The roof of the county yamen had indeed developed several holes. The worst damage was to Tao Mo’s room, which was nearly open to the sky.
The shattered roof tiles that had fallen had already been cleared away, but traces of the destruction could still be seen throughout the room. For the first time, Tao Mo realized just how bright his room actually was. Unable to adapt to it for a moment, he lifted his head to look at the blue sky above and stood there for a long time before coming back to his senses.
“Young Master, natural disasters are unavoidable. Don’t take it to heart. I’ll help you pack your things.” Since the matter was already settled, unwillingness would accomplish nothing. Hao Guozi took out the bundles they had used when moving to Tanyang County and began packing with complete dedication.
Watching Hao Guozi’s busy figure, Tao Mo felt as though none of it was real. Was he truly going to move into the Gu residence? The moment he thought of Gu She, his heart alternated between cold and warm.
“Young Master? Should I bring the backscratcher?” Hao Guozi tried placing the backscratcher horizontally and vertically, but one end always stuck out.
“I think,” Tao Mo said slowly, “perhaps I shouldn’t go after all.”
Hao Guozi’s eyes lit up. “Young Master has made up his mind?”
Tao Mo said, “I’d only be causing trouble if I went.”
“How are you troublesome, Young Master? Ever since you became county magistrate, haven’t you been helping them solve their troubles?” Seeing his indecision, and knowing how much he wanted to be closer to Gu She, Hao Guozi finally softened. “Actually, it’s only for a few days. It’s not that serious. As Master Mu said, that Gu She has some influence in Tanyang County. If you can build a friendship with him, it will benefit your future footing here.”
Tao Mo said, “The truth is, Gu She and I are not really close.” No matter how much he wished to draw near, the closer he got, the smaller he felt. Gu She was like an insurmountable mountain—one that could be admired and revered from afar, but whose summit could never truly be reached.
Hao Guozi’s lips moved before he said quietly, “I think Gu She treats Young Master differently.”
Tao Mo’s eyes brightened briefly before dimming again. “He’s a good person.”
…
Hao Guozi simply could not connect that cold, expressionless man with the words “good person.” But seeing how deeply Tao Mo had already fallen, he could not bear to throw cold water on him. “If Young Master truly doesn’t want to go, then stay in my room. I’ll find somewhere else to squeeze in.”
Just then, Mu Chun entered from outside. His eyes lit up when he saw the packed bundles. “Already finished packing?”
Hao Guozi said, “Young Master doesn’t want to go anymore.”
“Doesn’t want to go?” Mu Chun smiled kindly. “Why?”
Tao Mo said, “Gu She and I are neither relatives nor old acquaintances…”
“The county magistrate is the people’s parent-official, and Gu She is one of this county’s citizens. How can you say you’re unrelated?” Mu Chun replied.
Tao Mo said, “But our friendship isn’t deep.”
Mu Chun smiled. “From what I can see, Young Master Gu and Master are people whose friendship may be shallow, but whose conversations are profound.”
Tao Mo was puzzled. “But he’s hardly said much to me.”
“Has he really not?” Mu Chun replied sagely. “Young Master Gu may be sparing with words, but every word is worth its weight in gold.” A person like Gu She would never waste words. And if they were not wasted words, then naturally each one was precious.
Tao Mo thought about it and found it true. Gu She had not said much to him, but the more he reflected on those words, the more meaning they seemed to contain.
Mu Chun said, “A man’s promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Since Master already made an agreement with Young Master Gu regarding staying at the Gu residence, he should honor his word. Going back on one’s promise is not the conduct of a true gentleman.”
Tao Mo was filled with guilt.
Hao Guozi looked at Mu Chun suspiciously. “Why are you so determined to push Young Master toward Gu She?”
Without changing expression, Mu Chun replied, “Since Master hired me as his adviser, it is my duty to devise strategies for him. Tanyang County is filled with litigation masters. Master One-Hammer and Lin Zhengyong together can practically cover the sky with their hands. Though they are bitter enemies in private, both are masters of schemes and calculations. They would never give Master the chance to profit while they fight among themselves. If Master tries to curry favor with both sides, they may very well join forces and drive him out instead.” This was no exaggeration. Previous magistrates had indeed been demoted or transferred for precisely that reason. “Rather than walking a tightrope between the two of them, it would be better to establish a firm footing first with the help of one side.”
Hao Guozi found the argument reasonable and nodded repeatedly.
Tao Mo frowned. “I don’t want to use Gu She.”
“Someone as intelligent and perceptive as Gu She is likely no less capable than Master One-Hammer himself. If Master intends to use him, I’m afraid…” Mu Chun left the sentence unfinished, but the implication was obvious.
