第三十九回 · 賺得金丹 Winning the Single Grain of Gold-Cinnabar — Journey to the West

原文 Original text 繁體 Traditional Reader's edition

賺得金丹 Winning the Single Grain of Gold-Cinnabar

老lǎo君jūn忽hū的de尋xún思sī道dào：「這zhè猴hóu子zi憊bèi懶lǎn哩lī，說shuō去qù就jiù去qù，只zhǐ怕pà溜liū進jìn來lái就jiù偷tōu。」即jí命mìng仙xiān童tóng叫jiào回huí來lái道dào：「你nǐ這zhè猴hóu子zi，手shǒu腳jiǎo不bù穩wěn，我wǒ把bǎ這zhè還huán魂hún丹dān送sòng你nǐ一yì丸wán罷ba。」行xíng者zhě道dào：「老lǎo官guān兒er，既jì然rán曉xiǎo得dé老lǎo孫sūn的de手shǒu段duàn，快kuài把bǎ金jīn丹dān拿ná出chū來lái，與yǔ我wǒ四sì六liù分fēn分fēn，還hái是shì你nǐ的de造zào化huà哩lī；不bù然rán，就jiù送sòng你nǐ個gè皮pí笊zhào籬lí──一yì撈lāo個gè罄qìng盡jìn。」那nà老lǎo祖zǔ取qǔ過guò葫hú蘆lú來lái，倒dào吊diào過guò底dǐ子zi，傾qīng出chū一yí粒lì金jīn丹dān，遞dì與yǔ行xíng者zhě道dào：「止zhǐ有yǒu此cǐ了le，拿ná去qù，拿ná去qù。送sòng你nǐ這zhè一yí粒lì，醫yī活huó那nà皇huáng帝dì，只zhǐ算suàn你nǐ的de功gōng果guǒ罷ba。」行xíng者zhě接jiē了le道dào：「且qiě休xiū忙máng，等děng我wǒ嘗cháng嘗cháng看kàn，只zhǐ怕pà是shì假jiǎ的de，莫mò被bèi他tā哄hǒng了le。」撲pū的de往wǎng口kǒu裡lǐ一yì丟diū。慌huāng得de那nà老lǎo祖zǔ上shàng前qián扯chě住zhù，一yì把bǎ揪jiū著zhe頂dǐng瓜guā皮pí，揝zǎn著zhe拳quán頭tóu，罵mà道dào：「這zhè潑pō猴hóu若ruò要yào咽yàn下xià去qù，就jiù直zhí打dǎ殺shā了le。」行xíng者zhě笑xiào道dào：「嘴zuǐ臉liǎn，小xiǎo家jiā子zi樣yàng。那nǎ個gè吃chī你nǐ的de哩lī？能néng值zhí幾jǐ個gè錢qián？虛xū多duō實shí少shǎo的de。在zài這zhè裡lǐ不bú是shì？」原yuán來lái那nà猴hóu子zi頦hái下xià有yǒu嗉sù袋dài兒er，他tā把bǎ那nà金jīn丹dān噙qín在zài嗉sù袋dài裡lǐ，被bèi老lǎo祖zǔ捻niǎn著zhe道dào：「去qù罷ba，去qù罷ba，再zài休xiū來lái此cǐ纏chán繞rào。」這zhè大dà聖shèng才cái謝xiè了le老lǎo祖zǔ，出chū離lí了le兜dōu率shuài天tiān宮gōng。老lǎo君jūn忽hū的de寻xún思sī道dào：「这zhè猴hóu子zi惫bèi懒lǎn哩lī，说shuō去qù就jiù去qù，只zhǐ怕pà溜liū进jìn来lái就jiù偷tōu。」即jí命mìng仙xiān童tóng叫jiào回huí来lái道dào：「你nǐ这zhè猴hóu子zi，手shǒu脚jiǎo不bù稳wěn，我wǒ把bǎ这zhè还huán魂hún丹dān送sòng你nǐ一yì丸wán罢ba。」行xíng者zhě道dào：「老lǎo官guān儿er，既jì然rán晓xiǎo得dé老lǎo孙sūn的de手shǒu段duàn，快kuài把bǎ金jīn丹dān拿ná出chū来lái，与yǔ我wǒ四sì六liù分fēn分fēn，还hái是shì你nǐ的de造zào化huà哩lī；不bù然rán，就jiù送sòng你nǐ个gè皮pí笊zhào篱lí──一yì捞lāo个gè罄qìng尽jìn。」那nà老lǎo祖zǔ取qǔ过guò葫hú芦lú来lái，倒dào吊diào过guò底dǐ子zi，倾qīng出chū一yí粒lì金jīn丹dān，递dì与yǔ行xíng者zhě道dào：「止zhǐ有yǒu此cǐ了le，拿ná去qù，拿ná去qù。送sòng你nǐ这zhè一yí粒lì，医yī活huó那nà皇huáng帝dì，只zhǐ算suàn你nǐ的de功gōng果guǒ罢ba。」行xíng者zhě接jiē了le道dào：「且qiě休xiū忙máng，等děng我wǒ尝cháng尝cháng看kàn，只zhǐ怕pà是shì假jiǎ的de，莫mò被bèi他tā哄hǒng了le。」扑pū的de往wǎng口kǒu里lǐ一yì丢diū。慌huāng得de那nà老lǎo祖zǔ上shàng前qián扯chě住zhù，一yì把bǎ揪jiū着zhe顶dǐng瓜guā皮pí，揝zǎn着zhe拳quán头tóu，骂mà道dào：「这zhè泼pō猴hóu若ruò要yào咽yàn下xià去qù，就jiù直zhí打dǎ杀shā了le。」行xíng者zhě笑xiào道dào：「嘴zuǐ脸liǎn，小xiǎo家jiā子zi样yàng。那nǎ个gè吃chī你nǐ的de哩lī？能néng值zhí几jǐ个gè钱qián？虚xū多duō实shí少shǎo的de。在zài这zhè里lǐ不bú是shì？」原yuán来lái那nà猴hóu子zi颏hái下xià有yǒu嗉sù袋dài儿er，他tā把bǎ那nà金jīn丹dān噙qín在zài嗉sù袋dài里lǐ，被bèi老lǎo祖zǔ捻niǎn着zhe道dào：「去qù罢ba，去qù罢ba，再zài休xiū来lái此cǐ缠chán绕rào。」这zhè大dà圣shèng才cái谢xiè了le老lǎo祖zǔ，出chū离lí了le兜dōu率shuài天tiān宫gōng。

