Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 120 I have an inferiority complex!
Shen Qingzhou's two engagements both occurred while Madam Shen was still alive.

The first engagement was a childhood betrothal, supposedly arranged when the girl was three years old. However, this girl was even more unfortunate than Shen Qingzhou. After the verbal engagement was made, she died the following year.

The second time was when she was seven years old, also the daughter of a court official. The other girl did not die young, but the following year, not long after Shen Qingzhou's eighth birthday, Madam Lu passed away.

When Madam Shen was alive, she managed all the affairs of the Shen family. After her death, eight-year-old Shen Qingzhou was unwilling to be taken away by his relatives and live under their roof, so he was forced to take over. With his appearance, the truth about his childhood illness could no longer be hidden. Not long after, the woman's family proposed to dissolve the engagement.

At that time, there was no one else in the Shen family, and the only master was Shen Qingzhou. Even if this was the other party's rudeness, what could he do?
Besides, forced relationships are never sweet, so of course he had no reason to refuse.

From then on, he devoted himself to upholding the family's reputation and managing the Shen family, and never again had the idea of ​​marriage.

Even though his health gradually improved in his previous life, he simply used the excuse of being chronically ill and weak to refuse all marriage proposals.

Not getting married seems to be more convenient for him.

At least there's one less person to be wary of.

When this kind of thinking became a habit, even after being reborn, he never considered any other possibility.

His third engagement—if this can be considered the third—was something he never expected to be initiated by Lu Jia under such circumstances.

"Have you thought it through?" Lu Jia thought for a moment, then reached into his robes and pulled out the jade pendant: "If you have any concerns, consider this my token of sincerity."

Without saying a word, she shoved the jade pendant into Shen Qingzhou's hand.

"My father gave me this jade when I turned one year old. You know how important it is. Take it, and I will take responsibility for you."

"If you agree, we will get engaged."

The jade pendant was still burning hot; heaven knows how long she had kept it hidden in her sleeve.

Ever since his mother passed away, Shen Qingzhou has been taking responsibility for others, and no one has ever told him that they would take responsibility for him.

That's it.

He put the jade into his pocket.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the moment he reached into his robes and touched what was inside, he closed his mouth again.

"What's wrong?" Lu Jia asked, puzzled.

He paused for a moment, then slowly pulled his hand out.

"No."

"Why not?" Lu Jia, who had been observing him, frowned. "Both of you are unmarried, so you should consider it too."

He clearly took the jade back just now. If he didn't have that intention, why would he take her jade?
“That’s not it.” Shen Qingzhou shook her head. “It’s me… You are a young lady from the prestigious Minister’s mansion. I can’t get used to that kind of life.”

"Don't talk nonsense..."

"All right."

Shen Qingzhou's mind was a complete mess. He turned around and walked out, saying, "I have something to do, I'll be going now!"

Lu Jia chased after her, saying, "I haven't finished speaking yet!"

But how could she be as fast as Shen Qingzhou?

He had only chased me to the door when he had already disappeared.

Lu Jia crossed her arms in anger: "You look pretty good at fighting, but how come you're such a coward at a time like this!"

After a moment's thought, she put her hands on her hips again and said, "Run! You'll always come back!"

If you can run, the monk can't run the temple!
……

The monk ran straight back to the temple. Shen Zhui happened to be carrying several scrolls of books out of the mansion when he bumped into Shen Qingzhou.

But this time, before he could speak, Shen Qingzhou had already passed him and headed straight for Bibo Pavilion.

"What's wrong? Why the long face? Who offended him this time?"

Shen Zhui muttered to himself, scratching the back of his head.

Ultimately, not daring to provoke them, he went out again.

Song En was organizing books in Bibo Pavilion when he was also stunned by Shen Qingzhou's sudden return.

"Son..."

"Get out first."

Song En was puzzled. After silently leaving, she turned around and glanced at him again before considerately closing the door behind her.

Shen Qingzhou only breathed a sigh of relief and sat down on the couch when there was no more sound behind him. After a while, he raised his hand to wipe his face, and then subconsciously looked towards the door, frowning.

Why is he running?
She doesn't eat people.

I'm still too restless.

Whenever she heard that the Zhang family or the Jiang family wanted to harm her, she would inexplicably become furious.

Today, he has become the villain.

She's a young woman, after all. How much courage must she have mustered to ask him for marriage?
Even if you don't agree, you should at least come up with a reason to explain it to her. Running away like this doesn't look like you have any integrity.

He sat for a moment with his face burning and his fists clenched, then took out the items from his arms one by one.

These are two volumes of files that Guo Yi sent to the capital. She had just received them before entering the house, and before she could even open them, she stopped him and proposed marriage.

Guo Yi was scheduled to arrive in the capital in a few days. Before leaving Tanzhou, he sent people to search Zhou Sheng's residence and found some more items.

Zhou Sheng's act of destroying the dike and flooding the fields will definitely be a huge blow to the Yan family. Even if the Yan family has temporarily settled the matter with money, as long as the case is not closed, there will definitely be another opportunity to stir it up.

He gradually regained his composure.

When Guo Yi returns, he'll have things to do. Given the situation just now, he had no better option than to run away.

Lu Jia's father is Lu Jie, the most powerful ally of the Yan family, and is now building an even closer relationship with the Yan family.

They can't even openly date, so how could they possibly get engaged? How could they possibly dream of a long-term relationship?
Once he agrees to her proposal, they will be engaged, which will become a matter between their two families. It will eventually become public, and he will have to show up sooner or later. If things really get to that point, he doesn't even dare to think about what will happen next.

"Never mind," he said, pressing his chest.

Something suddenly felt rough against his clothes; he touched it and found it was the jade pendant…

He left in such a hurry that he even brought this back with him.

What should I do now?

"Master! Master!"

The voice of He Qu coming from outside the door calmed his chaotic thoughts.

He tucked the jade back into his robes. He smoothed his clothes a few times, composed himself, and opened the door.

He Qu, who had just arrived at the gate, was stunned for a moment, then immediately bowed and said: "Young master, there is news from the Cheng family. The Ministry of Personnel has indeed found someone else to replace the position that the Cheng family wanted!"
"Cheng Wenhui's hopes are truly dashed this time!"

Shen Qingzhou's mind instantly cleared: "When was this news received?"

"It happened just now, and it's highly likely that Lu Jie did it. Because the brothers we sent out just found out from the Ministry of Personnel that it was Eunuch Gao, whom Lu Jie met last time, who was pulling the strings behind the scenes!"