Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 134 Refusing a Toast Gets You a Penalty (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
“That’s right,” Longxiang said with a look of surprise and doubt. “The servants sent to the city gate saw the Cheng family carrying several sedan chairs into the mansion in a grand manner. The news also came from their mansion. They said that their cousin had been lost for many years and had finally been found.”

"Madam, the Cheng family has no other cousins ​​besides our eldest daughter. They say they've found our long-lost cousin, so doesn't that mean...that means..."

"Shut up!"

Before Longxiang could finish the rest of her sentence, Jiang interrupted her.

The Cheng family only has one cousin, so wouldn't this cousin who was lost and then found be none other than Lu Jia, the eldest daughter of the Lu family?
"impossible!"

Jiang strode up to Longxiang and asked, "Did you hear me wrong?"

Longxiang quickly said, "That's what the servants said. I also thought it was impossible. I asked them several times and sent them to confirm it again, but the result was the same!"

"Those sedan chairs have already been escorted to the Cheng Mansion; this news cannot be false!"

Upon hearing this, Granny Du walked towards Madam Jiang and said, "Madam!"

Jiang pushed her aside, quickly walked to the door, then came back, turned around abruptly, glared at Longxiang and angrily rebuked: "When the incident happened back then, the Cheng family only came to ask about it, and there was no news of them going to look for her afterward. So many years later, how come they suddenly found Lu Jia?"
"Besides, isn't Lu Jia in Shawan? Didn't Guo Lu arrange for people to arrive in Shawan? Didn't the letter we received yesterday say that we could succeed in a few more days?"
"How did she suddenly end up being found by the Cheng family?"

“This matter is indeed unusual.” Granny Du walked to Madam Jiang’s side: “The Cheng family has long been at odds with the master. After the first wife died, the Cheng family never came to visit their niece. For so many years, there has been no news of the eldest young lady. Even if the Cheng family knew her whereabouts, there was no reason for them to bring her back.”

Madam Jiang frowned and paused for a moment, then looked at her and said, "Go, and make sure you find out the situation clearly!"

Granny Du quickly stepped out of the main room, called over a few clever servants, and told them to do everything they could to find out the exact news from the Cheng family.

Meanwhile, the Cheng family was overjoyed. They entered the mansion in a grand procession, accompanied by several sedan chairs, and the news had already spread like wildfire.

Upon hearing the news, some members of the Lu family realized the seriousness of the situation and immediately went to the yamen to find Lu Jie and report the matter.

Lu Jie was holding a meeting with his subordinates when he heard the report and immediately raised his head.

"The Cheng family's cousin? Are you sure you didn't hear me wrong?"

"I'm absolutely certain that every word is correct, I didn't mishear you!"

Lu Jie immediately stood up, stared blankly at the door for a moment, then grabbed his official hat and rushed out the door.

Back at the mansion, he happened to run into Yang Bonong, who was walking briskly out the door.

Lu Jie immediately asked, "What's going on with the Cheng family?"

"I was just about to report this to the master! There are rumors outside that the Cheng family has found their long-lost cousin!"

"Nonsense! The Cheng family only has one aunt and one cousin! Besides Jia'er, where else would they have a cousin?!"

Lu Jie refuted his words without giving a chance to explain.

Yang Bonong took a deep breath and bowed: "That's exactly what I mean. If the Cheng family has any missing cousins, then it must be our eldest daughter!"

Lu Jie suddenly took a step back, staring blankly ahead.

Yang Bonong descended the steps: "Master, shall I go to the Cheng residence immediately to investigate the truth?"

"No!"

Lu Jie's chest heaved: "I'll go myself!" After saying that, he rushed out the door, snatched the reins from the servant's hand, mounted the horse, and headed towards the Cheng residence without hesitation.

Yang Bonong rarely saw Lu Jie so out of control, and quickly called to his men, "Hurry up and follow the master to the Cheng family!"

After saying that, he also called someone to bring over a horse, and hurriedly mounted it and followed.

The servants that Granny Du had instructed happened to arrive at this place and immediately squeezed into the entourage, following along to the Cheng family.

The Cheng residence was bustling with activity, just like during the Lunar New Year, with people constantly coming and going inside and outside the mansion.

Lu Jie rode ahead to the gate, and after breaking free of the reins, he was about to rush in. However, he was stopped by the Cheng family guards who were standing at the gate.

"Isn't this Minister? Does he have urgent business with our master?"

Lu Jie's face darkened: "Get out of the way!"

The guards lined up and said, "Excuse me, but we have a joyous occasion in our household today. The master and mistress have already instructed that no guests will be received. If you have business to attend to, please come another day."

Lu Jie gritted his teeth and stared at them, then suddenly took a step forward, about to squeeze through.

The guards quickly blocked his way: "Please stop, sir! If you force your way in, we will not allow it!"

Lu Jie, being a scholar, naturally couldn't compete with them.

Just then, Yang Bonong arrived with his men. Seeing this, the Lu family members rushed forward and pushed aside the people blocking their way without saying a word.

Lu Jie strode in, and along the way he saw that the Cheng family members were all beaming with joy. Several sedan chairs were placed in the front yard, along with many large and small boxes.

He quickened his pace and entered, only to be met by many more people blocking his way.

Ignoring everything else, he entered their second gate, looking left and right but not seeing Cheng Wenhui anywhere. Just then, a young and unexpected voice came from the side: "Isn't this Lord Lu? What brings you to our house?"

Lu Jie looked over and saw Cheng Yi walking towards him. This usually composed young man was dressed in a completely new way today, and his eyes were filled with joy.

"Where's your father?"

"I wonder what business Lord Lu has with my father? And why did you force your way in?" Cheng Yi looked him up and down. "As the Minister of Rites and a Grand Secretary of the court, you should be a person who pays the most attention to etiquette. Such a reckless act is probably inappropriate."

Lu Jie's face darkened: "Cheng Yi, what is the punishment for your Cheng family detaining my daughter?!"

Cheng Yi paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I don't understand what you mean, sir. Isn't your daughter perfectly fine in your residence? How can you say that our Cheng family is detaining her?"

Lu Jie said, "It seems you're going to refuse a toast only to suffer a penalty."

"Guards! Go to the Shuntian Prefecture and file a complaint against the Cheng family!"
"The Cheng family has detained my Lu family's eldest daughter without cause and refuses to admit it. I'll have the Shuntian Prefecture send people to search us!"

Yang Bonong stepped forward and agreed, then glanced at Cheng Yi and waved to the people behind him.

"stop!"

Cheng Yi frowned as she looked at them, then her gaze settled on Lu Jie's face: "If I remember correctly, ten years ago, the Ministry of Rites had already announced that the eldest daughter of the Lu family had died unexpectedly."

"Since you all consider her dead, what does our Cheng family's cousin have to do with you now?"
"I don't know what right you, Minister, have to call her your daughter? Please understand, Minister, the Cheng family only has our cousin, not your Lu family's eldest daughter!"