It was early spring and the gentle warmth of the spring breeze filled the air.

At the entrance of Dahe Village, the peach blossom forest had already bloomed, covering the entire hillside with pink and white flowers, creating a stunning scene.

It was now early April, a time of leisure for the farmers. The villagers of the Dahe Village production team, having finished their work in the fields, breathed a sigh of relief and took the opportunity to rest at home.

With idle time on their hands, people found themselves with nothing much to do.

Especially the elderly women of the village, who after filling their bellies, would grab their small stools and rush to the big banyan tree at the village entrance.

Why? To chat and gossip of course.

In the countryside, there wasn’t much entertainment. Besides eating and working, this was their main source of enjoyment.

Sure enough, after lunch, the area under the big banyan tree was filled with people. The elderly men and women of the village sat on their small stools, chatting animatedly.

Although it was a period of rest from farming and the production team points were low, the men of Dahe Village were not worried. Why? Because the Dahe Mountain production team was close to the town’s coal mine. As the saying goes, those who live near the mountain rely on the mountain, and those near the water rely on the water.

Dahe Mountain was blessed with fertile land. Even with minimal effort, their crops yielded better than other teams, earning them more points and making others envious.

Moreover, being near the county’s coal mine had its advantages. During the off-season, half of Dahe Mountain’s able-bodied workers would take odd jobs at the coal mine.

With a monthly wage of over twenty yuan from the coal mine, most families in the Dahe Mountain production team enjoyed a comfortable life.

Families with formal workers at the coal mine were even prouder.

An old woman in the village began to brag:

“Hey, I’m not bragging. When I was young and pregnant with Daguo, I had a dream about a golden dragon entering my belly. The village elders said it was a sign of great fortune, and now I believe it.

Daguo just started working at the coal mine and has already become a formal worker within two months. It looks like the elders were right. My Daguo is destined for great things!”

She boasted with a bright expression:

“This is the coal mine we’re talking about!

Eating commercial grain!

Earning over twenty yuan a month!

…”

The old woman chattered away, her spittle flying everywhere, while another old woman nearby, busy with her shoe-sole stitching, couldn’t help but retort with a cold laugh:

“Give me a break.

Your Daguo’s fortune is nothing compared to little Wanyue of the Song family.

Who in our village is luckier than little Wanyue?

She’s the true little lucky star.”

The bragging woman, unwilling to back down, argued:

“What nonsense are you talking about, Wang? How is the little girl from the Song family any luckier? You’re just sour grapes!”

Undeterred by the other woman’s sharp words, Old Wang calmly began:

“I’m not making this up. I remember it clearly.

Years ago, during a severe drought, Dahe Mountain didn’t see a drop of rain for months. People were on the brink of collapse.

At that time, the Song family’s daughter-in-law, who was heavily pregnant, was helping fetch water from the mountain. Suddenly, she went into labor. Strangely enough, just as she was about to give birth, the sky darkened and as soon as the little girl was born, the rain began to pour down.

That rain lasted for three days and nights, saving the entire village. Because of that, the village elders said little Wanyue from the Song family was special, born with great fortune.”

As Old Wang finished speaking, the villagers began to chatter.

“Hmm, Old Wang is right. My mother-in-law said the same. The Song family used to be very poor, barely surviving. But after Wanyue was born, their fortunes changed for the better.”

Upon hearing this, Li’s eldest daughter-in-law perked up:

“Oh my, I almost forgot. The year Wanyue turned one, her mother was carrying her back to visit her family. On their way, they encountered an old monk seeking alms…”

When the old monk saw little Wanyue in Wei Guo’s wife’s arms, he chanted “Amitabha” and said that she was a heavenly star descended with great fortune. He recited a long passage about her auspicious fate.

I happened to be at the village well fetching water and overheard him. I asked what he meant. The old monk explained that little Wanyue had been a great benefactor in her past life, and in this life, she was reincarnated to enjoy her blessings. He advised Wei Guo’s wife to take good care of Wanyue, saying the Song family’s good fortune was yet to come!”

