"I don't get it."
"If you desire to get along, your first priority should be to get along with me."
"Meaning?"
"Throw off the last of your American whiteness. In your former life, you were a caterpillar, a lowly green caterpillar."
"I thought you said I was white."
"You are."
"Which is it, white or green?"
"Honestly, Remo," Chum said. "You are so literal-minded. I was speaking in images. You are white, but you are like the green caterpillar. And I am asking you to emerge from the cocoon of your whiteness. In the fullness of time, you will emerge as a butterfly."
"What color?" Remo asked.
"Why, yellow, of course. Like me."
"You?"
"Yes, me."
"I never thought of you as a butterfly before."
"How could you? Caterpillars do not think. Heh-heh. They do not think, but instead squirm in the mud wishing to be butterflies. Heh-heh."
"You're unhappy that the villagers are paying so much attention to me, is that it?" Remo asked.
"Of course not," said Chiun. "I merely ask that you do not fraternize with them excessively. You are a Master of Sinanju. They are the villagers. They must look up to you. They cannot look up to you if you are squatting in the dirt with them every night, eating the same food, sharing in their peasant jokes."
"The communal meals were your idea, Little Father. Don't you remember? You wanted the village to be one happy family."
"It has gone on too long. You are too happy. It is not good to be too happy."
"I could be a lot happier," said Remo.
"Name the thing that will increase your happiness, Remo, for your happiness is mine."
"Let's cut this engagement period down to something reasonable."
"Such as?"
"One week."
"It is too late for that," said Chiun sternly.
"Why?"
"You have already been engaged for eight weeks. Even a Master of Sinanju cannot roll back time."
"I meant one more week. I don't see why I can't marry Mah-Li sooner."
"Tradition forbids it," said Chiun. "A Master of Sinanju marries for life. He must marry wisely. You must get to know Mah-Li better."
"A nine-month engagement is too much. I respect your wishes, but it is too much."
"As a matter of fact. Remo, I have been reconsidering the formal engagement period."
"Oh?"
"I have been thinking that five years is more appropriate. "
"Five-!"
Chiun waved Remo's outburst aside. "I said reconsidering. I have not made up my mind. I will keep your request in mind as I give this matter more thought."
Remo relaxed. "When will you let me know?" he asked.
"Two, perhaps three years."
"Chiun!"
"Hush, Remo. Do not shout. It is unseemly. What if the villagers hear us quarreling?"
"No chance. Not even an air-raid siren could pierce through these tapestries and stacks of gold."
"You cannot marry too soon. It would be wrong."
"I've been asking around. The normal engagement period is only three months."
"That is for Koreans," reminded Chiun. "You are not a true Korean."
"I will never be a Korean. You know that."
"We will work on that. Put yourself in my hands, Remo."
"And another thing, what about the village?"
"What about it?"
"I have some ideas that will make it better," said Remo, taking a piece of paper from his trouser pocket. Remo looked it over.
"Better than what?" asked Chiun, genuinely puzzled. "This is Sinanju. It is the center of the universe. What could make it better?"
"Running water, for one thing."