An emperor in the east was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor. Instead of choosing
one of his children, he decided something diff erent. He called young people in the kingdom together one day and
said; “It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you”.
Th e kids were shocked! But he continued. “I am going to give each one of you a seed today, one very special seed.
I want you to plant and water it and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from this one
seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next emperor”.
One boy named Ling was also there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and told his
mother the whole story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil, and he planted the seed and watered it carefully.
Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. Aft er some three weeks some other kids began to
talk about their plants that were beginning to grow. Four, fi ve, six weeks passed, but nothing ever grew for Ling.
By now others were talking about their plants. Ling had nothing and he felt like a failure. Aft er another three weeks the
others were talking about the tall plants and the trees they had. Ling said nothing. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow.
A year fi nally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection. Ling
told his mother he wouldn’t go to the palace, but she insisted and said he had to be honest about what had happened.
Th us, Ling took his empty pot to the palace. He was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths.
Th ey were beautiful, in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the fl oor. A few felt sorry for him, some others
burst into laughing.
When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the
back. “Oh, what great plants, trees and fl owers you have grown,” said the emperor. Today one of you will be appointed
the next emperor!”
All of a sudden the emperor spotted Ling and ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrifi ed.
“Th e emperor knows I am a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!”
But the emperor looked at Ling, asked his name and then announced to the crowd. “Behold your new emperor!
His name is Ling!” Ling couldn’t believe it. Ling couldn’t even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor?
part II. Th e emperor then explained. “One year ago I gave everyone here a seed. But I gave you all a boiled seed
Resumat va rog!!!