I served as Li Bai's page.

It was past one o'clock in the afternoon when I returned to Wuyi Lane. After eating a bowl of noodles at a noodle stall at the entrance of the lane, I went back to the inn.

When I opened the door, Li Bai was lying on the bed.

"Young Master, when did you get back? What happened?" I walked over and asked anxiously.

"I had lunch with those friends and came back. I still feel like I haven't slept enough, and my head feels stuffy," Li Bai said.

"Do you have a cold?" I touched Li Bai's forehead with my hand. He didn't have a fever, and I finally felt relieved.

Just in case, I went to the inn's kitchen and made a bowl of ginger soup for Li Bai.

"Young master, get up and drink this bowl of ginger soup, then cover yourself with the blanket and go to sleep. See if that makes you feel better?" I carried the bowl to the bedside. Li Bai sat up, took the bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and then covered himself with the blanket and went to sleep.

I took a book, sat down at my desk, and started copying it carefully.

"Yuehua, I'm sweating profusely." Li Bai threw off the covers and sat up.

I quickly found a clean coat and handed it to Li Bai, saying, "Put this on and take a shower at the public bathhouse; your head shouldn't feel stuffy anymore."

Li Bai took the clothes I handed him, put on the thick coat, and went downstairs. Worried, I followed him and waited outside the bathhouse until he came out.

"Yuehua really knows how to handle things. I feel better now, and I can drink tonight without any problem," Li Bai said to me.

"I'm telling you to get better quickly, not so you can drink, but for your health. I'm not going to take care of you anymore," I said angrily.

"It was my fault, I misspoke. You should drink less wine and eat more food, Young Master Yuehua, am I right?"

I glared at Li Bai, then turned and walked upstairs.

Back in my room, I took out paper, pen, and ink and placed them on the table. I said to Li Bai, "Young master, write down a few poems that you think are well-written."

"Why don't you just take out the manuscript and copy it? Why do you want me to write it?" Li Bai asked.

"I can't just copy it. Meng Ning said he wants one of your poems as a memento, and it has to be your own handwriting. If I give it to Meng Ning, what if other friends want it too? So, write a few for me to keep on me, in case I need to do someone a favor."

"Yuehua, you really are mercenary." Li Bai said, walking to the table and starting to write seriously.

"Young Master, there's something else I forgot to tell you. I've also invited Miss Yunxia tonight."

Li Bai paused in writing, then asked thoughtfully, "Do you like her singing? I think she doesn't sing as well as you."

"Young Master, she really likes you. I can tell, just like Panpan from the Huanhua Stream."

"Yuehua, don't talk nonsense, especially about the feelings between men and women."

"Young master, you're not getting any younger. You can't keep living a nomadic life. You need to settle down so I can feel at ease."

"You should mind your own business. You're so young, but you're so thoughtful. Do you need to worry about my affairs?" Li Bai angrily put down his pen and looked at me.

"Hurry up and write, let's not talk about this anymore. We need to go to Sun Chu Tower soon." I said, standing up and walking to the corridor to gaze into the distance.

Li Bai wrote a few poems, placed them aside, and walked over to me, asking, "What are you thinking about? You didn't answer when I called you."

"I didn't hear you. Why are you calling me?" I asked.

"I've written a few paintings, and I'm asking if that's enough? I'm afraid you've done too many favors, and then you won't have enough to give me as a gift, what will you do then?" Li Bai teased.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Li Bai walked towards the door, and I went to the table and put the calligraphy away.

Li Bai opened the door, and Meng Ning and several of his friends entered. After Li Bai greeted them, Meng Ning said, "They heard you were leaving Jinling and all came to see you off."

"Alright, let's go, let's go drink at Sun Chu Lou." Li Bai said, walking downstairs with Meng Ning and the others.

"Young master, wait for me." I tucked the poems Li Bai had written into my pocket, closed the door, and chased after him.

