I served as Li Bai's page.

After we waited for Xu Ziyan to turn forty-nine days at Baizhao Mountain, we decided to return to Rencheng in Donglu. Before leaving, I went to the Taoist temple on the mountain to say goodbye to Xuanmeng.

In recent years, Bai Zhaoshan Residence has been transformed by Xuanmeng into an increasingly idyllic paradise, with flowers and plants blooming in succession throughout the year at the Yinlu Canxia Pavilion.

I led Pingyang and Boqin into the Taoist temple, where Xuanmeng came out to greet us. Seeing me, she excitedly said:

"You've finally come. You've been back for so long and haven't come to see me. I didn't dare come down and disturb you. During the New Year, I went to Suizhou and told my master about you and your young master. My master even said he wanted to meet you."

"Thank you, Master Ziyang, for remembering us. We will visit him when we return to Donglu," I said.

"Are you going back to Donglu?" Xuanmeng looked at me with some disappointment.

"We should go back now. My wife has passed away and returned to her hometown. Most of my young master's relatives are in Donglu, so it would be better for us to live there," I said.

Xuanmeng took my hand and said, "Yuehua, come with me."

Xuanmeng pulled me along, leading Pingyang and Boqin towards the Yinlu Canxia Tower. Once upstairs, amidst a clump of flowers and grass, Xuanmeng took out a bamboo flute from behind her back and began to play. I pulled out a bamboo xiao from behind my back, and together we performed "Spring River Flower Moon Night," attracting countless birds to fly from the surrounding trees and chirp in harmony.

"Xuanmeng, you've learned to play the flute too! That's amazing!"

"It was Senior Brother Xuanzhen who taught me. When I'm really bored, I play a couple of tunes here, and the birds in the trees are my audience."

"That's good, at least I won't be lonely," I said.

After bidding farewell to Xuanmeng at her Baizhao Mountain Residence, we returned home. I looked around but didn't see Li Bai, so I asked:

"Aunt Wu, has the master not returned yet?"

"You're back! You went to water the ginkgo trees on the mountain again."

I went to the study, found some paper, and took out pen and ink. I said to Pingyang and Boqin:

"Let's go to the top of Baizhao Mountain to find Father."

I led Pingyang and Boqin up the stone steps in the back garden to the top of Baizhao Mountain, where we saw Li Bai standing under a ginkgo tree, looking up.

Boqin called out loudly, "Father!"

Li Bai turned around, saw us, and said, "What brings you here?"

"Young Master, let me draw your portraits. Boqin and Pingyang, stand in front of Father. The three of you, stand still." After I finished speaking, I took out paper and pen and quickly began to draw.

"Are you finished drawing? I want to move around a bit," Pingyang asked.

"Wait a moment, my lady, if you move, the painting won't look pretty," I said.

"Then hurry up."

After a while, I said, "You're free now, you can move around. Let me show you."

I handed the sketch to Li Bai, who said, "Very good. This is a memento of our time living on Baizhao Mountain. Yuehua, please keep it."

I put the sketch away and said to Li Bai, "Young Master, let's go back; it's getting late."

Li Bai took Pingyang and Boqin's hands and walked towards home, while I followed behind carrying a bucket of water.

When we got home, Xiaoqian had already prepared dinner. As everyone sat down to eat, Li Bai said to Wu Ma and the others:

"Aunt Wu, Wu Chao, Xiaoqian, I've decided to return to Rencheng tomorrow. Madam is buried here, so I'll need your help looking after her."

Aunt Wu said, "Don't worry, we'll burn paper money for her during festivals. The young lady has her parents with her; she won't be lonely."

At this moment, Wu Chao took a bulging bag from his room. He placed the bag in front of Li Bai and said:

"Sir, this is the land rent for the past few years. Except for the money used for Madam's burial, it's all here."

Li Bai pushed the bag towards Wu Chao, saying, "You've taken care of all this; you can keep it for yourselves."

Wu Chao said, "We have enough for our needs; this is all left over."

I reached for the bag, poured out the money, divided it into three equal parts, and pushed one part to Wu Chao, saying, "Wu Chao, this is for you. Keep it for emergencies at home. Treat this house as your own, and make all the decisions yourself. You also decide on the rent for the land and the tenants."

I then gave half of the portion to Aunt Wu, saying, "Aunt Wu, this is a gift from Master and Madam to you; please accept it. We'll take the rest with us. Pingyang and Boqin are still young, and Master doesn't yet have a stable income; these properties are their livelihood."

Wu Ma refused to accept the money, saying, "I know your situation. The money Miss brought is probably almost gone. An old woman like me doesn't need that much. As long as I have a place to stay and enough to eat and wear, that's enough."

Li Bai said, "Aunt Wu, you must accept this. Ziyan is gone, and we can't stay by your side for long. We'll have to trouble Wu Chao and Xiaoqian to take care of you. We'll only be at ease if you take good care of yourself."

With tears in her eyes, Aunt Wu said, "I'm old, and I'm just a burden to you young people."

"Aunt Wu, don't say that. It's because you worked so hard to raise these younger generations that they are where they are today," Li Bai said.

"Young Master, don't worry, I will take good care of Aunt. It's you who have to take care of two children and earn money to support the family, which is not easy. I will keep the annual rent money for you, and you can have Yuehua come back to collect it once a year," Wu Chao said.

"How can that be? You can use it if you want. You're the ones who are managing everything. We shouldn't just sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor," Li Bai said.

Wu Chao said, "The houses and fields belong to you. It's already a blessing that we can live here. Besides, we live on rent or from the crops we grow ourselves. It's our duty to collect the rent for you and take care of the land."

"Young Master, Wu Chao, please stop talking. If you do, it will make us seem distant. We are family, we just don't live together. Why be so formal?" I said.

"Son-in-law, you can come and stay in Anlu for a while every year. If you don't want to stay in Rencheng anymore, come back to Anlu. This will always be your home, and the annual rent from the fields will be enough for you to live on," said Aunt Wu.

Pingyang said, "Grandma Wu, I don't want to go back. I want to stay and live with my aunt."

Li Bai put down his wine cup and said, "Pingyang, don't be willful. You still have to take care of your younger brother."

"Stop talking, let's eat. We'll go back tomorrow." I said, picking up some food and putting it in my mouth.

After dinner, I went to my room to pack my things. Wu Ma and Xiaoqian helped me pack while giving me a lot of advice, as if we were travelers about to embark on a long journey.

The next morning, after breakfast, I led the carriage and horses to the door. Wu Chao helped me load the luggage onto the carriage. Everyone waved goodbye reluctantly, especially Pingyang and Wu Ma, who cried their eyes out. I carried the two children onto the carriage, leaped onto my horse, and sat in the driver's seat. Li Bai rode up to me and said:

"Yuehua, let's go to Lady Da'an Mountain's grave to say goodbye before we leave."

"Yes, young master."

I cracked my whip on my horse and rode with Li Bai down Baizhao Mountain.