The Making of Paper (HKYWA 2024)
by Kaycee Leung 6E
This short story was written for the Hong Kong Young Writer’s Awards 2024. This year’s theme was “New Tales of China’s Inventions”. Students were allowed to write about the old and new Chinese inventions everyone uses today!
Let me tell you a story about paper…
During the Han dynasty, a Chinese court official named Cai Lun thought, “I hope we could have something satisfactory to write on, The bones and bamboo are too heavy and big. If I achieve that, I will name the material, paper.”
When he was deep in thought, he heard a voice. ”What a magnificent idea, I expect nothing less from the great Cai Lun.” Cai Lun looked up and gritted his teeth, “Ting, what are you thinking about?”
Ting, another court official, chuckled and answered,” Oh nothing, just plotting on how I will create paper and sell it at unreasonable prices and be filthy rich.”
Cai Lun replied with a stern tone, “I will never allow that to happen.” Ting shook his head and barked to his servant, “I order you to make paper. You hear that? Stupid servant.” Then, he left with a scoff.
Cai Lun rushed back to his chamber to make paper as soon as possible. He tried various different recipes but he failed every time. After a few months, he started to lose hope and decided to take a stroll around. As he walked, he came across some kids chatting.
One of them questioned his friend, “What do you think the future will be like?”
The other replied, “I think we will be able to time travel.”
Suddenly, a thought came to Cai Lun’s mind, “What if my descendants told me the recipe to make paper! I’m certain there is going to be paper in the future. I just need to let them know my thoughts.” And with that, he hurried back.
When he reached his chamber, he sat down at his grand desk and wrote on a piece of silk, “This is Cai lun, I am in A.D. 100 and am in the Cai chamber, time travel here and tell me how to make paper.” Then, he put the letter on his desk and waited. Sparks flew and with a puff of smoke, a man with metal instead of legs and arms appeared in front of him.
The man questioned, “Are you Cai Lun? My name is DT, I am tasked by the people of the future to reveal to you how to create the material named paper.”
Cai Lun was beyond happy and nodded with glee.
DT said, “ You need to boil bamboo, hemp waste, old rags, fishnets and tree barks to a pulp, beat it, and mix it with water. May I leave?” And Cai Lun dismissed him and DT disappeared.
Suddenly, Ting appeared in front of him and said with joy, “I eavesdropped on your conversation with that weird guy, and now I can make paper. In fact, I told my minion about the recipe and they will start producing paper tomorrow. Ha Ha Ha!”
Cai Lun glared at him with immeasurable rage and tried to speak, but his mouth failed him, and all he could do was stare at Ting walking away.
Suddenly, an idea popped into Cai Lun’s mind. He went to Ting’s factory. Ting’s minion came up to Cai Lun and asked, “Sir, what do you want? I am just Ting’s servant, please don’t be mean to me. I only follow orders.”
Cai Lun asked him what his name was and after he replied, Cai Lun said, “Song, I know how Ting treats his servants, work for me, and I will treat you as my friend and co-worker, I will give you the recognition you deserve and protect you from Ting’s wrath.”
Song considered it for a moment and finally agreed. He said to Cai Lun, “ Okay, I will work as your underling, what’s your first order…sir?”
Cai Lun smiled, his idea worked. He said, “My first order is, we will have the entire factory make paper for me and after 1000 sheets are made, we will find a reliable shop and try selling it there, then we split the money.”
The paper was a big hit and over the years it became more and more popular, and more and more was produced. Now it is sold all over the world and used everywhere. Our lives are so much better now, because of Cai Lun.
When it was night, Cai Lun sneaked into Ting’s factory. He found a piece of paper with the recipe scribbled on it, and he added one very dangerous material, gunpowder. And after he did, he hid in a bush near the factory and waited silently. Then workers, servants and Ting arrived and started to make paper.
Suddenly, there was a loud boom and fire enclosed the entire factory, all the workers and servants ran out unharmed, but Ting was less fortunate. He emerged from the flames with his hair covered in orange flames. He screamed with a high note only fourth graders can reach and jumped into a nearby pool.
He came out of the pool safe but fazed and wet. The emperor just happened to be passing by and saw Ting, he became furious and screamed at Ting, “ I will not allow such disgrace in my palace, leave right now and never enter my sight ever again” and left.
It was finally the end of Ting’s rotten days and Cai Lun started producing and selling paper. It quickly became popular for how cheap and useful it was. And now, it has become the paper we need in our everyday life.