Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 97 You're meddling too much!

In her previous life, Lu Jia had already returned to the capital for half a year. She remembered that two months later—that is, when all the officials reported on their duties and made decisions on the transfer and promotion of officials for the following year—her maternal uncle, who had been crushed by Lu Jie, who was his fellow disciple since childhood and later became her brother-in-law, suddenly ran to the Lu family's gate on a sunny morning and broke down the door.

How could Lu Jia possibly miss such a huge piece of gossip, especially one between brothers-in-law who had been strangers for years?

So she peered over the flower wall and saw clearly that her uncle, sleeves rolled up, wielding a stick, was shouting at the top of his lungs, cursing her treacherous father inside and out. It was truly remarkable that he didn't utter a single harsh word, giving Lu Jia a glimpse into the censor's eloquence. Lu Jia even seriously wondered if the censor's ten years of diligent study had all been used in this shouting match!
Of course, Lu Jia understood exactly what he was saying from the content of his curse.

Her eldest uncle served as Right Vice Censor-in-Chief for many years, criticizing no fewer than dozens of officials—including Lu Jie. He was almost as outspoken as that man from Hainan, pointing his finger at the emperor and cursing him. He also submitted countless impeachment memorials, and brought down numerous corrupt officials, both high and low. In short, his achievements speak for themselves; based on seniority, he should have been promoted long ago.

For three consecutive years, he didn't get the position. This time, the Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate personally recommended him to fill the vacancy of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, which should have been a sure thing, but he still didn't get the job! After inquiring for a long time, he found out that it was his good brother-in-law who was pulling strings behind his back!

How could he not be angry?!
Lu Jia couldn't help but get angry. "Is what her father did even human? What grudge could he possibly hold against us!"
She couldn't help but ask the servants her mother had brought from the Cheng family, and that's when she learned that the two had been childhood enemies, but no one knew why they had become such bitter enemies.

That happened two months later, in the winter month. By then, the Cheng family should have already started this process.

To be precise, his performance review should have already been submitted.

If Lu Jie really did this despicable thing, then there are already signs of it by now.

Tang Yu cannot enter the government, but Lu Jia has money and knows some connections within the yamen, so she will have opportunities.

……

It was nearly noon when Gao Hong and I parted ways on Gongmenqian Street.

When Lu Jie returned to the mansion, Yang Bonong, who had returned earlier, was already waiting for him in the study.

"I've inquired and found that the waitress wasn't from Xia'er Restaurant. After checking everyone, I discovered that she had bribed someone inside to impersonate a waitress. It's true that she had ulterior motives, but after checking, Young Master Shen has no connection to this matter. Young Master Shen did indeed choose someone nearby to serve tea on short notice."

Lu Jie sat down behind his desk, his brows furrowing slightly: "Didn't you send someone to chase after them? They didn't catch them?"

Yang Bonong shook his head: "That girl is actually very clever and experienced, which is completely out of character for her age."

"A girl?" Lu Jie's eyes flickered. "She really is a girl?"

“My lord,” Yang Bonong’s gaze lingered on his face, “that girl, is there something special about her?”

Lu Jie frowned as he gazed at the osmanthus tree outside the door, its blossoms long gone, and after a moment said, "No."

Yang Bonong respectfully withdrew.

Lu Jie stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked to the window. From his line of sight, he could see the graceful osmanthus tree with its canopy.

As Jiang walked down the corridor, she immediately saw Lu Jie gazing thoughtfully at the osmanthus tree. She entered the room and asked, "Master, are you missing someone from the past?"

Lu Jie said casually, "Are you jealous?"

"Why would I be jealous?" Jiang snorted, facing the window and standing straight. "No matter what, why would I be jealous of a dead person? Besides, I have everything she has, and I also have things she doesn't have."

“Over the years, I have done nothing but hard work for you and the Lu family, even if I haven’t done anything particularly meritorious.” Lu Jie turned around and said, “Who can say otherwise? I am so grateful that my wife did not abandon me back then and married me, a widower who had lost his wife, while she was still a virgin. She also raised my eldest daughter and gave birth to my second daughter. I remember this kindness very clearly.”

Jiang paused for a moment, then said seriously, "Why are you saying such mushy things out of the blue? It's one thing for you to act recklessly outside, but to come back and be so disrespectful, do you think I'm like those shameless vixens outside, someone you have to go to great lengths to coax?"

Lu Jie smiled.

He glanced at her and walked out.

Longxiang carried the tea to the corridor and happened to meet Lu Jie face to face.

Lu Jie stopped, glanced at her, reached out and took the tea from her tray, took a couple of sips, and then put it back.

Longxiang waited until he was far away before raising her head, calming herself down and going into the house: "Madam, Master just came back, why is he going out again?"

Jiang closed her eyes: "You're meddling too much."

Longxiang stood still.

Jiang opened her eyes and looked at the osmanthus tree, then asked, "Where is Guo Lu? Did he send someone to Tanzhou? Did he go?"

“He’s gone,” Longxiang hurriedly said. “I met the young master this morning. He said he has already taken care of what Madam asked him to do.”

"This morning?" Madam Jiang looked at her and sneered. "If it was this morning, why are you only telling me now?"

She stood up and slapped him across the face.

Caught off guard, Longxiang's face was slapped to the side.

……

Lu Jia's directions to Tang Yu were comprehensive, but for Shen Qingzhou, and even for Tang Yu, it was just a matter of taking a few steps, saving them the money for bribes.

The following night, Shen Qingzhou received the results that Tang Yu had inquired about. After sitting for a while, he calmly went to find Lu Jia.

"As you predicted, your uncle really has been busy with this internal position for a long time, and it seems that your father has indeed been interfering. The key is that he has interfered more than once. In the past two years, your uncle had two opportunities for transfer and promotion, but both were ruined."

"Right?" Lu Jia put down her pen. "So, how far has it progressed?"

"There's one last hurdle. This time, it's the Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate who recommended you, so your chances are still pretty good. But with your father's situation..."

Shen Qingzhou really couldn't understand it. He knew Lu Jie was a treacherous minister, but even treacherous ministers don't have this much free time. Instead of busying himself with harming the country and doing great things, he was focused on making trouble for his former brother-in-law. What was going on?

"That's about what I estimated." Lu Jia thought for a moment, then asked, "What about when I asked you to inquire about the Cheng family?"

“The Cheng family is free of any trouble,” Shen Qingzhou said, sipping her tea. “Your uncle has two sons and a daughter. Your eldest cousin has been married for two years. As for the two sons, the eldest, Cheng Yi, is seventeen and preparing for the provincial examination. I hear he is quite learned and has a good chance of passing. The youngest, Cheng Yan, is fourteen and is also studying…”

(End of this chapter)