[Title here]

by Spring Trees

  It wasn’t the first time such situations occurred.

  After tidying himself up, he went out as well.

  There were countless people, both strangers and some he recognized, greeting him along the way, and he, too, greeted them back

  Thanks to the fact that he was working for the government office, even though he had no salary, and was unable to buy what he wanted, but following the saying, love me, love my dog; he was able to get the respect and love from the city residents from this job.

  Anyways, there wasn’t really anything that he wanted to buy.

  Or should he say, he had no interest in anything.

  He worked just to eat, eating just to survive, surviving just to work.

  That’s all there was to it.

  He wasn’t willing to think much, and was too lazy to think either.

  It would be great if he just didn’t think too much.

  He wouldn’t get sad if he instinctively lived on like an animal.

  He kept telling himself that.

  “Nan Ge Er2 , here for the groceries?” the greengrocer warmly greeted as he noticed his arrival.

  His vague mumbles could somewhat be counted as a reply.

  Nan Gua was a random nickname he made for himself, the origin being him glancing at a pumpkin in the corner when the doctor asked for his name.

  Even though the doctor noticed the big pumpkin when following his gaze, he didn’t say much about it, nodding to him before leaving.

  The next day, the whole city knew that there was a new helper in the district government, whose name was Nan Ge Er.

  “Aunt Wang already told me beforehand.” The greengrocer handed over to him the grocery basket that was prepared in advance, conveniently grabbing a batch of green vegetables from the stall beside his hand, and placing them into the basket.

  “Nan Ge Er, you have to have a talk with Mo Shu-xiansheng, even if it’s only minced meat, he should still eat more, look at how skinny you two are.”

  I don’t even know who in the world is your Mo Shu-xiansheng, how should I tell him.

  He looked at the greengrocer silently.

  However, the greengrocer misunderstood what he meant.

  “Oh my, look at me, really… ” stacking a green cucumber on top as he spoke, “I’ll send a few types of meat over tomorrow. Yesterday, the old man at the east of the city was sick again, so Mo Shu-xiansheng footed a huge amount of consultation fee, and bought quite a few rice grains for Chen-dajie3 and her mother, gosh … …” He shook his head as he mused, “Mo Shu-xiansheng doesn’t have that much money…”

  He silently smirked.

  Buying rice for another, while having gruel for himself.

  I finally know where this magistrate-daren’s money went to.

  “Alright, quickly go back for breakfast.” The greengrocer grabbed yet another bunch of parched peas and pushed them at him. “Eat them on your way back, look at how thin you are…” Shaking his head again, “Mo Shu-xiansheng seriously… We get so much help from him usually, what is the harm of letting us help him? Look at that small stature…”

  He really couldn’t stand there comfortably under such a concern-filled, pitying gaze, so he quickly took the parched peas, and headed back while carrying the fully filled basket.

  He was thin only because of his weak body. Since it couldn’t be built up, thus, it had nothing much to do with the fact that he didn’t have meat to eat.

  In truth, he felt that even though he lived on a simple, half-full diet daily, on the contrary, his body felt fine.

  After getting greetings from countless strangers and people he recognized again, he arrived back to the office.

  Since it wasn’t time for breakfast, he rested at the office door for a while, listening to the gossips of the two working yamen runners, before carrying the grocery basket to the kitchen.

  As the district government was poor, thus, there was a shortage of helpers; usually one took the roles of two, so he didn’t request help from the yamen runners, although he knew that if he did request it, they definitely would help him.

  Although the office was old and worn-out, it was very clean.

  Everyone was considerate in maintaining the hygiene of the office environment –maybe because they knew that he really was bad at cleaning?

  There wasn’t any flowers in the place that was once a garden. Instead, it was filled with greens, onions, and other vegetables.

  Currently, he was the only person living in the backyard that was usually for family members.

  The place for rearing chickens and ducks didn’t even have single feather in it – it couldn’t be helped, since there wasn’t any money to buy chicks or ducklings, and there wasn’t anyone available to take care of them.

  The place was big, but empty.

  Since except for the necessaries, everything was scrimped and saved upon.

  Even using nothing but four walls to describe the place was kind of unfitting.

  * * *

  1 Yamen runners: government employees in charge of general services for the government more info:http://www.yamenrunner.com/runner

  2 Nan Ge Er: direct translation = pumpkin bro(ther). Lil pumpkin might be used in future translations too.

  3 Dajie: term used to address a women older than you, english equivalent= older sister

  Chapter 3

  * * *

  After going around the vegetable garden, he arrived at the kitchen located at the back.

  He pushed the door open.

  Shockingly, there was a figure standing near the stove, with his back facing him.

  He immediately recognized the government uniform; other than our clean-handed District Magistrate-daren, who would he be?

  The man whose back was facing him did seem lanky, but he had a straight back, and a dashing elegant air. Standing straight there, he looked as though “cranes from Hou Mountain, and clouds at the peak of Hua Mountain1 ”, yet giving off an aura of righteousness, making him seem like quite a strong character.

  That person probably noticed his presence, as he turned his head around.

