Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 150: Time for Work!
Lu Jia caught it out of the corner of her eye.

Pretend you didn't see it.

Wei was a woman accustomed to being subservient and humble. She was timid and hesitant in front of people, but she was beautiful and had a unique charm, a temperament completely different from her daughter Jiang, who was always pretending to be virtuous.

In her previous life, Lu Jia didn't have much interaction with her because, judging from Jiang's attitude towards her, she didn't seem to respect her that much, and probably didn't want her to get involved in her affairs.

Lu Jia's sudden outgoing manner clearly startled Wei Shi, but Lu Jia pretended not to notice. When she heard the summons, she went over, bowed, and sat down next to her. She talked about everything, praising Wei Shi's beauty.

Can an elderly woman be praised like that?

Seeing Wei lower her head shyly, still offering insincere excuses, Jiang frowned and coughed lightly.

Wei immediately sat up straight, composed herself, and didn't dare to say another word to Lu Jia.

It's okay, anyway, Lu Jia's target today isn't her.

However, it was surprising that Wei, a mother, would be so silent and timid in front of her daughter.

As they were talking, people arrived one after another: Lu Jia's second uncle, Lu Ling, and his wife, Zhou, and his third uncle, Lu Ruan, and his wife, Wu.

Lu Ying arrived shortly after. She smiled and bowed to Lu Jia, saying, "Yesterday I originally intended to visit my sister at Yixia Courtyard, but I heard that she was unwell and not receiving guests, so I gave up the idea. It seems she is much better today."

Before the sudden incident of being forced into a marriage in her previous life, Lu Jia and Lu Ying had no conflicts. Although they weren't very close, they would visit each other every ten days or so.

After Lu Jia was framed, Lu Ying heard that her elder sister had taken away her marriage because she was jealous of Lu Jia's good marriage. She cried for three days straight, until she could no longer open her eyes.

Afterwards, she was very magnanimous and did not utter a single word of complaint to her "ruthless" elder sister. Perhaps it was because of her magnanimity that she was able to have another equally remarkable marriage. She married the eldest son of He Ping, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

After the marriage, Lu Jia had no further contact with her.

In any case, the Yan family experienced many ups and downs and suffered many storms in the later period, while the He family, as a trusted minister who had once saved the emperor's life, continued to enjoy wealth and honor. No matter how big the storms in the court were, they never affected the He family.

Lu Ying, who became the eldest daughter-in-law of the He family, was actually living a life of luxury.

Regardless of the reason, and regardless of whether Lu Ying knew about Jiang's framing of Lu Jia in her previous life, Lu Jia did not want to have any further contact with her in this life.

She smiled and replied, "I'm a little unwell since I just got back, thank you for your kindness," and then picked up her tea and started drinking.

Lu Jie didn't come, and Lu Jia didn't want to socialize, so she didn't accept any invitations. Everyone seemed to ignore her as well, continuing to chat amongst themselves.

It wasn't until a short while later, when Lu Jie arrived, that the people who had been eating melon seeds for a while stood up one by one, and the scene became lively again.

As soon as Lu Jie entered the room, he looked at Lu Jia. She had just returned and was facing this situation alone. He wondered if she was flustered or not.
While affairs in the central government are certainly important, it's impossible to say that one doesn't think about things here at all.

"Father!"

Before he could even ask, Lu Ying came up to him and shook his arm with both hands: "Father, why are you only coming back now? Your daughter is starving."

After she finished speaking, she stretched out one palm and laid it out in front of Lu Jie.

Lu Jie asked, "What?"

"Father promised to bring me snacks this morning," Lu Ying tilted her head and pouted, looking unhappy. "Could he have forgotten?"

Lu Jie looked embarrassed: "I was really busy today and didn't think of it. I'll buy it for you tomorrow."

Lu Jia watched coldly, munching on sunflower seeds.

Lu Ying shook Lu Jie's hand again: "I won't listen. A gentleman's word is as good as gold. You have loved me the most since I was a child. How can you break your promise to me?"

