The Girl Who Changed China
by Heather N.
Chapter 1
Adventures
"Lu Chen," my mother called.
I wasn't looking forward to doing my morning chores. Like every 18 year old, I wanted to be out adventuring, not feeding the ducks and pigs. At least, after feeding the ducks and the pigs, I will be able to see my best friend, Chung Soy Soy. Chung Soy Soy has her own style. She is very animated and has probably the best comebacks in the world.
"Lu Chen!!!"
I better get up. Probably the last thing I want to do is get my mother, Lu Teitei, angry. When she is angry, she will yell and scream until she comes down and throws a ball of rice on your head. So that's why I'm getting up. 1, 2, 3. OK I'm up.
As I put on my red satin robe with the little blue flowers on it and put my hair into a bun, I feel like I am sleeping walking. I feed the chickens and the pigs. Before my mother could stop me to eat breakfast with my two sisters, or at least say hello to Lu Nini and Lu Shung, I had catapulted myself to the door and was on my way to Chung Soy Soy's house.
I like and dislike Chung Soy Soy's house. I like it because when you're there, you're really respected, unlike at my house. I also like it because Chung Soy Soy is there. I dislike, no I hate her brother Chung Ho. Chung Soy Soy and Chung Ho are twin brother and sister. The problem is her brother is in love with me. Do you think I like him? No! So there!
I'm entering Chung Soy Soy's house. OK, try to skip past Chung Ho. And Chung Ho spotted me. I asked,"Chung Ho, what are you writing?" He says he is writing a poem and he will tell it to me.
"How the birds fly south
And the wind blows east on a fall day
Happiness does not come with words
But with beauty."
Our eyes made contact and I said five words that probably, at least I thought, made him think of me as someone with power. As our eyes made contact, I said the proverb, "Talk does not cook rice. "
He scowled and turned around and muttered something to himself that I couldn't make out.
"Yes," I screamed as Chung Soy Soy and I slapped hands. I wanted to have an adventure. She thought, did something with her hands to tell our fortune, and said, "OK."
So we went and asked our parents. Chung Soy Soy's Mom said yes but my mom was harder to convince. She said she would never be able to take care of my sisters until I told her she has the eldest sisters and shouldn't worry. This convinced my mom because she'd have someone to help her. So my best friend, Chung Soy Soy and I gathered our stuff. We were off. Where were we going, no one would know. But I didn't care. I was going somewhere new. I had never been on an adventure before.
Chapter 2
A Day's Travel on Weary Feet and an Outcast
As we walked out of sight of our houses, I sniffed back a tear. I would miss my sisters and my mom.
Chung Soy Soy and I hiked along rivers, mountains, and streams. I couldn't wait till we would get to somewhere to stay. My feet ached from walking so far. I wished I had brought a horse, but I was the one who had wanted to go on an adventure, not Chung Soy Soy.
Chung Soy Soy and I decided to stop at a town every night to rest just to be safe. As we hit the first town, we would be stopping at, my eyes opened as wide as possible. The bamboo thatched roofs were elegant and the poles holding up the houses were a brilliant red. "The people must be very rich," I told Chung Soy Soy.
"Yes," she gasped,just as startled as me if even more.
Then my eyes landed on a house with bamboo sticks caving in at the end with no houses around it. The house looked gray and sad conpared to the other houses. But then Chung Soy Soy pulled me over to show me something. I hadn't forgotten the little house. It was tucked in the back of my mind, just waiting, waiting till I would need it again.We had a meal of egg rolls,rice, spare ribs,dumplings and rice. I had never had such a great meal in my life. It was like a feast. I only get this much food on the New Year.
I crept out of the house we were staying at and ran to the run down cave like house. I wasn't much of a person to get up late at night, but I had made an exception. I knocked on the wall of the house and I heard a lot of mumbling and growling which made me jump back a little. I couldn't make out this face because of the light, but all I knew was that it softened when it looked up at me.
