Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 140 Oh no, my mother doesn't welcome me.

When Lu Jie arrived at the front yard, Yang Bonong was already waiting there with a group of stewards and their wives.

Accompanying Lu Jiadao were Su Zhixiao and his wife, who had come to greet him, Cheng Wenhui and Cheng Yi, along with Madam Cheng, Qiu Niang, and Xie Yi—as the adoptive mother who had raised the eldest daughter of the Lu family for eleven years and also the benefactor of the Lu family, they had to be present on this occasion.

Qiu Niang already harbored a deep-seated fear due to the hardships she had endured in the officialdom in her early years. Now, she was facing Lu Jie, a close advisor to the emperor, and she was so nervous that she almost rubbed her fingers raw along the way.

Lu Jia patted her hand reassuringly: "Although the Lu family is considered a high-ranking family, and its way of doing things is different from that of the outside world, everyone has their own constraints. Even Jiang Shi is not a monster that cannot be resisted. If you are not confident, Mother, from now on, just listen to what I do."

All the changes over the past year have been due to Lu Jia's ideas, which have allowed us to proceed step by step. Upon hearing this, Qiu Niang calmed down and said, "To be honest, I don't have anything to lose, so I really shouldn't be afraid. Don't worry, your mother will definitely not cause you any trouble."

After exchanging a few words, the procession arrived at the gate of the mansion.

The gates of the gate to welcome the child were wide open, and a large group of people came out to greet him. At the head of the group was Lu Jie, followed by Yang Bonong and his wife, Mu Shi. Several other guests also came out with their families, and behind them were Lu's steward and his wife.

Once all the sedan chairs and carriages had entered, what came into Lu Jia's view was that familiar stone screen wall.

Across the street behind her, a carriage that had been quietly parked there had its curtains lowered. Shen Qingzhou sat upright in the carriage, listening to the crackling sounds of firecrackers through the curtain. After a while, she raised her hand to signal He Qu to return to the mansion.

"Welcome back to the young lady's home!"

Among the large crowd beneath the sedan chair, someone started a wave of cheers that rose and fell like a tide.

The Cheng family members got off the ground first, and Madam Cheng came to the Lu family's sedan chair. Together with Qiu Niang, she helped Lu Jia out.

"Jiajia!"

Mu stepped forward quickly, her eyes red, and gently took Lu Jia's hand.

Lu Jia had also grabbed her, but then realized something was wrong and let go.

"I'm Aunt Yang, do you remember me?"

Lu Jia certainly remembered her.

As Yang Bonong's wife, Lu Jia had known Mu Shi since childhood. In the Lu family, apart from the servants who had taken care of her since she was a child, Mu Shi was the most gentle and patient with her.

After returning to the manor in her previous life, Madam Mu visited her a few times. However, she was ultimately just the wife of Lu Jie's advisor, and without Madam Jiang's permission, she could not enter. Even when she did come, aside from exchanging pleasantries, they could not have any further contact.

Even so, this gentle woman remained a glimmer of light in Lu Jia's heart from her previous life, but unfortunately, she could not reveal it at this moment.

"Let's go inside first."

Yang Bonong came forward to greet him.

Lu Jia stopped and looked at the crowd, then asked in surprise, "May I ask where my mother is? Why didn't she come? And where's my sister? Why isn't she here either? Are they not welcoming me?"

Her voice was already clear and crisp, and now, speaking in this moment of great attention, every word was even clearer.

Yang Bonong looked around before his gaze fell on Lu Jie's face.

Lu Jie said, "Your mother is tidying up the courtyard for you, how could she not welcome you?"

"What kind of courtyard do you think I need her to tidy up for me personally? If word gets out, wouldn't it make me look like I'm being arrogant? I wouldn't dare do that."

"Butler Su, please take my people to my residence and let them tidy up."

Su Zhixiao glanced at Lu Jie as well, then stepped forward with a smile, leading Qinghe and Yinliu towards Qixia Garden.

In preparation for Guo Lu's arrival in the capital, the Jiang family had long since begun preparing the Yixia Courtyard. Little did they expect that the courtyard, once put to use, would be reserved for the rightful owner!

Firecrackers were going off in the front yard, and you could hear them everywhere in the back yard.

But Madam Jiang sat in her room, showing no intention of going to the front yard to greet him.

She knew she had to go. The person had already arrived at her home; she had no way to stop her from entering, much less refuse to receive her.

But she just didn't want to go.

Lu Jie was trying to intimidate her.

He was actually trying to intimidate him because of this girl who claimed she didn't care about him anymore!

Every time Lu Jia is mentioned, doesn't he say she deserves it?
Isn't it all her fault for disappearing because she was playing around and brought it upon herself?

Why did the person come back and look different?

"The master is just putting on a show for others. After all, it's his own flesh and blood who has returned. He's making a big fuss so as not to give people anything to talk about."

"There's no evidence for what happened back then. Even if Miss still remembers those things, it's all just empty talk!"

"Madam, please don't take it to heart. You absolutely mustn't lose your composure at this time!"

Granny Du poured tea while urging her to drink.

"Mother!"

At this moment, Lu Ying, who should have been embroidering her wedding dress in the backyard, came in calling out "Mother".

"Lu Jia is back? She's really back?"

The girl's face was full of shock: "Didn't Mother say she wouldn't be coming back? What went wrong?"

Suddenly, Jiang raised her hand and covered her mouth, her face ashen as if it were about to break.

"Don't talk nonsense! From now on, don't utter a single careless word!"

Lu Ying opened her eyes wide and nodded emphatically before Jiang Shi released her hand.

"Come with me to the front." She stood up, her chest heaving a few times, and took a step forward.

Lu Jia was still standing under the hidden wall, speaking to Yang Bainong with a wronged expression: "I told you I shouldn't have come back. Look, my arrival has caused discord between my father and mother."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Lu Jie felt a headache coming on just looking at her. "Let's go inside and talk."

"Jiajia!"

Just then, another anxious call came from under the hanging flower gate.

Immediately afterward, the crowd blocking the stone steps dispersed at the sound, and Jiang rushed out with a quick expression. Even though she walked fast, she didn't look flustered at all.

Walking into the middle of the crowd, her gaze lingered on Lu Jia's face for a moment, then she slowly stepped forward, took Lu Jia's hand, and looked her up and down:

"Is it really you?! This can't be a dream, can it?!"

"Of course not." Lu Jia grasped her hand in return. "Your daughter has been waiting for you here for a long time. Mother, it's been so long!"

After glancing at Lu Jie, Madam Jiang quickly looked at her and squeezed her hand even tighter: "Do you know how worried your mother was back then? I've blamed myself every single day of these years—thank God, I've finally waited for you to come back alive!"

"No!"

Lu Jia raised her sleeve and wiped the corner of her eye.

Madam Jiang sighed, "Your face is still exactly the same as it was back then. No wonder your father recognized you as soon as he saw you."

"Have you suffered?"

"How can it compare to the hardships Mother has endured for the Lu family over the years?" Lu Jia sniffed and looked up. "Now that I'm back, I will certainly take good care of Mother from now on."