Futile Devices Scans

However, before Tao Mo could think of a solution, the news Hao Guozi brought had already solved this difficult problem.

“A ghost marriage?” Tao Mo froze.

Hao Guozi nodded. “That is indeed what the person sent by Master Tong said. Master Tong said Miss Tong never married in life, and he feared she would be lonely and alone in the underworld. Since Young Master Cai also had no one, he is willing to pay for a ghost marriage between the two and have them buried side by side.”

Tao Mo could tell that Master Tong’s words about Miss Tong never marrying and Cai Fengyuan having no one were merely polite excuses. What he truly wanted was to fulfill his daughter’s wish from when she was alive. This was good as well. If they could not share a pillow in life, then sharing a grave in death could still be considered a wish fulfilled. “Such an ending may be a kind of fulfillment within imperfection. I only wonder whether Miss Tong and Cai Fengyuan truly know of it beneath the earth.”

Hao Guozi said, “Their lives were so full of hardship. Perhaps they can cultivate a better fate in the next life.”

Tao Mo asked in surprise, “You believe in the next life?”

“Heh heh. Don’t all monks—oh no, I mean enlightened monks—say so?” Hao Guozi said. “There must be some truth to it. Otherwise, why would so many people believe it?”

Tao Mo lowered his head. “It would be good if there were.”

“Mm?”

“My father spent his whole life doing good deeds. If there truly is a next life, he will surely be reborn into a good family and enjoy a lifetime of wealth and honor. He definitely will not meet an unfilial son like me again.”

Seeing that Tao Mo’s brows had filled with sorrow as he spoke, Hao Guozi hurriedly changed the subject. “Young Master, the New Year is only a few days away. How do you plan to celebrate?”

Tao Mo thought for a moment. “Old Tao can decide.”

Hao Guozi grabbed his sleeve and ran. “Then let’s go ask him right now.”

“Ask who?”

“Old Tao, of course.”

“Do you know where Old Tao is?”

“No. Does Young Master know?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“……Turn around, then go straight ahead.”

Ghost marriages were never especially glorious affairs, and with the New Year approaching, the Tong family handled this joyous event with extreme secrecy. Tao Mo and Gu She only learned of it afterward when the Tong residence sent them red eggs.

By then, Tanyang County was completely immersed in the joyous atmosphere of welcoming the New Year. Whether Miss Tong or Cai Fengyuan, both had been thrown to the back of everyone’s minds, and no one mentioned them again.

The county yamen, however, gradually quieted down.

The servants returned home one after another. Aside from two who had nowhere to go, by New Year’s Eve, only five people remained in the county yamen.

Old Tao called the two remaining servants into the hall and arranged a separate table for them. Although there were two tables, it was still livelier than only three people eating alone.

Tao Mo ate in silence.

Old Tao and Hao Guozi knew he was thinking of Master Tao, so they tried every method they could to make him laugh. The servants had been somewhat restrained at first, but once the yellow wine went to their heads, they no longer cared about employer or servant and became boisterous as well.

After being drawn into their laughter and teasing several times, Tao Mo finally smiled and began drinking with them.

One cup, then two cups down, and he soon could no longer tell east from west or north from south.

Hao Guozi and the two servants were no better at holding their liquor. One by one, they sat crookedly, swaying from side to side.

Seeing that four out of five people were already gone, and finding it dull to keep watch over the night alone, Old Tao could only send them staggering back to their rooms.

The night passed without incident.

When the room doors opened again, it was already the New Year.

By the time Tao Mo rose, it was already noon.

Holding his head, still muddled from the hangover, he walked to Old Tao’s door and was just about to knock when he heard Hao Guozi shout at the top of his lungs, “Young Master! Adviser Jin has come to pay New Year’s greetings!”

The shout made Tao Mo’s head buzz. Only after a long while did he ask, “Who is Adviser Jin?”

Hao Guozi turned to look at the expressionless Adviser Jin and smiled. “The one Young Master invited after visiting the thatched cottage three times.”

“Visited the thatched cottage three times?” Tao Mo abruptly turned around. Although he was illiterate, he had heard the story of Liu Bei visiting the thatched cottage three times to invite the great strategist Zhuge Liang out of seclusion. “Adviser Jin?”

Adviser Jin smiled without warmth. “Employer finally remembers me? Just now, I nearly thought I would need to seek employment elsewhere.”

Tao Mo awkwardly covered his forehead and ran downstairs. “I drank a little wine last night.”

Adviser Jin ignored this and directly handed the basket in his hands to Hao Guozi. “These are pastries my wife made by hand. If Employer does not disdain them…”

“I do not disdain them, I do not disdain them…” Tao Mo hurriedly cut him off.

Adviser Jin said, “Then many thanks, Employer.”

Seeing that he was about to leave, Tao Mo quickly said, “Since you rarely come by, why not stay and eat with us?”

“I rarely come by?” Adviser Jin’s smile nearly failed to hold. “If I remember correctly, aside from yesterday, I have come every day.”

Knowing he had misspoken, Tao Mo said, “Yes, yes, I-I only wanted Adviser to stay and eat a meal.”

