When Shen Li was born, the old locust tree, barren for three years, bloomed overnight.
Her grandfather fed the last half-bowl of rice broth into her mouth. “Our family's lucky star is here!”
Her nine older brothers took turns carrying her to school, always stuffing her schoolbag with wild fruit and marbles.
Her fourth aunt secretly made her floral cloth shoes. “Girls deserve to be pampered!”
Then one day, she pointed at the hill behind their home and said, “There are shiny stones buried over there.”
The whole family dug with their hoes and struck coal. That night, Ye Qinghai smiled under the moonlight. “Little lucky star, let me share in your good fortune, too?”
Years later, a reporter asked the richest woman, Shen Li, what the secret to her success was.
She swung her feet in her faded floral cloth shoes and replied with a smile, “Hmm... Maybe it's because I'm the only kid in the family brave enough to hide meat in Grandma's bowl?”
