Moon frost snow

He Yue instructed, "Just keep it to yourself. Don't tell anyone else. If anyone asks you, just say you're my sister's friend or patient. You came to my house so I can get you treated."

Xiao Zhuang nodded and said, "Okay, don't worry, sister. I will never say anything nonsense."

He Youren, Li Guihua and He Dazhuang came back from working in the fields and heard on the way that there were guests coming to their house.

They all hurried back home, still guessing who had come. As soon as the three of them arrived at the door, they met Guo Yulan and Lu He who had returned from behind the house.

They all looked at each other, and Li Guihua asked, "Girls, who are you? Why are you in our house?"

Xiao Zhuang heard the voice and hurried out, "Dad and Mom, these two sisters are my friends. I brought them back."

Guo Yulan bowed politely and said, "Hello, uncle and aunt. My name is Guo Yulan. I am Yue'er's friend and patient. This is my maid Lu He."

Lu He also bowed, "Master, Hello, Madam."

He Youren and Li Guihua waved their hands hurriedly. "No need to be polite. We country folks aren't as formal as you city folks. We don't have so many formalities. Since you're Xiaoyue's friend, don't be offended. As long as you don't mind, come in!"

Guo Yulan bowed and said, "Uncle and aunt, please go first."

This made several people feel uncomfortable. He Yue walked to the door and smiled, "Dad and Mom, just treat her like me. If you are so restrained, then Xiaolan and Luhe will be even more restrained."

He Youren and Li Guihua entered the house first. He Yue introduced him to Guo Yulan, "This is my eldest brother. You can call him Big Brother or Dazhuang Brother. Don't be so polite. Be more relaxed and follow the local customs. Especially Lu He, don't call him Young Master or Master. Just call him Uncle and Auntie like your daughter does. Got it?"

Lu He looked at Guo Yulan, and Guo Yulan nodded, "Since you are at Yue'er's house, you must listen to Sister Yue'er."

Lu He nodded, "I understand."

Guo Yulan looked at Dazhuang and just called out "Brother Dazhuang."

Dazhuang smiled and said, "Well, come inside and sit down!"

He Youren and the other three washed their hands. Xiao Zhuang poured each of them a cup of herbal tea. Xiao Zhuang said to Guo Yulan and Lu He, "Two sisters, try it quickly. This is the herbal tea my sister made herself. It's the best to drink on this day."

Xiao Zhuang watched Guo Yulan drink it before asking, "How is it? Is it delicious?"

Guo Yulan nodded. "Well, no wonder it's called herbal tea. It's so refreshing and sweet when you drink it."

Xiao Zhuang was very happy. Li Guihua and the others were chatting casually with Guo Yulan. Soon He Yue prepared the meal.

Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang both helped to serve the dishes, some served the rice, and some held the chopsticks.

Fortunately, the table at home is a long table, so it can accommodate seven or eight people.

After having dinner together, it started to get dark. He Yue took Guo Yulan and Lu He to sit outside to watch the stars and chat.

Xiao Zhuang followed along happily. Li Guihua and He Youren were cleaning up the dishes, and Da Zhuang also helped.

There were outsiders present, and they were girls, so Dazhuang, a young man of seventeen or eighteen, felt embarrassed to get too close to them.

I was afraid that it would bring bad reputation to the girl, especially since she was the daughter of the county magistrate.

Guo Yulan looked up at the sky and said, "Wow, there are so many stars tonight! Look at the moon, it's so big and bright!"

He Yue looked at the location of Guo Yulan's finger and said, "That is Sirius. It is very close to the earth so it is the brightest one we see."

Guo Yulan was curious. "Do stars have names? It's called Sirius! It sounds impressive. Do all these stars have names?"

He Yue raised her hand, pointed at a bright star, and said, "That bright one is the North Star. The seven stars over there that look like a spoon are called the Big Dipper. Both of these stars can guide us. Look at those many densely packed stars that look like a river. Look carefully, there are two symmetrical stars on each side of them. Those are the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. They have a story to tell."

Xiao Zhuang asked excitedly, "What's the story? Sister, tell us quickly. We want to listen."

Guo Yulan also looked at He Yue with burning eyes. "I haven't heard the story of Xingxing yet. Tell me about it quickly."

He Yue smiled and said, "Okay, I'll tell you the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl."

"Legend has it that the Weaver Girl and the fairies from heaven came down to earth to play. Cowherd, with the help of an old cow, met the Weaver Girl. They fell in love with each other, and later the Weaver Girl secretly came down to earth and became the Cowherd's wife."

"The Weaver Girl also distributed the silkworms she brought from heaven to everyone and taught them how to raise them, spin silk, and weave shiny, bright silk."

"After the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl got married, they worked as farmers and weaver girls, and their love was deep. They had two children, a boy and a girl, and lived a happy life. But their good times didn't last long. The Emperor of Heaven soon learned of their affair, and the Queen Mother herself descended to earth and forcibly took the Weaver Girl back to heaven, separating the loving couple."

"The Cowherd had no way to reach heaven, so the old cow told him that after its death, he could make shoes out of its hide, which he could then wear to ascend to heaven. The Cowherd did as the old cow said, put on the shoes, and, with his children in tow, rode on a cloud to chase the Weaver Girl. Just as they were about to catch her, the Queen Mother of the West pulled out her golden hairpin and waved it. A turbulent Milky Way appeared, separating the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, who could only weep at each other."

Their loyal love moved magpies, and millions of them flew over and built a magpie bridge for the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl to meet on. The Queen Mother was helpless and had to allow the two to meet on the magpie bridge every July 7th.

"Later, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl met on the Magpie Bridge, the girls would gather under the moon and flowers, look up at the starry sky, searching for the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl on either side of the Milky Way, hoping to witness their annual meeting. They would pray to the heavens for their dexterity and wisdom, like the Weaver Girl, and for a happy and fulfilling marriage. Thus, the Qixi Festival was born."

He Yue gave a brief account, and the three of them listened with great interest.

Guo Yulan sighed, "They are so happy. Although they can only see each other once a year, they both love each other. It's just that the Queen Mother is so unkind. Why did she separate the lovers?"

Lu He and Xiao Zhuang also looked at He Yue eagerly, waiting for He Yue's explanation.

He Yue said, "It's just a story. Just listen to it casually and don't take it too seriously. If I must say something, I think the Queen Mother is too kind."

The three of them looked at He Yue in surprise, and asked in unison, "Ah! Why?"

He Yue said, "Then let me ask you first, do you know what you need to give up to become an immortal?"

Xiao Zhuang and Lu He shook their heads. Guo Yulan thought for a moment and said, "I once read a book that said that everything that is not conducive to cultivation should be abandoned. This includes many worldly things and human nature. For example, hatred, resentment, emotions, love, desire, etc."