The girl named Xiao Jiu sat down shyly,
but her eyes were still fixed on Tang Sanzang.
"Come, come, everyone, help yourselves!" the old woman urged, serving herself first.
"Here, Master, this vegetarian meal may not taste as good as the food at your temple. I hope you'll find it to your liking." She placed some in Tang Sanzang's bowl, leaving him quite flattered.
"Please, ma'am, eat first. Don't worry about me."
After politely thanking her, he looked up and saw that Zhu Bajie had already eaten three bowls of rice.
He wiped the grease from his mouth, then got up to fetch another bowl.
"Bajie!" Seeing this, Tang Sanzang shot him a look, signaling him to show some restraint.
"Heh, Master, it's not every day I get a proper meal. Don't make things hard for Old Pig! Just look, look at my belly. I've been starving for days—it's practically caved in. If this keeps up, my well-rounded figure will slim down to Monkey Brother's size, and that won't do at all!"
Zhu Bajie rubbed his belly and complained reluctantly.
His words made the young women there laugh.
"Hahaha, Master, your disciple is such a funny fellow! Don't worry, young Master. We may not have any delicacies here, but there's plenty of rice. Eat your fill! If it's not enough, I'll have the kitchen steam up another two pots."
The old woman laughed heartily. She hadn't met such an amusing young man in a long time, so she spoke with great generosity.
"Heh, Master, see? She said there's plenty of rice. You can't stop Old Pig now!"
Before Tang Sanzang could say anything, Zhu Bajie had already hurried off, heaped another bowl high with rice, and started eating with both hands.
"Ah, ma'am, I'm afraid my disciple has made a