Shen Le escaped disaster at last, avoiding being saddled with some inexplicable marriage arrangement, and hurried away from home with the long-bearded Daoist and his group.
Left behind were his parents' earnest instructions:
"Dog Boy... once you reach the big city, have the Daoist Priest introduce you to someone and marry a good wife... Have lots of children, five boys and two girls, spread the family branches and leaves, then buy some more land and farm it properly..."
Shen Le practically wanted to cover his ears, clutch his head, and scurry away like a rat. Yet even so, he had no way to refute them:
Chinese farmers had farming, buying land, marrying wives, and having children carved into their bones. Wealth and glory were too distant; cultivating immortality and ascending were even farther away. Most farmers had only simple wishes:
Granaries full of grain, halls full of children...
But I'm not one of them! I'm inside a memory! Why should I have to marry and have children just because I'm watching the memories in a pottery shard? I refuse!
The long-bearded Daoist was quite pleased with his attitude. As they walked, he encouraged him:
"You're right not to marry here. In a little place like this, there are no good women worth marrying. Once you follow us to the prefectural city, to the Great Worthy Teacher, there'll be plenty of daughters from distinguished families.
"—And if your heart is set on the Dao, if you wish to become an immortal and ascend, the Great Worthy Teacher can show you the way as well. It's always easier for one person to ascend than to have an entire household ascend!"
Shen Le said, "Heh heh... Does the Great Worthy Teacher know immortal arts? What kinds of immortal arts does he know? Have