I served as Li Bai's page.

After dinner, Xiaoqian and I went to the garden. Madam Xu held Xu Ziyan's hand and walked slowly forward, saying repeatedly, "You need to exercise more so that childbirth will be easier later." Master Xu and Li Bai followed behind them.

Xiaoqian stepped forward and said, "Madam, let me help you." She helped Xu Ziyan move slowly.

When Butler Wu arrived in the garden, I greeted him, "Hello, Uncle Wu."

"Yuehua's back. Are you coming with me to Baizhao Mountain to see our new house today?"

"I was just about to talk to you about this. Shall we go now?"

Li Bai said, "I'll go with you; I have nothing to do at home anyway."

Xu Ziyan said, "If my husband goes, I will go too. With Yuehua here, I feel at ease."

Madam Xu said, "Let's all go today. My husband and I will go too, and we'll all go and see."

I went to the stable to harness two carriages and rushed to the gate of the Xu residence. Xiaoqian took a thin cotton quilt and spread it in the carriage, and Li Bai helped Xu Ziyan sit down.

Master Xu, Madam Xu, and Aunt Wu rode in Uncle Wu's carriage, and we hurried towards Baizhao Mountain.

After arriving at the foot of Baizhao Mountain and parking the carriage, everyone walked towards their new home.

"Uncle Wu, could we widen this road a bit so that carriages can reach the gate?" I asked.

"It's possible, but if you dig too wide, the soil will easily slide down. The area we dug during the last wedding procession is now completely filled with soil that slid down from above," Uncle Wu said.

"We can build up the dug area with stones so it won't collapse. We can also lay a layer of charcoal ash and small stones on the road surface so we won't get muddy feet when it rains."

Master Xu said, "Yuehua, your idea is excellent. From now on, my daughter can travel by carriage."

"Sir, I'll arrange for someone to repair this road tomorrow," Uncle Wu said.

"Thank you for your hard work, Steward Wu," Li Bai said.

We arrived at our new home. The grand gate was already finished. Climbing the steps and pushing open the gate, we entered the courtyard. Numerous flower beds had been built, filled with blooming flowers. Directly opposite the gate was a pond with an artificial rockery in the center, which served as a screen.

Windows on both sides were open for ventilation. The spacious veranda in front of the main hall was supported by several thick trees, large enough to hold at least ten tables. The hall's doors were made entirely of nanmu wood, and more than a dozen nanmu chairs were already placed inside. Further in were two parallel inner courtyards, arranged in a traditional courtyard house style. A flower bed, planted with fresh flowers, stood in the center of each courtyard. One courtyard was for the master's use, with three bedrooms on one side and a study and guest rooms on the other. The other courtyard was for servants, with three rooms on each side. Behind the inner courtyards was a large garden, planted with various flowers, trees, and shrubs. The garden was bordered by a mountain, with stone steps leading directly to the summit, offering panoramic views.

Li Bai and Xu Ziyan were quite satisfied after reading it and kept thanking Butler Wu.

"Uncle Wu, when can we move in?" Li Bai asked.

"Not now. We can only move in after my daughter gives birth," Mrs. Xu said.

"Mother, why? Can't we move now?" Xu Ziyan asked.

"Giving birth is a very dangerous thing for a woman. I can't let you come to Baizhao Mountain to give birth. It's a sparsely populated area with only one family living far away. I'm worried about you," said Madam Xu.

Li Bai said, "Could we move in first, and then go back when it's time to have a baby?"

"My husband is right. Let's move in a few days."

Master Xu and Madam Xu remained silent.

After visiting the new house and returning to the Xu residence, Li Bai quietly told me to prepare for the move.

"Young Master, what are you planning to move upstairs?" I asked.

"We'll move anything that's not available upstairs, and we won't take what's available upstairs. So, you'll need to go back and forth between the new house and here these next few days to see what we need."

"Yes, young master, I will obey your orders."

The next day, Uncle Wu organized people to repair the road at Baizhao Mountain. I went with them. After a long day of hard work, a road that could accommodate horse-drawn carriages was finally completed.

Uncle Wu said, "Let's stop here for today. Tomorrow, we'll mainly be hauling some small stones and charcoal ash to pave the road."

"Uncle Wu, could you give me a key to the front door of the new house? I'd like to go in and see how it's laid out," I said.

"We won't wait for you. We'll save you a horse." After saying that, Uncle Wu handed me the key to the front door of the new house.

I opened the door and went inside, thinking about what I needed to move as I went, and I had a general idea of ​​what I wanted to move.

Leaving my new home, it was still early, so I went to the Taoist temple on the mountain and called out:

"Mysterious Dream."

Xuanmeng ran out from inside, excitedly grabbing my hand and saying, "Yuehua, I haven't seen you in so long! You're finally back. The Taoist temple was so deserted during the New Year; no one came. I missed you so much!"

"We're moving to Baizhaoshan in a few days, and I'll come to see you often then."

"You've moved in; I'd like to come over for a meal."

"Okay, I'll send someone to fetch you."

"My young master hasn't come up since I left?"

"I've been here a few times. Every time I arrive, I just sit on this platform, drinking and spacing out."

"Did you buy the wine for him?"

"He wants a drink, but I don't have any, so I'll have to go buy some from him."

I took a silver note out of my pocket and handed it to Xuanmeng, saying, "Take this; it's for his drinks."

"We don't need that many. It's just a few jars of wine. Let's forget about it."

"Take it. Buy some more to store. My young master will definitely ask you for wine again. The young mistress is strict and doesn't allow drinking at home."

"Really, even after Qinglian Jushi got married, he's no longer free."

"If you don't cultivate the Tao, won't you be the same?"

Xuanmeng smiled shyly and lowered her head.

I glanced at the sky; it hadn't been long before dusk had fallen. I said, "Xuanmeng, you go ahead with your work, I'm going back."

"Yuehua, please have a meal with me before you leave. For a long time now, I haven't had anyone to talk to."

Looking into Xuanmeng's innocent and naive eyes, I suddenly felt a pang of heartache. Can seeking immortality and pursuing the Dao truly bring happiness? Perhaps Xuanmeng has simply taken the wrong path, or perhaps it was imposed upon him by Daoist Ziyang.

"Okay, let's go cook. What would you like to eat? I'll make it," I said to Xuanmeng.

"I want to eat dumplings. Do you know how to make them? I don't. When I went to Anlu, I saw a restaurant that specializes in them. They're so delicious." Xuanmeng's eyes shone as she talked about food.

I thought for a moment and said, "Come on, let's go see if there are any chives in the soil behind the house. I'll make you chive dumplings."

Xuanmeng and I went to the back of the Taoist temple. The soil there was full of vegetables that Xuanmeng had planted. I cut a bunch of chives and then Xuanmeng and I went back to the Taoist temple.

I took out the flour, kneaded the dough, rolled out the wrappers, and then chopped and mixed the chives.

"Xuanmeng, come here, I'll teach you. You can make it whenever you want to eat it."

I taught Xuanmeng how to make dumplings, and after they were steamed, Xuanmeng thought they were delicious.

After dinner, it was already dark. Xuanmeng found me a lantern, which I carried down the mountain. As I mounted my horse and prepared to head towards the Xu residence, a glimmer of light appeared ahead. When I got closer, I saw Li Bai riding a horse and carrying the lantern, galloping towards me.