Futile Devices Scans

“Once we cross this mountain, we’ll reach Tanyang County,” Old Tao said casually while hunching his shoulders and peeling an orange.

Tao Mo could not resist lifting the curtain flap.

The winter wind immediately came howling in, and outside was a world wrapped in silver snow, making it impossible to see anything clearly. Hao Guozi, who was driving the carriage, turned around and asked, “Does Young Master have any instructions?”

“Nothing.” Tao Mo shivered from the cold and quickly let the curtain fall back down.

Old Tao handed him the peeled orange.

The orange had been stored for too long and had become somewhat dry, but it tasted sweet once in the mouth. Tao Mo ate several segments before stuffing the rest back into Old Tao’s hand.

Old Tao was not polite about it and finished it in one bite.

Subconsciously, Tao Mo reached into his robe for his fragrant handkerchief to wipe his mouth, but the moment his hand slipped inside his clothes, he remembered that he had thrown the handkerchief into the stove and burned it earlier. He could not help feeling regretful. After lingering in Qunxiang Tower for so many years, that handkerchief had been the only keepsake he had left. Yet in the end, even that was gone.

“Young Master, are you cold?” Old Tao shifted the hand warmer closer.

“Not cold.” Tao Mo felt stifled and gloomy. After sitting for a while, he could no longer hold back and asked, “I heard there are many wealthy households in Tanyang County. I’m afraid they won’t be easy to deal with.”

Old Tao replied, “The kind are bullied by others. If Young Master fears them, naturally they’ll bully you right over your head.”

“How could I fear them?” Tao Mo raised his voice slightly. “I am absolutely going to become a good official!”

At last, a trace of brightness appeared beneath Old Tao’s sleepy eyelids. “Young Master definitely can.”

Tao Mo seemed already to see himself becoming “Lord Tao Qingtian,” welcomed by cheering commoners lining both sides of the streets, and suddenly his future looked brilliantly bright.

Elio’s Notes: “Tao Qingtian” is not an actual person’s full name here. It is a flattering title Tao Mo imagines for himself. “Qingtian” (青天, literally “Blue Sky”) comes from the expression “Qingtian Dalaoye” (青天大老爷), which was used in imperial China to praise an upright, incorruptible, justice-loving official. A magistrate called “Qingtian” was seen as someone who defended ordinary people and judged cases fairly.

The carriage suddenly jolted violently.

The back of Tao Mo’s head slammed hard against the carriage wall, and his body toppled sideways into the corner of the carriage.

Since Old Tao sat opposite him, his situation was slightly better. At the critical moment, he braced both hands against the carriage walls and avoided looking as miserable as Tao Mo.

Hao Guozi lifted the curtain and stuck his head in, saying with a mournful face, “The wheel’s broken.”

The wind cut through sharply.

Tao Mo desperately shrank his neck, trying to bury his head inside his collar.

“Fortunately, we’re not far from Tanyang County anymore. We can just walk there,” Old Tao said to Hao Guozi. “Unhitch the horse and let it carry the luggage. Once Young Master enters the county yamen, we’ll send people back to retrieve the carriage.”

Tao Mo had no choice but to climb out of the carriage.

Hao Guozi said, “I wonder whether the previous county magistrate has already left. If he hasn’t, I’m afraid we won’t even have a place to stay.”

Old Tao replied, “I already asked around. The previous county magistrate died from illness, and his family already prepared his remains and brought him back to his hometown.”

Hao Guozi muttered, “That’s even worse now. There’s not even anyone left to give us reminders.”

Old Tao said, “What’s the hurry? Even if the county magistrate isn’t there, the county assistant magistrate, registrar, and chief constable are still around. Maybe even the adviser. Those people understand worldly affairs far better than the county magistrate does.”

Only then did Hao Guozi stop talking. Efficiently, he unloaded the luggage and tied it onto the horse.

Tao Mo stood by the roadside, his body trembling nonstop.

Old Tao took out the hand warmer and handed it to him. “At least this’ll keep you a little warmer.”

