Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 155

The Missing Recipe
Kennedy School, Sun, Antonia - 9
In Hong Kong, it’s a bustling city where you can hear the cars honking in the streets and smell the mouthwatering
food from the restaurants. In the midst of all of this, there once was a peaceful detective whose
name was Chichi. Chichi is good at various things, including shooting, food tasting, and tracking
clues……….. He also enjoys watching TV because the news sometimes broadcasts recent crimes that remain
unsolved.
One day, while Chi was watching a program about the formidable power of the Big Buddha in Lantau, a
special announcement came on the screen. A reporter appeared and announced the latest news. “The secret
recipe of the famous Dim Sum from the Yum Cha restaurant is stolen! Police couldn’t find any clues even
after searching the crime scene dozens of times. They could only find a piece of card saying “The Shadow.”
Chi was determined to catch the Shadow and return the missing Dim Sum recipe to the restaurant.
As Chi went to the door to get his coat, ready to get a bun at the top of IFC, a little piece of paper slipped
through the gap of the door. Curiously, Chi picked it up and began to read. “Go to Times Square and look
for a man dressed entirely in black and say your name. I know about the Shadow and I am helping you.
Signed, tyler. Chi smiled as he read the word “tyler”, they were best friends since kindergarten! Chi
immediately dashed outside and got on the tram to Times Square. The man in black wasn’t hard to find
because everyone else was wearing colorful t-shirts. The man in black gave him an envelope and told Chi
to open it at home. Chi gratefully waved good-bye to the man in black as he disappeared into crowds of
people.
At home, Chi carefully opened the envelope, trying not to ruin the expensive gold lace tyler had created for
him. “At night, go to the Night Market and find the only book storekeeper and say your name. tyler.” So
Chi waited until it was 7:00 at night. Urgently, Chi hailed a taxi to a popular Night Market. As Chi began
to walk into the busy streets of the Night Market he was aware that he needed new supplies for his new
home. Sadly after 30 minutes, he still couldn’t find the storekeeper. He was about to give up when he heard
a little voice in his head giving him instructions. It was from the almighty Buddha! When the voice stopped,
he was standing in front of a small book store. The owner was an old man who frowned at him. Chi
whispered his name into the man’s ear and the man’s face lit up. “I know you! You’re Tyler’s friend!” He
blurted out, trying not to shout. Chi grinned and said, “I am.” The old man gave him an envelope. He soon
remembered that he needed new things and began to look closely at the shops to see what they were selling.
He ended up carrying a small Chinese lantern, a mysterious looking pot, a singing nightingale and a valuable
Chinese jacket. Chi put the envelope inside the Chinese jacket for safekeeping.
As Chi got home and unpacked, the envelope slid out of the Chinese jacket as if to remind him he needed
to open it. The envelope was very identical to the others except there was no tyler’s name written on it.
Because Chi already knew it was from Tyler. “Go to the book fair and choose the book you first see.” Chi
really wanted to go to the book fair now but he was so exhausted that he chose to go tomorrow. What he
didn’t know was that the Shadow was watching him all along! The Shadow had read the letter secretly and
was not thrilled about someone wanting to put him in jail! The shadow wanted to kill Chi while Chi was
resting but he had a better idea, he would get his revenge in the book fair! The shadow slipped away,
satisfied.
The next day, Chi set off early, determined to bring back the lost recipe and hopefully put the Shadow to a
stop. He caught the first double-decker bus and the bus driver gave Chi a funny look. “The early bird gets
the worm!” Chi explained in a funny voice. The bus driver, still discombobulated drove to the book fair.
When Chi got there, the Convention Center was already packed with people buying books. Chi strolled in
and his eyes went straight to this book named “What Hong Kong travelers must-see” Chi picked it up and
flipped it open. Suddenly two things happened, a piece of paper fell out and a tremendous shadow loomed
over Chi. Scared, Chi picked the piece of paper and ran. But wherever Chi fled, the shadow was always
close behind. “Excuse me! Sorry!” Chi said over and over as he pushed and shoved other people. The same
voice from the Buddha echoed through Chi’s mind. “Drink some Chinese tea and you can be invisible for
30 minutes.” Receiving this good advice, Chi rushed to the tea store and asked for some Chinese tea. The