Once upon a time, there was a poor cowherd named Niulang. He lived a simple life and took care of an old cow every day. One day, the cow suddenly spoke and told Niulang that if he went to the riverside on a certain day, he would meet a special girl.

从前，有一个贫穷的牛郎，他过着简单的生活，每天照顾一头老牛。有一天，老牛突然开口说话，告诉牛郎如果他在某一天去到河边，他会遇到一个特别的女孩。

Niulang followed the advice of cow and went to the riverside as instructed. There he saw seven beautiful fairies taking a bath in the river. Fascinated, he hid one of the fairies clothes. When the fairies finished bathing and were about to leave, the one whose clothes were missing could not go. Niulang then appeared and returned the clothes to her. This fairy was Zhinu. They fell in love at first sight.

牛郎听从了老牛的建议，按照指示去到河边。在那里，他看到七个美丽的仙女在河里洗澡。他着迷地藏起了其中一个仙女的衣服。当仙女们洗完澡准备离开时，那个找不到衣服的仙女走不了。然后牛郎出现并把衣服还给了她。这个仙女就是织女。他们一见钟情。

They got married and lived happily together, having a son and a daughter. But the Goddess of Heaven found out about their relationship and was furious. She took Zhinu back to the heaven and separated the two lovers.

他们结婚并幸福地生活在一起，有了一个儿子和一个女儿。但是王母娘娘发现了他们的关系，非常生气。她把织女带回天庭，将这对恋人分开。

Niulang was heartbroken. The old cow then told him to use its hide to make shoes that could help him fly to the heaven. Niulang did so and flew after Zhinu. When the Goddess of Heaven saw this, she created a wide river in the sky, the Milky Way, to keep them apart.

牛郎非常伤心。老牛然后告诉他用它的皮做成鞋子，可以帮助他飞到天庭。牛郎照做了，飞去追织女。当王母娘娘看到这，她在天空中创造了一条宽阔的河流，银河，来隔开他们。

But once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, all the magpies in the world would come together to form a bridge over the Milky Way, allowing Niulang and Zhinu to meet again. This story has been passed down through generations, symbolizing the power of love.

但是每年的农历七月初七，世界上所有的喜鹊都会聚集在一起在银河上形成一座桥，让牛郎和织女再次相见。这个故事代代相传，象征着爱的力量。

                  （文图/薛秀真，编辑/史璐璐，审核/王俊华）