I served as Li Bai's page.

"Yuehua, come here, let me introduce you. This is my drinking buddy, Young Master Meng, from Rencheng. Back then, we often drank until we were completely drunk," Li Bai said.

"Greetings, Young Master Meng. I am Yuehua, Li Bai's pageboy. Please take good care of me," I said.

Young Master Meng looked me up and down and asked, "Brother Taibai, does your page know how to drink?"

"I dare not let him drink. If he does, you'll become his brother," Li Bai joked.

"Young master, please don't bring up sensitive topics in front of our guests." My face immediately turned red.

"Don't even mention him, his face is all red. Let's give it a try sometime." After saying that, Young Master Meng laughed with Li Bai.

After laughing, Li Bai remembered to ask, "Brother Meng, how did you know I came to Yangzhou and was staying here?"

Young Master Meng pointed at Ah Chao and said, "He's my cousin. This morning at the yamen, I asked him how things were at home after being gone for so long. He told me that two guests had checked into his inn, one of whom was named Li Bai. I immediately thought it might be someone with the same name, but I still wanted to come and see for myself. And it really is you."

"And how did you get to Yangzhou?" Li Bai asked.

"After we parted ways in Rencheng that year, I went to my aunt's house in Anlu and studied diligently. A year later, I returned to my hometown, passed the imperial examination, and was appointed by the court to serve as a minor county magistrate here," said Young Master Meng.

"Brother Meng, you are now a member of the imperial court, and we must address you as Prefect Meng. But I am not qualified to participate in the imperial examinations; I truly have no way to serve my country." After Li Bai finished speaking, a sense of disappointment inevitably showed in his eyes.

"Brother Taibai, there will always be a way. Take it slow," Meng Shaofu said.

"Cousin, let's eat here tonight. I'll ask Qinglan to cook a couple more dishes. You two can have a good drink," A-Chao said.

"Alright, we'll eat here today, and tomorrow I'll treat you to a meal outside to welcome Li Bai back," said Meng Shaofu.

I called Mu Mu back, and when Achao told me that Meng Shaofu was going to eat here, I went to the kitchen to help Qinglan cook. By dinnertime, we had prepared a large table of dishes.

"Young Master Meng, Young Master, Brother Chao is ready for dinner," I called out.

Li Bai pulled Meng Shaofu by the hand and sat down at the table. Brother A-Chao sat opposite them. I picked up a jar of wine, filled the cups for the three of them, and called out, "Sister Qinglan, Mumu, you two come and eat too."

"We'll eat later, you guys eat," said Sister Qinglan.

"Come on, let's eat together. Your cousin won't mind," Li Bai said.

Qinglan and Mumu then brought their bowls to the table.

Li Bai, Meng Shaofu, and Brother A Chao were all good drinkers. They didn't leave the table until they finished the two jars of wine that Li Bai and I had brought back. The three of them were only slightly drunk.

Meng Shaofu stood up and said, "I should go home now, Brother Taibai. I'll host a welcome dinner for you at Hongyun Wine House tomorrow night. I'll introduce you to some friends from Yangzhou."

I went to the alley and called a carriage for Meng Shaofu. Meng Shaofu got into the carriage and went back to his residence.

Li Bai was very excited to see an old friend. After Meng Shaofu left, he insisted on taking me for a walk on the canal embankment. I had no choice but to accompany him to the canal embankment at the South Gate Wharf.

The Grand Canal at night, illuminated by the faint lights on both banks, appeared even more hazy and indistinct. The water seemed to lie still, occasionally broken by a fish leaping out of the water, unaware of the night's tranquility. Willows swayed gently against our faces, and Li Bai and I walked back and forth along the canal embankment.

Li Bai would smile for a moment, then shake his head. Perhaps he was thinking about all his past experiences in Rencheng, Donglu, and his friends with whom he could sing and drink heartily. But what I'm more curious about is whether he thought about his father, who was far away from his family and serving in Rencheng.

"Young Master, when did you meet Meng Shaofu and Fan Lun?" I asked.

"I left home at fifteen and went with my father to Rencheng in Donglu. I made many friends through drinking, including Meng Shaofu, Fan Lun, Cen Xun, and Yuan Danqiu. Several of my uncles were also there. I often took my cousins ​​and friends to drink until we were completely drunk. Sometimes we even got into trouble and clashed with some street thugs. At that time, my father often punished me by making me copy the Tao Te Ching. I remember once when I was drinking with Cen Xun and Yuan Danqiu, we passed by a farmhouse and saw their rabbit run out. Yuan Danqiu leaped forward and caught it. We roasted and ate it in the nearby woods. As a result, the family sued us to my father, and we had to pay double the amount in compensation. My father then sent me back to Longxi Academy." Li Bai's eyes shone as he recounted these past events, showing no trace of worry about his official career.

"Did you see each other again after that?" I asked.

"I only met Fan Lun at Dongting Lake that time, and I only met Meng Shaofu now. Cen Xun and Yuan Danqiu often send me messages through others. We all believe in Taoism, seek immortals and seek longevity. Yuan Danqiu is studying under a famous master on Mount Song, while Cen Xun is also traveling around and has no intention of entering officialdom," Li Bai said.

"So you've known these friends for so long, young master. No wonder you always have so much to talk about when you meet," I said.

"Now Brother Meng is a man of the court, and Fan Lun will probably pass the imperial examination this autumn, while I have visited him countless times but no one has given me a chance. I can only find solace in nature," Li Bai sighed.

"Young master, don't be discouraged. When God closes a door, he opens a door for you," I encouraged Li Bai.

"What did you say? Who is God?" Li Bai stared at me with wide eyes.

"God is the god you're looking for." I knew I'd made a mistake again, so I quickly explained.

"Yuehua, sometimes I really can't understand what you're saying," Li Bai complained.

"Young master, let's go back. It's getting late. Look, there's no one else on this embankment except the two of us." I changed the subject, not wanting Li Bai to continue agonizing over whether to take up an official post or not.

"I've discovered you're even bolder than me. Are you ever afraid? You call yourself the Little Tyrant of the Qinhuai River, yet you dare to fight without a word. Are you afraid there's no one here?" Li Bai said as he led me back.

We entered the main street outside the South Gate. The shops and restaurants on both sides were still as lively as ever, and we could occasionally hear the gentle and lingering voices of courtesans.

Li Bai and I returned to the inn, where Brother Chao was waiting in the lobby. Seeing us enter, he said, "You're back! You just arrived, and I was worried you wouldn't be able to find your way back."

"Don't worry, Brother Chao. We've traveled all the way from Western Shu to Yangzhou, so we have a good eye. We can remember everything we see," I said.

After we entered, Ah Chao closed the door and went inside to sleep. Li Bai and I washed up and went upstairs as well.

Li Bai, still not finished, insisted on taking me to his room so I could hear him recount his past stories. He walked around the room talking, and at first I could answer his questions, but later I fell asleep on the table.