The Adventure Under Chenghu Lake

There is a quiet village near Chenghu Lake. A boy called Joey is playing near the lake. His mother is cooking in the house，and his father is still busy working on Chenghu Lake. Joey knows that his parents are worried about the bad Immortals（水八仙，Joey父母靠種水八仙為生）. He wants to help his father fight against the Golden Apple Snail（福壽螺，吃水八仙的害蟲）. He looks down at the water and suddenly a shinning shell catches his eyes. He tries to catch the shell，but something strange happens ...

姚楊，殷嘉華，陳冰，馬經蘇揚，鮑瑤晴等

Narrator：Joey feels a magic force in the shell，pulling him.

Joey：Oh，no！Help！Help！

Narrator：At the bottom of Chenghu Lake，Joey opens his eyes.

Joey：Where am I？ Oh my God！I can’t move my legs anymore. They are not my legs！What？ I am a lotus root（蓮藕）！It’s too ridiculous！Am I dreaming？ Wake up，Joey，wake up！

Narrator：Suddenly，Some things come close to Joey.

Niels：Look！Who’s he？ Your friend？

Shirley：Have we ever met？

Joey：Ah！I know you！The fresh red caltrop（紅蒺藜），water bamboo（茭白），fox nut（芡實），cress（水芹），water chestnut（荸薺），water shield（莼菜） and arrowhead（茨菇）. Eight Immortals（水八仙）！So，I am under the lake now？ Interesting！

Niels Shirley：But who are you？

Joey：I am Joey. My dad plants you.

Shirley：Oh，you are the farmer’s boy. Now you are the lotus root. Welcome！

Narrator：Immortals clap their hands and they dance to the music happily together.

Narrator：All of a sudden，many Golden Apple Snails come.

Golden Apple Snail：Haha，come on，my boys！We are the King of Chenghu Lake！Poor little guys ... our food now ...

Immortals：Oh，no ... help ... help！

Narrator：Just then，Joey remembers his father’s words.

Dad：Joey，do you know where lotuses grow？

Joey：In water？

Dad：Lotuses grow up in the silt，but you see，they are so clean and white.

Joey：It’s an amazing plant！

Dad：Joey，this is the spirit of lotus——never submit to the bad things.

Joey：Yes，Papa！

（Joey feels full of power again. He picks himself up，turning to his friends and gathering them together to fight back.）

Joey：Come on，everybody！Go！

Niels Shirley：Go！Go！Go！

Narrator：They fight for a long time. There are still a lot of Golden Apple Snails pouring in. Joey and his friends are too tired.

Golden Apple Snail：This is my place from now on. You all get out！

Joey：Chenghu Lake is our home！We’ll never back down！

Immortals：Never back down！

Golden Apple Snail：You foolish plants！Haha?。ˋttacks Joey suddenly）

Niels：Joey，watch out！

Shirley：Joey is injured. （Hold up Joey’s arm and cries） We have to get out or we will be killed.

Narrator：All Immortals fall into silence. It is too bad.

Joey：Guys，guys. I remember Golden Apple Snails are afraid of the cold. We need some ices.

Niels：But Joey，it’s summer...

Shirley：That’s right. It is not cold and we have no ice. We should find other ways.

Joey：No ... We can do it. Let’s do it together！

Narrator：The rest of them seem to see the light suddenly. They join hands in a circle. The earth is shaking. A big creature comes out. It’s Lu Duan（甪端），the legend creature in ancient China.

Lu Duan：Hailstones. （Points to the sky）

Shirley：I can’t believe my eyes. That is Lu Duan！

Narrator：Suddenly，the sky is covered by black clouds and hailstones fall from the sky.

Golden Apple Snail：It’s impossible！I can’t bear the cold weather.

Lu Duan：Joey，you did a great job in this fighting. Our lives，our happiness are best enjoyed，best protected when we work together for one single aim. You all do well today.

Joey：Wonderful！We won！

Niels：It is hard，but we made it！

Narrator：The eight Immortals work together to win the battle. They are too tired to fall asleep.

“Joey，Joey，wake up！It’s time to go home，” Dad pats Joey gently. Joey opens eyes and seems to be scared. But soon，he realizes that he was dreaming just now. His father tells him that an expert came to their town this afternoon and taught us how to kill Golden Apple Snails. Their plants are saved now！They happily go home for supper.