Journey 051: Child's Play

Summary

Chinese Lore Podcast

Journey to the West, Episode 51: Child's Play

Host: John Zhu
Date: May 4, 2026

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Overview

In this episode, John Zhu continues his accessible retelling of Journey to the West, focusing on the pilgrims’ encounter with a new obstacle: the Heaven Penetrating River and the mysterious, deadly custom of child sacrifice in the nearby Chen Family Village. The episode blends suspense, heartfelt emotion, and the comic antics of Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie as they become embroiled in saving two children from being sacrificial victims. Memorable moments include clever banter, a sharp critique of questionable “solutions,” playful transformations, and an eventual showdown with a demonic river spirit—alongside a surprising turn as nature itself offers the pilgrims a path forward.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Pilgrims’ Arrival and the Strange Ritual (00:03–03:31)

• Obstacle: The pilgrims reach an uncrossable river and seek shelter in a neighboring village.
• Lodgings: The group is hosted by two elderly brothers, Chen Cheng and Chen Qing, who are in the midst of a strange prearranged funeral feast.
• Ritual Confusion: Zhu Bajie mocks the ritual. The hosts clarify that it isn’t a blessing for longevity but a preemptive funeral for living children, who are to be sacrificed.
  • Quote:

    "This was a prearranged funeral feast for the living,"
    —Chen Cheng (02:31)

• Backstory: The Chen household must surrender their only children (an 8-year-old girl, Pound of Gold, and a 7-year-old boy, Chen Guan Bao) as tribute to the local deity, "Great King of Numinous Power," who (they believe) brings good weather in exchange for an annual child sacrifice.

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The Moral Paradox and the Plan (03:32–09:47)

• Moral Outrage: San Zang is heartbroken by the demand to sacrifice children, while Wukong responds with his pragmatic humor.
• Wukong’s Suggestion:
  Wukong bluntly recommends buying other children to sacrifice, drawing ironic attention to the immorality of such “solutions.”
  • Quote:

    "With that much property, how can you bear to sacrifice your own children? Why don't you spend 50 taels of silver to buy a young boy and... a young girl? That won't cost you more than 200 taels of silver, and you can keep your children to continue your line."
    —Sun Wukong (07:20)

• Family’s Despair: The: brothers insist the demon king knows everything—only their biological children, with matching birth dates, will suffice.

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The Impersonation Rescue Scheme (09:48–17:26)

• Transformation Antics:
  • Wukong shapeshifts into the boy; impresses the hosts; offers to take the child’s place.
  • Chen Qing offers a reward, which Wukong nonchalantly declines.
  • Wukong urges Zhu Bajie to transform into the girl, prompting comic complaints about his limited shapeshifting ability.
  • Quote (humorous):

    "I can only turn into mountains, trees, rocks, elephants, water buffaloes or fat guys. It would be hard for me to turn into a little girl." —Zhu Bajie (12:39)

  • Wukong resolves this by magically shrinking Bajie’s body to match Pound of Gold’s after Bajie produces only a mismatched transformation.
• Preparations: The “children” are displayed on red platters, to be carried as sacrifices to the temple.

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At the Temple: Confrontation with the Demon King (17:27–22:54)

• Ritual Performance:
  The villagers perform the sacrifice, oblivious to the switch.
• Demon Arrival:
  The Great King of Numinous Power appears in splendid armor, surprised to find a bold, talking “boy.”
  • Visual description (from the episode):

    "His golden armor and golden helmet gleamed bright and new... His eyes shined like brilliant stars just risen at dusk." (18:05)

• Exchange of Wits:
  The demon unnerves Bajie by threatening to eat the girl first, contrary to tradition.
• Showdown:
  • Bajie, panicking, reveals himself and attacks; both brothers revert to their true forms and fight the demon.
  • The demon flees after Bajie strikes off two fish scales; he then escapes into the Heaven Penetrating River as a gust of wind.
  • Quote:

    "If that demon eats me, then I am destined to have a short life. But if he doesn't, then I'm lucky."
    —Sun Wukong (10:33)

• Aftermath:
  Wukong and Bajie retrieve the sacrificial livestock and return to the relieved Chen family, who hosts them for the night.

