I served as Li Bai's page.

The fourth young master of the Liu family roared so loudly that Boqin burst into tears. Pingyang quickly hugged her younger brother. Li Bai jumped up from his seat, bowed to the Liu family couple, and said:

"Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, your foolish son-in-law is unworthy and unfit for this important task. I must take my leave." He turned and walked out. I stood up, took the two children's hands, and followed him out. Mrs. Liu chased after us, saying:

"Husband, why are you turning on me so suddenly? Can't we talk this out?"

"Madam, your family's demands are too high; I cannot meet them. You don't need to go back; the Li family cannot afford to support you."

I went to the backyard to bring out the carriage, and Li Bai carried the two children onto the carriage and said to me:

"Yuehua, let's go quickly, I don't want to stay here for another second."

The Liu family was completely bewildered by the whole turn of events. Seeing Li Bai board the carriage, Liu chased after him, shouting loudly:

"My dear son-in-law, let's talk this out. Don't listen to the nonsense my sons are spouting."

I bowed to Master Liu and his wife, jumped into the carriage, and rode away.

Back home, Li Bai, still furious, pulled me aside and said:

"Yuehua, how can there be a family that values ​​officialdom above all else? From the very beginning of my relationship with Madam, they've been urging me to get an official position, forcing me to plead for them everywhere. They don't even realize that it's not that easy. The government isn't run by the Li family; you can't just become an official whenever you want. And Madam, she tells her family everything, making me lose all face in her family."

"Young Master, please don't be angry. Madam's brothers were probably just saying that."

"They even call you a servant, which is the last thing I can tolerate. I can tolerate my wife treating me like a servant at home, but she doesn't give me any face in public either. I'd rather not have a marriage like this."

"Young master, you spoke in anger. I was just your page, a servant. Madam did nothing wrong."

"She's wrong, terribly wrong. You're just my page, not a servant in this house."

"Young Master, let's not talk about this anymore. Calm down, and we'll go and bring Madam back in a couple of days."

"No, you're not allowed to go either. Pingyang, Boqin, do you like your aunt?"

"We don't like it. If Father likes it, we'll make do," the two children answered in unison.

"What are you talking about? We won't settle for that." Li Bai said firmly.

Just then, there was a knock on the door outside the courtyard.

"Is it Auntie and the others who have come after us? Will they hit us?" Pingyang and Boqin timidly hid behind me, staring at the courtyard gate.

"Don't be afraid. Father and Uncle are both martial artists. What are we afraid of, a few landlords?" After Li Bai finished speaking, he walked towards the courtyard gate. When he opened the gate, Zhang Shuming and Lu Qian and the others were standing outside.

"Brother Taibai, you've found new love and forgotten your old friends, haven't you? If we don't come looking for you, will you forget about us?" Pei Zheng said, taking Li Bai's hand as soon as he saw him.

"Brother Pei, what are you saying? I was drinking with Brother Shuming in Wutong Valley just a few days ago. Everyone's here, please come in and sit down." Li Bai welcomed everyone into the house and led them to the living room.

Seeing that they weren't from the Liu family, Pingyang and Boqin greeted their uncles with relief and happily went out to play.

After I had brewed tea for the gentlemen, I left the living room and asked Li Bai:

"Young Master, what are the arrangements for lunch?"

"Yuehua, don't bother. I've already booked a table at Helan's Restaurant. We'll all go there in a bit and invite your new wives," Lu Qian said.

I glanced at Li Bai, but dared not respond to Lu Qian's words.

Li Bai said, "I'm not afraid of being laughed at by you brothers, but I don't have a new wife."

Everyone looked at Li Bai with questioning eyes.

Li Bai said, "I have many disagreements with Liu, so we have to part ways. She has returned to her parents' home today, and my family can now live a peaceful life again. I no longer need to be so careful every day."

"Brother Taibai, I hope you will meet a good man next, and let bygones be bygones," Zhang Shuming said.

"But what more do you want? If a couple can't get along, it's the children who suffer. Brother Taibai, it's better to separate sooner rather than later. Besides, these two children aren't even her own, so she won't feel any heartache. We brothers will keep an eye out for you, and we'll introduce you to suitable ones when we find someone." Tao Mian said.

"Thanks for your kind offer, brothers. We'll see how things unfold. Enough about me, let's talk about you guys."

The men poured out their grievances to each other, lamenting that they were all talented but unappreciated, possessing lofty ideals and ambitions yet failing to be given important responsibilities.

Noon arrived quickly, and Lu Qian invited everyone to the Helan Family Restaurant. The manager personally led them to a private room, where Li Bai and the others drank heartily once more. After finishing our meal with Pingyang and Boqin, I returned home.

Around five or six o'clock in the afternoon, Li Bai still hadn't returned when there was a knock on the door outside the courtyard.

"It's Father back!" Boqin heard the knocking and ran happily to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, Liu strode in, shouting as she went, "Li Bai, you've got some nerve, daring to abandon me like this!"

The two children ran timidly toward me and hid behind me.

Liu searched the courtyard and rooms but couldn't find Li Bai. She yelled at me:

"Where has that rascal Li Bai gone again? He came back this morning, and disappeared again this afternoon."

"Reporting to Madam, some of the young master's friends came looking for him. They went to Helan's Restaurant for drinks and haven't returned yet."

"He has money for drinking, but he doesn't have any when it comes to giving money to my parents. He's doing this on purpose, isn't he?"

"It was his friend who treated him to drinks. We really don't have much money left. Please understand, Madam," I said.

"I understand him, but who understands me? I married him, so I have to wear his clothes, use his things, and eat his food. I don't care about anything else," Liu said domineeringly.

I had nothing to say, so I took my two children to the kitchen to make dinner.

After dinner, Li Bai still hadn't returned, and Liu Shi started nagging all over the yard again. Even though I hid in the study with the two children, I couldn't escape Liu Shi's questioning.

"Yuehua, what kind of friends does your young master keep? Why isn't he home yet, so late?"

"Madam, they are all famous people from Donglu. You wouldn't believe it if I told you. You should know Chief Clerk Lu; he's here too," I replied.

"If only your young master could have an official position like Magistrate Lu. He has neither money nor official rank. I don't know how he'll manage to live like this," Liu muttered as she walked into the living room.

Just then, the courtyard gate opened, and Li Bai, drunk, stumbled into the courtyard, waving back repeatedly.

"I'm home, don't bother seeing me off."

I rushed out and saw Lu Qian supporting Zhang Shuming and the others standing outside the door.

I whispered, "Minister Lu, are you alright? My wife is back."

"I'm fine. They're drunk. You help Twelve inside. We're leaving."

"Then take care." I said, watching Lu Qian and the others walk out of the alley. I closed the courtyard gate and helped Li Bai to the study. Pingyang and Boqin saw that their father was drunk; one poured tea, and the other took a towel to wipe Li Bai's face. Liu Shi chased after them to the study door and said mockingly:

"Aren't you supposed to be a good drinker? If you're drunk, you're probably faking it."

Upon hearing Liu's voice, Li Bai sat up abruptly in bed, as if he were drunk, but it was all an act.