Encore: The Missing Mountainside

Summary

Podcast Summary: Circle Round – "Encore: The Missing Mountainside"

Introduction

In the special encore edition of WBUR’s beloved podcast Circle Round, host Rebecca Scheer revisits the enchanting tale titled "The Missing Mountainside." Originally aired on July 22, 2025, this episode delves into themes of greed, community responsibility, and the consequences of overconsumption. Adapted from a Taiwanese folktale, the story captivates listeners with its rich narrative and moral lessons, all brought to life by a talented ensemble including Karen Huey.

Story Overview

Setting the Scene

"The Missing Mountainside" is set in a bustling village at the base of Ban Ping Mountain, also known as Half Screen Mountain. This mountain is famed for its peculiar flat face, a natural formation explained scientifically by tectonic activity. However, the legend unfolds differently as the story begins in the lively marketplace of the village.

The Arrival of the Old Woman

At [00:xx], the marketplace is abuzz with traders and shoppers when an enigmatic old woman arrives, pushing a rickety cart adorned with a bright silver pot. Her presence quickly garners attention due to the enticing aroma of her dumplings.

Notable Quote:

• Old Woman [03:11]: "Dumplings. Steaming dumplings. Here, get em while they're hot."

The Curious Offer

The old woman presents an unusual pricing scheme: one dumpling for one copper piece, two for two, and three for free ([04:01]). Initially skeptical, the market goers quickly succumb to her offer, each opting to take three dumplings without paying. As the days pass, her cart becomes a staple in the marketplace, with the townspeople reveling in their free treats.

Notable Quotes:

• Market Goer 1 [04:04]: "You aren't serious, are you?"
• Old Woman [04:25]: "That's absolutely correct."

The Turning Point

One week into her offerings, a young woman wearing worn-out shoes approaches the cart. Unlike the others, she requests only one dumpling ([09:48]). This act of restraint perplexes the crowd and catches the old woman’s attention.

Notable Quotes:

• Young Woman [09:48]: "I've been hearing all week about your amazing dumplings and I'd love to have a taste. So I'm wondering, may I please have just one?"
• Old Woman [10:04]: "I'm sorry, young lady, but I can't always rely on these old ears of mine."

Revelation of the Mountain Spirit

The young woman’s humble request serves as a test. Moved by her integrity, the old woman reveals her true identity as the spirit of Ban Ping Mountain. She rewards the young woman with a magical dumpling pot that produces endless dumplings, provided she only takes what she needs ([12:01]).

Notable Quotes:

• Old Woman [12:01]: "Your one copper piece is more than enough to show me that you have passed my test."
• Old Woman [12:22]: "Well, the truth of the matter is I am not a kooky old dumpling seller... you are the one I have been waiting for."

The Consequence of Greed

The revelation takes a dark turn as the old woman directs the villagers to look at the mountain. They discover that half of Ban Ping Mountain has vanished, a direct consequence of their gluttonous actions—having consumed dumplings made from the mountain’s stone. This loss serves as a poignant lesson on the irreversible damage caused by unchecked greed ([14:39]).

Notable Quotes:

• Old Woman [14:22]: "The dumplings you've been eating all week long were not real dumplings. They were made from the stones of the mountain."
• Old Woman [14:39]: "Let this be a lesson to you all that sometimes what is taken away cannot ever be replaced."

Epilogue

Years later, Ban Ping Mountain becomes a quarry, symbolizing ongoing human disregard for nature’s limits. The mountain’s altered appearance serves as a lasting reminder to the community to take only what they need and respect the balance of their environment.

Key Themes and Insights

1. Greed vs. Generosity: The villagers’ initial refusal to pay for the dumplings reflects human tendencies toward greed, especially when something is offered for free. The young woman’s choice to take only what she needs highlights the virtue of moderation.

2. Consequences of Overconsumption: The disappearance of half the mountain underscores the real-world implications of overconsumption and resource exploitation, aligning with environmental conservation messages.

3. Community Responsibility: The story emphasizes the importance of community members looking out for one another and holding each other accountable, as demonstrated by the young woman challenging the status quo.

