I served as Li Bai's page.

Perhaps Li Bai was too busy all day and temporarily forgot the pain of losing his beloved? Or perhaps he buried this pain deep in his heart? During that time, Li Bai rarely got drunk, and his mood improved considerably. He not only helped others with their calligraphy, but sometimes he would even write poems for me to frame and give to newly acquainted friends. In no time, Li Bai had become quite famous in Chengdu.

That day, because few people came to see Li Bai, after lunch, Li Bai said to Wu Zhinan and me, "It's been a long time since I've heard Panpan sing. This afternoon, let's go to Huanhua Creek to find her. I want to thank her in person."

I said, "Okay, and return her clothes while you're at it."

"What clothes?" Li Bai asked.

"It's the coat she draped over you when she brought you home that day. I washed it and kept it, but I haven't had a chance to return it to her yet," I said.

"Why didn't you say so sooner? We should have returned it to them much earlier."

"I saw you were having a great time, so I didn't tell you."

We returned to our room and tidied up briefly. Li Bai put on a white satin robe embroidered with red lace, a blue embroidered belt around his waist, a long sword with tassels, and a white fleece-lined cloak. He looked dashing and spirited. He led Wu Zhinan and me to the inn, boarded a carriage, and headed towards Huanhua Creek.

We arrived at Huanhua Creek and hiked through the green hills and clear waters. Flocks of egrets took flight upon encountering tourists, circling high in the sky. We descended the steps along the creek, searching for the painted boat of the legendary courtesan Panpan. Here, the bustling atmosphere of a brothel coexisted with the tranquility of a secluded retreat from the world's clamor. Boats ply the creek, and the songs of young women rise and fall, creating a vibrant scene.

We walked slowly along the stream and came to a beautifully decorated pleasure boat. I looked closely and realized it was the Panpan Pleasure Boat.

"Young master, over here." I tugged at Li Bai. Just then, two people were heading onto the pleasure boat, and Panpan, wearing a veil, came out to greet them.

"Panpan, my girl!" I called out loudly.

Panpan looked up and saw us, then quickly bowed to the two men and said, "I have something to attend to today, please come again next time." The two men had no choice but to disembark and leave.

The three of us boarded the boat and, led by Panpan, sat down in the cabin. A maidservant poured us wine, and the boatman slowly rowed the boat to the center of the stream.

"What brings you here today? I heard you've been quite busy, with the stories of Li Bai being told all over Chengdu," Panpan said.

"You flatter me, young lady. It was just a way to pass the time. I should have come to thank you in person for your kindness that day," Li Bai replied.

"That was nothing, young master, please don't take it to heart. Now that you're here, let go of all your worries and have a good time. I'll play a tune for you." After saying this, Panpan removed her veil, took out her pipa, and played "Spring River Flower Moon Night," her voice like pearls falling on the Huanhua Stream.

Li Bai stood up and walked out of the cabin, standing at the bow of the boat against the wind. His cloak was lifted by the breeze, creating a magnificent image of a man who stands tall and upright.

After Panpan finished playing her piece, Wu Zhinan and I praised her, then raised our wine cups, lamenting that we hadn't met sooner. Panpan prepared to play another piece for us, but Li Bai returned to the cabin and sat down at the guzheng: "Let me sing you a song." With that, he lightly touched the strings, and began to sing "Guan Ju": "Guan guan cry the ospreys, on the islet in the river. A fair maiden, a gentleman's ideal. The watercress grows thick and thin, flowing left and right. A fair maiden, he seeks her waking and sleeping. Unable to obtain her, he longs for her waking and sleeping. Oh, how he longs, tossing and turning in bed. The watercress grows thick and thin, gathered left and right. A fair maiden, he befriends her with zither and lute. The watercress grows thick and thin, plucked left and right. A fair maiden, he delights her with bells and drums."

Panpan began to dance slowly to Li Bai's song. Her waist was supple, her movements light and graceful, her long sleeves fluttering, like a fairy descending to earth. Wu Zhinan and I were so captivated that we forgot Li Bai was even there. Panpan's maid kept refilling our cups, and before long, my face was flushed red.

After Li Bai finished singing, he came to my side, took my wine cup, and said, "Yuehua, stop drinking. You'll get drunk if you drink any more, and Panpan will laugh at you."

"Young master, it's not the wine that intoxicates, but the person. With such beautiful music and such beautiful people, it's worth getting drunk at least once in a lifetime." I was already drunk, and I was even stuttering a bit.

Li Bai hurriedly apologized to Panpan: "Miss Panpan, I'm sorry, he's drunk."

Wu Zhinan quickly replied, "Don't listen to his nonsense, thank you for your hospitality, young lady."

"People who come to a place like ours are always looking for some fun, either to drink until they drop or because they love rhythm. It's my honor to help you relax. Don't say anything about being accommodating," Panpan said.

"There are times in life when we have no control over our own destiny. Showing our faces in public is probably not what you want. So many people are burdened by life, so many are trapped by deep feelings. The important thing is that we must let go of our obsessions so that we will not bind ourselves," Li Bai said.

"Has the young master let go of his obsession? I'm afraid it's not that easy. Just like us, we have to flatter everyone in order to make a living." Panpan said, looking at Li Bai.

Li Bai stood up, turned around, and lifted the cabin curtain, not daring to look Panpan in the eye: "I have no more obsessions. I will live life as it comes."

"Let bygones be bygones. I believe that life gives everyone the same gifts. Just like when I sing for others, I please others and I please myself," Panpan said.

"You're right, young lady. Here, Yuehua toasts you." I picked up my glass and drank it all in one gulp.

I was quite tipsy, and Wu Zhinan was almost done drinking too. Li Bai, however, dared not drink any more, afraid of getting drunk and making a fool of himself. He and Panpan played the zither and sang songs, lingering on the Huanhua Stream in winter, reluctant to leave. It wasn't until evening, when the lights on both banks of the stream were twinkling, that we returned to the shore.

Stepping off the boat, the cold wind sobered me up considerably. I wrapped my coat tighter around myself, hugging my chest, shivering with cold. Li Bai took off his cloak and draped it over me: "Put this on, lest you catch a cold."

"No, young master, what will you do if I give it to you? It's winter." I tried to return the cloak to Li Bai, but he hugged me tightly: "This way we can keep each other warm."

Panpan called a carriage for us. Before getting in, I said to Panpan, "Miss Panpan, thank you for your guidance and care for our young master. I've put your clothes in the cabin, and there's also a painting and calligraphy that our young master gave you. If fate allows, you and our young master will surely meet again, and then you can rekindle your romance. It won't be in vain that you were so devoted to our young master." After saying that, I got into the carriage, and the three of us returned to the inn before dark.

"Young master, I put ten taels of silver in Panpan's clothes. You won't blame me, will you?"

"I saw it, and I was worried you wouldn't give it to me. Does that mean we have an unspoken agreement?"

"Of course, otherwise, how could they become master and servant?"