話說三藏四眾躲離了小西天，欣然上路。行經個月程途，正是春深花放之時，見了幾處園林皆綠暗，一番風雨又黃昏。三藏勒馬道：「徒弟啊，天色晚矣，往那條路上求宿去？」行者笑道：「師父放心。若是沒有借宿處，我三人都有些本事，叫八戒砍草，沙和尚扳松，老孫會做木匠，就在那路上搭個蓬庵，好道也住得年把，你忙怎的？」八戒道：「哥呀，這個所在豈是住場？滿山多虎豹狼蟲，遍地有魑魅魍魎，白日裡尚且難行，黑夜裡怎生敢宿？」行者道：「獃子，越發不長進了。不是老孫海口，只這條棒子揝在手裡，就是塌下天來，也撐得住。」
话说三藏四众躲离了小西天，欣然上路。行经个月程途，正是春深花放之时，见了几处园林皆绿暗，一番风雨又黄昏。三藏勒马道：「徒弟啊，天色晚矣，往那条路上求宿去？」行者笑道：「师父放心。若是没有借宿处，我三人都有些本事，叫八戒砍草，沙和尚扳松，老孙会做木匠，就在那路上搭个蓬庵，好道也住得年把，你忙怎的？」八戒道：「哥呀，这个所在岂是住场？满山多虎豹狼虫，遍地有魑魅魍魉，白日里尚且难行，黑夜里怎生敢宿？」行者道：「呆子，越发不长进了。不是老孙海口，只这条棒子揝在手里，就是塌下天来，也撑得住。」
Now, Sanzang and his three disciples had escaped the Little Western Heaven and gladly taken to the road. After a month’s journey, it was late spring, when the flowers were in bloom. In the gardens they passed, the green had deepened into shade; another spell of wind and rain brought evening on. Sanzang reined in his horse. “Disciples, it’s growing late. Which road shall we take to look for lodging?” Pilgrim smiled. “Set your mind at rest, Master. If there’s nowhere to stay, the three of us have a few skills between us. Let Bajie cut grass and Sha Monk pull down some pines. Old Sun knows carpentry. We’ll put up a thatched shelter right beside the road and could live in it for a year or so. What’s your hurry?” Bajie said, “Brother, is this any place to live? The hills are full of tigers, leopards, wolves and beasts, and the ground swarms with evil spirits. It’s hard enough getting through by daylight. How could we dare spend the night here?” Pilgrim said, “Idiot, you’re getting more useless by the day. Old Sun isn’t boasting: with this cudgel gripped in his hand, he could hold up the sky itself if it fell!”
師徒們正然講論，忽見一座山莊不遠。行者道：「好了，有宿處了。」長老問：「在何處？」行者指道：「那樹叢裡不是個人家？我們去借宿一宵，明早走路。」長老欣然促馬，至莊門外下馬，只見那柴扉緊閉。長老敲門道：「開門，開門。」裡面有一老者，手拖藜杖，足踏蒲鞋，頭頂烏巾，身穿素服，開了門，便問：「是甚人在此大呼小叫？」三藏合掌當胸，躬身施禮道：「老施主，貧僧乃東土差往西天取經者。適到貴地，天晚，特造尊府借宿一宵，萬望方便方便。」老者道：「和尚，你要西行，卻是去不得啊。此處乃小西天，若到大西天，路途甚遠。且休道前去艱難，只這個地方已此難過。」三藏問：「怎麼難過？」老者用手指道：「我這莊村西去三十餘里，有一條稀柿衕，山名七絕。」三藏道：「何為『七絕』？」老者道：「這山徑過有八百里，滿山盡是柿果。古云：『柿樹有七絕：一，益壽；二，多陰；三，無鳥巢；四，無蟲；五，霜葉可玩；六，嘉實；七，枝葉肥大。』故名七絕山。我這敝處地闊人稀，那深山亙古無人走到。每年家熟爛柿子落在路上，將一條夾石衚衕盡皆填滿，又被雨露雪霜經黴過夏，作成一路污穢，這方人家俗呼為『稀屎衕』。但刮西風，有一股穢氣，就是淘東圊也不似這般惡臭。如今正值春深，東南風大作，所以還不聞見也。」三藏心中煩悶不言。
师徒们正然讲论，忽见一座山庄不远。行者道：「好了，有宿处了。」长老问：「在何处？」行者指道：「那树丛里不是个人家？我们去借宿一宵，明早走路。」长老欣然促马，至庄门外下马，只见那柴扉紧闭。长老敲门道：「开门，开门。」里面有一老者，手拖藜杖，足踏蒲鞋，头顶乌巾，身穿素服，开了门，便问：「是甚人在此大呼小叫？」三藏合掌当胸，躬身施礼道：「老施主，贫僧乃东土差往西天取经者。适到贵地，天晚，特造尊府借宿一宵，万望方便方便。」老者道：「和尚，你要西行，却是去不得啊。此处乃小西天，若到大西天，路途甚远。且休道前去艰难，只这个地方已此难过。」三藏问：「怎么难过？」老者用手指道：「我这庄村西去三十余里，有一条稀柿同，山名七绝。」三藏道：「何为『七绝』？」老者道：「这山径过有八百里，满山尽是柿果。古云：『柿树有七绝：一，益寿；二，多阴；三，无鸟巢；四，无虫；五，霜叶可玩；六，嘉实；七，枝叶肥大。』故名七绝山。我这敝处地阔人稀，那深山亘古无人走到。每年家熟烂柿子落在路上，将一条夹石胡同尽皆填满，又被雨露雪霜经霉过夏，作成一路污秽，这方人家俗呼为『稀屎同』。但刮西风，有一股秽气，就是淘东圊也不似这般恶臭。如今正值春深，东南风大作，所以还不闻见也。」三藏心中烦闷不言。