Tao Mo reluctantly stretched two fingers out from his sleeve and pinched it.

The group of three and one horse set out once more.

The ice and snow had begun to melt slightly, making the ground beneath their feet especially slippery.

Hao Guozi fell three times before finally figuring out how to walk properly.

Tao Mo would originally have fallen as well, but each time Old Tao steadied him. Though the old man appeared aged, his steps were the most stable and vigorous among the three.

Dragging themselves along like this, they still managed to enter the city before the gates closed.

After traveling through deserted mountains and forests for so long, suddenly encountering the noisy bustle of human voices made all three of them feel as though they were in a dream.

Hao Guozi wiped the corner of his eyes and said, “From now on, this place will be home.”

Old Tao replied, “Not necessarily for a lifetime.”

Hao Guozi widened his eyes. “You mean Young Master will be dismissed from office?”

“Bah!” Old Tao hurriedly spat on the ground, then smacked the back of his head unhappily. “Can’t it be that he’ll be promoted instead?”

Hao Guozi gave an awkward laugh and led the horse forward.

Tao Mo and Old Tao followed some distance behind him.

Perhaps because there were finally signs of human life, Tao Mo felt his muddled, heavy head clear up a little.

Following East Main Street, Hao Guozi made his way all the way to the county yamen, where he knocked on the gate and handed over a calling card.

By the time Tao Mo arrived, the people inside had already come out to greet them.

“The official notice said that Your Excellency would only arrive after the New Year. I never expected you would arrive before the year’s end. We truly failed to welcome you properly from afar.” Seeing Tao Mo looking at him curiously, the man introduced himself, “I am Jin Shiye, the legal adviser who served the former county magistrate, Zhang Jingyuan.”

Tao Mo honestly called out, “Advisor Jin.”

Advisor Jin’s gaze was sharp as a torch as it swept across the three of them before settling on Old Tao.

Old Tao said, “This humble one merely followed my master here to guard the gate.”

He spoke modestly, but Advisor Jin could tell that among the three, this old man was the most difficult to deal with. He immediately burst into laughter and said, “Your Excellency has traveled a thousand li to assume office; naturally we should continue this discussion indoors. Please.”

Old Tao noticed that although Advisor Jin spoke politely, his expression clearly did not take Tao Mo seriously at all, and he could not help secretly frowning.

After entering the second hall, Advisor Jin suddenly stopped, guided Tao Mo to the seat of honor, and sat below him as company.

Tao Mo looked at Old Tao in confusion.

Old Tao said, “Young Master has traveled all day and is exhausted. Why does Adviser Jin not lead him into the inner quarters?”

Advisor Jin sprang up in alarm and slapped his forehead repeatedly. “I truly am muddleheaded. However, before Magistrate Zhang passed away, he was deeply troubled that he could not complete the transfer of the official seal with the newly appointed county magistrate. So if Your Excellency would kindly support and encourage this matter, please present your appointment documents so that I may hand over the official seal and finally relieve myself of this heavy responsibility.”

His words carried hidden barbs and left no room for refusal.

Tao Mo had no choice but to take out the appointment documents for him. He then followed him into the study and accepted the official seal. By the time he had forced himself this far, he was already barely holding on. Waves of cold spread through his body, and his teeth chattered noisily. Afraid that Old Tao and Hao Guozi would worry, he retreated quietly to the side and endured it in silence.

Seeing Advisor Jin turn to leave, Old Tao hurriedly called out, “Advisor Jin, where are you going?”

Advisor Jin smiled. “My employer was Magistrate Zhang. Now that Magistrate Zhang has passed away and the matter entrusted to me is complete, naturally there is no reason for me to remain.”

Old Tao said, “Why say such things, Adviser Jin? My young master has only just assumed office and is precisely in need of capable people.”

“Men die for wealth; birds perish for food,” Advisor Jin said with a chuckle as he looked at Tao Mo. “The new magistrate spent five thousand taels to donate for the position of county magistrate, which shows how wealthy and extravagant he is. There’s no need to worry that talented men seeking service won’t come flocking over. Why would he still need me? In my opinion, within the borders of Tanyang County, finding someone to file a lawsuit may be difficult, but finding a litigation master or adviser could not be easier.”