逐句解 Line by line

老lǎo君jūn忽hū的de尋xún思sī道dào：「這zhè猴hóu子zi憊bèi懶lǎn哩lī，說shuō去qù就jiù去qù，只zhǐ怕pà溜liū進jìn來lái就jiù偷tōu。」老lǎo君jūn忽hū的de寻xún思sī道dào：「这zhè猴hóu子zi惫bèi懒lǎn哩lī，说shuō去qù就jiù去qù，只zhǐ怕pà溜liū进jìn来lái就jiù偷tōu。」

Lord Lao fell to thinking of a sudden: "This monkey is a sly one — says he'll go and off he goes; only I fear he'll slip back in and steal."

憊懶 = "lazy-cunning, a rogue." 猴子: suffix 子 = zi. 溜進來 = "to slink back in."

即jí命mìng仙xiān童tóng叫jiào回huí來lái道dào：「你nǐ這zhè猴hóu子zi，手shǒu腳jiǎo不bù穩wěn，我wǒ把bǎ這zhè還huán魂hún丹dān送sòng你nǐ一yì丸wán罷ba。」即jí命mìng仙xiān童tóng叫jiào回huí来lái道dào：「你nǐ这zhè猴hóu子zi，手shǒu脚jiǎo不bù稳wěn，我wǒ把bǎ这zhè还huán魂hún丹dān送sòng你nǐ一yì丸wán罢ba。」

So he ordered an immortal lad to call him back: "You monkey — your hands are none too honest. I'll make you a present of one pellet of the Soul-Reverting Elixir."

還魂丹: 還 = huán. 手腳不穩 = "light-fingered." Final 罷 = particle ba.

行xíng者zhě道dào：「老lǎo官guān兒er，既jì然rán曉xiǎo得dé老lǎo孫sūn的de手shǒu段duàn，快kuài把bǎ金jīn丹dān拿ná出chū來lái，與yǔ我wǒ四sì六liù分fēn分fēn，還hái是shì你nǐ的de造zào化huà哩lī；行xíng者zhě道dào：「老lǎo官guān儿er，既jì然rán晓xiǎo得dé老lǎo孙sūn的de手shǒu段duàn，快kuài把bǎ金jīn丹dān拿ná出chū来lái，与yǔ我wǒ四sì六liù分fēn分fēn，还hái是shì你nǐ的de造zào化huà哩lī；

Pilgrim said: "Old sir, since you know old Sun's skill, be quick and bring out the golden elixir — split it with me four-six, and it'll still be your good fortune;

老官兒: suffix 兒 = er. 曉得: 得 = dé. 還是: 還 = hái ("still, all the same"). 四六分分 = "to divide four-to-six."

