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Story 3: Cowherd and Weaver Girl

Cowherd and Weaver Girl

Author: Anonymous

The Cowherd only had an old cow and a plow. He went to the fields to plow at dawn every day. After returning home, he had to cook and wash his own food. His life was very hard. Unexpectedly, one day, a miracle happened!

The Cowherd came home from his work. As soon as he entered the house, he saw that the house had been cleaned, the clothes had been washed freshly, and there were hot and fragrant meals on the table.

The Cowherd’s eyes widened in surprise, thinking: What is going on? Have gods descended to earth? No matter, let’s eat first.

After that, it happened every day for several days. The Cowherd lost his temper and wanted to get to the bottom of everything. On this day, the Cowherd went out early in the morning as usual. In fact, after walking a few steps, he turned around and came back. Instead of entering the house, he found a hidden place to hide and observe secretly. Sure enough, not long after, a beautiful girl came.

As soon as she entered the door, she was busy cleaning the house and cooking, not to mention how hard-working she was! The Cowherd couldn’t bear it any longer, so he stood up and said, “Girl, why are you here to help me with the housework?” The girl was startled, blushed, and whispered, “My name is Weaver Girl. I want to see how you live.”

It’s hard, so I’ll help you.” The Cowherd was very excited when he heard this, and hurriedly continued: “Then you can stay, we share the joys and sorrows, and build a happy life with our hands together!” The Weaver Girl blushed and nodded, and they were like this They got married, the man farmed and the woman weaved, and they lived a happy life.

A few years later, they gave birth to two children, a boy and a girl, and the family was very happy. One day, suddenly the sky was covered with dark clouds, strong winds, thunder and lightning. The Weaver Girl disappeared, the two children kept crying, and the Cowherd was so anxious that he didn’t know what to do. Just when she was anxious, the dark clouds suddenly dispersed, and the weather became sunny and sunny again.

Zhinu also returned home, but her face was full of sorrow. I saw her gently pulling the Cowherd, and taking the two children into her arms, and said: “Actually, I am not a mortal, but the granddaughter of the Queen Mother. Now, people from the Heavenly Palace are going to take me back. You guys have a lot of things to do.” Take care!” After saying that, tears fell like rain and flew away.

The Cowherd held his two young children in his arms, standing motionless for a long time without tears. No, I can’t let my wife leave me like this, I can’t let my children lose their mother like this, I want to find her, I must get the Weaver Girl back! At this time, the old cow suddenly spoke: “Don’t be sad! Kill me, put on my skin, and weave two baskets to hold the two children, and then you can go to the Heavenly Palace to find the Weaver Girl.”

Cowherd No matter what, he didn’t want to treat this partner who had been with him for decades, but he couldn’t resist it and had no other choice, so he had to endure the pain and do as he said with tears in his eyes.

When they arrived at the Heavenly Palace, the Queen Mother did not want to recognize the Cowherd as her grandson-in-law in the human world, and did not let the Weaver Girl come out to see him. Instead, she found seven women with their faces covered, all the same height, short, fat, and thin, and said to the Cowherd: “Recognize it, recognize it.” That’s right, I’ll let you meet.” The Cowherd was dumbfounded when he saw it, but the two children in his arms ran happily to their mother.

It turns out that nothing can stop the blood relationship between mother and child!

The Queen Mother had no other choice, but she was still unwilling to let Weaver Girl return to the world, so she ordered Weaver Girl to be taken away. The Cowherd was anxious and took the two children to catch up. They ran and ran, refusing to stop even when they were tired. They fell down and got up again, and they were almost catching up.

The Queen Mother in desperation pulled out the golden hairpin on her head and drew a wide line between them of the Milky Way.

From then on, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl could only stand at opposite ends of the Milky Way, looking at each other from a distance. Every year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, thousands of magpies fly in and build a long magpie bridge across the Milky Way, allowing the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl to reunite again.

Source: China Folktales