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Unseasonal Snow and Village Hospitality (22:55–25:50)

• New Problem:
  The next morning, an unseasonal, heavy storm has blanketed the land in two feet of snow.
• Hospitality:
  The Chen family assures the pilgrims of food and shelter, urging patience until the river clears.
• San Zang’s Anxiety:
  He expresses guilt and worry about the extended duration of his journey.
  • Quote:

    "Old benefactor, you don’t understand...I told [the emperor] that I would return within three years. But it’s been seven or eight years since I left. I still haven’t seen the Buddha yet."
    —San Zang (23:49)

• Garden Stroll:
  The group is invited to enjoy a tranquil snowy garden—Ba Jie complains but Wukong insists it’s good for Master’s nerves.
• Socializing:
  They share wine and snacks with neighbors, reinforcing themes of kindness and gratitude.

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Cliffhanger: A Frozen Solution (25:51–End)

• News from Townsfolk:
  The heavy snow has actually frozen the previously impassable river solid—villagers are now walking across.
  • Quote:

    "Walk across it, huh? Well, that's convenient." —Host (25:37)

• Teaser:
  The episode ends with the promise of the pilgrims’ next steps and a solution to their journey’s latest obstacle—through nature’s unexpected intervention.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "This was a prearranged funeral feast for the living."
  —Chen Cheng (02:31)

• "With that much property, how can you bear to sacrifice your own children?...You can keep your children to continue your line."
  —Sun Wukong (07:20)

• "I can only turn into mountains, trees, rocks, elephants, water buffaloes or fat guys. It would be hard for me to turn into a little girl."
  —Zhu Bajie (12:39)

• "If that demon eats me, then I am destined to have a short life. But if he doesn't, then I'm lucky."
  —Sun Wukong (10:33)

• "Old benefactor, you don’t understand...I told [the emperor] that I would return within three years. But it’s been seven or eight years since I left. I still haven’t seen the Buddha yet."
  —San Zang (23:49)

• "Walk across it, huh? Well, that's convenient."
  —Host paraphrasing village gossip (25:37)

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Memorable Moments & Tone

• Banter between Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie provides comic relief amid high-stakes drama, especially in their transformations and arguing over who takes the more dangerous role.
• The show provides cultural insight, gently explaining references (e.g., Lord Guan as Guan Yu from Romance of the Three Kingdoms).
• There’s meta-humor, with the host providing modern commentary on the original text’s moral ambiguities.
  • Example:

    "Umm. So now we are talking about child trafficking and sacrificing somebody else's children instead of your own. Somehow that doesn't seem like a Buddha sanctioned solution to this problem…" (08:00)

• The episode maintains a lively, conversational storytelling style, mixing sincere empathy with irreverent observations.

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Backstory of the Chen family and the “funeral feast” ritual: 00:03–05:39
• Wukong's pragmatic (and problematic) suggestion: 07:20–08:10
• Wukong and Bajie’s transformations: 09:48–13:53
• The sacrificial ritual and temple showdown: 17:27–20:54
• The demon’s escape and aftermath: 20:55–22:54
• Morning snow and village hospitality: 22:55–25:50
• Discovery that the river is now frozen: 25:51–End

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Conclusion

This episode artfully retells an episode of Journey to the West that mixes high adventure, playful banter, and poignant family drama. By stepping in for the sacrificial children and sparring with a fearsome demon, Wukong and Bajie give listeners a thrilling tale balanced with reflective, sometimes critical commentary on the ethics of the story’s solutions. A surprise twist of weather leaves the audience eager for next week’s solution as the river thaws—or remains frozen—before the travelers.

Tune in next time to see how the pilgrims will cross the river and confront their next fantastic challenge on the journey to the West!

