Rebirth of Love: Jiang Ciyou's Counterattack Legend

As the golden sunshine gently sprinkled on every inch of the Maldives, Jiang Ciyou and Lu Jingchen embarked on a wonderful journey to explore the local traditional culture. They were no longer just intoxicated by the charming beaches and dreamy sea views, but were full of curiosity and respect for this land, eager to uncover the mysterious and charming veil of the Maldives' traditional culture.

In the early morning, the breeze blew gently, carrying the unique salty and humid smell of the sea. Jiang Ciyou and Lu Jingchen set off early and headed for a local ancient fishing village. Along the way, they saw a scene that was completely different from the luxury resort hotel: simple but full of life wooden houses were scattered in an orderly manner on the beach, colorful fishing nets were drying in front of the houses, and occasionally a few lazy cats could be seen curled up in the shade, half-squinting their eyes and looking at the passers-by.

When we arrived at the fishing village, we were just in time for the fishermen to return from the sea. The quaint fishing boats slowly approached the shore, and the boats swayed gently with the waves, making creaking sounds, as if telling the story of their years of fighting with the sea. The fishermen's dark faces were filled with the joy of harvest, and they skillfully carried the fresh catches ashore. Various kinds of fish sparkled silver in the sun, and some were still struggling desperately, splashing strings of crystal water.

Jiang Ciyou and Lu Jingchen stood aside, quietly watching this lively scene. Jiang Ciyou's eyes were full of novelty and emotion. She gently pulled the corner of Lu Jingchen's clothes and whispered: "Look, this is the purest life. They rely on the gift of the sea, day after day, year after year, but they are still so satisfied." Lu Jingchen nodded slightly, his eyes were also attracted by the scene in front of him. He stretched out his hand and gently put his arm around Jiang Ciyou's shoulders and responded: "Yes, this simple and plain happiness is really desirable."

They approached an old fisherman who was drying his catch. The old fisherman looked up and saw the strange but kind young couple. He showed his white teeth and greeted them warmly. Although they couldn't speak the same language, smiles and eyes became the best communication tools. Jiang Ciyou and Lu Jingchen also smiled back and greeted him with a few words of the local language they had just learned. The old fisherman seemed to understand their purpose and warmly invited them to help dry the fish.

Jiang Ciyou was a little hesitant, worried that her clumsy hands would cause trouble to the old man, but under Lu Jingchen's encouraging eyes, she still plucked up the courage to step forward. Picking up a slippery fish, she imitated the old fisherman, used a bamboo stick to open the fish's belly, and then sprinkled salt evenly. At the beginning, her movements were a little unfamiliar, and the fish always slipped from her hands, causing the surrounding fishermen to burst into good-natured laughter. But under everyone's patient guidance, she gradually mastered the skills and her movements became more and more skillful. Lu Jingchen helped to carry the catch. His tall and strong body shuttled among the fishermen. Although he was sweating profusely, he was working hard.

In the busy process, Jiang Ciyou chatted with a young fisherman's daughter. The fisherman's daughter introduced her to the life in the fishing village in not very fluent English. She said that every morning, before dawn, the men would go out to sea to fish, while the women would do housework at home, take care of the children, and wait for their husbands to return. When the harvest is good, everyone will celebrate together and share the joy of the harvest; when encountering wind and waves, and going out to sea is not smooth, everyone will support each other and tide over the difficulties together. Jiang Ciyou listened attentively and couldn't help but sighed: "This kind of life of unity, mutual assistance and interdependence is really beautiful. In the city, although everyone lives very close, they rarely have such intimacy." The fisherman's daughter blinked her eyes, smiled and said: "The sea is our mother. It raises us and keeps us closely connected."

After drying the catch, Jiang Ciyou and Lu Jingchen said goodbye to the fishermen and continued their cultural exploration. Next, they heard that a traditional dance performance was going to be held in the village, so they went to watch it with great interest.

The performance venue is an open sandy area, surrounded by local residents. They are dressed in bright traditional costumes, colorful and beautifully patterned, and every stitch and thread seems to weave the ancient legends of the Maldives. Laughter and joy can be heard from the crowd from time to time, children are chasing and playing around, and adults are chatting with each other, sharing daily trivia, the whole atmosphere is lively and warm.

With the sound of cheerful and exciting drum beats, the dance performance officially began. A group of dancers walked into the center of the venue with light and rhythmic steps. Their dancing postures were agile and unrestrained, with their arms waving in the air like palm leaves swaying in the wind; their bodies twisted like the ups and downs of the waves. The male dancers were agile, and every jump and spin was full of power, showing the masculinity of Maldivian men; the female dancers were graceful, their eyes were bright, their smiles were as bright as flowers, and the ribbons in their hands fluttered with the dance, as if they were clouds in the sky.

Jiang Ciyou and Lu Jingchen were deeply moved by the warm atmosphere and could not help but follow the crowd forward, wanting to experience this unique charm up close. Jiang Ciyou's eyes were fixed on the dancers, with excitement and amazement flashing in her eyes. Her body also swayed gently to the rhythm of the music, with an innocent smile on her face, as if she had completely integrated into this joyful world.

