In a little village, there was an orphan named Ma liang. He was a good hard worker. With a-penny-a-day wages, he could barely support himself.

One day, he was too tired to continue working and went home a little earlier than usual. When he passed by the window of his landlord, he saw an artist doing drawing for his landlord. "What a beautiful scene!" he amazed. Admiring that artist's elegent manner with his brush dancing on the theatrical ricepaper, Ma Liang wanted so much to have a brush that he can draw with.

A couple of days after, Ma Liang asked his landlord, "May I have a brush?"

"You? Have a brush?" replied the landlord. "A beggar wants to draw! Are you kidding?" Some other workers nearby also burst into laughter to mock his request.

Ma Liang was extremely upset for this, so he make up his mind to learn drawing by himself. He sweared he would only draw for the poor in the future.

From then on, Ma Liang practiced drawing everyday. He drew whatever came into his sight with everything whatever is in his hand, except for a brush and any kinds of paper. Soon, branches became his expressive tools and sand ground was his unlimited canvas.

One day he practiced his drawing as usual, even though the daily hard work drained a lot of his energy. He was too tired to practice much, so he went to bed. Not long after he closed his eyes, he saw an old man right in front of him. He was too stunned to say a word!!

"You want a brush, don't you?" the old man asked.

"Yes, I do. I want it so badly," granted Ma Liang.

For your artistic excellence and good will for helping the poor, I will give a brush, But remember that you promised to draw only for the poor." With these words still echoing in the air, the old man disappeared. All of a sudden, Ma Liang awoke and realized it was only a dream. ...Was it?

Right in front of his eyes, there lays a brush on his wobbling table. He was too happy to wonder where did it come from, and then used the brush to draw a cock on the wall. No sooner had he finished the drawing than the cock stepped out of the wall and came to life..... (to be continued)

( Based on an old Chinese folktale )

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