Continue the story or book you've read.

Question 1 Task 3: Continue the story or book you've read, encouraging contestants to illustrate or include bilingual English phrases.

Sample Article 1:

Continue the story of the Little Match Girl

So it was on New Year's Eve that the little match girl soared up to heaven with the Almighty. From now on, she would have a complete, happy life, without any worries. But would she truly be happy all day long, completely carefree living in paradise?
Grandma led the little match girl to heaven. She met countless tiny, beautiful angels, each with a pair of pristine white wings fluttering behind them. In their hands were trumpets to welcome her. The little girl was ecstatic. As she walked, she skipped along. Perhaps it had been a long time since she truly felt like a child as she did now. The gates of heaven were wide, shining with a sparkling golden light. They opened onto a vast, beautiful land filled with countless flowers. The little girl stood in awe. Never had she seen such a colorful place. Tears streamed down her face, overwhelmed with happiness, with emotion. She stepped into heaven. Here, there were many people, all happy, friendly. Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure, very familiar, close to her. She shouted out loudly:

– Mom! Mom! Mommy!

Running to embrace her mother, they both cried uncontrollably. Today is the happiest day of her life. With both grandma and mom, she will always be protected and loved. That joy accompanied the little match girl throughout the day. She always thought, 'I have a warm and loving family, complete and full of love.' Complete? Is it really complete? She suddenly remembered her father: 'I wonder if he worries when he doesn't see me, if he suffers, and how he will live in the days to come.' Those thoughts lingered in the little match girl's mind all night. The next morning, she asked grandma to let her see God to ask if she could see her father. A sparkling ray of light shone down through the clouds. She saw the world she used to live in.

Her father stumbled out of the dilapidated house, his figure haggard from alcohol. As he walked, he muttered something, but she knew he was looking for her. 'A day has passed, and dad only remembers his daughter now,' she thought sadly. Her father wandered through the streets without finding her. Perhaps he was very angry. But still, he continued searching. He went to nearby places. Asking everyone about her. At first, he probably only looked for her to get money from selling matches, but now he's truly worried. He ran fast, sweat drenched his clothes, looking everywhere. She was deeply moved. She just wanted to run down and tell him to come up to heaven with her. Her father searched until noon. Then he passed by a church. People were talking excitedly. Her father asked someone, and they said they had just held a funeral for a little match girl who died from the cold. 'That's me,' she thought in shock. And down below, her father was also stunned. He stood still, his eyes blank. A tear rolled down. He cried out in agony:

– My God! My child!
Then he seemed unable to stand still, and he fell onto the snowy road. Suddenly, the little match girl called out in panic:
– Dad!

She cried again, but not from excitement, but from pain. She felt sorry for her father. Was it her who caused her father's pain? Was she to blame? She felt tormented, remorseful. Amidst her crying, she said to grandma:

– Grandma... can you... ask God... to bring dad... to this heaven?, please?
Grandma hugged the little girl tightly, wiped her tears, and comforted her:
– Shh... calm down, my dear...

The little girl was taken to a resting room. She needed time to calm down.
A few days later, she saw her dad sitting in a corner of the house, staring at the only picture he had of her. No more drinking, he just sat there quietly, caressing the photo. Inside the house was dark, and it felt even more gloomy and dull now. 'It's been days, and dad is still sitting like this?' – she worried. Her dad's eyes were swollen from crying too much. She felt deep sympathy for her father. Then suddenly, her dad stood up, clenched his fists. He had to beg for a job, and it was difficult before he was accepted at a candy store. He had to plead with people for days, and they took pity on him. Much later, the little match girl looked down at her father's world again. She was very surprised to see her dad doing well at the store. Suddenly, a poor child was begging on the street. Her dad rushed out and gave the child a delicious pastry he had just bought. The child smiled kindly, and so did her dad. Somewhere in heaven, the little match girl also smiled brightly.

At that moment, the little match girl was truly happy. She could be completely happy living with grandma and mom, because she believed her dad was also very happy. But there was one thing she didn't know, and that was the words she had written under the picture were what gave her dad the strength to keep living. She forgot what she had written, but her dad remembered forever: 'Dad, I love you so much, I believe you can always live well in this world'.

2. Sample story 2:

Continue the story of The Tortoise and the Hare

At the end of the race, the Hare had to admit defeat to the Tortoise. Due to underestimating the Tortoise, the Hare didn't take the race seriously, ultimately leading to failure. And the Tortoise became the fastest runner due to its perseverance and patience.

Although the outcome was clear, our Hare refused to surrender, attributing the loss to being too careless and sleepy, resulting in losing to the Tortoise. And it decided to rematch with the Tortoise another day.
With the Tortoise's agreement, on a beautiful morning at sunrise, the Hare arrived at the race location, waiting for the Tortoise. And the match unfolded as planned. Like the previous race, the Tortoise took slow, steady steps forward, while the Hare raced towards the finish line like an arrow, this time not taking the Tortoise lightly, determined to win. In the end, the Hare reached the finish line and defeated the Tortoise.