不bù然rán，就jiù送sòng你nǐ個gè皮pí笊zhào籬lí──一yì撈lāo個gè罄qìng盡jìn。」不bù然rán，就jiù送sòng你nǐ个gè皮pí笊zhào篱lí──一yì捞lāo个gè罄qìng尽jìn。」

otherwise, I'll make you a present of a leather skimmer — one scoop and I clean you out."

皮笊籬 = "a leather ladle-strainer." 一撈個罄盡 = "one scoop and swept clean"; 罄盡, "utterly emptied," 盡 = jìn.

那nà老lǎo祖zǔ取qǔ過guò葫hú蘆lú來lái，倒dào吊diào過guò底dǐ子zi，傾qīng出chū一yí粒lì金jīn丹dān，遞dì與yǔ行xíng者zhě道dào：「止zhǐ有yǒu此cǐ了le，拿ná去qù，拿ná去qù。那nà老lǎo祖zǔ取qǔ过guò葫hú芦lú来lái，倒dào吊diào过guò底dǐ子zi，倾qīng出chū一yí粒lì金jīn丹dān，递dì与yǔ行xíng者zhě道dào：「止zhǐ有yǒu此cǐ了le，拿ná去qù，拿ná去qù。

The old patriarch took down his gourd, tipped it upside down, and poured out a single grain of golden elixir, handing it to Pilgrim: "That's all there is — take it, take it.

Deictic 那老祖: 那 = nà. 倒吊過底子: 倒 = dào ("to invert"); suffix 子 = zi. 傾出一粒 = "to pour out one grain."

送sòng你nǐ這zhè一yí粒lì，醫yī活huó那nà皇huáng帝dì，只zhǐ算suàn你nǐ的de功gōng果guǒ罷ba。」送sòng你nǐ这zhè一yí粒lì，医yī活huó那nà皇huáng帝dì，只zhǐ算suàn你nǐ的de功gōng果guǒ罢ba。」

I make you a present of this one grain; revive that emperor with it, and just reckon it to your merit."

Deictic 那皇帝: 那 = nà. 功果 = "merit, karmic reward." Final 罷 = particle ba.

行xíng者zhě接jiē了le道dào：「且qiě休xiū忙máng，等děng我wǒ嘗cháng嘗cháng看kàn，只zhǐ怕pà是shì假jiǎ的de，莫mò被bèi他tā哄hǒng了le。」行xíng者zhě接jiē了le道dào：「且qiě休xiū忙máng，等děng我wǒ尝cháng尝cháng看kàn，只zhǐ怕pà是shì假jiǎ的de，莫mò被bèi他tā哄hǒng了le。」

Pilgrim took it and said: "Wait, don't be hasty — let me have a taste of it first; I'm only afraid it's a fake, that he's fooling me."

且休忙 = "wait, no hurry." 嘗嘗看 = "to give it a taste." 哄了 = "was fooled."

撲pū的de往wǎng口kǒu裡lǐ一yì丟diū。扑pū的de往wǎng口kǒu里lǐ一yì丢diū。

With a plop he tossed it into his mouth.

撲的 = "with a plop" (onomatopoeic). 一丟 = "a single toss."

慌huāng得de那nà老lǎo祖zǔ上shàng前qián扯chě住zhù，一yì把bǎ揪jiū著zhe頂dǐng瓜guā皮pí，揝zǎn著zhe拳quán頭tóu，罵mà道dào：「這zhè潑pō猴hóu若ruò要yào咽yàn下xià去qù，就jiù直zhí打dǎ殺shā了le。」慌huāng得de那nà老lǎo祖zǔ上shàng前qián扯chě住zhù，一yì把bǎ揪jiū着zhe顶dǐng瓜guā皮pí，揝zǎn着zhe拳quán头tóu，骂mà道dào：「这zhè泼pō猴hóu若ruò要yào咽yàn下xià去qù，就jiù直zhí打dǎ杀shā了le。」

In a fluster the old patriarch sprang forward and seized him, grabbed a fistful of his scalp-skin at the crown, and clenched his fist, cursing: "If this wretched ape means to swallow it down, I'll strike him dead on the spot!"