  He was quite stunned when he looked at the person.

  Living in Fang Jun for so many years, although he couldn’t say that he had seen countless beauties, but obviously, due to his position, he did see a few famous and talented people in the country before. Those with handsome or beautiful looks were, naturally, not that uncommon, not to mention the fact that many concubines in the imperial harem were famous beauties of the country. So he wasn’t very likely to be seduced by looks.

  The fact that he was stunned obviously didn’t mean that the Magistrate-daren that looked over was alluring, but was due to him thinking that it was as if he was looking at a character that had just walked out from an ink painting.

  A handsome face; slightly raised but friendly eyebrows; long, thin and slightly curled eyes; straight nose; water-colored lips; lanky but straight posture; elegant idyllic aura; never had he seen someone so…paint-like.

  Everything about him looked light.

  Not having many strong colors, yet giving off a fresh and refined vibe.

  Mo Shu looked at the person opposite him, dazed for a bit, and blinked, “Nan Ge Er?”

  He smirked, gosh, even the Magistrate-daren, who appeared at one moment and disappeared in the next, knew this name of mine.

  “Xiaode2 have met daren.” He saluted, bowing down.

  “Don’t stand on ceremony.” Mo Shu waved. “Even though you’ve arrived quite long ago, I never found time to visit you.”

  “Xiaode doesn’t dare to trouble daren.” He carefully answered while bowing.

  Suddenly, a pair of warm palms landed on his shoulders, a hand patting his shoulder, another patting his waist. “Told you not to stand on ceremony, stand up straight.”

  Hearing that, he has no choice but to do so, and looked at the Magistrate-daren in front of him.

  “How’s your recovery going?” Magistrate-daren asked casually.
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  “Thank you for worrying, xiaode is fine now.” Even though he seemed amiable, the habits gained from living in the palace made him suspicious of anyone’s kindness.

  No one knows what kind of expression was made after a smile.

  Mo Shu looked him up and down, before slightly raising his lips and smiling, “Your body isn’t too great, so you don’t really have to do everything in the office. If you can’t finish it, leave it to me when I come back.”

  He couldn’t even imagine how such a godly person would look like doing chores…

  “Xiaode doesn’t dare to.” Treating it as if the other was just saying it out of formality, hence, he casually replied back out of formality.

  He had already been accustomed to such situations. In the past ten or so years, to let his brother live in the devotion of others, he was used to grovelling to others, while hiding daggers in his smiles.

  In the end, even though he was a prince, he was unable to be humble when facing others.

  Now, he did so naturally, without any obstacles.

  Mo Shu just raised his eyebrows, “You don’t believe me? Before your arrival, chores like washing laundry were all done by me.”

  He smiled and nodded, “Daren is so humble, no wonder everyone respects you.”

  Even if he didn’t believe him, saying such flattery had already become a habit of his, thus he said it offhandedly and sincerely in front of Mo Shu.

  However, with raised eyebrows, Mo Shu said, “There’s no choice, there isn’t enough money, so I have to do them myself.”

  The corner of his lips twitched, his head lowered, “Xiaode realises my mistake.”

  Do you have to be so blunt? Where has your pride as a magistrate gone to?!

  Mo Shu smiled faintly, “Do you want to take back your compliment?” His voice was clear and soothing, complementing his aura.

  “Xiaode doesn’t dare to…” He muffled with his head lowered. His heart was quite irritated. That fellow is toying with me, isn’t he!

  “You don’t need to be so formal.” Mo Shu chuckled, his hand reaching out to stroke his head, “Anyway, it is actually troubling for you, since you’re so busy all day and so, you couldn’t even have a proper meal.” He sighed, “I’ll make it up to you next time.” He was two heads taller than Nan Ge Er, so it was fitting when he placed his hands down, hence he pressed on Nan Ge Er’ head and rubbed on it. So round and comfortable to touch.

  You knew that you were overly miserly too? No salary and no full meals to eat, isn’t this an abuse to workers? He muttered secretly in his heart.

  Suddenly, Nan Ge Er heard a strange noise, and lifted up his head unwittingly, looking at the person opposite of him.

  Don’t tell me my assumptions were correct?

  On the contrary, that guy was open about it, laughing at himself, “Do you know where we can get food? I’ve given my breakfast to a beggar on the roadside.” Unlike the yamen runners, since Mo Shu rarely had the time to come back for breakfast, aside from preparing his dinner, the kitchen aunty would also place all leftovers into a bag conveniently so that he could just bring it along as breakfast the next day.

  Nan Ge Er was incredulous.

  Can someone be even more stupidly nice than this?

  You reduced the district office’s expenses till it couldn’t be reduced any more, probably even used your salary for philanthropy, and now, you even gave away your breakfast to others…

  Why wasn’t anyone stopping this guy?!

  As Nan Ge Er realized that he was actually working for such a person, he began to feel a huge pressure on him unconsciously…

  The aunt that was in charge hadn’t arrived yet, and he did a favor to a beggar by giving away yesterday’s leftovers…

  Would he be willing to eat the vegetables from the vegetable garden outside?

