had already figured it out and immediately issued a warning.
Xiao He simply smiled and didn't press further.
Creating a film series is no simple task.
Look at Director Zhuang, Zhuang Hongyi. He's been famous for a long time, with money and resources. After all this time going around in circles, he's finally pushed The Phantom Thief Alliance series forward, preparing to polish the second part as a test to see if it can achieve the same success as the first.
So everything is still up in the air. There's no need for him to dwell on it too much and affect Director Lin's mood.
At this moment, Pu Rong and Qu Qiuyan also walked over.
"Come on, take these flowers, let's all take a group photo together."
Pu Rong shoved a bouquet into Xiao He's arms and herded Xiao He and Qu Qiuyan to stand in the center position.
Qu Qiuyan's makeup today included a veil, so she wasn't forcing her face to stay stiff like before, afraid that laugh lines would scare people. Instead, she wore a natural, gentle smile, and even her eyes seemed softer.
It was clear she had also been very happy during this filming period.
Thus, this group photo captured everyone's cheerful, beaming faces.
Even the yellow sand and dilapidated city wall behind them couldn't overshadow their joy and vitality.
Finally, amidst the farewells from the Thief Catcher 2 crew, Xiao He led his own team back home.
By now, the time had reached the final few days of December.