I served as Li Bai's page.

"Young master, you are mistaken. I am not making excuses, but speaking the truth," I said to Li Bai.

Zhang Shuming went to the stream and looked into the water, saying, "Yuehua must have gone into the water for a reason. We can have fish tonight."

When Li Bai and his companions heard that there were fish in the water, they all came to the stream. They took off their shoes, rolled up their trousers, and stared at the water, eager to try their luck.

Everyone used their skills and caught a dozen or so crucian carp of moderate size. I went back to the cabin, brought out a wooden basin, put the fish in it, and casually said, "Peach blossoms float on flowing water, and the mandarin fish are plump. Tonight I'll make you all some crucian carp with scallions."

Li Bai asked, "Whose poem was the one before that?"

"Zhang Zhihe, your follower," I said.

"Then who am I?"

"You are a great romantic poet of the Tang Dynasty."

"Where to begin?"

"Because your poems are bold and unrestrained, rich in imagination, full of allusions, and brimming with fighting spirit," I said.

Han Zhun said, "Yuehua, your summary is spot on. That's precisely why we admire Li Bai's poems and essays."

Li Bai said, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness; I have no choice but to work hard. Yuehua, you can go back and cook now. Call us when you're done."

"Okay." I took the fish home, picked some vegetables from the garden, and then went home to cook dinner.

As the sun set and dusk arrived as promised, I stood by the pine trees on the hillside and shouted loudly to the winding bamboo stream, "Dinner's ready!" My shout echoed in the bamboo stream, and Li Bai and the others walked home with boundless joy.

Time flies. Li Bai had been in Zhuxi for over a month. One morning after breakfast, Kong Chaofu asked me:

"We're going boating at Donglumen today, Yuehua, are you coming with us?"

Before I could speak, Li Bai said, "Of course we should go; Yuehua is an expert rower."

I mounted my horse and followed behind Li Bai and his companions. We strolled leisurely along the official road at the foot of Mount Culai. Li Bai and his friends were either engaged in lively discussions or reciting poems and singing songs, attracting passersby to stop and look up in awe.

When we arrived at Donglumen, it was already dusk. A wide lake appeared before us. In the hazy night, we quietly observed the lake. The banks were lush with aquatic plants and reeds swaying in the breeze. Peach groves surrounded the lake, with flowers in full bloom. Several farmhouses, some high and some low, were nestled among the peach trees.

I said to Li Bai and the others, "Let's find a place to stay first."

Kong Chaofu said, "Come with me."

Kong Chaofu led us to a farmhouse courtyard deep in the peach orchard. The gate was open, and Kong Chaofu stepped forward and called out:

Is Lao Wei home?

An elderly man in his fifties came out and, seeing Kong Chaofu, said happily:

"Mr. Kong, it's been a long time."

"Old Wei, let me introduce you. These are my friends. This is Li Bai, Zhang Shuming, Pei Zheng, Han Zhun, and Tao Mian. This is Li Bai's page, Yuehua. We all live together in Zhuxi, in the wooden house you helped me build," Kong Chaofu said.

"Welcome, welcome! Mr. Kong's friend is my friend. Please come inside and have a seat."

We followed Lao Wei into the house, where he instructed the servants to brew tea for us. After exchanging pleasantries, we sat down.

Kong Chaofu said, "Old Wei, we'll be bothering you for a few days now."

"It's alright, stay here without worry. You can do whatever you want. The peach blossoms in Donglu Gate are in full bloom, and people have been flocking to see them these past few days," Old Wei said.

Zhang Shuming said, "The peach blossoms are beautiful, but I think the lake surrounded by peach trees is even more beautiful."

Tao Mian said, "Today is the full moon, how about we go boating on the lake?"

Li Bai said, "That's a good suggestion. Bring along two jars of wine, and drink with the bright moon; that would be another kind of enjoyment."

