American Born Chinese

This section begins with a description of four “legendary” monks. The least remarkable of the four, Wong Lai-Tsao, is unable to meditate or fast for a long time, and his preaching makes little sense. However, Wong Lai-Tsao is reliable in his service to the less fortunate. Every day, he brings fruit to a group of vagrants and looks after their injuries, even as they criticize and insult him. One afternoon, after years go by, one of the vagrants ask Wong Lai-Tsao why he helps them day after day. His humble reply is deemed a “good answer,” and a group of vagrants reveal their true forms as the emissaries of Tze-Yo-Tzuh.

The emissaries tell Wong Lai-Tsao that he has been looked upon favorably by Tze-Yo-Tzuh and is being sent on a mission to deliver three packages to the West. They warn the monk of dangerous man-eating demons ahead and explain that he will have three disciples to accompany him on his journey. The first is a monkey deity who is trapped underneath a mountain of rock.

The next morning, Wong Lai-Tsao begins his journey. 40 days later, he finds the Monkey King and the rock mountain. Wong Lai-Tsao pleads with the Monkey King to free himself so that he can help him with his burden, and the Monkey King becomes irate because Wong Lai-Tsao refers to him as a monkey.