I served as Li Bai's page.

After returning from Sister Lin's house, Li Bai was relieved and began preparing for his journey to Shimen Mountain to learn swordsmanship. A few days later, Sister Lin returned to the Li residence after harvesting grapes in her hometown.

After dinner that day, Li Bai said to his family:

"Tonight, let's have a short family meeting in the living room. I have something to say."

Everyone sat down in the living room. Even Bo Qin, who usually couldn't sit still, sat obediently in his chair and stared at Li Bai without moving.

Li Bai looked at everyone, cleared his throat, and said, "The main reason I've gathered you all here today is to discuss Yuehua and my plans to learn swordsmanship at Shimen Mountain. We plan to leave in a few days. Shimen Mountain isn't far from Rencheng; it's only half a day's ride at a fast horse. Therefore, Yuehua and I will be coming back often. After we leave, Ziyan and Sister Lin will have to take extra care of things. If they encounter any problems they can't solve, they should ask Uncle and Aunt Liu for help."

"Husband, are you informing us or discussing this with us?" Xu Ziyan asked.

"Madam, both are true. You know my purpose in coming to Donglu was to become General Pei Min's apprentice and learn swordsmanship from him. Now that everything is settled, I should go and do what I want to do."

"My uncle will stay at home with my brother and me," Pingyang said.

"I took my uncle to learn swordsmanship so that he could better protect you in the future. If my uncle masters swordsmanship and becomes highly skilled, he won't be afraid to accompany you anywhere. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"I'm ten years old now, I want to go with you," Pingyang said.

"It would be better if you stayed home with your mother. We're going there to endure hardship, not to enjoy comfort. You should stay home," Li Bai said.

"When do you plan to leave?" Xu Ziyan asked.

"I'll be leaving in a few days. Before I go, I'll visit my sixth uncle and Chief Clerk Lu," Li Bai said.

"Alright then, whatever you want, meeting adjourned," Xu Ziyan said, standing up.

Pingyang took my hand and led me into the courtyard, saying, "Uncle, you're going to learn swordsmanship with Father, so you must come back to see us often and take us out to play."

"Uncle will. Don't worry, stay home with Mom and your brother. You're all grown up now, so be good," I said.

At this moment, Xu Ziyan and Li Bai came out. Xu Ziyan asked, "What are your plans for the trip?"

Li Bai replied, "I'll go on horseback."

Xu Ziyan took two silver notes out of her sleeve and handed them to me, saying, "Yuehua, go buy two horses. It'll be easier for you to come back later."

I took the silver note and said to Li Bai, "Young master, what color horse do you want?"

"You decide, as long as she's a good match for me."

The next morning, I went to the market in Rencheng. There weren't many people selling horses, and not many horses to choose from. I tried out two horses: a white one for Li Bai and a brown one for myself. When I led the two horses home, Pingyang and Boqin insisted on riding them. I put the two children on the same horse and led it around the yard countless times.

"You two should get down. The horse is too high; it's dangerous," Xu Ziyan said.

"Mother, I want to ride again. I'm not afraid with Uncle here," Boqin said.

Li Bai took his white horse and said, "I'll go out and try it out." He led the horse out of the courtyard, leaped onto it, and galloped towards the end of the alley.

Li Bai rode away and hasn't returned for a long time.

Xu Ziyan said to me, "Go find your young master. He hasn't ridden a horse in a long time; I hope nothing bad happens to him."

"Alright, I'll go look for it now." After I finished speaking, I walked out of the courtyard and followed the path that Li Bai had taken on horseback. When I arrived at Helan's Restaurant, I saw Li Bai's white horse tied to a tree next to the restaurant.

I entered the restaurant, and the innkeeper came out to greet me, saying, "Li Bai and Lu Zhubu are drinking in a private room on the second floor."

"Shopkeeper, please tell Li Taibai that I'll take the horse home for him, and I won't disturb him and Clerk Lu's drinking session," I said.

I led Li Bai's horse home.

"Madam, the young master is fine. He is drinking with Registrar Lu at the Helan Family Restaurant," I said to Xu Ziyan.

"You're not drunk, are you? You're such a worry."

"He's not drunk, Madam. You don't need to worry about the young master. He's very knowledgeable and knows how to act appropriately," I said.

