Chapter 124: An Muxi Doesn't Drink Cold Drinks
“Today, let’s all rest well, because tomorrow morning I’m going to watch the sunrise at the very first point where the dawn of the new century touches our land—the first light of our motherland... So I’m going for a morning run; anyone who can get up, come with me!” Lin Shenlu’s words were actually meant for An Muxi.
Since Su Bao’er lowered her guard around Lin Shenlu, they hadn’t gone on a morning run together. An Muxi nodded thoughtfully. The rough sea journey had indeed tired them both.
The two sat on chairs on the balcony, feeling the sea breeze and watching the distant lighthouse and boats. Lin Shenlu suddenly realized that simply sitting quietly like this was also a kind of enjoyment. To think of nothing, to empty the mind—it was truly comfortable.
Perhaps because the matter with Su Bao’er was settled, everyone’s spirits had somewhat relaxed.
...
At half past four in the morning, Lin Shenlu woke and, dressed neatly, waited by the door for An Muxi.
“Come on, Muxi, I’ve been waiting for you ages,” he whispered gently.
Today, Lin Shenlu had purposely put on a thicker sweatshirt—the early morning sea breeze was bitterly cold.
“Dress warmly if you go out; I brought you a hat!” he continued with concern.
Inside, An Muxi’s voice was soft: “I’m not going... You go by yourself.”
This surprised Lin Shenlu. An Muxi wasn’t one to sleep in.
“I’m not feeling well... You go on ahead...” her voice was faint.
“Um... I had planned to hike around the island today... You and Bao’er can have breakfast yourselves. I’ll bring you ice cream when I get back?” Lin Shenlu probed.
“No...”
“Oh, so no cold food!” Lin Shenlu nodded and left alone.
Avoiding cold food was one thing, but the lack of vehicles on the island and the exhaustion from hiking was the real challenge.
Lin Shenlu left the guesthouse and walked down the slope. Before him stretched the vast blue sea and the rustic charm of fishermen’s lives. The salty tang of the ocean filled the air, and the rhythmic crash of waves echoed endlessly. Imagining the life of the locals, Lin Shenlu found the experience refreshingly novel.
Above the pier, stone steps led to a viewing platform. Though called a platform, it was really a somewhat flattened area formed by large rocks along the shore.
The rocky area was steep, and the sea breeze fierce. After walking a long time and following signs uphill, Lin Shenlu finally reached the spot where the first light of the new century meets the earth.
Standing there, he was deeply moved. The sea’s color was mesmerizing—a layered blue with streaks of white, like brushstrokes on an oil painting.
No wonder this was the first light of the new century!
According to the Royal Greenwich Observatory in the United Kingdom, the first ray of dawn in the new century on mainland China falls on Dongfu Mountain in the East Extreme Island.
This first ray was not only the first on Dongfu Mountain Island but also the first ray of light for the entire motherland.
Lin Shenlu thought that seeing the sun rise from the horizon was truly special.
It was just after five in the morning.
The sky was faintly brightening, a blend of blues where sea and sky met.
Dreamlike colors filled the expanse.
At that moment, Lin Shenlu recalled a painting that had profoundly moved him—the “Goodnight Blue” series.
Whoever could mix that shade of blue must have personally witnessed the sunrise on East Extreme Island.
Because the sky now was a blue tinged with a touch of pink—an ambiguous hue.
It was as if a spilled palette had magically merged blue and pink in a dreamlike fusion.
The sky was painted with these exquisite transitional tones.
The first sunlight of the motherland—today, Lin Shenlu was the first among 1.6 billion compatriots to witness it.
Gradually, the morning sun peeked above the horizon, the colors shifting from dreamy pale pink to gentle rose red.
In a blink, rose red deepened into fiery red.
Finally, it turned golden.
At this moment, both the sky and sea had transformed in color.
The first ray of dawn was truly breathtaking.
Unlike sunlight rising over mountaintops, this sun emerged from beneath the water’s surface.
Of course, once the sun fully rose, the spectacle lost its allure; Lin Shenlu wasn’t fond of watching sunrises per se—he cherished only the thrill of those first rays.
Leaving the spot for the first light of the new century before six, Lin Shenlu planned to stroll over for breakfast and buy return tickets at the pier.
One thing Lin Shenlu knew was that the biggest dread for ferry schedules among the East Extreme Islands was the four words: “Affected by strong winds.”
When those words appeared, it usually meant cancellations or rescheduling.
Descending from the observation point, the clockwise hiking trail around the island offered little flat ground.
Lin Shenlu found it amusing.
On a wall built from giant red stones, a square brown slab was embedded.
Carved into it were four characters: “Weather Forecast.”
The slab was worn and weathered, edges crumbling.
Even funnier was the chalk-written six characters added on top: “Sunny, perfect for island hiking!”
The exclamation mark was hollow, giving the announcement a slightly playful charm.
...
The hiking route followed the Dongfu Mountain Island coastline, with the sea on the left, mountains on the right, and stone paths or large rocks underfoot. Some dangerous stretches had stone railings for safety.
Along the way, Lin Shenlu encountered only a few scattered tourists. Mobile signals on the island were patchy, lending a sense of isolation.
As he walked, he spotted an elderly woman ahead.
She wore a blue jacket and carried a green mesh bag, strolling at an unhurried pace.
At first, Lin Shenlu thought she was picking up plastic bottles along the trail to protect the environment.
But he soon noticed the discarded plastic bottles still lay untouched nearby.
Curiosity piqued, Lin Shenlu decided to observe more closely.
He walked steadily, sometimes pausing to take photos. The woman seemed to notice him.
Judging from her attire, Lin Shenlu guessed she was a local. He wanted to converse with her but felt shy; so, they kept a respectful distance, walking side by side.
Eventually, as the woman bent down to pick something up again, Lin Shenlu approached and looked.
She was gathering sea snails along the hiking path.
In that instant, the simplicity of the locals and their reliance on the sea became evident.
It wasn’t just about picking up sea snails—the sea below the mountain was home to fishermen as well.
From a distance, Lin Shenlu glimpsed an old man fishing.
He stood on steep cliffs and rocks where ordinary people could not tread.
With a fishing rod in hand, he was a solitary figure on the reef.
One man, one rod, one rock—blending seamlessly into the sea and sky.
This was life on Dongfu Mountain Island: simple and unpretentious.
...
After roughly two kilometers, Lin Shenlu finally reached the first scenic spot on the island hiking trail—the Stone Houses of Big Tree Bay.