Hong Kong Mice

## Stats

**Hong Kong Mice** is the 44th episode of the series *The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Adventures* that aired on October 19, 1999. The setting in this episode is Hong Kong.

## Summary

Emily and Alexander arrive in Hong Kong, and they have traveled in a chicken cage, which Alexander chooses to not do again. Emily mentions that they have traveled in many boats and trains just to get to Hong Kong in time to see their cousin Jaow-Yong win the annual dragon boat race festival. The mice then try to look for a good spot to find Jaow-Yong, but it is rather a danger zone, as they dodge being stepped on, firecrackers, and a wild dog who gives chase. And then there's also a crow who tries to get them, but the dog and the crow bump into each other. Luckily, they are saved by Yin, who knows Emily and Alexander because he is friends with Jaow-Yong. Yin, who is at a dumpling stand, says that his father will be the boat captain, and if he wins, he wins prize money to build a school in a village. Suddenly, a man named Wan-Fu comes up and wants Yin to tell his father that he'll lose, but his dad appears himself and tells him otherwise.

Jaow-Yong, along with Emily and Alexander, go to the river. Jaow-Yong says it is his dream to win the mouse dragon boat race. A banging noise is heard and Alexander believes a storm is heading the way, but Jaow-Yong says it is a rat dragon boat having a run. Rats are in a boat pounding drums and chanting. Jaow-Yong mentions that while he had lost in past years, he has a secret weapon to win this year's race, which he won't say yet. Alexander expects something scary, and he bumps into a big Pekingese dog statue, which is where the mice keep their boats until race day. Jaow-Yong explains that the dragon boat races began 2,000 years ago when a boy that was loved fell into a river, and many had used dragon boats to rescue him but he was never seen again, so the boat races are done to honor his memory. Then he says that Emily and Alexander are the secret weapons that he needs for the race, much to their surprise as they never raced a dragon boat before.

They are then put on board Jaow-Yong's boat, now members of the mouse dragon boat team. After Jaow-Yong gives rice to the "river spirits" in the water, they begin to paddle. At the same time, for being a good student and boat learner, Yin is given a lucky charm heart necklace by his father, which he goes to show his friends. Meanwhile back at the mice, Alexander is then asked to throw the rope to the shore, but he does it a bit early while thinking about a drink due to being thirsty, and a fish bites it, causing brief panic until they stop. They apologize to the fish, and it takes their apology rather kindly. When a black crow flies to them, about to grab the rodents with its claws and flying around, the fish comes to their rescue by squirting water at it. It now flies out of control and the fish jumps at the right moment the crow comes to it, making it hit a rock. For thanks, Jaow-Yong gives it some rice, but unfortunately for the boat, it is damaged.

The boat can be fixed, but Jaow-Yong says it needs wax. Luckily he knows where they can get some, and that night takes them to the Chinese Temple, a beautiful place that provides good enough candle wax. Alexander sees the Pekingese dog and laughs at the "statue" for being even uglier than the one they saw before, but unfortunately for him, it is the actual one that chased them previously. As one may think, it chases them again, until Alexander decides he has enough and gives it a hit, causing it to run away. Emily and Alexander then get frightened by a dragon silhouette, but it turns out to be Jaow-Yong with a dragon head. Yin then finds them in the palace and shows the mice his lucky charm, and then the bigger dragon head that is put on Yin's boat the next day. Although, before they can race, the dragon boat has to be "brought to life", opening the dragon's eyes and putting paper money in the mouth, to keep away evil spirits. Speaking of "evil spirits", the mice spot Wan-Fu, who can't do much harm because of people in the way. Yin walks off to sell more dumplings, when suddenly Wan-Fu's bird tries to take his dumplings, and everyone laughs at him. Emily notes that Wan-Fu's type of bird doesn't eat dumplings, and just like she suspected, Wan-Fu is up to no good. He carves a hole in Yin's boat.

The mice have to get the piece carved out of the water, which is nothing hard at all. That is, until the bird chases after them, or rather, the piece of wood. After a scene of running around, Alexander tricks the bird into bumping into the Pekingese statue by the water, and it happens to fall on the bird scaring it away. Unfortunately it is too late to get back to Yin's boat, because the dragon boat race starts. Right off the bat Yin's father sees that the faster they row, the slower they move, and sure enough Yin sees the water pouring in. Alexander and Emily, and Jaow-Yong get in his boat and try to catch up, but they aren't as successful. However, Emily has an idea and gets the fish to come up, and it speeds them to Yin's boat. Yin is given the carved piece, which Yin says to his father came in the "dragon's mouth", and he plugs it back in the hole, and more or less they are saved. The mice hurry along for the mouse dragon boat race which also begins. Both Jaow-Yong and Yin win their respective races, and Yin gets his prize money. Wan-Fu demands his bird to steal the bag containing it, which it does but it drops it in the water. Wan-Fu is angered, but Yin is sad. Emily saves the day, however, and uses rice to summon the fish once again, who gets the bag and it is saved. The Hong Kong mice, which Emily and Alexander now dub themselves, all have a cheer. Back at their home, Emily fondly remembers their Hong Kong adventure.