As the head of a county, Tao Mo was busy receiving presents. There are both ceremonial rituals and congratulatory rituals.
Lao Tao accepted them all.
Tao Mo originally complained, but Lao Tao recorded all the gifts that were sent in the account book one by one, and then returned gifts of similar value to each other. In about three or four days, the various accounts in the account book have been evened out.
Hao Guozi turned over the account book several times, and said depressedly, "Is there really nothing left?"
Old Tao said: "Not a single bit left."
Hao Guozi said: "This gift is really a loss."
Lao Tao just smiled and said nothing.
Tao Mo said: "This is the best way. These favors are not to be owed."
Old Tao said: "Young master, as an official of the imperial court, shouldn't be courteous to them. But this is a bad habit in the officialdom. If you blindly refuse, you will reject people thousands of miles away, which will make people feel dissatisfied. So we have to do this."
Hao Guozi said: "Those people feel comfortable like this?"
"Whether you feel comfortable or not, at least face is over." Old Tao said, "I won't hold grudges."
Tao Mo's heart skipped a beat, and he said, "Why don't you prepare two more gifts for Mr. Yichui and Mr. Lin."
Old Tao said: "Then what about Young Master Gu She?"
Tao Mo opened his eyes wide, "He helped me, so he should give it to me."
Old Tao shook his head.
Tao Mo frowned and said, "Why?"
"Although I agree with the young master to make friends with them, this kind of friendship is based on equality. If the young master blindly pleases them, it will make them despise."
"Contempt? Will it?" Tao Mo remembered that Hao Guozi had said before that if he was too obedient to Gu She, he would feel bored. Now that Lao Tao added another sentence of contempt, he couldn't help feeling a little nervous and confused.
Seeing that he was absent-minded, Lao Tao knew that he was thinking about Gu She again, so he couldn't help but sighed: "Young Master, the officialdom is dangerous, and at any time someone will hide a knife in a smile and make trouble. You have to be careful at every step, and don't give people a chance."
Tao Mo said, "I will be careful."
"I heard that Gu She has not been here in Tanyang County for a long time. He was able to surpass many litigators in Tanyang County in a short period of time and become Mr. Yichui's favorite student. Pay attention, even if it is not from a famous family, it must be from a scholarly family. If such a person is involved too deeply, I am afraid that it will cause trouble to the upper body." Old Tao said with a serious heart.
How could Tao Mo not know these points. It's just that he couldn't control it when he felt it.
Seeing his gloomy expression, Lao Tao couldn't help but let go and said: "If the young master really has to be masculine, it's not impossible."
Hao Guozi stared at him with wide eyes.
"It's just that it is necessary to carry on the family line. After marrying a wife, find two male concubines with clean family backgrounds to hide at home, just don't make publicity." Old Tao sighed.
Tao Mo's lips moved, and he said after a while: "I haven't thought so far."
Old Tao nodded and said, "Now is indeed not the time to be in a hurry. The most important thing is to gain a firm foothold in Tanyang County first."
Tao Mo bowed his head, but Gu She was still thinking about him.
It's just that such a person, let alone being a male concubine, even if he sent him to his door to be a male concubine, he would not be willing.
Lao Tao looked at his expression and was about to say more when he saw Hao Guozi winking secretly.
The two quietly left the house.
Old Tao asked, "What's the matter?"
Hao Guozi said: "Old Tao, you don't understand the young master's character as well as I do."
"Oh?"
"Although my young master is infatuated, he is not dedicated. If you really intend to find a male concubine for him, just go ahead and find it. If you really see the right way, when the time comes, the young master and the newlyweds will be like glue, and you will slowly Stay away from that Mr. Gu." Hao Guozi laughed.
Old Tao frowned.
"If you don't believe me, think about that Mr. Yiyu." Hao Guozi reminded.
Old Tao said: "Young Master Yiyu has to say something else."
Hao Guozi said: "Anyway, this is much more effective than you forcing him to forget Gu She."
Lao Tao murmured: "I know, I will consider this matter."
Hao Guozi didn't know how he should think about it, and his mind was quickly occupied by the coming Lantern Festival. The lantern festival was full of people, Tao Mo didn't want to go at first, but couldn't stand Hao Guozi's pestering, so he had to agree.
The two of them went out wearing felt hats and long jackets, and blended in the crowd without being conspicuous.
The biggest feature of Tanyang is that there are many litigators, so one of the characteristics of the Tanyang Lantern Festival is that litigators argue with each other.
Tao Mo and Hao Guozi admired the lanterns for a while, and then they were attracted by a huge lantern surrounded by a crowd of people.
Hao Guozi is thin and thin, and he sneaks into the crowd in twos and twos.
Tao Mo had no choice but to wait outside.
After a while, Hao Guozi came out and said excitedly, "There is a quarrel inside."
"Arguing?" Tao Mo asked anxiously, "What's the quarrel? Is it serious?"
"Hehe, it's just a bickering, not very strong. They are all talkative people." Hao Guozi took his hand, "Come with me, master." He had an experience once, and drilled faster the second time.
Tao Mo was not as nimble as he was, he stumbled into it, his wrists were pinched and bruised. After finally getting to the very center, before he could speak, he was robbed of all his attention by the figure of the people in the field.
