Fiction: Group 2
The Factory of Faithfulness
Baptist (STW) Lui Ming Choi Primary School, Wong, Nathan - 9, Fiction: Group 2
y name is Pearl River Delta. I am a big triangular area in Guangdong province in China. I am
warm and humid as I live close to the South China Sea. Millions of people live in me. I contain
many big and important cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau.
Guangzhou, one of my favourite cities, contains thousands of factories. Now, I am going to tell
you a story about a man who worked in a woodcraft factory in Guangzhou.
This man was a worker called Zhu-zi. He made wooden crafts. Many say he was stubborn to have
worked in this factory for 50 years. But I say he was smart and loyal. He wasn’t just any worker. He was the
oldest, wisest, and most respected worker in the entire Guangzhou. However, sometimes even the most
experienced worker would make mistakes.
One day, when Zhu-zi was walking along Pearl River, a poor man hopped off an old sampan and
went ashore. He approached Zhu-zi and said, “Please make me a big wooden puppet because it will be my
son’s birthday tomorrow. But… I can’t pay you much. I know you’re the best worker in the city and you
can make the most PERFECT puppet. Do you think my son can have this birthday gift on time?”
Zhu-zi nodded and ran to his station. He picked the best wood and started to work.
I must work
hard or else the poor man’s son would be disappointed
, thought Zhu-zi. So he quickly placed the log of
wood in the old machine. He sawed, carved and sanded the piece of wood and it looked almost like his own
right arm! After another hour of hard work, he made the left arm. Then, he took another piece of wood to
make the puppet’s torso. He sawed, carved and sanded the piece of wood and it looked almost like his own
torso! He was very pleased with his work. Then he started to make the legs.
The legs are the easiest
, he
thought. He a took out a long piece of wood. He chopped it in half with the old machine. Then he sawed,
carved and sanded the piece of wood. After some more hard work, the wooden legs looked almost like his
own legs!
Now the old worker was hungry. So he went to the nearest congee restaurant to have some lunch.
Zhu-zi sat down at the restaurant and ordered a preserved egg congee. Since the restaurant owner
was friends with Zhu-zi, he also gave the hungry man a free plate of fried noodles. Zhu-zi picked up the
chopsticks and ate.
After his quick and delicious lunch, Zhu-zi said goodbye to the restaurant owner and returned to
the factory. He started to make the puppet’s head. He carved the last piece of wood into a ball. Suddenly,
the carving knife slipped.
“OUCH!”
The knife made a deep cut on Zhu-zi’s hand. The wound bled. His crimson blood dripped and
started to make a stain on the wood. But he was in so much pain that he didn’t notice it.
After bandaging up the wound, he was tired and needed some rest. Zhu-zi headed to the congee
shop again and told the restaurant owner about his misfortune.
“Just rest, Zhu-zi. You shouldn’t be torturing yourself. If I were you, I’d just give up,” said the
shop owner.
But Zhu-zi didn’t want to give up.
If I give up, the poor man and his son would be disappointed,
thought Zhu-zi.
So Zhu-zi headed back to the factory. He saw the puppet’s wooden head, now crimson red with
the blood stain. He wanted to make another head but the wood was running out. Stubbornly, he picked up
his tools again and sanded the head. He kept sweating in the heat but he worked and worked. Slowly, the
puppet’s head returned to the original colour! He was very pleased with his work.
Finally, Zhu-zi assembled the puppet. It looked fabulous. By then, it was four o’clock in the
morning. He was exhausted so he rode his bicycle home to get some sleep.
Soon, it was time to go back to work. Not before long, the poor man came to the factory and he
saw the puppet made just for his son. He nodded to Zhu-zi and exclaimed.
“What a beautiful puppet! It really is the best puppet in the world! But why do you have dark
circles under your eyes?” the poor man asked.
M
