Princess Iron Fan refused to lend her fan.
Tang Sanzang had no recourse, and Wukong had no plan.
Sha Wujing, however, thought of a way.
Tang Sanzang said, "Wujing, what do you have in mind?"
Sha Wujing glanced at the old man and said to Tang Sanzang, "Master, Princess Iron Fan won't lend us her fan to help us journey west, but don't the people here also need to borrow it to farm? Why not have Old Benefactor take gifts to borrow the fan, claiming it's for farming? Once the flames are out, wouldn't that settle it?"
Tang Sanzang said delightedly, "An excellent plan!"
So he asked the old man to borrow the fan on their behalf.
The old man, however, repeatedly refused, saying:
"Elder, everyone here depends on the Iron Fan Immortal for their livelihood. We petition her once every ten years-that has always been the rule. Now you and your disciples want this old man to petition her for you. Never mind what would happen if the truth came out-even if it worked, and we borrowed the Treasure Fan and put out the flames, you and your disciples would leave, while we would still have to make our living here. Once the immortal realized what had happened, wouldn't we be in trouble?"
Hearing the sense in the old man's words, Tang Sanzang could no longer press him.
The old man said, "In my opinion, Elder, you might as well stay here a few more years. I have some grain to spare and would gladly provide for you, earning some merit in the process. Once the customary day for requesting the fan arrives, we will naturally put out the mountain fire and see you across."
Tang Sanzang said, "Years? How could this poor monk wait that long? A few