Chinese folk tales:In a year of severe drought, a blind woman was unable to fill her water jar from the empty temple well. A monk quickly lifted the bed plank for her, revealing a hidden water source.

During the late Ming Dynasty, a couple from a mountain village in Zhejiang traveled to Wuzhen to engage in business. Back in their hometown, they were tea growers and sold their freshly picked Mingqian tea for only 2 coins per jin. However, after being processed in the city, this tea could be sold for 2 taels per jin.

This undoubtedly broadened their horizons and helped them understand the principle of modest prosperity through diligence, and great wealth through skill.

Thus, they quietly rented a small workshop in the city to fry tea leaves. Although the location of their shop was somewhat remote, they set their tea prices low, which attracted some second- and third-rate tea merchants to collaborate with them.

They conduct business unscrupulously, sifting out the majority of high-quality tea leaves during the tea frying process and mixing the lower quality leaves with them.

After the tea leaves have been air-dried to remove moisture and roasted over low heat, there is no visual distinction between high and low quality tea. Additionally, vendors often place their best tea on the top, making it easy to deceive customers.

Once these mediocre tea merchants have taken away the goods, they process the tea leaves with good color and sell them at a high price to top-notch tea merchants.

They also knew that such a dishonest business practice is not sustainable in the long run, so after making some money, they quietly left Wuzhen and went to Hangzhou.

Perhaps it is the retribution for their wrongdoing that this couple, who have been together for many years, still have no children under their knees.

The uninformed neighbors assumed that they left their children in their hometown, and often reminded them to bring their children back to be raised by them personally in order to be truly affectionate. This comment only added to their embarrassment and discomfort.

Years have passed and the villagers have gradually learned about the origins of this couple. They know that they are unable to have children, and as a result, some people warmly offer their help while others mock them with sarcasm and criticism.

The man, fearing gossip and hearsay, desires to divorce his wife. However, the woman is blackmailing her husband with their past wrongdoings. She threatens to report him to the authorities if he abandons her.

The man is aware that his wife is a formidable woman who is resolute and uncompromising. Therefore, he can only pretend to acquiesce and continue to live with her reluctantly.

In recent years, women have also consumed a considerable amount of medicine to regulate their bodies. However, it has been all for naught, like eating pie and spreading oil. There are kind-hearted villagers who warn them that being childless is a symbol of misfortune. If they want to have children, they must first clear their karmic obstacles before they can have the good fortune to conceive.

In the southern district of Yuhua Alley, there is a renowned fortune teller, who goes by the name of Madam Wang. Her advanced age has earned her the title of a semi-immortal among the locals, and her accurate predictions have gained her a loyal following of fervent believers. They eagerly encourage anyone and everyone to seek her divine guidance.

They were also desperate, so they decided to give it a shot.

Initially, I had assumed that this extraordinary individual would be renowned far and wide, and that their abode would be bustling with visitors. However, upon opening the wooden gate, I was greeted by a strangely desolate courtyard.

Upon entering, Wang Po was feeding the chicks in the courtyard while bent over. As soon as she saw a stranger come in, she scattered the grain in her hand, shook it off, and greeted warmly with a flushed face.

"Who are you two looking for?"

Let us seek out Madame Wang.

"I am Wang Po, is there anything I can assist you with?"

"We would like to seek divination."

After pondering for a while, Wang Po turned around and ushered the person into a small compartment inside the room.

After a brief conversation, Wang Po learned that the man's name was Lu Feng and the woman's name was Zhou Fang. They had come seeking a child.

Glancing at the two unfamiliar faces before her, Wang Po couldn't help but ask, "You must be from out of town, right? How did you manage to track me down? I, an old lady, have long ceased to engage in such activities."

"It was recommended by someone."

When striking up a conversation, Wang Po pricked Zhou Fang's palm with a fine needle, swiftly withdrawing it to take a drop of blood and drip it into the teacup. Amidst the hazy scent of incense, she murmured some words and, upon opening her eyes, seemed to have caught a glimpse of some reflection in the teacup.

She shook her head and sighed heavily, "You have committed too many wrongdoings in this life, it's unlikely that you will have the karma for children. But if you awaken and do more good deeds in the future, perhaps there is still a chance for redemption."

The two individuals who were already guilty and apprehensive were stunned and intimidated upon hearing this. Outside Wang Po's tavern, they promised to accumulate virtue, do good deeds, and be in the right path from now on.

As they parted with the old woman and stepped out of the courtyard, the sky suddenly showered them with soft and fluffy snowflakes - abundant and pure, as if cleansing the sins they had committed in the past.