Activity and Engagement

At the end of the story, Rebecca Scheer invites listeners to engage creatively by drawing two pictures: one depicting the mountain before the villagers' actions and one after. This activity encourages children and adults alike to reflect on the story’s moral and visualize the consequences of their actions.

Notable Quote:

• Rebecca Sheer [16:07]: "Now it's your turn. Draw two pictures... and share them with us."

Conclusion

"Encore: The Missing Mountainside" serves as a compelling retelling of a traditional folktale, seamlessly blending entertainment with moral education. Through vivid storytelling, engaging characters, and a powerful message, Circle Round invites listeners to ponder the impact of their choices on the world around them.

Final Thoughts

The episode not only entertains but also imparts valuable lessons on sustainability, ethical behavior, and community solidarity. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to Circle Round, "The Missing Mountainside" is a timeless story that resonates across ages, reminding us all to take only what we need and respect the delicate balance of our environment.

Credits

• Adaptation: Rebecca Scheer
• Editing: Nora Sachs
• Music and Sound Design: Eric Shyamalanis
• Artwork: Sabina Hahn
• Actors: Theodore Chin, Rishikesh Hirway, Shelley Lee, Jessica Rao, Nick Shali Dawn, Ursula, and Karen Huey

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For more stories, coloring pages, and engagement activities, visit WBUR.org/CircleRound.

Transcript

[Rebecca Shear]

WBUR Podcasts, Boston. Hi, Rebecca Shearer here. We're taking some time off this summer as we gear up for Circle Round's ninth season of our WBUR podcast, featuring dozens of folk tales from around the world and an exciting lineup of live episode recordings across the United States. In the meantime this week, please enjoy a special encore edition of Circle Round, a really fun story you may have missed the first time around. Here we go. Have you ever taken more than you needed? It happens to all of us when we're tempted by something. We sometimes end up going a little overboard. But in today's story, an entire town learns that when you bite off more than you can chew, it can leave a very bad, bad taste. I'm Rebecca Scheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time. Today, our story is called the Missing Mountainside. Versions of this tale come from Taiwan, a mountainous island off the coast of China. Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this tale, including Karen Huey, whom you kids may know from the animated series Abominable and the Invisible City on Hulu, and whom you grown ups might know from the Fox comedy. Welcome to Flatch, now in its second season. So circle around, everyone, for the Missing Mountainside. If you visit the island of Taiwan, you'll find many hills and mountains. And one of those mountains has a most intriguing history. It's known as Ban Ping Mountain, or Half Screen Mountain. And it has that name because when the mountain first formed, one side had a totally fine, flat face like a screen. It was as if someone had taken the biggest knife you've ever seen and sliced part of the mountain clear away. Science says this unusually flat face was the result of tectonic plates and movement of the Earth's crust. But legend says it was the result of something else entirely. And it all began long, long ago in a bustling town at the mountain's base. The town was home to a lively marketplace where people flocked from hither and yon to haggle over flowers and fruits, silks and spices, rugs and rice. One day, an old woman with long silvery hair showed up at the marketplace. She was pushing a rickety cart with a bright silver pot on top.

[Old Woman]

Dumplings. Steaming dumplings. Here, get em while they're hot.

[Rebecca Shear]

The dumplings in the woman's pot sent a delicious aroma wafting through the marketplace. And before long, dozens of market goers were jostling for a place in line.

[Market Goer 1]

I must get my hands on those dumplings.

[Old Woman]

They smell amazing.

[Market Goer 1]

Tell us, old woman, how much do they cost?

[Rebecca Shear]

The old woman tapped a wrinkled face.

[Old Woman]

Hmm? How much do my dumplings cost, you ask? What a marvelous question. I was thinking I would sell one dumpling for one copper piece, two dumplings for two copper pieces, and three dumplings for free.

[Rebecca Shear]

The market goers were taken aback.

[Market Goer 1]

You aren't serious, are you?

[Rebecca Shear]

Surely you must be joking.

