At the foot of Mount Niou Lan lies the large village of Yun. There, in a farmhouse, Mrs. Yi lives with her husband. The heroine of this story is a respected and beloved woman, tireless and compassionate. During the day, she gathers various plants to heal people. At night, she devotes herself to the careful study of medicine.
“Illnesses and herbs are lovers!” Mrs. Yi tells her patients, sharing in their joy when they recover and comforting them when things get difficult. Yet Mrs. Yi feels that she is growing old and is already searching for a worthy successor to take over her charitable work. Those who follow Mrs. Yi will soon realize that the line between life and death is a fine one, and that the mountain is far more mysterious than they imagine.
Inspired by her own experiences, including the period when she herself was a “barefoot doctor,” the celebrated Chinese writer Can Xue—an author admired by critic Susan Sontag—offers one of her most accessible, luminous, and moving books.
