A Vein of Green Mountains

Xingguo in southern Jiangxi is a land steeped in the culture of Feng Shui geomancy. The protagonist, Zeng Jinbao, is not a born genius but a village youth who witnesses his neighbors repeatedly suffering disasters due to improper site selection. Determined to learn, he endures hardships and eventually becomes a practical geomancer skilled in both form and principle. The novel weaves through his life, stringing together dozens of independent yet interconnected folk geography tales. He selects auspicious sites for poor farmers' homes, ensuring peace and prosperity for their families; he finds final resting places for the lonely elderly; he traverses the green mountains to locate water sources for villages and resolves clan disputes. Facing diverse needs, he adheres to adapting to local conditions, blending traditional wisdom like 'storing wind and gathering qi, with water as the foremost' with practical life needs. Zeng Jinbao's 'skill' lies not only in his precise grasp of mountain and river forms but also in his keen insight into human hearts. He avoids mysticism and pretense, relying only on his feet, a compass, and a heart in awe of heaven and earth to measure the land. When modern concepts clash with ancient traditions, he seeks a balance for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature in his own way. This is a story of perseverance, inheritance, and using one's craft to bring peace and well-being to neighbors. — Description from novelcodex.org