Fiction: Group 2
Journey on the Pearl River Delta
Macau Anglican College, Kan, Tiffany - 10, Fiction: Group 2
ong time ago, when China was still a poor country, around 1980, there lived a boy called Yingying.
He lived in Macau, and his father left him and his mother to trade when he was just 5 years old.
Now, after 4 years, he began to wonder. Where could he be? What can he be doing? These
questions always pop into his mind. He missed his dad so much, that sometimes he might cry because of it.
One day, he had a talk with his best friend, Daodao. They talked about their family. They have never talked
to each other about it. Then he realized that Macau is such a small place. He learned that his father and
Daodao‘s father had some relationship, and that their fathers were friends and went together to the same
journey for trading. Suddenly, Yingying got an idea. “Daodao, do you want to go and search for our
fathers?” he asked. “We know that our fathers went up somewhere to the Pearl River Delta right? It won’t
be hard! They are going to the edge near the water of the different lands there, right?” Daodao thought
about it. “That’s right! We can tell our parents about it! I will meet you at the park tomorrow!” With that,
he ran off.
He went to the park next day, with a permission of his mum, and a packed luggage. Soon, Daodao came
and with a luggage too. “Come on, let’s go!” cried Daodao. “Let’s not waste time while we have it! It took
me all night to get my permission!” They went off to a nearby bakery, bought some egg tarts, bread and
water. They rented a boat. They pushed the boat into the water, and their journey begun.
Both Yingying and Daodao took an oar each, and started paddling. Now, since they realized it was tiring,
for rowing the oars, they took turns each, to allow each other to rest. Soon, night came. They took out
their food and stopped for a while. Again, they took turns to rest and sleep. Two days more days passed.
Finally, by dawn, they saw the magnificent buildings, high hills and a lighthouse. They went to the
immigration, and passed and sat on a wooden bench on the street. They studied a note that Yingying’s
father sent. This letter was the only letter that his father sent back home. “Let’s see…” he mumbled.
“According to this, our fathers’ trip’s plan is like this: They are spending 2 years at Hong Kong, 1 year at
Dongguan, and another year at Guangzhou. And then they will return home… Well, I don’t want them to
take that long. They should return home!” “I agree. I feel hungry. Do you mind grabbing some food?”
Daodao asked.
And they did. They went to buy egg waffles, pineapple buns and went to a diner- type restaurant for
breakfast. They ate buns and noodles, and again they took off for another destination: Dongguan.
They got into their boat again. This time they went to Dongguan. Again, using their system of one resting
and another rowing, they took another half day to arrive to Dongguan.
They arrived to Dongguan and their eyes widened. As a citizen of Macau, they had never seen anything like
it. It wasn’t like Hong Kong, but instead they saw crops, farms, and fishermen instead. “Amazing.” breathed
Yingying. “Cool.” said Daodao.
That’s when they snapped back into action. “Wait. Our fathers won’t probably trade here for long. “said
Yingying. “You’re right. There is no way that they can trade crops for such a long time.” replied Daodao.
“Also, since our dads are trading, I think we should also try once. I want to know what they experienced.”
suggested Daodao. “Great idea!” said Yingying. “Let’s spend our night here. We can trade for some crops
and we can ask to spend the night at their homes.”
A kind lady took them in, and made them some delicious noodles, vegetables, some chicken. It made them
feel better.
The next morning, they traded for some crops, said farewell, and went off again. “It was an amazing journey
so far.” said Yingying. “Totally amazing. Look at where we went. Dongguan, a place different from cities,
Hong Kong, a place with amazing buildings. I wonder what Guangzhou will bring us next?” said Daodao.
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