Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 136 No one else could give birth to a daughter like this.
The Cheng family members looked at each other in bewilderment.

Lu Jia, who was standing on tiptoe and looking this way from across the door, was also a little puzzled. It was indeed a benefit she had planned for the Cheng family to get Cheng Yan into the Imperial Academy.

But she didn't expect that Lu Jie would speak up before the Cheng family even made their request!

They had all agreed to put Lu Jie in a passive position so that they could exchange benefits. Unexpectedly, their treacherous father came as they wished, but he never seemed to be in a passive position from beginning to end!

This kind of confident and eloquent speech could only be achieved if one were fully familiar with the Cheng family's situation.

...In any case, the fish has already jumped up, so there's no reason not to catch it.

She nudged Cheng Yan next to her, whispered a few words to him, and then sent him out.

Cheng Yan quickly went to his father's side and said, "Father, I would never push my cousin into the fire pit of the Lu family for my own selfish reasons. I'd rather not go to the Imperial Academy!"

Cheng Wenhui glanced at him and said to Lu Jie, "Did you hear that? Don't think you can act tough and bully others in my Cheng family just because you're wearing a red robe! So what if it's the Imperial Academy? I don't care!"

"Then what do you want?"

Cheng Wenhui snorted coldly.

He stood ramrod straight, truly like an indestructible copper pea.

Yang Bonong frowned; he felt a headache coming on for Lu Jie.

Lu Jie, Lu Jie's brother-in-law, is also known for being a tough nut to crack and not easy to deal with.

The Cheng family was already deeply disappointed that Cheng Yi hadn't been able to study at the Imperial Academy. Therefore, they were determined to get Cheng Yan admitted, but unfortunately, they hadn't been able to find an opportunity.

I thought this would be enough to persuade Cheng Wenhui, but they remained unmoved! What else can I do?

Yang Bonong thought for a moment and whispered to Lu Jie, "It's nearing the end of the year, so it's not a good time to enter the Ministry of Personnel. There might be opportunities elsewhere."

Lu Jie took a deep breath, frowned, and said, "After the New Year, a new batch of salt inspectors will be appointed. Would you be willing to go?"

Regardless of how the Cheng family reacted upon hearing the words "Salt Inspector," Lu Jia's eyes lit up inside the room!
Official positions directly related to the economy of the country, such as the Salt Commissioner and the Grain Transport Commissioner, were mostly selected by the emperor himself. In other words, those who did not have a strong enough background could not hold these positions.

The officially appointed imperial inspectors are usually rotated every three years. Although this position is not of high rank, it has great power, and they are often promoted after each rotation.

Simply put, this kind of position is not only lucrative, but also offers a bright future!
The key point is that this position is still under the jurisdiction of the Censorate, but it is not under the watchful eye of the Yan family in the capital!
For the Cheng family, this is undoubtedly a top-notch opportunity!

Lu Jia quickly called Qinghe over, gave her a few instructions, and then sent her out.

Qinghe approached Cheng Wenhui and whispered Lu Jia's message. Cheng Wenhui stroked his beard and said, "A salt inspector would be fine, but a grain transport inspector would be more appropriate!"

That's right!

That's the Imperial Censor in charge of transporting grain!

The Imperial Censor in Charge of Transport was responsible for supervising the river transport throughout the country, which was equivalent to Guo Yi's position. However, Guo Yi was a temporary appointee, while what they needed to obtain from Lu Jie was a proper Imperial Censor in Charge of Transport with the authority to directly report the results of their inspections to the emperor!
Lu Jia knew his abilities were limited, and he couldn't afford to worry about anything else. He also didn't have the ability to challenge the Yan family, but he absolutely couldn't stand by and watch the Yan faction ruin the Shawan Wharf!
Since Lu Jie has presented her with this opportunity, why doesn't she do her part to help Shawan County?
"The Imperial Inspector of the Grand Canal?" Lu Jie frowned.

“That’s right!” Cheng Wenhui said. “I won’t even talk to you about the imperial censors in Huai’an and Tongzhou. They only need to supervise the areas of Hubei and Hunan and Guangdong and Guangxi! Can you really do that?”

Lu Jie did not answer immediately.

Yang Bonong leaned closer again: "The grain transport in the two lakes and two Guang regions is certainly not as important as that in Tongzhou and Huai'an. It is not excessive for Lord Cheng to ask for only this much."

"However, just a few months ago, there was a case in Tanzhou Prefecture within the territory of the two lakes region where Zhou Sheng flooded fields and destroyed dikes. The imperial envoy Guo Yi, who was dispatched before the New Year, was personally handling this case. It has not yet been tried. Your Excellency should be cautious."

Lu Jie held his cup, his gaze sweeping over Cheng Wenhui's face. Suddenly, he shifted his gaze to the faces of Cheng Yan and Qing He to the side.

He then stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked to Cheng Wenhui's side. Everyone thought he had something to say, but unexpectedly, he suddenly turned his toes, pushed Cheng Wenhui aside, and then ran into the house behind him!
"What are you doing! Stop right there!" Cheng Wenhui was caught off guard and stumbled as he pushed her.

By the time he realized what was happening, Lu Jie had already rushed all the way to the door!
Inside the room, Lu Jia was secretly weighing whether Lu Jie would agree or not. If he didn't, what should she do next?
She had no idea this was going to happen!
When she saw her father rushing straight towards her, she panicked and ran to the back window, then pushed it open and jumped out without thinking!

A large crowd watched as the father and daughter chased each other, putting on a scene reminiscent of soldiers chasing robbers in the garden!
But the scene hadn't been going on for long. Lu Jia had only taken two or three steps when her father's angry shout came from behind: "Stop!"

How could Lu Jia possibly obey?

She will not show her face until the terms are agreed upon!
Lu Jie gritted his teeth and climbed over the window, then took three steps forward and grabbed her by the back of the chest!
"Still running? Where do you think you're going?!"

Lu Jia was still struggling forward when Lu Jie twisted her arm with his other hand, turning her around!
This face...

Lu Jie opened his eyes wide, the panting from running caught in his throat, and the anger on his face vanished instantly.

“You…you?!”

Yang Bonong, who followed closely behind, was also stunned!
With her arm twisted, Lu Jia had no way to escape.

She looked at the group of people in front of her with a disgruntled expression, then her gaze returned to her father's face: "Long time no see, Father!"

Lu Jie released her, looked her up and down for a moment, and then said, "Step back!"

Yang Bonong and the others all withdrew.

Only the father and daughter remained in the garden.

Lu Jie remained silent for a long time.

Then he turned his back and sat down on a stone stool among the grass and trees in the garden.

But he was facing away from Lu Jia, so Lu Jia couldn't see his expression. Therefore, just like in her previous life, she didn't even see his red-eyed and distraught state.

She only saw that the once spirited and talented scholar, who had been so at ease exchanging words with the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial, was now hunched over, looking as if he had aged seventy years in an instant.

Lu Jia remained calm.

She took a deep breath and gently patted his shoulder.

He stretched, seemed to let out a long sigh, then turned around and reached out to her: "Where's your jade?"

Lu Jia shrugged: "Given it away."

"Who did you give it to?"

"An important person."

Lu Jie frowned: "How important is it?"

Lu Jia countered, "Without that jade, does that mean I can't prove I'm Lu Jia?"

Lu Jie withdrew his hand, looked down at the fragrant grass at his feet for a moment, and said, "No."

Lu Jia glanced at him: "Why?"

"No one but me could have given birth to a daughter like me."

"..."