My younger sister and I were gathering herbs in the mountains when we rescued a wounded black snake. A few days later, the entrance to our home was piled high with betrothal gifts. My parents said the mountain god was repaying us. My sister, who didn't want to marry a god who wasn't human, insisted that since I had rescued the snake, I should be the one to marry him. Afraid of angering the mountain god and tempted by the betrothal gifts, my family tied me up and sent me to the mountain. My sister, meanwhile, got her wish and married the man I was betrothed to, a scholar who had spent years studying for the exams. Later, a severe drought struck, and nothing grew for miles around. Only our village managed to get by, protected by the mountain god. I became the revered Mountain Goddess, worshipped alongside the mountain god in his temple and showered with incense and prayers. My sister married the penniless bookworm who did nothing but study. She went hungry, had nothing warm to wear, and had to care for his bedridden mother. When she came home to visit, jealousy consumed her. She poisoned my food and smashed my statue to pieces. She got what was coming to her: the collapsing statue crushed her to death. When we were reborn, it was the day the mountain god's betrothal gifts arrived. She rushed to claim the title of Mountain Goddess. “Sister, that poor scholar was your fiancé anyway. This time, I get to enjoy being admired by everyone!” I looked at her with pity. A life of full meals, warm clothes, and everyone's admiration might not be as wonderful as she thought. I hoped she could handle it!
