Prosperity

"Master, there's always a way out. If you want to know the name of the city ahead, we'll have to go and take a look first."

"If it's a city, then we'll exchange the travel permits; if it's just a regular county town, then we'll simply take a detour."

After speaking, they continued driving forward until they arrived outside the city gate.

Tang Xuanzang dismounted and the four of them arrived in the city. There they saw an old general standing under the city wall, sleeping with his back against it.

Sun Wukong quickly stepped forward and shook him awake, saying, "Sir, please wake up!"

Upon hearing this, the old soldier immediately awoke with a start. He groggily opened his eyes, took a closer look, and quickly knelt down before Sun Wukong, saying:

Grandpa, what brings you here?

"Don't make a fuss, I'm not some evil god. Why did you call me 'Grandpa' just now?"

After speaking, Sun Wukong looked at the old soldier with a puzzled expression.

The old soldier kowtowed and said, "You are the Duke of Thunder God!"

"Please don't talk nonsense. I am a monk who traveled from the Great Tang of the Eastern Lands to the Western Heaven Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures. I have only just arrived here and have no idea what this place is called, so I'm asking you."

Seeing that the more Sun Wukong explained, the more confused things became, he simply stopped explaining and told the truth.

Upon hearing this, the old soldier calmed down, yawned, got up, stretched, and said, "Elder, please don't be angry. This place was called Bhikkhu Kingdom, but it has now been renamed Children's City."

Does our country have an emperor?

Seeing the old soldier's respectful attitude, Sun Wukong stopped deliberately making things difficult for him.

"There was an emperor here."

Upon hearing this, the old soldier quickly spoke to Sun Wukong.

Seeing this, Sun Wukong turned to Tang Xuanzang and said, "Master, this place used to be called Bhikkhu Kingdom, but now it has been renamed Children's City. I wonder why it was renamed?"

Despite his vast experience, Tang Xuanzang was puzzled by this situation and asked Sun Wukong, "Since you were called a monk, why are you calling me 'boy' now?"

At this moment, Tang Xuanzang was also completely bewildered, but Zhu Bajie dispelled their doubts and slowly spoke:

"Presumably, King Bhikkhu has died, and a young boy has succeeded to the throne, hence the name 'Children's City'."

"Bajie, don't be unreasonable. Let's go inside first and ask around on the street."

After speaking, Tang Xuanzang prepared to enter the city, at which point Sha Wujing echoed Tang Xuanzang's words:

"Master is right. Laojun might not know, or he might be talking nonsense because he's scared of Brother Monkey. We might as well go into the city and ask him."

After entering three more gates, I saw the bustling city, where people were all well-dressed and had handsome features.

The four travelers, leading their horses and carrying their loads, saw the bustling streets teeming with people, a scene of unparalleled prosperity!

However, the only puzzle was that every household had a goose cage in front of their door. Tang Xuanzang was very confused by this, so he asked Sun Wukong:

"Wukong, what exactly happened here? Why do all the families here put this goose cage at their doorsteps?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie said to Tang Xuanzang:

"I looked left and right, and found that they were all goose cages. All of them were hung with colorful ribbons. It must be an auspicious day, suitable for weddings and making friends. Maybe they are all holding ceremonies there."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately grabbed Zhu Bajie's ear and said, "You fool, don't talk nonsense. Everyone is bowing here; there must be a reason. Let me go and take a look."

Just as Sun Wukong was about to rush forward after speaking, Tang Xuanzang grabbed his clothes.

"Wukong, you absolutely mustn't go now. You're ugly, and people might misunderstand you."

"Since that's the case, I'll change my appearance and come back later."

After speaking, Sun Wukong chanted a spell, transformed into a little bee, spread his wings, flew forward, and crawled into a cage to watch.

It turned out that there was a child sitting in the first cage, and when they went to the second cage, there was also a child. Several cages in a row contained children, but they were all boys.

There wasn't a single woman inside. Some were playing and frolicking in their cages, while others were crying loudly. After looking around, Sun Wukong revealed his true form and returned to Tang Xuanzang, saying:

"Master, all these cages are full of children, probably under seven years old, the youngest being only five. I don't know why."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang was filled with doubt. Suddenly, he saw an inn in front of him. Overjoyed, he said to Sun Wukong:

"Wukong, let's hurry over there and rest for a bit. First, let's ask what this place is, and second, let's feed our White Dragon Horse."

Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing quickly nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right, let's go in now!"

The four then happily went inside, where an official came out to greet Tang Xuanzang. After a while, the official said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Elders, where exactly do you come from?"

"This humble monk has come from the Great Tang of the Eastern Lands, on his way to the Western Heaven to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Now that I have arrived here, I wish to find our emperor to exchange my travel documents and rest here for the night."

After speaking, Tang Xuanzang took out the travel document from his bundle and showed it to the official.

After receiving the travel permit, the official examined it carefully and immediately ordered his servants to prepare tea. Upon seeing this, Tang Xuanzang quickly thanked him.

"Could we go to court today to meet our emperor and exchange our travel documents?"

"I'm afraid not today; we'll have to wait until tomorrow morning. You can stay here tonight and come with me tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing this, the official looked apologetic and said to Tang Xuanzang.

After making the arrangements, the official treated the four travelers to a meal and then had his men clean guest rooms for them to rest. Tang Xuanzang was extremely grateful and sat down. He then said:

"There's something I don't understand, and I hope you can explain it to me. I'm wondering how people here view raising children?"

Upon hearing this, the official thought for a moment and said, "To raise a child, one must have the Essence Blood of both parents, followed by ten months of pregnancy, and then give birth when the time is right."

"Then, after three years of nurturing, they gradually grow into human form. Why don't you understand this principle?"

After speaking, Tang Xuanzang asked with a puzzled look:

"If what you say is true, then when I first came to town, I saw a goose cage in front of a neighbor's house with children inside. I don't understand this, which is why I asked you."

However, the official's performance opened Tang Xuanzang's eyes to a whole new world.