[Title here]

by Spring Trees

  Usually, after a certain someone’s official business was completed, that someone still had to do the laundry and clean the office, and due to that, he was busy all the time.

  Therefore, Nan Ge Er understood his importance in the government—

  Look at Mo Shu-xiansheng, too busy to even take a breather!

  Somehow, though Mo Shu’s daily breaks were always short and he really only had two regular meals, he was still energetic all the time; how did he even survive with that?

  —

  Ugh, alright, he had slightly more than the usual two meals that a typical person would, as he’d occasionally pull out a few sweet snacks to fill his mouth.

  Ever since the living standards in the government office improved, Nan Ge Er would prepare a bunch of sweet foods for Mo Shu as snacks.

  After going out for a stroll in the morning, Nan Ge Er squatted in the kitchen to strain beans; after a day of rest, he felt much better.

  There were no peanuts, melon seeds, or anything like that in this world, hence Nan Ge Er decided to make more snacks for the first month of the lunar year. The beans had actually been cooked a few days prior, and since a few days had passed since he fainted, he was initially worried that the beans submerged in the syrup weren’t going to be sweet enough.

  The beans tasted pretty great after he tried straining them.

  The beans submerged in the syrup were hidden away beforehand by Nan Ge Er—

  Or else there probably wouldn’t even be a single drop of syrup left in the pot now.

  These beans were rather big; however, the locals rarely used them in dishes, and because they weren’t quite flavourful, they were usually mixed in together with rice instead. Nan Ge Er had had them before when he was in Fang Jun, and though he had felt that the way to eat them could be improved at that time as well, he really didn’t have the time for experimentation then. Regardless of how much savory food he had eaten back then, he didn’t have much of an impression left of them. As he thought about it, the ones he remembered the most were the various snacks from his previous far away world instead.

  The brown sugar boiling on top of the stove was giving off a fragrant smell at the moment.

  Noticing that the brown sugar was nearly done melting, Nan Ge Er quickly stopped what he was doing, before carrying and pouring the plate of stir-fried beans into the wok that was filled with brown sugar syrup, with a spatula, stirring them evenly.

  That was still considered labor, which is why Nan Ge Er took a few short breaks from the stirring. Upon noticing that it was almost done, he strenuously carried the wok up, placed it aside to cool, then switched to another batch while boiling water.

  He wasn’t adept in cooking; although he couldn’t be considered a failure as a cook, he could only cook a few simple dishes. As for the dishes for the family reunion dinner, it was said that Mo Shu had already spoken about it with others, the kitchen aunty would come over to prepare them tomorrow.

  The beans were strained out, and the leftover syrup was to be used afterwards—

  He believed that even if he just gave a cup of syrup to Mo Shu, he would still lap it up joyfully…

  As he was resting, the kitchen door was suddenly pushed open.

  With Advisor Zhu Xi walking in.

  Spotting Nan Ge Er sitting beside the stove, Zhu Xi was stunned a bit as well, “Xiao Nan, why are you here instead of resting properly?”

  “Preparing stuff for the celebration of the New Year.” Nan Ge Er smiled bitterly, “It was delayed for quite a few days, it will be too late if I don’t prepare it soon.”

  Upon hearing this, Zhu Xi rolled his eyes, “Let it be, that Mo Shu fellow will finish them.” Closing the doors, he walked over, “He was still able to celebrate the New Year without your help last time, I didn’t see him starving to death then.”

  “The government office has me in it now.” Nan Ge Er laughed, “I don’t really have such a strong vitality as Mo Shu.”

  “True enough.” Zhu Xi agreed, walking towards him, glancing at the beans and syrup, and then at the honeyed beans, “What are those?” he asked as he reached his hand over for a touch.

  “Don’t use your hand.” Nan Ge Er immediately tried to stop him, standing up. Don’t joke around, what if that fellow’s claws dirtied them?

  As a result, he stood up too fast, his vision became black, so he fell over involuntarily.

  “Oh!” Zhu Xi instantly helped him up.

  At the same time, the door was pushed open by Mo Shu.

