Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 116 Do they look down on the Yan family?

As the morning light streamed into the Yan residence, Madam Yan, who had been sitting quietly on the couch for a long time, let out a long sigh: "Has Master not come out yet?"

The maidservant bowed: "Not yet."

Madam Yan propped her elbows on the kang table, her fingers fiddling with the pearls in the plate: "Lu family girl, you haven't come these past few days."

The maid stepped forward and moved the incense burner next to her: "Miss Lu last came here about half a month ago. I remember that Miss Lu also said that she had learned to make a few new pastries and wanted to send them to Madam to try."

"Half a month?" Madam Yan stopped pointing and sat up straight. "What's on your mind now?"

"master."

A maid's voice came from outside the door.

Madam Yan stood up and greeted Yan Shu as he entered the room: "What's the situation at the docks now? What did Father say?"

Yan Shu calmly sat down: "We still haven't caught anyone."

Madam Yan sighed and sat back down: "It's strange. Those things aren't anything special, so why did they have to fight so desperately to grab them? Did they really think that important things would be left out in the open?"

“None of that matters anymore,” Yan Shu said slowly. “Liu Xin said that the one who robbed her was just a maid, but there were about ten people who came to her aid. Those ten or so people were highly skilled in martial arts, so they were obviously prepared.”

"Still no clue?"

Yan Shu shook his head.

Madam Yan remained silent for a moment, then said, "Over the years, there have been more than just one or two people who have openly or secretly plotted against our Yan family. We have also experienced situations like this before."

"That's true, but there are indeed more and more people watching the Yan family. This matter was originally foolproof, but such an oversight still occurred."

"Ever since the Shen family's triumphant return, the wind has been blowing in their favor," Madam Yan said with a cold sneer. "These opportunists!"

"Not entirely. Father is over seventy after all, and he is getting old. It's only a matter of time before he steps down. In the past six months, the Shen family has not interfered in politics. Rather than saying that people admire Shen Bo, it's more accurate to say that they are waiting for Father to step down."

One sentence seemed to strike a chord with Madam Yan.

She couldn't sit still any longer and stood up, pacing back and forth: "My father has accompanied the Emperor for decades, and all matters large and small in the court are handled by him. He is undoubtedly the Grand Secretary!"

"If the Emperor doesn't use Father, who else can he use? And who else can be as loyal to the Emperor as our Yan family?"

"No one is lucky for a hundred days, and no flower blooms for a hundred days. Back then, my father tried to stop the emperor from appointing Shen Bo, but the emperor insisted on doing so anyway. This time, the emperor didn't say anything about the Shen family's triumphant return, but the various rewards he bestowed upon them were like a slap in the face to the Yan family."

“There are so many successful candidates in each year’s imperial examinations that it’s impossible to count them all. How could the court lack talented people? And which cabinet minister who enters the cabinet is not a man of great learning?”
“If Shen Bo doesn’t join the cabinet, someone else will eventually take his father’s place.”

"But the emperor is the emperor. Whoever he wants to use will become his confidant. Don't you understand that?"

Yan Shu glanced sideways at his wife.

Madam Yan stood still behind the screen. The incense burner on the kang table was rising between the two of them, and the wisp of smoke seemed to be the life force that was being invisibly drained from Madam Yan.

“If Father loses the Emperor’s favor at this time, the future of the Yan family will be in jeopardy.”

She let out a soft sigh.

When she realized there was no response from inside the house and looked over, she found that Yan Shu had already stepped out the door.

She subconsciously took a few steps forward, but when she reached the threshold, she swallowed the call back.

Madam Yan sat back down on the couch.

He started fiddling with the pearls in the plate again. These pearls were as big as longan pits; just one of them would be enough to feed an ordinary family for a while.

This whole plate was just something she usually kept by her side to make noise.

She sat silently for a moment, then said towards the door, "Please invite the elderly couple over."

The eldest son, Yan Liang, was born to Madam Yan.

Most of the Yan family's children were quite talented. Although Yan Shu did not take the imperial examination, his talent was no less than that of any Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).

Yan Liang has already passed the provincial examination and is preparing to participate in the next metropolitan examination.

The eldest mistress, Madam Xue, also comes from a prominent family and is currently helping Madam Yan manage household affairs.

The couple arrived quickly.

Yan Liang stepped across the door and said, "I heard there was a little trouble at the docks last night?"

Madam Yan nodded: "Your grandfather is getting old, and this past year has been turbulent. These are turbulent times, and we should start making some plans."

Yan Liang and his wife looked at each other in bewilderment. Madam Xue stepped forward and asked, "What instructions does Mother have for us?"

Madam Yan looked at them and said, "Now more and more people are eyeing our Yan family. Although your father is talented, he did not come from the imperial examination system, so according to the rules, he cannot enter the cabinet."

"Liang'er has a good chance of passing the exam, but there is still more than a year until the next one. If your grandfather loses the emperor's favor during this year, it will be bad for everyone."

At this point, she let out a breath and stood up: "I just remembered that the marriage with the Lu family has been delayed for so long, it's time to finalize it."

"Go to the Lu family and ask which day within the next three days is suitable. We will send someone to propose marriage right away."

"I want this marriage to be finalized within ten days."

The last two sentences already exuded a chill, like the light emanating from a pearl. Yan Liang and his wife were stunned for a moment before nodding.

……

An hour later, Yan Liang and Madam Xue were already sitting in the hall of the Lu family.

After hearing their purpose, Madam Jiang frowned.

"I already spoke with my sister-in-law about it. I consulted Master He, and he said there haven't been any auspicious days lately. Ying'er is still young, why the rush?"

“Ying’er is young, but Qu’er is not so young anymore,” Yan Liang said with a smile. “The two families know each other well, and now that we are becoming relatives, it is a wonderful thing that both sides are happy to see. There’s no need to look at the auspicious date; every day is a good day. Does Aunt really have to worry that after Ying’er marries into the family, someone will mistreat her?”

Madam Jiang frowned as she looked at the doorway: "That's true, but it's still a lifelong matter, and we can't be careless about it."

“Aunt,” Yan Liang said with a forced smile, “If our Yan family doesn’t mind, why would you mind?”
"Or is it that your aunt simply looks down on my younger brother? Or perhaps she looks down on the Yan family?"

Jiang looked up: "You..."

“That’s going too far,” Lu Jie interjected. “It’s a blessing for Ying’er to become the young mistress of the Yan family, and it’s a blessing for us as well. How could we not be happy?”

Jiang glanced at him.

Lu Jie didn't look this way, but instead said to Yan Liang, "Go back and tell your father and mother that I approve of this marriage. My Lu family is ready to welcome your father and brother to come and propose marriage at any time."

Yan Liang smiled, stood up and cupped his hands: "Uncle is indeed straightforward." After saying that, he looked at Madam Jiang: "Aunt, rest assured, once Ying'er is married, she will be the apple of everyone's eye in our household."

Jiang looked at him with her lips tightly pressed together, her fingernails almost piercing through her palms.