As they made their way home, they spotted a woman lying in the snow from afar. Upon approaching closer, they realized that she had already succumbed to the freezing cold, while the baby nestled in her embrace still retained a faint warmth.

The words of Wang Po echoed in their minds, prompting them to decide to take the distressed mother and daughter back home with them.

They purchased a casket for the deceased woman who died of freezing, buried her on the newly purchased land, and decided to keep the sweet and lovely little baby with them to raise, as they saw that the infant was adorable with rosy cheeks and well-behaved.

They named the baby girl Snowy as a commemoration of the extraordinary encounter of that day. The villagers, who were already fond of gossip, were even more engrossed with the addition of an infant in their family out of the blue.

Having a room for the little one has made the home cozy and lovely, which delights the Lus. They have no time to pay attention to these rumors and gossip.

These two regard Xuerou as their own daughter and have shown an utmost tenderness towards her. Though their family is not excessively affluent, they have provided Xuerou with all the care and affection she needs.

Especially in Lufeng, this adopted daughter is held in even higher regard. If Xuerou were to desire the stars in the sky, perhaps he would even borrow a celestial ladder to pluck them down for her.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Xuerou also brought a newfound cheerfulness to the previously gloomy Lufeng. He abandoned his old trade and pursued stability by taking a job at someone else's teahouse.

When Xuerou reached the age of eight, Zhou Fang felt a stir in her belly, which made Lufeng even more overjoyed. Approaching his forties, Lufeng picked up the soft and plump Xuerou and spun around, shouting, "Xuerou, you have a little brother now, are you happy?"

Upon learning of this event, the villagers suddenly changed their tone and praised the couple as virtuous individuals who were rewarded for their kindness towards their adopted daughter. It was their devotion and love towards her that touched the heavens and bestowed upon them a biological child.

After becoming pregnant, Zhou Fang's temperament suddenly changed inexplicably. Not only did she frequently scold Xuerou, but she also made her drop out of school early.

Lufeng's attempt to persuade her was met with harsh reprimands: "We have four mouths to feed now in this family. Do you really expect your meager earnings to support us all? Your daughter's education is useless. You used to only care about her, but now you must think about the child in your belly as well."

The words of Zhou Fang are incisive, which has put Lufeng in a difficult position.

Although young in age, Xuerou is very sensible. From the bantering of her fellow villagers, she has long been aware that she was adopted, and thus, she has lived her life with caution and sensitivity.

Although her foster father currently dotes on her, she understands that everything will be different once her own flesh and blood is born.

The words of the foster mother were like piercing arrows, not only to the foster father but also to her, filling her eyes with tears of grievance.

However, she soon came to terms with this fact and withdrew from school, actively taking on the household chores such as mowing the grass, feeding the pigs and cows during the day, and repairing shoes and clothes at night. Despite being only seven or eight years old, her demeanor was mature and composed, resembling that of an adult.

Twelve years have slipped away in the blink of an eye. Xuerou has grown into a graceful and elegant young lady, who not only possesses stunning beauty, but also radiates kindness and diligence.

The son that Zhou Fang prayed for in his old age turned out to be spoiled and domineering. Not only did he fail to finish his education, he also racked up a pile of debts at a young age due to his indulgence in frivolous activities.

Once, this young man had a great time at the Fengyuelou brothel, but he was then accosted at the entrance by a group of madams.

This young man, relying on his handsome appearance, always lures the lovely girls in the brothel to have an illicit rendezvous with him. Among them, this charming young lady, Yanyan, fell in love with him at first sight. Every night, she opens the rear window and leaves a light on, waiting for this troublesome young man to climb onto her soft bed.

The commotion in their room at night was excessively loud, disturbing the other young ladies who ran to complain to the madam. The madam then dispatched someone to secretly observe Yaneer's room, only to uncover the truth.

This young man repeatedly invaded the brothel but did not pay his dues, which made the madam unhappy. She had been planning to settle accounts with him, but unexpectedly he fell into her trap.

The hired thugs in the room were ready to fight, and the situation was about to escalate. The madam shouted, "Beat this person named Lu Xiaoqian to death for me!"

Yaner, who cared for Lu Xiaoqian deeply, got out of bed and approached the old madam. With tears in her eyes, she clung onto the madam's large thigh and pleaded, "Madam, please spare him. I am willing to take on more clients each day to repay his debt."

"Please step aside as you allowed him in without my knowledge. I haven't had the chance to confront you about it yet."

Amidst the tugging and pulling, Lu Xiaoqian seized the opportunity to climb out of the window on the attic and leapt down. Despite the modest height of the floor and the cushioning effect of several sacks of rice bags below, he still managed to injure his ankle.