Lu Jingchen looked at Jiang Ciyou's intoxicated look, and his heart was full of doting. He gently held Jiang Ciyou's hand and whispered in her ear: "Do you want to try it together?" Jiang Ciyou turned her head to look at him in surprise, with a hint of hesitation in her eyes, but soon, that hesitation was replaced by excitement. She nodded vigorously and said, "Okay, let's go together!"

So, they walked into the dance group hand in hand. At first, Jiang Ciyou was a little reserved, her steps were a little flustered, and she couldn't keep up with the rhythm. But the enthusiastic dancers around her lent a hand to them, using simple movements to signal her to relax and follow her feelings. Lu Jingchen held her hand tightly, giving her strength and confidence. With everyone's encouragement, Jiang Ciyou gradually let go of herself. She imitated the dancers, waving her arms and twisting her body to her heart's content, with an unprecedented bright smile on her face.

Lu Jingchen was not to be outdone. His tall stature stood out among the dancers. Although he had not received professional training, he quickly integrated into the dance with his outstanding athletic talent and musical perception. His every move was full of energy, and he echoed with Jiang Ciyou, as if they were natural dancing partners. Seeing the foreign couple so devoted, the audience applauded and cheered for them. The laughter and applause intertwined, pushing the atmosphere of the entire performance to a climax.

After the dance, Jiang Ciyou and Lu Jingchen were sweating profusely, but their faces were filled with happiness and satisfaction. They thanked the dancers and the audience around them one by one. Although they couldn't speak the same language, their sincere emotions were fully conveyed through their eyes and smiles.

After leaving the dance performance venue, they strolled along the path of the fishing village, still immersed in the joy just now. Unconsciously, they came to a lively market. The market was crowded with people, and the stalls were full of various unique handicrafts.

There are exquisite and delicate wood carvings, each of which depicts Maldivian mythological figures or marine creatures, and are lifelike, as if they would come alive in the next second; there are also colorful weavings woven with local plant fibers, with intricate patterns and rich ethnic customs; and ornaments made of marine materials such as shells and corals, shining with the light of the sea and unique ingenuity.

Jiang Ciyou was immediately attracted by these exquisite handicrafts, and her eyes were as bright as the stars in the night sky. She couldn't wait to pull Lu Jingchen to shuttle between the stalls, carefully looking at each item, and exclaiming from time to time.

Jiang Ciyou stopped in front of a wood carving stall. She picked up a small and exquisite dolphin wood carving. The lines of the wood carving were smooth, and the dolphin's eyes were round and bright, as if telling her the story of the sea. Jiang Ciyou couldn't let it go, and turned to ask the stall owner: "Did you make this yourself? It's so beautiful!" The stall owner was a middle-aged uncle. He smiled and replied in not very fluent English: "Yes, miss. I learned wood carving from my father when I was a child, and I put my heart and soul into each of these works."

Jiang Ciyou gently stroked the wood carving, her heart filled with joy. She looked at Lu Jingchen with a hint of expectation in her eyes: "Jingchen, I want to buy this, it's so special, I want to take it home as a souvenir of our honeymoon." Lu Jingchen smiled and nodded: "Of course, as long as you like it."

After getting Lu Jingchen's consent, Jiang Ciyou carefully bargained with the stall owner. Although there were some language barriers, they were both sincere and finally reached a price that satisfied both parties. Jiang Ciyou wrapped the wood carving as if it were a treasure and put it in his backpack. He would take it out from time to time to check it, fearing that it would be damaged.

Then, they picked out a beautiful hand-woven carpet at the woven goods stall. The carpet had bright and harmonious colors, and the pattern was the traditional Maldivian wave pattern, which symbolized auspiciousness and peace. Jiang Ciyou imagined that laying it in their future home would definitely add a lot of warmth to the home. Seeing Jiang Ciyou's happy look, Lu Jingchen took the initiative to take on the task of communicating with the stall owner and successfully bought the carpet.

When choosing jewelry, Jiang Ciyou was overwhelmed. She picked up a shell necklace and admired its luster in the sun; then she picked up a pair of coral earrings and tried to put them on her ears. Lu Jingchen accompanied her patiently and gave her some pertinent suggestions from time to time. Finally, Jiang Ciyou selected several of the most representative jewelry and prepared to give them to her girlfriends when she returned to share this unique gift from the Maldives with them.

After visiting the market, they were already carrying large and small packages in their hands, and each item carried their beautiful memories of the Maldives. Jiang Ciyou said with emotion: "This cultural experience is really great. I feel that I have fallen deeply in love with this place. These handicrafts are not just objects, but also the inheritance of Maldivian culture. I want to treasure them well." Lu Jingchen agreed and said: "Yes, through these experiences, we have a better understanding of the people of this country and their lives. This will be an unforgettable memory in our lives."

As the sun sets, the sky is dyed a gorgeous orange-red. Jiang Ciyou and Lu Jingchen set off on their journey home with a full harvest. They know that this day's cultural experience will be like a shining pearl, inlaid in the long river of their honeymoon memories, and will never fade. And the Maldives, this beautiful and mysterious country, will always occupy a special place in their hearts.