Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 122 Is the young master married?
While chaos reigned at the Cheng family's place, Lu Jia, after hearing He Qu's words, felt all the disappointment she felt that Qin Zhou had rejected her marriage proposal that afternoon vanish.

Just as she was wondering when the Cheng family would contact her, she heard that Young Master Cheng had arrived.

He Qu looked at her and said, "This time you've moved much faster."

Of course we have to be quick!

If things don't hurry up, Lu Jia will also be on tenterhooks, won't she?

She quickly went out to greet him, bowing to Cheng Yi, who had been led in by Changfu in the twilight. "Young Master."

Cheng Yi looked at her, his face full of shame, and clasped his hands in a respectful gesture: "Cousin, you are too kind. We are cousins ​​in name and in fact. You can just call me cousin."

Knowing that he had come for some reason, Lu Jia didn't dwell on it and pretended not to know, asking, "Cousin, what important matter do you have to discuss with me at this time?"

Cheng Yi felt even more ashamed. "To be honest, it is indeed important. I have been ordered by my parents to invite my cousin to our home for a chat." He paused here, "It may make you laugh, but I came to your door because of something at home. In all this time, I have never invited my cousin to our home for a meal or a cup of tea."

Lu Jia looked at his head, which was almost drooping to his chest, and couldn't help but laugh: "Why are you saying all this? I accepted all the things that my aunt sent over last time. I should be ashamed that I didn't visit my uncle and aunt. Also, when my cousin came over last time, I wasn't home and didn't have a chance to properly entertain him."

Cheng Yi felt that continuing the conversation would only make it more hypocritical, so he steered the conversation back to the main point: "But would it be convenient for my cousin to come to the manor now?"

Lu Jia looked towards the door: "Since my aunt has invited us, let's go over. Changfu, go and prepare the carriage. He Qu, please invite Young Master Biao inside for a cup of tea. I'll put on a coat and come right away."

Changfu is gone.

He Qu also said "Alright," and ushered Cheng Yi into the hall.

With no other master in the house and the butler acting out of nowhere, He Qu could only temporarily act as a guest.

After glancing at Cheng Yi a few times, Cheng Yi noticed him, so he made conversation: "Young Master, you are a handsome man, and I've heard you are also very talented. I wonder if the marriage is settled?"

Cheng Yi, who was preoccupied with his own thoughts, couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this: "This guard is even inquiring about family backgrounds?"

He Qu, a man with a wife and children, laughed it off, saying, "Seeing how elegant you are, I couldn't help but say a few words. Please forgive me."

Cheng Yi smiled without saying a word, and lowered his head to sip his tea.

After waiting for Lu Jiajia to come out, they left without mentioning anything else.

On the Cheng family side, Madam Cheng had calmed down, but her shock and anger had turned into frustration. She sat in the room with Cheng Wenhui, speechless.

Lu Jia called out "Uncle and Aunt," and the two stood up one after the other. Madam Cheng pulled Lu Jia, her face full of shame: "It's already dark, and I've troubled you to come all this way. I really couldn't think of any other way. Please don't take offense."

"What are you saying?" Lu Jia helped her sit down, glanced at Cheng Wenhui across from her, and thought of how he had sneered at her and been indifferent last time. She felt she would be doing herself a disservice if she didn't continue to play dumb. She said, "Uncle, have you been doing well on official business lately? I wonder why you summoned me here in such a hurry?"

Cheng Wenhui, with her hands tucked into her sleeves, didn't dare to look directly at him and turned her face away, her eyes fixed on the wall.

Lu Jia smiled and said, "That's right. You mentioned before that you were going to be promoted. I suppose you've taken care of it and specially invited your niece here to congratulate you? Then I must congratulate you, Uncle!"

Cheng Wenhui blushed and said shamefully, "I won't talk about shortness in front of a short person, but you girl, you're just picking on my sore spots, aren't you? You even know what your father is thinking, I don't believe you don't know why we're looking for you?" Lu Jia said, "What I did was nothing, just 'lucky'."

Cheng Wenhui glared angrily again.

Madam Cheng smoothed things over, saying, "If you're lucky, he's just being old-fashioned!"

After saying that, she took a deep breath: "Jia'er, just as you said last time, your uncle's promotion is going to fall through. I know that saying anything now will seem opportunistic, but whatever you do, if you are still willing to continue with what you said last time, we will listen to you."

Lu Jia looked at Cheng Wenhui: "What does Uncle think?"

“What I mean is exactly what he means! Jia’er, how do you want to return to the Lu family? What do you want the Cheng family to do for you? Just tell me. I won’t talk about feelings or anything like that now, I know you might not believe me even if I told you. In short, whatever you need, the Cheng family will do for you! However, we still need to find a way to salvage the situation with your uncle.”

Having said that, Lu Jia stopped beating around the bush.

She looked at the four members of the Cheng family in front of her and asked, "Aunt, why don't you tell us first what the consequences will be for the Cheng family if this fails?"

"Can't it be done?" Madam Cheng looked at her husband and son upon hearing this: "Your uncle and I don't care about high positions or riches. As a woman, I just hope for peace in my home and success for my children. That would be enough for me. No matter how high an official position is promoted, I'll still only have three meals a day."

"It's just that your uncle is intolerant of injustice and ultimately wants to do something in court, so there's nothing I can do about it. As for your cousin, he's also quite good at his studies. He's not a genius, but he's above average among ordinary people. He originally had the opportunity to enter the Imperial Academy, but he didn't go for some reason. Otherwise, he probably would have already gone to the provincial examination hall to test his abilities."

"He himself lived up to expectations, studying diligently and honestly throughout his years of study, and things went smoothly. The teacher said that his essay would be ranked among the top ten of the previous year's candidates."

“Your cousin is no less capable than him. He has reached the age to enter the Imperial Academy. I was thinking that since the eldest brother missed the opportunity, the second brother should try to get it.”

"Therefore, I had been thinking about trying to climb the ladder of success for a long time. This was such a good opportunity, it should have been a sure thing, but who would have thought—"

At this point, Madam Cheng choked up again and could no longer speak.

“Mother,” thirteen-year-old Cheng Yan stood up, “I don’t have to go to the Imperial Academy. I can study hard on my own like my elder brother!”

Cheng Yi also said, "I also think it's not absolutely necessary to go. However, these are two different things. Father originally had the qualifications for promotion, but he repeatedly let others miss the opportunity, which is unfair to the honest and hardworking officials. Secondly, my cousin has to return home eventually. She has been abandoned alone outside for many years. If no one supports her, it will be really difficult for her. Therefore, there is no need to back down."

After hearing all this, Lu Jia had a better understanding of the situation.

Whether it's promotion or admission to the Imperial Academy, Lu Jie has the final say.

The Cheng family's demands are not a problem.

Thinking of this, she said, "If my uncle and aunt are willing to help me, they must first find me."

Cheng Wenhui and her husband exchanged a glance: "What do you mean?"

"That means you have to be the first to find the long-lost eldest daughter of the Lu family."

……