I served as Li Bai's page.

After lunch, I rushed out of the carriage and loaded the things Liu wanted to take onto it. Li Bai helped Liu into the carriage and said to her:

"We've known each other for a while, and I'm truly sorry. I'm not capable of giving you a husband with a high-ranking official position and a life of luxury. You should choose someone from a more prestigious family."

"I know you despise me. It's not that I don't want to take care of your two children; I truly don't know how to get along with them. At home, my parents doted on me, never letting me interfere in any household matters. Even after I got married, I was waited on hand and foot every day. I simply couldn't adapt to this impoverished life, so I kept pressuring you to find an official position. Now that you've divorced me, I feel a sense of relief. I'm leaving." Liu said these words through tears, then lowered the carriage curtain and said to me:

"Yuehua, let's go."

I glanced back at Li Bai and the two children standing at the entrance to the living room, then whipped the carriage out.

Two hours later, the carriage stopped in front of the Liu family mansion in Liu Village. I jumped down from the carriage and helped Liu Shi down. When the servants reported that their young lady had returned, Master Liu and his wife came to the gate to greet her. As soon as Liu Shi got out of the carriage, she threw herself into the old lady's arms and burst into tears.

"Mother, why is my life so miserable? My first husband died, and now this husband doesn't want me anymore. What should I do?"

"Don't be afraid, your mother is here. I'll go and reason with Li Bai."

"What are you looking for? Aren't you ashamed? Move Miss's things inside." Master Liu glared angrily at the servants, then flicked his long sleeves and walked into the house.

I took Liu's things out of the carriage, intending to apologize to the Liu family, but then I saw that Liu, his wife, and daughter had already gone inside. I had no choice but to drive the carriage home. When I got to my door, I saw Li Bai standing under a banyan tree with two children, looking into the alley.

"How are you? Did they give you any trouble?" Li Bai rushed over as soon as he saw the carriage and asked anxiously.

"No, her four older brothers weren't here, and I didn't get a chance to speak a single word to Master Liu."

"That's good. Too much talk leads to mistakes. As long as you get home safely, your mission is complete." Li Bai nodded with satisfaction, a contented smile on his face.

I jumped off the carriage, and Pingyang and Boqin came over to take the reins of the horses, and we happily headed home.

After Liu left, Pingyang and Boqin were in high spirits and chased and played in the courtyard from time to time. Li Bai even recited his poems aloud in the courtyard for several days. But I was worried because we had very little money left. How could we fill everyone's stomachs?

"Young master, don't just read poems. Copy down a few, and I'll take them to a calligraphy and painting framing shop to see if we can sell them for some money to help with household expenses."

"This is a way to make money. Give me paper and pen, and I'll write it down now," Li Bai said generously.

I went to the study and took the paper, brush, and ink to the pavilion, where I laid them out for Li Bai.

"Young master, you need to write some of your poems that are well-known and familiar to everyone so that they can be accepted and sold for money," I said.

"Okay, I'll do as you say. I'll write a few pieces for you to try and see if anyone buys them."

The next day, I took the poem written by Li Bai to a calligraphy and painting mounting shop on the street. I took out the calligraphy written by Li Bai and said to the shopkeeper:

"Boss, I have a few calligraphy pieces here. How much do you think they're worth?"

The shopkeeper opened the calligraphy and painting, saw it was a poem by Li Bai, and asked:

Was it written by Li Bai himself, or copied by someone else?

"Of course it was written by Li Bai himself," I replied.

At this moment, a man who looked like a merchant walked over, took the calligraphy and painting from the shopkeeper, and said:

"Let me see, I have an authentic painting by Li Bai at home."

After examining them, the merchant said to me, "You must be Yuehua, the pageboy. That year on the Qinhuai River, Li Bai was quite the star, leaving behind many well-known poems. I was fortunate enough to possess one of his original works, and the calligraphy is exactly the same as these other pieces. I'll take these."

The shopkeeper said, "You should at least leave me one so I can frame it and hang it in the shop."

The merchant pulled out a card and handed it to the shopkeeper, saying:

"I'll give you one; I'll take the rest back to Nanjing, frame it, and hang it at home to ward off evil spirits. This trip to Rencheng was truly worthwhile."

The merchant handed me two stacks of silver notes, saying, "Perhaps the Hermit of Taibai has encountered some difficulties, otherwise he wouldn't have sent his page to sell calligraphy and paintings. This money should be enough to sustain you for a while."

"Boss, these few calligraphy pieces aren't worth that much. I'll just take a stack," I quickly declined.

"Take it all. I don't need the money. Here's another ten taels of silver. I'll give it to you as well. Actually, the value of Li Bai's poems and calligraphy is far more than this." After saying this, the merchant put the money in my hand, turned around, got into a luxurious carriage next to the shop, and left.

I sighed inwardly, "This is truly a good person; he knows that what we need most right now is money."

Seeing me staring blankly at the carriage, the shopkeeper exclaimed, "Young man, you're in luck today! Do you know who he is?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure he's very rich."

"He's not only rich, but he also has a unique eye. He's the richest man in Nanjing and a renowned antique collector throughout Jiangnan."

"How did you know?" I asked.

"He would come to see me every few months and ask me to save the good things for him."

"So that's how it is." I suddenly realized.

I put away the banknotes and silver, and looked at the shopkeeper, saying:

"What price are you willing to offer for this painting you left behind?"

The shopkeeper took five taels of silver from under the counter and handed it to me, saying:

"My shop is a small business, so this is all I can offer you. Please understand."

I took the money and said, "Boss, this is quite a lot, thank you."

I took the money to the market and bought meat and vegetables, then went to the winery and bought two jugs of wine. I happily went home.

When Li Bai saw me returning with meat and wine, he knew I had sold the calligraphy and paintings, and asked me:

"How many days will the money from this be enough for us?"

"Young master, guess," I said.

"Ten days or half a month."

I took out two stacks of silver notes from my sleeve, then took out some silver coins and placed them on the dining table, saying, "Young master, how long do you think this will last?"

Li Bai looked at the money with delight, muttering to himself, "I never imagined it would be so valuable. I must work even harder and write more."

"Young master, your calligraphy and poetry are excellent. I was lucky; I met the richest man in Jinling, a collector of antiques and calligraphy, at a calligraphy and painting shop, which is how I made this money."

"This person has a good eye. This money is enough for us to use for a year and a half. It's true that there's always a way out," Li Bai exclaimed.

Pingyang and Boqin, seeing that they had bought meat, excitedly urged me, "Uncle, hurry up and cook, we're hungry!"

I put away the silver notes and silver and handed some to Li Bai, saying:

"Young Master, please keep this safe. We both need to plan how to use it."

"I know, I will never use money unless absolutely necessary." After saying this, Li Bai put away the silver notes and silver and walked towards his study with peace of mind.