Chapter 9: The Birth of the Monkey King

Gao Wen got out of bed at 7:00, and sat at the desk for three hours; time really flies

Today is the day to go out and sell literature, so the official attire from the yamen cannot be worn. Even without the scholar's robe, one must still dress appropriately.

It was not until I repeated my studies in university and acquired a certain level of knowledge that I began to understand. It merely explains how the heavens and the earth were generated: "The heavenly qi descends, and the earthly qi rises; when heaven and earth unite, all things are born." When did humans and animals appear? "Five thousand four hundred years later, at the time of the Yin, humans and beasts are born, and this is precisely the positioning of heaven, earth, and humanity, hence it is said that life begins in the Yin." "The heavenly qi descends, and the earthly qi rises; when heaven and earth unite, all things are born." When did humans and animals appear? "Five thousand four hundred years later, at the time of the Yin, humans and beasts are born, and this is precisely the positioning of heaven, earth, and humanity, hence it is said that life begins in the Yin."

Even though it is known that once "Journey to the West" is published and printed, it will undoubtedly sell out, one should not speak too confidently. Based on his later publishing experiences, whether a book becomes a bestseller actually involves a certain element of luck, and it also depends on whether it suits the tastes of the readers of that era

Ah, I feel hungry in my stomach, Mother will go and prepare something now

Gao Wen recalled that shortly after graduating from university, he had worked as an intern editor for a pure literary magazine for a few days. Whenever there was extra space in the layout, the magazine would often select a few modern poems to fill it. At that time, the magazine had already implemented paperless office practices, using QQ as a means of communication and receiving submissions.

Thus, this style of writing was a required subject for scholars during the Ming Dynasty. If you can write well in the official script, you will have a better grasp of the Chinese style than most. When it comes to the palace examination, those who can present their essays before the emperor are truly exceptional individuals. In terms of the eight-legged essay, no one is inherently superior to another. To distinguish between them, one can only judge by the quality of their handwriting.

The books published by the bookstore are diverse, including the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as collections of contemporary writings; however, the best-selling items are the leisure books known as "huaben" or narrative tales.

With just a few dozen coins, one can enjoy so many benefits; why not take advantage of it

According to the memories in my mind, the family is impoverished, having only two meals a day, at noon and in the evening. Moreover, both meals are served late, with lunch around 2 PM and dinner between 8 PM and 10 PM after dark

At this moment, two pages had already been filled. Gao Wen's spirits were also elevated. In order to speed up, he switched from regular script to cursive, disregarding many details, and wrote continuously until "the stone monkey sat upright and said: 'Ladies and gentlemen, a person without trust is unworthy. You claim to have the ability to enter and exit without harming your bodies, so you worship him as king. Now that I can enter and exit, seeking this paradise for you to sleep peacefully and enjoy the blessings of family, why not worship me as king?' The monkeys, upon hearing this, immediately bowed in submission without objection, each taking their place in order, paying homage and all calling him 'Great King of a Thousand Years.' You claim to have the ability to enter and exit without harming your bodies, so you worship him as king. Now that I can enter and exit, seeking this paradise for you to sleep peacefully and enjoy the blessings of family, why not worship me as king?' The monkeys, upon hearing this, immediately bowed in submission without objection, each taking their place in order, paying homage and all calling him 'Great King of a Thousand Years.' From this point on, the stone monkey ascended to the throne, concealed the character 'stone,' and was henceforth known as the Beautiful Monkey King.

It is said that the number of years in the universe is 129,600, with one cycle divided into twelve periods, namely the twelve earthly branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai. Each period corresponds to 18,000 years. Furthermore, considering a single day: during the Zi hour, the yang energy is obtained, while the Chou hour is marked by the crowing of roosters; the Yin hour does not receive light... To be honest, when I read this passage back in middle school, I skimmed through it. For a twelve or thirteen-year-old child, it was simply shrouded in clouds and mist, like a blind man trying to grasp the situation.

If one does not concern themselves with the quality of the paper, one can purchase a book for just thirty to fifty wen

In ancient times, people lived in distress, with little in the way of leisure activities. Wealthy officials and nobles could indulge in drinking at taverns and visiting brothels, enjoying the company of women. However, ordinary people without money could only go to bed as soon as night fell, engaging in the rites of the sleeping god. If the wife beside them was unpleasant to behold, resembling a fierce lioness, their interest in procreation would naturally be diminished.

However, some female authors, whether out of sentimentality or not, insist on using letter paper. Letter paper is letter paper, yet they insist on folding their poetry manuscripts into delicate paper cranes ready to take flight. Poor esteemed gentlemen, with their coarse hands and short fingers, cannot manage to unfold them no matter how many times they try; the first attempt fails, the second still does not work, the third leaves them anxious and irritable, and by the fourth attempt, their frustration ignites a fire within, leading them to set it ablaze.

