[Title here]

by Spring Trees

  In Nan Ge Er’s opinion, it had about the same population as a modern day city.

  Truthfully, if he had not noticed that the residents lived in peace and didn’t have a single bit of tension, he would almost suspect that that Mo Shu fellow wanted a rebellion.

  After all, it just didn’t make any sense.

  It felt as though in Guang Tian, everyone’s sole leader was Mo Shu. That seeming district king of theirs didn’t appear to be frightening for them.

  As he stayed longer, the place began to feel increasingly stranger.

  Such a place where royalty held no weight would be deemed extremely dangerous to any king, but the residents of Guang Tian passed their days peacefully without any care for the royalty, devoid of disturbances from anyone.

  Nan Ge Er’s countless puzzled confusions in the beginning gradually turned jaded as well—

  Whatever, there was still a magistrate-daren like Mo Shu around, wasn’t there?

  Besides, the fact that I was able to survive is bizarre in itself, that’s probably why I landed in such a strange place…

  And meet such a peculiar group of people.

  Actually, when he carefully thought about it, Nan Ge Er was able to understand the admiration the district residents had for Mo Shu.

  After all, such a leader was basically unheard of, a completely real servant of the people.

  Furthermore, Mo Shu indeed had vast and profound knowledge, was extraordinarily talented, and well versed in music, painting, and calligraphy.

  He was respected immensely by every teacher and doctor in the district and was said to have unrivalled talents and wits.

  Of course, to Nan Ge Er, though it had been sixteen years since he came to this world, he still couldn’t find any appreciation for all that literature and art.

  Due to his previous environment, he had forced himself to study all that nonsense to get about easily, but currently in the district, there wasn’t anyone who cared about that, thus, at a swift rate, he speedily…

  Forgot them…

  Which was why, in Nan Ge Er’s eyes, the greatest thing about Mo Shu was that he knew how to cook meals, wash laundry and clean…

  A person truly elegant enough to be shown around in a hall, and diligent enough to cook up delicious meals in the kitchen…

  Apart from his love of giving money while being poor, being a little dumb from time to time, and having some evilness hidden internally, Mo Shu-daren was really no different from a saint.

  Nan Ge Er was certain that, if Mo Shu wasn’t a magistrate, the quality of his living standard would definitely be doubled—

  Since the person in question was talented in every way, without the burden of being a magistrate, he totally wouldn’t need to worry about having anything to eat, and his financial situation would definitely be better.

  Needless to say, the prerequisite was to have someone beside him to help him earn money – He did have a good grasp of Mo Shu’s ability to give money.

  Or should he say that Mo Shu didn’t have the slightest consciousness in regards to money?

  Yup, the person in question probably completely ignored how important money was to people.

  However, no matter the numerous flaws he possessed, Nan Ge Er had no choice but to admit that Mo Shu was truly a perfect man.

  Before arriving at Guang Tian, he wouldn’t believe the existence of such a person.

  Although he didn’t really understand the poetries Mo Shu wrote, based on the number of times everyone sang it, along with the shocked and excited expressions made by the fully bearded old teachers, he knew that Mo Shu must be remarkably spectacular.

  He had seen Mo Shu’s handwriting from the comments in the back of the books, it was elegant and graceful, and like their owner, giving out a refined but unconventional aura.

  Moreover, although there weren’t many words in the comments, the elaborate viewpoint of every single comment was shocking.

  Even though Nan Ge Er was unable to have a deep understanding of poetry and verses, he did personally bring a young adult up to the throne after all, at the very least, he was still able to per-cep-tive-ly detect a potential threat to a king.

  Mo Shu’s various standpoints were enough to ring an enormous alarm to any danger-conscious king.

  Looking at the remarks written on the side of the books by Mo Shu, Nan Ge Er felt that Mo Shu’s outlook on matters was entirely that of a king, while he was also scarily sharp and accurate too.

  Anyway, the probability of Mo Shu’s identity being merely that of a regular magistrate was zero.