As master and disciples were talking, they suddenly saw a mountain village not far away. “Good!” said Pilgrim. “We have somewhere to stay.” “Where?” the elder asked. Pilgrim pointed. “Isn’t that a house among those trees? We’ll ask for a night’s lodging there and set out tomorrow morning.” The elder gladly urged his horse on and dismounted outside the village gate, only to find the brushwood doors tightly shut. He knocked. “Open the gate! Open the gate!” An old man came out, trailing a goosefoot staff in his hand. He wore rush sandals, a black headcloth and plain clothes. Opening the gate, he asked, “Who is making all this racket?” Sanzang joined his palms before his breast and bowed. “Venerable benefactor, this poor monk has been sent from the Eastern Land to fetch the scriptures from the Western Heaven. Having just reached your district as night falls, I have come to your honoured house to beg a night’s lodging. I earnestly ask you to grant us this kindness.” The old man said, “Monk, if you want to travel west, you won’t get through. This is the Little Western Heaven. It’s a very long way to the Great Western Heaven. Never mind the hardships ahead: even this place is hard to pass.” “Why is it hard?” Sanzang asked. The old man pointed. “A little over thirty li west of our village is Persimmon Slush Lane, on a mountain called Seven Wonders.” “What are the ‘seven wonders’?” Sanzang asked. The old man said, “The mountain path runs for eight hundred li, and persimmons grow all over it. As the old saying goes, ‘The persimmon tree has seven wonders: first, it lives long; second, it gives abundant shade; third, birds do not nest in it; fourth, it has no insects; fifth, its frosted leaves are a pleasure to look at; sixth, its fruit is excellent; seventh, its branches and leaves are luxuriant.’ That’s why it’s called Seven Wonders Mountain. Our humble district is broad and sparsely settled. No one has ever ventured into those deep mountains. Every year the overripe persimmons fall onto the path, filling the whole narrow passage between the rocks. Rain, dew, snow and frost soak them, and they rot through the summer until the entire road becomes a filthy mess. People here commonly call it ‘Runny Shit Lane.’ Whenever a west wind blows, it sends out a stench worse than emptying a privy. It’s late spring now, with strong winds from the southeast, so we haven’t smelt it yet.” Sanzang was troubled at heart and said nothing.