"Okay, I'll go get ready. I just bought a boat a few days ago, and it'll come in handy. Please wait a moment while I tell the kitchen to prepare a few dishes." Old Wei said, then walked towards the back of the yard.

Just then, a servant came in and said to us, "Master Wei has gone to cook himself. He instructed me to show you to your rooms."

We followed the servant to the inner courtyard, where he said, "There are four rooms in total. Choose whichever you prefer. I'm leaving now."

After we assigned the rooms, Mr. Wei had already prepared the meal and walked into the inner courtyard, calling out:

"Gentlemen, we may proceed now."

By this time, it was completely dark, and a bright moon hung high in the sky above the courtyard. We arrived at the lakeside, where Master Wei had already set out the food on the boat, with four jars of wine beside it.

Master Wei invited everyone to sit on the boat, picked up the oars, and steered away from the lake shore. The small boat slowly drifted into the lake.

I stood up and went to Master Wei's side, saying, "Master Wei, you go have your drink, I'll row the boat."

"I'll paddle, you go drink," said Master Wei.

"Old Wei, let him row. His job with us is rowing. Besides, he doesn't drink. He can eat while rowing; it's no problem for him," Li Bai said.

I took the oar from Master Wei and with a little effort, the small boat slid forward like an sword.

"You don't need to exert too much force, just steer well. What we want is to row on the lake. Think about it carefully," Li Bai said to me.

"Yes, young master."

I sat on the deck, gently holding the oars with both hands, letting the small boat drift on the lake.

Li Bai and his companions drank jar after jar, and were all slightly tipsy. At first, they were a little reserved because of Master Wei's arrival, but later, under the influence of alcohol, the six of them became unrestrained. Li Bai took the lead in reciting "A Moonlit Night on the Spring River," and Zhang Shuming took out his bamboo flute and played along, attracting the attention of the servants in the peach grove on the riverbank who brought lanterns to watch.

Suddenly, a person on the shore shouted loudly:

"Old Wei, who are the people on your boat that have such refined tastes, boating on the East Lu Gate under the moonlight?"

Old Wei replied, "My friends in Zhuxi are all highly learned men."

"What are their names? I heard of the Six Recluses of Zhuxi when I was cultivating on Mount Culai. Could it be them?"

Old Wei recited the names of Li Bai and the other five men one by one, and the man on the shore exclaimed with delight, "That's them! Moreover, Li Bai is a famous poet; please ask him to compose a poem for our Donglu Gate."

Li Bai stood up, bowed to the man on the shore, and said, "Today I have composed two poems for the Donglu Gate, and I thank everyone for their kindness."

Li Bai came up from the cabin to the deck, looked up at the bright moon in the sky, and casually recited: "The sun sets on the sandy shore, the moon seems to turn upside down; the waves sway the rocks, the water meanders. A light boat floats on the moonlit stream, turning and turning; it seems as if snow has fallen in Shanyin."

Numerous cheers erupted from the shore, and I quickly took out paper, pen, and ink to record them.

Li Bai paced back and forth on the deck. I laid the small boat across the lake. The people on the boat remained silent, afraid of disturbing Li Bai's train of thought.

Li Bai stood at the bow of the boat, letting the evening breeze ruffle his clothes. Suddenly, he pushed his hands forward and loudly recited: "Water forms a green dragon coiled around the stone embankment, peach blossoms line the banks west of Lu Gate. If one could sail there under the moon, how much more romantic would it be to reach the Shanxi River?"

The man on the shore exclaimed, "This is a brilliant use of the allusion! Wang Ziyou never dreamed it would be connected to our Donglu School. Thank you, Li Bai!"

Li Bai loudly inquired, "May I ask your esteemed name, fellow Daoist? I hope we can meet again someday."

"Those destined to meet will find each other; those not destined will not recognize each other even face to face. Li Bai, sing your heart out! The bright moon, the lake, the small boat, the peach blossoms under the moon are all yours. This humble Taoist is leaving."