When the two returned to the county government office, Tao Mo was so worried that he went back to his room without mentioning it. But Lao Tao woke up all the servants in the middle of the night and counted the number again, and sure enough there was one servant missing. Knowing that it must be the painter, he personally took out the contract signed by this person and put it in his arms.
On the next day, Lao Tao knocked on Tao Mo's door early in the morning, but saw that he had already woken up, he couldn't help wondering, "Young master, why did you get up so early?"
Tao Mo said, "Go out to visit friends."
"Could it be that Mr. Lu?" They were newcomers, barely the only one who still had a friendship with Lu Zhenxue.
Tao Mo said, "No, I want to visit Mr. Yichui."
Old Tao was startled, and immediately said joyfully, "The young master actually thought of going with me."
Tao Mo said in a daze, "Why do you want to..."
"Mr. Yichui and Mr. Lin Zhengyong are well-known people in the local area. We are new to Tanyang County, so we should pay a visit." He knew that a strong dragon can't beat a local snake. In the officialdom, there are often people with strong backgrounds who fail when they become local officials, which shows the importance of local connections. Last night's experience at Ming Cui Ju made him realize how powerful the local litigator is, not only proud of the court, but even the common people love to talk about it and admire him deeply. Such people, they absolutely cannot offend.
"In that case, let's prepare two gifts and set off." Tao Mo urged.
Old Tao said: "Wait a minute. What kind of gift does the young master want to buy?"
One sentence stumped Tao Mo.
He thought for a while and said: "In the past, you managed all my father's friends in the business field. There was never a mistake, and it is still the same now."
Old Tao said: "Young master is very praiseworthy. Every time the master sent me to give gifts, he would find out what the other party likes beforehand, so that he could match his preferences. But now I don't know anything about Mr. Yichui and Mr. Lin Zhengyong." He saw Tao Mo's expression loosened, and he said, "Gift giving can be big or small. If it's small, it's nothing and put it on the shelf. If it's big, it's offending taboos and turning faces into enemies."
Tao Mo was shocked when he heard it, "Then how should I investigate?"
"They are local celebrities, and the locals naturally know about it." Old Tao said, "But ordinary people only know one thing, and don't know the other. Even if they know it, they don't necessarily know everything about it. I think it's best for the young master to hire a local teacher , with the local master to advise, the young master will naturally be able to feel like a fish in water."
Tao Mo said: "It's good, but I don't know if the remaining money is enough?"
Old Tao said: "Don't worry, young master, I know how much money I have and where I should spend it. I will definitely not let the family have no rice to cook."
Tao Mo nodded, "Then let's invite you."
"Master, have you ever heard the story of visiting the thatched cottage three times?"
"I've heard." Tao Mo understood immediately, "Who do you want me to invite?"
"Master Jin."
Tao Mo was taken aback, "Isn't he unwilling to be one?"
Old Tao said: "I have inquired, this master Jin is very famous in the local area. He has worked with three masters before and after, and he has very rich experience."
Tao Mo said: "If that's the case, why doesn't he stay and help me?"
Old Tao said: "It is rumored that Master Jin was also a litigator, but he lost to Mr. Lin Zhengyong in the verbal dispute, and then he became an official. But the scholar's arrogance and the litigator's cunning never let go. If the young master wants to invite him Going out of the mountain, you need to worry about it."
Tao Mo sighed, "It's so complicated?"
"In terms of trivial matters, the affairs of the county government and the affairs of the common people are all thousands of times more trivial than it. If the young master really wants to be a good official, he must learn to do everything by himself and know the root of everything. Only in this way can he live up to the imperial court. Trust, the love of the people."
Tao Mo smiled wryly and said, "Being disappointed? I'm afraid I don't have the trust of the court and the love of the people, so how can I be disappointed?"
"Since there is no one, let's do what we can." Knowing that he had been persuaded, Lao Tao immediately ordered Hao Guozi to prepare the sedan chair.
The county magistrate has his own official sedan chair, but there is no bearer. Lao Tao had no choice but to select a few young and strong servants of similar stature from the newly purchased servants.
But lifting a sedan chair has the knowledge of lifting a sedan chair.
A novice and a skilled player will know it.
