Xu Caitong settled in Moon Village, where the Xu family treated her like an honored guest. Every day, she would run to the banks of the Moon River, hoping for another miracle to return her to the 21st century. Unfortunately, no such miracle occurred; each visit was filled with hope and ended in disappointment. Seeing her downcast and anxious, the Xu family encouraged her to open up her heart. Gradually, they learned that she had come from the moon to Moon Village, which left them in awe. Who could possibly travel from the moon to Moon Village? It must be a divine feat. She must indeed be a deity, albeit a small one with insufficient celestial power to find her way back to the heavens.
Xu Caitong lived in Moon Village for over two months. One day, Ruiping told her they were going to the market to sell fat cows and tender sheep, and Mrs. Xu had instructed Ruiping to take Caitong along to buy some fabric and other items for girls. For the past two months, she had been confined to Moon Village, surrounded by fields and livestock. Though the rural scenery was beautiful, being cooped up in a small village day after day made her restless. In her days in the village, she sometimes helped Yue’er herd sheep on a nearby hill, listening to Yue’er’s melodious songs, or joined Ruiping to wash clothes by the river, which was a branch of the Moon River with clear, transparent water. The village wasn’t large, and the villagers were curious and somewhat suspicious of this outsider, but they were kind-hearted and simple, accepting her. The chance to visit the market was thrilling for Xu Caitong.
That morning, it was still early, with a gray sky casting a dim light. Caitong was woken by Ruiping, her eyes still sleepy, she mumbled, “I just went to sleep, and now I have to get up?”
“It’s not early anymore, it’s dawn. We need to get to the market early, or we won’t get good spots,” Ruiping told her.
“I’m so sleepy.”
“Then you can keep sleeping, we’ll go without you.”
