Shu Fa lives with Uncle and Auntie in a village by the mountain. The land is dry and dusty. There is no water available for the villagers.

Every day, people must walk over the steep mountain to get the precious water. They fill their buckets with the water and carry home.

 One day, Shu Fa goes up the mountain. Near the path, she discovers a turnip. It is perfect for lunch. She pulls it out of the ground.

Snap! Water pours from the hole left by the turnip. Shu Fa is amazed! Now the villagers will not have to walk so far for water.

Suddenly, a strong wind blows in from the mountain. It pushes the turnip back into the hole. A loud voice roars, "You can't take my water!"

Shu Fa asks,"Who are you?"

"I am the voice of the Mountain. This is MY water. You can't take it."

'But my village needs water! Can you share it with us?" Shu Fa asks.

"No, I don't share!" The Voice says. Then it warns her: "If you tell anyone about the water, you will be punished!"

Shu Fa runs home. She wants to tell everyone about the secret water. But she is afraid.

Many days pass. Shu Fa sees how hard the villagers work to get water. SHe worries so much that her long, black hair turns white.

One day, Uncle walks over the mountain to get water. But he trips and hurts his head: "Aiya!" he cries.

Shu Fa cries, too. She knows now that she must help. She must bring the water to her village.

Shu Fa runs up the mountains and smashes the turnip. The villagers dance with joy!

Then the Voice of the Mountain shouts, "Shu Fa, you tol my secret! Now you must live in my river forever."

Shu Fa cries. She begs the Voice to let her say goodbye to her family. The Voice grumbles, "Go, but you must return here tonight."

Shu Fa runs back to the village. "What can I do?" she asks hersefl. "I don't want to live in the river!" She decides to tell Uncle about a plan.

Uncle works all day to carve a statue out of stone. The statue looke just like Shu Fa. He thinks the statue will trick the Voice of the Mountain.

'I just need one thing," Uncle tells Shu Fa. He cuts Shu Fa's long, white hair and attaches it to the statue. Then hen places the statue in the river. Water flows the statue. It carries the white hair over the mountain like a waterfall.

The Voice of the Mountain sees the statue. It says, "Hello, Shu Fa!"

The trick is worked!

Today, the waterfall still flows to the village. The land is green, and the peopel are happy.

Once again, Shu Fa has long, black hair.