Cuifu is the last bluestone polisher and washer in the river port in the ancient town of Shuixiang.
This craftsmanship is based on polishing the bluestone steps by the river - if it is too heavy, it will erase the traces of water erosion for thousands of years; if it is too light, the moss caulking will slip and kill people; no matter how clean it is, a flood will erase all traces.
Ten years ago, a young man (Shen Nian) who often squatted at the dock to watch her grinding stones went to Beijing after the college entrance examination, and the two lost contact. Ten years later, Shen Nian returned to the ancient town as an expert in restoring ancient buildings, but she was still by the river, bending over to grind stones day after day.
They faced the same bluestone and the same river again. She found that no matter how clear the water marks on the stone were, they could not retain the river water that had been soaked all year round; no matter how clean the memories in her heart were, they could not erase the shadow of the person she was when she was young.
But the most precious thing about bluestone is not how smooth it is polished, but when water comes in, it will grow moss, stains, and lines again - all living things will grow old and grow again.
This is a story about craftsmanship, water marks and rush.
