The Scroll of Departures Chapter 3

Kylan Tao's body trembled, whether from cold or shock.

Someone questioned: "Isn't that official going to arrive after the new year? Where did you get it?"

The clerk said: "The new official moved into the county government office yesterday. His housekeeper is still looking for Ya Po to buy people into the government office today."

The man was relieved and said, "So this is how the painting came about."

Finley Lao led Kylan Tao to find an empty table and sit down with an expressionless expression.

It was the busiest time in the tea house, so the two of them had to find a seat near the stairs, which was quite close to the shouting waiter.

Kylan Tao couldn't help but poke his head to look, but was pulled back by Finley Lao, so he could only chat.

The business of three copper coins actually had people patronizing it.

A voice shouted: "Come here, let me see if you are fat or thin, tall or short."

There was a faint sound of unrolling a scroll.

"Ha!" the voice laughed, "a sick chicken!"

The clerk said: "I heard that the county magistrate fell ill just after he entered the county seat. He may not be able to go to court."

The voice said: "This is a good thing. My ears are quiet! I have to put on pretense every time I come up. They are not tired of it, but I am too old-fashioned."

The waiter said: "Master Lu is joking. Has your trick ever been too heavy?"

This flattery seemed to make the man feel very comfortable. The man laughed twice and squeezed out of the crowd.

Kylan Tao turned his head to look. I saw that the man had sparse eyebrows and bright eyes, and he was actually a handsome scholar.

The scholar seemed to be aware that someone was watching, so he took advantage of the situation.

Kylan Tao turned around quickly.

Old Tao's slightly bowed back suddenly straightened.

A fan was knocked on the table, and the scholar's laughter was very close at hand, "Oh, I didn't expect that three copper plates can not only see the painting, but also the self." He said, and suddenly bowed and said, "Student Lu Zhenxue has met the county master. "

His voice was loud and eye-catching, causing a sudden outcry.

Kylan Tao had no choice but to stand up and said, "No courtesy."

The surrounding voices gradually became quiet, and all eyes were focused on the two of them.

Kylan Tao couldn't help but feel embarrassed, not knowing what he wanted to do.

Lu Zhenxue said with a smile: "I wonder if you would mind sitting at the same table with me?"

Kylan Tao looked at Finley Lao.

Finley Lao had already stood up. As a servant, it is not appropriate for him to sit at the same table as his master.

Kylan Tao said: "Then just sit down."

When Lu Zhenxue heard what he said reluctantly, he snorted coldly in his heart and said to himself: You don't bother to sit at the same table with me now, I'm afraid you won't be able to invite me if you want to invite me in the future!

Kylan Tao said: "What do you want to eat?"

Lu Zhenxue was slightly stunned and said casually: "A pot of Longjing."

Kylan Tao nodded and said to the waiter waiting aside: "Two vegetarian dishes, two bowls of rice, and a pot of Longjing."

Lu Zhenxue waited for the waiter to leave and then said, "Your Excellency, haven't you eaten yet?"

Kylan Tao shook his head.

"Why not go to Xianwei Tower instead of Mingcuiju? That Xianwei Tower is a serious place to eat. Although the tea at Mingcuiju is good, the food is not that good." Lu Zhenxue said.

Kylan Tao said, "It's my first time here, so I'm not familiar with it." Seeing that Old Tao was still standing, he said, "Let's sit down together."

Old Tao then said: "Thank you, Master." But he still did not dare to sit down completely, and his bu*t**ks only touched a small area of the bench.

Lu Zhenxue said: "The winter is cold and windy. Why did you have to take office before the year? Maybe... you are thinking about those charcoal and silver?"

Kylan Tao said: "What is charcoal silver?"

Lu Zhenxue blinked, "Sir, you really don't know?"

Kylan Tao shook his head.

"It seems that your Excellency regards money as dung. I will definitely become a first-class upright official in the future." He said mockingly.

Kylan Tao said: "I don't want to be an upright official."

Lu Zhenxue's expression froze. None of the county officials who came to Tanyang County wanted to be upright officials. Who doesn't know that Tanyang County is a tough place, and anyone who has some ideas is unwilling to come. And the imperial court will not send truly capable officials. Ask why? Because there is no need. There are many litigants in Tanyang County, some are good and some are bad, but none are as bad as in Fish and Meat Township. It's not that they don't want to, but they can't and don't dare to. A literati can talk all over the world with his mouth. If he is really anxious, he will dare to go to Beijing to complain. Therefore, nothing major happens in Tanyang County, and the performance evaluation is excellent every year. But this was the first time he had encountered someone like Kylan Tao who said from the very beginning that he would not be an upright official.

Could it be that you fell in love with him as soon as you saw him and loved him sincerely?

Lu Zhenxue was stunned, not knowing what kind of charm in him made the other party admire him so much.