  It only happened due to Nan Ge Er’s frail body, thus after being caught by Zhu Xi, he swiftly recovered his vision, turning his head to the door.

  Mo Shu was holding onto something white, and was glaring at him at the moment—more specifically, he was glaring at Zhu Xi.

  Zhu Xi looked at Mo Shu’s expression, “What are you glaring at, are you planning on eating someone?”

  Mo Shu walked over quickly, hitting away Zhu Xi’s hands, using his own to help Nan Ge Er up, “Even if I’m going to starve to death, I would only kill you to accompany my death, instead of eating you to fill my hunger.” Placing the fluffy white thing on Nan Ge Er, he kept on talking, “What are you trying to do to my Nan Ge Er, and my snacks?”

  The fur coat around my neck is of superior quality.

  Flawlessly white without a shred of dirt, exceptionally soft and warm.

  The white fur coat didn’t have much weight, but when he was wrapped in it, his whole body completely warmed up. The material was comfortable, soft as silk. His past self probably never even have such a precious fur coat before, it definitely could be considered a priceless treasure.

  Therefore, the entire wealth of the government couldn’t even be compared to this single fur coat, so where in the world did Mo Shu get it?

  Don’t tell me this fellow killed and robbed someone to obtain it?!

  Nan Ge Er was inextricably submerged in his own imagination, and thus completely didn’t register what Mo Shu said.

  “Your Nan Ge Er, your snacks,” Zhu Xi scoffed coldly, “Is there your name on his body? Or all of these,” he pointed at the snacks, “do they have your name on it?”

  “Everything in my domain belongs to me,” Mo Shu answered matter-of-factly. “Even you belong to me.” He gave a slanted glance with an arrogant attitude, “Can you even deny that?”

  Nan Ge Er only heard those few words when he regained his senses; it was as if a sudden bolt of lightning struck, making him confused and disordered.

  … So, they have that kind of relationship.

  No wonder Zhu Xi speaks so casually to Mo Shu.

  Because he belongs to Mo Shu?

  Oh my god, no, no, I’m probably overthinking it.

  Does it mean that usually, when Mo Shu and Zhu Xi are together, they are doing that, and this, and then that?

  Ugh, no no no, it’s definitely just me overthinking.

  Nan Ge Er unintentionally shook his head, warning himself internally to stop his thoughts from running wild.

  However, he realized that his warning had no effect on his thoughts which went on a rampage…

  As expected, have I really been infected by Guang Tian’s gossiping mindset?

  Nan Ge Er felt a little depressed in his heart as he thought about it.

  Only after the two of them finished quarreling, did they realize the source of their quarrel was looking at them weirdly, and even shaking his head in confusion from time to time.

  “…” Mo Shu and Zhu Xi looked at each other.

  “What’s wrong?” Zhu Xi couldn’t help but ask.

  “… Ugh, nothing,” Nan Ge Er stammered a little as he spoke.

  “… Very suspicious.” Zhu Xi sized up Nan Ge Er solemnly.

  “It’s really nothing.” Nan Ge Er replied sternly—

  He felt that it would be better if he feigned ignorance regarding something that he shouldn’t know.

  He changed the subject after that, asking Mo Shu, “Mo Shu-xiansheng, this.” Pointi
ng at the coat on him, he lifted his head up, looking at him, “What is it for?”

  “For you,” Mo Shu gave a short reply, before turning to Zhu Xi and commanding, “Get back to work if there is nothing else.”

  “Tch,” Zhu Xi scoffed rudely, turning around, opening the door and leaving.

  “For, for me?” Nan Ge Er widened his eyes in shock, “Where did you get it?!” His first reaction was not to ask why it was for him, but was instead to ask Mo Shu where he had obtained such a fine fur coat – since he knew only too well about Mo Shu’s financial situation.

  “Hunted.” Mo Shu used a matter-of-fact tone, even giving a ‘didn’t-you-see-that-yourself’ expression to Nan Ge Er.

  Although Nan Ge Er had numerous possible guesses in his head, Mo Shu’s reply still stunned him a little.

  “Hunted?” he repeated in a daze.

  “That day during the winter, the roasted meat was from that animal.” Mo Shu explained, “The fur coat was made after the animal was skinned, and it was only completed today.”