Hao Guozi looked completely confused. “But didn’t you just say he should use one side to establish himself?”
Mu Chun replied, “Indeed. But that is only my opinion. It is much easier said than done. To succeed, Master would have to be even more calculating than Gu She.”
Hao Guozi fell silent. This time it was not because he wanted to belittle his own master. He simply possessed enough self-awareness. When it came to scheming, his young master probably would not even rank among the top hundred people in Tanyang County.
“Or,” Mu Chun continued leisurely, “treat him with sincerity.”
Tao Mo hurriedly said, “I have absolutely no intention of trifling with Gu She.”
“……”
Hao Guozi looked up at the sky.
The sky was high, blue, and crystal clear.
Mu Chun coughed lightly. “I believe Master.”
Realizing he had chosen his words poorly, Tao Mo said awkwardly, “What I mean is that I have no intention of using him.”
“A gentleman’s conscience is clear. Since Master has no intention of taking advantage of him, why fear staying at the Gu residence for a few days?” After taking a great detour, Mu Chun finally steered the conversation back to the original topic.
Tao Mo opened his mouth as if to speak, then stopped. Though he had no intention of using Gu She, that did not mean he was entirely free of ulterior motives.
Seeing that the discussion had reached this point, Hao Guozi also switched sides and persuaded him. “It’s only for a few days. Young Master just needs to sleep there at night and return to the county yamen during the day to work.”
Mu Chun raised an eyebrow.
Tao Mo’s gaze moved back and forth between the two men. After a long while, he nodded. “Then let’s do that.”
To show his sincerity as a guest, he and Hao Guozi personally went into town to buy a modest gift. Only then did they head to the Gu residence carrying their bundles.
Gu Xiaojia seemed to know exactly when they would arrive. He was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing them burdened with bags and packages, with half a backscratcher sticking out, he curled his lip. “Don’t tell me you’ve brought all your possessions and are planning to stay permanently?”
Hao Guozi was just about to snap back when Tao Mo tugged at his sleeve.
Stepping forward with the gift in both hands, Tao Mo said, “It’s only a small token of appreciation.”
Gu Xiaojia had seen plenty of people bring gifts before, but rarely anything quite so shabby. However, knowing that his young master viewed Tao Mo differently, he did not make things difficult. He nodded toward the gatekeeper standing nearby.
The gatekeeper immediately stepped forward and accepted the gift.
Only then did Tao Mo let out a sigh of relief.
“Come with me. I’ll show you to the guest quarters.” Gu Xiaojia turned and headed inside.
Tao Mo and Hao Guozi hurried after him.
The Gu residence contained numerous courtyards. Gu Xiaojia deliberately chose Liuxian Residence, the courtyard farthest from Gu She’s Qingyin Residence, to house them.
After being led through countless twists and turns, Hao Guozi’s head was spinning. Unable to hold back, he asked, “Why are we staying so far away?”
Gu Xiaojia replied, “Can’t be helped. The estate is simply that large. A casual walk takes half an hour. I already chose one that’s very close. If you can’t remember the way, I’ll draw you a map.”
Tao Mo smiled. “Thank you. But I’ve already memorized it.”
Gu Xiaojia was slightly surprised. He had deliberately taken many unnecessary turns just now. Even he himself might not remember the route if he had to walk it again, yet Tao Mo claimed to remember all of it? “Are you sure?” he asked skeptically.
Tao Mo nodded.
Hao Guozi shot Gu Xiaojia a smug look.
Gu Xiaojia said, “Since you remember it, then at dusk I won’t come fetch you for dinner. Just follow the route we took earlier and find the main hall yourself.”
Tao Mo thanked him repeatedly.
After Gu Xiaojia left, Hao Guozi complained, “He’s clearly just a servant, yet he struts around as if he were some imperial prince.”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Tao Mo reproved lightly.
Hao Guozi said, “Young Master really remembered all those routes? I could swear we walked some of them twice.”
Tao Mo replied, “The garden and those two bridges were indeed passed twice.”
Hao Guozi said bitterly, “I knew that Gu Xiaojia was up to no good!”
Tao Mo said, “We’re guests under another’s roof. Don’t fuss over it.”
Looking at him, Hao Guozi felt a surge of gratification. He had known that his young master had matured considerably since the incident with the old master, but at this moment the feeling was particularly strong. “Yes, Young Master.”
As the sun set and lanterns began to glow, Tao Mo led Hao Guozi through archway after archway before finally arriving at the main hall Gu Xiaojia had mentioned.
They had assumed only the two of them would be dining there. Unexpectedly, Gu She was already seated inside.
“Please,” Gu She said lightly.
The loneliness of being a guest under another’s roof vanished from Tao Mo in an instant. Delighted, he hurried over and took his seat.
