Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 191 We can't let her become a valuable person.

The sky was overcast, as if it were about to snow.

As Jiang stepped into the Yan family's house, she instinctively wrapped her cloak tighter around herself.

Madam Yan was writing in the warm pavilion, with a large vase of newly arranged winter plum blossoms on her desk. Accompanied by the rising fragrance of agarwood, the atmosphere was quiet and serene.

Jiang smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, what a refined taste you have! Aren't you afraid your hands will get cold while writing in this weather?"

"The dozens of cartloads of silver charcoal that were just delivered are not hard to keep cold." Madam Yan put down her pen, turned her head and saw that she was wrapped up tightly, so she raised her voice: "You, a first-rank lady, did not come from the countryside. Is it necessary to wrap yourself up in so many layers?"
"Hurry up and come eat. Lianxianglou's Eight Treasure Duck and Shangxianglou's Sticky Rice Chicken Rolls are both your favorites."

Jiang glanced at the table laden with delicacies and smiled: "Prepared for me?"

"Of course." Madam Yan dismissed the maids, sat down, and personally ladled soup into a bowl. "The old lady doesn't need me to serve her today. I thought you were free, so I called you over to eat with us."

Jiang took off her clothes and sat down, took the soup, and glanced at the other person again. "It seems that the officials from various places who are reporting on their duties should be coming to the capital by now. I thought my sister-in-law should be busy assisting my elder brother."

"What are you so busy with?" Madam Yan stirred the soup in her hands. "Things are different now. In the past two weeks, the number of people who have come to visit is probably less than the number of people who have come to the Grand Commandant's residence."

Madam Jiang raised her eyes: "Even if the Grand Commandant's Mansion is very powerful, it shouldn't be able to overshadow the Yan family right away. Sister-in-law, you have something to say to me."

Madam Yan slowly took a sip of soup: "Although it may be an exaggeration, if things continue like this, it won't be long. Father is getting old, and your eldest brother has never taken the imperial examinations and will not be able to enter the cabinet. Now everyone in the world is watching our Yan family decline."

"Yesterday, the palace bestowed several baskets of food, just like usual. But I heard from people in the palace that the Emperor gave the Shen family an extra portion for the eldest son of the Shen family."

Jiang put down her bowl as well: "What did my godfather and elder brother say?"

"What can I say?" Madam Yan placed a roll in her bowl: "The eldest son of the Shen family has been ill for so many years. He neither shows his face often nor holds a position in the court. No one has ever paid him any attention. Who would have thought that after Grand Commandant Shen's triumphant return, when we tried to inquire about any news from the Shen family, we couldn't even catch a whiff of it."

Jiang pursed her lips. She silently drank two sips of soup and then said, "If that's the case, it's still beyond our ability to do."

Madam Yan looked up: "If others can't do it, why can't you?"

Chiang Kai-shek cast a glance his way.

Madam Yan said, "Shen Yu, the eldest son of the Shen family, is still unmarried due to his weak health. But as the eldest son, he has even inherited the title of heir to the Duke of Yingguo, so it is impossible for him not to marry."

"No matter how tight-lipped the Shen family is, surely they'll inevitably let slip a few things to the eldest daughter-in-law, who is the matriarch of the family?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang stopped in her tracks.

Madam Yan said in a deep voice, "I heard that Jia'er, who has been missing for more than ten years, has returned. Even Ying'er, who is younger than her, is about to get married. As her mother, aren't you being too derelict in your duty by not arranging a marriage for Jia'er?"

Madam Jiang asked, "You want Jia'er to marry into the Shen family?"

Madam Yan said slowly, "I don't trust anyone else either."

Mr. Jiang suddenly burst into laughter.

"why are you laughing?"

"Do you think that girl can be on our side?" Jiang asked sharply. "It would be good enough if she didn't oppose me."

"How old are you? You can't even handle a little girl. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?" Madam Yan chuckled. "This girl is all alone now. Even if she had a biological father, it would depend on whether he loves her. If she had any other bargaining chips, why would she run home to live under her stepmother's thumb?"

“I think the reason she came back at this time is simply to give her to us.” Madam Jiang looked away.

"Go back and think carefully about how to bring this up with Lan Chu. Don't drag it out any longer, or things might get complicated."

Madam Yan picked up her chopsticks again.

Jiang frowned: "What does Godfather mean?"

"Father is indeed not very satisfied with this girl, he thinks she's short-sighted, but what does it matter? As long as she's a young lady of the Lu family, where can she be so presumptuous? Can Sun Wukong escape the Five Finger Mountain?"

Madam Yan looked out the window and said slowly, "Ever since the Emperor gave Shen Bo an important position, and Shen Bo achieved a great victory at the border, Father has become increasingly restrained in his actions over the past two years. Is being timid and hesitant really useful?"
"The enemy has pointed their guns at us; we have no choice but to grit our teeth and fight back."

Jiang looked at her, her lips pressed even tighter.

……

Lu Ying was carrying several account books when she passed by the main house and saw Jiang Shi returning.

She followed him into the house: "Where did Mother go?"

Jiang took a deep breath: "I went to the Yan family. Your aunt invited me over for dinner."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ying smiled and said, "Isn't this a happy thing? It's the end of the year, and it's rare for Aunt to have some free time. Why does Mother look so unhappy?"

Madam Jiang sat on the couch, sighing as she received a shoulder massage: "Do you know? The Yan family wants to match Jia'er with the eldest son of the Shen family."

"...Sister and Young Master Shen?"

Lu Ying stopped. "Didn't my sister just get back?"

Madam Jiang frowned: "You've just returned, and you're of marriageable age."

Lu Ying thought for a moment and continued to massage her: "That's true. My sister is two years older than me, so Father and Mother should really think about her."

Jiang remained silent.

Lu Ying glanced at her and sat down beside her: "I know Mother is still upset with my sister because of Du Mama's matter, and she probably has to plan for her marriage eventually. Although Young Master Shen is frail and sickly, the Shen family has such high standards, it's not unfair to her. Since Aunt has brought it up this time, making this marriage happen will not only give Mother a good reputation, but also help the Yan family in the process. Why wouldn't Mother be happy to do it?"

Madam Jiang looked at her: "So you know the Yan family wants to use her?"

Lu Ying paused for a moment, then nodded: "It's been a year since Grand Commandant Shen returned to his residence, and the Yan family still has no dealings with the Shen family. My aunt and the others must also be hoping for someone to act as a matchmaker, right?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang's upturned lips instantly turned sharper than a knife: "If she becomes the eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen family, then she is a member of the Shen family. Neither you nor I can openly and easily touch her, do you understand?"

Lu Ying paused for a moment: "We're all family. We share the same fate, and we share the same fate. Even if there are some frictions behind closed doors, it shouldn't come to the point of violence."

Jiang glanced at her: "If the Yan family wants to use her, then she becomes a valuable person in the eyes of the Yan family. Don't you feel resentful even when your father promised her to assist in managing the household affairs?"
"If she makes a contribution to this marriage, then the Yan family and your father will definitely value her more. Would you be happy then?"

Lu Ying was immediately stunned.

I edited the leave slip last night, but for some reason it wasn't sent out. In short, I apologize for not notifying people in a timely manner due to my oversight.

Actually, even if you meet the free-to-play limit, updating fewer or more chapters won't have much impact on the data; the author wouldn't do that intentionally.