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Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Chinese Lore Podcast, where I retell classic Chinese stories in English. This is episode 51 of Journey to the West. Last time. After ridding the slow cart kingdom of three demon Daoist priests, the pilgrims resumed their journey west until they hit another obstacle. And the Big Wheel of Trials and Tribulations says that this week's obstacle was another river. This one was so deep and wide that the pilgrims couldn't see a way across and it was getting late, so they found lodging in a settlement near the river. Zhu Bajie then scared off the monks who were performing some kind of ceremony at the house and proceeded to wow everybody by gorging himself like a pig on on the leftover food. After dinner, San Zang thanked the two old men who had taken him in and asked for their names. The two men who were brothers told him that their last name was Chen. Sanzang pressed his palms together and said, hey, we're family elder, your last name is Chen as well? The old man asked. Indeed, sanzang replied. May I ask what ritual you were conducting earlier? Zhu Bajie chuckled. Master, why are you even asking? It has to be something like vegetarian offering for longevity, a peace blessing, feast or completion ritual feast. Not so, not so, the old man said. Then what was the feast for? Sanzang asked again. This was a pre arranged funeral feast for the living, the old man told him. Ba Jie almost doubled over, laughing. Old man, you're a poor judge of character. We're expert liars and exaggerators, so how can you fool us with that hogwash? How can monks not know the ins and outs of ritual feasts? There are only prearranged feasts for merit transfer or repayment. How can there be prearranged funeral feasts? Nobody in your family has died yet, so why are you holding a funeral ritual? Hearing this, Sun Wukong was secretly impressed, fearing thinking to himself, huh, that Dum dum has wised up a bit. The old men are indeed in error. What is this prearranged funeral feast? But the two old men now asked, how did you come to be here instead of following the main road on your pilgrimage? We did travel along the main road, but a wide river blocked our path and we couldn't cross. We heard the sound of cymbals, so we came here to ask for lodging. Did you see anything on the riverbank? The old man asked. We only saw a stone tablet. It said the name of the river was the Heaven Penetrating river and it described the river as 300 miles wide and Rarely traversed. That was all. If you keep going upriver along the bank for half a mile, you will see a temple dedicated to the Great King of Numinous Power. Did you not see that? No. Please tell me, what is that Numinous Power? Oh Elder. They say his divine responses inspire temples everywhere. And his mighty power protects the people for a thousand miles. Year after year, he bestows sweet rain upon the estate. And every season, auspicious clouds descend upon the villages. Well, bringing sweet rain and auspicious clouds are good things.

[B]

Wukong said.

[A]

So why are you so grief stricken about it? The old men stamped their feet, beat their chests and let out a bitter cry. Oh Elder. Though he grants many favors, there is enmity. Though he shows kindness, he still harms people, for he demands to eat young boys and girls. Such a being is no true and upright God. What eat boys and girls?

[B]

Wukong asked.

[A]

Indeed. And I'm betting it's your family's turn, right? Yes. This year is our turn. Our settlement has a hundred households. We are within the jurisdiction of the Slow Cart Kingdom. This is called the Chen Family Village. That Great King demands an annual sacrifice. A boy and a girl along with pigs and sheep. He eats them all in one go and then ensures that we have fair weather. The if we don't provide him with his sacrifice, then he would bring calamity upon us. And how many sons do you have?

[B]

Wukong asked.

[A]

The older old man beat his chest and lamented. Oh, pity, what sons. I'm so ashamed. This is my younger brother. His name is Chen Qing. My name is Chen cheng. I am 63 and he is 58. Children have been hard to come by. I was childless at age 50. My family and friends pressed me to take a concubine. I gave in and married one. And she bore me a daughter who is only eight this year we gave her the name Pound of Gold. Wow, what a fancy name. Ba Jie said. Why did you name her that? Because I was having trouble getting a child. I did a lot of good deeds. Repairing bridges, building building roads, constructing monasteries, erecting pagodas and holding feasts for monks. Whatever money I spent on those deeds, I kept track of the expenses in a ledger. The year my daughter was born, the total happened to be a pound of gold. Hence her name. And what about the boy?

[B]

Wukong asked.

