Foreword:
Mid-AutumnFestivalisoneofthemostimportanttraditionalholidaysinChina,celebratedonthe15thdayoftheeighthlunarmonth.It'satimewhenfamiliesgettogethertoenjoymooncakes,pomelos,andadmirethebrightfullmoon.Inthisstory,wewillfollowtheperspectiveofayounggirlwhoexperiencesthefestivalinauniqueway.
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LiMingwasayounggirlwholivedwithhergrandparentsinasmalltowninChina.Shelovedtoreadbooksandwritepoemsaboutnature,andshedreamedofonedaybecomingafamouswriter.Oneevening,asshewassittingbyherwindow,shelookedupattheskyandsawthemoonshiningbrightandfull.
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Themoon'sglowwassointensethatLiMingfeltasthoughitwasshiningdirectlyintoherheart.Sheclosedhereyesandimaginedthemoonasagiantpearl,asymbolofpurityandwisdom.Suddenly,shefeltinspiredtowriteapoemaboutthemoonanditsbeauty.
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LiMingpickedupherpenandbegantowrite.Shewroteabouthowthemoon'slightilluminatedherroomandcastshadowsonherwalls.Shewroteabouthowthemoon'ssoftglowmadeherfeelpeacefulandcalm.Shewroteabouthowthemoon'sreflectioninanearbypondmadeitlooklikeasilvercoin.
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Asshewrote,LiMingheardhergrandparentscallinghername.TheywerepreparingfortheMid-AutumnFestivalcelebrationandwantedhertohelpthemsetupthetable.LiMingquicklyfinishedherpoemandwenttojoinherfamily.
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TheMid-AutumnFestivalwasalwaysaspecialtimeforLiMing'sfamily.Theywoulddecoratetheirhousewithlanternsandflowers,andlightcandlestohonortheirancestors.Theywouldalsoeatdeliciousmooncakes,atraditionalpastryfilledwithsweetlotuspaste.
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LiMing'sgrandparentshadpreparedabigfeast,whichincludeddumplings,roastedpork,andvegetables.Theyhadalsobrewedapotoffragranttea,whichtheypouredintotinycupsforeveryonetoenjoy.LiMingcouldn'twaittotrythemooncakes,whichwereherfavoritepartofthecelebration.
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Afterdinner,LiMing'sfamilywentoutsidetoadmirethemoon.Theysatonabenchinthegardenandgazedupatthesky.Themoonwassobrightthatitcastasilverglowontheirfaces.LiMingfeltasthoughthemoonwaswatchingoverthem,protectingthemfromharm.
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Astheysatthere,LiMing'sgrandmotherbegantotellherthestoryofChang'e,thegoddessofthemoon.Accordingtolegend,Chang'ewasonceabeautifulwomanwhodrankapotionthatmadeherimmortal.Sheflewtothemoonandlivedtherewithajaderabbitashercompanion.
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LiMingwasfascinatedbythestoryandaskedhergrandmothermorequestions.HergrandmothertoldherthatmanypeopleinChinabelievedthattheycouldseetheoutlineofarabbitonthemoon'ssurface.LiMinglookedupatthemoonandimaginedseeingtherabbittoo.
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Suddenly,LiMingrememberedherpoemaboutthemoon.Shereciteditforherfamily,andtheywereallimpressedbyhertalent.Hergrandfatherevensuggestedthatsheenterapoetrycontestatschool.LiMingfeltproudofherselfandgratefultoherfamilyfortheirsupport.
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Afterthepoetryrecital,LiMing'sfamilywentbackinsidetoenjoysomemoremooncakes.TheysatatthetableandtalkedabouttheirfavoritememoriesofpastMid-AutumnFestivals.LiMing'sgrandfathertoldherabouthowheusedtolightfireworksasachild,andLiMing'sgrandmotherreminiscedabouthowsheusedtomakelanternswithherfriends.
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LiMinglistenedtohergrandparents'storiesandfeltadeepsenseofconnectiontoherfamilyandtheirtraditions.SherealizedthattheMid-AutumnFestivalwasn'tjustaboutadmiringthemoon,butalsoaboutcelebratingthebondsbetweenfamilymembers.
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Asthenightworeon,LiMing'sfamilybegantofeelsleepy.Theysaidtheirgoodnightsandwenttobed.LiMingclimbedintohercozybedandclosedhereyes,thinkingaboutthemoonandherpoem.
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Justasshewasabouttofallasleep,LiMingheardafaintsoundcomingfromoutsideherwindow.Sheopenedhereyesandlistenedclosely.ItwasthesoundofsomeoneplayingatraditionalChineseinstrument,theerhu.LiMinggotoutofbedandwenttoinvestigate.
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Shelookedoutherwindowandsawanoldmanplayingtheerhuunderatree.Helookedupandsawherwatchinghim.Hesmiledandgesturedforhertocomeoutside.LiMingfeltcuriousanddecidedtogoout.
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Assheapproachedtheoldman,shenoticedthathewasdressedintraditionalChineseclothing.HeintroducedhimselfasMr.Zhang,amusicianwhohadtraveledfromanothertowntoplayattheMid-AutumnFestivalcelebrationinLiMing'stown.Hesaidhehadheardherrecitingpoetryearlierandwasimpressedbyhertalent.
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LiMingblushedwithembarrassmentbutalsofeltasenseofpride.Mr.Zhanghandedherhiserhuandaskedhertoplayatune.LiMinghadneverplayedaninstrumentbefore,butshewaswillingtotry.Sheheldtheerhucarefullyandpluckedthestrings.
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Thesoundthatcameoutwasnotperfect,butitwasbeautifulinitsownway.LiMingplayedatraditionalChinesesongthatshehadheardhergrandparentssingbefore.Mr.Zhanglistenedintentlyandnoddedhisheadinapproval.
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AfterLiMingfinishedplaying,Mr.Zhangthankedherandsaidthathewouldrememberherasatalentedpoetandmusician.Hethenpackeduphiserhuandwalkedaway,disappearingintothedarkness.
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LiMingstoodthereforamoment,feelinggratefulfortheunexpectedencounter.Shewentbackinsideandclimbedintobed,feelinghappyandcontent.Shelookedoutherwindowandsawthemoonstillshiningbrightandfull.
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LiMingclosedhereyesandthoughtaboutallthewonderfulexperiencesshehadhadduringtheMid-AutumnFestival.Shefeltgratefulforherfamily,hertraditions,andthemoonthathadinspiredherpoem.Sheknewthatshewouldrememberthisnightforalongtime.
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Asshedriftedofftosleep,LiMingwhisperedtoherself,"Themooninmywindowhastaughtmesomuch.Ithastaughtmeaboutfamily,tradition,andcelebration.Ithastaughtmethateventhesmallestencounterscanbringjoyandinspiration."Shesmiledandfellasleep,dreamingofnewpoemstowriteandnewexperiencestodiscover.