After Li’s daughter-in-law shared this, she smacked her lips in envy.

How could it be that, although everyone had children, Song Wanyue’s fate was so much better?

Originally, the villagers had been quite envious after hearing the old woman’s story. Now, after hearing Li’s daughter-in-law, they all turned their heads in unison towards the Song family’s home at the east end of the village, chatting excitedly.

“Exactly, just look at how lovely and spirited little Wanyue is, she’s clearly a child born with good fortune.”

“Ah, comparing ourselves to her only makes us upset!”

The old woman who had been boasting earlier was left speechless.

What could she say? Could she admit that her Daguo’s position at the coal mine was actually bought with a lot of money and bribes? Or that the golden dragon in her dream was actually just an ugly toad?

No, better for her to go home and feed the pigs!

…

Meanwhile, the Song family was completely unaware of the gossip happening under the big banyan tree. They were busy joyfully preparing for the evening’s reunion dinner, with the delicious smell of cooked meat wafting through the entire courtyard.

It was genuine stewed meat, and it smelled fantastic!

Though the Song family was one of the wealthiest in the Dahe Mountain production team, mainly due to the eldest son, Song Xiangdong, being a workshop supervisor at the coal mine, their lives were still those of typical rural folks. With ten mouths to feed, including five sons, they couldn’t afford to eat meat often.

Today was Sunday, and the family’s two eldest grandsons, Song Wenxuan and Song Wenjie, who attended high school in town, and little granddaughter, Song Wanyue, who studied at the commune middle school, were all home. It was a special occasion, and the family had prepared a sumptuous dinner to celebrate.

The matriarch, Chen Juhua, was in the kitchen with her three daughters-in-law, busily cooking. Every time the children came home, the Song family would prepare a lavish meal to treat them.

The Song family had three sons in total. The eldest, Song Xiangdong, was the most accomplished—steady and reliable, working as a workshop supervisor at the coal mine. His wife, Zhao Xiuying, was a dutiful and kind woman. Together, they had two sons and a daughter.

The second son, Song Xiangguo, was an honest man and a temporary worker at the coal mine. His wife, Lin Yuehong, had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. They had two sons.

The third son, Song Xiangdang, was a quiet and hardworking farmer, but he married Liu Hongmei, a woman known for being petty and calculating. Their son, the youngest grandson in the Song family, was Song Wenhao, who was just six years old.

Chen Juhua, the family matriarch, was in high spirits, humming a little tune as she bustled around the kitchen. She was overjoyed at the thought of her precious little granddaughter, Wanyue, coming home. The three daughters-in-law were busy too—some were chopping vegetables, some stoking the fire, and one was wielding a large cleaver to chop meat.

Hearing their mother-in-law happily humming off-key, each daughter-in-law had her own thoughts. Despite having come from the old society, Chen Juhua had led a blessed life. As a girl, she was doted on by her parents. After marrying into the Song family, she bore three sons in quick succession, much to the delight of her in-laws and her attentive husband. In her old age, her three sons were exceptionally filial, making her life smooth and prosperous.

They say grandmothers love their eldest and youngest grandchildren the most, and Chen Juhua was no exception. However, unlike the other village grandmothers who cherished their grandsons, her heart was set on her granddaughter. To her, her grandsons were just annoying brats.

The reason for her favoritism was unusual—it wasn’t because she preferred girls over boys. It was because, when her first four grandsons were born, they were all too ugly! When each grandson was born looking like wrinkly little monkeys, Chen Juhua, who had an eye for beauty, was almost beside herself with disappointment.

How could every single one of her grandsons be so unattractive? Why couldn’t they have a fair and lovely child?

She kept her hopes up with each grandson. But when the fourth grandson was born and looked just as ugly, she finally gave up. It seemed the Song family was destined to have unattractive children.

But then, when her granddaughter Song Wanyue was born, Chen Juhua listlessly glanced over, only to see a fair and adorable baby smiling sweetly at her. Overjoyed, she scooped up the cute little girl, beaming from ear to ear.