[A]

My younger brother has a son also born of a concubine. He is seven this year. His name is Chen Guan Bao. Guan Bao, by the way, means blessed by Guan. Wukong asked for the reason behind that. Name and Chen Cheng explained. Our family worships Lord Guan. And Lord Guan, by the way, is none other than Guan Yu, that legendary warrior from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. We prayed at the altar of Lord Guan for a son, and that wish was granted. Chen Cheng continued, hence the boy's name. My brother and I are more than a hundred years old combined, and we only have these two children. But it's our turn to provide the sacrifice, and we dare not refuse. It's unbearable to give up our children, so we're holding a preemptive reincarnation ritual for them. That's why it's called a prearranged funeral feast. That backstory brought Sanzang to tears, and he wept. This is just as the ancients said. The young plums are falling before the old plums, and heaven torments those without children. But Wukong laughed and asked Chen Cheng, oh, sir, how much property do you have? We do have some property. We have about 80 acres of wet farmland and a hundred some acres of dry farmland. We also have about 90 plots of pasture land, 300 water buffaloes, 20 some donkeys and horses, and countless pigs, sheep, chicken and geese. We have more grain than we can eat and more clothes than we can wear. And we have plenty of money. Well then you are such a cheapskate.

[B]

Wukong said.

[A]

What do you mean? With that much property, how can you bear to sacrifice your own children? Why don't you spend 50 taels of silver to buy a young boy and spend another hundred taels of silver to buy buy a young girl? That won't cost you more than 200 taels of silver, and you can keep your children to continue your line. Umm. So now we are talking about child trafficking and sacrificing somebody else's children instead of your own. Somehow that doesn't seem like a Buddha sanctioned solution to this problem. But hey, at least Sun Wukong is suggesting they pay more for a girl than a boy. Um, yay for the fair sex. Anyway, the two old men wept and told him, elder, you don't understand. That Great King comes by our house a lot. Oh, did ya'll see what he looks like? We never see him. We just smell a fragrant breeze and that's the sign of his coming. Then we hurriedly offer incense and kowtow toward the wind. He knows all the details about our household, including the birth dates and times of everyone. He will only accept our own children. Putting aside the fact that you can't buy two kids for two or 300 taels of silver. Even if we had tens of thousands of taels of silver, where would we find a boy and a girl with the exact appearance and exact birth dates as our own? Ah, so that's it. Wukong said, alright, bring out your son and let me have a look at him. The younger old man, Chen Qing, hurried to the back and returned with his son in his arms. He set the boy down in delight. The kid had no inkling of the fate awaiting him and just danced around, ate and played. Wukong observed him for a moment and then muttered an incantation, twisted his body and turned into a perfect doppelganger of the boy. The two identical boys now played hand in hand under the light. Chen Qing fell to his knees and said to San Zang in a panic, sir, this is not right. That elder was just talking. How did he turn into an exact copy of my son? He even sounds and acts like him. Oh, this is going to take years off my life. Please Elder, show your true form. Wu Kong ran his hand over his face and turned back into himself. The old man kneeled in front of him and exclaimed, elder, turns out you have such powers.

[B]

Heh.

[A]

Did I look like your son?

[B]

Wukong asked with a chuckle.

[A]

You did, you did. You were just like him in appearance, voice, clothing and height. Oh, you haven't even had a chance to look closely yet. Come pick me up and see if I weigh the same as him. Yes, yes you do. Would I pass for him for the sacrifice? You would. You would. Then I'm going to take your son's place so that your family line can go on. I will go face that Demon King. Chen Qing kowtowed and said, sir, if you can exercise compassion and take my son's place, I will offer a thousand taels of silver as travel money for your master's pilgrimage. But how are you going to thank me?

[B]

Wukong asked.

[A]

