lava

lava

A lucky star brings good fortune (revised text)

At the foot of the misty mountain, lies the Farewell Pavilion.

Beside the pavilion stands a monument bearing the name of Cloud and Mist Mountain, behind which lies the only main road leading up the mountain. The master of Cloud and Mist Mountain is a renowned medical sage, also known as an eccentric figure. He is called the Old Man of Cloud and Mist.

The old man of the clouds and mist has an eccentric personality and numerous rules. He will not treat anyone who is terminally ill, will not treat anyone who does not pay a thousand taels of silver for treatment, and will not treat anyone who does not meet his standards. No one other than the patient is allowed to come up the mountain. Those who seek his treatment must also do three things for the old man of the clouds and mist. What these three things are depends on the old man of the clouds and mist's notification at any time. He is truly extremely arrogant.

Standing by the Farewell Pavilion, Han Xiao gazed up at the summit of Cloud Mist Mountain. She disliked this profit-driven, demanding healer. But his skills were undeniable, and she, desperate and begging for help, couldn't say anything. For her younger brother Han Le's illness, Han Xiao had sent a plea for medical help to Cloud Mist Mountain. Today marked the sixty-fifth day since she sent the first letter, but there was still no news from the mountain. Undeterred, Han Xiao visited whenever she could, praying that the mountain's healer would one day have a change of heart and be willing to save her brother's life.

Han Xiao is fourteen years old this year. The seventh day of the fifth lunar month was her fourteenth birthday, which was also the day she carried her younger brother to Baiqiao City at the foot of Yunwu Mountain. Baiqiao City has a hundred bridges, but what is famous in the city is the medical clinic.

Baiqiao City is renowned for its many doctors, and more than half of its shops are related to medicine, making it a true medical city. It is said that Baiqiao City Lord Nie Chengyan, though young, possesses considerable skill and ambition. Dissatisfied with the harsh conditions for medical treatment at Yunwu Mountain, he spent a fortune to build a city and establish clinics at the foot of the mountain, inviting renowned doctors and purchasing thousands of acres of fertile land to cultivate medicinal herbs. In Baiqiao City, every family lives in peace and prosperity, everyone is charitable and generous, and the clinics and pharmacies offer fair prices and honest service to all. Thanks to Lord Nie Chengyan's remarkable achievements, in just three or four years, Baiqiao City has become famous far and wide, and many patients suffering from difficult and complicated illnesses have received treatment here.

Han Xiao had come seeking a cure for her brother's leg in Baiqiao City, but she was disappointed. She had visited more than ten clinics in the city, but none of the doctors dared to claim they could cure Han Le. Three months passed, and Han Le's condition showed no improvement. Several doctors told Han Xiao that if all else failed, she should seek help from the Cloud Mist Mountain Elder. Although the Cloud Mist Elder was cunning and demanding, his medical skills were truly extraordinary. If she could persuade the Cloud Mist Elder to intervene, there was still hope for Han Le's recovery.

Han Xiao had no choice but to seek medical help from Yunwu Mountain, but the process was incredibly difficult. Han Xiao had very little money; in Baiqiao City, she relied on helping out at various clinics, doing the hardest and dirtiest work to earn money for her brother's medicine and treatment. Going to Yunwu Mountain cost a thousand taels of silver—she feared she could never earn that much in her entire life. And the old man of Yunwu never showed himself; she had no way to speak to him or plead for help in person.

Han Xiao was not discouraged. She waited at the foot of the mountain for the carriage from Yunwu Mountain to descend, pleading with them again and again, hoping to find a way to make an exception, but to no avail. She then secretly followed the carriage and ran up halfway up the mountain, hoping to meet the Elder of Yunwu. However, she lost her way in a strange forest. That time was extremely dangerous. She wandered in the forest for a day and a night before finally stumbling upon the way down the mountain.

More than half a month passed, and Han Xiao hadn't even gotten close to Elder Yunwu's door, but she refused to give up. She wrote a letter expressing her willingness to sell herself into slavery in exchange for Elder Yunwu's chance to treat her brother. In the letter, she expressed her determination and sincerity, and described her abilities and experience. She knew herbs, understood basic medical principles, and had cared for many patients. She said she could endure hardship, was meticulous and conscientious in her work, and was not afraid of bloodshed, dirt, or hard work. None of the patients she had helped care for had ever complained.

Han Xiao thought that since there were doctors on Cloud Mist Mountain who treated the sick and saved lives, they must need servants like her. She copied dozens of letters and searched through Hundred Bridges City for everyone who might have connections with Cloud Mist Mountain, bowing and kowtowing, hoping that if they had any connections, they could help her send a letter to Cloud Mist Mountain. She even begged the doctor at the clinic where she had worked to write a letter of recommendation for her, hoping that Cloud Mist Mountain would pay some attention to her.

Today marks the sixty-fifth day since the first letter was sent. Han Xiao watched as the carriage carrying the patient slowly ascended Yunwu Mountain. She knew that today would be another hopeless day. She forced a smile, moved her cheeks, and made a gesture of self-smile. Don't be discouraged, don't lose heart. Persistence will eventually lead to success. After encouraging herself, she clenched her fist, turned around, and walked into the Farewell Pavilion with a smile.

"Lele, let's go back." The weather was lovely today. In the golden autumn of October, everything was lush and green, laden with red fruit. The scenery along the way from Baiqiao City to Yunwu Mountain was delightful. So today, Han Xiao took some time to come to the foot of Yunwu Mountain to pray for good luck, and carried his younger brother along as well. Even if he was sick, even if his legs couldn't walk, being able to walk and see the sights and broaden his horizons was a good thing.

