I served as Li Bai's page.

Looking at the poems posted on the wall, Dazhi exclaimed, "I never imagined you were so cultured. It's an insult to your reputation to have you eat and live with us roughnecks."

"Brother Dazhi, what are you saying? It is because of your hard work that we have a happy life. You are our providers." I said.

Li Bai said, "Dazhi, I really want to thank you. Your sincerity and kindness are what touch people's hearts the most, and they are the foundation upon which we are able to write poetry."

"Brother Dazhi, please protect this poem well. It's a gift from a great man to you," I added.

"Yuehua, what nonsense are you spouting? It's just a poem. Don't call it a great man," Li Bai scolded.

I ignored Li Bai and went into the kitchen to cook with Shui Lian and the others.

The next morning, the five of us said goodbye to Dazhi's family and went to the boat on the riverbank. Xiaoyong untied the rope, jumped onto the boat, and rowed it towards the middle of the Yangtze River.

The small boat sped downstream with the current, and we were about to enter the Xiling Gorge.

Li Bai said, "Xiao Yong, let's stay in Guizhou for the night and set off again tomorrow."

"Young Master, do you want to visit Qu Yuan's hometown? That's great, Brother Yong, let's stop at Guizhou and replenish the ship's supplies." I said.

"Alright, hold on tight, I'm heading towards Guizhou Wharf." After saying that, Xiao Yong rowed hard, and the boat moved closer to Guizhou Wharf.

After the boat stopped at the Guizhou Wharf, Xiao Yong and his wife moored the boat, Xiao Ying stayed on the boat, and Xiao Yong walked with us towards the streets of Guizhou.

They hadn't gone far when Xiaoyong said, "You three go have some fun. I'm going to buy some things for the boat. Remember to come back before dark."

"Brother Xiaoyong, aren't you coming with us?" I asked.

"I'm not going, you guys go. I'm going to buy more things; it'll be a few more days before we get to Jiangling," Xiao Yong said.

After parting ways with Xiaoyong, we headed towards Qu Yuan's hometown. Looking at the statue of Qu Yuan, we silently felt the loneliness of this great man who said, "The world is muddy, but I am clear; everyone is drunk, but I am sober." We also admired the poet's perseverance in saying, "The road ahead is long and arduous, but I will search high and low for the truth."

After leaving Qu Yuan's hometown, we arrived at the Jiangdu Temple, a place where people throughout history have worshipped the river god, and it is always bustling with worshippers. The people living along the Yangtze River have long been connected to water, so they hold the river god in great reverence. The three of us also offered incense and knelt in worship to the river god with sincere hearts.

After touring Guizhou for quite some time, we returned to the small boat at the dock as dusk approached. Xiao Ying had already prepared dinner and was waiting for us to come back so we could eat. Xiao Yong took out a jar of wine and poured a full bowl for Li Bai and Wu Zhinan: "Young Master Li, Young Master Wu, come, have a drink. Although it's spring, it's still quite cold at night. A bowl of wine will warm you up." The three of them raised their bowls, clinked them together, and drank them down in one gulp.

After dinner, I helped Xiaoying clear the table and went up to the deck. At that moment, Li Bai and Wu Zhinan were reclining on the deck, looking up at the stars. When I came out, neither of them spoke. "Young masters, what are you thinking about?" I asked.

Wu Zhinan replied, "It's been a long time since I've looked up at the starry sky like this. The stars are especially bright tonight. I've heard that after a person dies, their soul ascends to the sky and becomes a star. If I die, I want to become the brightest one, watching over the round moon."

"Young Master Wu, quickly spit it out! You've misspoke!" I hurriedly stopped Wu Zhinan from continuing.

Li Bai, however, said: "Death is the final destination for each of us. Therefore, while we are alive, we should live as happily as immortals. Do what you want to do, drink what you want to drink, like me."

"Young masters, let's change the subject, let's not discuss life and death, okay?" I interrupted Li Bai.

"What else is there to say? To write poems and compose prose, but the conditions on this deck don't allow it," Li Bai retorted.

"If you have nothing to do, go to sleep. We still have a long journey ahead tomorrow," I said.

Li Bai and Wu Zhinan ran out of things to say and fell into deep thought.

Xiao Yong came out: "Time to sleep. The journey on the river won't be very smooth tomorrow."

After listening to Xiaoyong's words, we went into the cabin to sleep.

For the next few days, we sailed on the river. When it got dark, we would stop and rest on the calmer banks of the Yangtze. Xiao Yong rowed the boat very slowly, and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the Xiling Gorge from the boat.

After several days of drifting on the Yangtze River, we finally arrived in Jiangling. Xiaoyong docked the boat at the Jiangling pier and said to us, "I'll see you off here. We've been out for several months now, and it's time for us to go back."

"Brother Xiaoyong, let's rest for a bit before we go. Let's moor the boat properly and then go to a restaurant for a meal," I said.

"No, let's head back now while the weather's good. Going back is upstream, much slower; by then we'll reach Yuzhou in late April."

"Then you must be careful while sailing." I took out thirty taels of silver and handed it to Xiaoyong: "This covers the rent and food expenses; please accept it."

"It doesn't cost that much. I'll only charge twenty taels. You bought many of these things yourselves," Xiao Yong said.

"Don't refuse, take them all. The two young masters are rich." I said, and stuffed them into Xiaoyong's pocket.

Mr. and Mrs. Xiaoyong said goodbye to the three of us one by one, and then steered their boat quickly upstream on the Yangtze River.

"Young Master, shall we stay in Jiangling for one night, or go directly to Dongting Lake?" I asked.

"Let's stay one night. We didn't get a good rest on the boat. Let's go to the inn and get a good night's sleep," Li Bai said.

The three of us, carrying our luggage, left the Gangneung pier and headed out to find an inn on the streets of Gangneung. Gangneung is an ancient capital that served as the capital for dozens of dynasties; it is both ancient and prosperous, with a dense population. There were many inns on the streets, and we found one that looked quite luxurious and was very expensive.

As we entered the inn, the waiter led us upstairs to our rooms. Just as we reached the second floor, three elegant young men approached us. One of them said, "My uncle, Meng Haoran, is in Mount Lumen. How about we pay him a visit before heading to Jinling?"

Another person said, "Great! I happen to have a poem describing scenery; I'd like to ask him for advice in person."

Upon hearing the name Meng Haoran, Li Bai was overjoyed, for he was his poetic idol. He immediately stepped forward and said, "I, Li Bai, also greatly admire Meng Shanren's poetry. May we accompany you?"

"Are you Li Bai, the famous Qinglian Hermit of Western Shu? That's wonderful. My uncle also greatly admires your poetry. Let's visit him together tomorrow," said Young Master Meng.

Young Master Meng introduced his two companions to Li Bai: Young Master Lin and Young Master Li. Li Bai, in turn, introduced Wu Zhinan to them. The five gentlemen hit it off immediately and agreed to go for a drink at the tavern next door.

"Yuehua, take your luggage into the room and come find us next door in a bit," Li Bai said to me.

"Okay, I'll go tidy up my room and come right away." I followed the waiter to our room, put my luggage away, checked it carefully, and then went downstairs to find Li Bai.