One day, deities¹ from various places came to pay homage² to the Emperor of Heaven.

一天，各路神仙都来朝拜天帝。

The emperor gave his minister in charge of wine cups the following order:

天帝命令司筋大臣说:

"Register the names of the deities first, then bestow³ wine upon them."

“先把他们的名字登记好，再赐给他们酒喝。”

The minister registered the names of the deities on bamboo slips, and prepared to bestow wine. But he kept on working for 3, 000 years and had not finished the registration⁴ yet.

司筋大臣拿着竹简，登记各路神仙的姓名，准备赐酒，可是登记了三千年，还没登记完。

The emperor inquired:

天帝查问:

"Why haven't you finished registering?"

“你为什么还没有登记完？"

The minister reported:

司筋大臣报告说:

"All the deities have brought their sedan-chair carriers."

“各路神仙都带着轿夫。”

The emperor ordered:

天帝下令:

"Then register the sedan-chair carriers as well."

“轿夫，也登记上吧!”

7, 000 years passed and the registration was still not done.

结果，又登记了七千年，还是没有登记完。

When the emperor inquired again, the minister had no way out but reported:

当天帝再次查问的时候，司筋大臣无可奈何地报告说:

"The sedan-chair carriers of the deities have brought their own carriers too."

“各路神仙的轿夫，又都带着自己的轿夫啊!”

So the wine was not bestowed⁵ after all.

赐酒一事，最终还是没有成功。

The Emperor of Heaven remained silent for a long time and then heaved a deep sigh.

天帝沉默了半天，长长地叹息了一声。