Well, if you are taking my son's place in the sacrifice, you would be dead. Oh, how so? That Demon King would have eaten you. Oh, he wouldn't dare. Well, we'll see what fate heaven has in store for me. If he eats me, then I am destined to have a short life. But if he doesn't, then I'm lucky. Chen Qing kept kowtowing to thank Wukong, and he presented Wukong with 500 taels of silver. But his older brother, Chen Cheng Cheng just leaned against the door and cried. Wukong took hold of him and said, sir, you haven't thanked me yet. Are you unwilling to part with your daughter? Chen Cheng kneeled and said, yes indeed, I am grateful that you are saving my nephew. That is more than enough. But I have no son and only this one daughter. How could I bear to lose her? Then go cook five ladles of rice and prepare some good vegetarian dishes for that Long Snout brother of mine and ask him to turn into your daughter. Then he and I will go to the sacrifice together and save both kids. Zhu Bajie was alarmed when he heard that. Brother, you and your shenanigans. Why are you pulling me into this? You don't care if I live or die. Oh, brother, as the saying goes, even roosters don't eat food that they haven't worked for. Wukong told him we were treated with a generous feast when we arrived here. And you were still complaining about not getting enough. So why won't you help them with their troubles? Brother, you may be able to shapeshift, but I can't. Don't you also know 36 transformations? San Zang now chimed in. Ba Jie, your brother is right. You should do this. As the saying goes, saving one life is worth more than building a seven tier pagoda. You would be thanking our host and and building your karma. It should be okay. You and your brother should be back in no time. Oh, Master, listen to you. Ba Jie grumbled, I can only turn into mountains, trees, rocks, elephants, water buffaloes or fat guys. It would be hard for me to turn into a little girl. But Wukong told Chen Cheng, don't listen to him. Bring out your daughter and let's have a look. So Chen Cheng brought his daughter into the parlor. His whole family also came out to kowtow to the pilgrims and beg them to save their child. The girl wore a kingfisher blue circlet adorned with the eight treasures and dangling pearls. She had on a red and yellow shimmering silk jacket, a green satin cape, and a checkerboard collar. Around her waist she tied a bright crimson flower silk skirt. On her feet were a pair of light red silk shoes. On her legs she wore two gold embroidered knee guards. Ba Jie, that's the girl.

[B]

Wukong said.

[A]

Hurry up and turn into her so we can go to the sacrifice. Brother, how can I turn into someone this dainty? Hurry up and do it. Wukong barked. Don't earn yourself a beating. Okay, okay. Don't beat me. Let me try to turn into her. So Dum Dum muttered an incantation, shook his head a few times and shouted, change. Well, his face did change into the girl's likeness, but. But the rest of him was still that of a fat man.

[B]

Wukong chuckled.

[A]

Try again. Even if you beat me, I can't do any better. What can be done about it? But you have the head of a girl and the body of a monk. That won't do, Wukong said as he blew a breath toward Ba Jie. And in that instant, Ba Jie's body shrank to match the girl's. This done, hukong told the two old men, take your son and daughter back inside so you don't get us mixed up. Otherwise, my brother might try to get out of this by sneaking into the back and making it hard to tell him apart from your daughter. Give your kids some fruits and tell them not to cry, otherwise that demon king might catch on. Let the two of us go face him. He also instructed Sha Zeng to protect Sanzang, and then he how are we to be presented? Tied up, steamed, diced Ba Jie panic. Brother, don't toy with me. I don't have those kinds of powers, the old man said. Oh, we would never dare. We would just use two red platters and have you sit on them. We would put you on the table and have a couple young men carry the table to the temple. Great. Bring out the platters and let us try them out, Wukong said. So the old men brought out the platters. Wu Kong and Ba Jie sat down in them. Each platter was then put on a table and four young men lifted up the tables, walked into the courtyard, and then back into the parlor and put the tables back down. Hey, Ba Jie, look, we're monks fit to sit on a high platform, Wukong joked. Yeah, yeah, but once they carry us there, will we get to be carried back? Ba Jie fretted. I'm not worried about being carried to and fro, but if we get carried to the temple and get devoured, that's no laughing matter. Oh, just watch me, Wukong said. If that demon eats me, then you can run away. Yeah, but how would you know which one he would eat first? If he eats the boy first, then yeah, I can run. But what if he decides to start with the girl? The old man told him. In past year's sacrifices, some among us who were bold enough hid around the temple and saw that he always ate the boy first and then the girl. Oh, that's great. Bajie said with relief. Just then they heard the sound of gongs and drums outside as a crowd approached with lanterns and torches. The other villagers had gathered and were now knocking on the door, shouting, bring out the sacrificial boy and girl. The two old men put on a good show by weeping and wailing while the four young men carried out the two children. The villagers escorted the kids along with sacrificial pigs and sheep to the Demon King's temple. There they set the boy and girl on the altar. Wukong turned and saw that the altar held incense and candles and a golden placard in the center said, the spirit of the Great King of Numinous Power. There were no idols of any kind. The villagers now lined up, kneeled and chanted. O Great King. Today, the sacrificial leader of Chen Family Village, Chen Cheng and others, in accordance with the annual custom, hereby offer up a boy named Chen Guan Bao and a girl named Pound of Gold, along with numerous pigs and sheep for your enjoyment. Please bless us with good weather and a bountiful harvest. After that prayer, the villagers burned some sacrificial paper horses and left. Once they were gone, Ba Jie said to Wukong, hey, let's just go home. What home are you talking about?