  However, regardless what identity Mo Shu hid or whatever secrets the district had, the current Nan Ge Er had not a bit of interest in them.

  After all, even if he knew anything now, it still wouldn’t come in handy.

  Currently, he just simply lived on, without having any purpose, vacantly and instinctively living in the small district.

  Maybe he would numbly live this life until his death arrived again.

  Perhaps if, when he first transmigrated over, he was born in Guang Tian, he possibly could have really accepted his identity in the world, then peacefully grown up, before finding a suitable lady to marry and have babies with, building a family here.

  However, I had no such thoughts now.

  If I could survive, I would, but naturally, I’d die if I couldn’t avoid it.

  Before, he believed that there was no such thing as fate, always having an ambitious drive, rejecting the idea that his life was dictated by Gods. In the end, he felt that everyone’s fate probably had its own path in the first place, no matter his attempts to change it, it would never get better –

  That dark palace for example, a king would always be lonely in that humongous palace where there was currently only that single person left, wouldn’t he?

  The same way, he tried to change fate by believing that he could get the fame and glory that any grown man would only dream of because he was in the body of a child in that other world.

  In the end, his current self was merely busy cooking Laba rice1 in such a place——

  It was a chance given by the merciful Gods to be allowed to live temporarily.

  … That’s why, everyone probably had their own fated path, and what he could do was to live on casually, then carelessly die off.

  …If I did so, would my suffering cease?

  Because I don’t want anything at all.

  * * *

  1. Laba rice- rice cooked with red beans. More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laba_congee (Note – the author wrote rice, not congee, so just replace ‘congee’ with ‘rice’ when reading the wiki to get a better idea)

  Chapter 12

  * * *

  Although Mo Shu-daren wasn’t picky with food, if it was regarding his favorites, everyone knew that Mo Shu-xiansheng liked his food sweet.

  Ranging from as small as sweet peas to as big as cookies, he loved every single one of them.

  Even if it was the Zaotang1 for the New Year, he would still sneakily scoop a few spoonfuls with a calm demeanor…

  Nan Ge Er looked in resignation at the man who was biting on the ladle without any shame, “Mo Shu-xiansheng.” When the heck did you sneak in here?!

  Mo Shu turned his head to look at Nan Ge Er; without any guilt upon being caught red-handed, he greeted Nan Ge Er coolly, “Xiao Nan, why are you here?” His hand was still gripping the ladle tightly.

  … Xiao Nan, my arse!

  Nan Ge Er looked gloomily at Mo Shu’s composed face—

  Can you stop having no moral compass, your image in my mind has fallen to a whole new low!

  Ah, no, you just broke your lowest record now.

  “You don’t look good.” Mo Shu suddenly glanced at him as he spoke.

  Nan Ge Er frowned, as he looked at Mo Shu—

  It was not that he wanted to clearly show how resigned he was about Mo Shu, just that he wasn’t feeling too great ever since he woke up in the morning; his vision was even b
lurry and shaky at the moment.

  However, his body’s condition had always been bad, almost never optimal, thus he didn’t really care about it.

  Hearing Mo Shu’s words, Nan Ge Er asked with annoyance, “Hah? My look?” When do I ever look well? The winter here is totally out to get my life, alright?!

  “And, your voice seems strange.” Mo Shu finally placed the ladle back to its original position, turning to look at Nan Ge Er, observing carefully.

  “Oi! Don’t put back the ladle that is covered with your saliva!” Though you licked it clean, everyone would be eating from it later!

  Nan Ge Er walked over joylessly, intending to remove the ladle that was thrown haphazardly by Mo Shu from the Zaotang.

  … Huh?

  Why…

  Is the floor spinning?

  Oh, it’s me, I…

  He didn’t know what happened after that.

  As he opened his eyes again, he only felt a splitting headache, as if there was a fat worm stuffed in his brain, gnawing on it.

  Fortunately, he had already developed an enormous tolerance toward such pain, he only felt that it hurt, but not to the extent of going crazy.

  However, his body seemed to be rather warm.

  It had been a long time since he’d last felt that way.