  “That really tough meat!” Nan Ge Er remembered. The most significant impression he had had about the food that day was that it was tough –even after he switched back to the food that didn’t contain hardening powder.

  “Mn, the meat that had hardening powder added to it.” Mo Shu concluded correctly.

  “Oh…” Indeed, that animal was a white, giant beast that he has never seen before. Around two months had passed since the winter solstice.

  Had it been in preparation since then?

  As he thought about it, Nan Ge Er smiled subconsciously, gently stroking the soft fur, “Thank you.”

  … Although he was wearing such an extravagant coat while working on the snacks in the kitchen, he did know that for Mo Shu, the sole purpose the coat served was to keep him warm, far from being precious.

  Thus, he responded to Mo Shu’s request as well, wearing the white fur coat, rubbing over the charcoal black stove, and then serving the strained beans, “Want to taste-test them?”

  Mo Shu eyes sparkled, a little cheerful as he replied, “Yes.” After that, he used the chopsticks beside the pot to pick a bean up to his mouth; raising his eyebrows, he picked up another one.

  And again, and again, and again, and again…

  “Enough.” Nan Ge Er stopped him timely, “if you eat any more, there will be none left to eat when we watch in1 during New Year’s Eve the day after tomorrow.”

  “Watch in the New Year?” Mo Shu, who gulped down the bean in his mouth, was bewildered at first, before he looked at Nan Ge Er, then as if having a sudden realization, “… Right, you will be watching in as well.”

  His expression made Nan Ge Er somewhat confused.

  “Mn, keep it for watching in the New Year.” This time, Mo Shu was surprisingly amiable; he readily placed the chopsticks down before reaching out his hand to pat on Nan Ge Er’s head, “I’m off to work.”

  … Why are you so full of enthusiasm all of a sudden?

  Nan Ge Er bemusedly looked as Mo Shu left.

  The door was shut yet again.

  “Oh, come to think of it, Mo Shu was here to deliver the coat, but what did Zhu Xi come here for?” he mumbled.

  In the government study room, Zhu Xi lamentingly roared, “… Why did I come back just from that Mo Shu fellow’s words, I’m so hungry!”

  * * *

  1. Watching in during New Year’s Eve (from Wikipedia): A tradition of going to bed late on New Year’s Eve, or even staying awake the whole night and morning, known as shousui (守岁), is practiced by Chinese as it is thought to add on to one’s parents’ longevity.

  Chapter 14

  * * *

  Anyways, with all this chaos, the year finally ended.

  Today, the kitchen aunty had prepared all of the meals in the morning and had gone back home, while the yamen runners1 had finished work earlier in the afternoon.

  Nan Ge Er was currently stacking straw for the chicken coop in the backyard; the noise from the chickens and chicks and from moving the straw made him unable to hear the footsteps of Mo Shu walking over at that moment.

  He stood in front of the coop and paused.

  Mo Shu looked at him hunching, strenuously and slowly carrying the straw inside; he frowned, walking towards him swiftly.

  “Didn’t I tell you to let me do it?” Mo Shu effortlessly took the straw that Nan Ge Er was arduously carrying, “You should rest.”

  Nan Ge Er was quite startled by the hand that reached over suddenly; he was dazed for a while before reacting, “… Ah, I had nothing to do anyway.”

  Instinctively, Mo Shu wasn’t fond of the nervously fearful expression that Nan Ge Er had right then, making him start to observe Nan Ge Er seriously.

  However, Nan Ge Er had already recovered his usual calm look, he continued, “Exercise is still needed even if I’m sick,” while nonchalantly walking to another heap of straw, planning to carry it.

  Mo Shu furrowed his brow slightly, and didn’t stop him, “Don’t carry so much, leave the heavier ones to me.”

  Nan Ge Er gave a short reply halfheartedly while walking.

  He always liked to think about other things when he was doing something, that was why he…

  He hoped Mo Shu didn’t notice anything was wrong.

  Mo Shu briskly placed the straw in his hands into the coop, tidying it up before heading back to carry all of the straw left into the coop—even though Mo Shu-xiansheng didn’t look like it, in fact, that guy was a housework expert.

