Chapitre 33: The Small Play

At the Old Age Home.

Currently, everyone was quiet.

The old men were looking embarrassed and had their heads down not even daring to look up with their faces flushed.

Ye Qian stood at the door of the hall when a melodious voice gained everyone's attention.

"Papa, you are back!"

Little Qiqi exclaimed as she saw Ye Qian at the door.

Little Qiqi was currently sitting with the old ladies on Grandma Xue's lap.

A few minutes ago all the grandpas were very happy for Little Qiqi and thought that they must do a small forest act for her.

They used to do this every now and then for Little Qiqi to know some good habits.

Just like how old people used to tell their grandchild some moral stories.

Here, the thing was somewhat different as many of them would pick some characters and a good story and act in front of Little Qiqi.

They had done this discussion after Ye Qian left.

__________

About an hour ago.

"Hey, Old Wang, shouldn't we celebrate now that Little Qiqi's father is back?"

An old man with a bald head suggested.

"Hey, old Wu didn't you just hear him that we will have a party on Sunday?"

Grandpa Wang snickered at him.

"Hehe I am not saying about that kind of celebration Old Wang, how about a little celebration of our own, like how we play some drama for Little Qiqi sometimes, won't it be great?"

Old Wu exclaimed as he rubbed both his hands.

Hearing Old Wu's explanation everyone's eyes brightened.

Old Wang sniggered.

"Old Wu though your head is bald, you still have some brains left in there!"

Old Wu's lips twitched hearing Old Wang.

"Alright, your idea is very good now don't feel bad."

Seeing Old Wu's face turn green, Old Wang giggled while patting his shoulder.

"Everyone, the young man will come back before 5 so we must end everything until then."

"Call everyone, we are having a small celebration of our own for Little Qiqi's happiness."

"Yeah, yeah!"

Everyone cheered him and went to sort the things out and finalise the play which they wanted to act this time.

They then went to the old ladies.

Seeing them coming towards them, Grandma Xue giggled.

"Oh, so you guys are done with the preparation."

She exclaimed as Old Wang was about to tell them.

"En, Xue how did you find that out?"

Old Wang asked her as she giggled with the other ladies.

"Hehe, do you think we are deaf, we are just some old beauties."

"And you guys were cheering and yelling out so loudly that, I think the people two blocks away could have also heard you, old fogies."

Grandma Xue sneered.

The old men's lips twitched as they heard her.

"Grandma Xue, why do you scold grandpa Wang, Wu and others?"

Little Qiqi who was sitting on Grandma Xue's lap mumbled as she tilted her head.

The men felt good after hearing her.

'At least there is Little Qiqi who will always be nice to us.'

They looked at her with love.

"Alright no need to feel bad, just say what we need to do?"

"Well, you just have to sit here we were here just to call you guys to watch the play!"

Old Wang said as he smiled at Little Qiqi.

"Wow, Grandpa Wang is going to play another drama."

"Yes, my little thing"

Old Wang tried to pat her head.

"Pahh"

Grandma Xue quickly slapped his hand off and scolded him.

"Now go and get done with your things, no need to prolong, Qiqi's father will be coming soon."

Old Wang felt wronged, but he turned to others.

"Alright, everyone we need to start now."

"Hey Old Xue, we have a role for women as well."

"Fine, Nana, go with him and listen to what he wants you to do."

Grandma Xue was like a Queen in the Old Age Home, no one tried to defy what she said.

"Yes, Sister Xue."

An old lady who seemed to be in her mid-50s stood while smiling and walked to Old Wang.

"Old Wang, you must finish this before Ye Qian arrives."

Grandma Xue exclaimed seeing Old Wang turn around.

"En, who is Ye Qian?"

Old Wang asked while rubbing his chin.

"Grandpa Wang, it's Qiqi's Papa's name!"

Little Qiqi gushed as she giggled.

Grandma Xue shook her head and sighed.

"You used to curse that name so much, now, you don't even seem to remember it."

"Emm"

Little Qiqi turned her head to Grandma Xue wanting to know.

"Hey, what are you saying!"

Seeing Little Qiqi's face he quickly tried to deny it.

"Alright, now off you go. It's about 4 already. When are you going to start the play?"

Grandma Xue comforted Little Qiqi by patting her and glared at Old Wang to quickly start the play.

__________

After a few minutes, a stage-like setup was made by arranging the chairs and sofas with the help of Guard Le and others.

"Thanks a lot, Little Le."

Old Wang soothed as Guard Le finished helping them.

"Hey uncle Wang, what's there to thank for, isn't it all good to see you guys happy and cheerful."

He glanced at Little Qiqi who was playing on Grandma Xue's lap and smiled at him and murmured.

"Besides this is for Little Qiqi's happiness, it's all worth it."

"You really like her don't you?"

Old Wang sighed.

"Who doesn't like Little Qiqi, if there was someone who didn't like her then there is some problem with them."

Guard Le laughed and started to walk to the door.

__________

A few minutes later after everything was arranged.

All the old ladies were sitting on the chairs and sofas as audiences.

Old Wang walked to the centre of the 'stage' and called out.

"Hello, as we all know, Little Qiqi's father is back, so here is a small celebration on our part for our Qiqi for her being so happy."

"Pat pat"

Little Qiqi clapped her hands and beamed with joy.

All the old ladies and Grandma Xue has a smile on their faces as they also started cheering.

"So we are going to act with the story of 'The Empty Pot' today."

Old Wang called as he started to narrate the story.

Meanwhile, all the other old men acted according to their roles.

Old Wang started to narrate the story.

"Long long ago, the King of a province in China announced a contest to find the next ruler of the land as he was getting old and had no sons to take over the throne."

"The King loved to grow plants. So he announced 'Any boy who wanted to be king would have to come to the palace and get a royal seed. In six months, the boy who grew the best plant would be the one to win the contest and he would be the next to sit on the throne."

"Every boy in China was wild with joy! Everyone was confident that HE would be the winner! Boys all over started to walk with pride, as if they were the winner. Mothers and fathers were excited too."

"A boy, named Jun, was quiet though. He knew that he was good at growing plants. Everyone in his village would fight over who was to get his melons, snow peas, and his baby corn. All summer long, Jun was working hard at pulling weeds, or moving plants from here to there so they could grow better."

"On the day when the royal seeds were to be given out, large numbers of boys came to the palace. Jun was also there. Every boy took home a royal seed."

"After going home, Jun took out a good flowerpot. He set down large stones at the bottom. Over them, he set smaller ones and over those, he filled the rest of the pot with rich black dirt. He then made a hole at the top, that was about one inch deep. At last, he pressed the royal seed into the hole and set dirt on top. And with care, he patted the topsoil."

"Over the next few days, Jun watered his pot daily. All over China, boys were doing the same thing. Every boy took care of his own pot. When would the first little green leaf show up? Day after day, Jun watched and waited."

As Old Wang narrated the other men acted accordingly.

It was like a silent drama.

"A boy named Chen was the first in Jun's village to announce that his plant was growing. His news was met with great cheers. Chen said in a loud voice that he would be King!"

"Han was the next one to say a little green plant was coming up in his pot. Then it was Wong. Jun did not know why there was no little plant in his pot. None of the other boys could grow plants as well as he could!"

"But still, Jun's seed did not grow."

"Soon sprouts were popping up from pots all over the village. Boys moved their small plants outside so the little leaves could grow even bigger in the sun. Many even stood guard over their pot at all times. It seemed to Jun that every boy who planted seed had a sprout by now? Every boy, that was, except him."

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Moral value story from old china.

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