It's only two streets away from the county government office to Mr. Jin's house, not very far. But when Tao Mo got off the sedan chair, it seemed as if he had been sitting in the sedan chair for a whole year, not only his face turned pale, but also his feet were weak, and he couldn't even stand firmly.
"Master?" Hao Guozi supported him with both hands, his eyes full of worry.
Lao Tao went to deliver the post, but learned that Master Jin was going to participate in the snow appreciation meeting.
There are many litigators and literati in Tanyang County, so there are naturally many gatherings.
Lao Tao thought that maybe he could meet Lin Zhengyong and Mr. Yichui at the meeting, so he immediately asked them to carry them to Tai'an Academy where the snow appreciation was held.
Speaking of Tai'an Academy, it is also very famous in the local area. Many county Confucian students came from Tai'an Academy before.
When Tao Mo arrived, the door was open.
From the door, you can see that a piece of snow has been swept out inside the door. I don’t know who wrote the word "Snow" on it, which is very suitable for the occasion.
Hao Guozi handed over the post, and the concierge rushed to report it.
When Tao Mo walked into the garden, the dean of Mount Tai Academy greeted him personally.
"I don't want Mr. Tao to come in person, and I will welcome you from afar." The dean is in his fifties, well-maintained, with a red face.
Tao Mo replied, "I'm bothering you."
The dean didn't want him to have no official airs, just like an ordinary junior, nodded secretly, and said: "It just so happens that many local scholars came to the academy today to enjoy the snow and write poems. If you don't think it's simple and the hospitality is not good, you might as well sit down together .”
"It's time to work." Tao Mo didn't refuse, and walked into the garden.
In fact, he couldn't hold back anymore. When he just entered the garden, he saw Gu She sitting in the pavilion, shining like a moon. There were many people sitting next to him, all of them surrounded him with smiles on their faces, making their hearts itch to see him.
Seeing him walking towards the pavilion without looking sideways, the dean hurriedly asked, "Is it cold, sir?"
"It's not cold." Although Tao Mo didn't want to, he still stopped.
The dean said: "Although the pavilion is covered, there are air leaks from all sides, so it doesn't keep warm. Why don't you sit in the hall?"
Tao Mo said: "You don't need to go to the hall, I'll just watch the snow in the pavilion."
The dean thought that the people sitting in the pavilion were all litigants, and the ones he hated the most were officials. If you go up eagerly, you may come down in disgrace.
Tao Mo didn't know what he was thinking, and was about to move on, when Old Tao casually blocked his way, saying, "Young master, Master Jin is over there."
He looked along Tao's hand, and sure enough, Master Jin was wearing a dark blue padded jacket and sitting on a stone bench, sipping wine and joking with others.
Tao Mo looked at the pavilion that was close at hand, struggled in his heart, and finally lifted his feet and walked towards the stone bench.
From the moment he came in, the people in the garden more or less pricked up their ears to listen to him, and now when they saw him walking towards the stone bench, they all stretched their necks to look.
That Master Jin seemed to have expected him to come, he sat on the stool and cupped his hands perfunctorily, "The county master is well."
Tao Mo sighed, "Not good, not good at all."
Master Jin squinted at him with his eyes, "Is there something wrong with me?"
Tao Mo said: "I lack a master, is Master Jin willing to give in?"
Master Jin said: "I am old and weak, and I am already out of place."
Tao Mo continued to sigh, "So I'm not good at all."
The others heard their interesting answers, so they all calmed down and listened carefully.
Master Jin said: "This county is full of talents, it is easy to find a master, why should the county master worry?"
Tao Mo stretched out his palm, flipped it over, and then looked at Master Jin.
Master Jin also looked at him.
After a long while, Tao Mo said, "I turned over."
"..."
"So, you followed me." Tao Mo said seriously.
Master Jin's mouth twitched slightly. Although he didn't want to admit it, the situation in front of him was a bit like... chasing a woman. "Why is the county master so persistent?"
Tao Mo thought for a while and said, "I remember a famous saying once."
"Oh? Which sentence?"
Tao Mo muttered in his mouth, and then he spoke confidently: "Weak water is three thousand, I just take a ladle to drink it."
Master Jin: "..." If I had known earlier, he should have been waiting for him at home.