[Market Goer 1]

Are you actually telling us that you'd sell one dumpling for one copper piece and two dumplings for two copper pieces.

[Rebecca Shear]

But you'd give away three dumplings for free?

[Market Goer 1]

Is that correct?

[Old Woman]

That's absolutely correct. I would never lie. But these dumplings aren't going to sell themselves. So let's start with you, sir.

[Rebecca Shear]

The woman turned to the first person in line.

[Old Woman]

How many dumplings would you like?

[Market Goer 1]

Well, if you're really giving three dumplings away for free, then I'll take three dumplings.

[Old Woman]

Alrighty then. Here you go. And you, ma', am, how many dumplings would you like? I'd like three, of course.

[Rebecca Shear]

Why pay for just one or two when I can get three for free?

[Old Woman]

Why indeed. And how about you, sir? How many dumplings would you like?

[Market Goer 1]

Is there any question? I'll take three.

[Rebecca Shear]

All day long, people lined up at the old woman's cart to buy her dumplings. Though I shouldn't say buy, because all they did was take. Not a single person paid for one or two dumplings. They all took three for free, then gobbled them down with gusto.

[Market Goer 1]

Oh, these dumplings are delicious.

[Rebecca Shear]

Absolutely scrumptious.

[Market Goer 1]

I could eat these all day. What do you think the old woman puts in them?

[Rebecca Shear]

Hmm, I can't really tell. Rice, I think.

[Market Goer 1]

And mushrooms maybe. Or some kind of meat.

[Old Woman]

I don't know.

[Market Goer 1]

I don't know either. But what I do know is that if that kooky old lady comes back tomorrow, I'm going to take all the free dumplings I can get. So am I.

[Rebecca Shear]

Me too.

[Market Goer 1]

Me, three.

[Rebecca Shear]

Much to everyone's delight, the old dumpling seller did come back and offered the same curious deal as yesterday.

[Old Woman]

One dumpling for one copper piece, two dumplings for two copper pieces, and three dumplings for free.

[Rebecca Shear]

Once more, crowds of market goers swarmed to her cart. And can you guess how many dumplings each of them ordered? That's right.

[Market Goer 1]

I'll take three dumplings.

[Old Woman]

Give me three dumplings.

[Market Goer 1]

I want three delicious dumplings now.

[Rebecca Shear]

The old woman wasn't earning a cent, but she didn't seem to mind. She wore a big smile as she gave her dumplings away. And as her customers stuffed themselves silly she had a twinkle in her eye.

[Old Woman]

My, my, my. There seems to be no end to these people's appetite and no bottom to their stomachs. But if everything goes as I hope it will, you'll need a very strong stomach to handle what I have in store.

[Rebecca Shear]

What do you think the dumpling seller is cooking up other than dumplings? We'll find out what happens after a quick break.

[Advertiser]

Support for Circle Round comes from Indeed. You just realized that your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Just use Indeed. There's no need to wait. You can speed up your hiring with Indeed and Circle Round listeners will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more [e-mail] circleround just go to indeed.com circleround right now and support the show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.comCircleround terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.

[Rebecca Shear]

What are Circle Round listeners saying about the Circle Round Club, the newest membership opportunity for superfans like you? Here's a taste.

[Faris]

I love being in the Circle Round Club because the snuggle times are perfect for when you want to listen to Circle Round, but you don't have that much time.

[Rebecca Shear]

Grown ups get your Circle Round super fan signed up [e-mail] CircleRoundClub. Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Scheer. Today our story is called the Missing Mountainside. Before the break in the marketplace at the foot of a mountain, a mysterious a serious old woman was offering appetizing dumplings at an unusual price.

[Old Woman]

One dumpling for one copper piece, two dumplings for two copper pieces and three dumplings for free.

[Rebecca Shear]

The old woman attracted throngs of customers, all of them making the same demand.

[Market Goer 1]

Give me three dumplings, three free dumplings and be quick about it.

[Rebecca Shear]

This happened over and over again. But then, at the end of the week, a young woman wearing worn out shoes and a patched up shirt got to the front of the dumpling seller's line.

