The Empty Pot (盆)

Long ago, the King of China announced a contest to find the next ruler of the land.

He was getting old and had no sons to take over the throne (王位).

One thing about the King is that he loved to grow plants. So he announced that any boy who wanted to be king would have to come to the palace and ________ a royal (皇室的) seed. In six months, the boy who grew the best________ would be the one to win the contest. He would be the next to sit on the throne.

On the big day, huge crowds of boys came to the palace. Jun was one of those boys, he was quiet and good at growing things. Each boy took home his royal seed, held tightly in his hand.

Over the next few days, Jun watered his pot every day. All over the country, boys were doing the same thing. Each one looked with________ at his own pot.

Chen was the first boy to announce that a green leaf was coming up. Han was the next one to say a little green plant was coming up in his pot. Then it was Wang. Jun did not know why there was empty in his pot. He had much experience in growing, none of the other boys could grow plants as ________ as he! But still, Jun’s seed did not grow.

Six months passed. The day came when all the boys needed to bring their plants to the palace to be judged.

“What will I do?” cried Jun to his mother and father as he looked out the window. “My pot is empty! My seed did not grow!”

“Bring the King your pot, the way it is.” said his father. “That’s right.” said Jun’s mother. “You did the best you could.” Then Jun carried his empty pot on the road to the palace.

At the palace, all the boys lined up. Holding their big, strong plants in front of them, they ________ to be judged. The King looked at each plant with a blank look on his face.   When he came to Jun, he frowned (皱眉) and said, “What is this? You brought me an empty pot?” It was all Jun could do to keep from crying. “I tried my best. I planted your seed in the best soil I could find. I kept it wet and watched it every day. When the seed did not ________, I moved it to new soil, and I even moved it a third time. But it just didn’t     grow!” Jun hung his head. “I’m sorry.”

“Hmm,” said the King. Turning so everyone could hear he shouted, “I do not know where all these other boys got their seeds. There is no ________ anything could grow from the seeds we passed out for the contest. And that is because all those seeds had been ________! No plant could grow from them!” So anyone who showed me his beautiful plant must be a liar. Only this man told me the truth. Do remember honesty is the best policy.” And he smiled at Jun.