Futile Devices Scans

Seeing Tao Mo remaining cooped up at home without moving about, Old Tao urged him to go outside for a walk so he could familiarize himself with the customs and local atmosphere of Tanyang County.

As the end of the year approached, the winter wind grew especially biting. The streets bustled with people purchasing New Year goods.

With Old Tao around, Tao Mo naturally did not need to handle such matters personally. He merely wandered around small shops with Hao Guozi, stopping at pastry stores and the like.

Remembering that Tao Mo used to enjoy osmanthus cakes, Hao Guozi specially bought some for him so he could eat while walking.

The moment Tao Mo opened his mouth, icy wind rushed straight in, chilling even his teeth. After eating only two pieces, he stopped. Just as he turned to hand the remaining cakes to Hao Guozi, he accidentally bumped into someone, scattering the pastries all over the ground.

Hao Guozi immediately jumped forward. “How do you walk?”

The man was just about to defend himself, but upon seeing Tao Mo’s face, delight instantly spread across his features. “Magistrate Tao?”

Hao Guozi eyed him suspiciously. “Who are you?”

Tao Mo exclaimed in surprise, “Wang Pengcheng?”

The corner of Hao Guozi’s eye twitched. Was this that unfilial son who had been beaten with several strokes of the rod? Instinctively, he stepped in front of Tao Mo and stared at Wang Pengcheng warily. “What do you want?”

Wang Pengcheng cupped his hands respectfully toward Tao Mo. “A chance encounter is better than a formal invitation. Might Magistrate Tao honor me by allowing me to host a meal at Xianwei Tower?”

Hao Guozi tugged at Tao Mo’s sleeve and whispered into his ear, “I fear he has bad intentions.”

Though he spoke softly, Wang Pengcheng still heard him clearly and immediately waved his hands with a smile. “This young master worries too much. I merely wish to thank Magistrate Tao.”

“Thank?” Hao Guozi’s suspicions deepened further. Since when did people thank someone for beating them?

But regardless of anyone’s objections, Wang Pengcheng grabbed Tao Mo by the arm and pulled him toward Xianwei Tower.

Hao Guozi hurried after them, wanting to separate the two, only to hear Tao Mo say, “I happen to be tired. Resting for a while sounds nice.”

“Exactly, exactly,” Wang Pengcheng agreed repeatedly. “After eating at Xianwei Tower, we can even stop by Mingcui Teahouse afterward.”

Hao Guozi stamped his foot where he stood before finally chasing after them unwillingly.

Xianwei Tower was the most famous restaurant in Tanyang County. Those who frequented it were wealthy merchants, prominent scholars, and refined literati. Even an ordinary table cost the equivalent of a common household’s monthly food expenses. Naturally, the prices were extravagant.

By the time Wang Pengcheng and Tao Mo arrived, it was already noon, and Xianwei Tower was nearly full.

After negotiating with the proprietor for quite some time, Wang Pengcheng finally managed to secure an empty table near a corner wall. He then instructed the attendants to bring over a folding screen to partition off the area, transforming one corner of the hall into a small private room.

Only after all that trouble did he sit down awkwardly and say, “Please forgive me, Magistrate Tao. I never expected to encounter you on the street today. My hospitality is lacking, and I can only inconvenience you with this humble arrangement.”

Tao Mo smiled and waved his hand. “This is already very good.”

Hao Guozi stood nearby awkwardly, staring hopefully at Tao Mo until he received a nod of permission, at which point he happily sat down as well.

“I ordered several signature dishes from Xianwei Tower. Magistrate Tao should try them later. If it is not enough, please feel free to say so.” Wang Pengcheng seemed completely unsurprised by Hao Guozi taking a seat. He personally poured tea for Tao Mo, allowing Hao Guozi to share in the rare honor of being served as well.

Remembering the beating he had ordered, Tao Mo felt guilty and gently asked, “Your backside… is it alright?”

Wang Pengcheng smiled awkwardly and lowered his voice. “Please rest assured, Magistrate Tao. The yamen runners did not use much force. After I returned home and applied medicine, I was perfectly fine.”

Originally, Wang Pengcheng had assumed Tao Mo would ask why the runners had gone easy on him, and he had been debating whether to truthfully explain how they intentionally held back in order to extort gratuity money afterward. Yet Tao Mo merely nodded and said, “That is good,” appearing entirely unconcerned about such matters.

Wang Pengcheng immediately assumed Tao Mo already understood the workings of the yamen perfectly and had expected the “light beating” from the beginning. His admiration for Tao Mo deepened even further.

“Speaking of which, if not for Magistrate Tao’s brilliant handling of the situation, I fear the rift between my mother and me would not have healed so quickly.”

Not only Hao Guozi but even Tao Mo himself looked utterly confused.

Wang Pengcheng sighed. “Ever since my late wife passed away, I have had no desire to remarry. But my mother constantly worried that the Wang family line would end with me and repeatedly pressured me to marry again. This time she even dragged the matter into court, determined to force my submission. If not for Magistrate Tao’s beating awakening her pity and concern for me, things likely would never have calmed down.”

Curious, Hao Guozi asked, “Continuing the family line is an important matter. Why are you unwilling to remarry?”

Wang Pengcheng’s gaze flickered uncertainly, and he remained silent for quite some time.

Something in Tao Mo’s heart stirred. “Your feelings toward your late wife… are they what people mean by ‘Though the weak waters stretch for three thousand li, I shall take only one ladle to drink’?”