Hearing his sister's greeting, Han Le quickly smiled and said goodbye to the old man sitting to the side. Then he climbed onto his sister's back and asked her to carry him back.

"Sister, that old man just gave me a small ingot of silver."

"Huh? How can you take someone else's money for no reason?"

"He's waiting for his son. Yunwu Mountain cured his son, and he'll bring him down the mountain today. I said a lot of auspicious things, and then I told him how pitiful I was, sick and unable to afford treatment. He was in a good mood and felt sorry for me, so he took out some money." Han Le was overjoyed. He had managed to get some benefits from this again, and this time it was small change—he had never gotten so much money before. He had used this trick to ease his sister's burden a little along the way.

Han Xiao patted his bottom as a form of punishment: "You can't do that again."

Han Le pouted and didn't reply, resolving to act even more pitiful next time to coax more money. Han Xiao couldn't do anything with her clever younger brother, so she didn't dwell on the topic, but simply hummed a little tune and quickened her pace. The journey was quite long, and by the time she reached the city on foot, it would probably be dark.

"Sister, are you planning to take the long way around again to see Lord Nie's house?" Han Le knew what her sister was thinking as soon as she saw her sister walking quickly. Lord Nie Chengyan, the founder of Baiqiao City, was a great figure in her sister's eyes. He was not only talented and resourceful, but also young and promising, and kind-hearted. She often talked to him about the heroic deeds she had heard about.

Han blushed slightly: "Yes, we've been here for five months and haven't been able to meet such a person. I was thinking that maybe he could find a way to cure your illness. He's definitely kinder than the one from Yunwu Mountain, and he might be able to help us." Unfortunately, she heard from the people in the city that Lord Nie hadn't shown up for several months and was probably out of town.

Han Xiao has always respected those who practice medicine and do good deeds, especially since Nie Chengyan founded the entire medical city, so she naturally admires him greatly. She thought that if Elder Yunwu could also have Nie Chengyan's heart for saving lives, how many patients in the world would benefit!

As they hummed a tune and drifted off into thought, three burly men suddenly sprang out and grabbed the siblings. Han Le was roughly yanked off Han Xiao's back, and Han Xiao screamed for help, struggling desperately, scratching, biting, and clawing. The men hadn't expected the little girl to be so fierce and were hit several times. But Han Xiao was ultimately too small and weak to fight back; her mouth was covered, and she was forcibly shoved into a carriage. An elderly woman, seemingly in her forties, sat in the carriage. She had bright eyes, was dressed in fine clothes, and had a stern expression. She coldly said to Han Xiao, "Silence, or you'll never see your brother again."

Han Xiao knew the situation was unfavorable. The carriage sped along, and Han Le had no idea where she had been taken. So she forced herself to remain calm and asked, "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Girl, your good fortune has arrived. My master is twenty years old this year and will take you as his concubine."

Han Xiao stared wide-eyed in surprise: "What are you doing?"

"Become a concubine!"

"concubine?"

The old nanny grew impatient: "Even though she's a concubine, it's already a great honor for you. Don't be ungrateful."

Han Xiao remained relatively calm: "Mother-in-law, is this how your master's family takes in wives?"

The old nanny didn't answer her directly, only saying, "There is also a betrothal gift of one thousand taels of silver, and the wedding will take place today."

Han Xiao was startled again: "A thousand taels of silver?"

"This is a blessing you couldn't even pray to the Bodhisattva for." The old woman said arrogantly, her tone carrying a stern warning, implying that Han Xiao should obey.

But Han Xiao asked again, "Mother-in-law, where have all the other women gone?"

This time, it was the old woman's turn to frown: "What do you mean?"

“If all the other women were gone, how could you just blindly kidnap people to be your wives? I have neither wealth nor beauty, I am not good enough for you. I am just a lowly maid, and I still have to take my brother to see a doctor.”

“I know all of that. Your name is Han Xiao, isn’t it? You’re from Mincheng, aren’t you? Your younger brother, Han Le, has contracted a strange illness and wants to go to Yunwu Mountain to see a doctor, isn’t that right?”

Han Xiao nodded, and the old nanny continued, "If you marry my master as a concubine and have a thousand taels of silver, you can naturally ask the old man of the clouds and mist to cure your brother's illness. You also said that you have neither wealth nor good looks, so my master naturally doesn't want you. Once you marry into the family, you can stay here with good food and a good place to live."

Han Xiao looked at her in surprise, then thought for a moment and understood. She said, "Mother-in-law, is your master sick? If he is sick, he should see a doctor. The idea of a lucky star bringing good fortune is not to be believed."

It turns out that Han Xiao brought Han Le to Baiqiao City after a series of events. Ten-year-old Han Le had been ill for nearly two years. He was originally a famous child prodigy in Mincheng. When he was seven, his parents went to the mountains to worship Buddha but encountered bandits and died. His uncle and aunt had never had children, and seeing Han Le's intelligence and cleverness, they took him and his sister in. Unexpectedly, his aunt became pregnant the following year. After having her own child, she found Han Xiao and Han Le displeasing in every way. Han Le then inexplicably fell ill and could not walk. The doctors in the city examined him but could not find a cause for his illness, only saying that his pulse was extremely weak and that he would not live more than three months.

Now his aunt and uncle couldn't tolerate him any longer, fearing he might have some strange ailment that would ruin their own child. Faced with their disdainful expressions, Han Xiao didn't hesitate. He carried his younger brother on his back, took the money his parents had secretly left him, and embarked on a journey to seek medical treatment.

At the time, Han Xiao wa

……