After the defeat, the Tortoise pondered a lot. If competing with the Hare on land, the Tortoise would never win, so it decided to challenge the Hare underwater. Then the competition took place at a large lake in the forest. Initially, when starting, the Hare tried to run, but under the water, it couldn't run like on land, the farther it went, the less it could run and swim. When it reached the deep water, the Hare became exhausted, swallowing water, luckily the Tortoise swam out in time, calling for the Hare to climb aboard and carried it to the shore. The Hare conceded defeat.

The Tortoise and the Hare shook hands, acknowledging that each had their own strengths, no one should look down on anyone. From then on, the Tortoise and the Hare continued to be close friends in the forest, helping each other without competing against each other anymore.
 

3. Sample story 3:

Continue the story of The Old Man and the Golden Fish

The old man and the golden fish ended the story with the old couple returning to their old pig trough.
With the increasingly unreasonable demands from his wife, from the new trough, luxurious house, noblewoman status, to becoming the king of the seas to control the golden fish... cannot be accepted with that bottomless greed, the golden fish angrily took back everything and dived into the sea.

After returning from the sea and seeing his wife sitting next to the old broken trough, the old man hesitated, unwilling to move forward and blamed himself for being too weak, unable to stop his wife's greed, leading to returning to poverty as before.
The old man quietly approached, looking at his wife's remorseful face, feeling heavy-hearted, she was blaming herself for being too greedy and becoming blinded, wishing she had stopped demanding too much. He was very worried about her getting sick if she continued like this. He knew it was his fault for spoiling her, letting her make mistakes. Looking at her now, he knew she was truly repentant, she turned to him and apologized, he knew she had returned to her true self, a kind and generous old lady. He held her hand tightly, advising her, and she promised him to start over from the beginning. It's all over, it was just a dream. Since then, the old couple lived happily together, working diligently. Starting again from the old pig trough, life gradually improved and became prosperous. When they were wealthy, the old lady no longer had greed, knew how to share and help others, and they were loved and praised by everyone, living happily ever after.

4. Sample story 4 (Standard):

Continue the story of An Dương Vương and Mị Châu- Trọng Thủy

King An Dương Vương of Âu Lạc, aided by the Golden Turtle, succeeded in building Co Loa Citadel. After three years, the Golden Tortoise returned to the sea but before departing, it instructed the king on how to make the divine crossbow to safeguard against threats. Thus, the 'Linh Quang Kim Quy thần cơ' was born, helping the king defeat the army of Triệu Đà.

Shortly after, Triệu Đà sent his son, Trọng Thủy, to propose marriage. King An Dương Vương agreed to marry his daughter to Trọng Thủy. Mị Châu, trusting her husband, inadvertently showed Trọng Thủy the divine crossbow without realizing that this action would lead to a series of tragedies. Trọng Thủy, after discovering the secret of Âu Lạc, had a new crossbow made, identical to the original, and swapped it with the divine crossbow. Under the pretext of visiting his father in the North, Trọng Thủy returned to carry out his plan.

With the divine crossbow in hand, Triệu Đà returned to invade Âu Lạc for the second time. Overconfident due to possessing the divine crossbow, An Dương Vương welcomed the challenge without realizing that the crossbow he held was fake. Âu Lạc quickly fell into the hands of Triệu Đà, prompting An Dương Vương to retreat with his daughter, Mị Châu. As they fled, Mị Châu remembered her husband's advice before parting and scattered goose feathers along the way as a mark. Trọng Thủy followed the trail of feathers and pursued the enemy.

An Dương Vương reached the coast, facing a dead-end, he had to call upon the Golden Turtle for help. The Golden Tortoise had revealed to An Dương Vương a harsh truth: the daughter he cherished so deeply, Mị Châu, was the one who had aided the enemy. In a fit of rage, An Dương Vương drew his sword and beheaded Mị Châu. As she died, her blood flowed, staining the sea crimson. Later, those drops of blood became pearls, as pure and luminous as her earnest pleas. With the assistance of the Golden Turtle, An Dương Vương used the seven-span magic crossbow to split the water and descend into the underwater palace of the deity Kim Quy.

In the distant underwater palace, witnessing everything, feeling sorry for Mị Châu's fate, Princess Tiểu Long pleaded with the Dragon King to help rescue her. The Dragon King was moved and allowed Mị Châu to stay in the Dragon Palace on the condition that she erase all memories of her life on land. Joy, sorrow, and pain no longer troubled this princess. She lived a peaceful life alongside Princess Tiểu Long and new friends, spending days playing, exploring, and swimming without worries.