[B]

Wukong asked him.

[A]

Let's just go back to the Chen family's home and take a nap. Dum Dum, stop your nonsense. Let's just do this thing. You're the Dum Dum. We were just kidding around with them. How can we actually allow ourselves to be sacrificed for them? Enough nonsense. If we're going to help somebody, we have to help them to the end. We have to wait until that Demon King shows up and eats us. Otherwise he would bring calamity on these people. Just then, a strong gale whipped up. Oh crap. Here comes the wind. Ba Jie said, quiet.

[B]

Wukong shushed him.

[A]

Just let me handle it. Moments later, a demon showed up at the temple door. His golden armor and golden helmet gleamed bright and new. A jewel belt was wrapped around his waist like curling red clouds. His eyes shined like brilliant stars just risen at dusk. And his teeth were set in rows like the edges of a saw beneath his feet. Mist and rosy vapors drifted and swirled around his body. Warm haze billowed softly when he moved. Gusts of icy wind swept forth in waves. Where he stood, layers of deadly air gathered thickly. He looked like a curtain racing guard who escorts an imperial carriage or or a mighty door God standing watch at a temple entrance. This demon blocked the temple door and asked, whose family offers the sacrifice this year? Wukong replied with a smile, we are from the family of Chen Cheng and Chen Qing. That demon was taken aback. He thought to himself, this boy dares to Talk back to me like nothing's happening. Usually the sacrifices are scared out of their minds and don't dare to utter a word. They're practically dead by the time I pick them up. But this boy is different. So he did not dare to just grab the children and devour them just yet. He now asked for their names and Wukong smiled and replied again, I am Chen Guan Bao and the girl is Pound of Gold. The sacrifice is an annual custom. You have been presented to me and I am going to eat you now. The demon said, just double checking that the boy knew what he was in for. We do not dare to resist. Wukong said, please help yourself. This again put the demon on his heel. He now shouted, stop talking back. I usually eat the boy first, but this year I'm going to eat the girl first. Oh crap. Ba Jie panicked and said, great King, you should do as you always do. Don't break customers. But the demon ignored his plea and went straight for him. Well, Ba Jie was not going to sit around and let himself get eaten. So he jumped down, showed his true form, pulled out his rake and took a swing at the demon. The demon leaped back and fled. As he did so, Ba Jie's rake struck him in the back and made a clanging sound. I must have broken his armor. Ba Jie exclaimed. Hukong now also turned back into himself and took a look. He saw two fish scales the size of platters. The brothers now gave chase and leaped into the air. There they found the demon, who had not come armed since he figured he was coming for a feast, not a fight. Where are you monks from? The demon king barked, how dare you come here to mess with my business and ruin my reputation. Heh, you two bit demon. You don't know any better. Wukong said, we are disciples of the Sage Monk San Zang, sent by the Great Tang Kingdom in the east to go west to fetch scriptures. Last night we were lodging at the Chen family's home and heard that there is a demon pretending to control the weather and demanding a boy and a girl as sacrifices. Each year, out of compassion, we have come to capture you. Confess right now. You have been eating two kids a year. How many years have you been pretending to be the king of this place? How many children have you eaten? Return them all and I will spare your life. The demon turned and fled. Ba Jie took another swing at him, but came up empty this time as the demon turned into a wild wind and dived into the Heaven Penetrating river below. Let's not chase him right now. Wukong said to Ba Jie, he must be a creature that dwells in the river. Tomorrow we'll figure out a way to capture him and help Master get across. So the two of them returned to the temple, gathered up the sacrificial pigs and sheep as well as the tables, and brought them all back to the Chen residence. San Zang, Zha Zeng and their hosts were sitting around waiting for news, when suddenly they saw all the sacrificial items descend from the sky and land in their courtyard. Wu Gong then filled them in on what happened at the temple. The two old men were delighted and ordered their attendants to prepare rooms for the pilgrims to spend the night. As dawn drew near, Zhu Bajie started feeling a little chilly, and he woke up climbing, calling out to Wukong, brother, it's cold, Dum Dum. Men of religion should not fear the heat or the cold. Why are you complaining?