Several pairs of eyes are currently staring at him menacingly, and he cannot afford to attend to the pain in his feet, thus he flees with a limp.

Upon realizing the situation, the henchmen quickly rushed downstairs to pursue him. They were aware that the young man was injured and wouldn't be able to run far, but capturing him proved to be quite a challenge.

Due to the fact that there were two "Lu Xiaoqian" in the southern and northern lanes, dressed and behaved identically, and after they successfully deceived the other party by pretending to be the genuine one, chaos ensued. Fortunately, one of the "Lu Xiaoqian" was captured.

It was actually Xue Rou disguised as Lu Xiaoqian, while the real Lu Xiaoqian had escaped. In fact, this wasn't the first time Xue Rou had been secretly helping Lu Xiaoqian, but this time she stumbled.

Snow was captured and taken to the Wind and Moon Pavilion, while Lu Xiaoqian stumbled his way back home.

Upon seeing her son's pitiful appearance, Zhou Fang furrowed her brow and hastily supported him, anxiously asking, "What's wrong, Qian'er? How did you injure your foot?"

Breathless, Lu Xiaoqian had intended to reveal the truth, but upon catching sight of his father returning from work, he held back the words at the tip of his tongue and resorted to fabricating a lie.

"Just now, while passing through the alleyway, I was chased by a rabid yellow dog all the way. It was quite terrifying!"

"Whose dog is this? Please go outside and see how scared your son has become because of it!" Zhou Fang complained to Lu Feng.

Having heard some unsavory rumors about this rebellious son, Lu Feng pondered for a moment before bellowing out, "Young man, have you caused any trouble again out there?"

Upon hearing Lu Feng's shout, Lu Xiaoqian was startled and immediately heard a banging sound on the courtyard door. With a sense of foreboding, Lu Xiaoqian pushed aside Zhou Fang and turned to run towards the backyard.

Soon after, a portly man with a robust build kicked open the door, accompanied by a man sporting a prominent mole on his lip and several servants.

"Where is Lu Xiaoqian?" the leader of the group angrily demanded of Zhou Fang.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Fang quickly hid behind Lu Feng, who stepped forward and asked in a serious tone, "Gentlemen, what brings you to invade my home?"

"Liu Xiaoqian owes our shop thirty taels of silver, and today we have come to collect the debt."

While conversing with the group of servants, Lu Feng learned about the cause and effect of the matter. Faced with these arrogant and domineering thugs, he initially considered reporting it to the authorities. However, knowing that Xue Rou was still in their hands, he suppressed his anger.

After the departure of the other party, Zhou Fang pounded her chest and said in a frightened tone, "Master, we cannot afford to provoke these people. Let us quickly go and report to the authorities!"

Upon seeing that Zhou Fang had not considered the safety of Xue Rou at all, Lu Feng spoke in a deliberate manner, saying, "It is one thing for you to be harsh on Xue Rou in normal circumstances, but in this life-and-death moment, you have abandoned her completely. Isn't she also our daughter? If you report to the authorities, how will Xue Rou be able to survive?"

Zhou Fang was suddenly speechless, her words caught in her throat.

Lufeng understands that the most pressing matter at hand is to gather thirty taels of silver, but as he has no connections or relations in this city of Hangzhou, how can he possibly amass such a sum of money?

With a pensive expression clouding his visage, thoughts weighing heavily upon him, he made a concerted effort to arrive early at the teahouse the next morning to commence his work, beseeching his employer for a partial advance of his wages, only to be met with a stern and staunch refusal.

Three days later, when Lu Feng was at a loss, Snow Rou was unexpectedly brought back by the group of servants. They noticed that Lu Feng was no longer fierce and threatening, but extremely complimenting, as if a few words with Lu Feng could bring them some benefits.

Upon Snow's return, Zhou Fang was delighted. Ever since she heard that Snow had risked her life to save her son, Zhou Fang had felt grateful towards her. However, Snow appeared gloomy and showed none of her usual cheerful demeanor.

She had kept her guard up until her foster father returned, and then she poured out all her grievances and frustrations.

Initially, due to the fact that the Lu family was unable to gather the required amount of silver, the madam coerced Xuerou into serving clients. Xuerou's first patron was the wealthy landlord Mr. Liu.

Upon seeing the innocent and graceful Xue Rou, Liu the landlord was immediately captivated. Upon learning of Xue Rou's plight, he slammed his fist on the table and offered a sum of 100 pieces of silver. Not only did he redeem Xue Rou from her predicament, but he also took her in as his concubine.