Goodness gracious, "most beloved"?
As if Lu Jia is dead!

Lu Jia scattered the melon seeds back onto the plate.

After sitting around for half a day, isn't it time to get some work done?

She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve beside her, covered her mouth and chest, and coughed softly. "Granny Qing, please go back to my room and get my medicine."

Who takes medicine at such a joyous banquet?

Lu Jie walked over: "What's wrong? Still not better? Didn't Doctor Li prescribe some herbal medicine yesterday? He clearly said that one dose would be enough." "Father, you don't know," Lu Jia said listlessly, his furrowed brows full of worry, "I developed this illness in my early years. I cough every autumn and winter, especially when I'm upset by the scenery. I easily get phlegm buildup in my chest, which I can't get rid of for a long time."

"Oh, I'm fine. It's just an old problem, nothing to worry about. Father, you should hurry up and buy some snacks for my sister."

"If we go back too late, they'll probably be closing time."

Anyone can compete for favor.

Whether she's useful or not, let's deal with her first. Since she's back alive, no one can treat her like she's dead.

Lu Jie took a deep breath: "Early illness? How come I didn't know that?"

"It's a long story. It all started when my mother took me out of the city..."

“Alright,” Madam Jiang immediately stood up upon hearing this. “I’m afraid he’s been traveling a long way and caught a chill. I’ll have a doctor come and take a look tomorrow.”

I knew that brat was up to no good.

What does she want to do?
Do you really want to reveal what happened back then in front of so many people?

Lu Jie glanced at her: "Since it's a stubborn illness, ordinary doctors probably won't be able to handle it. Send my letter to the palace and ask the imperial physician to come and take a good look at it first."

He knew something unexpected was going to happen.

Look at her round face, fair and rosy, full of energy, she can eat three bowls of rice in one meal, where does she get this stubborn illness?

He really wondered if this girl had really grown up in a grain merchant's family all these years.

Instead of being in a theatrical troupe?
Lu Jia immediately straightened up: "I'm just a country girl, how could I be worthy of having the Imperial Hospital invited? Please don't make me feel so bad."

She wanted to win favor, that's fine, but she didn't expect to be pampered like this.

Jiang gave her a cold look.

This is fucking happening again!
She paused for a moment: "That's right, there are imperial physicians in the palace who can treat stubborn coughs. What the master said is true; it's best to treat it promptly. Someone come here!"

“Madam,” Lu Jia sighed, “So many elders are waiting here for the banquet to begin. If, because of me, they all go hungry with me, wouldn’t that be my fault?”

"You've put so much effort into preparing this banquet, and it just won't happen. Wouldn't I be unfilial for not being able to hold it?"

"This is a chronic illness, not an acute one. If you really want to treat me, when the imperial physician comes, he might ask me about the cause of my illness, and if that gets going, it will lead to a whole different story."

She wasn't interested in that today and didn't want to ruin things.

Jiang gritted his teeth.

Is she threatening me?
Did she really know everything that happened back then?
No, even if it wasn't because of what happened back then, the fact that Guo Lu tried to assassinate her couldn't be kept secret, so she couldn't take any risks now either.

She took a breath and looked at Qinghe: "Then hurry up and get the medicine for the young lady."

Qinghe agreed and stepped out the door.

The storm has subsided.

Lu Jie also knew when to stop.

He said, "Let's begin the banquet."

The servants went about their own business.

At this moment, Madam Jiang looked at everyone present and said slowly, "Before the banquet starts, Mother, since you have already received Jia'er's greetings, why don't you give her the gifts you brought?"

Madam Wei quickly took out a pair of jade bracelets she had brought. They were of good quality, exactly the same as the pair she had been given in her previous life.

Then the second and third brothers also brought out their own gifts, all of which were quite valuable.

With a forced smile, Granny Du said, "Our in-laws, the old lady and the second and third masters, have given such generous gifts. They really dote on our young lady. Please send a return gift as well."