Chineses

A family prepares for the Zhongyuan Festival by folding gold paper ingots together. The father tells a story about their kind and helpful great-grandfather, inspiring the children to honor him with more offerings. After setting out food, lighting incense, and bowing respectfully, they feel a warm sense of connection as they remember their ancestors.

During the Qixi Festival, Lili and Xiaoming listen to their grandmother’s story of Niulang and Zhinü, then make qiaoguo together. Xiaoming braids a colorful bracelet as a surprise gift for his sister, and the family happily celebrates the reunion by enjoying the treats and stargazing.

Lili tells Xiaoming the romantic legend of Qixi Festival, about the cowherd Niulang and the weaver girl Zhinü who are separated by the Heavenly River but reunited once a year by a bridge of magpies. That evening, they watch the Cowherd and Weaver Girl stars in the sky with their mother, enjoying traditional qiaoguo pastries and celebrating the warmth of family.

On the evening of Qixi Festival, Lili tells Xiaoming the story of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, and together they make colorful paper magpies to hang in the courtyard and make wishes. They enjoy the starry night with fruit, and Xiaoming later keeps a paper magpie by his pillow, treasuring the happy memory.

On the eve of the Start of Autumn, siblings Lili and Xiaoming pick ripe peaches and make sweet jam with their mother. The family then honors their ancestors by offering the jam and largest peaches, praying for safety and a good harvest. They later enjoy the peaches and tea together, savoring the warmth of reunion and gratitude as autumn arrives.

Xiaoming helps Lili organize her messy attic, where they discover an old photo album filled with summer memories. They repurpose the photos into a new scrapbook titled ‘Summer Memory Book,’ adding Chinese character labels while chatting and laughing together. The project brings them joy and strengthens their friendship.

On the Double Sixth Festival, Lili and Xiaoming help their parents by sunning winter clothes and books to prevent mold and insects, and they also bathe their dog Doudou. The family then enjoys a traditional meal together, celebrating their work and the joy of being together.

During summer vacation, Xiaoming and Lili plant sunflower seeds with their mother, carefully digging, sowing, and watering. They patiently watch the seeds sprout and the plants grow taller each day until golden flowers finally bloom. Their mother praises them for learning how to care for plants and for being patient, making it their most memorable summer.

As the damp weather before Lesser Heat approached, Lili and Xiaoming helped their mother sun-dry winter clothes and books to prevent mold. Afterwards, they visited a rice paddy where a farmer showed them freshly harvested rice and explained how it is dried to become the grains they eat. The day ended with the whole family joyfully making and eating dumplings together, marking a warm start to the summer.

On a hot summer day, Xiaoming and Lili worked with their father to build a shade shelter to protect the wilting vegetables in their garden. After picking cucumbers and tomatoes, they made cool, refreshing dishes and enjoyed the meal together, feeling deep happiness from their shared labor and homegrown food.