At this moment, Xuerou should have been sitting on Liu Dizhu's jade-inlaid sedan, as she had pleaded bitterly to return home to see her parents, and it was only because of Liu Dizhu's men that she was sent back.

Although Liu the landlord is wealthy, his frivolous temperament and lack of commitment make him unreliable even with a multitude of wives and concubines at home, as he only has eyes for the birds and beauties outside.

Upon hearing this, Lu Feng felt both anxious and heartbroken. He resolved to approach Landlord Liu and see if they could come to an agreement to cancel the marriage arrangement.

Upon hearing this, Liu the landlord stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before smiling and saying, "If you can repay the one hundred taels of silver within a month, then I will grant your request."

It was surprising for Lu Feng that Mr. Liu readily agreed to the matter. Lu Feng was determined to repay the debt as soon as possible, so that his daughter could regain her freedom.

Amid this pressing urgency, Lu Feng accompanied the sailors on a journey to Da Chen Island in Taizhou. Upon his return, he contemplated a plan in his mind, unsure of its potential for success.

He thought of the fortune teller Madam Wang, who, after divining his fate, smiled at him and said, "Although this matter may be fraught with difficulties, it will surely bring you future happiness."

After hearing this, the courage in Lu Feng's heart grew even stronger.

When Lufeng was helping the sailors with their work, he heard about some fishermen who had found pearls on a nearby island. Since it was currently the season for oysters to produce pearls, they would surely have a good catch if they went out to sea now.

However, these recent days have brought about unpredictable weather conditions, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of people venturing out to sea. Unless faced with no other choice, one would understandably prefer not to take any unnecessary risks.

After pondering throughout the night, Lu Feng finally boarded the small boat heading out to sea. Fortunately, the journey was smooth with calm winds and tranquil waters, and he encountered no other unexpected incidents. Upon arriving at the small island, Lu Feng encountered a strange and peculiar event.

In a shallow ditch lies a bloated yellow croaker, while his companion sailor is starving with an empty stomach.

They planned to catch and grill the yellow croaker, but Lufeng felt empathetic and said to everyone, "This fish is pregnant, and I believe it jumped in this ditch to catch its breath. It is like us, willing to take a risk out of desperation. How could we kick it when it's down?"

After uttering these words, several of his comrades were also moved, and they teamed up with Lu Feng to release the pregnant yellow croaker back into the sea.

Perhaps due to their good deeds, their luck unexpectedly turned out to be great and they stumbled upon a multitude of pearls at a distant shore.

As they returned with a full load, the sudden gusts and torrents came - at the height of the storm, the group huddled in the cabin, surrendering to the force of nature.

Fortunately, the towering waves did not engulf them at sea. As they crawled towards the shallow waters, carrying a bag of pearls on their backs, a sudden gigantic wave struck and engulfed Lu Feng into the depths of the ocean.

The fellows delivered the pearls they found in Lufeng to the house. Upon hearing this, Zhou Fang burst into tears and looked at Xue Rou in bewilderment, scolding her, "It's all your fault, you jinx! If only I had known, I wouldn't have picked you up!"

This heightened Snow's already present sense of self-blame, being a kind-hearted individual.

After disappearing for a while, Lu Xiaoqian appeared at the funeral hall in Lufeng. He didn't just come to pay his respects to his father, but also had his mind on the basket of pearls that his father had exchanged his life for.

Indeed, the following day arrived and both Lu Xiaoqian and the basket of pearls had vanished.

Due to excessive sadness, Xuerou here became blind. Liu, the landlord, also refused to marry such a disabled person. Therefore, he mobilized his troops to illegally seize the house and land of the Lu family.

It has been revealed that Liu, the landlord, sent someone disguised as a sailor to sail with Lu Feng. When Lu Feng was about to go ashore, the imposter struck him unconscious from behind with an iron anchor and then spread rumors that Lu Feng was swept away by the waves. The above is my correction and improvement of your original text.

Upon learning the truth, Xue Rou sought revenge but it seems that the current predicament will be difficult to endure.

Snow and Zhou, homeless and destitute, have taken up residence in an abandoned temple on the mountainside, where they subsist on fresh spring water and foraged greens, clinging together in their struggle for survival.

The following year, during a severe drought, the streams that flowed through the mountains gradually dried up.

However, the water in the broken temple's tanks was inexhaustible and the wild vegetables in the courtyard did not wither despite the drought, much to the surprise of the impoverished mother and daughter, for whom life had been a struggle.

They had always presumed that it was the kindness of strangers who had been supporting them.

