Fortunately, this question is answered in the next passage of the recital.
"This girl, it must be said, was peculiar. For she had no answers to questions like, 'Where is your family?' and 'Where are you from?' To that, she replied only, 'I have no family' and 'I came from above.' On her part, her questions were limitless. 'What do you do here?' 'Why do you till the earth?' 'Why do you labor so?' 'Why do you not dwell elsewhere?' The farmer, struggling to answer, could only reply, 'This is my land. This is what I know. There is no other land I can dwell.'
"Finally, one day, in exasperation, the farmer declared, 'You must be a Xian!' And the child did not disagree.
"Now this fairy tale is indeed a fairy story. For a Xian is a spirit, an immortal of the heavens above. Far removed from humanity, they watch from other realms and do not dwell among mankind. For a Xian to come to Terra was rare indeed. But now, the farmer and the Xian dwelt for some time in peace. And though the Xian often provoked the farmer with scornful questions, the farmer answered truly and honestly. And the Xian did not find cause to leave.
"One day, the Xian grew frustrated. 'You waste your life working this hard soil. Once, I was ten thousand li and the mountains grew tall upon my back. I could cross the continents in a single stride. I will make it so that you do not need to labor so uselessly.' And in a single breath, the farmlands around them grew verdant with green crops.
no subject
"This girl, it must be said, was peculiar. For she had no answers to questions like, 'Where is your family?' and 'Where are you from?' To that, she replied only, 'I have no family' and 'I came from above.' On her part, her questions were limitless. 'What do you do here?' 'Why do you till the earth?' 'Why do you labor so?' 'Why do you not dwell elsewhere?' The farmer, struggling to answer, could only reply, 'This is my land. This is what I know. There is no other land I can dwell.'
"Finally, one day, in exasperation, the farmer declared, 'You must be a Xian!' And the child did not disagree.
"Now this fairy tale is indeed a fairy story. For a Xian is a spirit, an immortal of the heavens above. Far removed from humanity, they watch from other realms and do not dwell among mankind. For a Xian to come to Terra was rare indeed. But now, the farmer and the Xian dwelt for some time in peace. And though the Xian often provoked the farmer with scornful questions, the farmer answered truly and honestly. And the Xian did not find cause to leave.
"One day, the Xian grew frustrated. 'You waste your life working this hard soil. Once, I was ten thousand li and the mountains grew tall upon my back. I could cross the continents in a single stride. I will make it so that you do not need to labor so uselessly.' And in a single breath, the farmlands around them grew verdant with green crops.
"What do you think the farmer said?"