The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is the Double Ninth Festival. In Chinese, the number nine sounds like the word for "long-lasting," so the date symbolizes longevity.
The people of Linji City would hold many activities, such as climbing mountains with family to ward off misfortune and pray for blessings, or paying respects to their ancestors.
There were also customs of wearing dogwood, eating *peng'er*, and drinking chrysanthemum wine.
After Mu Xiaowan finished cultivating her Skin Grinding Technique, she took her two young maids to the kitchen, where they busied themselves steaming *peng'er*, also known as Double Ninth Cake.
This pastry was made from steamed glutinous rice, red dates, and chestnuts, then sprinkled with chrysanthemum petals for decoration, making it both beautiful and delicious.
The trio—one mistress and two servants—was clearly enjoying themselves so much that when guests arrived at the Chens' home, there was no one to greet them with tea.