  In the winter, the warm blanket he was huddled in was exceptionally relaxing.

  He sighed in a rather pleased manner, rubbing his chin on the blanket.

  … Where exactly is this place?!

  He finally realized he wasn’t in the bedroom he usually slept in.

  … Right, I’m already dead, I’m not in a dream now.

  This is the other world.

  Escaping the nightmarish royal life, currently doing chores in a certain strange district.

  The remarkable warmth made his train of thought slow down; at last, he reacted to his situation.

  The person beside him lazily yawned, too, “You’ve woken up, Xiao Nan,” while naturally reaching out his hand to touch his forehead, “Mm, the fever subsided.”

  Oi-what’s with this situation-why is this fellow in my bed-no-why am I in his room, and even lying on a bed-oi-what in the world happened?!

  Nan Ge Er was so nervous that he couldn’t even form any words, his widened eyes almost bulging out.

  “Ah.” Only after noticing Nan Ge Er’s tensed body did Mo Shu then stop his casual arranging of Nan Ge Er’s hair, “What’s wrong?”

  Nan Ge Er opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

  “Because you caught a cold, overworked, burdened your body with worry, and since your body’s condition isn’t great in the first place, you fell sick all of a sudden,” Mo Shu explained understandingly, “There are some air leaks in your room, that’s why you’ve been moved here, and also, it will be warmer with two people together.” Seeing Nan Ge Er’s expression gradually easing up, he tactfully didn’t reveal that it was Nan Ge Er who forced himself into the bed.

  “… I didn’t do anything strange or say anything weird, did I?” Nan Ge Er asked after a while in a hoarse voice nervously with some difficulty.

  He knew that he had been seriously sick this time, and hadn’t been conscious at all. He didn’t know if he had begun to let things go or if it was just that him being here in the district made him relaxed.

  He had never been unconscious with people around, as he was afraid to blurt out words that would reveal his identity. He was not afraid of death, but it didn’t mean that he was willing to be seen as a weirdo in others’ eyes.

  “Did I say anything weird?” Mo Shu still lay there lazily while recollecting.

  Turr nnair comm(Turn on the air con) Muun Daa(Mum, Dad) Humburr(Hamburger)

  To be more precise, not a single phrase was comprehensible.

  “You didn’t say anything weird,” Mo Shu answered. Everything was incomprehensible to him. “But, you mentioned feeling pain.” Tugging on my sleeves, while crying and grumbling that it was painful, the wounds hurt, felt like dying…

  Things like that…

  … are quite adorable.

  As he made such a conclusion, Mo Shu couldn’t help but reach his hand out to touch Nan Ge Er’s forehead again – the fever did subside.

  He put his hand down a little regretfully.

  Even though Mo Shu said that, it still made Nan Ge Er a little embarrassed—

  Since he was a grown man himself, how could he blurt out cowardly words?

  “Oh right, the doctor said it is best for you to sleep with me during winter nights from now on,” Mo Shu stated as he turned his face towards Nan Ge Er.

  “Huh?” Nan Ge Er widened his eyes.

  “Since your body’s condition is truly terrible, you shouldn’t catch a cold at all; no matter how little it is, if it gets serious, it might kill you,” Mo Shu added gravely.

  “Oh…” Nan Ge Er blinked. He didn’t know that it had gotten that bad.

  “The winter in the South is damp and much colder, so you have to be even more careful.” Mo Shu had a serious expression.

  “Mn.” Thinking for a long while, Nan Ge Er finally nodded his head, asking again after that, “Erm, is it alright? You are Magistrate-Daren after all.” Sleeping in the same bed as your boss, isn’t that a little too weird?

  “There is only you and me living in the government office,” Mo Shu reminded him.

  “… Ah, right.” Nan Ge Er nodded his head.

  “If there is manual labor needed next time, just tell me, I will do it.” Mo Shu finally decided to get up, pressing on the blanket on Nan Ge Er’s side to prevent cold air from getting under it, and advising, “Also, don’t think too much, just take things as they come.” In truth, Nan Ge Er’s condition was extremely terrible; most of what Mo Shu conveyed was what the doctor said originally —except for the part about requesting Nan Ge Er to move over to his room to sleep.