Adviser Jin looked at him suspiciously. Could Tao Mo have something he wanted to mention over the meal? Once he thought of this, Adviser Jin’s steps were held back.

The original table for three became a table for four, making things somewhat livelier.

However, both Old Tao and Hao Guozi noticed that while Adviser Jin ate, his gaze was not on his bowl, but fixed on Tao Mo, his face full of probing curiosity.

Old Tao and Hao Guozi secretly exchanged a look.

Hao Guozi picked up food for Adviser Jin. “Adviser, eat more. You are too thin.”

Adviser Jin paused mid-chew, then tossed the soybean sprouts Hao Guozi had placed in his bowl back into his. Calmly, he said, “Naturally one becomes thin from eating too many bean sprouts.”

Hao Guozi cast Old Tao a look.

Old Tao smiled faintly at Adviser Jin and said, “Several medicinal herbs have also been added to this chicken soup. It is highly nourishing. Adviser, why not try some?”

Adviser Jin looked at him inexplicably. “I have already drunk three bowls.”

Seeing Hao Guozi and Old Tao both taking the initiative to attend to him, Tao Mo felt it would be awkward to sit there without saying anything. He said, “This meat is delicious. Adviser, try some.”

Could the matter Tao Mo wished to hint at be hidden inside this braised pork? Adviser Jin looked at the dish of braised pork farthest from him with suspicion. He picked up a piece with his chopsticks, placed it in his mouth, and slowly savored it.

Hao Guozi and Old Tao both looked gloomy.

Tao Mo asked, “How does it taste?”

Adviser Jin shook his head. “I have not tasted it clearly yet.”

Hao Guozi hurriedly moved the braised pork in front of him. “Adviser, take your time tasting it.”

Adviser Jin ate another piece. He felt the meat was rich but not greasy, with a well-balanced flavor, but he could not think of anything else. Just as he was pondering, he suddenly saw someone enter from outside. It was Cui Jiong.

“Clerk Cui.”

Everyone rose and exchanged greetings.

Cui Jiong hurriedly returned the courtesy. He had also come to pay New Year’s greetings. Originally, he had planned to come after lunch, sit briefly, then leave. Who would have thought he would walk in at the awkward moment when they were eating? Thus, without waiting for Hao Guozi to serve tea, he casually found an excuse and took his leave.

Although he came and went in a hurry, his appearance made inspiration flash through Adviser Jin’s mind. Could Tao Mo be hinting at the illicit profits in the yamen?

One had to know that a county magistrate’s duties did not only include criminal cases and prison matters. They also included taxation, grain collection, disaster relief, moral instruction, education, and so forth. Among these, Tanyang County was wealthy and abundant, requiring no disaster relief. Moreover, litigation masters ran rampant, so moral instruction and education were not matters to worry about either. Only in taxation and grain collection was there considerable profit to be made.

But the ones pocketing this profit were not the successive county magistrates. Some of those magistrates might have had a share, but the true mastermind was Cui Jiong, who had stayed in Tanyang County for more than ten years, unshaken by wind or rain. He was highly skilled in taking these profits and never ran them through the official accounts. Although some litigation masters knew about it, water too clear held no fish. Cui Jiong was usually sensible in his conduct, so they turned a blind eye and let him be.

But recently, not long after Tao Mo had taken office, Cui Jiong had received a large sum of “filial silver” from the merchants. Adviser Jin did not know what Cui Jiong had promised them in return, but in his view, it had gone too far. Setting aside how unfathomable Tao Mo was in Adviser Jin’s mind, the new magistrate had only just taken office, and no one yet knew his temperament. For Cui Jiong to rashly splash himself with fishy water was far too impatient.

He secretly considered the matter. Cui Jiong’s arrival was so timely—could this be a deliberate hint from Tao Mo? If it was truly as he thought, then Tao Mo likely did not yet want to move against Cui Jiong. He merely wanted to use Adviser Jin’s mouth to make Cui Jiong restrain himself slightly, just like this braised pork: oily, but not yet greasy.

Thinking to this point, Adviser Jin believed he had finally understood Tao Mo’s true intention. He set down his chopsticks and smiled. “This braised pork is indeed cooked well. Rich but not greasy, melting in the mouth, leaving no trace behind.”

Old Tao heard that his words carried a hidden meaning but did not understand what it was, so he could only look toward Tao Mo.

How could Tao Mo know that one dish of braised pork had sent Adviser Jin’s thoughts flying thousands of miles away? He assumed Adviser Jin simply liked it and smiled. “If Adviser likes it, then eat a little more.”

“No need, no need. Everything must be taken in moderation.” Adviser Jin raised his brows to show that he had already understood.

Tao Mo looked at the remaining pork with regret, then picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. “It would be a pity to leave the rest.”

At this point, Adviser Jin finally “understood” completely. So this newly appointed county magistrate also wanted a share of the spoils!

“Of course, of course.” Having served as an adviser for many years, Adviser Jin had long since become indifferent to such matters. He would neither admire a county magistrate for being noble and upright, nor look down on one for being greedy. To him, whether upright or greedy, the man was still his employer. What he needed to do was merely his “duty.”

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