Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 81 Jade Pendant?!
He Qing was startled and stood frozen for a moment before taking a step back: "Yes, it's you!"

"Good memory, you still remember me." The person turned halfway to the side, their face shrouded in darkness again. "Any progress on the tasks assigned to you in the letter?"

He Qing's chest pounded like a drum, and he forced himself to bow down, saying, "I obeyed your orders and dared not alert the enemy. I took advantage of the torrential rain and flood that night to personally visit the Xie family."

"But I searched every possible hiding place in the Xie family's house, inside and out, and even looked very carefully at Miss Xie's residence, but I still couldn't find the jade pendant!"

"Didn't find it?" The newcomer raised his voice at the end. "If she were her, she would definitely have such a jade piece with her. Since you haven't found it, have you considered that your information might be wrong?"

"However, however, the information I received from Miss Xie's uncle does indeed match the young lady that you are looking for in every way..."

Summer had clearly passed, yet He Qing's forehead was still beaded with sweat.

He was already overwhelmed with problems, and now he became even more anxious.

Upon learning from Zhang Qi that the Xie family girl had an unusual background, he immediately wrote a letter to the person who had left the clue, reporting the information.

Just before news of the Luokou flood discharge arrived, he received orders to investigate Xie Jia's background. However, despite his best efforts, he couldn't find any jade pendant that could prove her origins.

He knew the Zhang family too well. Although Lu Jia's characteristics matched the person this man was looking for, He Qing didn't believe the Xie family would have any jade pendant.

After being bullied by the Zhang family for so many years, if they still had something of this value, would they still be eating coarse food?
"Where is she?" the man asked.

He Qing swallowed hard. "Right now, he's not at home, he must be at their shop. I can lead the way!"

……

Qin Zhou hadn't returned by nightfall. Lu Jia waited until it was completely dark when someone from the dock called her. She quickly ate her meal and went out with He Qu.

Upon arriving at the shop, she learned that the boatman she had asked for help earlier had returned from the capital and was waiting to deliver a message to her.

Lu Jia had been eagerly anticipating this outcome for days, so she led the people to the backyard and had a waiter bring them some fine tea.

"The young lady of the Lu family is indeed in the process of getting married to Grand Secretary Yan's grandson. When I left the capital, I heard that the Lu family had already hired a matchmaker. Minister Lu is very busy with official duties, and apart from saying that his career is brilliant, there are no other rumors circulating."

"As for Madam Lu—a woman from a noble family, it's really hard to find out anything about her. Following your instructions, I spent some money, but I only managed to find out that Madam Lu is a jinx who has lost both her husband and mother since childhood."

"That's it?"

What kind of news is this! Even if Lu Jia already knew that Jiang's parents had died early, it wouldn't matter now that she knows.

What she wanted to know was why, after ten years, the Jiang family still remembered her. She wanted to find out some clues in advance.

Seeing her dissatisfaction, the boatman thought for a moment and then said, "I also heard that this Madam Lu recently sent someone to the pharmacy to search for medicine to cure her headache. I wonder if this counts?"

"She has a headache?"

I've never heard of Lu Jia.

However, this news also seems to be of little use.

Realizing he wouldn't find out anything, he continued, "What about the Liang family, which I asked you to inquire about?"

"The convicted Imperial Censor Liang is still in prison. As for his family, I went to look for them according to the clues you gave me. His wife, eldest son and daughter-in-law, and youngest son have all passed away, leaving only a grandson who lives with his sister in Willow Alley inside the South Gate."

Lu Jia paused upon hearing this: "What is this young master Liang's name?"

The boatman pondered for a moment, then said, "I think his name is Liang Mi." He then dipped his finger in water and traced the character "Mi" on the table. "I saw that he had written his name on his stall."

What is their current situation?

"These two siblings are not doing very well. Young Master Liang is about twenty years old and has never been married. He now sells calligraphy at a stall under the overpass. As for Miss Liang, she is a young embroiderer in the embroidery room."

Lu Jia remained silent for a while. Just then, the waiter brought over some more snacks, so she pushed the plate forward and said, "If there are any rumors circulating in the court, please tell me about them." The boatman then recounted all the rumors, big and small, that he had heard in the capital over tea and snacks, including those concerning the Yan and Lu families.

Lu Jia listened and pondered until the boatman had run out of things to say, then gave him two taels of silver and had it delivered.

Humans are supposed to live only once, but Lu Jia defied common sense and lived two lives. From the moment she understood this fact, she knew that her reborn future would definitely disrupt its original trajectory.

So, aside from changing her choice not to go to the capital immediately, Yu Ze was cautious in everything she did, not wanting to rashly disrupt everything before she was fully prepared.

The ability to foresee events is an advantage for the reborn, and she didn't want things to get out of control.

She was initially confident that, despite the distance of thousands of miles, no matter what trouble she caused in Shawan, things would remain the same in the capital. Sending the boatman to the capital was merely to reassure herself.

But then Guo Yi appeared.

In his previous life, the imperial envoy to Tanzhou was Zhang He, arranged by the Yan family, but now he has become Guo Yi, who comes from a family of upright officials.

The change of the imperial envoy was indeed a good thing for Shawan County, but how was this changed?
What unexpected event has occurred in the capital?

"Sister, is the Liang family you asked them to inquire about the same Liang family that Grandfather once sponsored?"

Xie Yi led people in to tidy up the tea set, unable to suppress his doubts.

Lu Jia glanced at him and said, "Besides this Liang family, there are no other Liang families."

Without Mr. Xie's financial support, how could Censor Liang Jun have risen from humble beginnings to become a high-ranking official?

After the Liang family was wrongfully imprisoned, the Xie family also collapsed. Their once thriving shops in the capital all fell into the hands of others.

The two families went from supporting each other to falling into misfortune together, which can be considered as a bond forged in adversity.

After returning to the capital in her previous life, when she went to see Liang Jun, the Imperial Censor Liang was still feeling ashamed and remorseful for implicating the Xie family. Since the entanglement between the two families was so deep, why should she stand idly by when she had the ability to do so?
The Xie family are merchants, while the Liang family have officials. If the Liang family can be exonerated one day, it will be a force to be reckoned with for both the Xie family and Lu Jia.

Whether it's protecting Qiu Niang and her son to ensure their safety in this lifetime, or thoroughly bringing down the Jiang family, Lu Jia needs manpower.

The Liang family is the one she wants to work hard for right now.

After Xie Yi locked the door, the three of them walked along the bluestone-paved street toward Xichun Street.

The moon was high in the sky, and the bustling streets of the day had quieted down, making footsteps clearer.

Lu Jia walked ahead, while Xie Yi and He Qu followed behind, chatting casually.

Halfway there, He Qu suddenly stopped and looked up at the wall on his right.

Tonight is the waxing crescent moon, and the moonlight is still very weak. As far as the eye can see, only the outlines of houses can be seen.

Lu Jia stopped as well: "What's wrong?"

He Qu glanced at it twice, then looked away and continued walking: "It's nothing. It's probably just a stray cat jumping around on the roof."

Lu Jia nodded, glanced at the wall, and then continued walking.

After taking a few steps, He Qu looked back again.

After they walked away, two faces immediately appeared from behind the wall.

One of the photos was filled with astonishment, and upon closer inspection, a glint of sharpness could even be seen in the eyes…

(End of this chapter)