Old Tao still wanted to persuade him further, but Advisor Jin flicked his sleeves and left.

Hao Guozi complained, “That man has quite the temper.”

Old Tao looked toward Tao Mo, seeming to blame him for not saying a word earlier, only to discover that Tao Mo’s lips had turned purple and his eyes were unfocused. Startled, he reached out to touch his forehead and found it burning hot. He hurriedly said to Hao Guozi, “Go! Go fetch a doctor!”

Hao Guozi answered and immediately ran outside.

Old Tao supported Tao Mo into the inner room.

They had not brought much luggage to begin with, and they had lost some along the way. What remained at the end were mostly valuable belongings—worth money, but useless against the cold.

Old Tao could only rummage through trunks and cabinets for the belongings left behind by the previous county magistrate. Unexpectedly, he actually found two quilts. He hurriedly spread them out, helped Tao Mo lie down, relit the hand warmer, placed it beside the bed, and personally went to boil water.

When he returned with the hot water, Hao Guozi was still nowhere to be seen. Presumably, since they had only just arrived and were unfamiliar with the place, he could not find his bearings. Thinking of how Tao Mo had always feared the cold most—every winter curling up beneath the blankets and refusing to come out—yet this time had stubbornly insisted on arriving early to become a good official, Old Tao could not help feeling both gratified and distressed.

Carrying the hot water into the room, he heard Tao Mo on the bed murmur hazily, calling for someone.

When he walked closer, he realized Tao Mo was calling, “Father.”

Footsteps sounded from outside the door.

Hao Guozi entered, leading the doctor with him.

Old Tao stepped aside. After the doctor took Tao Mo’s pulse and prescribed medicine, Old Tao carefully memorized every precaution the doctor instructed him about.

By the time everything was finally settled, the sky had already darkened.

Because when the former magistrate’s wife left, she had taken most of the servants from the county yamen with her, only two gatekeepers remained behind. So Old Tao could only have Hao Guozi buy some food outside to make do for the night. But when tomorrow came, there would be far too many matters to deal with.

Tao Mo sweated through the entire night. When he got up the next morning, he still felt somewhat weak, but his spirits were good, so he rose, threw on his robe, and went outside.

Hao Guozi happened to be carrying over hot water. Seeing Tao Mo already up, he exclaimed in shock, “Young Master, why are you out of bed?”

“I’m hungry,” Tao Mo said as he turned back into the room and slowly washed up.

Hao Guozi said, “This morning I bought firewood and rice. The porridge is cooking now.”

“Plain porridge doesn’t taste good,” Tao Mo said instinctively.

Hao Guozi narrowed his eyes with a grin. “In a while I’ll head to a tavern in the city and find some tasty dishes to go with wine.”

Tao Mo’s expression changed. After a long pause, he quietly said, “Plain porridge is fine enough.”

Hao Guozi whispered, “I won’t let Old Tao know.”

Tao Mo shook his head.

Hao Guozi sighed, picked up the basin, lowered his head, and went out.

Tao Mo paced around the room for a while, unable to sit still. Just then, voices sounded outside, so he opened the door and walked toward the second hall.

The county yamen was not large and was divided into three halls. The first hall handled court cases, the second hall received guests, and the third hall served as the inner residence.

At this moment, a guest had arrived in the second hall.

The man’s eyes lit up upon seeing Tao Mo. “Could this be Magistrate Tao?”

Tao Mo nodded.

“This humble one is the county’s chief constable, Cui Jiong.” His eyes swept Tao Mo up and down as he smiled. “Originally, I intended to come pay my respects last night, but Adviser Jin said Your Excellency seemed unwell from the fatigue of travel, so I could only postpone it until this morning. Your Excellency does not blame me, I hope?”

Tao Mo glanced outside and asked, “Did you come in by yourself?”

Cui Jiong froze.

Tao Mo said, “Why did no one announce your arrival?”

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