Mị Châu's tranquil life gradually passed by, unaware that on the earthly realm, there was someone living in constant agony and remorse – that someone was Trọng Thủy. Every night, he would visit the well – where Mị Châu used to sit and comb her hair, reminiscing about his kind and pitiable wife. One evening, in a drunken stupor, he found the well and suddenly saw Mị Châu's silhouette reflected in the water. Trọng Thủy immediately plunged into the well. As he sank into the cold water, he sobered up, realizing it was all an illusion, but he didn't struggle, resigned to his fate, letting himself sink deeper into the well. Life or death no longer mattered to him without Mị Châu. His initial proposal to Mị Châu was merely a theatrical facade concealing a larger plot. In this political game, both Trọng Thủy and Mị Châu were unwitting pawns, gradually falling in love. The cold water only intensified his longing for her. In Trọng Thủy's mind, there were only images of Mị Châu, and he wished that if he were to die, in some other world, he could meet his kind wife again. Long Vương heard Trọng Thủy's wish, moved by a beautiful yet painful love, Long Vương once again decided to save this infatuated young man. Long Vương saved Trọng Thủy, but allowed him to live with a different fate – as a guard in the underwater palace.

Fate brought these two individuals together once again. During a stroll with Princess Tiểu Long, Mị Châu and Trọng Thủy met. But at that moment, only Trọng Thủy remembered her. Trọng Thủy was overjoyed to see Mị Châu, rushing forward to grasp the familiar, gentle hands that he had once known so well. He was eager, trembling, as if afraid that if he didn't hurry, those hands, that girl would disappear once again.

-Here you are, indeed you are, I have truly found you, at last, my prayers have been answered...

Surprised, Mị Châu wondered, “This guard is so strange, do I know him?” she silently pondered. Seeing the bewildered expression of the girl he longed for day and night, Trọng Thủy felt indescribable sadness. Princess Tiểu Long, witnessing everything, sympathized with the young man's heartache. She gently pulled him aside and recounted everything for him to hear.

Knowing the truth and seeing Mị Châu living so well only intensified Trọng Thủy's anguish and remorse. “Perhaps Mị Châu deserves to live such a life, and yet because of me, because of my boundless greed, I caused her pain and lost my own happiness,” he thought. Sensing Trọng Thủy's heavy heart, Princess Tiểu Long consoled him:

-Do not sorrow anymore, it's never too late if we acknowledge our mistakes and desire to make amends. Use your love and sincerity to move her. I believe you can do it.

From then on, every day Trọng Thủy followed Mị Châu, finding ways to care for her, attract her attention. Gradually, Mị Châu also felt the sincerity of that young man, agreeing to accept his affection. Together, they nurtured a beautiful love story.

Despite seeming to have found happiness, Trọng Thủy still felt a shadow in his heart. The more joy he experienced with Mị Châu, the more he suffered, tormented by inner turmoil. Finally, one day, he decided to reveal the truth. He recounted their story, awakening in Mị Châu memories of their earthly existence that Long Vương had erased. Remembering the painful truth left her stunned, pushing back tears, she ran away. Trọng Thủy hurried after her, grasping her hands tightly, pulling her close and saying:

-I'm sorry, truly sorry, for me, it's all because of me, but please don't think I don't love you. Perhaps it was all arranged from the beginning, but through our days together, I believe I cannot deny a truth: I have loved you deeply from the start. I suffer greatly, torn between love and duty, both crucial. As a prince, I cannot forsake my homeland, my people. Deceiving you has tormented me endlessly. I've come here only hoping to make amends, believing I can do right by you, but I fear I may deceive you once more, hence I speak hoping you understand.

Trọng Thủy's words, full of pain, touched Mị Châu's heart, once again stirring her emotions:

-I no longer blame you, as a nobleman serving the country and the people, that is something I understand. I only hope that as you said, we can both strive to make amends for each other, to start a new life together.

Both embraced tightly, tears streaming down their faces. They pleaded with Long Vương to allow them to meet An Dương Vương - now serving as a divine messenger in the Water Palace - to seek forgiveness. Long Vương agreed.

-Father, we have been disobedient and made many mistakes, wronging you and the people. We seek your forgiveness and wish to repent. After enduring many hardships, we have finally found each other again. We humbly ask for your forgiveness and blessings - Trọng Thủy spoke sincerely.

-All is forgiven, my children. You may now live well. I am also delighted - An Dương Vương held the hands of his beloved children affectionately.

They received forgiveness and love from everyone. Day by day, their peaceful life in the underwater palace continued. They remained together forevermore.

Other Questions in the 3 Cultural Ambassador Reading Competitions

=>Question 1, Option 2: Compose a work (story or poem) to inspire people to read more
=>Question 1, Option 1: Share about a book you love or a book that has changed your perception or life
=>Question 2 If chosen as a Cultural Reading Ambassador, what plans and measures will you have to encourage others to read more?