"There are many legends about the origin of mooncakes, the most widespread being that they were invented by Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, during his rebellion against the Yuan Dynasty. But personally, I think the inventor of mooncakes must have been a glutton, someone who would look at the moon and think—'It looks like a mooncake…'"
At the stall, Chu Ge was introducing mooncakes to Qiu Wuji, who found Chu Ge's analysis quite reasonable.
Just like how Qiu Wuji would think of cotton candy when she saw white clouds…
That's how ancient people were! Definitely!
"But these mooncakes are so small, and they don't look like the moon at all." Qiu Wuji peered at the various mooncakes on the stall, looking disdainful.
Mainly because of the price tag. How could these things be so expensive? Such small mooncakes, four in a box, selling for 298! Are they made of gold?
And they don't even look like the moon, so small and thick!
"You don't like these gift-boxed mooncakes either?" Chu Ge was delighted to find his wife's compatibility again. "I don't like them either! Come on, let's look at these traditional mooncakes!" These so-called traditional mooncakes were indeed large, flat, and round, remarkably shaped like the moon. Normally, one cost a few yuan, but when he was a child, they were only a few cents. Chu Ge loved them since he was little; heaven knows why they're no longer popular. What's popular now are expensive and tasteless ones.
Qiu Wuji even saw some particularly large ones, a foot or two in diameter—huge, enormous pancakes!
"I want that! I want that!" Qiu Wuji excitedly pointed to the foot-sized pancake. "This is the moon! We'll eat this tonight!"
Chu Ge's face darkened. "I can't eat that..."
"Why? We can share it." Qiu Wuji gestured, feeling confident he could finish it.
"Because eating too much will make you feel greasy, and you won't be able to eat anymore... Such a big cake, other people buy it for the whole family, or for a company team-building event, and everyone cuts a piece..."
"Is it sweet?"
"Yes, this kind of earthen cake is made with white sugar, sesame seeds, and lard... It's delicious if you eat a little. Hmm, you can try a small piece first." Qiu Wuji tried a small piece, her eyes narrowing into crescents: "It's better than that pizza that's actually just a baked flatbread! This one costs a few pieces, that one costs tens of yuan." Chu Ge ruffled her hair.
Qiu Wuji said: "So I still want that mooncake!"
Chu Ge couldn't help but ask: "Is liking big things ingrained in girls' genes...?"
Qiu Wuji glanced at him sideways: "Some things are cute when they're big, some things are adorable when they're small. I think yours is cuter."
Chu Ge: "???" The two of them were making suggestive jokes in front of the mooncake stall, and the stall owner watched with a smile, thinking the couple in ancient costumes were very attractive and funny. Finally, Qiu Wuji, carrying a large piece of moonlight, sauntered away from the stall.
This was tonight's dinner; cultivators were meant to devour the sun and moon!
The world in the book would eventually pluck that smiling moon and eat it.
Chu Ge followed helplessly beside her: "So, where do we eat?"
"To the park," Qiu Wuji had already decided. "To the riverside. 'Who first saw the moon by the river? When did the river moon first shine on man?'"
"I was prepared to treat you to a grand meal, but you want to go to the park just to eat a pancake."
"That's the idea, you vulgar person!"
"Yes, yes, yes, a pair of immortal swordsmen, standing by the river gazing at the moon, one in the sky, one in the water, each holding one in their hand..."
Qiu Wuji imagined the scene and laughed until she bent over: "How wonderful!"
Chu Ge thought it was funny too, so she really followed her to the riverside park where they had previously gone boating.
But when they arrived, they were dumbfounded. Everywhere they looked was a sea of people; the ambiance was completely ruined.
There were many people selling all sorts of food. Chu Ge hid the large pancake in his personal space and ran off to buy two cotton candies, handing one to Qiu Wuji.
Qiu Wuji licked the cotton candy, looking at the crowded and bustling crowd, and sighed, "So this is what a holiday is like... Speaking of which, isn't the Mid-Autumn Festival supposed to be a time for family reunions? Why is everyone out here..."
"Going out to play is also a kind of reunion, just like you and me right now." Chu Ge took her hand, and they strolled further in, eating as they went.
Jianbing (Chinese crepes), takoyaki, grilled squid... By the time they finally reached the riverbank, both of them realized they were already full.
