The New Tales of Old Shanghai
Heep Yunn Primary School , Wong , Jenna – 11
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ingYi was wandering the streets of Shanghai Disneyland , and playing till she dropped . Holding her newly-bought Star-Wars wand , she was on top of the world . Although she was enjoying herself so much , she felt the atmosphere today was a bit weird . All of a sudden , her Samsing Galaxy Note7 phone rang , but LingYi couldn ’ t recognize the voice speaking to her . The name showed up on the screen as someone called Jinshan . ‘ Maybe it is my old kindergarten old friend ,’ she thought puzzled . The raspy voice began to speak , ‘ Hi LingYi , you may not know me or believe who I am , but come , come to my place , take the TRON Lightcycle Power Run ride . Go , go now , then you will see me . See ya .’ Perplexed , LingYi went on the most thrilling ride of her life — the time ride .
Strong sunlight shone into LingYi ’ s eyelids . She woke up shocked . Around her were many western-style-built houses , western people wearing business suits were bustling along the streets . LingYi saw a huge wall surrounding a small area . ‘ Is this the Great Wall ? Or the Old City of Shanghai ? No way , the Old City of Shanghai was perish by a bomb years ago .’ murmured LingYi , whose worse subject was General Studies . She walked near the ‘ Great Wall ’, then saw a girl , younger than her , with blond hair , but black eyes like us . She was wailing . LingYi was busy thinking about how to get back the present , but she was a kind girl , so she knelt down and asked the little girl what was making her so miserable . ‘ I … I missed my mother ,’ began the little girl , not waiting for the little girl to finish her sentence , LingYi grabbed her Samsing Galaxy Note7 to call 999 . Unexpectedly , the little girl ’ s interest in the phone made her snatched it and carefully she studied the phone . LingYi was baffled , it ’ s 2017 now , what ’ s so special about my phone ? Why should she NOT know what a smart phone is ? LingYi took the phone back and did what she usually did — checked WhatsApp . There was one message from the ‘ Jinshan ’ guy again ‘ Go 2 CGT n u can go back 2 your future time .’ LingYi ’ s mind was blank like a white sheet of paper . Wait ! The message registered as sent on 12 / 5 / 1772 ! ‘ Oh dear ,’ LingYi exclaimed , ‘ I am in trouble ! I ’ ve travelled back in time and this wall is the defensive wall of the Old City of Shanghai .’
The little girl LingYi just met was called Katelyn . Katelyn told LingYi her situation . ‘ My mother is Chinese and my father is British . My mother lives in the Chinese City and western people , like me , are not allowed in that place . I … I want to find my mum and bring her out .’ LingYi was not sure she could help Katelyn , but anyway , she would give it a try . First , she needed to figure out what CGT on the message meant . With Katelyn ’ s help , she succeed in getting the meaning of the mysterious message . It was ‘ Go to City God Temple and you can go back to your future time .’ LingYi , determined to help Katelyn find her parents , and figure most importantly — how to travel back to 2017 , set off .
First , they needed to get into the city . People going in there must be Chinese-looking . Katelyn followed LingYi and luckily , they went into the town without a hitch . The scenery in the town was very different from the scenery out of the town . Markets , Chinese teahouses were here , there , and everywhwere . The people were dressed up in Chinese traditional clothing . After a whole day , they were exhausted and found a place to rest beside a teahouse . An old man beside them was whispering to a young woman and the conversation captured the two girls . LingYi looked away and stealthily listened to what they said , ‘ Manda , listen to me , leave this city now , please . Do not fear , but the cruel business man , Mr Brown , is going to destroy this city with a bomb !’ The woman covered her face with both hands , tears dripped out between of her fingers . LingYi was totally stunned .
Katelyn and LingYi continued their way to the City God Temple . In front of them were many soldiers , some holding bows and arrows and some holding spears . One of them grabbed LingYi ’ s shirt and pushed her and Katelyn out of their way . Looking at Katelyn , the soldiers discovered Katelyn was western and should not be in this city ! The leader of the army commanded the soldiers to tell the Governor of the city .
The soldiers interrogated Katelyn forcing her to tell them how she entered the city and what they had discovered . After listening to the whole incident , the Governor flew off his handle because he was the one who was planning to destroy the Chinese City and he ordered the soldiers to chop both LingYi and Katelyn ’ s heads off .