Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 235 Long Time No See?

Lu Jia knew Yan Shu had just stepped into the Lu family's house and was about to leave when Yan Shu stepped out.

She had just finished a game of chess with Yinliu when Qinghe brought in the follow-up: "Master sent someone to tell you that Miss should arrange for someone to go to the Taoist temple to bring the person back."

Yin Liu immediately looked up: "The Yan family actually listened to Jiang Shi? With just those two pieces of paper, Jiang Shi really managed to order the Yan couple around?"

Lu Jia was equally puzzled. Guo Lu was someone she had pushed forward with the intention of stimulating Jiang to contact Madam Yan, but she hadn't expected that the note and the fan in the painting would have such power.

She thought that Madam Jiang would have to run into obstacles in front of Madam Yan a couple of times before she could get what she wanted, so she decided to wait and see.

I didn't expect it to be so fast!

That night in Anqing Hutong, Lu Jia witnessed Madam Yan's rage, wishing she could tear Jiang to pieces. Yan Shu was cunning and shrewd, and although he was more composed than Madam Yan, he was still tricked by Jiang and her daughter. How could he not hate them?
This couple is really something!

What exactly did Chiang Kai-shek seize upon as leverage?
She immediately looked at Qinghe: "You go yourself, take people to carry her back in a sedan chair. Not only must you be courteous, but you must also make sure she is properly settled after she returns."

"Remember, she is still the wife of the Lu family. She just made a mistake and was only slightly punished by the master."

"After you come back, you will naturally still be the mistress of the house. You can also have someone clean up the main room, and make sure it has all the proper decorum."

Qinghe agreed.

Yinliu immediately cried out, "Why is that? She's an illegitimate child who has tried to frame you time and time again. How can she be worthy of being Mrs. Lu? Even if you don't divorce her, after this marriage, she shouldn't be allowed to show her face in public. How can you let her move back to the main courtyard with dignity?"

Qinghe tapped her forehead: "Silly girl! You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. What does it matter if we give her the dignity of a lady? Isn't the power to manage the household still in our young lady's hands? Besides, there are plenty of people keeping an eye on her."

……

After Granny Hu delivered the letter, Madam Jiang began pacing around the room.

She was confident in her trump card, but since it was her last resort, it was hard not to feel uneasy.

It was late afternoon, and just as she was about to wear a hole in the floorboards from all the stomping, Granny Hu returned: "Madam! People from the Lu family have arrived! They've come in a sedan chair!"

A surge of emotion welled up within Jiang and she rushed forward, shouting, "Where are you? Who's here?"

"They've already entered the Taoist temple. It was Qinghe, the young lady's maid, who came with seven or eight people carrying a silver-topped sedan chair! The key thing is that the two maids who used to serve the madam also came along!"

Jiang felt a huge weight lift from her heart, and she plopped down in a chair.

As expected, Madam Yan and the others were still afraid. If they hadn't persuaded Lu Jie, and if Lu Jie hadn't given the order to Lu Jia, how could they have come to pick her up with such dignity?

Their reaction is enough!

"Madam!" Another maid who had come with her rushed over. "The sedan chair has arrived! Madam, please prepare to get in!"

As soon as the maid finished speaking, a group of people walked in through the courtyard gate. The woman at the head of the group was neatly dressed and had a dignified demeanor. It was none other than Qinghe, whom Lu Jia always kept by his side.
"This servant greets Madam," Qinghe said, leading her entourage to greet her. Then she looked at her calmly and said, "I have come on the orders of Master to welcome Madam back to the mansion. Please get ready and get into the sedan chair."

Jiang couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. After giving her a deep look, she stepped out the door and said, "There's nothing to pack. Let's go!"

...The news of Madam Jiang's impending return spread throughout the mansion. Prior to this, with Lu Ying's wedding date approaching, everyone was already aware of his impending return. However, most of the servants had been subdued by Lu Jia's control over the household, and aside from those working in the outer courtyard who couldn't avoid it and had to come out to greet him, only those sent by the second and third branches of the family waited in the front courtyard—

Given Jiang's current reputation, the second and third wives would naturally not come out in person.

Lu Ying sat in the room for a long time before going out.

By the time she reached the hanging flower gate, Madam Jiang had already entered.

Lu Ying called out "Mother," and Madam Jiang's gaze lingered on her face. She then looked around the large, spacious courtyard before walking with her head held high toward the main courtyard: "Are the wedding dress and dowry all prepared? Is there anything else that needs to be arranged?"

Lu Ying followed behind her, and only after entering the main courtyard did she slowly say, "My sister and Aunt Mu have already taken care of everything for me. The housekeepers from Su Zhixiao's family are also experienced enough, how could anything go wrong?"

Jiang's disciple turned around, looked at her calm demeanor, then lowered his hand from behind the curtain, took a deep breath, and said: "I know you haven't had a good time these days, but I will have countless opportunities to make it up to you in the future. You should trust me."

"We are connected by blood; there is no one in this world closer than us."

Lu Ying stared blankly at the ground for a long time before finally managing a bitter smile: "Yes."

She composed herself and raised her head again: "Mother, please rest for a while. My sister is waiting for me to sort out the accounts; I'll come back later."

Jiang grabbed her arm, saying, "What kind of sister is she? How can you have such a ruthless sister?!"

“Madam,” Hu Mama, who was following behind, hurried over, “Madam Yan has arrived.”

Jiang looked up suddenly and saw, sure enough, through the wide-open courtyard gate, that Madam Yan, accompanied only by two trusted confidantes, was already walking towards them from a distance, led by the old women of the mansion.

She released her hands, stood up straight, and then glared back at Lu Ying: "Go back to your room first!"

Lu Ying said, "Ever since my maternal grandmother's accident, the entire Yan family has harbored deep hatred for my mother. It would be good enough if the Yan family didn't take advantage of my mother's misfortune upon her return. Why did my aunt come here in such a hurry?"

"none of your business."

At this moment, Madam Yan had already entered the courtyard. The two looked at each other across the courtyard. Madam Jiang then looked away, glanced at Hu Mama and the others on either side, and glared at Lu Ying: "Go back to your room."

Lu Ying gritted her teeth and turned around.

Madam Yan had already walked over. In the past, she was always very kind and friendly, but as she passed by Lu Ying, she didn't even glance at her.

"Long time no see, how have you been?"

Madam Yan stopped in front of Madam Jiang, speaking politely, but her words, like the early spring weather, lacked warmth.

Jiang forced a smile and curtsied, saying, "Thanks to my sister-in-law, I'm finally back."

Madam Yan snorted coldly, took off her cloak and handed it to the old woman behind her, then took the lead and bypassed Madam Jiang, entering the house first.

Looking at her back, Madam Jiang gestured for Granny Hu and the others to stay outside, then lifted the curtain and went inside herself.