After glancing at the six pages drenched in ink, Gao Wen shook his already sweaty right hand and, feeling satisfied, raised his head to write the three large characters "Journey to the West" along with the chapter title "The First Chapter: The Origins of the Spiritual Roots and the Cultivation of the Heart and Nature to Attain the Great Way," before standing up.

It seems that today I hurriedly took two thousand characters and rushed out to find a bookstore to exchange for money, which was indeed a hasty decision. At the very least, I should have written until the Monkey King sought the heart of immortality.

Confucius said that poetry reflects the sentiments of noble scholars, which bears no relation to the mundane concerns of ordinary people regarding food and relationships; even if you are determined to succeed in the imperial examination and study diligently, when the tension becomes too great, it is essential to have some leisure to relax the body and mind

The book "Journey to the West" is undoubtedly very captivating, joking aside, it is a classic that has stood the test of time. What Old Yu just mentioned is not without reason; after all, I have only transcribed the section where Sun Wukong discovers the Water Curtain Cave and is revered as the Monkey King by the other monkeys. Not only is the story not developed, but it might not even qualify as an introduction, so how can it attract readers to continue? In fact, the essence of this chapter lies in the moment when the Monkey King suddenly realizes, 'Although today I am not subject to the laws of human kings and do not fear the threats of beasts, in the future, as I grow old and my blood weakens, there will be the King of Hell secretly overseeing me. Once I die, will my life in this world not be in vain, unable to linger among the celestial beings?' This instills a tremendous fear of death and the inability to live forever, prompting him to seek immortality and wisdom. Thus, he traveled across the seas to pay homage to the Patriarch Bodhi and learned the methods of longevity.

Upon thinking of this, Gao Wen picked up his worn-out sheep hair brush, took a deep breath, and began to write: "The Monkey King leads a group of monkeys, including macaques and horse monkeys, assigning roles of lords and ministers. They roam Flower and Fruit Mountain by day and rest in Water Curtain Cave by night, sharing mutual affection, avoiding the flocks of flying birds and the herds of beasts, ruling alone as king, filled with joy. Thus, in spring, they gather a hundred flowers for sustenance; in summer, they seek various fruits for their livelihood. In autumn, they harvest taro and chestnuts to extend the season; in winter, they search for yellow essence to pass the year..." He continued to write: "The Monkey King leads a group of monkeys, including macaques and horse monkeys, assigning roles of lords and ministers. They roam Flower and Fruit Mountain by day and rest in Water Curtain Cave by night, sharing mutual affection, avoiding the flocks of flying birds and the herds of beasts, ruling alone as king, filled with joy. Thus, in spring, they gather a hundred flowers for sustenance; in summer, they seek various fruits for their livelihood. In autumn, they harvest taro and chestnuts to extend the season; in winter, they search for yellow essence to pass the year..."

After some contemplation, I returned to my seat

It is said that at that time, the Grand Commandant ordered his subordinates to arrange the military academy and capture Lin Chong for execution... Indeed, this is what the storyteller is narrating in "Water Margin"

Thus, the story of the birth of the Monkey King can be considered well-written

Thus, Shun Sheng, bare and unadorned, gently approached the bedside. The moonlight illuminated the white half of the body within the curtain, with two small feet curled up, snoring soundly. Shun Sheng felt an intense desire rising within him, lifted the curtain, quietly climbed onto the bed, and stealthily pulled away the blanket ... ... One hundred characters omitted here ... ...

In books, there are houses of gold; in books, there are beauties like jade; within novels, there are beautiful dreams.

Indeed, novels from the same era also directly enter the theme at the very beginning, avoiding any sort of ambiguity. For instance, in the Ming dynasty novel "Feng Liu Wu," the story begins with: "In the years of Chongzhen, in Songjiang Prefecture, Huating County, there was a man surnamed Zhang, named Guang, courtesy name Tongren. Orphaned at a young age, his father was a poor scholar, yet he could read a few lines of text. He was clever and quick-witted, and at the age of fifteen, he began his studies. Therefore, a close friend of his father, Li Rizhang, who had only one daughter named Wan Niang, took him in as a son-in-law." It is clear and straightforward, directly introducing the protagonist. However, this book is strictly speaking a work of romantic fiction, with a rather low tone, naturally not comparable to a great work like "Journey to the West," which is filled with a positive and optimistic revolutionary spirit.

Speaking of "Dream of the Red Chamber," there is no dispute regarding the excellence and appeal of this book. However, Cao Xueqin was unable to earn a single penny in royalties from it, and his family was so impoverished that they had to subsist on porridge during the coldest days of winter.

