"Bridge of Birds"
"A spring wind is like wine," wrote Chang Chou, "a summer wind is like tea, an autumn wind is like smoke, and a winter wind is like ginger or mustard" .
Once Master Li (Li Kao) agrees to help Number Ten Ox (Lu-Yu), they return to the village of Ku-fu. At the beginning, the villagers were not very enthusiastic about Master Li since he did not look like a sage, but like a shabby old man.
However, as soon as he demonstrates authority, everybody starts paying attention to him.
In fact, they are amazed because Li Kao manages to identify the cause of the disease by checking on the victims quickly, and tells them it is “ku poison”, an incurable substance that, if it is not treated correctly, will kill all the children. The people discover that this happened because two fraudulent villagers poisoned the silk crops, and therefore, when the children came in contact with them, they ended up getting infected.
After pondering for a while, Master Li informs the villagers that the only way to cure the children is to find the Great Root of Power, which is a medicinal plant of ginseng, that unfortunately, is in a place that no one knows. The abbot of the village tells them that he has heard there is a Root of Power in the possession of the Ancestress, an apparently wicked lady.With this information, Li Kao and Lu-Yu decide to go to her palace. Being this their mission, they prepare themselves by borrowing money from other peasants, and asking for new clothes.
Once they reach the palace, Lu-Yu is kidnapped and told that the Ancestress’ granddaughter wants to marry him. Now, he is trapped in a desperate situation, and praying that nobody discovers their real plan.
As far as I have read, I find Master Li a really interesting character who, despite his looks, is truly wise and hilarious. On the other hand, I consider Lu-Yu a brave man since he is willing to go on dangerous adventures as long as he can help the people in his village.
-Abril Canché Covarrubias
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