Seeing Gu Xiaojia standing nearby in attendance, Hao Guozi also took up a position behind Tao Mo.
Tao Mo looked eagerly at Gu She, waiting for some polite inquiry—whether he was settling in well, whether he was accustomed to the place, or something of that sort. Yet after waiting for quite some time, all he got was Gu She picking up his chopsticks and placing a piece of eggplant into his mouth.
“…”
Seeing Tao Mo staring blankly at him, Gu She looked back.
Their eyes met.
Tao Mo’s face immediately turned scarlet.
Gu She raised an eyebrow. “Hot?”
“N-not really,” Tao Mo stammered. He hurriedly picked up his chopsticks and stuffed several mouthfuls of eggplant into his mouth.
Gu She said nothing more.
After finishing dinner in silence, Tao Mo was trying to think of a topic of conversation when Gu She suddenly asked, “Do you play chess?”
Tao Mo nodded eagerly.
Gu Xiaojia, taking the hint, set up a chessboard.
Seeing Hao Guozi standing nearby with an empty stomach, Tao Mo felt sorry for him. “You should go eat first.”
The moment he said it, Hao Guozi’s stomach let out a loud series of growls.
Gu Xiaojia burst out laughing.
Gu She said, “Take him to eat.”
“Yes.” Seeing the embarrassed look on Hao Guozi’s face, Gu Xiaojia felt immensely satisfied and readily obeyed.
After Gu Xiaojia and Hao Guozi left, only Gu She and Tao Mo remained in the hall.
With Gu She’s handsome face so close at hand, Tao Mo’s heartbeat became erratic. His chess moves were equally chaotic, and within moments Gu She had utterly routed him.
Looking at the pitiful state of the board, Gu She quietly swept the pieces back into the box.
As though sensing his displeasure, Tao Mo hurried to make amends. “Could we play another game?”
Gu She looked up.
Tao Mo held up one finger, looking pitifully pleading.
Tap tap tap tap tap.
Gu She picked up Tao Mo’s black stones and, without asking, placed five handicap stones for him.
Tao Mo blinked. “You’re giving me five and a half stones?”
“Not enough?” Gu She asked.
“It’s enough,” Tao Mo said. After a moment’s thought, he added, “It should be enough.”
In truth, although he was illiterate, his chess skills were genuinely quite good. As the game progressed, Gu She’s moves gradually slowed.
The game lasted a full hour and a half. Gu Xiaojia and Hao Guozi peeked in through the doorway several times before it finally ended.
Gu She won—but only by a single point.
Tao Mo said shamefacedly, “My chess skills are poor.”
“We’ll play again tomorrow.”
“Really?” Delight appeared openly on Tao Mo’s face.
Seeing Gu She rise, Gu Xiaojia and Hao Guozi hurried inside to clear away the board.
Suddenly, Gu She asked, “Where are you staying?”
Gu Xiaojia’s heart tightened.
“Liuxian Residence.” Since Tao Mo could not read, it was Hao Guozi who answered.
Gu She cast Gu Xiaojia a meaningful look.
Gu Xiaojia immediately felt a chill run down his spine. It seemed that life in the kitchen was beckoning to him once again.
Back in his room, Tao Mo’s mind kept replaying every moment of the chess game with Gu She. One moment he was overflowing with joy, the next he was frustrated by his own lack of skill. Tossing and turning between happiness and regret, he did not finally fall asleep until well past midnight.
The next morning, he woke naturally before Hao Guozi could knock on his door. Thinking about the fact that he was now staying in the Gu residence, he felt as though he were living in a dream.
By the time he opened the door, Hao Guozi was already awake and carrying a basin of hot water over for him to wash.
Since neither of them was on familiar ground, they both felt somewhat restrained, and for a long while neither spoke.
The eastern sky gradually brightened.
Just as Tao Mo was preparing to leave for the county yamen, he saw one of the Gu residence gatekeepers hurrying over.
“Magistrate Tao, a yamen runner has come asking to see you.”
Tao Mo’s heart skipped a beat. “Quickly, show him in.”
Beside him, Hao Guozi muttered, “Don’t tell me it’s another case? It’s only the beginning of the year. Why is everything so restless already?”
Since this was Tao Mo’s first time serving as magistrate, he had no idea whether this was normal. He could only remain silent.
A short while later, the yamen runner entered. What he brought, however, was a personal matter.
“Master Mu said that an old acquaintance of Magistrate Tao has come to visit.”
“An old acquaintance?” Tao Mo’s heart lurched.
Hao Guozi immediately frowned.
Within a hundred li of this place, there was probably only one person who could truly be called an old acquaintance.
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