Love is More than a Word, Chapter 73: Strike First (1)...

Love is More than a Word《识汝不识丁》Shi Nu Bu Shi Ding
Love is More than a Word, Chapter 73: Strike First (1)...

Wan Feng's cause of death is unknown.

The wood cutter is in jail.

Yiyu's corpse isn't cold yet.

Peng Xiang is nowhere to be found.

---- Everything is in a state of confusion.

When Tao Mo returned from the Yunlin Mountain, his coat was still cold from the mountain. He wanted to go back to his room to warm up but Master Jin dragged him into his study.

Lao Tao saw that his steps were heavy and his face was worried, so he followed him in.

When Master Jin saw him enter, he didn't object, he just closed the door behind him, pulled out a post from his pocket and handed it to Tao Mo.


Tao Mo gets a headache when he reads that.

Lao Tao took it with interest, pulled it out and read it.

Tao Mo watched Lao Tao's frown grow tighter and tighter, his heart faintly troubled, “What's going on?”

“It's a letter from Tang City Prefecture’s Magistrate.” Lao Tao perused the letter again, “and invited you to visit the Prefectural Magistrate's office tomorrow afternoon.”

“Me?” Tao Mo was taken aback.

The Tang City Prefecture’s Magistrate is his immediate supervisor and before he took office, he was accompanied by Lao Tao and Hao Guozi there. He was only received by a staff member, who was dismissed after a brief chat on the grounds that the Prefectural Magistrate was too busy to be available.

Tao Mo was already afraid to see the Prefectural Magistrate but when he said that, he felt relieved and happy. But a few months later, the Prefectural Magistrate thought of him again.

Lao Tao turned to look at Master Jin.

Master Jin shook his head and sighed, “The Tang City Prefecture’s Magistrate is notoriously difficult, he is wary of just in case men with bad intentions."

Tao Mo's heart was heavy.

Lao Tao said, “We've never met him before. If we want to talk about our relationship with him, we visited him once before the Young Master took office. He only sent a staff member to receive us, so if he was rude, he was the one who was rude beforehand.”

“Did you ever...” Master Jin cast a glance at Lao Tao and said nothing. Tao Mo doesn't care about this kind of thing and Lao Tao is the only one who knows how to deal with it.

Lao Tao nodded silently.

Tao Mo was at a loss for words, “But ever what?”

Master Jin coughed, ignored him and simply said to Lao Tao: “If so, there should be no reason to question.”

Lao Tao suddenly asked, “Could it have something to do with Huang Guangde?”




“Well, it's not impossible.” It's not the first time that Master Jin heard the name Huang Guangde from them and he knew that there was something between them and Huang Guangde. But he's been a Master Advisor for many years, so he knows what to ask and what not to ask, so he turned a blind eye and said, “But I've never heard of any dealings between the Prefectural Magistrate and Huang Guangde. And, as a rule, the same Governor and not so much in the ordinary course of life, unless they are really of the same mind.”

Lao Tao: “Being in a mess is also a kind of like-mindedness.”

Master Jin has no interface.

Tao Mo asked, “So what happens now?”

Master Jin said, “Of course I'm going. It's just that before we go, it's better to make some preparations.”

Tao Mo doesn't get it, Lao Tao does.” Does the Master Advisor know what the Tang City Prefecture’s Magistrate's hobbies are on a typical day?”

Master Jin said, “I do know of a hobby but I'm afraid you won't need it. Anyway, there is one thing that few officials do not love, so you just keep it with you.”

Lao Tao will be pleased.

After Master Jin left, Tao Mo whispered to Lao Tao, “Is Master Jin hinting at a gift?”

Lao Tao said, “Young Master, don't worry about this, I will prepare it.”

Tao Mo whispered, “Since the fall of my family, we don't have much money and what we have, we donated to this government, so there's nothing left. I think I'd better not send it?”

Lao Tao was very happy. After Tao Mo came to Tangyang County as the County Magistrate, he is much more considerate and he is not as weak as he used to be. The only flaw is that he can't get rid of his fetish for broken sleeves (man love). However, befriending someone like Gu-She is better than Yiyu and even if it's an improvement, he shouldn't be too hasty. Seeing Gu-She holding Tao Mo in his arms and comforting him, has shaken Lao Tao's resolve to isolate them a bit. But that's not all, there's still a long way to go before it's complete.

