Coming to the StarCraft to Be a Kindergarten Teacher: Perfect Transformation

As I dragged my heavy, exhausted body, as if all my strength had been drained away, I slowly and arduously entered the hotel room. An indescribable weariness instantly overwhelmed me. But at this moment, my mind involuntarily played, like a movie, and the warm scene of having dinner with my lovely children not long ago emerged clearly.

Those images are so vivid, as if they happened just now. The children's innocent, blossoming smiles seem to flash before my eyes, dazzling and impossible to ignore. Each smile is so pure and warm, deeply etched in my heart.

At this thought, a warmth like the warm spring sun suddenly surged through my heart. Gentle yet powerful, it spread like a tidal wave, enveloping me from head to toe, inside and out, tightly and airtight. This feeling filled me with immense happiness and contentment, as if all fatigue and stress had vanished in that moment.

Today, because I have to attend an important summer camp activity, I have no choice but to interrupt the children's evening study tonight. However, the good news is that this has not affected our interest and enthusiasm in spending this wonderful time together.

After dinner, everyone naturally gathered in a close circle. Like a seasoned storyteller, I vividly and joyfully recounted the enduring and captivating Mid-Autumn Festival legend. As the story unfolded, the children listened with rapt attention. Their eyes, already brimming with curiosity and anticipation, widened even further, unblinking, afraid to miss a single detail.

Seeing the children so engrossed, I became even more immersed in the event, and my emotions grew even more intense. I wanted to share all the wonderful stories I knew about the Mid-Autumn Festival with these lovely little angels without reservation, so that they could fully experience the profoundness and infinite charm of traditional Chinese culture.

Then, smiling, I patiently explained to the children the long history of mooncakes, starting with the mysterious and solemn custom of worshiping the moon god in ancient times.

Since ancient times, people have practiced a series of traditional activities related to the Moon Goddess, the most important of which are offering sacrifices to the Moon, appreciating the Moon, and worshipping the Moon. According to the ancient text "The Book of Rites," "Autumn evening moon" refers to devout worship of the Moon Goddess. Whenever this season arrives, people meticulously prepare ceremonies to welcome the cold and worship the Moon, solemnly setting up incense tables overflowing with fragrance.

During the Zhou Dynasty, every Mid-Autumn Festival night was marked by a grand ceremony to welcome the cold and worship the moon. A grand incense table was set up, upon which a dazzling array of exquisite offerings were placed, including mooncakes, watermelons, apples, red dates, plums, and grapes. Among these numerous offerings, mooncakes and watermelons undoubtedly held a crucial position, neither of which could be omitted. Furthermore, the watermelons were skillfully cut into the shape of a blooming lotus, symbolizing auspiciousness and beauty.

Under the watery moonlight, people carefully place the statue of the Moon God facing the moon and then light tall red candles. Then, the entire family, following the order of seniority, respectfully pays homage to the moon. After the worship is complete, it's the turn of the head of the household to cut the mooncake, a symbol of reunion. Before beginning, the head of the household must accurately calculate the total number of family members, including those at home and those far away. Furthermore, when cutting the mooncake, each piece must be the same size, neither over-cutting nor missing.

Across the vast and diverse land of China, the cultures of its numerous ethnic minorities shimmer like a dazzling galaxy. Among these, the unique custom of moon worship is widely practiced across all ethnic groups. While each ethnic group has its own distinct celebrations, they all share a deep reverence and respect for the Moon Goddess.

Back in the Tang Dynasty, the custom of moon-viewing during the Mid-Autumn Festival was already widespread and deeply loved. Many talented poets of the time incorporated the beauty of the bright moon into their verses, resulting in numerous famous and celebrated poems. For example, Li Bai's "I raise my cup to invite the bright moon, and my shadow and I become three," and Zhang Jiuling's "The bright moon rises from the sea, and we share this moment across the world," all demonstrate the people's passion for moon-viewing during the Mid-Autumn Festival and their endless admiration for it.

By the Song Dynasty, the custom of moon-gazing during the Mid-Autumn Festival had become increasingly popular. Every Mid-Autumn Festival, wealthy families meticulously decorated their houses and pavilions, while ordinary people rushed to restaurants to enjoy the bright moon. This bustling scene became a unique feature of the Mid-Autumn Festival of that era.

By the Ming and Qing dynasties, moon worship and appreciation activities, whether at court or among the people, had become not only more grandiose and spectacular, but also increasingly diverse. Across China's vast land, numerous historical sites such as "Moon Worship Altars," "Moon Worship Pavilions," and "Moon Viewing Towers" still remain, bearing witness to the devout worship and affectionate admiration of the moon in the past.

Meanwhile, the educated and talented scholar-officials possessed a special fondness for moon-viewing. As night fell and the lights came on, they eagerly savored this wondrous moment. Some would ascend towering pavilions, leaning on the railings and gazing far into the distance. From there, they could take in the full, snow-white moon, almost as if they could reach out and touch its silvery glow. The moonlight poured down gently like water, caressing their faces with a breathtaking, soothing feeling.

Others prefer a more leisurely approach—sailing in a small boat, gently drifting across the shimmering lake. The water reflects the moon in the sky, and the gentle breeze creates ripples that make the moon's shadow sway gracefully. They invite the moon to accompany them, swimming together in this tranquil and beautiful water, feeling the gift of nature and the poetic atmosphere.

Under such a beautiful scene, everyone gathered together, enjoying a hearty drink. The wine in their hands exuded an alluring aroma, intoxicating everyone. As they savored the delicious food and wine, they enthusiastically composed poetry, competing with each other and striving to create the most exquisite verses to praise the moonlight before them. On this night filled with talent and passion, countless popular works were created.

These poems, like dazzling pearls, still shine brightly despite the test of time and centuries. They have not only become treasures in the treasury of Chinese culture, but have also been passed down through generations, praised and praised by word of mouth. For example, Du Fu's "The Moon on the 15th Night of August" uses the full moon, a symbol of reunion, as a metaphor to profoundly express his loneliness and melancholy while adrift in a foreign land. Meanwhile, Su Shi, a giant of Song Dynasty literature, drank heartily until dawn on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, composing his timeless "Water Melody" while intoxicated. He skillfully used the moon's waxing and waning phases to metaphorically depict the joys and sorrows of life, creating a poem that is both heartfelt and moving, leaving a lasting impression.