I served as Li Bai's page.

"Junior sister, I'm not bullying you at all. I'm just trying to help you. Let's stop practicing here for today, Li Taibai. Let's go back to General Mountain," Pei Min said.

"It's already dark, so you can stay at the nunnery. I'll have my two disciples prepare the guest rooms."

Pei Min looked at Li Bai and said, "Taibai, what do you think?"

"It's getting dark, and the road is difficult to travel. Let's continue when it's light," Li Bai said.

My senior sister and I prepared dinner and put it on the table. Everyone sat down at the table and started eating.

Pei Min praised, "Today's dishes are excellent; they look beautiful, smell delicious, and taste wonderful."

Li Bai added, "It's a little regrettable."

Master Baiyun said, "If you have any regrets, please speak up. Aren't you satisfied with this dish?"

"Junior sister, what Taibai meant was that it's missing a little something, which is the flavor of the wine."

"Can't you just say it directly? Stop beating around the bush." ​​After saying that, Abbess Baiyun went to the cabinet in the storeroom and took out a jar of wine.

Li Bai took the wine jar, opened the lid, took a deep breath, and said, "This is the taste my master and I wanted."

Before Li Bai and Pei Min had finished their drinks, my senior sister and I had already prepared two guest rooms. Abbess Baiyun was very satisfied after seeing them and said, "Senior brother won't mind."

After Li Bai and Pei Min finished drinking, they sat chatting with Abbess Baiyun in the back courtyard. I excused myself and called Li Bai away, leaving only Pei Min and Abbess Baiyun in the courtyard. The two chatted until late at night before going to sleep.

The next day, after breakfast, Pei Min took Li Bai back to General Mountain, while I stayed at Baiyun Nunnery to continue learning escape techniques. That evening, when we returned to Lingguang Temple, Han Zhun said to me:

"Tell your young master that we'll meet at Mount Culai after the Spring Festival. I also need to go home for the Spring Festival; I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

"Mr. Han, I will definitely pass on your message. We're also heading back to Rencheng for the New Year in a couple of days."

"Remember, you must tell Li Bai."

"Don't worry, Mr. Han."

Two days later, Pei Min and Li Bai arrived at Baiyun Nunnery. Pei Min was also going home for the New Year and had come to say goodbye to Abbess Baiyun. As we left, seeing the reluctant looks in Abbess Baiyun's and the young nun's eyes, I said:

"Master, Senior Sister, why don't you two come down the mountain with us? You can come back after the New Year."

Master Baiyun said, "We won't go. Lingguang Temple holds a gathering every year during the Spring Festival, and we always go there to reunite. Yuehua, after the Spring Festival, you don't need to go up the mountain anymore. Go traveling with your young master; your current skills are enough to protect yourself."

"Master, are you abandoning me?"

"How could that be? I will always be your master, and the door here will always be open to you. However, you have more important things to do," said Abbess Baiyun.

Pei Min said, "You two, master and servant, are now free. I have already instructed Taibai to pursue his future."

After we said goodbye, Li Bai and I rode our horses to Wutongyu. We had lunch at Zhang Shuming's house, and I told Li Bai and Zhang Shuming about Han Zhun's intentions.

Zhang Shuming said, "Zhuxi in Culaishan is a beautiful place. Kong Chaofu built several wooden houses there in his early years. It was quite interesting for the six of us to gather there, drink and chat, and talk about our ideals and life."

"Then it's a deal. We'll meet in Zhuxi after the Spring Festival," Li Bai said.

Li Bai and I were leaving Zhang Shuming's house when we happened to run into Shiliu, who was also visiting Zhang Shuming's house.

Shiliu called out, "Yuehua, are you going home?"

"Yes, it's almost Chinese New Year, and my wife and children are waiting for my son and me to come home. We're leaving now," I replied.

"Will you come again after the Spring Festival?" Shiliu asked.

"Not necessarily, it depends on whether my young master goes to General Mountain to learn swordsmanship. However, even if he doesn't, we'll still come to see you when we pass by Shimen Mountain."

Li Bai urged, "Yuehua, we should go now. Let's say goodbye to Miss Pomegranate."

Shi Liu and Zhang Shuming stood at the entrance of the Zhang residence, watching Li Bai and I leave.

Li Bai and I traveled non-stop back to our home in Rencheng. When we knocked on the courtyard gate, the two children excitedly grabbed Li Bai's hands and said, "Daddy, Mommy and Aunt Lin have prepared lots of delicious food, just waiting for you to come back!"

After we returned home, Li Bai began visiting his relatives and friends in Rencheng the next day. The news of Li Bai's return to Rencheng spread like wildfire, and admirers of Li Bai kept knocking on his door.

Xu Ziyan said with a mixture of joy and worry, "This year's Spring Festival is probably going to be anything but peaceful."

"Don't be afraid, young mistress, the young master and I are both at home. We promise you won't be disturbed," I said.

Xu Ziyan said, "Don't be afraid, with the two of you here, there's even less to fear. Now that you're back, let Sister Lin go home and spend a reunion year with her family."

Xu Ziyan found Sister Lin, handed her a large red envelope, and said, "Sister Lin, you've worked so hard for me year after year. The New Year is almost here, you should rest for a few days and go home to celebrate with your family."

"Thank you, Madam. I'll be going home this afternoon. I'll be back after the Spring Festival," Sister Lin said.

I packed a bag of meat and sweets that we had prepared for the New Year for Sister Lin, and together with the two children, we saw her off out of the city. When we got home, Li Bai had just returned home as well. Li Bai saw Xu Ziyan washing rice by the well, went into the kitchen, looked around, and said:

"Didn't Sister Lin cook?"

Xu Ziyan walked in from outside carrying freshly rinsed rice and said, "I sent Sister Lin home for the New Year. She's worked hard all year; she deserves a few days of rest."

I took the rice bowl from Xu Ziyan and said, "Madam, you and the young master should go and rest. I'll cook."

Li Bai pulled Xu Ziyan aside and said, "Madam, let's go out and have Yuehua cook. We'll leave this task to him for the next few days."

I had just finished preparing dinner and was about to call everyone to eat when there was a knock at the door in the courtyard. I went to open it, and Registrar Lu came in and asked:

"Yuehua, is Li Bai home?"

"Yes, I just got back from outside."

When Li Bai and Xu Ziyan saw that it was Registrar Lu, they came out of the study. Li Bai greeted Registrar Lu and led him to the living room, saying:

"Brother Lu, since you have time today, let's go to Helan's Restaurant for a couple of drinks."

"Brother Taibai, that's exactly what I was thinking, so I came to your house. The Spring Festival is here, and the government offices will be closed for the holidays starting tomorrow, so I can finally relax."

Li Bai straightened his clothes and hat, then walked out of the living room and said to Xu Ziyan, "Madam, I'm going to accompany Brother Lu to Helan's Restaurant for a couple of drinks. He won't be waiting for me for dinner."

Xu Ziyan instructed, "Drink less, and come back early."

Registrar Lu smiled apologetically at Xu Ziyan and followed Li Bai toward Helan's Restaurant.

After dinner, we played in the yard for a while. It was windy in winter, so Xu Ziyan took the children to the bedroom early. I went to the study and picked up a book to read.

"Yuehua, Li Bai hasn't returned yet. Go and check on him," Xu Ziyan said to me as she came to the study door.

"Madam, please go back to your bedroom. It's too cold; don't catch a cold. I'll go fetch the young master right away." After saying this to Xu Ziyan, I stood up, picked up the lantern, and walked out of the courtyard.