Fiction: Group 3
New Tale of the Pearl River Delta
TWGHs S C Gaw Memorial College, Lau, Chak - 15, Fiction: Group 3
he Pearl River Delta, located in southern China, is one of the country’s fastest developing and most
dynamic regions. It is a melting pot of foreign influence and traditional Chinese culture. There is a
fascinating tale from a long time ago about the Pearl River Delta region which explains why it is
such a wealthy region; the explanation being that this region was protected by a dragon which brought
wealth, prosperity and healing to it.
This tale began when the Dragon was patrolling along the Pearl River Delta a long time ago. He was a kind
and genial dragon that always wanted to help the region’s poor people. One day, during his usual patrol in
the human world, he chanced upon some poor people living along the Pearl River Delta and he soon
decided he really wanted to help them. So, he split one of his scales and sprinkled its particles on each house.
His scales could bring wealth and prosperity for a whole year to any place that received his scales. Therefore,
everybody wanted to be blessed by him.
At that time, a greedy, evil Taoist priest wanted to seize the Dragon and take all his magical scales. He
looked for the dragon all over China and used his glasses which could see invisible beings (including the
Dragon) to find the dragon. He was determined to never rest until he found the dragon. When the Dragon
was sprinkling scales on people’s houses, the Taoist priest accidentally found the dragon flying over the top
of people’s houses. The Dragon said sincerely, “
I hope this family can have a better life!” Then, he fled to
another house. The
Taoist priest caught sight of him. He snickered and said: “Ha-ha! I have finally found
you.” He followed the Dragon and noticed that the Dragon often stayed in the Pearl River Delta. The
Taoist priest was determined to take this valuable opportunity to snatch his magical scales.
In the evening, the Taoist priest was preparing his implements for catching the Dragon. He took his big net,
arrows, bow and spear. “I must get you, Dragon!” he said determinedly. At night, the Dragon was still flying
around. The Taoist priest saw the Dragon through his sorcerous glasses. “Help! Help! Please help me,
Dragon!” the Taoist priest shouted. He pretended he was hurt. The Dragon heard him from a short distance
away. “Someone is calling me. I must help him!” the Dragon exclaimed. Then, he fled at lightning speed
and found the Taoist priest in agony on the ground and shouting: “Help! Help, dragon!” The Dragon
quickly picked up one of his scales. However, the Taoist priest suddenly sprang up and shot an arrow
towards the Dragon.
The Dragon dodged it and shouted: “How dare you, man! Why do you want to kill me?” The Taoist priest
shot another arrow and answered, “Because I want your scales. I want to be rich forever!” The Dragon
dodged it again and announced angrily: “You cannot be selfish. My power is used for helping people in
need! I will not give any benefit to anyone who is rapacious like you! ”
Suddenly, the ground started glowing. Actually, the Taoist priest had set a magic circle on the ground to
trap the Dragon. Now, the Dragon was no longer invisible .The Taoist priest chortled and said: “Ha-ha-
ha! You cannot go anywhere now. You will be my slave and bring wealth to me!”
“You are vile! You will be punished by divine retribution!” the Dragon exclaimed furiously. The Taoist
priest cast a net over the Dragon and the Dragon hit his head and passed out. The Taoist priest laughed
evilly and said: “I have finally caught the Dragon! From now on, I can be a wealthy man forever! Ha-ha-
ha!” He dragged the Dragon back to his house and locked the Dragon up in a metal case.
The next morning, the dragon woke up feeling feeble discovering that he was locked up in a case and was
bound by an iron chain. He could not get out of this locked case. He could remember what had happened
last night and he was very angry. He called the Taoist priest who appeared in front of the case.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
”Let me out! Or you will be punished by the gods,” the Dragon declared.
“Well, we will see!” the Taoist priest responded.
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