ONE DAY 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. (It was different then, and
only a boy could rule the land.)

One thing about the King is he loved to grow plants. So he

announced that any boy who wanted to be king would have
to come to the palace and get a royal seed. In six months, the
boy who grew the best plant would be the one to win the
contest. He would be the next to sit on the throne.
Every boy in China was wild with joy! Each one was sure HE
would be the winner! Boys all over started to walk with
pride, as if they were the winner. Mothers and fathers were
excited, too. It sure would be grand to live at the palace!

One boy, named Jun, was quiet. He knew he was good at

growing things. Everyone in his village would fight over who
was to get his melons, snow peas, his baby corn. All summer
long, Jun was working hard at pulling weeds, or moving
plants from here to there so they could grow better.
On the big day when the royal seeds were to be given out,
huge crowds of boys came to the palace. Jun was one of
those boys. Each boy took home his royal seed, held tight in
his hand.