Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 166 Taking You Shopping
Shen Qingzhou's lips curled up slightly.

He lowered his head and took a sip of tea: "If you really take it down, you'll be busy again. I don't have much time to come back often. Let's hire a housekeeper later."

Qiu Niang no longer treated him as a housekeeper, so she would naturally have to hire someone else later.

Upon hearing this, Lu Jia thought of the strange boy who had chased after her to Yanzi Hutong to inquire about He Qu, and she looked him over and over again.

Shen Qingzhou asked, "What?"

She pretended to take a sip of tea, her fingers tracing the rim of the cup in circles. Then she asked, "What have you been busy with lately? And what have He Qu and the others been busy with?"

Shen Qingzhou peeled chestnuts roasting beside the small clay stove: "Naturally, I'm busy finding some work to do. I don't want to be a kept man."

"Then have you found it?"

"not yet."

Shen Qingzhou had a bit of a headache.

He finally understood that no matter how many times he told himself not to come over, he simply couldn't control his legs.

He couldn't sit still whenever he heard the slightest thing happening to her.

This means he still needs to figure out a way to properly deal with where he will go after leaving the Xie family.

What exactly?
Should we really start some kind of business?
"Ahem." Just as my thoughts were in turmoil, Lu Jia leaned closer to me, propping her elbows on the table and coughing. "Is there anything you're hiding from me?"

The tea in Shen Qingzhou's hand tilted slightly.

Lu Jia lowered her gaze, calmly wiping the tea from his hands with a handkerchief. "If you've really been hiding something from me, as long as you tell me now, I won't blame you."

Shen Qingzhou put down the cup and looked at her: "What do you think I would hide from you?"

Lu Jia pulled herself back. "Sometimes I feel like you help me so much, is there some other motive behind it?"

Shen Qingzhou paused slightly, then looked up again: "If I have ulterior motives, what can you do about it?"

"Of course I'll give you whatever you want!" Lu Jia shrugged. "After all, I also have something to gain from you. — Don't worry, if that's the case, then neither of us is someone to be trifled with."

Shen Qingzhou felt relieved.

He chuckled and reached out to pinch her ear, but then realized something was amiss and withdrew his hand.

Lu Jia also twitched the corners of her mouth.

He was indeed nervous.

It seems there really is something they're hiding.

However, given their relationship, it wasn't yet at a point where she could rightfully press for answers. Oh well, it's better to play dumb.

She also picked up a chestnut and started peeling it.

After eating three or four in a row, she clapped her hands and stood up: "I've won a small victory today, so I should celebrate. Since we're out, there's no rush to go back. Why don't you take me to the south of the city to see that shop? After that, accompany me for a stroll before we go back."

Shen Qingzhou's eyes flickered slightly: "Where should we go shopping?"

How could he openly go out with her?

Lu Jia had already pulled him to his feet: "There's a City God Temple in the south of the city, where there are often temple fairs. Let's go there!"

Her enthusiastic expression was completely different from before. She never liked to pretend; she was angry when she needed to be angry, happy when she needed to be happy, and ruthless when she wanted to overturn the table.

Unlike Shen Qingzhou, who has worn the mask of "Young Master Shen" since childhood, he no longer knows how to laugh heartily, how to cry bitterly, or how to be furious.

"Hurry up, it'll get dark if you dawdle any longer."

She pulled Shen Qingzhou out the door. Without a word, she pushed him into the carriage and drove off towards the southern city.

Shen Qingzhou never intended to expose himself to the crowd with her. There were many people in the capital who didn't know him, but there were also quite a few who did. However, when he turned his head and saw the enthusiastic Lu Jia, he gave up resisting.

She's feeling wronged today, so why spoil her mood now that she's in a good mood?
They soon arrived at the southern part of the city by carriage. Naturally, they went to look at the shops first.

The shop was indeed in an excellent location, close to the market, which was perfect for running a rice shop.

The nearby shops were also bustling with customers, and the streets and alleys were orderly. Lu Jia had never done business in the capital before, and judging from the situation, it was not as lively as Shawan. However, the people working in the streets and alleys were much more organized than in Shawan.

The reason for giving up the shop was that the male head of the household had passed away, leaving behind a widow and her young children who could not support the shop. The female head of the household was going to sell her property and take her young children to her parents' home in the capital.

The price is a bit high, but not outrageously so.

With such a large shop, I wonder what Liu Xiyu's intentions are.
If they were interested, the Xie family could buy it, and Liu Xiyu could invest in it as well. The two families could then easily revitalize the shop together.

Unlike the Xie family, Liu Xiyu had never opened a shop in the capital before, making her a more suitable investor.

but……

"I'm going to get some air."

While they were talking, Shen Qingzhou greeted Lu Jia and then went outside.

After watching him leave, Lu Jia immediately whispered a few words to Qing He.

Among the crowd outside the door were Shen Qingzhou's shadow guards. As soon as he came out, some of them followed the flow of people to him.

When they returned to the house, Lu Jia had finished her conversation. The two agreed to sit down and discuss the matter in detail another day, and then went to the City God Temple.

Shen Qingzhou was physically weak and was not allowed to go to crowded places since he was a child, so he had never been to a temple fair or a place like the City God Temple. When he arrived, he found that the streets were full of people, and it was indeed very lively.

She had been humiliated by Lu Jie today, but as long as she was happy, what did taking risks matter?

Shen Zhui was constantly being checked on his homework by his teacher, and he failed every single one of them. As a result, he was given a lot more material to do, which made him so tired that he didn't even have time to catch his breath, let alone keep an eye on He Qu.

Just last night, someone from down below delivered several baskets of lake crabs. He cooked for himself, drank a few cups with Shen Bo, and ate a few more crabs. As a result, he got an upset stomach in the middle of the night. However, he took advantage of this opportunity to go out, saying he was going to see a doctor. He deliberately took the long and winding route to delay his return home.

Passing by the City God Temple, he saw that the alley was crowded with people, all dressed in simple clothes, which suited his taste, so he dismounted and walked.

"...The material of this fan isn't very good, but the workmanship is alright. Take two white ones, and I'll paint a little picture on them for you to play with when we get back."

Just as they reached a shop, they heard a faint, familiar voice ahead. Looking up, they saw a man in an ordinary silk robe. He wasn't particularly strong, but he was tall and agile, standing out from the crowd. His attire was very familiar!

Shen Zhui hurriedly rubbed his eyes, and then his eyes widened in surprise:
"Shen, Shen—what's he doing here?"

The pageboy beside him, hearing the sound, stood on tiptoe to look and was also stunned: "Young Master?"

Normally, Shen Qingzhou rarely leaves his home, and even when he does go out for social engagements, he has to be picky about who delivers his invitations. Yet here he is in a place like this!
Who is that girl?

Before the pageboy could finish his daze, Shen Zhui was surprised again.

Upon closer inspection, he discovered that there was actually a young lady beside Young Master Shen…