The large mooncake lying in the personal space: "..." Qiu Wuji, her mouth greasy from eating, only then began to regret buying the large pancake. How could she have forgotten that the night market in this world had so many delicious things to eat?
And they were all so tasty! What they regretted even more was coming to the riverbank. It was packed with people on all sides; to lean on the railing and enjoy the view, they had to squeeze in. People were taking selfies, others taking photos, children were crying, and parents were trying to soothe them… It wasn't the usual "Who first glimpsed the moon by the riverbank?" anymore; all they saw were people.
The two exchanged a glance, understanding perfectly: "Not in the park, let's go somewhere else." They were both cultivators, so they didn't care where others shouldn't go.
Following the river, as they walked out of the suburbs, they found desolate riverbanks that others wouldn't frequent. In contrast to the bustling crowds, the darkness and silence had a slightly eerie quality. The banks were messy, littered with rocks and weeds, and scattered with packaging bags left by tourists during the day. An old man from a fishing bar sat there, seemingly oblivious to the two passing by.
The further they went, the more desolate it became. The old man from the fishing bar was gone, and the packaging bags were gone too.
The rocks became increasingly scattered, making it difficult to walk on them, but the river water grew clearer, reflecting a round moon.
The surroundings grew increasingly eerie; there were no streetlights, and the heavy shadows were quite unsettling.
Chu Ge swatted a flying insect dead with a "smack," then turned and laughed, "Don't we look like two ancient people trekking along the riverbank now?"
Qiu Wuji pulled out a cotton candy from Chu Ge's spatial storage: "I'll look like that after I eat it."
Chu Ge chuckled, "Insects flying all around, weeds scraping the ground, it's dirty and annoying everywhere. This so-called search for atmosphere, you could call it a case of pretentious affectation, creating trouble for yourself, incurable."
"Isn't that how it was in ancient times? You have to get used to it when you go there in the future," Qiu Wuji said seemingly casually, then, without waiting for Chu Ge's reply, suddenly flicked his finger.
The swarming insects vanished instantly, and the air became fresh and pleasant.
"Insect repelling spell, one of the simplest Taoist arts." Qiu Wuji pointed again to the messy rocks by the river, which quickly became clean and tidy. "Cleaning spell, also one of the simplest Taoist arts."
She turned to look at Chu Ge, giving him a cute smile. "We're not only ancient people, but we're also cultivators."
Chu Ge quite contentedly chose a relatively flat rock to sit on, stretching comfortably. "I was thinking, besides lifespan and power, the ancients' fantasies about immortality were mainly about wanting to be lazy—ah, if only I had immortal arts, I could clean the house, and I could immediately go to the next county to drink with so-and-so..."
Qiu Wuji thought for a moment and surprisingly agreed. "Mortals' fantasies about immortal arts are essentially about being lazy... just like your current technology, everything is for convenience."
She sat down on a rock next to Chu Ge, continuing to eat the last of her cotton candy, muttering, "No matter what you fantasize about, for me, my immortal arts are real!"
Chu Ge put his arm around her shoulder.
Qiu Wuji didn't refuse; instead, she leaned against his shoulder, following his lead. For a moment, they were silent, a pair of "ancient people" quietly gazing at the moon reflected in the water.
"The moon of today is not the moon of old, yet the moon of today once shone on the ancients," Qiu Wuji said leisurely. "Through countless ages, this moon has remained unchanged. Guess how many moonlit vows it has witnessed, only to be discarded like worn-out shoes?"
"Hey!" Chu Ge said, "You want to play with me and not take responsibility, huh?"
Qiu Wuji opened her mouth, then suddenly chuckled, "According to your way of using words, isn't this called, 'a counterattack'?"
"This is a counterattack." Chu Ge suddenly turned his head and kissed her lips heavily. "You ate so many cotton candies, but didn't leave me any. I'll get some myself..."
Qiu Wuji quietly let him kiss her. In the tranquil moonlight of the suburbs, she herself was somewhat moved, unconsciously wanting to lean closer to him.
The mention of a moonlit vow was originally just a thought that this guy might do something, and then, like pulling up his pants and saying it...
But he turned the tables on her.
Qiu Wuji didn't pursue the question further, feeling his kisses and quietly gazing at the moon.
This was the first time in her lifetime that she had celebrated a reunion under the full moon.
It was Mid-Autumn Festival…