Way up high, past the fluffy clouds and twinkling stars, lived a special girl named Zhi Nu. She was a Sky Fairy, and her job was to weave the most beautiful, shimmery cloth for the sky – the colors of the sunrise, the sunset, and even the soft white clouds. She was very good at it, but sometimes, she looked down at the green Earth and wished she could visit.

Down on Earth, in a little village, lived a kind young man named Niu Lang. He didn't have a mom or dad, but he had a very special friend: an old, wise ox. This ox wasn't just any ox; it could talk! Niu Lang worked hard every day, taking care of his ox and farming his small field. He was a good person, but a little lonely too.

One sunny afternoon, Zhi Nu and her Sky Fairy sisters got permission to visit Earth. They found a sparkling clear river and decided to take a bath, leaving their magical fairy clothes on the riverbank.

Niu Lang’s wise old ox knew about the fairies. "Niu Lang," the ox whispered, "go to the river. You will see fairies bathing. Gently take the red fairy dress and hide it. The fairy whose dress it is will become your wife."

Niu Lang was surprised but trusted his ox. He tiptoed to the river, found the pretty red dress, and hid it carefully. Soon, the fairies finished their bath. All of them found their clothes and flew back to the sky, all except Zhi Nu! Her red dress was gone!

Niu Lang came out from his hiding spot. Zhi Nu was a bit scared at first, but Niu Lang was so gentle and kind. He explained he had her dress. Because she couldn't fly back without it, and because Niu Lang was so nice, Zhi Nu decided to stay with him.

They fell in love and got married. Niu Lang and Zhi Nu were very happy. Zhi Nu was a wonderful wife, and Niu Lang was a loving husband. Soon, they had two adorable children, a little boy and a little girl. They lived a simple, joyful life in their small cottage.

But up in the sky, the Queen Mother of Heaven, Zhi Nu’s grandmother, found out that Zhi Nu had married a human and was living on Earth. She was NOT happy. Not one bit! She sent her guards to bring Zhi Nu back to the sky immediately.

Zhi Nu was heartbroken. She didn't want to leave Niu Lang and her children. But the Queen Mother’s orders were too strong. With tears streaming down her face, Zhi Nu was taken back to the heavens.

When Niu Lang came home and found Zhi Nu gone, he was devastated. The children cried for their mother. Just then, the old ox spoke its last words. "Dear Niu Lang," it said, "when I die, use my hide. It will help you fly to the sky to find Zhi Nu." Then, the kind ox closed its eyes and passed away.

With a heavy heart, Niu Lang did as the ox said. He carefully used the oxhide, put his two children in baskets hanging from a pole on his shoulders, and whoosh! He flew up, up, up into the sky, chasing after Zhi Nu.

He could see her! Zhi Nu saw him too and reached out her hand. But just as they were about to touch, the Queen Mother appeared. She took her golden hairpin and swiped it across the sky. Instantly, a wide, sparkling river of stars appeared between Niu Lang and Zhi Nu, separating them. This river is what we now call the Milky Way.

Niu Lang and the children were on one side, and Zhi Nu was on the other. They could see each other, but they couldn't reach each other. They cried and cried, and their sadness touched the hearts of all the magpies in the world.

So, once every year, on the seventh day of the seventh moon, all the magpies fly up to the sky. They form a long, feathery bridge across the Milky Way so that Niu Lang, Zhi Nu, and their children can be together for one special day.

And that’s why, if you look up at the night sky, you can still see the bright star Vega (that’s Zhi Nu) and the star Altair (that’s Niu Lang), with the Milky Way between them. And people say that on that special seventh night of the seventh moon, if it rains, those are the tears of joy from Niu Lang and Zhi Nu finally meeting again.

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