【明報專訊】The Chinese New Year was about to begin. As usual, the imperial palace was heavily decorated and filled with the joy of festivities.

But something strange happened.

The chief cook prepared many fine cuisines for the court. And all of the food was stolen right before the dinner. And the other cooks in the kitchen said sometimes they saw the shadow of a fox.

"Such a picky animal! It chooses the dinner of all meals!"

The fox repeated its thefts to such an extent that the emperor couldn't tolerate it anymore. He ordered more guards be stationed near the kitchen.

Strangely, every time before the dinner, the guards fell asleep and nobody knew the reason.

"Such a bunch of idiots! Any way to catch the thief?" The emperor roared, and he thought the fox wasn't auspicious (吉利的) during the festival.

"We're making a giant Chinese candy box (全盒). How about we send a few men hiding round the box. Once they see anything peculiar, they shall close the box up immediately."

That's quite a good idea so the emperor accepted.

One night, the emperor and his men gathered in the imperial garden far from the kitchen so as not to alarm the fox. In the kitchen, the guards stayed alert and waited for anything strange to come.

"Want some? They're by the chief cook." One guard was carrying some dried candied lotus seeds (糖蓮子).

"Better not to eat them. We have to stay awake..."

"Is that a fox?"

"It's a leaf."

"Surely that's a fox!" They banged the box cover heavily.

The box was lifted to the garden. The emperor ordered the soldiers to open it. They then saw a man wearing a fox costume.

"You're the emperor and could in no way understand the cruelties of life. I did that for my sons, my family."

"But then who made the guards fall asleep?" The emperor asked.

The chief cook came out and admitted the doing.

"The country is full of injustice. And you fear an animal more than those traitors to our country! Who're the real thieves? I wanted to help this poor lad get inside the palace and make his family live better."

After knowing the man's misfortune, the emperor felt ashamed and promised to serve his country better.

"Please go home with the candy box. Men! Help carry this heavy box to his home."

■Food for thought

There're families that can't even afford to celebrate during the Chinese New Year. Stay with your family and treasure the time you spend together.

■Glossary

festivity (n) 慶祝活動

court (n) 宮廷

alarm (v) 驚動

treasure (v) 珍惜

[Smarties' Power English 第238期]