Chapter 15: A Glimpse Like a Shooting Star

Chapter 15: A Glimpse Like a Shooting Star

“There is such a method,” the Taoist lingered in thought, seemingly hesitant. “But this method…”

“Please, Taoist, speak freely,” Ba Yanhua suddenly recalled that this was no place to receive guests. Hastily, he said, “Please come with me to my home for a while. I will have my servants prepare the finest tea, and then you can explain it to me in detail.”

“No need,” the Taoist replied lightly, as if the breeze had passed. “Since fate has brought us together today, it matters little. I shall tell you. The solution is not difficult to understand, nor hard to carry out. It depends solely on whether you are willing.”

“Please, Taoist, I am all ears,” Ba Yanhua responded humbly.

“You simply need to send this little girl of yours away. It can be to the village, or a temple, a monastery—any place will do. Just remember one thing: she must not be raised in this household before the age of five. Once she passes five years old, the malevolent energy will be dispelled, and only then can she be brought back.” The Taoist whispered this into his ear.

Ba Yanhua was stunned for a moment and was about to ask further.

The Taoist waved his hand, “That is all I have to say. Farewell.”

With that, he turned and drifted away like a ghost.

Ba Yanhua watched the Taoist depart without taking a single coin, truly believing he had encountered a sage from beyond the mortal realm and trusted his words without doubt.

Immediately, he hurried straight to the residence where Mistress Qian lived in the back quarters.

Above the courtyard gate, three grand characters were written in flowing calligraphy: The Graceful Pavilion.

Ba Yanhua was somewhat taken aback.

The name “Graceful Pavilion” bore a story.

Mistress Qian’s given name was Qian Fangguan, a name bestowed by the venerable Lady Qian. Lady Qian’s father had once been a scholar, so she was not ignorant of such matters.

Mistress Qian had four elder sisters named Qian Fangru, Qian Fangyi, Qian Fangji, and Qian Fangxiang—names whose meanings plainly conveyed wishes for good fortune and auspiciousness.

Why then was Mistress Qian uniquely given the character “Pavilion”?

It was because when she was born, she was stuck in the womb in a transverse position, making delivery impossible. Lady Qian suffered for three full days and nights, yet the child would not come. Local barefoot doctors and midwives were helpless. Everyone feared Lady Qian would not survive the ordeal, and that mother and child would be lost.

Master Qian was frantic, tearing handfuls of his hair out in despair.

At that moment, someone suggested taking her to a medical hall in the imperial capital, where doctors were skilled and might save her.

With no other options, Master Qian treated it as a last-ditch effort and rushed Lady Qian to the great medical hall in the imperial city by ox cart.

The great medical hall was indeed extraordinary. The doctor performed acupuncture, and the fetus was successfully turned to the correct position. Within half a day, Mistress Qian was born safely, both mother and daughter unharmed.

The Qian couple were overjoyed and eternally grateful to the medical hall. When it came time to name her, they chose “Pavilion” to commemorate her birthplace and to express their thanks.

Perhaps because her birth had been so delayed, Mistress Qian was frail from childhood, constantly needing medicine and tonics until she reached maturity, when her health finally improved somewhat. But due to her weak foundation, she still appeared delicate.

When the time came for her to choose a husband, Master Qian, having accumulated some family wealth through business, was a man of integrity and generosity. As the village head, he was known for fairness and was well respected in the countryside. Coupled with his youngest daughter’s beauty and gentle temperament, matchmaking agents from nearby villages almost trampled over the Qian family’s doorstep.

Ba family’s home was not far from the Qians’, separated only by a few dozen households. The elders of both families knew each other, though only casually.

Ba Yanhua had lost his father from an early age. He and his younger brother Ba Yanxiao were raised by their widowed mother, who supported them through weaving and embroidery. Their poverty was evident.

Ba Yanhua was diligent; at fourteen he passed the imperial scholar examination, bringing pride to his mother.

Yet, now that he was of marriageable age, Ba’s mother was both proud and worried. Their poverty was dire—their three-room thatched hut was barely standing. Relatives had exhausted all lending options, and even the funds for Ba Yanhua to continue his studies were nowhere to be found, let alone money for marriage.

Who would willingly marry their daughter into such a pit of hardship? Even with Ba Yanhua’s scholar status, it would not secure a livelihood. His mother fretted deeply; her own family barely had enough food. Even if someone wanted to marry their daughter to him, they likely could not afford to support her.

That spring, on the third day of the third lunar month, when peach blossoms were red, willows green, and pear flowers white, the capital had a tradition of flying kites on this day.

Early that morning, Qian Fangguan begged Lady Qian to take her out for an outing to enjoy the spring scenery and fly kites in the strong wind.

Lady Qian initially refused, saying the sky had turned gloomy early, the wind was fierce, and rain was likely. It would be better to wait for a clear day.

But Qian Fangguan had long awaited this day and would not relent. She tugged at her mother’s sleeve persistently, wearing her down.

At that time, Lady Qian’s eight children had all but one married off or established. Only Qian Fangguan remained, the youngest and most cherished, always delicate and raised as if in a glass case. The whole family indulged her every wish.

Unable to resist any longer and unable to find a clever excuse, Lady Qian finally agreed.

She instructed the maids to bring several oiled paper umbrellas, and they went together to the countryside.

Though the weather was poor, many had come to fly kites. But within half a day, rain indeed began to fall.

The chill and wind, coupled with the sudden downpour, quickly overwhelmed the fragile oil-paper umbrellas.

Qian Fangguan, always weak, risked catching cold. Lady Qian, fearing her daughter would fall ill, hurried her to a nearby temple.

That day, Ba’s mother had also come to this temple with her two sons to burn incense for her deceased husband’s first-year anniversary, praying for his peaceful reincarnation and distributing hand-copied scriptures.

Ba Yanhua first saw Qian Fangguan there, a fleeting glimpse that rendered him motionless and dazed for a long time.

The rain poured heavily that day, and the temple was crowded with people sheltering from the storm. Lady Qian and her daughter did not notice Ba Yanhua’s unusual behavior.

Once inside, the mother and daughter lit incense in front of the Buddha, offered donations, and left hastily as the rain eased.

Only a mother knows her child best. Ba’s mother immediately sensed something different about her son but kept it to herself.

After returning home and as dusk approached, Ba Yanhua could no longer contain his curiosity and asked his mother whose daughter that was.

Mother and son spoke heart to heart. Seeing her son truly enamored with the girl, whose appearance was indeed remarkable and whose family was well-off, she began to entertain hope.

That night, tossing and turning without sleep, Ba’s mother resolved to take a bold step. Even if it meant losing face, she would try her best for her son.

She found a double auspicious day, without money or a matchmaker, tidied herself, and took her son to the Qian household.

(End of chapter)