My father made his fortune selling pig feed along the Ten-Mile Embankment. Who would have thought that pigs would bring him both success and ruin?
A swine epidemic took my father from me, along with the little wealth our family had. After reflecting on the hard lesson, I became a little beggar in Health City. I made a good friend, bumped into a young nobleman, and paid my respects to a handsome gang leader. When I had some time to myself, I pondered life's many storms and how unpredictable fate could be. Then, while enjoying the freedom to go wherever I pleased, I had a screw loose and went to a temple to burn incense for good fortune. In the swirling smoke, a sinful desire took root: at first sight, I fell for the aloof Buddhist monk on Little Plague Mountain.
And so the free bird entered the brambles of love.
To get close to the monk and win his favor, I resolutely opened a shop selling Buddhist supplies.
For the sake of business, and to pursue love, I ran around tirelessly.
Today, I'll sell more incense for the Buddha, and tomorrow the monk will say one more thing to me:
"Patron, please behave yourself."
Just as I was about to give up, thinking that no one could ever pluck the flower on that high peak, the monk's eyes turned red.
"Patron, take good care of yourself."
It's fine, it's fine, no big deal. Baldy, you've only just seen the light, and it's probably a bit late. This young lady has already stopped believing in Buddhism and switched to Taoism.
Mainly because the Taoist priest's whisk is so lovely, it makes my eyes swim. Mainly because his voice is so deep, and the way he recites the Nanhua Scripture makes me drowsy.
Maybe I should run both businesses, serve both Buddhism and Taoism, and split things down the middle.
Theme: Love or bread, bread or sixpence, sixpence or the moon?