One day, having made a fortune outside, Lu Xiaoqian inquired through someone and found this place. Upon seeing her son's shining eyes, Zhou Fang begged the other party to take them away, while Lu Xiaoqian was worried that Xue Rou might become a burden, so he abandoned her alone.

It is strange that Xiaorou was relying on the water in that bucket to sustain her for a long time.

Six months later, a monk walked into the dilapidated temple. He was amazed to see the flourishing vegetation and the trickling water in the courtyard. At this moment, Xue Rou came to him upon hearing the sound. She mistook him for a beggar in search of water, and therefore, she fetched a ladleful for him.

Xuerou walked shakily towards me, spilling nearly half of the water from her ladle.

The monk hurried forward and assisted Xuerou, saying, "Kindly take a seat, may I inquire of you something?"

Upon hearing that Xuerou was a practitioner, she promptly brought her hands together in prayer. The monk returned the gesture and proceeded to inquire, "This abandoned temple serves as a sanctuary for us ascetics, but as I understand it, there is no water source here. May I ask, from where did you fetch the water, miss?"

Xue Biran replied, "To be honest with you, venerable monk, I, a blind girl, owe my survival to the help of my fellow villagers who tirelessly fill up my water jar every day."

At that moment, the monk's face froze, sensing something unusual. He relayed to Xuerou the extent of the disaster outside, leaving her dumbfounded.

For the past half year, due to the drought that caused many deaths, the villagers have been staying indoors and avoiding this secluded area, as venturing out was too risky.

In a trance, the monk heard the sound of flowing water coming from Snow Soft's room. He carefully distinguished the source of the sound and eagerly lifted the bed board to take a look, his eyes revealing an uncontrollable delight.

Beneath the bed board lies a well crafted from green stone, its sparkling depths radiating a glimmering green glow. The points of light form an elongated strand resembling a floating ribbon or perhaps, a well dragon.

The monk had not yet spoken when Wang Po walked in without a sound. She smiled and said, "Your daughter is now under someone's care, and it's time for you to leave."

As soon as the words fell, a jade-blue water dragon emerged from the surface, leaping and twirling before entwining itself onto the roof beam. After the blue dragon departed, the well disappeared without a trace.

The azure dragon lifted its head and spewed a mouthful of spring water towards Xuerou, causing her to immediately cover her eyes.

Tremor comforted, "Fear not, child. Try opening your eyes."

Snow felt a refreshing sensation dissipate the burning within her pupils, and the long-lost perception returned to her once again.

She slowly opened her eyes, sought out the source of the sound, and softly called out "Father." The green dragon, shedding tears, let out a long howl before flying out of the window and disappearing into the sky.

After Taijing Long had left, a bright mosaic lay before Xuerou's eyes, and the tears of Qinglong had transformed into two sapphires.

Snow looked at the landlady and asked in confusion, "It was clearly my father's voice just now. Where is he?"

At this moment, Madam Wang began to explain: "Your father had saved the life of the dragon queen, an immeasurable act of merit. Under the blessings of the dragon clan, he has ascended to become a dragon himself. Yet, he remains deeply concerned for your well-being, and thus has taken the form of this well dragon, guarding over you day and night."

"And what about my foster mother and brother?"

From her bosom, Wang Po pulled out a copper mirror that reflected the following image:

Liu Xiaoqian sold his pearls and acquired one hundred taels of silver. He used it to redeem Yan'er first before they both journeyed to Yangzhou. It was there that Xiaoqian fell into the dark habit of gambling and was taken advantage of by malevolent individuals. Not only did he lose all his money, but Yan'er was once again sold into a brothel.

However, Xiaoxian's purpose in picking up her mother, Zhou Fang, was not to enjoy a good life, but rather to have her work at the creditor's home to repay the debt.

Due to advanced age and physical weakness, Zhou Fang was unable to work effectively and was quickly evicted by his creditors. They were left with no choice but to try to return to Hangzhou, but they died of thirst halfway.

The monk, upon finishing, clasped his hands together and exclaimed, "Amitabha Buddha, such is the intricacy of karma."

Snow Soft, who regained her sight later, intended to seek revenge against Landlord Liu but heard that his home had already been looted by bandits, and Landlord Liu had also died of anger.

Upon finally avenging herself, Xuerou felt a sense of clarity in her heart. She returned to the hometown of her foster father, Wuzhen, and sold one of the blue crystals, using the money to open a tea house.

All the passing refugees would come to her for a cup of water, and she not only refused to accept any payment, but also offered them dried food. Her kindness earned her a great deal of good karma, and eventually she met her beloved and spent the rest of her life in peace and happiness.