In a certain county, there lived a scholar surnamed Wang, the seventh child in his family, born into a once-prominent lineage. From a young age, he admired the mystical arts of Taoism. Upon hearing that Laoshan Mountain was home to many immortals, he packed his belongings and set off in search of enlightenment.
One day, he climbed to the summit of Laoshan and came across a secluded Taoist temple. Inside, a Taoist priest sat serenely on a meditation mat, his white hair cascading over his neck, exuding an air of refined elegance. Approaching him, Scholar Wang initiated a conversation, finding the priest's words profoundly mysterious and insightful. Filled with admiration, he asked to be accepted as a disciple. The priest replied, "I fear you're too pampered and lazy to endure the hardships." Wang insisted, "I can endure it."
The priest had many disciples, who returned to the temple by evening. After Wang greeted each of them courteously, he was allowed to stay. Early the next morning, the priest summoned him and handed him an axe, instructing him to gather firewood with the others. Wang diligently followed orders, cautious in his efforts. Over the next month, his hands and feet developed thick calluses, and he could barely endure the toil. Secretly, he began contemplating returning home.
One evening, after returning from chopping wood, Wang saw two guests sitting with his master, drinking wine. It was dark, and no lamps or candles had been lit. The priest cut a round piece of paper resembling a mirror and pasted it on the wall. Suddenly, the paper transformed into a luminous moon, illuminating the entire room with such brightness that even the tiniest details were visible.
The disciples bustled around, attending to their master and the guests. One guest remarked, "Such a beautiful night should be shared with everyone." Taking a wine jug from the table, he poured wine for all the disciples, encouraging them to drink their fill. Wang thought to himself: "With seven or eight people, how could one jug of wine suffice?" However, as each disciple rushed to fill their cups, the wine seemed inexhaustible, flowing endlessly without the jug running dry. Wang was astonished.
After some time, one of the guests said, "Although this moonlight is a generous gift, drinking in silence feels too lonely. Why not summon Chang’e to join us?" With that, he tossed a chopstick into the moon. Immediately, a beautiful woman emerged from the moonlight. At first, she was less than a foot tall, but upon reaching the ground, she grew to normal human size.
Her figure was graceful, her neck elegant, and her demeanor enchanting. She began to dance the "Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Garment Dance" with mesmerizing fluidity. Afterward, she sang:
"Lightly I dance, oh, return to me!
Why do you confine me in the Palace of the Moon?"
Her voice was clear and resonant, as though played on a flute. When the song ended, Chang’e ascended gracefully, spinning into the air before landing on the table. As everyone watched in amazement, she transformed back into a chopstick.
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