[Young Woman]

Excuse me, ma', am, but I've been hearing all week about your amazing dumplings and I'd love to have a taste. So I'm wondering, may I please have just one?

[Rebecca Shear]

A hush fell over the crowd. The old woman cupped a weathered hand over one ear.

[Old Woman]

I'm sorry, young lady, but I can't always rely on these old ears of mine. Did I hear you correctly? Did you really order just one dumpling?

[Young Woman]

Well, yes, just one dumpling.

[Rebecca Shear]

The other market goers stared at the young Woman in disbelief.

[Market Goer 1]

You're seriously ordering just one dumpling?

[Rebecca Shear]

Then you must have dumplings for brains.

[Market Goer 1]

Didn't you hear the old woman's offer? It was one dumpling for one copper piece, two dumplings for two copper pieces, and three.

[Young Woman]

And three dumplings for free. Yes, I know, I've heard all about it. But this old woman of whom you speak, all week long she has carted her heavy load of dumplings to this marketplace. And from what I hear, all week long she has fed everyone. Everyone for free. Is that true, madam?

[Rebecca Shear]

The old woman nodded.

[Old Woman]

Yes, my dear, it is true.

[Young Woman]

So people near and far have been raving about your dumplings, yet no one has seen fit to pay you a cent. Am I the only one who sees how wrong that is? You deserve to make a living just like the rest of us. What you don't deserve is to be taken advantage of. So here.

[Rebecca Shear]

The young woman reached into her pocket and pulled out one copper piece.

[Young Woman]

Times have been hard for me lately and I have just enough money to pay for one dumpling. But it's better than nothing.

[Rebecca Shear]

The old woman gazed at the copper piece. Then she gazed at the young woman and grinned.

[Old Woman]

Good lady, good, good lady, I wish to thank you. You see, I was hoping this day would come. And thanks to you, it has.

[Young Woman]

Well, it's only one copper piece. I wish I could afford more, but no, it's plenty.

[Old Woman]

Your one copper piece is more than enough to show me that you have passed my test.

[Rebecca Shear]

The market goers exchanged a confused look. The young woman was pretty mystified herself.

[Young Woman]

Test? I don't understand. What kind of test are you talking about?

[Old Woman]

Well, the truth of the matter is I am not a kooky old dumpling seller, as many people have come to call me. I am actually the spirit of the mountain that looms over this village. A powerful entity who has been seeking a trustworthy and true hearted soul to reward for their goodness. And you, my dear, you are that trustworthy and true hearted soul. You are the one I have been waiting for. And as such, you shall receive a well deserved reward.

[Rebecca Shear]

The mountain spirit lifted the dumpling pot and placed it in the young woman's hands.

[Old Woman]

This dumpling pot is for you. Keep it in your possession and whenever you are hungry, just reach inside and a fresh made dumpling will be waiting. The pot's magic will only work if you just take what you need. But something tells me you won't have a problem with that.

[Young Woman]

Wow. Mountain spirit, I thank you truly.

[Old Woman]

And I thank you truly. But as for everyone Else.

[Rebecca Shear]

She shot the rest of the crowd a withering glance.

[Old Woman]

I want all of you to look up, lift your heads and take a peek at the mountain towering above you. Tell me what you see.

[Rebecca Shear]

The market goers did as they were told and craned their necks upward. And what they saw made their jaws drop.

[Market Goer 1]

The side of the mountain, it's no longer there. It's like somebody sliced it clear off or chopped it clear away.

[Old Woman]

But where has it gone?

[Market Goer 1]

What have you done with it?

[Old Woman]

The question is not what have I done with it. The question is what have you done with it?

[Rebecca Shear]

The market goers were too small, stunned to speak. The mountain spirit fixed them with a steely stare.

[Old Woman]

Ladies and gentlemen, the dumplings you've been eating all week long were not real dumplings. They were made from the stones of the mountain. And now, thanks to your self serving actions and gluttonous greed, half of the mountain is gone, never to return. So let this be a lesson to you all that sometimes what is taken away cannot ever be replaced.