"Hi," I said as I kneeled down.
The guy looked up at at me and said, " I am "Xia Shu. I guess you're new in town or you wouldn't be talking to me."
"What do you mean. you are a lovely person. Now how old are you?"
I tried to brush his hair out of his eyes, but he put his hand firmly down.
"I'm 18 and I am an ugly outcast. You don't want to turn my face. I am ugly. You should go away. Go!!!. I'm telling you for your own safety in this town. So go!!"
"I won't take orders from anyone," I said, "how are you ugly?"
As I brought my lantern closer, I saw his face was a piece of almost blubbery fat pussing and his face was much too big for his body.
"Why are you an outcast?, " I asked.
"They threw me out because they didn't want to ruin the town's reputation. My parents were the richest people in all of China. I grew up being rich, but when my parents passed away, they were the only ones who saw me for what I really am. So the town's people took my parent's money, kept it for themselves, and threw me out. "
Just then, a guard appeared from behind and asked, "Who goes there?"
Xia Shu ducked back in his house and told me to run. So I ran back to the house where Chung Soy Soy and I were staying. I had a lot to think about. Was he really telling me the truth? I would find that out later.
Chapter 3
Night Visits
Every night for the next two years, I visited Xia Shu. I found out how he was robbed and treated badly. At first, Chung Soy Soy would ask if we could go home, but she soon found work in this fine, rich village. No one knew about the meetings I had with Xia Shu, though Chung Soy Soy had come close. I had gotten a sheet of characters I couldn't make from Xia Shu. Chung Soy Soy saw it and asked where I had gotten it because there were no scholars in town. I said I found it on the ground. I still don't think she believes me, but oh well.
I am really scared because Chung Ho found out where I am and he is going to visit. I don't want Xia Shu to see him or anyone else to think he's my husband or boyfriend because I hate him. My night visits are the only thing worth living for now. I think that Xia Shu is probably the nicest person in the world. I would never want to leave him. I still have to know why people can't see how nice Xia Shu is even though his face is ugly. Why am I the only one who can look inside, not outside? I think I will soon teach this town a lesson.
Chapter 4
Chung Ho Comes to Visit
When Chung Ho came, I told Xia Shu he wasn't my husband. He was just a person. Chung Ho told me that he had come for a visit. He said that he was very wise.
One day, Xia Shu same out of his house in the day. We went for a walk. Along the way, we saw Chung Ho. He started to hurl stones at Xia Shu. I screamed at Chung Ho to stop and he said he was protecting me from this man. I looked at Chung Ho and made him angry. Then, almost the whole village started hurling stones at Xia Shu. I climbed a tree and shouted, "STOP!!"
They immediately stopped and I questioned them. "Do you think you are wise? Well, none of you are. Only he who knows others is wise!"
I shouted. They listened. They heard and cared.
After teaching the town that Xia Shu wasn't bad, I knew that I had to teach China a lesson now. I thought and thought and then I thought some more and an idea came to me. China didn't have a ruler. Xia Shu could be the ruler, no the emperor. I can tell China that they need a ruler. That's what I'll do.
So I told Xia Shu, "I have a job for you. We are going to tell China that you will be the first and best emperor. "
"What's an emperor?"Xia Shu asked.
"The people of China need a ruler and it will be you."
We told the town my idea and they started to build the palace for Xia Shu. I was proud of Xia Shu and I was proud of the town. I decided to leave this town after Xia Shu's palace was done. I will miss it here, but I will come back and visit soon.
Chapter 5- Epilogue
From the Journal of Lu Chen
Hello. It has been five years since Xia shu started being the first emperor of China. I have some exciting news. Xia Shu has asked me to marry him and I said yes. I knew this question would be coming, but not as late as this. I will miss the days when I was adventuring. Chung Ho got married four years ago to a pretty young girl. I am not the least bit sad, only very happy. I know now that China is at its best.