  Working dexterously and thoroughly, having impressive strength and a great body, and—

  Being tall with long legs!

  Nan Ge Er was a little envious.

  If I had half of the advantages he has, my work efficiency would be higher too!

  As he settled the chickens and ducks in the backyard, Nan Ge Er decided that if he had excess money next year, he would get two little piglets to rear from the Li family of the backstreets—if he wanted to be healthy, it was necessary to improve his lifestyle, though he knew he probably couldn’t live long in this lifetime.

  He busied himself for a significant portion of the day again until the sky gradually dimmed down.

  Nan Ge Er looked over at the backyard that was nearly tidied up, and wearily spoke, “Let’s leave it like this for now, I will deal with the rest next time.” The work couldn’t be finished in a short time anyway.

  Mo Shu, who was helping fix the shed, stood on the shed’s roof collectedly instead, “It is rare that I’m free, so let’s finish up everything here.”

  Nan Ge Er pondered, it did make sense, so he nodded, “I’ll heat up the meals then, just wait in the canteen when you’re done.” Mo Shu’s work efficiency was far superior to his; it was even comparable to that of three standard people! It was rare to be able to capture such an easy-to-use and free laborer, to just let him go was indeed somewhat regrettable.

  “Sure,” Mo Shu answered, “Make the fire bigger.” There was a dining hall in the government office specifically for Magistrate-Daren to meet and have meals with guests; however, since it was always just the two of them in the government office, and that one of them usually disappeared off to somewhere, the hall hardly ever came in handy.

  Nan Ge Er gave an answer before heading to the kitchen to work.

  He didn’t really have any desire for the fish and meat that were hard to come by; he just felt that the two of them celebrating New Year’s together had a slightly intriguing feel to it.

  No matter which lifetime he was in, he always celebrated New Year’s with a bunch of people. The boisterous and warm ones were from his past, the bustling but cold ones were from his current lifetime.

  However, a celebration like this, being hectic and a little lonely, made him think about his existence…

  It was a first for him.

  He was unable to judge if he liked or disliked such a situation.

  After he busied himself with work for a while, finishing everything N
an Ge Er had instructed him to, Mo Shu straightened his body, looking over the roof that was properly fixed, smiling rather proudly; he jumped down into the backyard, then walked to the kitchen.

  He didn’t go inside, only glancing through the paper window that was a little broken due to the inexperienced movements of the busy figure; the corners of his mouth curling up, smiling.

  No one knew that Mo Shu-xiansheng was actually a skilled chef.

  He didn’t intend to go in to help, instead he stood near the windowsill, looking at Nan Ge Er’s figure.

  He got scalded by the soup a little at one moment, blusteringly looking at the bowls as they shattered when he accidentally placed them too forcefully in one another; he was working on taking the food out of the wok when the work in other areas was unfinished…

  All in all, he was in a flurry.

  As Mo Shu thought about it, Nan Ge Er was indeed a rather clumsy child.

  Except for having some knowledge regarding making money, and being a bit more adept in observing others, he was just a fumbling and normal child in other areas.

  Hm, as a matter of fact, I’m only quite flawed in those two aspects, right?

  Mo Shu pondered in detail.

  It really seems to be so.

  He thought that it wasn’t too bad, it was just like he was someone that came there especially for him.

  As Nan Ge Er was working busily in the kitchen, he kept feeling that he was being spied on, but there was no one when he turned around.

  That made him quite bewildered—

  He completely trusted his instincts; he was able to stay alive because of them.

  However, the only person who could really peep openly in the government office was probably Mo Shu, right?

  However, walking to the canteen and noticing Mo Shu sitting there perfectly calm, drinking tea, made him uncertain—since he wasn’t able to spot any clues.

  Also, Mo Shu totally didn’t seem to be a Peeping Tom.

  Mo Shu looked at Nan Ge Er carrying the dishes as he walked in; though there wasn’t any change in his expression, the bafflement in Nan Ge Er’s eyes still made him laugh out in his heart—that child’s perplexed expression was hard to come by.