At this time, the storytelling scripts are the most enjoyable and affordable form of entertainment

This is the Ming Dynasty, characterized by inclusiveness, openness, and freedom

If one can afford to indulge in sensuality, learning from the knowledge of the characters in books and merging it with the intimacy of a partner, the weary housewife will be pleased, and life will become much more bearable. It is said that one might even add to the family, enhancing the prestige of a large household, as population is indeed a form of productivity! If one were to give birth to seventeen or eighteen boys in one go, in case of disputes with others, wouldn't the sheer number deter anyone from causing trouble?

By that time, Gao Wen finally savored the essence of this passage. He secretly shook his head, thinking: this book starts with so much nonsense, the introduction is unavoidably too slow, which is far less straightforward than modern novels that get to the point right away. If a novelist today dared to write like this, they would probably be unrecognizable even to their own mother!

It is said that Zhao Shunsheng, being both a talented and handsome man, has married a beautiful and talented wife, which could be considered a fulfillment of his aspirations and desires, leading him to no longer think of pursuing romantic affairs. However, little did anyone know that Zhao Shunsheng, being inherently insatiable, had a particular fondness for infidelity.

What, you cannot read?

Gao intends to first write two to three thousand words to show to a publisher from the Ming Dynasty, as we also want to try our hand at the 2K genre. If the manuscript is acceptable, he will continue writing; if not, he will switch to another book. After all, Teacher Gao has plenty of novels stored in his mind, and he can write as soon as he picks up the pen

No, no, I'm not hungry, there's no time.

This practice can also be considered a fixed format in Ming and Qing novels, much like the time-travel novels of later generations, where the protagonist must always experience a time travel at the beginning, which can be seen as a kind of trope

This font cannot be considered calligraphic art, and each stroke is slow to write. Who knows how long it will take to finish this chapter. The issue is that when submitting to the bookstore owner, one must take their feelings into account. If there are too many garbled characters, the reading experience will be poor, and if one becomes frustrated, they might just throw your manuscript into the wastebasket.

The audience erupted in an uproar: "Don't delete it, speak the truth."

At this moment, looking at the daylight outside, it was already bright and sunny, suggesting that it was at least 10 AM

Hearing the footsteps of Gao Wen, Gao's mother in the room revealed a faint smile and murmured, "Wen has been out on duty for a few days; it seems he has grown up."

A handful of copper coins fell like rain, striking the storyteller, who cried out in pain yet smiled broadly.

As soon as you reach this point, you will be eager to read the second chapter, and then continue chapter by chapter, becoming completely engrossed. When it comes to captivating readers, Mr. Wu Cheng'en is truly remarkable

The long night is endless, and I have no way to express my feelings. How can I alleviate my worries? Only through reading.

The classic novel "Water Margin" has been around for nearly a century, and its stories are already familiar to many audiences. However, each time one hears it, it still feels as captivating as ever. Of course, there is only one "Water Margin," and people are eager to hear fresh stories. It would be even better if these stories could incorporate elements of romance, as the themes of everyday life and relationships resonate more closely with people's experiences and provide a greater sense of immersion. Naturally, there is only one "Water Margin," and people are still looking for new tales. If these stories could include some romantic elements, it would be ideal, as the themes of daily life and relationships are more relatable and engaging.

Alright, let's conclude here for today! Gao Wen glanced at his manuscript and thought to himself: "It has been a while since I last wrote with a brush, but it seems my skills have not deteriorated; quite good, quite good!"

In fact, this is not the complete first chapter of "Journey to the West." The complete first chapter, in addition to the birth of the stone monkey and the discovery of the Water Curtain Cave, also includes the Monkey King setting sail to seek immortality and wisdom, ultimately becoming a disciple of the Patriarch Bodhi. If one were to write it in full, it would take ten pages, around seven to eight thousand words. Writing with a brush is indeed too slow; it cannot compare to using a computer, which would only take about an hour.

Not reading books is your loss

A book of poor printing quality, as thin as a cicada's wing, filled with trivialities of romance, costs only a few coins; purchasing it does not affect one's life. After reading, it can even be used for wiping oneself.