[B]

Wukong shot back.

[A]

But Sanzang also woke up and said, it really is cold. So the pilgrims got up, got dressed, and opened the door to see what's up. To their surprise, they were greeted with the sight of a winter wonderland. The sky was cloudy, the ground was white, and and a heavy snow fell as if it were the height of winter. San Zang asked his hosts whether this was normal for this time of year, and Chen Cheng told him that it wasn't out of the ordinary for snow to fall in the eighth month of the year around here. Then the attendants presented rice porridge for the pilgrims. After they ate the porridge, the snow picked up even more and the accumulation on the ground was now about 2ft deep. This made Sanzang worry about delays to his journey, and he started to weep. Sirs, please don't worry about the snow, his host said. We have enough food here to feed you for the rest of your lives. Old benefactor, you don't understand. San Zang explained, when I was entrusted with this mission by my emperor, he personally saw me off. He offered me a cup of wine and and asked when I would be back. I didn't know then how difficult this journey would be, so I told him that I would return within three years. But it's been seven or eight years since I left. I still haven't seen the Buddha yet. I am worried about being late and also concerned about vicious demons. We were fortunate enough to make your acquaintance last night. My unworthy disciples repaid you in some small way. I was hoping that we could borrow a boat and cross the river, but I didn't expect this heavy snow. Now the road is covered and I don't know when we will complete our mission and return home. Elder, don't worry. Chen Cheng consoled him. There is plenty of time. Just wait here for a few days. Once the sky lightens up and the ice melts, I will take care of transportation to get you across. Another attendant now came to invite them to breakfast, and soon after that, it was lunchtime. This never ending buffet was making Sang uneasy. He told his hosts, thank you for taking us in, but please don't go out of your way. Elder, you saved our family. Even if we threw feasts for days on end, it would not be enough to thank you. Chen Cheng told him. Eventually, the snow stopped and people were able to go outside again. Seeing San Zang so unhappy, Chen Cheng had his men clean up the garden, set up a fire pit, and invite his guests to go tour the garden. Ba Jie chuckled. This old man is so silly. Spring is the time to enjoy the garden. What's the point when it's snowing and cold? Dum dum, what do you know?

[B]

Wukong scoffed.

[A]

A snowscape is peaceful. It will help Master relax. Exactly, Exactly. Chen Cheng agreed. He then escorted his guests to the garden. It was indeed a tranquil scene. Ice and frost hung from trees. Jade green moss beneath the steps were covered with powdered snow. Emerald bamboo shot up like white jade. The ice and snow coupled with the pretty decorations in the fish ponds, pavilions, and courtyards made the place look like a scene from an old painting. After touring the garden, the party sat down in a snow cave for tea and chit chat with some neighbors. Chen Cheng asked the pilgrims if they drank wine. I don't, but my disciples can drink a few cups of weak wine. Chen Cheng immediately ordered his attendants to bring fruits and snacks and warm up some wine for his guests. So they sat around the stove and drank a few cups with the neighbors. It was now getting late in the day, so so the pilgrims were invited back to the parlor for dinner. As they headed back, they heard people on the street saying, it's so cold the river is frozen. Sun Zhang said to Wukong, what should we do now that the river is frozen? Chen Cheng chimed in, I'm guessing it's just the shallow waters near the bank that are frozen. But a passerby said, no, the entire river is frozen like a mirror. Some people are walking across it. Walk across it, huh? Well, that's convenient. To see how this development will affect the pilgrims travel plans, tune in to the next episode of the Chinese Lore podcast. Thanks for listening.