[Rebecca Shear]

And with that, she raised her head, waved her arms, and disappeared. The market goers felt their hearts throb with remorse and their stomachs ache with pain, because all of a sudden, they could feel the heavy, rocky pieces of the missing mountainside churning in their bellies. I wish I could say that's the end of the story. But years and years later, humans began eating away at the mountain again. You see, Sometime in the 20th century, Ban Ping Mountain became a quarry, with miners chipping away at the mountain's precious limestone and carting it off to sell. So these days, Half Screen Mountain no longer has that sheer cliff drop like someone sliced one side clear away. Instead, it has sloping sides all around. But even though it looks much like many other mountains, it can still serve as a towering reminder to take only what we need and never bite off more than we can chew. Now it's your turn. Draw two pictures. One showing how you imagine the townspeople's mountain looked before their adventure with the spirit of the mountain, and one showing how you imagine it looked after after. Show your pictures to someone you have fun with and then, if you'd like, share them with us. Have a grown up. Snap a photo of you and your drawings and email the photo to circleroundbur.org with your permission, we may feature you in an upcoming edition of the Lion's Roar, the Circle Round Club newsletter. Become a member [e-mail] CircleRound.

[Old Woman]

This week's.

[Rebecca Shear]

Story, the missing Mountainside, was adapted by me, Rebecca Scheer. It was edited by Nora Sachs. Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shyamalanis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn. Sabina has drawn a black and white coloring page for all 190 plus Circle Round stories and you can color them in while you listen. Grown Ups, Visit our website WBUR.org CircleRound and click on coloring pages. And while you're at WBUR.org CircleRound you can find a link to our new picture books adapted from some of your favorite Circle Round stories. Just click on books. Special thanks to this week's actors, Theodore Chin, Rishikesh Hirway, Shelley Lee, Jessica Rao, Nick Shali Dawn, Ursula and Karen Huey. Kids, listen for Karen in the animated series Abominable and the Invisible City on Hulu. And Grown Ups. Check out Karen in the Fox comedy. Welcome to Flatch, now in its second season and one more big thanks. This week we'd like to give a grateful shout out to the science professors who helped with the technical details of this story, Will Wimet at the University of Connecticut and Dr. Tony Lee at National Taiwan Normal University. Our featured instrument this week was the pipa. To learn more about this ancient plucked instrument popular in Taiwan and to see a photo of Eric Shyamalanis playing it, visit our website. Again, that's WBUR.org CircleRound Grown ups, if you enjoy what you hear on Circle Round, please write us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. It helps keep us going strong so we can Circle Round with you for years to come. Circle Round is a production of wbur, Boston's NPR News Station. I'm Rebecca Shear and one more time, thanks for Circling Round with us. Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Round story? Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[Faris]

My name is Faris and I live in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. My favorite episode is the Neverending Story. My favorite part is when the books are gone. I love the stories you make. Rebecca Shear My name is Eva, I live in Arizona. My favorite Circle World stories are down to business and I like the Pope where Traveller teaches her that's to enable her to be nice. My name is Ada, I live in Boston, Massachusetts and my favorite Circle Round story is A Horse for a Hire and my favorite part is when Pierre says hang. My name is Abby, I live in Massachusetts. My favorite circle round store is the Zodiac 12. My favorite part is when the animals race. My name is Ruth and I live in Detroit, Michigan and my favorite circle round episode is the Cobbler's Stool and I like the part where the devil gets stuck on the cobbler's stool and he goes hi, my name is Cooper, I'm from Newton, Massachusetts and my favorite circle run story is a horse for hire because I like the part when they're trying to overload his horse. My name is Harris and I'm from Brooklyn and my favorite circle round story is the three Legged Pot. My favorite part is when a three legged pot says time to skip and skip wee.

[Rebecca Shear]

Did someone mention a story you've missed? Not to worry grown ups. You can find all of our circle round stories plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages and oh so much more on our website WBUR.org CircleRound.