The Donkey Cart

S.T. Hwang
The Donkey Cart

At twenty-five, I was a teacher in a small town in

Northwest China. The town was sparsely populated, and
being so remote, lacked modern means of transportation.

A traveler had to take a donkey cart to the nearest

railroad. I found that all the carts had left. I began to
despair.
The Donkey Cart

A boy noticed me and invited me to have a dinner at

his diner. I agreed and take my baggage aside.

I sat there quietly, looking at may watch occasionally,

hoping to see a cart through the open door.
The Donkey Cart

Question
Who is the first character revealed in the
story?
The first character revealed in the story is a
25-year-old teacher.
The Donkey Cart

At last! I saw a cart outside and I hurried to the door,

when I was about to hail the driver I realized who he was.
I returned regretfully to my seat.

The driver was Lin Ng, an old man with a most

unsavory reputation. Among the drivers, he cn;t be
trusted.
The Donkey Cart

Question
Why do you think Lin Ng can’t be
trusted?

Lin Ng can’t be trusted because of the

following…
 The Donkey Cart

Lin Ng’s Reputation

He was a member of a gang.

He was accused to kill and rob a

passenger.
The Donkey Cart

Question
If you were the teacher, are you going to
ride with Lin Ng?
The Donkey Cart

I have no choice but to take the ride with Lin Ng

because I have to catch the train tonight. I paid my bill at
the diner and went outside with my baggage which Lin
Ng lifted into the cart.
As I climbed he said, “We are ready to go now, sir. You
can take a nap if you want to.”
“I don’t want to,” I answered him.
The Donkey Cart

As we go on with our journey, he told me the stories

behind all the rumors about him.
He told me that he was just accused to be a member of
a gang before be he really is not.

“Everyone has two lips,” Lin Ng said.

The Donkey Cart

Question
What is the meaning of the phrase –
“Everyone has two lips”?
The Donkey Cart

Lin Ng told me about the truth behind the rumor

about him killing the merchant.

“It was a night such as this and on this same road when
I was taking a leather dealer to the station. He was as
friendly as you. While we are on the road, we met an
empty cart going slows in the same direction. The driver
was Ngau Lo Tsun.”
The Donkey Cart

“I asked him if he would like to take my passenger the

rest of the way for I was so tired and wanted to be home
early. He told me that he had lost his whip and that his
lamp had run out of oil.”

“I loaned him my whip and filled his lamp. My

passenger gave me the half fee and I took leave of them,
glad that I could go home.”
The Donkey Cart

“Then the next day it was reported that the leather

dealer had been found dead. The people knew that I was
the last person with him, so I was the first suspect. I was
arrested, but since there is no proof I was eventually
released.”
The Donkey Cart

Question
What do you think really happen to the
leather dealer if Lin Ng is not the reason
of his death?
The Donkey Cart

Lin Ng added, “I went to see Lo Tsun, who had told me

that his car had been ambushed by three robbers who
demanded money from the merchant. When he refused to
give the money, they clubbed him to death and chase Lo
Tsun away.”
The Donkey Cart

I believed him and felt sorry for him. We are almost

over to our journey. He asked me a favor to write to my
friends a letter about the truth so that he can have more
long distance journeys.”
The Donkey Cart

Have you understood

the story?
The Donkey Cart

Who are the two main

characters of the story?
Who are the two main characters of the
story?

The two main characters

are the teacher and Lin Ng.
The Donkey Cart

Why is Lin Ng not

trusted by the other
peole?
Why is Lin Ng not trusted by the other people?

Lin Ng is not trusted

because he have a bad
reputation.
The Donkey Cart

What is the truth behind

the rumors about Lin
Ng?
What have you
learned from the
story of The
Donkey Cart?
Assignment:
Answer the following.

 WORD VIEW – p. 65
 COMPREHENSION CHECK – p. 66-67
A. Character Web
B. Point of View
CHARACTER WEB

GOAL GOAL
ATTEMP ATTEMP
T TO T TO
PROBLE SOLVE PROBLE SOLVE
M
LIN NG THE M
TEACHE THE
PROBLE R PROBLE
M M

OUTCOME OUTCOME
POINT OF VIEW:
Base your answer on the lecture on p. 67.

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