Prologue

The person approaching the boss's wife trembled all over, stopped, turned, and came to the table of that person, slightly bowing, and said softly: "Thank you for your guidance." After saying this, he waved his hand, and the group filed out of the store, with the car roaring away.

The proprietress, upon hearing the situation, entered the kitchen and brought out a large pot of tea: "I apologize, please have some tea." After saying this, she filled each person's cup. The individuals at the table exchanged glances, revealing their fear. Suddenly, the older man stood up, his face ashen, his eyes bloodshot, and he walked menacingly towards the proprietress

The next day, the Jiujiang Xunyang Evening News prominently published a report: Yesterday evening, a truck from Hubei accidentally plunged into the Yangtze River, resulting in the drowning deaths of all five passengers on board

"I will take a sip first," the young man slowly sipped his drink and continued, "The head nurse felt something sliding, so she ran her hand over the child's scalp, and the scalp surprisingly slid up to the top of the head, with eyes all over the forehead!"

"Boss, is there any food left?" shouted a man in his fifties with a Hubei accent. Before the shop owner could respond, the others had already taken their seats. These individuals appeared travel-worn, drenched, and disheveled, suggesting they had come from a long journey and looked utterly exhausted

The middle-aged man said coldly: "They are dead."

The young man dismissed it with indifference: "'What need is there to have known each other before we meet?' is simply love at first sight. Look," he pointed to a long poem titled 'The Lute Song' hanging on the opposite wall, and continued, "It is quite common for officials to have a mistress."

In the preface of the poem, it is stated that "with age comes fading beauty, and she has become the wife of a merchant," which indicates that the pipa player is no longer young and has already settled down. The shopkeeper was explaining this to them

A baby boy was born in the hospital, with a round face and delicate features. The nurses said they had never seen such a beautiful child, and each one was reluctant to let him go. The head nurse held the baby in her arms and kissed his forehead, feeling that something was a bit off

In the autumn of the 11th year of the Yuanhe era during the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 816), Bai Juyi was exiled to Jiangzhou. One autumn night, while seeing off a guest, he encountered a pipa player, expressing an infinite sense of sorrow in shared misfortune. Gazing at the autumn moon over the Xunyang River, he reflected on his own life filled with unfulfilled ambitions and deep-seated frustrations. He sighed, recognizing that both the pipa player and the district magistrate were fellow wanderers in this world, pondering why they needed to have known each other before. That night, the poet composed the timeless narrative poem "Pipa Xing".

The master dismounts while the guest boards the boat, raising a cup to drink without the sound of music or instruments

A strange incident occurred at Ankang Hospital, do you know about it?" The young man swallowed a mouthful of wine and asked.

"Punish him with a drink!" shouted another pair of young men and women. Everyone urged the young man to down a large cup of liquor.

At the head of the Xunyang River, I bid farewell to my guest at night, as the maple leaves and reed flowers rustle in the autumn breeze

Seeking the source of the sound, I quietly inquire, who is the player? The sound of the pipa ceases, and words are delayed as if to speak

In Jiujiang, over 1000 years later, it is the end of the year, night, and a light rain falls continuously. At a small tavern by the Xunyang River, through the dim light at the entrance in the rain, one can vaguely make out the signboard reading "Pipa Pavilion Hotel." Under the eaves of the tavern hangs a string of wind chimes, and as the cool breeze blows, it occasionally produces a soft and pleasant tinkling sound. The tavern is not large, with a total of four tables, two of which are occupied by guests. At a table near the door sits a middle-aged man, accompanied by a little girl of about five or six years old. This man appears to be in his thirties, has a fair complexion, wears a pair of glasses for nearsightedness, and has a refined demeanor. The little girl has neatly braided hair, quietly gazing out the window, her chubby little face is quite adorable. The middle-aged man has already settled the bill, and perhaps he forgot to bring an umbrella when he went out, as he frowns tightly while looking at the continuous light rain outside. At a table by the window, there are two men and two women, all young people, and from their accents, they seem to be tourists from the north. The middle-aged man has already settled the bill, and perhaps he forgot to bring an umbrella when he went out, as he frowns tightly while looking at the continuous light rain outside. At a table by the window, there are two men and two women, all young people, and from their accents, they seem to be tourists from the north. On their table are several small dishes, a pot of white liquor, and they are leisurely sipping while chatting about various topics. The tavern owner and his wife, hearing their lively conversation, took the opportunity to move a stool over and join in.

Suddenly, I hear the sound of the pipa on the water, the host forgets to return while the guests do not depart

Sigh, dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth, from where it came, to where it goes. The middle-aged man at the door let out a long sigh

Not long after the poet left Jiangzhou, a pavilion was built at the place where guests were sent off at Penpu, named after the poem "Pipa Xing". Throughout the ages, countless literati and scholars have come here to pay their respects, including Ouyang Xiu, Su Zhe, Yang Ji, Song Lian, Zha Shenxing, Yuan Mei, and many others, leaving behind numerous poems and writings. In the eleventh year of the Qianlong reign, the great playwright Tang Ying renovated the "Pipa Pavilion", which was destroyed during the Xianfeng period. For more than a hundred years thereafter, the pavilion has ceased to exist, leaving only broken walls and the four large characters "Ancient Pipa Pavilion".

The older man glanced at the adjacent dining table, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. The two women at the same table were silently twisting their long hair, and there was a large puddle of water on the floor

After countless calls, she finally appears, still holding the pipa, half concealing her face

The proprietress just broke out in a cold sweat, leaving everyone puzzled and looking towards the middle-aged man. The shop owner approached him and respectfully inquired.

"Nonsense," protested the girl sitting at the same table.

"Do you think Bai Juyi is like you?" The girl laughed as she reached out with her chopsticks to tap it.

Ah... the girls screamed, their bodies instantly covered in goosebumps

The rain outside gradually intensified, with the dense droplets tapping against the glass, creating a soft sound, while the sound of the wind chimes had long since faded. On a winter night at the end of the season in Jiangnan, a chill permeated the air. The boss got up and entered the kitchen, and after a short while, he brought out a stove and placed it in the center of the room. Instantly, the warmth filled the space, and the young men couldn't help but cheer. They added two more dishes and a pot of wine, enjoying their meal while chatting.

The fine rain continued to fall incessantly, and at this moment, the clock on the wall struck 11 o'clock. The shopkeeper stood up; it was time to close the shop. Suddenly, the wind chimes under the eaves rang, and a beam of light shone in from outside. A heavy-duty truck stopped in front of the tavern, and four or five men and women walked in through the door

"What is wrong?" the girls asked with concern

Everyone urged him to continue speaking

The young man looked at the startled expressions of his female companions with delight, secretly laughing to himself

As the boats draw near, an invitation to meet is extended, adding wine and rekindling the feast with the lights once more

I heard that later Bai Juyi married the pipa player as his second wife said the young man leaning against the window with a chuckle

Drunkenly, we cannot find joy as we part, at the moment of farewell, the vast river is submerged in moonlight

"I am sorry, we are already closed," said the shop owner