Where The Mountain Meets The Moon

Long ago, Wu Kang was a farmer who lived in the country. He was surrounded by family and known by his neighbors for his good fortune. Wu Kang wasn’t satisfied with his life and, despite his family’s contentment with their lives, he moved them to the town and then to the city, each time downgrading the size and quality of their home as he pursued new careers. Finally, he went to the Old Man of the Moon to learn how to be an Immortal. Even the Old Man of the Moon’s magical lessons were not enough for Wu Kang, and when he demanded more, the Old Man of the Moon tied a red string of destiny between Wu Kang and a tree, telling him he couldn’t leave until he learned "the lessons of contentment and patience” (243) that would allow him to finally chop down the tree. Wu Kang was unsuccessful: “Little did he realize that with every cut the tree grew back, and every blow only scattered the seeds from the tree into the night sky lake” (243).

Minli realizes the seeds scattered by Wu Kang’s chopping are the same ones that fall on the Village of Moon Rain and grow into golden trees. Rabbit leads Minli to the Old Man of the Moon.

The Old Man of the Moon sits on the floor in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by little clay figurines of humans connected by red strings. Minli realizes instantly they're the same strings the weaver girl, buffalo boy’s special friend, carried in her sack. Minli understands that the weaver girl is actually the Goddess of Weaving. The Old Man of the Moon summons Minli, seemingly unsurprised by her arrival, and he delivers her a difficult decision: “Every ninety-nine years, someone comes here with their questions. But I will only answer one. So choose your question carefully” (249). Minli panics: should she ask her own question and change her family’s fortune, or should she keep her promise to Dragon and change her loyal friend’s fortune? Anxiety builds as she approaches the Old Man. She feels unable to slow herself down and buy time to think. When she gets close to the Old Man, she sees the Book of Fortune and notices that her “borrowed line” has been reattached, rendering its single word readable. The word, written over and over again on the page, is thankfulness. In this moment, Minli forgoes her own question and asks the Old Man of the Moon why Dragon cannot fly.

As they wait for Minli, Ma spends a great deal of time soul-searching, and Ba begins to show signs of aging. Most nights, Ba comforts Ma with storytelling, which she used to dislike but now appreciates. One night, Ma wants to tell a story of her own.

There once was a mother who felt unsatisfied with her humble lifestyle and jealous of people richer than she, and whose dissatisfaction changed her daughter’s happiness to discontent. The daughter left home, and suddenly the house felt too big instead of too small. The daughter’s absence reminded the mother that the family was already rich—not in money but in togetherness and laughter. Without the daughter, the family ceased to be rich.

Ma apologizes to Ba for blaming him for Minli’s departure, and Ba grows emotional. Suddenly, Ma hears the goldfish speak for the first time. He prophesies, “If you make happy those that are near, those that are far will come” (255).

When Dragon and Minli reunite after three days’ separation, Minli pulls the ball off of Dragon’s head per the Old Man of the Moon’s instructions. Without the extra weight, Dragon gains the ability to fly. He and Minli take flight, laughing and enjoying Dragon’s new ability. When Dragon learns that Minli asked his question instead of her own, he feels upset. He tells Minli to go back and ask the Old Man her question, but Minli knows this is not allowed. Besides, she doesn’t want to ask her question now. She reflects on the buffalo boy who refused her money, the king who gifted her the borrowed line, and the twins who declined the chance to ask the Old Man for help. Minli has learned from these experiences that she doesn’t need or want to change her life.