We walked out of Wuyi Lane and headed towards Shuixi Gate along the Qinhuai River. Along the way, we chatted about the past and present, singing and laughing. Just as we were about to reach Sun Chu Tower, two carriages stopped in front of us, and Wang An and his friends got out of the carriages.

Wang An said, "Brother Taibai, you are in high spirits! Isn't it tiring to walk such a long distance?"

"How could I possibly feel tired strolling along the banks of the Qinhuai River, a place of romance and beauty? Young Master Wang, why don't you join us for a walk?" Li Bai said.

Wang An and his friends joined our hike, and we headed towards Sun Chu Tower.

Upon arriving at Sun Chu Lou, the shopkeeper came out to greet them.

"Welcome to Sun Chu Lou! The presence of Li Bai, who is drinking heartily here today, will surely bring honor to our humble establishment," the manager said.

"When merchants meet scholars, they become scholars themselves," Li Bai said, and everyone burst into laughter.

Led by the innkeeper, we arrived at the private room I had booked the day before. We sat down as host and guest, and the hotel waitress brought out drinks, filled each of our glasses, and then stood aside.

Suddenly, a man entered, his body bound with a thorny branch. He knelt before Li Bai on one knee and said, "Brother Taibai, I was rude and offensive the other day. I hope you will forgive me. If you do not forgive me, I will rise."

Upon closer inspection, I recognized him as the young master of Nanyang.

Li Bai hesitated for a moment, then turned to me and said, "Yuehua, you make the decision."

I thought for a moment, then stood up and walked to Young Master Nanyang, helping him up: "Young Master, please get up. You've already come to apologize, how could we not forgive you? It was just a small misunderstanding that day. I made a mistake; fortunately, I didn't hurt you. I hope you will forgive me."

As I spoke, I untied the thorns from the young master of Nanyang, pulled him to sit on the table, and asked the young lady to pour him a full glass of wine.

Wang An stood up, raised his wine cup, and said, "Brother Taibai, you are truly a kind and benevolent man. This is a cause for celebration for all. Let us drink this cup together."

At Wang An's suggestion, everyone raised their glasses and drank them down. Several drinks had already been made, but Yunxia still hadn't arrived. I was wondering why when Wang An said, "If only Miss Yunxia could come. It's a pity that she was humiliated while singing here at noon today, lost her footing, and fell down the stairs, breaking her leg."

"How could this happen? It's outrageous!" the young masters exclaimed in unison.

Seeing that Li Bai's expression was a bit unpleasant, I changed the subject, saying, "Everyone, please enjoy your drinks. I'll perform a few songs for you."

I found the innkeeper, borrowed some musical instruments, and performed for everyone. My renditions of "Spring River Flower Moon Night" and "High Mountains and Flowing Water" captivated the gentlemen.

As the wine flowed freely, Li Bai was inspired to write poetry. He walked to the window, gazed at the Qin Huai River, and recited: "The wind blows willow blossoms, filling the shop with fragrance; Wu girls press wine, inviting guests to taste. Young men from Jinling come to see me off; reluctant to depart, each drinks a cup. Please ask the eastward flowing river, whose sorrow of parting is deeper, mine or yours?"

I jotted down Li Bai's poem and casually asked, "Young master, what's the title?"

"Let's call it 'Farewell at a Tavern in Jinling,' to thank my friends in Jinling for coming to see me off." After saying this, Li Bai picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

The drinking continued until midnight. When we got downstairs to the counter, Meng Ning, Wang An, and Nanyang all insisted on paying the bill.

"Miss Yunxia has already sent someone to settle the bill," the shopkeeper said.

"How could you take her money?" I scolded the shopkeeper.

"I gave you a discount, consider it my farewell gift to Li Bai," the shopkeeper said.

"Thank you. Here's a piece of calligraphy by Li Bai for you. It's no wonder he often drank and sang here." I said, and then took out a piece of calligraphy written by Li Bai and gave it to the shopkeeper.