Held in someone’s arms, Su Muyao listened as the sharp clang of a gong rang out from outside—dong, dong, dong.
So this was how the village summoned its people.
The open clearing was already packed with villagers. Knowing the matter likely involved his precious “lucky child,” Su Sanlang hurried forward, pushing through the crowd.
When the villagers saw that he was carrying the little “fortune star,” they made way for him.
Up front stood the old village head, the clan elder, and several respected seniors.
The crowd buzzed with speculation.
“What’s going on today? Even the elders and the village head have been called out.”
“It must be something big. Let’s just hope it’s good news.”
“Good news? What are you thinking? Last time they gathered us, taxes went up by twenty percent. Don’t tell me they’re raising them again!”
A woman nearby shot the speaker an annoyed glare. “Bah, don’t jinx it with nonsense.”
The village head raised his voice, calling for silence. “Everyone, quiet down. I have an announcement to make.”
“Today’s matter concerns our little fortune star.”
“I believe you’ve all noticed—this child, Su Muyao, truly carries a bit of good luck with her.”
The villagers began whispering again.
“Of course she does! A real fortune star. Who knows what blessings the Su family burned incense for to pick her up like that.”
The village head continued, “Our little fortune star has a highly skilled master. She’s learned to recognize medicinal herbs. Not long ago, she even found ginseng in the mountains for the Su family.”
The moment he said this, the crowd erupted, nearly drowning out his voice. The village head paused, taking a sip of water.
“Heavens! How much could ginseng sell for?”
“Exactly! I carry the little fortune star sometimes too—why don’t I ever find ginseng?”
Someone nearby laughed. “Even if it grew right at your feet, you’d probably kick it aside thinking it was just a weed.”
The village head clapped his hands. “Alright, enough noise—listen carefully.”
“The Su family is generous. Their daughter learned how to identify herbs, and instead of keeping it secret, they’re willing to teach the entire village.”
The crowd fell into stunned disbelief.
“Village head, did you misspeak? You mean the little fortune star is going to teach us?”
“Really? She’s going to teach us how to identify herbs? Do we have to pay?”
“That can’t be true! Who would share a skill like that? Knowing herbs can make good money!”
Many found it hard to believe—after all, who willingly gives away the very skill they rely on to make a living?
“Yes, you heard correctly,” the village head confirmed. “Old Master Su personally came to tell me.”
“He said that while the child belongs to their family, she is also the village’s fortune star. Whenever they’ve gained something, they’ve always thought of the rest of you.”
“Take the wild boar before—technically it was a gift from a wolf to the child. The Su family didn’t have to share it, but they still distributed it among everyone.”
“Just from that, you can see they are not selfish people. And now, they’re offering to share something as valuable as this skill.”
“So I hope that in the future, whenever the Su family needs help, everyone will lend a hand. Don’t be ungrateful or turn into heartless ingrates.”
With that confirmation, the villagers grew excited.
The little fortune star wasn’t just bringing luck to the Su family—she was blessing the entire village.
Seeing that the message had sunk in, the village head beckoned to Su Sanlang.
“Su Sanlang, do you have anything you’d like to say?”
When Su Muyao heard the village head call for her father, she couldn’t help but giggle in his arms.
Su Sanlang had no idea what his little daughter found so amusing. Glancing down at her, he took a deep breath and addressed the crowd.
“Even though I’m her father, as the village head said, this child belongs to the whole village—she’s everyone’s little fortune star.”
“But she’s still very young. If she can do something within her ability to help the village, it’s enough that we remember her kindness in our hearts. There’s no need to spread this outside.”
“She’s too young to bear that kind of attention. From now on, it’s fine to call her a ‘fortune star’ within the village—but please don’t take that name beyond it.”
The villagers immediately understood his concern. In these times, powerful nobles often took an interest in anything with a “lucky” or auspicious reputation.
Someone in the crowd spoke up right away, “Don’t worry, Third Son of the Su family. We all understand. We’ll keep it within the village.”
“Exactly! You can rest easy. From now on, the little fortune star’s matters are everyone’s matters. Anyone who troubles her is troubling all of us!”
“That’s right—she’s like one of our own children.”
Voices overlapped as people made their promises. And they meant it. The Su family had been willing to share such a valuable skill—no one here would repay that kindness with ingratitude.
Some of the more perceptive villagers even realized that this little girl might one day leave this remote mountain village behind. If they stayed on her good side and followed her lead, their own futures—and even their descendants’—might change for the better.
Perhaps they could one day build finer homes or own fertile land.
Lost in visions of a brighter future, they had no idea just how vast their opportunities might become.
In the end, the clan elder and other village seniors added a few closing remarks, and the gathering finally dispersed.
Then Su Muyao spoke softly to her father, “Each household can send one or two people. We can take them up the mountain now and start by teaching them some basic herbs.”
Su Sanlang nodded and relayed the plan to the village head. Before long, people were assembled at the village entrance, ready to go.
Carried in her father’s arms at the front, Su Muyao led the way, followed by a line of villagers.
As they reached the foot of the mountain, her sharp eyes caught sight of a patch of vines. Her face lit up with excitement—it was kudzu root.
In ancient times, kudzu root was considered a valuable medicinal herb. It could treat fever, diarrhea, and help relieve muscle tension and dispel external ailments.
“Father, it’s this one!”
Behind them, the village head looked at the sprawling patch of greenery with some uncertainty.
Could it be that the Su family’s little girl hadn’t even fully mastered her skills yet, and was already teaching others?
The entire area was covered with the same kind of vine, thick and sprawling.
“Little fortune star, are you sure? This whole patch looks the same.”
“I’m sure, Uncle Village Head. Pull away the vines on top, and underneath you’ll find the kudzu root.”
The village head frowned slightly—he had never even heard of such a herb. “What is kudzu root? Do you know what it’s used for?”
“If you grind it into powder, it becomes medicine. But it can also be eaten as food.”
“It helps with colds, stomach pain, and diarrhea. And at the apothecary, it should fetch a pretty good price.”
Hearing this, the villagers’ eyes lit up.
“Also, these kudzu flowers can be picked as well. When steeped in water, they help relieve alcohol intoxication.”
“Especially for symptoms like vomiting blood or blood in the stool caused by excessive drinking—the flowers can have a certain healing effect.”