Look at this rosy-cheeked, milk-white little face, a delicate little rice dumpling of a granddaughter with big, sparkling eyes. In that moment, Chen Juhua was completely charmed by this beautiful baby.

The delighted old lady, holding her granddaughter, smiled like a blossoming flower and immediately went to show her off to the villagers.

“Look, just look at her. Who was that blind fool who said the Song family couldn’t produce a good-looking child? Open your dog eyes and see this beautiful child, as pretty as a fairy! She’s truly my granddaughter, Chen Juhua’s own flesh and blood.”

The village women and young wives, upon seeing the delicate little Wanyue, were filled with admiration.

“Really, the youngest Song granddaughter is exceptionally beautiful.”

“Yes, she’s as lovely as a child from a painting.”

Hearing these words, Chen Juhua was so happy she nearly floated away. But there were some jealous old women who couldn’t stand the Song family’s good fortune and spoke sarcastically:

“So what if you have a pretty little girl? No matter how beautiful a girl is, she’s still just a worthless daughter. What’s so special about that? Just wait until my Da Zhuang’s wife gives birth in a few days. We’ll have a fair and chubby grandson, much better than this worthless girl!”

Before the envious old woman could finish her muttering, Chen Juhua spat at her:

“Pah! You old hag, you can’t say anything nice! A dragon gives birth to a dragon, a phoenix gives birth to a phoenix, and a mouse’s child knows how to dig. Look at you, as ugly as a bear, dreaming of having a fair and chubby grandchild? You’re just having delusions!”

The spat-upon old woman was left speechless.

And so, the peculiar old lady Chen Juhua proudly and unabashedly doted on her beautiful little granddaughter. For over a decade, she treated Wanyue like the apple of her eye. That afternoon, as she busied herself preparing a lavish meal, she kept counting on her fingers, feeling like she had forgotten something. Suddenly, she slapped her thigh and shouted loudly:

“I’ve gone daft in the head! I haven’t made Wanyue’s favorite glutinous rice cakes yet. Xiuying! Yuehong! Stop tending the fire and go to the east room. Take the freshly pounded glutinous rice from this morning and heat it up in the big pot. Rice cakes taste best when they’re hot!”

Hearing their mother-in-law’s words, the eldest daughter-in-law Zhao Xiuying and the second daughter-in-law Lin Yuehong cheerfully complied, instructing the third daughter-in-law Liu Hongmei before heading to the east room together.

Liu Hongmei was left alone, muttering discontentedly as she continued chopping meat with her large cleaver.

“Pah! That worthless girl doesn’t deserve rice cakes. Those three brats from the eldest family…they can eat nothing for all I care!”

Meanwhile, the three Song siblings, who had been cursed to eat nothing, were walking on the mountain path back home, chatting as they went.

“Second Brother, I really saw our great-grandmother yesterday. It’s true.”

As the sun set, casting its golden light over the peach blossom-covered mountains, a dainty young girl with dimples carried a small schoolbag, her sweet voice soft and earnest.

In front of her stood two tall, shocked boys, one scholarly, the other handsome but still youthful.

“Wanyue, Big Brother believes you,” said the scholarly Song Wenxuan gently.

Wanyue was moved to tears. Her big brother was the best.

Next to them, Song Wenjie clutched his stomach, laughing foolishly.

“Whoa, I can’t take it. Hahaha, I’m going to die laughing. Little sister, what did you say? You saw our great-grandmother yesterday? And she left you a drumstick? Little sister, let me tell you, great-grandmother passed away decades ago. If you really saw her, then I’ll climb a tree like a pig today! Hahaha…”

“Second Brother, stop laughing. Great-grandmother will be angry!” Wanyue stomped her foot in warning.

“Stop laughing, you unfilial grandson!” came a furious roar as a cold wind swept by.

Caught off guard, Song Wenjie stared at the fierce-looking old lady floating in midair, stuttering:

“G-great-grandmother, you’re really here?”

Whoa, the Song family’s old ancestor really appeared!

——–