"Huh, Gu She?" Hao Guozi frowned. If he had known that he was here, he would not have brought the young master along.
Tao Mo's state of mind was completely opposite to his, and his eyes fell on the indifferent figure without blinking.
"Mr. Gu, you can make an arbitration to see whether Mr. Wang is right or Mr. Chen is right." The person who spoke was a middle-aged man with a smile on his face.
Young Master Wang and Young Master Chen who were named looked at Gu She at the same time, both of them were determined to win.
Gu She said slowly: "Each has its own merits."
The middle-aged man smiled and said, "This is really hard for me. You know there is only one Lantern King, and the two cannot be separated." As he spoke, he pointed at the biggest lantern in the scene.
Mr. Wang smiled and said, "Mr. Chen's theory of remarriage amazes me. Mr. Chen should take the Lantern King."
Mr. Chen responded with a half-smile: "Young Master Wang's theory of Dofu is even more wonderful, and this lamp king should be obtained by Young Master Wang."
Prince Wang smiled and said, "Why did Mr. Chen take it out of context? How many times have I said the theory of Duofu?"
"Then the center of my narrative is remarriage?"
The two looked at each other, getting angry.
Under the suggestion of the middle-aged man, Gu She finally opened his mouth and said: "It's all about the same, there is no need to win or lose."
Young Master Wang and Young Master Chen, who were glaring at each other, turned their anger on Gu She at the same time, "What do you mean by what Young Master Gu said?"
Gu Shedao: "Your disputes have long been bound by the imperial court's laws and regulations. The detailed rules and regulations are as dense as a cow's hair. All kinds of situations are judged. The topics you discuss are just generalities, without evidence or evidence, regardless of cause and effect. No matter what Which one is higher and which one is lower is just nonsense, so why bother to decide the winner?"
"You..." Wang Gongzi and Chen Gongzi blushed at the words, and they both flung their sleeves away.
The middle-aged man hurriedly took down the big lantern, brought it to Gu She, and said with a smile: "This year's Lantern King seems to be Gu Gongzi again."
Gu Xiaojia jumped out and said, "You give it away every year, but my son doesn't accept it every year, why do you bother?"
The middle-aged man said with a smile: "You can't keep it yesterday, but you can renovate it today. If you refused to accept it yesterday, it may not be the same today."
Gu Xiaojia was about to refute, when Gu She said calmly: "In that case, you can give it to him."
The middle-aged man looked along his fingers, just in time to meet Tao Mo's blank eyes. "This is Mr. Gu's..."
The corner of Gu She's mouth raised slightly, he turned and left.
Tao Mo's heart fluttered, and he was about to catch up when he was stopped by the middle-aged man, who insisted on taking down the big lantern hanging high and handing it to him, "Congratulations, young master."
Hao Guozi was holding the lantern in a hurry, afraid of poking it, and afraid of knocking it off, so he was very distressed, "What is this?"
The middle-aged man was taken aback, "Aren't you two from Tanyang?"
Hao Guozi said, "Just live for a few more years."
The middle-aged man smiled and said: "This is the Lantern King. There is only one every year, and it is only given to the winner of the debate competition. In fact, although Mr. Gu does not take it every year, he comes every year. So far, I have never seen anyone Take the Lantern King from his hands."
Hao Guozi muttered, "I don't want it myself, but I don't give it to others, it's really overbearing."
The middle-aged man said: "Although Mr. Gu doesn't go to court, he is a teacher of Mr. Yichui. Speaking of which, he can be regarded as a famous litigator. It is understandable that he can't see others taking away the Lantern King."
Tao Mo suddenly asked: "Who came up with the rules of the Lantern King?"
The middle-aged man proudly said: "Me."
Hao Guozi said, "Who are you?"
The middle-aged man raised his chest and said, "I am the owner of Yutu Lantern Workshop."
"..."
Hao Guozi nodded and said, "I finally understand why, except for Gu She, there are no familiar faces participating in this Lantern King competition." Winning is boring, and losing is embarrassing.
Middle-aged man: "..."
Hao Guozi originally wanted to throw away the lantern, but Tao Mo insisted on refusing. In his heart, this lantern is a gift from Gu She, and he is too afraid to treasure it, so how could he throw it away? He saw Hao Guozi holding the lantern in a casual posture, fearing that the lantern would be damaged, he simply picked it up for himself.
Walking on the street with a huge lantern in your arms is really eye-catching, and people look back along the way.
Tao Mo didn't notice it, and asked as he walked, "Did you see where Gu She went?"
Hao Guozi pointed casually, "It seems to have gone over there."
Tao Mo walked a few steps quickly, and when he reached the corner, a figure suddenly appeared. He was too late to stop and almost bumped into the opponent, but was slid past by the opponent's waist.
"Sorry." The other party's voice was as elegant as a flowing spring.
Tao Mo moved the lantern away, his eyes lit up immediately.
I saw that the person in front of me was as handsome as a snowy moon, and his temperament was not inferior to Gu She's.
"I took the liberty just now, please forgive me, brother. Excuse me, how do I get to the county government office?"
Hao Guozi rushed out from behind Tao Mo, "Are you going to the county government office? What are you doing? Sue?"
"No, go find someone." The young man said calmly.
Hao Guozi looked at him suspiciously, "Who?"
The young man smiled and said, "Old Tao."