79.

A long time ago, a terrible drought happened. 10 suns burned fiercely in the sky like volcanoes. The land cracked and parched, and rivers were dried. Many people died of hunger and thirst.
The King of Heaven ( Yu Huang Da Di ) sent Hou Yi down to the earth to help. When Hou Yi arrived, he took out his bow and arrows and shot down nine suns. The weather immediately turned cooler. Heavy rains filled the rivers with fresh water and the grass and trees turned green. Life was restored and humanity was saved.

One day, a beautiful young woman Chang er made her way home from a stroll, holding a container. A young man came forward, asking for a drink. When she saw the bow and arrows hanging round his shoulder, Chang er recognised that he was their savior, Hou Yi. While treating him to a drink, Chang er plucked a beautiful flower and gave it to him as a token of respect. Hou Yi, in turn, gave her a beautiful silver fox fur as his gift for her. They fell in love immdiately and soon after that, they got married.

As mortals will die some day, in order to enjoy his happy life with Chang'er forever, Hou Yi decided to look for an elixir of life. He went to the Kunlun Mountains where the Western Queen lived.

For the good deeds he had done, the Western Queen rewarded Hou Yi with the elixir, made from kernels of fruit which grew on the tree of eternity. At the same time, she told him that if he and his wife share the elixir, they would both enjoy eternal life; but if only one of them took it, that person would ascend to Heaven and become immortal.
Hou Yi told his wife all that had happened and they decided to drink the elixir together on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when the moon was full and bright.
A wicked and merciless man named Feng Meng overheard their plan. He wanted to drink the elixir himself and become immortal. His opportunity finally arrived. One day, when the full moon is rising, Hou Yi was on his way home from hunting. Feng Meng killed him. The murderer then ran to Hou Yi's home and forced Chang er to give him the elixir. Without delay, Chang er picked up the elixir and finished it all by herself.

Chang er rushed to her dead husband's side, weeping bitterly. Soon the elixir took effect and Chang er could feel herself floating towards Heaven.

Chang er decided to live on the moon because it was the nearest to the earth. There she lived a simple and contented life. Even though she was in Heaven, her heart remained in the world of mortals. Never did she forget the deep love she had for Hou Yi and the love she felt for the people who had shared their sadness and happiness.

It was said that Chang er transformed herself into brilliant moonlight and descended down to earth to offer good fortune. Thus, couples would always swear their mutual love under the full moon, wheras separated lovers would pray for reunion.

Another legend explained the role of the Old Man on the Moon, the Divine Match-maker. The Chinese believed that marriages were made in Heaven but prepared on the moon. It was said that the Old Man on the Moon would tie the feet of young men and women with red cords for marriages. Thus, a maiden would offer and pray to him during the Mid-Autumn Festival, hoping that some day she would ride in the red bridal sedan chair, with the man she would like to be married to.