The Job Assigned to Sun Wukong

As a result, all the little monkeys who received Nezha's freshly brewed wine fell asleep after touching it to varying degrees.

"I was so focused on sharing all these wonderful things with them that I forgot the fact that they were all just mortals, and as a result, they were all knocked down by this fairy."

Nezha then realized that he had forgotten such an important thing.

"Alright, let's not talk about that. Since it's just the two of us who are still sober, Great Sage, why don't you keep me company and have a few drinks?"

Then Nezha beckoned to Sun Wukong, signaling him to come and drink with him.

Sun Wukong didn't refuse and walked straight towards the South Station, plopped down next to him, and chatted while eating and drinking.

At this time, someone complained to the Jade Emperor, saying that Sun Wukong was idle all day long, making friends with all the stars in the sky, and calling everyone he met his friend. If he continued to be idle like this, something might happen. It would be better to give him something to do, so that other troubles might arise.

Upon hearing this man's words, the Jade Emperor immediately had a plan. He quickly sent someone to summon Sun Wukong from his Great Sage Equal to Heaven's Residence, saying that he wanted to bestow a reward upon Sun Wukong.

"Reporting to the Jade Emperor, Sun Wukong is not in the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's Residence. I heard from the people inside that Sun Wukong and Nezha have gone to the mortal realm to enjoy themselves."

This is what the person who just went to find Sun Wukong on the Jade Emperor's orders reported back to him.

"Go and bring him back, and tell him I want to reward him."

The Jade Emperor said this helplessly.

"Your Majesty, does this old minister know where Sun Wukong is now? Please allow this old minister to go find him."

At this moment, Taibai Chang Gengxin and stepped out from the crowd to speak to the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor did not say much to him, but simply waved his hand, telling him to hurry up and go find it.

Then, Taibai Changgengxing, riding on auspicious clouds, went straight out of the Southern Heavenly Gate and headed straight for Sun Wukong's Water Curtain Cave on Flower-Fruit Mountain. When Taibai arrived in front of the Water Curtain Cave, he was very puzzled. Usually when he came, the place should be full of little monkeys playing at this time.

Why hadn't he seen any of them yet? Taibai Cheng Gengxin didn't think much of it and went straight into the Water Curtain Cave. What he saw next was astonishing: the ground of the Water Curtain Cave was covered with unconscious little monkeys, while Nezha and Sun Wukong were sitting at a table, drinking and chatting.

"Great Sage, the Jade Emperor says that because there aren't enough people, and you're in a sinecure with nothing to do, he's entrusting you with the management of the entire Peach Garden next to your Great Sage Equal to Heaven's Residence, so you can put your talents to use. Great Sage, what do you think?"

Without hesitation, Taibai Changgengxing walked up to Sun Wukong and told him about it.

"Are you saying I should manage that Peach Garden?"

Sun Wukong asked incredulously.

"That's exactly right."

Taibai Changgengxing, gave him a positive answer.

"Does this mean I have to start working right now?"

Wukong asked again, a reluctant look on his face.

"Yes, Great Sage, the faster the better."

Taibai Changgengxing, gave this answer with a sense of helplessness.

"Alright then, I have one more thing to tell you."

"Ou Ba, you heard it too. The Jade Emperor's second son assigned me the task of managing the Peach Garden, so I have to go now. My fellow monkeys are all drunk and unconscious, so I'll trouble you to stay here and look after them, and make sure they don't get hurt."

"The hundred cases of wine you want to drink are buried under the largest ancient tree behind my throne. If you want to drink them, you'll have to take them yourself. Please take care of them for me until they wake up, okay?"

Then Sun Wukong gave Nezha some instructions on Nezha he needed to do after he left.

"Rest assured, Great Sage, I will take good care of your Monkey Clan brethren and guarantee that none of them will be harmed."

After hearing Sun Wukong's words, Nezha patted his chest and assured him.

"Thank Ou Ba. I'll treat you to drinks when I have some free time."

After saying this to Nezha, Sun Wukong followed Taibai Changgengxing back to the Jade Emperor's Hall of Numinous Treasure once again.

"Sun Wukong, I entrust the management of the Peach Garden next to your Great Sage Equal to Heaven's Residence entirely to you. You must take it to heart."

The moment Sun Wukong entered the Hall of Numinous Treasure, the Jade Emperor uttered these words to him.

Okay, no problem.

Sun Wukong immediately patted his chest and agreed.

"Then take office now."

The Jade Emperor then said something to Sun Wukong.

"I'll go right away."

Sun Wukong only left the Jade Emperor with his back turned before riding away on his Golden Dipper Cloud, heading straight for the Peach Garden.

As soon as Sun Wukong entered the Peach Garden, he was stopped by the local earth deity.

"Great Sage, what are you doing?"

The local deity inquired about Sun Wukong's purpose in coming.

"I have been ordered by the Jade Emperor to take full charge of this Peach Garden from this day forward, and I am here today to assume my post."

Sun Wukong explained why he had come, and then ignored the local earth god and went straight into the peach orchard.

The scenery in this peach orchard truly astonished Sun Wukong. Here, the flowers were in full bloom, and the branches were laden with fruit.

How many peach trees are there in total on this land?

After taking a few steps, Sun Wukong inquired about the specific details of the Peach Garden.

"There are a total of 3,600 peach trees here, divided into three areas. The 1,200 peach trees in the front area bear smaller fruits that ripen once every 3,000 years. Ordinary people who eat them can attain immortality."

"The twelve hundred peach trees in this central area bear abundant blossoms and sweet fruit, ripening only once every six thousand years. Ordinary people who eat them will ascend to heaven and Changsheng."

"And the last 1,200 peach trees in this area, with their purple-veined, yellow-kernel peaches, ripen only once every nine thousand years. If an ordinary person eats them, they can live as long as heaven and earth, and be as old as the sun and moon."

The land deity began to explain the details of the place to Sun Wukong: how many peach trees there were, what kinds they were, what their effects were, and so on.

After hearing his disciple's words, Wukong quickly counted all the peach trees in the garden, then returned to his Great Sage Equal to Heaven's Residence. From then on, he no longer traveled or made friends, but instead visited the Peach Garden every few days.

A few days later, most of the peaches in the peach orchard had ripened. Sun Wukong wanted to take this opportunity to taste them. Although he had eaten plenty of peaches in the mortal world, he had never tasted the immortal peaches in the Heavenly Court.