I served as Li Bai's page.

After my first attempt, I sold Li Bai's poems at a calligraphy and painting framing shop several more times, accumulating some money in my hands.

That summer, Yuan Danqiu wrote from Chang'an, saying that he had been there for almost two years and was quite bored every day except for managing the Taoist affairs of the royal palaces and temples. He was also unable to leave at will and earnestly hoped that his brother Taibai could come to Chang'an to meet him. The letter also mentioned that Princess Yuzhen had returned to Chang'an and was practicing Taoism in the Zhongnan Mountains, and was receiving Taoist practitioners in Chang'an on behalf of the royal family.

Li Bai was overjoyed upon receiving the letter and immediately said to me:

"Yuehua, get ready. We're going to Chang'an. Take Pingyang and Boqin with us; let them broaden their horizons."

When the two children heard that we were going to Chang'an, they were so excited that they circled around me again and again, asking questions incessantly:

"Uncle, are we leaving tomorrow?"

"When to leave is up to Father. I need to go to town now to prepare some things to take in the car when I leave," I said.

"We want to go too," the two children said.

The three of us had just stepped out of the courtyard gate when we heard Li Bai say behind us:

"Yuehua, you'd better prepare plenty of food; the journey will take several days. We're leaving tomorrow."

"Yes, young master, I'll get ready to go right away."

We went to the street and bought some candy, and then went to the mill and bought a lot of flour.

Pingyang asked me:

"Uncle, are you making pastries?"

"Yes, Uncle will make extra to take with you on the road. The journey to Chang'an is long, and you and your younger brother are still small; I'm afraid you'll go hungry on the way."

Back home, I started kneading and proofing the dough, and by evening I had made several kinds of pastries. Li Bai, standing in the courtyard, smelled the aroma and ran to the kitchen to ask:

"May I try some first?"

Pingyang picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and handed it to Li Bai, saying:

"Father, have some, it tastes very good. But you can only eat one piece; this is for the journey to Chang'an."

Li Bai took the pastries, nodding contentedly as he ate. Before leaving, he casually took another piece, prompting Pingyang and Boqin to exclaim in unison, "Father can't eat anymore!"

Li Bai walked to the kitchen doorway, turned back to me, and said:

"Yuehua, that's enough. Go and get some rest. We have to travel tomorrow. Remember to bring some extra clothes for Pingyang and Boqin."

"I understand, it'll be ready soon."

I made many pastries and baked pancakes. After everything was ready, I went to rest with peace of mind.

The next day, after breakfast, I asked Li Bai:

"We're probably going to Chang'an and won't be back for ten days or half a month. Would it be alright if Aunt Liu and the others looked after us for a while?"

"Okay, when we pass by their door in a bit, we'll go in and tell them, and also give the key to Aunt Liu," Li Bai said.

"Yes, young master."

After I packed my luggage, I went to the stable to fetch the horses and harness them to the carriage. Pingyang and Boqin helped me load the luggage onto the carriage. Li Bai checked the house, locked the door, and went to the courtyard, saying to me:

"Let's go. You drive the carriage out first, I'll lock the door."

I helped Pingyang and Boqin into the carriage, drove it outside the courtyard, and Li Bai followed behind, locking the gate. We then got into the carriage and headed out of the alley. Passing by Aunt Liu's house, I stopped the carriage, and Li Bai took the key and knocked on her door. Li Bai went inside and spoke to Aunt Liu briefly. Aunt Liu accompanied Li Bai out the gate, and I quickly jumped down from the carriage, bowing to her.

"Greetings, Madam. Thank you for your help."

"You two go ahead and take good care of the two children and your young master. Leave the household affairs to me."

"Thank you, Madam."

We said goodbye to Aunt Liu and boarded the carriage to officially begin our journey to Chang'an.

After leaving Rencheng, the carriage sped along the official road leading to Chang'an. Pingyang and Boqin were so excited inside the carriage that they sang and recited poems, which amused Li Bai, who also started talking and singing like a child in the carriage.

After some time, Li Bai said to me from inside the carriage, "Yuehua, it's getting late, it's almost noon. Let's find a place to eat. It's been a long time since I've been this happy. We're not in a hurry to continue our journey."

"There's a small town ahead. Let's go there for a meal and rest for a bit," I replied.

I urged the carriage forward again, and soon we arrived at a small town beside the official road. It was midday, but fortunately it was early summer, so the weather wasn't too hot. The streets were bustling with people, and street performers, acrobats, storytellers, and vendors lined both sides of the street, their shouts and calls for customers rising and falling. I stopped the carriage in front of a small restaurant where there were fewer people and said to Li Bai:

"Young master, let's get out of the car. We'll eat at this restaurant. It's too crowded going further in."

Li Bai got out of the carriage, looked around, took the two children out of the carriage, and said:

"Okay, let's eat and rest for a while before we go."

The four of us entered the restaurant, and the restaurant owner came out to greet us.

"Please have a seat, gentlemen. We've just received some fresh lamb; you're in luck!"

Boqin looked up at me and said, "Uncle, it's fine to keep the lamb, why kill it to eat it?"

"People raise sheep to eat their meat, and the lambs are slaughtered when they grow up. There are many ways to eat mutton, such as steaming or stir-frying, but the best way is to make mutton soup to dip in. Today we're going to buy a pound to eat," I said.

Li Bai said, "You have so many ways of eating, so do as you please. Let the children try something new."

I asked the shop owner, "Do you have mutton soup?"

"Yes, I started cooking it after it was delivered this morning, and the meat is cooked now. The broth is rich and fragrant. Would you like some?"

"Okay, give us a pound of mutton, and a little less salt in the broth. I'll make my own dipping sauce." I stood up and went to the kitchen, found four plates, intending to add more chili peppers, but after searching everywhere, I couldn't find a single one. I asked the restaurant owner:

"No chili peppers?"

"No, I've never seen that thing before," the restaurant owner replied.

I suddenly remembered that there were no chili peppers in the Tang Dynasty.

Li Bai and the two children stared at me in surprise. Li Bai said:

"When did you learn so many ways to eat? Did you forget to order something?"

"Uncle, you should also get my father a pot of wine," Pingyang said earnestly.

"My daughter understands me best; she let me experience the taste of mutton with liquor."

The owner brought out the mutton soup and a pot of wine, and the four of us began to eat with great relish. Everyone ate until they were drenched in sweat, and Li Bai kept saying, "This is wonderful! I haven't sweated like this in a long time. This way of eating is very special, it's fantastic!"

Pingyang was also sweating a lot, and shyly said to Li Bai:

"Daddy, I'm covered in sweat. It's so hot today, we need to find a place to take a bath."

"Don't worry, Father will find a clean and hygienic inn to stay at tonight, and there will be a place to take a bath," Li Bai reassured Pingyang.

After we finished lunch, Li Bai still had half a pot of wine left. Bo Qin carefully placed it on the carriage, muttering, "Father can drink it on the road now."

We had intended to stroll through the streets, but it was too hot, and no one wanted to squeeze into the crowds. Li Bai called to us, and we drove the carriage to a banyan tree that resembled an umbrella at the street corner. He said:

"Let's rest under this big tree for a while before we continue. We need to reach the next town before dark to find a place to stay."