I served as Li Bai's page.

I mounted my horse and left the Li residence, galloping down Baizhao Mountain. I was heading towards Anlu when I ran into Xiao Peng, who used to work at the Li residence, just as I stepped onto the official road.

"Yuehua, it's getting dark, are you still going out?" Xiao Peng asked me.

"I want to go and greet the master; he went to Anlu and hasn't returned yet," I said.

"Didn't the master come back? I saw him return this afternoon while I was working in the fields."

"Did you see which way he went?" I asked.

"It seems they went to Da'an Mountain."

I suddenly realized where Li Bai had gone. I turned my horse around and galloped towards Da'an Mountain. When I arrived at Xu Ziyan's tomb, I saw Li Bai sitting cross-legged in front of the grave, motionless.

I stepped forward and called out, "Young Master, it's time to go home."

Li Bai turned to look at me, stood up, and said to the grave, "I've only been with you for a little while; it's getting dark. I'm going back now. I'll come back to keep you company tomorrow."

I took Li Bai's horse, handed him the reins, and we rode towards Baizhao Mountain.

When we returned to Baizhao Mountain, it was completely dark. The whole family stood at the gate, looking out. When they saw Li Bai return, everyone came out to greet him, especially Bo Qin, who cried as he took Li Bai's hand and said:

"Father, I thought you didn't want us anymore."

Li Bai bent down and picked up Bo Qin, saying, "How could your father not want you? You are my precious darlings."

Everyone escorted Li Bai back home. Xiaoqian brought the food to the table and came to the living room, calling out:

"Master, Aunt, dinner is ready."

Li Bai and Wu Ma agreed, and led everyone to the dining hall. After everyone sat down, Wu Ma looked at Li Bai, took out a pot of wine from the cupboard, and said:

"Young master, although Miss just left, and you shouldn't be drinking yet, she knows you love wine and won't blame you. Have a couple of drinks."

I handed the wine cup to Li Bai. Li Bai hesitated for a moment before taking it. Wu Ma filled the cup with wine for Li Bai, who raised it, took a sip, and then put the cup down.

Aunt Wu said, "Master, please drink. Have a couple of drinks, it'll make you feel better. The two children are counting on you."

After listening to Wu Ma's words, Li Bai raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, then said to me:

"Yuehua, pour me another cup."

I stood up and poured Li Bai a cup, which he picked up and drank in one gulp. I picked up the wine pot to pour him more, but Li Bai took the cup away and said:

"Just two drinks, that's enough. Everyone, let's eat. After dinner, get some rest."

Our family stayed in Baizhaoshan, which kept Wu Ma and Xiaoqian very busy. Wu Ma took out the money she had hidden at the bottom of the box and handed it to Wu Chao, saying:

"Xiao Chao, go to Anlu Street and buy me a few bolts of cloth. I need to make more clothes for my son-in-law's family. Now that Miss is gone, Pingyang is still young, and the other three are all boys, there's no one to make clothes for them. I want to prepare a few extra outfits for them."

"Aunt Wu, no need. If they really have nothing to wear, I'll take them to the tailor shop to make some. It's the New Year, you should rest more," I said.

"Nothing made outside can compare to what I sew for you. Xiaoqian and I will rush to finish a few sets for each of you before you leave," said Aunt Wu.

Wu Chao said, "Okay, Auntie, I'll go to the market to buy some fabric right now."

After Wu Chao bought the fabric, Wu's mother took our measurements and started making clothes for us. Pingyang and Boqin's clothes were made several sizes too big, but I insisted on sewing mine myself.

I said to Aunt Wu, "Aunt Wu, please teach me. If I learn how to use a needle, I can sew up their clothes if they get torn."

"What are you doing learning to use a needle, you grown man? I'll teach Pingyang. Pingyang should learn to embroider and sew now." Aunt Wu said, looking at Pingyang.

"Aunt Wu, this won't do. The master will be heartbroken. The two children are his precious darlings," I said.

"She's my precious daughter; girls should learn needlework too. This is a tradition that has been followed since ancient times."

"Alright then, Aunt Wu, Pingyang and I will learn from you together."

Every day after that, Pingyang and I learned how to cut and sew clothes from Aunt Wu and Xiaoqian. Before the New Year, Pingyang and I had already learned to sew and knit two sets of clothes, one for Boqin and one for me, although they felt a little awkward to wear. Aunt Wu said that for the first time learning to sew, it was already very good.

During the Spring Festival, I took off the clothes I had sewn myself and felt much more comfortable wearing the clothes sewn by Aunt Wu. Li Bai, Pingyang, and Boqin all wore new clothes and spent a quiet New Year at Baizhao Mountain. Because of Xu Ziyan's passing, there was no banquet or feast at home. At the beginning of the year, my second aunt brought Xu Zijun to Baizhao Mountain to pay New Year's respects. They had lunch and then went back. Two days later, my third aunt brought Xu Zixia to Baizhao Mountain to pay New Year's respects as well.

Li Bai asked his third aunt, "Third Aunt, how have you been these past few years? Has Second Aunt been mistreating you?"

The third concubine said, "Fortunately, the eldest young lady divided the family property among us back then, otherwise, my mother and I don't know how we would have survived. Even so, the second branch of the family often seizes our things, but luckily, Steward Wu stops them. Xu Zijun is still somewhat afraid of him."

"Second Aunt is never satisfied. Little Sister Zixia is all grown up now. If we find her a better family, they won't dare to bully you anymore," Li Bai said with a sigh.

"Thank you for your concern, son-in-law. After you return to Rencheng, you should find someone else to help you raise the children, so you can have an easier time," the second concubine said to Li Bai.

Upon hearing this, Wu Ma became displeased and said, "Miss has just passed away, her body is barely cold, and you, Second Madam, are saying such things? Do you even act like a mother?"

Li Bai quickly replied, "Both children are grown up; I can manage. And there's Yuehua, isn't there? He's much more attentive than I am."

I also said, "I will take good care of the two children, so don't worry." I knew that I said this mainly to reassure Aunt Wu, since she treated Xu Ziyan like her own child.

Third Aunt and Xu Zixia stayed overnight at Baizhao Mountain. Pingyang and Boqin both liked Xu Zixia very much. The next day, when they went back, they insisted on going to the Xu Mansion at Da'an Mountain to play. I had no choice but to go to Da'an Mountain with them.

Upon arriving at the Xu residence in Da'an Mountain, everything remained the same, except for the addition of a dividing wall in the garden, where the second concubine lived on one side and the third concubine on the other.

I took Pingyang and Boqin for a walk around the Xu residence. When we arrived at the small garden behind the study, the two children sat on the swing and didn't want to leave.

"Uncle, is this the swing my mother loves? I like it too," Boqin said.

Second Aunt said, "If you like it, sit for a while. Your grandmother will keep you company."

"Thank you, Second Aunt. Several years have passed, and the house is still the same as before. It's all thanks to you and the eldest young master," I said.

"That's to be expected. Looking back now, what was the point of being jealous and vying for attention every day? In the end, we were all buried in a pile of dirt. After the young lady left, I realized that as long as I have enough to eat and wear, I can live happily every day."

"Second Aunt is right. My wife would be pleased if she knew this in the afterlife. With you thinking like this, how can the Xu family not last forever?" I said.

"You have such a sweet tongue; no wonder the master and mistress liked you so much when they were alive. I enjoyed hearing it."

"Thank you for the compliment, Second Aunt."