  Nan Ge Er gritted his teeth a little as he thought in his heart.

  His finger in his sleeves pinched unintentionally.

  What was that round thing?

  “Parched peas.” He suddenly remembered the snack that the greengrocer gave him, taking it out as he spoke.

  …Say, he probably won’t eat them, right?

  He looked at the man opposite of him smiling merrily as he took over the bag of parched peas from him, “That’s great.”

  …Are you seriously going to eat them?!

  Isn’t this a children’s snack?

  I didn’t even want to eat them, why are you eating them without any pressure?

  Even though it’s just parched peas, this god-like man could make eating each grain look so enviously elegant and dashing…

  Indeed, people were different from one another.

  Nan Ge Er felt morose.

  Although you look so dashing, you still couldn’t change the fact that you are currently eating a snack that even children older than ten scorn on – parched peas! He muttered in his heart.

  After finishing the peas, he passed the bag back to him, while solemnly thanking him, “Thank you.”

  Even he got quite apathetic from that person’s response, “… It’s only parched peas…” and that was even something that he didn’t plan on eating.

  He suddenly felt quite pitiful for the person in front of him.

  Forget the fact that someone like the magistrate had nothing to eat, he even had to rely on parched peas to appease his hunger, wasn’t that a bit too deplorable?

  Having no money was a tragedy itself; it was an even greater tragedy to enjoy giving money away everywhere when he himself already had none!

  After being in this world for such a long time, he abruptly thought of that.

  “Well, I have something going on; I’ll thank you next time, bye.” Mo Shu smiled at him, stroking his hair again, before leaving.

  Looked like he was going out.

  Actually, he had seen Magistrate-daren’s cooking before. It was no better than his own cooking, or should he say, it was a bit worse off. Mo Shu had gruel when he had congee; he had rice bran when Nan Ge Er had rice noodles; he had pumpkin soup when Mo Shu could only eat pumpkin…

  He figured that Mo Shu specially ordered it so.

  However, it was too…

  He couldn’t even describe his complex feelings.

  A fallen god-like person living in such an impoverished life…

  And even looked joyful doing so…

  However, he could not wait helplessly for the end.

  If his casual uncontrolled splurging, that has no danger awareness, continued on, Nan Ge Er would have to worry about his future meals.

  As he pondered, he temporarily stopped what he was working on, and headed to Er Gou Zi’s house beside the office.

  Er Gou Zi’s family just had a clutch of chicks hatched out, so he borrowed a few to rear, since the backyard was empty, and he would be able to sell their eggs when the chicks grew up.

  Of course, Er Gou Zi readily agreed on his request of placing it on credit, agreeing to let him rear three chicks on credit, while reinforcing that he could pay back anytime, as the money wasn’t urgently needed.

  After that, he spent the afternoon learning rearing techniques from Er Gou Zi’s grandma at Er Gou Zi’s house.

  In fact, he had nothing else to do after finishing simple cleaning chores. By doing so, he could pass his time too.

  In the end, he brought three yellow little chicks back, using an evening’s work to build a simple fence, and placed them inside.

  Looking at them running around cheerfully, Nan Ge Er started gaining some confidence in the future.

  He thought that if he planned well, he probably wouldn’t starve from being burdened by Mo Shu.

  Since the people living here were very simple.

  * * *

  1 An excerpt from a poem by Sikong Tu. Describing a proud and aloof person. More info: http://www.davidpublisher.com/Public/uploads/Contribute/551902393b213.pdf (page 6)

  2 Xiaode=> used by subordinates to address themselves formally in front of their sup
eriors. Literal: my humble self

  Chapter 4

  * * *

  It would take 100 days for a chick to grow into its egg-laying stage. He decided that he couldn’t just idle naively as he waited for the chicks to grow during the 100 days, since it was still better to save up in advance for a rainy day.

  Mainly because his superior really made him feel insecure.

  Thus, he went around the streets, trying to think of ways to improve his life.

  Although the world has a totally different history from the world he previously lived in, but strangely, they had mostly the same type of plants and animals. Even the names had little to no changes. Except for the difference in the pronunciation, there weren’t many deviations in regards to the language.

  Seems like the evolution of living organisms was largely similar.

  He pondered in his heart.

  Guang Tian District was a seemingly normal and tiny city. The district town wasn’t really tremendously scarce in resources, and of course, it wasn’t bustling either.

  Having beggars, thieves, officials and landlords around, at any rate, the place looked especially common.

  However, it was immensely quiet there.

  Government officers would arrest thieves, while also arresting beggars and residents who obstruct public affairs every now and then. Occasionally, the government prison would receive some of the bothersome people for a few days, but those that didn’t learn from their mistakes were the only ones that were repeatedly in and out of prison, with even Nan Ge Er recognizing them…

  When he walked on the streets, he would be greeted by the prison regulars too.

  Yet, there weren’t any murder cases.

  Although the district wasn’t huge, it was around the size of a district town, and its domain wasn’t really small either.

  Nonetheless, rumours stated that in the past ten years or so, there wasn’t a single murder case.