Love is More than a
Word《识汝不识丁》Shi Nu Bu Shi Ding
Love is More than a Word, Chapter 11: The Famous teacher and brilliant apprentice (2)...
By the time he got to the county office, Tao Mo has already put this behind him, but Hao
Guozi is still thinking about it, so he went to talk to Lao Tao.
Lao Tao also found it unusual when he heard it. Then Wang Pengcheng was a businessman, whether he was grateful or afraid of Tao Mo, a parental official, it was normal to feast on a meal, it was just the big man trying to be a matchmaker... He turned around and went to find Master Jin.
Master Jin was a local and might be able to guess the reason for this.
Sure enough, Master Jin laughed upon hearing this, "I didn't expect this Wang Pengcheng to come up with such a golden trick to get out of his shell."
When Lao Tao saw that there was really something else in the world, he asked why.
Master Jin said, "Do you know which family old lady Wang has found the wife for continuing the lineage for him?"
Lao Tao thought to himself, how do I know this? But the mouth says, "I'd like to hear about it."
"It's the Tong Family." Seeing that he did not understand, Master Jin added, "Mr. Yichui's wife is from the Tong family."
Lao Tao suddenly said, "Lady Wang wants to link up with Mr. Yichui by marriage?"
Master Jin purposefully mentioned, "Locally, the prestige of Mr. Yichui and Mr. Lin is not uncommon."
"It's natural." Lao Tao had an epiphany, "Wasn't it that Wang Pengcheng was worried that the withdrawal of marriage from would shame and anger Mr. Yichui, so he wanted to cause trouble so he can have an excuse... "
Master Jin was surprised, "Have you also heard the rumors about Miss Tong?"
Lao Tao thought to himself, I have only just learned about the Tong family's relationship with Mr. Yichui, how could I have heard of it? However, he said vaguely, "It's just a rumor, I'm afraid it can't be counted."
Master Jin said, "I don't know if she is a tough woman as rumored, but it is an indisputable fact that she is still unmarried after reaching her twenties years."
Lao Tao was satisfied, thanked him, and went.
After Master Jin watched him leave, he went back to his desk and sat down.
At first, he thought that the newly appointed Lord Tao was just a loser with no direction, but he didn't realize that he could use some tactics even when he came to the trial, and even led Gu to visit him at the door, he was afraid that he had some unusual skills.
Since this was the case, Master Jin decided that he would give him a little advice and save himself the trouble of having to change his Master every few months.
At night, Tao Mo hesitated for a long time and finally couldn't resist mentioning to Lao Tao that he wanted to visit Gu She and Lu Zhenxue. He brought together Wang Pengcheng's powerful relationship with him and stated that he was forced to draw the relationship with the two gentlemen's senior disciples because he did not have the inner courtyard to run with one of them.
After listening, Lao Tao was silent for a long time.
Tao Mo couldn't help but feel apprehensive.
"Has it ever occurred to you, Young Master," said Lao Tao slowly, "To add a young lady to run the inner courtyard?"
When Lao Tao heard him stammer, he said, "The Tao family must always leave a descendant."
Tao Mo bowed his head in silence.
"I think this is also the greatest wish of the Old Master on his deathbed."
As soon as Lao Tao removed the word "Old Master", Tao Mo wilted and said, "I want to keep my mourning for three years.
"Also... filial piety is good manners" Lao Tao said, "It's just that the young master's filial piety should not be known."
Tao Mo said in dismay, "Why?"
"It is the law of our dynasty that no one shall be appointed to an official position during the period of mourning."
Tao Mo's face went pale.
Lao Tao said, "Unless the emperor takes love, but I'm afraid the young master won't be able to use this one."
Tao Mo mumbled, "But, I already told Wang Pengcheng."
Lao Tao said, "That's fine. He can't know it well either, but he would never mention it again. Naturally, if the young master is willing to get married as soon as possible to eliminate the consequences, that would be the best."
Tao Mo said, "Even if I can't mention it, I still have to keep filial piety for three years in my heart."
Lao Tao sighed and said, "Since Young Master insists, it's not good for me to say anything more."
Tao Mo heartily bowed his head.
"As for the matter of visiting Mr. Yichui and Mr. Lin, it must not be delayed any longer. Fortunately, it's New Year's Eve in a few days, and it's always good to send some New Year's goods to our friends’ door." Seeing that he was lost, Lao Tao added, "Although Gu She and Lu Zhenxue are the senior apprentices of the two gentlemen, they have many disciples, so it would be unpleasant for us to be partial to them and only to interact with them. Might as well talk about it later."
Hearing what he said was reasonable, Tao Mo was silent.
By the early morning of the next day, Tao Mo had gotten up early under Hao Guozi's urging. Lao Tao was already preparing the New Year's gifts and the wagon. The wagon is the one that was dropped halfway down the road. As soon as he bought servants, he ordered them to haul them back and fix it, which was always easier than a palanquin.
Still not fully awake from his slumber, Tao Mo dazedly climbed into the carriage and slept again with his head crooked against the soft pillow that Hao Guozi had thrown up. He didn't know how long passed, when the carriage stopped and another man came up.