After noon, Li Bai returned. He strode into the study with elegant steps and called out to me:

"Yuehua, pour me a cup of tea."

When I brought the tea into the study, Li Bai was already asleep on the bed. I placed the tea on the desk, covered him with a blanket, and was about to leave the study when Xu Ziyan came in and said:

"He doesn't take care of his health at all. He only drinks in moderation; why get himself drunk? If you're with him, try to persuade him to stop."

"Yes, madam," I replied.

"You two must be exhausted from learning swordsmanship together. Tell your young master to take care of himself and not overwork himself; the family is counting on him."

"Don't worry, Madam, I will take good care of the young master."

Xu Ziyan was extremely worried, but the day for our trip to Shimen Mountain still arrived.

After breakfast that morning, I led the two horses to the courtyard and tied our luggage to them. Li Bai gave Xu Ziyan and Sister Lin many instructions in the living room, and only came out when it was time to leave. Pingyang and Boqin nestled against Xu Ziyan, watching us leave with tears in their eyes.

We bid farewell to our families and rode our horses toward the official road outside Rencheng.

When we were about to reach Shimen Mountain, I asked Li Bai:

"Young Master, shall we go directly to Baiyun Temple on Shimen Mountain, or go to Wutong Valley to find Mr. Zhang?"

Li Bai hesitated for a moment, then said, "If we go directly to Baiyun Nunnery, what if Abbess Baiyun doesn't see us? We won't even have a place to stay. Let's go to Wutong Valley to find Mr. Zhang Shuming first."

"Mr. Zhang's home is on the northwest slope of Shimen Mountain, not far from here. Let's go find him," I said.

"Alright." After Li Bai finished speaking, he spurred his horse and galloped off towards the northwest of Shimen Mountain. I whipped my horse and followed.

After running for a while, we could see a village in the valley ahead, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a small river winding around it.

Li Bai and I dismounted in front of the village and saw a middle-aged woman washing clothes by the river. I went over and asked, "Excuse me, ma'am, is this village called Wutongyu Village?"

"Yes, are you looking for someone?" the older woman asked.

"We're looking for someone named Zhang Shuming. Do you know him?"

"That's my master. What do you need him for?"

"We are his friends, and we came to Shimen Mountain specifically to find him," I said.

"Come with me, we live at the east end of the village."

Li Bai and I led our horses and followed our elder sister into the village. Along the way, many people greeted her, asking, "Sister Zhao, have you had guests?"

Sister Zhao replied, "He's a friend of our master."

We followed Sister Zhao to a quaint courtyard at the east end of the village. Sister Zhao went up and knocked on the door. A middle-aged man opened the door, saw Sister Zhao, and said, "You've just returned. The master was just looking for you."

"Old Liu, these two are the master's friends. Go tell him that his friends are looking for him."

Sister Zhao turned to Li Bai and me and said, "This is my husband. We've been servants at the Zhang household for decades."

Just as Sister Zhao finished speaking, Uncle Zhang followed Old Liu into the courtyard. Upon seeing Li Bai, Uncle Zhang exclaimed with delight, "Li Taibai, what brings you here?" He then gave Li Bai a warm hug.

Zhang Shuming welcomed Li Bai and me into the living room. His parents, wife, and son also came out to greet us, and we greeted them one by one.

Zhang Shuming asked Li Bai, "Brother Taibai, you came to Shimen Mountain to learn swordsmanship, didn't you?"

"Yes, one of the reasons I came to live in Rencheng was to learn swordsmanship. Now that I have settled my wife and children, I should get back to my work," Li Bai said.

Zhang Shuming said, "Brother Taibai, do you know General Pei Min? I heard it's not easy to become his disciple."

"Brother Zhang, I don't know General Pei Min, but I've heard that Abbess Baiyun of Baiyun Temple on Shimen Mountain is his junior sister. I'd like to go to Baiyun Temple to learn swordsmanship first, and then ask the abbess for an introduction," Li Bai said.

"That's a good idea. You two, master and servant, can stay at my house. Baiyun Nunnery isn't far from here, so it'll be convenient to come and go."

"Thank you, Brother Zhang. Let's learn swordsmanship together sometime." Li Bai stood up, cupped his hands in a fist salute, and said.