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35 The Prefecture of Fengxian

The people of the whole prefecture likewise burned incense and called upon the Buddha, and soon, from the highest to the lowest, the entire region rang with the sound of hearts turning to good. Wukong was glad at heart to see it, and mounted a cloud back to the heavenly palace, where he asked the Four Heavenly Masters to report the prefect's repentance to the Jade Emperor. When the Jade Emperor had heard the report he said, "Since they have turned their hearts to amendment, go and see how the three tasks stand." And he ordered the Four Heavenly Masters to take Wukong once more to the hall and look. There they found the mountains of rice and flour sunk by a goodly measure, though not yet gone. The Four Heavenly Masters told Wukong this meant the prefect had not amended himself wholly, and that surely something was still amiss. Wukong returned to Fengxian, where the prefect, who had been waiting in reverence, came forward to meet him. Wukong said crossly, "Heaven blames you because your amendment is not complete. Search again for what is still at fault!" The prefect turned the matter over this way and that but could make no sense of it, and so he went home and told his wife the whole story. When the prefect's wife saw that the guilt had begun with her, she too reproached herself bitterly. She put away the shrewish temper of former days, brought out her jewels and her savings to relieve the poor, and knelt long before the Buddha without rising, begging Heaven and Earth for forgiveness. Word of the wife's repentance came to Wukong, and he flew up to the heavenly palace to plead once more with the Jade Emperor. Even as he spoke, the officer who guarded the hall came to report: "The mountains of rice and flour have both vanished, and the golden lock is broken." Just then the god of the soil and the god of the city of Fengxian, with others, were ushered into the hall by the attending officers, and together they knelt and petitioned, saying, "The prefect and the people of Fengxian have amended their ways in all sincerity. We beseech you to send down sweet rain and deliver the common folk." The Jade Emperor hesitated a moment, then at last commanded the Dragon King, the thunder generals, the cloud lads and the Earl of Wind, with all their companies, to go to Fengxian, spread the clouds and send the rain. Wukong leapt high into the air for joy and bowed to the Jade Emperor, saying, "Many thanks, many thanks!" The Emperor laughed and said, "Even you, monkey, have grown a better creature." The gods received the order and gathered in the sky above Fengxian, where they began to work their arts. In an instant black clouds massed across the heavens and thunder rolled. Presently the rain came down in torrents; the river channels filled with water once more, and the long-parched crops were moistened at last. Officials and common people alike could not contain their joy, and laughed aloud as they gazed up at the falling rain. When the rain ceased and the land had drunk its fill, the gods prepared to return to heaven, but Wukong stopped them, saying, "Wait a while. Let the prefect and his people finish giving their thanks before you go." So the gods hung waiting in the air.

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