I served as Li Bai's page.

Just as I was enjoying the comfort of lying down, half-asleep, Qinglan called from downstairs: "Gentlemen, come down for dinner."

I got out of bed and went to Li Bai's door, calling out, "Young Master, dinner is ready."

Li Bai and I went downstairs, and Qinglan had already set the food on the table.

"Gentlemen, it's getting late. I thought you hadn't eaten, so I just made something simple. Please make do with this," Qinglan said.

Li Bai and I sat down at the table, ready to eat, when a young man rushed in. Mu Mu jumped up and called out, "Daddy!" The man picked up Mu Mu and kissed her repeatedly.

Qinglan walked over and asked, "Did you come back with your cousin? Where are your parents?"

"My parents went to my cousin's house and won't be back for a few days. We didn't disembark until after dark, and I only came back after seeing my cousin, parents, and me off." The young man spoke, then, seeing Li Bai and me, asked Qinglan, "Are you staying at an inn?"

"Yes, they just arrived tonight and haven't had dinner yet. I made them something quick and easy. Have you had any?" Qinglan asked.

"Not yet. I'll be back after I drop off my father and the others."

"Then you can eat with them. I'll go get you a set of chopsticks and a bowl." Qinglan said and walked towards the kitchen.

The young man sat down opposite me and introduced himself, saying, "Call me A-Chao. I'm the head of this household, and I work at the county government office."

"My name is Yuehua, and this is my young master, Li Bai. We are new to Yangzhou, so please take care of us," I said.

"You two gentlemen must be tired from your journey. Do you know how to drink? We'd like to have a couple of drinks," Ah Chao said.

Li Bai was just wondering how to ask if there was any wine when A-Chao mentioned it, and he immediately agreed: "Great! Let's have a couple of drinks to relax."

Ah Chao then called out to Qinglan, "Qinglan, bring me that jar of wine from the cabinet."

Qinglan came out of the kitchen carrying bowls and chopsticks and a bottle of wine. I took the wine jar from her, filled Li Bai and Achao's bowls, and started eating.

"Yuehua, aren't you going to drink?" Achao asked.

"I won't drink, you guys drink," I replied.

I looked up and saw Mu Mu and Qing Lan watching from the side. I said, "Qing Lan, why don't you and Mu Mu come and eat too? Don't just stand there."

"You guys eat first, we'll eat later," Qinglan said.

"We don't have so many rules. Come on, sit down at the table and eat. My page is eating at the table too, isn't he?" Li Bai said.

Ah Chao said, "Since Young Master Li doesn't mind, please join us for a meal."

Mu Mu and Qing Lan took their bowls and chopsticks and sat down at the table to eat.

Li Bai and A Chao slowly drank and chatted, talking about the poor and rich people of Yangzhou, the officials and yamen runners, and also about A Chao's cousin, Meng Shaofu.

Ah Chao said that his cousin was an upright man who cared about the common people and was not good at flattery. As a result, he had been a county magistrate for several years but had not been promoted and remained an unknown minor official.

The two finished the whole jar of wine before it was considered over.

The next day, after I got up, I went downstairs. Mu Mu was playing in the alley in front of the building, and Sister Qinglan was drying clothes in the backyard.

I went to the backyard. The yard wasn't wide, and there were some small trees and flowers planted in it. In the middle was a stone table with four stone benches.

"Sister Qinglan, did you wash the clothes so early?" I asked.

"It's getting late. The people doing business on the street outside are up even earlier than us. Please wait a moment while I bring your food to the table," Qinglan said.

"No need, I'll come by myself in a bit. I'm going to check on our young master." With that, I walked out of the courtyard and went upstairs.

I arrived at Li Bai's house, and as soon as I reached out to knock, the door opened abruptly.

"Young Master, you're up. I was just about to come and wake you up," I said.

"Do I need you to call me? I'm not used to sleeping in late." Li Bai said as he walked downstairs with me.

After we finished washing up, Qinglan had already put the food on the table. I went to the door and called out, "Mumu, come back and wash your hands for dinner."

Mu Mu came running and jumping back from outside.

"Isn't Ah Chao coming to eat?" Li Bai asked.

"He went to the yamen early this morning. He and his cousin took their parents back to their hometown, which took a month. They had to go today," Qinglan replied.

After we finished breakfast, I helped Qinglan clean up the dishes. Then Li Bai said to me, "Yuehua, let's go for a walk in the city."

Li Bai led me from the main street outside the South Gate towards Yangzhou's most bustling thoroughfare. Yangzhou's prosperity differed from Nanjing's; merchants from all over flocked to the city, their attire revealing their extravagance and wealth—adorned with gold and silver. They bought whatever they wanted, regardless of the cost. It was truly a city of high consumption.

I followed Li Bai as we strolled through the streets, often marveling at the merchants' exorbitant profits and the guests' generosity.

"Young master, why don't we set up a stall here and sell our calligraphy? Maybe we can make a good living," I joked with Li Bai.

"How could you even come up with that? I'm not short of money. You're hopeless, that's all the ambition you have." Li Bai finished speaking and strode forward.

I caught up with Li Bai: "Young Master, are you angry?"

"Don't mention money to me again. Have you forgotten why we came here?" Li Bai said angrily.

Li Bai and I carried two jars of wine back to the inn. Sister Qinglan had already prepared lunch and was waiting for us to return.

"Mumu, look what I'm holding in my hand?" Li Bai said.

"I want to eat candied hawthorns!" Mu Mu excitedly ran up to Li Bai and shouted.

Li Bai handed the candied hawthorn to Mu Mu: "Eat slowly, be careful not to chip your teeth."

"Thank you, Uncle Li." Mu Mu took the candied hawthorn and popped it into her mouth.

"Here, Uncle Yuehua has another skewer. Is that enough for you?"

"That's enough, thank you Uncle Yuehua. I'm going to ask Xiao Er to show me; I have so many candied hawthorns." Mu Mu said as she walked into the alley.

Li Bai smiled and shook his head: "Children's happiness is that simple."

"From now on, don't buy anything for the child when we go out. Don't spoil her," Qinglan said.

"A string of candied hawthorns isn't enough, Sister Qinglan. I also bought some vegetables." I handed the vegetables to Qinglan, who took them and went into the kitchen.

After lunch, while we were resting in our room, we heard Ah Chao's voice from downstairs: "Young Master Li, are you in your room? My cousin would like to meet you."

Li Bai and I heard the noise and came out of our room. We went downstairs and saw a young man in official robes standing in the hall.

The young man looked at Li Bai: "Oh, it really is you, Li Bai! It's been several years since we parted ways in Rencheng."

"Oh, Brother Meng, how have you been? It's truly fate that we meet again after traveling thousands of miles." Li Bai exclaimed with delight, pulling the other man close and looking him up and down.

Ah Chao said, "Cousin, don't just stand there, sit down and chat." He then gestured for his cousin and Li Bai to sit down and instructed Qinglan, "Make tea for my cousin and Young Master Li; use the good tea I brought back."

Qinglan agreed and went into the kitchen to make tea. Standing beside her, unsure what to do, I whispered, "I'll go find Mumu."