Flower Stream
Flower Stream: After King Xiang Tianzi fought a hundred battles with the government troops at Baizhang Gorge, overwhelmed by superior numbers, he had to lead his remaining soldiers west. His daughter Xiang Zhici guarded the rear. Just as she fled into a valley, the shouts of pursuers followed. At her wit's end, Xiang Zhici hurried into a thatched hut at the foot of the slope. The young man working inside saw a beautiful girl enter and quickly covered his face with his hands...
This article has been compiled from historical materials on 'Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network' (33519.com · Specialty Foods / Cuisine / Customs section). Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated. Before traveling, please refer to the latest announcements from merchants, scenic areas, and local competent authorities; the parts involving folk legends and folk customs are local historical and cultural anecdotes, provided for cultural reference.
Huaxi (Flower Stream)
After fighting a hundred battles against the government troops at Baizhang Gorge, King Tianzi Xiang was outnumbered and had no choice but to lead his remaining soldiers in retreat to the west, with his daughter Xiang Zhici covering the rear. Just as she fled into a gorge, the shouts of pursuers followed close behind. At her wit's end, Xiang Zhici hurriedly stepped into a thatched hut at the foot of the slope. The young man working inside saw a beautiful young woman enter and quickly covered his face with his hand, stammering, "Miss, you—how did you come here?"
Xiang Zhici, panting, said, "I am a maiden in distress. The government troops are pursuing me fiercely. Please let me hide in your house!" When the young man heard this, indeed there were shouts of men and neighing of horses outside. He pondered for a moment and said, "Miss, just hide in the kitchen inside!"
By then, the government troops had already reached the edge of the courtyard. A soldier shouted fiercely, "Hey! A girl on horseback just came this way—did you see her?" The young man, one hand covering his face, shook his head.
"Are you mute?" Another soldier suddenly pulled away the young man's hand from his face. All the officers and soldiers were stunned—this young man was actually hideously ugly! "Ugly freak, don't you dare harbor a rebel! Hand over the fugitive at once!" another soldier roared. The ugly freak said foolishly, "You say it's a girl—would she take a fancy to me? Besides, would she dare come to my place?"
"This..." The officers and soldiers were momentarily speechless.
"However..." The ugly freak muttered hesitantly again.
"However what? Speak up!"
"Just now, I think I saw a woman on horseback heading toward Yaozi Village."
"Confound it! Why didn't you say so earlier!" The officer waved his long saber and roared, "Chase! Chase her to Yaozi Village!"
Only after the government troops had run far away did the ugly freak turn back into the house and call out, "Miss, it's safe now!"
Xiang Zhici came out of the house and saw that the young man was still covering his face. She bowed and said, "Brother, your lifesaving grace I will never forget. Please accept my bow!" The young man grew anxious and quickly supported her with one hand, saying, "Go quickly! The government troops will soon come back." Xiang Zhici glanced at him and said earnestly, "You are my lifesaving benefactor, yet I still haven't seen your true face!" The young man said honestly, "Miss, you are a beauty like a heavenly fairy, and I am an ugly freak—I would frighten you." Xiang Zhici stubbornly said, "Even an ugly freak must be seen!" "If you won't look, then forget it. My name is Ugly Brother—just remember that name." "Ugly Brother? Thank you, Ugly Brother. Please accept my three bows!" Xiang Zhici knelt down again. Ugly Brother again supported her with one hand. Xiang Zhici said, "Is there such etiquette in the world?" Ugly Brother had no choice but to lower his hand from his face and support Xiang Zhici with both hands. Xiang Zhici looked and was greatly shocked: there could be such an ugly person in the world!
Ugly Brother said with tears in his eyes, "Long ago, this place of ours was very beautiful too—there was water, flowers, grass, and the young men and girls in the village all grew up pretty. But I don't know in what year, an ugly ghost came to the mountains. It was very jealous of the beauty of the Huaxi people. Once it arrived, the Huaxi waters stopped flowing, the flowers and grass died out, and the people became ugly. For generations, we dared not leave home, dared not come down the mountain, and just hid in these deep mountains hunting and digging ferns to make a living..."
Hearing this, Xiang Zhici couldn't help but feel a sting in her nose. Disregarding a maiden's shyness, she untied a flower sash from her waist and wiped Ugly Brother's tears. Ugly Brother suddenly felt his face burning. He quickly looked at the water vat—strange! The ugly freak had turned into a handsome young man! Xiang Zhici said with a smile, "I am the daughter of King Tianzi Xiang. You saved my life, and I have no gift to give you, so I'll give you this flower sash." With that, she leaped onto her horse and rode off to catch up with the main army.
Ugly Brother stood holding the flower sash in a daze for a long time. This was a Tujia girl's waist sash, woven and embroidered with seven-colored silk threads. But this flower sash was a bit special: it had the fragrance of a hundred flowers, the colors of a hundred flowers, and faintly visible within it were flowing springs, colorful butterflies, flying birds, and clouds among the hundred flowers... Even more wondrous, the flowers on the sash could be picked off!
The ugly men, ugly women, and ugly children on both banks of the Ganxi (Dry Stream) saw Ugly Brother turn into a handsome brother, and their hearts itched with longing. The ugly girls—one wanted to pick a flower, another also wanted to pick a flower; the ugly men—one wanted to wipe his face, another also wanted to wipe his face. The little thatched hut was nearly bursting! Ugly Brother thought for a moment and said, "No need to fight over it. Let's just put the flower sash in the courtyard and let everyone share in its fairy magic." But as soon as they went outside, a gust of fragrant wind suddenly arose and blew the flower sash away! The sash drifted and drifted, turning into a ten-thousand-zhang seven-colored ribbon, gently floating down onto the Ganxi. As soon as the sash fell, the Ganxi began to flow with a gurgling sound. That stream water—sparkling, sweet as honey, like fairy spring water pouring down from the Jade Pool. In a moment, both banks of the stream turned green, and flowers, grass, and trees grew. After another moment, the trees all bloomed—red, yellow, white, purple... like gold and silver borders inlaid along the stream. Bees came buzzing to gather nectar; butterflies flew over, pairing off and frolicking among the flowers; birds flew over, chirping softly and singing joyfully...
The girls and young men, laughing and giggling, ran to the Huaxi, picking, gathering, washing, bathing. The ugly girls stuck a flower in their hair and immediately became beauties like flowers; the ugly young men jumped into the stream for a bath and immediately became handsome, elegant men. Ugly old men came, ugly old women came, and they all became beautiful and young! Later, people called this stream 'Huaxi' (Flower Stream). And that ugly ghost? It had long since turned into a stone mountain. When you go up to Yaozi Village, you can see a scenic spot called 'Ugly Freak.'