行者忍不住，高叫道：「你這老兒甚不通便，我等遠來投宿，你就說出這許多話來諕人。十分你家窄逼沒處睡，我等在此樹下蹲一蹲，也就過了此宵，何故這般絮聒？」那老者見了他相貌醜陋，便也擰住口，驚嘬嘬的硬著膽，喝了一聲，用藜杖指定道：「你這廝骨撾臉，磕額頭，塌鼻子，凹頡腮，毛眼毛睛，癆病鬼，不知高低，尖著個嘴，敢來衝撞我老人家？」行者陪笑道：「老官兒，你原來有眼無珠，不識我這癆病鬼哩。相法云：『形容古怪，石中有美玉之藏。』你若以言貌取人，乾淨差了。我雖醜便醜，卻倒有些手段。」老者道：「你是那方人氏？姓甚名誰？有何手段？」行者笑道：「我
祖居東勝大神洲，花果山前自幼修。身拜靈臺方寸祖，學成武藝甚全周：也能攪海降龍母，善會擔山趕日頭；縛怪擒魔稱第一，移星換斗鬼神愁。偷天轉地英名大，我是變化無窮美石猴。」
老者聞言，回嗔作喜，躬著身，便教：「請，請入寒舍安置。」遂此四眾牽馬挑擔，一齊進去。只見那荊針棘刺，鋪設兩邊。二層門是磚石壘的牆壁，又是荊棘苫蓋。入裡才是三間瓦房。老者便扯椅安坐待茶，又叫辦飯。少頃，移過桌子，擺著許多麵觔、豆腐、芋苗、蘿白、辣芥、蔓菁、香稻米飯、醋燒葵湯，師徒們盡飽一餐。
行者忍不住，高叫道：「你这老儿甚不通便，我等远来投宿，你就说出这许多话来諕人。十分你家窄逼没处睡，我等在此树下蹲一蹲，也就过了此宵，何故这般絮聒？」那老者见了他相貌丑陋，便也拧住口，惊嘬嘬的硬着胆，喝了一声，用藜杖指定道：「你这厮骨挝脸，磕额头，塌鼻子，凹颉腮，毛眼毛睛，痨病鬼，不知高低，尖着个嘴，敢来冲撞我老人家？」行者陪笑道：「老官儿，你原来有眼无珠，不识我这痨病鬼哩。相法云：『形容古怪，石中有美玉之藏。』你若以言貌取人，干净差了。我虽丑便丑，却倒有些手段。」老者道：「你是那方人氏？姓甚名谁？有何手段？」行者笑道：「我
祖居东胜大神洲，花果山前自幼修。身拜灵台方寸祖，学成武艺甚全周：也能搅海降龙母，善会担山赶日头；缚怪擒魔称第一，移星换斗鬼神愁。偷天转地英名大，我是变化无穷美石猴。」
老者闻言，回嗔作喜，躬着身，便教：「请，请入寒舍安置。」遂此四众牵马挑担，一齐进去。只见那荆针棘刺，铺设两边。二层门是砖石垒的墙壁，又是荆棘苫盖。入里才是三间瓦房。老者便扯椅安坐待茶，又叫办饭。少顷，移过桌子，摆着许多面觔、豆腐、芋苗、萝白、辣芥、蔓菁、香稻米饭、醋烧葵汤，师徒们尽饱一餐。
Pilgrim could bear it no longer. “You old fellow!” he shouted. “You have no notion of making people welcome. We’ve come a long way to ask for lodging, and you give us all this talk to frighten us. Even if your house is too cramped for us to sleep in, we can squat beneath this tree and get through the night. Why all this fuss?” At the sight of his ugly face, the old man pursed his lips. Trembling, he forced himself to be bold, gave a shout and pointed his goosefoot staff at him. “You wretch, with your bony cheeks, jutting forehead, flat nose, sunken jaw, hairy eyes and hairy brows! You consumptive ghost, you don’t know your place! How dare you poke that pointed mouth at an old man like me?” Pilgrim smiled ingratiatingly. “My good sir, you have eyes but no sight. You don’t know this consumptive ghost. The art of reading faces says, ‘An odd outward form may hide fine jade within the stone.’ Judge a man by his looks and what he says, and you’ll be quite mistaken. Ugly I may be, but I do have a few skills.” The old man asked, “Where are you from? What is your name? What skills have you?” Pilgrim smiled. “I—
My ancestral home is the Eastern Continent of Purvavideha;from childhood I cultivated before Flower-Fruit Mountain.I bowed to the Patriarch of the Spirit Tower and the Square Inch,and learned the martial arts in all their fullness.I can churn the sea and subdue the Dragon Mother;I can carry mountains and chase the sun.First in binding monsters and capturing demons,I move stars and shift the Dipper till ghosts and gods tremble.I steal Heaven and turn the earth, my fame is great:I am the handsome stone monkey of endless transformations!”
At these words the old man’s anger turned to joy. Bowing, he said, “Please, please come into my humble house and rest.” The four of them went in together, leading the horse and carrying the luggage. Thorn branches and brambles lined both sides. At the second gate the walls were built of brick and stone, and these too were covered with thorns. Only farther inside did they reach three rooms beneath a tiled roof. The old man pulled up chairs for them, seated them and served tea, then ordered a meal prepared. Before long a table was brought over and laid with plenty of wheat gluten, bean curd, young taro shoots, radishes, hot mustard greens, turnips, fragrant rice and mallow soup cooked with vinegar. Master and disciples ate their fill.