Seeing how much Mu Bai liked it, the white-furred spirit monkey thumped his chest proudly and handed the whole gourd to him. Mu Bai took the wine gourd, picked up a broad leaf, and poured some monkey wine onto it. The fragrance of wine spread in all directions, its fruity aroma so intoxicating that everyone seemed entranced just smelling it.
Gray Bear thumped his chest and hurried forward with a chuckle. He was just about to stick out his tongue for a hearty drink when he sheepishly withdrew to one side, drooling as he let his other companions go first.
The squirrels bounded forward, poked their heads out, and lapped once, then again, clearly loving it, leaving Gray Bear tormented by his craving. Before the squirrels had drunk their fill, Gray Bear finally lost patience and squeezed forward with a chuckle. He looked left and right, hesitated a moment, then cupped a leaf full of monkey wine and drained it in one great draught. Still unsatisfied, he kept licking the leaf.
Seeing how much everyone enjoyed it, the white-furred spirit monkey gave a piercing cry. Before long, a troop of spirit monkeys came bounding over, chattering, each carrying a gourd of monkey wine.
Seeing more wine arrive, Gray Bear stood on no ceremony. He took a gourd, pulled out the stopper, and gulped it dry.
After drinking his fill, Gray Bear felt rather embarrassed. With a sheepish chuckle, he walked to the river and leaped into the water. His bulky body moved through the river like a nimble great fish, and after a few rolls, he tossed several fat, lively fish onto the bank, where they flopped about.
By the time Gray Bear climbed back onto the bank, dripping wet, around a hundred plump fish lay there, flopping without pause.