慌得: complement 得 = de; deictic 那老祖 = nà. 揪著 / 揝著: durative 著 = zhe ("gripping," "clenching"). 頂瓜皮 = the crown of the head.

行xíng者zhě笑xiào道dào：「嘴zuǐ臉liǎn，小xiǎo家jiā子zi樣yàng。行xíng者zhě笑xiào道dào：「嘴zuǐ脸liǎn，小xiǎo家jiā子zi样yàng。

Pilgrim laughed: "What a face — small-house manners!

嘴臉 = "what a countenance," a jeer. 小家子樣 = "petty, mean-spirited manner"; suffix 子 = zi.

那nǎ個gè吃chī你nǐ的de哩lī？那nǎ个gè吃chī你nǐ的de哩lī？

Who'd be eating yours?

那個吃你的: interrogative 那個 = nǎ gè ("who, which one").

能néng值zhí幾jǐ個gè錢qián？能néng值zhí几jǐ个gè钱qián？

What are a few coppers' worth?

能值幾個錢 = "how much can it be worth?" — mock-contempt for the priceless pellet.

虛xū多duō實shí少shǎo的de。虚xū多duō实shí少shǎo的de。

All show and little substance.

虛多實少 = "much appearance, little reality"; 少 = shǎo.

在zài這zhè裡lǐ不bú是shì？」在zài这zhè里lǐ不bú是shì？」

Isn't it here?"

在這裡不是 = "here it is, is it not?" — Wukong showing the pellet still stowed away.

原yuán來lái那nà猴hóu子zi頦hái下xià有yǒu嗉sù袋dài兒er，他tā把bǎ那nà金jīn丹dān噙qín在zài嗉sù袋dài裡lǐ，被bèi老lǎo祖zǔ捻niǎn著zhe道dào：「去qù罷ba，去qù罷ba，再zài休xiū來lái此cǐ纏chán繞rào。」原yuán来lái那nà猴hóu子zi颏hái下xià有yǒu嗉sù袋dài儿er，他tā把bǎ那nà金jīn丹dān噙qín在zài嗉sù袋dài里lǐ，被bèi老lǎo祖zǔ捻niǎn着zhe道dào：「去qù罢ba，去qù罢ba，再zài休xiū来lái此cǐ缠chán绕rào。」

Now this monkey had, below his chin, a throat-pouch, and he had lodged that golden elixir inside the pouch; caught at it, the old patriarch pinched him and said: "Off with you, off with you — never come pestering here again."

Two deictic 那 (那猴子, 那金丹) = nà; suffix 子 = zi; suffix 兒 (嗉袋兒) = er. 捻著: durative 著 = zhe. The two 罷 are the particle ba.

這zhè大dà聖shèng才cái謝xiè了le老lǎo祖zǔ，出chū離lí了le兜dōu率shuài天tiān宮gōng。这zhè大dà圣shèng才cái谢xiè了le老lǎo祖zǔ，出chū离lí了le兜dōu率shuài天tiān宫gōng。

Only then did the Great Sage take his leave of the old patriarch and pass out of the Tuṣita Heaven-Palace.

兜率天宮: 率 = shuài. 出離 = "to depart from, quit."

總評 Commentary

The reversal is the small comic masterpiece the whole ascent has been building toward. Lord Lao, having refused a thousand pellets, a hundred, and ten, is undone by his own suspicion: certain that Wukong will only steal what he will not give, he calls him back and forces a single grain upon him — and so the god who "has none" hands over the one grain the plot requires. It is the chapter-title made flesh: 一粒丹砂天上得, "one grain of cinnabar-sand got from Heaven."

Wukong then caps the theft-that-was-a-gift with a piece of pure trickster business. Feigning suspicion that the pellet is a fake, he flips it into his mouth; the horrified Lord Lao lunges and grabs his scalp — only for Wukong to reveal that he has tucked the elixir into a 嗉袋, the throat-pouch beneath his chin, all the while jeering at the god's "small-house manners" and mock-scorning the priceless grain as a few coppers' worth. The gag rhymes deliberately with the elixir-thefts of the 大鬧天宮 that Lord Lao has just finished reciting: the Monkey King cannot come by heavenly medicine except by sleight-of-hand, even when it is freely given. With the grain secured, the scene closes the celestial half of the chapter and turns the story back to earth, and to the drowned king awaiting his return to life.