Thus, whenever a new storybook is published, if the storyteller finds it satisfactory, he will most likely adapt it directly for the stage and disseminate it widely

There are still two hours until lunch, just enough time to go out and sell my manuscript, giving my mother a surprise

By the time we reach the last line of the first chapter, it reads: "In the beginning, there was no surname; to break the stubborn void, one must attain enlightenment. After all, it is unknown what paths and fruits will be cultivated in the future; let us wait for the next installment to elaborate." Only then is the first chapter considered complete, consisting of seventeen pages of manuscript

The so-called "Guange Ti," also known as "Taige Ti" during the Ming Dynasty, is a type of square and uniformly sized small script. It is generally used for official documents exchanged between government offices, requiring each character to be written as standard as if printed in a book, with no room for error or omission to avoid misreading. This script is often employed in examination settings, as the eight-legged essays directly relate to a scholar's future. If the characters are written carelessly and the examiner has difficulty reading them, it could lead to a minor error resulting in a significant mistake. This script is often employed in examination settings, as the eight-legged essays directly relate to a scholar's future. If the characters are written carelessly and the examiner has difficulty reading them, it could lead to a minor error resulting in a significant mistake

Here, the original author has left a suspense; although the Bodhi Patriarch accepted Wukong as his disciple, did he truly possess any divine abilities, and did the Monkey King learn any great supernatural powers from him

Do not worry, whenever a good storybook is published, you will certainly not be mistaken. In northern China, in any vibrant city, tea houses, which are a classic feature of Chinese social life, are absolutely indispensable.

After finishing this paragraph, half an hour had passed. Gao Wen felt a slight warmth in his hands, so he added some water to the inkstone and ground it again. He continued writing: "At the very top of that mountain, there is a celestial stone. This stone stands at a height of 3 zhang, 6 chi, and 5 cun, with a circumference of 2 zhang and 4 chi. The height of 3 zhang, 6 chi, and 5 cun corresponds to the 365 degrees of the celestial sphere; the circumference of 2 zhang and 4 chi corresponds to the 24 solar terms of the calendar. On it, there are nine apertures and eight harmonious book holes, corresponding to the nine palaces and eight trigrams. There are no trees to provide shade on all sides, but there are orchids on the left and right as a complement. The height of 3 zhang, 6 chi, and 5 cun corresponds to the 365 degrees of the celestial sphere; the circumference of 2 zhang and 4 chi corresponds to the 24 solar terms of the calendar. On it, there are nine apertures and eight harmonious book holes, corresponding to the nine palaces and eight trigrams. There are no trees to provide shade on all sides, but there are orchids on the left and right as a complement. Since the beginning of creation, it has received the essence of heaven and earth, the brilliance of the sun and moon, and after being influenced for a long time, it has developed a spirit of communication. It nurtured a celestial embryo within. One day, it cracked open, producing a stone egg, about the size of a round ball. When it encountered the wind, it transformed into a stone monkey." Finally, he entered the main topic of the stone monkey's emergence

Then, with a loud "bang" of the wooden board, all the tea patrons simultaneously turned their gazes to the old man in a blue robe standing at the front.

... ...

The primary readers are literate individuals and the educated bourgeoisie

He immediately changed into a relatively clean outfit, tucked the manuscript into his sleeve, took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and said to himself, "Gao Wen, you can do it!" before stepping out of the room

Regarding this book "Journey to the West," Gao Wen possesses strong confidence and believes that once it is published, it will sell out. However, he is always cautious in his work; even if he is filled with tumultuous emotions, the characters he writes are extremely neat, employing the style most adeptly mastered by scholars of this era, known as the official script.

At first glance, there are dozens of bamboo chairs, a cup of clear tea costing two wen, and the entire room is filled with whispers and animated conversations, spittle flying. News, ranging from local family matters to the significant events of the Forbidden City, such as the change of emperor and the powerful eunuch Wang Zhen forcibly seizing commoners' daughters, spreads like wildfire, instantly reaching every corner of the city

Before the Ming Dynasty, due to the levels of productivity and literacy, the price of books was exceedingly high. After the Yongle period, with the popularization of movable type printing and the advancement of productivity, the price of books continuously declined. Today, even beautifully bound collections of classics and historical texts cost no more than one qian of silver, equivalent to one hundred yuan in later times, making them affordable for the general populace

Hello, storyteller, you are being evasive and not straightforward about important matters. Is it not just about wanting money? Here it is.

Certainly, this matter must be conducted discreetly, for words are sacred. If others were to find out, it would inevitably lead to much trouble. Do you not see the brick towers used for burning paper in every street and alley? They bear a large inscription that reads, "Respect and cherish paper and ink"

Gao Wen said, "Mother, there's no need. I am no longer a child; I can handle this kind of thing." He felt a wave of embarrassment in his heart, thinking back to the previous Gao Wen who truly was... At eighteen years old, he was already an adult, yet he couldn't even wash his face or dress himself

After completing this poem, the next step is to begin writing the citation

The mother's loom was still making a "bang bang" sound. Upon hearing her son's voice, she said: "Wen'er, you are up. Mother will come over to wash your face and dress you right away"

This is probably the difference between a classic literary work and an ordinary erotic novel

Details determine success or failure. As a former senior editor, Gao Wen would certainly not make such a mistake