One day, a couple wanted to buy a tea cup. So they went into a shop. They saw a beautiful one there. They asked, "May we see that? We've never seen such a beautiful one." As the shopkeeper handed it to them, suddenly the tea cup spoke. "You don't understand." it said. "Once I was red and looked ugly. I was rolled and struck (捶打) over and over by my master. I shouted out, 'Let me alone.' But he only smiled, 'Not yet.' Then I was put on a wheel which was moving, and suddenly I was pushed to move around and around. 'Stop!' I cried. But my master only shook his head and said, 'Not yet.' Then he put me in the oven. I was fired at a very high heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I cried and knocked at the door. But he just shook his head."
"Finally, the door opened. He put me on the table, and I began to become cool. Then I was polished. After that, my master brushed and painted me all over. How terrible the smell was! I thought I would die. 'Stop!' I cried. He only shook his head, 'Not yet.' Then suddenly he put me into the second oven. This oven was twice as hot as the first one and I couldn't breathe at all. I begged (哀求). However, my master put me on the table again. 'Not yet.' I nearly lost hope. Just then, the door opened. He took me out and put me on the table again."
"One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, 'Look at yourself.' And I did so. I was surprised and said, 'That's not me. Why am I so beautiful? 'I want you to remember,' my master said, 'without those paints, you would never be a perfect product.'"
