LegendofMid-AutumnFestival

　　Oneyearinancienttimes,itissaid,thereappearedintheskytensunswhichweresoscorchingthatsmokekeptrisingfromtheearthandalltheseasdriedup.Peopleseemedjustunabletoliveonundersuchcircumstances.

　　AheronamedHouYiwasmuchworriedaboutthis,heascendedtothetopoftheKunlunmountainand,directinghissuperhumanstrengthtothefullextent,hedrewhisextradinarybowandshotdowntheninesuperfloussunsoneafteranother.

　　HouYiwasrespectedandlovedbythepeoplefortheunparalleledmeritoriousserviceherendered.LotsofpeopleofidealsandintegritycameuptohimtolearnthemartialartsoutoftheadmirationforhimwhileacunningandtreacherouspersonnamedPengMengwhoentertaineddarkschemeslurkedinthem.

　　BeforelongHouYitookawife,abeautifulandkindheartedwomannamedChangE.Besideshuntingandpassingonmartialarts,HouYiwaswithhiswifealldaylong.Peoplealladmiredtheaffectionatecoupleofaperfectmatch.

　　OnedayonhiswaytotheKunlunMountaintocallonfriendsandseekforvirtue,heranupontheempressofheavenWangmuwhowaspassingby.SoheaskedofWangmuaparcelofelixir,bytakingwhich,itwassaid,onewouldascendimmediatelytotheheavenandbecameacelestialbeing.

　　HouYi,however,hatedtopartwithhiswife.SohegavetheelixirtoChangEtotreasureforthetimebeing.ChangEwashidingtheparcelintothetreasureboxofherdressingtablewhen,unexpectedly,itwasseenbyPengMeng.

　　Threedayslater,whenHouYiledhisdisciplestogohunting,PengMengwhoharboreddarkdesignsremainedunderthefalsepretenceofillness.

　　SoonafterHouYileftwithhisdesciples,PengMeng,aswordinhishand,rushedintotheinnerchamberandforceChangEtohandovertheelixir.

　　AwarethatshewasunabletodefeatPengMeng,ChangEmadeapromptdecisionatthecriticalmoment.Sheturnedroundtoopenhertreasurebox,tookuptheelixirandswalloweditinonegulp.

　　AssoonasChangEswollowedtheelixirherbodyfleatedofftheground,dashedoutofthewindowandflewtowardstheheaven.Asshewasworriedaboutherhusband,ChangEdescendedandturnedintoacelestialbeingonthemoonwhichwasthenearestfromtheworldamongthestars.

　　WhenHouYireturnedhomeatdark,themaidservantstoldhimtearfullywhathadhappened.Shockedandangry,HouYitookouthisswordandwenttokillPengMeng,butonlytofindthatPenghadfledforalongtime.HouYiwassoindignantthathebeathisbreastandstampedhisfeet,andkeptraisingahueandcryinafitofbitterness.

　　HouYi,overcomewithgrief,waslookingupintothenightskyandcallingouthisbelovedwifebynamewhen,tohissurprise,hefoundthatthemoonwasespeciallyclearandbightandonittherewasaswayingshadowthatwasexactlylikehiswife.

　　HouYihurriedlyarrangedanincensetableinthebackgardenthatChangEloved.PuttingonthetablethesweetmeatsandfreshfruitsChangEenjoyedmost,HouYiheldinthedistanceamemorialceremonyforChangEwhowassentientallyattachedtohiminthepalaceofthemoon.

　　WhenpeopleheardofthestorythatChangEhadturnedintoacelestialbeing,theyarrangedtheincensetableinthemoonlightoneafteranotherandprayedkindheartedChangEforgoodfortuneandpeace.Fromthenonthecustomofworshingthemoonspreadamongthepeople.

　　AboutMoonCakes