Futile Devices Scans

With the matter settled, Lu Zhenxue rose to take his leave.

After escorting him to the entrance, Tao Mo thought for a moment before turning around to tell Old Tao, who was busy calculating the accounts.

The moment he finished listening, Old Tao frowned and said, “That Lu Zhenxue likely harbors ill intentions.”

Tao Mo asked in surprise, “Why?” In his eyes, Lu Zhenxue was probably the very first friend he had made in Tanyang County.

Old Tao replied, “One mountain cannot contain two tigers. Since Lu Zhenxue belongs to Lin Zhengyong’s faction, why would he enthusiastically introduce you to Master One-Hammer’s side?”

Tao Mo asked, “Then what does he intend to do?”

“That is precisely the problem—we do not know.” Old Tao pondered for a moment. “You should still go. But just as you said, stay only briefly before returning. Do not become entangled with anyone else.”

At the thought of Gu She, Tao Mo’s heart warmed instantly. Yet seeing the way Old Tao’s eyes seemed to perceive everything, that warmth immediately cooled again. Hesitantly, he muttered, “What kind of entanglement could there be?”

“So long as there is none.” Knowing Tao Mo had only just recovered from illness, Old Tao could not bear to pressure him further and changed the subject instead. “Although a county magistrate is only a minor official, even a sparrow, though small, possesses all five organs. Beneath the county yamen are the three squads and six departments. If Young Master has nothing else to do this afternoon, go make some connections with them. It will make future assignments and errands much easier.”

Tao Mo hurriedly agreed.

Old Tao continued, “You have already met Chief Constable Cui. If you encounter him again later, do not forget to grow closer to him.”

Tao Mo agreed once more.

Seeing how weak and sickly he still looked, Old Tao remained uneasy. Yet the affairs within the residence were too numerous to set aside, so he could only compromise. “I’ll have Hao Guozi accompany you. If there is anything you do not understand, send him back to ask me. We are not far apart anyway.”

Hearing that Old Tao would not be going himself, Tao Mo immediately grew nervous. “Perhaps we can go another day instead.”

“Young Master, one day I will eventually die.” Old Tao’s expression did not change as he spoke. “When that day comes, will Young Master stop being an official as well?”

Tao Mo’s face changed drastically. “Don’t say such things. I know you will not die easily.”

The corners of Old Tao’s mouth twitched slightly. “Young Master, if I did not know you well, I would think you sounded disappointed.”

“That is not what I meant,” Tao Mo quickly replied.

“I know. Go eat first, then head over with Hao Guozi.”

Tao Mo turned and left the room. After obediently eating, he headed out.

The six departments were located immediately beside the county yamen. Going in and out took no more than the blink of an eye.

Although the clerks working inside had never met Tao Mo in person before, they had long since inquired about his appearance. The moment they saw him enter, they hurriedly came out to greet him. Tao Mo questioned each of them politely and behaved with impeccable propriety.

Soon afterward, the department managers and supervisors also came out to welcome him, leading to another round of pleasantries.

Cui Jiong did not work there and had not come by today either.

After speaking with them for a while, Tao Mo rose and took his leave.

Following behind him, Hao Guozi whispered, “Young Master seemed like a completely different person just now.”

“How was I different?” Tao Mo asked.

“Young Master looked very learned just now,” Hao Guozi replied bluntly.

Tao Mo froze, his expression dimming.

Realizing his words had been inappropriate, Hao Guozi hurriedly explained, “I didn’t mean Young Master is ignorant and uneducated. I only meant… only meant…”

“There is nothing wrong with being ignorant and uneducated. Father often said the same about me while he was alive.”

Hao Guozi flushed bright red. “How could I possibly compare myself to Master?”

Tao Mo replied, “What you said was not wrong. I truly am illiterate and empty-headed.”

“Who would believe Young Master is illiterate after hearing the way you speak?” Hao Guozi asked.

Tao Mo gave a bitter smile. “I only remember those phrases because I have heard others say them about me so many times. I can say the words aloud, but I cannot write them. Even if you wrote the characters out and placed them before me, I still would not recognize them.”

Hao Guozi said, “Who says someone overflowing with talent must necessarily know how to read?”

Suddenly Tao Mo asked, “‘Though the weak waters stretch for three thousand li, I shall take only one ladle to drink’—what does that mean?”

Although Hao Guozi was merely a servant boy, he had attended school when he was young and recognized far more characters than Tao Mo did.

Hao Guozi stared at him in surprise. “Young Master has someone he likes?”

“Someone I like?” Tao Mo froze for a moment before belatedly blushing bright red around the ears. Without another word, he immediately fled back into the room.

Hao Guozi remained standing there blankly for a while before muttering softly, “I never expected Young Master would forget Young Master Yiyu so quickly.”

Lu Zhenxue was quite famous within Tanyang County. Before Gu She had arrived, he had been the most dazzling figure in the county. Everyone knew the Lu family possessed a Young Master Lu who was quick-witted, silver-tongued, and had passed the provincial examinations at a very young age.

Thus, many people attended his Plum Blossom Banquet to show support.

