Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 187 Have you ever used that masked man?
Just as Lu Jia arrived at Yanzi Hutong to deliver the Laba Festival gifts, Yin Liu came in and said that Young Master Shen had arrived.

Qiu Niang glanced at her, her gaze somewhat meaningful, but said nothing, and got up and walked away.

When Shen Qingzhou walked in, only Lu Jia was there.

Seeing that he looked unwell, Lu Jia immediately put aside her own matters and asked him, "How are your family affairs going?"

Shen Qingzhou nodded. "That's about it."

Lu Jia leaned forward: "What about your brother? Did he go to the Northwest or is he at home?"

Don't doubt it, she's just a gossip.

This is the Shen family!
Moreover, he is the seemingly otherworldly Young Master Shen, who is detached from the mundane world. He is not down-to-earth, so naturally outsiders don't know much about the Shen family. Lu Jia knows nothing about them either, so how could she not be curious!

Shen Qingzhou glanced at her: "What do you want to hear?"

Lu Jia chuckled.

Shen Qingzhou sighed and asked, "Do you still hate your father? After he had a new wife and children, did you hate him even more?"

Lu Jia paused for a moment, then sat back down and said, "If you're talking about this, it's not really about hatred. When my mother passed away, he was so young, he would definitely have remarried. And if he had, he would have had new children."

“I just think he shouldn’t have chosen such a vicious woman. He’s a well-educated man, so he shouldn’t be so blind. He should be trying to curry favor with the Yan family.”

At this point, she patted his arm: "I understand you. You're a sensible person and won't be so stubborn. If your father had properly married and had children after your mother passed away, you certainly wouldn't be angry or resentful towards him."

Shen Qingzhou said in a muffled voice, "It's a pity he doesn't understand."

Even if Shen Zhui wasn't an illegitimate child, the fatherly love that should have been given to him all those years was still missing.

Seeing him like this, Lu Jia felt bad too. Her gaze fell on the purse at her waist. She reached out and took it off, taking out a few pieces of candy: "Eat, and you won't be sad anymore."

After saying that, she picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

Shen Qingzhou is a grown man and doesn't like sweets.

But the sweet taste of this candy on the tip of your tongue does indeed put you in a good mood.

“When I was little, my parents would use this to comfort me when I was in a bad mood. It’s not a rare thing, but the important thing is that they were willing to comfort me and that they cared about me. I felt very proud.”

Lu Jia peeled another one and held it to his lips, saying softly, "Sweetie, don't be sad. If we can't have a dad, we don't need him!"

Shen Qingzhou accepted the candy, her eyes shimmering with emotion.

Instead of irritating his sore eyes, he ate the candy.

Mr. Chong was a guiding light that led him all the way.

Lu Jia, however, was the fire that tightly surrounded him, comforting his soul.

He swallowed the candy completely, then put the remaining two from her palm into his purse, and said, "He Qu said you were looking for me, but you haven't said what it is." Seeing that his expression had finally softened, Lu Jia breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed up the topic, saying, "It's a big deal! I went to the Jiang family today. Do you know what I found in my widow's house?"

"what?"

"Her room was filled with calligraphy, paintings and antiques, and the few brushes hanging on her desk were small wolf-hair brushes that one of Yan Song's students had specially made for him!"

"Yan Song's pen?"

Shen Qingzhou, who had been quietly waiting for her to keep him in suspense, frowned slightly upon hearing this.
It was strange that there were men's belongings in the house, given that Jiang's widowed mother had been widowed for many years. And that the man was Yan the traitor made it even more unusual!
"Are you sure you're not mistaken?" He sat up.

"I swear, I'm absolutely not mistaken!" Lu Jia said firmly. "That old scoundrel Yan loves using this kind of pen; he's been using it for decades. I absolutely cannot be mistaken!"

She had been in the Yan family for several years, and while they might not have fully revealed all the shady dealings they did, how could she not know about these everyday family matters?

The pens made by Yan Laozei's student were for his exclusive use only; they couldn't be bought anywhere else. Even if one could obtain them, few people would use them, and none would be as fond of them as Yan Laozei, nor would they keep them specifically in Wei's room!

The key point is that Wei's daughter has recognized Yan the old scoundrel as her godfather since she was a child!

How can anyone else possibly think this way?!
"You mean, the Wei family and that old scoundrel Yan are having an affair—"

We're not such naive young people anymore. After all this talk, can't we still grasp the main point?

“There’s definitely something to be suspicious!” Lu Jia slammed her hand on the table. She knew Shen Qingzhou understood what she meant: “Since she was a child, Jiang has recognized Yan the old scoundrel as her godfather. After Jiang’s father, who was Yan the old scoundrel’s student, died, Wei, who had been bullied by her husband’s family, had even received some care from the Yan family!”

"If the Wei family and that old scoundrel Yan had any dealings during that period, that would be perfectly reasonable!"

When Jiang's father died, Yan Song had not yet become the Grand Secretary, but he was already a favorite of the emperor. After his student died, his widow was bullied by her husband's family and came to him for help. Of course, he had to take care of it!
It was only after the Yan family recognized Jiang as their goddaughter and intervened on their behalf that Wei and her daughter were able to gain a foothold in the Jiang family.

If the Wei family wanted to repay the favor, Lu Jia didn't believe that the old scoundrel Yan would refuse!
"If the two of them are innocent, there is absolutely no reason why the pen used by that old scoundrel Yan would appear in Wei's room!"
"Besides, why would Madam Wei have so many calligraphy and paintings? She certainly couldn't have bought them herself; they must have been gifts from others!"

"Who would give her these? It must be someone who is fond of literature and art, so they would give her things they value!"

Shen Qingzhou frowned and pondered: "Old Yan is quite talented, and he does indeed have a refined taste. He likes to give calligraphy and paintings as gifts, which is certainly something he would do."

"But the old couple Yan Song only had one son, Yan Shu, and he did not take any concubines or maids. Over the years, there have been all sorts of accusations against him, but there has never been any report on this matter. It is still somewhat unbelievable that he had an affair with Wei."

“So we have to verify it!” Lu Jia said. “Whether it’s Yan Song or not, even if it’s not him, I believe there must be a man in the Wei family’s house!”

Whether or not Yan the old scoundrel is true or not is no longer important. What is important is that Jiang's mother is indeed not innocent!
Lu Jia originally planned to start with Jiang Shi, but she didn't expect that before the daughter could even slip up, the mother would expose herself first. If this is true, then there will be a good show to watch!
Shen Qingzhou thought for a moment and nodded: "This is not difficult. Two or three days should be enough."

"You must tell me immediately after you find out!" Lu Jia said with a smile. "I want to go with you!"

Shen Qingzhou smiled helplessly, paused for a moment, then glanced at the person opposite him: "There's one more thing I haven't had a chance to tell you yet..."

"what's up?"

He looked away and bit his lip: "Last time you told me you had a very real dream, but you never told me afterward whether you ever resented the masked man who ultimately failed to save you?"

Title typo: "用" should be "怨" (ー_ー)!!