Kylan Tao continued: "I want to be a good official."

Lu Zhenxue put away his surprise and said with a smile: "A good official is not an honest official?"

Kylan Tao said: "A good official is an upright official, but an upright official is not necessarily a good official."

Lu Zhenxue nodded in agreement, but had no urge to continue. There are people who talk big every year, but how many of them actually mean what they say? To be honest, if he really dares to say that instead of being an upright official, I will be a corrupt official, he might even look down upon him. These days, there are really too few people who dare to do anything.

Just in time for the food to be served, the conversation ends here.

Lu Zhenxue took a sip of tea and wanted to excuse himself. He has already figured out the background of this new county magistrate. He is just a hypocrite who talks nonsense and has no meaning.

There were footsteps on the stairs.

There is urgency and there is slowness.

But Lu Zhenxue's waist straightened up immediately. He looked at the stairs only three feet away from his forehead and felt uncomfortable. But now that he stood up, it was too deliberate, so he had to endure it.

Seeing that his expression was different, Old Tao couldn't help but turn his head and look up.

Five or six people dressed as scholars were leisurely walking down from the top.

Since the lobby was quiet again, Kylan Tao, who was eating, couldn't help but look.

At this glance, his eyes were fixed on the last person and could no longer move away.

She has snow-white fox fur and thick hair like ink. Even if she stands behind others, she can't stop her aura of luxury. As if sensing his gaze, his eyes swept towards her lightly, as lazy as a cold star, and then moved away lightly, as if he was disdainful.

"Brother Lu!" The scholar who was walking at the front suddenly stopped and looked at him in surprise. "Since Brother Lu is here, why don't you come up and talk about it?"

Lu Zhenxue said lukewarmly: "I was about to go up, but you guys came down."

The man smiled and said, "That's no coincidence." He rolled his eyes and looked at Kylan Tao, "This is..."

Lu Zhenxue said: "You can't miss this person. He is the new county master, Mr. Tao."

The man said "Oh" and stopped paying attention.

Kylan Tao felt cold and his cheeks were slightly hot. It's not that he has never been ignored, and he has long been used to it, but this time he happened to be in front of that person... But maybe he didn't care at all.

He felt an indescribable discomfort in his heart when he saw the man in fox fur standing proudly at the top of the stairs, as if everything that happened under his feet had nothing to do with him.

Those people chatted and laughed with Lu Zhenxue for a while and then left.

Finley Lao noticed that Lu Zhenxue's face became obviously gloomy after they left.

"Sir, if nothing happens, I'll take my leave first." When meeting this group of people, Lu Zhenxue lost interest and stood up directly without even wanting to be perfunctory.

"Stay." Kylan Tao said hurriedly.

Lu Zhenxue was startled and turned back.

"I have something to ask."

Lu Zhenxue pretended to wait patiently.

Kylan Tao whispered: "Do you know the name of the young man wearing fox fur?"

Lu Zhenxue's face changed slightly, and he looked at his shy expression with confusion. Then he suddenly realized, the disgust in his eyes flashed away, and a smile slowly formed at the corner of his mouth, "Is it Gu She you're asking about?"

"Gu She?" Kylan Tao read out softly, and the image of that person appeared in his mind.

Lu Zhenxue said: "He is a close disciple of Mr. Yichui. Your Excellency wants to make friends with him."

Kylan Tao's eyes lit up obviously, making his whole face come alive, and he said, "Do you have any idea?"

Lu Zhenxue felt unhappy, "I am a disciple of Master Lin. I don't have a close relationship with them, so I'm afraid I won't be able to help them much."

The light in Kylan Tao's eyes dimmed instantly.

Lu Zhenxue was even more unhappy, so he threw up his sleeves and left.

At this time, the teahouse owner came to apologize with his waiter and a portrait of Kylan Tao in his hand, explaining that the painting was just for consignment and was divided into 30% and 70%.

Kylan Tao didn't care much at first, but when he saw that he returned the painting, he promised not to pursue it further.

Old Tao suddenly asked: "Where does this Mr. Lu come from?"

The boss said: "The Lu family is a well-known local family. Their ancestors had a minister and a tutor. I heard that there are now two masters serving as officials in the capital, which is very remarkable. Mr. Lu is a famous talent, and occasionally As a lawyer, his teacher is the famous Lin Zhengyong. "

His words made Finley Lao frown frequently.

Kylan Tao asked, "What about Mr. Gu She?"

The boss said: "Mr. Gu is a disciple of Mr. Yichui, but he never entered the officialdom. I heard that Mr. Yichui dotes on him very much, and his fellow apprentices also take good care of him."

Kylan Tao was a little unhappy after hearing very little news.

Seeing the probing look in his boss's eyes, Finley Lao hurriedly paid the bill and took Kylan Tao back to the county office to avoid further trouble.