Following Old Tao’s advice, Tao Mo arrived neither too early nor too late.

As the parent-official of the county, his arrival naturally received enthusiastic hospitality from the host.

Smiling warmly, Lu Zhenxue led him toward the main table. “My parents are currently away from home, so I can only act as host in their place. I hope Your Excellency will not take offense.”

“Not at all, not at all.” While mentally rehearsing the excuse he would use to leave later, Tao Mo casually replied, “My failure to pay respects to your honored father and mother is my own oversight.”

Lu Zhenxue paused in confusion, inwardly thinking: What do my parents have to do with you? How has this become your fault? Could it be that he truly considers me a close confidant? Yet when he studied Tao Mo’s distracted expression more carefully, he inwardly sneered. If you intend to win me over through pretense, you should at least make it more convincing.

Originally, Tao Mo planned to exchange a few polite words before leaving. Yet after glancing around and failing to see Gu She, he grew unwilling to depart and lingered instead.

Lu Zhenxue rose to greet other guests while also introducing several people to Tao Mo.

Knowing these individuals were all wealthy local merchants, Tao Mo began conversing with them.

Just as they reached the topic of this year’s harvest, the surroundings suddenly fell silent.

Tao Mo turned to look.

Surrounded by fellow disciples from the same school, Gu She slowly approached. The purplish-red cloak draped over him only made his elegant, painting-like features appear even more refined.

Lu Zhenxue greeted each person in turn. When it came to Gu She, his smile became especially radiant. “I never expected Brother Gu would honor us with your presence as well. I am truly overwhelmed.”

“Brother Lu is too courteous.”

This was the very first time Tao Mo had heard Gu She speak. Every single word struck his heart like a pebble dropped into water, sending ripples spreading outward in endless circles.

“And this is Magistrate Tao. I introduced all of you previously,” Lu Zhenxue suddenly said, pointing toward Tao Mo.

As though bewitched by spirits, Tao Mo walked over.

Since he approached so proactively, the others could hardly continue pretending not to see him as they had before. Thus they greeted him perfunctorily.

As Tao Mo responded to each greeting, his gaze repeatedly drifted toward Gu She.

Perhaps sensing his stare, Gu She’s wandering eyes finally settled upon him.

The moment Gu She looked at him, Tao Mo’s heart surged with excitement. At that instant, he felt there was nothing in the world more wonderful than this.

But it did not last long. Gu She soon walked away again.

Tao Mo absentmindedly followed after him for quite some distance until one of Gu She’s senior fellow disciples could no longer stand it and turned around to ask, “Does Your Excellency require something?”

Only then did Tao Mo abruptly regain his senses and awkwardly return to the main table.

From that point onward, his mind remained dazed. His eyes constantly drifted toward Gu She’s direction, and he even forgot Old Tao’s instruction that he should leave early.

After drinking with the guests for some time, Lu Zhenxue finally revealed the true purpose of the evening. “Wine requires entertainment to heighten the mood. Why don’t we invite Magistrate Tao to compose a poem for us and add some brilliance to this winter evening?”

The crowd immediately shouted their agreement.

Tao Mo jumped in fright and hurriedly waved his hands. “I can’t.”

“Why must Your Excellency be modest?” Lu Zhenxue replied. “Everyone knows that every magistrate previously assigned to Tanyang County was a learned scholar overflowing with literary talent. Since Your Excellency was able to come to Tanyang County, you surely possess considerable accomplishment in poetry as well.”

Lowering his voice, Tao Mo repeated, “I truly can’t.”

“Could it be that Your Excellency looks down upon my humble Plum Blossom Banquet?” Lu Zhenxue’s expression cooled.

Even someone as slow as Tao Mo could sense the atmosphere turning wrong. Yet all he could do was continue repeating helplessly, “I truly cannot compose poetry. I… actually cannot read.”

“Pfft.”

No one knew who burst out laughing first, but immediately afterward everyone else followed.

“Please forgive me, Your Excellency.” Lu Zhenxue’s expression softened slightly, though the mockery in his eyes remained impossible to hide. “I was asking too much.”

“Hahaha—!”

At last, someone could no longer hold back and burst into loud laughter.

Tao Mo felt as though he were sitting upon needles. His body stiffened like stone. He did not even dare turn his head, merely staring fixedly at the bowl before him while anxiously imagining what expression Gu She might be wearing at this moment. Perhaps he too was laughing endlessly just like everyone else?

The more Tao Mo thought about it, the worse he felt. Just as Lu Zhenxue turned to speak with someone else, Tao Mo seized the opportunity to flee. He moved so quickly that Lu Zhenxue did not even have time to call after him.

After rushing out of the Lu residence, Tao Mo immediately felt lightheaded and weak, his body limply leaning against the doorway.

A beautifully crafted carriage stood parked outside, conveniently blocking the county yamen’s sedan chair. As a result, none of the servants noticed their magistrate had already come out.

After resting for a moment, Tao Mo finally recovered enough to leave. Just then, he heard a set of calm, orderly footsteps approaching from inside. Turning his head, he saw that it was Gu She.

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