He looked half asleep and half awake, then stared in surprise, "Master Jin?"
Master Jin arched his hand and said, "Your Excellency."
"You, what are you doing here?" Tao Mo braced his arm and sat up, subconsciously wiping the corner of his mouth.
Master Jin turned a blind eye and said, "I'll accompany his Excellency to pay their respects."
"Oh." Tao Mo lifted the curtain and looked outside, "Lao Tao didn't come?"
"He has to take care of the affairs of the house." "His excellency seems to rely heavily on Mr. Lao Tao," Master Jin said tentatively. In fact, during his time at the county office, he could see that this Lao Tao was no ordinary person, not only was he shrewd and capable, but also calm and steady, as if he had come from a great family. But Tao Mo really didn't look like a young master raised in a big mansion.
Tao Mo did not doubt him and replied, ''This is natural. He's been the only one who's taken care of me since my father passed away."
"Is there no one else in the Tao Family?"
"No more."
Master Jin said, "If his Excellency can have a smooth career, and a smooth transition to the next level, your father will be very pleased to know that your Family is well informed."
The words spoken went to Tao Mo's heart. He laughed, "That's what I thought. My father's only wish in life was that I would be a great man, not to live a life of mediocrity."
Master Jin said, "It seems that your father is also a learned man."
Tao Mo shook his head and said, "Actually, my father was also illiterate in big words."
"Oh? But five thousand taels is not a small amount, how can an ordinary person donate such a large sum of silver?"
Tao Mo was slightly uncomfortable and said, "My father is a merchant."
Seeing the guarded look on his face, Master Jin nodded and stopped probing about the Tao Family, no longer extending downward.
Tao Mo secretly sighed with relief.
The carriage came to a halt in front of a large mansion. The two sides are lined with white walls and red tiles, with green wood above the head of the wall, adding a touch of spring to this bitterly cold winter.
When Tao Mo and Master Jin got out of the car, they saw that Hao Guozi had already knocked on the door and had just cast the invitations.
After about half a cup of tea, a butler-like figure turned inside, collected the New Year gifts from Hao Guozi, and turned to lead them to the flower hall to wait. After another burn of incense, the butler sent them off to the garden again.
The gardens are mostly deserted, with only a single plum flower planted near the pavilion, which is in full bloom at this time of year. The people in the pavilion have a distinctive elegance under the cover of the flowers. Sitting in the middle of the pavilion was a fifty something year old beautiful scholar, his eyes gleaming and his face clean-shaven. On his left hand, sat a woman, about forty years old, beautiful in appearance, with apricot eyes and cherry lips, and a little black mole at the corner of her mouth. On the right hand is a young man with starry eyes, but Tao Mo's greatest concern in recent days.
"I didn't know Lord Tao was coming. I'm sorry to not have gone to welcome you personally." The scholar did not leave his seat, but only raised his hands and arched them with no sincerity.
Tao Mo hurriedly returned the salute, "I came in haste, I didn't know, I was rash."
The scholar's gaze flicked and landed on Master Jin.
Master Jin clasped his fist and said, "Mr. One Yichui."
The corner of Mr. Yichui's lips rose slightly, pulling his beard with a movement, "Ah. Brother Jin is still such an outsider, just call me Yichui."
Master Jin said, "Mr. Yichui is famous all over the world, so I don't dare to overdo it."
Such a conversation seemed to have happened many times, and Mr. Yichui didn't want to dwell on it, and with a wave of his hand, he said, "Please take a seat, both of you."
Tao Mo trotted over to Gu She and sat down.
Master Jin was helpless, so he had to sit next to Mrs. Yichui.
Mr. Yichui looked at Gu She and Tao Mo with interest and said, "I heard that Lord Tao has already befriended my apprentice shortly after he came to Tangyang County?"
Tao Mo's eyes narrowed with laughter, "It's fate, we met four times in total." Saying that, he would come four times in a row.
Seeing Gu She's frown, Mr. Yichui couldn't help but laugh, "Lord Tao is really a person with a heart."
Mrs. Yichui suddenly said, "I wonder if Lord Tao has a fiancée?"
Tao Mo stared blankly and shook his head. He also wondered why everyone who saw him in recent days had to ask about his marriage status.
Mrs. Yichui was overjoyed, "If Lord Tao doesn't mind, why don't you let me hold the red thread and find you a match wife?"
Master Jin raised his eyes to look at Mr. Yichui, and found that he was in an old state of mind, obviously not surprised by his wife's actions.
Tao Mo subconsciously went to look at Gu She.
Mr. Yichui said, "Don't worry. Gu She won't snatch a fiancé from you."
Tao Mo was hesitant.
Gu She raised his glass slowly and methodically, taking a sip and saying, "Did Master Wife ever ask Miss Tong what she wanted?"
Mrs. Yichui patted her chest and said, "Your master's wife was also Miss Tong before I got married, of course I know best what Miss Tong means, so why ask again?"
Gu She was accustomed to this kind of sophistry and said nothing more.
Tao Mo is in a very excited mood. He really didn't expect that Gu She would defend him from his mouth, so he immediately said, "I listen to Gu She then."
The whole audience was silent.
~ Love is More than A Word ~
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