After speaking, he deliberately glanced at Hao Guozi’s expression. Only after seeing him nod did Tao Mo finally relax.

Wang Pengcheng’s lips twitched slightly, but just then the dishes arrived, interrupting the conversation.

The food at Xianwei Tower truly lived up to its reputation.

Tao Mo and Hao Guozi had spent quite a long time living frugally. Having such delicious food before them now, both ate enthusiastically without pausing their chopsticks.

Wang Pengcheng only sampled a few bites before setting his chopsticks down. It was not until the two had eaten to their hearts’ content that he finally asked, “I heard Magistrate Tao only brought two servants with him to Tanyang County?”

“That is correct,” Tao Mo answered.

Wang Pengcheng tested cautiously, “Then your honored wife…”

“My young master has not yet married,” Hao Guozi blurted out directly.

“Oh?” Wang Pengcheng’s eyes immediately brightened. Lowering his voice, he asked, “Could it be that Magistrate Tao’s standards are simply too high?”

Tao Mo laughed awkwardly. “Not at all. I simply never had the time.”

The words “never had the time” struck Wang Pengcheng directly in the heart, making his smile grow a hundred times brighter. “If Magistrate Tao is interested, perhaps I might be able to help arrange something?”

Remembering that Tao Mo only liked men, Hao Guozi’s face immediately turned pale.

Tao Mo hurriedly declined. “My father has not yet been gone a full year. I still must observe mourning.”

“Oh… I see.” Wang Pengcheng looked visibly disappointed.

Hao Guozi stared at him in confusion. “You really are strange. Earlier, when your mother wanted you to remarry, you resisted in every possible way. So why are you suddenly trying to play matchmaker for someone else now?”

Wang Pengcheng looked embarrassed. “I merely feel grateful that Magistrate Tao’s beating resolved the conflict between my mother and me so quickly, so I wanted to offer what little assistance I could. After all, Magistrate Tao has only just arrived in Tanyang County. The inner household surely needs someone to help manage things.”

The moment he mentioned the inner household, something seemed to occur to him. “By the way, since arriving in Tanyang County, has Magistrate Tao visited the two masters yet?”

Tao Mo blinked blankly. “I do not have any teachers in Tanyang County.”

“I mean Master One-Hammer and Master Lin,” Wang Pengcheng clarified in a lowered voice.

Tao Mo suddenly remembered how he and Old Tao had once discussed this matter. Later, because they could not decide on suitable gifts, the idea had been postponed indefinitely—and remained postponed until now.

“Not yet,” he admitted.

Wang Pengcheng hesitated before hinting meaningfully, “It would be best if you paid them a visit sooner rather than later.”

“I simply do not know what sort of gifts the two masters would like,” Tao Mo admitted.

Wang Pengcheng laughed. “Which is exactly why I said that if Magistrate Tao had a wife managing the inner household, such matters would become much easier. Aside from both being famous litigation masters, Master One-Hammer and Master Lin share another trait as well—they both obey their wives completely.”

Tao Mo scratched his head. “Then perhaps I should send gold and silver jewelry to the two madams?”

Wang Pengcheng’s face immediately darkened. Inwardly, he thought this magistrate truly understood major matters while remaining hopelessly muddled about minor ones.

He quickly waved his hands. “Absolutely not. Magistrate Tao is, after all, a man. Sending such gifts to the wives of the two masters would be highly inappropriate.”

Tao Mo’s ears reddened slightly. Embarrassed, he admitted, “My thoughts were insufficiently thorough.”

Ever since childhood, Tao Mo had never been interested in women, so he rarely paid attention to propriety between men and women.

“Well then.” Wang Pengcheng thought for a moment before continuing, “Since I feel an immediate connection with Magistrate Tao, I shall say one more thing.”

Tao Mo cupped his hands politely. “Please do.”

“Master One-Hammer and Master Lin both have beloved disciples. Did you know that?”

Tao Mo immediately brightened with excitement. “I know—it is Gu She.”

The sudden light shining from Tao Mo’s eyes startled Wang Pengcheng. “Young Master Gu is Master One-Hammer’s prized disciple. As for Master Lin’s prized disciple, that would be Young Master Lu Zhenxue.”

Tao Mo nodded. “I know him as well.”

Hearing the word “as well,” Wang Pengcheng immediately understood and smiled. “No wonder Magistrate Tao appears so calm and assured. So you already know both Young Master Gu and Young Master Lu. It seems my worries were unnecessary.”

In truth, Tao Mo’s acquaintance with both Lu Zhenxue and Gu She had happened entirely by chance. Yet explaining the circumstances would require far too much effort, so he simply allowed Wang Pengcheng to misunderstand.

After the three had eaten their fill and exhausted their conversation, they took their leave and exited the restaurant.

While following Tao Mo back toward the county yamen, Hao Guozi frowned deeply. “I still feel that man has ulterior motives.”

Tao Mo sighed. “What could there possibly be worth scheming against me for?”

“That’s not what I mean. Young Master, do you remember? Before we went to Xianwei Tower, he clearly said he would also treat us at Mingcui Teahouse afterward. But the moment the meal ended, he paid the bill and ran off,” Hao Guozi muttered.

Tao Mo laughed. “If you are that attached to Mingcui Teahouse, I can treat you there another day.”

“It’s not about Mingcui Teahouse. It’s just… sigh. Anyway, Young Master should be careful around him.”

Seeing Hao Guozi continue rambling endlessly, Tao Mo could only nod in agreement.

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