In light of all this, Lao Tao decided to tell Tao Mo something earlier, “Young Master, you don't have to worry about money.”

Tao Mo looked at him puzzled.

Lao Tao said, “In fact, the Master was not totally unaware of what Huang Guangde was doing in secret. He just pretended to be deaf and wouldn't say anything.”

Tao Mo doesn't seem to understand.

Lao Tao spoke more and more clearly, “Actually, the Old Master, your father had already hidden a sum of money, just for a rainy day. He gave it to me for safekeeping, to pave the way for the Young Master's future. Master said, if Young Master is willing to let go of his hatred and run away, this money will buy Young Master a manor and a few acres of land, where he can live and collect rent for the rest of his life in peace. If Young Master can't let go of his hatred, I should make a donation to the government to help Young Master get a job. Whether it's good or bad, it's up to the heavens.”

Tao Mo whispered, “Dad was hoping I'd take the latter path.”




“Not exactly.” Lao Tao said, “Although parents want their children to become phoenixes and change after a problem, they also want them to live in peace. After all, be it peace or prosperity, it's the Old Master's wish that you'll be able to live out your life in peace.” So even though he knew his son hangs out at the Qunxiang House, Master Tao just pretends he didn't know.”

Tao Mo's eyes reddened as he remembered Master Tao's face and voice.

Lao Tao said, “There is one thing the Young Master must not do. The Old Master's death is not your fault. Even without Young Master being there, Huang Guangde would have attacked the Old Master anyway. In fact, the Master wanted to tell you about this before but I repeatedly dissuaded him from doing so, so he has kept it to himself.”

Tao Mo's mouth moved, his head hanging, “I know, you're expecting me to remember the hate.”

“Yes.” Lao Tao doesn't deny it. Hatred is a whip for growth and guilt is a nail that sticks in your head and forces you to stop growing. It may stop for a while but the nail is so deep in the brain that even if it's removed, there's still a hole that can't be filled.” It's just that I'm telling the Young Master today in the hope that he'll let go of his hatred for a while.”

Tao Mo raised his head slowly.

Lao Tao said, “Hatred and obsession are the same. If you are filled with these two emotions, you will be blinded to the truth. Now the Young Master can let go of his hatred.” Because Tao Mo today has found a way forward, even without hatred.

Tao Mo looked at him incredulously, “You want me to spare Huang Guangde?”

“I'm not letting him off the hook.” Lao Tao said, “Huang Guangde's crimes are so many, he'll die if you don't count Master Tao's crimes. Why don't Young Master put aside his personal grudges and bring him to justice for the common people.”

Bring him to justice for the common people...

Tao Mo recalled saying this to Gu-She once. At that time, Gu-She was asking how he would deal with Huang Guangde but now Lao Tao is saying how he should look at Huang Guangde. Different but the same thing.

“Young Master."

“Uh?”

“Do you blame me?”

Tao Mo regained consciousness and looked at Lao Tao in surprise.

Lao Tao was silent for a while and said, “Actually, I can kill Huang Guangde at any time if the Young Master wants.”

Killed Huang Guangde? Kill Huang Guangde?

Tao Mo's heart was pounding.

If Tao Mo had heard this before coming to Tangyang County, he would have nodded his head without hesitation but now, his mind had changed. “Didn't you say you were going to bring him to justice?”

“But if Young Master nodded, I'll do it right away.” Lao Tao paused and said, “If I had saved the Old Master at that time, he would not have died.”

Tao Mo was silent for a while and whispered, “What's done is done, so why think about it?” In his dreams, he's never thought about what would have happened. But there are no regrets in this world, only a more careful path forward.

Lao Tao said, “It's because I was afraid of being found by the Demon Sect and didn't dare to show up...”

Tao Mo smiled, “You're wrong and I'm even more wrong, so let's put all this wrongness on Huang Guangde.” As far as personal vendettas are concerned, he and Huang Guangde already have a deep-seated hatred. I am sure that Huang Guangde himself will not care for this extra sum.




Now, Lao Tao and Tao Mo's heartbreak is over.





~ Love is More than A Word ~



Prev: Chapter 72: New enemy, Old Regret (9)...《 Chapters Home 》 Next: Chapter 74: Strike First (2)...,