Bajie's hand stopped rubbing his belly at once.
"They're bringing it over?"
Six-Eared Macaque nodded. "There's still some leftover rice and rice crust in the pot."
"The lady inside heard me speak and thought I was a child. After we left, she persuaded the elderly donor, saying that if we really were monks passing through, there was no harm in giving us some rice."
"The old lady also thought Third Brother spoke politely. When they turned us away, we didn't pester them, so she decided we were real monks. They've already dished up the rice and are bringing it over."
Bajie immediately craned his neck toward the thatched cottage.
The words had barely left his mouth when the brushwood gate opened in the distance. The old lady came toward them carrying rice, with the woman behind her carrying a jug of water.
"Hey, they really are coming!"
Bajie was just about to go and meet them.
But Wukong said, "Idiot, don't go crowding up front. You'll only scare them off again."
Bajie looked down at himself and hurriedly stepped back twice. "You're right, Brother Monkey. Best not frighten them again."
Xuanzang pressed his palms together and took a few steps forward to meet them.
A-Hu remained beneath the tree. When she saw the old lady looking her way, she rested her head on her forepaws without making a sound.
"Amitabha Buddha. This humble monk is Xuanzang. Greetings to you both, benefactors."
Seeing Xuanzang, the old lady slowed her steps and hastily said, "Please don't take offense, Elder. None of the men are home, and we've never seen such... monks before. I was frightened for a moment."
As she spoke, she could not help glancing at Six-Eared Macaque again.
"After I went inside and thought about it, you hadn't done