Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 169 That idiot!

"So, what are your plans?"

After a long while, Qiu Niang asked.

Liang Mi's eyes were full of bitterness: "Given my current condition, it would be good enough if I could just stay alive. What other expectations could I possibly have?"

"There is no hope of my ancestor being exonerated, and it will probably be a long time before he is exonerated. I only hope that in the future I can return him to his ancestral home smoothly."

The mother and daughter remained silent.

At this moment, Granny Bai came in with a bundle: "This contains some medicine to reduce swelling and pain and to dispel dampness, as well as a few pieces of clothing. Madam, do you need anything else?"

Qiu Niang took it and looked at it: "Pack some more food, something easy to digest."

When Granny Bai brought it over, Qiu Niang handed the bundle to Liang Mi and took out a few silver coins: "Take this to Lord Liang first. Use this money to bribe the jailers."

Liang Mi rose and bowed. Qiu Niang stopped her, saying, "Thank you both for your mutual support. Please don't stand on ceremony with me. We're currently facing some inconvenience, so we won't be going with you this time. We'll discuss the details when you return. Please give my regards."

Liang Mi accepted the gift with tears in her eyes, then strode away with her bundle.

The mother and daughter stood at the door, watching him walk away before turning around.

Qiu Niang sighed, "He should have been a handsome young man who could have inherited his grandfather's mantle. It's a pity he has fallen to such a state. It's truly heartbreaking."

Lu Jia paused for a moment: "The Liang family shouldn't have acted this way."

"Of course it shouldn't be like this. But what can we do?"

Just because the two of us can't do it doesn't mean others can't!

Lu Jia stopped in her tracks. "The Xie family and the Liang family have both fallen into this predicament because of undeserved misfortune. Since the Liang family still has descendants and Lord Liang is still alive, we must think of a way to help them!"

Qiu Niang looked at her: "What do you intend to do?"

Lu Jia pursed her lips and said after a while, "I haven't decided yet. Let me think about it first."

She has an idea, but isn't sure yet.

To be honest, my initial purpose in actively seeking out the Liang family was not because of any relationship between the Xie and Liang families.

Lu Jia had never interacted with the Liang family, and even though she knew the two families had a close relationship, she couldn't fully empathize with them.

Of course, this does not diminish her respect for the Liang family.

Her search for the Liang family's descendants and her visits to the prison were all for the sake of Qiu Niang and her son.

Xie Yi's interests seem to lie in business. He can study, but he is not particularly outstanding. Even if he passes the imperial examination and enters officialdom in the future, he will hardly stand out.

On the contrary, he occasionally taps the abacus, and his accounting skills have improved by leaps and bounds.

I heard that the shop in Shawan that he was put in charge of has already made a considerable profit.

Furthermore, given his brotherly bond with Li Chang, Li Chang will undoubtedly become his right-hand man in the future. With mutual support, they have hope for the future.

Therefore, there's nothing wrong with doing business.

Lu Jia didn't intend for him to become a high-ranking official; he just wanted him to work hard to pass the imperial examinations and bring some honor to the Xie family.

At the same time, it will provide more foundations for future livelihood.

However, this still cannot guarantee that the mother and son will live a carefree life, because there are always people more capable than you, and there are always higher mountains to climb. If Xie Yi cannot elevate his status and power to a certain level, he will still easily fall into a passive situation.

For example, threats from Chiang Kai-shek.

But the Liang family is different.

Among the many people harmed by the Yan family father and son, the Liang family was just one of them, not the most tragic. But the fact that he was one of them shows that there are many others like him.

Liang Jun is a distinguished scholar who passed the imperial examination, a member of the upright officialdom, and an outspoken censor. He has readily available connections and status. Given the opportunity, the Liang family can certainly become a force against the Yan family.

Since the Xie and Liang families have such a close relationship, it would be much easier to win over the Liang family than to slowly cultivate Xie Yi.

Regardless of whether the Yan family falls from grace, as long as Liang Jun can be rescued and the Liang family can be restored, it will be a good thing for the Xie family. In her previous life, after visiting Liang Jun, she couldn't find a way to rescue her. Later, she was too busy taking care of herself to look after the Liang family.

Liang Mi's appearance rekindled her thoughts.

Therefore, Qiu Niang insisted that she stay for dinner before going back, but she postponed it to the next time.

As soon as she boarded the carriage, Yinliu approached her, who was deep in thought, and said, "Miss, the matter you asked me to handle at the shop in the south city is showing promise."

Lu Jia's thoughts immediately returned to their original state: "How is it?"

"The owner of that shop is not dead at all."

Lu Jia was stunned.

"Not only did the master of the house not die, but the woman who said that she and her child were going to seek refuge with her mother's family was also lying."

Lu Jia felt as if she had been doused with cold water, and all her nerves tensed up.

"Who are the people in that household?"

"His surname is Song. I heard he's a person of status who doesn't usually show his face."

宋？
Lu Jia frowned.

There are indeed high-ranking officials in the court with the surname Song, but they are all civil officials. Could Qin Zhou be a member of the Song family?

—It's certain that his surname isn't Qin.

Otherwise, I would have been able to find out about him.

It's not that Lu Jia is overthinking things; she's just been thinking about it over and over these past few days, and she's realized that she's been incredibly lucky since she met Qin Zhou.

The house in Yanzi Hutong and the shop in the southern part of the city were practically delivered right into her lap.

Having heard about the Prince Ji's mansion from Qinghe before, she couldn't afford to be careless this time.

So earlier in the shop, while Qin Zhou was out, she also sent Yin Liu away.

Lu Jia thought for a moment: "The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice is surnamed Song. Go and find out how many sons he has."

Qin Zhou was able to command even the young prince of the Ji Prince's Mansion. The Song family might not have that ability, but it's possible that the Ji Prince's Mansion owed the Song family a favor.

"I'm going right now!"

Yinliu got off the bus.

Lu Jia pulled her back again: "I almost forgot, do you still remember that boy from before?"

"Of course I remember! That idiot."

Lu Jia said, "The pageboy next to him at the time seemed to call him something like 'Second Young Master.' You should also go and find out which family's young master he is."

“There are probably not many young men as tall as him.”

Yin Liu nodded: "This person is very strange. Young Master Liang said that he was sneaking around following the girl. He looks like a lecher with thick eyebrows and big eyes."

Lu Jia narrowed her eyes: "His accent doesn't sound like someone from Beijing. I suspect he's the one who inquired about He Qu in Yanzi Hutong last time."

"If it really is him, then he might not be a lecher. He might not be targeting me either."

"Who are they targeting?"

Lu Jia looked at her: "Last time he followed He Qu, and He Qu was clearly Qin Zhou's man. This time I'm with Qin Zhou again. Think about it, why did Qin Zhou leave so quickly before?"

Yinliu suddenly realized: "I understand! As long as we find out who this second young master is and who Young Master Qin is, we'll probably have a clue!"

Lu Jia straightened up and gave her a look: "Go! Come back soon."

(End of this chapter)