Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 433 Birthday Banquet (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Lu Jia felt that unless the Grand Secretary planned to remarry, her family would not have any other opportunities to hold a banquet in the near future. She thought that she could take advantage of the opportunity of his 40th birthday to have a proper get-together.

After the proposal was put forward, it received an overwhelming response, with everyone enthusiastically coming forward to contribute.

The banquet that day had a hundred tables. He Qu keenly noticed that among the long row of accounting and gift tables, there were several familiar faces. It seemed that even though the emperor was terminally ill, he was still incorrigible.

Fortunately, the gift book and return gift book are posted openly on the wall, so there's no fear of anyone playing tricks.

The snow fell from morning till night, and the plum blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, their fragrance filling the air.

The banquet only lasted for one lunch; after evening, only the family members remained.

The Lu family set up several tables of food and wine in the lakeside pavilion. Incense burners were lit early in the corner of the room, and everyone sat around them at their leisure, enjoying the snow, tasting wine, having tea, or playing music.

Xie Qiuniang and her son were naturally honored guests. The Li Taoist family and Liu Xiyu also came, and Lu Jia sat at the same table with them.

Uncle Li and Aunt Li couldn't stop talking about their chicken-raising methods, and they planned to continue this business after returning to Tanzhou.

Lu Jia asked, "The chickens are doing just fine, why did you suddenly decide to go back to Tanzhou?"

"Jiajia doesn't know yet," Aunt Li called her by her nickname, her eyes shining even brighter than when she talked about raising chickens: "Tanzhou has become so much better now!"

“Our relatives have sent word several times that since the Yan family fell from power, all those who relied on them have suffered misfortune, and the atmosphere has changed.”

"Later, when His Highness the Crown Prince took over the reins of government, river transport underwent a major overhaul, with many new regulations being established. The long-standing merchant tyrants at various docks were all put to the test. Those who committed offenses were all arrested!"
"Do you remember Su Zhixing's family? They were the most closely involved with Yan's faction. Su Zhixing, who was already in prison, was exiled because of his crimes."

"After the Su family's assets were confiscated, the rest of the family members were either punished, fell ill, or died. Not only did they lose their influence, but they also lost their businesses."

"Once their family falls, the other notorious thugs will either be caught or confess on their own. In any case, nowadays, the docks are full of honest merchants who do business."

"correct!
“There are no starving people in our area. I don’t know about other places, but as long as every household is hardworking and diligent, no one will go hungry.”

"Those refugees who fled the famine have gradually returned home, and now our docks are thriving!"

Lu Jia was deeply moved. She knew that Shen Qingzhou was in charge of the Imperial Household Department and was doing his best to assist the Crown Prince. But how could she not be excited to hear them talk about the great changes that had taken place in Tanzhou, where she had lived since childhood?
"Manager Liu and I are also planning to go back," Qiu Niang said with a smile. "We'll set off when the weather gets warmer, around February or March."

Lu Jia said, "It's understandable that Manager Liu would go back, but Yi-ge'er is right here. What are you going back for?"

"Don't we still have a few shops at the dock? Your mother is still young! I can't just enjoy my retirement like this!"

"Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. He has his own future. I also need to make sure I live a vibrant and fulfilling life in my later years, right?"

"Exactly!" Liu Xiyu raised his glass. "We've finally got such a great opportunity, let's make a fortune!"

Everyone happily chimed in.

As Lu Jia watched, her eyes became slightly moist.

In her two lifetimes combined, she spent roughly the same amount of time in Tanzhou as in the capital. The hardworking elders who made their living with their own hands became her deepest concern. Now, she could finally live and work in peace in her hometown, fulfilling her long-cherished wish. And Tanzhou was just one of many ports in the world; if it could achieve this, then surely other places were as well.

After leaving the table where they were having a lively conversation, she got up and brought some snacks to her two cousins ​​who were playing chess under the west window of the waterside pavilion, Song En's fiancée, and Cheng Yi's wife.

On the way back, passing through the long corridor, I was greeted by a breathtaking view of snow-covered landscape. The lake was frozen solid with a thick layer of ice, topped with a thick blanket of melted snow. A winding stream had been carved out of the lake by the servants, making it resemble a mountain creek. On the opposite shore, behind the lake rocks, two red plum trees reflected the falling snow, creating a scene of exquisite elegance.

She sat down by the window, lost in thought, until a hand warmer was placed in her hand.

Lu Ying also held a hand warmer and sat down next to her.

"Those two red plum trees, I remember that year I used my umbrella to pluck a branch for you."

She wore no makeup, nor were her clothes extravagant; she was quite different from before. Her eyes, which had always been wary and guarded at the Yan family home, were now bright as stars, gazing towards the lakeshore alongside Lu Jia.

Lu Jia smiled: "Grandma said that those two trees were planted by my mother and father before my mother got married. More than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, no, it should be twenty years, and they have become thicker and thicker."

Lu Ying looked surprised: "Really? No wonder you were watching so intently, and I've never heard of it before." She added, "That's right, my grandmother passed away when I was only three years old. Even if she had told me, I wouldn't remember."

She smiled and added, "However, I have seen the portrait of the lady."

This time it was Lu Jia's turn to be surprised: "Where?"

"In my father's study. I found it by accident when I was a child. It was mixed in with a pile of paintings. Actually, there were not only portraits of my wife, but also portraits of several other women, though I had seen those in books before; they were his copies. I suppose they were just put together to mislead people."

"And the portrait of the lady, when I saw you later, I suddenly realized that it must be her."

"You're becoming more and more like her now."

Lu Jia touched her face and sighed, "The thing that pains me most in this life is that I never had the chance to personally comfort my mother."

"There is no need for regret. Cause and effect are cyclical and eternal. You have done great good in this life, and in the next life, Heaven will surely compensate you."

Lu Jia was slightly surprised: "These are Taoist sayings, why are you just copying them without permission?"

Lu Ying smiled and said, "There is something I need to tell you. I have been practicing Taoism with Xuan Yang, a female Taoist priest at Zhuyin Temple outside the South Gate, for several months and have gained some insights. I plan to formally become Xuan Yang's disciple after the New Year and then stay at Zhuyin Temple."

Lu Jia was shocked and looked at her plain clothes again: "Zhuyin Temple is a Quanzhen sect sect. Have you told your father about it?"

The Quanzhen sect forbids marriage. Yet she could have renegotiated her marriage and chosen a suitable official to marry.

“Not yet. But my mind is made up, and he will agree.” Lu Ying said, “I used to be a wife of the Yan family. Anyone who could accept a member of the Yan family would have been sentenced long ago. Even if I can find a family willing to marry me, they can’t erase the shadow of me.”

"Of course, none of that matters. What matters is that this time, I made the choice entirely according to my heart."

“My master has given me a Taoist name, ‘Zhixin’. Knowing that you like to drink southern tea, he has also planted several tea trees brought from the south in the temple. That will be my final resting place in the future.”

"Come here, I'll make you some tea."