The sun had just begun to set over the small village of Dongxi, casting a warm orange glow over the thatched roofs and the bustling town square. The air was alive with the smells of cooking oil and fresh vegetables, wafting from the food stalls that lined the streets.
In a small, humble home on the outskirts of the village, a young couple, Mei and Jian, sat huddled together, their faces etched with worry and desperation. They had been married for five years, and despite their best efforts, they had been unable to conceive a child. That was until Mei finally became pregnant, and their joy was short-lived.
As the months passed, Mei's pregnancy proved to be a difficult one. She was bedridden for most of the time, and the couple's meager savings were depleted by the costly medical treatments. Jian, a poor farmer, struggled to make ends meet, working from dawn till dusk in the fields.
When Mei finally gave birth to a baby girl, the couple was overjoyed. However, their happiness was short-lived. The baby, whom they named Lu, was born with a small mark on her left cheek, which the villagers believed was a sign of bad luck.
As the days passed, Mei and Jian found it increasingly difficult to care for their newborn daughter. The villagers, fueled by superstition and fear, shunned them, refusing to help or even acknowledge the family.
One fateful night, under the light of a full moon, Mei and Jian made a heartbreaking decision. They wrapped baby Lu in a small blanket and set out into the darkness, leaving their home and their village behind.
The night air was crisp and cool, and the only sound was the rustling of leaves beneath their feet. Mei and Jian walked in silence, their hearts heavy with grief and shame. They knew that what they were doing was wrong, but they felt they had no other choice.
As they walked, the landscape shifted from lush green fields to dense forests, and finally, to a winding mountain road. The air grew colder and thinner, and Mei and Jian could see their breath misting in the air.
After what seemed like hours of walking, they finally reached the gates of a small temple, nestled in the heart of the mountains. The temple was dedicated to the goddess of mercy, Guanyin, and was known for its kindness and generosity to those in need.
Mei and Jian stood before the temple gates, hesitant and unsure. They looked at each other, and then down at the small bundle in Mei's arms. With a heavy heart, Mei handed the baby to Jian, who carefully placed her on the ground, just inside the temple gates.
As they turned to leave, Mei couldn't help but look back. She saw the small, helpless figure of her daughter, lying alone and abandoned in the darkness. A cry of anguish rose up in her throat, but she bit it back, knowing that she had to be strong.
Jian took Mei's hand, and together they disappeared into the night, leaving behind their daughter, Lu, to an uncertain fate.
The temple gates creaked in the wind, and the only sound was the distant howling of wolves. Lu lay alone, her small chest rising and falling with each breath. She was unaware of the fate that had been bestowed upon her, or the journey that lay ahead.
As the night wore on, the moon dipped below the horizon, casting the temple in an inky blackness. Lu's eyes slowly closed, and she fell into a deep sleep, surrounded by the silence and the darkness of the mountains.
The next morning, the temple's abbot, a kind and wise old man named Master Wang, emerged from his quarters to begin his daily routine. As he walked towards the temple gates, he noticed a small, bundle-like object lying on the ground.
Curious, Master Wang approached the object and found the baby Lu, fast asleep. He gently picked her up, cradling her in his arms, and examined her tiny face. The small mark on her left cheek caught his attention, and he smiled knowingly.
"Ah, a child of destiny," he whispered to himself.
Master Wang took Lu inside the temple, where he was met by the temple's nun, Sister Li. Together, they bathed and fed the baby, and Master Wang began to make arrangements for her care.
As the days passed, Lu grew stronger and healthier, and the temple became her home. Master Wang and Sister Li became her caregivers, and the temple's monks and nuns became her family.
Lu's early life was marked by hardship and rejection, but she had found a new sense of belonging in the temple. As she grew and thrived, she began to exhibit remarkable qualities, qualities that would one day make her a legend in her own right.
But for now, Lu was just a small, helpless child, abandoned by her parents and left to the mercy of the temple. As she lay in her small bed, surrounded by the quiet and the darkness, Lu's eyes slowly closed, and she drifted off to sleep, unaware of the incredible journey that lay ahead.