Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 100 She wanted to sell me and make me count the money.

The exchange between the uncle and nephew had already made everyone around them restless.

Madam Cheng stood up, as did Cheng Yi and Cheng Yan. Even Qinghe, standing beside her, pursed her lips and clenched her hands tightly.

Lu Jia, however, remained calm and composed, showing not the slightest bit of guilt or fear.

Having witnessed Cheng Wenhui's furious outburst at Lu Jie, she knew how important this promotion opportunity was to Cheng Wenhui and the Cheng family.

I never developed a deep bond with my maternal grandparents' family growing up, so talking about feelings with them now would be pointless.

Lu Jia wouldn't be so naive, nor would she be so shameless.

To quickly gain their support, we must enable them to profit from this matter and obtain tangible benefits.

It is a fact that Lu Jie ruined his promotion in his previous life, and it is almost impossible for the Cheng family to retain this opportunity on their own.

However, if they had the Lu family's eldest daughter who had been missing for many years in their hands—no matter how inhuman Lu Jie was, he couldn't possibly leave his biological daughter, who had reappeared, unattended outside; he would have to bring Lu Jia back.

How to pick it up?
This is worth discussing.

In other words, as long as the Cheng family publicly announces that they have found their niece, the initiative will be in their hands.

As for Lu Jia, as long as the Cheng family publicly acknowledges her as their niece, then regardless of whether they care about her privately, they will be considered family members of the Lu family in public from now on.

The two were now bound together, as Lu Jia's safety was at stake, and Cheng Jia had no choice but to support him while maintaining appearances.

"Okay, very good!"

Cheng Wenhui paced back and forth with her hands behind her back, gritting her teeth. "How dare you scheme against me so blatantly! You've even schemed against your uncle!"

Lu Jia smiled and said, "Uncle, why are you angry? My niece Cheng only offered a mutually beneficial proposal. Whether it succeeds or not depends on your attitude."

"You!" Cheng Wenhui stopped, pointing at her with her finger, repeating "you" several times before finally yelling, "As expected of someone in business, you're trying to sell your uncle and then count the money for him!"

Madam Cheng quickly stepped forward and pressed his hand down, saying to Lu Jia, "You're finally back, let's not talk about this now. I'll have someone tidy up the house, you can stay here for now."

Lu Jia's lips were smeared with honey: "Thank you, Aunt. You are still as gentle, kind and considerate as I was when I was a child."

"However, you don't need to bother. Since my uncle doesn't agree to my proposal, my staying here will only cause you trouble. I'll take my leave now."

Cheng Wenhui nearly exploded with anger upon hearing this.

What does she mean?!

To say that his aunt is gentle, kind, and considerate means that he, the uncle, is not kind or considerate, right?
He puffed out his chest, ready to say a few more words, but Madam Cheng didn't dare to keep him any longer. She quickly pushed him back and then accompanied Lu Jia to the door, saying, "I'll see you out!"

When the two arrived at the front yard, Madam Cheng took a deep breath and stopped, then took Lu Jia's hand and said, "You've suffered so much these past years. When we heard you were missing, we actually sent people to inquire at the Lu family. After your father sent many people to search for you, he insisted that you were gone."

"We have no leads and no way to help."

“Auntie, you’re too kind,” Lu Jia said. “My suffering has nothing to do with the Cheng family. I’m already very grateful that you and my uncle can accept me.”

Lu Jia didn't have much affection for her uncle, mainly because she hadn't had the opportunity to cultivate one, but she never blamed them. After all, she hadn't reciprocated anything to her uncle and aunt. Seeing her like this, Madam Cheng wanted to say something, but in the end, she just sighed silently and said, "That's just how your uncle is. He might have been disrespectful just now. Please forgive him."

Lu Jia laughed and said, "That's even less likely. If I'm wrong, my uncle can hit me or scold me as he pleases, how could I blame him?"

Madam Cheng nodded, then looked at Qinghe behind her. Seeing Qinghe's proper demeanor and outstanding bearing, she felt even more approval for Lu Jia. She asked, "Where do you live now?"

Lu Jia gave his address. Then, seeing that He Qu had already hired a carriage to come over, he said, "I'll take my leave now. Please wait, Aunt."

Mrs. Cheng watched her get into the car.

After they had gone far away, she turned back, paused for a moment, and then walked back to the inner courtyard.

Cheng Wenhui had already been persuaded to come back by her sons, but she was still sitting there angrily. Her two sons kept their eyes down and remained silent.

Madam Cheng told them to leave, then closed the door and said, "I don't know why you're so angry."
“Jia’er is not wrong. Your repeated setbacks are not normal. Back then, you were so disrespectful to your brother-in-law. Now that he is in a high position, it would be easy for him to trip you up behind your back. How can you still trust his character?”

"What do you know?" Cheng Wenhui said, "Look at how that girl looked just now, she's exactly like her mother back then!"
"I get so angry just thinking about how she was blind to have fallen for that guy surnamed Lu!"

Madam Cheng sighed, "You're smart, you have good judgment, so why didn't you stop us from getting married back then? You just said he wouldn't be so despicable!"

Cheng Wenhui choked.

Madam Cheng added, "I think you should hurry up and find out if the Lu family is involved in any of the promotions that were thwarted in previous years."

"If this is true, then Jia'er is right, this year's events will definitely be very mysterious."

"You believe the words of a mere young girl?" Cheng Wenhui scoffed. "She's only fifteen. She probably doesn't even know which way the yamen gates open. How can she spout nonsense about official matters?"

"Why are you so stubborn?" Madam Cheng asked anxiously. "This time you went to great lengths, relying on the two jobs you did in the last two months to get the Censor-in-Chief to recommend you. If you really fail again this time, who will you turn to in the future?"

"Whether what she said is true or false, it's better to believe it than not. What's wrong with you checking it out?"
"It would be best if it wasn't the Lu family causing trouble. But if it was, can you swallow this insult? Are you willing to accept it?"

“If you can’t get promoted, it will probably be difficult for Yan Ge’er to get into the Imperial Academy.”

"And you yourself keep saying you want to eradicate evil and eliminate traitors. If you stay in this position of Vice Censor-in-Chief for the rest of your life, what kind of traitors and evil will you eradicate?"

"I've never seen anyone as stubborn as you!"

As Madam Cheng continued her tirade, she began to wipe away tears.

Cheng Wenhui thought about how, because of this matter, she had been tending to several pots of chrysanthemums early in the morning despite her back pain, and her once straight back had finally bent over.

He stood up: "Okay, okay, I'll go right now, alright?"
"I don't believe that girl is that capable!"

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Does that girl have a place to stay?"

Madam Cheng glanced at him: "Upright Censor, you still care about this?"

"..."

(End of this chapter)