  “… Mn.” Nan Ge Er nodded his head hesitantly.

  The doctor said that I burdened my body with worry, but the problem is, I didn’t worry about anything at all!

  “Just lie down, someone will serve you porridge later, your body is frail now, so you can’t have rice.” Mo Shu buttoned up his clothes, put on his shoes, got off the bed, then took out a half-broken bronze mirror that came out of nowhere, brushing his hair with a comb which had a few teeth missing, before skillfully tying his hair up.

  Wearing his coat which was retrieved from the coat hanger that Nan Ge Er had nailed, he then donned his hat, intending to go out.

  “Erm, how long has it been since I fainted?” Nan Ge Er hurriedly stopped him—

  The reason of this haste was that seeing him like this was stunning.

  Those casual movements from everyday life, when performed by Mo Shu, had a lingering charm and elegance to them.

  “It’s going to be the 30th in three days,” Mo Shu replied, pushing the door as he walked out, “The Kitchen God has been seen off, the government office has been swept, the meat for New Year has been cut, I will call someone over in the afternoon to help you with your bath.”

  “Ah, sure.” Nan Ge Er nodded his head.

  He was still able to arrange everything properly without me, huh?

  After all, before my arrival, he still celebrated the New Year every year.

  In the afternoon, the person sent to help him arrived—as expected, it was Xiao Xia, Xia Jia Fu.

  That fellow kept talking endlessly from the moment he showed up.

  Nan Ge Er almost had a headache because of him, he only hoped to have someone bring the water over, so that he could have a shower, but unfortunately, this guy chattered non-stop as he brought the water over.

  “Nan Ge Er, do you know that when Mo Shu-xiansheng learned that you fainted because you were overworked, he felt so guilty…” Xia Jia Fu was full of admiration, “That’s our Mo Shu-xiansheng, he still worries and cares, even if it’s about you.”

  … What do you mean, even if it’s about me?! Am I that unpopular?!

&n
bsp; “Nan Ge Er, do you know, Mo Shu–xiansheng stayed by your side every day, and even feed you porridge,” Xia Jia Fu spoke with envy, “But you had your mouth tightly shut, it couldn’t even be pried open with chopsticks, so how did he manage to feed you? Mo Shu-xiansheng didn’t allow us to watch, though.”

  … I am curious too! Although I also have an odd feeling that’s making my skin crawl!

  “Nan Ge Er, do you know, although Mo Shu-xiansheng said that the Kitchen God was seen off, Zaotang wasn’t used to stick on the lips of the Kitchen God’s paper effigy; rice paste was casually smeared on instead…”

  Nan Ge Er was expressionless— I get it, that bastard must have eaten all of it, so there was nothing left to use, isn’t that too dismissive of the tradition?!

  “Nan Ge Er…”

  “Alright, Xiao Xia-ge.” Nan Ge Er seriously couldn’t take it any longer, interrupting Xia Jia Fu—

  He absolutely didn’t want to hear any more, the news that came one after another weren’t something his fragile spirit could tolerate, “Can I take a bath first? I’m afraid that the water is going to get cold.”

  “Oh my, I’ve forgotten about it.” Xia Jia Fu knocked on his head, helping Nan Ge Er up, “Do you need me to help you get to the bathtub?”

  “… No need.” I have no interest in letting a guy watch me bathing!

  “Sure, I will stroll along the river bank later, to see if there are people to pick up,” Xia Jia Fu answered joyfully.

  Hey…

  That’s why I said, what is wrong with you?

  * * *

  1. Zaotang: (from wiki) a kind of candy made of maltose that people in China use as a sacrifice to the Kitchen God around the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month just before Chinese New Year. More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaotang

  Chapter 13

  * * *

  Although Nan Ge Er was currently a patient, there was a severe lack of manpower in the government, thus, he entered the kitchen yet again…