A jar of sake rested at the bow of a ship. There was a red container of unrefined sugar used to preserve food, yet there was nothing preserved that could be enjoyed with alcohol.

A black canopy boat moved along the center of Peach Blossom River, inside of it was a beauty dressed in rainbow-colored clothes, a chinese lute in her arms. Her beautiful appearance was half veiled, eyes closed, slender jade-like fingers gently plucking on the instrument, the clear and melodious notes drifting along the clear river. Suddenly, her red lips opened slightly, quietly singing, “With the evening eastern winds, the flowers of a thousand trees dance about, falling down like stars, falling like rain, precious horses guiding a carriage along a fragrant road. With the whistling of winds, the swirl of a jade pot’s brilliance, comes a night of dragon fish dancing. Amidst the fireflies and snow willow’s golden strands, laughter gradually dims, the fragrance scatters. After searching endlessly, when I suddenly turned around, that person was actually there, within the waning lights.”

When the song ended, the rainbow beauty quietly put away the pick, but still continued to hold the lute with her eyes lowered, momentarily silent.

“What, you don’t like the lyrics?” A barefooted Zhu Moyun was sitting at the bow of the ship, dressed in white hemp garments. He...