The New Tales of Old Shanghai
Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School , Mak , Anson - 12
T hundering tides and crashing waves . It was the great flood . According to the myths , 4000 years ago , in ancient China , there was a flood . It wasn ’ t any normal flood — it was one that nearly wiped out all the people of China , leaving it on the brink of ruin . It was said that the gods were punishing the evil , and whenever there was any more conflict on Earth , disaster would strike again .
4000 years later , in an ostentatious skyscraper in Shanghai , a middle aged business man , Mr . Chen , was having an important meeting in his office .
“ What do you mean , no ?!” He boomed louder than a rocket at takeoff . “ How do you expect me to earn money like this ?
A man calmly replied . “ Sir , we ’ ve checked everywhere . There simply isn ’ t any place to build another building , and —”
“ No excuses !” Mr . Chen hollered . “ And what do you mean by ‘ isn ’ t any place ’? Oh , c ’ mon ! Are you kidding me ? I need the land , presto ! Deadline is tonight , and we start construction tomorrow ! Or you ’ re sacked !”
Next morning , in a rural village nearby , a loud pounding could be heard . A tremendous amount of rubble was blasted off like an exploding stick of dynamite .
“ What do you think you ’ re doing ?” Liqin coughed severely through the smoke . Amongst the smoke , tractor like vehicles emerged . A horde of people stood surrounded by the half demolished hut , the ash of the roof burnt and blackened and the door scarcely conspicuous .
It seemed really unusual to the peaceful locals . The village was exquisite , with flamboyant red lanterns hung across the walls with candle flames coruscating . Everyone there grew up respecting the customs of their culture — unlike Mr . Chen . He only cared about his own needs and desire for money . “ Just doing what the boss tells me to ,” A large man of one of the vehicles replied , coolly nonchalant . “ Wrecking our homes ? That ’ s what your boss told you to do ?” Someone in the crowds shot back . The man just shrugged . The crowd started to go ballistic , screaming out insults and threats . It went from bad to worse when Mr . Chen the very man came through . It was chaos , and half the people merely noticed when an egg catapulted and landed directly onto his face .
“ STOP !” Mr . Chen screeched like a tyre . “ You lot , get out ! I ’ m the richest , strongest , most powerful , so I get to run the place ! And each and one of these people , trying to ruin my business company and the greatest man of all , deserved to be punished by god !” They were powerless towards Mr . Chen — the rich , bossy entrepreneur .
In less than a week , Mr . Chen ’ s building construction was starting to have progress — or at least , that was what he thought so . As he headed out the door , a gust of wind slammed into him like a rude subway passenger , and just like one , the wind didn ’ t apologize . He looked up in antipathy in realisation that his black horn rimmed glasses were stained with dirt and dust . He was hardly able to see two feet in front of him . Then he started choking critically like a sick parrot .
As if it couldn ’ t get any worse , the rain started trickling down from the sky , pattering onto the ground furiously . The rain brimmed from above like it wanted to turn the valley into a river and the mountain into an island . The impenetrable smog made the tallest trees imperceptible , almost like a sheet enveloping the whole city . The howling of the frustrated wind demons fought to get through the roof of every single house . That wasn ’ t the end of it .
The ground shook on the spur of the moment , and Mr . Chen felt if a milk truck hit him . He stumbled across the street dizzily like a drunk , just blocks away from his new building development . It was completely empty . The rain rushed through as swift as a runner on a sprint , forming a deluge . Then , abruptly , just like a stacked card tower , the building collapsed and broke apart .